About the President
James P. Lentini, D.M.A. - President, Molloy University
James P. Lentini, D.M.A., began his tenure as the seventh president of Molloy University in June 2020. A nationally recognized leader in higher education, Dr. Lentini brings extensive expertise in strategic planning, academic innovation, enrollment management, and fundraising.
About James P. Lentini
"The value of a college education has never been higher. I believe that Molloy is uniquely positioned to educate students who are not only prepared for careers but to embody that education with the core values that allow individuals to succeed and communities to flourish."
Under Dr. Lentini’s leadership, Molloy has set bold goals to expand enrollment and develop new academic programs tailored to meet the evolving needs of the greater New York metropolitan region. He launched Molloy’s first-ever Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan, which resulted in the recruitment of the largest first-year classes in the university’s history. He is also spearheading strategic partnerships with regional hospital systems and industry leaders to create new degrees, certificates, and credentials that address workforce demands in high-growth sectors such as healthcare, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing—building on Molloy’s nationally recognized academic strengths.
A pivotal moment in the institution’s history occurred in 2022, when Molloy attained university status. In shaping a forward-looking vision for this new chapter, Dr. Lentini led the creation of Strategic Plan 2028, a blueprint for Molloy’s continued evolution as a comprehensive university offering top-tier professional and academic programs firmly rooted in the liberal arts.
Since his arrival, Molloy has reached record-setting levels in fundraising and grant support, providing expanded resources for student scholarships and academic initiatives. Dr. Lentini’s vision for the university aligns with its Catholic and Dominican heritage, honoring its founding by the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville and its mission to develop ethical, service-minded leaders.
Dr. Lentini serves on several key boards, including the Long Island Association, the Long Island Arts Alliance, and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU), where he was elected First Vice Chair. He is also President of the Executive Committee of the NCAA Division II East Coast Conference and Chair of the Dominican Higher Education Council (DHEC). His leadership and influence have earned him repeated recognition, including appearances on the Long Island Business News "PowerList: 60 Most Powerful Influencers," Long Island Press PowerList, A-List, and the Power 25 in Education.
Prior to his presidency at Molloy, Dr. Lentini served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Oakland University from 2013 to 2020, overseeing a campus of 19,000 students and 2,500 faculty and staff. He was instrumental in elevating Oakland’s Carnegie Classification to the R2 level for Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity. His earlier academic leadership roles include Dean of the College of Creative Arts at Miami University (OH), Founding Dean of the School of Art, Media, and Music at The College of New Jersey, and Professor and Administrator at Wayne State University, where he established a pioneering music technology program and designed state-of-the-art sound recording and electronic music studios.
An accomplished and award-winning composer and classical guitarist, Dr. Lentini is a voting member of the Recording Academy’s GRAMMY Awards. His honors include the Andrés Segovia International Composition Prize, Atwater-Kent Composition Award (First Prize), McHugh Composition Prize, and grants from "Meet the Composer" and the Hanson Institute of American Music. He has received multiple ASCAP awards and served as a Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome. His compositions have been performed by ensembles around the world, and his recording, Through Time and Place, (Navona Records) was named one of the Best Classical Recordings of 2020 by Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune.
A native of Detroit, Dr. Lentini earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California, a Master of Music from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Wayne State University. He also completed the Management Development Program in Leadership in Education at Harvard University. He is a recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and a Career Achievement Award in Music from Wayne State. Oakland University recognized his outstanding leadership with the inaugural President’s Medal for Excellence.
Dr. Lentini and his wife, Dana, are the proud parents of two sons, Luke and Noah, and a daughter, Evalina.