Montana State University announced on March 25 that Leonardo Marra will deliver the spring Orser Executive Speakers Forum lecture on April 7 at the Strand Union Building’s Procrastinator Theater. The event, hosted by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is free and open to the public.
Marra, originally from Rome, Italy, moved to Bozeman in 2022 and currently serves as events manager in the MSU Office of the President. He previously held the position of treasury curator of the Papal Sacristy within the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. His talk will focus on his experience producing high-level events for leadership and diplomacy, including papal ceremonies at the Vatican, university events at MSU, and international functions for the Sovereign Order of Malta.
The Orser Executive Speakers Forum was established in 1988 by MSU alumnus David B. Orser with a goal to inspire students toward careers as innovative, responsible and ethical business leaders. Previous speakers have included Heidi Browning of the National Hockey League; Tim Solso from General Motors; and Dave Stephenson from Airbnb.
Montana State University operates as Montana’s land-grant institution and a prominent research university in Bozeman, providing access to outdoor recreation amid vast wilderness while offering extensive academic programs and leading in research efforts according to its official website. The university leads in research funding statewide with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website.
MSU enrolls about 17,165 students with an even split between residents and nonresidents according to its official website. The institution ranks among the top five percent of global universities per rankings by the Center for World University Rankings as reported by its official website.
The university extends its influence through volunteer work, outreach programs aimed at improving lives and environments across communities according to its official website, continuing its mission as Montana’s land-grant institution serving both state residents and broader audiences.