2021-22 ANNUAL REPORT
Soli Deo Gloria,
William J. President,CraftConcordia College
So, dear friends and partners, we express our enduring gratitude for the gifts and strengths of our students, faculty, staff, and supporters that make these opportunities and achievements possible. In unity and in mission, we continue to build the Concordia where we learn, work, and lead for the sake of the world.
Racial Reparations Work
Small Groups, Big Results
Dear Concordia Family and Friends,
We believe deeply in the quality and value of a Concordia College education. Concordia has long been recognized as a responsible partner in helping students manage and limit student loans related to their educational expenses. Along with the college’s new structure for tuition — a 35% reduction in tuition price — the CobberAssurance program is additional evidence of this ongoing commitment to help students manage their college costs over the long term.
Esports Program
Concordia introduced a number of specialized academic interest programs, which the college calls cohorts, for incoming first-year students. Members of these cohorts have unique opportunities to interact and build community, experience compelling events and activities around a shared academic interest, and take deep dives into issues and ideas they care about. These cohort programs include Learn, Work, Lead Internships; Leadership Council; Women in Business; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and Environmental Leadership.
Affordability
Concordia will soon be offering varsity esports. Work has been completed to set up the esports space and state-of-the-art gaming equipment. The college will be joining the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), North America’s largest association of varsity esports programs.
Current and prospective educators can now deepen their understanding of teaching methods and earn a teaching license directly through two options in Concordia’s Master of Education programs, Teaching & Learning and Master of Education in World Language Instruction.
Greetings to you, alumni, friends, and partners in mission, from Concordia College. It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to share some noteworthy highlights and achievements from this past year.
Concordia is one of 10 higher education institutions selected to partner with the University of Michigan in the “Just Futures Initiative,” funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The funding supports research-informed reparation plans in partnership with local community organizations. Concordia’s focus will be continued work with Indigenous leaders to enhance the lives and opportunities for Native Americans in the region. Concordia College also is a member of the highly regarded Liberal Arts College Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA).
Competition is expected to begin in January 2023 with gaming space open to all students this fall.
New Master to Licensure Pathways for K-12 Educators
TABLE OF CONTENTS Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions ................... 1 2021-22 Enrollment Update .............. 3 Concordia College Highlights ............ 5 Concordia Language Villages Highlights ... 9 Presidential Search .................... 11 Advancement Highlights................ 13 2021-22 Fiscal Year Update ............. 15 Gifts to the College .................... 17 Board of Regents/President’s Cabinet .... 19
The building will be named the Heimarck Center in honor of Dr. Theodore Heimarck, who founded Concordia’s healthcare administration program in 1966 — the first
Heimarck Center will provide immersive learning experiences for students. The new labs and learning spaces will allow students to practice and learn with state-of-the-art technologies and methods. These new facilities will include:
• Nursing Simulation Lab
• Interview and Consultation Rooms
• Interactive Interdisciplinary Spaces
• Nutrition Assessment Lab
Now more than ever, Concordia recognizes the need to expand on the college’s strong history of educating sought-after health professionals and administrators.
Theeducation.new
historic commitment to Concordia over the next 10 years invests in Concordia’s health professions programs to help meet the rising need for a health professions workforce and improves the health and well-being of our surrounding community. In addition to this defining gift, Sanford has also donated the land and building just south of Concordia’s campus that will house the school after renovations are complete in 2023.
Concordia recognizes the importance of offering programs that provide interprofessional, interdisciplinary, and team-based approaches for students as they prepare for future careers in the health professions.
• Human Performance Lab
• Home Health Simulation Lab
“The school prepares students for a diverse range of health-related career paths — from leadership to direct care,” says Dr. Cynthia Carver ’74, inaugural dean of
There is currently a fundraising effort underway to raise the full $8.5 million needed to complete the renovations.
• Telehealth Space
In June 2021, Concordia announced the School of Health Professions would be renamed the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions to honor Sanford Health’s support of Concordia’s health professions education and its efforts to meet the critical workforce needs of the
• Healthcare Leadership Boardroom
undergraduate program of its kind built on a liberal arts
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Sanford’sregion.
