Dear Marquette community,
I hope you are enjoying the start of summer and taking time to rest and recharge with family and friends.
Over the past few weeks, some of you have asked me how the provost search is going. There is a shared understanding of the importance of this position, which is a critical hire for Marquette. As the chief academic officer for Marquette, our next provost will help shape the future of our university.
Throughout the search process, I have asked the search committee to focus on key characteristics in candidates – in addition, of course, to academic leadership experience:
- A strong understanding of and commitment to our Catholic, Jesuit mission
- A proven ability to drive continued academic excellence
- A strategic thinker
- A record of displaying empathy and fortitude when making difficult decisions
I want to thank everyone who welcomed candidates for the position to campus in May. The search committee chaired by Dr. SuJean Choi, professor of biomedical sciences, identified a strong pool of potential provosts, and many individuals throughout our community met with them as an opportunity for dialogue and discernment.
While I was hopeful that we would hire the next provost from the pool, that did not happen. There was a strong candidate in the pool and we were in the final stage of the finalist agreeing to be our next provost, when a personal matter arose which resulted in the candidate declining the offer. While this is unfortunate, I am confident we will identify the right person to fill the provost role.
I met with the search committee last week and we had a good conversation. We agreed that continuing the process is the best step to move the search forward. I am grateful that all members of the search committee have agreed to stay on as the search continues. Our search firm, Isaacson, Miller, will update the candidate pool throughout the summer, and additional candidates selected by the committee in conversation with me will be interviewed. I anticipate we will have additional candidates visit campus this fall. I am putting no mandatory timeline on concluding the search, but am hopeful that the search will conclude by the end of the calendar year.
Dr. Sarah Feldner has agreed to continue serving in the acting provost capacity until the new provost can start their tenure at Marquette, and I thank her for her leadership. I also want to thank the search committee for its work and for its willingness to identify the leader that Marquette needs at this key time. This is one of the most important decisions a university president will make, and I am grateful for the feedback and guidance from our campus community as the selection process continues.
Watch Marquette Today for updates as we move forward.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,
Dr. Kimo Ah Yun
President
Marquette University
