Saint Louis University Celebrates Retirement of Bill Kauffman

This spring, SLU celebrates the retirement of Bill Kauffman with the establishment of the William R. Kauffman Student Higher Education Law Legal Writing Competition.

Kauffman served as SLU’s Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the University for more than 26 years. This year, he continued to serve as Senior Legal Counsel and Secretary of the University.

Kauffman also was Interim President of SLU for the 2013-2014 academic year.

SLU colleagues know Kauffman as a collegial presence at SLU for two and a half decades. He is recognized for bringing stability to the University during a particularly turbulent time.

“We have all benefited from Bill’s selfless dedication and wise leadership,” says SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D. “As an attorney, Bill has served SLU with distinction. As a colleague, his generosity and mentorship will leave a lasting impact on the University and those with whom he has worked.”

As Secretary of the University, Kauffman has also served a critical role in support of the Board of Trustees and advancing the Board’s governance practices.

“Over the last 14 years that Bill and I have worked together, I have had the opportunity to see first-hand Bill's integrity and dedication to St. Louis University and its mission,” remarks SLU Trustee and Governance Committee Chair Anne Gagen. “Bill has been a true Counselor for all of us who have had the privilege of working with him.  His focus has been on decision making grounded in what is best for the University.”

Kauffman’s years at SLU cap off a distinguished career committed to higher education law.

“Bill has dedicated his career to the practice of higher education law in both public and private institutions – traversing the country from Pennsylvania to Kansas, Alaska and Missouri,” recounts Danielle Uy, SLU’s vice president and general counsel. “Bill often says that the wide scope of higher education law requires expertise from A to Z — everything from admiralty to zoning.”

Colleagues who would like to honor Kauffman’s contributions to SLU and to higher education law may donate to The William R. Kauffman Student Higher Education Law Legal Writing Competition.

The writing competition was created to encourage scholarship and reward law student writings about contemporary legal issues in American higher education. The competition will be open to Saint Louis University School of Law students in the academic equivalent of their second or third year of study.

"This writing competition is exciting for two reasons,” said William P. Johnson, dean of the School of Law.  “First, it appropriately celebrates the legacy of a great higher ed lawyer with an impressive record of service and leadership at this University. And second, as Bill Kauffman would want, it will provide financial support, meaningful research and writing opportunities, and well-deserved recognition for future leaders of the legal profession. I am so grateful for the generous support that has made it possible and am pleased the School of Law will have the privilege of hosting the competition." 

To contribute to The William R. Kauffman Student Higher Education Law Legal Writing Competition, go to this donation page.

In his retirement Kauffman looks forward to traveling with his wife Mary, spending more time with his children and grandchildren, and further honing his skills in golf, fishing, and sailing.