Trustees, President Peñalver Agree to Three-Year Extension

The Seattle University Board of Trustees and President Eduardo Peñalver have agreed to a three-year extension of his contract, running through June 30, 2029.

Peñalver became Seattle University’s 22nd President—and first lay president—on July 1, 2021, replacing Stephen Sundborg, S.J. He served the previous seven years as Dean of the Cornell Law School.

Under President Peñalver, the board noted Seattle University’s progress in bringing visibility to its academic excellence and positioning the university for growth and long-term success in a rapidly changing higher education environment.

“We appreciate President Peñalver’s deep commitment to centering the university’s work and culture on the excellence and rigor of our Jesuit, Catholic education,” says Board of Trustee’s Chair Patrick Callans. “He is keenly aware of the paramount role it plays in providing students with a formative, life-changing learning experience that prepares them to succeed professionally and personally and empowers them as leaders for a just and humane world.”

The first half of 2024 has been a banner and transformative year for Seattle University under Peñalver’s leadership with:

• The donation of a $300 million art collection from Richard Hedreen, the largest gift of art ever made to a U.S. university and the largest single gift of any kind to a university in Washington state. Hedreen also provided $25 million in seed money to begin construction of the Seattle University Museum of Art.
• Seattle University accepting an invitation to return to the West Coast Conference, joining Jesuit schools Gonzaga, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount in a move that will bring greater recognition to the school and its athletics program. Seattle University will officially join the WCC on July 1, 2025.
• The university’s designation as an Asian-American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution from the U.S. Department of Education.

“The Board is grateful for Eduardo’s leadership and looks forward to working with him in the years ahead to help the university reach even greater heights,” Callans says.