Meet the Brothers

By Suzanne Guerin
Collegian Editor
April 4, 2007

At his office in the Peale House, Bro. Michael McGinnis was able to take a few minutes out of his hectic schedule for an interview with the Collegian.

C: Where are you from?

MM: I’m from Philadelphia. I was born in Olney and lived there through high school. I went to La Salle High, and I joined the Brothers after graduating in 1965.

C: Where did you go to school? What was your major?

MM: I graduated from La Salle University in 1970 with a degree in English and my certification to teach secondary education. For my master’s degree, which I earned in 1978, and PhD., which I completed in 1981, I studied at Notre Dame. Both are in theology.

C: Where did you work before you came to La Salle?

MM: I taught high school from 1970 to 1974 at South Hills Catholic High School, which is now called Seton-La Salle, in Pittsburgh. While I was studying at Notre Dame, I was the assistant rector of a dorm for three out of the five years. From 1979 to 1984, I taught at the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C. I came to La Salle as a religion professor in 1984 and taught full time until 1994 when I went to Memphis, Tenn. as President of Christian Brothers University. In 1998, I was appointed President of La Salle, and after an interim president served, I came to this position in 1999.

C: How many languages do you speak?

MM: I can get around in Spanish and French. When I taught in Pittsburgh, I had to learn to understand my students and they me.

C: What do you do for fun/relaxation?

MM: I like to play golf, and I enjoy blues and jazz music. Before I became president I was a big moviegoer. I enjoy spending time with my family. We have a family home on the Jersey Shore in Avalon where we get together when we can.

C: What book are you reading now?

MM: I like to read many books at one time. Right now I’m reading The Stories of Mary Gordon, by Mary Gordon, Who Really Cares by Arthur Brooks, which is about who gives to charities in the United States, and My Freshman Year by Rebekah Nathan, an anthropology professor who enrolled as a freshman in the university she taught at to develop a better understanding of her students.

C: What is your favorite memory from a foreign country?

MM: My most favorite experience was taking my mom to Ireland in 1976. It was her first time out of the country, and she absolutely loved it. She talked about the trip and showed pictures for a long time to come. I also enjoyed living at the Christian Brothers house in Rome when I was on leave there to do research in the 1990-1991 school year. I did research in the archives of the order to study the writings of St. John Baptist de La Salle on his views of the Church.

C: What is your favorite part of being President?

MM: There are really many different favorite parts; it’s a very interesting job. I enjoy being able to represent La Salle, of which I am very proud. I like getting to know alumni around the country and around the world while still getting to know some of the current students.

C: Tell us something about yourself that we don’t know.

MM: I’m a novitiate classmate of Brother Jerry Fitzgerald and Brother Pat Duffy, and, despite being different, we’re all very good friends.

guerins11@lasalle.edu