Dear members of the Marquette community:

It is our distinct pleasure to share with you that earlier today the Marquette University Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. Michael R. Lovell as the 24th president of Marquette University. Dr. Lovell will begin Aug. 1, 2014, succeeding Interim President Robert A. Wild, S.J.

The entire campus community is invited to a short media availability at 2:30 p.m. today in the AMU, 227, with Dr. Lovell, Father Wild, Rev. Thomas A. Lawler, S.J., of the Wisconsin Province and members of the Presidential Search Committee. Following the media availability, all students are invited to meet with Dr. Lovell at 3:15 p.m. in the AMU, Brew Bayou.

Our selection of Dr. Lovell was the clear choice. First and foremost, a devout Catholic, Dr. Lovell is energized to lead this Catholic, Jesuit university into the future. He brings demonstrated executive-level experience in leading a highly complex educational institution as the current chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a campus with more than 28,000 students, 14 colleges and schools and nearly 1,800 faculty members. During his tenure at UWM, Lovell oversaw the UW-Milwaukee Initiative – a landmark $240 million capital construction and renovation program, including its 89-acre Innovation Campus in Wauwatosa, the expansion of its School of Freshwater Sciences, the first phase of the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex and the Northwest Quadrangle Redevelopment Plan. Additionally, he opened the Zilber School of Public Health's new academic and research facility and fostered a new sense of entrepreneurship and innovation on the campus and in the greater Milwaukee community.

As we see it, Dr. Lovell is ready to address both the opportunities and challenges we face as a university. An accomplished engineering scholar and researcher, Dr. Lovell embraces our pursuit of academic excellence and providing a transformational student experience. To learn more about Dr. Lovell, please visit marquette.edu/president-elect for the full news release on the announcement, as well as his CV and quick facts about our president-elect.

Later today, President-Elect Lovell will meet with deans, vice presidents, the University Academic Senate, MUSG and representatives from various campus groups, including the Marquette University Alumni Association and Parents Council. Tonight, the Marquette Jesuit Community will welcome Dr. Lovell and his wife Amy with a special Mass and dinner at the Jesuit residence.

This historic day is the result of an intense six-month search process that included input from more than 1,200 members of the Marquette community – faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents and friends. With this input and that of the Board of Trustees, the Presidential Search Committee, comprised of trustees, including a member of the Society of Jesus and for the first time a dean and a member of the faculty, developed the Presidential Position Description that highlighted the key qualifications and attributes of the ideal candidate.

Our recruiting efforts were two-fold. With the help of our national search firm, Witt/Kieffer, and from nominations received from the Marquette community, we identified more than 1,200 lay prospects. Working closely with Jesuit leadership, we also pursued qualified Jesuit candidates. Since January, we focused our efforts, using the Presidential Position Description as a guide, to narrow the list to the most promising candidates. Through a mutual process of discernment and reflection, we ultimately identified the best person to serve as Marquette's next leader.

On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee, thank you for your involvement in the search and confidence in our process. We hope you share in our enthusiasm as we welcome Dr. Lovell, Amy and their family to the Marquette community.

We are Marquette,

Charles M. Swoboda, Eng '89
Chair, Marquette University Board of Trustees

John F. Ferraro, Bus Ad '77
Chair, Presidential Search Committee

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