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Cover: President Brad Chamberlain, Luther’s 12th president, officially began leading the college in February. Read more on page 6. Photo by Armando Jenkins-Vazquez ’21 and Jay Raabe.
At the Tau Delta Gamma Carnival Bash on April 25, students could buy a chance to pie a professor. Hongxiao Yu (center), assistant professor of management, had too much fun to resist taking a selfie.
Contents
Meeting the Moment Together
President Brad Chamberlain is ready to embark on Luther’s next chapter with a collective effort.
The Global Draw of a Luther Education
Students around the world want what Luther offers.
The World as Classroom
Luther students share photos from studyaway programs.
LET’S STAY IN TOUCH
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Stories
MATTER
President Brad Chamberlain
Dear Luther Community,
On a Saturday morning in early February, dozens gathered to celebrate the induction of the 1965 Men’s Track and Field Team into Luther’s Athletics Hall of Fame. It was chilly outside, but the smiles and hugs that accompanied friends and classmates reuniting after time apart warmed the whole Regents Center.
I have been blessed to be part of the Luther community for 24 years. This was one of those days when the impact of a Luther education came into clear focus. I will carry the memory of it with me for some time.
Standing in front of the gathered crowd, member after member of the 1965 team told stories of how they supported each other through times of both triumph and trial. Of how they had remained connected over the many decades since graduation. Of how their Luther education and friendships had shaped their lives.
As I was listening to their stories, I was watching the current men’s and women’s track and field teams. I was thinking to myself, when we talk about a Luther education having a lifetime of impact, this is what we mean. This is what we want for our students. This is what we provide for our students. And I saw in the faces of our students that morning an understanding of that promise, that impact, in a way that only our alumni can facilitate. I am so glad they were there that morning to hear these stories.
Luther is beginning a new chapter. Our chapter. Stories will be its foundation. Your stories. Stories of how Luther draws excellence out of its students, of how Luther builds pathways for its students, of how
the sense of community at Luther develops a focus upon others.
This issue of the Luther magazine contains several examples of these kinds of stories. Spend some time with them. Share them with someone who doesn’t know Luther.
The world needs more Luther College graduates and the impact they have on their professions and communities. By telling these stories, by sharing these stories, together we can ensure that Luther will continue to elevate society one community at a time for generations to come.
Soli Deo Gloria, Bradley M. Chamberlain President
In April, the Luther men’s tennis team was crowned the American Rivers Conference champion for the fifth year in a row, winning the regular season title with a perfect 8-0 record each time.
RICK STEVES AT LUTHER
On April 27, Luther hosted Rick Steves—professional traveler, public television host, and bestselling guidebook author—for a sold-out talk on how to “Travel with a Norwegian Sensibility.” During the talk, Steves reflected on his own heritage and the importance of continued connections across a global society. As the first U.S. college founded by Norwegian immigrants, Luther hosted this event as part of a yearlong commemoration of the first organized migration from Norway to North America 200 years ago.
In honor of Steves’s four decades of promoting the value of travel as an educational tool, Luther awarded him a doctor of humane letters honoris causa. Following the public presentation, Steves conducted a seminar with Luther students, answering their questions about the importance of travel for their lives and sharing insights of how his travel changed the course of his career.
NEW NORSE MICROGRANT FUND FOR STUDENTS
Longtime friends of the college Orville and Kathleen Johnson have committed $500,000 to establish the Norse Microgrant Fund to assist students facing immediate and unexpected expenses that threaten to cut their college education short. The funds may be used for medical, dental, or vision expenses; emergency travel expenses; and textbooks or other course materials. The funds will also underwrite the creation and maintenance of a pool of laptop computers available for semester-long checkout.
President Brad Chamberlain (left) and Maren Johnson (center), director of the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies, awarded travel writer Rick Steves (right) an honorary degree during his visit in April.
NEW GRANT FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCE
Luther was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to purchase lab equipment for its growing engineering science program. The new equipment will give students hands-on experience with instruments they’ll likely encounter in their future careers. The new equipment is expected to be available for students in the fall 2025 semester.
MATT BEATTY ’03
NAMED VICE PRESIDENT FOR
ENROLLMENT
Congratulations to Matt Beatty ’03, who was appointed vice president for enrollment at Luther. Beatty joined the Enrollment Division in fall 2022 as director of admissions and played an important part in Luther’s increase in first-year enrollment for fall 2024.
TENURE AND PROMOTIONS
Congratulations to the following faculty who were granted tenure and promoted to associate professor this spring: Elliott Johnson, education; Mark Potvin ’01, music; and Orçun Selçuk, political science. Promoted to full professor were: Kate Elliott, art history; Andy Hageman, English; Xiao Hu, music; and Dawn Reding, biology.
NEW MARKETING MAJOR AND MINOR
Beginning in fall 2025, Luther students will be able to major or minor in marketing. The new academic program will teach students to understand consumer behavior, analyze market trends, and develop creative strategies to address real-world challenges. The major will require courses in management, economics, accounting, psychology, and marketing, with electives teaching additional skills like graphic design, digital photography, technical writing, and more.
NICC RESIDENTIAL PARTNERSHIP
Starting in fall 2025, between 20 and 50 Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) students will have the opportunity to live on the Luther campus, on the third floor of Larsen Hall, while enrolled at the NICC Center in Calmar. As Luther campus residents, the NICC students may purchase meal plans, use Regents Center facilities, and access resources at Preus Library.
“We know the power of the residential campus experience, and we want to share the positive benefits of community with NICC students,” President Chamberlain says. “We look forward to them becoming a positive addition to our campus community.”
The residential partnership also helps build a pathway for students interested in transferring from a two-year to a four-year degree program.
A-R-C CHAMPIONS—AGAIN!
Congratulations to the Luther women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams, which were crowned the American Rivers Conference champions on February 22. It was the second time in three years for the men and the third time in three years for the women. Head coach Aaron Zander ’10 and fellow coaching staff were named Coaching Staff of the Year. Go Norse!
FOUR WRESTLERS AT NCAA NATIONALS
Four Norse wrestlers advanced to the NCAA Division III national championship in Providence, Rhode Island, in March. Congratulations to Connor Kidd ’26, Clayton McDonough ’26, Ben Strehlow ’25, and Walter West ’24!
INAUGURAL WOMEN’S WRESTLING COACH
Ryan Timmermann began in April as Luther’s first women’s wrestling coach. He will build and prepare the team for its inaugural season in 2025–26. A two-time NCAA finalist and two-time All-American at St. Olaf College, Timmerman was most recently co-head coach at St. Peter, one of the top high school programs in Minnesota. At Luther, he says, “My culture within the Luther women’s program will be built with the cornerstones of faith, family, and fight.”
MEETING THE MOMENT
Together
Brad Chamberlain became Luther’s 12th president in February. A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, he has a 24-year history at Luther, first teaching chemistry, then serving as dean for institutional planning and mission, vice president for mission and communication, and provost. He is the husband of Julie (Torkelson) Chamberlain ’96 and father of Drew ’26 and Liam ’29.
This spring, we sat down with President Chamberlain to get a sense of why he’s taken this path, where things stand with Luther College, and where he sees things headed in the future.
Why did you decide to teach—and now lead—at a liberal arts college?
When I was an undergraduate at a liberal arts college, I discerned a call to teach in that setting. Nevertheless, the topic of my doctoral research at the University of Minnesota was industrially focused, and I was seeking an industrial position when I accepted a postdoctoral appointment at Cornell University in upstate New York. During that appointment, I began to question my path toward industry. One day I came home from my lab and found in our industry magazine an ad to teach at Luther College. It was the one time it was advertised. They advertised it for one week. I had not looked at that magazine in six months. I just happened to see it that day, and I felt a distinct call. Within a couple of weeks, I was on a plane to start here in a one-year position. It’s turned into 24.
Over those 24 years, as I was given opportunities to be involved in campus-wide projects and roles, I found a deep interest, fulfillment, and energy in thinking at the institutional level. One of the things I’ve appreciated about Luther is that it’s created spaces for experiential learning not only for students, but also for staff and faculty. I’ve been able to step into places that were unfamiliar to me, and I was given the grace and support to learn and discover in each of those spaces.
When you became president, you articulated four words that will be the four points of our compass: Honesty and Hope. Pride and Belief. Could you talk a little bit about those words?
When I talk about those four words, I use them in pairs. I pair “honesty” with “hope.” I pair “pride” with “belief.” Because while each of those words has merit in its own independent usage, I see connections within the pairs. I see how being forthright and honest about our circumstances actually can help us build hope rather than diminish it. And I see how expressions of pride translate into a sense of belief.
It's a difficult time to be honest, because higher ed is in a struggle.
It is. We’re having a moment. But when you look at one of the books about our college history, Stability and Change, this is just another chapter. The community has been through this before. No one’s eager to be in these moments. But we have a long history of being able to meet the moment. And I think our ability to meet it really is based upon those four words.
I see a distinct difference between anticipatory hope and participatory hope. I think most people conceive of hope in the anticipatory way—wishful-thinking that we’ll change. I see a need for participatory hope—the type of hope that rolls up its sleeves rather than crosses its fingers.
The way that we participate in hope is informed by honest reflection about what our challenges are and what our strengths are. By engaging honestly in participatory hope, we build that sense of pride and that feeling of belief.
What are the priorities you want to embrace in your first year of presidency?
There are many, and in addition to those four words, “community” is another. We are in this new chapter, but it has to be our chapter. It has to be a “we” moment rather than a “me” moment. I have a key role in it, but the work is so profound that it has to be a collective effort. So we’re really focusing on reconnecting individuals within the community, reconnecting Luther to Decorah, reconnecting alumni to the college in new and meaningful ways.
