Matthew Ringenberg

Matthew C. Ringenberg is an Associate Professor of Social Work and the current MSW Program Director at Valparaiso University. With 25 years of teaching experience across institutions including Valparaiso University, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and St Olaf College, he has held leadership roles such as chair and program director of the BSW program. He co-authored The Education of Alice Hamilton and led significant research initiatives like the Parent And School Survey and School Success Longitudinal Study. He served as Director of the Valparaiso University Study Center in Cambridge, England (2013–2015), and has extensive grant-writing experience for agencies in Northwest Indiana, including program evaluations for the Oshkosh Farmers Market.

• Teaching Focus: Human behavior, counseling/interviewing skills, social policy, research methods, grant-writing, and spirituality in helping professions.
• Community Engagement: Board member for a homeless shelter, farmers market, and United Way. Provided supervision and grant services to agencies addressing child abuse, afterschool programs, and family reconciliation.

His research interests emphasize practical applications of social work principles, including program development and evaluation. Outside academia, he enjoys cycling, hiking, board games, piano learning, and birdwatching.