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Happy New Year! Welcome to the first edition of the Warrior Family Association e-newsletter for 2026. Our students are already in their second week of classes, and it is wonderful to see our campus bustling with activity again. Our basketball, hockey and wrestling teams returned from the holiday break early to continue their seasons, and it’s great to have our students back cheering them on at their home games and matches.
Our spring semester classes are underway, and one topic our faculty and staff will address this spring is how we, as an “institute of technology,” prepare our students for the future AI-enabled world. (I promise it is me, Maria, writing this newsletter from my laptop that sits at the end of our kitchen table, but in today’s world, how do we know what is AI-generated, what isn’t, and when does it matter?) Indiana Tech was recently awarded a $150,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform teaching, learning and career preparation at the university. Indiana Tech has already developed three undergraduate certificates and a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, and I am excited to see what comes next.
Finally, Tuesday, Feb. 17, is Indiana Tech's Annual Day of Giving. Each year, we are fortunate to have a great group of parents, alumni, employees and other friends of the university who, through generous charitable donations, provide students at Indiana Tech with incredible opportunities that would not be possible otherwise. There are so many ways to support students at Indiana Tech, and I encourage you to click the icon below for information on how you can take part in our Day of Giving and make a difference in our students' lives. No donation is too small, and they all add up to make a huge impact!
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Winter Welcome Week ran Jan. 12 through 22, and brought students together with a full week of free activities across campus. The week started with live music at Central Grounds on Monday morning, giving students a chance to grab coffee and settle into the semester. On Tuesday, students stopped by the dining hall in Andorfer for button making, creating custom designs and taking them home. Wednesday featured coffee & canvas in the Rec Center, followed by live music & DIY record painting at Central Grounds that evening.
Later in the week, students headed downtown for ice skating at Headwaters Park on Thursday, then kept the energy going Friday night with a silent disco in the Multi-Flex Theater. Saturday’s Mario Kart Tournament in the Magee Theater brought out some friendly competition, and Sunday wrapped up the weekend with a free movie showing of Good Fortune (with popcorn and a drinks included). The week also included an MLK Day volunteer opportunity on Monday morning, along with an NCAA national championship watch party that evening. Winter Welcome Week closed with the women’s and men’s basketball Orange Out games, with orange shirts and halftime activities to cheer on our teams.
View pictures and videos on the Office of Student Engagements Instagram: @IndianaTech_OSE
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Welcome Week was just the beginning of another event-filled semester. With trivia nights, movies, intramurals, sporting events and performers, there are events happening every week. As the spring semester goes on, students sometimes become less engaged on campus—this is a great time to encourage your student to get out, meet people and stay involved.
The best way for students to keep up with upcoming events is the WarriorsConnect mobile app (students/staff only), where students can see what’s happening, RSVP and find event details all in one place.
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Parkview Wellness ClinicThe health and wellness of our students is extremely important to Indiana Tech. That’s why our Wellness Clinic is available to help students maintain strong physical and emotional health throughout the semester. Students can access support from a health clinic nurse practitioner and qualified counseling professionals, along with resources that encourage healthy habits and lifestyle choices.
Services are provided through the Office of Student Affairs in Andorfer Commons, making it easy for students to find support close to where they already spend time on campus. The Indiana Tech Wellness Clinic also supports the current Student Assistance Program (SAP) mental health counseling services, helping students access care and guidance when they need it.
Appointments are encouraged, but walk ins are welcome based on availability. For a complete list of services, clinic details and appointment scheduling, visit
https://www.indianatech.edu/wellness-clinic/
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Dr. Justin Boyce Professor of Psychology
Program Lead, Psychology
- In my early 20s, I taught kids how to roller skate. It was not a paid gig. Instead, the owners gave me free food and skate access in exchange for the roller skate lessons to kid patrons and their parents.
- One of the ways I decompress is to watch all three weekly episodes of WWE Wrestling (Raw, Smackdown and NXT). And of course, I am yelling directions to the wrestlers. Mostly "mooooooove!"
- I am a foodie and I love to cook and I am really good at it. I am a picky eater so it pays off to be the chef!
- In my 20', I used to host a weekly live call radio show on our local radio station. It was called "YES" (Youth Experiencing Success) and we interviewed local government officials, political activist, politicians and other people concerned with initiatives that benefited the youth.
- I started by first job at 10 years old. My "older" cousin, Gloria, and I were the only employees of my grandmother's neighborhood grocery store during the summers.
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Dr. Kenneth P. Gonzalez
Professor and Director of Doctoral Programs
College of Business, PhD in Global Leadership
- I climbed the Great Wall of China.
- I was adopted by the northern Cheyenne people.
- I played varsity soccer and football at Brigham Young University. I was a kicker for the football team.
- My wife and I have a 24-acre ranch in Jamul, California.
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Dr. Xin Wang
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences
- As a freshman, I struggled with calculus I and linear algebra—but a supportive math professor sparked my interest in mathematics, eventually leading me to earn a PhD in machine learning/AI.
- My PhD dissertation was over 200 pages long, largely devoted to just two very long mathematical proofs.
- I love hiking and summited Mount Rainier twice in one week—despite failing basketball in high school PE and needing a make-up test.
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Final Thoughts from a Fellow MomI hope you had an enjoyable holiday with loved ones. Karl and I enjoyed spending time with our sons and extended family over the holidays. Of course, it was a little different this year without my mom. But we carried on the traditions she started long ago, honoring her legacy. Karl creates a family calendar each year that we open together, and my brother writes a poem about our family happenings over the past year. This was always my mom’s favorite part of the holiday.
We also continued our annual tradition of visiting an Escape Room with my brother and his family in New Jersey, and we spent a day with Karl’s father, sister and brother and their families. On our way back to Fort Wayne, we stopped in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where we lived for almost 30 years. We had lunch with our friends at our favorite diner, and it was great catching up. They have recently become grandparents, which I am looking forward to becoming myself someday. Thomas and Victoria are not even married yet, so I have a few years to wait!
After the holidays, Karl and I attended a conference for university presidents and their spouses/partners. I love this conference because there are sessions that are specifically designed for me. In fact, when I attended the conference for the first time back in 2018, I got the idea to begin this newsletter! At this conference, I presented a session on engaging with parents. Many spouses/partners said they enjoyed learning about the ways I stay connected with all of you. I even brought some copies of my newsletter to show them.
We also had a few trips after the conference during which we met with alumni and donors in Florida. We continue to be blessed with many benefactors who love and support Indiana Tech and who are grateful for the work our faculty and staff do every day to educate and support students.
I hope you all have a happy and healthy new year. Please let me know if you are ever in Fort Wayne and would like to get together.
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