President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D.

With the appointment in April 2000 of Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D., as the 12th president of St. Mary’s, the University welcomed its first lay president in a proud history dating back to 1852.

In 2006, Cotrell celebrated his 40th year of service to the University. In four decades at his alma mater, he had held many positions – department chair, director of graduate programs, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, assistant to the president for planning and research, and vice president of academic affairs for 14 years. However, his dedication to the students and love of teaching has remained constant throughout. In fact, Cotrell has been teaching political science his entire time at St. Mary’s and continues to do so today.

His top priorities for the University include: recruitment and retention of top students; strengthening the Catholic and Marianist tradition of St. Mary’s; advancing the academic mission, especially in information technologies and new academic programs; maintaining a diverse student body, faculty and administration; and increasing the general endowment for essential needs, including student scholarships and faculty development.

Having received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from St. Mary’s in 1962 and 1964, respectively, Cotrell went on to earn a doctorate in political science from the University of Arizona in 1970. Although he left briefly after completing his master’s to teach at another university, he soon returned to St. Mary’s.

Cotrell, a tenured professor in political science, is well known for his expertise on issues involving elections systems and minority participation. He has been a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice on election systems and political participation, was guest editor of PUBLIUS: Journal of Federalism, Special Issue on the Voting Rights Act in November 1986, and he is the author of numerous articles in professional journals. He has presented his research on Capitol Hill before the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as well as to numerous congressional committees regarding federal voting rights cases.

Promoting St. Mary’s as a premiere Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution by advancing academic excellence is one of Cotrell’s priorities. Hallmarks and accomplishments furthering that goal include: acquiring the Bill Greehey Chair of Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility, and the Benjamin F. Biaggini Chair in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology; establishing partnerships and cooperative agreements with The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio; developing hubs of scholarship and leadership development such as the centers for 21st Century Leadership, Terrorism Law, and the Institute for Asian Development, as well as the Office of Undergraduate Research; and implementing innovations for students such as distance learning, a one-year MBA program, reinstating the evening law program in fall 2007, and numerous accelerated combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Recognizing that today’s graduates must navigate a global society with cutting edge technology skills, Cotrell secured a Title V Federal Grant for information technology that transformed St. Mary’s traditional classrooms into “smart” learning laboratories, wired the campus, ensured faculty and staff are trained in the newest teaching technologies, and introduced notebook computers to all students.

Under his leadership and direction, the St. Mary’s campus facilities have been improved, including the dedications and openings of the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center, Brother Herbert and Rev. John G. Leies Hall, AT&T Center for Information Technology, Java City on The Quad, Gateway to Historic St. Mary’s University and the Barrett Memorial Bell Tower, which will be completed in late 2006. Major renovations of existing facilities have included Charles Francis Hall, the Albert B. Alkek Business Building, and the School of Law Courtroom.

His hopes for St. Mary’s future have resulted in a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, elements of which are in progress, including construction of the Barrett Memorial Bell Tower and fundraising for St. Louis Hall renovation, and for which future construction such as facilities for the School of Science, Engineering and Technology will qualitatively affect the student experience at St. Mary’s.

Cotrell also was instrumental in securing the University’s largest single gift of $25 million from Valero Chairman and St. Mary’s alumni Bill Greehey in 2005, a gift that led to the naming of the Bill Greehey School of Business and has resulted in numerous new scholarship and programs designed to propel the business school to national prominence.

Other fundraising successes include receipt of a $10.8 million gift from Pedro and Alicia Viyao; establishment of the Herman A. “Buddy” Meyer Scholarship Endowment; stewardship of the San Antonio Livestock Exhibition organization resulting in more than $500,000 in new scholarships and annual participation as a chicken fajita booth chairman at Fiesta Oyster Bake to support Alumni Association scholarships.

Cotrell has witnessed many remarkable anniversaries as president, such as St. Mary’s landmark sesquicentennial celebration and major milestones for the Service Learning Center, President’s Peace Commission, and Marianist Leadership Program. He has overseen other notable accomplishments at the University, including national titles in baseball, softball, and golf; numerous top national recognitions for The Law Journal, The Rattler student newspaper and the law school’s moot court teams; recognition from the John Templeton Foundation as a “College that Builds Character,” and selection by The Princeton Review and Campus Compact as one of the nation’s “Colleges with a Conscience.”

Among his honors, Cotrell received the Marianist Heritage Award in 1985, the St. Mary’s University Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1992, Henry B. Gonzalez Hispanic Achievement Award from the St. Mary’s Law Alumni Association in 1994, the Career Achievement Award from the American Political Science Association in 1995 in recognition of 25 years of outstanding scholarship, teaching, civil rights research and service to the Latino community, and the Brotherhood Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice in 2006 for his lifetime efforts in the community to promote understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and education.

His involvement in education and community organizations is widespread, including president of the NCAA Division II Heartland Conference; current chair of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas; member of the U.S. Department of Education/Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Leadership Group; and a past member of the VIA Metropolitan Transit Board of Trustees.

Cotrell, a San Antonio native, is married to the former Abbie Massey. They have four sons.