Testimonials

“If Father Harrington would have gone into the medical profession he would have been an excellent diagnostician because he has that rare ability to read people and situations – and, more importantly, come up with the proper therapeutic measure. He is the only man I know in this world who could have built the Rock of Gibraltar without the rocks. That’s how good he is.”
Lou Carnesecca, St. John’s University Hall of Fame Basketball Coach

“I’ve known him for a long time since his days studying in the Seminary and what amazes me is the way he grabs a hold of challenges and runs with them. He is an extremely intelligent and insightful person and he has great vision. He sees a lot of things that others don’t see and still has a great passion and love for St. John’s.”
Rev. Joseph V. Daly, C.M., Assistant to the President, St. John’s University

“Perhaps the most important characteristic of Fr. Harrington's Presidency is his desire to continually gather student input. His student-centered approach has resulted in more than just a physical transformation of St. John's. His commitment to creating new and exciting engagement opportunities for students laid the groundwork for my involvement at the University. I am extremely grateful for his continued support of the projects that I have been a part of as a student leader throughout my time at St. John's. He has been both a personal mentor to me and a model of true leadership.”
Pedro Gomez, Graduate Student, Former St. John’s University President’s Society Member 

"Father Harrington’s tenure at St John’s has truly been life changing for the University. St John’s has become a large and impressive University with multiple campuses on two continents. The enrollment, programs and caliber of students and faculty continues to make great strides. However perhaps the most impressive aspect is the constant credit Father gives to those on faculty and staff at St John’s as well as to board members and donors. He often makes it sound like he just “lucked into “ St John’s success and yet anyone who has watched closely knows well his countless hours, his creativity and his efforts on every aspect of St John’s be it academics, facilities, technology, sports, Catholic identity or fund raising were the essential ingredient to the wonderful success at St John’s.  It is an honor to be associated with St John’s and Father Harrington.”
Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, President and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States

“Under Father Harrington’s outstanding leadership, St. John’s has become even more of a New York City treasure – for the quality of the education it provides, the diversity of its student body, and the abiding dedication to public service. The Police Department is among hundreds of New York institutions that have been made stronger and more effective by the contributions of St. John’s graduates educated during Father Harrington’s remarkable and still-unfolding tenure as president.”
Raymond Kelly, Commissioner, New York City Police Department

“It's so easy to take for granted the transformational changes that have given many of us the opportunity to study at such a great University.  Everything from the residence halls, to the renovations to existing campus facilities such as the Library, to enhanced programs for students are a direct result of his vision 20 years ago.  He has been a great role model to me, always looking toward the future with a firm grasp on the past.  Ever since I first met him during my freshman year, he has found ways to connect me to my University, and involve me in its continued transformation.”
John Kelly, Graduate Student, Former St. John’s University President’s Society Member

“The facilities are dramatically different. The academic profile has increased tremendously. The financial profile of the University has increased to the point where St. John’s today is an investment grade institution. The Vincentian spirit is much stronger and much more evident than it was when I went to St. John’s. Father Harrington has truly touched every aspect of the University.”
Thomas E. McInerney, Chairman, St. John’s University Board of Trustees

“Over the past 20 years I have witnessed the remarkable transformation of St. Johns University from starting as a small commuter school to becoming one of the most academically sound universities in the country. I commend Reverend Donald J. Harrington for his dedicated service of the past 20 years in providing a high quality academic institution to students of all economic backgrounds. I look forward in working with the President to increase the global visibility and continued growth of St. Johns University.”
Hon. Gregory Meeks, United States Congressman, 6th District of New York

“Father Harrington has demonstrated excellent qualities of leadership at St. John's – I would say "transformative." Not only has he built a "new St. John's" but he has also restored and strengthened the best of its Catholic and Vincentian traditions.  I have long admired his ability to engage the variety of constituencies that make up the St. John's University community, on and off campus.  Father Harrington's two decades of presidential leadership will be among the most consequential in St. John's history.”
Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M.,  President, The Catholic University of America

“Father Harrington feels it’s important to be open to different styles and different approaches which is part of the magic of St. John’s. He has a great passion for the dignity of the human person. I think in terms of a legacy, he will be remembered as “The Mission President” because he brought it to life. He embedded it throughout the institution and that is evidenced every day at St. John’s in programs and services and the way people interact with one another.
James P. Pellow, Ed.D., Executive V.P. and COO, St. John’s University

“As a graduate of St. John’s University ’91, it has been a privilege and honor to know Father Harrington on two levels – first as a student – and later as a proud alum.  Being involved in the St. John’s Community over the last 20 years, I am amazed by the transformation – from 100% New York City kids – to students from 44 states and 122 countries, attending six satellite campus locations including Rome and Paris. Every time I step onto campus, I am more and more amazed by the facilities, new building projects, and renovations, as well as the dedicated faculty and staff. It continually gets better. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without St. John’s University and the leadership of Father Harrington. Under Father Harrington’s tenure, he instilled in me the leadership qualities I needed to make sound decisions and to go out and achieve great things. I will always be indebted to St. John’s and Father Harrington.”
Mike Repole, Former Co-Founder and President of Glaceau (makers of vitaminwater), Entrepreneur of Healthy Eating Consumer Goods (Pirate’s Booty and Energy Kitchen)

“It has been my privilege to know Father Harrington for nearly all his 20 years as President of St. John’s.  Throughout that time, I have greatly admired him for his ability, first and foremost, to do what’s right – for his faith, for his students and for the St. John’s community he loves so much.  I believe that is the definition of true leadership. As a graduate of St. John’s School of Law, I have been so proud of the success Father Harrington has achieved.  By virtue of the impact St. John’s has had on thousands of young men and women, I believe Father Harrington has made New York, and the world, a better place.’
Howard Rubenstein, President, Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

“Father Harrington has not only transformed St. John’s University into a campus that attracts students from across the country and around the world, he has also vaulted the University to the vanguard of New York City’s booming intellectual community, Father Harrington is such an important part of what makes St. John’s University so great and his twenty year tenure as President of St. John’s has been marked by an expansion of the University’s size, ever-increasing excellence and a steadfast commitment to provide educational opportunity to those in financial need. I am proud to know him and New York is even luckier to have him at the helm of an institution as important as St. John’s, which builds the minds – and souls -- of the leaders of tomorrow.”
Hon. Charles E. Schumer, United States Senator for New York

“It is not in doubt that New York City is the capital of the world. What might be open to debate is what makes it so. Some might say it is the unequalled strength of its intellectual, cultural, and education sector. Others would point to the might of its financial institutions, or the influence of the media organizations headquartered here. I, for one, think it is the exceptional talent of the leaders we attract to New York's great institutions. And Father Harrington's work as St. John's leader perfectly exemplifies this proposition.
I know him and have worked with him professionally in his role as the president of St. John's University. But I also know the man personally; we share a Jesuit education, an enormous love of New York, a sense of devotion to our institutions, and an abiding belief in higher education. Knowing him as I do, I can say without fear of contradiction that he is every bit as great a man as he is a leader.  For me, he is a role model and an inspiration.”
Dr. John Sexton, President, New York University

“People always talk about the new buildings and all of the construction and renovation at St. John’s but I think Fr. Harrington has constructed a University during his time here – not of buildings – but really a plan so that our product would be educated people who are leaders in their fields and in society.”
Julia A. Upton, R.S.M., Ph.D., Provost, St. John’s University