Two Centuries Shaping St. Louis

In part one of this episode of 1818: A Saint Louis Alumni Podcast, Meg Connolly (A&S ‘90, GRAD A&S ‘92) speaks with SLU alumnus Jody Sowell, Ph.D, president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society, about how the people of SLU have helped contribute to its legacy in St. Louis. Sowell highlights key figures, including Nobel laureate Edward Doisy, aviation benefactor Oliver Parks and Fr. Claude Heithaus, whose 1944 sermon called for SLU to enroll Black students. Sowell also discusses the Missouri History Museum’s exhibit on SLU’s destruction of the historically black Mill Creek Valley neighborhood and the University's role in the city’s future.

Then, Meg and co-host Tony Minor (A&S ‘03) welcome guests Peg Weathers, president and CEO of Grand Center Inc., and Brooks Goedeker, executive director of St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Group, for a roundtable about the University’s impact on Midtown and St. Louis as a whole. They discuss the University’s decision in the 1960s to remain in the city, its role as an anchor for Grand Center, and recent redevelopment in the area, including City Foundry, Topgolf, Target, and more.

Finally, as always, Tony shares a valuable alumni perk — this time, tools to help you start, change or advance your professional path. 

Want to learn more about today’s topic?

Explore more of the history behind Mill Creek Valley, including the Missouri History Museum’s exhibit (which runs through July 12, 2026), photos and an overview available through SLU’s library, and a public art installation on campus that honors its legacy, today.

Or, get updates on redevelopment near SLU and Grand Center.

Finally, access professional development resources for alumni through SLU’s Career Services.

Creators and Guests

Host

Meg Connolly

Meg Connolly (A&S ‘90, GRAD ‘92) is a two-time Saint Louis University graduate who has been a member of the alumni and development teams for over 30 years. Her favorite Billiken memories include SLU’s 200th celebration under the Gateway Arch, men’s basketball and women’s soccer NCAA tournament pregames, and getting married in the St. Francis Xavier College Church. Connolly is fortunate to have engaged with so many wonderful graduates and friends of the University from across the country — alumni who literally change the world in ways only Billikens can. She is thrilled to share more SLU conversations and stories through the 1818 podcast.

Host

Tony Minor

Tony Minor (A&S ‘03) is a longtime leader in alumni and donor engagement at Saint Louis University, where he currently serves as an assistant vice president. During his 20-plus years in higher ed advancement, he’s led teams across alumni engagement, annual giving, stewardship, marketing and events — all with the goal of building stronger connections between SLU and its community of graduates and supporters. Minor got his start in the Office of the President and has grown his career entirely at SLU. He’s a proud Billiken, holding degrees in English and communications, and is passionate about ensuring SLU’s alumni feel connected.

Guest

Brooks Goedeker

Over the last two decades, Brooks Goedeker has a proven track record of working alongside St. Louis’ institutions, its business community, and its residents to turn innovative community and economic development concepts into reality. In that time, he has helped to guide over $4 Billion in construction activity in the City of St. Louis and has worked with thousands of residents to identify their community’s needs and build programs and initiatives to address them. Brooks has a Psychology and Sociology degree from Knox College, a master’s degree in Social Work from Saint Louis University and a master’s degree in Non-Profit Management from Washington University. Brooks has taught courses in leadership, community development and nonprofit management as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University. As Saint Louis University’s Executive Director of Community and Economic Development, Brooks works to attract investment around the university’s campuses, ensures that the area is safe and attractive for students and visitors, and supports the existing residential and business communities. In the last decade, Brooks has assisted in the growth of Midtown St. Louis, which includes the $350 million City Foundry development, the new Armory district, a mixed-use Target store, the Element by Westin Hotel, a new Topgolf, over 1,000 new apartment units, dozens of new homes and condos, and the new St. Louis University Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Prior to arriving at Saint Louis University, Brooks served as the Executive Director of Park Central Development, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic growth in the city’s central corridor, including the Grove and Central West End neighborhoods. In that role, he guided over 50 percent of all construction activity in the City of St. Louis between the years 2013-2017. Brooks has also served as the Community Development Manager for Washington University Medical Center where he directed community initiatives related to social and human services, economic development, safety and security, and was the project manager of the entry-marker Grove signs. Beyond St. Louis, Goedeker has worked in communities across the country, including Philadelphia, Cleveland, Memphis and Minneapolis. Brooks and his wife Erin raise 3 children in the Holly Hills neighborhood in south St. Louis. In 2022, Brooks Goedeker created the Holly Hills Special Taxing District, which he continues to chair today.

