AJCU Pays Tribute to Seven Outgoing Presidents - Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities

This year, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) is bidding a bittersweet farewell to seven presidents who have retired from or concluded their terms at our member institutions during the 2024-25 academic year. All of these men have led our institutions with wisdom, faith and strength, inspiring countless colleagues, students, alumni and friends along the way.

Below, we have compiled a collection of photos of each president at an AJCU event over the years, along with a link to each president’s biography from their respective institution’s website.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing each retiring president as a committed and courageous representative of our shared Jesuit values,” said Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., president of AJCU. “The photos here depict each of these men at an AJCU event, collaborating with colleagues united in a vision for a Jesuit community—and a common home—with and for others. We at AJCU thank them for their vision, their leadership, their legacy.”

Indeed, our entire AJCU network thanks our presidents and prays for their next chapters in life!

President Salvador D. Aceves, Ed.D., Regis University

President John J. DeGioia,
Georgetown University

President Rev. Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J.,
University of San Francisco

Moments captured above, left to right:

President Salvador D. Aceves, Ed.D., of Regis University with colleagues at Loyola University Chicago in 2024. Learn more about President Aceves.

President John J. DeGioia (C ’79, G ’95) of Georgetown University with former AJCU president Rev. Charles L. Currie, S.J., at the 2015 AJCU Congressional Breakfast. Learn more about President DeGioia.

President Rev. Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J., of the University of San Francisco with House leaders at the 2015 AJCU Congressional Breakfast. Learn more about President Fitzgerald.

President Rev. Dr. Sami Helewa, S.J.,
Campion College

President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., Saint Louis University, and President Thayne M. McCulloh, D.Phil, Gonzaga University

President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.,
Loyola Marymount University

Moments captured above, left to right:

President Rev. Dr. Sami Helewa, S.J., of Campion College in Washington, D.C. in January 2020. Learn more about President Helewa.

Presidents Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., and Thayne M. McCulloh, D.Phil, of Saint Louis University and Gonzaga University, respectively, at Saint Louis University in 2022. Learn more about President Pestello and President McCulloh.

President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., of Loyola Marymount University in Washington, D.C. in January 2020. Learn more about President Snyder.

Above: All photos courtesy of AJCU