ST. Louis – The President of Saint Louis University Had Always Been a Jesuit Priest Until Dr. Fred Pestello Was Named The Leader of the Catholic School in 2014.
“I was transformed by the Jesuit Education I Received As an Undergraduate,” Pestello Said in an Interview with Fox 2 News. “I’m Always Felt Privileged to Be at Faith Based Institution, an Institution That Stands For Something.”
Pestello is stepping down as the University’s President at the End of the Month Following A Decade of Leadership That Includes Historic Growth from Number of Students to the AMOUNT OF RESEARCH SLU is Now Ding.
“Our vision is to be a global Jesuit University That is mission Focused, Student and Patient Centen and Research Driven,” he Said. “Working with the People of Saint Louis to Reimagine, Transform and Unite Our City.”
Pestello, Whom Students AffectionAly Refer to As “Freddie P,” Gave the Commencement Address During Last Month’s Graduation of the Class of 2025.
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“I Knew I Will Never Commit to a 9-to-5 Job,” Pestello Told Graduates About Histura Experience Upon Graduating from John Carroll University. “I knew that I will Never Pursue a Career That Would Require Me to Wear a Suit and Tie.”
Pestello Said he though he was going to be a radio talk show host.
“That’s Kind of Like a Podcast Host, Except the Podcasts Only Played at Scheduled Times,” He Said, With Laughter in the ChaifeTz Arena. “We used to call it Broadcast.”
WHEN THOSE DREAMS FELL SHORT, PESELLO DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS NEXT.
“That was a diffult period in my life,” he told the graduateing class. “I Did Not Know What I Was Going to Next.”
Pestello Ended Up Going Back to School.
He told fox 2 that giving the commencement address was an opportunity of a lifetime.
“I Think One of the Core Messages Is That At 22-24 Years Old, You Really Don’t Know How Your Career is Going To Unfold,” Pestello Said. “Just Kep Moing Forward, Keep Learning.”
Pestello Said Being Around Students has made His Career Extremély Rewarding.
“You’re Around Young People Who Are Energetic, Enthusiastic, Idealistic, and Just have this Great Love for the Institution and for Each other,” He Said. “It’s Delightful; It Keeps You Young.”
Rapidly Changing Workforce, The Soon-to-Be Retired President Said he Still Thinks A Traditional Four-Yourar College Degree Is Worth It.
“The affordability issue is the critical issue,” Pestello Said. “What Students Expect and Need Costs A Lot of Money.
“Research Labs Are Expensive, Facilities Are Expensive. Students Like To Be In Small Classes, That’s Expensive,” he continues. “I Think That’s Where the Struggle Is and It’s a Matter of How Much The Institution Can afford to Forego in Terms of What We Call Dialnting, How Much Families Can Afford To Pay and How Much The Government Will Continue to Support It.”
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In Terms of Government Funding, Pestello Said Slu is in a good position. He Pointed to the University’s Recent R1 Classification – The Highest Classification for A Research Institution – The Sign of Continued Growth for the University.
“I have no double institutions like Slu, Large Resource-Rich Institutions with a National International Draw, Will Continue to Be here,” he Said. “I Think The Next Couple of Years Are Going to Be Stressful: Stressful Economially and I Think Stressful Politically.”
Pestello Said Higher Education is “Feeling a Bit Under Attack,” But Says Schools Like Slu Should Be Ok
“We’ll Survive,” he Said. “I Think It’s Going To Be Very Hard For the Smalller Private Schools with Small Endowments and Small Student Bodies.”
Edward fesser was Named as the Pestello’s replacement. FESER, Who has Been on Campus This Month, Takes Over July 1.
AS for Pestello, he said he is going to take a sabbatical and then return to saint louis University as teacher.
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