Rev. John Thiede, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, will transition from that role to serving as special adviser to the president for the spring 2026 semester, President Kimo Ah Yun announced today. Father Thiede has served as vice president for mission and ministry since December 2023, after having served in the acting role since May of that year.
Rev. James Pribek, S.J., assistant vice president of mission and ministry, has been named acting vice president for mission and ministry, effective Jan. 2, 2026. In his acting role, he will report directly to President Ah Yun and serve on the President’s Cabinet and the University Leadership Council.
During his time as vice president of mission and ministry, Father Thiede worked with his team to develop a bilingual mission theme for Marquette, with the first being En Todo Amar y Servir — to love and serve in everything. Additional accomplishments include: continuing momentum to highlight Sacred Spaces across campus, including fundraising for the renovation of the Chapel of the Holy Family; playing a key leadership role in the Vatican-inspired Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference hosted at Marquette in November 2023; co-leading the initial development of the Marquette Strategic Plan 2031, “Guided by Mission, Inspired to Change;” and leading the effort to attain a fully staffed team in Campus Ministry, Center for Peacemaking, the Faber Center and Pastoral Leadership in a Cultural Context to advance Marquette’s mission across campus.
Father Thiede has been a warm, welcome presence on move-in day every summer, offering the move-in prayer as well as meeting and talking with families as they dropped off their new students. Fluent in Spanish and German, Father Thiede provided a resource for Marquette’s international students and served as a companion for the Spanish-speaking community on campus. His care for students and their well-being was evident in his daily work advancing our mission. In summer 2025, he led a cohort of students and Center for Peacemaking staff to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to remember the bombings on their 80th anniversary and discern what it means to live in a world without nuclear weapons as part of a larger, global pilgrimage to the sites.
“I wish to thank Father Thiede for his leadership in elevating our Catholic, Jesuit mission across the university,” President Ah Yun said. “I look forward to working with him on a number of key projects during the spring semester.”
Father Pribek to begin acting role Jan. 2, 2026
A scholar of Irish literature, Father Pribek joined Marquette in July 2021 from Creighton University, where he served as an associate professor in the English department from 2018-21. Prior to that, he taught at Canisius College in Buffalo for 14 years, earning tenure. In both roles, Father Pribek led Ignatian formation programs similar to the Marquette Colleagues Program.
“Father Pribek is a thoughtful, mission-oriented minister and higher education leader,” President Ah Yun said. “I am confident in his ability to lead the Office of Mission and Ministry and serve as an Ignatian spiritual counselor to me and other senior leaders at Marquette as we search for our next permanent vice president for mission and ministry.”
Father Pribek will also serve as superior of the Marquette Jesuit community beginning in summer 2026. He was appointed to this role by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus.
“It is my privilege to lead the Office of Mission and Ministry through this transition,” Father Pribek said. “I look forward to working closely with the entire Mission and Ministry staff, as well as with President Ah Yun and other senior leaders, to help advance the university’s Catholic, Jesuit mission.”
Father Pribek has an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, as well as a master’s degree in English from Gonzaga University and two master’s degrees from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. After he was ordained, he earned master’s and doctorate degrees in Anglo-Irish literature and drama from University College Dublin.
Learn more about Father Pribek in this feature.
Watch Marquette Today for updates on the search for the next permanent vice president for mission and ministry.
