Father Levesque Enjoying New Role Aimed At Advancing Scholarships, Civic Engagement
Father Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., is noticeably relaxed on this sunny April day, 14 years of university presidency etched into his rearview mirror.
He’s meeting with Niagara University alumni and friends in his office, the very room he lived in when the Gacioch Center was still called Meade Hall and before the word “emeritus” followed “president” in his title.
Although the space has since been renovated, much of the office furniture now is the same as it was back then, accentuated by new artwork and mementos Father Levesque collected during his term as the fourth longest-tenured president in Niagara University’s history. Sure, he’s no longer president, but Father Levesque is still very present.
Yet people are often surprised when they see him around town, even though he returned to campus – for good – last summer.
That’s because after stepping down as NU’s president, Father Levesque answered a call from the Vincentian community to serve as interim president of St. John’s University. He would attend special engagements in Western New York periodically, only to return to Queens, N.Y., shortly thereafter.
Father Levesque’s official Niagara homecoming was Aug. 1, 2014. He subsequently underwent successful knee surgery, which required about three months of rehabilitation. With that process behind him, Father Levesque is eager to ramp up his involvement in the local community.
“I’m back, ready to do more,” he said.