University Leadership

The leadership team includes: the Board of Trustees; the President; the Academic Senate, the Academic Affairs Shared Governance Council, and the President's Cabinet. Review the University's organization chart.

Shared Governance The university presumes that faculty members are best qualified to chart the University's educational course, while administrators are most competent to direct its finances and organization. These domains, in practice are overlapping and interdependent. To function successfully together, faculty and administrators depend upon a high degree of dialog, collaboration, trust, mutual respect, and collegiality.

  1. The Board of Trustees is the fiduciary body who conducts the activities and affairs of the University. All corporate powers are exercised by or under their direction. The Board appoints the President of the University, who is the single administrative officer responsible to the Board. The Board reviews the President's performance. President Connolly is a member of the Board of Trustees.
  2. The President is the chief executive officer of the institution, overseeing all operations from academic affairs and to enrollment and student life, and is responsible for setting future goals and directions for the university.The President serves as an ambassador for the university community. The President acts on behalf of the Board of Trustees, which delegates its authority to him. The President consults regularly with all of the university's constituencies. The President meets regularly with faculty, student and staff, and makes himself available to the JP Catholic community.
  3. The Academic Senate represents the faculty in the shared governance of the university, and is the primary policy-making body for a wide range of issues involving academic life. The senate is empowered to exercise direct control over academic matters of central importance to the University, and has advisory powers on all issues relating to the mission of the university. It is committed to enhancing the academic experiences of all students and faculty. The senate is the final faculty curricular authority for all graduate and undergraduate programs. Its members are all the full-time faculty of the university.
  4. The President's Cabinet is the senior administrative structure within the University. They are the key administrators that manage all areas of the University, including academics, student life, operations and business initiatives. They are the key individuals on campus in carrying out the direction set for the University by the president.

    The President's Cabinet:

    1. Advances institutional communications, shared governance, participatory decision-making, understanding, cooperation and coordination;
    2. Considers and makes recommendations on institutional policies, procedures and programmatic priorities of the University;
    3. Manages projects and initiatives in support of the University's vision, mission and strategic plan;
    4. Plans and participates in resource allocation decision-making;
    5. Advises and assists the President regarding important decisions and urgent matters that impact the institution.

    The Cabinet members are:
    Derry Connolly, President
    Michael Barber, Provost & CAO
    Greg Breen, CFO
    Tom Dunn - Chair, Academic Senate and co-Chair, Media department
    Chris Riley - co-Chair, Media department
    Jerry Jackson - co-Chair, Business department
    Lidy Connolly - SVP of Administration
    Martin Harold - VP of Admissions
    Kevin Meziere - Director of IT

John Paul the Great Catholic University
10174 Old Grove Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92131
Phone: 858-653-6740 FAX: 858-653-3791
email: JP Catholic University