John Sexton

John Sexton
Name	John Sexton
Birth date	1942
Birth place	New York City, United States
Occupation	Law professor, university president, author
Employer	New York University
Alma mater	Fordham University School of Law, Columbia University

John Sexton is an American legal scholar, academic administrator, and author who served as the president of New York University from 2001 to 2015. He is noted for expanding NYU's global presence, strengthening its academic programs, and shaping debates on legal education, intellectual property, and nonprofit governance. His career spans roles as a faculty member, dean, senior administrator, and public intellectual interacting with institutions such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and international universities.

Early life and education

Born in The Bronx and raised in New York City, Sexton attended Fordham Preparatory School before matriculating at Fordham University, where he earned undergraduate degrees. He received his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law and later pursued graduate study at Columbia University in administrative science and urban affairs. During his formative years he clerked and worked in legal settings connected to institutions like New York County District Attorney's Office and engaged with civic organizations including New York City Bar Association and local parish networks in Catholic Church communities.

Academic and legal career

Sexton began his academic career on the faculty of New York University School of Law, where he taught courses in civil procedure, nonprofit organizations, and jurisprudence. He served as dean of the law school and later as provost of New York University before becoming president. His scholarship and administrative work intersected with legal centers and think tanks such as Brennan Center for Justice, American Bar Association, and the Association of American Law Schools. Sexton interacted professionally with figures from Stanford Law School, University of Chicago Law School, and Columbia Law School while participating in conferences hosted by The Brookings Institution, Hoover Institution, and international bodies including UNESCO forums.

Presidency of New York University

As president of New York University, Sexton oversaw ambitious initiatives including global network expansion with degree-granting campuses and academic centers in locations like Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, and London. He championed capital projects at NYU's campuses in Manhattan and Brooklyn, partnering with donors, trustees, and philanthropic organizations such as Carnegie Corporation, Gates Foundation, and corporate partners including Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase. Under his leadership NYU launched interdisciplinary institutes collaborating with entities like Columbia University, The Juilliard School, and Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Sexton navigated controversies involving municipal agencies including New York City Department of Buildings and engaged with elected officials such as the Mayor of New York City and members of the New York State Legislature over urban planning and zoning matters.

Scholarly work and publications

Sexton's scholarly output includes books and articles on civil procedure, nonprofit organizations, and legal pedagogy published through presses and journals associated with Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and law reviews including the Harvard Law Review and the Yale Law Journal. His books have addressed the role of universities in civic life and the globalizing trends affecting higher education, dialogues that referenced historical figures and institutions such as Alexis de Tocqueville, John Dewey, Plato, and contemporary universities like University of Oxford. He has contributed essays to periodicals and compilations alongside scholars from Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology on topics intersecting with philanthropy, governance, and intellectual property debates involving the United States Supreme Court and legislatures like United States Congress.

Leadership roles and public service

Beyond NYU, Sexton served on corporate and nonprofit boards and advisory councils for organizations such as Metropolitan Museum of Art, New-York Historical Society, Council on Foreign Relations, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He advised governmental and international bodies, engaging with leaders at United Nations agencies and participating in commissions linked to the US Department of Education and state higher-education authorities. Sexton collaborated with university presidents from University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Harvard University, and leaders from the Ivy League and global consortia including the Association of American Universities and the Global Network for Advanced Management.

Personal life and honors

Sexton is married and has family connections that intersect with civic and cultural institutions in New York City and beyond. He has received honorary degrees and honors from institutions such as Fordham University, Columbia University, Brown University, and international universities including University of Edinburgh and Humboldt University of Berlin. Awards and recognitions for his leadership and scholarship include distinctions from professional bodies like the American Bar Association and civic honors from municipal entities including the City of New York. He has been profiled in major publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:American legal scholars Category:New York University faculty