May 2026

May 13, 2026

Dear Huntington University Community,

Thank you for the opportunity to share an update on the life and progress of Huntington University.

As we celebrate the end of the academic year this spring, we are also marking the close of my first year as the president of HU. It has been a year of listening, learning, and beginning to move forward together — and I am grateful for the partnership of this community throughout that process.

As I reflect on where we are and where we are headed, I want to frame our progress around five connected commitments: building trust, building a team, building culture, building momentum, and building systems.

These are not separate efforts — they reinforce one another and together form the foundation for our future. What is most encouraging is not any single initiative, but the alignment across these areas.

Trust is deepening.
Teams are strengthening.
Culture is taking shape.
Momentum is building.
Systems are improving.

And most importantly, students are being formed.

At the end of the day, this work is about people — students whose lives are being shaped for Christ and for service in the world.

And I am grateful — for what we have accomplished in this first year, and for the work still ahead.

Thank you for welcoming Kristin and me so warmly this year. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. We are also grateful for the ways you have embraced and shared in the emerging vision for the University, and for the consistent gifts of hospitality that make this community what it is.

This is a community that shows up for each other — and that does not go unnoticed.

Highlights from the Huntington University April Board Meeting

I want to highlight several recent actions of the Board of Trustees, reflecting strong governance and shared commitment to the mission of Huntington University.

The Board approved the fiscal year budget, providing a strong financial foundation for the year ahead.

They also approved the appointment of Tomi Cardin to fulfill the term of trustee Candace Curie, whose passing in December was a significant loss to our community.

In addition, the Board has:

• Approved continuous tenure for Dr. Michelle Fulkerson and Dr. Joshua Watson
• Recognized Dr. Ron Coffey as dean emeritus of student life
• Named Dr. Raymie Porter as associate professor emeritus of agriculture

Together, these actions reflect a shared commitment to investing in people and stewarding the future of the University well.

Admissions and Enrollment Updates

We are tracking ahead of previous years for incoming students deposited/registered for the fall with 260 first-time freshmen and transfers — 87% of the way to our goal of 300 students in the incoming class.

A few things have made a real difference this year:

• The visit grant and FAFSA grant initiatives have allowed us to put together stronger financial aid packages, opening doors for more students to experience the Huntington community and faith in action, which we all believe in
• For the first time, we hosted three Huntington scholarship events this year — up from two in the past — with a special emphasis on our Honors Program, which is welcoming approximately 20 incoming students this fall. Huntington Scholars Day has also created more opportunities to distribute scholarships to students, further strengthening the financial support we can offer incoming Foresters.

As we enter the final stretch to August, the key is keeping our incoming students engaged and excited about joining the Huntington family. Our new director of admissions, Carrie Meyer, is leading some exciting initiatives to bring faculty more into the fold — reaching out to prospective students and helping us carry this momentum all the way to the finish line.

Advancement Updates

Giving Overview 
As of May 8, total giving stands at $3,621693 toward our updated $4.5 million fiscal year goal (June 1 – May 31), with $565,000 of additional commitments ahead of the end of the fiscal year, bringing us to a total of $4,186,693 raised. I am encouraged by the continued generosity of our donors and the strong momentum across all areas of advancement.

Major and Planned Giving 
As the University continues to experience growth within the Office of Advancement, the team is engaging donors in a broader range of giving methods than ever before — a critical step during this unprecedented intergenerational transfer of wealth as baby boomers pass assets to their heirs. With the addition of $1.7 million in new planned gifts this fiscal year, HU’s deferred gift expectancies now exceed $32.3 million.

Forester Fund 
The Forester Fund stands as a cornerstone of Huntington University’s mission, driven by the purposeful goal of “Building a Forest of Foresters.” By prioritizing financial support, this fund bridges the gap for our students, ensuring that a transformative, Christ-centered education remains within reach for everyone in our campus community.

To date, we have raised $479,293 of our $650,000 goal — approximately 74%.

