ST. LOUIS — A historic $7.3 million was donated to Saint Louis University (SLU) by alumna Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Herrmann to establish a new center for innovative Catholic education and to support education programs for underserved students in the St. Louis region.

What You Need To Know

  • Her $7.3 million donation is the largest SLU’s School of Education has ever received from a donor

  • The funds will be used to create the Herrmann Center for Innovative Catholic Education that will house several existing programs within the school of education and allow for new initiatives

  • The center additionally will conduct research to inform best practices in Catholic schools and will support local school and global partnerships

  • SLU’s School of Education will celebrate 100 years of educating educators and will hold events commemorating the milestone throughout the 2024-25 academic year

After earning her undergraduate and medical degree from SLU, Dr. Herrmann completed a fellowship in surgical nutrition at Harvard University, according to a press release.

Following her fellowship at Harvard, Herrmann returned to St. Louis as a faculty member at SLU’s School of Medicine and served as director of the nutrition support service, director of home health services, co-director of breast cancer and vice-chair of the department of surgery.

“Dr. Herrmann began her career as a breast surgeon at a time when there were few women surgeons. An advocate for others throughout her career, she especially sought to empower women through support and mentorship,” the press release states.

Herrmann additionally served as co-director of the breast surgery program at Washington University School of Medicine.

Her $7.3 million donation is the largest SLU’s School of Education has ever received from a donor, according to the press release.

The funds will be used to create the Herrmann Center for Innovative Catholic Education that will house several existing programs within the school of education and allow for new initiatives, such as The Billiken Teacher Corps.

“We care about doing work that is consistent with our Jesuit mission of serving those in our community who have been underserved,” said Gary Ritter, Ph.D., dean of SLU’s School of Education.

“This is the work Ginny was interested in supporting, and that’s what we will pursue with this incredibly generous gift.”

The center additionally will conduct research to inform best practices in Catholic schools and will support local school partnerships, including a new relationship with St. Louis Catholic Academy Middle School, in addition to global partnerships, such as Belize 2020.

“Thanks to Ginny Herrmann’s generosity, we now have more resources to vigorously pursue our mission by developing educational programs with and for those who have the greatest need,” Ritter said.

Executive Director Michael Boyle, Ph.D., will lead the new center. He is an advocate for students with disabilities and has researched and published extensively in the domain of Catholic education.

“I am honored to serve as the executive director of the Herrmann Center,” Boyle said. “Together, we will create a vibrant community of educators committed to excellence and equity in Catholic education.”

Boyle’s previous roles were the director of the Greeley Center for Catholic Education at Loyola Chicago, the superintendent for the Office of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., and most recently was a consultant for Inclusion Solutions, LLC.

“With expertise in educational leadership, Dr. Boyle has fostered collaboration and driven innovation through coaching, and has facilitated collaboration with archdioceses, schools and organizations,” the press release states.

SLU’s School of Education will celebrate 100 years of educating educators and will hold events commemorating the milestone throughout the 2024-25 academic year.