A Q&A With the Next President of BC
See A3
A Look Back at Butler’s Time on the Heights
See A6
Single-Sentence Interviews: What Students Hope To See
See A9
What a Butler Presidency Means for BC Athletics
See A12
Department Chairs Weigh in on a New President
See A5
Advice for Butler: A Heights Editorial
See A8
Butler’s Legacy in Mission and Ministry at BC
See A10
A Timeline of Butler’s Life From Georgia to BC
See A14 And More
By Will Martino Editor-in-Chief
TheHeights sits down for a Q&A with the next president of Boston College
For all that is said about 15 minutes of fame, people rarely talk about the 15 minutes that precede it.
Haub Vice President for Mission and Ministry Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., was sitting in his office at about 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday when he found out the Board of Trustees had elected him as the next University president of Boston College.
By 1:05 p.m., the news had been emailed out to the rest of the BC community.
Given just 15 minutes to reflect on this new role before being thrust into the spotlight, Butler isn’t ready to talk about comprehensive plans just yet.
He won’t officially take over as University president until the summer of 2026, leaving him time to wrap things up in his current role, take a sabbatical, shadow current University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., and, somewhere in the mix, decide the future direction of BC.
Still, after 23 years on campus, he’s no stranger to BC, and what he lacks in logistical specifics, he more than compensates for with vision.
Butler welcomed The Heights into his office for an interview, offering an early glimpse into who he is, how he leads, and where he plans to take BC.
Editor’s note: The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
COVID caused some changes. I couldn’t be as present. I couldn’t be around them as much. I love the sport. I love athletes. I love football players, and they’re incredibly welcoming of me, and my job is to support them. They’ve got great coaches. They don’t need me to coach them. I need to support them as human beings, and that’s been wonderful.
Q: A lot of your work at BC has been very hands-on and involved with students. As University president, do you intend to maintain this outward-facing presence on campus?
A: Well, I sure hope so. I don’t think Fr. Leahy gets enough credit. He might be one of the most student-engaged presidents I’ve ever known, but he does it under the radar.
I want to be known by lots of people, because I like people, and I want to be present in the community so students can see me. But I have a job to do that’s a little different, and I’ve got to be responsible for making sure that BC is whole and that we’re growing.
Q: Speaking of Fr. Leahy—your predecessor raised more money than any University president in BC history. You have helped raise nearly $40 million over the past six years. Tell me a little bit about your method and strategy for raising capital at BC.
When were you informed that you’d been selected as an official candidate?
A: They say it was an extensive Jesuit search, and they went to many different places.
I know that I was asked by the Society of Jesus if I would be willing to interview. I was also told by my provincial that I should consider interviewing.
Even though the search committee might not have reached out to me until just a few months before we started the interviews, I started to have conversations internally with my provincial of “If I’m asked, do you want me to do this?” before then.
Q: Walk me through the vetting process for that.
A: I think they wanted to know what kind of person I am, what kind of Jesuit I am, what are my hopes for the University? Did I have a vision for the University they wanted to see? I think they also wondered, did I love the University, and did I love the people in the University?
Q: What does it mean to be a Catholic university today?
A: Surely, there’s a long faith tradition, there’s a history to the Catholic Church, but it’s a worldview. It’s a way of understanding that people are made in the image and likeness of God, that there’s a goodness to what life is about, that we’re made to give
Q: You’ve got about every design of crucifix on these walls that I can imagine. You spoke about the importance of Catholic symbolism—can you tell me about some of these?
A: I’m a man of faith, so I love the symbols of my tradition, but everything you see on the wall, everything you see here is because somebody gave it to me.
Because people know that I love this Jesus, they’ve gifted me these crosses, and because they gave me a gift, they’re put up.
There’s no other great reason for them being up besides that I want to value and highlight the love that people showed me by putting up and displaying their gifts.
Q: Before coming to BC, you spent a lot of time working in prison ministry with incarcerated individuals. How does that aspect of your service influence your ethos?
A: I was assigned to prisons when I first entered the Jesuits. Within the first few weeks, I was told that that was going to be a ministry that I had to do, and I fell in love, because we all need to be loved. We’re all broken, and we all need to have signs of hope and signs of new life and forgiveness. In a prison, there’s no masks. We tend to wear masks. And in prison, you actually start to see humanity for what it is. And I fell in love with a God that
through hard and difficult conversations.
This is Jack Butler’s home, but it’s everybody’s home that works here, that comes to school here, that comes onto our campus to visit here.
You’ve got to know you’re welcome to be here.
Q: Do you remember the moment you first felt called to the priesthood?
A: I’ve always felt called to follow this Jesus that I fell in love with, and it scared me, and I ran from it for a long time, and I tried to forget about it, and I tried to put it away.
It wasn’t until I was 28 and people in my life, in different ways, told me I had to be authentic and real, and I had to face the things maybe I was afraid of. I came to terms with the fact that I want to serve this God, and I want to serve the people that this God created. I thought that would be all good and well, and then I found out that’s not always good and well—some people are open to it, some people aren’t open to it.
Some people like you, some people don’t like you. And yet, what I do is because I love God, and I’m trying to love God’s people, as imperfect as that is.
Q: There’s been some fanfare in the world of college athletics about what your tenure means for sports at this school. What are your hopes for the future of BC athletics?
A: Hate speech will never be accepted where I am.
How could you have a community of love? How could you have a community of support where people grow?
I can handle divergent ideologies, and I can handle disagreement, but why would we let people degrade or hurt?
Why would anybody let that happen?
Q: As national policies continue to change rapidly, how do you think BC can maintain a consistent and dependable identity?
A: I think we just be ourselves. We live out of our gospel values, we live out of our heritage, we live out of our Jesuit tradition. I don’t see that as difficult as the question might imply.
Q: For those asking how BC might change once you take over in 2026, what, as of now, might you say to them?
A: I couldn’t give an honest answer to that that has any real credibility to
it right now. My hope is to get up to speed so I can take the reins as the 26th president, and then I want to maintain our momentum, our continuity, and our stability.
Q: What do you anticipate the period between now and the fall of 2026 will look like for you?
A: There’s always a lot to learn, and I have to start by finishing the job I have. Right now, I have a job as the Haub vice president for mission and ministry, and that goes right through graduation, and then after graduation, hopefully somebody’s going to let me have some time off, and then I’ll come back. I don’t need to get to know the community. I don’t need to get to know the people—I’ve been here for 23 years. But I need to start looking at it from different vantage points.
Q: You found out that you had been selected as the next University president about 15 minutes before the rest of the community. Did you know that the turnaround process
would be so fast?
A: I knew that there was going to be a vote. I knew there was the possibility that I would be elected or appointed.
So, we did all the appropriate things beforehand, because once you do that in the world today, it’s going to come out pretty quickly.
I got to Zoom into the board. They asked if I had anything to say.
