Concordia College Magazine 2023

Dear Concordia Family and Friends,

Greetings to you, friends and partners in mission, from Concordia College. I write to you with updates on the four pillars of our strategic plan, Concordia Leads: The Plan for 2030. We are delighted to provide these progress updates as we keep eyes firmly focused on the horizon ahead while holding firm to the foundation beneath us that is Concordia. We rejoice with you as we advance the great mission of this college and continue to influence the affairs of the world.

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEARNING

Small Groups, Big Results

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 Internship; Leadership Council; Women in Business; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Discovery; and Environmental Leadership.

New Learners, Expanded Options

The college has used a comprehensive program feasibility process to guide decisions about adding new programs to continue meeting student and workforce needs. This process has been an important component in guiding the college’s strategic addition of programs through Concordia’s Graduate and Continuing Studies Office. The college’s many programs now include a 12-month accelerated baccalaureate in nursing, dietetic internship/Master of Science in nutrition, Master of Education in teaching and learning, Master of Music in music education, Master of Education in world language instruction, graduate language certificate, Master of Education for optional path to teaching licensure, postbaccalaureate pre-med program, the Concordia Language Institute, and several professional development seminars for working adults. The newest graduate program, a Master of Science in data management and quantitative science, is in the final stages of review by the college’s accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission.

EXCELLENCE THROUGH DIVERSITY

Racial Reparations Work

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.

WHOLENESS AND HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY

Center for Holistic Health

Student Development and Campus Life has reimagined the current student counseling and health services to create a Center for Holistic Health, which will use a service model to develop students into proactive caretakers of their own health and wellness. The center will employ a director to bring strategic vision for the guidance of the center’s work.

FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

Esports Program Launches

Concordia is now offering varsity esports. The college has joined the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), North America’s largest association of varsity esports programs and work has been completed on the esports space and installation of state-of-the-art gaming equipment. The development of the program provides a strategic opportunity to achieve enrollment growth through a focus on in-demand programming.

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. Hearts together, in unity and in mission, we continue to build the Concordia where we learn, work, and lead for the sake of the world.

Soli Deo gloria.

President William J. Craft

Managing Editor: Kelly Heyer

Content Editor: Tracey Bostick

Art Direction: Caleb Fugleberg

Design: Lori Steedsman Communications

Anna Benson, Tracey Bostick, James Cella, Gunnar Fering, Ali Froslie, Caleb Fugleberg, Candace Harmon, Kelly Heyer, Kim Kappes, Joshua Lysne, Eme Otto, John Phelps, Kyle Ronsberg, Jordan Ryan, Alexandra Samion, Zoe Schwab, Kirsten Stave, Lori Steedsman, Dr. Karl Stumo

Board of Regents Names 12th President

Concordia College has announced Dr. Colin Irvine as the college’s 12th president effective July 1, 2023. He currently serves as provost and executive vice president at Augustana University, Sioux Falls, S.D. Irvine succeeds Dr. William Craft , who is retiring after 12 years of service.

“Colin is the perfect person to lead Concordia in the coming years as the landscape of higher education changes and evolves,” said Mary Ranum ’78, chair of the Board of Regents. “He has a deep understanding of the mission and values of Concordia and Lutheran higher education.”

Irvine brings a passion and proven track record for increasing diversity to further Concordia’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Under his leadership, the university created four academic schools and a Center for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship. Through strategic business and healthcare partnerships, Irvine led the creation of a Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, launching several fast-growing programs.

“I am truly honored to be named as Concordia’s next president, and I am excited and eager to bring

my passion for the liberal arts, for experiential education, and for innovative and unique programs to the exciting work happening on campus and among the full Cobber community of caring and invested alumni,” Irvine said.

Prior to Augustana, Irvine was senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of Carroll College in Helena, Mont. He taught English, education, and environmental studies at Augsburg University from 2002-15. Irvine earned his doctorate in English from Marquette University, a Master of Arts in American studies from the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and history at Carroll College. He is the recipient of three Fulbright awards.

An outdoors enthusiast, Irvine is an avid runner, having finished 12 marathons, and loves water skiing and wakeboarding, downhill skiing, and backpacking. Cooking, traveling, reading, and writing are other passions, but his favorite activity is spending time with his family. He and his wife, Kelly, the chief marketing and communications officer for the wealth management company Carlson Capital Management, have two children.

Concordia Students Awarded Eddie Phillips Scholarship

Three Concordia College students were selected to receive the Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African American Men, a two-year program created and coordinated by the Minnesota Private College Fund. It is designed to help students launch their careers after graduation.

Demetrius Turrentine , Colin Conteh , and Jacob Parmer, all juniors, began the program this past summer with 16 other students from eight participating Minnesota institutions. Seniors Patrick Smith and Telvan Vah were awarded the scholarship in 2021.

In addition to funds during their junior and senior years, the students receive valuable experiences,

including advising, mentoring, and leadership development opportunities. They participate in internships, attend a national conference, and network with local African American leaders.

French Government Honors Professor, Alumna

Dr. Gay Rawson , French professor and chair of world languages and cultures, and Liane Mattson ’72 were each named a Chevalier (knight) of the Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms) from the French Ministry of Education. The national award distinguishes their promotion of the French language and culture.

Rawson has traveled the world sharing her expertise and has led students working

and learning in Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Switzerland, and Vietnam. Rawson has experience teaching French to all ages, including toddlers in the Cobber Kids early education center.

Mattson recalled a May Seminar to France when she was a student as a turning point in her life. She became a French teacher and worked as a counselor at Concordia Language Villages. She is currently co-director of Language & Friendship Inc., a nonprofit created by Naomi Toso Thomsen ’68 that helps provide language teachers and students with educational programs.

State Department Selects Professor for Program

Dr. Anne Walker, professor of education, was selected by the U.S. Department of State for a prestigious English Language Specialist (ELS) project held virtually with the Russian National Association of Teachers of English (NATE). She delivered a keynote address at the NATE conference in October titled “The Future of Teaching English to Young Learners.” She also led a workshop for Russian K-6 teachers.

The Specialist Program is an opportunity for leaders in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way English is taught abroad.

Walker previously spent three weeks as a specialist working with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education in rural areas of Saudi Arabia. She has also conducted several State Departmentfunded teacher exchange and training programs for English teachers from Russia, Turkey, and 11 developing countries across the globe.

Two Composition Students See World Premieres of Their Pieces

At 16, Jacob Shay ’23 was trying his hand at writing music. At 21, he attended the world premiere of his commissioned piece “Spark!” by a symphony orchestra in October. Shay submitted some of his music to Dr. Kevin Sütterlin, associate professor of instrumental conducting and conductor of The Concordia Orchestra who is also the music director for the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, one of Wisconsin’s finest professional orchestras. Instead of only receiving recommendations from Sütterlin on his pieces, Shay was invited to write an overture for Fox Valley.

“Jacob is quite talented; I immediately loved his bright and colorful instrumentations, beautiful melodies, and overall imaginative ideas,” Sütterlin said. “I remember thinking ‘wow, this guy really has a gift.’ I asked him to write a short concert opener that is exciting, exhilarating, has lots of forward momentum, and will have the audience on the edge of their seats gasping for air in the first minutes of the concert.”

Frederick Robin ’24 was in the audience as the Roma Tre Orchestra performed the world premiere of his piece in November

at Teatro Palladium in Rome, Italy. After connecting on social media, Robin collaborated with the orchestra and its artistic director, Valerio Vicari, on “Rondo in A Major,” which opened the concert “Africa! On the Occasion of the World Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.” A multimedia performance, it was the orchestra’s first performance “fusing olfactory art and orchestral music,” because Robin is also a perfumer –scented strips of paper were distributed to attendees to smell while listening to the composition.

Robin started loosely composing as a child, taking piano lessons at age 4 and, by age 10, he was manipulating music to his own style and started studying perfumery after founding the olfactory lifestyle brand Studio FSR with his mom when he was 14.

Robin currently studies with Dr. Doug Harbin, associate professor of music theory and composition, who said, “Frederick’s premiere is a wonderful example of a Concordia student who has taken action to move beyond the classroom to generate his own opportunities and to engage new communities through his music.”

Above: Frederick Robin ’24

Top: Jacob Shay ’23

Awards Presented at State of the College

The Reuel and Alma Wije Distinguished Professorship and four Ole and Lucy Flaat awards were presented at the State of the College event in August.

The Flaat awards were endowed by Ole and Lucy Flaat, lifelong farmers in the Red River Valley. The Reuel and Alma Wije Professorship recognizes superior classroom teaching and significant service to the college and the church.

