Dr. Kimo Ah Yun was inaugurated as the 25th president of Marquette University at a combined Mass and installation ceremony held Tuesday, April 29, at the Al McGuire Center. The Mass was presided over by the Most Rev. Jeffrey S. Grob, Archbishop of Milwaukee.
President Ah Yun was unanimously elected the 25th president of Marquette University by the Marquette Board of Trustees at a special board meeting in November 2024. The president, who had served in the dual acting president and provost roles since June 10, 2024, succeeded Dr. Michael R. Lovell, who led the university as its first lay president from 2014 until his death on June 9, 2024. President Ah Yun is the first person of color to lead Marquette and the Catholic, Jesuit university’s second lay president in its 143-year history.
“The world needs a strong Marquette,” President Ah Yun said. “It needs passionate and compassionate leaders. It needs individuals who believe faith and reason can and should coexist. It needs thinkers and dreamers; the faithful and the curious. It needs Marquette.”
Todd Adams, chair of the Marquette University Board of Trustees, and Peggy Troy, trustee emerita, installed President Ah Yun on behalf of the Board of Trustees, while Rev. James Prehn, S.J., socius of the Midwest Jesuit Province, oversaw the commissioning.
“Without reservation, I can say that our 25th president, Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, is a faithful servant leader who cares a great deal about Marquette University, our mission, our people and our future,” Adams said.
The inauguration theme was “Open your heart. Find your compass. Change the world,” which celebrates Marquette’s rich Catholic, Jesuit tradition by inviting all in the community to ground themselves in the university’s mission and seek the truth about God and the world, that they may grow as individuals for and with others. In doing so, and by putting students at the heart of all we do, we will educate well-rounded servant leaders who transform their fields, our society and the world.
“Changing the world can seem like an impossible task,” President Ah Yun said. “There are so many things that get in our way. It’s easy to not do the difficult things. But I am fortunate. I get to see people change the world every day. I see it in our faculty and staff who are working with our students, advising them, teaching them, working with them on our research. I see it in our alumni across the world who are going out and setting the world on fire.”
The inauguration theme is rooted in a February 2022 letter from Pope Francis announcing the Catholic Church’s Jubilee 2025, in which he wrote: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”
Over 40 universities, colleges and academic institutions were represented by affiliated delegates, a group that included 18 presidents and chancellors. More than 120 students representing 60 student organizations led a procession to open the proceedings.
President Ah Yun shared a message of gratitude with the Marquette community as he prepared for the inauguration ceremony.
“I have come to know Kimo as a man of extraordinary talent, of great faith, wonderful sense of humor and a deep devotion to all that Marquette seeks to be,” said Rev. Patrick McGrath, S.J., a member of the Marquette University Board of Trustees who delivered the homily. Rev. Gregory O’Meara, S.J., proclaimed the Gospel.
Other inauguration events included an Inauguration Symposium on April 10 that brought together leaders from Milwaukee’s four Jesuit schools for a panel discussion on Jesuit Education in Milwaukee. President Ah Yun participated in the Marquette Community Day of Service — the Arrupe Center’s largest and longest-running day of service — on April 12.
About President Ah Yun
President Ah Yun joined Marquette in 2016 as dean of the Diederich College of Communication, was named acting provost in 2018 and then permanent provost and executive vice president for academic affairs in 2019. A first-generation college student, he is committed to furthering the university’s mission of educational access and ensuring all students are successful from their first day to their first destination following graduation.
President Ah Yun’s tenure at Marquette has been marked by a dedication to fostering academic excellence and nurturing a community committed to service, faith and justice while having the fortitude to make difficult decisions. Having served Marquette in several key leadership roles over the past eight years, President Ah Yun’s leadership provides continuity on major initiatives including implementing the university’s Marquette 2031 Strategic Plan, and builds upon positive momentum in increasing student retention rates, transforming the campus environment, finding more effective and efficient ways for the university to operate, and raising funds to grow the endowment so that a Marquette education is accessible and affordable for all students.
Marquette is currently ranked in the top 20% of national universities and in the top 20 for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report. The Princeton Review named Marquette among its Best Value Colleges for 2024 and ranked it No. 12 nationally among private universities for internships and No. 1 in the nation for community service engagement.
Get to know President Ah Yun:
- A household name — Kimo — it’s Hawaiian for James — got this nickname from his grandmother who suggested the idea to avoid the confusion of having two Jameses in the family since Kimo was named James Jr. after his father. It stuck, and that’s what he has been called ever since. He shared this story and detailed the importance of his Hawaiian heritage with Marquette Today.
- Undebatable facts — President Ah Yun took to the Debate Team in high school. That decision took him places. In fact, it took him all the way to the Great Wall of China, where he unexpectedly found himself listening to Run-D.M.C. on his Walkman. Listening to live music of all genres is President Ah Yun’s favorite hobby. Check out some of his favorite tunes on his Spotify playlist.
- First in the family — Born in Compton, California, as the fourth of five kids, President Ah Yun was raised with four sisters who he says helped him shape his strong communication skills. He was the first person in his family to earn a college degree.
- On the road to success — Along President Ah Yun’s storied academic journey, he took a gap year after high school before gap years were in fashion. He spent that year as a self-proclaimed “local petroleum distributor,” working night shifts at a full-service gas station. From there his drive for learning accelerated, and he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Sacramento State; his master’s degree in speech from Kansas State; and his doctorate in communication from Michigan State.
More biographical information on President Ah Yun is available online.