And honestly, for a guy who has spent a lifetime talking, I had a hard time speaking because I was humbled.
I’ve got to tell you, the support and the love I’ve received since the announcement is almost overwhelming to me. I am so grateful.
Q: When someone asks you to describe the mission of Boston College, what do you tell them?
A: We’re a Jesuit Catholic University specializing in formative education, and we’re trying to get our students to do more than get a job. We want them to live life to the fullest and to maximize the potential in their humanity. n
“An
Faculty and Administration React to Jack Butler’s Appointment as Next University President
administrators.
By Carina Murphy Assoc. News Editor
The appointment of Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., as the next University president of Boston College has sparked discussions among faculty members about the direction the University will take under his leadership.
According to Rev. Andrea Vicini, S.J., the Rev. Michael P. Walsh chair in bioethics and the chair of the theology department, Butler’s leadership will provide an opportunity to strengthen BC’s Jesuit mission while also expanding academic and research initiatives.
“Our Theology Department fully embraces this approach, contributing to form future generations of competent leaders who strive to promote the common good,” Vicini wrote in a statement to The Heights. “Under the leadership of Fr. Jack Butler, S.J., we will continue to contribute in creative ways to the formation of our students.”
“Under the leadership of Fr. Jack Butler, S.J., we will continue to contribute in creative ways to the formation of our students.”
Ethan Sullivan, senior associate dean for undergraduate programs in the Carroll School of Management, believes Butler’s ability to build strong relationships with students, faculty, alumni, and other University partners will be a defining feature of his tenure.
“One of my favorite sayings is that the meaning of life is found in relationships, and Jack is a master in understanding and valuing relationships with others, the self, and God,” Sullivan wrote in a statement to The Heights . “Boston College is blessed that he will steward us through an exciting next chapter.”
“The meaning of life is found in relationships, and Jack is a master in understanding and valuing relationships with others, the self, and God.”
Stanton Wortham, inaugural Charles F. Donovan, S.J., dean of the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, emphasized Butler’s caring approach to supporting both students and faculty.
“I don’t know if you’ve experienced it personally, but Fr. Jack Butler is also a very caring person,” Wortham said. “Students come into his office if they have challenges or concerns, and he works with them, talks to them. He does that with faculty and staff too.”
“I don’t know if you’ve experienced it personally, but Fr. Jack Butler is also a very caring person.”
Gerald Easter, chair of the political science department, said he hopes Butler will be able to build on Leahy’s accomplishments and maintain strong ties with academic departments and key
“I think that overall BC has been run well under Fr. Leahy, and I hope to see continuity in the relationship between the Poli-Sci department and BC’s administrative hierarchy, including the Morrissey College dean, the Provost, and the new President,” Easter wrote in a statement to The Heights
While there is optimism surrounding his appointment, faculty are mindful of the broad- er challenges that But- ler will need to navi - gate.
Ac - cording to Charles Hoffman, chair of the biology depart- ment, the biggest difficulties may not stem from internal
change but from broader, external pressures facing higher education.
“We’re in a turbulent time,” Hoffman said. “Education is under threat, and going through a transition in this period could create certain challenges that wouldn’t arise in a more stable time. But I don’t think that’s anything specific to the current president or the future president.”
“Education is under threat, and going through a transition in this period could create certain challenges.”
Wortham said Butler, who has been at BC since 2002, will be wellequipped to handle these challenges because of his experience at and knowledge of the Universi -
ty.
“If you have a new president come from the outside, there’s a learning curve— it takes some time to get up to speed,” Wortham said. “He doesn’t have any of that, because he’s been with us. He knows the mission. He knows the people.”
Looking to the future, faculty have different areas they hope to see at the forefront under Butler’s leadership.
Hoffman emphasized the importance of expanding BC’s research capabilities, particularly in STEM fields.
“I think a lot of current students are attracted to BC in more STEM areas,” Hoffman said.
“He doesn’t have any of that because he’s been with us. He knows the mission. He knows the people.”
“So building that and continuing to support STEM is going to be what I’m watching for.”
In a video released shortly after the announcement of his presidency, Butler underscored the importance of educating students holistically—an approach Wortham said he is eager to see Butler prioritize.
“Boston College has this distinctive emphasis on holistic human development, on trying to help young people reflect on and develop a sense of what’s ultimately important for themselves,” Wortham said. “I know that Father Butler really cares about that, and I think he’s going to be able to move the University so that more people recognize the distinctive features of what we do in terms of formative education.”
“Boston College has this distinctive emphasis on holistic human development, on trying to help young people reflect on and develop a sense of what’s ultimately important for themselves. I know that Father Butler really cares about that.”
Hoffman said he hopes Butler will welcome suggestions and feedback from faculty when deciding which initiatives to pursue.
“My hope is that he does a lot of outreach to hear from all the different components of the University, and before deciding on what initiatives to prioritize,” Hoffman said.
“My hope is that he does a lot of outreach to hear from all the different components of the University, and before deciding on what initiatives to prioritize.”
For Wortham, the success of Butler’s presidency will be measured by the University’s continued growth and influence.
“The University has been on a good upward trajectory under Fr. Leahy, and I think that with Fr. Jack Butler, he’s really well-positioned to keep that momentum going,” Wortham said. n
Butler’s tenure on the Heights encompasses student engagement, instituitional expansion, and support for diversity
B y A nnik A E ng E l B r E cht News Editor
M E i D A sguptA Editorial Assisstant
Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., never imagined he would pursue a career in higher education—let alone hold a leadership position at Boston College.
“I said, ‘I am never going to go and get a doctorate, and I’m never going to be at a university,” said Butler, Haub vice president for University Mission and Ministry in a 2010 Agape Latte talk. “Nineteen years later, here I am at Boston College, and someone had a stroke and they made me a vice president.”
Fifteen years later, Butler is set to succeed Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., as the next University president after Leahy steps down in the summer of 2026.
For over two decades, Butler has helped shape the spiritual and intellectual landscape at BC. Butler has worked to support the University’s Jesuit mission and promote personal and communal growth among students, faculty, and alumni.
As a member of Leahy’s senior leadership team, Butler has been a part of the major University policies and proposals, ranging from academics to diversity efforts.
As Butler prepares to take on his next role, The Heights takes a look at his history at BC.
Beginnings at BC
Butler’s relationship with the University began in 2002 when he came to campus as a residential minister, trading his work in prison ministry for working with college students.
“Prior to coming to BC, I had worked in prison ministry with violent offenders and I never thought of higher education as a career option,” Butler said in a Heights article at the time. “But I have fallen in love with BC and the higher education apostolate.”
The University appointed Butler as the inaugural director of Manresa House, a spiritual resource designed to help students discern their vocations, in 2007. Under his leadership, Manresa House became a key institution in spiritual life, centered around fostering reflection and discernment among students.
In 2010, Butler succeeded Rev. Joseph A. Appleyard, S.J., as Haub vice president for University Mission and Ministry. His appointment was met with high praise from University leadership, including University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.
