Leadership Transition
August 25, 2025
Dear Cheverus Community,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that Dr. John J. Moran has been selected as the 19th president of Cheverus High School, beginning his term in July 2026. We are grateful to Fr. Robert J. Pecoraro, S.J. for his eight years of steadfast leadership. Fr. Pecoraro will continue through June 2026, working closely with Dr. Moran to ensure a smooth and deliberate transition.
The Board’s foremost responsibility is to ensure strong, stable, and mission-driven leadership for Cheverus. We anticipated a leadership change as Fr. Pecoraro’s second five-year term neared its conclusion. We also expected that Cheverus, like many other Jesuit schools, would transition to a lay president. The announcement in June that the Jesuit community in Maine would close by 2027 provided clarity on the timing and sharpened our focus on how to provide continuity during the transition. We recognized the value of a deliberate, two-year handoff. This approach allows for a year of overlap with Fr. Pecoraro and ensures the continued presence of the Jesuits on campus during Dr. Moran’s first year as president.
This past spring, the Board engaged in a prayerful and deliberate discernment process to identify the right person to lead Cheverus into its second century. We outlined the qualities essential in our next president—deep commitment to Jesuit values, strong academic leadership, and an intimate understanding of the Cheverus community. Guided by this framework and the experience of other Jesuit high schools, we engaged in a directed search, starting with extensive discussions with Dr. Moran to assess his vision for Cheverus and its alignment with our mission and strategic priorities. Dr. Moran subsequently met with the Executive Committee and the full Board of Trustees, receiving unanimous approval and the full support of the Jesuit community.
Dr. Moran emerged as the clear and compelling choice. With more than 32 years of experience as a Catholic educator—including 17 years as principal at Jesuit high schools in St. Louis and Portland—he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, an abiding commitment to Ignatian values, and a proven ability to guide a school
community through times of challenge and growth. A graduate of Fordham University, with a master’s degree from Middlebury College and a doctorate from Boston College, Dr. Moran brings both deep educational expertise and lifelong dedication to Jesuit education.
As the first lay president of Cheverus, Dr. Moran will provide both continuity and a fresh perspective, rooted in his deep understanding of our Jesuit mission and longstanding relationships within this community. Supported by an experienced leadership team and nine years as principal, he is uniquely equipped to strengthen Cheverus’ tradition of forming young people in faith, leadership, and service while ensuring accessibility and excellence for generations to come.
We have much to celebrate in Fr. Pecoraro’s final year at Cheverus. Our enrollment and tuition revenue have increased in each of the last three years. Our school remains financially strong, mission-driven, and committed to advancing the strategic goals that ensure a vibrant future for our students and community.
This is a defining moment for Cheverus. As we prepare for the Jesuits’ departure and transition to lay leadership, we do so with clarity of purpose, confidence in Dr. Moran, and an unwavering commitment to our Jesuit identity. Please join me in offering your full support and prayers for Dr. Moran as he prepares to lead Cheverus into a bright and hope-filled future.
Very truly yours,
James Hanley
Chair, Board of Trustees
