Scott Pilarz

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Kevin Quinn, S.J.
23rd President of Marquette University
In office
August 1, 2011 – October 6, 2013
Preceded byRobert A. Wild, S.J.
Succeeded byRobert A. Wild, S.J.
Personal details
Born(1959-07-31)July 31, 1959
DiedMarch 10, 2021(2021-03-10) (aged 61)
Jesuit
priest, academic

Scott R. Pilarz

Georgetown Prep.[3]

As an academic, Pilarz was considered an expert on medieval and Renaissance literature as well as Jesuit education.[3]

Early life and education

Scott Pilarz was raised by his parents, Joan and Joseph Pilarz, in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Camden and Philadelphia.[4] Pilarz has a younger sister, Susan.[4]

Pilarz graduated from

Catholic priest within the Jesuit order in 1992.[3]

Pilarz later obtained a master's degree in

dissertation, entitled Sacerdotal Self-Fashioning: Priesthood in the Poetry of Robert Southwell, S.J., and John Donne, earned Pilarz the CUNY Alumni Achievement Prize for Dissertation Excellence in 1997.[5]

Academic career

Pilarz was considered to be an expert on medieval and Renaissance literature.[3]

He taught philosophy at the Ss. Peter & Paul Seminary at the University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Nigeria while studying for his master's degrees at the Weston School.[5] Pilarz was also appointed professor of English at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia in 1994.[4][6]

Georgetown University

Pilarz began teaching at his alma mater, Georgetown University, as an assistant professor of English in 1996.[4] The Georgetown University class of 1999 awarded Pilarz the Edward B. Bunn, S.J., Award for Faculty Excellence for service and teaching.[5] In 2002, he was appointed the interim university chaplain at Georgetown.[4] The appointment of chaplain also gave Pilarz a seat in the cabinet of Georgetown President John J. DeGioia.[4]

During his tenure as a Georgetown

Washington Dulles International Airport on February 16, 1999.[9] Pilarz became Jack's caretaker and roommate at Georgetown.[7][9] He would walk Jack in the mornings and evenings while student volunteers walked the bulldog mascot during the day while Pilarz was in class or other university functions.[9]

Pilarz was named the President of the University of Scranton in 2003.[10] He brought "John P. Carroll" with him from Georgetown to Scranton when he became President of the University of Scranton in July 2003.[7] "John P. Carroll" was retired in May 2003 so that he could accompany Pilarz to Scranton.[8] Financial donations from Hoya Blue, the Hoya Hoop Club, the Office of the President and alumni allowed for the purchase of Jack's successor bulldog at Georgetown.[8] Jack the Bulldog turned eleven years old in 2010 and lived with Pilarz at the University of Scranton until he became President of Marquette University during the summer of 2011.[7] Pilarz was expected to move with "John P. Carroll" to Milwaukee when he became President of Marquette University in August 2011,[7] but the dog died at the Pilarz's parents home in Voorhees, New Jersey, on September 16, 2011, at the age of 12.[11]

President of the University of Scranton

Pilarz joined the

Joseph McShane notified members of the board in December 2002 that he would leave the University of Scranton to become president of Fordham University.[10] Pilarz was approached by several members of the Scranton board who proposed that he submit his name as a candidate to succeed McShane.[10] Pilarz submitted his name for inclusion in the presidential search after discussing the matter with his Provincial in Baltimore.[10]

The University of Scranton named Pilarz as its 24th president in an announcement on April 23, 2003.[10] He assumed the presidency on July 1, 2003, succeeding outgoing president McShane. Pilarz's inauguration took place on September 26, 2003.[12]

One of the centerpieces of Pilarz's tenure at Scranton has been the development and implementation of a

fitness center.[14] The dorms, with a combined 189,000 square feet (17,600 m2) of space, will house 400 additional students on campus.[14] In remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, Pilarz noted that the new dormitories would "add a splendor to this gateway corridor to the city" of Scranton, Pennsylvania.[14] Additionally, The Commons, the main walkway through the campus, has been expanded to include portions of Clay Avenue and Linden Street during Pilarz's tenure, effectively lengthening the campus.[14] The entire $125 million capital campaign, including the Science Center and dormitories currently under construction, was expected to be completed in fall 2011.[4]

Pilarz oversaw launch of a $100 million fundraising campaign, beginning in April 2008.[3] Pilarz has also been credited with boosting the university's student enrollment.[3] Scranton had a total undergraduate and graduate student population of approximately 5,500 people, as of 2010.[3] Scranton has also continued to excel academically under Pilarz. U.S. News & World Report ranked Scranton as number 10 out of 165 universities and colleges in the Northeast United States in August 2010.[13]

In August 2010, Pilarz led a delegation of University of Scranton officials to

Government of Rwanda to integrate an examination of the country into the life of the university."[15]

Pilarz initiated the creation of a support group for gays and lesbians at the University of Scranton called "Inclusion Initiative", explaining "There is no room for prejudice on a Catholic campus."[4]

