Regians Named to Lead Jesuit Schools

Come this July, three Regis alumni—Michael O’Hagan ’83, Daniel Dougherty ’86, and Jeremy Clifford ’89—will assume the presidencies of a diverse set of Jesuit-run schools.

Michael O’Hagan ’83 will become president of Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, CO, after a fourteen-year tenure as its principal. Before arriving at Arrupe, O’Hagan taught at other Catholic schools in Denver as well as Massachusetts and New York. Darren Walsh, Chair of the Board at Arrupe, described O’Hagan as an “energetic and tireless worker” with “an ability to build consensus around and support for innovative ideas and programs.”

Daniel Dougherty ’86’s destination is Cristo Rey New York High School. He will be leaving behind Xavier High School, where he has served as Executive Vice President for seven years. Before his move to Xavier, Dougherty served as Regis’s Dean of Students for thirteen years. This new role will bring him uptown once again, just twenty blocks north of Regis.

Dougherty and O’Hagan will both be assuming leadership at Cristo Rey schools—part of a growing network of 32 institutions that combine rigorous education with four years of corporate work-study. Serving low-income families only, these schools provide invaluable opportunities and preparation to students who might not otherwise receive it. In this way they share the mission and principles Regis instills in its alumni.

Jeremy Clifford ’89 will be joining St. Ignatius School, a middle school in the Bronx that reflects the same spirit. St. Ignatius offers tuition-free education to underserved families in the New York community. After twelve years as a teacher and then dean at The Taft School in Watertown, CT, Clifford will be coming home to New York.

Rev. Daniel Lahart, SJ, president of Regis, expressed his pride in the new responsibilities Regis alumni are assuming.

“Michael, Dan, and Jeremy all exhibit that spirit of generosity that has always been a hallmark of Regis, and this work reflects their own commitment to promoting justice and exerting leadership in the Church and our communities,” said Lahart. “I am sure our Foundress would be pleased that these Regians impact our world through the important power of education.”