MILWAUKEE — Luis de Zengotita, MSW, MBA, has been named Marquette University’s first-ever chief wellness officer, Acting Provost Sarah Feldner announced today. De Zengotita joins Marquette from the University of St. Thomas where he has served as executive director of the Center for Well-Being since 2019. He will begin in his new role at Marquette on Jan. 13, 2025; Carolyn Smith, M.D., will remain in the acting role until that time and help with the leadership transition.
Reporting directly to the provost, de Zengotita will lead the development of a holistic, sustainable, multidisciplinary strategy for student health and well-being, and embed these principles into the facets of the Marquette student experience as articulated in the Marquette 2031 Strategic Plan, Guided by Mission, Inspired to Change.
As CWO, de Zengotita will oversee programmatic elements of the new Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility that is slated to open in January. His direct areas of oversight include the Marquette University Medical Clinic, Counseling Center, Recreational Sports, and the Student Wellness and Health Promotion Program. Additionally, de Zengotita will partner with Human Resources on faculty and staff wellness programming.
“The late Dr. Michael Lovell set forth a vision for a holistic approach to physical and mental fitness and well-being buoyed by a campuswide culture of wellness,” said President Kimo Ah Yun. “As Marquette’s chief wellness officer, Luis de Zengotita will help bring that vision to life.”
“Luis brings to Marquette the exact breadth and depth of experience in student wellness and health care administration needed as we bring the university’s medical, mental health, fitness and recreation services together in the new Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility,” said Acting Provost Feldner. “With half of all college students saying their physical health and wellness is negatively impacting their ability to succeed academically, the need to focus on these aspects of the cocurricular experience has never been more important.”
“I am deeply grateful and humbled to be selected as Marquette’s inaugural chief wellness officer,” de Zengotita said. “This role offers a unique opportunity to fully embody our Jesuit value of cura personalis, aspiring to ensure that every student, no matter their unique circumstances, can flourish in mind, body and spirit. I envision the Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility and my role weaving wellness into all facets of the student experience, so that all students can succeed in their academic journey and discern how their gifts and talents can better the world. I look forward to listening and building relationships with students, faculty, and staff as we establish a national model for holistic student wellness.
“Also, as a graduate of two master’s degree programs at Boston College and a former adjunct professor at BC, I am incredibly excited to be back at a Jesuit university.”
The Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility will provide a 25% increase in recreational space and nearly double the wellness and medical space offered on campus today. A new, 30,000-square-foot, centralized four-story wellness tower, including the LOVELLSTRONG Center for Student Well-Being, will integrate the university’s student health, wellness and recreation services.
According to a recent Student Voice survey on health and wellness from Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse, students want to be healthier overall — and they’re looking to facilities to help. Mental health support was the No. 1 choice cited among students when asked which wellness services mattered most when deciding whether to enroll at a university — 29% selected it as the top wellness factor in choosing their institution. The second most important listed service was dining, followed by fitness and physical health.
The same Inside Higher Ed survey shows that half of students say their physical health and wellness adversely affects their academic success. Among those survey respondents, 50% say their physical health and wellness is negatively impacting their ability to succeed academically, and 57% who experience chronic stress say their physical health is interfering with their academic success, as do 67% of those with an identifiable mental health condition.
The new Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility will foster community, inclusiveness and engagement, and provide a destination on campus that supports the physical and mental health needs of the Marquette community.
About Luis de Zengotita
De Zengotita is an accomplished leader in college health and well-being. After joining St. Thomas in 2019, he helped establish the university’s Center for Well-Being in March 2020, navigated the center through the challenges of the pandemic, and responded to students’ evolving needs with innovative services and programming. Under de Zengotita’s leadership, the CWB developed a comprehensive, integrated model of care that holistically supports students across all dimensions of well-being, with key initiatives such as expanding learning disabilities testing and establishing sexual assault nurse examinations on campus.
Beyond his work at St. Thomas, de Zengotita co-founded the American College Health Association’s Integrated College Health Coalition in 2022. In this national leadership role, he collaborates with fellow leaders to develop webinars on integration best practices and provides resources and consultation to support ACHA members on their integration journey. The coalition is currently focusing on conducting national surveys on integration trends and working with ACHA leadership to develop additional resources for members seeking integration support.
De Zengotita’s background in health care administration began with his tenure at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 2013-19, where he ultimately served as senior manager in clinical planning and business development. There, he managed institution-wide initiatives to expand clinical services, develop new programs, and drive strategic growth.
De Zengotita holds dual master’s degrees in social work and business administration from Boston College.
Learn more about the new Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility in Marquette Today.
About Marquette University
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.
