End of Year — Faculty and Staff

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller

Dear Colleagues,

As our academic year comes to an unusual close, it is important that we remind one another of the many accomplishments the Valparaiso University community achieved this year. It is undeniable that we faced an unimaginable set of challenges this year, yet together we have persevered and for that, I am grateful. I am thankful for all you do to support the mission of Valparaiso University and for all the ways you encourage our collective search for knowledge and truth.

There are many reasons to be filled with gratitude as we conclude this year. Reflecting over the past 10 months, I am once again overwhelmed by the accomplishments from the 2019–2020 academic year. A number of faculty and staff members earned recognition for excellence and advancement of their fields. We dedicated the Richard E. Beumer P.E. Environmental Engineering Lab and celebrated many other accolades. Our athletics and arts programs continued to delight and amaze audiences and fans, including a historic run of our men’s basketball team in the Arch Madness tournament. And our great University is now recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a National/Doctoral University.

The achievements of this community are far too numerous to detail here, but I encourage you to read a few more highlights in a recent media release here.

We are indeed blessed to pursue our vocations in this community, even through challenging times. As Helen Keller reminds us, it is truly the work we do together as members of the Valparaiso University community that is most impactful. The work you do, each and every day, helps this University prepare young adults for lives of leadership, service, and generosity. It is noble work indeed.

I look forward to when we may all return to campus and welcome our new students to FOCUS later this summer. In addition, I look forward to welcoming back all of our students in the fall for face to face learning and community life, albeit modified for the health and safety of our community. The University will be open and many groups are now hard at work on plans to return to in-person classes on campus in the fall semester, while prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff. We know you’ll bring your resilience, adaptability, and energy back to campus, and look forward to navigating the year ahead together.

Whether you are spending your summer near campus or away from Valpo, I hope these months offer an opportunity to spend time with family and loved ones and to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate.
Blessings and Be Well,

Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D.
President
Valparaiso University