“Fr. Butler is a Jesuit who is widely known on campus, and someone who cares deeply about the University’s mission, especially the intellectual and religious dimension,” Leahy said in The Heights’ article.
Following his appointment in 2010, Butler emphasized his commitment to helping students find their calling.
“Ultimately, the goal is to become a University where, through our
academics, service programs, and personal reflection, men and women can find their deepest desire, which is at the heart of Ignatian spirituality,” Butler said in a 2010 statement.
Butler has influenced major institutional initiatives, including the renewal of BC’s Core Curriculum and the strengthening of mission-based programming, according to a University release announcing his appointment.
He has served on all senior administrator search committees for the past 15 years and has helped raise nearly $40 million for academic and student life initiatives, the release added.
In addition, Butler has served as team chaplain for BC football since 2010, providing pastoral care to the student-athletes.
Diversity Activism Takes Center Stage
In October 2017, after two Black Lives Matter signs were vandalized in Roncalli Hall, thousands of BC students staged and attended a “Silence is Still Violence” demonstration. After the march, BC administrators met with eight students to discuss plans for improving diversity and inclusion at the University.
Subsequently, several senior BC administrators, including Butler, signed a letter outlining their plan to increase diversity and inclusion on campus.
The letter proposed a plan to implement a learning module on diversity and inclusion for all incoming undergraduate students and create a survey to collect student feedback on how diversity and inclusion efforts could be improved. It also stated
that the University would commit to working with its then-eight schools to increase diverse faculty hires and recruit a more diverse student body.
At the time, some students said they felt the administrators’ letter did not accurately addressed the issue of diversity on campus, while others wanted to see if BC would follow through on its commitments.
“I think it’s just an extension of the aversion that we’ve been experiencing up to this point,” said Franchesca Araujo, BC ’20, in 2017. “Though the ideas are nice, there are no specifics. We didn’t get any actual concrete action steps or timeline that we can hold them accountable to.”
A year after the “Silence is Still Violence” march took place, over 100 students staged a ‘die-in’ in honor of the demonstration in October 2018.
That same evening, an organization called the Black Eagles sent a letter of demands to the University administration addressed to Leahy, Butler, Patricia Lowe, then-executive director for institutional diversity, Joy Moore, then-interim vice president of student affairs, Tom Mogan, thendean of-students, and David Quigley, provost and dean of faculties.
“We, as students of Boston College, are not responsible for solving structural inequity,” the letter reads. “Rather, we recognize the places for advancement in our community here at Boston College and are open to active listening. Despite this, we are exhausted of the repetitive and cyclical conversation. Therefore, we strongly encourage the university to utilize external organizations and nationally recognized services.”
Two months later, Michael Sorkin, CSOM ’21, defaced University prop-
erty with racist epitaphs, sparking outrage across campus. Following Sorkin’s actions, UGBC confronted a panel of administrators about Leahy’s response to the incident.
Butler was included on the panel.
At the event, he apologized to the student community for BC’s failure to prevent the hate crime.
“Maybe the first step to say, ‘How do we make it more safe for Black students, for all of us here,’ is for you to hear from me I’m sorry,” Butler said.
“I’m sorry as Jack Butler—I am deeply sorry as a Jesuit and a priest—that this environment has not lived up to the standards that I hoped for, and clearly not to the standards that you hoped for.”
Butler acknowledged the need for administrators to listen to the pain Sorkin’s actions caused and reiterated his commitment to collaborating with students to address these issues.
“So the place to start … is for me and my colleagues to hear the pain, disillusionment, the hate, the lack of safety, and for you to hear not only ‘sorry,’ but I want to be committed to work with you,” Butler said.
The events in the fall of 2018 were not the first time that die-ins across campus prompted Butler to join the conversation about diversity at BC, nor would they be the last.
Following a series of protests in 2014, the University created the Committee on Race, which sought to address the issues of race on campus.
Butler, along with Quigley, then-Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Jones, and Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor proposed the committee.
After George Floyd’s death, in June 2020 Leahy sent two letters to the BC community. Butler signed the second letter.
“America today stands as a nation divided and wounded because of longstanding tensions concerning race, police conduct, and civil liberties,” the letter reads. “The current anger, division, and alienation result from long-term, systemic causes, and they call for resolution of underlying issues through immediate and sustained action.”
The letter came after several BC organizations, including the Black Student Forum and the Climate Justice at Boston College (CJBC), circulated petitions that called on the University to explicitly state its support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
In Leahy’s first letter, he stated that Campus Ministry, a division under Butler’s control, would establish partnerships with other faith communities in the surrounding area, in addition to starting programs for undergraduates to speak about race and justice with elementary and high school students.
The letter also stated that the University Mission and Ministry would hold a series of multi-faith services to pray for reconciliation in the country.
A few months prior, in February 2020, CJBC sent a list of demands to
University administrators, including Butler, that called on the University to create a plan to divest from fossil fuels. The University agreed to four of CJBC’s demands, including a meeting with Butler, Mogan, Moore, University Spokesman Jack Dunn, and Chief Investment Officer John Zona.
Most recently, Butler participated in discussions about establishing an on-campus LGBTQ+ resource center.
In 2021, Chris Rizzo, BC ’22 and former chair of Queer Leadership Council (QLC), introduced a new proposal to bring a new resource center to campus. According to Rizzo, he and Aneesa Wermers, then-QLC vice chair and BC ’24, met with Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper Whitehead about their proposal.
Following this meeting, Rizzo said he did not receive any update on the proposal until a meeting with Cooper Whitehead and Butler, where it was quickly shut down, according to Rizzo.
“So it was [Butler] and Shawna, and, you know, within about five minutes of the meeting happening, Shawna was like, ‘Okay, so the resource center is not going to happen,” Rizzo said to The Heights in 2023.
Rizzo told The Heights in 2023 that the University was rejecting the proposal because of its Jesuit values, along with a lack of space and funding. In 2023, Butler did not respond to The Heights ’ request for comment on the alleged meeting with Rizzo and Wermers.
The University has since integrated LGBTQ+ programming and resources into the Thea Bowman Intercultural Center.
Reaching Greater Heights
While Butler won’t assume his role as University president until the fall of 2026, he told The Heights that he wants to maintain BC’s current direction.
“I just want to continue our trajectory,” Butler told The Heights on the day of the announcement. “I want to continue our momentum, our continuity, and our stability.”
In the announcement, Butler reiterated his commitment to the University and said he hopes to strengthen BC during his tenure.
“I look forward to spending the coming year preparing for the presidency, and I promise to devote myself to continuing BC’s upward trajectory and making this great university an even stronger beacon of light and hope for the world,” the announcement reads.
Already an active member in the BC community, Butler stated that he looks forward to enhancing his presence as University president.
