John P. “Jack” Clarke, a longtime member of the St. John’s University community and Visiting Professor at the Peter J. Tobin College of Business, will deliver the address at St. John’s Law School’s centennial commencement on May 17, 2026. Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum announced Clarke as the speaker for this milestone event.
Clarke has played a significant role at St. John’s for nearly seventy years, serving in various capacities including Director of Alumni Relations and Professor and Chair of the Department of Law at TCB. He is known for his long-standing connection to the university community, having worked with seven university presidents, fourteen deans, and fourteen basketball coaches.
“I’ve worked for seven University presidents, 14 deans, and 14 basketball coaches, and I’ve known every dean except the very first at the Law School,” Clarke said. He added: “I see how people can help people,” noting that “so much in life is fortuitous.”
Raised without a father and facing financial challenges, Clarke attended St. John’s thanks to support from the Vincentian community—a religious order affiliated with St. John’s University. After earning his law degree in 1957, he spent two years working at Kings County Supreme Court before returning to his alma mater.
Throughout his career at St. John’s, Clarke has taught more than 10,000 students and contributed to public interest initiatives within the law school. In recognition of his service to both the legal profession and public interest work, he received several honors including the John J. Murphy Award in 2019 and a Special Lifetime Achievement Award from the DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center five years later.
Dean Jefferson Exum stated: “Jack Clarke embodies the excellence, prominence, and impact that have defined St. John’s Law for a century.” She continued: “His leadership, mentorship, and philanthropy—particularly in support of public interest work and student opportunity—reflect a lifelong commitment to advancing the Law School’s mission. Honoring him as our commencement speaker in our centennial year is a fitting tribute to a life of remarkable dedication and service and a powerful affirmation of the Law School’s legacy and future.”
St. John’s University operates campuses in Queens and Manhattan as well as international locations in Rome, Paris, and Limerick (source). The institution supports multicultural efforts through its centers focused on local and global initiatives (source). It offers over 100 undergraduate majors across six schools (source) while maintaining its Catholic identity under Vincentian principles (source). Rev. Brian J. Shanley has served as president of St. John’s University.
