Mission-led leadership
In Service of the University
The Office of the President helps shape the life of The University of St. Thomas in ways that extend across the institution. Through its leadership, the University’s decisions and long-term priorities remain grounded in a Catholic vision of higher education and in the serious work of intellectual and human formation. At UST, leadership is not separate from mission. It is part of how the University carries forward its commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition, the dialogue between faith and reason, and the formation of students whose education speaks to both mind and character.
Mission in Practice
A Place of Vision and Stewardship
The president’s office helps hold the larger shape of the University together. That includes looking ahead with care, supporting the work happening across campus, and helping UST grow in ways that still feel true to itself. In a university community, that kind of leadership matters because the work is never only operational. It is also moral, intellectual, and deeply human. The office exists to support a University where scholarship is taken seriously, faith remains part of the conversation, and students are prepared not only for careers, but for lives of judgment, responsibility, and service.
The University’s Tenth President
Our President
Dr. Sinda K. Vanderpool, President
When Dr. Sinda K. Vanderpool became president in 2025, it marked both a historic first and the beginning of a new chapter for UST. She came to the University after years of leadership at St. Mary’s University in Calgary and many years at Baylor, bringing a style that feels especially well suited to a place where students, mission, and community are meant to stay at the center.
With Purpose and Care
Leading into the Next Chapter
Every university enters seasons that ask for both clarity and discernment. The Office of the President helps UST move through those moments with care, keeping the University’s future in view without losing sight of the mission and identity that have shaped it from the beginning. That work calls for leadership that looks ahead with intention while remaining grounded in the Catholic tradition, academic seriousness, and formative purpose that continue to define the life of the institution.
Helpful Information
Questions About the Office of the President
Who is the president of UST?
Every university enters seasons that ask for both clarity and discernment. The Office of the President helps UST move through those moments with care, keeping the University’s future in view without losing sight of the mission and identity that have shaped it from the beginning. That work calls for leadership that looks ahead with intention while remaining grounded in the Catholic tradition, academic seriousness, and formative purpose that continue to define the life of the institution.
What does the Office of the President do at UST?
It helps keep the University moving in the right direction. That includes setting priorities, supporting leadership across campus, and making sure UST’s growth still feels true to its Catholic identity and the kind of academic community it wants to be.
What is President Sinda Vanderpool’s background?
Before coming to UST, Dr. Vanderpool led St. Mary’s University in Calgary. She also spent 18 years at Baylor University, where her work centered on students, institutional leadership, and the kind of behind-the-scenes collaboration that keeps a university strong.
How does the president support the mission of The University of St. Thomas?
At UST, that role is bigger than administration. The president helps protect the things that matter here: the Catholic mission, serious academic life, and the formation of students as whole people. It means leading in a way that keeps faith and reason part of the same conversation.
How do I contact the Office of the President at UST?
Our About page directs inquiries for the Office of the President to president@stthom.edu
Faithful Stewardship
Guided with Care
The President’s Office is dedicated to serving the University of St. Thomas (UST) with clear judgment and a deep sense of responsibility for its enduring legacy and future potential. In an environment grounded in faith, reason, and human dignity, effective leadership is characterized by thoughtfulness, principle, and a personal touch. Its function is to preserve the University’s distinct identity as a leading voice in Catholic higher education, while strategically charting the course for its next chapter.