“I look forward to working closely with the BC community so that together we can lead Boston College to even greater heights, ever mindful of the responsibility that has been entrusted in me as the University’s next president,” the announcement reads.
“I want to be known by lots of people, because I like people, and I want to be present in the community.”
“I’m
a realist,
and I deal
with the real. If there are controversies, you have to address them.”
“Athletics are, have been, and hopefully will be an important aspect of who we are as a university.”
“The goal is to become a university where, through our academics, service programs, and personal reflection, men and women can find their deepest desire.”
“You don’t wait for people to look right and get it together before you love them.”
The appointment of Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., as Boston College’s next president marks a critical turning point for the University.
With only two presidents in the past 52 years, this transition offers a rare opportunity for BC to embrace change and growth. The Heights believes that Butler is well-positioned to be an effective University president and usher in a new era for BC.
At the end of the academic year, Butler will take a sabbatical from his current role as Haub vice president for University Mission and Ministry.
The Heights offers one simple suggestion for when he officially takes the reins in the summer of 2026: keep it up.
Butler should continue connecting with the student population, as he has throughout his career.
In his 22 years at BC, Butler has continuously offered himself as a resource to students.
From guiding them on their career paths as director of Manresa House to standing by their side during difficult times with crisis response, Butler has proven he is devoted to the student body. This commitment to students is essential for his new position.
Butler’s career not only reflects his commitment to students, but also his ability to have difficult conversations with them.
“You’ve got to be honest,” Butler said in his recent interview with The Heights . “Sometimes people don’t want to hear what the truth is, or what you see it as. But I also have to make the space to listen to what other people are saying.”
Amid an ever-evolving and fraught higher education landscape, Butler effectively conveys the value of a BC education in a way that resonates with students, faculty, alumni, and donors alike.
This skill is critical to making sure the community is well-informed about the mission and progress of the University.
Butler consistently brings a friendliness and engagement to his public speaking that leaves a memorable impression. He is frequently trusted with articulating the University’s mission, speaking at events across the country.
Translating these skills into the duties of the University president will require a conscious effort.
We believe it is imperative that he continues to make these public appearances during these next six months and throughout his tenure as University president to foster a culture of open communication at BC.
Butler should, for example, connect with the student population through regular meetings with student leaders, such as the UGBC president. In
a 2016 Heights op-ed titled “Leahy’s Detachment Will Be His Legacy, Former UGBC President Says,” former UGBC president Nanci Flore-Chettiar wrote, “As UGBC president, I found it much more difficult to organize a meeting with Fr. Leahy. If you thought that he valued the insight of student-elected representatives, you would be wrong. It took nearly a year for us to schedule our first and only meeting.”
In another editorial titled “UGBC Has the Drive to Make Important Change, But Administrators Halt Progress,” The Heights argues that the University rejects student government proposals on the basis of vague institutional values, despite claiming to promote discourse and dialogue.
Many BC students are at the only point in their lives where their work and personal lives are completely intertwined.
Student leaders are elected to advocate and provide a voice for this unique population, and for the past 29 years, they’ve faced unnecessary challenges while doing so.
By organizing regular appointments with these leaders, the incoming University president can fully align himself with promoting discourse and dialogue.
Finally, nearly every Heights editorial can be boiled down to one headline: BC needs to be more transparent about … (insert issue here). Whether it be about financial
aid, their investment portfolio, or LGBTQ+ resources, the University often provides little to no justification for its decisions.
The lack of clarity surrounding these issues leads to the impression of secrecy, regardless of the motivation behind the policy.
So far, Butler’s career has been devoted to open, honest conversation.
We believe he has a real opportunity to improve administrative transparency.
Whether it be through meeting with student leaders individually, responding to The Heights when asked for a comment, making frequent public appearances, or just cracking a smile when walking through campus, we believe Butler is capable and willing to foster a culture of open communication and conversation.
We, as students, look forward to participating in this dialogue with him.
The opinions and commentaries of the op-ed columnists appearing on this page represent the views of the authors of those particular pieces and not necessarily the views of The Heights
By Zach LaTour anna Lauinger nicoLe Murphy Quinn WaLsh Copy Editors
“I hope he continues what Father Leahy has been working on in instilling Jesuit values.”
- Mia Lochhead, CSON ’27
“I hope that Father Butler continues to promote the idea of being a man or woman for others.” - Ahmed Ali Sajanlal, MCAS ’27
“I hope that Father Butler continues to promote Ignatian values among all of us at BC.” - Camilo Calderon, CSOM ’27
“I’m hoping to see refreshing change with a younger generation coming in and more transparency with decision-making.” - Alyssa Cutrona, MCAS ’27
“I hope he considerationsmakes to different financial things that we pay for like laundry and how much we pay for our tuition.” - Leah Tenenbaum, MCAS ’27
“I love pretty much everything about BC, and I hope he keeps it the same way.” - Colin Poe, CSOM ’27
“One thing I’d like to see out of the new president is improvementssome in the basketball team—think we got some work to do there.” - Owen Pendas, CSOM ’28
“A positive environment and a good community.”
- Madden Gillespie, MCAS ’27
“For the school to excel in ways it hasn’t yet.”
- Victoria Vasquez, MCAS ’27
“I hope he keeps investing back into this school and leads the school in an overall like great direction.” - Paul Montrone, CSOM ’26
“I hope the dining halls change to a swipe system.” - Alysse Moskal, MCAS ’27
“I’m hoping to see greater commitment to diversity on BC’s campus and creating more spaces where more students feel represented, listened to, and supported to share their values, ideologies, and just like criticism of BC.” - Mia Wilson, MCAS ’27
“I think BC has really good engagementstudent … So if there were more implications in that realm, like more events, more things within the weeks during the holidays,
and stuff like that to get everybody more engaged. That’d be really great.” - Lauren Lai, MCAS ’27
“I hope he provides more opportunities for people from worse socioeconomic backgrounds.” - Sam Schmer, CSOM ’26
“I would hope that, you know, BC continues on its same path—that it maintains its Jesuit Catholic identity.” - Seamus Collins, MCAS ’27
“I would like to hope that the incentive to be an RA is more of a promise and less of a thing that’s up in the air with the Office of Financial Aid.” - Sam
“A better football team.” - Ethan Safer, CSOM ’25
“I hope BC continues to be a place where students can thrive and achieve their best selves.” - Jenny Fox, MCAS ’25
“Leadership.” - Jack Prophater, CSOM ’25
“I hope he can carry on Father Leahy’s legacy and promote inspiring energy on campus. Ever to excel type vibes.” - Nic Moran, MCAS ’27
“I’m hoping to see more involvement in the school community.”
