Newly Named Interim Provost Gillis Meets SLU Community

08/08/2018

Interim Provost Chester (Chet) Gillis, Ph.D., a former nine-year dean of Georgetown College at Georgetown University, introduced himself to the Saint Louis University community this week at three open forums.

Gillis was appointed last week to serve as SLU's interim provost, effective Jan. 1, 2019. His two and one-half year appointment begins after he has completed a Georgetown University teaching commitment.

Gillis met with faculty and staff at the law school on Monday and held meetings at the south and north ends of campus on Tuesday. He will visit the Madrid Campus some time this fall. 

Gillis is an eminent theologian, professor and scholar who has authored numerous scholarly works on Roman Catholicism that are widely cited. He was frequently consulted by national media during the papacies of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and during the conclave and election of Pope Francis.

He has been on faculty at Georgetown University since 1988, having received his Ph.D., in theology from the University of Chicago, and his masters, Ph.D., and Ph.B. from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

A national search for a permanent provost is expected to begin the summer of 2020, culminating in the role being filled July 2021.