Ms. Norma Piecyk Administrative Assistant
[Caption:] New President, Jack Raslowsky (center) is congratulated by outgoing president, Rev. Daniel J. Gatti, S.J. ’59 (right) and Xavier Board of Trustees Chairman, Rich Nolan, Esq. ’83 (left).
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Xavier, Richard T. Nolan, Jr., Esq., ’83, announced that on July 1st John R. Raslowsky II will assume the presidency of the school. After a nearly two year search, Jack Raslowsky’s selection was made by Xavier’s Board of Trustees, and approved by the Provincial and Xavier’s Board of Members.
Mr. Raslowsky, an exceptional educator and administrator, brings to Xavier strong leadership skills and an over twenty-five year history of involvement in Jesuit education. His association with the Society of Jesus has been extensive, beginning as a student at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City (1975-1979), then at St. Peter’s Prep as a teacher, moderator, coach, and Principal (1985-2003), and finally as an assistant in the New York Provincial’s Office (2003-2007). His in-depth exposure to, understanding of, and commitment to the teachings of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, makes him an ideal selection as Xavier’s next President.
Over the past two years, he has been the Superintendent of Schools in Hoboken, New Jersey, an urban educational system with 2,500 students in six schools. In this position, his focus and leadership has resulted in a reinvention of expectations for the district, as well as some remarkable progress.
Jack Raslowsky will be Xavier’s thirty-third President and the first layman to lead Xavier. The Jesuits and their lay collaborators in this Province and in Jesuit education across the country have prepared over the past thirty years for this by instituting numerous initiatives aimed at igniting the Ignatian flame among the Jesuit laity. He now joins the two other high school lay presidents in the New York Province and the ten lay presidents from the 52 Jesuit high schools throughout the country.
In his announcement, Xavier Board Chairman Rich Nolan said:
It is with great confidence and enthusiasm that the Board of Trustees welcomes Jack as Xavier's 33rd President. We are confident that he possesses the educational skill and experience, the understanding of and commitment to the charism of the Society of Jesus, and the authenticity of formation in Ignatian spirituality that the Board believes are essential in Xavier’s next President.
Jack is a proven leader of educational institutions, with real-world, hands-on experience in Jesuit education that ranges from teacher, retreat leader, moderator and coach to principal, trustee, board chairman, Provincial’s assistant, and Superintendent of Schools. His background and attributes make him a compelling selection.
The Provincial of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus, the V. Rev. David S. Ciancimino, S.J., a 1977 graduate of Xavier and a former Xavier headmaster, in approving the selection, said: “Having worked with Jack, I am confident that he will serve the Society of Jesus and Xavier well.”
For more information on this appointment, the presidential installation this fall, please monitor the Xavier website and refer to the letter you will be receiving shortly.