Reverend Lawrence Biondi, S. J.
A Dynamic Leader
Prepares Saint Louis University for the Next Millenium
In what seems to be a recurring theme in Saint Louis University history, another young, dynamic Jesuit leader once again appeared on the scene to move the University to the next level of academic excellence and national status. On September 30, 1987, Father Lawrence Biondi, S.J., was formally inaugurated as Saint Louis University’s 31st president. The 48 year old Biondi, who was already a member of the University’s board of trustees, had been the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University in his native Chicago. Upon assuming the presidency, Father Biondi was taking control of a university that was only just beginning to recover from some very real financial difficulties. Although Saint Louis University’s situation was improving and the budget had been balanced, this turnaround had not come about without significant cuts in academic programs and services.
Father Biondi quickly saw that maintaining the status quo would not be acceptable for an institution that had the potential to be one of the nation’s best Catholic universities. He challenged the entire University community to join with him in making Saint Louis University a better university. Besides embarking on a remarkable program to improve the appearance of all of the University’s campuses, Biondi has worked tirelessly to improve the academic and financial resources of the University. Among the improvements Father Biondi has helped bring about at Saint Louis University during his presidency are:
- 19 new endowed professorships among the faculty
- An increase in the number of faculty from 922 to 1,239
- Recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as a "Research University Level II"
- An increase in research grants and contract support of 13 percent
- Improved average ACT scores for entering freshmen
- Tripling of endowment size from $140 million to more than $600 million
- Creation of Ignatian Service Award Scholarships
- Creation of Presidential Merit Scholars program
- An increase in the number of academic journals published at Saint Louis from 10 to 18
If Father Peter Verhaegen, the first Jesuit president of Saint Louis University, is looked upon as its founder in the early 19th century, and Father William Rogers was called the “second founder” of Saint Louis University at the beginning of this century, it is entirely appropriate to call Father Lawrence Biondi "the re-inventor" of Saint Louis University as it stands ready for the challenges of the next century.