The 2026 “24 Hours of Giving” campaign was a resounding success, setting a new high-water mark for community generosity by raising a total of $160,001. This year saw a significant expansion in the donor base, with 208 total participants contributing to the cause. The growth was driven in large part by a surge in loyal engagement and new interest alike, as the event welcomed 106 alumni and 22 first-time donors into the fold. Each of these statistics experienced growth compared to the 2025 campaign, demonstrating that the “24 Hours of Giving” has become an increasingly impactful cornerstone for the Forester Fund. This collective effort reflects a vibrant and expanding network of support that continues to gain momentum with each passing year.

In a final push toward our year-end goal, we are extending our fiscal year-end mail appeal to a wider circle of supporters. This expanded outreach is a key part of our strategy to cross the finish line successfully and ensure our mission continues to thrive.

Alumni Engagement 
This year has been a productive season of reconnection for Huntington University, highlighted by a successful regional event tour. We kicked off the year in Arizona with 75 guests near the HU Arizona campus, followed by an intimate gathering of 30 in Sarasota, Florida. Most recently, we returned to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for the first time in eight years, hosting 30 guests at King Street Church. The tour concluded on April 18 in Fort Wayne with a family-focused day at an action park, while planning is already underway for a September event in Indianapolis.

Back on campus, preparations are officially in motion for Homecoming on October 2 and 3. The Office of Alumni Relations is currently collaborating with the Office of University Relations to develop a permanent visual brand and logo for the festivities. A major priority this year is enhancing synergy with Office of Student Life to ensure we host a wonderful event for both current students and alums.

The Office of Alumni Relations has also initiated exciting initiatives to bridge the gap between current students and HU’s graduate network, developing a comprehensive mentor and guest speaker database. Alumni Relations has also revamped its webpage to ensure its digital presence remains a resource for the HU alumni community.

Grants & Foundation Relations 
The Office of Advancement coordinates the writing, reporting, and record keeping process of grants submitted for Huntington University.

Grants awarded recently:

• $5,000 Duke Energy for the cross country project
• $6,000 NRA Grant for student trap and skeet club supplies

Spiritual Formation Updates

In Huntington, we celebrated over 40 first-time decisions to follow Christ with several dozen baptisms occurring both on campus and in local churches, 28 spiritual leaders trained and equipped for ministry, 50 Bibles in 6 different languages given to students, 2 worship nights led by our student athletes in the PLEX, and many discipling relationships. We also continued our faculty/staff-led small groups in which 228 people participated.

In Arizona, we had our first student leadership retreat this year. Those student leaders led a weekly Bible study all year, which expanded into a second Bible study for deeper study. They also began a mid-day prayer gathering around the fountain every other week.

Finally, our OTD program enjoyed several visits from Campus Pastor Mark Vincenti and conducted regular Bible studies led by student leaders throughout the year.

SENIORS Red Carpet Premiere

HU and Forester Film hosted a premiere of the Department of Digital Media Arts’ newest feature film, SENIORS, on April 24. Complete with a formal red-carpet experience, hero props from the film, and many displays of behind-the-scenes content, a packed house of cast, crew, and community members alike got their first glimpse at the finished product. A Sunday matinee screening was also held on April 26. A Los Angeles red carpet screening is scheduled for later this year ahead of the film’s national release this fall.

Celebrating the Class of 2026

HU proudly celebrated its graduating class of 2026 earlier this month with four commencement ceremonies in Indiana on May 2 and one in Arizona on May 8. A total of 289 undergraduate and graduate students are part of the class of 2026 across all programs and locations. Additionally, four ABLE students completed their program and were recognized during the 9:00 a.m. ceremony in Huntington on May 2.

Good News About Huntington

Here are some of the recent achievements and good news stories of members of the Huntington community. For more details, visit the Huntington University news page or Facebook page.

