VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Faculty Senate Chair
- Geography & Meteorology › Faculty and Staff › Overview ›
- Professor of Geography
Professor of Geography bharath.ganeshbabu@valpo.edu 219.464.6984 Kallay-Christopher Hall, 201-A
Job Titles:
- Director of Bloom Scholars Program Adjunct Faculty
- Director of Bloom Scholars Program Reporting to the Office
- SEAC Chair
Chloe Kiser currently serves Valparaiso University as the Director of Bloom Scholars Program reporting to the Office of the Provost. She feels a special connection to the program as she, too, is a first-generation student. In addition to her director role, Chloe teaches as adjunct faculty in Graduate Studies, General Studies, and CORE, all departments that reside in Valpo's College of Arts and Sciences. Chloe has 2 academic years of graduate-level teaching experience and has previously taught in a K-12 setting. In addition to her teaching experience, Chloe has had various leadership roles in the hospitality and tourism, fitness, and spa and salon industries, a couple of which include working for The Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida, and Hilton Head Health in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Chloe shares her time participating on many councils and committees at the University. To name a few, she is currently serving as the Chair of the Staff Employee Advocacy Council (SEAC), Chair of the New Staff Welcome subcommittee, and is a member of the President's Council, University Council, the Staff Development subcommittee, MLK Day Event subcommittee, a Faculty Learning Community, and others.
Her degrees include a B.S. in Business Management with a minor in Psychology from Manchester University, as well as an M.S. in Sports Administration from Valparaiso University. At Valpo, she graduated with highest distinction (4.0 GPA) and was inducted into the Athenaeum Honor Society. Chloe prides herself on her unique course design. For example, her master's program required her to complete at least one internship. She chose to complete two internships where she designed undergraduate- and graduate-level courses, such as U.S. Classroom Culture, Sports Negotiation, and Recreational Sports & Business. After presenting her research at her University's Graduate Academic Symposium, she discovered her passion for teaching and curriculum design, particularly how she can improve the quality of her online courses.
Chloe greatly enjoys spending time with her husband, Ben, and son, Holden. Together, they travel to new places, visit new restaurants, and spend time outside. Her preferred leisure activities include having coffee dates with girlfriends and taking fitness classes.
Chloe is currently a Doctoral Degree Candidate at National Louis University, pursuing research interests in technology-infused curriculum design in the higher education setting. Chloe projects completion of doctoral studies in the summer of 2025.
Job Titles:
- about Vice President
- Vice President and General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors
- Vice President and General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Directors
Darron C. Farha, J.D., joined Valparaiso University in 2009 as the University's first General Counsel. In this role, he works closely with the president, Board of Directors, and University administrators on law-related and policymaking issues affecting the institution. In addition to providing legal advice and representation to the University through its Board Members and Administrators, General Counsel Farha has supervisory responsibilities over compliance, risk management, internal auditing functions within the University, and serves as Secretary for the University's Board of Directors. General Counsel Farha routinely presents and publishes on matters related to the law of higher education.
Prior to joining Valpo, General Counsel Farha was General Counsel for Pittsburg State University from 2003-2009 and an associate attorney with the law firm Wheeler & Mitchelson in Pittsburg, Kan., where he practiced in commercial law, civil litigation, corporate law, employment law, taxation, and real estate law.
General Counsel Farha is licensed to practice law in Indiana and the U.S. District Court - Northern District of Indiana and holds memberships with the Indiana State Bar Association, Porter County Bar Association, and the National Association of College and University Attorneys, where he is a member of its Board of Directors, serves on their Finance and Audit Committee, and as chair of its subcommittee on investments. General Counsel Farha is also a member of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Education
J.D. - University of Kansas
MBA - Washburn University
BBA - Pittsburg State University
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
Dean Mileham's academic work and professional contributions may be viewed within ValpoScholar: https://works.bepress.com/trisha_mileham/
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
- Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Director of the McNair Program at Northeastern Illinois University
In her 16 years in academia, Dr. Angela Vidal-Rodriguez has strived to create and implement strategies and programming to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across institutional departments and divisions and at points of interface with surrounding communities, with a goal of building a climate of equity and inclusion that promotes student success. This includes the leadership and managerial responsibility for initiatives designed to increase equity of educational outcomes for underrepresented students in higher education.
During her time with the National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good at the University of Michigan, Angela worked on examining institutional policies and promoting institutional and policy changes to create more inclusive environments within colleges and universities. She also has cultivated partnerships with other groups intersecting in the achievement of equity goals. She delivered on large-scale complex projects funded by major foundations, developing and implementing action plans, which translated grant deliverables into organizational strategies.
In her tenure as the director of the McNair program at Northeastern Illinois University, Dr. Vidal-Rodriguez worked on collaborative initiatives with internal and external interests to advance program objectives and promote a more inclusive and equitable learning environment in higher education institutions across Illinois. She promoted TRIO programs' values of creating inclusive and equitable learning environments for underrepresented NEIU students and with community, state, and other external stakeholders.
Dr. Vidal-Rodriguez holds degrees from Anahuac University (Mexico City, Mexico), Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL), and the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), including an MBA in Management and Strategy and a PhD in Higher Education with a specialization in Organizational Behavior and Management.
Education
Ph.D. - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Job Titles:
- Events and Communications Coordinator
Elizabeth Searle Events and Communications Coordinator elizabeth.searle1@valpo.edu 219.464.5309 Betsy's office is Helge Center, Room 109
Job Titles:
- Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Eric W. Johnson '87, Ph.D., is the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. In that role, he serves as the chief academic officer along with providing oversight for the Vice President for Student Life, the Chapel and Church Vocations, and the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources.
Provost Johnson joined the faculty in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Valparaiso University 1997. During his time at Valpo, he has held the Paul and Cleo Brandt Professorship, served as chair of the electrical and computer engineering department, and helped create the Valparaiso International Engineering Programs. His research interests include modeling electronic components using nanodevices and engineering education pedagogy. In January of 2013, he was named dean of the College of Engineering, where he focused on adding new programs in bioengineering and environmental engineering, providing holistic educational experiences, and developing an entrepreneurial mindset in every student.
Provost Johnson is senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and has served in a number of leadership roles in the IEEE Calumet Section. He has also been an active member of the American Society of Engineering Education and served in leadership roles within the Illinois/Indiana Section.
Education
Ph.D. - University of Notre Dame 1997
M.S. - University of Notre Dame 1993
B.S. - Valparaiso University 1987
Pr. Jim is heavily involved in the worship life of the Chapel, mentoring student leaders in that area as well as preaching and leading worship. He loves to read, write and talk about the interrelationship between theology and art. He is a PhD candidate in Liturgical Studies at Notre Dame. His research involves the work of the 20th century Lutheran liturgical sculptor, the late Ernst Schwidder and questions regarding the role of art and design in spiritual formation.
Job Titles:
- Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Job Titles:
- Pastor
- James Wetzstein University Pastor
Pastor James Wetzstein has been at Valparaiso University since the spring of 2003.
Job Titles:
- Dean of the Christ College - the Honors College
- Jennifer Prough Dean & Professor of Humanities & East Asian Studies
Jennifer Prough, '91 Ph.D. is a cultural anthropologist with field research experience in Japan. Her teaching and research interests include the anthropology of media, anthropology of tourism, Japanese studies, gender studies, and globalization. At the heart of Prough's research and teaching interests are issues of representation and the ways that cultural meanings are produced and managed, experienced and interpreted through mass culture. Her first book, Straight from the Heart: Gender, Intimacy, and the Cultural Production of Shōjo Manga (University of Hawai'i Press, 2011), examines the production of girls' comics in Japan through ethnographic analysis. Her most recent book, Kyoto Revisited: Heritage Tourism in Contemporary Kyoto (University of Hawai'i Press, 2022), analyzes the ways that tradition, history, and culture are produced, packaged, promoted, and consumed in the Kyoto tourist industry.
As a Christ College and Valparaiso alumna, Jennifer is deeply devoted to the transformative experience that a cohort-based, interdisciplinary honors education, delivered by a dedicated faculty, can provide. She served as Interim Dean of Christ College in 2017-2018. In 2021, Jennifer stepped back into the role of Interim Dean with a commitment to facilitating holistic educational experiences of the highest caliber to a more diverse community of honors students.
Job Titles:
- Chairman in Religion and the Healing Arts
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President
- to Lead in Times of Unprecedented Challenges and Opportunities
- University President
The Board of Directors of Valparaiso University ("Valpo") announced that it has named José D. Padilla as its next President. A dynamic innovator, thinker and natural leader, Padilla brings many skills, experiences and accomplishments in higher education which are ideally suited to the University's needs today and in the future.
