Brian J. Shanley (born July 7, 1958), is an American priest of the Order of Preachers, who began his tenure as the 18th President of St. John's University in New York on February 1, 2021.
[1] Shanley was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, on July 7, 1958, After completing undergraduate studies in history at Providence College in 1980, he earned a licentiate degree in philosophy from The Catholic University of America in 1984.
He was also a member of the executive committee of the American Catholic Philosophical Association During his time as President of Providence College from 2005 to 2020, he also served as regent of studies for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, during which time he held a seat on the Provincial Council, a body of 12 Dominican Friars serving as cabinet-level advisors to the prior provincial.
On March 29, 2019, Shanley announced that, while the Providence College Board of Trustees had recommended that he serve another 5-year term, the Prior Provincial would not be making him available to do so.
As a Dominican Friar, he accepted his superior's decision and concluded his service as President of Providence College at the end of his third term on June 30, 2020.