University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild announced his retirement to students via the University News Briefs after 15 years of service. Wild is scheduled to retire June 30, 2011, or whenever a successor takes office, whichever is later.
Wild revealed the decision at Wednesday’s meeting of Marquette’s Board of Trustees. A 3 p.m. “State of the University” forum will be held later today at the Weasler Auditorium where Wild is expected to speak.
“I would not even contemplate my own retirement even after 15 years if Marquette wasn’t in such a good place, and if we didn’t have talented teams at every level of the university to support my successor,” he said in the meeting.
The university will seek a fellow Jesuit as its new president, according to university bylaws.
Wild addressed students in a personal message although he acknowledged news travels quickly through various social media and wire outlets.
“I know word travels fast in these days of Twitter, Facebook and the like, but I wanted to personally reach out to you,” he said in the message.
“I wish I could gather all of you together. Not being able to do that, this note will have to suffice for now. I hope to see many of you at the semiannual MUSG Student Forum March 23. That will give you a chance to ask me any questions you may have and for me to share my observations with you more personally,” he added.
In the message, Wild said there will be outlets for students to voice their opinions on who they hope to see fill this most important of roles.
“In the days ahead, you’ll be hearing more from our Board of Trustees about the search for a new president and how you can be involved,” he said. “We value your input and want you to be as forthright as students have been at my monthly luncheons and the MUSG Forums in telling us what YOU think.”
Wild noted he still has 15 months remaining and plans to actively search to raise additional scholarship resources, and continue the final fundraising portions for the new law and engineering complexes.
During an “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” event held this afternoon at the Law School, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett addressed Wild’s retirement plans.
Barrett said during the forum he was disappointed Wild is retiring, as Wild did a lot of work with the city to make Marquette an integral part of the city. Barrett said there are many times universities and cities have tense relationships, but because of the work Wild did, those tensions didn’t exist between Milwaukee and Marquette.
Tim Seeman contributed to this report.
