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Welcome to the September 2026 edition of the Warrior Family Association e-newsletter. A special hello to the freshman parents and parents of transfer students. My name is Maria Einolf, and I proudly serve as “First Mom” at Indiana Tech, as my husband, Dr. Karl Einolf, is president of the university. My hope is that this newsletter will be a valuable resource for you.
For Karl and me, this is our 10th year at Indiana Tech, and there is no place I would rather be than at this amazing university. I hope my love for Tech and the publication of these e-newsletters provide you with not only the events taking place on campus, but the feeling of being part of our Warrior family
Can you believe that students have been in classes for four weeks already? I feel like it was just yesterday that students were moving in, and I was welcoming parents at the reception in the Abbott Center. If your students have not already done so, please encourage them to get involved on campus with activities and organizations, as their engagement will not only make our community stronger, but it will be a wonderful way to become part of our Warrior family.
This year’s incoming freshman class is extra special for us, as this group will graduate in 2030 which is the year that Indiana Tech celebrates 100 years! Even though it’s a few years off, we are in the planning stages for 2030’s Centennial Celebration. How do fireworks and a drone show sound?!
With another large group of new students joining our community this fall, Indiana Tech's residence halls are near full capacity once again. To help meet growing demand, we're exploring plans with our board of trustees to build new residential townhomes, and to also renovate and expand our dining hall in Andorfer Commons. We were also fortunate to receive a $4 million gift from the Patricia Schaefer Foundation to build a 600-seat banquet and event center that will complement the dining expansion. I look forward to sharing more about these plans in future newsletters, and I am grateful for the incredible progress Indiana Tech makes every year to better serve its students.
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New Student Orientation and Move In
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Indiana Tech welcomed our newest Warriors to campus as students and their families arrived for New Student Move In! It was an exciting day filled with move-in carts, introductions, campus exploring and the start of a new chapter for our incoming students.
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Following move in, new students took part in orientation activities designed to help them get connected and feel ready for the start of the semester. Students met their classmates, connected with faculty and staff, learned about campus resources and participated in activities throughout the weekend.
Orientation was a great opportunity for our newest Warriors to begin building connections, learn more about Indiana Tech and officially start their college experience!
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Opening Convocation Ceremony: Wednesday, Aug. 26
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Indiana Tech kicked off the new academic year with our annual opening convocation ceremony! The Warrior community came together to celebrate the Class of 2027, welcome students to a new year and embrace this year’s theme, IT Works!
The ceremony included the traditional senior walk and procession, remarks from student Cameron Fewster and university leadership, the presentation of the Leepoxy Faculty Award, and a commitment from students, faculty, and staff to support one another throughout the year.
Following the ceremony, the celebration continued with lunch, free Indiana Tech t-shirts and plenty of Warrior pride!
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Homecoming: Family & Friends DaySaturday, Oct. 3, 2026
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Homecoming is almost here, and we would love for you to join us on campus for Family & Friends Day!
Family & Friends Day is a chance for families and friends to spend the day at Indiana Tech, enjoy homecoming activities and experience campus with their student. Whether you live nearby or are traveling to Fort Wayne for the weekend, we hope you’ll come join us for a fun day with the Indiana Tech community.
The day will include:
- Crush Hunger 5K Fun Run
- Party on the Square with Free Food
- Homecoming Cornhole Tournament
- Open Recreation Center and Outdoor Courts
- Free Dinner and Family Feud-Style Game Show
- Homecoming Movie Showings
- Casino Night
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Important dates for fall semester
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View the complete Indiana Tech academic calendars here. - Homecoming Weekend: Friday, Oct. 2 – Saturday, Oct. 3
- Midterms: Monday, Oct. 12 – Friday, Oct. 16
- Fall Break (No Classes): Saturday, Oct. 17 – Tuesday, Oct. 20
- Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, Nov. 25 – Sunday, Nov. 29
- Last Day of Classes: Friday, Dec. 5
- Final Exams: Monday, Dec. 7 – Thursday, Dec. 10
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Dr. Carrie Rodesiler Associate Professor of English
- I have two beautiful Whippets named Sparks and Dior. They’re mischievous and keep me on my toes.
- When I’m not at Tech, you can find me in my garden. I grew dahlias for the first time this year and they are my new favorite flower.
- My parents own an apiary, and I help them harvest honey in the summer and fall.
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Dr. Melinda Conley
Professor of Practice of Business Analytics
- I can sing all 50 states in alphabetical order.
- I grew up in the town where Wayne's World was filmed.
- Our puppy, Tater Tot, has a reputation for being a porch pirate!
- I sing in my sleep and, apparently, I'm pretty good at it!
- As a first-generation college graduate, I firmly believe in the transformational power of education. That's what inspired me to become a professor.
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Dr. David Rumsey
Director of Online Engineering and Computer Science Programs/Professor of Mathematics and Electrical Engineering
- I love to bake–the more elaborate the better. The two recipes that everyone likes is chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream and pecan brittle oatmeal cookies.
- I love to knit–I mainly make hats, scarves and mittens.
- I love cats–I currently have four cats that keep me entertained and like to “help” me with my job.
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Final Thoughts from a Fellow MomOur family had a wonderful summer that included a week at the beach in Aruba and a camping trip in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania. As you may know, Karl loves the mountains, and I love the beach. It was our first time in Aruba, and the water is beautiful.
Thomas will enter his fifth year of a doctoral program at Columbia University in its Teacher’s College, and he continues to teach middle school math during the day at a private school in Manhattan. The big news is that he and Victoria are getting married next month. I have had so much fun helping Victoria with the wedding plans. I hope I can include a picture of us in the next WFA edition.
Nicholas continues to live in Pittsburgh, and he works at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as a credentials coordinator. He continues to ride his bike. In fact, Nicholas and Karl rode together in Pedal PGH (Pittsburgh) where thousands of cyclists ride around the city. They rode 40 miles that day! Now, he is busy writing his “best man” speech for the wedding. For those who know Nicholas, we have no idea what he is planning.
Karl and I are excited that the new school year has begun! You will find us on campus cheering our students on in their many different activities. Please feel free to say hello when you are on campus, and please reach out to me if there is anything I can do for you!
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