Current Position and Past Experience
James Burns is the 14th President of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. He joined Saint Mary's after eight years at Boston College, where he most recently served as Dean of the Woods College of Advancing Studies and Summer Session. He was also an Associate Professor in the Counseling Psychology Department in the Lynch School of Education at BC.

Formerly, he served as the director of faculty outreach and program assessment for Boston College’s University Mission and Ministry Division.

Prior to joining Boston College, Burns was co-chairman and associate professor of the Graduate School of Psychology at the University of St. Thomas. He has also served as an assistant professor in counseling psychology and religion at Boston University.

Education, Honors and Achievements
Burns earned his undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas College of Business. He completed a master’s degree in counseling psychology at the University and received a second master’s from St. Paul Seminary’s School of Divinity.

He holds a PhD in counseling psychology from Northeastern University. He completed pre doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at Yale School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School.

Personal Details and Community Involvement
Burns is an active member of UPCEA and other Online and Professional forums. He is a licensed psychologist in MN and MA as well as a health services provider. He holds a Diplomate in Counseling Psychology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology. He is also a Certified Group Psychotherapist. He sits on a number of boards and is a doctoral program accreditor for the American Psychological Association.