Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean MA ’22, MOL ’24 became the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at North Park University in 2024 after serving as interim co-dean. He brings a new vision to CAS, which he describes as the “heartbeat, not just of North Park, but of a liberal arts education.”

St. Jean’s time as dean has been devoted to developing initiatives to better prepare students for lives of significance and service. These include events to welcome students and grow camaraderie, the creation of a student council and newspaper, and opportunities to help students visualize and pursue their futures by connecting with graduate programs, employers, and alumni.

North Park’s mission fits very squarely—almost like hand in glove—in my own.

In addition to serving as an advocate and mentor for students and faculty, St. Jean is a tenured sociology professor. Through his teaching, he shares his knowledge from extensive scholastic experience, including a PhD in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Criminology, as well as lessons learned through his role as a clinical mental health counselor and his past military service.

“My life’s mission is to reduce suffering and improve quality of life. North Park’s mission fits very squarely—almost like hand in glove—in my own,” he said.

St. Jean sees the goal of the CAS faculty and staff, and of the students themselves, as trifold: for students to discover who they are and who they are not, to know where in life they fit, and to know who they are becoming. Of this, he said, “Can you imagine if we give that gift to the world?”

The skills students cultivate in CAS classes allow them to develop multiple competencies and pivot seamlessly in the future.

He explained, “We not only prepare students to have a chance of excelling in all the majors that already exist at the university, but we also prepare them to excel in professions that have not yet even been considered.