The other word I’m using a lot is “focus.” There are so many things we could do, and not all of them are going to impact our well-being as an institution in the same way. So what are those things in the next one year, two years, five years that we can do that will have the biggest impact on our ability to thrive in this moment?
Higher ed institutions—and Luther is no different— sometimes try to make the best 20-year decision. But things are moving so quickly right now that trying to think in a 20-year timeframe can paralyze us, because we’re humans and we can’t actually predict what’s going to happen in 20 years. So I’m trying to think about what we can do to help us advance in six months and then one year and then five years. And giving ourselves the freedom to change our approach based upon our learning.
Sometimes that means being more comfortable
with ambiguity. More willing to run experiments, take thoughtful and calculated risks, and not seeing personal or institutional failure when things don’t go exactly as planned, as long as we’re learning from it. If things don’t work, how can we learn from that and adapt?
What makes Luther different from other small residential colleges?
Luther draws out excellence. We push every student out of their comfort zone, beyond what they thought might have been possible for them. Many institutions base their reputation upon how students arrive. I see Luther basing its reputation and impact upon how students leave. We look within students and say, “Here’s something we see in you that you may not see in yourself. Let’s draw that out.” I hear story after story about how students never thought a pathway was open to them until someone spoke it into reality.
Another differentiating aspect of Luther is the ability of our students to connect across differences. It’s a key aspect of the sense of community we have here. Our students can appreciate other perspectives and find ways to be in community even with those with whom they disagree. We intentionally cultivate that ability in our first-year Paideia program and then continue to develop it through their remaining years of classes and co-curricular activities.
Something else I emphasize is how Luther graduates have an inordinate impact upon their communities. When I travel, as much as possible I travel with Luther gear on. And almost invariably someone stops and talks with me about it—and not just alums. There are people who don’t have a formal connection to the college, but they want to tell me about the Luther person in their life. That’s meaningful for me. I don’t think that happens at other places. I see Luther graduates not just wanting to be the best individual contributor in their organization— they want to be in the best community. So they find ways
to improve their community. And in so doing, they stand out.
Finally, our alumni community is particularly engaged and passionate, as is our Decorah community, as is our faculty emeriti community. I don’t hear that level of engagement and passion at other institutions. An education at Luther is a transformation, not a transaction. You know you have a transformational environment when people want to stay connected to it. Whereas at many other institutions, it’s a transaction—people are going there, paying their tuition and room and board, getting their credential, and moving on with their life. They don’t feel a lot of affinity for their educational community. That’s not been Luther’s story.
What do you think is ready for change at Luther?
We’re going to have to be more explicit in defining and articulating our value proposition, especially in this moment when confidence in higher ed is mixed. We’re going to need a disciplined focus on increasing value for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the local community. What do each of these stakeholders need from Luther College, and how can we provide it better than other institutions?
We’re also going to have to understand, as a community, that in each of our roles is the necessity to increase and articulate that value proposition. Luther is very dependent upon word of mouth—it’s another way we’re different—and each staff, faculty, and alumni member is part of that word of mouth. What we say about Luther matters, and it can be part of our solution.
What should we keep top of mind to support this generation of students at Luther?
What we’re learning both at and outside Luther is that this generation of students is, on one hand, very aware
Meet President Brad Chamberlain
You’re invited to President Chamberlain’s inauguration on Friday, October 3, 10:30–11:30 in the Center for Faith and Life with a reception following on Bentdahl Commons. We’re also rolling out a series of events for more distant alumni and friends to meet the new president. To learn more about an event in your area, scan the code or visit luther.edu/alumni-friends/ events/president
Left: in April, President Chamberlain met with alumni and friends in Rochester, Minnesota.
and careful about how their personal values overlap with institutional values. They really want to see a philosophical alignment. On the other hand, they’re also very pragmatically oriented and want to understand how this college is going to support them in their goals.
We need to remember that for many of our students, the stakes have never felt higher. They feel like they’re taking on more risk with their educational investment than previous generations. Especially if they’re taking on debt, they don’t want to make a wrong decision. We’re going to have to acknowledge that the stakes feel very high for them. Mistakes feel even more impactful to them than to previous generations.
This is why the liberal arts environment is really helpful. It’s a place where students can explore and change direction and where, however you define a mistake, you can learn from it. We want to help students explore and connect in a way where we can take down the temperature of the risk. With social media, they feel like if they make a mistake, it’s out there for everybody. That impedes action, that impedes discovery and exploration. So we’re all going to have to encourage exploration and discovery. It may not happen on its own in the same way for this generation as it did for previous generations of students.
What size of campus should Luther be and how do we get there?
Here's where hope and honesty come in. We’re at 1,400 now. I’m asking us to rally to 1,600. We can thrive and provide an exceptional experience for students at 1,600. At this size, we can invest in our students, in our staff and faculty, in our facilities.
That’s a countercultural idea; we have understandably measured institutional vitality based upon head count. I think that’s the wrong measure. We can be as vital at 1,600 as we thought we were at 2,500 if we organize ourselves properly. I would rather be stable and thriving at 1,600 than the community living through the sawtooths year
over year that we would likely experience in pursuit of a larger number.
Going toward 1,600 is assertive. To get there, we’re talking about growing in a shrinking market. Nevertheless, I think we fell more than we should have, even with the demographic realities. Growing to 1,600 is possible for us based upon what we’ve learned over the last decade and how we put that into action. We can grow to 1,600 with participatory hope. Cynicism, despair, and resignation will keep us at 1,400—if not shrink us further.
When we get to 1,600—and depending upon how difficult that was or not—I think we could talk about whether we want to push to 1,800. But I actually don’t think that we should be pushing for 2,000 or above, because I think then we are opening ourselves up to the sawtooths. I’ve experienced the sawtooths—it’s been discomfiting for the organization, it’s hard for us to plan, and it tires people out. It’s easier for people to innovate and try experiments if they know they have a baseline stability.
What role do alumni and friends play in Luther’s next chapter?
Our alumni are our proof points. They are our testimony. We need their stories. We need their engagement. We need their support both formally, through donations, but more importantly, through word of mouth. Their sense of pride and belief is just as important as the sense of pride and belief of students, staff, and faculty. Because if, in their communities, they’re showing their pride and belief in Luther, that’s going to be infectious. Alumni telling their Luther story to someone who doesn't know about Luther is important. That’s going to create curiosity among people who aren’t connected to Luther. It’s going to help them to lean in and explore and start to imagine how Luther could be part of their story.
Meet the Chamberlains
The Chamberlain family are Luther Norse through and through. Sons Drew ’26 and Liam ’29 grew up in Decorah, and soon they’ll join their mom as part of the Luther alumni community. Julie ’96 is lead pastor at Decorah Covenant Church.
Before leading DCC, Julie held several careers: middle and high school English teacher, Luther admissions counselor, and stay-at-home mom. In every role, Julie says, “I’ve relied on the things I learned at Luther: how to listen well, read thoughtfully, think critically, communicate effectively, and
work joyfully and productively with others.”
Julie and Brad embarked on a very intentional discernment process as they considered the possibility of Brad becoming president. Ultimately, says Julie, “Luther is a place we love and believe in, a place that has shaped us and our family and our own sense of mission, and we knew that this was much more than a job offer; it was a calling. We knew we were being called together to serve this place we love so much.”
Julie’s had many relationships to the college: prospective student, student, alum, staff member, faculty spouse, and now presidential spouse. But, she says, “Nothing has shaped my belief in the uniqueness of the Luther experience more than being a Luther parent. All those things Brad talks about that Luther does particularly well—creating a truly connected community, drawing excellence out of all its students, helping them build bigger dreams—I’ve watched over the last three years as Luther has done precisely that for Drew. And I can already see it beginning to happen for Liam.”
She continues, “I have loved Luther College since the first time I visited campus over 30 years ago. The fact that our whole family will soon be sporting Luther rings is a dream come true for me.”
The Chamberlain family includes (from left) Drew '26, Julie '96, Brad, and Liam '29.
In April, Julie surprised her husband with an official Luther ring. When son Liam graduates in 2029, the whole family will have one.
THE GLOBAL DRAW OF A
Luther education
We talk a lot about the global education that Luther students receive—through a robust study-away program, courses that center global perspectives, and more. Today, we want to shine a light on the global appetite that exists for the kind of education Luther offers.
by Kate Frentzel
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that international student enrollment on U.S. college campuses has been declining since 2015, but Luther bucks this trend in a major way. We’ve had more or less growing enrollment of international applicants since 2004, with 2024 breaking a record for us. At this point, an astounding 30 percent of our applicants are international students.
This global interest is a boon for all Luther students. The diverse experiences, perspectives, and cultures that our students bring with them enrich our campus, our community, and the experience of every Luther student.
Critical to building our student body in this way is a very special program, brought to campus by an equally special staff member.
The Davis United World College (UWC) Scholars Program
Jon Lund, who retired in February as director of international admissions after a 30-year career at Luther, saw an opportunity in 2004 to apply for a newish program “committed to fostering a greater diversity of globally engaged students and communities on U.S. college campuses.” The Davis UWC Scholars Program extends the mission of United World Colleges, a network of 18 secondary schools around the world that are intentionally international and intercultural and that provide education with an emphasis on empathy, responsibility, and lifelong action.
The Davis UWC Scholars Program offers UWC graduates a fully funded education at one of 100 U.S. partner colleges and universities—like Luther, where we’re celebrating 20 years of partnership with the program
Jon Lund presents to a group of prospective students in East Africa.
this year.
This partnership has brought Luther nearly $30 million in scholarship support, but more importantly, it’s brought us nearly 400 students. And these aren’t just any students—they’re some of the best and brightest thinkers and doers on the planet. Because of the UWC curriculum, most of them are curious, socially engaged, serviceminded problem-solvers. They contribute immeasurably to campus life, classroom learning, the Decorah community, and eventually to their fields and the larger world.
needs more of in the future.”
