COLLEGE BIDS FAREWELL TO BROTHER PRESIDENT

Twenty-two years after his inauguration as Manhattan College’s 18th president, Brother Thomas J. Scanlan, F.S.C., will step down in June. His tenure, the longest in the College’s history, has left an indelible mark on the state of this institution, and his departure will be noted with an enduring remembrance of all he has accomplished.

The College today is a very different place than when Br. Thomas took office. New buildings have risen, old ones have been replaced or revitalized, and technological advancements have changed the way communication takes place among Manhattan students, faculty and the outside world. Under his leadership, Manhattan College currently is recognized as one of the premier Catholic institutions of higher education in the nation.

“For me, it is Br. Thomas’ total dedication to Manhattan that stands out, his tirelessness no matter what the challenge or the opportunity,” says Dr. James Suarez, dean of the school of business. “He has been a 24/7/365 president.”

During Brother’s tenure, the College has become more selective while increasing its enrollment, broadening its geographic reach, transforming its campus from commuter based to residential, and preserving its commitment to serving first-generation students. Under his watch, Manhattan College has strengthened its academic offerings, reputation and financial strength. Although the number of teaching Brothers has declined, he has been steadfast in preserving the Lasallian Catholic heritage of Manhattan and has promoted commitment to this tradition from the faculty and staff through the establishment of the College’s Lasallian Education Committee.

Br. Thomas was inaugurated on Oct. 29, 1987. Prior to his appointment, he was vice chancellor and chief executive officer of Bethlehem University, a private institution sponsored by the Vatican and directed by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. But he is a “Bronx boy” at heart, and his return to Manhattan College after years in the Middle East marked a homecoming of sorts.

In 1988, he celebrated his silver jubilee as a Brother of the Christian Schools. The College’s then-publication Viewpoint observed: “It is appropriate to note that just 70 years ago, Brother Jasper (Joseph L. Scanlon), president of Manhattan from 1918-23, inaugurated the memorial drive for the new College and broke ground at the Van Cortlandt site. In a real sense, Brother Thomas Scanlan, in the prime of his religious life, follows in the long line of great presidents, ready and blessed by God and his faith to launch out into the deep and move Manhattan College into the 21st century.”

Under his leadership, Manhattan has seen a 120 percent increase in applications and a 100-point increase in SAT scores while achieving accreditations by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).

“Brother was relentless in his drive to accredit all the professional schools, and he saw that goal achieved,” Suarez says. Engineering was long since accredited, but the school of business now enjoys AACSB accreditation and the school of education is also fully accredited by TEAC.”

Five-year programs have been added in education and engineering, and a new major, computer engineering, has been included in the curriculum, too.

The College has seen many enhancements and expansions of its facilities during his tenure. The construction of the 24/7 state-of-the-art Mary Alice and Thomas O’Malley Library redefined the library system as a first-class resource for study and research. It has been hailed as an inspired architectural achievement that seamlessly joins the old with the new. Under Br. Thomas’ direction, new residence halls also have been built. Horan Hall opened its doors in 1990 and, just a few months ago, East Hill Residence Hall welcomed Jaspers to campus — bringing the total resident population to almost 75 percent. A new multilevel parking garage and upgraded athletic facilities were recently completed. In addition, the financial health of the College has improved dramatically.

“Just look around the campus. The improvements over the years are amazing — the library, the parking garage, the new residence hall,” says Dr. Mary Ann O’Donnell, dean of the school of arts. “The library especially signals his great contribution in celebrating and preserving the traditional by melding it with the newest, the most up to date.”

During the past two decades, the College has raised more than $225 million in two capital campaigns, the Ascend Manhattan and the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign, and the endowment has increased tenfold. He has strengthened the board and earned its trust, so with its help, all these things were made possible.

It is clear from Br. Thomas’ keen understanding of education that he set his goals correctly from the beginning. His first priority was the students. He ensured that they receive the finest education possible, are instilled with the same Lasallian values cherished by alumni, have top-notch accommodations and facilities, and, in keeping with the mission of the College, that first-generation students would continue to be welcome at Manhattan, regardless of their financial circumstances.

In addition, equality, both for gender and race, was an important goal for Brother.

“His dedication to diversity and equal opportunity can be seen in the faces of the staff on campus,” O’Donnell says. “He saw to it especially that women had the opportunity to succeed. This place is a far more comfortable place for women — faculty, staff, students — than it was when I first came here.”

Knowing, too, that the faculty must continue the tradition of scholarly learning that exemplified the College from its earliest days, Brother ensured that professors be of the finest caliber. Under his watch, the first faculty chairs were awarded, which attests to the fact that outstanding teachers were, and are, on campus. The success of Manhattan’s faculty can best be measured by its graduates — their wide range of knowledge, adherence to social values, and marks they have made in their chosen professions.

To achieve all he has, Br. Thomas has gathered around him men and women of accomplishment who have made their marks professionally and have demonstrated their belief in the kind of values that Manhattan College espouses. A consistently stellar board of trustees has responded to the needs of the College by lending not only their business expertise but also their financial support. Both have been crucial in shaping Manhattan these past 22 years.

Tom O’Malley ’63, chair of the College’s board of trustees, recalls how Br. Thomas visited him at his home 21 years ago and asked if he would be willing to serve on Manhattan’s board. O’Malley was extremely hesitant to accept outside activities, as he was deeply involved with his career at the time. But Brother didn’t give up on him.

“Br. Tom’s persuasive approach convinced me, and I’ve been working for Manhattan ever since,” he says. “I now have the unique privilege of serving as chairman of Manhattan’s board of trustees, and while I am doing it for my alma mater, perhaps more importantly, I am doing it for a great friend who has taught me many lessons over the years. He is a man for all seasons and one of the most capable executives I have ever met.”

He has managed to engage faculty, students, alumni and friends to ensure that the Manhattan community feels a sense of investment in the College’s future. His many achievements and accolades attest to the measure of this man.

Finally, Br. Thomas expressed his own feelings about the College and those who have helped achieve his goals when speaking at the President’s Dinner at the St. Regis on Sept. 18.

“I am honored and pleased to have played an important role in this transformation of our beloved Manhattan,” he said. “My unique role has given me the perspective to say unequivocally that the success is due to many, many people who love Manhattan, sacrificed for Manhattan, supported Manhattan, and are totally dedicated to Manhattan.”