Georgetown University needs a new president and Saint Louis University President Fr. Lawrence Biondi, S.J. looks tempting.

Biondi was asked by Georgetown University to apply for the soon to be vacant position of their presidency, but has declined.

Georgetown’s University current president, Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., has announced that he will retire, effective June 30, 2001, after 12 years in the position.

Currently, the University has formed a search committee to find a new president.

Biondi was also asked to apply for the same position at Loyola at Chicago.

“I’ve been asked to apply at Georgetown and Loyola Chicago and I’ve said I’m not interested,” Biondi said in a town hall forum on Sept. 25.

“I’m not interested; I want to stay here,” Biondi stated. “I want to make our lives more productive.”

Assistant to the President Bridget Fletcher said, “He’s not going anywhere. It feels good that he doesn’t want to leave.”

“Georgetown views SLU and Biondi as a success story,” Fletcher said. “Georgetown would like to imitate that same thing at their University.”

“I think that says a lot for our school,” Fletcher noted.

Both universities are close to home for Biondi. He received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola, and his masters and doctoral degree from Georgetown University. Also, before coming to SLU, he was dean of Arts and Sciences at Loyola.

“As Jesuit schools, they are searching for a Jesuit president,” Fletcher said, explaining Biondi’s popularity.