Stephen Privett
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Stephen Arena Privett, S.J. (born 1942 San Francisco, California
) is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus
. Father Privett is the 27th and current president of the University of San Francisco
.
Born in San Francisco, California
, Father Privett joined the Society of Jesus in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He holds a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University
, a master's of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley
, and a doctorate in catechetics
from The Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
He has served as an instructor and principal at Bellarmine College Preparatory
in San Jose, California
and associate professor at Santa Clara University
. While at Santa Clara, Father Privett was appointed academic vice-president in 1991 and provost
in 1997.
In 2000, Father Privett was elected president of the University of San Francisco, succeeding Father John Schlegel, S.J., who left to become the president of Creighton University
.
In January 2007, Father Privett offered the Invocation at the opening of the 110th Congress and the swearing in of Nancy Pelosi
as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
.
Father Privett has received criticism and praise for his 2009 decision to eliminate USF's Master in Theology Program.
After pro-life activists contacted Father Privett because the University awarded an honorary doctorate to Bishop Kevin Dowling, Diocese of Rustenburg, South Africa, where nearly 50 percent of its residences are HIV positive or have AIDS, the president replied that the bishop is "in perfectly good standing" with the Church, and should not be criticized.
In January 2011, Father Privett approved the sale of K.U.S.F.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
) is a Roman Catholic priest and member 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...
. Father Privett is the 27th and current president of the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
.
Born in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Father Privett joined the Society of Jesus in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He holds a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
, a master's of Divinity 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...
, and a doctorate in catechetics
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
from The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He has served as an instructor and principal at Bellarmine College Preparatory
Bellarmine College Preparatory
Bellarmine College Preparatory is an all-male, private secondary school located in San Jose, California, USA. Founded in 1851, it is the oldest secondary school in California....
in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and associate professor at Santa Clara University
Santa 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...
. While at Santa Clara, Father Privett was appointed academic vice-president in 1991 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....
in 1997.
In 2000, Father Privett was elected president of the University of San Francisco, succeeding Father John Schlegel, S.J., who left to become the president of Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
.
In January 2007, Father Privett offered the Invocation at the opening of the 110th Congress and the swearing in of Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
.
Father Privett has received criticism and praise for his 2009 decision to eliminate USF's Master in Theology Program.
After pro-life activists contacted Father Privett because the University awarded an honorary doctorate to Bishop Kevin Dowling, Diocese of Rustenburg, South Africa, where nearly 50 percent of its residences are HIV positive or have AIDS, the president replied that the bishop is "in perfectly good standing" with the Church, and should not be criticized.
In January 2011, Father Privett approved the sale of K.U.S.F.