L. Jay Oliva
Encyclopedia
L. Jay Oliva Italian American
, was the 14th President of New York University
. Dr. Oliva has a B.A. from Manhattan College
(1955), and an M.A. (1957) and Ph.D. (1960) from Syracuse University
. He was a University Fellow at Syracuse, a Fribourg Fellow at the University of Paris
, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Born to an Italian father, his mother was an Irish
-speaker from Ireland
, and he has shown much interest and lent NYU to Irish-themed celebrations, exhibitions, etc. under the aegis of his Presidency of New York University
, including St. Patrick's Day decorations down First Avenue near the NYU Medical Center buildings every March.
Dr. Oliva is the author and editor of numerous works on Russia
n and Europe
an history, including Misalliance: A Study of French Policy in Russia During the Seven Years' War (New York University Press, 1964) and Russia in the Era of Peter the Great (Prentice-Hall, 1969). His fields of academic specialization are 18th century Russia, Russian diplomatic history and 18th century Europe.
Dr. Oliva has received honorary degrees from Tel Aviv University
(Doctor of Philosophy, 1994); University College Dublin
(Doctor of Literature, 1993); Hebrew Union College
(Doctor of Humane Letters, 1992); Saint Thomas Aquinas College (Doctor of Laws, 1989); and Manhattan College
(Doctor of Humane Letters, 1987). He was decorated a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor (1997) and received the Premio Guido Dorso of Italy
(1998).
His vision has proved crucial to the long-term growth and development of the University, an institution with extraordinarily strong connections to New York City
and cities around the world. Through Dr. Oliva's initiative, NYU is the founding member of the League of World Universities
, established in 1991, whose membership now represents nearly fifty of the world's great urban universities. La Pietra, a cluster of five magnificent villas in Tuscany
bequeathed to NYU by the late Sir Harold Acton
, and the Lillian Vernon Center for International Affairs at Washington Square, serve as hubs for international activities that draw scholars and students from around the world.
Oliva served as President of New York University
from 1991 - May 16, 2002. Under his leadership New York University’s fund-raising efforts soared, increasing from approximately $100 million annually in 1991 to more the $350 million in 2001. In 1995 Oliva oversaw the completion of what was at that time the first billion-dollar campaign undertaken by an American university. Launched in 1985 under Oliva’s predecessor, John Brademas
, the campaign was successfully completed five years ahead of schedule.
Dr. Oliva also signed the first contract between a private university and a graduate assistant labor union, the Graduate Student Organizing Committee
of Local 2110/United Auto Workers. His son, Edward, now serves as director of operations for SCP Worldwide in NYC. SCP Worldwide is the fastest growing sports and entertainment company in the Northern Hemisphere due to his behind the scenes efforts and leadership.
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
, was the 14th President of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. Dr. Oliva has a B.A. from Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
(1955), and an M.A. (1957) and Ph.D. (1960) from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. He was a University Fellow at Syracuse, a Fribourg Fellow at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Born to an Italian father, his mother was an Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
-speaker from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and he has shown much interest and lent NYU to Irish-themed celebrations, exhibitions, etc. under the aegis of his Presidency of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, including St. Patrick's Day decorations down First Avenue near the NYU Medical Center buildings every March.
Dr. Oliva is the author and editor of numerous works on Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an history, including Misalliance: A Study of French Policy in Russia During the Seven Years' War (New York University Press, 1964) and Russia in the Era of Peter the Great (Prentice-Hall, 1969). His fields of academic specialization are 18th century Russia, Russian diplomatic history and 18th century Europe.
Dr. Oliva has received honorary degrees from Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
(Doctor of Philosophy, 1994); University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(Doctor of Literature, 1993); Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
(Doctor of Humane Letters, 1992); Saint Thomas Aquinas College (Doctor of Laws, 1989); and Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
(Doctor of Humane Letters, 1987). He was decorated a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor (1997) and received the Premio Guido Dorso of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(1998).
His vision has proved crucial to the long-term growth and development of the University, an institution with extraordinarily strong connections to 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...
and cities around the world. Through Dr. Oliva's initiative, NYU is the founding member of the League of World Universities
League of World Universities
The League of World Universities is an international organization consisting of rectors and presidents from urban universities across six continents. The league and its 47 representatives gather every two years to discuss global issues in education. L. Jay Oliva formed the organization in 1991 just...
, established in 1991, whose membership now represents nearly fifty of the world's great urban universities. La Pietra, a cluster of five magnificent villas in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
bequeathed to NYU by the late Sir Harold Acton
Harold Acton
Sir Harold Mario Mitchell Acton CBE was a British writer, scholar and dilettante perhaps most famous for being wrongly believed to have inspired the character of "Anthony Blanche" in Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited...
, and the Lillian Vernon Center for International Affairs at Washington Square, serve as hubs for international activities that draw scholars and students from around the world.
Oliva served as President of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
from 1991 - May 16, 2002. Under his leadership New York University’s fund-raising efforts soared, increasing from approximately $100 million annually in 1991 to more the $350 million in 2001. In 1995 Oliva oversaw the completion of what was at that time the first billion-dollar campaign undertaken by an American university. Launched in 1985 under Oliva’s predecessor, John Brademas
John Brademas
John Brademas is an American politician and educator originally from Indiana. He served as Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives for the Democratic Party from 1977 to 1981 at the conclusion of a twenty-year career as a member of the United States House of Representatives...
, the campaign was successfully completed five years ahead of schedule.
Dr. Oliva also signed the first contract between a private university and a graduate assistant labor union, the Graduate Student Organizing Committee
Graduate Student Organizing Committee
The Graduate Student Organizing Committee is a labor union representing graduate teaching and research assistants at New York University ....
of Local 2110/United Auto Workers. His son, Edward, now serves as director of operations for SCP Worldwide in NYC. SCP Worldwide is the fastest growing sports and entertainment company in the Northern Hemisphere due to his behind the scenes efforts and leadership.