Marquette has been named a finalist for two national marketing awards from Ragan’s PR Daily, the preeminent brand for public relations professionals. The Inauguration of Marquette University’s 25th President is a finalist in the Event Strategy category, while “Value of a Marquette Education Campaign” is a finalist in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category.
The Ragan’s PR Daily Marketing Awards program is regarded as the communication industry’s most esteemed recognition platform, honoring the most impactful public relations, marketing and social media campaigns, along with outstanding events, individuals and teams from the past year.
“Marquette University is proud to be honored as a Ragan PR Daily Marketing Awards finalist alongside national brands,” said Lynn Griffith, chief marketing and communication officer. “We are laser-focused on increasing our brand awareness and positioning Marquette as among the most innovative and accomplished Catholic, Jesuit universities in the world.”
The Inauguration of Marquette University’s 25th President
The inauguration of Marquette’s president, Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, celebrated Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit identity; formally installed the institution’s 25th president; and introduced President Ah Yun as a prominent leader in higher education to the Milwaukee and Marquette communities. Combining a Catholic Mass and the university presidential installation ritual into one event affirmed Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit identity. Marquette was the first Jesuit higher education institution in the nation to execute a combined Mass-inauguration event.
President Ah Yun’s captivating personal story as a first-generation college student, one that few members of the Marquette and Milwaukee communities were familiar with before he was named the university’s president, was told through multimedia assets that were shared prior to, during and following the inauguration. Success was measured through a combination of engagement, reach and impact, including community engagement, event participation, media and social impact, and internal communication.
- The Inauguration Symposium attracted nearly 100 civic and regional education leaders and nearly 250 student volunteers contributed more than 850 hours to local nonprofits during the Community Day of Service.
- Over 3,500 participants engaged in inauguration day events, including 170 students as liturgical ministers, members of the gospel and liturgical choirs, and participants in the student procession. Nearly 50 universities and learned societies sent delegates and the ceremony was streamed by nearly 1,000 viewers.
- Ten local and regional media outlets covered the inauguration.
- Inauguration-related social media posts generated over 1 million impressions, 50,000 engagements and nearly 200,000 video views across university channels.
The inauguration event planning was the product of a cross-campus committee led by the Office of the President, which included representatives of the Office of Marketing and Communication. OMC team members devised and implemented the marketing and communications strategies included in the nomination process.
Value of a Marquette Education Campaign
The goal of the Value of a Marquette Education campaign is to shine a spotlight on the value of higher education, specifically the distinctive impact of a Catholic, Jesuit education at Marquette. At a time of increasing public skepticism toward higher education, this campaign elevated the narrative by demonstrating how a bachelor’s degree creates long-term personal, professional and societal benefits. The campaign aimed to build broad awareness among prospective students and families, business leaders and legislators in Wisconsin, and Milwaukee community members who may not have a direct connection to the university. By reframing the conversation around higher education through the lens of Marquette’s mission, outcomes and community contributions, the campaign reinforced the relevance, accessibility and long-term return on investment of a Marquette education.
While the primary goal was awareness, the campaign generated strong engagement and measurable impact. The Value of a Marquette education (link) website has attracted more than 7,000 new users since April 2025, with an average session duration exceeding three minutes, demonstrating meaningful interest in the content. Digital advertising exceeded industry benchmarks across all platforms and, most importantly, early enrollment indicators reflect growing interest in Marquette.
