[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 18, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. MICHAEL LOVELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 2024

  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise along with my colleague and fellow 
Marquette University graduate, Rep. Gwen Moore, to honor the life and 
legacy of President Michael Rhodes Lovell, Ph.D., an accomplished 
engineer and the 24th president of my alma mater. His decade of 
leadership was transformative for both the Marquette and Milwaukee 
communities.
  In his lifelong pursuit of academic excellence, Dr. Lovell completed 
three mechanical engineering degrees at the University of Pittsburgh, 
was a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the 
National Academy of Inventors and held U.S. and global patents. He 
published more than 100 articles in engineering journals, coauthored 
Tribology for Scientists and Engineers and was awarded nearly $30 
million in research grants for which he was a lead investigator. His 
brilliance did not go unnoticed: he won a National Science Foundation 
CAREER award and the ASME Burt L. Newkirk award in Tribology. Dr. 
Lovell understood the importance of research and development, and 
Marquette more than doubled its research and development expenditures 
in his tenure.
  Before joining Marquette's community, Dr. Lovell was the engineering 
school dean at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for three years. 
He was later appointed as the school's eighth chancellor in 2011. Once 
at Marquette, he led the implementation of Beyond Boundaries--a 
strategic plan that encourages students, faculty and staff alike to 
think creatively and to lead impactful lives through entrepreneurship 
and community building. Under his leadership, the university has become 
more accessible to students from all different backgrounds. Dr. 
Lovell's impact is seen across campus; from the brand-new dorm to the 
new business school, he fought to make Marquette a world-class 
university.
  Dr. Lovell's thoughtfulness and spirit of service extended far beyond 
his administrative duties. He never failed to make time for Marquette's 
students, attending hundreds of campus events and teaching classes. An 
avid runner, he could be seen jogging around campus. He was often 
joined by students through his running club, meeting weekly at the St. 
Joan of Arc Chapel on campus. If a student wanted to speak with him, 
all they needed to do was put on a pair of running shoes. He recognized 
the importance of listening and working closely with his fellow 
Wisconsinites to address difficult issues. Alongside his wife Amy, Dr. 
Lovell worked especially hard to address mental health issues in the 
wider community.
  Dr. Lovell embodied Marquette's tagline, `Be the Difference.' As the 
first non-priest to become Marquette University president, Dr. Lovell 
held close the Jesuit values that guide Marquette's mission. He worked 
to connect all communities across Milwaukee and led by example, living 
a life dedicated to service.
  Let us pray for Dr. Lovell's wife Amy and his children--Marissa, 
Matthew, Anna, and Kevin, and his many friends during this time of 
sorrow. There is no doubt that Dr. Lovell's prodigious impact will 
continue to live on through the countless lives he positively impacted 
as a leader, educator and researcher. Godspeed.