How does one sum up 33 years of teaching at Saint Louis
University? John Slosar, Ph.D., of the School of Social Service
described it as, “a rewarding and satisfying career of service to
students.” Slosar, who is retiring, said he has stayed at SLU
because, “There is a real sense of community here.”

The current director of the Master in Social Work program,
Slosar is leaving now because he believes he has made the
contributions to SLU that he can. He also wants to spend more time
with his family.

Slosar came to SLU in 1971 with everything but his dissertation.
He finished the dissertation in 1977, after being issued a terminal
contract. He was given tenure and promoted, soon after.

One of the biggest accomplishments in his career came at the
time he was trying to get tenure. Slosar organized a union drive
against the administration, to combat salary freezes.

Soon after, Slosar helped found the Faculty Senate, in 1978, and
wrote its constitution. He was named the first Faculty Senate
president in 1979, and he has continued his involvement. In 1999,
Slosar helped to author the Senate’s definition of “shared
governance,” which has once again become a heated topic at SLU.

“It was part of my professional responsibility and identity to
be involved,” Slosar said about the Faculty Senate. The Faculty
Senate recently recognized Slosar’s endeavors by naming him as the
senate’s first honoree award winner.

Yet Slosar cites his work with students in the social justice
field as some of the most rewarding moments of his career. He was
responsible for organizing a SLU presence at the School of the
Americas protest, starting in 1998. Starting in 1999, the trip was
organized through Campus Ministry, and SLU had the largest Jesuit
presence at the SOA protest.

“Watching Father Biondi walk across the line with Martin Sheen
in an act of civil disobedience at the base” was one of the
greatest things he experienced at the protests, Slosar said.

Besides the School of the Americas protest, Slosar has also
taken student groups to Ghana and Cuernavaca, Mexico, for a social
justice encounter. Along with his work in the social service
department and Faculty Senate, Slosar has served on many other
committees during his tenure, including: the President’s
Coordinating Council (’99-’01), The University News Advisory
Committee (’00-present) and the American Association of University
Professors.

Slosar believes that it is better to retire now, “While I’m at
the top of my game,” he said, instead of staying around too
long.

As for retirement, Slosar is going to keep busy, at least for
the remainder of this year. He says that he may write some but that
most of his time will be devoted to the presidential election and
related social justice work.

Slosar said that he was leaving SLU with no regrets–“It’s been
a good career.”