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John Smarrelli Jr., Ph.D., will join the College on April 1 as a major gift officer in the advancement division. In this role, he will focus on raising funds in support of the $100 million Always Forward Campaign and other College priorities.

John is no stranger to the College. A Syracuse native and 1975 Le Moyne grad, he returned to the Heights in 2001 when he was hired by President Charles Beirne S.J. to serve as the College's first provost and vice president for academic affairs. He also served as Le Moyne's interim president from 2007 to 2008. In 2009 he was named the 22nd president (and first permanent lay president) of Christian Brothers University (CBU) in Memphis, Tenn., a position he retired from in 2019 following a successful 10-year tenure. While at the university, he led a successful $50 million campaign, the largest in CBU's history.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to give back to my alma mater in a way that will also allow me to pay it forward by helping future generations of Le Moyne students," said Smarrelli. "This is a great opportunity to help in a way that also allows me to be closer to family." He in in the process of relocating from Memphis to New Jersey.

"John will be a vital asset for the College in this role," said Le Moyne President Linda LeMura. "He understands well the importance of a Jesuit education through his time as an undergraduate student as well as his work as a senior administrator here and at Loyola University Chicago. He did a remarkable job as president of CBU, which is an excellent Lasallian, Roman Catholic institution. It really has come full circle, as I am bringing him back to Le Moyne just as he brought me to the College in 2003 when he hired me as dean of arts and sciences."

John will work out of the greater Philadelphia area, engaging in significant philanthropic relationships with alumni, parents and friends who work and reside in the New York City to Washington, D.C. metro corridor.

"Many of the people I will be meeting with are those I interacted with as provost and interim president, in addition to knowing from my time as a student at Le Moyne," he said. "I am looking forward to re-engaging with them to discuss what a great college Le Moyne is and the key initiatives that are part of the strategic plan under Linda's leadership. When the opportunity came up it really was a no-brainer for me."