No. 61: James Lentini – Molloy’s Musical Master

Sweet music: With accomplished guitarist and composer James Lentini at the wheel, Molloy University has nearly doubled its endowment -- and continues to set first-year enrollment records, even as enrollment at private colleges and universities declines nationwide.

March 19, 2026

You might already know James Lentini, but not as president of Molloy University.

He’s that for sure, and one of the best in the business – in his six years at the helm, Dr. Lentini has overseen Molloy’s transition from college to university, helped double the institution’s endowment and led steady gains in first-year enrollment, belying both the COVID pandemic and declining rates at nationwide private colleges.

But he may ring your bell because Dr. Lentini can shred the axe: The Classical guitarist, internationally recognized composer and proud Rock aficionado is well-known to music lovers, with more than 10 albums strumming in the wind.

On this episode of “Spark: The Innovate Long Island Podcast,” the surprisingly scientific Molloy music master joins host Gregory Zeller to share the similarities between left-brain academia and right-brain artistry – and note that Molloy University is just tuning up.