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 submit the congratulations form.

Mass and Installation Ceremony

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
10:00 a.m.
Marquette University | Al McGuire Center | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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).

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

Delegates

Please RSVP using the form below by April 14 (please note that the RSVP deadline to be included in the print program has passed).

Delegate RSVP Form

Delegates are responsible for their own academic regalia, though rentals can be arranged through our provider, Herff Jones.

Additional details will be provided to delegates before the inauguration. Hotel and visitor information is available below.

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

Guests

We look forward to having you on campus for the inauguration of Dr. Kimo Ah Yun. If you haven’t already done so, please RSVP using the form below by April 14.

Guest RSVP Form

All guests are invited to attend the reception immediately following the Mass and Installation Ceremony. Hotel and visitor information is available below.

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

Faculty

Please RSVP to indicate your attendance for the ceremony, procession and reception by March 21. Faculty participating in the inauguration procession are to be attired in the appropriate regalia for their field of study and highest degree earned. Rentals can be arranged through our provider, Herff Jones, for pick up on Wednesday, April 23. Following the ceremony, boxes will be provided in the robing room for the return of rented academic apparel.

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

Staff

The entire Marquette community is invited to attend the Mass and Installation Ceremony of Dr. Kimo Ah Yun and the reception that immediately follows.

Please RSVP by April 14 to indicate your attendance for the ceremony and reception. Direct any questions about attending to your manager.

Students

The entire Marquette community is invited to attend the Mass and Installation Ceremony of Dr. Kimo Ah Yun and the reception that immediately follows. Undergraduate, lecture-based classes will break during this time so students may participate. No need to RSVP; bring your friends!

Student organizations and other affiliated student groups (e.g. orientation staff, resident assistants, Midnight Run, Athletics, etc.) are invited to have two representatives be part of the pre-ceremonial procession. Other members of the organization are also invited to attend and represent their organization in the stands (participants are encouraged to wear their organization’s attire if available).

Participating groups will be recognized during the procession. Groups interested in joining the procession are asked to complete the sign-up form by April 15. NOTE: Only one member from a group should fill out this form. There is space to note the name of the second representative. Once registered, a representative from the planning committee will follow up with interested participants to confirm attendance and other logistics.

Students who are part of the procession are expected to be on site by 9:30 a.m. The Mass and ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

Volunteer opportunity

Column marshals, volunteers, ushers, Eucharistic ministers (fully initiated Catholics) and musicians (vocal and instrumental) are needed for the Mass and Installation Ceremony.

If interested in volunteering, email University Special Events at universityspecialevents@marquette.edu. Please include what role you’d like to help with and someone from the Special Events Team will follow up with more details.

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

Hotels

Fairfield Inn & Suites
$139/night
Booking link: Book your group rate for Marquette University Inauguration Room Block
Reserve by April 7

Hyatt Place Milwaukee Downtown
$129/night
Booking link: Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee | Hyatt Place Milwaukee / Downtown
Reserve by April 4

Hilton Milwaukee
$199/night
Booking Link: Marquette University 2025 Presidential Inauguration
Reserve by April 7

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 will come 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 will speak 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 will feature:

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

This event is free to attend. Register for the symposium online by Tuesday, April 8.

A welcome and remarks will begin at 4 p.m. in the Lubar Center, with the panel kicking off at 4:15 p.m. A reception will follow at 5 p.m. in the Zilber Forum.

MU Community Day of Service

The Arrupe Center for Community Service and Social Responsibility will host 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, will participate in this annual tradition – the Arrupe Center’s largest and longest-running day of service.

The event embodies 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

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.