Father Wild: Marquette's Transformation
Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J.
Robert A. Wild, S.J., is the 22nd president of Marquette University. He began his duties as chief executive on June 17, 1996.Father Wild is building on Marquette's core strengths: an academically rigorous, values-centered curriculum; solid, practical preparation for work in a world of increasing complexity and diversity; formation for life of students as ethical and informed leaders in their religious, cultural, professional and civic communities; and graduating women and men who will dedicate their lives to the service of others.
Under his leadership, the university in 2000 embraced a statement of shared vision for the future:
"Our vision is to provide a Catholic, Jesuit education that is genuinely transformational so that our students graduate not simply better educated but better people, and to do so with such excellence that when asked to name the three or four best Catholic universities in America, people will include Marquette as a matter of course."
Marquette has established clear, measurable goals and specific strategies to achieve this long-term vision. Under Father Wild's leadership, the university has improved academic quality, increased and stabilized enrollment and enhanced partnerships with the City of Milwaukee and community groups.
In 2005 Marquette completed the most successful comprehensive campaign in the history of the university raising a total of $357 million. Marquette is committed to updating academic facilities for students in the 21st century: a new School of Dentistry opened in 2002, the John P. Raynor, S.J., Library was dedicated in 2003, and the Al McGuire Center, a practice facility for student-athletes, opened in 2004.
Father Wild and his Marquette colleagues remain committed to providing students with a Catholic, Jesuit education in an atmosphere of care and faith.
Immediately prior to assuming the Marquette presidency, from 1992 to 1996 Father Wild served as president of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass., a graduate school which trains clergy and laity for leadership roles in the Catholic Church.
From 1985 to 1991 he served as provincial superior of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus, directing the activities of Jesuits in northern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and southwestern Ohio.
A biblical scholar and author of two books and numerous scholarly articles, Father Wild taught theology at Marquette from 1975 to 1984. He has been a member of the university's Board of Trustees since 1990.
Father Wild is a native of Chicago. He holds a doctoral degree in New Testament and Christian origins from Harvard University, a master's degree in classical languages, a bachelor's degree in Latin from Loyola University Chicago, and a licentiate in theology from the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago.
He has held visiting professorships at Loyola University Chicago and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Father Wild began his teaching career at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, where he taught Latin, Greek and speech and debate from 1964 to 1967. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1957 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970.
Father Wild is a member of the boards of the University of Detroit Mercy, Saint Joseph's University, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Big East Conference, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (past board chair), the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
Courtesy of Marquette University
Under his leadership, the university in 2000 embraced a statement of shared vision for the future:
"Our vision is to provide a Catholic, Jesuit education that is genuinely transformational so that our students graduate not simply better educated but better people, and to do so with such excellence that when asked to name the three or four best Catholic universities in America, people will include Marquette as a matter of course."
Marquette has established clear, measurable goals and specific strategies to achieve this long-term vision. Under Father Wild's leadership, the university has improved academic quality, increased and stabilized enrollment and enhanced partnerships with the City of Milwaukee and community groups.
In 2005 Marquette completed the most successful comprehensive campaign in the history of the university raising a total of $357 million. Marquette is committed to updating academic facilities for students in the 21st century: a new School of Dentistry opened in 2002, the John P. Raynor, S.J., Library was dedicated in 2003, and the Al McGuire Center, a practice facility for student-athletes, opened in 2004.
Father Wild and his Marquette colleagues remain committed to providing students with a Catholic, Jesuit education in an atmosphere of care and faith.
Immediately prior to assuming the Marquette presidency, from 1992 to 1996 Father Wild served as president of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass., a graduate school which trains clergy and laity for leadership roles in the Catholic Church.
From 1985 to 1991 he served as provincial superior of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus, directing the activities of Jesuits in northern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and southwestern Ohio.
A biblical scholar and author of two books and numerous scholarly articles, Father Wild taught theology at Marquette from 1975 to 1984. He has been a member of the university's Board of Trustees since 1990.
Father Wild is a native of Chicago. He holds a doctoral degree in New Testament and Christian origins from Harvard University, a master's degree in classical languages, a bachelor's degree in Latin from Loyola University Chicago, and a licentiate in theology from the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago.
He has held visiting professorships at Loyola University Chicago and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Father Wild began his teaching career at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, where he taught Latin, Greek and speech and debate from 1964 to 1967. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1957 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970.
Father Wild is a member of the boards of the University of Detroit Mercy, Saint Joseph's University, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Big East Conference, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (past board chair), the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
Courtesy of Marquette University