From left: Gay Rawson, James Postema, Lisa Sjoberg (Strand and Foster were unable to attend)

The Reuel and Alma Wije Distinguished Professorship

Dr. Gay Rawson, Professor of French; Chair of World Languages and Cultures

Ole and Lucy Flaat Inclusive Excellence Award

Dr. James Postema , Chair/Professor of English

Ole and Lucy Flaat Distinguished Service Award

Lisa Sjoberg ’02, Registrar; Director of the First-Year Honors Program

Ole and Lucy Flaat Distinguished Teaching Award

Dr. Krys Strand ’96, Associate Professor of Biology; Director of Neuroscience; Director of National Fellowships and Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Ole and Lucy Flaat Distinguished Advisor Award

Dr. Kenneth Foster, Chair/Professor of Political Science; Director of Community Engagement

Concordia Receives National Science Foundation Grant

The National Science Foundation awarded a $303,000 Major Research Instrumentation grant to Concordia College to acquire equipment for geophysical and magnetic materials research. The cryogenic physical properties measurement system has a superconducting magnet and can measure electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties of materials over a broad temperature range (50 to 1000 kelvin).

“This is a big deal for Concordia because this instrument is usually only found at large research universities,” said Dr. Thelma Berquó, associate professor of physics and principal investigator for the grant.

“I have been dreaming

about this for years and am beyond happy that it is now a reality.”

In addition to advancing her research, Berquó will use the equipment while teaching advanced physics labs, materials science, and geology courses – furthering Concordia’s mission to train the next generation of scientists using modern technology and laboratory techniques. Higher education institutions in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota will also have access to the device as will area companies looking for help with researching production materials.

The NSF, which funds research conducted at U.S. colleges and universities, is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense.”

Two New Master to Licensure Pathways for Educators

Concordia College has added two direct licensure pathways in its Master of Education programs: Teaching & Learning and Master of Education in World Language Instruction. Both programs provide current and prospective K-12 educators with in-depth, relevant coursework leading to a deeper understanding of current teaching methods.

As part of the Master of Education with a concentration in Teaching & Learning, students seeking licensure will take the required undergraduate education courses needed for licensure in chemistry, language artscommunications, life science, math, PE-health, or social studies. The courses are designed to prepare teachers to sit for the National Board Certification.

Concordia is also now offering a teaching licensure pathway through the Master of Education in World Language Instruction program for Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic, Hmong, Somali, and Karen.

Minnesota is home to some of the largest concentrations of Karen-speaking, Hmong, and Somali populations.

Concordia is the first school in Minnesota to provide a licensure for Karen, and one of only two Minnesota institutions to license for Hmong and Somali.

Recognizing Retirees

Twenty-two members of the faculty and staff retired during the 2021-22 academic year. They have a combined total of 608 years. Honored retirees include: Anita Brandenburg , Cobber Kids, 27 years; Dr. Dan Breedon , Music, 47 years; Dr. Richard Chapman , History, 32 years; Dr. Laurie Dahley, Social Work, 17 years; Heidi Goldberg , Art, 27 years; Peggy Goodman , ITS, 26 years; Jon Gunderson , Facilities Management, 14 years; Peter Halverson ’75, Music, 39 years; Joel Hanson, CLV Facilities, 26 years; Daryl Johnson , Facilities, 18 years; Richard Jorgensen, Facilities Management, 26 years; Dr. Albert Kagan , Offutt School of Business, 12 years; Paul King , Facilities Management, 20 years; David Klug ’80, Athletics, 32 years; Larry Kvalvog , Facilities Management, 28 years; Debra Langseth ’80, Facilities Management, 22 years; Barbara Martin , Admission, 18 years; Mary Olek , CSTA and English, 35 years; Dr. Larry Papenfuss , Advancement, 28 years; Donna Preston , Facilities Management, 38 years; Dr. Mary Rice, World Languages and Cultures (Spanish), 34 years; and Philip Thompsen ’79, ITS, 42 years.

New Dean of Arts and Sciences Named

Dr. Sonja Wentling , professor of history, has been appointed to serve as the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and began her three-year term in July. She said she looks forward to identifying the strengths, opportunities, and aspirations of the school and helping facilitate conversations and assessment activities among departments and interdisciplinary programs.

Wentling earned a master’s degree in European history and German from the University of Vienna in Austria, a master’s degree in American history from Southern Illinois University, and a doctorate in American foreign relations from Kent State University in Ohio. She joined the Concordia faculty in 2003.

Retirees who attended the event (l-r from top) include Philip Thompsen, Larry Papenfuss, President Craft, Peter Halverson, Laurie Dahley, Anita Brandenburg, Mary Rice, Donna Preston, Richard Chapman, Peggy Goodman, and Mary Olek.

Bucky Burgau Field to Undergo Renovation

Concordia Athletic Director Rachel Bergeson ’02 announced that the Bucky Burgau Field will receive an $850,000 upgrade to the baseball complex. The project includes a new grandstand with individual seats, new and larger dugouts, and new fencing and backstop between the dugouts. A new “inning-by-inning” electronic scoreboard is also a part of the upgrade. The area of the grandstand behind home plate will be covered and feature individual seats. There will also be a new net backstop that will increase sight lines for all the fans.

Concordia Inducts Six Into Hall of Fame

Concordia inducted five former standout studentathletes and an administrator into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2022 inductees include three-time men’s track and field NCAA All-American John Ault ’92, three-time women’s track and field NCAA All-American Tracy (Berntsen) Beil ’95, NCAA AllAmerican and first women’s golf MIAC champion Kelly Cornell Dorr ’92, longtime Concordia faculty athletics representative Dr. James Forde, women’s hockey all-time leading scorer Katie (Jacques) Andan ’03, and football MIAC MVP Russ Winkels ’86. All six were honored as the newest members of the Hall of Fame at a ceremony during Homecoming.

“I am really excited to announce this project,” Bergeson said. “There have been a lot of people committed to making this happen, and to have it come true is a huge day for the baseball program and Cobber athletics.”

The first phase of the project, which began in August and will finish before the start of the 2023 season, is being funded through private donations. Alumni, fans, and friends also have the ability to donate $1,000 to have a seat named in the grandstand. A second phase is expected to include artificial turf for the outfield along with new bullpens and a batting cage.

From left: John Ault, Katie Andan, Tracy Beil, Dr. James Forde, Kelly Cornell Dorr, and Russ Winkels

WILLIAM J. CRAFT

A TRANSFORMATIONAL PRESIDENCY

BY KELLY HEYER

Upon entering President Willam Craft’s office, one of the first things you may notice is the many books that line his shelves. These books serve as tools to build connection and community. It’s not uncommon to leave his office with a list of book and author recommendations he thinks you will enjoy. It is this love of reading and sharing of stories that led Dr. William Craft to his life’s calling as an educator.

From an early age, he understood the value of education and its ability to transform lives. Growing up in New Wilmington, Pa., home to Westminster College, he was surrounded by a community and family that valued education and teaching. Books and stories were a part of his everyday life and followed him through college, where he studied English. It is in

that same small town that Bill met his wife, Anne, who shared in his passion for education and studied to become an English teacher. Together, the two set off on a life of learning, teaching, and reshaping the undergraduate college experience.

After college, the Crafts moved to Chapel Hill, where Bill earned his doctorate at the University of North Carolina. This path led them to Gettysburg, Pa., where Anne worked as an educational administrator and editor and taught high school English. Bill taught English at nearby Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland and joined other young faculty in leading the transformation of the common curriculum there, earning national recognition for the Mount and major grant funding.

Hearts Together

In 2000, the Crafts experienced life in the Midwest for the first time when they moved to Decorah, Iowa, where Dr. Craft served as the dean and vice president of academic affairs of Luther College, having been recruited by Luther’s president, Dr. Richard Torgerson, a 1964 Concordia graduate. When the presidential opening came at Concordia, Torgerson encouraged Dr. Craft to consider applying. The Crafts’ meetings with several Concordia alumni and faculty also greatly influenced their decision to pursue the opportunity.

“I knew of the work the faculty was doing at the college and the difference they were making in the lives of students,” Dr. Craft says. “I remember thinking to myself, if the people that I have met are representative of the faculty of this college, then this is a place where I think I could be really happy and could do good work.”

During Bill’s campus interview as a presidential finalist at Concordia, what really stood out to the Crafts were the students and the community of Concordia. After a long day of travel and interviews, Dr. Craft walked into a room full of Concordia students.

“I remember praying that I could stay alert for these students after a busy travel schedule that left

little time for sleep,” he recalls. “I was so taken by those students. I was captivated by their curiosity, perceptiveness, and earnestness. Their thoughtproving questions filled me with hope and energy.”

The heart of everything the Crafts do is the students and, in turn, they have captured students’ hearts. On move-in day each fall, you will likely find Dr. Craft carrying boxes from cars to dorm rooms as students make Concordia their home. During Orientation, the Crafts welcome hundreds of firstyear students into their home for a reception. Throughout the year, the Crafts can often be found enjoying the musical talents of students at concerts or cheering on the Cobbers at sporting events. As an academic counselor, Anne has helped countless students navigate the challenges of college and celebrates their successes. Their commitment to being active participants in the campus community and the lives of students defines their lives and exemplifies what it means to be a Cobber.

