Paul Locatelli, S.J. became Santa Clara University's 27th president in 1988. He serves on a number of boards, among them the National Association for Independent Colleges and Universities, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (chair), Jesuit School of Technology at Berkeley, Institute of International Education of Students, Executive Committee of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley and 21st Century Education Initiative, National Conference of Community and Justice, and American Leadership Forum of Silicon Valley.

In 1978, he was named the Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the Leavey School of Business and in 1994 received the Distinguished Professor Award from the California Society of CPAs.

He co-authored Assessment for the New Curriculum: A Guide for Professional Accounting Programs (1995); and authored articles including "Austen Warburton: A Friend for All Seasons" Forward in Santa Clara Sagas by Austen Warburton, "The Art of an Integrated Education," Santa Clara Magazine, and "Service-Learning in Accounting Education" in Learning by Doing AAHE (1998).

He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Santa Clara, a master of divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology I Berkeley and a doctorate in business administration (accounting) from the University of Southern California. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Following graduation from Santa Clara, he worked as a professional accountant before entering the Society of Jesus in 1962, and was ordained in 1974. Upon completing his Jesuit formation in 1974, he began his academic career on the Accounting faculty at Santa Clara. Later, he served as associate dean for the business school and academic vice president.