Fordham University is a private, co-educational university located in the Bronx in New York City (but with campuses also in Manhattan — at Lincoln Center — and Westchester). Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1841, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. While officially an independent institution, it strongly embraces its Jesuit heritage. "For most students, the Roman Catholic influence is positive," one reads in The Fiske Guide to Colleges 1998, "and many students say that the Jesuit tradition is the school's best attribute."

History

Fordham University was founded by the Reverend John Hughes , Bishop of New York as Saint John’s College in 1841, and was the first Catholic institution of higher learning in the northeastern United States. The school was granted a charter by the New York state legislature in 1846. In 1907 the name was changed to Fordham University. (The name Fordham ("village by the ford") refers to the area of the Bronx, named as a reference to the original settlement that was located near a shallow crossing of the Harlem River; this crossing was the only entry to Manhattan from the north until 1693.) As of 2003, Fordham provided an education to over 8,000 undergraduate students, and over 7,000 graduate students. Fordham awards Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. The current president of Fordham University is Joseph McShane, S.J.

Sports

The Fordham varsity sports teams all use the nickname "Rams". Their colors are maroon and white. The Fordham Rams are members of NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic Ten Conference in all sports except football. In football, the Rams play in the Patriot League of NCAA Division I-AA, and were champions of that league in 2003.

Famous Fordham Alumni

• Alan Alda, actor, most notably as Hawkeye in M*A*S*H.
• William J. Casey, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
• Mary Higgins Clark, author
• Patricia Clarkson, actress
• Bob Keeshan, children's television host (Captain Kangaroo)
• G. Gordon Liddy, chief operative in Nixon's Watergate scandal
• Vince Lombardi, football coaching legend
• Wellington Mara, owner of New York Giants football team
• Dylan McDermott, actor
• John N. Mitchell, United States Attorney General under President Nixon
• Charles Osgood, journalist for CBS
• Vin Scully, sports broadcaster
• Donald Trump, businessman (attended, no degree)
• Denzel Washington, actor

External links

• Fordham University web site
• Fordhamensis, Fordham-centered online community.

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