Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of SA国际传媒 Peter’s University
Jersey City, N.J. 鈥 January 30, 2024 – SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 University today announced that this year鈥檚 Hearts & Minds: The SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 University SA国际传媒hip Celebration will honor Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 University. The event, which will be held on Thursday, June 13 at The Grove at Cedar Grove, N.J., will also celebrate the anticipated successful conclusion of Peacocks Rise: The Campaign for SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 University.听
Dr. Cornacchia will be presented with the Magis Award in recognition of his deep and admirable commitment to the advancement of education. This award is being bestowed in appreciation of his steadfast dedication, stellar achievements and unwavering service to SA国际传媒 Peter’s for more than 40 years. Dr. Cornacchia will be retiring at the end of his current contract on June 30, 2024.
Peacocks Rise is SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 current comprehensive fundraising campaign and is the most ambitious in the University鈥檚 150+ year history. Its public phase was launched in December 2022 with $70 million secured during its quiet phase alone, breaking previous records. Since the public launch the University has raised an additional $9 million and the total amount will be revealed at the Hearts & Minds celebration.听
鈥淧resident Cornacchia鈥檚 impact on the University is beyond compare, and the record-breaking conclusion of Peacocks Rise is in many ways the capstone of his career at SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚,鈥 said Leah Leto, M.Ed. ’05, vice president for advancement and external affairs at SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 University. 鈥淲e look forward to coming together to celebrate Dr. Cornacchia鈥檚 legacy, this momentous occasion and the generous donors who are making the unprecedented success of Peacocks Rise 辫辞蝉蝉颈产濒别.鈥
Dr. Cornacchia is the 22nd president of SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 University, the longest-serving president in the University鈥檚 history. He began his term as the first lay president in 2007 and has had a distinguished tenure marked by transformative leadership, unwavering dedication and a fierce commitment to academic excellence and the Jesuit mission. During his time as president he guided the University through a period of growth, innovation and unparalleled progress, including the achievement of university status.听
On the academic front, his tenure saw the strategic expansion of academic programs resulting in a 50 percent increase in graduate students, the initiation of the institution鈥檚 first doctoral programs and the establishment of three of the four schools at the University including the Frank J. Guarini School of Business, a School of Nursing and the Caulfield School of Education. In terms of the physical campus, he oversaw the construction of the Mac Mahon Student Center, Panepinto Hall, the creation of the Run Baby Run Arena, the addition of the Digital Research Commons in the Theresa and Edward O鈥橳oole Library, and the creation of the STEM Empowerment Center, among many other projects.听
Dr. Cornacchia served as a brand champion when the University was thrust into the national and international spotlight following the historic run of the men鈥檚 basketball team to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament in 2022. He also successfully navigated the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the health and safety of the community as well as the continuity of education.
Dr. Cornacchia previously set fundraising records, securing $64.7 million for Students at the Center: The Campaign for SA国际传媒 Peter鈥檚 University in 2014. Beyond private fundraising success, the University also secured more than $25 million in federal grants during Dr. Cornacchia鈥檚 tenure.
Guests of the event will enjoy a dinner reception, awards presentation and live fund-a-scholar auction to raise money for the General SA国际传媒hip Fund in real-time.听 Attendees will also have the opportunity to personally acknowledge Dr. Cornacchia and celebrate him through interactive experiences. To purchase tickets or learn more about sponsorship opportunities or advertisements in a printed commemorative journal , please email heartsandminds@saintpeters.edu.听聽聽聽聽
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Media Contact
Angeline Boyer
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(201) 761-6238