Born in Chicago, Illinois, Biondi studied at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School where he first became interested in the Society of Jesus.

In 1993 West Pine Boulevard that cuts across campus was replaced by a spacious walkway and Clocktower Plaza.

The following year saw the completion of the $80.5 million Chaifetz Arena seating 10,600 and bringing SLU basketball games back to campus.

In line with training men and women for others and global citizens,[1] new initiatives included: in 1998 Make a Difference Day involving the entire university community at over 100 sites around town; in 2001 the Campus Kitchen Project for the needy; and in 2010 the Center for Sustainability, with masters and a doctoral program on urban and global development.

[2] Biondi was a controversial figure for his approach to leadership for accomplishing his bold vision, once describing himself as a "my-way-or-the-highway kind of guy.

[4] Student or faculty governance bodies at SLU considered but did not finally act upon no-confidence measures in Biondi in 2002, 2004, 2009, and 2010.

[15] On the heels of Clark's resignation, campus dissension erupted with the release of Vice President Patankar's proposed policies on faculty evaluations which attempted to apply uniform metrics in evaluating faculty with diverse areas of expertise and weakened the status of tenure at Saint Louis University.