“We are obligated to help the next generation receive an education.”

Attending Marquette University has been a tradition for Maureen Wright and her family and so has graduating from the College of Journalism/Communication. Ten members of the Wright clan have earned degrees from the college, including Maureen; her father, Joseph; her siblings, Patrick, Kathleen, Daniel and Eileen; and several nieces and nephew. One additional niece graduated from Marquette’s Law School.

While Maureen’s parents expected their children to attend Marquette — she recalls singing the fight song as early as age three —Maureen looks back thankfully on her time at Marquette. “I know that I would not be where I am today without the education I received at Marquette. As I progressed through my career, I realized how vitally important my Marquette experience has been to succeed in the business world — and in life.”

Speaking of success, Maureen has had an illustrious career in the retail business with various high-level positions in merchandising, marketing and community relations for organizations such as J.L. Hudson Company, Dayton Company, J.W. Robinson and Target Corporation. For the past several years, Maureen has been involved with The St. John’s Bible exhibition and national tour. The Bible, which was commissioned by St. John’s University and Abbey in Minnesota, is an epic work of art established under the artistic direction of Donald Jackson. It is the first handwritten, hand-illuminated Catholic Bible to be commissioned since the advent of the printing press, 500 years ago.

Maureen’s involvement with The St. John’s Bible has been a labor of love that reflects her deep faith. Even during her days at Marquette, Maureen incorporated her religious beliefs into her daily life. As a student, she would rise early—and in all kinds of weather—to attend 6:30 a.m. Mass at Gesu Church because she so loved the homilies of Fr. Bernard Cook. Faith awareness carried over to the classroom, where her academic experiences stressed social-conscience. As Maureen describes, “One thing that was impressed upon me from my years at Marquette was the importance of giving back. Father Devitt, who taught Ethics, framed everything in this context: ‘Every decision you make will be based on the greater good to be obtained.’ “

Through the years, Maureen has applied Fr. Devitt’s wisdom to her life. This includes her decision to contribute to scholarships at her beloved alma mater. Not surprising, this includes a recent commitment to establish a scholarship in support of students in the College of Communication. Even though Maureen herself did not have a need for scholarship as a student, she realizes that “An education is not a guarantee for many young people. We have an obligation to help educate the next generation. Education is one thing that can change a life.” Fr. Devitt no doubt would be proud of his former student’s wisdom, which is so evident in Maureen’s selfless words: “When my resources permitted me to start a scholarship at Marquette, it was my fervent desire to do so, and to me it is a very great reward. If I was unable to give, I would feel like a closed book, serving no purpose, sitting alone on a shelf. A book’s purpose is revealed when it is opened, read and its words used or shared. I want to be an open book through service to others.”