To meet the rising need for nurses in our region and to improve the health and quality of life for our communities, Concordia’s new 12-month accelerated nursing program offers a fast-track to licensure as an RN (Registered Nurse).
MoreMinnesota.than97%
SANFORD HEIMARCK SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS NAMES NEW DEAN
Thisprogram.intensive program is ideal for students who have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue a career in nursing. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the Nursing Candidate Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become an RN and meet the qualifications for public health nurse registration in
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This marks a return home for Halaas, who grew up in Fargo-Moorhead and graduated in 1975 from Concordia. In 2021, she was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award and says that after reflecting on that experience she realized Concordia is where she wants to be.
CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE EXERCISE
After a national search, Dr. Gwen Wagstrom Halaas ’75 was named the new dean of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions.
PRE-HEALTHNURSINGHEALTHCARENUTRITION/DIETETICSSCIENCELEADERSHIP(B.S.N.)PROFESSIONS Pre-Athletic Pre-VeterinaryPre-PhysicianPre-PhysicalPre-PharmacyPre-OptometryPre-OccupationalPre-MedicinePre-DentistryPre-ChiropracticTrainingTherapyTherapyAssistantMedicine
SOCIAL WORK
“Concordia is excited to help rebuild the workforce and give our nation’s nurses some much needed help,” says Rebecca Amundsen, executive director of Concordia’s Graduate & Continuing Studies
in the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions have a strong grounding in the liberal arts. Within the school, there are undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, and graduate programs including:
the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions. “The curriculum is designed to emphasize collaborative ways of learning that mirror the team-based approach used in most health professions organizations
of our students pass the NCLEX-RN the first time, and graduates experience a 100% job placement rate within one year of completing the program.
Alltoday.”programs
NEW 12-MONTH ACCELERATED NURSING PROGRAM
Halaas most recently served as vice chancellor of Academic Affairs and professor with tenure at Washington State University Health Services in Spokane, Wash. Prior to Washington State University, Halaas held leadership and faculty positions at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the University of Minnesota Medical School and Academic Health Center. Halaas earned her medical degree at Harvard and trained in family medicine at the University of Minnesota and received an MBA in healthcare from the University of St. Thomas.
Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions programs and cutting-edge learning opportunities in enhanced facilities will ensure students are ready for the workforce as they apply their classroom learning in internships and clinical experiences. With interprofessional and interdisciplinary education as the guiding vision, students will be prepared to ethically and innovatively lead diverse teams and multifaceted health systems.
More than 47% reported an intention to play Division III 50% expressed an intention to participate in one of Concordia’s music and fine arts programs.
in promoting Concordia to prospective students.
Moreathletics.than
2021-22 Enrollment Update
TOP 12 HIGH SCHOOLS SENDING THE MOST FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS:
The 2021 incoming the largest.
tostrongactivitiesInvolvementpsychology,biology,andnursing.inco-curricularcontinuestobeareasonstudentschooseenrollatConcordia.
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eighth
As we welcome students to campus each fall, recognize the college
class consisted of 473 students, which included 42 international students from 34 different countries. Of the 17 schools in the Minnesota Private College Council, Concordia’s first-year class ranked
FALL FIRST-YEAR CLASS
- Moorhead - Detroit Lakes - Sheyenne, West Fargo - Fargo South - Alexandria - Davies, Fargo - Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton - Shanley, Fargo - Perham - Bemidji - Fargo North - Oak Grove, Fargo
The most popular academic programs are business, education,
we
the important role of alumni, parents, and friends of
Managing the cost of college is a concern for most families, and Concordia believes in the quality and value of a Concordia education. The CobberAssurance program supports students repaying their loans during their first careers after graduation, using a tiered income model.
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•
•
•
In 2021, Concordia established special academic interest programs, called cohorts, for incoming students to consider.
Environmental Leadership
Loan Repayment Assistance Program
•
Cohorts
•
COBBERASSURANCE
Women in Business
Learn, Work, Lead Internship Program
The cohorts establish small groups of students that share interests in these various academic programs. These small groups will form a sense of community, experience unique and compelling events and activities around a shared interest, and embark on deep dives into issues and ideas they care about.
