01/14/2025
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., and his wife, Kathy Feser, kicked off Saint Louis
University's spring semester with a visit to campus. The Fesers met with faculty,
staff and students across the University.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets students during a reception at the Allied
Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser has lunch with the SGA Executive Board on Monday, Jan.
13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Kathy Feser meets with the Presidential Scholars on Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah
Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community at the School of
Law on January 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., addresses the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on January 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets members of faculty and staff during a reception
at the Allied Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets members of faculty and staff during a reception
at the Allied Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets students during a reception at the Allied
Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Kathy Feser meets members of faculty and staff during a reception at the Allied Health
Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets students during a reception at the Allied
Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets students during a reception at the Allied
Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets students during a reception at the Allied
Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Kathy Feser meets members of faculty and staff during a reception at the Allied Health
Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., takes a selfie with a student during a reception
at the Allied Health Building on January 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets students during a reception at the Allied
Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets students during a reception at the Allied
Health Building on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Kathy Feser meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis room on Jan. 14, 2025. Photo
by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community in the St. Louis
room on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community at the School of
Law on January 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community at the School of
Law on January 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community at the School of
Law on January 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser, Ph.D., meets with the SLU community at the School of
Law on January 14, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Kathy Feser meets with the SLU community at the School of Law on Jan. 14, 2025. Photo
by Sarah Conroy.
Kathy Feser meets with the Presidential Scholars on Jan. 13, 2025. Photo by Sarah
Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser has lunch with the SGA Executive Board on Monday, Jan.
13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
President-elect Edward Feser has lunch with the SGA Executive Board on Monday, Jan.
13, 2025. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Kathy Feser has lunch with the SGA Executive Board on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photo
by Sarah Conroy.
During their visit, the Fesers took part in meet-and-greets at the Allied Health Building
and the Busch Student Center. Additionally the Fesers had lunch with SLU's Student
Government Association Executive Board at Grand Hall on Monday, lunch at Scott Hall
and a virtual event with SLU-Madrid faculty and staff on Tuesday.
“Welcoming the Fesers was such a joy,” said Reueline Arulanandam, president of the
SLU Student Government Association. “Members of SGA’s Executive Board and I had the
privilege of getting to know them both over lunch, and we discussed our vision for
the University and commitment to constant learning and collaboration. We are beyond
excited for them to join us on campus soon.”
Nearly 1,000 people attended the events. Some members of the SLU community, like Stephen
Schmidt, executive director, School of Medicine GO Center, waited in a long line for
a chance to welcome the Fesers to SLU.
"I think it is wonderful that he and his wife would come to SLU and take the time
to meet with faculty and staff prior to his formal start," Schmidt said. "I was standing
in line behind a couple of members of my team and listening to the interaction. It
is clear he understands and appreciates the role of research administrators. As a
research administrator myself I found that very encouraging."
Leah Sweetman, Ph.D., director of Community-Engaged Learning with the Center for Social
Action, said she wasn't surprised to see the large crowd on a cold day.
"The SLU community shows up for one another," Sweetman said. "It was lovely to meet
them both in person, and I am grateful that the Fesers prioritized their time with
students, faculty, and staff this week. I am excited that they are both so community-centered,
which will be a real asset to the University, St. Louis, and Madrid."
The Fesers made stops all across SLU. At every stop, there was a crowd eager to meet
SLU's next president.
“I was so pleased to have the opportunity to introduce Dr. Feser and his wife, Kathy
Feser, to the School of Law community,” said Dean Twinette Johnson, J.D., Ph.D. “There
was such energy and excitement in the room. We truly appreciate the Fesers coming
to downtown St. Louis to spend time with the law school community.”
Jon Baris, J.D., dean of students at the School of Law, said it was nice to get a
chance to meet the Fesers before they officially join SLU.
“We enjoyed the chance to get to meet Dr. Feser and his wife,” said Jon Baris, dean
of students at the School of Law. “We appreciate his visit downtown and it was meaningful
for students, staff, and faculty to introduce him to our wonderful law school community.”
SLU researcher Daniel Hoft, M.D., Ph.D., said he and others are excited for Feser
to start at SLU.
"It was a pleasure to meet Dr. Feser and his wife Kathy during their visit this week,"
Hoft said. "Dr. Feser's past experiences have prepared him well for serving as the
new President of Saint Louis University. We very much look forward to working with
him."
Feser currently serves as the provost and executive vice president of Oregon State
University (OSU), a land-grant institution with more than 38,000 students, a $1.8
billion budget and $480 million annually in externally funded research.
Throughout his distinguished career in higher education, Feser’s leadership has been
deeply rooted in the Jesuit ideals of promoting justice, nurturing the whole person
and contributing to the greater good. A noted scholar of city and regional economic
growth and development, Feser strongly believes that all universities must be partners
in serving and improving the well-being of the communities they call home.
Feser’s appointment follows an extensive national search led by a committee of SLU
trustees, faculty, staff, students and members of the Society of Jesus. The University’s
Board of Trustees voted to approve his appointment during its December 6 meeting.
Feser will succeed Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., who announced in March that he would step
down from the SLU presidency at the end of June 2025 after more than a decade of transformative
leadership highlighted by record student enrollment, fundraising and research growth,
among many other accomplishments.
