Saint Peter’s is proud to announce that Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of the University, was named to ROI-NJ’s Influencer: Higher Education 2022 list. The University’s Run Baby Run Arena was also recognized as a new and “cool” campus construction project. ROI-NJ’s list annually recognizes impactful leaders in New Jersey’s colleges and universities with a special focus on unique classes, programs and new buildings.
According to the publication, Dr. Cornacchia was selected for this honor because, “under his leadership, [Saint Peter’s] has initiated the institution’s first doctoral programs and established three of its four schools (business, nursing and education) — and has set fundraising records.”
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by an esteemed New Jersey business publication like ROI-NJ,” said Dr. Cornacchia. “This acknowledgement would not be possible without the support from all of the talented members of the Saint Peter’s staff, faculty, administration, and of course, our students, who make the University the special place that it is.”
Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University
Dr. Cornacchia is the 22nd president of Saint Peter’s and is the longest-serving president in the University’s history. Under his leadership, the University has expanded its highly regarded undergraduate and graduate programs, initiated the institution’s first doctoral programs and established the Frank J. Guarini School of Business, a School of Nursing and the Caulfield School of Education. During Dr. Cornacchia’s tenure, fundraising records continue to be set and the University has also seen significant campus improvements including the construction of the Mac Mahon Student Center and the opening of the Run Baby Run Arena. Dr. Cornacchia was also instrumental to Saint Peter’s acquiring university status and assuming responsibility for St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church.
Run Baby Run Arena
In November 2021, Saint Peter’s celebrated the opening of the Run Baby Run Arena, a modern basketball/volleyball arena on the University’s campus. The space features retractable bleachers with an allotment of chairback seating, full replacement of the hardwood court, updated branding and signage, a re-imagined entryway, enhanced lighting and new video scoreboards. The arena is named the Run Baby Run Arena as tribute to the legendary team that earned the moniker after routing Duke in the 1968 NIT quarterfinals in front of a record crowd at Madison Square Garden.
Upgrades to the arena were made largely in thanks to a $5 million gift from Tom Mac Mahon ’68, a former chair of the Board of Trustees and star player for the Run Baby Run team. According to ROI-NJ, “Some say it helped spur the [men’s basketball team] on its Cinderella run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last March.”
View the complete digital edition of ROI-NJ.
For 150 years, Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.