Kevin Quinn (academic)
Encyclopedia
Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.
, J.D.
, Ph.D.
(born 1955) is an American
Jesuit, lawyer
and law professor. Quinn is currently serving as the 25th President of the University of Scranton
, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania
, effective July 1, 2011.
On December 15, 2010, Father Quinn was chosen as the 25th President of the University of Scranton
in an announcement held in the university's Brennan Hall. Quinn became President of the University of Scranton on July 1, 2011. He succeeded Rev. Scott Pilarz, S.J., who left Scranton to become the President of Marquette University
. Father Quinn's official inauguration took place on September 16, 2011, at the University of Scranton's William J. Byron, S.J., Recreation Complex.
. His mother is named Pat Quinn. His late father was a New York City Fire Department
firefighter
and gardener. Quinn joined the Society of Jesus
in 1973, soon after graduation from high school.
He received a bachelor's degree
from Fordham University
in 1979. Quinn worked as a community organizer in the South Bronx
while studying at Fordham University. He focused on disputes between tenants and their landlords, which began Quinn's interest in the law. In a December 2010 interview with the Scranton Times, Quinn noted, "I thought I could do a better job," after encountering lawyers who did a substandard job representing the interests of their clients and the larger community.
Quinn was ordained a Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus
in 1985. He also earned a Master of Divinity
from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
, which is now known as the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, in 1985. Quinn enrolled at the nearby UC Berkeley School of Law
soon after the completion of his Master of Divinity. He received a Juris Doctorate from UC Berkeley in 1988.
in Manhattan
early in his career.
Quinn worked as a law clerk
for Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
in New York City
after completing his law degree
. He has been admitted to both the New York City Bar Association and the District of Columbia bar association
. Quinn has focused on issues in law pertaining to health care
ethics
, including stem cell research and end-of-life care. His writings and publications have focused on genetics
, contemporary culture and bioethics
.
in 1994, a position he held until 2006. Additionally, Quinn worked as Georgetown University's chaplain-in-residence. He also became a senior research fellow and faculty affiliate at Georgetown's Kennedy Institute for Ethics.
in 2006 as the executive director
of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education. He became a faculty member of the Santa Clara University School of Law
in 2007, where he has taught courses on bioethics
.
in September 2010. Pilarz had served in that position since 2003. A search was launched by the University of Scranton to find a successor.
On December 15, 2010, the University of Scranton's board of trustees, under chairman Christopher "Kip" Condron, unanimously voted to appoint Father Kevin Quinn as the University's 25th president.
Father Quinn took office as the University of Scranton's 25th president on July 1, 2011. His official inauguration took place on Friday, September 16, 2011, at the William J. Byron, S.J., Recreation Complex on the University's campus.
Quinn's inauguration celebrations included events and seminars throughout the week. Australia
n human rights activist and lawyer, Father Frank Brennan, S.J., who is chairman of the Australian National Human Rights Consultation Committee and a law professor at Australian Catholic University
, presented the inaugural lecture, "A Jesuit Perspective on Making Human Rights and Religion Friends, Not Foes", on September 13th.
An inaugural concert held on September 17, 2011, included a new composition based on Phillipians 4:4-8
, described as Quinn's favorite passage from the Bible
: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Quinn has stated that a priority is maintaining the price of higher education in order to keep pace with prevailing economic demographics
in Northeast Pennsylvania. He resides in Condron Hall, a University of Scranton dorm, joking with local media, "It’s partly selfish. You live with 20-year-olds, it keeps you younger."
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(born 1955) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Jesuit, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and law professor. Quinn is currently serving as the 25th President of the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
, effective July 1, 2011.
On December 15, 2010, Father Quinn was chosen as the 25th President of the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
in an announcement held in the university's Brennan Hall. Quinn became President of the University of Scranton on July 1, 2011. He succeeded Rev. Scott Pilarz, S.J., who left Scranton to become the President of Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
. Father Quinn's official inauguration took place on September 16, 2011, at the University of Scranton's William J. Byron, S.J., Recreation Complex.
