President Richard L. Torgerson
Richard L. Torgerson became president of Luther College in July, 1999.
Torgerson was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, on July 26, 1943. His father operated a wheat farm, and his mother was a school teacher. Rick left the family farm to attend college at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he completed a bachelor's degree with majors in biology and physical education.
He and Judy Carlson were fellow members of the class of 1964 at Concordia, and they married soon after graduation. They then moved to Pullman, Washington, where Judy taught in the elementary schools and Rick completed a master's degree in entomology in 1966 and a doctorate in entomology and zoology in 1969.
There followed thirty years of teaching and administrative work at five different colleges prior to coming to Luther College—three years as assistant professor of biology at Wartburg College; ten years on the faculty of biology at Texas Lutheran College, the final two years there serving as assistant dean for academic affairs; three years as vice president for academic affairs and academic dean at Baker University, Baldwin, Kansas; seven years as vice president and academic dean at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, including a year as acting president; six years as vice president for development at Wartburg College; and a year-and-a-half as vice president for development at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Judy Torgerson currently serves as an assistant in the Study Abroad Office, where she helps students plan international experiences.
The Torgersons have two sons. Their son Brennan and his wife Kristie live in Buhler, Kansas, where Brennan is a high school teacher and coach. They have two children, Trevor and Taryn. Their son Korey and his wife Deana live in Wichita, Kansas. Korey is director of compliance in the athletic department of Wichita State University. They have two children, Quinn and Drew.