The St. Mary’s University Board of Trustees, on Feb. 10, 2012, unanimously appointed Thomas M. Mengler, J.D., as the 13th president of the University. Mengler assumed office on June 1, 2012.

Before arriving at St. Mary’s, Mengler served as the dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, where he also held the Ryan Chair in Law. Prior to that, he worked at the University of Illinois, where he was dean of the College of Law as well as interim provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. As interim provost, Mengler oversaw all undergraduate and graduate programs and the University’s entire $1 billion operating budget.

At the University of St. Thomas, Mengler helped build the School of Law from the ground up. He became dean in 2002, when the school was in just its second year. In addition to developing its Catholic mission, growing the enrollment, hiring nationally recognized faculty and receiving full accreditation for the school, Mengler also was able to raise more than $30 million in gifts and pledges for a school with only 1,000 alumni, all of them recent graduates. The funding helped establish endowments for faculty chairs and professorships, student scholarships, an institute for Catholic thought, and a center for ethical leadership.

Mengler’s involvement at both the University of St. Thomas and the University of Illinois extended well beyond their law schools. At both institutions, he served on university-wide academic and administrative leadership councils and important committees, including those for dean searches, university-wide mission statement development, budget strategies, academic best practices, and teaching evaluations.

Mengler was drawn to St. Mary’s for its Catholic and Marianist mission and its dedication to developing graduates exceptionally well-prepared for their professional lives while also called to serve the common good, and embraces the Marianist commitment to promoting open and robust discussions of faith and reason, noting that by working with the Marianists, faculty, staff, students and alumni he plans to build on the outstanding foundation of academic quality, faith and service that are hallmarks of St. Mary’s.

Mengler received his bachelor’s in philosophy from Carleton College and a master’s in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also earned his law degree.

He is married to Mona, a native Texan, and they have a daughter and three sons.

Go here to learn more about the President's Office.

Past Leaders and Presidents

by Robert Wood, S.M.

For 148 years of its more than 150-year history, a Marianist has guided the fortunes of St. Mary's University and its predecessors as head of the school.

1852-1866

Brother Andrew Edel, S.M. organized the original school, built St. Mary's Institute, and later added to it. He obtained Mission Concepción where crops were raised to feed Marianists and students. Superiors in France held a dim view of the Marianists' Texas project. Edel convinced Rev. John Reinbolt, S.M., United States Provincialate for the Society of Mary, to visit San Antonio. That visit saved the work at St. Mary's Institute from being abandoned.

1866-1882

Brother Charles Francis, S.M., was a practical man of sanctity and scholarship who, according to Brother Joseph Schmitz, S.M., in his book "The Society of Mary in Texas," "more than any other single person is to be credited with the growth, development and prosperity at St. Mary's Institute." Francis supervised substantial growth, including the erection of a "four-story skyscraper" on the Institute's property.

1882-1894

The Rev. Francis Feith, S.M., had a remarkable ability to elicit the best efforts from the Institute's faculty. He organized sports and introduced honor rolls and prizes to motivate the students. Also, Feith arranged for the building of St. Louis College when, in 1891, the Marianists purchased land northwest of the city from The West End Development Co.

1894-1908

Brother John Wolf, S.M., tightened the organization of St. Louis College, introduced uniforms (if only briefly) and obtained the right to issue degrees as a junior college. He led both the downtown and Woodlawn campuses. During his tenure, the Marianists observed 50 years of educating students in South Texas.

1908-1913

The Rev. Louis Tragesser, S.M., built Reinbolt Hall on the St. Louis College campus, emphasized cultural events and inculcated the important Marianist characteristic of Family Spirit. Brother Joseph Schmitz, S.M., wrote in his book that "His prime purpose was to promote the happiness of all."
1913-1917 The Rev. August Frische, S.M., organized and promoted the Sodality, a group of mainly young people dedicated to the Immaculate Conception Blessed Virgin Mary. He created the first league for basketball and, in 1916 hired Dwight D. Eisenhower as the St. Louis College football coach. Frische also helped the religious and priests fleeing the persecution in Mexico.

1917-1922

The Rev. James Canning, S.M., held things together during the devastating flu epidemic that besieged San Antonio. He encouraged advertising the school and built Chaminade Hall to accommodate the growing number of boarding students at St. Louis College.

