Alumni Sketch

Bill Karpenko ’61

Bill Karpenko ’61, director of church relations at Valparaiso University and earlier the assistant to President Alan Harre, retired this past June. Over the years, he guided the creation of a university strategic plan, established the Lutheran Leader Intern program and helped further develop the university’s Center for Church Vocations. Though “officially” retired, he plans to remain active with Valpo and the Lutheran church: helping to evaluate the 2007 Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod National Youth Gathering; assisting in a national research project for the LCMS Directors of Christian Education; completing the 2008 Valparaiso University Prayer Book; and continuing to serve on the KINDLE Board of Directors. Perhaps most important, he’ll be able to spend more time with wife Michele (Mahsman ’67) and their three children and two grandsons.

Hometown: Rosemount, Minn.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in religion, Valparaiso University; master’s degree in counseling psychology, DePaul University; Ph.D. degree in adult continuing education, University of Nebraska.

On his Valpo education: “During the late 1950s the campus was loaded with gifted professors. Academically, the likes of Willis Boyd, Daniel Gahl, and Ken Korby conveyed intellectual rigor and a pastoral heart. Meaningful application of faith and learning came from people such as Walt Reiner, Elmer Witt, and Karl Lutze ’80 (honorary), all of whom practiced their Christian convictions in an authentic and fresh way.”

On his career at Valpo: “Three types of satisfying experiences come to mind: creating new forms of university outreach to the community such as Stole and Scroll; chairing teams of faculty and staff that provide the president with recom­mendations on critical issues; and guiding committees that select outstanding students for prestigious scholarships such as the Allen scholar program.”