Marquette 2024: a year in review

Marquette 2024: a year in review

It is impossible to highlight the triumphs of 2024 without recognizing its heartbreak. On June 9, President Michael R. Lovell passed away following a three-year battle with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

In the time since, members of the campus community have leaned on one another throughout the grieving process, gathering at vigils and Masses, taking part in one of his great passions at the LOVELLSTRONG Legacy Run and donning gold at sporting events. The university will continue to honor President Lovell throughout the academic year through spiritual opportunities, athletic uniform patches and other special events.

As we reflect on a year nearly complete, we remember President Lovell's tremendous impact and the deep connection he and his family built with the campus community during his 10 years of leadership.

January

Marquette alumnus and NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade makes $3 million gift to grow literacy, add scholarships and enhance men's basketball

Alumnus and NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade committed to a $3 million gift that will extend the Tragil Wade-Johnson Summer Reading Program, establish the Wade Scholars and support a new men's basketball practice facility in a future expansion of the Athletic and Human Performance Research Center.

Marquette Law School Poll rated nation's third best poll and most transparent

A big year for the Marquette Law School Poll began with an impressive recognition, being recognized as the third-best poll in the United States by 538's new pollster ratings of more than 500 polling organizations. The Marquette Law Poll received a 2.9-star rating (out of 3.0), and a nation-leading transparency score of 10.0.

February

Campus community celebrates Mission Week

Last year's Mission Week theme was "Act with Faith," calling upon us to let our faith lead us to peace, joy and freedom and to remember that faith is a gift that transforms us.

Blue & Gold Brewing releases The Beer Can on National Marquette Day

Blue & Gold Brewing LLC, a student-run business venture launched as part of an undergraduate applied learning program in the College of Business Administration, released its second beer product, The Beer Can, on a celebratory National Marquette Day. The cream ale was named after the iconic former McCormick Hall.

March

Men's basketball reaches Sweet 16 for first time since 2013

March was sweet for head coach Shaka Smart and the men's basketball squad, which defeated Western Kentucky and Colorado en route to the program's 17th Sweet 16 appearance and first since 2013.

Women's basketball makes back-to-back tournament appearances

The women's basketball team danced in March, earning a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a matchup with Ole Miss.

MUPD Blue celebrates his second birthday

Blue, the Marquette University Police Department community outreach dog, celebrated his second birthday on March 5 as part of Give Marquette Day.

April

Marquette reports record-breaking research and development expenditures for FY23

Marquette reported a record $47.8 million in research and development expenditures for the fiscal year 2023 closing June 23, 2023.

Cara Consuegra named Marquette women's basketball head coach

Cara Consuegra, who previously served as an assistant coach at Marquette from 2004-11, was named the seventh coach in program history following Megan Duffy's departure to Virginia Tech.

Marquette receives $1.5 million gift to fund College of Health Sciences research and future expansion of Athletic and Human Performance Research Center

The gift from alumni couple Bob and Kim Eck will provide seed funding and focus on highly innovative projects within the College of Health Sciences aimed at applying new technologies, novel therapies and research to help address substance abuse disorders. In addition, a portion of the gift will support a new men's basketball practice facility in a future expansion of the Athletic and Human Performance Research Center.

Father General Arturo Sosa, S.J., visits Milwaukee

Father General Arturo Sosa, S.J., met with a number of Marquette representatives during his visit to Milwaukee in April and spent time with the university's Jesuit community in the O'Brien Jesuit Residence.

May

Marquette celebrates class of 2024 at Commencement ceremonies

Marquette University's 143rd Commencement was held Saturday, May 11, with 1,586 undergraduates, 758 master's degree recipients, 437 professional studies graduates and 71 Ph.D. recipients celebrating at Fiserv Forum.

New statue of St. Ignatius installed outside Chapel of the Holy Family

University leaders officially welcomed the newest member of the campus community in May - an engaging statue of St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, installed outside the Chapel of the Holy Family.

