Thomas M. Mengler ’75 has had immense impacts in many areas throughout his career in legal education and university leadership.
Mengler was a distinguished professor of law at the University of Illinois School of Law before he moved into the field of higher education administration, where he served in a pivotal role as the founding dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Law. When he began his position there, there was no building; only a site had been chosen. Mengler raised much of the $35 million necessary to build it, as well as twice that much in additional fundraising that followed during his decade as dean, to support the law school’s students, faculty, and programs. He also guided the development of an extensive mentoring program, in which every student participates, leading the St. Thomas law school to earn high regard nationally for its excellence in practical training.
As president of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio for twelve years, Mengler led a campaign that ended at $165 million against a $135 million goal. His team-building acumen, dogged enthusiasm, and clarity of purpose achieved outsized results. He also guided the institution academically to broaden its offerings substantially, putting it in a strong position to weather the upcoming demographic cliff. Mengler’s accomplishments have been impressive in Illinois, Minnesota, and Texas. He exudes the wisdom of broad and integrating liberal arts studies, upon which he built a successful professional career.
Along with his formal duties in higher education leadership, his wisdom has been sought out for guidance in the Catholic Church. He has been a leader in the national association of Catholic colleges and universities, as its members evolved their collective strategy for honoring simultaneously their rich religious heritage and their place in a sector of society that cherishes pursuit of the truth and openness to diverse voices. Today, when many of his classmates are retiring, Mengler has taken up new responsibilities leading a conservation trust in the San Antonio area.