Early life and education
Kevin Quinn was born in Queens, New York, and raised on Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. His mother is named Pat Quinn. His late father was a New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and gardener. Quinn joined the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in 1973, soon after graduation from high school.
He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1979. Quinn worked as a community organizer in the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
while studying at Fordham University. He focused on disputes between tenants and their landlords, which began Quinn's interest in the law. In a December 2010 interview with the Scranton Times, Quinn noted, "I thought I could do a better job," after encountering lawyers who did a substandard job representing the interests of their clients and the larger community.
Quinn was ordained a Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in 1985. He also earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
The Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University is a Jesuit Seminary that is a school of Santa Clara University and one of the member colleges of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California...
, which is now known as the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, in 1985. Quinn enrolled at the nearby UC Berkeley School of Law
UC Berkeley School of Law
The University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, commonly referred to as Berkeley Law and Boalt Hall, is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley Law is consistently regarded as an elite and prestigious law school...
soon after the completion of his Master of Divinity. He received a Juris Doctorate from UC Berkeley in 1988.
Career
Quinn taught at Regis High SchoolRegis High School (New York City)
Regis High School is a private Jesuit university-preparatory school for academically gifted Roman Catholic young men located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Annual class enrollment is limited to approximately 135 male students from the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
early in his career.
Quinn worked as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin
Joseph M. McLaughlin
Joseph Michael McLaughlin is a federal appellate judge in the United States.Born in Brooklyn, New York. He received an A.B. from Fordham College in 1954, and was in the United States Army Corps of Engineers Captain from 1955 to 1957. He then received a LL.B. from Fordham University School of Law...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after completing his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
. He has been admitted to both the New York City Bar Association and the District of Columbia bar association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
. Quinn has focused on issues in law pertaining to health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, including stem cell research and end-of-life care. His writings and publications have focused on genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, contemporary culture and bioethics
Bioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
.
Georgetown University
Quinn began teaching law at Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1994, a position he held until 2006. Additionally, Quinn worked as Georgetown University's chaplain-in-residence. He also became a senior research fellow and faculty affiliate at Georgetown's Kennedy Institute for Ethics.
Santa Clara University
Quinn joined Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
in 2006 as the executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education. He became a faculty member of the Santa Clara University School of Law
Santa Clara University School of Law
The Santa Clara University School of Law is the law school of Santa Clara University, a Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California, in the Silicon Valley region. The School of Law was founded in 1911...
in 2007, where he has taught courses on bioethics
Bioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
.
President of the University of Scranton
University of Scranton President, Father Scott Pilarz, was named President on Marquette UniversityMarquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in September 2010. Pilarz had served in that position since 2003. A search was launched by the University of Scranton to find a successor.
On December 15, 2010, the University of Scranton's board of trustees, under chairman Christopher "Kip" Condron, unanimously voted to appoint Father Kevin Quinn as the University's 25th president.
Father Quinn took office as the University of Scranton's 25th president on July 1, 2011. His official inauguration took place on Friday, September 16, 2011, at the William J. Byron, S.J., Recreation Complex on the University's campus.
Quinn's inauguration celebrations included events and seminars throughout the week. Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n human rights activist and lawyer, Father Frank Brennan, S.J., who is chairman of the Australian National Human Rights Consultation Committee and a law professor at Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University is a national public university. It has six campuses and offers programs in five faculties throughout Australia.-History:...
, presented the inaugural lecture, "A Jesuit Perspective on Making Human Rights and Religion Friends, Not Foes", on September 13th.
An inaugural concert held on September 17, 2011, included a new composition based on Phillipians 4:4-8
Epistle to the Philippians
The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, usually referred to simply as Philippians, is the eleventh book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was written by St. Paul to the church of Philippi, an early center of Christianity in Greece around 62 A.D. Other scholars argue for an...
, described as Quinn's favorite passage from the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Quinn has stated that a priority is maintaining the price of higher education in order to keep pace with prevailing economic demographics
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
in Northeast Pennsylvania. He resides in Condron Hall, a University of Scranton dorm, joking with local media, "It’s partly selfish. You live with 20-year-olds, it keeps you younger."