Letter from the Dean

Welcome

One of my most important functions as Dean is to be certain that we, the Graduate School Office, do everything possible to help you take full advantage of the quality programs being offered you through our various academic components. We are here to serve you the students, your faculty and your departments.

You belong to a graduate student body with a strong heritage of excellence. We began awarding Master's degrees in 1834 and the first Ph.D. was conferred in 1883. A separate administrative structure for graduate education was first developed in 1889 and the first Dean of the Graduate School was appointed in 1924. We currently offer 45 Master's degrees in 29 major fields and 26 doctoral degrees in 24 major fields.

I hope that you will take part in the governing of the Graduate School through your active participation in the Graduate Student Association. I serve as advisor to the group and regularly seek their input on important academic decisions. I also serve as the University Research Administrator. The Office of Research Services is eager to assist you in developing external support for your academic activities.

In summary, we really care about your needs and will try to help you in any way that we can. I wish each of you the very best in your graduate studies at Saint Louis University.

Sincerely,

Donald G. Brennan, Dean of the Graduate School

About the Graduate Dean

Dr. Donald Brennan received his Bachelor of Science in 1967 and his Master of Arts degree in 1969 from Saint Louis University. Both degrees are in Communication Disorders. He received a direct commission as a speech-language pathologist in the United States Air Force and served as Chief of Speech and Hearing Services at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama from 1968-1971. After receiving his honorable discharge, he began his doctoral studies in Communication Disorders at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. His Ph.D. was conferred in 1974 and he began his position as the Assistant Executive Director of the New Orleans Speech and Hearing Centers.

In 1975, he accepted a joint appointment as an Assistant Professor at Saint Louis University in the department of Communication Disorders (Frost Campus) and as a staff speech-language pathologist at the Health Sciences Center. In 1978 he became the Assistant Chairperson of the Department of Communication Disorders, and was appointed Chairperson in 1981. He served in that role until August 1988, when he assumed the position of Dean of the Graduate School.

Even in the midst of his incredibly busy schedule, he has consistently found the time to return our frequent phone calls, answer our memos promptly, meet with the GSA officers, and encourage the administration of the University to ask for graduate student input on various issues. We have heard from many students that he is very accessible and helpful to them as individual students. Without any doubt, Dr. Brennan is an asset to our University and a true advocate for the graduate student population.