Future Milwaukee to Join the College of Professional Studies at Marquette University Released:May 13, 2005 Marquette University's College of Professional Studies will be the new home for Future Milwaukee, a greater Milwaukee non-profit organization that develops and supports diverse community leaders. In its nearly 30 year history, Future Milwaukee has trained and helped to place over 1,500 community leaders who are active in non-profit, government, school-based and faith-based leadership positions.  Marquette's College of Professional Studies, established in 1994 is dedicated to meeting the unique educational needs of adult learners throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.   The College of Professional Studies and Future Milwaukee share a common vision to be recognized as the primary source for developing and engaging leaders in the transformation of the greater Milwaukee community. Future Milwaukee chose Marquette as its new home after an active search to identify an organization that could serve as a long-term, strategic partner in fulfilling its mission of developing community leaders.  “Marquette University's emphasis on service leadership was a primary factor in our choosing a partner with a strong mission fit,” according to Marge Combe, former Future Milwaukee board president. "The mission of the College of Professional Studies is to support and empower diverse, reflective ethical leaders to create positive change in greater Milwaukee through effective civic engagement.  Future Milwaukee's long-standing commitment to a similar goal made this the perfect match,” said Bob Deahl, dean of the College of Professional Studies at Marquette. The College will offer the Future Milwaukee eight-month community leadership program starting this fall and will retain Future Milwaukee's long tradition of understanding and resolving community issues while preserving its commitment to the development of leadership skills and appreciation of diversity.   A long-term plan has been developed by Future Milwaukee and Marquette to ensure the program's future success.  The program will include training in all areas such as leadership competency development, understanding community issues, accompanied by practical experience implementing community solutions and dealing with diverse points of view.  Participants will also receive continuing education credit from Marquette.  Alumni of Future Milwaukee will be actively engaged in recruiting future leaders for the program, mentoring class participants and seeking scholarship funds to ensure that class participants reflect the economic and ethnic diversity of the community. The first class of Future Milwaukee through Marquette's College of Professional Studies will begin in September 2005.  Interested participant should call 414-288-7118. Office of Public Affairs Contacts Brigid O'Brien Miller Director of University Communication Phone: (414) 288-7445 Send e-mail Anne Broeker Sr. Media Relations Specialist Phone: (414) 288-0286 Send e-mail