An ordained minister who is a professor and dean at Syracuse University will begin his tenure as Valparaiso University’s 20th president at the start of the new year, the university’s board of directors announced Tuesday.
Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D., is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and an accomplished senior executive at Syracuse University.
“Rev. Konkol embodies the heart of Valpo through deep Lutheran roots, a passion for students, and a steady commitment to excellence,” said Robert D. Hansen, chairman of the Valparaiso University Board of Directors, in a release. “We are excited to welcome him to our community. His energy, faith, and optimism will serve Valpo well as we move forward together.”
Konkol replaces José Padilla, who in January announced his retirement at the end of this calendar year per his contract. That caps a five-year tenure which saw disruptions on campus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of partnerships and programs to bring in new students as faculty and programs were cut, and the controversial sale of key artwork from the university’s museum.
Padilla’s announcement came three months after the Faculty Senate took a majority vote of no-confidence in the university’s president. That vote was forwarded to the university’s Board of Directors as their October 2024 meeting began; the board issued a statement at the time saying it fully supported Padilla.
There will be a meet-and-greet with Konkol for members of the campus community from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday in the Community Room of the Christopher Center Library, according to university spokesman Michael Fenton.
“Rev. Konkol’s passion for higher education and Lutheran values make him an excellent fit for our University’s needs. We are thrilled to welcome him to campus, and hope the community will join us in welcoming him to the region,” Fenton said in an email to the Post-Tribune.
Konkol is a vice president, dean and professor at Syracuse University, and is a member of the Chancellor’s Executive Team. During his tenure, he led a transformational strategic plan and oversaw a 933% increase in student participation at Hendricks Chapel, expansion of more than 2,000 annual programs, and the development of a nationally recognized model for spiritual, ethical, and interfaith engagement in higher education, according to the statement from the board of directors.
Bolstered by an institutional focus on redefining and enhancing every aspect of the student experience and empowering faculty and research excellence, he also played a key leadership role in Syracuse’s successful $1.5 billion comprehensive campaign, including dramatic growth in annual giving and donor engagement, officials said.
“I congratulate Brian Konkol on his appointment as President of Valparaiso University,” Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said in the announcement. “Brian has been an exceptional leader at Syracuse University, bringing a deep commitment to student success, interfaith understanding, and academic excellence. He has led dialogue across differences, supported students in moments of joy and challenge, and strengthened the values that define us as an institution. Valparaiso has chosen a leader of great wisdom, compassion, and purpose. We are deeply grateful for Brian’s service to the Orange community and wish him every success in this new chapter.”
Before his tenure at Syracuse, Konkol served in Lutheran-based institutions around the world, including as chaplain of Gustavus Adolphus College, co-pastor at Lake Edge Lutheran Church, and pastor and country coordinator for the ELCA in Guyana and South Africa, deepening both his global perspective and his commitment to Lutheran higher learning and service.
“Valparaiso University is a blessing to our world, I have long admired its roots and reach, and to be called to serve alongside such a dedicated campus community is a dream come true,” Konkol said in the board’s announcement. “I thank God for the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who brought us all to this moment. I fully believe our next chapter of life and learning will be fulfilling, and I embrace this opportunity with excitement for our shared future.”
Valpo’s national presidential search, launched in March, was led by a nine-member committee representing trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader campus community, with support from the firm Academic Search.
Konkol holds a master of divinity from Luther Seminary and both a master of theology and doctor of philosophy from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
He is married to Dr. Kristen Konkol, associate teaching professor and undergraduate director of exercise science at the David B. Falk College of Sport at Syracuse University. They are parents of two children, Khaya and Tobi.
alavalley@chicagotribune.com