- Jack Burns, MCAS ’27
Francesca DeMartino, CSON ’27
“A president who is active in BC traditions and a friendly and familiar face on campus who approachableisto all students.”- Sophia Fee, MCAS ’27
“A sports championship.” - Hannah King, MCAS ’27
“I would like to see more athletic funding.” - Christian Carreterro, MCAS ’27
“I want the school to go on a swipe dining hall system.” - Finn Carpenter, CSOM ’27
“I want there to be a
“I would say a larger sense of community—I think people are very friendly, but there are definitely cliques.” - Claire Irons, CSON ’27
“I hope he continues to embody the spirit and values of BC while helping our institution move toward the future.” - Vivienne Woodard, CSOM ’27
“I would like to see Earl Grant get fired.”
- Alexander Schalk, MCAS ’27
“I hope to see BC maintain its inclusive and community.”welcoming - Mia Barba MCAS ’27
“We want more renewable energy.”
- Nathan Depaola, CSOM ’28
“Continued success.”
- Thomas McShane, MCAS ’26
“I’m hoping that he’s receptive to student voices and the needs of students.” – Sabrina Rick, MCAS ’25
“I hope BC continues to grow and become a more inclusive community.” - Gracy Long, MCAS ’27
“I’m hoping he can continue to be a good spiritual presence on campus like Leahy was, hoping the Jesuits continue to have their message and teaching techniques continue, and the values continue, vocal about a lot of issues concerning the faith, really just be a figurehead.” - Gabe Lyons, MCAS ’27
“With the new president having a better chance for the student voices to come through and longer term planning for the university, something that nature.” - Aidan Mackey, CSON ’25
“I would like to see the Jesuit ideals in all aspects of campus.” - Catherine Gstalder, MCAS ’27
“I would like to see the BC continuecommunity to flourish.” -
food here.” - Margaret Jones, MCAS ’28
“Better food.” - Bob Chen, MCAS ’28
“Better recruiting for basketball, better coaching for basketball, and more emphasis on the sports, like football.” - Armand Koochekzadeh, MCAS ’28
“I’d like to see him honor the wishes of BC’s vast alumni network. Also, representing the diverse student body as a whole.” - Elijah Lundberg, MCAS ’28
“Better showers in the Xavier Hall.” - Robert Sasso, MCAS ’28
“Make the food less expensive and also make the meal plans for freshman, like, in shorter amounts, and also choose what they wanna put on the card, and also more money to the dining bucks so that we can also spend more money on coffee. I would rather spend it on coffee instead of chicken and two sides.” - Katia Cloe, CSON ’28
“I think you should add more meal plan options so like instead of the lowest being only a few hundred dollars cheaper, so there be like lesser options or even more money going towards it because I have a lot of money leftover.” - Maria Panoski, MCAS ’28
“I’d like to see the new president put some more money and resources into our football program.” - Ethan Roh, MCAS ’28
lower and printers in the dorms.” - Emily Baldwin, LSEHD ’28
“I would want to see buffet style dining where you swipe in or at least a change in prices with the current system.” - Nathan Jung, LSEHD ’26
“I would like to see for all school programs that require students to go off campus for things like clinicals to have fully transportation.”funded - Joseph Lin, CSON ’26
“If we don’t spend all our money in a semester, we get our money back in the dining hall.” - Cate Pak, MCAS ’28
“More dessert options at Mac after dinner.”Giana Kim, MCAS ’28
“We need to have the good breakfast potatoes every day at Lower.” - Fernando Loor, MCAS ’28
“Reduce the amount of money we spend on
“I hope to see improvements in the housing process.” - Mary O’Brien, LSEHD ’27
“I hope that Father Butler will stick to compassion and values of diversity.” - Annabel Kelsey, CSOM ’28
“Seeing Eagle Apps be a little bit clearer with what classes are actually available so that you don’t try to register and then be told later that you can’t get in to the class.” - Chris Gebbia, CSOM ’27
“Protections of the programs for POC that are already put in place.” - Elise Edmonds, CSOM ’28
“I’m just looking for more protection of different clubs, stuff for studentspro-choice like rights for protesting and stuff like that, and making sure students feel protected and all groups feel included.”
- Maddie Anders, CSOM ’28
By ElizaBEth MahEr
Asst. Magazine Editor
By VEronica PiErcE Magazine Editor
The Society of Jesus has one of the longest formation periods of any religious order, requiring over ten years of rigorous education, spiritual development, and practical ministry before a man can take his final vows.
But Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., Boston College’s soon-to-be 26th University president, has undergone another kind of formation—one deeply shaped by his years of service and leadership at the University.
According to Rev. John Siberski, a psychiatrist at BC’s Office of Ministry to Priests, Butler has been profoundly shaped by both BC and his work within BC’s Division of Mission and Ministry (UMM).
“Over the 15 years that Father has been in Mission and Ministry, he has been formed by Boston College,” Siberski said. “And to now be in a position to help to form Boston College as she moves into the future.”
Butler, who was announced as the next University president on Tuesday, Feb. 18, has spent the last 22 years working at BC as an administrator and Jesuit priest.
He currently serves as the Haub Vice President for University Mission and Ministry.
Butler’s time in UMM has left a lasting imprint on both BC’s mission and his own personal and spiritual development.
The Division of Mission and Ministry
In his role as Haub vice president, Butler oversees the departments and programs within the UMM,
working to advance BC’s mission as a Jesuit, Catholic university.
“Before he was the vice president, we were pretty small,” said Mike Sacco, executive director of the Center for Student Formation and Office of First Year Experience. “We had something called the Intersections Project, we had Campus Ministry, we had a center for Ignatian spirituality, but there were some other offices that now exist.”
By creating these new offices, Sacco
said Butler extended UMM’s reach and influence across campus.
“He’s really grown and helped the whole division kind of become bigger and have a bigger impact on the campus,” Sacco said.
Under Butler’s leadership, the departments focused on both supporting BC students’ development and providing opportunities for students to serve the broader Boston community, according to Lisa DiPietro, special projects manager for UMM.
“He came up with Student Formation, and he brought that on, and then he brought in the Volunteer Service and Learning,” DiPietro said.
“All of the chunks that he’s built is all about us serving others.”
DiPietro
said Butler has a deep commitment to serving people from less-privileged backgrounds.
One of the initiatives Butler helped create is Montserrat, a UMM office that supports students with high levels of financial need.
“Some of these kids come into Boston College, and they’re walking around in windbreakers in this weather because they don’t have the money to buy a coat,” DiPietro said. “Montserrat was the brainchild of someone who actually went to school at BC and saw our need, presented it to Jack, and now there’s an office.”
Although students may not realize it, UMM’s programs are integral to many aspects of student life, from leadership development and service opportunities to spiritual formation and community engagement.
Ellen Modica, a campus minister for catechesis, said many students come to BC without realizing that they engage with or benefit from UMM’s departments.
“If you come under their category, based on your family’s income and the number of people, you’re auto-
matically a part of Mission and Ministry,” Modica said. “You’re obviously one of the people that Mission and Ministry will be interacting with again, even if you don’t know it, right?”
Jesuit Identity Many of Butler’s UMM colleagues view his identity as a Jesuit as a cornerstone of his work at BC.
