Dear Valpo Friends,
Today is a dream come true!
I have loved Valparaiso University throughout my life, and to now begin serving as your new president is a joyful answer to my longstanding prayers.
When I was growing up in rural central Wisconsin, I loved Valparaiso University as I reveled in rooting for Coach Homer Drew and the Valpo men’s basketball team. With each remarkable win, and even with each challenging loss, those teams helped underdogs of all ages believe that anything is possible.
When I was in college, I learned to love the sermons and writings of former Valpo President O.P. Kretzmann. When I read his work about Lutheran universities as sacred academic spaces, I was inspired. When he showed how committed faith and critical inquiry can and must meet, I was again inspired. When he preached Good News—through words and deeds—that we must have something to live by, that we must have something to live on, and that we must have something to live for, I was—and continue to be—inspired.
When I was a student at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, several of my classmates were from Valparaiso University, and every one of them was truly outstanding. I loved how Valpo graduates embodied excellence both inside and outside the classroom. I loved how they smiled brightly when they spoke about their beloved university. I loved the faithful spirit and soul they all seemed to have received through their university, and I loved how they all were clearly transformed as a direct result of the mission-driven faculty, staff, community, and supporters of Valparaiso University.
Throughout the various twists and turns of my life, Valparaiso University has repeatedly contributed to my learning and in many ways has shaped my sense of vocational calling. From my time in South America and South Africa, to Lake Edge Lutheran Church in Wisconsin, Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, and most recently at Syracuse University in New York, at every step I was nourished by those whom Valpo prepared to lead and serve in both church and society. Through it all, I have loved being blessed by those who built their lives for good because of Valparaiso University, and my life is truly better because of Valparaiso University.
Yes, I love Valparaiso University, and I know that I am not alone.
I recognize that each person receiving this message also holds a deep love for Valparaiso University, and I have heard from many of you as to why. I have heard about your love for our profound sense of community, where faculty and staff know students by name, and not merely by number. I have heard about your love for the roots and reach of the Lutheran tradition, and our commitment to scholarship, freedom, and faith. I have heard about your love for the beauty of our campus and the dynamic neighborhoods of Northwest Indiana, and I have heard about your love for academic rigor, competitive athletics, music and the arts, science and technology, entrepreneurship, various student organizations, Greek Life, residence life, student media, sustainability and environmentalism, E-sports, global education, health and wellbeing, vocational discernment, and much more. Perhaps most of all, I have heard about your genuine love for each other, the courage required when you give of yourselves for the sake of each other, and your astonishing ability to make the world a better place with each other.
There is much to love about Valparaiso University, and as we begin this new chapter today and together, I ask that we all be led by the power and possibility of such love.
While some in our world are motivated by fear, and others are motivated by anger or even hate, today I say thanks be to God that we, at Valparaiso University, are motivated by love. We are motivated by the love of God, love for each other, love for learning, love for learners, and love for our shared future. Despite all the challenges taking place throughout our world, and while taking seriously the planning and proceedings required to overcome such challenges, I believe that all things are possible when God’s love moves us from intention to action to impact. As we now build momentum in bold support of our next generation at Valparaiso University, my humble prayer is that we be led by the gift and promise of such love, and remember that we have absolutely nothing to fear, and that by God’s amazing grace, we have absolutely everything to receive.
To all my new friends, thank you for this opportunity to love Valparaiso University with you. I look forward to serving you. I am excited to build lives for good alongside you, and I fully believe that together we can help your prayers to be answered and your dreams to come true.
May God bless you, this special day and always.
With gratitude,
The Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D.
President, Valparaiso University
