Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

St. John’s University has appointed Jonathan W. Dator, Ph.D., MSCP, CGP, as the new Director of its Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. Dr. Dator, a licensed psychologist, joins St. John’s after eight years as Associate Director of Training at Providence College’s Personal Counseling Center.

Dr. Dator aims to make the center more accessible to students while addressing their diverse issues. “I want people to know who we are and where we are,” Dr. Dator said. “We have a system in place where there are walk-in emergency appointments at any time. Our staff is incredibly diverse regarding race, ethnicity, and identities. We have staff members who speak five languages.”

Dr. Dator earned his doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Seton Hall University in 2014 and has experience working at Seton Hall and Rutgers universities, the University of Notre Dame, and Providence College. He succeeds Luis G. Manzo, Ph.D., who returns to his role as Assistant Vice President of Student Wellness.

Dr. Dator maintains a small telehealth practice in Rhode Island but focuses primarily on St. John’s initiatives such as adding more staff, increasing visibility for the center, and establishing a group counseling program. He plans to collaborate with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and The LGBTQ+ Center on shared interests and engage with the university's veteran community.

A counselor has been dedicated to working with Red Storm student-athletes, another with students enrolled in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and yet another is regularly available at Student Health Services.

Sarah Jean Kelly, J.D., Vice President for Student Success and Retention Strategy at St. John’s University, expressed confidence in Dr. Dator's appointment: “Jon had an immediate sense of the challenges our students face and a vision of how to create a culture of care to ensure they receive the services they need.”

The rebranding effort is part of broader changes aimed at enhancing student wellness programs across St. John’s campuses and locations beyond just renaming the center.

Dr. Dator envisions creating a mindfulness space for meditation and quiet reflection alongside group counseling sessions addressing anxiety, stress management, homesickness, among other issues affecting students.

“The top three issues for which students will come for therapy are anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties,” Dr. Dator noted.

Having faced significant personal challenges during his undergraduate years due to losing most of his eyesight from a genetic condition while studying at Western Connecticut State University, Dr. Dator believes this experience enhances his ability as a mental health professional.

“I don’t think anything happens by accident,” he said regarding his career path focused on college mental health.