Biography: Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D.

When he was appointed in May 2007 as the first lay president in Saint Peter’s College history, Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. quickly pursued a bold and energizing vision to elevate the College’s profile as a premier Jesuit, Catholic urban college.

Under President Cornacchia’s leadership, the College has in a few short years experienced significant growth in admission and fundraising, launched a wide array of successful and innovative academic programs and made much-needed and welcome improvements to the physical campus and facilities.

A campus-wide effort fostered by President Cornacchia recently produced a new strategic plan titled “Vision 2015: Powered by Faith, Reason, Service and Justice” that sets a clear and compelling direction for the College to provide future generations of students with an excellent Jesuit education inspired by the values of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

To present a physical environment that reflects the College’s commitment to excellence in all aspects of the educational experience, a $5 million capital improvement project has led to the rejuvenation of the parking garage at the Recreational Life Center, a major renovation of Saint Peter Chapel, and the renovation of the College’s primary performing arts space, the Roy Irving Theatre.

The centerpiece of this transformation will be a new six-story student center. This signature structure will include study space, seminar rooms, a fitness room, student dining and a 450-seat event space among other amenities.

In the midst of the current economic downturn, President Cornacchia’s energizing vision produced fundraising results that surpassed the previous year by more than 20 percent. In addition, pledges to the capital campaign to build the new student center, grow the endowment, fund Jesuit identity programming, the sciences and athletics, and strengthen the College’s Annual Fund, recently surpassed the $25 million mark.

Central to the College’s efforts toward becoming a comprehensive institution of higher education has been the introduction of many exciting new academic programs.

Funded with a $2 million federal appropriation, the College recently established the National Center for Microplasma Science and Technology, the first and only in the nation, in the new Department of Applied Science and Technology.

Under President Cornacchia’s leadership, Saint Peter’s has expanded its highly regarded undergraduate and graduate education programs and established a School of Education. Offering a complete spectrum of education degrees and certifications, the School of Education furthers the College’s commitment to helping professional educators meet the increasing demands of 21st century classrooms.

Saint Peter’s has introduced a School of Nursing, as well as majors in biotechnology and Asian studies, minors in journalism and Africana studies, and concentrations in environmental science and forensic science. A dual degree program in physics and electrical engineering with New Jersey Institute of Technology is also now available, as well as a combined degree program with Seton Hall University, offering a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and psychology and a Master of Arts in occupational therapy.

Prior to his appointment as president, President Cornacchia served as the College’s academic dean and then as provost and vice president for academic affairs. He joined the College as an adjunct lecturer in 1981 and was appointed full professor in 1997. He served 14 years as the chair of the Political Science Department and also served two terms as Faculty Senate president.

President Cornacchia, 55, received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1976 and a master’s degree in political science in 1979 from Fordham University. He also earned a Ph.D. in political science from Fordham University in 1985.

President Cornacchia and his wife, AnnMarie, live in Guarini House, a residence on the College’s Jersey City campus. They have two daughters, Lauren and Katherine, and a granddaughter, Ava Yvonne.