Jersey City, N.J. – March 6, 2013 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that Rev. James Martin, S.J., best-selling author and editor of America, the national Catholic magazine, will address the Class of 2013 at the 122nd commencement exercises for the University on May 20, 2013.
Fr. Martin is the author of several best-selling books, including The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, My Life with the Saints, Between Heaven and Mirth, among others. His commentary in the national and international media is well known, as he appeared on all major radio and television networks and on programs as diverse as National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air with Terry Gross,” NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” PBS’s “Newshour,” Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” and Fox News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor.” In addition, he will be serving as an expert commentator for ABC during the upcoming papal conclave.
“This year’s commencement exercises celebrate a momentous occasion in Saint Peter’s history because it marks the first-ever graduating class of Saint Peter’s University,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “We are extremely pleased that Fr. Martin will be able to share his unique wit and wisdom with the Class of 2013 on this historic event in Saint Peter’s history.”
Martin was born in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., and received his bachelor’s degree in economics with a concentration in finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in 1982. He went on to work in corporate finance with General Electric in New York City and Stamford, Ct. for six years before he entered the Society of Jesus in 1988. His philanthropic efforts have touched a wide-range of people in countries across the world from a hospice for the sick and dying in Kingston, Jamaica, to housing projects in Chicago, Ill., to a refugee service center in Nairobi, Kenya.
The commencement ceremony for Saint Peter’s University will be held at the PNCBankArtsCenter at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 20, 2013.
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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 and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment.