Service Award
Jamaul M. Webster, Comm '05
New York, N.Y.
Jamaul Webster loved his experience at a Jesuit high school in Chicago so much that he chose to apply only to Jesuit colleges. He arrived at Marquette “deeply committed to a community rooted in excellence, faith, leadership and service,” he says. Today, his work and volunteer roles reflect his drive to “improve the conditions of those most marginalized and fight for justice.”
Jamaul is chief development officer for Strive, a national workforce development and career solutions nonprofit that helps people build stability in their lives and access opportunity. “What I like most about my work is attending a graduation ceremony and hearing how impactful our program has been to help participants truly change their life trajectory,” he says.
He is also a long-time volunteer and national board chair for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a civil rights organization that aims to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, a mission that resonates for him. “As a married Black gay man, my identity is front and center in every room I enter,” he explains. He’s also on the board of directors for The Loft LGBTQ+ Community Center, a nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ individuals and their loved ones in New York state.
Marquette was a place where Jamaul felt he belonged. “When I stepped foot on Marquette’s campus with my father, I knew this would be my home for the next four years,” he says. “I remember dancing around my house after receiving my acceptance letter with such excitement, and the rest is now history.”
Name a Marquette faculty or staff member who had an impact on you, and how.
Monica Bebie was my Greek life advisor at Marquette. She took a chance and hired me to serve as her Greek life program assistant. It opened doors for me in Student Affairs and allowed me to develop leadership skills that serve me to this day. My job in the Student Affairs office led to my first job planning alumni events when I graduated from college. I truly don’t know what direction my life would have taken if I hadn’t met Monica in my sophomore year.
What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
I will always remember being a student on campus during the 2003 men’s basketball run to the Final Four. I remember Dwyane Wade, Travis Diener and Steve Novak being absolute living legends on campus, and all the fun before, during and after all our home games.
