Produced by: the Office of Marketing and Communications
January 28, 2014
St. John’s University has appointed James O’Keefe, Ph.D. ‘79SVC—a long-time professor and administrator with a distinguished record of service to New York City and alma mater—as vice provost of the Staten Island campus, effective January 1, 2014.
A tenured associate professor and former associate dean in the University’s College of Professional Studies, O’Keefe returns to St. John’s after a two-year leave of absence to serve as a deputy commissioner in the New York City Police Department under former Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly ’71L, ’98HON.
“The Staten Island campus is a true gem,” O’Keefe said, “and has been a prominent component of the academic, Catholic, and social fabric of Staten Island for a long time.”
In his new role, O’Keefe works closely with the deans of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Professional Studies, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, and The School of Education. In addition, he serves as a member of the University’s Provost’s Council. The author of various scholarly articles and books, O’Keefe said he also looks forward to returning to the classroom as a professor of criminal justice leadership.
O’Keefe took a leave of absence from the University in 2011 to serve as deputy commissioner of training in the NYPD. He was responsible for the education of the department’s more than 51,000 sworn and civilian members.
“I was honored to have the professional opportunity to return to the NYPD, the finest law enforcement agency in the world,” O’Keefe noted. “In the new year, however, I am extraordinarily excited and energized about the opportunity to return to St. John’s University, especially as the vice provost of the Staten Island campus.”
Stay connected with the Staten Island campus
Stay connected with the Staten Island campus
Stay connected with the Staten Island campus
Related News
Alumnus and Adjunct Professor Credits St. John’s upon Book Release
Minkyu Kim ’24Ph.D. earned his doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from T he School of Education at St. John’s University. He currently teaches English at Stuyvesant High School and serves as an...
Business and Law Graduate Programs Ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100
In just-released rankings by U.S. News & World Report of the 2026 Best Graduate Schools, the part-time Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business and the St. John’s University School of Law are listed in the top 100 and noted for their excellence and achievement.
St. John’s University Announces Commencement 2026 Honorees
St. John’s University will hold its Undergraduate-Level Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. on the Great Lawn. The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., D.D. ’86SJC, ’88M.A., Archbishop of Boston, MA, will serve as this year’s speaker and be conferred an honorary degree during the ceremony.