17 saint francis magazine | spring 2026 Photography by Steve Vorderman and Jeffrey Crane (BA ’97) On the surface, Jay Segal does not seem like a man in a hurry. He talks in measured tones, with a gentle, friendly demeanor. It’s why people from freshman students to veteran university administrators feel at ease interacting with him. Yet he’s been on the go— figuratively sprinting—at Saint Francis ever since he graduated four years ago. Still only 26, Segal is the dean of students at Saint Francis. There’s no official database of youngest college deans in the country, but he’s most certainly near the top of the list, not only in 2026 but in history. “It definitely surprises a few people when I tell them how old I am, but I’ve taken on all my roles at a young age—I got my master’s in one year,” he said. “That process is not new for me at this point. I’ve had to supervise people who are older than me and that was difficult at first, but now I’ve adjusted to it.” One of the reasons why Segal fits so effortlessly into his role at Saint Francis—and why he has earned the trust of his superiors—is his knowledge of and love for the university. Segal came to Saint Francis from Lafayette, Indiana. He was recruited to play football and excelled as a receiver, especially in his junior and senior seasons. After three years as a resident assistant, he discovered his desire and long-term career calling to work in higher education. He landed a position as assistant residential director at Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Florida, the first year after earning his master’s degree. “My focus at Saint Leo was preparing myself to be ready for a director’s role,” Segal said. “I learned all the processes I could and created a file of all these documents that I needed so that when I did land a director’s role, I would be prepared for that.” The opening came at Saint Francis one year later, and he became the director of residential life. “Many things, including being an alumnus, made me want to come back here,” he said. “I was obviously very familiar with the area, but in terms of the university, I like the direction that it’s moving in. I really enjoy working with the leadership here—first with Sister Maria Gemma and now with Mike McCaffrey. They paint a very clear vision of how they want things to be. So, for the people I supervise, I can be clear that this is the direction that’s set. We’re following this plan. Let’s get on board with it.” Segal describes his role as dean to be concerned with the big picture, but also intent on the details that bring that big picture to the place it needs to be. “I’m working on a lot of policy stuff, making updates to the handbook, but there is a lot of crisis response, too,” he said. “Students with mental-health concerns, where they need immediate, same-day follow-up, that falls on me. Then, just ensuring that a lot of our student programs are moving in the right direction. Overseeing Title IX compliance, overseeing our student emergency fund and serving as an advisor for student government.” Never completely detached from his roots, Segal works closely with Director of Residential Life Zoe Bernard. “I trust our Res Life team to manage a lot of the day-to-day conduct issues,” Segal said. Bigger issues find their way to the dean’s desk. Segal sorts those issues out in the fairest, more student-focused manner possible. He feels especially fulfilled when helping students move forward when they are stuck. He appreciates the gravity and necessity in managing the student emergency fund. “Those students come to you and they’re really struggling, down bad financially, so to be able to provide any resource to help them goes a long way,” he said. Segal is not only one of the youngest—if not the youngest— dean of any university, but he’s also in his own off-campus apartment for the first time in his adult life. “I’ve been living on a campus, pretty much, for the last eight years—since I became an undergrad,” Segal said. “So that’s been a big change. I enjoy it. It’s different having a commute to work now, but it’s a necessary step.” Given Segal’s professional trajectory, he might not stay in apartment life very long before his next move.
