A Farewell Message from President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.

June 27, 2025

Dear members of the Saint Louis University community,

I recently left my office in DuBourg Hall for the last time as president. I was preparing to travel to the Global Advisory Board meetings for Jesuit Worldwide Learning – just one of countless good works around the globe in which SLU is engaged.

As I walked down the long second-floor hall, a hall that has been a part of SLU for 137 years, and one that I have walked down each weekday morning and evening for 11 years, beloved colleagues stood shoulder-to-shoulder to applaud and cheer for Fran and me. Behind them on the right were the portraits of past presidents. On the left, photos of all those who have served SLU for 25 to more than 39 years.

I reached the end of the hall, turned, and looked back at beloved friends and colleagues, the portraits, the photos, and, at the other end of the tunnel, my office door and office staff. I paused briefly and began to speak.

I am known to never be at a loss for words. But in that moment, filled with emotion, all I could say as my voice cracked and my eyes began to tear up, was: “Thank you for everything.” 

For the first time, I could not find more words. Overwhelmed with emotion, I proceeded out of the building, my last walk out of the storied structure that had been my professional home, the place where we gathered and discussed the critical issues before us, where we made the decisions that would guide us, where we mourned and deliberated and celebrated since July of 2014.

As my presidency comes to a close, I want to share a few additional words of gratitude with all of you in this video message.

I am confident that you will show incoming President Feser the same warmth, grace, and collaborative spirit that you have shown to me, as you continue to make our University, our community, and our world the way they ought to be. I have been blessed beyond measure.

Thank you, again, for everything.

Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
President