President Kimo Ah Yun joined Marquette in 2016 as dean of the Diederich College of Communication, was named acting provost in 2018 and then permanent provost and executive vice president for academic affairs in 2019. He served in dual roles as acting president and provost starting June 10, 2024, after the sudden passing of Dr. Michael R. Lovell, until Marquette’s Board unanimously elected him as the university’s 25th president on November 20, 2024. President Ah Yun was inaugurated April 29, 2025. President Ah Yun has openly shared his Catholic faith and commitment to family, emphasizing their central role in his leadership and personal life. He has also acknowledged the guidance he receives from Jesuit priests on campus, underscoring the importance of community and support in living out one's faith. Demonstrating his deep-rooted commitment to both faith and family, President Ah Yun and his wife, Catherine, have three children, including a son who graduated from Marquette in 2025 and a daughter currently attending Marquette. A first-generation college student, he is committed to furthering the university’s mission of educational access and ensuring all students are successful from their first day to their first destination following graduation.
President Ah Yun’s tenure at Marquette has been marked by a dedication to fostering academic excellence and nurturing a community committed to service, faith and justice while having the fortitude to make difficult decisions. Having served Marquette in several key leadership roles over the past eight years, President Ah Yun’s leadership provides continuity on major initiatives including implementing the university’s Marquette 2031 Strategic Plan.
As President Ah Yun travels the country, he'll share his vision with the theme of "Open your heart. Find your compass. Change the world." This vision 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.
