Marquette's 25th President

Inauguration

We look forward to welcoming you to Marquette University as we celebrate the inauguration of Dr. Kimo Ah Yun as the 25th president of Marquette University. If you would like to send a note of congratulations to President Ah Yun, please share here.

Mass and Installation Ceremony

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
10:00 a.m.
Musical prelude and student organization procession begin at 9:30 a.m.
Marquette University | Al McGuire Center | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Inauguration will be livestreamed on this page beginning at 9:30 a.m., April 29, 2025

A reception will immediately follow at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Common (outdoor gathering space east of the Alumni Memorial Union; rain location is AMU, Monaghan Ballroom).

Banners, posters, flags and signs are prohibited at the Mass and Installation Ceremony and at the reception. Prohibited items will be confiscated at the entrance.

For questions or special needs, please contact University Special Events at
(414) 288-7431 or universityspecialevents@marquette.edu.

Delegates

We look forward to having you on campus for the inauguration of Dr. Kimo Ah Yun. All guests are invited to attend the reception immediately following the Mass and Installation Ceremony. Delegates from visiting institutions will receive additional information prior to April 29.

To register as a delegate, or if you have questions or special needs, please contact University Special Events at (414) 288-7431 or universityspecialevents@marquette.edu.

Faculty, Staff, Students and Guests

All members of the Marquette and Milwaukee community are invited to attend the Mass and Installation Ceremony of Dr. Kimo Ah Yun and the reception that immediately follows (there is no need to RSVP). Undergraduate, lecture-based classes will break during this time so students may participate.

Additional details will be sent to procession participants before the inauguration.

For questions or special needs, please contact University Special Events at
(414) 288-7431 or universityspecialevents@marquette.edu.

Inauguration theme

Open your heart. Find your compass. Change the world.

In echoes of the Holy Father’s statement, the theme of the inauguration of Marquette’s 25th president —Open your heart. Find your compass. Change the world. — celebrates the university’s rich Catholic, Jesuit tradition by inviting all in our community to ground themselves in our mission and seek the truth about God and the world, that they may grow as individuals for and with others. In doing so, and by putting students at the heart of all we do, we will educate well-rounded servant leaders who transform their fields, our society and the world.

Visitor information

Coffee spots on/near campus

The Brew in the Alumni Memorial Union is the most accessible location on campus, located on the first floor of the Alumni Memorial Union.
Starbucks is located at 1610 W. Wisconsin Ave. and at 509 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Stone Creek Coffee, a locally owned coffee chain, is located at 422 N. 5th Street.

Food on/near campus

Chain restaurants on Wells Street (between 15th and 16th streets) include Jimmy John's and Qdoba.
OnMilwaukee.com has an excellent guide to Milwaukee restaurants.
Sendik's Fresh2Go grocery store is just around the corner, located at 824 N. 16th Street.

Events

Jesuit Education in Milwaukee: An Inauguration Symposium

Leaders from Milwaukee’s four Jesuit schools came together for a panel discussion at the Jesuit Education in Milwaukee symposium on Thursday, April 10, at 4 p.m. in Eckstein Hall.

The four leaders spoke on how their respective institutions help their students find their compass and become women and men for and with others while having a significant and lasting impact on our community.

The panel featured:

Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, president of Marquette University
Rev. Michael Marco, S.J., president of Marquette University High School
Vanessa Solis, president of Nativity Jesuit Academy
Andrew Stith, president of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Members of the Inauguration symposium

MU Community Day of Service

The Arrupe Center for Community Service and Social Responsibility hosted the Marquette Community Day of Service on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All members of the Marquette community are welcome.

As part of the leadup to his inauguration as the 25th president of Marquette University, President Kimo Ah Yun and his wife, Catherine Puckering, participated in this annual tradition – the Arrupe Center’s largest and longest-running day of service.

The event embodied one of the main themes of President Ah Yun’s inauguration, “change the world,” which emphasizes Marquette’s commitment to educating well-rounded servant leaders who transform their fields, our society and the world.

About the president

Personal information

Full name: James Kuuipo Choy Ah Yun, Jr.
Preferred Name: Dr. Kimo Ah Yun (KEE-mo ah YOON)
Age: 59
Family: Spouse: Catherine Puckering; Children: Benjamin (22), Molly (21), Haven (17). Benjamin is a senior at Marquette studying criminology and computer science. Molly is a senior at the University of Southern California as a pre-law student studying law, history and culture. Haven is a high school senior who enjoys performing in choir and participating in musical theatre.
Hometown: Compton, California
Curriculum Vitae

Professional history

Acting President, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Marquette University
Previous positions:

Dean, J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Letters, California State University, Sacramento
Chair, Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Sacramento
Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, California State University, Sacramento
Professor, Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Sacramento

Education

Ph.D. in Communication, Michigan State University, 1996
M.A. in Speech, Kansas State University, 1992
B.A. in Communication Studies, California State University, Sacramento, 1990

Personal trivia

First job: Newspaper carrier for The Sacramento Bee
Favorite hobby: Listening to live music
Favorite book: A Grammar of Motives
Favorite travel destination: Hawaii
Best advice: Be curious, not judgmental.
Favorite quote: “Life's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away.” – George Strait
Unique talents: I am like a human homing pigeon in that I have an excellent sense of direction and am a great navigator.
Favorite meal: Plate lunch, which is a common multicultural meal in Hawaii

Spotify playlist

President Kimo Ah Yun's Spotify playlist.

QR Code to Pres. Kimo's playlist

About Marquette University

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,700 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.