In this way, the Davis UWC Scholars Program and the Luther education that students receive through it are not only life-changing—they’re world-changing. Students with great potential receive more education and opportunities. They’re consequently able to apply themselves to positions and programs where they can make meaningful impact.
The International Appeal of the Liberal Arts
International students, including UWC students, commonly get accepted at top U.S. schools—Brown, Yale, Princeton, the University of Chicago. So how does a recruiter for a small college in rural Iowa gain traction with such in-demand applicants?
“I focus on the personalized education they’ll receive,” Jon says. “And I talk about the liberal arts model, because the world our students will inherit really requires liberally educated people. There’s hardly a presentation that I do where I don’t describe the liberal arts.”
The liberal arts as a concept takes some explaining. As Jon says, “It has nothing to do with the way you think of liberal versus conservative. And it has nothing to do with arts versus sciences. So it’s a meaningless phrase unless you understand Latin, and it roughly translates into the ways of thinking that set people free. So I tell students that at Luther, we liberate you to think about the world differently. And in order to do that, you’re going to have to study more broadly than you would if you go to some other schools. But we think that’s exactly what the world
Salomé Valdivieso ’23 understood. After her time at UWC Red Cross Nordic in Norway, she says, “I was searching for a college that would allow me to continue exploring education through a global, interdisciplinary, and community-oriented lens. Luther’s commitment to the liberal arts model and its strong emphasis on civic engagement and social justice resonated deeply with the values I developed during my UWC experience. I was drawn to the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations across disciplines, build close relationships with professors, and take part in campus initiatives that aligned with my academic and personal interests.” Salomé is now earning a master’s degree in Latin American studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
It’s not just students who’ve picked up on what Luther offers. One of nicest notes Jon ever received during his time at Luther was from a counselor at a school in India who was retiring. She wrote, “I want to let you know that Luther was one of those schools that I could look my kids in the face and tell them, ‘If you go there, they’ll do well by you.’”
At this point in time, about 14 percent of Luther students are international, which places us among the top 50 small liberal arts schools in the country for our percentage of international students. We’re also fourth in the state of Iowa not for our percentage but for our number of international students, on a list that includes large state schools with enrollments exceeding 30,000 students.
In 2024–25, Luther was privileged to host 205 international students from 77 countries. While we can count the countries of origin of these students, our metrics can’t capture the countless ambitions, concerns, heartaches, values, and stories these students bring with them. Stories that will touch and be touched by those of other Luther students. And that will ultimately become part of the larger Luther story.
Jon Lund (far left) visits with students at Luther's Culture Fest 2025 in April.
JON LOVES DATA.
He tracks the miles he’s flown (more than 1.5 million, and he always books economy), countries he’s visited (106, and he doesn’t count a country when he’s only been to an airport), hotels he’s stayed in, presentations he’s made, and recruitment fairs he’s attended.
THE PHRASE HE LEARNS IN EVERY LANGUAGE?
“My name is Jon. What’s your name?”
PLACES HE HASN’T BEEN Australia and New Zealand
FOODS
HE’S EATEN pig-lung soup, fried tarantula, raw horse. “One of the joys of my job is being invited into family homes to share a meal with them,” he says. “I’ve met so many wonderful people around the world, and I get invited to a lot of places, and that’s a privilege.”
IN RETIREMENT?
Jon wants to give himself time and space to consider what to do next, but it will almost certainly involve service and travel. In fact, he spent the first three weeks of his retirement volunteering in Roatan, where he serves on the board of an international school.
30 YEARS OF TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE
Travel, for Jon Lund, has not been glamorous. “My travel up to this point has been travel with a purpose,” he says, “meaning that I almost never spend an hour laying on a beach or beside a pool—I’m racing around. I remember going to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and arriving late in the evening. I went to the hotel. I had a large fair with about 4,000 students at it. I did about 20 interviews onsite. I met with a couple of parents at the hotel and a few alums. And I left a day and a half later. In the car on the way back to the airport, I realized I had never stepped foot outside the hotel.”
Not that he hasn’t loved it. “It’s a really special job to be able to travel the world—but it’s not the way people think of travel,” he says.
Jon remembers visiting a small village in India that was celebrating the first kid from the village ever to attend college. Jon met with the proud family for lunch, then went to the local school, where the equally proud principal said, “I have a surprise for you. I’ve got the entire group of sixth graders waiting for you to teach them how to conjugate past tense.”
Jon recalls, “First of all, of anything to teach, past tense is beyond comprehension. Second, not only is the sixthgrade class sitting there, but their parents are standing along the back window!”
While that visit was intense, Jon remembers a more stressful time visiting Pakistan after a group of school bombings. He rode to a school he was visiting in a caravan preceded and followed by jeeps with Pakistani sharpshooters in them. As they drove into the school, Jon could see machine gun turrets on top of the building. “For a couple of years, those were my visits to Pakistan,” he says. “But once in the country, I met with some of the loveliest families you would ever meet. I’ve tried to separate events occurring in the world with great people who need to be educated around the world.”
Stacy Soderstrom, who is taking the reins from Jon as director of international and transfer admissions, has a deep history in international college recruitment. She chose to work at Luther, she says, because “I wanted to work for a place that already knew the value of international students and
what they bring to a college campus.”
And she likes to see the international ripple that Luther students make. “Luther students are being prepared to make differences in the communities they live and work in,” she says. “With our international students, that spreads out to so many places around the world.”
Stacy Soderstrom (far left) and Jon Lund (far right) with Musa Kamaika and his family in Tanzania. Musa works closely with Luther's J-Term program in Tanzania.
World
During her semester in Malta, Abigail Bates ’25 and friends visited the Colosseum in Rome. Abigail, an environmental studies major, says, “I was able to learn as much as possible about Malta’s environmental situation while there, opening my eyes to a whole new world full of completely different dilemmas than the ones I‘d been taught in Decorah.”
AS CLASSROOM
Nursing major Leah Gardner ’26 traveled to Northern Ireland for the Forging Paths to Peace J-Term course. “On the trip,” she says, “I learned how important community is when it comes to building peace, and to lean on each other for support during times of conflict or fear.” While there, she and fellow nursing major Molly Johnson ’26 spent time climbing the rocks at Giants Causeway.
Britta Elsbernd ’25, a music and visual communication major, spent J-Term on the Building Ethical Futures in Norway course. She took this photos of the Oslo skyline at twilight because, she says, “In class, we discussed the rapid development of this area of Oslo and how it engages the ethical conflict between history and modernization.”
Nursing major William Coffey ’26 spent J-Term in Costa Rica on the Practicing Embodiment course. He took this photo of students in the dining area because, he says, “I wanted to capture how connected the group was sitting around the table during free time.”
Accounting major Fernando Ruiz Vega ’25 spent J-Term on the Paideia course English Theatre: Mirror of Society and of the Human Condition. “This scene gave Harry Potter vibes,” he says, “as we all know this is where Platform 9 3/4 takes place when they are traveling to Hogwarts.”
Elementary education major Ren Talerico ’27 captured the thrill of arriving in a new place during Global Health 239 in Nepal. During the course, she says she learned about “the dynamic interactions between people, animals, plants, and the environment.”
Michael Burns ’25, a visual communication major, took this photo during the J-Term course Ethical Futures in Norway. He was struck by the fact that graffiti seemed to be woven into the culture in Oslo.
Biology major Mike Benoit ’26 spent J-Term in England and Scotland. This photo pictures him with fellow bio major Isaiah Kahl ’26 standing partway up a mountain in the Glencoe Valley. “The photo is a great representation of the scenery we experienced on our tour of Scotland, and it shows how the trip brought a great friendship together,” he says.
Nursing major Leif Carey-Odden ’25 took this photo while on a trip to Norway last summer, studying how Norway’s vastly different healthcare system and active lifestyles impact personal health.
Megan Miller ’25, an economics and Nordic studies major, spent J-Term on the Building Ethical Futures in Norway course. Her friend, Alli Thomley ’25, captured Megan watching the sun rise over the Oslo Opera House. Megan says they “wandered down to the Oslofjord to watch the interplay between nature and human creation.”
Nursing major Ainsley Zahn ’25 spent J-Term in Costa Rica on the Practicing Embodiment course. She says, “Something that really impacted me on this trip was the group that I went with. Although I didn’t know all of the people on the trip and had never met the professors, I made connections and friendships I will never forget. I learned a lot about myself and my own values. I learned how to be peaceful and be mindful of my body and movement. I’m more than grateful for this trip and opportunity. I hope to return to La Huerta, where we stayed in Costa Rica, someday!”
Sonnet Mungyeh ’25, a global health and German major, participated in the Münster Semester. She took this photo in Walhalla in Donaustauf, Germany. She explains, “Walhalla is a monument that honors distinguished people in German history. While this trip was outside of our learning experiences during the Münster Semester, our Paideia course was centered around how societies remember historical figures and events. Visiting Walhalla was one of our many real-life applications to what we studied.”
Brooks Peterson ’26, a computer science and data science major, spent J-Term in Nepal, where he snapped this photo of a fellow photographer. During the trip, he says, “The most impactful thing I experienced was the hospitality of others. Having the opportunity to be welcomed into the homes, professions, and livelihoods of strangers enlightened me to new culture, religion, language, and more.”
Nursing major Leif Carey-Odden ’25 took this stunning photo while studying the healthcare system in Norway.
Visual communication major Michael Burns ’25 spent J-Term in Norway. He says, “I took this photo the night we got to Oslo. As a group, we took a walk to see the city. We were tired but needed to stay up a little longer to get the best sleep. Seeing this large building across from the Opera House was incredible to me, as there was something about it that made me forget how tired I was and take in the fact that I was in Norway. It has a special place in my heart, as I would often walk by just to look at this particular building.”