1922-1928

The Rev. Robert Mayl, S.M., changed the name of St. Louis College to St. Mary's College and then to St. Mary's University. He obtained recognition from the Association of Texas Colleges in 1925 and the University charter in 1926. According to Schmitz, under Mayl "academic and scholastic foundations were firmly established." Mayl was the first president of St. Mary's University.

1928-1938

The Rev. Alfred Rabe, S.M., continued the organization of Mayl. While president he added the ROTC program, assumed administration of the San Antonio Law School, and opened the Graduate School. Rabe supervised the completion of Alumni Gym, the construction of which had begun in 1929.

1938-1947

The Rev. Walter Golatka, S.M., upgraded the University and obtained qualified personnel, especially among the Marianists, by insisting they have post-graduate degrees. Through his initiative, the University was kept afloat during the low enrollment period of World War II.

1947-1954

The Rev. Louis J. Blume, S.M., obtained membership for the University in the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. He supported the construction of both the first library building on campus and Charles Francis Hall, a residence for student brothers, and the addition to Chaminade Hall.

1954-1961

The Rev. Walter Buehler, S.M., established the University's first Board of Directors; the vice presidencies for academics, development and finances; and the Office of Civic (Public) Relations. He separated the offices of University President and Director of the Marianist Community, which up to that time had been the same person. He added Marian Hall for boarders and the Marianist Residence, and awarded the first honorary doctorate degrees.

1961-1963

The Rev. Charles Neumann, S.M., was responsible for bringing renowned people to the University, including the return of former President Eisenhower who had coached football at St. Louis College almost 50 years previously. Neumann insisted on academic excellence and allowed for the admission of women to the University with permission of the Dean of Faculties.

1963-1973

The Rev. Louis J. Blume, S.M., returned to St. Mary's for a second term as president and directed the "Education 6000" development program, which added nine buildings to the campus. Blume moved the School of Law from downtown, added the Division of Engineering and approved the first Faculty Senate.

1973-1981

The Rev. James Young, S.M., expanded the University's Board of Trustees to include several lay people. He fostered and intensified inter-university cooperation through the United Colleges of San Antonio and pushed for more frequent and wider contacts with alumni. Young obtained Treadaway Hall, then the Marianist Scholasticate, from the Society of Mary.

1981-1985

The Rev. David Paul, S.M., added the Albert B. Alkek Business and Sarita Kenedy East Law Library buildings, Casa Maria Marianist community house, and the Lourdes and Anthony J. Frederick residence halls. He initiated the President's Club, introduced a new University logo, and began the beautification of the campus. Under his leadership accreditation for the Division of Engineering was obtained.

1985-1988

The Rev. John A. Leies, S.M., approved the creation of the Marianist Forum to continue the implementation and development of the Marianist charism and heritage at the University. He signed agreements with Del Mar, Laredo and St. Philip's junior colleges for course recognition. Under his guidance the Treadaway Hall quadrangle was renovated and John A. Donohoo and Archbishop Flores residence halls were built.

1988-1999

The Rev. John Moder, S.M., added the University Center and the Andrew J. Cremer residence hall to campus. He initiated the fundraising campaign to build the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center and renovated Chaminade Tower. During his tenure, the first Ph.D. program at a San Antonio four-year institution was created, as were several studies abroad programs and reconnect programs for alumni. Accreditation for the School of Business and Administration was secured during his presidency.

1999-2012

Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., was selected by the University's Board of Trustees as St. Mary's first lay president. During his tenure, he implemented many innovative academic initiatives, completed multiple building and beautification projects, grew the endowment to the highest level in St. Mary's history, and added more than 100 endowed scholarships for students while raising more than $100 million. He advanced technology on campus, converting most classrooms into "smart" learning laboratories, wired the campus and ensured faculty and staff were trained in the he newest teaching technologies. In 2007, he initiated the St. Mary's Neighborhood Revitalization Project to improve infrastructure and quality of life in the areas around the University. His commitment to civic engagement and service led to multiple national recognitions.

St. Mary's University, a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution, was founded in 1852 and long has been committed to academic excellence, service and civic engagement efforts of the highest integrity, all of which comprise the heart of the University's mission.

This mission not only has helped numerous generations of students but it also has empowered the University. In recent years St. Mary's has experienced a wealth of significant recognitions and aesthetic changes on campus, and you are invited to learn more about St. Mary's and discover the University's historical legacy of student success.

Mission

St. Mary's University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence.