Inside SLU Traditions
In this episode of 1818: A Saint Louis Alumni Podcast, co-hosts Meg Connolly (A&S ’90, Grad ’92) and Tony Minor (A&S ’03) explore all the events and experiences that bond Billikens together through the years.
First, Connolly and SLU archivist emeritus and alumnus John Waide (GRAD '73) break down the history of Homecoming and Family Weekend, which dates back to the 1920s. Early on, homecoming traditions centered around a football game or basketball game. Over the years, the event featured parades, dances and, most recently, a men’s soccer game. While the festivities have changed over time, the tradition of bringing the Billiken community together for the event now known as Homecoming and Family Weekend has endured.
Then, in our roundtable, alumni guests from across the generations — Bill Klepper (A&S '66, GRAD ED '67, '75), Maria Rozier Kiphart (CSB '07) and Chandler Beck (PH '23) — join Connolly and Minor to discuss their favorite SLU traditions. The group reminisces about everything from Mass at St. Francis Xavier College Church and the impact of SLU’s service culture to unauthorized trips down a snow-covered Art Hill and jaunts through campus fountains.
Finally, as always, Minor shares some of our favorite alumni benefits: the signature events that bring all Billikens back to campus. Those include Homecoming and Family Weekend, Alumni Fan Fest and more.
Want to learn more? Read about Saint Louis University homecoming traditions, faith traditions and traditions Billikens enjoy on campus today.
Creators and Guests
Host
Meg Connolly
Meg Connolly (A&S ‘90, GRAD ‘92) is a two-time Saint Louis University graduate who has been a member of the alumni and development teams for over 30 years. Her favorite Billiken memories include SLU’s 200th celebration under the Gateway Arch, men’s basketball and women’s soccer NCAA tournament pregames, and getting married in the St. Francis Xavier College Church. Connolly is fortunate to have engaged with so many wonderful graduates and friends of the University from across the country — alumni who literally change the world in ways only Billikens can. She is thrilled to share more SLU conversations and stories through the 1818 podcast.
Host
Tony Minor
Tony Minor (A&S ‘03) is a longtime leader in alumni and donor engagement at Saint Louis University, where he currently serves as an assistant vice president. During his 20-plus years in higher ed advancement, he’s led teams across alumni engagement, annual giving, stewardship, marketing and events — all with the goal of building stronger connections between SLU and its community of graduates and supporters. Minor got his start in the Office of the President and has grown his career entirely at SLU. He’s a proud Billiken, holding degrees in English and communications, and is passionate about ensuring SLU’s alumni feel connected.
Guest
Chandler Beck
Chandler graduated from the College for Public Health and Social Justice in 2020 with a BS in Public Health. After SLU, he completed his Master of Public Health degree in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. He now is a Program Manager at the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities where he researches how national, state, and local entities can build systems that better enable children and their families to thrive from birth across the life course.
Guest
John Waide
Mr. John Waide was born and raised in Alton, Illinois. He received his BA degree in history from Saint Louis University in 1973 and his MA degree in American history from Duke University the following year. John began his career at Saint Louis University in Pius XII Memorial Library as a reference librarian in 1974. He was named University Archivist in 1988, and he held that position for nearly 26 years until he retired from the faculty of the University in 2014. He was named Archivist Emeritus in 2016. From 2014 until 2023, John worked part-time for the University in Pius XII Library. During that time, he assisted with the research and writing of Saint Louis University’s bicentennial history book, Always at the Frontier, which was published in 2018. John retired from his part-time position in December, 2023. In retirement, he continues to research and write short sketches about various aspects of SLU history. In addition to his work as co-author of the University’s bicentennial history, John has written a brief biography of Father James Van de Velde, Saint Louis University’s third president, which appeared in the Dictionary of National Biography published by Oxford University Press, and another of Jesuit missionary Father Pierre Gabriel Marest in the Dictionary of Missouri Biography published by the University of Missouri Press.
Guest
Maria Rozier Kiphart
Maria Rozier Kiphart graduated from the Saint Louis University Business School in 2007 and began her career working for SLU before spending 17 years in consumer marketing at Procter & Gamble. Today, she’s building her own market research firm. Originally from Ste. Genevieve, Mo, Maria now lives in St. Louis with her husband—also a Billiken and a 2005 SLU grad— and their three sons. Proudly rooted in the SLU community, they’re devoted Billiken basketball fans.
Producer
Megan Favignano Mansouri
Megan Favignano-Mansouri is the digital content specialist for Saint Louis University's development communications team. Her passion is storytelling and uplifting the voices of the community. Megan is an award-winning storyteller with a decade of experience working in journalism, public relations, and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with certificates in Environmental Journalism and Leadership from Webster University. In her free time, Megan enjoys watercolor, family game nights, walks with her two dogs and exploring St. Louis with her husband.
Guest
William "Bill" Klepper, Ph.D.
Dr. Klepper joined Columbia Business School in 1996 after over thirty years as a general manager in higher education. He is a management professor who teaches Executive Leadership in the EMBA program and serves as the Faculty Director of the partnership with the Financial Times/Outstanding Directors Exchange on corporate governance. His teaching and research interest are in the areas of Executive Learning, Strategic Leadership and Corporate Governance. His most recent book, The CEO’s Boss: Tough Love in the Boardroom (2010, 2019) Columbia University Press was ranked as one of the Top Five Books by The Wall Street Journal’s livemint.com in December, 2010. The 2nd edition which includes his Columbia CaseWorks governance case studies published in 2018. Columbia CaseWorks published his case studies on Executive Leadership and Governance: Corporate Leadership and the Personal Leadership Credo(2011), BP (2012), P&G (2014). Wounded Warrior Project (2014 and 2016), Demoulas Market Basket (2015) and Wells Fargo & Company (2017),ExecOnline (2022). BBVA published his Governance and Managing Change in the 21st Century (2014). Tough Love in the Boardroom was published in the Effective Executive, Icfai University Press (August, 2010). His article on What CEOs Have Yet To Learn was featured in Columbia Business School’s Alumni E-Newsletter and was published in the Effective Executive, Icfai University Press (January, 2009). The Klepper Leadership Model was first featured in Key Account Management and Planning (2001). He serves as faculty director and teaches in Columbia’s ExecOnline Leading Strategic Growth course launched in the spring 2014 and Building and Leading Effective Teams launched in 2015. He is the faculty director and teaches in Executive Education’s Developing and Leading High Performance Teams, and teaches the Executive Leadership course in Columbia’s EMBA program. Dr. Klepper received his Ph.D. from St. Louis University in 1975. He has worked with a number of corporations in custom programs including Aegion, AT&T, BankBoston, Bausch & Lomb, Bell Canada, BOC Gases, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Chase Manhattan Bank, Altria, Aviva, Deloitte, DuPont, Ericsson, Finmecannica, General Electric, GKN, Grand Metropolitan, Johnson & Johnson, Keysight, KONE, M&T Bank, Nabisco, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SAP, Sony, StorageTek, Sun Microsystems and White Eagle Industries (Poland). In his home community, he has served as President of the School Board, Mayor of the Township and President of the County Legislature. Education: PhD, Saint Louis University, 1975
