Dr. Fred Pestello became the 33rd President of ΘνΓΓΙη in 2014. He is the first permanent lay president of ΘνΓΓΙη since its founding in 1818, and is proud to have spent more than 35 years in Catholic higher education.
As president, Dr. Pestello oversees one of the nation’s leading Jesuit research universities
with nearly 13,000 students, more than 7,000 employees, an annual operating budget
of more than $975 million and an endowment of $1.3 billion.
Dr. Pestello has galvanized the University community around a campus-wide effort to establish a new vision to be a global Jesuit university that is mission-focused, student and patient-centered, and research-driven, and is working with the people of St. Louis to reimagine, transform and unify our city.
Under his leadership, ΘνΓΓΙη has created a comprehensive research strategy and areas of national eminence, developed the first university-wide core curriculum, opened two new residence halls, built a 90,000 square-foot Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, established a new doctors’ office building, formed a historic partnership with leading Catholic health care provider, SSM Health, which includes construction of a new, $550 million hospital and outpatient care center opening this fall, and strengthened our longstanding commitment to diversity and community engagement through the development and consistent focus on the Clock Tower Accords.
During Dr. Pestello’s tenure, the University has experienced its two most successful fundraising years in its more than 200-year history for a combined total of over $220 million and has raised $400 million on the campaign goal of $500 million. This includes the largest gift in ΘνΓΓΙη history, $50 million dollars from Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield.
As a graduate of a Jesuit University himself, Dr. Pestello understands firsthand the promise of an education guided by the Society of Jesus and its rigorous, justice-oriented, educational mission.
Pestello currently serves on the board of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is a former member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. In St. Louis, he serves on the boards of Civic Progress, the Cortex Innovation Community and Bi-State Development. He is also a founding member of the board of the Foundation for the Pontifical Institute of Theology at Posillipo in Italy.
Pestello is the only person to be elected as the first lay president of two U.S. Jesuit institutions. He joined ΘνΓΓΙη after serving six years as president of Le Moyne College, achieving record-breaking levels of enrollment, endowment and campus construction. Prior to that appointment, Pestello was faculty member, department chair, associate dean and provost and senior vice president for educational affairs during his 25-year career at the University of Dayton.
Pestello earned his bachelor’s degree at John Carroll University and completed his graduate work in sociology at the University of Akron.
- This Juneteenth, Reflecting on Memory and Hope 6/17/22
- Bonuses for Employees Earning Less Than $135,000 5/25/22
- A Reflection as Easter Approaches 4/14/22
- 3/28/26
- A Message of Peace and Care 3/1/2022
- Eulogy for Mary Bruemmer 2/26/2022
- Announcing ΘνΓΓΙη's Dean and Vice President for Medical Affairs 2/17/22
- Edmund Campion Lecture 11/30/21
- Today is Veteran's Day 11/11/21
- Our Continued Call for Civil Discourse 11/10/21
- Search for the Vice President of Marketing and Communications 11/2/21
- Retirement of Jeff Fowler, Vice President for Marketing and Communications 10/18/21
- Announcing ΘνΓΓΙη's Vice President and General Counsel 9/17/21
- Memorial Service for Dr. Smith 6/23/21
- Passing of Dr. Jonathan Smith 6/19/21
- Associate Provost in Diversity and Community Engagement 6/17/21
- 5/21/21
- Bonuses for Essential Workers & Lower-Paid Employees 5/21/21
- ΘνΓΓΙη to Recognize Juneteenth as a University Holiday 5/11/21
- A Jury Deliberates and Our Nation Sits on Edge 4/19/21
- Regaining Normalcy on Our St. Louis Campuses 4/10/21
- Search for the Next Vice President and General Counsel 3/31/21
- Commencement Update (December 2020 and May 2021 Graduates) 3/26/21
- Commencement Update (May 2020 Graduates) 3/26/21
- 3/24/21
- Statement from the President on Recent Hate Crimes 3/19/21
- Unity and Opportunity 1/20/21
- 1/7/21
- We Made it Together as OneΘνΓΓΙη 12/21/20
- Minimum Wage Increase 11/17/20
- NACCC Survey 10/29/20
- #ScholarStrike 9/2/20
- Provost Search Announcement 8/3/2020
- Changes to International Student Regulations 7/14/20
