Dear Marquette community,
I am sorry to share sad and difficult news with you today. Avijit Hira, a student in the Opus College of Engineering, died unexpectedly this morning. A native of Bangladesh, Avijit was a doctoral student and teaching assistant in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Avijit loved nature and enjoyed traveling often, and he was involved with International Day on campus, sharing his culture with the Marquette community. He was passionate about service, working with “Dream,” a voluntary blood donation society in Bangladesh. Avijit was also a gifted scholar, with 12 publications highlighting his research in wireless networks and encryption technology.
We all feel the pain and loss when we lose a member of our Marquette family, and we must come together as a community to support one another. University leadership and Campus Ministry staff are providing support and every available resource to Avijit’s family.
Counseling services and pastoral support are available on campus for all faculty, staff and students. Members of the university’s Counseling Center, Campus Ministry and Faber Center are available to provide support services for coping with grief and loss. Additionally, the Marquette Employee Assistance Program is also a resource available to all employees and members of their households.
The university will host a “Prayer Service of Remembrance” for Avijit tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 19, at 4 p.m. in the AMU, Monaghan Ballroom. The Marquette community is invited to join either virtually or in-person. Those who attend in-person will be required to follow university COVID-19 health and safety protocols and will be required to show their COVID Cheq pass to attend.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Avijit’s family and friends for their immeasurable loss. Please keep Avijit’s parents, family and friends in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael R. Lovell
President