marquette's lovell's work reflects his leadership
By: Daniela Torres
Michael Lovell never predicted being in the role of a university president. As he went through with his career, opportunities presented themselves to him.
Lovell wasn’t looking for his latest opportunity as Marquette University’s newest president when it came knocking on his door last year. But he accepted the assignment out of a higher sense of duty and commitment to his Catholic faith. Lovell is the first lay president in the Jesuit university’s 133-year history.
Lovell has always made decisions based on where his personal skills will make a difference. Like people who are full of talents and a desire to make a difference, his work earned him rewards, and promotions and eventually landed him the top job as the 24th president of Marquette.
Lovell wants to position Marquette as a true community partner that is invested in working toward the betterment of the Milwaukee community. He is a key partner in the Global Water Center, which houses water-related research facilities for universities, existing water-related companies and accelerator space for new, emerging water-related companies.
Lovell recently announced Marquette will move into the sixth floor of the $22-million Global Water Center, which opened in the Fifth Ward in 2013. He believes the Global Water Center will be great help to the community of Marquette and will impact the rest of the world.
“It’s a huge societal issue. I think the biggest issue facing the world of the next 50-to-100 years is going to be around water,” said Lovell.
Lovell explained that Milwaukee has become one of three international leaders in relation to water. Seven years ago, a group of Milwaukee leaders got together with those who had an interest in water, then forming The Water Council. The Water Council now consists of 140 organizations that have been instrumental in making Milwaukee the global water hub it is today.
The water Council also has a full-time staff member who works with educational institutions. Anyone with an interest in water can join the Water Council as well support The Global Water Center, Lovell said.
“It’s not very expensive and they can have access to many of the projects being worked on,” he said.
The Global Water Center was constructed with the purpose of helping to decrease the distress that the scarcity of water has brought on people in the U.S. and throughout the world.
The seven-story Global Water Center building is seen as a place where world leaders can come to solve problems. The project has indeed brought people from around the world to Milwaukee. Companies, universities such as Marquette, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and UW-Whitewater, along with entrepreneurs from around the world, are helping to make the Global Water Center successful.
“We need to put our talents and resources towards solving the big problems that are facing society.,” Lovell said. “So it makes a lot of sense that Milwaukee is already a water hub to for us be of important part of helping promote solutions that’ll hopefully change the world.”
Lovell explained that the concept of The Global Water Center involves allowing access to technology and equipment to students and faculty members at Marquette in order to do projects that will allow the development of technology pertaining to water.
These projects also allow students to travel to different countries in which they are presented with different perspectives on the issue of water insufficiency in other parts of the world, Lovell said
Michael Lovell is a leader who is helping those who are doing poorly to do well, but he also is helping those who are doing well to do better. From The Water Council, The Global Water Center to his position as president of Marquette, his work reflects his leadership.
dr. garner leads the way as interim dean
By: Mallory Winkler
As interim dean of Marquette University’s Diederich College of Communication, Dr. Ana C. Garner has shown leadership skills that make her a reliable placeholder until a new dean is appointed, and she intends to set a strong platform for her successor.
This will be Garner’s second term as interim dean at Diederich, where she has been an employee for 23 years. Garner previously served as interim dean from 2005 to 2006. Garner didn’t know what to expect the first time around. However, she says she is more prepared for the job this time and is grateful to have the support of great colleagues.
While Garner has many short-term goals, she mainly wants to make Diederich a friendly and welcoming place for the new dean. Garner intends to identify faculty and staffing needed for the college, strengthen the curriculum, and continue to connect with alumni.
“My goal I’m excited about is helping to make it so that the new dean, who starts next July, will be in a good position to lead the college forward to the next step,” said Garner.
Garner says that being a great leader is all about problem solving. She describes a strong leader as someone who is “able to take care of business. “
“It means being willing to be flexible, but also not being afraid to make a decision. It also means being able to say ‘I was wrong’,” she said.
Garner knows the curriculum and understands students’ needs based on her work as a professor. She teaches multiple classes at Marquette, including magazine design and production, race and gender issues in mass media, and qualitative research methods in communication. Her 10-year background as a sculptor and freelance graphic designer help her teach about design.
When describing Garner, Dr. Gee Ekachai, an associate professor of public relations and chair of strategic communication in Diederich, uses the words “nurturing, fair, and strong.” Garner’s combined experience as an artist, graphic designer, and professor has allowed her to connect with different types of people.
Dr. Garner’s colleagues at Diederich are supporting her and believe she will succeed in this leadership position. Donna Turben, administrative assistant to the dean, said, “Dr. Garner focuses in on the most important things.”
Garner’s leadership is evident in her humility and constant desire to learn. She mentioned how she learns from others about leadership. “From good to bad leaders, something can always be learned.”
Garner loves caring for others and she supports the Jesuit mission, which are vital skills in leading Marquette’s Diederich College of Communication until a permanent dean is found.
As interim dean of Marquette University’s Diederich College of Communication, Dr. Ana C. Garner has shown leadership skills that make her a reliable placeholder until a new dean is appointed, and she intends to set a strong platform for her successor.
This will be Garner’s second term as interim dean at Diederich, where she has been an employee for 23 years. Garner previously served as interim dean from 2005 to 2006. Garner didn’t know what to expect the first time around. However, she says she is more prepared for the job this time and is grateful to have the support of great colleagues.
While Garner has many short-term goals, she mainly wants to make Diederich a friendly and welcoming place for the new dean. Garner intends to identify faculty and staffing needed for the college, strengthen the curriculum, and continue to connect with alumni.
“My goal I’m excited about is helping to make it so that the new dean, who starts next July, will be in a good position to lead the college forward to the next step,” said Garner.
Garner says that being a great leader is all about problem solving. She describes a strong leader as someone who is “able to take care of business. “
“It means being willing to be flexible, but also not being afraid to make a decision. It also means being able to say ‘I was wrong’,” she said.
Garner knows the curriculum and understands students’ needs based on her work as a professor. She teaches multiple classes at Marquette, including magazine design and production, race and gender issues in mass media, and qualitative research methods in communication. Her 10-year background as a sculptor and freelance graphic designer help her teach about design.
When describing Garner, Dr. Gee Ekachai, an associate professor of public relations and chair of strategic communication in Diederich, uses the words “nurturing, fair, and strong.” Garner’s combined experience as an artist, graphic designer, and professor has allowed her to connect with different types of people.
Dr. Garner’s colleagues at Diederich are supporting her and believe she will succeed in this leadership position. Donna Turben, administrative assistant to the dean, said, “Dr. Garner focuses in on the most important things.”
Garner’s leadership is evident in her humility and constant desire to learn. She mentioned how she learns from others about leadership. “From good to bad leaders, something can always be learned.”
Garner loves caring for others and she supports the Jesuit mission, which are vital skills in leading Marquette’s Diederich College of Communication until a permanent dean is found.