ConcordiaCollege.edu/CobberAssurance
A total of 1,919 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled for fall 2021 including 113 international students from 62 countries providing a rich diversity of culture, faith, and worldview to the overall learning environment at the college. Forty-seven transfer students were enrolled in the fall of 2021, with the top five sources being Minnesota State Community and Technical College, North Dakota State University, Gustavus Adolphus College, North Dakota State College of Science, and University of Minnesota.
STEM
include:
Leadership Council
22% OF STUDENTS JOIN ENSEMBLESMUSIC 28% OF STUDENTS ARE ATHLETES 65% OFARESTUDENTSFROM MINNESOTA 20% OFARESTUDENTSFROM NORTH DAKOTA FALL 2021 TOTAL ENROLLMENT
ACADEMIC COHORTS
Concordia College Highlights
Chris Kenney ’14
As the Metropolitan Opera started its 2021-22 season, it did so with a Concordia alumnus on stage. Chris Kenney ’14 played Chester in “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” The opera details the life of Charles M. Blow, a New York Times columnist, as he overcomes trauma and hardships stemming from his youth in the Deep South. It was composed by jazz artist Terence Blanchard. “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” is the first opera at the Met by a Black composer.
PAULYSIMONCREDIT:IMAGE
In 2018, Kenney made his professional mainstage debut with the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center playing Figaro in “The Barber of WhenSeville.”Kenney is not on stage, he is likely in the air enjoying his passion for flying. He is now a certified flight instructor.
GRAD PERFORMS AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
INCREASING DIVERSITY ON K-12 LIBRARY SHELVES
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This year’s program ended with a presentation to families, Concordia leaders, and Moorhead district administrators explaining what they learned from and liked about the book and how they related to the characters. The program was funded by the Minnesota Department of Education through the federal government’s Library Services and Technology Act. If funding is available next year, it may be expanded to include seventh graders.
Concordia students have been working with eighth graders at Moorhead’s Horizon Middle School for the past two years to help teach them how to bring more diverse books to their current and future libraries. The RIDE, or Reading for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Program, uses an assessment tool based on scholar Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s essay, “Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors,” which details the importance of readers being able to see themselves in books.
At a workshop on campus, the group of eighth graders picked a book and were partnered with Concordia students who acted as peer mentors to guide the younger students’ work as they learned key literacy concepts, such as implicit bias, intersectionality, and privilege. Eighth graders were chosen as an age group because of their curiosity as well as their maturity level to handle a variety of topics.
— William J. Craft, President
CONCORDIA WELCOMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FAITH AND LEARNING
A team of five students, Anna Larson ’23, Lauren Taylor ’23, Joana Acosta-Palmeros ’23, Katelyn Lundeen ’21, and Mya Hassebrock ’23, focused their PEAK project in Dr. Kenneth Foster’s Environmental Politics and Policy course on the possible passage of a Climate Emergency Resolution in Moorhead.
CONCORDIA STUDENTS SUPPORT CITY OF MOORHEAD ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ISSUES
“In serving as Concordia’s first executive director for Faith and Learning, Michael Chan can bring together the different expressions of our Lutheran heritage — in worship, in vocation, in interfaith dialogue — to engage students, faculty, and staff from across the college and our neighbors in the communities beyond campus.”
the Old Testament and works with the ELCA to promote interfaith dialogue and mutual learning between Lutherans and their Jewish neighbors. He also hosts a podcast that engages a diverse range of scholars, artists, and activists. Chan holds degrees from Pacific Lutheran University (B.A.), Luther Seminary (M.A.), and Emory University (Ph.D.).
The team conducted a survey of Concordia students and submitted their report to the mayor and city council members. The results showed that most students strongly or somewhat agree that it is important that the community actively work to address environmental issues. When asked which areas officials should give priority attention to, students’ top choices were climate change by reducing carbon emissions, waste reduction and recycling, renewable energy, and the health of the Red River.
The City of Moorhead recently approved a climate resolution, and support for that decision came from Concordia students.
Half of survey respondents reported that they would be more likely to try to stay in Fargo or Moorhead after graduation if the city was prioritizing work to make Moorhead a more environmentally friendly city and a leader in responding to climate change. The report encouraged the city, as it makes decisions, to hear the voice of the student body.
