Niagara University vice president named to 'Irish Education 100'

The Rev. Kevin G. Creagh, C.M., Niagara University's vice president for university mission and ministry, has been named to the "Irish Education 100" by the Irish Voice newspaper.

The "Irish Education 100," now in its sixth year, honors leading educators of Irish descent.

Father Creagh was named to his current position at NU in May after serving as the university's vice president of campus ministry since August 2011.

This is Creagh's second assignment at Niagara University. From 1996-98, he was a campus minister and coordinated NU's Community Action Program. He provided faculty development for institutional mission and identity. Creagh also coordinated the student retreat program, which addressed the issues of spirituality, human development and community service. In addition, Creagh served as an instructor of religious studies.

Creagh was ordained a member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) in 1996 and has spent almost his entirely priestly ministry in higher education as an administrator, professor and chaplain. He graduated with a B.S. from St. John's University in 1991, and then received a pair of master's degrees (1996 and 1998) from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in New York. He also pursued studies in the field of education, receiving a professional diploma in administration and instruction from St. John's University in 2004 and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011.

Prior to his college education, Creagh enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the reserves as an infantryman.

In addition to his service as a university administrator, Creagh has been a missionary in Taiwan and also served as the vocations director for the Vincentian community.

Creagh is presently the religious superior of the Vincentian community at Niagara University. He also serves on the board of trustees of St. John's University, Christ the King Seminary (Buffalo) and the Niagara Community Center.

A native of Whitestone, Queens, Creagh is the fourth of eight children of James M. and Ellen M. (Cusack) Creagh and traces his Irish roots to both his paternal (Westmeath and Monaghan) and maternal (Galway and Leitrim) sides. All four of his grandparents come to America from Ireland in the early 1920s and raised their children to be both proud of their Irish heritage and of being American citizens.

To learn more about Niagara University, visit www.niagara.edu.