Chief Wellness Officer Luis de Zengotita, MSW, MBA, has been named vice president for student life, belonging and well-being, Provost Debbie Tahmassebi announced today. In this position, de Zengotita will lead the Divisions of Belonging and Student Affairs and Wellness + Recreation. Though the two units will remain separate and distinct, this shift aims to provide a more holistic and connected co-curricular experience for students. He will begin in his new role on Friday, May 15.
To deliver a more collaborative and integrative approach for faculty and staff belonging, de Zengotita will partner closely with the offices of Faculty Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, and Mission and Ministry. Provost Tahmassebi said this will ensure faculty and staff are supported across all areas of their campus and lived experiences.
“Marquette is fortunate to have a leader like Luis who brings a mission-based, forward-thinking approach to supporting our community, and who has a keen understanding of how student development, belonging and wellness are most effective when they work in harmony,” Provost Tahmassebi said. “I am excited to see how, under Luis’ leadership, cross-campus collaborations create a dynamic support system for the entire campus community.”
De Zengotita takes over from interim leader Rick Arcuri, executive director of auxiliary services. “I’d also like to thank Rick Arcuri for his service in leading the Division of Belonging and Student Affairs through this transition. Rick’s commitment to Marquette University, particularly to our students, is a model for cura personalis,” Provost Tahmassebi said.
“Marquette’s commitment to cura personalis calls us to create a campus where all feel cared for, welcomed, connected and supported,” de Zengotita said. “It is an incredible honor to take on this role and work alongside our dedicated staff to strengthen a culture of care that helps students belong, be well and thrive. I look forward to working with the Division of Belonging and Student Affairs, Wellness + Recreation, and colleagues across campus to deepen the collective impact we can have on the flourishing of our entire community.”
De Zengotita joined Marquette in December 2024 from the University of St. Thomas where he had served as executive director of the Center for Well-Being since 2019. As CWO at Marquette, de Zengotita led Campus Recreation; the Marquette Medical Clinic; Health Promotion, Prevention and Advocacy; and the Counseling Center.
In his time at Marquette, de Zengotita oversaw the January 2025 opening of the Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility and led the development of a holistic, sustainable, multidisciplinary strategy for student health and well-being.
About Luis de Zengotita
De Zengotita is an accomplished leader in college health and well-being. After joining St. Thomas in 2019, he helped establish the university’s Center for Well-Being in March 2020, navigated the center through the challenges of the pandemic, and responded to students’ evolving needs with innovative services and programming. Under de Zengotita’s leadership, the CWB developed a comprehensive, integrated model of care that holistically supports students across all dimensions of well-being, with key initiatives such as expanding learning disabilities testing and establishing sexual assault nurse examinations on campus.
Beyond his work at St. Thomas, de Zengotita co-founded the American College Health Association’s Integrated College Health Coalition in 2022. In this national leadership role, he collaborates with fellow leaders to develop webinars on integration best practices and provides resources and consultation to support ACHA members on their integration journey. The coalition is currently focusing on conducting national surveys on integration trends and working with ACHA leadership to develop additional resources for members seeking integration support.
De Zengotita’s background in health care administration began with his tenure at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 2013-19, where he ultimately served as senior manager in clinical planning and business development. There, he managed institution-wide initiatives to expand clinical services, develop new programs, and drive strategic growth.
De Zengotita holds dual master’s degrees in social work and business administration from Boston College.
