Department chair named arts and sciences dean

Thu, February 2, 2006
A long-time faculty member, who is chair of the Department of Geography and Meteorology, has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Valparaiso University effective July 1.

Dr. Jon T. Kilpinen, who joined the faculty in 1992 and has served as department chair since 2000, will replace Dr. Albert Trost, who is retiring as dean after holding that position since 1996. Dr. Trost will return to the classroom as a professor of political science.

A VU honor graduate with majors in geography and history, Dr. Kilpinen earned master's and doctor of philosophy degrees in geography from the University of Texas at Austin.

He is co-author of "The Mountain West," which was honored by the Pioneer America Society in 1997 as the best book published in the field of American material culture studies. He has contributed chapters to several books, written articles for scholarly publications and presented papers at numerous professional conferences.

Dr. Kilpinen has received numerous grants for his research, much of it dealing with the Western United States, and is an associate fellow of the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska. He also participated in a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute on "Boundaries and Borderlands: The Search for Recognition and Community in America."

He serves as chair of VU's International Service and Urban Studies programs and as adviser for the Chicago Urban Semester program and VU's chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the national honor society in geography. Dr. Kilpinen played a significant role in planning for Kallay-Christopher Hall, which opened last year and provides nearly 17,000 square feet of space for the Department of Geography and Meteorology.

Dr. Kilpinen said he looks forward to the opportunity to strengthen the identity of VU's largest academic unit.

"I am both humbled and excited by this appointment," he said. "The talent within the College is exceptional, and I believe we have an opportunity to forge a stronger identity for the College that recognizes this excellence."

University President Alan F. Harre expressed appreciation to Dr. Trost for his effective leadership and to the selection committee that coordinated a national search for Dr. Trost's replacement.

"Dr. Trost has served the institution well in his role as dean," President Harre said. "The wide variety of programs in the College of Arts and Sciences provides unique administrative challenges, and Dr. Trost has earned the respect of the faculty for his ability to build consensus and achieve collaboration. I am very grateful for the leadership he has provided the University in this position.

"The University also owes a debt of gratitude to Professor Edward Uehling and members of his committee who provided tireless effort in evaluating dean candidates," he said.

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