Marquette firsts: President Ah Yun’s inauguration is latest historic moment

April 16, 2025
< 1 min. read

As Dr. Kimo Ah Yun is set to be inaugurated as the first person of color to serve as president of Marquette University on Tuesday, April 29, Marquette Today looks back at other notable “firsts” in the university’s history.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to the inauguration Mass and ceremony, which will begin at 10 a.m. in the Al McGuire Center. A musical prelude and student organization procession will begin festivities at 9:30 a.m., and a general reception for the Marquette community will follow the event. Faculty and staff are encouraged to RSVP online.

First person of color to serve as Marquette’s president, Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, the university’s 25th president
First Catholic institution of higher education in Wisconsin, led by Marquette’s first president, Rev. Joseph Rigge, S.J.
First Catholic university in the world to admit women as undergraduates
First Catholic university to offer journalism courses
First Marquette presidential inauguration, Rev. William M. Magee, S.J., the university’s 15th president
Football team plays in the first Cotton Bowl
Men’s basketball team plays in its first NCAA tournament
Educational Opportunity Program is established and later becomes the model for the formation of the nation’s Council for Opportunity in Education (COE)
Men’s basketball team wins its first NCAA championship
First university in Wisconsin to offer a doctorate in nursing practice
First lay president, Dr. Michael R. Lovell, the university’s 24th president
First person of color to serve as Marquette’s president, Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, the university’s 25th president
First Catholic institution of higher education in Wisconsin, led by Marquette’s first president, Rev. Joseph Rigge, S.J.

More information about the inauguration of President Ah Yun is available online. If you would like to send a note of congratulations to President Ah Yun, please submit the congratulations form.

Related Articles