“The Crafts have made an impact on my education through their unrelenting support for the arts. Their adoration, knowledge, and devotion to the arts and music at Concordia never goes unnoticed,” Zoey Zachek ’23 says. “Attending a college where I can pursue my greatest passion and know that it doesn’t go unnoticed by the president has enhanced my college experience like nothing else. I am incredibly thankful for this support.”

A Transformational Learning Experience

One of Dr. Craft’s proudest achievements shared with the faculty and staff is Concordia’s emphasis on experiential learning and applying academic discoveries in the world beyond the classroom. With a goal to provide an irreplaceable learning experience for every student, he has worked with faculty and staff to expand hands-on learning opportunities both in and outside of the classroom. The PEAK program, Pivotal Experience in Applied Knowledge, was developed as a part of that initiative. Not only does PEAK help prepare students for a career after college, but it also provides valuable life experience, encouraging students to step outside their comfort zone, take chances, and discover new interests.

“President Craft understood early in his presidency the importance of the college exploring new educational options. His vision led to a summer New Ventures working group followed by a yearlong task force that completed a deep dive into possible new ventures for the college,” says Dr. Cynthia Carver ’74, professor of communication studies. “Under President Craft’s leadership, we saw expanded graduate education opportunities, new undergraduate programs, a commitment to a transfer-friendly campus, and more.”

In 2019, Dr. Craft commissioned a college-wide committee that worked with faculty, staff, students, graduates, and regents to create a new strategic plan, Concordia Leads: The Plan for 2030 – a bold plan to educate 21st century learners and equip them to become accomplished professionals, courageous citizens, and transformational leaders who build a world more joyful and just.

The plan expanded on Dr. Craft’s vision for integrative work-learning experiences, for excellence through diversity, community well-being, and a strong financial foundation for Concordia College.

The plan’s commitment to diversity arises from Concordia’s identity as a liberal arts college of the Lutheran Church and from the knowledge that, as Dr. Craft says, “our students learn more deeply in diverse environments.”

“There is and always will be more work to be done, but I am thankful for the progress we have made,” he says. “In the past 12 years, the number of students of color has increased, our international student population has grown, and we have more students from different faith traditions.”

Concordia’s student body is made up of individuals from more than 60 countries, 22 different religious and thought traditions, and 125 international students from around the world.

He also worked with leadership in the Concordia Board of Regents to increase diversity there, helping to assure the variety of experiences, backgrounds, and dispositions that are needed to tackle the challenges that surround higher education today. Dr. Craft has recognized the necessity of growth in diversity and the range of gifts within each Concordia student.

“Again and again, I am amazed in the ways in which no Concordia student is ever just one thing: the undergraduate science researcher who plays in the string section of the orchestra, the student making music videos and managing the student investment fund in the Offutt School, the humanities major working on the Just Futures Initiative on the lives of Native Americans, the student ministry leader who becomes a teacher in Europe, on and on,” Dr. Craft says. “In a culture that wants to put people in little boxes, the Concordia community calls us into the fullness of our lives.”

Likewise, Dr. Craft values the longstanding commitment of Concordia to the liberal arts and to professional preparation for work in the world.

“In a culture that wants to put people in little boxes, the Concordia community calls us into the fullness of our lives.”

“President Craft understands and actively promotes professional programs grounded in the liberal arts,” Carver says. “He believes passionately that our teachers, business leaders, nurses, doctors, etc., are best prepared when they experience the synergy of professional education grounded in the liberal arts.”

Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

Dr. Craft’s commitment to advancing sustainability at Concordia has transformed the college. Under his leadership, sustainability became a core feature of the college, culminating in the adoption of Concordia’s first Climate Action Plan. In April 2017, Dr. Craft signed the Integrated Climate Commitment and, in doing so, Concordia committed to reduce carbon emissions and work with local partners to increase the community’s ability to adapt and flourish in the face of climate change. Concordia is also the only school in the Fargo-Moorhead area with a sustainability coordinator and designated Sustainability Office.

“President Craft proved to be an inspired leader in the area of environmental sustainability,” says Dr. Ken Foster, chair of the President’s Sustainability Council. “He consistently reminded us that everything we do to become more sustainable must also directly contribute to the fulfillment of our educational mission. As a result, sustainability successes can be seen across all areas of the college, with a Climate Action Plan set to guide us to greater heights in the coming years.”

A Campus Transformed

Under Dr. Craft’s stewardship, Concordia completed the most ambitious, comprehensive fundraising campaign in the college’s history. The Concordia endowment has more than doubled over the last decade, increasing support for scholarships and academic programs.

Throughout Dr. Craft’s tenure, Concordia has experienced a renewal of the college’s teaching, learning,

and recreational facilities with new construction and the renovation of Grant Center for the Offutt School of Business, the Integrated Science Center, Jake Christiansen Athletic Complex, the Normandy for the Center for Student Success and, most recently, the Heimarck Center for the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions (opening Fall 2023).

Called to Serve

Perhaps the Crafts’ greatest legacy will be in their deep commitment to Concordia’s mission and for leading students to become responsibly engaged in the world.

“We are deeply grateful for Dr. Craft’s service and for the ways in which Bill and Anne have together devoted themselves to the mission of Concordia,” says Mary S. Ranum ’78, chair of the Board of Regents. “Dr. Craft’s invaluable, far-sighted contributions have positioned Concordia to thrive in the decades to come, educating new generations of students to influence the affairs of our world.”

For the first time in nearly their entire lives, the Crafts will be leaving behind college life. While they settle on what’s next, they’ll be spending time at their lake home and with their two children and six grandchildren. They look forward to volunteering, being involved in their local church, singing in a choir, and finding ways to live out their calling wherever they may land. In addition, Dr. Craft will stay busy with plans to read and write more, continue engagement with higher education associations, and bike at least 5,000 miles a year.

When the Crafts say goodbye this summer, they will leave behind a legacy of a renewed campus, innovative ideas, and deep relationships – but they will take with them memories of a community they called home.

“Anne and I will always be from Concordia, of Concordia, for Concordia,” he says.

Favorite Memories

Attending chapel in 2011 for the first time after I was named as the new president with people so joyful and kind in welcoming us

Memorable campus visitors including Rep. John Lewis, David Brooks, Bill Gates, Clint Hill ’54, Miquette Denie McMahon ’06, Walter Mondale, and Louise Erdrich

The increase of women in leadership roles at Concordia and having more women as head coaches than any other school in Minnesota, public or private

The joy everyone felt on returning to a full May commencement after the ravages of COVID on our lives and work

Every Homecoming, graduation, concert and theatre performances we’ve attended

Traveling to China to the United International College where I received the first honorary degree awarded to a Westerner

Meeting alumni from around the world and hearing their stories of Concordia

The September 2022 board meeting in which leaders from the Fargo-Moorhead community spoke of how vital Concordia is to our region and of how well prepared our students are for life and work after college

International Days at Concordia Language Villages

Meeting King Harald of Norway in Oslo

Every conversation with our students about their studies, their lives, their longing to influence the affairs of the world

Standing outside Bishop Whipple Hall at our 125th anniversary and hearing Professor Emeritus Olin Storvick offer a toast to “the Concordia that is yet to be”

ANNE CRAFT A LIFETIME IN EDUCATION

BY GUNNAR FERING ’23

With a love of learning and a heart for building community, Anne Craft has touched the lives of students, faculty, and staff. Committed to the service of others, she has spent her life enriching the lives of those around her.

Home to just over 2,000 residents, the town of New Wilmington, Pa., sits close to the Ohio border, a 16-hour drive from Concordia College. It is here where Anne and Bill Craft got their start.

Anne’s father was a faculty member at Westminster College in New Wilmington, a Presbyterian liberal arts college founded in the 1850s. She lived on campus, growing up in faculty housing, which has since been replaced with a men’s dormitory. Bill also lived on campus for a time, and his father and grandfather built many of the buildings on campus. Naturally, Anne attended Westminster, graduating in three years with an English degree.

Soon after, the pair were married and began packing for Chapel Hill, N.C., where Bill earned his doctorate degree. From there, they moved to Gettysburg, Pa., where they lived for 20 years.

“It’s a great place,” she says. “He was a faculty member at Mount Saint Mary’s and I was an adjunct at Gettysburg College.”

Anne was also an editor at Gettysburg, ran a peer tutoring center, and taught 10th and 12th grade English. The Crafts’ first taste of Midwest living was in Decorah, Iowa. Used to the milder winters of Pennsylvania, their first Iowa snow season was a bit of a shock.

“When we moved to Decorah, it was one of those bad winters. It was a big change that way,” she says. “Our son, Josh, who was going to college in North Carolina, where azaleas had been blooming since February, came back to 9-foot snow drifts everywhere.”

