Two from Trine named to Forty Under 40

A Trine University administrator and a graduating senior are included in this year’s Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly Forty Under 40.

Lexie Staten, vice president of academic affairs, and Paige Aselage, who will graduate in May and who has been working as an accountant for Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, were named to the Forty Under 40 Class of 2026.

“With so many worthy businesses and organizations throughout northeast Indiana, it says something about our culture of excellence at Trine University that we have two individuals — a valued administrator and a current student — representing us so well on this year’s Forty Under 40,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University president.

Lexie Staten

Staten was named vice president for academic affairs at Trine University in June 2025.  She previously served as dean of Trine University’s Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences, the second-largest academic school on Trine University’s Angola campus.

Prior to becoming dean, she served as chair of Trine University’s Department of Exercise Science. She had taught as an assistant professor in that department since 2019.

A registered dietitian, she has given presentations at Saint Michael’s Church on dietary strategies to promote health and longevity and at Waterloo Public Library on healthy eating for families. She also shared healthy eating strategies for college students at Trine University’s Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.

She was a panel member at the Indiana Wellness Summit Conference, where she presented on health promotion and healthy eating.

She has served as a judge at the Northeastern Indiana Tri-State Regional Science Fair for the past five years.

Paige Aselage

Aselage will graduate with her degree in accounting and finance as well as an MBA.

She was offered a full-time position a year ago at Brotherhood Mutual after completing an internship there.

She has been extensively involved with Trine University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation for those with low to moderate incomes. She assisted Al Beatty, assistant professor in the Ketner School of Business, in working with the school and the Internal Revenue Service to open a VITA site at Trine.

Her work for VITA has included designing policies, scheduling volunteers and working with individual taxpayers. She has reviewed returns prepared by Trine accounting students over the past two seasons.

Making an impact

This year’s Forty Under 40 cohort recognizes 40 outstanding young professionals who are making a meaningful impact across Northeast Indiana through career achievement, community involvement and personal leadership.

The Forty Under 40 honorees were chosen by an independent panel of judges from a competitive pool of more than 200 nominations submitted by community members, colleagues and peers. Each recipient exemplifies professional excellence and a commitment to strengthening the Greater Fort Wayne community.

The Forty Under 40 Class of 2026 will be celebrated on April 9 at The Fairfield in Fort Wayne, Indiana, during an evening dedicated to recognition, connection and celebration.

About Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly

Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly is a trusted source for local business news and recognition programs that celebrate the people and organizations driving leadership, growth and innovation throughout Northeast Indiana.