President Esteban to step down next summer
President Esteban speaking at 2019’s State of the University address.
On Monday, DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban announced he is stepping down, effective June 30, 2022.
The news broke in an email sent to the DePaul community on Monday.
“After much prayer and reflection, I have discerned this is the time for me to shift my focus and energy to my personal and familial journey, and away from our shared institutional endeavors,” Esteban said in the email.
“Now may be the best time for my wife, Jo, and me to pursue some of our other dreams, which includes discovering different ways to serve others,” he said.
In the email, Esteban cited his accomplishments during his time at DePaul, including raising the university’s endowment by more than 80 percent over four years — from $492 million to more than $900 million — and maintaining a large freshman enrollment through the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The board is grateful for Dr. Esteban’s many contributions to DePaul and looks forward to celebrating his accomplishments during this next academic year,” said Gerald A. Beeson, chair of the DePaul Board of Trustees. “The board also has deep appreciation for Dr. Esteban’s careful consideration of his transition in order to minimize the disruption to the university.”
Esteban’s contract was extended last summer through June 30, 2027, a university spokesperson told The DePaulia.
Following his last year as president, Esteban plans on taking a one-year sabbatical, during which he reportedly plans on visiting members of the global DePaul community.
“Dr. Esteban informed Board of Trustees leadership a few months ago about his decision,” DePaul spokesperson Russell Dorn told The DePaulia via a statement. “At the Board of Trustees’ regular meeting in early May, Dr. Esteban shared with the full board that he wished to shift the focus of his life to his personal and familial journey. The board accepted his decision. He waited to share his news with the DePaul community to avoid disrupting the university during a difficult quarter and to keep attention focused on celebrating our graduates.”
Esteban assumed his position as DePaul’s 12th president four years ago, on July 1, 2017. He is DePaul’s first lay president.
The search for a new president is expected to begin before Esteban leaves next summer.
“We will conduct a comprehensive national search to find the best candidate to lead the university in meeting the challenges of the future,” Beeson said.
Although Esteban has faced pushback over his term, there have been no public calls for resignation. DePaul political science Professor Valerie Johnson sent an open letter to Esteban detailing struggles faced by the Black community and calling for change.
In the past year, two other professors from the College of Communication, Sydney Dillard and Lisa Calvente, sued the university for discrimination.
Last year, Esteban was in charge of hiring a new athletic director after Jean Lenti Ponsetto announced she was going to retire. After a two-month search, DePaul hired DeWayne Peevy to take over the position.
Esteban also helped lead the search for a new men’s basketball head coach in March and April after DePaul fired Dave Leitao. DePaul’s men’s program has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2004. DePaul eventually hired Oregon assistant coach Tony Stubblefield.
The Board of Trustees will form a search committee from representatives from across the university. According to Beeson, “the board will formally commence the search for DePaul’s next president this fall.”
Update (6/15/2021): This story has been updated to include a statement and more information from DePaul spokesperson Russell Dorn.
Deke • Jul 22, 2021 at 12:30 pm
I fear you are right. I graduated from DePaul long ago, with two degrees. At that time, the university was very well-regarded. It wasn’t Harvard, but it still had a solid reputation. It was known as a university where the students were the first in their family to attend college. Hard workers, thankful for the opportunity to get a college education, and not complainers. Now, I am not particularly proud to tell people I attended DePaul. I know other alumni who feel the same way. This problem started before Esteban, though.
Esraban must go now! • Jul 21, 2021 at 4:53 am
Estaban has been a colossal, ethical and moral failure at DePaul; he’s no Fr. Richardson.
Just look at the number of DePaul “professors” who make Amazon, low-paying wages while charging students exorbitant tuition.
Look at the corruption and abuse within the inept and anemic athletic department. Yet, Esteban kept lying Jean Lenti – Ponsetto at the expense of the safety of kids. She couldn’t even tell the truth about her athletic background – she was a very limited talent, club athlete, never a regionally or nationally competitive athlete in any sport. Yet, Esteban let this fraud embellish and promote herself and the disgusting Lenti family, knowing she was lying about so much, at the expense of real athletes.
Simply examine how people view DePaul nationally. DePaul is now considered a diploma factory., with a mostly marginal student body. I have interviewed several and DePaul students don’t compete today. We used to be considered a very good school, yet students’ internal drive was second to none; DePaul is not even a decent school today with a weak student base that is akin to Northern Illinois University. This is how Esteban left DePaul.
Theresa B. • Jul 6, 2021 at 8:01 pm
Well put Deke.
The worst part of Esteban is how top talent in enrollment management jumped ship because of him. Record breaking fundraising was a fluke caused by questionable accounting and a couple of lucky gifts. Get rid of that leader too.
Deke • Jul 4, 2021 at 7:53 pm
One more thing — D.A. you are exactly right. The S&P 500 has increased 79.7% since Esteban took office. So even if there were no contributions to DePaul’s endowment in his 4 years, you would have made 80% just by sticking the money in an index fund. Assuming people gave money to DePaul’s endowment in those 4 years — and that may be a faulty assumption — you would expect growth in excess of 80%.
Double Demon • Jul 4, 2021 at 7:45 pm
The Board has managed to escape criticism for the various problems at DePaul. The buck stops with them — time to ask questions and hold them accountable.
Sharon Zimmer • Jun 27, 2021 at 5:12 pm
Worst President in DePaul’s history
Lorena • Jun 20, 2021 at 6:08 am
In all fairness he had a contract extension though 2027
Angry Staff • Jun 19, 2021 at 6:47 am
This is another example of how fiscally irresponsible DePaul is!!! They froze our cost of living increase, cut our retirement match in half and froze departments hiring employees, unless your athletics!!!!! This President will go down as one of the worst finically President behind Holtschneider…the trustees better get the next hire right! The staff, profs and students should be outraged!
Seriously? • Jun 18, 2021 at 9:51 pm
Esteban plans on traveling the world with his wife on Depaul’s dime for a year? What a boondoggle!! I hope the Depaulia figures out what that will cost and how much of each student’s tuition is going towards this. I don’t understand how you reward an utter failure of a presidency with free travel.
D.A. • Jun 14, 2021 at 9:57 pm
How much of the increase in endowment came outside of the upswing in the stock market…nearly all? Mr. Potato head could have had similar success.