Preview
Date
2005
Description
Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., was born in 1949 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and raised in Locust Valley, New York. In 1969, he graduated from Princeton and entered the Society of Jesus. He holds M.A. (1973), M.Phil (1974), and doctoral degrees (1980) in history from Yale. In 1981, he received an M.Div from the Weston School of Theology and was ordained to the priesthood. Fr. von Arx taught history at Georgetown University from 1982 to 1998, serving as department chair from 1991 to 1997. A distinguished scholar, Fr. von Arx is the author of Progress and Pessimism: Religion, Politics and History in Late Nineteenth Century Britain (Harvard University Press, 1985). While at Georgetown, he was also a founding director of the Center for Australian, New Zealand & Pacific Studies in the School of Foreign Service. From 1998 to 2004, he served as Dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill (Bronx, New York). In 2004, he became President of Fairfield University.
Overall, Fr. von Arx’s tenure was marked by a conscious emphasis on the Jesuit principles of education; a focus on the integration of living and learning; a strong interest in community engagement and global citizenship; and significant growth in Fairfield’s offerings and facilities. Fr. von Arx oversaw the establishment of the Center for Faith in Public Life in 2005 (now the Center for Social Impact) and the Center for Ignatian Spirituality in 2014 (now the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality). Other new facilities included the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center in 2006; the School of Nursing’s Robin Kanarek Learning Resource Center in 2008; the Jesuit Community Center in 2009; the Bellarmine Museum of Art in 2010 (now the Fairfield University Museum of Art); undergraduate residences at 70 McCormick Road and 51 McInnes Road in 2011 (now Meditz Hall); and Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium in 2015. A major renovation and expansion of the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex was completed in 2016. Meanwhile, Fr. von Arx’s interest in providing students with a distinctive, well-rounded, and well-integrated academic experience at Fairfield led to the development of the First Year Experience program and the Sophomore Residential Colleges. The process of assessment begun during his term laid the groundwork for Fairfield’s 2019 adoption of the Magis Core Curriculum.
In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Fr. von Arx’s administration faced adverse economic conditions. Nonetheless, by the end of his presidency, Fairfield’s endowment had grown to $315 million. In 2015, Fr. von Arx presided over the launch of the Fairfield Rising capital campaign, which would raise nearly $218 million by its 2018 close under the leadership of his successor, Dr. Mark Nemec. Fr. von Arx’s term also included the dramatic events of Superstorm Sandy (2012), which caused widespread power outages and property damage in the region and displaced over 300 Fairfield students from their shoreline rental housing.
As of 2024, Fr. von Arx serves as the superior of the LaFarge House Jesuit Community in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a position he has held since 2017. He is also currently a visiting professor in the history of Christianity at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry.
Publisher
Fairfield University
Collection
Image Archive
Original Format
Photographic print; color; 8 x 10 in.
Digitization Date
2007
Repository
Fairfield University Archives and Special Collections
Copyright
© Fairfield University. This resource may be used for educational or non-commercial purposes. Please direct any questions to digital@fairfield.edu.
Repository Citation
"Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. – 8th President of Fairfield University (2004-2016)." 2005. Image Archive. Fairfield University Archives and Special Collections. https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/image-archive/180.