By Sabina Clarke
Father Peter Donohue Villanova University 32nd president is always on the run…but we captured him for a quick conversation and photo shoot minutes before he was off on a train to New York. But in our brief visit, I discovered that this very down to earth university president has much warmth and a great sense of humor and humility about his many accomplishments.
Peter Donohue may be the only university president in the country who is designated as “scholar of musical theater” — a theater buff from an early age who never missed a day of school from kindergarten through high school — a record he is proud of.
Since his appointment in 2006, this son of an Irish immigrant whose father came to the United States with his family in 1929, and whose mother is German, has put Villanova on the map. He launched a $600 million capital campaign — the most ambitious in the school’s history that succeeded its goal by raising $ 759 million. And with help of a $1 million dollar grant from the Connelly Foundation, he expanded its Irish Studies Program, one of the oldest Irish studies programs in the country with exchange programs with the Abbey Theater and the National University of Ireland, Galway and instituted the Charles A. Heimbold, Jr. Chair of Irish Studies held by a distinguished Irish writer each spring semester.
The physical face of Villanova has changed dramatically. Major expansion is underway with new buildings and a new pedestrian bridge connecting the buildings to the main campus. The Finneran Pavilion, a magnificent sports arena was completed October 2018 and the new Performing Arts Center will be completed by 2020.
A tenured professor at Villanova, Father Donohue served as chair of the University’s Theater Department from 1992 to 2006, annually directing musical theater productions on campus earning six Barrymore Award nominations and one Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical from the Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.
Born in the Bronx, and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, he earned a B.A. with a concentration in theater and communication arts from Villanova in 1975 and was ordained a priest in 1979. He holds an M.A. in Theater from the Catholic University of America, a Masters in Divinity from Washington Theological Union, and a Ph.D. in Theater from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While pursuing his doctorate, he taught theater at the University of Illinois where he received honors for outstanding teaching. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society.
Academically, Villanova has soared under Father Donohue’s watch; this year U.S. News & World Report reclassifies Villanova as a national institution at the doctoral level comparable to Fordham, Boston College, Notre Dame and Georgetown.
SC Can you tell me about your father and mother?
PD They were both strong influences. My father immigrated here from Ireland in 1929 with his family and moved to New York. My mother is German. They both pushed us all to do well and go to college since they were high school graduates.
SC Why did you choose to go to Villanova and when did you realize that you had a vocation?
PD I chose Villanova because I chose the Augustinians as a community to enter. I always had a vocation in the back of my mind. I didn’t talk about it because I didn’t want to be labelled a ‘goody goody.’ It was a way of life that fascinated me so I started exploring different groups and writing to them and I decided on the Augustinians.
SC When did you get the acting bug?
PD It has always been there ever since I was a little kid. I was acting in grade school, high school and college. I didn’t take acting classes until college. I just fell into it as a kid. Then I majored in Theater and got a Ph.D. in Theater.
SC Do you ever want to act again?
PD (laughing) I tell people that this is the greatest acting job of my life!
SC What are some of the musicals that you directed that you particularly like?
PD The King & I, Parade, and Chicago—which I really liked and was a lot of fun. Also I directed Once on This Island—it is on Broadway now.
SC What have you seen lately?
PD I saw My Fair Lady and liked it a lot.
SC Is this a lifetime appointment—president of the university?
PD (laughing) I hope not!
SC Do you want to return to teaching theater and directing musicals when you retire?
PD When I finish this job who knows what I want to do. I am open to possibilities.
SC I hope you are staying in the Augustinians and not running off to Broadway
PD (laughing heartily) Yes, I’m staying in the Augustinians!
Reporter’s Note:
Villanova University founded in 1842 by Irish Augustinians as a school for Irish immigrants is named for the Spanish Augustinian Thomas Garcia (1486-1555) a professor of philosophy at the University of Alcala who entered the Order in Salamanca in 1516. From its beginning the Order promoted education among its members and produced many famous scholars from all over Europe. Martin Luther the father of the Protestant Reformation entered the Augustinian Order in Saxony in 1505 and left in 1524 but continued to wear the religious habit until 1525.