• Shoshannah Hernandez, assistant professor of education and associate director of teacher education – graduate, has been selected as an English language specialist for a virtual teacher development project supporting secondary science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educators in Ukraine. Hernandez presented her webinar on February 17. Hernandez has collaborated with an international team to design and deliver a series of webinars and follow-up discussion sessions aimed at equipping Ukrainian teachers with innovative, inquiry-based instructional strategies. The project focuses on helping secondary STEM educators teach subject content while also strengthening English language proficiency among teachers and students. More than 100 Ukrainian teachers have participated so far.
• During spring break, Dr. Tom Bergler and Dr. Karen Jones traveled to Cairo, Egypt, to teach at Faith Wesleyan Seminary. Their visit marked the start of the seminary’s new master’s in youth ministry program, the first academic youth ministry degree program offered in the Middle East.

• Over 300 HU student-athletes, coaches, and employees gathered to pack 37,000 macaroni and cheese meals on March 23 as part of Million Meal Movement. The meals went to United With Love and Salvation Army food pantries for distribution to families in need in Huntington County.
• Huntington University announced the expansion of its nationally recognized Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Bridge Program with the launch of a second on-site experiential learning lab location in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The addition of the Fort Wayne lab site strengthens HU’s commitment to increasing accessibility for occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) nationwide seeking to advance to the doctoral level. With this expansion, students may now complete required on-site labs in either Peoria, Arizona, or Fort Wayne, Indiana, enhancing geographic flexibility while maintaining rigorous academic and experiential standards. The OTD Bridge Program previously operated only out of HU’s Arizona location.
• Forester Radio was nominated for the Christian Music Broadcasters’ station of the year (university category) for the third consecutive year.
• The Department of Performing Arts’ performance of Witness for the Prosecution received numerous honors from American College Theatre Festival Region 3. As a participant in the nationwide American College Theatre Festival, HU productions are adjudicated by faculty/staff from other participating universities in the region. The cast and crew of Witness for the Prosecution received an outstanding five Certificates of Merit. Certificates were awarded to the following individuals in the specified areas: Full Cast & Crew (company collaboration), Ava Curtis (acting), Julian Solis (acting), Mackenna Gibson (costume design), and Ryan Long (program development). In addition, director Renee Preston and the overall costume design were recommended for further recognition at the annual ACTF regional festival in January.
• Dr. Jessica Graves was hired to fill the roles of director of the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies and assistant professor of agriculture. She will begin her duties on June 1, 2026. The selection of Graves concludes a national search due to the impending retirement of current director Dr. Raymie Porter. Graves will provide oversight for an expanding agriculture program currently celebrating its 10th anniversary.
• Students from Huntington University recently received national recognition through Alpha Chi, the University’s highest academic honors society, highlighting achievements in research, scholarship, and the arts. Among those recognized was Morgan Harlan, a junior in the art education major, fine arts minor, whose artwork was selected for publication in Kalo, Alpha Chi’s national journal that celebrates the achievements and excellence of its members. In addition to Harlan’s achievement, Olivia Robbins was recognized nationally through Alpha Chi’s Wall of Fame, an honor awarded to only 24 students across the country. This recognition highlights her selection as a recipient of the $3,000 Edwin W. Gaston Scholarship for her research titled “A Brief Review of the Role of Plumage Color in Bird Mating.” Huntington University students also represented the institution at the Alpha Chi National Convention, where several students presented original research and creative work. Presenters included Robbins, Merari Williams, Gracie Porter, and Amanda Moseng. Students also competed for national scholarships, with Emily Huhn earning a $2,000 award. Several Huntington students received top honors at the conference. Williams earned a presentation prize in the chemistry category, while Moseng received a presentation prize in the mixed humanities category. Additionally, Dr. Tanner Babb was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award for his many years of contributions to Alpha Chi.

