Daniel Goyette sits alone in the second row of the Al McGuire Center wearing his favorite Marquette tie, adorned in small golden eagles. He waits for his wife to join him and perhaps more so, what the next president of Marquette University has to say.
Goyette came to Marquette in 1979 as the director of financial aid and retired in 2006. However he still remains involved in the school as a chairman of the Marquette University Retiree Association and plans on reporting what he hears back to the board. "I believe in this institution," Goyette said. "I support it; my children graduated from here."
Goyette worked at universities around the country, but there was something more that drew him to Marquette that other schools couldn't offer. "I became enamored with the Jesuits and their focus on educating people, helping to make sure that happens around the world," Goyette said.
Despite his focus on the Jesuit tradition of Marquette, Goyette is not concerned that President Michael Lovell is a layperson. Rather he has a different worry for President Lovell. "We live in a new era where the value of education is being challenged and questioned," Goyette said. "I think that it's important that institutions like Marquette rise to the occasion and help the general public understand that yes indeed higher education is still important."
As he exited the ceremony, Goyette was wide-eyed and his smile reached ear to ear.
"Fabulous," he said. "I look forward to the future with President Lovell."
For more on the inauguration ceremony, see my storify.
Goyette came to Marquette in 1979 as the director of financial aid and retired in 2006. However he still remains involved in the school as a chairman of the Marquette University Retiree Association and plans on reporting what he hears back to the board. "I believe in this institution," Goyette said. "I support it; my children graduated from here."
Goyette worked at universities around the country, but there was something more that drew him to Marquette that other schools couldn't offer. "I became enamored with the Jesuits and their focus on educating people, helping to make sure that happens around the world," Goyette said.
Despite his focus on the Jesuit tradition of Marquette, Goyette is not concerned that President Michael Lovell is a layperson. Rather he has a different worry for President Lovell. "We live in a new era where the value of education is being challenged and questioned," Goyette said. "I think that it's important that institutions like Marquette rise to the occasion and help the general public understand that yes indeed higher education is still important."
As he exited the ceremony, Goyette was wide-eyed and his smile reached ear to ear.
"Fabulous," he said. "I look forward to the future with President Lovell."
For more on the inauguration ceremony, see my storify.