L. Jay Oliva

L. Jay Oliva (born 1933 in Walden, New York) was the 14th President of New York University. Dr. Oliva has a B.A. from Manhattan College (1955), and an M.A. (1957) and Ph.D. (1960) from Syracuse University. He was a University Fellow at Syracuse, a Fribourg Fellow at the University of Paris, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Born to an Italian father, his mother was an Irish-speaker from Ireland, and he has shown much interest and lent NYU to Irish-themed celebrations, exhibitions, etc. under the aegis of his Presidency of New York University, including St. Patrick's Day decorations down First Avenue near the NYU Medical Center buildings every March.

Dr. Oliva is the author and editor of numerous works on Russian and European history, including Misalliance: A Study of French Policy in Russia During the Seven Years' War (New York University Press, 1964) and Russia in the Era of Peter the Great (Prentice-Hall, 1969). His fields of academic specialization are 18th century Russia, Russian diplomatic history and 18th century Europe.

Dr. Oliva has received honorary degrees from Tel Aviv University (Doctor of Philosophy, 1994); University College Dublin (Doctor of Literature, 1993); Hebrew Union College (Doctor of Humane Letters, 1992); Saint Thomas Aquinas College (Doctor of Laws, 1989); and Manhattan College (Doctor of Humane Letters, 1987). He was decorated a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor (1997) and received the Premio Guido Dorso of Italy (1998).

His vision has proved crucial to the long-term growth and development of the University, an institution with extraordinarily strong connections to New York City and cities around the world. Through Dr. Oliva's initiative, NYU is the founding member of the League of World Universities, established in 1991, whose membership now represents nearly fifty of the world's great urban universities. La Pietra, a cluster of five magnificent villas in Tuscany bequeathed to NYU by the late Sir Harold Acton, and the Lillian Vernon Center for International Affairs at Washington Square, serve as hubs for international activities that draw scholars and students from around the world.

Oliva served as President of New York University from 1991 - 2002. Under his leadership New York University’s fund-raising efforts soared, increasing from approximately $100 million annually in 1991 to more the $350 million in 2001. In 1995 Oliva oversaw the completion of what was at that time the first billion-dollar campaign undertaken by an American university. Launched in 1985 under Oliva’s predecessor, John Brademas, the campaign was successfully completed five years ahead of schedule.

Dr. Oliva also signed the first contract between a private university and a graduate assistant labor union, the Graduate Student Organizing Committee of Local 2110/United Auto Workers. His son, Edward, now serves as director of operations for SCP Worldwide in NYC. SCP Worldwide is the fastest growing sports and entertainment company in the Northern Hemisphere due to his behind the scenes efforts and leadership.