A pastor with 25 years of experience in higher education has been appointed to the staff of Valparaiso University’s Chapel of the Resurrection.

The Rev. Darlene Grega, who most recently has been pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Canton, Ohio, will join the staff as an associate pastor effective Aug. 23.

She is a graduate of Valparaiso and of the Lutheran Deaconess Program housed on campus. She earned a master of arts in counseling from the University of North Dakota and a master of divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

Prior to becoming an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Rev. Grega served as director of international students at St. Cloud (Minn.) State University and earlier was director of the international center at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She also has nine years of experience in campus ministry at colleges and universities in North Carolina, Minnesota and Texas.

Rev. Grega fills a new position on the chapel staff that includes Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastors Rev. Joseph Cunningham, University pastor and dean of the chapel, and Rev. James Wetzstein, University associate pastor and associate dean of the chapel.

“We are delighted that Rev. Grega has accepted the call to join the ministry team at the Chapel of the Resurrection,” Rev. Cunningham said. “The ministry of the chapel benefits from the presence of a pastor from the ELCA. There are many areas of campus ministry where Pastor Wetzstein and I are looking forward to cooperating with Pastor Grega within the guidelines of our respective church bodies.

“Rev. Grega has a deep and abiding love for Valparaiso University and how it helped form her faith. She is a thoughtful communicator and drew high praise from all who met her during the selection process. Her creativity and her experience in higher education make her a welcome addition to our team.”

Pastor Cunningham said Rev. Grega will play a significant role in residential ministry and will be encouraged to develop new initiatives for international students at the University while collaborating with chapel staff associated with the LCMS in meeting the spiritual needs of the University community.