Dr. Conor Kelly was named associate vice provost for faculty affairs in May, taking on a new role after serving in multiple leadership positions in his 10 years at Marquette. The former associate professor of theology took time to talk with Marquette Today about lessons learned from Pope Francis, the importance of community and his unique talent.
Hometown: Now it is Elm Grove, Wisconsin, but I grew up mainly in Bedford, New Hampshire.
Tell us about your family: My wife Kate and two school-aged children, Clare and Ryan
What are your favorite hobbies and interests?
I enjoy reading (especially a good mystery novel), running, playing games (both board games and yard games) with my family, watching soccer (Go Brighton!), and making tasty meals to share with friends and a side of great conversation.
What are your favorite movies?
“About Time,” the 2013 film with Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson and Bill Nighy. I think it has a powerful message about the importance of appreciating the present in a manner that is deeply Ignatian (I swear!). I also really love Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
Who are/is your hero(es)?
I have a ton of admiration for Pope Francis because I found his consistent commitment to prioritizing the marginalized deeply inspiring. In many ways I saw him demonstrating the practical impact the Catholic faith is supposed to have in daily life. Given my training in theological ethics and my research on ethical discernment in ordinary life, this was a compelling witness that continues to challenge me to be more compassionate in my interactions with others.
Any favorite quotes/mottos?
Two stand out: “The way we make change is just as important as the change we make” (Valarie Kaur). “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
These quotes both shape how I try to think about the responsibilities of administrative work on campus, which is never just about pursuing changes for the sake of change but rather strengthening the relationships that form our community in the process. This, in turn, is only possible if we accept, as Catholic social teaching insists, “that we are all really responsible for all,” a conviction that I believe requires us to recognize how we all suffer when one member of the community suffers and reminds us that we can all rejoice when any member succeeds.
What are you currently reading?
I recently finished Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” because I missed the bandwagon when the Hulu series came out in 2020 and have only now caught up. I am also currently reading through “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” with my children at bedtime.
Any favorite vacation spots?
When my wife and I lived in Boston during our graduate school years, we always found Maine (“vacationland” to New Englanders) to be a restful and rejuvenating vacation spot. More recently, I have had some really enjoyable family vacations on the South Carolina coast, which is rapidly climbing toward the top of my vacation spot rankings.
What was your biggest career learning experience?
The importance of keeping the bigger picture in mind. It is so easy to get lost in the details, particularly when there are many decisions to make, and if we forget why we are doing something in the first place we are almost certainly destined to lose our way.
Any fun facts people should know about you?
My go to for this question is that I can juggle and ride a unicycle. Yes, at the same time, because once you have one of these skills it feels like you ought to have the other.
What most excites you about being at Marquette?
Hands down it’s the awesome people who work here. I am continually amazed by all the things our faculty and our staff do to go out of their way to help our students grow and flourish. I see people in every pocket of campus embracing the idea that we are called to serve God by serving our students and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and it helps energize me for the work I do too.
