University Trustees, Student Leaders Honor Pestello Legacy
06/04/2025
The Saint Louis University Board of Trustees has named President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., president emeritus, effective July 1, in recognition of his transformational 11-year tenure as SLU’s first lay president.
Emeritus status for a college president is a prestigious — and typically lifelong — designation that honors an outgoing leader’s legacy, service and contributions to a university community and beyond.
In its resolution conferring the emeritus title, SLU’s Board highlighted Pestello’s values-based leadership and the many ways he helped transform the University, from record-setting enrollment and fundraising efforts to major construction projects, an expanded research enterprise, and community partnerships that have reimagined Midtown St. Louis.
Also in May, SLU’s Student Government Association established a new undergraduate scholarship to honor the leadership of Dr. Pestello and his spouse, Fran. The Drs. Fred and Fran Pestello Legacy of Leadership Award will recognize one outstanding undergraduate student each year who:
- Upholds SLU’s Catholic, Jesuit mission through education, ethics, and service
- Maintains academic excellence
- Actively engages in community service in St. Louis
“The creation of this award is a tribute to the years Drs. Pestello have given to students and their dedication to shared governance,” said outgoing SGA president, Reueline Arulanandam, (PH ’25). “It is intentionally designed to remember their incredible legacy and honor students who are making their own. With this award, we honor them and hope to encourage many students to come to take after their example of leadership.”
To contribute to the Fred and Fran Pestello Legacy of Leadership Award fund, visit the Giving to SLU website.
Latest Newslink
- Saint Louis University Hosts National Jesuit Student Leadership ConferenceSaint Louis University hosted student government leaders from Jesuit colleges and universities on campus July 22-26. This was the first time SLU hosted the National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference.
- James Hitchcock, Ph.D.: 1938-2025James F. Hitchcock, Ph.D., professor emeritus of history, died Monday, July 14, 2025. He was 87. Hitchcock authored several books on the history of the Catholic Church.
- Lentine Receives Award of Merit for Outstanding Contributions to Scientific MedicineKrista Lentine, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at Saint Louis University's School of Medicine, is the 2024 recipient of the St. Louis Metropolitan Medicine Society Award of Merit for Outstanding Contributions to Scientific Medicine.
- We Should Treat More People with Hepatitis B, SLU Expert SaysIn a pair of articles published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, scientists lay out the case for why we should expand treatment recommendations for people with hepatitis B.
- Running Interference: Scientists Block Viral RNA, Aim to Cure Hepatitis BIn a recent paper published in Science Translational Medicine, a SLU scientist reports that a class of drugs called RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics represent a major advancement in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infections.
- Belize2020 Looks Ahead at SLU SummitEarlier this summer, Belize2020 organized a summit at Saint Louis University. Ten years after the coalition was created, with strong support from SLU to support Jesuit ministries in Belize, organizers felt the time was right to meet again.