Dr. Conor Kelly, associate vice provost for faculty affairs and associate professor of theology, has been named vice president for mission and ministry, President Kimo Ah Yun announced today. Kelly will continue to oversee the Office of Faculty Affairs until he begins in his new role Jan. 1, 2027.
Kelly, who has served as associate vice provost for faculty affairs since July 2025, has served in multiple leadership roles in his 10 years at Marquette, including interim chair of the Department of Theology from 2021-24 and director of the Marquette Core Curriculum from 2020-24.
Kelly’s research examines the process of moral discernment in ordinary life, with an applied ethics focus on healthcare, Catholic social thought and the theology of Catholic higher education. He has published five books, including the co-authored project, “Who Will You Become: An Ignatian Introduction to Catholic Theology.” “Who will you become?” is the guiding question for Marquette University’s introductory theology course, Foundations in Theology.
“Dr. Kelly is a proven servant leader who has a keen understanding of the Jesuit tradition, Ignatian discernment and Catholic theology and how they guide all we do at Marquette,” President Ah Yun said. “I am looking forward to working closely with Dr. Kelly as we continue to ensure that Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit mission, vision and values remain the bedrock of how we deliver a transformative education.”
“From the beginning of our search to its happy conclusion, Dr. Kelly has inspired our search committee with his passion, integrity and sense of humor. He knows how to rally a team around a common cause with pluck and a collaborative spirit,” said Rev. Joseph Simmons, S.J., assistant professor of theology and chair of the search committee. “We have every confidence that Conor will clearly and convincingly articulate our Catholic, Jesuit mission, both inside the university and beyond. I am personally encouraged by Dr. Kelly’s commitment to work closely with the Jesuit community on campus, and excited for what his leadership will bring.”
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to advance mission work here at Marquette,” Kelly said. “With the combination of a great team across the Division of Mission and Ministry and a campus community committed to preserving our distinctiveness as a Catholic, Jesuit university, I know Marquette is positioned to excel as a leader in mission integration for higher education. I look forward to working closely with President Ah Yun and the entire Marquette community as we take this next step together.”
During his time as interim chair of the Department of Theology, Kelly worked with his colleagues to facilitate eight full-time faculty hires (two tenure-track), supervised promotion/tenure cases for six colleagues, and led a multi-year program review.
As director of the MCC, Kelly established and executed a vision for the university’s common undergraduate education program that connects the Catholic, Jesuit tradition with contemporary cultural concerns. He developed processes for the assessment of the MCC’s six learning outcomes across four tiers and secured two major grants for curriculum development projects.
He was the Department of Theology’s director of undergraduate studies from 2019-21, providing leadership during the transition to a restructured undergraduate program with revised curricular requirements. He was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2021 following six years as an assistant professor.
In his current faculty affairs role, Kelly oversees the processes that support faculty through their career arc at Marquette and contributes to the formation of faculty across the university. This year, he is leading the grant-funded “Called to Transform” professional development cohort in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Kelly is a two-time graduate of the University of Notre Dame, earning a bachelor’s degree in history and theology and a master’s in theological studies in moral theology. He received his Ph.D. from Boston College.
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