Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
Saint Louis University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., has been a professor, a department chairman and a dean. But today he might be best known as an architect - a man who redrew, reshaped and rebuilt Saint Louis University. Since his inauguration in 1987, Biondi has upgraded and modernized University buildings and has revitalized the surrounding campus environment. But, most importantly, he has committed vast University resources to academics, student scholarships and financial aid, faculty research and state-of-the-art technology. During his tenure, Biondi has focused on recruiting the finest faculty and students, increasing the University's academic standards and achievements, and developing the University as a major research center. His ultimate vision is to establish Saint Louis University as the finest Catholic university in the United States. A Chicago native, Biondi holds six degrees. His master's degree in linguistics (1966) and his doctorate in sociolinguistics (1975) both were conferred by Georgetown University. He has three degrees from Loyola University of Chicago and a licentiate in sacred theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Chicago. In addition, Biondi has pursued non-degree language studies in French, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish. He has published four books and holds a certificate from Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management. Before coming to Saint Louis University, Biondi was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago. Biondi serves on the boards of many local and national organizations, and he has been dubbed a Knight of the Italian Order of Merit by the president of Italy. Biondi was named St. Louis' "Citizen of the Year" for 2005. Awarded by a committee of former recipients, the honor is given to a community leader who demonstrates concern for St. Louis' growth and vitality. In 2004, the Coro Leadership Center-St. Louis awarded Biondi with the organization's top leadership honor, the Mayor John H. Poelker Award, which honors community leaders who are committed to excellence in public affairs and demonstrate a passion for neighborhood and economic development in St. Louis. In 2001, Biondi earned the prestigious St. Louis Award, which recognizes the "resident of metropolitan St. Louis, who, during the preceding year, has contributed the most outstanding service for its development." Also in 2001, the St. Louis Ambassadors honored Biondi with the Leon R. Strauss Urban Pioneer Award, which is given to an individual in the St. Louis community who has contributed greatly to the development, restoration or improvement of St. Louis. The Council for Advancement and Support of Educational also recognized Biondi in 2001 with the Chief Executive Leadership Award for CASE District 6. In 1999, readers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch named Biondi one of St. Louis' "Citizens of the Century." In that same year, he won the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Missouri Chapter. |
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