Padilla joins Valpo as the culmination of a long and successful career in higher education. Most recently, he served as Vice President, University Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado System. Prior to that, he served 15 years successfully in a number of senior leadership roles at DePaul University in Chicago, the most recent role as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions
Job Titles:
- Interim Director of Athletics
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Advancement
Marie Foster-Bruns, MBA, joined Valparaiso University as the vice president of advancement in March 2023. In this role, Foster-Bruns leads all advancement activities and manages a team responsible for fundraising, career services, and alumni relations activities of the University. She reports to President José D. Padilla, J.D., and serves as a member of the president's cabinet.
Prior to this appointment, Foster-Bruns served as president and CEO of One Region, an organization advocating for the strategic promotion and growth of NW Indiana. Before that, she was chief experience officer and vice president of the Purdue Alumni Association where she oversaw a staff of 25 in the development and implementation of communication strategies and engagement experiences for students and more than 600,000 alumni worldwide. She has additional fundraising experience in her role as senior director of advancement and development officer at Purdue University Northwest.
Foster-Bruns received a B.S. in education from Purdue University and her MBA from Purdue University Northwest. She is involved with several community-based organizations and was named a 20 Under 40 Award winner by BusINess Magazine. Her volunteer work includes teaching English and Spanish to children in Haiti and Mexico.
Education
MBA - Purdue University Northwest
B.S. - Purdue University
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President for Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Mark C. Volpatti, Ed.D., CPA is senior vice president for finance and administration at Valparaiso University. In this role, he serves as the University's chief financial officer and treasurer. Volpatti also provides leadership and support to Valpo's business and financial operations, facilities management, human resources, and property development.
Prior to joining Valparaiso University, Volpatti was associate vice chancellor within the Division of Finance and Administration at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). In this role, he was responsible for the strategic direction and daily operations of the campus's auxiliary units. Volpatti has worked in various academic and support units during his time with IUPUI: chief operating officer for an extension campus, director of finance and administration for a central administration division, and administrative director for the faculty development department.
Job Titles:
- Dean of the College of Business
- Niclas Erhardt Dean of the College of Business
Niclas Erhardt joined Valparaiso University as dean of the College of Business in 2020. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic leadership, coordination, and guidance of the College. Dean Erhardt previously served as associate dean and interim dean of the Maine Business School at the University of Maine. He also acted as founding director of the school's Professional Development Center. Dean Erhardt has taught at the University of Maine, Providence College, and Rutgers University.
Dean Erhardt is widely published and has authored numerous journal articles including work featured in Journal of Management, International Small Business Journal, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, and International Journal of Human Resource Management. Dean Erhardt believes in the importance of a balanced approach between research and teaching. He has spent his career strengthening alumni relationships and building external partnerships in the business community. Dean Erhardt and his wife, Devon DeMarco, have a miniature dachshund, Ralph. He is an avid squash and golf player.
Education
Ph.D. - Rutgers University
M.S. - Rutgers University
M.S. - Iowa State University
B.S. - Cornell University
Pastor Jim joins other staff in dressing up for community trick-or-treating at the Union.
Job Titles:
- Dean
- Dean of the Christopher Center Library
As Dean, Mileham is responsible for the leadership, coordination and guidance of the library. In April 2018, Mileham accepted the appointment of Interim Dean of the Library which she held until her January 2019 appointment as ongoing Dean. Mileham joined the Valparaiso University faculty in 1998, earning promotion to associate professor in 2004 followed by tenure in 2005. In 2008, she was named director of research services, managing the team-based department that encompasses library instruction, reference, circulation, programming and outreach services. Previously, she has served as an advisor for exploratory major and has taught in the Valpo Core program. She also serves as a mentor for pre-tenure cohort librarians.
Recently, Mileham was selected as one of 17 library senior fellows at UCLA. This international cohort of top managers of academic libraries will visit UCLA in August for a three-week residential program that combines management perspectives, strategic thinking, and practical and theoretical approaches to the issues confronting academic institutions and their libraries. She attended Harvard Graduate School of Education leadership institutes for academic librarians (2014, 2015) and was a member of the inaugural American Libraries Association Leadership Institute (2013).
Mileham's recent scholarship and creative works include a chapter "Finding Sources of Evidence" in a nursing textbook, Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and Application of Research, edited by Valpo colleagues Nola Schmidt and Janet Brown (4th ed., 2019). In 2017, she collaborated with Kimberly Whalen in a creative work "Chocolate Layer Cake: Laying the Assessment of Library Student Worker Skills," for the book 50+ Recipes for Effective Assessment (2017). She and Whalen presented a poster session for the 2014 Medical Library Association Conference, "Is Their Foundation Solid Enough to Build On? An Investigation into the Information Seeking Skills and Self-Efficacy Levels of New Nursing Students."
