Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
President of Le Moyne College
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Fred P. Pestello became the 13th president, and first lay leader, of Le Moyne College on July 1, 2008. He arrives as the Jesuit College is in the midst of a $50 million comprehensive capital campaign and in the wake of several years of record-setting applications for freshmen enrollment.
Dr. Pestello came to Le Moyne after spending 24 years at the University of Dayton. Since 2001 he had served UD as provost and senior vice president for educational affairs. During his career at Dayton, he was also the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the chair of the department of sociology, anthropology and social work, and a professor of sociology at Dayton. He is the co-author of Sentiments and Acts, which he wrote with his wife, Dr. Frances Pestello, and has also published numerous articles and chapters in the sociology field.
In addition to his professional commitments, Dr. Pestello has been involved in local, state, and national organizations, including the United Way of Greater Dayton, the Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning, and the Association for Catholic Colleges and Universities.
He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Akron-Kent State University joint Ph.D. program in sociology in 1985, his master’s degree in sociology from the University of Akron in 1981 and his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1974 from John Carroll University, a Jesuit institution in Cleveland.
Dr. Pestello’s spouse, Frances, serves as chair of the department of sociology, anthropology, and social work at the University of Dayton. They have two children, a daughter, Vitina, and a son, Ferdinando, both attending the University of Dayton.