Dear Members of the University Community,

I am pleased to announce that the Jesuit School of Theology Dean Search Committee, chaired by Martin T. Connell, S.J., has completed its national search and presented its final report to the Interim Provost and me. With the approval from the JST Board of Directors and Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J., President of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, I am pleased to appoint Joseph G. Mueller, S.J. as Dean of JST. Father Mueller is currently an Associate Professor of Theology at Marquette University and Rector of the Marquette Jesuit Community. He will begin his duties as JST Dean on July 1, 2020.

A popular teacher and prolific scholar, Father Mueller has focused much of his research on ecclesiology and early Christian theology over the past 20 years at Marquette. He has served Marquette and greater Milwaukee communities in a number of leadership and outreach positions, and over the years, has contributed significantly to the Catholic Church’s dialog with other Christian churches. He has served in various administrative roles, including Director of Graduate Studies of the Theology Department and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Helen Way Klinger College of Arts and Sciences, both at Marquette University. His broad pastoral, managerial and administrative experience will serve him well as our next JST Dean. For more about Father Mueller, please read the press release.

I am deeply grateful to Father Connell, who serves as rector of the JST Jesuit Community, and to members of the search committee for the many hours they invested so generously in this process. 

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Alison Benders, J.D., Ph.D., for her service as Interim Dean while we conducted our national search. During this critical transition period, Professor Benders brought her experience, dedication and vision to the JST community during a time when she was originally scheduled to be on sabbatical. Her leadership as Interim Dean during the 2019-20 academic year has helped JST maintain its prominence and prepared the School for the next chapter ahead.

Please join me in welcoming Father Mueller to the University community as our next dean of the Jesuit School of Theology.

Sincerely,

Kevin F. O'Brien, S.J.
President