page_title: Charles W. Lyons
section_title: Boston College
hierarchical_section_title: Charles W. Lyons / Boston College
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of the Rev. Charles W. Lyons, S.J. as President of Boston College
context_page_description: Charles William Lyons 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 Joseph's 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. Mary's Hall and Alumni Field.
context_section_description: 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 college's campus. With construction already underway, he had architects modify the plan for St. Mary's Hall to add a fourth floor, as well as expand the size of the chapel to accommodate 250 people. St. Mary's 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.
caption: Lyons at Boston College in 1916
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