Is it me, or is it beginning to feel like Fall too soon?

Dear Friends--

The end of summer is upon us, while this is a bittersweet feeling, I cannot help but be excited about this coming year. Baseball games, visit days, beach bumming, my trip to China-- I cannot give justice to how amazing my summer has been. I hosted a High School counselor visit day two weeks ago and it was smashing-- the counselors met with Deans from each of the colleges, had a VIP tour of the new union, and a delicate lunch at one of my favorite hot spots in town.

My first class of students has started at Valpo and it has been so much fun seeing them on campus, hearing about their freshman dorm experiences, and them stopping by randomly just to say "HI!" I keep finding myself more and more anxious to meet new students and bring them on to campus. There is something so refreshing about being on this side of the desk and helping students realize their potential that I honestly cannot wait to see what my students do while here and after.

Today was especially exciting because we had our 80th Annual Opening Convocation where distinguished professors were honored by our new President, Mark Heckler. It is indeed an exciting time on campus as we celebrate our 150th year, welcome our new President, faculty, staff and of course, our new students!

There is always something to happening on campus whether it's an athletic event (http://www.valpo.edu/athletics), within our Arts department (http://www.valpo.edu/vuca) or something in the academia realm. Starting in September our symposium series will begin. Some of the topics and speakers include:

Sept. 11 Reflections in the Dark, presented by Fredrick Barton, a Valparaiso and Christ College alumnus who is an award-winning film critic, novelist and professor at the University of New Orleans. He will reflect on the evolving American spirit as portrayed in contemporary films such as No Country for Old Men, The Dark Knight and The X-Files: I Want to Believe.

Sept. 18 Einsteins Happiest Idea: Gravity and Curved Space-Time, presented by Dr. Eric G. Adelberger, professor emeritus of physics at the University of Washington. The talk will review Einsteins theory of gravity and how it illustrates how profound ideas develop, how incorrect experimental conclusions stimulate new insights and how the best experimental techniques are sometimes the least obvious.

Sept. 25 Meditation and Monasticism: Making the Ascetic Self in Thailand, presented by Dr. Joanna Cook, George Kingsley Roth Research Fellow in Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge. Dr. Cook, who took ordination as a Thai Buddhist nun while writing her doctoral dissertation, will discuss the ways in which people make religious and cognitive concepts real through learned bodily and mental experiences.

Oct. 2 Domestic Vision: A Retrospective on the Art of Joel Sheesley, presented by the internationally-respected artist whose work is being exhibited at the Universitys Brauer Museum of Art this fall. Sheesley will discuss the development of his artistic vision from a sense of Americana to 17th century Dutch models.

Oct. 9 Faith and Work, Love and Life, presented by four Christ College alumni: Kate Goodman, a writer who serves as lead moderator for the Denver Posts blog Mile High Mama; Ben Schnakenberg, an associate at High Road Capital Partners in New York; Matt Provenzano, resident physician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; and Stephanie Loomis Pappas, doctoral candidate in rhetoric and composition at Northeastern University. Each will reflect on the ways their Valparaiso and Christ College experiences shaped their careers, relationships and spiritual lives.

Oct. 16 Christ College Student Scholarship Symposium, featuring the analytical, critical, creative and research projects of current Christ College students.

Oct. 30 The Lilly Fellows in Humanities and the Arts, presenting an overview of the scholarly work being pursued by Valparaisos new Lilly Fellows Dr. Susanna Childress (English and creative writing), Dr. Karin Fransen (philosophy) and Dr. Samuel Garber (American studies).

Nov. 6 Holden Village: With Christ in the Wilderness for the Life of the World, presented by Dr. Mark Schwehn Dickmeyer professor in Christian education. Dr. Schwehn and fellow Valparaiso students and faculty who have spent time at the Christian retreat Holden Village in the Cascade Range, will talk about their experiences at the center which has received national recognition for its pioneering environmental stewardship practices, liturgical experiments, artistic ventures and theological imagination.

The presentations are held each Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Christ College Refectory in Mueller Hall, with the exception of the Sept. 18 and 25 lectures. The Sept. 18 lecture will take place in Neils Science Center while the Sept. 25 lecture will take place in the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources. Each presentation in the series is open to the public without charge. Call Christ College at (219) 464-5022 or visit valpo.edu/christcollege for more information.

In a few short weeks I will be on the road again, building relationships with students and families and checking out awesome, local hang outs known to only those within specific territories. Within the next few days I will post my travel schedule so you can come meet up with your favorite Admission Counselor! Enjoy the beautiful weather!

As a reminder, if you have any questions about Valpo or the general college admission process, feel free to contact me!

And remember-- be legendary in your own way.