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Concordia College welcomed Dr. Michael Chan as the executive director for Faith and Learning. In his new position, Chan will direct the Lorentzsen and Dovre centers, guide Concordia’s interfaith relationships, and oversee the work of Campus Ministry. He will also serve as a member of the president’s Chancabinet.is a scholar and faith leader of exceptional breadth and accomplishment. He was formerly associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He has authored numerous books and articles on
The National Science Foundation (NSF) promotes science and funds research conducted at U.S. colleges and universities and the Noyce program supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate majors and professionals to become effective K-12 STEM teachers. The Noyce program was named for Robert Noyce (1927-1990), co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, who invented the integrated circuit or microchip, which set off the computing revolution that still continues to this day.
Hammer applied for the Rossing Scholarship in early February after being nominated by the physics department. She has been regularly involved in research with Dr. Thelma Berquó, associate professor of physics, and believes her summer research experience in general had an impact on her receiving the scholarship. She plans on going to graduate school for environmental science or for physics with a focus on environmental phenomena after graduation.
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CONCORDIA STUDENT NAMED 2022-23 ROSSING SCHOLAR
NOYCE SCHOLARS – FUTURE LEADERS
of Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching: Concordia grad Lisa Conzemius ’89 at D.L. and Michelle Bertsch at Fargo North.
Mikala Hammer ’23 received a $5,000 Rossing Fund for Physics Education Endowment Scholarship. The award is given each year to outstanding physics students selected from across the nation and this is the third year in a row that Concordia has had a Rossing scholar. The scholarship program was created in 2005 by Thomas D. Rossing, a former professor at St. Olaf College, through the ELCA Foundation. It’s designed to be used for students’ tuition to help ease the burden of pursuing a degree and encourages students to study physics at ELCA schools.
Dr. Mark Causapin, assistant professor of mathematics, was excited to recruit six students for the first cohort of Noyce scholars because “they’re given scholarships and top-notch training so they can work in high-needs schools as math teachers when they graduate.”
Molly Wilde ’23, Emily Miller ’24, and Nelson Weniger ’23 interned at Detroit Lakes High School (D.L.), Detroit Lakes, Minn., while David Miller ’23, Isaac Fisher ’24, and Samantha Holmberg ’23 were at Fargo North High School, Fargo, N.D. The six worked with two recipients
Concordia plans to graduate 16 highly qualified mathematics teacher-leaders within five years, with degrees in both mathematics and education, who will work in high-need schools.
In March 2020, Concordia College was awarded a $1.2 million National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship grant to implement the Mathematics Teacher-Leaders Honors Program. The program’s goals are to address the critical shortage of mathematics teachers in rural school districts in Minnesota and North Dakota and produce teachers who will be leaders in both their schools and in the field of mathematics education.
Concordia had a record-setting 126 student-athletes earn MIAC Academic All-Conference honors this past year. The Cobber football and women’s track and field teams led the way with each program having 15 student-athletes receiving conference academic distinction. The women’s tennis and swimming and diving teams had the largest percentage of its studentathletes receive the honor.
Gaming has been a passion for Noah Hanson ’22 and James Jehlik, associate director of Academic and User Technology Services, for as long as they can remember. They know what it’s like to have a hobby that was not always accepted by people, but competitive gaming has grown to become a billiondollar industry, with tournaments filling stadiums around the world and millions more watching online.
GAME ON! CONCORDIA LAUNCHES ESPORTS PROGRAM
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The first games will be League of Legends and Rocket League. League of Legends is a strategy game where two teams compete to destroy the others’ base. Rocket League has race cars playing soccer in a domed arena. Competition is expected to begin in January 2023.
Concordia College is now getting in on the action. The college has announced it will be offering esports as a varsity option for students. It will be joining the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), the largest association of varsity esports programs in North America. With a NACE membership, Concordia will be able to broadcast games for fans on the streaming service Twitch.