MUSIC IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
These music educators learn as much as they teach in schools around the world.
Luther grads are global citizens. In few areas is this more evident than in our wide array of alumni teaching music abroad. These exploratory, open-minded, open-hearted teachers take their strong Luther background in music education to schools around the world, enriching young musicians and themselves. The accounts below—which are just a handful of many such internationally based Luther music educators— represent teaching experiences on five continents.
Jay Londgren ’06
Director of high school bands and jazz, head of performing arts, and VPA instructional coach at Singapore American School (previously taught in Venezuela and South Korea). Years teaching abroad: 18.
Tell us about your start teaching abroad. When I was at Luther, there was a program of student teaching placements abroad spearheaded by Dr. Jim Langholz '77. I actually student taught in the classroom where I now work here in Singapore. That experience got me several interviews, which led to my job in Venezuela, then to Korea, then ultimately back to Singapore.
Tell us about your school and ensemble(s).
SAS is the largest single-campus international school in the world. I’m fortunate in that the school is large enough to allow me to focus just on high school band. That is rare overseas. In Korea, I taught 6–12 band. In Venezuela, I taught PreK–12 music. It’s a privilege to get to focus entirely on my biggest area of passion.
What delights you about your adopted country’s culture?
The biggest thing by far is my Singaporean husband, Clement. Through him and his family, I’ve learned so much about Singapore and its unique place in the world.
What should people consider when thinking about teaching music abroad?
Living abroad won’t magically fix or change something in your life. However, if you’re the type of person who is willing to learn as much (or more) as you’re planning to teach, I can recommend international education wholeheartedly.
You currently serve as president of the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS). Why did you get involved with AMIS?
AMIS (not a coincidence that it is the French word for “friend”) is about connecting people—both students from around the world and music teachers in international schools who may, in many cases, be one of a few or even the only music educator at their school. They can come to an AMIS event and be surrounded by people who just understand. It’s really quite magical.
You’re also an avid traveler—can you tell us more?
I’ve visited 44 countries and taken 482 flights in my life, totalling roughly 1.1 million miles—or just about five trips to the moon. Other than my students, traveling is the best teacher I have.
Emmalee Johnson ’12
Orchestra and IB music teacher and head of 6–12
Performing Arts at Seoul Foreign School in South Korea (previously taught at Asia Pacific International School in South Korea). Years teaching abroad: 8.
Tell us about your school.
Music is alive and well at SFS! In grades 6–12 we have six bands, two jazz bands, six orchestras, and five choirs. It’s a big school with a really lovely campus on the side of a mountain but still in the city of Seoul. SFS is BUSY and vibrant.
What’s something valuable you learned from teaching in this context?
Things aren’t always what they appear. Most years, my orchestra appears overwhelmingly Korean by heritage, but most of my students experience moments of feeling like they don’t belong because they’ve spent more than a few years living in different countries. They end up being their own blend of cultures, which can make their actions or thoughts behind choices less obvious.
What has surprised you about living in your adopted country?
After living outside the U.S. for 11 years, I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to be truly surprised! When I first moved to Korea, I was constantly struck by the affordability of public transit and healthcare, the exciting new flavors, and the dramatic shifts in weather. No matter where I go, there’s always an adjustment period, but over time, I’ve come to expect the unexpected.
Kristin (Solverson) Symes ’06
Teaches general music and choir K–4, choir K–6, and senior choir director 7–12 at Geelong Lutheran College in Victoria, Australia (previously taught at Singapore American School in Singapore). Years teaching abroad: 19.
Tell us about your start teaching abroad. During one of my Luther classes, Dr. Jim Langholz '77 inspired me to look into student teaching abroad. I was accepted to student teach at Singapore American School, where several Luther grads were teaching. After graduation, I taught there for 17 years. I was also fortunate to perform as a soprano soloist with the Singapore Lyric Opera and various concert settings during my time in Singapore.
During Covid, my family and I moved to Australia to be near my husband’s family and to continue teaching there. Along with teaching in Australia, I have also started my own voice and vocology studio helping singers/performers habilitate their voices from vocal trauma or pathologies. Teaching abroad has been one of the most life-changing experiences for me. Now, being overseas for 19 years, it continues to shape my global perspective of music education.
What’s something valuable you learned from teaching in this context?
The power of adaptability and humor in the classroom.
What delights you about your adopted country’s culture?
The laid-back lifestyle and humor in everything. Well-being is a BIG focus here in schools and the broader community, which decreases overall stress and the underlying intensity of life.
What should people consider when thinking about teaching music abroad?
1.Be ready for cultural differences and be openminded! Even though Australia is an English-speaking country, there are many cultural differences in day-today life. 2. Your teaching style and expectations may need to adapt. 3. Building a support network is crucial. 4. It isn’t easy, but it is SO WORTH IT! Your life will forever change for the better.
Christopher O’Connell ’18
Band director (grades 6–12) at Chiang Mai International School in Thailand. Years teaching abroad: 2.
Tell us about your start teaching abroad. About two years ago, I saw a post by another Luther alumnus on an alumni Facebook page about an opening for a band position in the “jungle paradise” of Thailand. On a whim, I decided to reach out and ask him about it. He explained the whole situation, and since I was on the tail end of the application process, things moved quickly. I sent in a resume, had an interview, and within two weeks of first learning about the job, I had accepted the position and started contemplating life in a new country!
What challenges or advantages do you notice teaching music at your school that you might not have at an American school?
The biggest challenge has been building a band program when working with a transient student population. In the U.S., if a student starts band in sixth grade, there’s a pretty strong likelihood they’ll graduate high school from the same school district. Here, students may only be around for two or three years before their family moves to a new country. It’s a heartbreaking day when your kindest, most caring (and best!) clarinet player tells you he’s moving to a new country next year! And it happens multiple times every year.
What has surprised you about living in your adopted country?
Chiang Mai is a hub for digital nomads. People come and go constantly. I meet new people every week who disappear just as quickly, only to turn up again months later. It can be exhausting, but it also means after only two years of living here I have friends I can visit all over the world!
What should people consider when thinking about living and working abroad?
Absolutely do it if you are considering it! I’ve learned so much from my experience working with these students as well as with international educators. Getting exposure to other school curricula opens your eyes to better ways of teaching. Bringing this knowledge back to the U.S. will make you a better teacher and help your students see the world in a broader way.
Tori (LaCroix) Norris ’14
Primary school music teacher (currently on break to raise her son) in Basel, Switzerland. Years teaching abroad: 5.
Tell us about your school.
It’s an international school, with students from all over the world who speak a plethora of languages. Basel is a city full of expats, and many families come here to work as part of the pharmaceutical industry or other international industries. There are also local families—Swiss, German, and French.
What challenges or advantages do you notice teaching music at your school that you might not have at an American school?
In general, I find that there’s a greater openness and curiosity to learn about one another in a nonjudgmental, nonthreatening, genuinely positive manner. With nearly 60 different nationalities at our school and a plethora of different cultures therein, you have to be willing and able to meet people where they are in a welcoming way. I am fortunate that my subject— music—is often a vehicle for unity and common experience.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment. I feel such joy when I see a current student helping a new student who speaks no English, by explaining things to them and making them feel welcome in a language that they both speak.
Another moment was attending the 2023 AMIS high school honor choir in Muscat, Oman, as a chaperone. It was such a magical musical experience for the students, teachers (many of whom graduated from Luther!), and audience members. To look up and see so many students (200+) of so many cultures, races, and creeds singing together still gives me goosebumps when I think back on that time.
What’s something valuable you learned from teaching in this context? We have more similarities than differences.
What has surprised you about living in your adopted country?
Living in Switzerland, I’m often reminded of my time at Luther. I’ve experienced kindness and warmth from strangers and friends—both expats and locals—in ways similar to when I was studying in Iowa.
What should people consider when thinking about teaching music abroad?
If you’re looking to create the current life you have in the U.S. as your life abroad, you will be disappointed and miss out on so much. Instead, embrace the richness of living in a place with a different culture and language from what you’re used to. Say yes, go out of your comfort zone, and your life will be incredibly enriched!
Brandon Fraseur ’03
Athletics and activities director at Seoul International School in South Korea (previously taught as an elementary-level music educator at Concordia International School Shanghai and the American School of Dubai). Years teaching abroad: 9.
Tell us about your start teaching abroad.
I taught in the U.S. (mostly in Iowa) for 12 years before choosing to go overseas. The year before I moved overseas, two other Luther grads I knew from the choral music world—Adrienne (Moyer) Gerst ’00 and Darcy Hendriks ’00—took positions in Shanghai and Dubai. Hearing about their positive experiences motivated me to pursue the experience as well. My first overseas job was at Concordia International School Shanghai, where Steven Nurre ’78 was the assistant head of school at the time.
Tell us about your school(s).
Each school has its own character, and the same can be said about their host cities and countries. The challenges and gifts of immersing myself in different cultures and societies has been one of the greatest rewards of working overseas.
What should people consider when thinking about teaching abroad?
For those thinking about teaching abroad, the main thing I would encourage is for people to keep an open mind about regions of the world to work. I never thought I would call China home for part of my life, but Shanghai was an incredible city to live and work in, and it allowed me to grow as a professional and person.
Jason Mott ’10
High school instrumental music teacher (three bands, one orchestra, and a beginning guitar class) at the American School of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (previously taught in Shanghai, China). Years teaching abroad: 15.
Tell us about your start teaching abroad.
