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Michael Babin / THE SETONIAN - Dean Clay Constantinou of the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy will step down on June 30. Constantinou, a former U.S. ambassador, will have served as dean since 1999. | He said there’s a time and a place for everything, and, on June 30 when he steps down as dean of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy, it will be time for him to return to the private sector.
For former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg Clay Constantinou, who has been the diplomacy school’s top man since 1999, his tenure as dean is due greatly to his own political and diplomatic experiences.
Constantinou’s office is a scrapbooker’s paradise, with pictures of him with people such as Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, former Vice President Al Gore and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, among others - all of whom have marked profound moments in his life, he said.
“I’ve been accused of having too many pictures of President Clinton,” he said, stifling a chuckle.
The Rev. Paul Holmes, vice president for Mission and Ministry, will take over as the interim dean until Constantinou’s successor is found.
The diplomacy school’s ability to bring in key speakers for visits and lectures is credited greatly to Constantinou’s political connections.
Last week, for example, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev came to campus and delivered a speech focusing on the future of democracy.
Others, like Peres, Annan and Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, are all diplomats who have visited Seton Hall in recent years.
“I didn’t do it alone,” he said. “Thanks to my faculty and administration for opening up their friends and their networks, the School of Diplomacy has flourished with speakers who have been the movers and shakers of policies.”
The next dean will be charged with continuing the trend set by the diplomacy school. Although Constantinou will return to the private sector, he said he would like to stay involved in some “international capacity” and remain a “helpful friend” to Seton Hall.
“I will help to whatever extent (the next dean) will need,” Constantinou said.
The office of Provost Thomas Lindsay said a search committee will be announced shortly after commencement.
Lindsay said if all goes according to plan, a new dean should be in place in time for the 2006-07 school year.
GREEK ROOTS
Born in New York City but raised in Cyprus, Constantinou’s Greek heritage is an important part of who he is, he said.
His mother died when he was 2, but he was always around family, he said. Shortly after his mother’s death, Constantinou’s family moved back to Cyprus.
“I was raised in a very warm setting with my father and many family members,” he said.
When he graduated from an American high school at 17, and he enrolled in what is now New Jersey City University.
“I like to say that I received my wings at college,” he said.
After college, Constantinou said one ambition was constant: He wanted a law degree.
But after hastily applying and being rejected at every law school, including Seton Hall, Constantinou decided he needed to find a job.
“It was a reality check,” he said. “One of the most demeaning moments in my life was having to go door-to-door, asking people to buy things from me.”
But, in some ways, the lessons he took from his five years of insurance built character.
“It showed me the art of salesmanship, and I continue to use that as dean of the school,” he said.
When Constantinou reapplied for law school, this time it was with more focus.
He got into Seton Hall Law School. It was there he said he discovered his political activism.
When Turkey began to build a military presence in Cyprus in the mid-1970s, Constantinou said he felt a sense of duty.
“I am very proud of my Greek heritage, and I became an activist the day I watched Turkish troops parachute right into my hometown,” he said.
Constantinou would eventually climb his way up to be a leader in the Greek-American community.
In the late 1980s, he met Michael Dukakis, who would run unsuccessfully for the White House against President George H. Bush.
But Dukakis had an energy by which Constantinou said he was inspired.
“I always felt if I’m going to involve myself in something, I’m going to do it at 110 percent,” he said. “I knew Dukakis didn’t have much of a chance, but this was my opportunity to be meaningful by being a top political contributor.”
Since his help on Dukakis’ campaign, Constantinou has played key fund-raising roles for President Clinton and Sen. John Kerry’s campaigns.
His efforts culminated when he was asked by Clinton to serve as an ambassador.
“Everything came full circle,” he said. “There’s nothing like talking to the president about world affairs and having an influence on politics affecting Americans.”
In 1999, his reign as ambassador was coming to a close.
“I knew there would be one day that I would have to leave that role - just like how I knew one day I would not be dean anymore,” he said.
CONNECTIONS
A friend of his recommended that Constantinou apply for an open dean position at Seton Hall.
“I somehow wanted to incorporate my experiences and continue to cultivate the friendships and relationships I have made through politicking,” he said.
Constantinou entered the School of Diplomacy as dean in May of 1999 and, through his leadership, has helped to build the school, according to Marilyn DiGiacobbe, associate dean for External Affairs.
Constantinou used his connections to bring in people who have had real-world experience in politics and diplomacy, including administrators and professors.
“He has brought this school to new heights and has certainly built the foundation for (the next dean) to bring it to the next level.”
Constantinou said the school has changed drastically from the modest 50 diplomacy students in his first year as dean.
“The record speaks for itself,” he said. “The School of Diplomacy has transformed Seton Hall into an international arena.”
Just Wednesday, the diplomacy school signed an agreement with a university in Moscow to “open doors to have both faculty and student for educational exchange,” DiGiacobbe said.
DiGiacobbe said it is a program like this that defines Constantinou’s era.
“Many of us are disappointed to see him go; people like Dean Constantinou are hard to come by,” she said.
Constantinou compared his management style to running a successful restaurant.
“You always want to maximize and do better year after year,” he said. “Regardless of who is dean, that should always be their focus.”
For now, Constantinou said he is looking forward to quieter times. But some things will never change.
“I’ll always be a diplomat,” he said.
Kelly Kaysonepheth can be reached at kaysonke@shu.edu.
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