ALL-AMERICAN ISAHAK
Former Fargo South graduate Munir Isahak ’22 had a senior season for the record books. Originally from Sudan, he earned All-American honors at the NCAA Cross Country Championship Meet, won the MIAC Championship Meet, and proceeded to go on and break the school record in the mile, 3,000 and 5,000 meters during the indoor track and field season and then the 3,000 and 10,000 meters during the outdoor season. Isahak became the first Cobber to earn All-American honors in cross country since 1987 and his victory at the MIAC Championship Meet was a first by a Concordia athlete since 1991. To cap off his achievements at Concordia, Isahak was named Male Athlete of the Year at the Golden Cobbs award ceremony.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
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The strategic plan was inclusive, capturing input from many internal and external stakeholder groups. With a focus on renewal over the next three years, the main priority areas to strengthen the core foundation of the organization include: operations management, site maintenance and renewal, and revenue diversification.
Concordia Language Villages Highlights
The global pandemic that began in early 2020 provided an opportunity for Concordia Language Villages to reflect on its growth over the years, its operational practices, and its fiscal model to reimagine a path forward that embraces a holistic, year-round strategic plan to support and enhance the organization as a whole. While the plan focuses more on operational needs, it is important to note that the organization’s progress made developing outstanding programs, both in depth and breadth, remains a cornerstone of the existing foundation, and a critical component of every program.
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Summer 2021 saw a return to youth residential programming, welcoming approximately 1,200 four-week villagers to the Turtle River Lake site in addition to virtual programming participants. With a greatly reduced capacity, a closed site, and multiple mitigation measures in place, all children remained COVID-free.
The Concordia Language Training Center (LTC) received a request to develop and implement virtual immersion courses in Ukrainian for U.S. military personnel with strong proficiency skills in Russian.
Over the timeframe of March to May 2022, the LTC implemented three such courses allowing more than 20 airmen, soldiers, and sailors to develop significant language and culture expertise in Ukrainian.
Beth Renner ’91 Regent
Troy Butner ’90 Regent
Gary Henderson ’79 Regent and Search Committee Chair
Megan Myrdal ’09 RepresentativeAlumni
Greta Almlie ’24 Student
Dan Biebighauser ’02 Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences
Mary Pechauer Regent Harold Pope ’77 Regent
Shontarius Aikens Faculty, School of Business
The Board of Regents met in late January 2022 to give direction to many critical organizing elements for the presidential search. It was at this time that the Regents endorsed the appointment of the following people to serve on the Presidential Search Committee:
Mary Ranum ’78 Board of Regents Chair
“We are energized for the work and feel blessed to serve Concordia in this way. We are clear that the faithful selection of the next president is a sacred task with generational significance.”
Kristin Bortnem ’97 Staff, Advancement
Presidential Search
John Tunheim ’75 Former Regent John Ydstie ’74 Regent
Rachel Hollstadt ’70 Former Regent Mark Jordahl ’82 Regent
Kristi Loberg ’93 Faculty, School of Health Professions
Rachel Bergeson ’05 Staff, Athletics
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– Gary Henderson ’79, Regent and Search Committee Chair
In December 2021, President William Craft announced his decision to retire effective July 1, 2023. As a result, the process to find the 12th president of Concordia College is underway, and a great deal of work has already been accomplished by the Presidential Search Committee and their partners.
Eh Lar Student’23
Jeff Cadwell ’89 National Alumni Board President
on this feedback and in collaboration with the Presidential Search Committee, Academic Search developed a presidential search prospectus to provide an overview of Concordia College, outline key priorities and institutional needs, and describe the desired characteristics for the next president. The position was posted in a number of venues including The Chronicle of Higher Education, Diverse Education, Inside Higher Ed, and others. The
The Board of Regents has also made the determination that the search will be done in a confidential manner. This means there will not be open sessions with the finalists at the end of the process. A confidential search provides candidates the opportunity to explore and pursue the presidency of Concordia College without risk of compromising their current positions. It enables Concordia to attract the most talented and highly qualified candidates, most of whom we anticipate will hold key leadership positions at other institutions or organizations. This approach is essential given the pervasiveness of social media and instant communications of today’s world.
Representatives from Academic Search visited campus on April 7 and 8, 2022, to gather the community’s thoughts and input about Concordia’s special characteristics and future needs and priorities. Those who were unable to attend the sessions were invited to share their thoughts via a confidential Basedsurvey.
