Valparaiso University has appointed Ed Finn, Ed.D. as director for its new online master of organizational leadership (MOL) program. Finn brings more than 17 years of experience in higher education, along with a 20-year career in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, where he put leadership principles into practice. Combining that experience with Valpo’s rich history of leadership excellence — including its recognition as one of only 25 schools in the nation to receive the Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose — Finn is confident this new program offers a unique pathway for those seeking high-level leadership education across a wide range of contexts.
“Valparaiso University has a long history of preparing students to be leaders across a variety of fields,” Finn said. “This program provides an opportunity to study the concept of leadership on a deeper level.
Finn holds a bachelor of science in labor studies and a master of science in education in adult education from Indiana University, and a doctor of education in organizational leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. However, his educational journey was not a traditional one, originally leaving school prior to completing his bachelor’s degree after being promoted in his retail career. In 2004, he began his journey towards continuing education — a journey shaped by hurdles that have influenced how he’s approaching the MOL program.
Finn came to Valpo in 2020, where he has been instrumental in organizing and leading the Center for Innovation in Teaching, Assessment and Learning. The University’s mission and deep Lutheran roots have become core components of the MOL program’s philosophy and approach.
“Any time we’re developing anything, we bring our own context into it,” Finn said. “As an adult student with a family and full-time career, I needed flexibility to continue my education, so I looked for an online path. That perspective shaped how I approached developing this new program. How do we meet students where they are and remove barriers for them to pursue this goal?”
“Being able to help people who are on a similar journey to mine and understanding their individual circumstances, that to me is the exciting part,” Finn said. “The Lutheran tradition is that we are people engaged in community. It’s based on the idea of how we teach the whole person, how we get them engaged, and how we get them to understand that they’re relevant and important.”
The launch of the MOL program at Valparaiso University was announced in April of 2026. Applications are open at valpo.edu/apply and specific program information can be found at valpo.edu/programs/master-of-organizational-leadership.
