Hughes was keen to having Harley join the faculty because of his prior teaching experience at Emmitsburg.
[2] Hughes requested that Harley join the faculty at St. John's and leave his position at Mount St. Mary's College and the Seminary in Emmitsburg.
[2] The request was granted, and Harley taught bookkeeping and served as the school’s first dean of students (also referred to as: first prefect of discipline) at St.
Harley was twenty-seven years old when he became president of St. John's, and despite his age, he was able to take command of the school and repair the damage done by Manahan.
Hughes brought Harley overseas, to London, Dublin, and Paris, to search for a treatment, but he was unable to recover.