Gerald W. Lynch (March 24, 1937 – April 17, 2013) was the third president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the only institution of higher education in the United States dedicated primarily to the study of criminal justice, law enforcement, police science, and public service.
[3] During Lynch's presidency, John Jay grew from a small police science college to a center of research, education, and training in criminal justice and public safety.
The college decided to trim its budget to remain independent rather than merge with Baruch College, advocating throughout the campaign the sentiment voiced by Lynch in a memo: "John Jay can contribute to the city as a unique resource to help solve the problems of crime, public productivity, manpower needs, and budget management.
In the next two decades of Lynch's presidency, enrollment and the faculty grew, the school's external activities expanded, the college supported more curricular cultural diversity, the endowment increased, and John Jay embraced an approach to education more attuned to the liberal arts.
[4] Lynch lectured throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Australia.