Throughout his tenure at Scranton, Pilarz had continued to teach at least one course each semester, focusing on a diverse range of subjects, including 16th-century British literature,[3] Renaissance poetry and a course called "Playing God: Theatrical Expression of Divinity."[4]

In 2010, author

New York Times bestseller.[6] Shapiro cited Pilarz's work at the University of Scranton and his fundraising skills for his inclusion in the book.[6]

President of Marquette University

Pilarz was elected to the board of trustees of Marquette University in Milwaukee in September 2009.[4] In March 2010, Pilarz attended his first meeting as a board member.[3] Coincidentally, Marquette President, Robert A. Wild, announced his intention to retire in 2011 after fifteen years as president of the university during the same month.[3][4] A presidential selection committee, headed by Mary Ellen Stanek, began searching for Wild's successor.[3]

On Tuesday, August 31, 2010, the Marquette Board of Trustees unanimously selected Pilarz as Marquette University's 23rd President and successor to Wild.

Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. on July 1, 2011. He officially became president of Marquette University on August 1, 2011.[17]

Pilarz notified the Marquette University Board of Trustees on September 20, 2013, of his decision to resign as university president at the end of the fall semester 2013; the semester ended on December 14, 2013. After 10 years serving in the capacity of a university president, Pilarz planned to pursue new apostolic work as a Jesuit priest.[18]

Later life

Pilarz accepted his appointment to become President of Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda Maryland, starting effectively on July 1, 2014.[19]

The University of Scranton announced on March 21, 2017, that Pilarz would succeed Quinn as the 26th President of the university.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).[20]

Pilarz died on March 10, 2021, in Scranton.[21] He was 61, and suffered from complications related to ALS.[20][22]

Professional achievements

Board memberships

Pilarz was previously a member of the State Ethics Commission for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2005 until 2008.[5] He served as the representative of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) to the board of directors of the American Council on Education (ACE) from 2005 until 2008.[6]

Pilarz has been a member of the University of Scranton board of trustees since 2000 and Marquette University's board of trustees since 2009. He was the president of the board of Camden Catholic High School in New Jersey.[5] He was also a board member of Boston College, Scranton Preparatory School, Scranton Tomorrow and the United Nations of Northeastern Pennsylvania as of 2010.[6]

Awards

Most recently, Pilarz was awarded an honorary degree from

Slovak Republic St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Sciences Great Medal of St. Elizabeth Award.[5]

Membership

Pilarz was a member of numerous professional, academic and cultural organizations including the

The Renaissance Society of America.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Reverend Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., to Serve Again as President of The University of Scranton | Royal News: August 27 2018". news.scranton.edu.
  2. ^ Carroll, Kevin (March 10, 2021). "University of Scranton's Pilarz dies from ALS complications". Times Leader. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Walker, Don (August 31, 2010). "Marquette selects expert on Jesuit education as new president". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glauber, Bill (September 4, 2010). "Marquette University's next president, Pilarz, is spirited leader". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 23, 2010. One night, after dinner at the family's home in Voorhees, N.J., he broke the news to his parents, Joan and Joseph, and his younger sister, Susan.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., PhD biography" (PDF). University of Scranton. Marquette University. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 1, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Marquette names Pilarz to be next president". BizTimes Daily. August 31, 2010. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  7. ^
    Vox Populi
    . Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "History of GU Dogs". Georgetown University. Archived from the original on June 9, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  9. ^ a b c d Richmond, Derek (November 12, 2002). "Jack the Bulldog, Far from Your Average Roommate". The Hoya. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d e Richmond, Derek (April 25, 2003). "Pilarz Named President of U of Scranton". The Hoya. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  11. ^ "Rest in Peace, Jack the Bulldog (1998–2011)". Jacques of all Trades. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  12. ^ "The Inauguration of the Twenty-Fourth President, Reverend Scott R. Pilarz, S.J." University of Scranton. September 29, 2003. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  13. ^ a b Hughes, Christopher J. (September 5, 2010). "Scranton President Pilarz to leave School, Leader bound for Marquette University in summer 2011 to serve as its 23rd president". Times Leader. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  14. ^
    The Times-Tribune (Scranton)
    . Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  15. ^
    AllAfrica.com
    . Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  16. ^ "Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Elected President Of Marquette University Effective Summer 2011". The University of Scranton. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  17. ^ "Fr. Pilarz meets the press at luncheon". Catholic Herald. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. November 10, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "Milwaukee: Marquette University president stepping down". Twincities.com. September 19, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "The 27th President of The University of Scranton". Scranton.edu. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "University of Scranton's Pilarz dies from ALS complications". The Scranton Times-Tribune. March 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  21. ^ "Scott Pilarz obituary". The Scranton Times-Tribune. March 11, 2021. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  22. ^ Shastri, Devi (March 11, 2021). "Rev. Scott Pilarz, who led Marquette University during busy time and then abruptly stepped down in 2013, dies from ALS at 61". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 12, 2021.

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by President of the University of Scranton
2003–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Marquette University
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Herb Keller, S.J.
 President of the University of Scranton
2018–2021 		Succeeded by
Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D.
as Acting president
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