August 21, 2026
Welcoming employees to a new school year for the first time as president, Tony Kline, Ph.D., praised them for helping make Trine University one of the region’s premier institutions.
“From our rigorous and hands-on academics to our championship-level athletics, from preparing our students for dress rehearsal and extracurricular activities to preparing them to dress the part and confidently showcase their knowledge for knocking out that first job interview, we have designed a premier student experience that not only gets them on fire for academics within their area of study, but also builds pride in what it means to be a Trine University student,” he said.
Presenting the State of the University during its annual kickoff celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 18, in the Ryan Concert Hall of the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts, Dr. Kline recalled many accomplishments from this past year.
Highlights included enrollment growth, successful completion of a comprehensive 10-year HLC accreditation visit, new academic programs, successful alumni events, new and upgraded facilities across campus, successes in advertising and media relations, enhancements to the Office of Student Affairs and a high rating in the university’s financial strength.
“The university is in a strong position today because of the years of strategic decisions, disciplined stewardship, and the collective efforts of people across campus,” he said.
Highlights for the future, he said, will include amenities added to green space on the Angola campus as well as the addition of a new west entrance, digital signage at the Brooks College of Health Professions, the James Center for Business and Leadership and renovations to Hershey Hall.
The university also will continue to take a leadership role in artificial intelligence.
“We will learn from industry partners on how AI is impacting their workplaces, which we then embed within our curriculum, and where AI can make our day-to-day operations more efficient, more effective, and more strategic,” he said. “We also want to lend our AI capacities to partners to find innovative solutions to problems that they are facing.”
He said the university also will implement new avenues for employee feedback.
“I'm so fortunate in my role because I get to see so many people who are doing such a tremendous job,” he said. “I believe in our graduates. Why? Simply put, because I believe in each of you. Here's to our best year yet.”
Employees recognized
The event concluded with employee recognition awards.
Three employees received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Performance: Kyle Aldrich, assistant vice president of financial aid, Bob Antos, senior systems administrator and technical lead, and Kodi Buell, senior director of online learning in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Lucretia Shank, assistant registrar, was recognized for 30 years of service.
Kimberly Bennett, vice president for enrollment management, was recognized for 25 years of service.
Four employees were honored for 20 years of service: Kyle Aldrich; Haseeb Kazi, Ph.D., professor, director of Study Abroad, Department of Mathematics; Darryl Webber, Ph.D., chair and professor, Wade Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; and Christina Zumbrun, Ph.D., professor, Department of Mathematics.
Four employees were honored for 15 years of service: Kodi Buell; Jesse Engle, plan operations and maintenance supervisor; Jeremy Howard, director of academic success; Renee Shipe, institutional researcher and reporter.
The following employees were recognized for 10 years of service: Justin Bock, associate professor, Franks School of Education; Samuel Drerup, Ph.D., dean and professor, Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences; Emily Gaskill, executive director, Education One; Jeanette Goddard, Ph.D., professor, Department of Humanities and Communication; Mahesh Khadka, Ph.D., professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Chris Klink, assistant director of event services, camps, conferences and events; Erin Kolar, head men’s and women’s tennis coach; Drew Lehman, instructor, College of Graduate and Professional Studies; Amanda Leininger, senior staff accountant; Patrick Ridout, assistant professor, Department of Computer Science and Information Technology; James Tew, assistant vice president for content and communications; Alexander Todd, head men’s NCAA hockey coach; Alison Todd, associate professor, Franks School of Education; Kayla Warren, senior vice president and chief financial officer; Jason Watson, executive director of online admission, College of Graduate and Professional Studies; Tricia Widenhoefer, director of clinical education/associate professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy program; Donna Wyse, chair/assistant professor, Department of Psychology and Social Sciences; Godfred Yamoah, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Mathematics; and Sarah Zimmer, associate professor, Department of Humanities and Communication.
The following employees were honored for five years of service: Abby Arndt, international admissions processor; Jennifer Berube, Ph.D., associate professor, nursing program; Melissa Brown, academic director, College of Graduate and Professional Studies; Robin Byler, academic advisor, College of Graduate and Professional Studies; Kevin Cooke, head women’s lacrosse coach; Andrea DeLancey, academic director, College of Graduate and Professional Studies; William Dowdy, head men’s volleyball coach; Philip Downs, executive director of strategic initiatives; Hannah Ewing, executive director of international services and operations; Tim Fox, senior student account specialist; Stuart Hamblen, director of campus safety; Victoria Hankins, chemistry lab instructor; Holly Herndon, director of partnership and engagement, Education One; Angel Jennings, Ph.D., associate professor, executive director, nursing program; Ryan Kuhn, head men’s lacrosse coach; Christine Miller, director of operations and finance, Brooks College of Health Professions; Stephanie Myers, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Chemical and Forensic Science; Melissa Paluch, head women’s hockey coach; Kari Parker, director of grants management; Rizacan Sarikaya, Ph.D., associate professor, Wade Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Michael Smith, assistant professor of mathematics, coordinator of actuarial science; James Taylor, lab instructor and technician, McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering; Angela Vanderpool, senior director of academic quality and initiatives, College of Graduate and Professional Studies; and Henry Yukevich, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Humanities and Communication.
Having graduated from Trine University, Fr. Bryan Paulsen, S.J., Ph.D., hoped to have a current Trine student work as part of his Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) team this summer at the University of Notre Dame.
When their son Parker received his diploma from Trine University President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., at this year’s May Commencement, it was a full-circle moment for Stephen and Brooke Pelletier.
Golfers and sponsors at Trine University’s 36th annual Alumni and Friends Golf Outing contributed a record amount for student scholarships, raising $115,000 at the Aug. 7 event.