“He’s a Jesuit who loves the Jesuit mission and history, and who also loves Ignatian spirituality,” said Tomeu Estelrich, director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality.
Estelrich said promoting and educating the BC community on Ignatian spirituality and the Jesuit mission ranks high on Butler’s list of priorities.
According to Dan Ponsetto, the Welles R. Crowther director of the Volunteer and Service Learning Center, Butler is deeply rooted in his connection with Jesus.
“He is a person who is deeply grounded in his relationship with Jesus,” Ponsetto said. “I mean, that defines Jack. And I think this is the most important thing that I can say about him, and it’s the gift that I think he will bring to his work as president, and it’s the reason why I think BC made a great choice.”
His sincerity and devotion show through in his work as a pastoral counselor, Modica said.
“When he speaks to them about matters of religion, I believe they feel they can trust him because he comes across as so authentic in his own relationship with God,” Modica said.
Sacco believes that Butler’s caring approach will be an asset as he steps into the presidency.
“I’m excited because we’re getting somebody who’s got, I think, the skills necessary to be a leader of a major organization, but also has a pastoral quality,” Sacco said.
DiPietro said that with Butler’s appointment, BC is gaining a leader who combines qualities from both former University president Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J., and current University president Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J.
“I was in the Father Monan era,” DiPietro said.
“Father Monan was a very vivacious guy. When he sang, you could hear the angels in heaven. And then we have Father Leahy, and Father Leahy is a really brilliant man, more reserved than Father Monan. Now, you’ve got Jack. You’re melding two guys.” Chris Darcy, director of the Office of First Year Experience, emphasized Butler’s focus on Ignatian identity within the University.
“What Father Jack has done, I think, has challenged our division
to make sure that we are lifting up, honoring and doing the work within the structure of the mission, the Ignatian identity of Boston College, in the spirit of St. Ignatius of Loyola,” Darcy said.
This work requires collaboration between UMM and other entities, including the Division of Student Affairs to address all aspects of life at BC, Darcy added.
“That means making sure that we are involved in the intellectual, social, spiritual aspects of our students’ lives,” Darcy said. “And being able to help support that in any way that we can.”
Focus on Community
The key to Butler’s success, Sacco said, lies in his ability to build and sustain connections and collaborations across campus.
“The greatest thing is that Jack has always been involved across campus in every facet of BC,” Sacco said. “He’s great at relationships. He’s got great relationships with administrators, with faculty members, with athletic staff. He has great relationships with the football team having been the chaplain.”
Ponsetto said the two Jesuit qualities of service and relation building often go hand in hand, even when their relationship is not explicit.
“Good example of that is the program BC BIGS. That’s a partnership with Big Brothers, Big Sisters,” Ponsetto said. “And that’s not something that’s explicitly religious, but it’s profoundly Ignatian in the sense that it’s very relational, and so, he’s been very supportive of that.”
Butler prioritizes developing personal connections with students, according to Burt Howell, executive director of Intersections at BC.
“He cares for students and wants to help them grow,” Howell said in a statement to The Heights . “They line up at his office door because he listens with attention and understanding. He also challenges them —sometimes telling them things they may not want to hear—to live up to their potential.”
DiPietro emphasized that Butler’s desire to connect with students lies at the heart of his admiration for BC.
“BC is his love,” DiPietro said. “So, he is a steward of Boston College, and he is going to make sure that it is successful, that he cares more about the people in it.”
Davidson saw firsthand how But ler worked to provide a voice for many different members of the BC community.
“He was present,” Davidson said. “He made you feel safe. He made you feel wanted. He gave us a voice. He made us visible. He allows us to own and share our own stories?”
Butler supports the community through more than just conver sation, though.
“He is a hands-on person,” Davidson said. “He’s something about Jack— he walked the talk.”
This hands-on approach translated into his leadership style in the workplace, Sacco said.
“He’s a guy that puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to supporting the people that work on his team,” Sacco said.
Sacco referenced But ler’s role in growing and developing the Montserrat program as evidence of his di rect approach of supporting the BC community and the Division of Mission and Ministry.
“A lot of the work that Father Jack has really supported have been some of our programs—for example, our Montserrat Program that helps first year or helps students who are coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds,” Sacco said.
of Loyola .
The first trip is set to occur this summer, Davidson said.
“He was able to shepherd this program from a small seed to what it is today,” Davidson said.
Estelrich sees Butler as someone
said. “And Jack is very aware of that, so this program was begun so that priests would have an opportunity to get some continuing education on a wide variety of topics that are relevant to priesthood.”
idential candidates to maintain confidentiality during the search process, according to multiple UMM administrators. Sacco partially attributes Butler’s silence during the process to his background in counseling.
“I think because Jack is
right?” Ponsetto said. “There’s a feeling you’re like, ‘Wow, Boston College got it right.’” But according to Ponsetto, the University could have asked almost anything of Butler and he would have stepped up to the job.
Sacco sees working with those suffering in the world as integral to the BC community, and he believes that Butler’s commitment to this aligns closely with the Jesuit values that guide the University.
“One thing that’s drawn me toward the charism of the order and the works that they do at the universities is that it’s a special place that you can go and receive a world class, top-notch academic experience,”
Sacco said. “But also this notion of formative education that we believe in here about giving students opportunities to integrate what
While Butler’s work focused primarily on students at the Division of Mission and Ministry, he is now tasked with supporting the entire BC community. Still, Ponsetto believes that his deep faith and genuine care for others will propel him in this new role.
“His own experience of faith animates the way that he treats and cares for other people, and I’ve not met many people that care more for our students,” Ponsetto said. “I’ve met very few people
accessible and as approachable as he is, you can be assured that he also prioritizes discretion and confidentiality.”
When the team at the Division of Mission and Ministry got the news about Butler’s appointment, there were many different reactions.
Butler has been a friend and colleague of Modica’s for 22 years, so she was overjoyed upon receiving the news that he would be taking the new position.
“My first reaction was joy,” Modica said. “I think he is a marvelous choice to be the next president of this
According to Davidson, Butler helped provide funding that enabled Montserrat to increase the number of students it served and also proposed a trip to Spain for Montserrat students to learn more about Ignatius
A large piece of But ler’s work of supporting underprivileged individuals occurs in his development of the Ministry to Priests Program. The program provides pastoral care and services to priests in the area.
“It’s a very different life,” Siberski
care as much as Jack does for our students and for the larger BC community and want to advocate for them and want to support them.”
Reactions Across Campus
The Board of Trustees asked pres -
“If Jack had been told by his community, ‘Jack, you’re going to be the groundskeeper over at St. Mary’s Hall, and you’re going to mow the lawns, and then when you’re done with that, you’re going to mop the floors and clean the toilets,’ I have no doubt in my mind that Jack would say, ‘This is what they need me to do,’” Ponsetto said.
