Br. Thomas J. Scanlan, F.S.C., was appointed president of Manhattan College in 1987. Prior to his appointment, Br. Thomas was vice chancellor and chief executive officer of Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, West Bank, a private, independent institution sponsored by the Vatican and directed by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
Scanlan is Manhattan College’s 18th and longest-tenured president. Under his leadership, the College has undergone a transformation that has it currently recognized as one of the premier Catholic institutions of higher education in the nation. His presidency has allowed Manhattan to meet the increasing demands of education in the 21st century.
In 1987, Scanlan was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifici Cross from Pope John Paul II for service to the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. A 20-year veteran in the field of education, he was director of finance and education for the New York Province of the Brothers of the Christian Schools from 1978-1981, where he presided over the Province’s 14 educational institutions.
A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Scanlan earned a doctorate in organizational behavior from Columbia University; a Master’s degree from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree from The Catholic University of America. His many professional affiliations include membership with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, National Collegiate Athletic Association and the New York State Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.