My wife went to the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). When we were dating, we went to the international teacher job fair there, and it was crazy.* Giving little elevator pitches to administrators, taking all kinds of interviews, and then we only had a few days to accept an offer from a school in Shanghai. As far as getting the position I currently have in Dubai, I did have a Luther connection—the high school choir director is a Luther grad!
Tell us about your school.
ASD is a very American-style school. We offer the AP program, and there’s a big emphasis on our athletics and arts program. There are many international schools in Dubai, and families choose our school for this unique aspect. Our music program is similar to a strong Midwest music program.
* Many of the people we interviewed got their first international teaching job through UNI’s Overseas Teaching Fair, the oldest in-person international education recruitment fair in the world.
What challenges or advantages do you notice teaching music at your school that you might not have at an American school?
Overall, students have more resources available to them. There is less of a challenge with families not being able to afford an instrument.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment.
This year, our musical pit band was entirely made up of students. This had never happened before in the history of our school, so it was really exciting (and challenging) to have only students in there, including on the keyboard 1 part. It was very rewarding to have a group of students that could pull that off.
What has surprised you about living in your adopted country?
I thought that the United Arab Emirates would be very conservative and strict, and it is far from it.
What delights you about your adopted country’s culture?
Eighty percent of the population of Dubai are not Emirati, so Dubai’s culture is a melting pot of many different countries.
What should people consider when thinking about teaching music abroad?
It’s an amazing experience, especially if jobs are hard to come by when music students are graduating. And it often has a better package than teaching in the U.S. You can always go back home after a few years—have an adventure first!
Opportunity
Marlon Henriquez ’15 leads with empathy as a school principal.
Marlon Henriquez ’15 embodies the idea of paying it forward. As a Chicago public school principal, he’s using his life-changing education to provide the same to others.
Marlon and his family immigrated to Marshalltown, Iowa, as refugees from El Salvador when Marlon was three. At four, his family moved to Postville, Iowa, where about a third of the population was Hispanic. At 13, they moved to Decorah, where Marlon remembers being one of about three Hispanic families at Decorah High School. Along with the move, Marlon had to navigate school systems that supported immigrant families in different ways.
Around the time he thought about applying to college, he says, “I started to realize how many barriers were in the way for me as an immigrant, as a
first-generation high school student, first-generation college student, and everything else. I realized pretty quickly I didn’t qualify for FAFSA and many kinds of student loans. It caused me to unpack my identity as a Dreamer a little bit more. It was a really rough wake-up call.”
One evening in spring 2011, Marlon made his way to Loyalty Hall on Luther’s campus to talk to Sherry (Braun) Alcock ’82, executive director of alumni relations (now retired) and the mother of his then girlfriend and now wife, Emily (Alcock) Henriquez ’17, about taking Emily to prom. Sherry asked about Marlon’s college plans, and he ended up sharing his dilemma. She encouraged him to apply to Luther, and her compassionate intervention set him on a steeply upward trajectory.
At Luther, Marlon didn’t deliberate over his major: “I recognized how much impact even a high school education was making on my ability to feel empowered and to have a voice. And I also recognized that my parents didn’t get that—they were deprived of an education. So when I had a chance, I knew that I needed to be a teacher.”
Marlon wanted to work with English learners, and a student-teaching experience in Chicago drew him and Emily to move there in 2017. His rise since arriving might best be described as meteoric. The National Center for Education Statistics puts the average age of a school principal at 49. Marlon became principal of Frank W. Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy, a public elementary school in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood, at just 30 years old.
Eighty-eight percent of kids at Gunsaulus are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and 47 percent are English learners. Last year, the school went on soft lockdown seven times because of things happening in the neighborhood. Housing insecurity comes up among Gunsaulus families, as does uncertainty around legal rights in this political climate.
Yet in its network of 27 schools, Gunsaulus is second in attendance, second in math, and fourth in reading. Students from its eighth-grade graduating class this year got into some of the most competitive high schools in the city. One was even admitted to a top-five high school in the country.
Gunsaulus’s mission is to develop students who feel empowered as leaders, learners, and global citizens, and Marlon and his staff work tirelessly to give students an education that broadens their horizons. Aggressive fundraising and budgeting among staff and families has allowed students to travel to Washington, D.C., camp in the Rocky Mountains, spend time on a farm in Vermont, and take overnight field trips to museums.
Because of his legal status at the time, Marlon wasn’t able to study abroad as a Luther student, but he feels like things came full circle this spring, when he led the second trip of Gunsaulus students to South Korea on an exchange program.
“I just sit here and think about how the world has perceived students who look like our students, who look like me, as less than or not capable,” he says.
“Just give somebody one opportunity and you never know what might become of it or what they might be able to achieve.”
—Kate Frentzel
To learn more about Marlon’s elementary school, visit gunsaulus.org.
As principal at a Chicago public elementary school, Marlon Henriquez ’15 and his staff have facilitated student trips to the Rocky Mountains; a farm in Vermont; and Washington, D.C. They've also taken students camping, on overnights at museums, to see the full solar eclipse, and on a cultural exchange to South Korea.
Forward–THINKING
Beth Willer ’03 explores complex subjects while building bold, inventive repertoire for historically overlooked treble vocal ensembles.
Beth Willer ’03, founder and artistic director of the Grammy-nominated Lorelei Ensemble, is carving out new musical terrain.
“I credit much of my expansive thinking about style and genre to my diverse experiences at Luther,” she says. Beth, who studied trumpet performance and vocal music education, played in Concert Band, where she says Fred Nyline “did an incredible amount of contemporary repertoire and avant garde works with us that stretched my ears quite a bit.” She also played in Jazz Band under Tony Guzmán ’90, a mentor in both performance and music education.
Like many people, however, Beth held a bias about treble choirs. “I thought a treble choir was inferior. That it was a stepping stone, something you did as a freshman or because you didn’t get into the mixed choir,” she says. (Luther’s own associate professor Jill Wilson confirmed in a 2012 publication that stigmas against treble choirs exist as early as high school.)
But singing under Sandra Peter in Pike Kor (now Aurora) was a turning point for Beth, illustrating just how powerful treble choirs could be: “Sandra was unearthing repertoire that was written for women to sing in public spaces. There’s just not that much of it in the historic repertoire, but she was actively seeking it out and making editions and studying it at a time when that was less common.”
The impact of this carried through to Beth’s first teaching job, in Eau Claire, Wis., where she directed choirs of alto and soprano voices. At Boston University, she earned an MM and DMA while continuing to direct treble choirs. In class one day, graduate composition student Mary Koppel offered her a brand-new piece. Beth was compelled to put together a group to sing it.
And so began the Lorelei Ensemble.
Formed in 2007, Lorelei is passionately committed to expanding the repertoire for treble vocal ensembles. As founder and artistic director, Beth puts the current number of new works she’s commissioned at 70.
As Lorelei has evolved, Beth says, “Eventually I’ve been able to focus our mission even more by thinking not just about the repertoire, but the vocal aesthetic and the sounds that we ask sopranos and altos to make in ensembles. Historically, the ‘ideal’ soprano or alto sound has commonly been modeled on the voices of men and boys. The unique capability of the adult female voice wasn’t celebrated in the choral setting, and therefore, the broad palette of color that is available is often not on display in ensembles.
That’s really at the heart of what I’m trying to do here: celebrate the breadth and depth and expansiveness of the female voice.”
The library of sounds that Lorelei singers draw on is vast. At turns, they’re eerie and hypnotic, razorsharp and precise, unified “like the lungs of a larger body” (Washington Post), dissonant to the point of discomfort, smooth and resonant, biting and creaky and gasping.
The ensemble doesn’t shy away from challenging subject matter either. In commissioning pieces, Beth often bounces ideas back and forth with composers. Sometimes they’ll decide to combine historical and modern texts, as they did in James Kallenbach’s Antigone, which used the framework of Sophocles’s
play to tell the story of Sophie Scholl, a young female activist resisting the state in Nazi Germany. Opera News named the recording a Critic’s Choice.
Another recent piece, Her Story by composer Julia Wolfe, commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and performed with symphonies across the U.S., includes text from Abigail Adams and Sojourner Truth. In late February, Lorelei performed it at the Kennedy Center, in what the Washington Post called a “bracing history lesson.” The New York Times called it “a refined yet blistering account of the misogyny that American women have endured.”
This year, Lorelei earned a 2025 Grammy nomination for its performance of Christopher Cerrone’s Beaufort Scales, commissioned by Lorelei, which sets the poetic 19th-century scale used to measure wind strength against the backdrop of our era of extreme weather and the role of technology in climate change.
With Lorelei looming so large in the world of chamber music, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the ensemble is a nonprofit reliant on fundraising, grants, and individual donors. This requires a lot of bandwidth, as does Beth’s role as associate professor and director of choral studies at Johns Hopkins’s Peabody
Institute, where she designed and directs the conservatory’s graduate program in choral conducting.
“I would never want a career without teaching,” she says. “And for me, it’s a dream come true to teach at an institution that is innovative and new-artforward. It draws students who are not only interested in excellence but are also interested in the future of their art form. I think that’s how you make a career: by participating in and building the future of the art form. Whether that’s through playing historical repertoire or new repertoire, we have to be forward-thinking.”
—Kate Frentzel
Lorelei performed as part of Luther’s Center Stage Series in 2018, and we hope to welcome them back in the future. To learn more about the ensemble, visit loreleiensemble.com. To learn more about the choral conducting program that Beth directs, visit peabody.jhu.edu.
BRIDGING THE GAP
Heather Schacht Reisinger ’96 leads efforts to accelerate research into real-world healthcare practices.
Did you know it takes an average of 17 years for evidence-based interventions and healthcare practices originated from research to be applied to hospital and community settings? Heather Schacht Reisinger ’96 has dedicated much of her career to closing the gap between research and real-world implementation, including her current role as the director of the University of Iowa’s recently launched Implementation Science Center.
