From the President’s Desk – April 2026

As the spring semester winds down, it feels like we are sprinting toward the finish line of a marathon. I am energized by the events held at this time of year that celebrate the many achievements of our students, faculty and staff.

Last week, I welcomed new members of the Quarter Century Club - the outstanding faculty and staff members who have called Marquette home for 25 years. It was wonderful to see so many retirees back on campus for the celebration. All told, there were more than 3,500 years of service to Marquette represented by those gathered in the AMU Monaghan Ballroom. That same evening, I met with students at the weekly Ignite event to share how my Catholic faith has influenced leadership decisions throughout my career and specifically here at Marquette.

As I drove home, I reflected on these two groups. The Quarter Century Club members helped build our proud legacy through their dedicated service. The Ignite students, particularly the graduating seniors, are looking ahead eagerly to see what the future holds for them personally and professionally. Both groups, while at opposite ends of the career continuum, have shaped and been shaped by their Marquette experiences and are certain to have fond memories of their time on campus.

Admitted Students Days set new records: While the enrollment numbers for the Class of 2030 are still being finalized, there is some exciting news to share about our two Admitted Students Days. The events drew a Marquette record of 869 admitted high school seniors and 2,480 total attendees to campus. We have prioritized outreach to students from diverse geographic regions in our long-term enrollment strategy and are beginning to see the results. Students represented 34 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. An overwhelming 96% of the families said the event was excellent or above average, and 53% reported that they are more likely to attend Marquette because of the event.

This positive feedback is thanks to the time so many of you gave your weekends to make the events a success. You showed off what makes Marquette a special place. Parents and students noticed too. One parent responded in the post-event survey: "Overall an amazing experience! Loved the welcoming atmosphere and the personal, warm involvement of so many staff and faculty!"

Graduate programs earn high marks from U.S. News & World Report: I frequently mention that we don't chase rankings, but we certainly celebrate when the exemplary work of our faculty, staff and students is recognized. Earlier this month, U.S. News & World Report announced its 2026-27 Best Graduate Programs rankings and there were very positive results for our programs.

Our Physical Therapy and Nurse Midwifery programs are ranked among the top 20 programs nationally, and 10 programs improved over last year's rankings.

You can see the complete listing at this link.

Marquette trailblazer Dr. Arnold Mitchem, Grad '81, Hon Deg '04, receives national honor: Dr. Arnold Mitchem, who founded Marquette's Educational Opportunity Program and served as the first president of the Council for Opportunity in Education national organization, is the recipient of The EDU Ledger's 2026 Dr. John Hope Franklin Award for "his outstanding contributions to higher education and his lifelong commitment to helping the disadvantaged and the poor." Dr. Mitchem's vision and commitment continue to make an impact here at Marquette and at college campuses throughout the country. You can read about Dr. Mitchem's well-deserved award here.

Spring semester gatherings with staff and faculty: There have been several opportunities for me to gather with staff and faculty this spring. The Faculty Forum, Staff Senate meeting, Participating Faculty Reception and faculty-staff lunches are occasions that bring members of our community together for important dialogue.

Marquette Recovery Program featured on WTMJ Radio's 'The Upswing':  Tim Rabolt, manager of our Collegiate Recovery Program, was the guest last month on 620 WTMJ's "The Upswing" with alumnus Jeff Sherman, Bus Ad '91. Tim shared how Marquette's work as a wellness-forward institution supports students in recovery and those pursuing sobriety. Tim's experience with sobriety is helping develop a social culture that is not centered around alcohol. Work like Tim's is an example of Marquette's commitment to our holistic support of our students and living out the tenet of cura personalis. You can learn more by listening to our discussion.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Throughout April, the Office of Health Promotion, Prevention and Advocacy Services has planned events to raise awareness of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Next Wednesday is Denim Day, when people around the world will show support for survivors of sexual assault by wearing denim. You can learn more about our campus activities here.

Seton Catholic Schools Mass celebrated at Al McGuire Center: Earlier today, we welcomed more than 3,500 Seton Catholic Schools students, faculty, staff and my fellow Seton Catholic Schools board members for a special Mass celebrated by Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob in the Al McGuire Center. Members of our Public Affairs, Campus Ministry, University Special Events, Athletics and MUPD teams were instrumental in making the morning a success.

Following Mass, more than 500 Seton 8th graders attended a Marquette student panel discussion, then toured campus. Thanks to Kate Bracciano in Admissions for her work coordinating the students' tour.

Mark your calendar: Looking ahead to the 2026-27 academic year, the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit will be celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 3:30 p.m. in the Church of the Gesu, with a picnic to follow. The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition that was started 450 years ago by Jesuit educators and is still practiced globally. The Mass is a special way to thank God for the gifts of creation and salvation and to seek the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit throughout the academic year. More details about the Mass and picnic will be shared in the fall after the start of the new academic year.

Thank you, Facilities Planning and Management: I know many of you were personally affected by the flooding and severe weather throughout our region last week. Please know of my prayers for continued recovery efforts, especially for those who saw damage to their homes. Here on campus, we experienced historic flooding and were able to remain operational due to the around-the-clock work of our Facilities Planning and Management team and outside contractors who helped keep buildings functional and restored power following temporary outages. Their work is seen and appreciated by all who live, learn and work on campus.

I am praying for a smooth and successful close to the academic year for our community. I know it can be a time of stress and anxiousness; I also hope we can celebrate the many wonderful things that have happened within our community since last August. To our faculty and staff members who are retiring: Thank you for your dedication to Marquette and for sharing your gifts with our students and your colleagues. To our students who are graduating next month: Congratulations and thank you for choosing Marquette to be a part of your educational journey. I hope we have helped you achieve your goals and you are now ready to go set the world on fire!

We Are Marquette!

Dr. Kimo Ah Yun
President