Rev. Francis Wade, S.J., (1907–87) was a longtime member of the Marquette Jesuit community and Department of Philosophy. Arriving at Marquette in 1945, he became and remained a beloved professor and esteemed role model for students, a diligent and student-oriented scholar who supported other faculty while guiding Marquette’s Department of Philosophy to a position of significant stature. Father Wade inspired his students through his teaching and his love of philosophy and was awarded the Père Marquette Award for Teaching Excellence in 1970. He also encouraged students to enter the field of philosophy and higher education, all the while discerning the proper role of a Jesuit in a university.

In 1988, the university received a gift from the Marquette Jesuit community endowing a chair in honor of Father Wade and in recognition of his contribution to the university and Jesuit community.

Current Wade Chair

Rev. Stephen Pitts, S.J.

Rev. Stephen Pitts, S.J., is Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics. He is a member of the Society of Jesus and an ordained Roman Catholic priest. Father Pitts completed a Ph.D. in Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota.

Father Pitts researches agricultural markets and value chains, the causes and consequences of internal and international migration, and the long-term effects of government support programs. In partnership with Jesuit-sponsored NGOs, he has done fieldwork with smallholder agricultural producers in rural Mexico and Peru. In addition, he is presently working with the Banco de Mexico to understand how smallholder producers integrate into formal labor markets. As a Jesuit priest-economist, he is interested in how Catholic Social Teaching on integral human development can inform the field of development economics.

 

Spring 2026 Wade Chair

Rev. Matthew Motyka, S.J.

Rev. Matthew Motyka, S.J. is has published articles in the field of early modern Romance literatures as well as in applied linguistics. More recently in his research he tries to explore the intersection between spirituality and the second language acquisition. This is reflected in his book published by the University Press of America/Hamilton Books, 2017, One Word but Many Tongues.

In this autobiographical approach to life in multiple languages, the book shows that living multilingualism and multiculturalism carry with them a transforming spiritual force. His latest forthcoming publication is a book American Misfit: In Search for Reality by Common Ground Research Networks. Father Motyka is currently the co-chair of the department and the director of the French Studies program and the coordinator of the Italian language program. He teaches both lower division courses in French and Italian and upper division courses in French. 

Qualifications

Ordinarily, the holder of the Wade Chair will be a member of the Society of Jesus and be eligible for appointment to the Marquette University faculty at senior rank. He will have demonstrated excellence as both a teacher and a scholar.

Terms of appointment

The Jesuit holder of the Wade Chair must be willing to become a member of the Jesuit community at Marquette University and therefore subject to the contractual arrangements between that corporation and Marquette University. Appointments to the Wade Chair may be for either one or two semesters.

It is expected that the Wade Chair will teach one to two courses per semester, conduct research in his field of study, engage in publication of his research, deliver one to two public lectures while he is at Marquette, and participate as appropriate in the activities of his department and college. The chair will be given office space and a computer in his home department at Marquette. Funds will be made available to the chair for a graduate student assistant, for office and research expenses, and for moving expenses to Milwaukee.

How to apply

Please send letter of intent and CV to:

Rev. Greg O'Meara, S.J.
c/o Sally Doyle
Marquette University
Office of the Provost
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881

The Rev. Francis C. Wade, S.J., Chair Committee is charged with seeking individuals to fill the Wade Chair. The committee seeks the names of suitable candidates from all available sources and in consultation with the deans and department chairs of the university. The committee makes recommendations to the provost, who invites the recipient to accept the chair.

Selection Committee

2025-2026 committee members

• Dr. Dinorah Cortes-Velez, Associate Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
• Dr. Joseph Ogbonnaya, Associate Professor, Department of Theology
• Rev. Nathaniel Romano,, S.J., Assistant Director of Campus Ministry for Liturgical Programs
• Rev. Joseph Simmons, S.J., Assistant Professor, Department of Theology

Ex-officio members

• Rev. Gregory J. O'Meara, S.J., (Chair), Rector, Jesuit Community
• Dr. Scott D'Urso, Acting Dean of the Graduate School
• Ms. Sally Doyle, Assistant Provost for Budget and Division Operations
• Ms. Kim Patterson, Executive Assistant to the Provost (Program Coordinator)
• Rev. James Pribek, S.J., Vice President for Mission and Ministry

Previous Wade Chairholders/Scholars

2024-2025	Rev. Charles Gallagher, S.J.
2023-2024	Rev. Peter Nguyen, S.J.
2021-2023	Rev. Baskara Wardaya, S.J. (spring 2022, fall 2022)
2020-2021	Rev. Antony Antonysamy, S.J. (spring)
2019-2020	Rev. Joseph Puliparambil, S.J. (fall)
2018-2019	Rev. Tomás García Huidobro, S.J.
2017-2018	Rev. Jayme Stayer, S.J. (spring)
2017-2018	Rev. Luis O. Jiménez-Rodríguez, S.J (fall)
2016-2017	Rev. Michael Guzik, S.J
2015-16	Rev. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J. (fall-spring)
2015	Rev. James T. Bretzke, S.J. (spring)
2014	Rev. Harry J. Gensler, S.J. (spring)
	Rev. Dorian Llywelyn, S.J. (fall)
2013	Rev. Daniel Kendall, S.J. (spring)
	Rev. Oliver Plunkett Rafferty, S.J. (fall)
2012	Rev. John S. Thiede, S.J. (spring)
	Rev. Thomas Michel, S.J. (fall)
2011	Rev. Johannes Ehrat, S.J.
2010	Rev. Dean Brackley, S.J. (spring)
	Rev. Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. (fall)
2009	Rev. Thomas Worcester, S.J. (spring)
	Rev. William S. Kurz, S.J. (fall)
	Rev. Cedric Prakash, S.J. (Wade Scholar) (fall)
2007–08	Rev. Phillip Renczes, S.J.
2006–07	Rev. Gerald O'Collins, S.J.
	Rev. Hans S. Waldenfels, S.J. (Wade Scholar)
2005–06	Rev. John B. Breslin, S.J.
	Rev. David J. Leigh, S.J. (Wade Scholar)
2004–05	Rev. Joseph Godfrey, S.J.
2003–04	Rev. James Spillane, S.J.
2002–03	Rev. John Haughey, S.J.
2001–02	Rev. David Schultenover, S.J.
	Rev. Guido Dierickx, S.J. (Wade Scholar)
1999–2000	Rev. Arthur Madigan, S.J.
1998–99	Rev. Robert Doran, S.J. (spring)
	Rev. Gerald O'Collins, S.J. (fall)
1997–98	Rev. Albert Fritsch, S.J. (spring)
	Rev. Edward Yarnold, S.J. (fall)
1994–95	Rev. Gerald O'Collins, S.J. (fall)
1990–92	Rev. Paul Prucha, S.J.