DECEMBERAnnouncedRetirement2021JANUARY 2022 Appointed Presidential Search Committee APRIL 2022 Developed Presidential Search Prospectus OCTOBERApplication2022Deadline JULY 2023 NewBeginsPresident SEPTEMBER 2022 BeginApplicationsReviewing EARLY ofAnnouncement2023NewPresident
search consultants will also be contacting potential candidates through their broad networks and encouraging them to apply. Community members are also invited and encouraged to confidentially nominate possible candidates by sending their name and contact information directly to ConcordiaPresident@academicsearch.org. The Presidential Search Committee will begin the process of reviewing all applications in September.
The Presidential Search Committee is excited about this work and has confidence the search will bring the college community an accomplished, creative, and charismatic leader who will set an ambitious course for the future of Concordia College.
This group is made up of people from many different backgrounds and all with a deep commitment to serving Concordia in the sacred work of discerning who will be called as our next president. Each of these individuals have made a commitment to the time and work that will be required of the Alsocommittee.inJanuary, the Board of Regents met with representatives from Academic Search, who will serve as partners to facilitate the search process. The team from Academic Search will be led by its president, Jay Lemons, along with Sharon Herzberger and Jennifer Kooken.
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Advancement Highlights
This initiative not only provides critical scholarship dollars to ensure that a Concordia experience is accessible to prospective and returning students, but it also inspires the next generation of donors by encouraging and supporting donors to create a family legacy in the form of named scholarships.
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In Fall 2020, Concordia College unveiled Concordia NOW – a strategic shift that ushered in a new tuition pricing model to provide clarity for prospective students and their parents about the true cost of a Concordia education. Two-thirds of students who applied to Concordia but did not ultimately attend ended up enrolling in public universities — the main reason being cost. In conjunction with Concordia NOW, the Office of Advancement launched a corresponding initiative to increase scholarship funding by $10 million — the Concordia NOW Scholarship Initiative.
Endowed Scholarship Restricted Scholarship ScholarshipsRestricted $2,320,056 24% ScholarshipsEndowed $7,320,017 76%
As of April 30, 2022, a total of $9,640,073 has been committed among outright gifts, pledges, and deferred commitments. Of that total, 76% is for endowed scholarships and the remaining 24% for current restricted scholarships.
Scholarship
PROGRESS TO $10M GOAL (AS OF 4.30.22) $492,582 Outright Gifts Current Pledges Deferred Commitments $9,640,073 $5,183,489 $3,964,002 $10M
The success of this fundraising effort is in large part due to generous donors who contributed matching dollars to create new or enhance existing endowed scholarships. In this fiscal year alone, 27 new endowed scholarships were created and 12 existing ones were bolstered with new donor dollars and matching dollars. Breakdown
CONCORDIA NOW SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE
Scholarship-matching donors inspire during lifetime and beyond
“Thanks to the donors who support my education through endowed scholarships, I have the opportunity to expand my education and network with many individuals both on and off campus.”
A native of Hendrum, Minn., and gifted athlete, Wayne Thorson attended Concordia College after serving in World War II and quickly became a star on the men’s basketball team. A flashy guard, he would be credited with the first behind-the-back pass in Cobber basketball history — a memory that his coach, Jake Christiansen, would often recall.
LEADING WITH HEART
We stand on the shoulders of the giants who went before us, and Concordia has been blessed to have had Wayne and Beverly Thorson be among those giants. Soli Deo Gloria!
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donors in the “Update the Jake” renovation of the outdoor athletic facilities and the Thorson Athletic Complex. Wayne and Beverly were philanthropic but always understood the value of motivating others to be as well. At Wayne’s passing, a gift was made to Concordia College that not only established the Wayne and Beverly Thorson Family Endowed Scholarship but also provided $450,000 to be used as matching funds for the Concordia NOW Scholarship Initiative to inspire others to create and build their own endowed scholarships.
Thorson served on numerous boards, but his connections to Concordia and to the community of Bemidji led him to accept positions with the Concordia College Board of Regents and the Concordia Language Villages (CLV) Advisory Board. Here his relationships would continue to grow. His in-kind donations of materials and labor to CLV enabled many roads to be built at the villages and the main road to be named in his and Beverly’s honor — Thorsonveien. In 2010, the Thorsons became lead
Abby Freeland ’22, Mayville, N.D.