• The HU Department of Education celebrated the opening of its literacy lodge with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 9. The literacy lodge will serve the Huntington community by offering local families the opportunity for children to learn and grow in their reading skills under the guidance of HU education students and faculty.
• HU hosted Outpour Worship, a regional worship night, on April 10 in Zurcher Auditorium. Planned and executed by Adam Widener’s junior impact class, the evening featured a three-hour worship concert headlined by Joe L Barnes, DOE, and City Movement. Over 600 tickets were sold, creating an impactful atmosphere of communal worship for the HU and greater Northeast Indiana communities.
• Dr. F. Collin Hobbs, professor of biology, was named a Fellow of the Indiana Academy of Science (IAS). This distinction recognizes significant contributions to scientific research and service within the state of Indiana. Hobbs, who has been a member of the Academy since 2008, is the first Huntington University professor to receive this honor. The designation of Fellow highlights his longstanding involvement and leadership within the organization, as well as his commitment to advancing undergraduate research. Over the years, Hobbs has contributed extensively to the IAS through research presentations, student mentorship, and service roles. He has authored or co-authored 17 presentations at IAS annual meetings and has advised undergraduate research teams that earned IAS Emerging Scientist Research Awards in both 2023 and 2024. His leadership within the Academy includes serving as both vice-chair and chair of the Plant Systematics and Biodiversity Section, participating in numerous Bioblitz events and contributing as a reviewer and editorial board member for the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science.
• Huntington University’s digital media arts and art and design programs have been enjoying great success in various award competitions early in 2026, earning a total of 50 awards between Home Campus and Huntington University Arizona across four competitions. The awards came from the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts (21 awards between campuses), the American Advertising Federation of Fort Wayne’s (AdFed) ADDY Awards (20 awards), the American Advertising Federation of Phoenix’s ADDY Awards (7 awards), and the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters State Contest (2 awards).
• Carrie Meyer was hired as HU’s new director of admissions. Meyer brings more than two decades of higher education leadership experience in enrollment strategy, program development, digital learning innovation, and mission-driven growth to the role. Meyer joins Huntington University from Taylor University, where she most recently served as director of online learning. In that role, she led online enrollment strategy, dual enrollment growth, and the development of new academic pathways designed to expand access for a diverse range of learners. She has extensive experience working collaboratively with admissions, marketing, academic affairs, registrar, and senior leadership teams to strengthen recruitment pathways and the overall student experience.
• Dr. Robert Pool has been hired as HU’s new vice president for student life and athletics. Pool currently serves as vice president for student affairs and auxiliary services and Title IX coordinator at Ashland University in Ohio. Previously, he was vice president for student life and dean of students at Houghton College in New York. Pool will spend time on campus in June during his transition and will begin his role full time in July.
• Dr. Lance Clark was named as NEI’s Pioneer Award winner in the brand champion category on May 7. Joining Lance as award winners were HU alum Edwin Chow (entrepreneur category) and HU Board of Trustees member Tomi Cardin (social impact category), completing a clean HU-themed sweep of the night’s awards.

Athletics Updates

Below are highlights of recent success and accomplishments of Huntington student-athletes and the Division of Athletics. For more details and to view schedules to come cheer on the Foresters at future athletic events, visit HUAthletics.com. Updates are as of May 12.

Men’s Basketball
Under first-year head coach Jared Jauch, the Foresters put together another strong campaign, finishing 22-9 and extending their streak to five straight 20-win seasons. Huntington went 12-6 in Crossroads League play to secure a third-place finish and, for the second consecutive year, hosted the opening rounds of the NAIA National Tournament. HU fell in a defensive battle to Bellevue, 62-58.

Women’s Basketball
Huntington closed its season on a strong note, advancing to the NAIA Round of 32 for the second straight year. As the No. 9 seed, the Foresters upset No. 8 Oregon Tech, 57-52, before falling to top-seeded Bethel (Tenn.). HU finished 19-12 overall and 10-8 in league play to claim the No. 4 seed.

Indoor Track & Field
The Foresters made their mark on the national stage with seven All-American performances at the NAIA Indoor Championships. The men finished 12th overall, while the women placed 54th. Jan Busam led the way with three All-American honors, placing third in the 400m, eighth in the 200m, and running a leg on the runner-up 4x400 relay alongside Noah Wellington, Celestin Trambloy and Jayden Williams. Caleb Farr added a seventh-place finish in pole vault. On the women’s side, Molly Harding earned two All-American honors (8th in the 5000m, 10th in the DMR with Shaylynn Reyes, Anna Sullivan, and Mackenzie Brewer). Olivia Howell (7th, 800m) and Anna Jeannin (8th, high jump) also reached the podium, while Trysta Hilton earned All-American recognition in the pentathlon.

