Ms. Katherine Hughes-Durben
Director of Project Planning and Development
Research and Sponsored Programs

Web posted: April 25, 2005

The mission is one of the main reasons why I work at Marquette.  There is a clear connection between research, teaching and service activities and Marquette’s mission, but often the everyday tasks become all consuming and I don’t take the time to really think about it.  That is why I was so grateful for Faculty Commons, which was offered this year as a part of Mission Week.  Faculty Commons provided a dedicated space and time for people to come together and discuss their work and how it relates to Marquette’s mission.  The way in which each individual makes his or her own connection is astounding.  Just listening was a fabulous experience.  I don’t often get a chance to hear others talk on that personal level.  Some talked about mission in relation to research, while others discussed teaching or service.  Many demonstrated how all three are intimately related to each other as well as the mission.  I wasn’t able to attend all of the seventeen sessions that were held, but here are some of the things that really left an impression on me:

• The way faculty freely shared the spiritual journey of their lives and how they made a conscious decision to come to Marquette University;
• The dedication of faculty to serving medically underserved populations and the lengths faculty go to in order to advocate for people without insurance;
• The dentist who pointed out the beauty of teeth and that God created them perfectly;
• The excitement that was evident when colleagues talked about their interdisciplinary courses;
• The commitment of scientists to translating their research to impact the lives of the greater population and to producing students who have the same conviction; and
• The understanding that faculty have of being part of a global society and the work they do to improve the quality of life for people in other countries.

Thanks to all of you for reminding me why I am here.