Storm The Paint
Fansided

St. John’s University President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw to retire

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: The Most Reverend John Oliver Barres the Bishop of the Rockville Centre Diocese is presented with a St. John's Red Storm jersey by University President Conrado ÒBobbyÓ Gempesaw during a game between the St. John's Red Storm and the Seton Hall Pirates at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2017 in New York City. The St. John's Red Storm defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 78-70. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: The Most Reverend John Oliver Barres the Bishop of the Rockville Centre Diocese is presented with a St. John's Red Storm jersey by University President Conrado ÒBobbyÓ Gempesaw during a game between the St. John's Red Storm and the Seton Hall Pirates at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2017 in New York City. The St. John's Red Storm defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 78-70. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

St. John’s University President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw announced his intentions to retire in June 2021.

Big news dropped out of St. John’s University on Wednesday afternoon as the school confirmed that President Dr. Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw will retire effective June 2021.

Dr. Gempesaw was appointed to the position in 2014 and the end of the 2020-21 academic year will conclude his 36-year career in higher education.

More from Storm The Paint

Prior to arriving at St. John’s, Gempesaw most notably served as the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Miami University (Ohio) as well as the Dean of the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics and Vice Provost for Academic and International Program.

Gempesaw became the first lay person to serve as president in Queens.

The 17th president in school history has been at the forefront of the coronavirus pandemic response which forced all operations to be transited to online and virtual learning in mid-March and Gempesaw ensure that his retirement will have no impact on the school’s future plans in brining students back to campus.

In 2019 President Gempesaw was appointed to NCAA Division I Presidential Forum in which he was to represent the Big East Conference on important issues, challenges and opportunities facing collegiate athletics.

ALSO READ: Mike Anderson addresses Class of 2020 graduates

Prior to the announcement of his retirement, Dr. Gempesaw released a statement on behalf of the university that denounced racism and racial injustice that as swept the nation.

St. John’s recently fired assistant fencing coach Boris Vaksman after a video surfaced of the coach making harsh and sever racist remarks, the New York Post confirmed.

ALSO READ: Former St. John’s stars ready to return to the court

In the release of Dr. Gempesaw’s retirement, the school announced that he will soon begin to search for its next president and ensured a seamless transition to new leadership that will continue to effectively navigate the challenging times that lie ahead.

St. John’s said that details regarding the search process will be released in the future but the process will be on a national level and will include faculty, students, employees, and alumni.