Mark A. Heckler began service as the 18th president in the 150-year history of Valparaiso University on July 1, 2008. During his first year as president, he launched the most comprehensive visioning process in the University’s history, a process involving alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community leaders that will chart the course for Valpo to achieve new levels of excellence over the next two decades.

President Heckler led the final year of a comprehensive fundraising campaign, begun four years earlier by his predecessor, Dr. Alan F. Harre. The “Our Valpo, Our Time” Campaign raised $238 million – the largest ever conducted by a Lutheran university – to build the institution’s endowment, fund capital projects, and support ongoing operations. In January 2009, he dedicated the Harre Union, a facility that is transforming the Valpo student experience by fostering greater conversation and collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and community members.

President Heckler participates actively on numerous national and regional higher education boards and commissions, including the Commission on Effective Leadership for the American Council on Education, the New American Colleges and Universities, and the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America. Regionally, he sits on the boards of the Independent Colleges of Indiana, the Indiana Campus Compact, the Horizon League, and the Quality of Life Council for Northwest Indiana.

Previously, President Heckler served the University of Colorado Denver for more than a decade, most recently as chief academic officer for the three-campus university.  He joined the institution as director of the School of the Arts and a professor of theatre; later was named founding dean of the College of Arts and Media and professor of theatre, film and television; and served as acting chancellor prior to being named provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs in 2003.  He also served as UC Denver’s coordinator of the International College at Beijing, 1996-1998.

Prior to moving to Denver, he was professor of fine arts and director of theatre at Siena (N.Y.) College.  Active in numerous professional and civic organizations, he is a past president of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and founder and co-director of its Leadership Institute.

He and his wife, Veronica, grew up together in Windber, Pa., and were married while he was completing his master of fine arts degree with an emphasis in directing at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.  He earned his bachelor of arts degree in communications with honors at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College.

The Hecklers are parents of four children.