1. Vice President for University Advancement Julie Tolan to leave Marquette

Julie Tolan, Vice President for University Advancement, announced to the University Advancement division today that she would leave her position on June 30, 2012 in order to pursue leadership opportunities outside of Marquette. Her last day on campus will be May 31.

"I want to thank Julie for her nearly twenty years of exemplary service to Marquette University. Those of us who have worked with Julie have seen firsthand her passion for this university and for the difference its students and alumni make in the world. She will always be a part of the Marquette family," said Marquette President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J.

Julie began her career at Marquette in 1990 and served in several leadership roles in University Advancement until 1999, when she left to serve as President of the United Performing Arts Fund in Milwaukee, the nation's largest united arts fund at that time. She returned to Marquette as Vice President for University Advancement in 2002. Under her leadership, Marquette achieved record-breaking fundraising success, with more than $100 million raised in both 2007 and 2008 and $75 million in 2010. In total, nearly $650 million in fundraising is credited to her tenure as vice president. Among her signature accomplishments are the fundraising campaigns for Eckstein Hall and Engineering Hall, the campaign for Scholarship Aid in honor of departing president Robert A. Wild, S.J., and the conclusion of the seven- year Magis Campaign, which raised $357 million from more than 57,000 donors. Innovative alumni engagement programs, including the award-winning CIRCLES events for alumni and friends, have won recognition and awards from peers in higher education, while enhanced engagement with alumni and friends has raised the profile of Marquette throughout the country.

Julie is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Professional Dimensions, Tempo, and is an active community volunteer, serving on the boards of Nativity Jesuit Middle School, the Basilica of St. Josaphat Foundation and the University Club. Her past board service includes the United Performing Arts Fund and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, Tempo and Professional Dimensions and she has been a leader nationally for the Jesuit Association of Advancement professionals. She received the Scott Cutlip Outstanding Professional Award for 2010 from the Greater Milwaukee Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2006, she was named a "Woman of Influence" by The Business Journal of Greater Milwaukee and was recognized as one of Milwaukee's "Forty Under 40" in 2000.

In an email to the division, Julie wrote, "My love for this very special place - and for you and our other colleagues across the University whose care and commitment to Marquette knows no bounds - is profound. To have been the Vice President for Advancement here through a period of time in which we experienced such success as a university is among the great privileges in my life."

Father Pilarz named Tom MacKinnon, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, as Interim Vice President. "Tom brings a strong background in development, having worked as a vice president for a fund raising consulting firm, while also serving as Executive Director of the capital campaign at The University of Scranton. Working with the Advancement leadership team, I know that Tom will help continue Marquette's fine work in fund raising and alumni engagement."

Pilarz said a comprehensive search for the permanent Vice President for University Advancement would begin shortly.

There will be celebration in the near future of Julie's contributions to Marquette. Please watch News Briefs for more information.

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2. Commencement weekend includes Mass, webcast and free parking

Nearly 1,250 undergraduates and more than 700 graduate and professional students will receive their Marquette degrees at Commencement Sunday, May 20, at 9:30 a.m. at the Bradley Center. The Baccalaureate Mass will be Saturday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Tickets are not needed for either event.

The all-university Commencement ceremony will be webcast so that family and friends not in attendance can participate.

Baseball great Hank Aaron will be the Commencement speaker. Aaron will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Marquette, along with Sister Mary Miguel Conway, BVM, co-director of the Working Boys' Center in Quito, Ecuador.

All campus parking lots will be open and free of charge over Commencement weekend, May 18-20. Gates to most lots will open Friday afternoon and will remain open through Sunday evening. Structures will still be staffed with an attendant. For more information, contact Jay Sobota, parking services manager, at 8-6911.

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3. Register for Dissertation Boot Camp

The Graduate School will host an intensive, five-day Dissertation Boot Camp from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 4 through Friday, June 8, in the lower of level of Raynor Memorial Libraries. Dissertation Boot Camp offers a dedicated time and location for Ph.D. students to come together and work toward the completion of their dissertations. Faculty facilitators will be available throughout the week to monitor progress and offer suggestions. Participants will work daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with early dismissal on Friday.

For more information or to register, contact Bethany Neubauer, graduate service assistant, by May 24.

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4. University mourns death of Connie Kangas

Marquette University mourns the death of Connie A. Kangas, who served the university in the Office of the Registrar until 2008, and formerly worked in the Dean of Students office. She passed away April 26. A memorial service was held Saturday, May 5 at All Saints Lutheran Church.

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5. Oliver H. Smith Memorial Lecture will be held May 18

Dr. Kenneth H. Nealson, Wrigley Professor of Geobiology at the University of Southern California, will deliver the Department of Biological Sciences' annual Oliver H. Smith Memorial Lecture Friday, May 18, at 3:30 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences, 111. Nealson will deliver, "Extracellular Electron Transport: Breathing Rocks, Eating Electrons and Other Crazy Things!"

For more information, call the Department of Biological Sciences at 8-7355.

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6. Grades will be available May 15 at 5 p.m.

Students and those who have been given guest access to grades will not have access to view grades in CheckMarq until Tuesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. This will give the Office of the Registrar time to post grades and run necessary reports for the colleges and schools.

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