The History of St. Peter's University

Joseph McLaughlin is a professor and the chairperson of the Sociology/Urban Studies/Anthropology Department at Saint Peter’s University. Before moving to his present position, he served as the Director of the Graduate Program in Education from 1992-1998 and was a member of the Education Department. In 2004, McLaughlin received the Johnson Award for outstanding teaching. In 2025, he was awarded a double Bene Merenti for 40 years of service to the university and the AMDG Mission Award given to those members of the Saint Peter's University community who best exemplify the core values of the university and live out, in their service to the university, the ideals of Saint Peter's Jesuit mission. Both McLaughlin and his father, Joseph Sr., are graduates of Saint Peter’s.