Valpo alumni are doing amazing things across the country and around the world — in their professional and personal lives. They’re leading industries, contributing knowledge, and serving in a multitude of ways. These class notes offer a glimpse into their activities, accomplishments, and milestones. If you have news to share with your fellow Valpo alumni, please share it below.
Published Fall 2023
Kurt A. Kissling
Kurt A. Kissling ’96, J.D., of Royal Oak, Michigan was elected to serve on the board of directors for Oak Park, Michigan-based Forgotten Harvest. He is an environmental attorney and partner at Warner Norcross + Judd, with decades of experience in all matters related to the Clean Air Act and its state and local counterparts. Regional and national clients across a variety of industries rely on his expertise to address complex air and waste matters that impact their operations.
Joshua P. Berning
Joshua P. Berning ’96, Ph.D., has been appointed a full professor at Colorado State University in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. His current research efforts examine food access and food insecurity for at-risk households.
Published Fall 2022
Jukka Kääriäinen
Jukka Kääriäinen ’96, missiologist, Lutheran pastor, and scholar of Chinese Christianity, was named executive director of the Finnish Lutheran Overseas Mission on Oct. 1, 2021. Jukka previously served as mission theologian at the National Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (2019–2021), missionary professor of systematic theology at China Lutheran Seminary, Taiwan, R.O.C. (2011–2018), pastor of Lutheran parishes in New York and New Jersey (2000–2011), and Lutheran chaplain at Princeton University (2008– 2011). A graduate of Concordia Seminary (M.Div., 2000) and Fordham University (Ph.D., 2011), Jukka is author of “Mission Shaped by Promise: Lutheran Missiology Confronts the Challenge of Religious Pluralism” (2011) as well as numerous published articles on mission theology and Lutheran missiology.
Published Fall 2021
Jason Winkler
Jason Winkler ’96 was named CFO of Motorola Solutions in June 2020. Jason most recently served as senior vice president, leading finance for the products and sales group, including the video security business and global finance teams. Jason also held a number of key financial leadership roles within the company, including finance lead for global sales and services, finance lead for North America, chief of staff to the chairman and CEO, and senior director of investor relations.