The Valpo Fan Zone Forum - Recent Posts

RE: Valpo News

vu72 — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:48:29 +0000

President Konkol continues to build his team:

Brian Konkol

@BrianKonkol

I am honored and overjoyed to welcome Loren F. Chandler, CPA, MBA, as vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer of

@ValpoU

effective June 22, 2026. Loren joins our Valpo campus community with decades of executive leadership experience across complex, mission-driven organizations, with proven expertise in financial stewardship, strategic planning, operational leadership, and collaborative governance. Most recently, Chandler served as chief operations and finance officer for the Catholic Health Association of the United States, which represents the nation’s Catholic health ministry and is the largest group of nonprofit health care providers in the country. In this role, he provided strategic financial and operational leadership in support of hundreds of hospitals and health care ministries nationwide. To learn more, please find the following announcement from Valparaiso University: valpo.edu/valparaiso-uni I believe Loren is an outstanding professional and remarkable person, which makes him the right person to help steward the mission of Valparaiso University during this important time in our history. Thank you to the dedicated members of the search committee and to all those who participated in the interview and discernment process, and I ask that we all please hold Loren and his loved ones in our prayers during this time of personal and professional transition. Through it all, as we honor our past, treasure the present, and embrace our shared future here at Valparaiso University, I thank God for the joy of being able to witness the positive momentum taking place in our midst, and I look forward to the blessings ahead as we build lives for good!

RE: Valpo News

valpopal — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:34:56 +0000

A bit more Valpo News:

I see that last month, the Dean of A&S Gregg "Bagel" Johnson accepted a new position at the University of Illinois Springfield. Does anyone know about his possible replacement?

https://www.uis.edu/news/academic-affairs/gregg-bagel-johnson-appointed-dean-uis-college-public-affairs-and-education

Dr. Nicole D. Smith has been appointed as the next Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and will join Valparaiso University on July 27, 2026. Dr. Smith comes to Valpo from the University of North Texas, where she serves as Chair of the Department of English and holds the distinction of University Distinguished Teaching Professor.

RE: Valpo News

valpo95 — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:29:14 +0000

The former Dean of the Business School, Nic Erhardt, has been named Dean at Oklahoma City Business School, effective July 1.

https://www.okcu.edu/news/erhardt-named-new-business-dean

RE: 2 coaching openings

AZValpo — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:57:49 +0000

Watching the Valpo coaches tour and no mention of Jill McCoy! She is still listed as the women ‘s golf coach on the site however. There is hope?

She just announced a new freshman recruit today, so it would appear she is back

RE: Women's Basketball

VULB62 — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:01:49 +0000

So today Woman's coach said Valpo will open the season against Michigan State and will get Wisconsin to come to the ARC! Sounds like they have added several pieces including two players from Spain.

Not sure after going 0-32 that getting your brains bashed in game 1 makes much sense.

Gotta build up the WBB NIL account? UW Madison, though, is a bit of a head scratcher. B1G teams don’t usually travel without some sort of payout. Maybe it’s a personal favor thing? Regardless, baving both on the schedule (and getting UW to the ARC!) is cool.

RE: Enrollment

vu72 — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:41:21 +0000

I've spoken at some length with the new VP of Enrollment and I am totally impressed with her vision, plan, and dedication. IMO we need more hires like this.

Paul

That is great news!

RE: Women's Basketball

AZValpo — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:09:53 +0000

So today Woman's coach said Valpo will open the season against Michigan State and will get Wisconsin to come to the ARC! Sounds like they have added several pieces including two players from Spain.

Not sure after going 0-32 that getting your brains bashed in game 1 makes much sense.

RE: Enrollment

Rez — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:57:10 +0000

I guess I was more so confused with the term Town being associated with fort Wayne. Especially in the same sentence as lcms town that founded Vu. It's just it confusing sentence in my opinion. As for the other statement, the majority of LUA members were LCMS so I guess I apologize for generalizing that down from LUA to the LCMS. (lCMS was the synnod mentioned in the quoted piece after all)

RE: Enrollment

78crusader — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:36:58 +0000

I've spoken at some length with the new VP of Enrollment and I am totally impressed with her vision, plan, and dedication. IMO we need more hires like this.

Paul

RE: Enrollment

FWAlum — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:27:23 +0000

FWAlum, See below. I was under the impression that President Konkol was present at this event. I may be wrong. He will, no doubt, be working on restoring this relationship.

The Valparaiso University Chorale and Chamber Orchestra recently visited Fort Wayne for their Spring Outreach Tour. They performed on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School, alongside the Concordia Lutheran High School A Cappella choir.

I talked to the director, Marin Jacobson, and also attended the concert, as far as I know, President Konkol did not attend.