Debbie Tahmassebi will be the next provost of Marquette, University President Kimo Ah Yun announced on Dec. 9. She will assume her role as provost on March 1, 2026. Acting Provost Sarah Feldner will return to her role as dean of the College of Communication at that time.

Tahmassebi has spent much of her 30-year career in Jesuit higher education. She currently serves as provost at Westminster University in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she has been since 2019. Previously, she served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Santa Clara University from 2015 to 2019. She was also a member of the chemistry faculty at the University of San Diego from 1996-2015.

Tahmassebi holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California San Diego.

In a letter to the Marquette community, Tahmassebi cited Marquette’s mission of holistic learning and creating a positive impact on the world as key factors in her decision to accept the role on campus. She said that she is excited to learn more about both the academic and research initiatives, saying that strong programs in both areas are what make a great university.

“I am eager to take on this new leadership role, so that I can work in collaboration with faculty, staff and other campus leaders to make Marquette as strong as possible,” Tahmassebi said in her message.

Ah Yun said in a statement on Marquette Today that he’s confident in her ability to be an advocate for the faculty and student experience.

“She could not be a better fit to serve as Marquette’s provost,” Ah Yun said.

This story was written by Sahil Gupta. He can be reached at [email protected]