Montserrat Fuentes, the president of St. Edward’s University, said she will step down from the role on July 1.
In a statement to the St. Edward’s community Tuesday, Fuentes said she made the decision after “deep reflection, prayer and heartfelt gratitude.”
“The time has come for me to celebrate all that we have accomplished together and to prepare to pass the baton to the next leader who will build upon this remarkable moment in our history,” she said. “This has never been the work of one individual. It has been the work of a dedicated community united by mission, courage, and shared purpose.”
Fuentes has been in the role for five years and succeeded longtime President George Martin, who led the university for more than 20 years. After her July departure, she said she would “pursue new opportunities.”
In her announcement, Fuentes touted her accomplishments leading the university during her tenure, including the creation of a School of Health Sciences, securing a Carnegie Classification to bolster research funding and expanding the university’s athletics programs.
Her tenure was not without controversy, as reported by Hilltop Views, the student newspaper. The university removed a Pride flag outside its Meadows Coffeehouse in 2024, prompting protests and a vote of no confidence from faculty and professors.
The Catholic university’s board of trustees will begin a national search for a new president, with Fuentes serving alongside an interim president until July 1.