President Donald R. Boomgaarden To Serve as President Through July 2030

The Board of Trustees of St. Joseph’s University, New York has extended the appointment of Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., as president of St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) through July 2030. 

The new contract extension, which was formally announced this month, spans five years. The announcement cited Dr. Boomgaarden’s impact, calling him an exceptional leader of great depth and abilities with a deep devotion to the mission of the University. 

“During his time with us, Dr. Boomgaarden has been instrumental in creating many positive changes at SJNY, helping to transform the institution in incredible ways over the years,” said Christopher R. Carroll ’88, Esq., chair of SJNY’s Board of Trustees.

President Boomgaarden at SJNY’s 2024 Commencement.

“I would like to thank the Board of Trustees and the St. Joseph’s community for their faith in my leadership and for this opportunity to continue leading this remarkable university,” said SJNY President Boomgaarden. “I am especially thankful to the Sisters of St. Joseph, and our many alumni, for their continued support of me, and of our unique institution. The vision provided to us by the sisters is so important to us all, and will continue to sustain, empower and energize us as we move forward. Furthermore, the faculty and staff of St Joseph’s are second to none, and I am very grateful to be a part of an institution which does not seem to be, but is one of the finest in the world.”

Dr. Boomgaarden is the eighth president of the University. Since his arrival in July 2017, he has made significant improvements to St. Joseph’s, including increasing the endowment, successfully guiding the institution during the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing milestone capital improvements on both campuses, adding in-demand academic programs and leading the historic designation change from St. Joseph’s College to St. Joseph’s University, New York in April 2022. 

This most recent extension to Dr. Boomgaarden’s contract ensures continuity and stability for SJNY. Moving forward, he will oversee the University’s upcoming Middle States accreditation review, complete the current strategic plan and support the implementation of SJNY’s newly launched Comprehensive Campaign, Dare to Be.

More Highlights of Dr. Boomgaarden’s Presidency:

• Campus Improvements: State-of-the-art nursing labs in Brooklyn and Long Island (2017); new indoor athletic facility inside St. Angela Hall on the Brooklyn Campus (2018); opening of the $17 million Student Center in Patchogue (2023); renovation of the Kennedy Chapel in Brooklyn (2023); a $754,000 grant to establish a cybersecurity lab in Brooklyn (2023) that places SJNY on the cutting edge of the field.
  

  The new Student Center in Long Island serves as a hub for many campus activities and student services.

• Scholarships: $2 million gift to establish the Frieda Englberger Endowed Scholarship for students with physical disabilities (2021); $1 million gift to establish the Somers ACES Endowed Scholarship on the Brooklyn Campus and Somers Endowed Nursing Scholarship on both campuses (2024); five-year grant from the National Science Foundation to improve first-to-second-year STEM retention rates and more (2024).
• Academic Expansion: Accreditation of the Long Island Master of Social Work (2024) program; Master-level and advanced certificate Family Nurse Practitioner programs (2023); five-year B.A. in Child Study/M.A. in Literacy and Cognition (2022); Master-level and advanced certificate TESOL programs (2022); M.B.A. in Marketing (2021); strengthening its articulation agreement with Suffolk County Community College (2024).

President Boomgaarden welcomed Congressman Hakeem Jeffries to campus in May 2023 to mark funding for a new cybersecurity lab in Brooklyn.

In addition, Dr. Boomgaarden has assisted in raising the reputation of SJNY regionally and nationally, and has been lauded for his contributions to higher education, earning recognition among his peers numerous times, including being named a Trailblazer In Education by City & State New York, and a Power Player in Education by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro in 2024.

“Dr. Boomgaarden has displayed his steadfast leadership, as well as his deep commitment to the mission of St. Joseph’s University. His achievements are noteworthy, but more importantly, his achievements are a testament to his ability to continue to lead the University and ensure its continued success for the future,” said Carroll.