Catholic U. Names Alumnus As 14th President

The Rev. David M. O’Connell, associate vice president and dean at St. John’s University in New York, was named the 14th president of Catholic University on Tuesday.

O’Connell, 42, will replace Patrick Ellis, who is stepping down in August after six years.

“Under his leadership, the Catholic University of America will be well poised for entering into the new millennium,” said Cardinal Bernard Law, archbishop of Boston and chairman of Catholic’s 42-member board of trustees.

O’Connell is a Vincentian priest and alumnus of Catholic. He holds doctoral and licentiate degrees in canon law from Catholic University.

He served as co-host and commentator for CBS-TV during Pope John Paul II’s 1995 visit to the United States.

Catholic University, founded in 1887, is the only university established by the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops.