LONGTIME ADMINISTRATOR AT ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK HONORED BY SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH

April 10, 2026

BROOKLYN and PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – April 10, 2026 – St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) is pleased to announce that longtime administrator of the SJNY community Thomas Travis, Ph.D., special assistant to the president, will be honored by the Sisters of St. Joseph at the annual Spring Liturgy and Luncheon on Sunday, April 19 in Brentwood, New York.

“On behalf of the entire SJNY community, I want to congratulate Tom Travis on this well-deserved recognition,” said SJNY President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D. “For nearly 50 years, Tom has represented the University, and its high ideals, magnificently. Devoting himself to serving not only his students and colleagues and working alongside the Sisters of St. Joseph while advancing their mission, Tom has made an indelible mark on the history of St. Joseph's. There is no one more deserving of this honor.”

Dr. Travis began his career at SJNY in 1978 as Director of the Division of General Studies, serving diverse, non-traditional adult learners. Over the next 48 years, he advanced to dean, vice president for planning and professor of adult education. After stepping down from administration in 2013, he returned as interim provost in 2017 and now serves as special assistant to Dr. Boomgaarden. 

A longtime collaborator with the Sisters of St. Joseph, Dr. Travis credits S. Mary Florence Burns as a mentor and role model. He also worked closely with two Sister presidents, S. George Aquin O’Connor and S. Elizabeth Hill, both of whom he feels indebted to for the opportunity to be part of what they accomplished. 

Dr. Travis has played a key role in the University’s Nicaragua Project, establishing the San Jose Preschool and scholarship programs that now support nearly 100 students annually. He also serves on the board of The Learning Connection, aiding immigrant women through English instruction, and admires the Sisters’ dedication to service and social justice.

The annual Spring Liturgy and Luncheon features an afternoon of prayer and celebration. Proceeds support the Sisters of St. Joseph ministries. 

For more information, visit sjny.edu. 

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
St. Joseph’s University, New York has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan region with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the University provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual rigor, spiritual depth, social responsibility and service. With campuses in Brooklyn and on Long Island, and many online programs, the University offers more than 100 majors and minors, special course offerings and certificates, accelerated dual degrees and affiliated and pre-professional programs.