His doctorate came from The Catholic University of America where he later became President. On his becoming President a student from Columbia University, where he served with distinction as Dean of the School of General Studies stated of him: "He's a really good guy in the American tradition. He comes on as almost goody-goody, at the same time he's a very clever, shrewd diplomat.
The academic's background is marked by his doctoral degree from The Catholic University of America, where he later became President. As a result, a student from Columbia University, who had worked with him in a distinguished capacity, observed: "He represents the quintessential American ideal. He appears to be an exemplary individual, yet he also possesses remarkable intellectual abilities and diplomatic finesse.