President Kimo Ah Yun celebrated Marquette’s deep commitment to community engagement and service during his second Presidential Address on Monday, Nov. 9, a focus that received special recognition from the City of Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson presented a proclamation declaring Nov. 9, 2026, Marquette University Day of Community Engagement and Service, recognizing the university’s third consecutive No. 1 national ranking for community service engagement and its longstanding commitment to serving Milwaukee. President Ah Yun and Mayor Johnson were joined on stage for the proclamation by students engaged in service, staff and faculty leaders, and representatives of Marquette’s community partners.
The recognition underscored one of several themes President Ah Yun returned to throughout the address as he reflected on notable accomplishments from the past year, provided updates on key university initiatives and highlighted the many ways members of the Marquette community are creating a hope-filled future.
The address opened with a performance by the Marquette Liturgical Choir under the direction of Andrew Mountin. Rev. James Pribek, S.J., superior of the Marquette Jesuit Community and acting vice president for mission and ministry, offered the invocation, and Sumaiya Chowdhury, doctoral student in biological sciences and president of the Graduate Student Organization, provided the Land and Water Acknowledgement.
President Ah Yun then expressed gratitude for the ways faculty and staff model our mission pillars of excellence, faith, leadership and service, emphasizing that everyday acts of care can leave lasting impressions on students.
“All of you are the reason why Marquette is successful,” President Ah Yun said. “Each of us plays a role, and we can’t do it without every one of you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for being a part of the fabric of this university. Thank you for helping us to move forward in the ways that we need to move forward.”
“Each of us plays a role, and we can’t do it without every one of you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for being a part of the fabric of this university.”
President Kimo Ah Yun
Following are primary themes from the speech, which can be viewed in its entirety via the Marquette Wire.
President Ah Yun framed much of the address around Marquette’s progress toward the goals of its strategic plan, Guided by Mission, Inspired to Change, and its three themes: Thriving Students, Healthy Campus and Care for the World.
He highlighted efforts to attract and support students throughout their Marquette experience, invest in the people and spaces that make up a healthy campus, and extend the university’s impact through teaching, research, service and community engagement.
Investing where students live and learn
President Ah Yun announced that Marquette is advancing its next campus master plan to invest in student housing and the development of a comprehensive sciences district.
An initial student housing study has been completed, and planning discussions are underway for future residence hall opportunities. Planning teams have also been established to guide a student housing plan.
The university is similarly developing a sciences district plan. An early step is the previously announced relocation of Marquette’s Physical Therapy, Neuro Recovery and Dental Faculty Practice clinics to Clark Hall. President Ah Yun described the move as a catalytic investment that will enhance student learning and faculty practice while expanding health care services in the community.
“Last year and continuing this year, we’re seeing an increased demand in applications of people who want to go into healthcare, pre-professional health, and want to be pre-med majors,” President Ah Yun said. “We have to react to this. This is something we know through other metrics will continue to grow, so the question is, ‘What do we need to do that?’ That’s the investment in the sciences.”
The plans build on recent campus investments that have allowed Marquette to grow academic programs, meet student demand and support belonging and well-being, including new facilities for the College of Nursing and College of Business Administration, the Lemonis Center for Student Success and the Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility.
President Ah Yun also highlighted forward-thinking enrollment strategies and philanthropy as key to advancing the strategic and master plans, noting that the Time to Rise campaign helped fund strategic priorities and that University Advancement surpassed $100 million in contributions for the fifth consecutive year.
“Because of careful planning and the investment through the strategic plan, we now sit at a 10-year high in applications of students who want to come to Marquette,” President Ah Yun said.
Care for the world
The mayoral proclamation recognized the collective contributions of Marquette students, faculty and staff, who recorded more than 114,000 service hours during the last academic year. Marquette is ranked No. 1 for Most Engaged in Community Service by The Princeton Review for the third consecutive year.
The spirit of community engagement recognized by Mayor Johnson extends beyond service and into Marquette’s classrooms, research and scholarship. President Ah Yun highlighted the university’s teacher-scholars, whose work alongside students and community partners reflects Marquette’s commitment to caring for the world.
“All of this work is wrapped around service,” President Ah Yun said. “We continue to create conditions that allow all our students to serve.”
That commitment to our students continues to earn national recognition. For the fifth consecutive year, Marquette was ranked among the nation’s top 25 universities for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.
Creating a hope-filled future
Throughout his address, President Ah Yun returned to the role of Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit mission in guiding the university through demographic shifts and economic pressures.
He reflected on a recent pilgrimage to Rome, where conversations about Jesuit education reinforced the responsibility of universities to help form students in hope and prepare them to build a more just, peaceful and sustainable world.
President Ah Yun also recognized members of the Marquette community whose work is directly contributing to Marquette’s mission and creating a hope-filled future, including research by Dr. Emily Sontag with implications for neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and aging; the Education Preparedness Program’s work with incarcerated students; the annual Holiday Giving Tree; Camp Kesem at Marquette; the School of Dentistry’s general practice residency program; and the student-led emergency medical services unit working with the Marquette University Police Department.
He concluded by reflecting on this year’s mission theme, “Let Your Light Shine,” and thanking members of the Marquette community for the many ways they accompany and care for one another.
“We are Marquette,” President Ah Yun said. “When we bring our light, we shine for the glory of God and the good of all.”
