John Edward Sexton is an American legal scholar, educator, and academic administrator renowned for his leadership in higher education. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in 1963 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1968. Sexton's early career included teaching positions at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and he later joined New York University School of Law as a professor of law in 1978. He rose to prominence as dean of NYU Law from 1988 to 2002, during which he transformed it into one of the world's leading law schools through innovative programs and faculty recruitment. From 2002 to 2015, Sexton served as the 15th president of New York University, overseeing significant growth in the institution's global footprint, including the establishment of NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. Under his leadership, NYU expanded its research initiatives and enrollment, though his tenure was not without controversy, including criticisms over administrative centralization and handling of labor disputes with graduate students. Post-presidency, Sexton has remained influential as a partner at Bryant Rabbino LLP, a strategic advisory firm, and as a consultant on higher education policy. He has also been involved in legal representation for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York in sex abuse litigation, drawing scrutiny for his role in settlement negotiations. Sexton's scholarly work focuses on constitutional law, antitrust, and legal history, with notable publications including 'A Documentary History of the Legal Aspects of Mass Communication.' He has received numerous honorary degrees and awards for his contributions to education and law, and continues to lecture and advise on issues of academic governance and global university networks.