Sacco’s reaction mirrors the feelings of both faculty and students across campus.
“BC made a really good decision,” Sacco said. “A really good decision.” Modica believes one of the greatest asset’s Butler brings to the presidency is his character.
“I’ve known Jack for a very long time, and he’s always been who he is,” Modica said. “He has values and standards that he has for himself, that he does not let go by the board.
Who he was as director of vocations, who he has been as vice president for Mission and Ministry, have all been the same person.”
Ultimately, the excitement following the announcement has sparked hope for the future, DiPietro said.
“For the 15 years that I have worked for Father Jack, I have learned so much from him,” DiPietro said. “I am so grateful to him. He has been there for me professionally and personally. I can’t stress enough that BC made the right decision on this one. BC is only going to go up now.”
Looking Forward
Butler’s appointment comes at a critical moment for universities, according to Estelrich.
“It is not an easy moment for universities, well, for any university,” Estelrich said. “It is also not an easy moment for, it’s a politically delicate moment for the life of research, even for the international relationships and international students here, it is not an easy moment.”
Despite the challenges, Estelrich believes Butler is the right person to take on this job.
“We know how good he has been in Mission and Ministry, and we assume that he will be as good or better for the University,” Estelrich said.
Amid the conflict and turmoil the country is currently facing, Modica highlighted how students’ daily fears are likely to intensify—an aspect Butler will need to consider as University president.
“They’re worried about their parents’ ability to stay in this country,” Modica said. “They’re worried about rights being taken away from them.”
But Modica is confident in Butler’s ability to approach these issues tactfully and with a focus on student needs.
“Father Jack is someone who will listen and care about the needs of the students who are worried about their own ability to stay in this country,” Modica said.
His innate spirituality that he has fostered within the Division will translate into his new role, according to Modica.
“I believe he will take with him his overriding concern for the spiritual life of everybody around him into the presidency, and I think he will infuse the presidency with that,” Modica said.
At the heart of it all, Butler will rely on his experiences in Mission and Ministry, as a Jesuit, and as a pastoral counselor as he works to form BC’s future.
“So, there’s the part of me that is excited, and there’s also that little twinge of selfishness losing him, and I don’t want to lose him,” DiPietro said.
Ponsetto was both excited and surprised that Butler had been selected as University president.
“By surprise, I mean, institutions don’t always make the best decisions,
“One thing I can tell you, when you encounter him, you won’t leave the same way, and I’m speaking from experience, right?” Davidson said. “He’s a person who’s going to be with you when you’re in the valley, and when you’re on the mountain top.” n
By Maria StefanoudakiS Sports Editor
About eight hours after Boston College announced the hiring of Haub Vice President for Mission and Ministry Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., as its new president, BC men’s basketball held Virginia Tech to 11 points in the entire first half of its ACC matchup.
It might be a bit early to say a curse has been lifted off BC’s athletic program considering Butler hasn’t even taken office yet—and won’t until the summer of 2026.
But for many BC Athletics fans,
directors—BC is on its eighth AD during Leahy’s tenure, as the position has become somewhat of a revolving door.
And they surely haven’t come from keeping good coaches around.
After the 2023 season, BC lost two of former head baseball coach Mike Gambino’s key assistants due to “budgetary constraints.” Gambino left to coach at Penn State soon after that.
That was the year after the Eagles went 37–20 and made the NCAA Tournament. Last year, BC baseball went 22–31
mention that as a BC fan, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison.
League teams such as Dartmouth—at home, no less—gets old eventually. know, but I want Boston College to have a significant role in whatever
At a critical crossroads for athletics, the University may just have found the man for the job.
By Jack Bergamini Heights Senior Staff
When University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., announced he would leave Boston College in the summer of 2026, questions of who would succeed him began to pour in.
Not only would the new president be in charge of a multi-billiondollar endowment and all the other responsibilities that come with leading a prestigious Jesuit university, but he would also have the luxury of inheriting and transforming BC Athletics.
It’s no secret that BC Athletics is at a critical crossroads when it comes to surviving in today’s landscape. Name, image, and linkness (NIL) and conference realignment bring questions about money and concerns about morals.
But an energizing new football coach in Bill O’Brien and a men’s hockey program that’s ranked No. 2 in the nation also bring hope and excitement to this institution that boasts 29 other Division I teams.
So naturally, with the news that Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., current Haub vice president for University Mission and Ministry, will serve BC’s 26th president, questions were rightfully raised about how this decision would impact BC’s athletic programs in the future.
After talking with individuals around the BC community, I can confidently say that Butler, who has served the BC community for the past 22 years, is the right person to lead BC Athletics into this exhilarating—but also scary—future.
Scott Mutryn, who played quarterback at BC from 1995-1999, has known Butler for 14 years and said Butler understands what the Eagles need to do to be successful moving forward.
“He understands the importance of athletics,” Mutryn said. “People want to come and attend schools that have good athletic programs because it’s something to rally around. It’s something to build camaraderie. It’s something that even long after you’ve graduated, you come back to.” Butler has served as BC football’s chaplain since 2010, traveling to every game and leading Mass before
the Eagles step out onto the field.
Mutryn, who is BC football’s sideline radio analyst, has gotten a close look at Butler’s football mind and deep care for BC’s athletic programs, as Butler spends every game on the sidelines.
“If a block is missed or a penalty is called, you can see his frustration,” Mutryn said. “He’s almost like another coach because he has those mannerisms.”
Mutryn said Butler’s pregame homilies are inspiring and show his dedication to the team in their own right.
“If you heard his homilies and his speeches to the team, then you would want to play,” Mutryn said.
O’Brien expressed equal excitement about Butler’s appointment.
“Father Jack has been an invaluable resource and mentor to our football program since 2010,” O’Brien said. “Through his wisdom and passion, he has been a steadying force to me, our players, and our staff. Father Jack pushes us to be more and do more every single day in football and in our lives.”
Athletics Director Blake James also emphasized his eagerness to work with Butler in a statement to The Heights
“We are thrilled with the announcement of Father Jack Butler as the next President of Boston College,” James said. “Father Jack has been an invaluable partner to our broad-based athletic programs, supporting our student-athletes, coaches and staff. We are excited to do our part to help Father Jack achieve his vision for Boston College and look forward to many years of his leadership. Congratulations Father Jack!!!”
Peter Bell, BC ’86, who currently serves as a trustee associate and was a University trustee and adjunct professor from 2003–10, has known Butler for over 20 years through alumni events, such as when Butler would lead Mass at trustee meetings.
“I’ve probably gotten 300 emails and texts in the last 24 hours around Father Jack,” Bell said. “That’s amazing.”
Bell thinks Butler is the perfect person to lift BC Athletics up to where it needs to be.
“It’s really about demanding excellence,” Bell said. “And excellence starts at the top. He just cares so much
about all the things he’s involved in.”
