Stephen J. Squeri ’81, ’86 (MBA), Chairman and CEO of American Express, Donates $10 Million to Manhattan College
The building that houses Smith Auditorium and the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers will be named Squeri Hall.
American Express Chairman and CEO Stephen J. Squeri has made a $10 million donation to his alma mater, Manhattan College. Mr. Squeri’s gift will be contributed to Manhattan College’s Invest in the Vision capital raising campaign and has helped the school surpass its goal of raising $165 million five years ahead of the initial target date. The gift will go toward enhancing Manhattan College’s facilities and infrastructure.
In recognition of Mr. Squeri’s contribution, the on-campus building that houses Smith Auditorium and the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers will be named Squeri Hall to honor the Squeri family's longstanding generosity to Manhattan College. Those ties began with Joseph Squeri '54, Mr. Squeri’s father, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Manhattan College and served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing a successful career working at Colgate, CBS and Bloomingdales.
“I am very grateful for the education I received at Manhattan College,” said Stephen J. Squeri, Chairman and CEO of American Express. “The core principles reinforced throughout my time there are all about leading a purpose-driven life by empowering others to reach their full potential and giving back to our communities. My hope is that this gift, in honor of my father and my family, will help the students and faculty of Manhattan College continue to develop intellectually and spiritually, live with purpose and achieve their full potential.”
“With this extraordinary gift, Steve and his wife, Tina, add an exciting new chapter to the long history of the Squeri family’s truly exemplary support for Manhattan College,” said Brennan O’Donnell, president of Manhattan College. “Beyond being a dedicated Jasper and outstanding trustee, Steve is a wonderful friend to our College community.”
“Steve’s gift, the second largest in the history of the College, will have a lasting impact on Manhattan College” said Thomas Mauriello, Vice President for College Advancement. “It will allow us to move forward in our work of continuous improvement to the College. We will always be grateful for his remarkable generosity.”
Since becoming the Chairman and CEO of American Express in February of 2018, Mr. Squeri has been fostering a culture focused on backing customers, colleagues and communities to make a difference in people’s lives in ways that matter most to them. Under his leadership, American Express has launched innovative payment, financial management and lifestyle offerings for consumers and businesses, expanded strategic partnerships, enhanced digital capabilities and reshaped its strategy to drive growth in international markets. Additionally, Mr. Squeri spearheaded the development of the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework and established the Office of Enterprise Inclusion, Diversity and Business Engagement.
Mr. Squeri is a member of the Business Roundtable, The Business Council, the American Society of Corporate Executives and serves on the Board of Directors of the Partnership for New York City. He also sits on the Board of Trustees of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The Valerie Fund.
A native of Queens, New York, Mr. Squeri is deeply committed to giving back to the community and advancing opportunities for education and economic development. He serves on the Board of Trustees at both of his alma maters: Manhattan College and Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School.
Mr. Squeri lives in New Jersey with his wife, Tina, and together, they have four daughters.