Matthew Ringenberg

Matthew C. Ringenberg, Associate Professor of Social Work, is returning to Valparaiso University to assume his new responsibilities as the MSW Program Director. Dr. Ringenberg has 25 years of teaching experience at Valparaiso University, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and St Olaf College. He served as chair and program director of the BSW program at Valpo previously. He is co-author of The Education of Alice Hamilton. Previously, Dr. Ringenberg designed the Parent And School Survey and Co-led of the School Success Longitudinal Study. He served from 2013-2015 as the Director of the Valparaiso University Study Center in Cambridge, England. He has successfully written multiple social service grants for agencies throughout Northwest Indiana. He also conducted a program evaluation of the Oshkosh (Wisconsin) Farmers Market.

During his career Dr. Ringenberg has built relationships with a wide variety of people, both within and external to the university. Matthew mentored dozens of students in developing their own research projects and presenting the results in various conferences. He has taught a variety of topics including human behavior, counseling/interviewing skills, social policy, research methods, grant-writing, and spirituality in the helping professions. Matthew has served on the boards of a homeless shelter, farmers market, and the United Way. His grant-writing, evaluating, and supervision services have been provided to agencies ranging in focus from child abuse, afterschool programming, summer education services, and family reconciliation.

Matthew Ringenberg enjoys a variety of activities outside of work. He cycles regularly and hikes  as opportunities arise. Matthew is an avid board game player and enjoys learning new ones. He is learning to play piano but makes no claims of talent. Birdwatching is also a casual hobby, although, like piano, he is no expert.

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I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve the students of Valparaiso University once again. Because I already know the other members of the department, I can say with confidence that I look forward to a great work environment with some terrific colleagues. Plus, helping to build something new sounds like fun (and a lot of work).