Celebrating Dr. Chatman

Dr. Cheryl Troutman Chatman Retires from 20-Year-Career at CSP

“Let me just say that God has blessed me so much that all of my work experiences, from my first job after college to this very day, have been in the field of education,” Dr. Cheryl Troutman Chatman said with a warm and uplifting tone that the students, faculty, and staff of CSP have come to know over the past two decades. Through her work as Executive Vice President and Dean of Diversity at Concordia University, St. Paul, her biggest mission has been made clear: to be there for her students. This spring, Dr. Chatman’s enthusiasm and zest for students, education, and life will join her as she embarks on her next adventure: retirement. As she does, CSP will reflect on the impact she has made that has transformed CSP and made an impression on not only CSP’s campus, but countless students’ career paths and lives. Chatman to apply for the Dean of Diversity position at CSP. While

DR. CHATMAN ARRIVES AT CSP

“This is one of my favorite stories to tell and I’ve told it several times over the years,” Dr. Chatman shared as she recalled her arrival at CSP. “God drew me here and used President Bob Holst interview with the search committee. Eventually, she accepted

as the messenger.”

When Chatman worked for the headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, she attended the annual meeting of was part of God’s plan all along.

Lutheran Colleges and Universities Presidents that was sponsored by the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA). She already knew President Holst because her husband, Kelly, was one of only three African American males at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Ind. and had found comfort in the Holsts’ home during that time. Chatman met Holst herself when her husband worked at Concordia University as the multicultural director in the early nineties.

When Holst saw Chatman at the LECNA meeting, he asked how things were going for her and Kelly.

Chatman joked. “He responded, ‘This conversation isn’t getting off to a great start!’” President Holst arrived at the LECNA meeting prepared to ask Dr. CSP wasn’t in the geographical direction that Chatman desired, she considered it.

She spent weeks fasting and praying about the position after her the position and her career with CSP was officially underway.

“Accepting the role as the Executive Vice President and Dean of Diversity at Concordia University, St. Paul was the first time I had ever begun a position with the strong sense of responding to a call,” Chatman admitted.

In the months leading up to her arrival at CSP, Chatman spoke a simple prayer that included the words “Use me, Lord!” She did not know the breadth and depth of God’s response to her prayer. Chatman feels deeply that God took her prayer to levels she couldn’t have fathomed and to challenges and opportunities that went far beyond her vision or imagination. She also knows that it “I said I was trying to move further south for a warmer climate,”

“From this experience, I learned that if God calls you and you respond, He’ll take you places that go beyond your imagination and enable you to do things beyond your own expectations.”

“Working with students was like immersing myself fully in a pool rather than just dipping my toes in,” Dr. Chatman noted. “Dr. Chatman works hard and plays hard,” Perryman shared. “She loves to have fun and that is another thing I admire about her. I run a haunted house at my home each Halloween. She came by one year and had a blast; she probably came from a meeting and then went to a meeting after, but I just remember her walking through the dark maze with kids and teenagers and she had the same if not more energy than they did.” Sometimes supporting those relationships meant acting as the communication bridge between the student body she supported and the administration she served. “I’ve served as an advocate for students whose voices weren’t heard by staff, faculty, administrators or board members,” Chatman explained. “I’ve helped students try to find other options to achieve what they needed when someone may have said, ‘we’ve never done it that way.’” That effort has mattered to her students. While what Dr. Chatman hopes she has imparted on her students is hope, it’s abundantly clear that her students have imparted plenty upon her in return. “I’ve become a mother, grandmother, godmother, and aunt without the birth pains or a request for the titles. I’ve laughed with students and cried with them, taught them and learned from them as well. Being there for students in whatever way God allowed me to be was the way I experienced relationships.” The impact of those relationships is clear and remains with students, alumni, and colleagues like Perryman.

guidance, family emergencies, financial support or anything in between,” he explained. “Countless students would not be where they are today without Dr. Chatman and her going above and beyond has changed the world for the better.” For Chatman, working with students went beyond the Dr. Chatman’s work was solidified with a permanent home on perimeters of campus. She prioritized her role in her students' CSP’s campus to commemorate, encourage, and support the lives and, over the years, has taken them to conferences, made diversity and inclusion of all students hospital visits, attended baby showers, at CSP, the Cheryl Troutman Chatman weddings, funerals, family gatherings and celebrations, graduation parties, family sports events, community events, business ventures, and more. Building strong relationships from the foundation has been integral and investing in the hopes, dreams, and contributions of those students became an equally important I’ve laughed with students and cried with them, taught them and learned from them as well. Being there for students in whatever way God allowed me to be was the way I experienced relationships.” Diversity Center. The space was dedicated and opened officially in September 2018. “The Diversity Center is designed to encourage students and employees to learn about, engage in, and celebrate the backgrounds and cultures of diverse people and to provide opportunities for way to do that. –Dr. Cheryl Chatman greater understanding, advocacy, and Her approach resonated with CSP alumnus “I hope for it to be a representation of and former CSP advising staff member Adrian Perryman who met Concordia’s commitment to the presence, uniqueness, gifts, and Dr. Chatman during his freshman year and whose relationship contribution of every individual who enrolls, serves, interacts with Chatman grew over his years at CSP as a student in student with and supports Concordia -- that the Center reminds, leadership positions and, eventually, in service as a CSP staff demonstrates, and spreads LOVE, openness, acceptance, unity, member and community leader with Dr. Chatman’s mentorship. and harmony among the CSP family and community.”

relationship building,” Chatman expressed.