Snowy Decorah was also home to a welcoming community of people. Their daughter, Meg, finished high school there, graduated from Luther, and now lives in Decorah with her family. Josh and his family currently live in Salt Lake City.

“The Norwegian-Lutheran culture, which was new to us, was wonderful,” she says.

While in Decorah, Anne directed a federal program called Educational Talent Search, which assists people from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue and succeed in higher education. She later transitioned to academic counseling at Luther College, where Bill was vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college.

“I was doing a lot of traveling,” Anne says. “I got to know the neighboring communities because I was working in those schools.”

This emphasis on community was similar, culturally, to Concordia. So, when the opportunity arose for the Crafts to move to Moorhead, they pursued it. Right away, it was clear to Anne that Concordia was a good fit for both. The campus community provided a warm welcome.

“I just liked everyone,” she says. “It seemed familiar to me.”

Working as an academic counselor in the Center for Student Success, Anne has served the students of Concordia for more than a decade. Whether taking one-on-one meetings or guiding study sessions, she is ready to lend a helping hand.

Colleague Heidi Rogers ’06, director for student equity and inclusion and assistant director of retention and learning services, wholeheartedly agrees.

“Anne and I shared support for a student during my graduate internship,” Rogers says. “I will always remember seeing Anne and this student huddled around textbooks as she patiently read with them, demonstrated different note-taking strategies, and just guided them in whatever they were tackling that day.”

Anne’s part-time status does little to detract from the positive impact she makes. She continues to support students and team members alike.

“As a team and a center, we’ve all experienced a lot together both personally and professionally,” Rogers says. “Anne has been a constant and affirming presence – always ready to offer a kind word, sit in sorrow, or celebrate joys with individuals or as a team. She is an incredibly important part of the CSS.”

John Andrick , assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Student Success, echoes this statement.

“Anne recognizes that we are whole human beings and not just employees of the college,” he says. “Anne was particularly supportive while my mom was sick. She always made me feel cared for at a time when I really needed it.”

While serving as a source of positivity and support, her expertise in English education has made her an asset to the team.

“With her background in English education, Anne is the go-to person to support students who are multilingual and need some extra guidance in learning their entire degree in a second, third, or even fourth language,” Rogers says.

Throughout her collegiate career, Anne has watched many students grow and mature, something she’ll always cherish.

“I will miss that kind of thing,” she says. “It’s a joy to see people grow up and find their place in the world.”

Throughout her life, Anne has served every community she’s been a part of. Her humble kindness, compassion, and intentionality have uplifted students across the country — from Westminster, Chapel Hill, Gettysburg, Decorah, and now Moorhead. She stays true to her character in her goodbye message to the Concordia community.

“Tell them I love them. I loved being among students and faculty,” she says. “I’m just an adopted Cobber, so I can brag a bit. It’s a tremendous college and mission. It’s been a privilege, an amazing privilege, and a joy.”

Upon retirement this summer, the Crafts are excited to spend time at their lake home with their two children and six grandchildren.

“It’s a joy to see people grow up and find their place in the world.”

SERVING FAMILIES IN NEED

Concordia alumni Pete and Jill Christopher have dedicated their careers to helping others.

BY KELLY HEYER

Vocation is often used in reference to a person’s occupation or career. However, theologian Frederick Buechner defines vocation as “the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” The Concordia learning experience aims to transform students’ global understanding and compassion – inspiring them to serve the world’s greatest needs.

Living a life of service is certainly true for Pete Christopher ’99, resource development and marketing manager at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, and Jill (Anderson) Christopher ’01, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley.

However, finding their vocation likely wasn’t on their radar during their college search. Instead, they were looking for a college experience that met their personal and career goals. After one visit, Jill knew Concordia was the place for her. But Pete wasn’t so sure.

“My parents and my grandma went to Concordia, so I was adamant that I was not going to go to Concordia,” Pete says. “However, when I started to look more seriously at schools, I knew that would be a good fit.”

Although their time at Concordia overlapped and they both majored in business, Pete and Jill never met while in college.

“We actually met after college through a mutual Cobber friend,” Jill says. “We discovered we had many friends in common, so it was a little hard to believe that we didn’t meet until later. It was just the right timing.”

Jill has worked for nonprofit organizations her entire career. She was at Thrivent Financial for nine years before joining Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in 2010. Having served as a board member prior to working for RMHC, Jill felt a personal connection with the mission of the organization to help families of sick children.

“Pete’s nephew had been in the hospital and we got to see firsthand what a difference RMHC can make for families,” she says.

While the position doesn’t come without its challenges, serving families in their time of need brings a sense of meaning and purpose to Jill’s work.

“Seeing families having ‘normal’ moments during an abnormal time – eating dinner together, playing games, kids playing together in our playroom or outside – makes my day,” Jill says. “Helping families worry less about where to stay and what to eat allows them to focus on what matters more –getting their child well. Knowing we have helped them in that way is so rewarding.”

Jill’s passion and drive have helped countless families over the last decade. In her work as CEO, she

oversaw the opening of the new Ronald McDonald House at Agassiz Xing and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Essentia Health, both in Fargo. Jill has not only impacted the lives of the families RMHC serves, but she has made a difference in the lives of those she works with and her community.

“I worked alongside Jill for over 10 years and saw the profound difference she made, and continues to make, for the families that are being served at RMHC. Jill puts the families at the center of each decision and thoughtfully creates a meaningful experience for families, volunteers, donors, and staff,” Erica Johnsrud ’10 says. “Jill’s passion is inspiring. She’s a strong advocate for what she believes in, a savvy leader, devoted mother, and caring friend. Jill firmly believes in the power of people helping people. She has a knack for seeing the best in those around her and helping them to achieve things they didn’t even know were possible.”

Pete’s career began on a different path. His first job out of college was as a retail sales representative in the cellphone industry. He then combined his love of home improvement projects with his business marketing background to work in retail and property management before joining Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.

“I hadn’t really thought about nonprofit work until this position opened up. I enjoy home improvement and building projects, so I was drawn to the work of Habitat. I’d also been involved with Habitat for years as a volunteer and board member,” Pete says. “I appreciate that this position allows me to use my sales and marketing background to do something to help others.”

Habitat for Humanity works to empower families through shelter. While the historic rise in building material costs the past few years has created challenges, Pete and the staff at Lake Agassiz work tirelessly to provide stability to families that need it most.

“Our program is built on the idea of empowering people. One of our tag lines is ‘Through Shelter, We Empower.’ As people work on their home, they build so much confidence. It is really amazing,” Pete says. “It’s also rewarding to see how much fun our volunteers have building homes.”

In 2018, Pete traveled to Vietnam as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to help build more than 21 homes for families who needed protection from the constant threat of floods.

“As members of the congregation I serve, I’ve had the opportunity to see the many ways in which Jill and Pete are called to love their neighbors,” the Rev. Kris Gorden ’89 says. “Pete has been a champion for Habitat families, spending countless hours working to provide shelter to those in need. He and Jill also serve in many volunteer roles in our church.”

Both Jill and Pete say their time at Concordia prepared them well for their current roles.

“The liberal arts education I received at Concordia brings a wide range of experience and knowledge that has proved invaluable in my role as CEO,” Jill says. “I have often drawn on classes outside my major and things I learned through clubs and activities.”

Concordia is committed to educating the whole person for a greater mission. Cobbers are given opportunities to discover more about themselves and the world around them in a nurturing yet challenging community.

“Concordia does a great job of preparing young people for the realities of the world and the people struggling in our community and around the world,” Pete says. “Whether grads go into nonprofit or not, most Cobbers want to help those in need.”

“The liberal arts education I received at Concordia brings a wide range of experience and knowledge that has proved invaluable in my role as CEO.”

JILL CHRISTOPHER

Jill (center) with Cobber volunteers at RMHC during the 30th annual Hands for Change orientation event.

FROM CHINA TO TASMANIA

AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN

Jian “Jason” Shen ’19 can easily claim the title of world traveler.

BY ALI FROSLIE

Originally from Jiaxing, China, Shen has studied and worked in Moorhead, Washington, D.C., Norway, Costa Rica, and Australia. Now, he lives on the island state of Tasmania working to improve youth mental health through the Australian organization Headspace.

“I’m a bit all over the place,” he says, “which I guess aligns with Concordia’s value of engaging with the world.”

Shen graduated from Concordia in 2019, earning a major in global studies, with a worlds in dialogue concentration, and a minor in communication. He first became aware of Concordia when a few teachers from Concordia Language Villages visited his middle school as part of a summer program.

“I had a really good impression of people coming from the Midwest because a lot of my teachers were from the Midwest,” he says. “When it came to my university, I had always wanted to experience something different. So, that inspired me to apply at Concordia.”

