Phyllis Dranger
Department: VAC and Continuing Education
Title: Acting Director, Valparaiso Academic Center and
Continuing Education
Telephone: (219) 548-2468, x. 5101
E-mail: pdranger@pnc.edu
Phyllis Dranger is the acting director of the Valparaiso Academic Center and Continuing Education. Phyllis began her career at Purdue North Central through a “tip” from a friend about an opening in continuing education. Prior to that she worked in the financial industry as a corporate trainer. She is well qualified for her current position. Phyllis holds a B.A. in Organization Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph, an M.S. degree in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Capella University and a certificate in Human Performance Improvement from the American Society of Training and Development.
Phyllis has a wide variety of interests. She is an animal lover who used to raise Labrador Retrievers. Phyllis also used to own several horses. Her current dog, Skye, is a sheltie/huskie mix and joins Phyllis in one of her other leisure time activities-walking. When she isn't spending time walking her dog, she is helping her son open a restaurant in Dyer, IN. Since all food is fair play to Phyllis, helping her son with his restaurant is very enjoyable for her.
Phyllis was born and raised on the south side of Chicago . She was very active in sports, theatre and dance. Her love of dance led her to own and operate a dance studio for 10 years. Phyllis is a middle child and a twin in a family of all boys! Her father stressed the following motto while she was growing up: “If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!” Phyllis also lives by her own philosophy: “Treat others the way you would want them to treat you.”
John Coggins
Department: Dean of Students
Title: Dean of Students
Telephone: 5368
E-mail: jcoggins@pnc.edu
John received a BA in Social Science and a MA in Education at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and also obtained a counseling license at Purdue University.
When he is not working at PNC, you may find him working out at the Fitness Barn, or in his yard (weather permitting!), or possibly enjoying a steak dinner or pizza!.
John takes great pride in his 4 children, a daughter who will graduate from Purdue in May 2005, 2 sons who won state championships at Valparaiso High School (in soccer, music, and football!), and a "golfer" son who won the Ocala Open, in Florida, while helping his grandfather rehabilitate after double knee replacement. John also is very proud of his wife, who he claims is the most thoughtful person he's ever met!
John's motto is: try to treat others like I would like to be treated, and ask for God's blessing to be more understanding.
Lisa was born in Rochester, New York and moved to St. Joseph, Illinois when she was two years old. She attended school from kindergarten until graduation from St. Joseph school systems. Lisa took some classes at Parkland Jr. College in Champaign, Illinois and worked for the University of Illinois for about six years before moving to Valparaiso in 1994 from St. Joseph. She started working at PNC in the Bursar's Office in June 1995 and then went to the Accounting Department in July 1997. Lisa was promoted to Staff Accountant in October 2003. During her employment here at PNC Lisa has earned a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Supervision (OLS) and an associate degree in accounting. She states that she loved the OLS program and was impressed with the teaching staff, particularly Ms. Cindy Roberts. Lisa feels PNC has become her home away from home and is very proud of its accomplishments and the bright future it has ahead of it.
Lisa has lived in Westville now for the past nine years and has two dogs and two cats. She loves working outside in the yard or around the house and especially enjoys eating out. Her favorite spot is Gelsosomo's Pizza in Valparaiso.
