Saint Louis University Announces Eight New Trustees, One Returning Board Member
The Saint Louis University Board of Trustees has elected eight new members and one returning member who will begin their three-year terms in September. Five of the new trustees are SLU alumni, and one is the former president of another leading Jesuit university.
“We are pleased to add such a talented roster of new trustees to the board of Saint Louis University,” said Joseph Conran, chairman of SLU’s Board of Trustees. “They bring with them deep expertise, significant experience and a broad range of perspectives. They share a commitment to the values in which SLU is rooted, and they are dedicated to contributing to a thriving future for this great University.”
Nominated by the Board’s Governance Committee, SLU trustees are elected to three-year terms and may stand for reelection for two additional three-year terms. The Board of Trustees may reelect members who have completed three consecutive terms following one year of non-membership.
“The trustees of Saint Louis University are stewards and custodians of a mission that has endured for more than 200 years,” said University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D. “Every academic year brings a new set of challenges, and each trustee brings essential insights to the table. I am grateful for the opportunity to welcome these exceptional leaders to the SLU community, and I look forward to working with each of them in the years ahead.”
New and returning trustees in fall 2023 include:
Andrew Hoog
Andrew Hoog is the founder and a board member of NowSecure, a leader in mobile app security testing software and services. He is the author of two books on mobile forensics for Android and iOS, and holds three patents in the areas of forensics, security and data recovery. Hoog earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from SLU in 1998.
Arindam Kar
Arindam Kar is a shareholder at the Polsinelli Law Firm. His practice encompasses antitrust compliance, counseling and government investigations, as well as counseling higher education clients on a variety of issues. He also has served on the International Institute of St. Louis Board of Directors since 2014. Kar earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from SLU in 1998.
Jessie J. Knight, Jr.
Jessie J. Knight, Jr. is managing director of Knight Angels LLC, a private equity fund that supports community improvement projects led by innovative minority, women and military veteran leaders. Knight earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SLU in 1972. He received a Distinguished Black Alumni Award from SLU in 2014 and served as SLU Madrid’s commencement speaker in 2022.
James B. Lally
Jim Lally is the president and chief executive officer of Enterprise Financial Services Corporation. He also serves on the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation Board of Governors and is a trustee of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Fund, among numerous other civic involvements. Lally earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SLU in 1990.
Joseph McShane, S.J.
Joseph McShane, S.J., is the president emeritus of Fordham University, where he served as president from 2003-2022. He also served as president of Scranton University from 1998-2003, and has served on the boards of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. McShane entered the Society of Jesus in 1967 and was ordained a priest in 1977.
Holden Thorp
Holden Thorp, Ph.D., is the editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals and the former provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs of Washington University in St. Louis. The co-author of two books on higher education, Thorp is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Martha Uhlhorn
Martha Uhlhorn is the owner of Gourmet to Go and La Bonne Bouchee Wholesale Bakery. She previously served on SLU’s Board of Trustees from 2006-2022. In 2019, Uhlhorn received the St. Louis Forum Trailblazer Award, which recognizes a woman who is an influential community leader, “the first” in her field or has made a significant contribution toward elevating the image of women in business.
Paresh Vyas
Perry Vyas is the owner of SKAPS Industries, a leading manufacturer and supplier of extrusion-based geosynthetic products and technical textiles. Originally from Gujarat, India, Vyas founded the company in 1996. With production facilities in the United States, India and Brazil, SKAPS has a strong market presence in more than 60 countries.
Robert V. Vitale
Rob Vitale is the president and CEO of Post Holdings, a St. Louis-based consumer packaged goods holding company known for its iconic cereal brands, including Raisin Bran, Grape-Nuts and Honey Bunches of Oats. Vitale earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SLU in 1988 and received an Alumni Merit Award from SLU’s Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business in 2019.
About the Saint Louis University Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is the principal governing authority for the University, charged with fiduciary responsibility and preserving and enhancing SLU’s Jesuit mission. Trustees are volunteers and are not compensated for their service. The Board meets four times a year and has a number of standing committees that include faculty, staff and student representatives.