Summertime typically means life on campus slows a bit, yet there are still many exciting events taking place. I want to extend a special thank you to the teams who are coordinating SPARK sessions for incoming students, which started this week. I know all of us on campus will be sure to “roll out the blue and gold carpet” to welcome our new students and families and help retain our new students until school starts in August.
Charting Our Course finale in St. Louis: The Charting Our Course gatherings that brought alumni, friends of the university and prospective students and families together over the past year wrapped up earlier this month in St. Louis. I enjoyed learning how our alumni’s experiences at Marquette have influenced their lives personally and professionally and sharing updates from campus. Planning is underway for more visits from key university leaders to cities across the nation in the coming year, to connect with alumni, prospective students and families, and high school counselors.
2026 Staff Excellence Awards recognize exemplary leaders: The Staff Excellence Awards luncheon is one of the final celebrations of the academic year and honors recipients of the Excellence in University Service and Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion awards. This year’s honorees each demonstrate a deep commitment to our mission, our students and their colleagues, and it was my pleasure to celebrate with them and their families.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees!
Excellence in University Service: Maria Cooper, administrative assistant, Honors Program; Erin Folstad, director of project planning and development, Research and Sponsored Programs; Courtney Hanson, director of career services, Career Center; Don Hertz, manager of technical services, Diederich College of Communication; Karen Parr, creative director, Office of Marketing and Communication
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Emily Raclaw, director, On Your Marq
MUPD celebrates staff, community and campus partners at annual ceremony: In late May, I attended the annual Marquette University Police Department Merit Awards Ceremony, where staff members were recognized for exemplary achievement, and community and campus partners were acknowledged for their contributions to the Marquette community.
One of the most frequent questions parents of prospective students ask me is if their child will be safe on our campus. I always highlight the professionalism and dedication of our MUPD staff when I talk about our commitment to safety.
Remembering President Lovell: I was grateful for the opportunity to gather with so many members of the Marquette community to remember and honor former President Mike Lovell on the second anniversary of his death. It was fitting that the Mass was celebrated in the St. Joan of Arc Chapel, one of his favorite places on campus. During the homily, Father Jim Pribek, S.J., recalled President Lovell’s humility, which is just one of the many things about him that I miss.
Marquette on the Move segment on WTMJ’s The Upswing: Dr. Madeline Schmidt, assistant dean in the College of Nursing, and Gil Peri, president and CEO of Children’s Wisconsin, joined me to discuss our institutions’ shared commitment to keeping kids safe and healthy during the May “Marquette on the Move” segment on WTMJ Radio’s The Upswing.
Our discussion was timely because May was National Nursing Month. Gil shared that approximately 2,000 nurses who work at Children’s were educated at Marquette. Marquette nurses stand out to Gil because of their engagement, attention to detail and level of nursing excellence. Madeline detailed the complex issues nurses face in the pediatric patient population and how they must be present for the entire family.
I’m proud that 2026 marks the 90th year of Marquette Nursing and ours was the first four-year nursing program in Wisconsin. With strong partners with Children’s Wisconsin, Marquette will continue to shape the future of nursing care in our state.
AJCU Presidents Pilgrimage begins next week: Catherine and I are heading to Italy next week on a pilgrimage with leaders and presidents of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. We have meetings in Rome and Vatican City, and will visit Assisi, which will be meaningful during this extraordinary Jubilee Year commemorating the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s death.
Catherine and I are excited about a special trip to Chasse-sur-Rhône, France, the original home of the St. Joan of Arc Chapel. You may remember that a delegation from this small village toured campus and Milwaukee last fall. Catherine and I were honored that Mayor Christophe Bouvier invited us to visit “any time,” and we are eager to see the landmark that holds such a special place in Marquette’s history.
As you enjoy your Milwaukee summer, I encourage you to consider a visit to our Haggerty Museum of Art, which has three new summer exhibitions. Admission is always free and the museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Haggerty is a gem, not just at Marquette, but in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
We Are Marquette!
Dr. Kimo Ah Yun
President