Guest

Jodie Sowell, Ph.D.

Jody Sowell, Ph.D. has served as the seventh president of the Missouri Historical Society since July 2022, the first to hold the role in the institution’s 160-year history after two decades of service within the organization. During his 20 years at the Missouri Historical Society, Dr. Sowell has held several leadership positions, most recently as Managing Director of Public History, where he led the education, programming, publications, communications, evaluation, public history, and exhibitions teams. He also writes and hosts the STL History Minute series, launched in 2021. These weekly 60-second segments air on KMOV’s CBS Sunday Morning and bring St. Louis history beyond the walls of the Missouri History Museum, helping connect the public with the city’s past. The series receives more than three million views each year on KMOV, with additional audiences reached through the Missouri Historical Society’s social media channels. Dr. Sowell has also played a key role in shaping some of the museum’s most successful exhibitions, spearheading eight of the ten most visited exhibits in the organization’s history, including 250 in 250, #1 in Civil Rights, and A Walk in 1875 St. Louis. Although he wasn’t born in St. Louis, Dr. Sowell often says he “got there as fast as he could.” He moved to the city in 2003 with his family to pursue a doctorate in American Studies at Saint Louis University. The family initially expected to leave after he completed his degree, but instead fell in love with the city and made it their home. Dr. Sowell holds a doctorate from Saint Louis University, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University. He continues to teach occasional classes at Saint Louis University.

Producer

Megan Favignano Mansouri

Megan Favignano-Mansouri is the digital content specialist for Saint Louis University's development communications team. Her passion is storytelling and uplifting the voices of the community. Megan is an award-winning storyteller with a decade of experience working in journalism, public relations, and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with certificates in Environmental Journalism and Leadership from Webster University. In her free time, Megan enjoys watercolor, family game nights, walks with her two dogs and exploring St. Louis with her husband.

Guest

Peg Weathers

Peg Weathers is a community-focused leader who has spent her career strengthening organizations and building partnerships across St. Louis. She currently serves as President & CEO of Grand Center, Inc., where she’s led the organization to its most successful year in more than a decade and is helping guide the next chapter of the Grand Center Arts District. Peg has previously led the Kirkwood–Des Peres Chamber, expanded community initiatives at Saint Louis University, and held senior appointments in the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy. Known for her collaborative style and ability to bring people together, she’s dedicated to creating connections that move communities forward.

What is 1818: A Saint Louis University Alumni Podcast?

Shaping the Future Since 1818

As the oldest institution of its kind west of the Mississippi River, Saint Louis University has stood at the forefront for more than two centuries. From revolutionizing football with the forward pass to performing the Midwest's first heart transplant, SLU is where history is made.

Some traditions endure: our proud Jesuit, Catholic foundation, a deep commitment to academic excellence and a calling to pursue social justice. Other stories have been lost to history — until now.

In the debut season of 1818: A Saint Louis University Alumni Podcast, we dive into SLU's rich and often surprising legacy. Each episode features an unexpected conversation about SLU's background, a dynamic roundtable with alumni, thought leaders and changemakers shaping the University's next chapter, and a spotlight on distinctive alumni events and services.
Whether you're a Billiken from yesterday, today or tomorrow, join us as we showcase the people and moments that define us.

Once a Billiken, Always a Billiken.