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Saint Louis University Presidential Search

The Search for SLU’s 34th President

Saint Louis University has commenced a search for its 34th president with the naming of a Presidential Search Committee, following the March 21, 2024, announcement from University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., that he will step down at the end of June 2025.

The Saint Louis University Presidential Search Committee is working in conjunction with leadership recruitment firm WittKieffer to identify a diverse group of candidates who are committed to SLU’s mission, values and future. 

Listening Sessions and Community Input Survey

Gathering valuable input from the SLU community is key to the search and will be used to develop the leadership profile and aid in the candidate selection process. All faculty, staff and students were encouraged to participate in listening sessions, which were offered in person and virtually.

  • Agenda Items: What are the things you would like for the new president to accomplish? When you look around you in five years, what will you see that tells you that the right person was hired?
  • Qualifications and Qualities: What are the qualifications and qualities a president needs to achieve the above and to thrive in the role?
  • Selling Points: What makes you most proud to be part of the Saint Louis University community and excited about the future?

For those who were unable to attend a listening session, feedback can also be shared via this confidential survey.

In addition, to provide confidential input to WittKieffer, please email slu-president@wittkieffer.com.

Presidential Search Timeline

  • April to May 2024: Community-wide listening sessions, development of a leadership profile and launch of the national search.
    • In-person listening sessions for students, faculty and staff were hosted on April 17.
    • Zoom listening sessions for faculty and staff were hosted on April 22; for the SLU-Madrid community on April 23; and for students on April 25.
  • June to November 2024: Candidate recruitment, semi-finalist selection, engagement and interviews.
  • December 2024 to January 2025: Finalists selection and interviews, recommendations to the Board of Trustees, approval of the 34th president by the Board of Trustees. 

This timeline is a general guideline and may be adjusted.

Search Committee

The Board of Trustees has announced the members of the search committee for the next president of Saint Louis University.

This 13-member group includes SLU's board chair, trustees, members of the Society of Jesus and representatives from the faculty, staff and student populations. 

  • Joseph Conran ('67, '70), Chair of the Board of Trustees (Committee chair) 
  • Marian V. “Bo” Mehan (’74, ’82), Vice chair of the Board of Trustees
  • Eric Engler, Chair-elect of the Board of Trustees
  • Akberet Boykin-Farr (’93, ’95, ’02), Board of Trustees
  • Ed Ignaczak, Board of Trustees
  • Darryl Jones (’77), Board of Trustees
  • Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., Board of Trustees and member of the Society of Jesus
  • Christine Rollins, J.D. (’96), Professor, Director of Legal Analysis, Research and Communication, and SLU Faculty Senate President
  • Kira Banks, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
  • T. Scott Isbell, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine and the Clinical Core Laboratory
  • Michael Rozier, S.J. (’03), Associate professor and department chair of Health Management and Policy, and member of the Society of Jesus
  • Victoria Villarreal (’86, ’88), Interim co-director and director of Finance and Operations for SLU-Madrid
  • Reueline Arulanandam, Incoming president of the Student Government Association