Honor a Legacy. Empower the Future.
After nearly two decades of dedicated leadership at Suffolk University, John Nucci, MPA ’79, senior vice president for external affairs, has officially retired — but his impact is far from over.
To honor John’s extraordinary legacy and unwavering commitment to public service, friends and colleagues have launched the John Nucci, MPA ’79 Public Service Scholarship. This scholarship celebrates his countless contributions to the Suffolk community and ensures his spirit of generosity lives on.
We’re still actively raising funds — and we need your help! Join us in supporting the next generation of public service leaders by contributing to this meaningful tribute. Every gift makes a difference.
Support the John Nucci, MPA ‘79 Public Service Scholarship
The John Nucci, MPA ’79 Public Service Scholarship will provide financial support to undergraduate or graduate students across multiple majors who are interested in pursuing a career in public service.
About John
John is a fixture in this city, dating back to his days on the Boston School Committee, including four years as president; as a city councilor at-large; and as a two-term clerk-magistrate of the Suffolk County Criminal Superior Court. He has served as a critical liaison between the University and city and civic leaders, neighborhood groups, and the business community, and he has been a staunch Suffolk advocate on local, state, and federal matters, and a trusted voice with mayors and mayoral administrations, from Menino to Walsh to Wu.
A Relationship Builder
Throughout his career at Suffolk, John has played a monumental role in shaping the footprint of our urban campus. John led the development of the University’s master plan that shifted the campus’ center of gravity from the residential part of Beacon Hill toward Boston’s downtown. John worked to build relationships, listen to community needs and concerns, and find places where interests aligned. The Boston Globe once wrote that John’s work in gaining support for an academic building on Beacon Hill “deserves to be a case study in town-gown relations.”
John was a force behind securing neighborhood support, city approvals, permitting, and construction of the 10 West residence hall, Modern Theatre, Samia, One Court Street, and, most recently, 101 Tremont. He also secured the lease of Suffolk’s critically important athletics fields in East Boston.
His affiliation with this institution spans nearly half a century—from the Master’s in Public Administration degree he received in 1979, to teaching public management starting in 1992, to being named a senior University leader in 2006.
A Family Affair
For John and his wife, Peggy, Suffolk is a family affair. Their oldest son John and his wife Marisa, and their middle son Michael and his wife Ann, and their youngest, Daniel, are all Suffolk alumni. John and his family went public some seven years ago with his fight against kidney disease and a search for a kidney donor. The donor, Kerri Abrams, BS ’03, JD ’07 is also a two-time Suffolk Ram.
For further information on the John Nucci, MPA ’79 Public Service Scholarship, please contact Denise Pinney or at 908-400-3859.
Be part of the legacy. Support the John Nucci Scholarship today.
Sincerely,
Marisa Kelly
President