Reisinger, a professor of internal medicine at the university’s Carver College of Medicine, is a medical anthropologist with deep roots in the field of implementation science, focused on advancing evidencebased practices, interventions, and policies in healthcare and public health settings to improve people’s health.
“We aren’t taught to be interdisciplinary as scientists,” says Reisinger. “We’re taught to be good at what we do in our space. Getting people to think outside
of their discipline can be challenging. People aren’t thinking about the next steps early enough in the process, which delays things.”
Through the ISC, Reisinger works across disciplines, helping people incorporate implementation science into their projects before the research stage.
“The pinnacle of what we do as scientists is get our work published, and then we expect someone to pick it up and carry it to the next space,” she says. “It’s not our skill set to find and help the next group with how to make it work for them. We’re trying to build that skill set with implementation science. We must build that into how we think as a scientific community.”
The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement in implementation science, particularly in rural areas, is key to improving people’s health. It’s about building a community of people focused on ensuring everyone has access to evidence-based practice in their healthcare or in their goals around well-being, she says. The ISC is working on several projects, including a grant with the Iowa Primary Care Association and the Iowa Community Hub. If funded, the partnership would create a collaborative care model between behavioral health specialists and patients in rural areas to monitor mental health symptoms and identify when to elevate their concerns to a higher level of care.
Reisinger, who earned a master’s degree in applied anthropology from the University of Maryland College Park and a PhD from American University, was fascinated by anthropology from an early age. But when she arrived at Luther, she planned to be an art teacher. Married to fellow Luther alum Scot Reisinger ’96, Heather says professor emerita Lori (Van Gerpen) Stanley ’80 was instrumental in her decision to switch to an anthropology major.
“I loved her classes,” says Reisinger. “She allowed me to take ethnography my first year, which was uncommon. It solidified my becoming an anthropology major. During my time at Luther, I came to believe that anthropology is a great discipline for applying in many different areas and creating change.”
—Amy Carlson Gustafson
ANCHORED IN COMMUNITY
Reynolds Cramer ’91 leads Fareway stores into the future.
Reynolds W. Cramer ’91 has always loved music. During his time at Luther—whether singing in the choir or playing percussion in the band and orchestra—Cramer built community through his musical endeavors.
Community remains central to Cramer, both in his business and personal life. Starting in his teens, he followed the beat of his family’s drum, becoming the fourth generation to run Fareway Stores, started by his great-grandparents, Paul and MaryEllen Beckwith, in 1938 with a store in Boone, Iowa. The Midwest grocery chain now boasts over 140 outlets and employs more than 13,000 people. Cramer started working at the Boone Fareway store when he was 16 and held several positions (including in the meat department in the Decorah store while in college) before being elected CEO in 2014.
Cramer is proud of the part the stores play in their often-rural communities and of the family-oriented treatment of employees. He says more than 70 percent of the company’s management started with Fareway when they were teenagers. The company also has a long tradition of supporting charitable organizations and community outreach programs by focusing on a number of areas: togetherness, food security, health and research, youth organization, and service members and first responders. Some of the nonprofits Fareway partners with include Easterseals Iowa, Camp Courageous, Food Bank for the Heartland, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Habitat for Humanity, and Operation Homefront.
Part of Cramer’s role as CEO is talking to officials— including in Washington, D.C.—about everything from the Farm Bill to the price of eggs. It’s not always about the bottom line, he says. “It’s about being in business and doing what we need to for all the people out there, which is to provide healthy, safe, and affordable food,” he says.
With a philosophy of “helping put food in the hands of those who need it most,” Fareway works closely with local Feeding America organizations and additional food-based nonprofits to strengthen food access and help end hunger.
Charitable work is personal for Cramer. When his now-25-year-old daughter, who has serious health issues and autism, was born in 1999, doctors told him she probably wouldn’t survive a year. She’s inspired Cramer to dedicate time and resources to helping others, including children with special needs.
“I’m blessed to have gotten to know many people who are all fighting for the same thing, and that is to help children, young adults, and older adults with any type of disability or special need,” he says. “I participate in camps and activities. It’s not just about giving money. I like to learn what these groups are all about. I like to understand what the families are going through. As someone who’s gone through a few things myself—and at times, there weren’t many groups or people there to help—this is part of my purpose in life.”
—Amy Carlson Gustafson
Class Notes
Notices as of February 28, 2025
’72
Steve Kline of Omaha, Neb., is CEO of Prairie Navigator.
’75
Bob Gerst of Buffalo Grove, Ill., is chair of the board for Heritage University.
Mark Nixon of Boulder City, Nev., is retired.
John Shanda of Madison, Wis., is retired.
’76
Pat Hauslein of St. Augusta, Minn., is the membership director for Women Anglers of Minnesota.
Jon Jordan of Atlantic, Iowa, retired and is a certified personal trainer and indoor cycling instructor at the YMCA. Jon is also an avid cyclist, canoeist, and outdoor adventure enthusiast.
’77 Brian Rude of Coon Valley, Wis., is serving as chair of the board of trustees of the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah.
’78
John Hanewall of Janesville, Wis., was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Midwest Clown Association at the MCA 50th Annual RoundUp in Indianapolis, Ind. John has been clowning for almost 30 years, performing under the clown persona “Luther.”
’80
Lorri Lobeck of Onalaska, Wis., retired from Gundersen Health System, where she worked as a neurologist.
’83 Rebecca Dixen of Baldwin, Wis., retired as director of a public library and is working part-time as administrative assistant at an ELCA church in western Wisconsin.
’84 Jeff O’Brien of Arlington, Va., is a senior architect with LRS Federal in Severna Park, Md.
’85
Anne (Hustad) Johnson of New Ulm, Minn., is a
choir director at Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Diane Nordquist of Minneapolis retired from a 35-year career in affordable housing finance and community development work with local government agencies.
Barb (Seltzer) Tako of Venice, Fla., is retired.
Paul Tjostem of Redondo Beach, Calif., is a reverend with Pulpit Rock Ministries Counseling.
’86
Cindy (Harrison) Naveira of Burbank, Calif., retired after serving as chief nursing officer of USC Care Medical Group, Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California.
’88
David Eidahl of Delano, Minn., is a restaurant manager with Flynn Restaurant Group.
’89
Barbara Guenther of Albuquerque, N.M., earned an MBA from the University of New Mexico.
’90
Lynn (Gaudette) Eidahl of Delano, Minn., is a yoga teacher with the Emily Program.
John Storsved of Champaign, Ill., received the John R. Endwright Alumni Service Award from the Indiana University School of Public Health.
’93
Martin Halom of Bloomer, Wis., was elected to serve as bishop of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin in Chetek, Wis.
’94
Sarah (Deist) Stanley of Richmond, Texas, is president at Grace Renewal Ministries.
’95
Nicholle (Cunningham) Bieberdorf of Bemidji, Minn., is dean of academic affairs and programs at Northwest Technical College.
Tascha (Luhman) Kinney of Ellsworth, Wis., is an ABE teacher with the Department of Corrections, Shakopee Women’s Prison.
Kristina (Carrington) Larson
of North Babylon, N.Y., is an architectural sales consultant at Construction Specialties.
Mariah (Bringer) Smith of Decorah is a mental health therapist at Decorah Counseling Collective.
’98
Tracy (Weiss) Voye of Largo, Fla., is an office coordinator at CPT Institute.
’00
Tonya (Wegner) Adams of Coralville, Iowa, is an assistant director of flute authority at West Music.
Todd Gullickson of Davenport, Iowa, is a partner of the Gullickson Group.
Kelly Nye-Lengerman of Dover, N.H., is principal researcher at Mathematica.
Lindsey (Anderson) Thompson of St. Paul, Minn., is founder and director of events at li+me Gatherings. Lindsey also volunteers as a mentor for the East Ridge High School FRC Robotics team.
Ryan Thompson of St. Paul, Minn., is a principal process development engineer at Heraeus Medevio. Ryan also volunteers as a mentor for the East Ridge High School FRC Robotics team.
’03
Scott Gullickson of Bettendorf, Iowa, is a partner of the Gullickson Group.
’04
Nicola (Monson) Emery of Gainesville, Ga., is vice president of finance at Honeywell in Charlotte, N.C.
’05
Kathryn Armstrong of Chicago is director of supply chain at Conagra Brands.
Christy (Patchin) Barker of Red Wing, Minn., is an academic language therapist at the Reading Center, Dyslexia Institute of MN.
Christina (Fraley) Burzinski of Middleton, Wis., is owner of VS Designs and Consulting.
Shannon (Johnson) Gravelle of Appleton, Wis., is director of choral activities at Lawrence University.
Andy Haugen of Carver, Minn., is a partner at Heimerl and Lammers law firm.
Alisa (White) Magallón of Houston, Texas, is the author of If
You Sing a Song to a Dragon and the series Fables Told in Rhyme Alisa started her own consulting business, Classical Sing Move Play.
Josh Minnes of Mt. Zion, Ill., is the owner of Big Hungry’s Daylight Donuts.
’06
Tim Yourison of Maryville, Mo., is deputy athletic director at Northwest Missouri State University.
’07
Kat Beane Hanson of Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a funding specialist at Talk To Me Technologies.
Michael “Coz” Lindsay of St. Paul, Minn., is the senior communications specialist for Carver County, Minn. He also serves as the SAG (support and gear) team lead for RAGBRAI.
’08
Ali (Blenka) Froisland of Minneapolis is director of HR at Dermatology Specialists in Edina, Minn.
Andrea (Hoeksema) Tigges of San Antonio, Texas, is director of perianesthesia services at South Texas Spine and Surgical Hospital and Outpatient Center.
Becky (Stiger) Williams of Aledo, Texas, is vice president of programs with Cancer Care Services in Fort Worth, Texas.
