| Rev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J. | |
|---|---|
| 27th President of the University of San Francisco | |
| Term | September 15, 2000 – present |
| Predecessor | John P. Schlegel, S.J. |
| Born | 1942 San Francisco, California |
| Alma mater | Gonzaga University (B.A.) Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley (M.A.) Catholic University of America (Ph.D.) |
The Reverend Stephen Arena Privett, S.J. (born 1942 San Francisco, California) is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus. Father Privett is the 27th and current president of the University of San Francisco.[1]
Born in San Francisco, California, Father Privett joined the Society of Jesus in 1960 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He holds a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University, a master's of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, and a doctorate in catechetics from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
He has served as an instructor and principal at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California and associate professor at Santa Clara University. While at Santa Clara, Father Privett was appointed academic vice-president in 1991 and provost in 1997.
In 2000, Father Privett was elected president of the University of San Francisco, succeeding Father John Schlegel, S.J., who left to become the president of Creighton University.
In January 2007, Father Privett offered the Invocation at the opening of the 110th Congress and the swearing in of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
Father Privett has received criticism and praise for his 2009 decision to eliminate USF's Master in Theology Program.[2]
After pro-life activists contacted Father Privett because the University awarded an honorary doctorate to Bishop Kevin Dowling, Diocese of Rustenburg, South Africa, where nearly 50 percent of its residences are HIV positive or have AIDS, the president replied that the bishop is "in perfectly good standing" with the Church, and should not be criticized.[3]
In January 2011, Father Privett approved the sale of K.U.S.F.