president of Georgetown University
What position did Charles W. Lyons take from 1924 to 1928?
Charles W . Lyons Charles William Lyons ( January 31 , 1868 – January 31 , 1939 ) was an American Catholic priest who became the only Jesuit and likely the only educator in the United States to have served as the president of four colleges . Born in Boston , Massachusetts , he attended the local public schools before entering the wool industry . He abandoned his career in industry to enter the Society of Jesus . While a novice in Maryland , he suffered a nervous breakdown and was sent to Georgetown University as prefect . He then resumed his studies at Woodstock College , teaching intermittently at Gonzaga College in Washington , D.C . and Loyola College in Baltimore . After his ordination , he became a professor at St . Francis Xavier College in New York City and at Boston College . In 1908 , Lyons became the rector of Gonzaga College , where he remained for a year before being appointed the president of Saint Josephs College in Philadelphia . While there , he had constructed a new building for the faculty , and his tenure came to an end when he became the president of Boston College in 1914 . He continued the major construction plan of his predecessor , overseeing the completion of St . Marys Hall and Alumni Field . He also dealt with the severe downturn in enrollment due to World War I . His term came to an end in 1919 , and for the next several years , he taught at Boston College , was a priest at the Church of St . Ignatius Loyola in New York , oversaw the construction of Weston College , and led retreats around the country . He was finally appointed president of Georgetown University in 1923 . While he managed construction of the New North building , he was regarded as a poor leader , and his term ended in 1928 . Lyons spent his final years as a missionary , and was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania . Early life and education . Charles William Lyons was born on January 31 , 1868 , in Boston , Massachusetts . He was one of seven children , and his brother George also became a priest . As a young boy , he moved to South Boston and became a parishioner of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul . He attended the Boston public schools , including Bigelow Grammar School , and The English High School . Upon graduating from high school , he went to work in the wool industry , where he advanced quickly . During this time , he studied Latin on his own , and joined the Young Mens Catholic Association , which was founded by the Church of the Immaculate Conception . He eventually became a member of the associations board of directors . Jesuit formation . Following his exposure to the Jesuits at Immaculate Conception Church , Lyons joined the Society of Jesus , and his application was accepted by the provincial superior , Thomas J . Campbell . He proceeded to the Jesuit novitiate in Frederick , Maryland , on August 14 , 1890 . He found his formation at Frederick difficult , and suffered a nervous breakdown during his juniorate , which affected his eyesight . As a result , he was sent to Georgetown University , where he was appointed prefect of the young students , who were fond of him . He remained in this position for one year , before resuming his studies in Frederick . Lyons completed his juniorate in 1895 and commenced his study of philosophy at Woodstock College . There , he gained a reputation as being a good tenor singer , and he assisted with the annual plays . During this time , he was also a catechist at St . Alphonsus Church in Woodstock , Maryland . Following his philosophical studies , Lyons was sent to Gonzaga College in Washington , D.C. , were he taught chemistry to the high school students . He was then sent to Loyola College in Baltimore , Maryland in 1901 to teach grammar and mathematics . The following year , Lyons returned to Woodstock for his theological studies . At Woodstock , he was ordained a priest in 1904 . In 1906 , he returned to Georgetown as the prefect of discipline . Lyons then spent his tertianship year at St . Andrew-on-Hudson in Hyde Park , New York . Following his tertianship , Lyons was appointed a professor of philosophy and political economy at St . Francis Xavier College in New York City . He then transferred to Boston College as a professor of psychology . Gonzaga College . Lyons was at Boston College for only a short while , before being appointed the rector of Gonzaga College . He assumed the position on December 27 , 1908 , succeeding Joseph J . Himmel . Shortly after he took office , an earthquake struck Messina , Italy , and the school offered a solemn high requiem mass for the victims , which was celebrated by Bishop Diomede Falconio and sung by Bonaventura Cerretti . In attendance were Bishop Denis J . OConnell , Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte , the Italian ambassador to the United States , Joseph Himmel , and priests from the Dominican , Franciscan , and Paulist orders . A banquet was held to honor the new president on February 10 , which was attended by Congressman William Bourke Cockran . Lyons term came to an end on July 8 , 1909 , when he was succeeded by Eugene DeL . McDonnell . Saint Josephs College . Following his tenure at Gonzaga College , Lyons was appointed the rector and president of Saint Josephs College in Philadelphia in July 1909 , where he succeeded Cornelius Gillespie . Upon his assumption of the presidency , he simultaneously became pastor of the Church of the Gesú . He maintained good relations with the two successive Archbishops of Philadelphia , Patrick John Ryan and Edmond Francis Prendergast throughout his term , and the