As we look to the new year, enjoy some Marquette highlights from 2023!
January
O’Brien Hall officially opens as new home of Marquette Business
Less than two years after the first shovels went into the ground at the corner of 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, Dr. E. J. and Margaret O’Brien Hall was a flurry of activity, as students, faculty, staff and visitors ushered in a new era for Marquette Business.
President Lovell shares 9th annual President’s Address
President Michael R. Lovell highlighted the major steps forward Marquette took over the past year to execute on the goal themes in the university’s strategic plan, Beyond Boundaries.
Marquette alumni, parents and friends give more than $5 million in honor of President and First Lady Lovell
In the four months following Board of Trustees Chair Robert J. Eck announcing that the university will honor President Lovell and First Lady Amy Lovell in its transformational Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility, Marquette alumni, parents and friends gave more than $5 million in honor of the Lovells.
Marquette bolsters scholarship resources, Dental School funding thanks to $1M combined gift
President Lovell announced a $1 million gift from the We Energies Foundation that will expand scholarship resources and help revitalize clinics in the School of Dentistry.
February
Mission Week 2023
This year’s Mission Week theme was “Act with Kindness,” which reminds us that, “In every waking moment and with every interaction, we have the opportunity to act with kindness.”
Land and Water Acknowledgement marker unveiled
Marquette hosted an unveiling for a marker commemorating the university’s Land and Water Acknowledgment, the latest in the significant advances Marquette has made toward better acknowledging and honoring the long history of Native peoples and nations that lived on and stewarded the land and water where the university now resides.
Blue & Gold Brewing launches first craft beer product
Blue & Gold Brewing LLC, a student-run business venture launched as part of an undergraduate applied learning program in the College of Business Administration, launched its first craft beer product in collaboration with Broken Bat Brewing Co., Gathering Place Brewing Company and Good City Brewing Co. ’77 Golden Ale first debuted on National Marquette Day.
Marquette couple give major gift to Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility to honor son
John Pfefferle, Arts, ’66, and his wife Lynn gave a $1.5 gift for the reimagined Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility in honor of their late son, Michael.
Student-Made Marquette launches
Marquette students can now showcase their entrepreneurial spirit on Student-Made Marquette, a largely student-led arts collective made up of creators and innovators within the campus community.
March
Basketball teams head to NCAA Tournament
The 2022-23 men’s basketball season was a year of firsts, featuring the program’s first outright Big East regular season championship and first Big East Tournament championship. That success led to Marquette receiving a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, its highest ever. The women’s team earned an at-large bid and a No. 9 seed in their 14th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance.
Over 5,100 donors participate in Give Marquette Day
The sixth annual Give Marquette Day was the most successful yet thanks to support from our Marquette community.
April
Pocket Prairie debuts on Marquette’s campus
The Pocket Prairie, located on Eckstein Common just south of the Alumni Memorial Union, features around 35 native Wisconsin plants, including wildflowers, grasses and shrubs.
Marquette ranked by Princeton Review for ROI, internships
Marquette was again named to Princeton Review’s list of the 209 Best Value Colleges and ranked No. 16 among private schools in the Best Schools for Internships category.
U.S. News releases 2023-24 Best Graduate Schools rankings
Several graduate programs moved up in the rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 Best Graduate School rankings.
Men’s golf wins fifth Big East championship
The men’s golf team claimed its first Big East crown since 2019 and fourth under head coach Stephen Bailey with a strong performance in South Carolina. Bhoom Sima-Aree earned co-medalist honors as the Golden Eagles secured a spot in the NCAA Auburn regional.
May
Marquette celebrates class of 2023
Marquette’s 142nd Commencement was held Saturday, May 20, with 1,828 undergraduates, 849 master’s degree recipients, 394 professional studies graduates and 72 Ph.D. recipients celebrating at Fiserv Forum.
Marquette ranked in top 6% of universities worldwide by Center for World University Rankings
Marquette was ranked in the top 5.7% of more than 20,000 universities worldwide in the Center for World University Rankings’ 2023 edition of the outcome-based Global 2000 list.
Marquette Law School ranked No. 71 by U.S. News
Marquette University Law School is ranked No. 71 nationally, up from 105 last year, by U.S. News & World Report.
Women’s lacrosse makes first NCAA Tournament
Women’s lacrosse set a new program record with 15 wins in 2023 to earn Marquette’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles also became the first lacrosse team at the school – women’s or men’s – to secure an at-large bid.
Marquette receives $2.5 million gift from Helene Fuld Health Trust for new home for College of Nursing
In recognition of the generous gift, the university will name the College of Nursing’s Center for Student Success in the trust’s honor in the renovated and expanded David A. Straz Jr. Hall when it opens in 2024.
June
Dr. Elsbeth Kalenderian named dean of the School of Dentistry
Elsbeth Kalenderian, DDS, MPH, Ph.D., was named dean of the Marquette University School of Dentistry on June 22. She began in her new role in August and has since shared more about herself with Marquette Today.