Baseball
Huntington put together one of the most productive seasons in program history, setting multiple team records including wins (39) and runs per game (8.86). The Foresters sit at 39-12 overall with a 27-9 league mark, finishing second in the regular season standings. HU traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, to compete in a national tournament pod hosted by Bellevue University. The third-seeded Foresters fell to second-seeded IU Southeast on May 11 and fifth-seeded Saint Ambrose on May 12 to close the season.

Men’s Golf
Huntington capped its season with a tie for fifth at the Crossroads League Championships, highlighted by freshman Carter Hall’s standout performance. Hall fired a six-under 66 in the opening round to lead the field before finishing sixth overall to earn All-Tournament Team honors. The Foresters recorded multiple strong finishes during the season, including runner-up at the Fall Classic and a fourth-place showing at the Pilot Invitational.

Women’s Golf
The Foresters wrapped up one of their best seasons in program history, consistently competing at a high level throughout the year. HU claimed a team title at the Saints Classic and finished top three in seven of nine regular season events while receiving votes in the national poll. Freshman Magnolia Miller led the charge, earning three medalist honors and seven All-Tournament selections. She also set a program record with a 54-hole score of 223 (+7), while the team posted a program-best 54-hole total of 951 at the Music City Classic.

Softball
The Foresters finished 28-24 in year two under head coach Tim Averill, going 18-18 in league play to earn the No. 7 seed. One of the season’s highlights came in the conference tournament when HU knocked off top-seeded Indiana Wesleyan, eliminating the Wildcats. Kinzie Mollenkopf led the way in the circle with 17 wins, 125 strikeouts, and a 3.11 ERA, earning Second Team All-League honors. Freshman Makenzie Kline joined her on the Second Team after leading the squad with 71 hits and a .423 average. Jess Duvall added Honorable Mention recognition, tallying 52 hits, 12 doubles, and a team-best 43 runs scored.

Men’s Tennis
Huntington delivered a historic season under head coach Ignacio Poncio, going 20-4 overall and a perfect 9-0 in league play to capture the Crossroads League regular season title for the first time since 2013-2014. Ranked No. 10 nationally (highest in program history) and No. 5 in the ITA poll, the Foresters are headed back to the NAIA National Tournament. The Foresters opened national tournament play in Mobile, Alabama, on May 12 against Oakland City, winning 4-1 to advance to face Lindsey Wilson.

Women’s Tennis
The Foresters advanced to the Crossroads League semifinals as the No. 4 seed after posting a 6-3 conference record. HU remained in the national conversation throughout the season, earning votes in the NAIA poll and picking up wins over ranked opponents, including Bethel and Grace. Senior Isabella Herrera led the way at No. 1 singles, earning her third straight All-League honor. Junior Yariange Bello added All-League recognition at the No. 2 spot.

Outdoor Track & Field
As the outdoor season winds down, Huntington has already secured multiple national qualifiers heading into the NAIA Championships. Jayden Williams headlines the group after winning the 400m at the Crossroads League Championships with a school-record and automatic qualifying time of 46.93. The Foresters collected five All-League honors, with Addyson Dowler (100m), Molly Harding (10,000m), Anna Jeannin (high jump), Williams (400m), and Celestin Trambloy (400m hurdles) all earning recognition.

Men’s Volleyball
Huntington has officially launched its men’s volleyball era, naming Ken Shaw as head coach ahead of the program’s NAIA debut in 2026-2027. Shaw brings collegiate experience from UC Merced, where he helped lead the Bobcats to their first national tournament appearance. He also boasts an extensive high school résumé, totaling 448 wins across 26 seasons at Stone Ridge Christian. His teams made 26 playoff appearances, highlighted by back-to-back state championships (2018, 2019) on the girls’ side and three consecutive undefeated league seasons with the boys. Shaw was named league coach of the year 16 times.