- Responding to Regulations Affecting Our International Students 7/8/20
- Alumni Message: Reflections on Racial Injustices 6/15/20
- A Starting Point: Injustice and Healing 6/1/20
- 4/10/20
- Walking in Solidarity with Campus Community Members 2/06/20
- Communicating During a Pandemic Spring/Summer 2020
- Remembering What Unites Us 10/31/2018
- Admission Decisions and Prospective Student Activism 2/27/18
- Compassion 10/2/17
- Civil Dialogue (Video) 8/26/16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDvi_yZ-Xc8]
- 7/23/20
- 3/24/20
- 5/23/17
- 10/28/14
- 9/23/17
- 5/20/17
- 10/3/14
President’s Cabinet
Dr. Pestello has a cabinet comprised of senior administrators who report directly to him and who advise him on important University matters. Members of the cabinet also work closely with trustees, deans and other vice presidents to advance ΘνΓΓΙη’s strategic priorities. Members are:
- Kyle Collins, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
- Sarah Cunningham, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Development
- Robert Reddy Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management
- Jessica M. Evenson, Vice President for University Compliance and Ethics
- Anita Borgmeyer, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
- Bob Gagne, Chief of Staff
- David Heimburger, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- Christine Jacobs, M.D., Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs
- Amber Johnson, Ph.D., Interim Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement
- William P. Johnson, J.D., Dean of the School of Law
- Michael Lewis, Ph.D., Provost
- Michael Lucido, Vice President for Facilities Services
- Mickey Luna, Vice President for Human Resources
- Sheila Manion, Vice President for University Development
- Chris May, Director of Athletics
- Kenneth Olliff, Vice President for Research
- David Suwalsky, S.J., Vice President for Mission and Identity
- Danielle Uy, J.D., Vice President and General Counsel
Presidential Councils
The University Leadership Council (ULC) is responsible for reviewing and approving all University policies and providing input on other important University matters. The group is comprised of senior administrators, academic deans, and the leaders of the Faculty Senate, Staff Advisory Committee and Student Government Association.
- Tricia Austin, Ph.D., Interim Dean of Doisy College of Health Sciences
- Ellen K. Barnidge, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the College for Public Health and Social Justice
- John P. Buerck, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the School for Professional Studies
- David Cassens, Dean of Libraries
- Kyle Collins, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
- Sarah Cunningham, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Development
- Kathleen B. Davis, Vice President for Enrollment Management
- Scott Duellman, Ph.D., Interim Dean of Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
- Jessica M. Evenson, Vice President for University Compliance and Ethics
- Nandini Fonseca, President of the Student Government Association
- Jeff Fowler, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
- Bob Gagne, Chief of Staff
- Barnali Gupta, Ph.D., Edward Jones Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business
- David Heimburger, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- Christine Jacobs, M.D., Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice President of Medical Affairs
- Amber Johnson, Ph.D., Interim Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement
- William P. Johnson, J.D., Dean of the School of Law
- Donna LaVoie, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
- Michael Lewis, Ph.D., Provost
- Michael Lucido, Vice President for Facilities Services
- Mickey Luna, Vice President for Human Resources
- Sheila Manion, Vice President for University Development
- Chris May, Director of Athletics
- Kenneth Olliff, Vice President for Research
- Gary Ritter, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Education
- Randy Rosenberg, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Philosophy and Letters
- Sue Stevens, Chair of the Staff Advisory Committee
- David Suwalsky, S.J., Vice President for Mission and Identity
- Terry Tomazic, Ph.D., President of the Faculty Senate
- Danielle Uy, J.D., Vice President and General Counsel
- Paul Vita, Ph.D., Director and Dean of ΘνΓΓΙη-Madrid
- Danny G. Willis, D.N.S., R.N., FAAN, Dean of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing