Norman Motivates SLU Community at Cannonball Conference
Andre Norman told the SLU community that a little acknowledgment can go a long way.
Norman, speaking in the Wool Ballroom of the Busch Student Center on Thursday morning at the annual Cannonball Conference, shared memories from his childhood of being at school and looking up to his elders. He said the simple act of a smile from an upperclassman or teacher could change his whole day. He encouraged the Saint Louis University staff in the room to acknowledge the students across campus.
“When you do that, you transform a life,” he said.
Norman was the keynote speaker at this year’s Cannonball Conference. The event, held each year to recognize staff contributions to SLU, receives its name from the battlefield injury suffered by St. Ignatius in 1521.
Norman shared the story of the long and troubled road that led him to the stage at SLU. Known as “The Ambassador of Hope,” Norman grew up in poverty in Boston. He battled racism, illiteracy and the pressures of gang life, and ultimately received a 100-year prison sentence as a young man.
Norman recounted how, in prison, he kept heading down a dark path. He was gaining notoriety as a gang member and was considering committing more violence to boost his reputation. He said God spoke to him and encouraged him to find a new path.
He committed to transforming his life by teaching himself to read and write, studying law, and pursuing every opportunity for personal growth and finding a sense of belonging. After serving 14 years, he walked out of prison and never looked back — eventually earning a prestigious Harvard Fellowship and becoming an instructor at the London Business School. He is the author of Ambassador of Hope: Turning Poverty and Prison into a Purpose-Driven Life, a powerful testament to resilience, second chances and the belief that no past defines your future.
Norman said that as soon as he left prison, he started working with young people to help them avoid his past. He pointed out that at SLU, the message may be different, but the goal is the same — to help the next generation succeed.
“Parents have trusted you with their children,” he said. “That's a big responsibility. That's a lot of trust. You can do it. This is where miracles happen, and miracles start with you.”
Norman encouraged the SLU community to make their voices heard. He said it’s important to advocate, speak up and keep pushing for the right thing, even when told no.
Conversation with Leaders
The conference also featured a question-and-answer session with President Edward Feser, Ph.D., and Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Johnson, Ph.D.
Moderated by Vice President for Human Resources Mickey Luna, the duo shared their thoughts on SLU’s goal to be “radically student-centered” and discussed the new strategic plan.
Feser said the students are the core of SLU’s mission, and it’s important for the University to focus on giving them the best possible experience.
“We need to get back to who we are in a very deep way and become radically student-centered,” he said.
Johnson, who is in her first year at SLU, talked about the importance of belonging and noted how welcome she’s felt at the University. Johnson said one of her goals for her tenure is to make everyone, including the staff in the ballroom, part of the solution to any issues that arise.
“One of my hopes is that everyone feels empowered to find problems and help solve problems in their sphere of work,” she said.
At the end of the conversation, Feser informed the staff that additional time off is coming during the holidays. SLU will now be closed from Dec. 24, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027.