Basic HTML Version
SUMMER 2012 | ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 15
by Meg Bernier ’07,M’09
Those who know John Meagher, direc-
tor of academic services for students
with special needs, insist the “special” in
his title is there because that’s what he’s
been to so many at St. Lawrence.
When he arrived on campus in Sep-
tember 1992, Meagher worked part-
time as acting coordinator, responsible
for helping 96 students. Today, he and
his staff work with nearly 360 students
who have a wide range of needs, includ-
ing temporary and permanent physical
disabilities and a growing spectrum of
learning disabilities. “What makes my
work fun, and what some people don’t
realize, is that each student has differ-
ent needs and it’s my job to make sure
we provide accommodations for each of
those needs,” he says.
Meagher has given
20 years of his career
to St. Lawrence. As
his retirement in 2014
nears, the University is
establishing the John
Meagher Endowment
Fund, which will secure
permanent funding for
his office’s assistant di-
rector position, support
its future growth and
help St. Lawrence carry
on Meagher’s passion for
his work when he leaves.
His current and former
students believe his abil-
ity to help all students,
no matter their need,
is what makes him
admirable. “I succeeded
in college because of
John,” says Erin Coakley
Lassial ’07. “He sup-
ported me in everything
I did and always told me
how proud I made him.
Someday I hope I am able to make an
impact on as many people as he has and
that he knows how proud we all are to
have had the chance to work with him.”
Lassial explains that one area in
which Meagher helped her was reading
comprehension. “He gave me access to
a high-speed scanner that copies texts
onto discs, and to software that converts
speech into text, which is very helpful in
writing papers,” she says.
Meagher notes his students’ successes
wouldn’t have been possible without
St. Lawrence’s willingness to do what-
ever was needed to help.
“Because of the University’s continued
commitment to go beyond the letter of
the law, and thanks to advances in tech-
nology, we’re able to provide services
that many other colleges can’t, and the
end result has been magnificent,” he
says.
Working with students is only one
facet of his job. “Part of John’s role
is to understand the laws regarding
accommodations and communicate
them to the faculty and staff,” says Vice
President of the University and Dean
of Academic Affairs Valerie Lehr. “He
educates us on how our familiarity and
compliance with these laws, along with
our willingness to help, are the differ-
ences between succeeding and failing for
these students.”
From time to time, Meagher meets
with parents of prospective, current
and even former students. “Our son
needed extended time on tests and after
meeting with John during a college
visit, we felt he’d provide our son with
much more than accommodation,” one
parent said. “He was a sounding board,
a friend, an advisor and, if needed, a
contact for parents. My son felt very
comfortable with John, which made it
easier for him to advocate for himself.
This kind of independence is what
parents hope for as their child goes off
to college.”
“Working in education and with
students is exciting,” Meagher says. “We
make a real difference in their lives.
That’s why I love what I do and where
I’m doing it. Watching students succeed
is far better than any salary I get.”
If you are interested in learning more
about how you can support the John
Meagher Endowment Fund, please
contact Tom Pynchon, at tpynchon@
stlawu.edu or (315) 229-5583.
PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION
New Endowment Being Raised
to Honor a ‘Special’ Educator
Meagher endowment fund ensures succes s for s tudent s
One-time University communications
intern Meg Bernier returns to her former
office as University writer; she began
her new duties in March.