HOPES FOR CSP’S FUTURE

Since beginning her work at Concordia in 2000, Dr. Chatman has had a front row seat to plenty of changes that have impacted the world at-large and the world of CSP.

“Concordia has expanded dramatically in size, programs, services, facilities, and financial stability; there has been a dramatic increase in enrollment and students of color have been the highest growing population over the past 19 years,” Chatman expanded. “While there has been a 107 percent increase in enrollment in undergraduate students and a 698 percent increase in graduate students over the past 19 years, there has been a 478 percent increase in undergraduate students of color and a 1,392 percent increase in graduate students of color during the same time frame.”

Of the total enrollment of students of color over the years, Chatman cited a 182 percent increase in undergraduate students of color and a 93 percent increase in graduate students of color and emphasized Concordia’s diligence in working to retain their retention and graduation rates and strongly emphasized the importance and significance of continuing to do so in the future.

In addition, she observed technology advances, new academic offerings, innovative and engaging activities for students, increased student involvement in those activities and student leadership, improved campus spaces through renovation, remodeling, and more, as well as the Promise Statement established to complement the mission and vision of CSP.

“There has been so much progress and I feel fortunate to have On what she will miss about her professional life and work the been around to observe it, contribute to it, and experience it,” most, Chatman shares that she will miss the opportunities to said Chatman. help students navigate through their life challenges and learning As for CSP’s future, Chatman sees one that is bright, but still requires the diligence, dedication, support and love of CSP’s students, staff, and faculty alike. curves. She’ll also miss seeing and supporting their skills, talents, achievements and seeing their growth, maturation and success from their freshman year to graduation. In addition to that, she will miss the gifts and support of her friends and allies, and the “Preparing, supporting, and leading students relationships and collaboration of her CSP colleagues, donors, toward their success is the reason we’re all alumni and families. here,” she began. “I thank God for having the honor of being able to assist and support students in hopefully one of the most beneficial and rewarding experiences possible and hope that each [CSP] employee continues to take the opportunity to be used by God to reach out, model, accept, and equip students for life, career, and an unimaginable future.” Dr. Chatman also expressed her appreciation to her community, constituents and supporters. She values their joint work, partnerships and commitment to serving others. These organizations and institutions have acknowledged their mutual appreciation of Dr. Chatman through Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Association of Black Women in Higher Education and the Council of Black Minnesotans, an Alumni Achievement Award from Iowa State University, the Spirit of Gandhi Award from the Indian Association of Minnesota, the Hindu Society of Minnesota and the Dr. Dash Foundation, and Chatman expressed that the CSP community will need to most recently the Iowa and Minnesota Campus Contact’s continue to examine its own biases and behaviors toward Presidents’ Engaged Campus Award. any individual, class, group, or belief system. In addition, it will need to continue to strive for acceptance, equity, and inclusion for all who matriculate, work, and serve within CSP and the community beyond. Sometimes the most uncomfortable, inconvenient, and unconventional ways and While Dr. Chatman will no doubt miss CSP—the campus, the students, the colleagues, the community experiences and more—CSP will always be with her. While it can be difficult work, Chatman is sure to emphasize the silver lining and bigger purpose of it all. situations can lead to God’s greatest opportunities for growth and positive changes. –Dr. Cheryl Chatman “I want to acknowledge the honor and pleasure I’ve had serving at this dynamic, compelling, and pioneering institution with three genuine, competent, and “Sometimes the most uncomfortable, compassionate presidents, Rev. Drs. Robinconvenient, and unconventional ways and ert Holst, Thomas Ries, and Brian Friedsituations can lead to God’s greatest opportunities for growth rich, and to thank them for their belief in me and for their support and positive changes.” and trust. I will truly miss serving at Concordia University, St. Paul, THE NEXT ADVENTURE Chatman knows that God had a plan in mind when He called When asked to sum up her career at CSP in one sentence, her to CSP and, in response, she embraced her role and calling Chatman replied, “When you ask God to use you, be prepared wholeheartedly. for an unexpected, unpredictable, and unimaginable journey, but one that will be the most faithful and trustworthy journey you can ever experience.” “There is no brief way to capture the ways that God has used me internally and externally during the 20 years I’ve been at CSP. It would be impossible for me to count the ways that I’ve been Dr. Chatman’s retirement plans can be summarized with what blessed to be an instrument of God.” she calls the “3 Ps”: Purge, Persist and Propose. Her first priority will be to purge her house so that she and her husband have less to move when they relocate to a warmer climate -- their destination is still yet to be determined. To give herself a break For that, Chatman is grateful and the CSP community is thankful in return for her tireless work, enthusiasm, encouragement, kindness, and leadership. from that, she plans to persist on the boards and community but CSP will always be in my heart,” said Chatman. organizations of which she currently serves as an officer or member. Finally, true to her essence, she will propose to offer MAKE YOUR GIFT TO: Dr. Cheryl Troutman Chatman Endowed Scholarship her time to her God-given children, godchild, grandchildren, University Advancement | Concordia University grandnieces, grandnephews, and any elder that needs her to 1282 Concordia Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104 fill in, help out, or take them where they need to go. Or give online at ave.csp.edu/give