Mutryn remembers a time when BC Athletics was near the top back in the 2000s—such as when football was ranked No. 2 in 2007 or when men’s basketball made the NCAA Tournament seven times during the decade.
But with NIL, getting back to the top is more challenging than it used to be.
“He’s not clueless to the world,” Mutryn said. “He’s realistic.”
Bell is also a silver-level donor to the Friends of the Heights, meaning he has donated in the range of $25,000 and $49,000 within the last year to BC’s NIL collective. Bell, like many others, acknowledges BC needs to step up in terms of its NIL funding to be successful moving forward.
In order to do that, the message from Butler can’t be anything short of winning, Bell said.
“The spirit has to be, ‘Give us resources, and we will win—consistently,’” Bell said. “It can’t be mediocrity. That just doesn’t work in the world.”
Acacia Walker-Weinstein, BC’s lacrosse coach who has led the program to two national championships, said she is very excited about Butler.
“We are in very, very good hands,” Walker-Weinstein said. “I am so happy
to have been a part of Father Leahy’s tenure and hopefully BC Lacrosse has made him proud. We will continue to work very hard to bring BC and Father Jack more championship pride.”
Earl Grant, Joanna BernabeiMcNamee, Greg Brown, and Katie Crowley—BC’s men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s hockey, and women’s hockey coaches— echoed these sentiments as well.
But bringing more championship trophies to the Heights will come at a price. BC has already shown its commitment to upgrading its facilities with basketball’s $37 million Hoag Pavilion in 2023, football’s $52.6 million practice facility in The Fish Field House in 2018, baseball and softball’s new fields in 2018 with the Harrington Athletics Village and with an indoor practice facility, the Pete Frates Center, in 2022. That won’t be enough, though, in this current landscape.
“If they want to be successful athletically, there’s a price you have to pay,” Mutryn said. And Butler seems to be someone who is invested, professionally and personally, enough to pay the price to be successful athletically while also maintaining BC’s Jesuit message.
Just ask Mike Gambino, BC’s baseball coach from 2011–2023.
“Every time you either sit with Father Jack, speak to him, or hear him speak on the Jesuit mission, it makes you really proud to be part of the tradition,” Gambino said. “He was able to make that mission and how it relates to athletics clear, concise, and get you excited about it.” Butler was instrumental in helping baseball receive its firstever team chaplain, Gambino said.
He was also one of the first people at the University to reach out to Gambino when his son suffered a traumatic brain injury in February 2021, which sent him to the intensive care unit at Mass General.
“That meant a lot,” Gambino said. “It was a huge help.” Butler is known as someone who is always willing to help. Whenever Bell has known someone at BC who is struggling, he has reached out to Butler for guidance—which is why Bell believes Butler is the right person to support BC Athletics.
“He treats everyone with love,” Bell said. “His whole thing is around love and being loved … When you’re around that man, you want to hug that man, and he probably wants to hug you.”n
By Kate Kissel Assoc. Magazine Editor
Butler is originally from Atlanta, GA and attended Atlanta Marist High School, where he played linebacker on the football team. He planned to play college football—until an injury forced him to shift directions.
Butler said his love and passion for God stemmed largely from the influence his two grandmothers had on him. When they were dying, Butler recalled that they were not afraid. Instead, he said, they were full of love for others and for God.
For him, they were the first to demonstrate how to love God and live a life without fear. Butler wanted to be like them—but at this point was still unsure how.
Butler’s family moved to Miami around the same time when he was thinking about college. After suffering an injury, Butler’s plan to play college football unraveled. Without football, he was no longer interested in going to college at all.
While driving down the Palmetto Expressway in Miami, Butler expressed his wishes to his parents. This didn’t go over well— and Butler said he was told to either move out in two weeks or attend college. He chose the latter.
As they sped down the highway, Butler noticed a sign for Biscayne College, now St. Thomas University. The timing was opportune—and Butler decided this was the place for him.
After graduating from St. Thomas in 1987 with a degree in religious studies, Butler worked as a teacher and administrator at a K-8 parish school.
Butler continued on to graduate school at Providence College, where he earned a master’s degree in theology.
Butler was sent to the door of Jim Kane, a Jesuit priest who worked at Boston College. Kane gave him spiritual literature to read that deeply resonated with him.
This was the moment Butler found his home with the Jesuits—and he hasn’t looked back since.
Butler went straight to the University and sought admission. He was accepted to the university on a probationary basis.
Despite originally casting him as an unserious student, Butler said the Augustinian priests there quickly took a liking to him and became invested in his success. Their attention would make all the difference in shaping the trajectory of Butler’s life.
Prior to attending university, Butler saw religious life as something different, unlike the life he currently led.
But the Augustinians were unlike what Butler had expected. They played sports, taught classes, didn’t wear clerics, went to movies, and teased students about going on dates.
After graduating from Providence, Butler decided to return to the people who had inspired him to pursue religious life—the Augustinians.
Surprisingly, Butler said they didn’t want him back. Instead, they directed him to the group they believed would be a better fit—the Jesuits.
Butler entered the Society of Jesus in 1991 as a member of the Northeast Province. During his formation, he taught at the high school and college level.
The BC Board of Trustees chose Butler as the 26th University president on Feb. 18. He will begin his new role in the summer of 2026.
Butler gave a commencement speech at St. Thomas University in 2016. The University honored him with an honorary doctorate in humane letters.
In an interview with STU News, Butler said St. Thomas changed his life, and showed him that he could succeed in both academic and spiritual capacities.
In 2010 Butler was named Haub vice president for University Mission and Ministry. In this role he oversees a variety of mission-based programs: Campus Ministry, the Center for Student Formation, the Volunteer and Service Learning Center, the Offie of irst ear Exerienie, Montserrat Coalition, Center for Ignatian Spirituality, and BC’s Intersections.
Butler started working for Campus Ministry in 2002. He worked to help students work through their spiritual journeys as the inaugural director of Manresa House, a center on campus that provided opportunities for students to learn more about religious life and discern their vocations.
Butler’s education was far from over, though, as he decided to pursue another master’s degree and a doctorate in pastoral counseling at Loyola University Maryland. He received his doctorate in 1995.
Butler also earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the former Weston Jesuit School of Theology, now known as the Clough School of Theology and Ministry at BC.
Beginning in 2019, Butler has collaborated with University Advancement to raise almost $40 million for various BC initiatives.
Since 2010, Butler has served as chaplain to the BC football team.
Butler has served on University President Rev. William P. Leahy’s, S.J., senior leadership team since 2010. According to the University release, he has worked to advance the principles of formative education by partnering with the provost and VP for students affairs.
During his time as a Jesuit, Butler has worked in a variety of areas, including hospital treatment centers, the education apostle, and internal formation.
He has also worked extensively with incarcerated individuals in the prison system, serving as assistant director and inside counselor at St. Joseph Prison Ministry in Framingham, Mass.
In 2000, Butler was ordained to the priesthood.