Benjamin Yates of Lafayette, La., is an associate professor of trombone at the University of Louisiana.
’10
Laura Grangaard Johnson of Minneapolis is a senior research programmer at HealthPartners Institute.
Sarah Sprecher of Clive, Iowa, earned a BSN from Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Molly (Weber) St. Clair of Ankeny, Iowa, earned an MSN from Frontier Nursing University and works as a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Iowa Behavioral Associates.
Brittany (Buczek) Todd of Decorah is the owner of Mill Street Mocha Drive-Thru. Brittany also received the Decorah Area Chamber Young Professional Award, is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses grad-
uate, and was named Iowa’s 40 Women to Watch in Hospitality.
2011
Bekky (Willis) Harkins of Lakewood, Colo., is an education director at the Greenway Foundation in Denver, Colo.
Susana Hansen of Minneapolis is a visitor experience manager of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Amy (Bierlein) Storvick of Apple Valley, Minn., works as a teacher for School District 196.
Steven Thai of St. Paul, Minn., is head of global crisis communications and reputation management at Palo Alto Networks in Santa Clara, Calif.
’13
Kirsten Hash of St. Paul, Minn., is corporate counsel at CWT in Minnetonka, Minn.
Ashley Wright Shannon of Winter Garden, Fla., is director of ticketing services at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla.
’14
Clara (Lind) Lindwood of Minneapolis is director of grants with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
’15
Mariana (Corpus) Hines of Durham, N.C., is a nurse practitioner at WakeMed.
Owen Neubauer of St. Paul, Minn., is director of public policy with the Minnesota Multi Housing Association in Bloomington, Minn.
Brianna (Hopp) Zutz of Rochester, Minn., earned a DNP from the University of Minnesota.
’16 Nick Shaw is general manager and wine director at Demi, a restaurant in Minneapolis.
’17 Makeda Barkley of Moab, Utah, is a production coordinator with the Orville Peck Stampede Tour 2024.
Elizabeth (Hardy) Bohlken of Cottage Grove, Minn., was promoted to director of education and support for foster care and adoption services at Children’s Home and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
Tyler DesRochers of Appleton, Wis., is a case manager at
Rawhide Youth Services in New London, Wis.
Nathaniel Koch of Hopkins, Minn., earned a master’s degree in teaching from Augsburg University in Minneapolis and is a teacher at Enishi International School in Japan.
’18
Pilar (Dritz) Dritzmith of Minneapolis works as a physical therapist at Fairview.
Hayes Durbin of Grinnell, Iowa, works as a civil engineering technician for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
’20
Garret Baumler of Minneapolis works as a music therapist for St. Paul public schools.
Kira Guetschow of La Crosse, Wis., is a data analyst at Western Technical College.
Shannon Lunn of Farmington, Minn., is an administrative manager of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota.
Cassie Michel of Westminster, Colo., works as a first-grade teacher at Pinnacle Charter School.
Bailey (Fields) Willhite of Hutchinson, Minn., is a theatre director at Waconia High School. Bailey received the Community Engagement Award and the Excellence in Theatre Award from Hennepin Arts.
’21
Carson Davenport of Decorah earned an MA in sports leadership from North Central College and is an assistant men’s soccer coach at Luther College.
Madi (Yaeger) Davenport of Decorah earned a doctorate of physical therapy from Arcadia University and is a physical therapist at Rock Valley Physical Therapy.
’24
Johanna Muenkel of Rochester, Minn., is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic.
Luther College Book Shop
Maddie Kaasa ’25, an elementary education and Nordic studies major from Delaware, Ohio, and a fifth-generation Norse
Helga (Consiglio) Swatzak ’96 had a wonderful encounter at Chicago O’Hare while waiting to board her plane to Frankfurt when she noticed a young man wearing a Luther sweatshirt. She introduced herself as a 1996 grad originally from Malta. The student, Ryan Nelson ’27 (who was wearing the sweatshirt of his grandpa, Larry Urevig ’64), was actually headed abroad with fellow student Lucy Corbin ’26 for Luther’s Malta and the Mediterranean program! On top of that, the trio’s Lufthansa flight to Frankfort was fairly empty, but all Helga, Ryan, and Lucy were all assigned seats next to each other!
In Frankfurt, Helga snapped this photo with additional Luther Malta program students who’d flown in from Minneapolis. Helga was able to meet up with even more Luther students and sociology professor Char Kunkel a couple more times and share her home country with them. “What are the chances that the timing of these events would happen?” Helga asks. “All because of that Luther sweatshirt! Keep wearing them, folks! They bring people together wherever you go!”
From left: Penelope Hansen ’26, Lucy Corbin ’26, Ryan Nelson ’27, Sabina Doycharoen ’26, Faneeza Malik ’26, Helga (Consiglio) Swatzak ’96, Darbi Dunning ’26
Phil Knuth ’08, who sent in this photo featuring four Luther grads, writes: “For Christmas this year, I got a wild hair and decided to spend a fortune at the Book Shop getting everyone in the family new Luther sweatshirts. Dad wouldn’t cooperate (even though he sent all three of his children to Luther) and insisted on wearing his UIU sweatshirt. Oh well, pick your battles!” Thanks, Phil—and go Norse! Luther grads pictured include: Emily (Knuth) Stork ’04 (fourth in middle row), Sarah (Knuth) Baez ’05 (fifth in middle row), Phil Knuth ’08 (second in back row), Tim Stork ’04 (third in back row).
Congratulations to Carly (Erickson) ’12 and Shane Mickle! They were married in October, surrounded by Luther love.
A group of friends from the class of 1992 reunited for a trip to the Oregon coast in July. Hooray for Luther friendships! Pictured are: Karin (Hagen) Richards, Chaney (Carr) Yeast, Jean (Magner) Vogel, Ali (House) Tuttle, Alissa (Kasten) Muscatello, Jenn (Arnold) Essenburg, Sara Beth (Tandy) Schurr, Kaia
Amy
(Knutson) Hasnik, Leslie (Dick) Frank,
(Carlson) Bruening, Anne (Evans) Holt.
Dan Eidsmoe ’84 of Marathon, Fla., took first place in the National Marine Sanctuaries’ annual photo contest with this picture of the Milky Way taken at Coco Plum Beach.
Benjamin Yates ’08 (left) and Brad Schultz ’07 (right) recently performed a trombone and organ duo recital at the Organ Concert Series hosted by Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brad is a San Francisco–based organist and musicologist. Benjamin is associate professor of trombone at the University of Louisiana. The duo is interested in both historically informed performance of original works and commissioning new music for keyboard and trombone duo. Recent commission projects and recording projects include music composed by Brenda Portman, Luther professor of music Brooke Joyce, Sky Macklay ’10, and David Wilborn. Find more information about the duo at benjaminyatestrombone.com/tromborgan
Jon Rotto ’78 writes, “This motley crew of old scalawags met each other 50 years ago on third floor Ylvisaker as freshmen. Some of us even graduated! I hadn’t seen Rick or Tom for 47 years or more. It was obvious from the stories and from our unscathed friendships that our times together at Luther were indeed formative and remain close to our hearts.” Luther friendships for the win! Clockwise from left: Jim Johnson ’78, Rick Buechner ’75, Tom Lake ’70, Mike Torkelson ’76, Dan Kallman ’78, and Jon Rotto ’78 at the Haymarket in Decorah for breakfast.
Support
70½ or older
LUTHER STUDENTS WITH AN IRA ROLLOVER GIFT!
Direct up to $108,000
Are you 70½ or older? A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) lets you donate directly from your IRA to Luther College—tax-free!
• Support the Next Generation of Luther College Students—Your gift directly impacts students by funding scholarships, academic programs, and transformative learning experiences.
• Easy and Impactful Giving—Skip the hassle of itemizing deductions and simply direct your IRA administrator to transfer your gift.
• Lower Your Taxable Income—Your gift satisfies all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD) but won’t be counted as taxable income, age 73 or older.
Consider using your RMD to support Luther College. For more information, visit legacygiving.luther.edu or email plannedgiving@luther.edu.
This information is not intended as tax, legal, or financial advice. Gift results may vary. Consult your personal financial advisor for information specific to your situation.
Marriages
Notices as of March 21, 2025
’75
Naomi Jacobs and Nathan Stormer, April 2024
’00
Todd Gullickson and Kortney Moel, Oct. 2024
’07
Luke Wigle and Lindsay Wigle, August 2024
’09
Kristin Skaar and Sam Newbauer, Sept. 2023
’10
Carson Christen and Kathryn Dobbs, Jan. 2025
’12
Carly Erickson and Shane Mickle, Oct. 2024
’15
Mariana Corpus and John Hines, July 2024
’16
Jesslyn Hendrickson and Nolan Herman, Nov. 2024
’17
Mikayla Brockmeyer and Shujaut Bader, May 2024
John Evans and Jenny Hickey ’19, Sept. 2024
Kylie Kozelka and Tyler Amundson, Dec. 2024
Dagny LeMunyon and Aaron Hess, Dec. 2024
’18
Pilar Dritz and Peder Smith ’20, May 2024
Hayes Durbin and Amy Andrews, June 2024
Jackie Krawczyk and Jordan Hoekstra, Oct. 2024
Lukas Phillips and Rhianna Picht ’21, March 2025
’19 Mimi Armatas and David Czaia, Feb. 2025
’20
Kira Guetschow and Zach Mayer ’21, Aug. 2024
Grace Huber and Noah Tiegs, Nov. 2024
Maria Morales and Johnathan Morell, July 2024
Notices as of March 21, 2025
Births & Adoptions
’04
Elliot, June 2024, child of Tom Johnson and Elizabeth Hauth
’08
Austin Lee (photo 1), Dec. 2024, child of Brian Rouse and Greta Rouse
’09
Quinn, March 2024, child of Kyle Lilly and Sarah (Luloff) ’10
Sigvald Skaar, Nov. 2024, child of Kristin Skaar Newbauer and Sam Newbauer
’10
Maverik, Aug. 2023, child of Michael Pettengill and Jenny Pettengill
’11
Carter, Dec. 2024, child of Josh Sharpe and Mari (Henderson)
Sophia, Dec. 2024, child of Stephanie Picha-Creighton and Andrew Creighton
’12
Rocco, Oct. 2023, child of Tyler Zinnecker and Elise (Allen) ’13
’14
Audrey, Dec. 2024, child of Katie (Stremel) and Javy Gonzalez
Finnick, Aug. 2024, child of Emily (Pappas) and Logan Strusz
’15
Mayve, June 2023, child of Austyn (Potterton) and Jon Franklin
Tenley, Sept. 2024, child of Tanya (Meyer) and Tyler Kohnen
Vivian, Feb. 2023, child of Kayla (Naber) and Brandon Voss
’18
Samantha (photo 2), Feb. 2025, child of Colin Landsteiner and Jordan Landsteiner
’21
Franklin, March 2024, child of Addyson (Bixby) and Shane Holmstrom ’22
In Memoriam
Notices as of March 21, 2025
REGENT EMERITUS
Roy Harrisville of St. Paul, Minn., died July 25, 2023, age 101.
