Photograph of the New Xavier University Administration Building on the Day of its Dedication, October 12, 1932.

Xavier University looks and feels a lot different from the way it did when Mildred Gardner ‘58 first stepped onto the campus in the mid-1950s. An education major, Gardner, was born into the University as several of her aunts were graduates. It was only natural that she, too, would attend Xavier.

During her time at Xavier, the University had only three brick buildings: the administration building, the library, and the convent for the Sisters. According to Gardner, the other units were wooden, and the holy grail of the University was “The Barn” gymnasium, a multifunctional space transformed to suit need.

“There were only about 2000 students at the University at the time,” Gardner recalls. “I was involved in different clubs, and the University did not have any sororities and fraternities. But there were a lot of experiences that we had.”

Despite its size, she says Xavier was always mighty. She was close friends with the man who would become the University’s longtime President, Dr. Norman C. Francis ‘52. It was under his 47 years of leadership that she witnessed Xavier expand substantially.

“Xavier was always about excellence,” Gardner said. “They really tried to bring in a lot of distinguished people. The opera was just fantastic during those days. There was an open-door policy between students and the faculty as they really wanted to cultivate us with the best possible outcomes. It’s been amazing to see the growth. When I was there, Saint Michael’s dormitory opened for the first time as a facility for the men. The other buildings have come along, and it's just been wonderful. And the one thing is the University has been able to keep up with the growing technology industry and remain a leader in the pharmacy industry.” 

Gardner said it was Dr. Francis’ tenacity that led Xavier through the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

“That was just horrendous. Norman and the staff worked so hard to get everything back in place so that the University could continue and thrive, and it's just unbelievable how they were able to do all of that. At the time, we couldn’t see the vision. It was just unfathomable to see what happened,” she remembered. “Norman is who organized the students getting out of New Orleans and into Baton Rouge, and setting up safe havens as time went on for locals. Xavier has always been a hub for the community.”

Gardner is excited to see what the University does next, especially since Xavier has long grown from the three buildings she remembers.

In the mid-20th century, the campus expanded to accommodate a rising student population and foster a more vibrant residential experience. The addition of residence halls such as St. Michael’s provided housing for men, while St. Joseph’s and St. Katharine Drexel expanded opportunities for women. The construction of the Student Center in the early 1960s created a central hub for student engagement. The latter part of the 20th century ushered in a new era of academic expansion, particularly in the sciences and health professions. The establishment of the College of Pharmacy building signaled a major institutional milestone, later complemented by the development of the Norman C. Francis Academic and Science Complex. Additional facilities, including Xavier South, the Library Resource Center, reflected a strategic investment in research, teaching, and administrative infrastructure. Residential life also continued to evolve with the addition of the Living Learning Center.

In the 21st century, Xavier’s campus has continued to evolve with modern facilities designed to enhance student life, academic excellence, and community engagement. The University Center and St. Martin de Porres Residence Hall, both opened in 2004, brought updated spaces for student living and gathering. More recent additions—including the Pharmacy Pavilion, the Convocation Center, the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel, and the Fitness Center—underscore the university’s ongoing commitment to innovation, wellness, and faith. The University also recently opened a seven-story parking garage and broke ground on a new residence hall.

And the growth is ever-expanding.

Chief of Staff and Vice President of Government and Community Relations Ronald Carrere Jr. is working on ongoing efforts to expand Xavier beyond its academic buildings. Under a current gift, it’s his responsibility to develop Xavier’s holdings into the Gert Town neighborhood. Under his management, a team is working to engage with the community and develop a broader master plan for the neighborhood, in which Xavier’s properties can serve as a catalyst for that development.

There are several ideas in the works, though nothing is set in stone as of yet.

“There are talks of building a parking garage, additional residence halls, and affordable housing to address a need in the city; all of these things are doable, but it has to be a partnership between the community and the University because the idea is to expand but not displace others,” Carrere said.

Students are involved in the conversation and execution of these potential plans as well.

“The students are responsible for assisting with the facilitation of convenience with various stakeholders from neighbors to students, faculty and staff,” Carrere explains. “The students want to see more resources and assets that they can utilize. One of the wishes from the students is to have additional space and amenities for sports and recreation, so that’s a possibility as well. What my hope is for the final outcome of this particular expansion is for the main campus to serve as our educational base, and our new developments in Gert Town will be where we serve.”

Despite living and working in California, Gardner keeps her ties close to the University, investing in current students via her own endowment with her husband, and engaging with Xavierites to ensure they do the same to keep the university going.

An investment in Xavier is an investment in its foundation. Give today.