Renovations begin on the Lemonis Center for Student Success
Construction and renovation work got underway in June for the Lemonis Center for Student Success. Upon completion in 2024, Marquette will rename Memorial Library to the Lemonis Center for Student Success in recognition of alumnus Marcus Lemonis and his wife Bobbi’s $15 million gift.
July
Marquette named to Money’s 2023 Best Colleges
Marquette was awarded a 4 1/2-star rating (out of 5) on Money’s 2023 Best Colleges in the U.S. list for quality, affordability and student outcomes.
August
Marquette welcomes class of 2027
Nearly 1,900 first-year students from 42 states began moving into Marquette residence halls on Aug. 23. Additionally, more than 1,200 students arrived on campus to pursue graduate and professional degrees in the Graduate School, Graduate School of Management, College of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry and Law School.
Marilyn Jones named first director of Lemonis Center for Student Success
Marilyn Jones, a two-time Marquette alumna, was named the inaugural director of the Lemonis Center for Student Success on Aug. 10, the latest step in Marquette’s Student Success Initiative.
Northwestern Mutual renews partnership with Marquette and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Northwestern Mutual, Marquette and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are deepening their commitment to the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute, having extended their partnership for the groundbreaking organization through 2028.
New ‘MU’ letters installed outside AMU
A new photo opportunity arrived on campus in August when Marquette installed freestanding “MU” letters in the patio space outside the east entrance to the Alumni Memorial Union.
Marquette receives $1.25 million Lilly Endowment grant
The five-year grant will help Marquette further engage its extensive network of community relationships with area congregations to help parents, caregivers and congregational leaders explore effective ways to pass on the Christian faith in an increasingly secular world with modern questions.
Marquette receives $1 million gift from Slaggie Family Foundation for Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility
The Slaggie Family Foundation committed a $1 million gift to continue fundraising momentum for the reimagined Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility on campus.
September
Marquette volleyball sets new NCAA regular-season indoor attendance record at Fiserv Forum
Marquette volleyball played in front of a record 17,037 fans – a new NCAA regular-season indoor best for the sport – on Sept. 13, at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. Attendees watched the Golden Eagles take on Wisconsin, the No. 1 ranked team in the country, in the arena that typically hosts Marquette’s men’s basketball team.
Marquette ranked highly by major publications
Marquette placed highly in two prestigious rankings in September, first slotting in at No. 56 in the 2024 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings and then No. 86 in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
Campus community takes part in first President’s Fun Run
Students, faculty and staff took part in the first Marquette University President’s Fun Run on Sept. 16. The campus community gathered in the spirit of well-being to run or walk 2.5 miles through campus and the nearby neighborhood.
New Office of University Relations leadership named
Lynn Griffith, assistant vice president of university communication, was promoted to chief marketing and communication officer, while Ralph Weber, a longtime Milwaukee trial lawyer and owner of Weber Advising, was named acting general counsel.
November
Blue & Gold Brewing announces first coffee offerings in new partnership with Stone Creek Coffee
Blue & Gold Brewing LLC announced its Tasteful Tidings box in partnership with Stone Creek Coffee. Three coffee blends were available through the limited-time holiday offer.
Marquette hosts Vatican-sponsored Sport at the Service of Humanity conference
Representatives from around the world gathered in Milwaukee Nov. 8-10 for the Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference, an event hosted by Marquette in collaboration with the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education.
Burke Foundation commits $4.6 million to extend two service-driven scholarship programs
The Burke Foundation committed to a $4.6 million gift that will extend the two programs that were founded by Richard A. Burke — the Burke Scholars program for undergraduates and the Trinity Fellows program for graduate students.
EagleExpress completed its 100,000th ride 10 months after launch
In celebration of the occasion, the 100,000th rider received a gift basket including a $25 VISA gift card, an MUPD Blue T-shirt, a Marquette scarf and an EagleExpress knit hat.
Marquette alumnus gives $1 million to establish endowed tennis scholarships
Alumnus Ross Sprovieri and his wife Susan have committed $1 million to establish endowed tennis scholarships for Marquette’s NCAA men’s and women’s tennis programs.
December
Rev. John Thiede, S.J., named vice president for mission and ministry
Rev. John Thiede, S.J., was named vice president for mission and ministry after serving in the acting vice president for mission and ministry role since May. Under his leadership as acting vice president for mission and ministry, Father Thiede introduced the university’s mission theme for the year: “En Todo Amar y Servir” or “To Love and Serve in Everything.”
Northwestern Mutual’s Andrew DeGuire named next Keyes Dean of Business Administration
Andrew J. DeGuire, vice president of corporate strategy at Northwestern Mutual, a financial services company, was named the next James H. Keyes Dean of Business Administration last week. He’ll begin his new role on July 1, 2024.
Guided by Mission, Inspired to Change: Marquette University’s strategic plan for 2031
President Lovell announced the university’s new strategic plan, the culmination of a yearlong, campuswide process of discernment, exploration and collaborative problem solving.