’44
Eleanor (Weed) Jerman of Redmond, Wash., died July 24, 2024, age 102.
’46
Marilyn (Pries) Johnson of Shakopee, Minn., died December 5, 2024, age 96.
’47 Oliver Larson of Elgin, Iowa, died February 27, 2024, age 96.
’48 Betty Coxson of Forest City, Iowa, died November 30, 2023, age 97.
Donald “Don” Thornwall of Madrid, Iowa, died August 31, 2023, age 94.
’49
Lavonne (Jones) Morse of Bloomington, Minn., died March 14, 2025, age 98.
Betty (Anderson) Sanders of Coon Valley, Wis., died January 30, 2025, age 97.
’50
Elna (Feller) Knutson of Rochester, Minn., died March 6, 2025, age 97.
Ralph Scott of Quincy, Ill., died June 7, 2023, age 95.
Marjorie (Jorth) Wahlgren of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died October 26, 2024, age 96.
’51
Naomi (Hutton) Evensen of Worthington, Minn., died February 2, 2025, age 95.
Kenneth “Roger” Johnson of Little Falls, Minn., died February 4, 2025, age 97.
’52 John Williams of Brainerd, Minn., died November 14, 2024, age 97.
’53 Helen (Opsahl) Landru of Santa Barbara, Calif., died October 24, 2024, age 93.
Henry “Jerry” Mathre of Pine Island, Minn., died December 14, 2024, age 93.
’55
Alvin Albertus of Coralville, Iowa, died February 24, 2025, age 94.
Maren “Marnie” (Torrison) Blatchford of Fargo, N.D., died January 6, 2025, age 91.
Hazel (Teien) Giere of Cedarburg, Wis., died January 19, 2025, age 91.
Theodore “Ted” Tweed of Waunakee, Wis., died January 12, 2025, age 91.
’56
Ronald “Ron” Kraase of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., died October 25, 2023, age 88.
Joe Noble of Greenville, Ill., died January 10, 2025, age 90.
Glenda (Landsgaard) Timmer of Allison, Iowa, died February 6, 2025, age 90.
Richard “Dick” Wuest of Decorah died March 3, 2025, age 90.
’57
Gale Grimslid of Holmen, Wis., died November 13, 2024, age 89.
Wallace Wierson of Excelsior, Minn., died February 23, 2025, age 91.
’59
Wilbur “Wil” Fisher of Moorhead, Minn., died December 12, 2024, age 92.
Geraldine “Gerry” (Mosby) Nottleson of Racine, Wis., died March 1, 2025, age 87.
Douglas “Doug” Wiley of Three Lakes, Wis., died January 10, 2025, age 90.
’60
Barbara (Kuehl) Amundson of Livingston, Wis., died December 15, 2024, age 86.
Marilyn (Johnston) Estrem of Minneapolis died December 26, 2024, age 86.
’61
Gene Nelson of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died December 28, 2024, age 90.
Roger “Ozzie” Osmundson of La Habra, Calif., died September 25, 2024, age 87.
Barbara “Barb” (Coupanger) Servatka of Green Valley, Ariz., died January 20, 2023, age 83.
’62
Laurel (Ness) Gatz of Bloomington, Minn., died November 30, 2024, age 84.
Ann (Peterson) Sansgaard of Sioux Falls, S.D., died October 16, 2024, age 84.
’63
Maree (Halverson) Christensen of Murfreesboro, Tenn., died December 31, 2024, age 83.
Carolyn (Lickfett) Seidelmann of Minnetonka, Minn., died March 11, 2024, age 82.
’64
Donna (Drake) Gurholt of Beloit, Wis., died November 30, 2024, age 80.
Richard “Dick” Luedtke of Minneapolis died January 21, 2025, age 82.
VaLois (Ellingson) Mandsager of Northfield, Minn., died December 3, 2024, age 82.
’67
Jendean (Hegg) Olson of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., died December 23, 2024, age 79.
Cathine “Cathy” (Woolery) Sticht of Ridgecrest, Calif., died November 6, 2024, age 79.
Deanna (Oilschlager) Walczak of Madison, Wis., died January 8, 2025, age 80.
’68
Edwin “Ed” Kramer of Grayslake, Ill., died February 21, 2025, age 78.
’69
Frank Barth of Decorah died March 14, 2025, age 78.
Craig Fortney of Viroqua, Wis., died August 28, 2024, age 77.
Lanny Kampfe of Iowa City, Iowa, died September 27, 2024, age 77.
’70
Donald “Don” Roalkvam of Wheeling, Ill., died December 28, 2024, age 76.
’71
Dean Gipp of Bettendorf, Iowa, died March 6, 2025, age 75.
Lawrence “Larry” Kaderavek of Tomahawk, Wis., died November 28, 2024, age 75.
’76
Larry Geiselhart of Calmar, Iowa, died January 3, 2025, age 71.
Dennis “Denny” Ofstedahl of Apple Valley, Minn., died December 28, 2024, age 71.
’79
Lori Larson of Des Moines, Iowa, died March 14, 2025, age 65.
Steven “Steve” Sutter of Laramie, Wyo., died February 23, 2025, age 67.
’80
Ann Espinosa of Ames, Iowa, died March 23, 2025, age 67.
’81
Kristi Wold of The Woodlands, Texas, died December 22, 2024, age 66.
’83
Duane Amhof of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died December 12, 2024, age 63.
Steven “Steve” Monge of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., died January 22, 2025, age 65.
’91
Hans Ulland of St. Paul, Minn., died November 8, 2024, age 56.
Thank you
TO THE NEWEST LIFE MEMBERS OF THE LUTHER COLLEGE PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL
“In 2024, these generous alumni, families, and friends surpassed $100,000 in lifetime giving to Luther College. This milestone reflects more than sustained generosity—it reflects belief in our mission and hope for what Luther students will go on to do in the world. From scholarships and immersive learning to campus spaces and student success, their giving strengthens every part of the Luther experience. We were honored to recognize them in person at our spring Donor Recognition and Appreciation Event in early May. To those of you on this list: you have my deepest and unending gratitude.”
Bradley M. Chamberlain President
Michael Anderson ’99 and Carryn (Ensrude)
Anderson ’99
Roger Ault ’63 and Eleanor (Roe) Ault ’64
Jeffrey Bouslog ’81 and Shawn Bouslog
Ruth Caldwell and Uwe Jens Rudolf
Craig Cornelius ’74 and Ann Hadden-Cornelius
James Daubendiek ’72 and Jeanne (Tormoen)
Daubendiek ’72
Jim Eckblad and Jane Eckblad
Gina Erickson and Robert Erickson
†Merle Foss and Peggy Foss
Reginald Laursen and Jerilyn Laursen
Eugene Takle ’66 and Miriam (Nelson) Takle ’66
Lee Valenta ’78 and Maggie Valenta
Kae Walker and Richard DeWitt
Jenifer K. Ward
Debra Wilson ’71 and Peggy Brenden ’76
Larry Winter ’83 and Jane Lee Winter
iColin Classic, Ltd.
Kohler Foundation, Inc.
John Kurtich Foundation for Study and Research
The Medtronic Foundation
Estate of †Jean (Amundson) Bravick ’57
Estate of †Jeffrey Haug ’93
Estate of †Kathryn (Ulvilden) Moen ’41
Estate of †Gerald Rockow
Estate of †Jean Severson ’60
† Deceased
Student Senate pulled together a rousing event on April 26 with the college’s first Campus Rodeo. Students—and college leaders, including President Brad Chamberlain (upper left) and vice president for advancement Mary Duvall (lower left)—rode a mechanical bull, participated in a hobby horse race and line dancing, waged water gun fights, and played carnival games.
Calendar
COMMENCEMENT
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Luther College
NORDIC FEST
Thursday, July 24–
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Decorah, Iowa
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Luther College
FAMILY WEEKEND
Friday, September 19–
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Luther College
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION
Friday, October 3, 2025
Luther College
HOMECOMING
Friday, October 3–
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Luther College
ONE TEAM DAY
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Luther College
CHRISTMAS AT LUTHER
Thursday, December 4–
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Luther College
Visit luther.edu for more information and to see all campus events.
SAVE THE DATE
Friday, October 3, 2025 Homecoming Weekend
Join us for the inauguration of Luther’s 12th president, Brad Chamberlain.