’18

A Cobber’s globe-trotting journey leads him to improve youth mental health in Tasmania

While in college, Shen made the most of every global learning opportunity. During Summer 2016, he traveled to Oslo, Norway, through one of Concordia’s study away programs, taking classes and meeting people from around the world. In Summer 2017, he taught English in Costa Rica through the Minneapolis-based organization World Endeavors.

He also took advantage of two internship programs in Washington, D.C. While studying for a semester through Concordia’s Lutheran College Washington Semester program (LCWS), Shen interned as a policy associate at Jubilee USA Network, a nonprofit that addresses structural causes of poverty and inequality. His second internship, through a separate program, was completed at Youth Service America. He helped develop the organization’s global partner network and collected a list of youth development-related resources and best practices.

These internships helped him to clarify his next steps as he neared graduation. Shen initially considered entering politics. However, his internship experiences inspired him to take a more hands-on approach.

“The motivation for me to complete a degree in politics was that I really wanted to help marginalized people by informing policies,” he says, “but I felt like I didn’t really have that much of a voice in D.C. I felt the best way to work with a marginalized population is probably just to work directly with them.”

As a result, Shen decided to go into social work. He applied for graduate programs in the U.S. and Australia while he finished his studies at Concordia. He was accepted to both NYU and Columbia, but he ultimately settled on the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Studying in Australia allowed Shen to experience a different culture and be closer to his family. He graduated with a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in mental health. His degree helps him achieve the level of one-on-one influence he was hoping for. The field allows him to work directly with people who need support and make a difference in their lives.

Shen now lives and works in Tasmania, an island state south of Australia. He works at Headspace, an Australian youth mental health foundation that provides young people with mental health care

from ages 12-25. As Shen notes, it’s all about early intervention.

“The notion of early intervention is so important because there’s a resilience in young people’s lives and they can really bounce back with the right guidance,” he says.

Initially, Shen had worried about coming from a different culture than the majority of his young clients. However, he quickly found that any difference that might be there made no impact on his ability to connect them.

“At first, I was a bit concerned about how to build rapport because there might be some barriers. Then I realized they don’t really care (about where you’re from),” he says. “It’s very rewarding, especially when you see the change in people’s presentation compared to the first time you saw them.”

Working in the mental health sector helped Shen to become a more confident communicator. He says that it was particularly overwhelming at the beginning, especially when people would share difficult things with him. However, the more he talked to them, the more he gained confidence in his ability to make a difference in their lives.

Shen notes that Concordia also helped build his communication skills. He speaks about his communication courses in particular as having an impact on his ability to do his job well.

“In the mental health sector, there are always discussions going on,” he notes. “Sometimes you may not agree with one of your co-workers in terms of the pathway for the care plan for this person. I learned how to deal with conflict in a group. Each person has a different communication style. Concordia prepared me to get ready for my future.”

Shen hopes to come back to Concordia one day for a visit. For now, however, he is enjoying his life on Tasmania. Even the colder weather.

“It is the coldest place in Australia, which reminds me of Minnesota’s weather,” he says. “I don’t really mind going to a different place. I feel like when I am young, I have the opportunity to do things and I feel like I do need to explore.”

“I learned how to deal with conflict in a group. Each person has a different communication style. Concordia prepared me to get ready for my future.”

FULL-COURT FAMILY

Grad Returns to Concordia as Assistant Coach, Joins Daughter on Court

BY CANDACE HARMON

Veteran high school basketball coach, educator, and 1996 Concordia graduate Laurie (Baldwin) Sieben is back at the college after being named the assistant women’s basketball coach.

“I’ve coached for 25 years, but I’m a rookie at the collegiate level,” Laurie says. “It’s been uncomfortable at times, but there’s been a lot of growth. It’s been really good.”

Not only does the move allow Laurie to retrace her Cobber roots, but it’s also giving her the opportunity to coach one of her daughters again. Carlee Sieben ’25 is a guard on the team. Laurie was Carlee’s high school coach in Grafton, N.D., so the transition has been smooth.

“She doesn’t treat me any differently from the other players and never has,” Carlee says. “Most people didn’t know she was my mom.”

In high school, Carlee was a top prospect for Concordia but took an opportunity to play Division I basketball close to home. After a year at the University of North Dakota, Carlee weighed her options for her remaining three years and decided to become a Cobber.

“It was a really tough decision, but it’s been good,” she says. “I have a lot of support on both teams.”

Playing basketball is what originally drew Laurie to attend Concordia – that, and a family connection with her grandmother attending the college to become a teacher. Now, as the assistant coach and a health instructor, Laurie is reminded of the benefits of being a student-athlete at Concordia.

“We have a bunch of Midwestern ladies who really get after it,” she says. “They are trying to be the best versions of themselves in the classroom and on the court.”

Both the classroom and the court is where Carlee hopes to end up, following in her mom’s footsteps to be an elementary teacher and basketball coach. Time will tell if her career brings her full circle back to Concordia like Laurie.

“Some of my best relationships are the ones that I’ve connected with at Concordia, and it’s just pretty fun how it’s worked out to have a front row seat with Carlee here,” Laurie says. “I’m really grateful to Coach Kim Wagers and everyone at Concordia for this career change. It’s been surreal.”

Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Laurie (Baldwin) Sieben ’96 Carlee Sieben ’25

and Learning

BRANCHING OUT

Dr. Michael Chan advances campus ministry, interfaith work, and more in his role as executive director for Faith and Learning

BY ALI FROSLIE ’18

When asked about his favorite moments during his first months at Concordia, Dr. Michael Chan laughs. “Can I say the corn feed?” he says. “It’s such a unique event.”

As Concordia’s first executive director for Faith and Learning, Chan has spent the past six months in “scale-up mode.” When he’s not enjoying Concordia’s cornier traditions, he’s working to develop and expand the areas under his supervision, whether that’s leading them into the digital world with podcasts and online book clubs or delving into how Gen Z thinks about questions of ultimate meaning.

“We’re trying to really push something to its next level,” he says.

Chan began his work as executive director for Faith and Learning in June 2022. He previously served on the faculty at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. There, he spent his days teaching seminarians about the mysteries of the Old Testament. His faculty position also gave him a taste for the leadership work he’s currently undertaking.

“At my previous institution, I was given a lot of opportunities to grow as a leader among my faculty,” he says. “I started to catch a vision for wanting to do more of that work.”

That vision and desire, combined with wanting to work with undergraduate students, led him to accept the job at Concordia. Chan describes his work as executive director as a tree, rooted in the foundation of the reformation with four different branches stretching to encompass the different areas under his leadership – campus ministry, the Lorentzsen Center, the Dovre Center, and interfaith work.

Chan talks about the projects his “branches” are undertaking with a palpable excitement.

In the Lorentzsen Center for Faith and Work, Concordia’s public-facing community that forms at the intersections of faith, society, work, and economy, Chan has started a podcast, “Builders,” which features future leaders in the process of building organizations, movements, or nonprofits and talks about their vocational journeys.

Dr. Michael Chan, executive director for Faith

This year’s rotation of Lorentzsen Center speakers is also in full swing. The events are inspired by the question, “How do we build a more trustworthy world?” In the fall, political philosopher Dr. Yuval Levin discussed his book, “A Time to Build,” and a panel of community leaders spoke on the criminal justice system in Fargo-Moorhead. In January 2023, author and entrepreneur Kathryn Finney is set to speak.

Chan is particularly excited about the opportunity to partner with Concordia’s Black Student Union for Finney’s visit.

“In the Lorentzsen Center, all of our events have been in partnership with student groups, and that was very intentional and important to me,” he says.

Integrating students wherever possible has been an essential facet of Chan’s work. While he did love the Cobber Corn Feed, his favorite moments so far have been when working closely with students on campus. Some of that collaboration happens through the Lorentzsen Center, but much of his work with students occurs in the interfaith spaces on campus.

Chan describes the interfaith relationships on campus as an “ecosystem.” He notes one of his predecessors, Dr. Jacqueline Bussie, as having completed remarkable work clarifying and developing interfaith programs and involvement at Concordia. Now, Chan is building on that work and determining directions for the future. That’s where the students come in.

“We’re taking a small team of students, staff, and faculty through a visioning process where we look back and see the remarkable strides we’ve come in the area of interfaith,” Chan says. “Now the question is, where do we need to go next? We’re right in the thick of that process. We will have some public announcements this year about the findings that we have made and the directions we’re going.”

Chan is also working on a major project coming from the Dovre Center for Faith and Learning. This project aims to investigate the religious and spiritual lives of Concordia students on a deeper level. Chan is working with two psychology professors, Dr. Mark Krejci and Dr. Lisa Sethre-Hofstad ’91, to develop a tool to help understand the ways in

which current college students are engaging with questions of meaning and purpose.

“We know that Gen Z thinks about questions of ultimate meaning in ways that might be different from my generation or previous generations,” Chan says. “We need to understand that.”

