I am still energized from this past Thursday’s inaugural Dean’s Toast at Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business - Saint Louis University! 💙🤍👏🏻
With nearly 200 alumni, students, faculty, and corporate partners registered, the afternoon was a powerful reminder of what makes our community so special. 🫰🏻
A heartfelt thank you to Dhriti Mudigonda, Cassandra Sanford, and Jackson Nickerson for setting the tone with inspiring remarks that truly reflected the spirit of our business school. Cassandra captured it beautifully: “now more than anything that matters is human relationships, integrity, empathy, and connecting with one another.” Dhriti shared, “we have the opportunity and the responsibility to create workplaces that value people not just performance and that sets us apart from others.” These words reflected the #Chaifetz Way with purpose and possibility. 🚀
We were also proud to announce our 2026 pre-commencement speakers. HeeJae (Jack) Choi, who will represent his peers and Erin Coupe, selected as the Chaifetz School of Business keynote speaker. “With over 17 years inside Fortune 140 companies, Erin brings rare firsthand insight into how leadership clarity, decision quality, and human capacity shape organizational performance over time.” She is also the author of, “I Can Fit That In: How Rituals Transform Life,” which is on the J.P. Morgan 2026 NextList, “a selection of books, experiences and more designed to inspire big thinking and bold exploration”. 🎉🎊🥳
We were honored to have Saint Louis University leadership in attendance, including President Edward Feser, Troy Hargrove, Ph.D., and Jeffery L. Jackson, Ph.D., alongside faculty who continue to invest deeply in our students’ journeys. 👏🏻👏🏻
And of course, the energy wouldn’t have been complete without the #Billiken mascot and our furry friends Woody and Otis 🐾 bringing extra joy to the celebration!
One of the most meaningful observations from our students was how much it mattered to see faculty gathered alongside them in an informal setting, creating space for authentic conversations that strengthened their sense of belonging and deepened their connection to the business school and the work we do. This is exactly what differentiates the Chaifetz experience.
Thank you to our community partners that show up: Regional Business Council (with special appreciation for your partnership!), Abstrakt Marketing Group, The Daniel & Henry Co., Enterprise Bank & Trust, KellyMitchell Group, Mercy, Olin Corporation (Winchester Ammunition), RSM US LLP, and many more for showing up and supporting our students. 🎓🔥
Finally, thank you to those who worked behind the scenes to make this a possibility: Rhianna Li, Mary Goodhart, Michael Dial, Jacqueline Byrne, Jennifer Oppermann, Megan Kitner, SLU Bookstore, Alumni and Engagement, & Divison of Student Development.