October 16, 2006
St. John’s University celebrates its 35th anniversary on Staten
Island this fall and with it comes a renewed commitment to higher
education. Sharon Lynch Norton has recently been appointed Vice
Provost at the Staten Island Campus.
Norton, a Staten Island native, earned a B.A. in Political
Science and Theology degree from the University of Dayton before
returning home to earn a Juris Doctorate degree from St. John’s
University in 1974. She has had an extensive career at St. John’s
starting in 1981 as a faculty member. In 1999, she left a private
law practice to pursue full-time her interest in Higher Education
and assumed the position of Associate Dean for the College of
Professional Studies.
“Sharon is no stranger to the University Community known for her
many years of hard work and dedication to St. John’s and the Staten
Island Campus.,” said St. John’s University Provost Julia A. Upton,
RSM, Ph.D. “Her newly created position as Vice Provost advances the
University’s Strategic Plan for the Staten Island Campus and will
be a viable link from the Provost’s Office to Staten Island faculty
members, students and the community.”
The Staten Island Campus also welcomed Gerard A. McEnerney as
Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of the Staten
Island Campus in February 2006. McEnerney had served as executive
director of St. John’s Manhattan campus for two years prior to his
appointment.
“We celebrate our 35th anniversary on Staten Island with excitement
as we move into a new future of academic planning, campus expansion
and growth with strong leadership in place with Gerry and Sharon at
the helm,” said Rev. Michael J. Carroll, C.M., Executive Vice
President for Mission and Branch Campuses at St. John’s
University.
The Staten Island campus set atop the prestigious Grymes Hill
area overlooks New York Harbor began as an institution in 1971. The
campus currently enrolls 2,952 students (226 of which are
residents) offering undergraduate programs of study in Liberal Arts
and Sciences, Business, Professional Studies and Education; and
graduate programs in Business, Professional Studies and
Education.
“The Staten Island side of St. John’s University is a treasure,”
said Norton. “Our students enjoy a personal academic
experience with access to all the metropolitan and global resources
of a great Catholic University. I am privileged to return home to
serve as Vice Provost of the Staten Island Campus and renew our
commitment to high academic achievement and Vincentian service to
Staten Island, a true New York treasure.”
Students also enjoy full support services as well as
state-of-the-art facilities with the Kelleher Center and the John
J. DaSilva Academic Center as landmarks of the quaint campus
atmosphere located on 16.5 acres of land. The Kelleher Center was
dedicated in 1999. Donated by University Trustee and alumnus Denis
Kelleher and his wife Carol, the Kelleher Center provides the
campus with enrollment services, premier meeting space and a
state-of-the-art Fitness Center.
“I am thrilled to have Sharon’s expertise here on the Staten
Island campus especially in her new role as Vice Provost. Her
enthusiasm, intellect and leadership will ensure that the Staten
Island campus will continue to maintain its excellent academic
standing.” said McEnerney. “We are working jointly to continue to
provide our students with a high quality education.”
In the fall of 2004, the campus welcomed the John J. DaSilva
Academic Center, which features computer labs for student and
community use, a media lab, computer assisted classroom space,
faculty office space and student/faculty meeting spaces. Funding
for the academic center was donated by Leon DaSilva, a longtime
benefactor and supporter of the university. His son John, for whom
the building is named, was a former St. John’s hockey player killed
in an automobile accident one year after his graduation in
1980.
A newly refurbished Rosati Hall welcomed the College of
Professional Studies administrative offices, faculty spaces,
student commons and conference space in 2005.
Most recently, an exciting new Staten Island Writing Center was
constructed as part of St. John’s Institute for Writing Studies
initiative. This latest advance in the University’s pursuit of
academic excellence is intended to “instill and improve students’
critical thinking skills and broaden their writing proficiency,”
said Upton.
The writing center, directed by Harry Denny, Ph.D., former
Director of the Writing Center, Program in Writing and Rhetoric at
SUNY Stony Brook, is located in Mahoney Hall on the Staten Island
Campus.
For more information, contact: Dominic Scianna, Director of
Media Relations at St. John’s University by calling (718) 990-6185
or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.