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.

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.

Amy Fehlig Kendall joined Marsh McLennan Agency in April 2022 as Executive Vice President of Business Insurance for the Upper Midwest Region. Ms. Kendall collaborates with regional and local leadership across nine states to develop and implement MMA Upper Midwest’s short and long-term strategy for Business Insurance. Responsible for Business Insurance revenue growth for the region, she works closely with company leaders to support development of Business Insurance through organic growth and acquisition. She consults with clients and carriers to develop initial and on-going business relationships. Prior to joining MMA, Ms. Kendall was Regional Branch Manager for Chubb Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio. She began her insurance career at Chubb Corporation in 1991 and held positions from underwriting to field leadership. Ms. Kendall graduated from Saint Louis University with a BS degree in Marketing and an Executive Masters in International Business degree.

Aric Hamilton serves as the Director of Student Services and Alumni Relations at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) College of Optometry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, American Studies, and Education, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Saint Louis University. A dynamic, student-centered practitioner, Aric brings a holistic and equity-minded approach to student affairs, rooted in the belief that every student deserves a sense of belonging, purpose, and possibility. Grounded in principles of inclusive excellence, he plays a critical role in cultivating affirming environments and developmental experiences for applicants, students, and alumni at UMSL College of Optometry—bridging access, support, and lifelong engagement. Aric’s professional foundation includes prior service in student affairs and academic affairs roles at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and School of Law. As an undergraduate student, he was deeply involved in campus leadership and advocacy, ultimately making institutional history as the first Black male elected student government president at Saint Louis University. His contributions were honored with induction into the Saint Louis University Student Hall of Fame and the 2025 Emerging Leader Award from the Saint Louis University Black Alumni Association. Aric’s work is animated by a deep commitment to social justice, student development, and relational leadership. He remains passionate about empowering students to thrive academically, develop their identities, and become agents of change in their communities and professions.

Brian (Tim) and Barbara (nee Sharko) Morrow, both graduates of Saint Louis University's College of Arts and Sciences Class of 1971, were members of the inaugural SLU–Madrid class in 1969–70. Their connection to Spain has remained a defining part of their lives. They travel there frequently and make it a point to spend several days in Madrid on each visit, reconnecting with the SLU–Madrid campus, faculty and staff. Their love of Spain extends well beyond Madrid. In 2024, the Morrows completed the Camino Francés before their 2025 pilgrimage on the Camino Portugués. In recognition of the profound influence Fr. Raymond Sullivant had on their lives and the lives of so many students, the Morrows joined with friends and classmates from the inaugural 1969 class to establish the Fr. Raymond Sullivant Scholarship for Madrid. The scholarship helps provide future students with the life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Spain, continuing the legacy of the program that shaped their own lives. They have two children, Sarah and Aaron (A&S ‘06, SLU–Madrid). When they are not traveling throughout Spain, they enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Brian (Tim) and Barbara (nee Sharko) Morrow, both graduates of Saint Louis University's College of Arts and Sciences Class of 1971, were members of the inaugural SLU–Madrid class in 1969–70. Their connection to Spain has remained a defining part of their lives. They travel there frequently and make it a point to spend several days in Madrid on each visit, reconnecting with the SLU–Madrid campus, faculty and staff. Their love of Spain extends well beyond Madrid. In 2024, the Morrows completed the Camino Francés before their 2025 pilgrimage on the Camino Portugués. In recognition of the profound influence Fr. Raymond Sullivant had on their lives and the lives of so many students, the Morrows joined with friends and classmates from the inaugural 1969 class to establish the Fr. Raymond Sullivant Scholarship for Madrid. The scholarship helps provide future students with the life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Spain, continuing the legacy of the program that shaped their own lives. They have two children, Sarah and Aaron (A&S ‘06, SLU–Madrid). When they are not traveling throughout Spain, they enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Over the last two decades, Brooks Goedeker has a proven track record of working alongside St. Louis’ institutions, its business community, and its residents to turn innovative community and economic development concepts into reality. In that time, he has helped to guide over $4 Billion in construction activity in the City of St. Louis and has worked with thousands of residents to identify their community’s needs and build programs and initiatives to address them. Brooks has a Psychology and Sociology degree from Knox College, a master’s degree in Social Work from Saint Louis University and a master’s degree in Non-Profit Management from Washington University. Brooks has taught courses in leadership, community development and nonprofit management as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University. As Saint Louis University’s Executive Director of Community and Economic Development, Brooks works to attract investment around the university’s campuses, ensures that the area is safe and attractive for students and visitors, and supports the existing residential and business communities. In the last decade, Brooks has assisted in the growth of Midtown St. Louis, which includes the $350 million City Foundry development, the new Armory district, a mixed-use Target store, the Element by Westin Hotel, a new Topgolf, over 1,000 new apartment units, dozens of new homes and condos, and the new St. Louis University Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Prior to arriving at Saint Louis University, Brooks served as the Executive Director of Park Central Development, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic growth in the city’s central corridor, including the Grove and Central West End neighborhoods. In that role, he guided over 50 percent of all construction activity in the City of St. Louis between the years 2013-2017. Brooks has also served as the Community Development Manager for Washington University Medical Center where he directed community initiatives related to social and human services, economic development, safety and security, and was the project manager of the entry-marker Grove signs. Beyond St. Louis, Goedeker has worked in communities across the country, including Philadelphia, Cleveland, Memphis and Minneapolis. Brooks and his wife Erin raise 3 children in the Holly Hills neighborhood in south St. Louis. In 2022, Brooks Goedeker created the Holly Hills Special Taxing District, which he continues to chair today.

