JAMAICA ESTATES — St. John’s University has named an interim president to replace the school’s scandal-tinged current boss, who will step down at the end of the month, it was announced Wednesday.
The chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees announced that the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque was elected by the board to serve as president while they continue their nationwide search.
Levesque was a former chair of the St. John’s board of trustees and is a native of North Tarrytown, New York. He begins August 1.
Current President Rev. Donald Harrington announced his retirement in May amidst an internal investigation into gifts he and another staffer received from a former dean accused of allegedly embezzling over $1 million from the university.
Harrington officially steps down on July 31.
The dean, Cecilia Chang, committed suicide while she was on trial in federal court.
The university said they will update the public on its internal investigation later this summer.