Chan takes the work of caring for the souls of Cobber students seriously.

“On a daily basis, we see people experiencing the weight of the world in their bodies, in their spirits, and in their minds,” he says.

Much of his work helps people – students and otherwise – continue to investigate and understand the world around them. When Chan talks about his vision for his future work, he notes the particular way in which Lutheran higher education impacts students and the wider world.

“Lutheran education creates a broad space for learning and asking really difficult questions,” he says. “The language of faith and learning is important, and I understand that it really is about how we relate our rich Lutheran heritage with this call to educate thoughtful people who desire to impact the world. We need people who go fearlessly into this world to explore and investigate and ask questions that are deeply uncomfortable.”

As he looks toward the future, Chan is also excited to be in touch with alumni and to continue growing his own foundation in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Chan and his family have lived all over the country and the world – from Arizona to Finland – but he notes that Moorhead is one of two places they’ve lived that feels like home. Chan is also excited to be working with students in a place he finds value.

“I love college students and the college atmosphere. The work itself is fascinating, but what really sold me on Concordia is how special this place is,” Chan says. “There’s something quite unique about Concordia, and I think it has to do with this deep emphasis on working for a better world whether one comes from a Lutheran tradition or not.”

“We need people who go fearlessly into this world to explore and investigate and ask questions that are deeply uncomfortable.”

MEETING THE WORLD’S HEALTHCARE NEEDS

Preparing future healthcare professionals through innovative learning in state-of-the-art facilities

BY KIRSTEN STAVE ’18 AND CANDACE HARMON

As healthcare graduates enter an exhausted workforce, it is vital they are prepared to deliver adept patient care. Health professions education must produce proficient and poised practitioners who are ready. Students benefiting from immersive learning experiences in the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions will be prepared.

“Collaboration of students within the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions provides a unique opportunity for students across disciplines to participate in interdisciplinary coursework that also includes a leadership focus,” says Tiffany Lawrence, president and CEO of Sanford Medical Center Fargo.

Interdisciplinary Case Studies

For almost a decade, Concordia students from all health professions have been invited to collaborate on a team to solve a “real life” health scenario. Concordia’s interdisciplinary case studies simulate real-world models of how to approach a patient’s care by using feedback from different disciplines.

When students from nursing, exercise science, nutrition, healthcare leadership, social work, and education work together, they learn how teams

collaborate in the real world. As they become comfortable, they will learn to listen and prioritize care.

“The opportunity to take part in these interdisciplinary case studies was one of the factors that informed my college decision,” says Nicole Fornshell ’24, a social work major. “Students from each discipline only receive information pertinent to their discipline, which ensures that students must rely on each other to communicate and learn information that other students, or care providers, have access to – similar to the real world.”

Exceptional Care in the Heimarck Center

The Heimarck Center will provide students with an interprofessional, interdisciplinary, team-based setting every day. Currently under construction on the corner of 12th Avenue and 8th Street South, the center will be the collective home for Concordia’s pre-health professions programs.

The simulated approach to health professsions education places patient safety at its core via team training. Through observational, hands-on, and repeated learning, students become comfortable in the environment they will practice in.

Above: Split screen of Heimarck Center rendering (left) and construction site (right)

“Simulation provides students with even more critical training that enhances the bedside training experience, as well as playing a key role in new services such as telehealth virtual care,” Lawrence says.

Interprofessional, interdisciplinary, and teambased in-the-moment learning expedites new practitioners’ transition to in-the-field care. Mark Sannes ’94, M.D., co-executive medical director of HealthPartners Care Group, says that simulation and telehealth options have elevated the traditional learning model.

“Whereas an individual might have seen an unusual presentation or performed a rare procedure once or twice in their healthcare training in prior years, these new learning approaches allow for trainees to join the workforce better prepared than their predecessors,” Sannes says.

Within the Heimarck Center will be a nutrition assessment lab, counseling space, exam rooms, and cutting-edge tools, such as Bod Pods, which use air displacement to determine a person’s percentage of lean mass versus body fat.

“It’s common among elite, professional athletes,” says Dr. Meredith Wagner ’05, chair of nutrition, dietetics, and exercise science. “Major research universities will have Bod Pods, but there are not many private colleges that have equipment of this caliber so it’s unique to Concordia.”

Innovative teaching spaces, such as the high-fidelity simulation labs, will allow students to develop hands-on skills in a replicated hospital setting by using computerized manikins (medical-training mannequins). With one-way windows, professors can observe students in action.

“We don’t interact much because we expect the students to be acting as if it’s a real hospital room,” says Gwen Wagstrom Halaas ’75, M.D., dean of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions. “But we’re there, and it’s a safe space for them to make mistakes and learn.”

The observation rooms will also be used for students learning to conduct increasingly important telehealth visits as well as home visits.

“My head is spinning thinking of all the ways we can practice social work home visits,” says Kelli Gast ’02, assistant professor of social work. “It takes time to get good at those visits. This will be perfect for students.”

Dr. Emily Huber-Johnson, the exercise science program director, was impressed by the significant expansion of the new human performance lab under construction.

“We will be able to be more of a ‘fly on the wall’ and have our students practice in a more realistic setting,” she says. “We can coach them so they will gain confidence for when they have to do the real thing.”

It Takes a Team

Given the complexity of today’s world, the critical thinking and problem solving necessary in health professions work requires interdisciplinary understanding and humble deference to partner providers’ knowledge. Graduates will be confident in their abilities to work as part of a professional team and understand the value of collaboration.

“An interprofessional approach aligns with the needs of our patients and will provide the best care possible as the health complexity of our patients continues to increase,” Lawrence says. “Sanford Health is excited to partner with the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions that will impact patient care into the future.”

The Heimarck Center is scheduled to open for the Fall 2023 semester.

The Heimarck Center will provide students with an interprofessional, interdisciplinary, team-based setting every day.

Heimarck Center construction continues

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

10 YEARS AND COUNTING

Concordia’s Offutt School of Business began offering classes in January 2013 as one of just a few business schools rooted in a liberal arts education.

“Offutt School of Business students begin learning experiences in liberal arts and continue throughout their four years by reducing roadblocks and streamlining course offerings,” says Chris Mason ’84, dean of the Offutt School of Business. “The Offutt School strongly encourages business students to add other traditional liberal arts programs to round out their education.”

BY ANNA BENSON ’19

Throughout the past 10 years, Offutt School has helped shape future business leaders by providing conversations and education through four core pillars: transformative leadership, global engagement, ethical decision-making, and entrepreneurial mindset.

Students are equipped with the necessary mindset to uplift others and challenge the process in the business sector. With academic programs ranging from accounting and finance to international business and entrepreneurship, there is a concentration for any student who considers joining the world of business.

A LOOK BACK AT 10 YEARS OF THE OFFUTT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates visits Concordia as part of the dedication festivities for the Grant Center, home of the Offutt School of Business.

Offutt School Presents begins welcoming speakers from Fortune 500 companies to speak to alumni, friends of the college, and students.

2014

The BREW, a student-run coffee shop, opens in the Grant Center. The BREW allowed students to understand what it means to run a business from all aspects such as inventory, balancing the books, and marketing a product.

The Business Commerce course begins trips through the finance program, with explorations to Hong Kong, Ireland, and Switzerland. Students become familiar with governmental regulations and practices in business and commerce.

The James Parke Technology Lab is added to uplift the finance program, offering students new finance software, a live stock ticker, and state-of-theart technology to help gain real-world experience.

The accounting program begins competing in the Deloitte Case Competition.

The Innovation Lab is added for the computer science program, giving students access to updated technology and software.

The Entrepreneurship Mindset Undergraduate Academic Certificate and entrepreneurship minor launch, welcoming 65 students to the program the following year.

Concordia names Bree Langemo, J.D., the first director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. The center provides services for profit and nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies to empower others with an entrepreneurial mindset through workshops, training, and consulting.

Chris Mason is appointed dean of the Offutt School of Business after serving as the interim director since 2018.

Donuts With the Dean launches and is held every second Friday of the month for students to connect with Dean Mason.

The Hollstadt Women in Leadership Program celebrates a decade of providing networking and mentorship opportunities between female students and alumnae.

The Cobber Collective, a pop-up space in the former BREW location, opens for student creators, makers, and entrepreneurs to sell and promote their business and services. Learn more: ConcordiaCollege.edu/CobberCollective

ALUMNI FEATURES

Zahra Banks ’20

Major/Minor: Computer Science; Business

Current Job: Technology Consultant, Metis Strategy

The Offutt School of Business prepared me for my first role outside of college by ensuring I had real-world experiences during my time there. I was encouraged and provided with resources for internships, mentorship programs, trips to organizations’ offices, speaker sessions, etc. Listening and learning about these real-world skills made for an easy transition to the working world even during COVID.