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.

Fr. David Suwalsky, SJ is the Vice President for Mission and Identity at Saint Louis University and serves as the Chief Mission Officer of Saint Louis University. He provides executive-level leadership for fostering and promoting SLU's Catholic, Jesuit Identity. He works to ensure that the mission and core values – as well as the principles and traditions of Catholic, Jesuit higher education – are fully integrated into the university. Fr. Suwalsky holds graduate degrees in history, divinity and theology from Saint Louis University, Boston College and Harvard University. He also earned a doctorate in American Studies from Saint Louis University. His research interests include the American religious experience; antebellum U.S. history; slaveholding and racial segregation in the United States.

David P. Miros, Ph.D., serves as the Director of the Jesuit Archives & Research Center (JARC) in St. Louis, Missouri (USA). JARC houses the collective memory of seventeen current and past administrative provinces of the Society of Jesus in the United States. It also houses the records of the governing body of the Society of Jesus in the United States. David has been in this role since 2006. David Miros received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Classical Humanities from Saint Louis University in 1997 and a doctorate in Historical Theology from Saint Louis University in 2005. His area of concentration is the nineteenth-century historical and theological enterprise of the Society of Jesus in the United States. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in United States Catholic History, Ignatian Spirituality, and Jesuit History.

Dr. Janet Oberle has climbed through the administrative ranks in the Saint Louis University department of athletics since arriving on campus as a member of the Billikens' inaugural women's soccer team in 1996. As deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator, Oberle's responsibilities include departmental operational oversight when the director of athletics is away from the office on University business. Additionally, she oversees areas related to student-athlete welfare – academics, compliance, sports medicine and sports performance – and is the sport supervisor for men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, men's and women's cross country, and men's and women's track and field. In addition, Oberle serves as the department's liaison to multiple campus areas and as a Title IX deputy. In 2019, Oberle was one of 22 senior athletics administrators invited to participate in the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program. The yearlong program’s goal is to prepare these individuals to excel as directors of athletics or conference commissioners. In addition to her SLU responsibilities, Oberle served a successful stint as chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Committee during the 2014-15 season. That appointment followed a multi-year stretch as a member of the committee. Oberle joined the SLU staff in 1997 as the women's soccer graduate assistant and became the program's first full-time assistant coach in 1998. She helped the Billikens capture the 1999 Conference USA regular-season title. In 2003, Oberle joined Saint Louis' administrative staff as director of compliance and was named assistant director of athletics for compliance and student services in 2006. In 2011, she was named associate director of athletics for sports programs and compliance. She was elevated to her current role in the summer of 2014. A St. Louis native, Oberle earned a Ph.D from Saint Louis University in 2019, a master's degree from SLU in 1999 and a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in 1996. Oberle serves as president of the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA), a St. Louis-based not-for-profit soccer program for young people with disabilities.

After positions in elementary and higher education in Ohio, Ellen Harshman joined Saint Louis University in 1972. A recognized leader in the university, she held a number of positions in the academic and student development divisions. She was appointed Dean of the John Cook School of Business in 2003 (now the Chaifetz School), following roles as Senior Vice Provost and Interim CIO. She served as dean for a decade. In January 2013, she was appointed to the Chief Academic Officer’s position at Saint Louis University and served in that capacity until her retirement from full-time roles at SLU in July 2015. She continued her service to the university from July 2015 to February 2019 leading the planning for Saint Louis University’s 2018 bicentennial celebration, after which she fully retired. An Ohio native, Dr. Harshman earned her undergraduate degree (summa cum laude) at Miami University, her master’s degree at Wright State University, and her doctorate and law (cum laude) degrees at Saint Louis University. She was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1992 and continues to keep her law license current. Over her career, Dr. Harshman has been the recipient of many awards recognizing her teaching and service as a faculty member and academic leader. As a member of the management faculty, she taught legal environment of business, business law, management, and business ethics. She is the author of numerous refereed articles and proceedings. Among the areas in which she has written and presented papers and programs are leadership development, legal and ethical issues in business and employment, and higher education leadership. Active in the St. Louis region, Dr. Harshman was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the area’s “Most Influential Business Women.” In addition, she was selected by the Business Journal six times over a decade as one of St. Louis’ “Most Influential Leaders.” She is also a recipient of the CORO Leadership Award and was inducted into the YWCA Academy of Leaders and the Saint Louis University School of Law Order of the Fleur de Lis. Among recent and current community and professional activities are the following: Civic Pride Foundation; St. Louis Archdiocesan Council of the St. Vincent DePaul Society; Webster University Board of Trustees; St. Louis Forum; Greater St. Louis, Inc., Executives in Residence; Women Corporate Directors, St. Louis Chapter. Her work to advance business and management education in colleges and universities, domestic and international, has gained her professional recognition and taken her around the world as a mentor, consultant, and evaluator.

