It is a bittersweet occasion for me to inform the GTU community that our beloved president, James Donahue, has been selected to be the next president of St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga. The first non-Christian Brother to be president of St. Mary’s, Jim will assume his new role in July 2013.
Jim has served as president of the Graduate Theological Union since 2000 and has provided significant leadership in establishing the GTU as one of the most vibrant centers of theological learning in the country. During his tenure as president, the GTU has strengthened its academic programs, enriched its world-class research library and enhanced the work of existing centers and affiliated institutions of the GTU. Jim led the work that established the Center for Islamic Studies in 2007. He also headed a very successful capital campaign that generated increased scholarships and programmatic support throughout the GTU. Jim has also served as an advocate and facilitator for the member schools to strengthen the GTU as a consortium. Most recently he, together with the Council of Presidents and the GTU Board of Trustees, has been instrumental in developing the components of a plan for the redesign and restructuring of the GTU; this plan will be addressed by the GTU Board at its May meeting.
With Jim’s departure, the transition in leadership of the GTU provides opportunities to reinvigorate and renew the core commitments of the GTU. The GTU Board will soon be putting into place a plan for the transition following Jim’s departure. Jim leaves us with very talented and capable executive leadership.
Be assured that the GTU remains strong and that the academic programs, faculty, and students of the GTU will continue to be served in all of our efforts.
We are enormously grateful to Jim Donahue for all he has given to the GTU; we are honored to have had him as our president, colleague, and friend. He has given us a solid foundation upon which to build our future together.
Now we wish him the greatest success in his new position as president at St. Mary’s College of California.
Regards,
Hal
Harold T. Leach, Jr.
Chair, GTU Board of Trustees
In the Media
Oakland Tribune/Bay Area News Group - "St. Mary's College names Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union head as new president", Contra Costa Times
KCBS - "Saint Mary's College Introduces First Lay President"
The Catholic Voice - "GTU's Donahue named president of Saint Mary's"
San Francisco Business Times - "St. Mary's names James Donahue president"
National Catholic Reporter - "St. Mary's College gets its first lay president"
The Daily Californian - "St. Mary’s College selects GTU President James Donahue as new leader"