My advice for someone considering computer science is to be open-minded to not knowing, commit to continuously learning, and not be afraid to make mistakes or ask for help. Being open-minded ensures that you can continue to learn, keep up with the ever-changing world of technology, and develop the skills needed to advance your knowledge and career.

Andrew Johnson ’18

Major: Accounting

Current Job: Senior Consultant for Mergers and Acquisitions at Deloitte

When I first started college, I knew I liked numbers but didn’t know what I wanted to major in. I became more interested in my business classes and began exploring what that path could be like. The Offutt School of Business opened up both accounting and finance paths to me, which I appreciated.

I now work with clients in both private equity firms looking to expand their business portfolio and corporate clients with a more strategic motive to acquire a business or product line. I moved to Los Angeles to specialize in the Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment, and Technology group at Deloitte. I was involved in music at Concordia and my current position and location provide countless opportunities to align my personal interests with my day job.

hS a p ing Our Future , Toge t reh

•Since 1961•

Concordia Language Villages focuses on expanding education programs and rejuvenating its sites to shape the future

Shaping our future, together. Since 1961.” Concordia Language Villages’ theme for 2023 is an all-encompassing message for staff, donors, and villagers. As the organization continues to rebound from COVID’s effects on both enrollment and staffing, a strategic plan has been put into place to strengthen its future for years to come.

A key piece of the strategic plan is to increase the reach of its language and cultural education programs, thus providing additional income streams. A key partner that took root in 2022 is Sanford Health in Fargo. During the last year, two groups of Sanford employees have completed the English Language Learner program, sponsored by Sanford and implemented by the Language Villages locally in Fargo-Moorhead.

Sanford is no stranger to the staffing crunch felt by many businesses across the country. And, in the local area, many of their environmental services employees do not speak English as a first language. In order to ensure the safety of employees who work with hazardous materials (with instructions in English) and to further develop these employees for a future ladder of success within Sanford, the partnership with Concordia just made sense.

“These classes can give participants a boost of confidence that’s needed to really succeed in the workplace, as well as bridging the gap between language and culture,” says Mary Maus Kosir, executive director of Concordia Language Villages.

Another imperative piece of the strategic plan is the renewal of the Language Villages’ nearly 900-acre site at Turtle River Lake, just outside Bemidji, Minn. This is an area in which donors continue to make an impact together. As the summer 2022 programs wrapped up in late August, construction crews made their way to the site and began the restoration of Gimle dining hall at Skogfjorden, the Norwegian Language Village. A generous group of donors gathered at the site to dedicate the space, which will equip the building with an expanded dining hall, modernized kitchen, and extra meeting space, as well as a lower level sauna.

Additional donor-led site renewal projects include building the second phase of the Sup sogŭi Hosu site, home to the Korean Language Village, as well as the establishment of the Chinese Village Cultural Fund. The goal of the new fund is to support the restoration of cultural program supplies that were destroyed in a fire last fall at Maplelag, home to Sēn Lín Hú, the Chinese Language Village.

As the Concordia Language Villages’ family continues to join together, there’s no doubt that the future will remain strong for the next 60+ years.

Sup sogŭi Hosu, the Korean Language Village, is the eighth permanent Village on the Turtle River Lake site.

Sanford employees celebrate completion of the English Language Learner program.

Restoration is underway of Gimle dining hall at Skogfjorden, the Norwegian Language Village.

Two New Alumni Grant Programs for Incoming Students

Concordia now offers two new programs, the Alumni Referral Grant and the Alumni Legacy Grant, allowing graduates to directly impact incoming students by simply sharing their experience as Cobbers.

ALUMNI REFERRAL GRANT

Concordia alumni know the great distinction of a Concordia College degree and the wonderful academic and community experience students have on campus. The Alumni Referral Grant program invites alumni to share their experience with high school and transfer students who could benefit from becoming a Cobber. Referrals for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are currently being accepted.

Valued at $500 annually, the Alumni Referral Grant will be awarded to any newly enrolling high school or transfer student in the fall of their first semester who has been referred to the college by a Concordia graduate. It is not required for referred students to be children, grandchildren, or siblings of Concordia alumni – they just need to be great potential Cobbers.

This grant is renewable for three additional years with a maximum value of $2,000 over four years.

There is no limit to the number of students alumni can refer. Please consider referring:

• your children and their friends

• relatives within your extended family

• high school students from your community

• church and community friends

We look forward to sharing the Concordia story with outstanding prospective Cobbers of any age from across the country. Thank you for your continued support of our Cobber community.

Learn more or refer a student: ConcordiaCollege.edu/ReferralGrant

ALUMNI LEGACY GRANT

Concordia is a place rich in history and tradition. Throughout the college’s history, it has been common for multiple generations of families to attend Concordia. To recognize and celebrate these family traditions, the college has established the Concordia Alumni Legacy Grant.

Beginning in Fall 2023, this grant can be awarded to newly enrolled students whose siblings are current students or graduates, or whose parents or grandparents are alumni of Concordia College in Moorhead. The Alumni Legacy Grant is valued at $500 annually ($2,000 over four years) and cannot be combined with the Alumni Referral Grant.

Qualified students must officially notify the college of their legacy status (or sibling enrollment) to have the grant added to their financial aid package. Verification of alumni status will take place prior to final enrollment.

Learn more or submit legacy status: ConcordiaCollege.edu/LegacyGrant

THE COBBER FUND

The Cobber Fund celebrates the power of the collective Concordia community and our ongoing commitment to the next generation of Cobbers.

Gifts to The Cobber Fund are special. They are put to work right away — supporting the heart of the Concordia experience. This fund provides scholarships to ensure a Concordia education is accessible for students in most need of financial support. It also funds powerful leadership and learning opportunities that equip students to be successful in college and prepare them for lives of meaning and impact.

The Cobber Fund is fueled by thousands of alumni of all ages, parents, friends, faculty, and staff who share gifts of all sizes that add up to more than $2.5 million in annual support for students. By supporting The Cobber Fund, you help provide the financial resources, experiences, trusted relationships, and resources that students need to thrive at Concordia and beyond. Thank you for your generosity! ConcordiaCollege.edu/CobberFund

AWARDS

2022 Alumni Achievement Awards

The Alumni Achievement Award (AAA), the college’s highest honor, is conferred upon alumni of 20 years or more who have distinguished themselves in their careers and service to others.

Phyllis Bryn-Julson ’67, a soprano known for her lustrous voice and pitch-perfect three-octave range, commanded a remarkable repertoire of vocal literature spanning centuries and is recognized as one of the most authoritative interpreters of vocal music of the 20th century. The Grammy Award-nominated singer performed with dozens of major orchestras in Europe and North America under leading conductors and has numerous recordings to her credit. Bryn-Julson was a member of the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.

Judge John Smith ’71, retired senior judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, was appointed to the Ninth Judicial District in 1991 and to the Court of Appeals in 2012. He spent more than 15 years as an attorney in Park Rapids, Minn., prior to his appointment to the bench. Smith is recognized as one of the state’s most skillful and accomplished trial judges, a statewide and national leader in the judiciary, and a leader in community service.

Dr. Keith Fuglie ’82, senior economist with the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, leads research on the economics of technological change and science policy for agriculture. He served as senior economist with the Clinton White House Council of Economic Advisors then spent 10 years in Africa and Asia with the International Potato Center. Fuglie’s awards include being recognized with the USDA’s highest award, the Secretary’s Honor Award for Professional Service.

Beth Renner ’91 serves as head of the Advice Center within the Advice and Planning Center of Excellence for Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management. She leads a team of specialized subject matter experts responsible for helping clients make better financial decisions. Renner has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and previously served as national director for Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services. Renner is active as a volunteer, philanthropist, and board member for several organizations.

2022 AWARDS

AWARDS

Melissa (Cherney) Sobolik ’02 is CEO of the Great Plains Food Bank, Fargo, N.D. She previously was the development director for the Plains Art Museum, associate program director for Northern Great Plains Inc., and served on the Fargo City Commission, as well as boards of several local organizations. Sobolik hopes to change the stigma surrounding needing assistance and recognizes that without help her adult life could have been much different due to lack of nutrition.

2022 Sent Forth Awards

Cory Hepola ’03, a native of Perham, Minn., has had a nationally renowned professional career in the Twin Cities. He was the host of a daily show on WCCO Radio in Minneapolis, “Hey, it’s Cory Hepola.” He is a two-time Emmy Award winner for Outstanding TV Anchor and has worked as a TV anchor and reporter for seven stations across five states, earning Best Sportscast twice, once in North Dakota and once in New York.

The Sent Forth Award is conferred upon alumni of less than 20 years who have distinguished themselves early in their careers and in service to others.

