James Legler Hometown: Detroit Lakes, MN Current Home: Moorhead, MN Major: Psychology Additional Education: MBA, Ph.D., Organizational Development, Oregon State U Email: legler@cord.edu I came to Concordia College from my hometown in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. At that time, Concordia had a trimester system where you could graduate in three years; I graduated in July of 1966, but my class is really the class of 1967. At Concordia I majored in psychology and minored in economics. I had a great learning experience and enjoyed the people at Concordia. I met my wife, Cindy Cooper, at Concordia. We married in June 1967. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School. I was assigned to an ammunition ship off the coast of Viet Nam for my first tour of duty. My second tour was as an instructor/administrative officer at Officer Indoctrination School, in charge of training doctors, dentists and lawyers coming into the service. I finished my service as a Lieutenant and returned to Detroit Lakes. In Detroit Lakes, I went into business with my father in the automotive wholesale business. We grew a very successful business with over 40 employees. During the time I was in business, I completed a Master’s Degree in Organizational Communication at NDSU. In 1984 I sold the business and got accepted into a Ph.D. program at Oregon State University. I completed an MBA degree and my Ph.D. degree in Organizational Development there. Involved in consulting in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Poulsbo, Washington, I eventually moved into college teaching. I taught at Wartburg College in Iowa. Paul Dovre contacted me as to a position as Director of the Center for Ethical Leadership and professor at Concordia College. I accepted this position and taught courses in leadership and ethics and ran an outreach program in ethics. I proposed and developed the required ethics curriculum for business majors and taught those courses for several years. I really enjoyed teaching; Concordia was a great place to be. I decided to reduce my work load in 2014 after 14 years on the faculty. Presently, I am classified as an Emeritus Professor; I continue working part-time at Concordia teaching and advising. Cindy and I have been married almost 50 years and have two children. Erika is a principal in Prior Lake, Minnesota; Chris is the CEO of a coffee supply company in Seattle. We have two grandchildren: Mario and Cooper. I enjoy canoeing, biking and hiking.
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