The leader of the "Tiger Team" of flight directors who brought the Apollo 13 spaceship safely back to Earth on April 17, 1970, Gene Kranz and his famous motto "Failure is not an option," were famously depicted in the 1995 hit film, Apollo 13. A 1954 graduate of Saint Louis University's Parks College, Kranz was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force and flew high-performance jet fighter aircraft, including the F-80, F-86, and F-100. In 1958, he worked as a flight-test engineer for McDonnell Aircraft, developing the Quail Decoy Missile for B-52 and B-47 aircraft. Kranz joined the NASA Space Task Group at Langley, Virginia, in 1960, and was assigned the position of assistant flight director for Project Mercury. He assumed flight director duties for all Project Gemini missions and served as branch chief for Flight Control Operations. He was selected as division chief for Flight Control in 1968. He continued his duties as a flight director for the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing before taking over the leadership of the Apollo 13 "Tiger Team." He was discharged from the Air Force Reserve as a Captain in 1972. Kranz contributed his expertise to a number of other NASA missions during his career, including the Skylab Program. After the Skylab Program concluded, he was named deputy director of Flight Operations for NASA, with responsibility for space flight planning, training and mission operations, aircraft operations, and flight crew operations. In 1983, he was assigned the post of director of Mission Operations and given responsibility for all aspects of mission design, development, maintenance, and operations of related mission facilities, as well as the preparation of Space Shuttle flight software. Kranz retired from NASA in 1994 after 37 years of federal service and is currently a consultant and speaker. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was designated as a Distinguished Member of the Senior Executive Service and is enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. He received an honorary doctorate from SLU in 2025, and, in honor of Kranz's far-reaching impact, Saint Louis University's School of Science and Engineering introduced the Gene Kranz Professorship of Research/Teaching Excellence in 2024. After retirement, Kranz served as a flight engineer on a B-17 "Flying Fortress", constructed an aerobatic biplane, and in April 2000 published a memoir about his experiences in the space program, Failure is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond. His book, a New York Times Bestseller, has been selected by the History Channel as the basis for a documentary on Mission Control. He and his wife have six children and reside in Texas. His current activities include motivational speaking to professional, military, and civic groups.

Jeff Jarrett is a Senior Vice President and Partner at Contemporary Productions, a prominent entertainment booking and event production company.

Jody Sowell, Ph.D. has served as the seventh president of the Missouri Historical Society since July 2022, the first to hold the role in the institution’s 160-year history after two decades of service within the organization. During his 20 years at the Missouri Historical Society, Dr. Sowell has held several leadership positions, most recently as Managing Director of Public History, where he led the education, programming, publications, communications, evaluation, public history, and exhibitions teams. He also writes and hosts the STL History Minute series, launched in 2021. These weekly 60-second segments air on KMOV’s CBS Sunday Morning and bring St. Louis history beyond the walls of the Missouri History Museum, helping connect the public with the city’s past. The series receives more than three million views each year on KMOV, with additional audiences reached through the Missouri Historical Society’s social media channels. Dr. Sowell has also played a key role in shaping some of the museum’s most successful exhibitions, spearheading eight of the ten most visited exhibits in the organization’s history, including 250 in 250, #1 in Civil Rights, and A Walk in 1875 St. Louis. Although he wasn’t born in St. Louis, Dr. Sowell often says he “got there as fast as he could.” He moved to the city in 2003 with his family to pursue a doctorate in American Studies at Saint Louis University. The family initially expected to leave after he completed his degree, but instead fell in love with the city and made it their home. Dr. Sowell holds a doctorate from Saint Louis University, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University. He continues to teach occasional classes at Saint Louis University.

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.

