On June 10, 2024, the Marquette University Board of Trustees announced it had elected Dr. Kimo Ah Yun to serve as the university’s acting president following the death of President Michael R. Lovell.

“While this is an unfathomable loss and Mike Lovell is irreplaceable, the Board of Trustees is committed to supporting our campus community and ensuring Marquette continues to carry out our Catholic, Jesuit mission that Mike lived every day,” said Todd Adams, chair of the Marquette University Board of Trustees. “Mike would want us to make certain that we do everything possible to make sure that Marquette continues to shine its light for generations. Thus, the board is grateful to Acting President Ah Yun for agreeing to continue our important work.”

Acting President Ah Yun also serves as the university’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He previously served as the dean of the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication from 2016-2018. Prior to joining Marquette University, he was associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters at California State University, Sacramento, where he also served as chair of the department of communication studies, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, and professor of communication studies. During his 20-year tenure at Sacramento State, he co-chaired the President’s Committee to Build Campus Unity, which programmed and executed campuswide conversations on topics such as discrimination, identity and privilege.

Acting President Ah Yun earned his bachelor’s degree in communication studies from California State University, Sacramento, his master’s degree in communication studies from Kansas State University, and his doctorate in communication from Michigan State University.

June 10, 2024, Marquette University Board of Trustees announcement