When you think of Valparaiso University, you think of a campus that strives to maintain a rich diversity, strong faith and a continuous goal to grow as a campus. The face behind the small town university with growing notoriety is President Mark Heckler. With an extensive past of academic experiences and a hopeful future, Mark Heckler’s ongoing legacy is one that represents a bond with the students and a heart for service.
Heckler grew up in a little town in the Appalachian Mountains called Windber Pennsylvania. He started his college career at Elizabethtown College. He then studied at The Catholic University of America, followed by taking a position as a professor at Siena College. From there, he was off to the University of Colorado as a director of the school of Arts, then the Dean of the college of Arts and Media, and finally a provost.
“At that point, I decided that at this point in my life, I didn’t want to be at a large state university. I wanted to go back to my roots and find a faith-based institution. I became Lutheran in the 1980’s, so I started looking at Lutheran colleges because that is where I wanted to conclude my career. Eventually, I like to think that God helped me to find this place.”
The beginning of his time in Valparaiso began with meeting a theater and voice professor at the school.
“What I remember about them was that they spoke about the university with such love and such pride, that I thought is was unusual because faculty likes to complain often, but they clearly loved their university. I thought, there must be something interesting happening here.”
In 2007, Heckler was nominated for the Presidency at Valparaiso, and the rest is history.
“When I came here, it was the moment that I kind of walked into the Chapel and saw that magnificent testament of faith and I thought, ‘This is really where I want to be, this is where I belong.’”
There are many things that President Heckler enjoys about his job at Valparaiso University. Any opportunity to see students doing great things and fulfilling their potential is what makes the job special to him.
“I love spending time with students. I love the journey that they make from the time they come to campus until they graduate. I love the women and the men that they become. They are confident, poised and accomplished. It’s just a thrill to watch that happen.”
One strong quality that President Heckler has really exemplified is his position is his love for serving. Over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Heckler have been supporters of organizations and charities such as St. Baldricks, Relay for Life, Wounded Warrior Project, Dayspring, Opportunity Enterprises, Transitional Housing, Hilltop, United Way, Porter County Community Foundation.
The organization that is special to his wife and him is the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. They have a strong call to feed the hungry in any location they may live.
“We have a belief in making sure we are giving in our community in a variety of ways because it's really incumbent upon those of us who have the capability to do what we can to support the very significant needs that exist in this community.”
All of these characteristics make up who President Heckler is, and the kind of model he is for the students to learn from.
From a new chemistry and biochemistry building to expansions in healthcare and the sciences, this next period of time for the university will be focused on generating the next generation of academic programs that will provide exciting opportunities for students.
Valparaiso has become home for Mark Heckler, as he continues to watch the city and the students grow while maintaining a mutual respect with the city.
“To watch this community grow and become so vibrant; it has just been a thrill. We try to do our part here, but we really have just visionary leaders in this community. Both our elected leaders and the folks who are staff member at the city and so many wonderful committed community members. We just can’t be in a better community.”