SLU to Host 4th Annual Be Heard: Women in Leadership Conference
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University’s Emerson Leadership Institute will host its fourth annual Be Heard: Women in Leadership conference on Friday, March 28. The free half-day event, “Fostering Dignity and Belonging,” will explore the role of dignity in organizational culture.

This event, co-presented by the Emerson Leadership Institute and SLU’s Division of Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement, will feature presentations, discussions, workshops and networking opportunities.
The theme for this year’s conference, “Fostering Dignity and Belonging,” aligns with the Dignity-Based Leadership Development Program launched at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
The morning will begin with a talk by Michelle Li, KSDK-TV Ch. 5 morning anchor and the co-founder of The Very Asian Foundation. The conference includes a leadership development workshop, a panel discussion of local leaders and will close with a keynote from Marilyn Bush, president of Bank of America St. Louis.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Paige Hulsey, reporter for KMOV-TV Ch. 4 and will feature Delaney Clement, chief operating officer for the Archdiocese of St. Louis; Kristin Johnson, chief transformation officer at Edward Jones; Juanita Logan, vice president of international human resources and supplier diversity at World Wide Technology; and Tina Sappington, president of Integrated Solutions Worldwide and vice president and director of purpose and impact at QNDX.
Previous Be Heard conferences have highlighted Asian women in local leadership roles, emerging research related to women in business and amplifying female voices in organizations.
Event Details
- When: 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28
- Where: SLU's Il Monastero Banquet Center, 3050 Olive St.
- Cost: Free. Lunch will be provided.
About the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Founded in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has shaped the future of industry for more than a century. As one of the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has built a reputation as a leader in business education committed to innovation, inclusion and impact and recognized with eight undergraduate and graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,200 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University’s diverse community of scholars is SLU’s service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.
Latest Newslink
- Saint Louis University Launches Tuition Promise Covering Full Undergraduate Tuition for Eligible StudentsStarting in fall 2026, eligible first-time freshmen will be able to attend the University without paying undergraduate tuition through a new initiative aimed at expanding college access and affordability. The SLU Tuition Promise is for students from families with a combined Adjusted Gross Income of $60,000 or less and limited assets.
- SLU Chess Qualifies for Collegiate Chess ChampionshipSaint Louis University chess teams are heading to the Collegiate Chess Championship. The Billikens recently competed in the 2026 Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship in Oak Brook, IL. SLU’s A Team finished fourth and secured a spot Collegiate Chess Championship finals, known as the President's Cup or colloquially as the “Final Four.” Additionally, the SLU B-Team was the top women’s squad at the tournament and will advance to the inaugural Women's President’s Cup.
- Building Connection and Collaboration: SLU President, Local Leaders Headline Leadership Speaker SeriesSaint Louis University’s Emerson Leadership Institute and Edward Jones Speaker Series will feature SLU President Edward Feser, Ph.D., as part of a joint speaker series on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Feser will speak on the theme, “Great Cities, Great Universities: Leading With Hope to Strengthen Our Shared Community,” sharing his vision for how SLU can lead boldly, collaborate meaningfully, and serve as an anchor of opportunity in St. Louis.
- SLU Hosting Journalists for 'Candid Conversations in Turbulent Times'The Saint Louis University American Studies Department will host award-winning ABC News anchor Linsey Davis and SLU alum John Krull (American Studies, '84) for the program "Candid Conversations in Turbulent Times." The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in the Anheuser Busch Auditorium in Cook Hall.
- Kathryn Mitchell Pierce, Ph.D.: 1955-2025Kathryn Mitchell Pierce, Ph.D., associate professor of educational studies, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. She was 70 years old. Pierce joined Saint Louis University in 2015 as an assistant professor in the School of Education. Initially a literacy specialist in the undergraduate program, she eventually taught and mentored across all levels at the School of Education. She became an associate professor in 2022.
- Saint Louis University Student Speaks About Leadership and Disability at Ignatian Family Teach-In for JusticeSaint Louis University senior Grace LoPiccolo shared her personal leadership journey at the 2025 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. The event, held annually in Washington, D.C., is the nation’s largest Catholic social justice advocacy day.









