Fordham University is a private, co-educational university located in the Bronx in New York City (but with campuses also in Manhattan — at Lincoln Center — and Westchester). Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1841, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. While officially an independent institution, it strongly embraces its Jesuit heritage. "For most students, the Roman Catholic influence is positive," one reads in The Fiske Guide to Colleges 1998, "and many students say that the Jesuit tradition is the school's best attribute."
History
Fordham University was founded by the Reverend John Hughes, Bishop of New York as Saint John’s College in 1841, and was the first Catholic institution of higher learning in the northeastern United States. Fordham was granted a charter by the New York state legislature in 1846, and in 1907 changed its name to Fordham University. As of 2003, Fordham provided an education to over 8,000 undergraduate students, and over 7,000 graduate students. Fordham awards Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees.
Sports
The Fordham varsity sports teams all use the nickname "Rams". Their colors are maroon and white. The Fordham Rams are members of NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic Ten Conference in all sports except football. In football, the Rams play in the Patriot League of NCAA Division I-AA, and were champions of that league in 2003.
Famous Fordham Alumni
- Alan Alda, actor, 5-time Emmy Award winner on M*A*S*H, best known for portrayal of Hawkeye Pierce, host of Scientific American Frontiers and has just joined the cast of "The West Wing" on NBC
- William J. Casey, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- Mary Higgins Clark, author
- Patricia Clarkson, actress
- General John Keane, Army Chief of Staff
- Bob Keeshan, children's television host Captain Kangaroo
- G. Gordon Liddy, chief operative in Nixon's Watergate scandal
- Vince Lombardi, football coaching legend
- John N. Mitchell, Attorney General under President Nixon
- Dylan McDermott, actor
- Wellington Mara, owner of New York Giants football team
- Charles Osgood, journalist for CBS
- Amanda Seyfried, actress and model (current student)
- Thomas Suozzi, politician
- Donald Trump, businessman (attended, no degree)
- Denzel Washington, actor
- Vin Scully, sports broadcaster
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