Arnold “Casey” Stengel ’56, a teacher for several years, became a guidance counselor after earning a master’s degree in guidance counseling from the University of North Dakota. Along with serving Brainerd High School students as a guidance counselor for 30 years, he was also an assistant football and baseball coach. Stengel volunteered in the community and at his church and was honored with several awards, including Sertoma’s Service to Mankind Award twice.

2022 Called to Serve Awards

Handt Hanson ’72 served as worship and music director for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minn., for 40 years. He began a new worship ministry for Prince of Peace with outdoor events that attracted hundreds of people who had never attended a church. During his tenure, the church grew from under 1,000 to more than 10,000 members. Hanson also led various musical organizations, wrote original music, and wrote and produced dozens of high school and children’s musicals.

The Called to Serve Award is conferred upon alumni of any year who have demonstrated notable commitment to the mission of the college through lifelong service to their faith communities, education, arts, or other not-for-profit activities.

MEMORIALS

1939

Ruth (Rosvold) Thompson, 103

1940

Irene (Rosengren) Swanson, 102

1943

Lorraine (Holt) Kremer, 98

1944

Cecelia (Butenhoff) Jerde, 98

Margaret “Marnie” (Simmons) Youngdale, 99

1945

Corinne (Johnson) Ehlke, 98

Pauline (Idso) King, 98

Avis (Haga) Lindroos, 97

Willard Lund, 99

1946

Margaret (Schroeder) Vawter, 97

1948

Bernice (Garnaas) Belgum, 97

Marian (Ogren) Prazak, 95

Charleen (Hanson) Weidenbach, 95

1949

Gerald White, 95

1950

Charles “Charlie” Basch, 96

Joyce (Sharpe) Gullingsrud, 94

John Helgeson, 92

Shirley (Punton) Houghland, 92

Aaron Johnson, 93

Norma (Korus) McCain, 93

Ann (Leean) Muyskens

Avis (Jahnke) Thompson, 93

1951

Joyce (Brenden) Bruns, 92

Pat (Finseth) Doan, 93

J. Robert Hanson, 92

Joyce (Wetherbee) Johnson, 91

Iva (Matteson) Kolstad, 93

Paul Mathre, 93

Carrol (Olson) Sanderson, 92

1952

Judith Halverson, 89

Jacqueline (Weiss) Langren, 91

Ruth (Grefthen) Reitan, 91 Armin Ross, 92

1953

Roger Corneliussen, 91

David Hagen, 91

Donald Larson, 91

James Mark, 90

Earl Strinden, 90

1954

Jean (Bekkerus) Berkness, 90

Audrey (Peterson) Bueide, 89

Robert Johnson, 89

Wayne Solberg, 89

Donald Ynisaker, 88

1955

Floyd Anderson, 89

Anita (Ritteman) Christianson, 88

Ronald Golberg, 89

JoAnn (Lilja) Hanson, 85

Esther (Schoenecker) Hoium, 88

Sara (Teigland) Mathieson, 97

John Moran, 88

Naomi (Larsen) Rice, 89

Charles Schiesser, 88

Elsie (Nelson) Skarpness, 89

1956

Verlyn Anderson, 88

Gerald “Jerry” Bjelde, 88

Ramona “Mona” (Steinley) Flack, 87

Romelda (Braaten) Hanson, 87

Audrey (Sparby) Lepore, 88

Ardis (Hector) Natterstad, 87

Lillian “Gerry” (Kneisel) Nypen, 89

Donald Olmstead, 91

Carole (Quamme) Pederson, 87

1957

Robert Aakhus, 87

Grace (Snustad) Bull, 86

Barbara (Jones) Colhapp, 85

Ronald Kleven, 86

Flo (Olson) Mrnak, 86

Doris (Braa) Ness-Dibley, 87

Geraldine (Ness) Opsahl, 88

Thomas Shafer, 86

1958

Wayne Cease, 87

Richard “Dick” Hvidsten, 89

Philip Knutson, 86

Carolynn “Kay” Olin Johnson, 85

Darlene “Andy” (Anderson)

Quenette, 85

Phyllis Thulin-Bartels, 85

1959

Dorothy (Haugstul) Bjornson, 84

Anna (Dahl) Haga, 84

Joan (Benson) Leer, 87

Lawrence Thompson, 85

1960

Elaine (Hand) Brown, 82

Joan (Stamp) Carlson, 84

Joel Christianson, 83

Mark Forkner, 84

Roger Haugen, 84

Laverne (Siebert) Lunde, 83

Ronald Mathsen, 83

John Nelson, 82

La Joy (Raguse) Perunovich, 84

James Stolt, 84

Kay (Solum) Syvrud, 83

1961

Edward Christopherson, 86

David Erikson, 81

Lowell “Skip” Lee, 85

Jean (Soderberg) Tureson, 83

1962

Jay Borchert, 82

Patricia (Neumann) Jorgenson, 82

Patricia (Brosell) Joyce, 81

Ronald Knutson, 80

Phyllis (Anderson) Smilonich, 81

1963

George Berglund, 79

Karan (Armstrong) Friedrich, 79

Ronald Henrickson, 80

Ruth (Olson) Idso, 98

Douglas Kelley, 80

Rebecca Kvikstad, 81

Ronald “Ron” Struxness, 80

1964

Johanna Guccione, 79

Roger Hanson, 79

Mary Larson, 79

Dawn (Hargrave) Newton, 79

Lee Smutzler, 99

Rita (Williamson) Soine, 80

Susan (Matthews) Tollefson, 81

Richard Torgerson, 79

1965

Bruce Anderson, 78

Robert “Bob” Foss, 79

Camille (Danielson) Kundert, 78

Jerome Linser, 82

Arthur Monson, 78

David Rendahl, 81

Diane (Reitan) Zoller, 79

1966

Donald Gerhardt, 78

Rachel (Martinson) Gonshorowski, 78

Shirley (Nellermoe) Liebenow-McCluhan, 77

David Simundson, 77

1967

Berta (Wurm) Anstrom, 76

Solveig (Bratlie) Misner, 76

Barbara Myrom, 75

Jonathan Olseon, 76

Frank Porten, 76

Maureen (Knudsvig) Van Camp, 77

1969

Vivan Liden, 76

Michael Parta, 74

1970

Mark Bratlie, 74

Alan Oppegaard, 74

1971

Leslie “Peter” Hovland, 73

Mary (Glander) Kallestad, 73

1972

Margaret (Bratlie) Cross

Richard “Rick” Gaustad, 72

Naomi Knudson-Kudak, 72

Judith (Zamzow) Tepe, 72

1973

Charles “Chuck” Dahlgren, 70 Sigrid (Nelson) Johnson, 70

1974

Loren Anderson, 69

Manuel “Roger” Costa, 75

David Semrud

Michael Vukas, 69

1975

Barbara (Lundby) Brosowske, 69 Dale Stensgaard, 70

1976

Sherman Bishop, 68 Donavan Emery, 67 Douglas Ernst, 67 Craig Grorud, 68

1977

Stefan Oftedahl, 68 Thomas Sahl, 66

1978

Van Keszler, 65

1979

David Dahlin, 65

Heidi Hagstrom, 66

Susan Johnson, 66

Paul Larson, 64

Lynette (Roberts) Obayuwana, 67

Brenda (Nelson) Wassberg, 64

1980

Joni (Simons) Werner, 62

1981

John Brayton, 62

Bradley Hansen, 63

1982

Mark Wanner, 61

IN MEMORIAM

1983

David “Buz” Dahl, 60

1984

James Halvorson, 60

1986

Karen (DeKrey) Marinov, 57

John Salveson, 58

Michelle (Kunz) Schwarz, 58

1987

Aaron Larson, 57

1991

Brian Peterson, 53

1995

Dixie (Habedank) Fjeld, 68

1996

Mack Dettmann, 48

2002

Amanda (Phillips) Galvan, 42

Nathan Saetveit, 43

2003

Travis Anderson, 41

2008

Joshua Linman, 38

2013

Erik Eggers, 32

2014

Dena (Dahl) Hushka, 30

2015

Christian Harrison, 29

2016

William “Will” Harding Jr., 27

2017

Grant German, 27

Larry Alderink, 82, professor emeritus of religion

Joan Hult, 89, founder of Concordia’s women’s intercollegiate athletic program

Kathryn “Jennie” Lightfoot, 83, former member of Concordia’s Board of Regents

Marlys Lund, 69, office manager for the world languages and cultures department

John “Tony” McRae, 89, professor emeritus of French

The Concordia beanie tradition began in Fall 1922. The original beanies, called green caps, were made from green felt with a maroon ribbon band. In 1955, beanies were reintroduced after a 13-year hiatus — this time in Cobber colors, maroon and gold.

1920-1940

1940-1960

1960-1980

100 YEARS

BEANIES

BEANIES

@jordyntogren

“Choir at Concordia is what brought us together. Now we get to remember where it all began each Christmas with the little life we created. #cordmn #5weeksuntilbaby”

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