STEPHEN V. SUNDBORG, S. J.
Seattle University President

A native of Alaska, Father Stephen V. Sundborg, of the Society of Jesus, became president of Seattle University in July 1997.  He leads a comprehensive, independent university of 7,529 undergraduate and graduate students and 1,100 faculty and staff members.

Father Sundborg began his education in Juneau at St. Anne’s school and Juneau-Douglas High School. He moved to Fairbanks when his father, George Sundborg, became editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. George Sundborg, now 95 and living in Seattle, was an at-large elected delegate to the Alaska State Constitutional Convention. George Sundborg also served as campaign manager and administrative assistant to U.S. Sen. Ernest Gruening and as speechwriter to Walter Hickel, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Father Sundborg was ordained in Seattle in 1974, and completed his doctoral studies in spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1982.  He taught theology at Seattle University from 1982-1990, was appointed rector of the Seattle University Jesuit community in 1986, and served as provincial of the Northwest Jesuits 1990 1996.

Since becoming president of Seattle University, Fr. Sundborg’s key objectives have been to enhance academic excellence and to develop resources to support a growing student population.  During his tenure, Seattle University has built a 64,000 square foot Student Center, residential housing, the School of Theology and Ministry, a Center for the Performing Arts and a new law school, the largest in Washington State and a source of many lawyers practicing in Alaska. A scholarship for law students was established in honor of Father Sundborg’s parents, George and Mary Sundborg.

Father Sundborg is strongly committed to promoting social justice, a core value of the Jesuit Catholic education.  He actively supports programs that encourage students, faculty and staff to make a difference, whether in the local community or in developing countries. Such a commitment led to Seattle University’s decision to host a homeless encampment during February 2005—an unprecedented move by a university.  During his presidency, Fr. Sundborg has bestowed honorary degrees on such social justice luminaries as Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Corazon Aquino, and Walter Cardinal Kasper.

In addition to his responsibilities as Seattle University’s 21st president (the third largest non-profit organization in Washington state), Father Sundborg is a member of the United Way of King County Board of Directors; a trustee of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; a member of the Board of Directors of the Independent Colleges of Washington; a member of the YMCA of Greater Seattle Board of Directors; and a trustee of Lakeside School.