Professor receives $3.6 million NIH R01 grant to better map brain-spinal neurons for treatment of spinal cord injuries

Dr. Murray Blackmore, professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Health Sciences, received a $3.6 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance new viral tools to selectively manipulate subtypes of brain-spinal neurons for the study of spinal cord injury.

June

Marquette ranked by Princeton Review for ROI, internships in 2024

The Princeton Review released its list of 209 Best Value Colleges for 2024 - Marquette University was again named to the list. Additionally, the Princeton Review ranked Marquette 12th nationally among private schools in the Best Schools for Internships category.

Marquette receives $1.25 million gift to extend program providing educational opportunities to students currently and formerly incarcerated

The Mellon Foundation gave $1.25 million to the university to extend its successful prison initiatives programs in June. The programs create pathways to higher education for people across southeast Wisconsin affected by incarceration.

July

Convention rental proceeds will fund student scholarships

Marquette hosted nearly 2,000 visitors on campus during the Republican National Convention, including groups who rented space in the university's residence halls and apartment buildings. Proceeds from these rentals will be used for student scholarships.

Faculty experts on a variety of topics related to the convention and the presidential election spoke with media outlets from across the country and world, and events brought visitors to campus during the week-long event.

Marquette researchers discover new probiotic to weaken multidrug-resistant staph infections, such as MRSA

Researchers in Marquette's Klingler College of Arts and Sciences have discovered a novel probiotic that can weaken the resistance of antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections, such as MRSA, by increasing its sensitivity to multiple antibiotics and inhibiting biofilm development in the human gut.

August

Marquette welcomes the Class of 2028 on move-in day

On Aug. 21, nearly 2,150 first-year undergraduate students from 40 states; Washington, D.C.; two U.S. territories and 12 countries began moving into Marquette residence halls.

New spaces open on campus

Three reimagined spaces opened their doors to the campus community at the start of the academic year.

The Lemonis Center for Student Success, designed to drive the university's Student Success Initiative forward, provides wraparound services for students across all majors, academic abilities, and backgrounds to enrich and expand student opportunities from the moment they step on campus until they graduate.

David A. Straz, Jr., Hall, the new home of the College of Nursing, underwent a radical transformation after serving as home to Marquette Business since its initial construction in 1951. The expanded space helps the college in its goal to train 5,000 new nurses over the next decade.

The Chapel of the Holy Family's renovation was unveiled to a full congregation of over 125 faculty, students and staff. The new space features improved lighting, multiple windows along Wisconsin Avenue, a skylight, new sound system and a cross atop the roof.

Marquette ranked a 'Best College,' No. 1 for community service by Princeton Review for 2025

Marquette was again named on the outlet's list of the "Best 390 Colleges" and was featured in several sub-categories, notably ranked No. 1 in the country for engagement in community service.

'Time to Rise' campaign surpasses $800 million

The bold, eight-year campaign exceeded its $750 million goal and elevated resources across the university to advance the university's mission and pillars of excellence, faith, leadership and service.

Mission and Ministry announces new mission theme

Following last year's successful inaugural mission theme, En Todo Amar y Servir, the Office of Mission and Ministry announced the new theme for the 2024-25 academic year: Imagine. "Ignatian imagination" is a common theme throughout St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises as he calls on us to imagine our path to God and to find profound joy.

Haggerty Museum of Art celebrates 40th anniversary

The Haggerty Museum of Art is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special two-part exhibition, "The Big 4-0: New Views of the Collection," featuring over 100 works of art from the museum's collection presented over the 2024-25 academic year.

September

Marquette ranked 55th nationally in 2025 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings

Marquette was again listed among the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges in the U.S., moving up one spot to 55th in the 2025 rankings. Marquette is the top-ranked university in Wisconsin and second among Big East Conference peers.

In the fall, the Wall Street Journal and College Pulse broke their rankings down by school size and location, recognizing Marquette as a top three midsized school in the Midwest.

Marquette parents give $7 million to bolster scholarship support

Marquette parents Clifford and Mildred Huck bequeathed $7 million to grow scholarships across the university. The Hucks raised six children, five of whom attended Marquette.

