Dr. L. John Durney
Provost & Vice President For Academic Affairs
Professor of Communications
St. Thomas Aquinas College

Discussion Topics
Media Law and Ethics
Journalism and Public Relations
Community Leadership Programs

Education: B.A., Manhattan College; M.A., Ed.M., Columbia University; Ed.D, Columbia University. (1973)

Dr. L. John Durney was awarded the College's Founders Award in 2003 as Senior Vice President and Professor of Communications at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Since that time he became Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the College. He continues to serve as a member of the President's cabinet, charged with overseeing the academic offerings, faculty and several departments that provide academic services to the College's 2,400 students.

Dr. Durney joined the STAC staff in 1973, and has served the institution in a variety of capacities, including Assistant Director of Admissions, Director of College and Community Relations and Assistant to the President. He has been a member of the College's faculty since 1975, having taught a variety of journalism, public relations and communications courses, including Media Law & Ethics, and the senior seminar for Communication Arts majors.

John holds his B.A. from Manhattan College, and the M.A., Ed.M. and Ed.D. degrees from Columbia University. He is widely published, has guest lectured throughout Rockland and Westchester, and serves as a consultant to a variety of nonprofit organizations. STAC advertisements and publications have won several industry awards.

He is past Chairman and currently Vice Chair, Board of Directors of the Rockland Business Association and past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arts Council of Rockland. He is a co-Founder, former Chair and member of the Board of Leadership Rockland, Inc. He has served as a member of the Orangetown Community Relations Council, the Hudson Valley Council Boy Scouts of America, the Quality Advisory Council for the Pearl River Schools, the Rockland County Bicentennial Commission, and as a volunteer with United Way of Rockland, the Rockland Economic Development Corp., SCORE, and Aquinas High School (NY), among other community involvements. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the New York Deadline Club, the American Association of University Professors, and the Council for the Advancement of Support of Education.

Dr. Durney's biography is included in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the United States, and Who's Who in American Education. He received the Laetare Medal (1993), the President's Award (1998), and a 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal (2001) from St. Thomas. He has also received Certificates of Appreciation from the New York State and Rockland County Legislatures, a Distinguished Service Award from Rockland County (2002), and the 2002 Person of Distinction Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland.