Robert B. Lawton
Encyclopedia
Rev. Robert B. Lawton, S.J.
, Ph.D. (born c. 1948) is an American
Jesuit and the 14th President of Loyola Marymount University
in Los Angeles, CA
. He also holds tenured professorships in both the Classics and Archaeology Department and the Theological Studies Department of LMU.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Fordham University
(summa cum laude) with a major in classics
in 1971, he went on to earn his Ph.D.
in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University
in 1977, where he was a Danforth and a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 13, 1981.
Lawton taught Hebrew and Aramaic at the Pontifical Biblical Institute
in Rome
from 1982 to 1984. He also served as the Dean
of Georgetown College, the liberal arts college of Georgetown University
.
, S.J.
New buildings and facilities were added to Loyola Marymount's campus during Lawton's eleven year presidency, including University Hall and the William H. Hannon Library. Lawton also oversaw the drafting of Loyola Marymount's 20 year "Master Plan."
On March 1, 2010, Father Lawton announced his retirement from the presidency of Loyola Marymount University, effective at the conclusion of the academic year in May 2010. He also announced an immediate medical leave from the university.
Lawton cited two main reasons for his decision to retire as head of the university. In a email to LMU faculty, students and staff, he noted that a long recovery from back surgery in 2009 had "affected my ability, because of my schedule, to do the physical activity and exercise advised and, more importantly, to do my job to the fullest."
He also cited the so-called "rule of ten" as a second factor in his decision to retire saying, "Ten years in these kinds of jobs is usually enough and after that both the institution and the person benefit from change. At least that is true of me."
Lawton said that he had originally hoped to remain president of Loyola Marymount until the school's centennial celebration concluded in May 2012, but health problems, including his back surgery had become an obstacle to administration. He will take an immediate sabbatical following his retirement to concentrate of his health.
The chairman of the Loyola Marymount Board of Trustees, R. Chad Dreier, announced that Executive Vice President and Provost
David W. Burcham
, the former dean of LMU's Loyola Law School
, was been appointed the university's acting president
while Father Lawton was on medical leave and would become interim president when Father Lawton's retirement took effect on May 31, 2010. On October 4, 2010, The Board of Trustees of Loyola Marymount University unanimously elected Burcham as the 15th President of Loyola Marymount University
.
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...
, Ph.D. (born c. 1948) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Jesuit and the 14th President of Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He also holds tenured professorships in both the Classics and Archaeology Department and the Theological Studies Department of LMU.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of 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...
(summa cum laude) with a major in classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
in 1971, he went on to earn his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1977, where he was a Danforth and a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 13, 1981.
Lawton taught Hebrew and Aramaic at the Pontifical Biblical Institute
Pontifical Biblical Institute
The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy is an institution of the Holy See run by the Jesuits that offers instruction at the university level...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from 1982 to 1984. He also served as the Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Georgetown College, the liberal arts college of Georgetown University
Georgetown 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...
.
Loyola Marymount University
Lawton became the 14th President of Loyola Marymount University in 1999, succeeding Thomas P. O'MalleyThomas P. O'Malley
Thomas P. O'Malley, S.J., Ph.D. was an American Jesuit and academic. O'Malley was the president of John Carroll University from 1980 until 1988 and Loyola Marymount University from 1991 until 1999...
, S.J.
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...
New buildings and facilities were added to Loyola Marymount's campus during Lawton's eleven year presidency, including University Hall and the William H. Hannon Library. Lawton also oversaw the drafting of Loyola Marymount's 20 year "Master Plan."
On March 1, 2010, Father Lawton announced his retirement from the presidency of Loyola Marymount University, effective at the conclusion of the academic year in May 2010. He also announced an immediate medical leave from the university.
Lawton cited two main reasons for his decision to retire as head of the university. In a email to LMU faculty, students and staff, he noted that a long recovery from back surgery in 2009 had "affected my ability, because of my schedule, to do the physical activity and exercise advised and, more importantly, to do my job to the fullest."
He also cited the so-called "rule of ten" as a second factor in his decision to retire saying, "Ten years in these kinds of jobs is usually enough and after that both the institution and the person benefit from change. At least that is true of me."
Lawton said that he had originally hoped to remain president of Loyola Marymount until the school's centennial celebration concluded in May 2012, but health problems, including his back surgery had become an obstacle to administration. He will take an immediate sabbatical following his retirement to concentrate of his health.
The chairman of the Loyola Marymount Board of Trustees, R. Chad Dreier, announced that Executive Vice President and Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
David W. Burcham
David W. Burcham
David W. Burcham became the 15th and current President of Loyola Marymount University on October 4, 2010. Burcham is a recognized authority on constitutional law who previously served as the university’s interim president...
, the former dean of LMU's Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions, in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law , it...
, was been appointed the university's acting president
Acting president
An Acting President is a person who temporarily fills the role of an organization's or country's president, either when the real president is unavailable or when the post is vacant .-See also:*Acting *Acting President of Pakistan*Acting President of Malta*Acting President of...
while Father Lawton was on medical leave and would become interim president when Father Lawton's retirement took effect on May 31, 2010. On October 4, 2010, The Board of Trustees of Loyola Marymount University unanimously elected Burcham as the 15th President of Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
.