Securing Our Future Steering Committee recommendations shared

In March, the university announced the Securing Our Future initiative, a plan to better position Marquette amid increasing economic and demographic pressures. The results of the Marquette 2031: Securing Our Future Steering Committee's have since been incorporated into the Marquette 2031 Strategic Plan.

Marquette continues water research initiatives with $4.2 million Department of Defense grant for 'In Defense of Water' project

Marquette's "In Defense of Water" project has received its third grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, worth $4.2 million, to continue developing novel, sustainable technologies to protect human health and the environment, treat sewage, and provide clean drinking water and a framework for emergency response to water contamination.

Marquette ranks in top 20 nationally for social media engagement for fourth straight year

Marquette was ranked in the top 20 nationally of 364 NCAA Division 1 schools in social media engagement for the fourth year in a row, coming in at No. 19 in Rival IQ's 2024 Higher Education Social Media Engagement Report.

October

First Strategic Plan initiatives move forward

Marquette announced 19 initiatives aligned with the Marquette 2031 Strategic Plan, Guided by Mission, Inspired to Change, that will move forward for FY25 (which ends June 30, 2025), along with the individuals who will lead each initiative. The initiatives span the plan's three goal themes - Thriving Students, Healthy Campus and Care for the World.

New Pediatrics Clinic opens at School of Dentistry

Construction was done within the 1,700-square-foot existing space to modernize and refresh the clinic. Enhancements include nine new dental chairs, two private operating rooms, and new computer and dental equipment.

Marquette again named 'Green College' by Princeton Review

Marquette was named to The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition. The university received a Green Rating of 92/99 for the 2025 guide, a two-point improvement from last year.

College of Nursing receives $1.6 million Department of Education grant for simulation center expansion, equipment

The funds provided for the Health Education and Retention Optimization through Equipment and Simulation (HEROES) project will enable the college to address a nursing shortage in Wisconsin and across the nation by meeting its goal of preparing 5,000 entry level nurses for the workforce in the next decade.

Engineering professor awarded $2 million grant from Office of Naval Research to develop fuel flexible combustion system

Dr. Adam Dempsey, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the Opus College of Engineering, was awarded $2 million from the U.S. Office of Naval Research to develop a naval combustion system that works with a wide range of lower carbon intensity fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

November

Acting President and Provost Kimo Ah Yun unanimously elected 25th president

Dr. Kimo Ah Yun was unanimously elected the 25th president of Marquette University by the Marquette Board of Trustees. President Ah Yun, who served as provost since 2021, succeeds Dr. Michael R. Lovell, who led the university as its first lay president from 2014 until his death on June 9, 2024, from sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

Dr. Sarah Feldner, dean of the Diederich College of Communication, named acting provost

Dr. Sarah Feldner, dean of the Diederich College of Communication, was named acting provost on Nov. 21. As acting provost and a member of the Executive Leadership Team and President's Cabinet, Feldner will work closely with other senior leaders to push forward on the priorities laid out in the Marquette 2031 Strategic Plan.

Men's basketball honors Native history during N7 game

As part of Nike's N7 initiative honoring Native traditions and raising funds for Indigenous youth sports, the men's basketball team wore warmup shirts on Nov. 30 designed by Marquette alumna Danielle Barrett, Arts '24, with the help of Alexandra Gambacorta, Arts '18, Educational Preparedness Program instructor.

December

Luis de Zengotita named Marquette's inaugural chief wellness officer

Luis de Zengotita, was named Marquette's first-ever chief wellness officer, joining Marquette after serving as executive director of the University of St. Thomas' Center for Well-Being since 2019. He will begin in his new role at Marquette on Jan. 13, 2025.

Campus takes part in annual Christmas tree lighting tradition

The campus community gathered on Tuesday, Dec. 3, to celebrate the annual university Christmas tree lighting in the Gratitude Garden outside St. Joan of Arc Chapel.

Volleyball reaches Round of 16 for third time

The women's volleyball team advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament thanks to a sweep of Florida Gulf Coast University and a thrilling five-set triumph against Utah. The Golden Eagles face top-seeded Penn State on Friday, Dec. 13, in University Park, Pennsylvania.

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