William J. Devlin

The Reverend William J. Devlin S.J.
William Devlin circa 1919
15th President of Boston College
In office 1919–1925
Preceded by	Charles W. Lyons
Succeeded by	James H. Dolan
Personal details
Born	(1875-12-15)December 15, 1875 New York City, U.S.
Died	July 21, 1938(1938-07-21) (aged 62) Wernersville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Stonyhurst College Woodstock College St. Andrew-on-Hudson
Orders
Ordination	1908 by James Gibbons

William J. Devlin, S.J. (December 15, 1875 – July 21, 1938) was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit. Born in New York City, he spent many of his early years in Europe, where he was educated at Stonyhurst College in England. Devlin entered the Society of Jesus in Maryland in 1893, and studied at Woodstock College. He became a professor at Boston College in 1910, and eventually became the dean.

In 1919, Devlin was appointed president of Boston College. His tenure was characterized by an extensive construction campaign, that resulted in several new buildings, including St. Mary's Hall, and the science building, which was later named Devlin Hall. These projects were supported by an ambitious fundraising campaign. He also made the first proposal for what would become Boston College's business school. His presidency came to an end in 1925, and he became the rector of St. Andrew-on-Hudson, a Jesuit novitiate in New York. He left St. Andrew-on-Hudson in 1933, and was made rector of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola and president of Regis High School in Manhattan. Two years later, he became ill and eventually retired to the novitiate in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1938.