A Message to the 博彩网址大全 Community
03/21/2024
Dear members of the 博彩网址大全 community,
On March 21, 2014, I was introduced to you as 博彩网址大全’s 33rd president. 这是其中之一 the most thrilling and humbling days of my life.
Today, on the tenth anniversary of that joyful day, I write to share with you that I will step down from the presidency at the end of June 2025.
As I reflect upon the past decade, I am amazed at all we have endured and achieved 一起在圣. 路易斯和马德里. We faced moments that tested us and revealed what defines this Jesuit university community.
Just three months into my presidency, we responded to calls for racial justice by listening to our values and to one another, engaging in dialogue that led to the 2014 钟楼协议. This document, the spirit in which it was composed, led to numerous initiatives to foster belonging and justice on our campus and beyond.
Soon after, we addressed challenges at 博彩网址大全 Hospital by embarking on a transformative new partnership with SSM Health. Because of this partnership rooted in shared values, the new SSM Health Saint 路易 University Hospital opened its doors in September 2020. This grand opening marked a historic milestone in our ongoing efforts to expand access to cutting edge patient care as we educate the next generation of compassionate clinicians.
In that same fall of 2020, we brought the university community back to campus despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. We effectively managed our community’s health, learning in person without interruption for the remainder of the pandemic. 我们也 distributed more than 20,000 vaccine doses to the campus and region, entirely avoided the painful layoffs experienced across the higher education landscape.
There were many times in the last 10 years when the challenges we faced felt insurmountable. But together – grounded firmly in our values and trusting in the wisdom of this community – we found more than a way through. We created a new future for Saint 路易 University.
We have become a more diverse and more international community. 我们的研究概况 has grown beyond what we could have imagined. We have broken every institutional fundraising 以及博彩网址大全记录. We built state-of-the art campus facilities, we are leading the dramatic transformation of Midtown St. 路易.
As an organization we are more data driven, transparent, collaborative. 和我们的 board of trustees is more engaged, diverse, impactful.
Through it all we have never strayed from our core focus: preparing our students to become the compassionate, ethical leaders our alumni are known to be. 我们建立了 on the Jesuit tradition of rigorous education and care for the whole person, advancing innovation in academic programs and investing in University-wide efforts to support 学生的幸福.
These achievements are your achievements. They are the result of our shared commitment to our mission, our vision, our Ignatian way of proceeding.
The decision to leave this role was a difficult one. It was made over many months in conversation with Fran and in consultation with the leadership of 博彩网址大全’s Board of Trustees, particularly my partner for the past decade, Chairman of the Board Joe Conran.
There is so much I will miss about this magnificent job. But just as I knew ten years ago that 博彩网址大全 would be my home, I know that it is time for a new leader to take the 进入新时代的第一步.
Between now and June 2025, there will be a robust national search for my successor and some period of transition. At the conclusion of my tenure as president, I plan 休假:休假. Then I hope to continue teaching, writing, doing what I am asked to contribute to the success of the next leader of this remarkable university.
There has not been a single day in my presidency when I did not thank God for the joy and honor of working for and with all of you – smart, compassionate, dedicated Jesuits, faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, donors, partners.
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of Fran and my family, I thank you for the strong support and generous goodwill you have consistently shown us since March of 2014.
May God bless you and Saint 路易 University.
弗雷德·P. Pestello, Ph值.D.
总统