Marquette has its next university president — Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of the University of Scranton.

The board of trustees unanimously elected Pilarz at a special meeting today. Pilarz has served on the board since Sept. 2009.

Pilarz, 51, will succeed the retiring University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild next summer.

“This is a very humbling experience for me,” Pilarz told a crowd of administrators, students and local media in the Alumni Memorial Union today. “I have much that I need to hear from you: your hopes, your dreams, your aspirations for this amazing institution.”

Pilarz, Scranton’s president since 2003, said he was reluctant when first approached about Marquette’s presidency.

It was a “difficult moment” telling surprised Scranton officials he had accepted Marquette’s offer.

“I loved my years at Scranton,” said Pilarz, who has taught classes there while serving as president. “I made a lot of great friends there.”

But the more Pilarz talked with Marquette’s search committee, “the more attractive the possibility became.”

“It got to the (point) where I wouldn’t want to do anything else than serve as the 23rd president” of Marquette, Pilarz said.

Darren Jackson, chair of the board of trustees, acknowledged the odds were against Marquette finding a Jesuit to replace Wild. Current university bylaws require a Jesuit for the position.

“We’re ecstatic this was the outcome,” Jackson said.

Wild said he is pleased with the choice.

“I like everything I see (in Pilarz),” Wild said after the press conference. “He’ll be a great one.”

During the press conference, Jackson called Pilarz the most experienced incoming president in Marquette history. That drew a thumbs up and a smiling nod from Wild, prompting laughs from the crowd.

Before leading Scranton, Pilarz served six years on the English faculty and one year as interim university chaplain at Georgetown University.

Under Pilarz, Scranton has achieved record admissions and constructed a new campus center, sophomore residence hall and campus green space. A new residence hall and fitness center complex and an $83 million unified science center will be finished in fall 2011.

Pilarz said he wants to build Marquette’s academic reputation while also focusing on affordability and access.

“He’ll be able to build on what Father Wild started 15 years ago,” Jackson said after the press conference.

Jackson said the next year will allow Pilarz to meet with many stakeholders, trustees, students and others to build familiarity with Marquette.

Rev. Scott Pilarz press conference