As a lifelong resident of LaPorte County, Indiana, Katie Adrian ’97 Jasnieski ’01 M.A. knew that Valparaiso University was known for its academic excellence and esteem. Still, she had aspirations of attending the University of Michigan, yet had concerns over the large size of the campus and the distance from her family. As the third of nine children, Katie wanted to be close enough to home, but far enough away to have the full college experience. When it came down to it, she had two college choices and a big decision to make. Valpo’s close proximity to home and cozy campus feel checked all the boxes for Katie, including one other deciding factor: her boyfriend, now husband of 27 years, was already attending the University.
Once enrolled at Valpo, Katie majored in psychology, minored in social work, and enjoyed being involved in various campus groups and activities. Like many Valpo alumni, she took her involvement in intramural sports very seriously, taking particular interest in volleyball. She was also involved in the honors fraternity, Psi Chi, for psychology majors, and spent a significant amount of her time studying and preparing for classes. Katie equates some of her best memories of Valpo to living in the dorms on campus, where she met some of her closest, lifelong friends. Katie also developed a special affinity for the Gloria Christie Chapel, where she would often go for Sunday evening candlelight services. She regularly attended the non-denominational service with her friends and enjoyed the diversity of people in attendance, who represented various faiths and personal backgrounds. Katie calls the Christie Chapel a hidden gem, as it quickly became one of her favorite spots on campus.
During her senior year at Valpo, Katie landed a job at a local hospital system, launching her career in inpatient mental health and social services and allowing her to advocate for those who were unable to advocate for themselves. She served for over 20 years in various roles across the hospital system, transitioning to a new role about eight years ago when she sought to pursue a different path of advocacy, this time in the outpatient setting at the Swanson Center in LaPorte County. Serving in various capacities and advancing through the ranks, Katie says that her time at the Center has been highly rewarding, allowing her to grow exponentially both personally and professionally. She was recently promoted to the position of chief executive officer (CEO), yet still carries a caseload of patients whom she sees regularly.
Katie says that what she enjoys most about her work is witnessing people during difficult periods, offering support throughout, and seeing them through their transformations. She says that ultimately, it’s up to the individual receiving the services to empower themselves through these situations, with the therapist providing support. She adds that it’s a gift to see people emerge on the other side of these difficulties and witness what they do with the support they receive.
Katie’s time at Valpo helped shape her life far beyond college, reflecting the transformative impact of the Valpo experience. The expectations she placed on herself to excel and work hard were often echoed by her professors, which helped propel her to the next level and strive for even greater success beyond the classroom. This impact lives on today in Katie and the work she does serving those in her community who need it most.
Katie Jasnieski resides in LaPorte, Indiana, with her husband, Michael, who is a Michigan City, Indiana, firefighter. They have two daughters in college, aged 19 and 23.
