Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
Patrick Zenner, BSBA'69, received the 2024 Creighton University Alumni Achievement Citation at the University's annual Evening of Honors event.
Watch this video tribute to Zenner:
'I have always tried to make a difference'
Zenner, a recognized leader in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, inspired healthcare innovations, supported underserved populations, and made significant contributions to community health and wellness during a career that spanned five decades.
"Creighton’s values of integrity and service have always stood out,” says Zenner, who is the retired president and CEO of Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. and a Creighton University trustee emeritus. “The Jesuits' influence was profound, and figures like Leo Pieper, my business guidance counselor, helped students define our paths. He inspired my pursuit of the pharmaceutical industry to improve and save lives. To young people at Creighton today, I advise always being curious, passionate, and committed to making a difference. Maintain integrity, work hard, and strive to give back."
"It's incredibly humbling to receive this award, considering the many worthy Creighton graduates. I hope people will remember that I have always tried to make a difference at the University."
Zenner dedicated more than 25 years to the boards of Creighton University and Fairleigh Dickinson University and remains connected to his high school alma mater, Cretin-Derham Hall in Minnesota. At Creighton, he participated in the 2000 Campaign National Steering Committee and served as resident director of the New Jersey-Pennsylvania alumni club. He has served four University presidents. In 2023, Creighton’s Board of Trustees granted Zenner emeritus status for his exceptional service.
"From the very first time I met Pat, it was clear that he embodies the Jesuit values that define a Creighton education,” says Creighton President, Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD. “For the true measure of our mission is realized when our graduates carry these lessons into the world. It takes an extraordinary individual to uphold these values consistently, not just over the years but across decades and a lifetime. I am profoundly grateful for Patrick's mentorship and friendship, which continue to be a blessing to me and our community."
The Creighton University Alumni Achievement Citation is the highest all-University award presented to a Creighton alumnus/na. It recognizes exceptional men and women who demonstrate high moral standards and have given distinguished service to their community through philanthropy or other outstanding public service. They demonstrate the Jesuit ideal of “women and men for and with others.”
- Read more about Zenner's Creighton legacy and professional achievements.
- Learn more about the 13 other award recipients at Creighton's Evening of Honors.
