Rev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J.
President, University of San Francisco

Father Privett was born in San Francisco. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1960 and is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley and Gonzaga University. His doctorate is in Catechetics and his particular expertise focuses on the Hispanic community in the Catholic Church.

Rev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J.

Rev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J., began his tenure as the 27th president of the University of San Francisco on September 15, 2000.

Father Privett was born in San Francisco. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1960 and is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley and Gonzaga University. His doctorate is in Catechetics and his particular expertise focuses on the Hispanic community in the Catholic Church.

Prior to his appointment at USF, Father Privett served as provost and academic vice president at Santa Clara University. As provost, he was responsible for oversight of student life, intercollegiate athletics, as well as academic affairs. While teaching at Santa Clara, he was recognized for “Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership” with the Sears Roebuck Foundation Award.

Early in his career, Father Privett was an instructor at Jesuit High School in Sacramento and Principal of Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose.

He currently serves as a trustee at Schools of the Sacred Heart and Fairfield University. He chairs the California Campus Compact Executive Board and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth Club of California, Board of Directors of the American Council on Education, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Public Architecture, the Beijing Center and the Fromm Institute. He serves on the accrediting commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the California Foundation and is an honorary member of the San Francisco Host Committee.

Throughout his career, Father Privett has demonstrated a commitment to “whole person education,” a traditional hallmark of Jesuit education. At Santa Clara, he helped establish the Eastside Project, a program that has received national recognition as a model program for community-based learning.


AJCU Board of Directors

Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.
David W. Burcham
Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D.
Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
John J. DeGioia, Ph.D.
John J. Hurley, JD
Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J.
Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J.
Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J.
Rev. John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J.
Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J.
Rev. Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.
Rev. Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J., Ph.D.
Rev. Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
Rev. Michael E. Engh, S.J.
Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J.
Rev. Michael J. Graham, S.J.
Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J.
Rev. Richard P. Salmi, S.J.
Rev. Robert L. Niehoff, S.J.
Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J.
Rev. Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J.
Rev. Thomas B. Curran
Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J.
Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.
Richard Allen Beyer
Thayne M. McCulloh, Ph.D.

Quote of the week

"Immersion experiences can open eyes, destroy prejudice, and change lives. I have watched countless students return from developing countries as changed persons, with renewed hearts eager to live as men or woman for others."
Rev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J., President of the University of San Francisco, commenting on the power of immersion experiences


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Federal Relations


AJCU Federal Relations Network is the lobbying arm of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and comprised of at least one representative from each one of the twenty-eight Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The Network is kept up to date on an on-going basis by the Vice President for Federal Relations on all issues relating to Appropriations, budget, higher education authorization issues and taxes. The Network meets annually in September for a Legislative Conference and also participates in the Annual Committee for Education Funding Legislative Conference and Awards Dinner.
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