In service to the University, Mileham has served on a variety of Faculty Senate committees. Mileham was a Faculty Marshal beginning in fall 2004 and was appointed as University Marshal for the academic years 2012-13 and 2013-14. In 2015-16, she served as appointed chair of the University's Strategic Plan Goal One Task Force. She currently serves on the University's Budget Review Committee and Retention Advisory Board.
Mileham holds a master of arts in library and information science from the University of Iowa and a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She is a member of the American Library Association (ALA) and actively involved with ALA's Association of College and Research Libraries, Library Leadership and Management Association, and Reference and User Services Association.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Instructor of Music
Job Titles:
- Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant, Division of Calling and Spiritual Lif
Rachel Webb Executive Assistant, Division of Calling and Spiritual Life rachel.webb@valpo.edu 219.464.6514 Rachel Webb, a 2008 graduate of Valparaiso University, works in room 112 of the Helge Center.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff
- Assistant Vice President for HSI Initiatives and Chief of Staff
Rebekah L. Arevalo, M.S., joined Valparaiso University in 2014. In her years of service to Valpo, Rebekah has provided outstanding service, dedication, and leadership in multiple roles with increasing responsibilities including executive assistant to the president, vice president and general counsel and administrative assistant in the Provost's Office.
As chief of staff, Rebekah provides overall support for the operation of the president's office, serves as a senior advisor to the president, and acts as a project manager to ensure alignment with the President and the other members of the leadership team. In this role, she also serves as a liaison to the Governance and Executive Committees of the University's Board of Directors; ex-officio member of the Staff Employee Advocacy Council (SEAC); and oversees the Information Technology Department and the President's Office staff.
As Board Liaison, Rebekah manages Board activities including meetings, communications, assessment, and manages, designs and organizes the board portal. Chief of Staff Arevalo is a member of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana Board of Directors, and is a trained facilitator for several diversity and inclusion programs, including safe zone training, civic reflection, and diversity facilitators. She has been actively involved in University life as a previous member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Committee, secretary for the University Council, and an administrative member of the Presidential Search Committee.
Education
M.S. - Trine University
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President for Mission
- Assistant Vice President for Mission, Church and Ministry
Rev. Brian A.F. Beckstrom will join Valparaiso University as assistant vice president for mission, church and ministry effective Jan. 17, 2022. Most recently, Beckstrom has served at Wartburg College as dean of spiritual life and campus pastor.
In his role as assistant vice president for mission, church and ministry, Beckstrom will be responsible for promoting, supporting and advancing the University's Lutheran mission, both internally and externally, including fostering ongoing relationships with various Lutheran denominations and other entities. He will also oversee the administrative management of all programs housed in the Helge Center for Mission and Ministry, including chapel and student ministries, the Allen Scholars program, the Institute of Liturgical Studies and the Institute for Leadership and Service.
Beckstrom's career experience brings together pastoral ministry and higher education administration, covering a wide range that includes campus ministry, administrative management, student life, recruitment, financial aid and church relations. He has championed the faith mission at Wartburg College while overseeing spiritual life and campus ministry, creating new discipleship processes and encouraging faith exploration and development both in and out of the classroom. Valparaiso University is currently undergoing a campuswide strategic planning process to shape its future, and Beckstrom's experience leading the vocation group for strategic planning at Wartburg College will help prepare him for this work.
Vice President Beckstrom is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and received his doctor of ministry in congregational mission and leadership from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He recently completed the LECNA fellows program, a year-long leadership development experience that is part of the pan-Lutheran organization Lutheran Education Conference in North America.
Education
Ph.D. - Luther Seminary, St.Paul, Minnesota
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President for Mission
Job Titles:
- Chairman in Christian Ethics
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Student Life
Steven Janowiak, M.Ed., joined Valparaiso University in 2013. Before assuming the role of vice president of Student Life, he served as the associate dean of Student Life, director of the Harre Union, and an adjunct instructor in the College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School.
Vice President Janowiak has more than 25 years of full-time experience in higher education, and he previously served as the vice president for student affairs at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa. Additionally, he has served in various capacities in student life or admissions at the University of Idaho, Marian University, and DePauw University.
Currently, Vice President Janowiak is a board member of the IMPACT National Conference on Community Service, Action, and Advocacy, and he has been the founding director of leadership education and civic engagement programs at two universities.
Education
M.Ed. - University of Idaho
B.A. - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point