Express Scripts Chairman George Paz (center) leads his first meeting as president of the Chancellor’s Council Feb. 16 while flanked by his predecessor, Thompson Coburn Chairman Tom Minogue (at left), and UMSL Chancellor Tom George. (Photo by August Jennewein)
The Chancellor’s Council at the University of Missouri–St. Louis has a new leader in Express Scripts Board Chairman George Paz, who has agreed to serve a three-year term as its president. He presided over his first meeting on Feb. 16.
The Chancellor’s Council provides advice, assistance and financial support to the chancellor and campus to further elevate UMSL as a premier public metropolitan research university. Tom Minogue, chairman and managing partner of Thompson Coburn, LLP, is the immediate past president.
Express Scripts is a Fortune 100 company and the nation’s largest pharmacy management organization. Paz, who graduated from UMSL with a degree in accounting, was Express Scripts CEO until retiring from that post in 2016. He retained his position as non-executive chairman.
“This university has played a vital role in the betterment of the lives of nearly 100,000 people who have earned UMSL degrees – including my brother and I,” Paz said. “It’s an institution that provides first-rate education at an affordable cost. The members of the Chancellor’s Council – working alongside Chancellor George and his faculty – have the honor and responsibility to help guide and support this incredibly important community asset.”
“We’ve had tremendous leadership of the Chancellor’s Council throughout my 15 years in St. Louis,” UMSL Chancellor Tom George said. “I expect that George [Paz] will maintain or exceed that record of excellence – bringing to the position a new focus that ensures UMSL continues to produce graduates who are ready to enhance the businesses and communities that make up this great region.”
In many regards, George said, Paz taking on this new role is a continuation of a unique partnership that has been evolving since before 2007 – when Express Scripts opened its world headquarters on the UMSL campus.
Express Scripts and UMSL have co-developed internships, academic programs, consumer behavior research, diversity initiatives and community betterment projects. The company and Paz himself have invested generously in UMSL scholarships and facilities. Paz also chaired UMSL’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign – which raised more than $150 million from 2005 to 2012. The campaign exceeded its original goal by $50 million.