Jordair Jett is the founder of Players First, an organization in Saint Paul, Minn., that hosts basketball training opportunities and camps. A former basketball guard for the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team, he played in 134 games and scored 1,239 points over his four-year career with the Billikens. Jett was named Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball Player of the Year in 2014, the same year he graduated from SLU’s College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in communication. He is ranked 18th all-time in scoring at SLU and was voted to the A-10 All-Defensive team, first-team All-Conference and NABC first-team All-District selection. During his senior year, the Billikens were A-10 regular season champions and reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament. He was among 16 players named to the Saint Louis Billikens' All-Century Team in 2015. After SLU, Jett played professional basketball in Australia and New Zealand from 2015 to 2019. Since then, Jett has committed himself to coaching, mentorship and education.

Katie Mascari is the University Archivist at Saint Louis University, where she stewards institutional history, manages a variety of archival collections, and supports research, teaching, and outreach related to the University’s history and primary source research. She loves all things Billiken-related and is passionate about making the archives a fun and accessible experience for the SLU community.

Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad A&S ’92) is the assistant vice president for brand management at Saint Louis University. A member of the Division of Marketing and Communications staff since 1993, she oversees SLU’s web, digital content and graphic design teams. She is also the editor of Universitas, SLU's alumni magazine. Geiser has received several awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and, in 2012, was named a Saint Louis University Woman of the Year. She served on the Jesuit Advancement Administrators executive committee for several years and chaired the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Marcom Summit in 2024. A native St. Louisan, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Saint Louis University.

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.

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.

Peg Weathers is a community-focused leader who has spent her career strengthening organizations and building partnerships across St. Louis. She currently serves as President & CEO of Grand Center, Inc., where she’s led the organization to its most successful year in more than a decade and is helping guide the next chapter of the Grand Center Arts District. Peg has previously led the Kirkwood–Des Peres Chamber, expanded community initiatives at Saint Louis University, and held senior appointments in the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy. Known for her collaborative style and ability to bring people together, she’s dedicated to creating connections that move communities forward.

Roc O’Connor, SJ has served at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, Illinois, leading and staffing weekend retreats for women and men since fall, 2021. Besides composing liturgical music as a founding member of the St. Louis Jesuits (since 1974), he has served in parishes across the country following ordination 46 years ago and taught sacramental and liturgical theology at Creighton University for 13 years. Roc has written two books, In the Midst of Our Storms (2015) and I Want to See (2017) and is currently working on a liturgical spirituality tentatively titled, Mass Divisions: Inner Landscapes of Wounded Worshipers. Fun fact: Roc conducts the children’s choir at St. Mary Catholic Community, Buffalo Grove, for the weekly grade school Mass.

Victoria is Vice Rector & Associate Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Saint Louis University–Madrid. Victoria came to Saint Louis University from the Philippines through its 2+2 program, studying between Madrid and St. Louis, where she earned a B.S. in Computer Science in 1986 and an MBA in 1988. She began her career in software consulting in Missouri before returning to Madrid in 1988 to serve as business manager for the campus. She played a central role in acquiring and developing the buildings that became Padre Arrupe and Padre Rubio Halls, as well as the current five buildings that comprise the SLU–Madrid campus footprint. She became SLU–Madrid’s first Director of Finance and later served as Director of Finance and Operations and ultimately Vice Rector and Associate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, guiding the campus through major growth, the 2008 financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership helped SLU–Madrid triple in size and scope, and she has been recognized with the SLU Woman of the Year Award and service on the Presidential Search Committee for SLU’s 34th president, Edward Feser, Ph.D. A lifelong Billiken, Viki has devoted her career to SLU’s mission and remains central to the university’s success in Madrid and beyond.

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

Originally from Minnesota, Johnson holds a B.A. in German with a minor in Russian from the University of Minnesota (1995) and earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School (2001). Johnson served as the dean of SLU's School of Law for more than seven years. He also led the school's Center for International and Comparative Law and directed SLU's Summer Law Program in Madrid. Before becoming a law professor at SLU in 2012, Johnson practiced corporate and commercial law for six years in the Milwaukee office of Foley & Lardner LLP, and held an appointment on the law faculty of the University of North Dakota. He is a recognized scholar in the field and has held visiting academic appointments in Lithuania, Germany and France, as well as guest lectureships in Hungary. Johnson has remained engaged with the law practice community and the international bar through active involvement in the American Bar Association International Law Section (ABA ILS) and other international professional organizations. A long-time supporter of SLU–Madrid, Johnson taught on campus for several summers and maintained strong ties through regular visits during his tenure as dean. His youngest daughter also recently graduated as a member of the Class of 2026. Optimistic about the future of SLU–Madrid, he has worked since assuming the role of Rector in October 2024 to further the campus’s international mission by strengthening global partnerships and expanding academic, research, and internship opportunities throughout Europe and Latin America.