Keith Elder, Ph.D., officially became the 22nd president of Saint Xavier University during an investiture ceremony that blended faith, tradition and community celebration on the school’s Chicago campus.
Elder, who began his presidency in March 2024, said he felt humbled to take on the role at Illinois’ first Catholic university.
“I am honored to serve as president of SXU,” Elder said. “The Catholic tradition and Mercy heritage of service, compassion, love, all centered on Christ resonates with me.”
The day began with a Mass and formal investiture attended by delegates, dignitaries, trustees, Sisters of Mercy, faculty, staff and students. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, delivered the invocation, and the Sisters of Mercy presented historic Saint Xavier artifacts. Among those in attendance were 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea and representatives from other colleges and universities.
Later in the day, students, faculty, alumni and neighbors joined in a campus-wide celebration, which included a lawn party on the Smith-Morris Quad and a fireworks display. The ceremony carried added significance, taking place just days after the university marked 179 years of academic service in Chicago.
The celebration, Elder said, was not just about the role, but about the mission.
“I enjoy serving our students and helping them reach their goals for themselves, their families, and their communities,” Elder said. “We are preparing students for careers and life.”
Before coming to SXU, Elder held leadership positions at several faith-based institutions, including serving as provost and executive vice president at Mississippi College, founding dean of the School of Public Health at Samford University, and chair of health management and policy at Saint Louis University.
His academic background has also been a source of inspiration.
Elder earned his bachelor’s and dual master’s degrees in public health and public administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a doctorate in health policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His dissertation was funded by a National Institutes of Health Minority Predoctoral Fellowship.
“I received such strong support when I was a student at UAB and UMBC, and my goal is to return it to students,” Elder said. He credited mentors including Dr. Nancy Miller, who guided him early in his career, and Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, the former UMBC president, for their invaluable support.
The investiture not only marked a new chapter for Elder but also reaffirmed Saint Xavier’s long-standing commitment to faith, education and community.
