Fairfield Prep President-Elect named | Press Releases

Image: Rev. John J. Hanwell Fairfield University President Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., announced today that following a nationwide search, Rev. John J. Hanwell, S.J., has been appointed President-elect at Fairfield College Preparatory School, a division of Fairfield University.

Father Hanwell is currently the Associate Director of Advancement for the New England Province of the Society of Jesus. He will take over July 1 for current Prep President Rev. Michael G. Boughton, S.J., who announced in October he would leave the School at the end of the 2005-06 academic year. Father Boughton, who has been President of Fairfield Prep for 10 years, is its longest serving head of school.

"I could not be more pleased with the result of the search," Father von Arx said. "In Father Hanwell, we have an outstanding Jesuit and a veteran educator who has distinguished himself in Jesuit secondary education. Under the leadership of Michael Boughton, Prep is among the nation's top Catholic high schools. I have every confidence that John Hanwell will build on that legacy," Father von Arx said.

In making the announcement, Father von Arx indicated Father Hanwell was the unanimous choice of the search committee, composed of four members of the Fairfield Prep Board of Governors, a Fairfield University vice president and a University trustee who is also president of a Jesuit high school.

Father Hanwell said, "I am very honored to accept this position as the next president of Fairfield Prep. Jesuit education has certainly transformed my own life, and my goal will be to continue to sustain Prep's mission in providing an environment and programs that nurture the academic, spiritual and moral growth of Prep students today, and in the future. I am inspired by the mission of this wonderful Jesuit high school and I look forward to working with the excellent students, faculty, administration, staff, alumni, and parents in the years to come."

Father Hanwell, 49, is a native of Milton, Mass., and a graduate of Boston College High School and Boston College, from which he graduated cum laude in 1978 with a degree in management. He studied philosophy at Loyola University of Chicago and received a Master of Arts in French literature, magna cum laude, from Middlebury College in 1984. He received a Master of Divinity, magna cum laude from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in 1990 and a Master of Theology with distinction from Weston in 1991.

Father Hanwell entered the New England Province of the Society of Jesus in 1979, and was ordained a priest in 1991. He taught French and Spanish and served as chair of the Language Department at Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine from 1984 to 1987, and again from 1991 to 1997 when he left to teach French at Boston College High School. From 1998 to 2004 he served as Rector of the Jesuit community there. During his sabbatical last year, he visited a number of Jesuit high schools in the United States and Europe and served internships with the presidents of Jesuit high schools in Portland, Ore., and Chicago. During the past year he has served as Associate Director of Advancement for the New England Province of the Society of Jesus, Watertown, Mass.

Commenting on the choice of a successor, Father Boughton said, " Fr. Jack Hanwell is a good man and a good priest, and he will bring many gifts to the wonderful Fairfield Prep community, which is so rich in learning, faith, and friendship. I can only hope that he will be as happy here as I have been for the last ten years. I know he will be blessed in being part of the vitality and promise of this special Jesuit school."

For more information: Fairfield University - Martha Milcarek, assistant vice president for Public Relations, (203) 254-4190; Fairfield Prep - Joe Miller, director of Communications (203) 254-4200.