Majors: Accounting, Political Science
Minor: International Affairs
Thorson would make lifelong friends at Concordia but after his marriage to wife, Beverly, a lack of financial resources would cause him to leave school early in order to go to work. In business, he would display the same discipline and competitive spirit that had made him a great athlete. His drive and business acumen would lead him to become the owner of a highly successful road construction business located in Bemidji, Minn.
The college is grateful for the continued support from individuals and businesses that provided more than 9.5% of the operating revenue for the year.
remain in this post-pandemic world; chief among them are demographic and societal trends that impact enrollment. This challenge is shared by colleges and universities across the state of Minnesota and the country. Amid these challenges, Concordia remains committed to a transformational learning and living experience for current students and for generations of students yet to come.
$179,016,457
Market value over time
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Fiscal Year Update
Highlighting the college’s commitment to student access, 40 of the 49 new endowments cre ated in 2022 were for scholarships. These gifts will increase the amount of endowed spending for student scholarships in the years to come. En dowed spending also provides funding for special programs, faculty development, student research, and diversity initiatives.
Challengeslife.
Operating revenues and expenses increased over the prior year, primarily due to the resumption of inperson villager experiences at Concordia Language Villages. College tuition and fees provided the largest percentage of revenue, followed by Auxiliary Enterprises (including Residence Life, Dining Services, Cobber Bookstore, and Cobber Kids), and Independent Operations (including Concordia Language Villages).
Included in revenues and expenses for fiscal year 2022 is $4,192,333 of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds. Like prior years, these funds were used to support our students in the form of emergency grants and to replace lost revenues in other areas of campus
&RevenuesExpenses
Concordia’s endowment was at $179,016,457 as of April 30, 2022. The value of the endowment has been impacted by the volatility of the market; however, the college’s long-standing tradition of strong fiscal policies, quality managers, and sea soned advisors will sustain the portfolio through the current market trends.
ENDOWMENT
15 110,000,000120,000,000130,000,000140,000,000150,000,000160,000,000170,000,000180,000,000190,000,000 2021-22
16 REVENUES TOTAL: $74,902,743 EXPENSES TOTAL: $74,902,743Independent$7,142,587Operations Endowment$8,511,829Income Tuition and $28,547,598*Fees Private Gifts and Grants $7,177,033Government$6,590,469GrantsAuxiliaryEnterprises$13,584,909 Other$3,348,318Sources $10,540,707Enterprises*Auxiliary Operation MaintenanceandofPlant$5,713,306 $17,904,013InstructionInstitutionalSupport$12,007,751 Student Research/PublicAcademic$10,976,444ServicesSupport$4,863,983Service$403,088 Debt, Capital and Independent$3,941,731ReserveOperations*$8,551,720 *Additional expenses for Auxiliary Enterprises and Independent Operations such as amounts for debt service are included in Debt, Capital and Reserve. *Tuition and fees are reported net of scholarships and grants of $22,492,127
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Founders Society, the college’s recognition program for individuals who have thoughtfully and generously included Concordia College and/or Concordia Language Villages in their estate plans, welcomed 27 new members into the society in 2021-22. Concordia College and Concordia Language Villages 2014
Toward the goal in “Concordia Leads: The Plan for 2030” of raising the endowment to $200 million, 49 new endowments were created and $5,354,829 in new gifts were added. Donors supported many programs including music, scholarships, research, and faculty development.
0 5000000 10000000 15000000 20000000 25000000 30000000 a TOTAL GIFT INCOMES for
Fiscal year 2021-22 was another unique year for fundraising. The goal was set at $14.4 million based on multiple factors including historical data, current fundraising climate, and anticipated market fluctuations. There was a significant gift of property in the form of the Sanford Clinic, which will become the new home of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions. The end result was a solid fundraising year, surpassing the goal by 43% for a total of $20,605,894 thanks to the gifts of alumni, parents, villagers, and friends who generously supported the mission.
providing $505,000 in individual scholarship awards of $5,000 to support student access.