Church of the Gesú prospered during this time . Lyons oversaw the construction of a new building for the college faculty on 18th and Thompson Streets . Its ground was broken in the fall of 1910 , and the building was complete by September 1911 . Lyons presidency ended in 1914 , when he was succeeded by J . Charles Davey . Boston College . On January 11 , 1914 , Lyons became the rector and president of Boston College . His selection was praised by many due to his experience in managing building projects . He continued the work of his predecessor , Thomas I . Gasson , to expand the colleges campus . With construction already underway , he had architects modify the plan for St . Marys Hall to add a fourth floor , as well as expand the size of the chapel to accommodate 250 people . St . Marys Hall was completed on January 4 , 1917 . A permanent athletic field was built during his term , and Lyons christened the new Alumni Field on October 30 , 1915 . With respect to the curriculum , Lyons terminated the granting of graduate degrees to students in the newly established adult night education department in 1914 , upon the request of the faculty , who argued that the program would strain the faculty and facilities . The Philomatheia Club was also established , which was a group of Catholic women from Boston who would support the college . Boston College High School was physically separated from the rest of the college for the first time in 1917 , but Lyons continued as rector of both . He also began discussions to create the School of Education , which were not realized until 1919 . In 1918 , he was made a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education . His presidency was largely influenced by World War I . Lyons believed that it was his duty to support President Woodrow Wilson during time of war , and he was appointed to the Military Commission of Massachusetts during 1915 and 1916 . Enrollment at the school dropped by 81% and 15 students and alumni of the school were killed in the war . Boston College hosted a unit of the Student Army Training Corps . Following the end of the war , a Reserve Officers Training Corps unit was established . Lyons term as president ended on July 20 , 1919 , and he was succeeded by William J . Devlin . Pastoral work in New York . Upon the end of his presidency in 1919 , Lyons was transferred to the Church of St . Ignatius Loyola in New York City , where he did pastoral work , including leading retreats for the priests in Boston , Providence , Portland , New York , Saint Paul , and Chicago . He was also especially active in hearing confessions . After three years , Lyons returned to Boston College as a professor of metaphysics , and as the head of the department of philosophy . He also gave lectures on philosophy to various groups in Boston . He was also tasked with overseeing the construction of the Weston College . Georgetown University . Lyons was appointed the president of Georgetown University in October 1924 , succeeding John B . Creeden . Upon his appointment , he became the only Jesuit and likely the only educator in the United States to have been president of four different colleges . Lyons showed little interest in leading Georgetown , and his presidency was considered unsuccessful . The fundraising campaign begun by Creeden floundered during his presidency and ended far short of its goal . He was frequently away from the university , as he preferred to preach and lead retreats . Seeing insufficient dormitory space as the most pressing need on campus , he oversaw the construction of the New North building in 1925 , which was completed in June 1926 in the Colonial Revival style . The interior of Old North was then gutted and redesigned to house classrooms and student services . New North doubled the amount of housing on campus . He also oversaw construction of a new wing of the Georgetown University Hospital . Lyons modernized the curriculum , introducing an alternate course of study to the classical one , and allowing majors for upperclassmen . This coincided with a significant increase in the number of students , and Lyons responded by enlarging the faculty . By 1927 , there were more lay faculty than Jesuits . As a result , the tuition increased substantially to pay for the salaries of the lay professors . Lyons was invited by Calvin Coolidge to his 1925 presidential inauguration , and sat among the cabinet . President Coolidge also appointed him to a federal commission that would plan the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill . During this time , he was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania , with the rank of commander . Lyons presidency came to an end in 1928 , and he was succeeded by W . Coleman Nevils . Later years . Upon the end of his leadership of Georgetown , Lyons joined the Jesuit mission band in Boston , with which he traveled throughout New England , New York , and Maryland for eight years . His health began to deteriorate in 1936 , so the Jesuit superiors stationed him at Weston College as the spiritual father of the theology students . He was transferred to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Boston in July 1937 . The following year , he suffered a major heart attack , from which doctors did not expect him to recover . In 1938 , having seemingly recovered , he went to Boston College High School , but proved unable to continue working . While residing there , he suffered another heart attack , and was sent to St . Margarets Hospital in Dorchester , where he died on January 31 , 1939 . He was buried in the Jesuit cemetery at the College of the Holy Cross . Lyons Hall at Boston College , which opened 1951 , was named in his honor .