ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University announced Thursday morning that President Fred Pestello will step down from his role at the end of June 2025.
Pestello has been president of the university since 2014. He plans on taking an extended break from work following this transition but will continue teaching, writing and supporting the university as needed, according to a release.
“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, and dedicated Jesuits, faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, donors, and partners,” Pestello wrote in a message to the SLU community on Thursday. “As I reflect upon the past decade, I am amazed at all we have endured and achieved together in St. Louis and in Madrid.”
A release from SLU highlighted the accomplishments during Pestello’s tenure, including new residence halls and institutes, the growth of the school’s campus in Madrid, record numbers for enrollment, fundraising, and more.
“President Pestello is a transformational leader who has propelled our university forward in extraordinary ways,” Joseph Conran (’67, ’70), chairman of the Board of Trustees, said in the release. “The remarkable progress we’ve achieved is a testament to his inspiring vision, and on behalf of the Board, I want to thank him for his leadership and his steadfast commitment to SLU’s Jesuit mission and values.”
SLU says they will be conducting a national search to find a predecessor.
“There is so much I will miss about this magnificent job,” Pestello wrote in an announcement to the SLU community Thursday. “But just as I knew 10 years ago that SLU would be my home, I know that it is time for a new leader to take the first step into a new era.”
