Mark A. Heckler

During Heckler's tenure, Valparaiso University launched its Institute for Leadership and Service{{cite web | url=https://www.valpo.edu/institute-for-leadership-and-service/ | title=Institute for Leadership and Service }} and created the Presidential Commission for an Inclusive Valparaiso Community (CIVIC). The university also launched academic programs in physician assistant studies, bioengineering, cyber security, music therapy and occupational therapy and opened six new campus facilities.

In September 2016, Valparaiso University publicly launched Forever Valpo: The Campaign for Our Future at a gala with more than 2,000 attendees. At the event, Heckler said the campaign had raised more than $135 million toward its $250 million goal and that priorities include support for unrestricted endowment funds, facilities, scholarships, faculty, and university programs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwitimes.com/news/education/valparaiso-university-unveils-m-endowment-campaign/article_ddbaa5b3-c988-56b9-827b-4d8bb9c066c5.html|title=Valparaiso University unveils $250M endowment campaign|last=Correspondent|first=Susan O’Leary Times|website=nwitimes.com|date=24 September 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-12}}

In October 2016, Valparaiso University extended Heckler’s contract. Board of Directors chair Frederick Kraegel cited Heckler’s leadership in recent "enrollment growth, new program development, campus expansion, and the implementation of the most comprehensive and ambitious strategic plan in Valpo’s history."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwitimes.com/news/education/valparaiso-university-signs-heckler-for-more-years/article_11772930-bb57-5f4f-891f-7add7020269f.html|title=Valparaiso University signs Heckler for 5 more years|last=Staff|first=Times|website=nwitimes.com|date=31 October 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-12}}

Heckler joined the presidents of more than 20 private colleges and universities in Indiana to call on legislators to create a law addressing hate crimes in 2018. At the time, Indiana was one of five states without such a law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/38927798/private-college-leaders-seek-strong-hate-crime-law|title=Private College Leaders Seek 'Strong' Hate Crime Law|website=www.insideindianabusiness.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-12}}

In August 2019, Valparaiso University announced it would begin a search for the next president following Heckler's recommendation to the Board of Directors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lakeshorepublicradio.org/post/valparaiso-university-president-initiates-search-his-successor|title=Valparaiso University President Initiates Search For His Successor|last=Jackson|first=Sharon|website=www.lakeshorepublicradio.org|date=8 August 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/porter-newsletter/vu-begins-search-for-new-president/article_2147c1b2-89a3-50e2-b959-9a5b74a8db7a.html|title=VU begins search for new president|last=emily.schnipke@nwi.com, 219-548-4352|first=Emily Schnipke|website=nwitimes.com|date=9 August 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}} Heckler transitioned to president emeritus, and Valparaiso University announced Colette Irwin-Knott became the interim president on September 1, 2020 and served until February 28, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Mason|first=Anna|title=VU announces Colette Irwin-Knott as Interim-President Elect|url=http://www.valpotorch.com/news/article_d9725fea-d1ce-11ea-8f87-e755ec052ae2.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=The Torch|date=29 July 2020 |language=en}}

Heckler was previously chief academic officer for the University of Colorado, Denver. He first had been Director of the School of the Arts and a professor of theater at that University, then founding dean of its College of Arts and Media and professor of theater, film, and television, then acting chancellor, and finally, provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, appointed to that role in 2003. He also was coordinator of their International College in Beijing, China from 1996 to 1998.

Prior to CU Denver, he had been at Siena College in Loudonville, New York as professor of fine arts and director of theater. While at Siena, Heckler directed, acted in, designed, and/or produced more than 100 academic and professional productions in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Heckler graduated from Elizabethtown College in 1977 and grew up in Windber, Pennsylvania. He and his wife have four children and nine grandchildren.{{cite news | url = http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/vu-president-mark-heckler-s-biography/article_82ffb773-539f-511f-b289-47530b4e1cdd.html | title = VU President Mark Heckler's biography | date = October 18, 2008 | access-date = February 19, 2016 | newspaper = Northwest Indiana Times}}

His professional associations include the Leadership Commission of the American Council on Education (previous chair), the New American Colleges and Universities (previous board chair), the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Indiana Campus Compact, the One Region initiative for Northwest Indiana, the Council of Independent Colleges, and the national Private College 529 Plan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.valpo.edu/president/about/|title=About Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D. {{!}} Office of the President|website=www.valpo.edu|access-date=2019-12-10}}

He also served as president of the major professional association in his field, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.{{cite journal|title=ARTNOW: A (Stumbling) Movement towards Arts Advocacy|first= Cindy|last= Brizzell|doi=10.1162/105420498760308715 |url=http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/105420498760308715|journal=TDR |date=Spring 1998|volume=42|number=1 [T157]|pages= 122–158|s2cid= 57570065|url-access=subscription}}{{cite journal|title=Producing Knowledges That Matter: Practicing Performance Studies Through Theatre Studies|first= Jill|last= Dolan |jstor=1146587|journal=TDR |date=Winter 1996|volume=40|number=4|pages= 9–19|doi= 10.2307/1146587}}

As of 2022, Heckler is listed as a senior consultant at AGB Consulting.{{cite web |url=https://agb.org/mark-a-heckler/ |title=Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., Senior Consultant, AGB Consulting |author= |date=2022 |website=|publisher=Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges |access-date=June 19, 2022 |quote=}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://agb.org/mark-a-heckler/ AGB Consulting profile]
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{{s-bef | before = Alan F. Harre}}

{{s-ttl | title = 18th President of Valparaiso University | years = 2008–2020}}

{{s-aft | after = Colette Irwin-Knott (Interim)}}

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Category:Presidents of Valparaiso University

Category:Valparaiso University faculty

Category:University of Colorado Denver faculty

Category:Siena College faculty

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Catholic University of America alumni

Category:Elizabethtown College alumni

Category:University of Colorado alumni

Category:People from Windber, Pennsylvania