2013
The Cobber Fund and Village Annual Fund, with the help of over 6,000 donors, raised more than $3.6 million for student and villager scholarships and important operational needs. The Legacy Scholarship Society secured 101 scholarships,
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 $11,750,693 $20,605,894$14,077,009 $19,969,983 $14,846,419 $21,267,660 $14,010,484 $23,708,897 $27,934,549
Gifts to the College
$11,455,020
18 GIFTS BY TYPE Deferred$238,321Gifts Unrestricted Bequests $2,224,435 $6,628,356Capital $2,679,618Restricted The Cobber Fund and Village Annual $3,666,784FundEndowment$5,168,380 Total Giving for Concordia College and Concordia Language Villages: $20,605,894 GIFTS BY SOURCE Corporations FundraisingFoundationsGovernmentand34%andConsortia10.5%ELCAandChurchOrganizations0.2% FriendsAlumni35.9%Parents2.7%16.7%
Stephanie Lundquist ’98, Hamel, Minn. Chief Human Resources Officer, Cargill
Dr. Douglas Hastad ’71, Onalaska, Wis. President Emeritus, Carroll University
Rev. William Tesch, Detroit Lakes, Minn. Bishop, ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod
**Advisory member, churchwide representative
Dr. Julie A. Blehm ’74, Fargo, N.D. Senior Medical Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
Jeff Cadwell*, Park Rapids, Minn. President, National Alumni Board of Directors
Victor A. Everson ’73, Minnetrista, Minn. President, CLA LLC
Corey L. Haaland ’86, Edina, Minn.
Board of Regents
Troy J. Butner ’90, Hingham, Mass. Partner, Ernst & Young
Rev. Gary R. Henderson ’79, Nashville, Tenn.
Beth Renner ’91, Fargo, N.D. National Director of Philanthropic Services, Wells Fargo
Jean E. Bye ’79, Mankato, Minn. President and CEO, Dotson Iron Castings
John E. Ydstie ’74, Chevy Chase, Md. Correspondent/Host, National Public Radio
Dr. Richard L. Torgerson ’64, Edina, Minn. President Emeritus, Luther College and Senior Consultant, AGB Search
Tammy L. Lee ’93, Minneapolis, Minn. CEO, NanoCore
MaryAnn Anderson ’80, Minneapolis, Minn. Executive Coach, LECNA Fellows
Dr. Bradley Miller, Minneapolis, Minn. Founder, Runestone Interactive, LLC
2021-22 19
Rev. Mary Pechauer, Minneapolis, Minn. Co-lead Pastor, Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Mark S. Jordahl ’82, Minneapolis, Minn. President, Wealth Management, US Bancorp
Dr. Kathryn E. Hasbargen ’95, Fargo, N.D. Senior Partner Communications Manager, Microsoft Corporation
James E. Senske ’75, Eden Prairie, Minn. Chair and CEO, Commerce Bank and President, Commerce Label, Inc.
Dr. Mark N. Wilhelm**, Chicago, Ill. Executive Director, Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities, ELCA-Domestic Mission
David J. Horazdovsky ’78, Sioux Falls, S.D. Former President and CEO, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society
Harold Pope ’77, Detroit, Mich. Litigator, Dykema
Rev. Jennifer L. Nagel ’94, Minneapolis, Minn. Lead Pastor, University Lutheran Church of Hope Ronald D. Offutt ’64, Fargo, N.D. Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Board, R.D. Offutt Company and RDO Equipment Company
Chief Relationship Officer – Global Partnerships, United Methodist Communications
*Advisory member, President of the National Alumni Board of Directors
Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Target Corporation
CHAIR: Mary S. Ranum ’78, Circle Pines, Minn. Chair, Board of Directors, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Dr. Roland D. Martinson ’64, New Brighton, Minn. Retired Academic Dean and Professor Emeritus, Luther Seminary
20
President’s Cabinet 2022-23
Dr. Michael J. Chan Executive Director for Faith and Learning
Dr. Susan J. Larson Provost and Dean of the College
Dr. Jill M. Abbott Deputy to the President
Rev. Terry A. Brandt Vice President for Advancement
Linda J. Brown ’73 Vice President for Finance/Treasurer
Dr. Lisa M. Sethre-Hofstad ’91 Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life
Dr. Karl A. Stumo ’92 Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing
Dr. William J. Craft President
925119/150/0922 Office of Advancement 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56562 ConcordiaCollege.edu
