Andrew Ellingsen is appointed director of Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies

Luther College alum Andrew Ellingsen has been named director of the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies at Luther College, Provost Pam Bacon announced this week.

Andrew Ellingsen

“We’re pleased to have Andrew Ellingsen serve as the center’s director,” Bacon said. “His past experiences as an educator and program leader made him a standout candidate for the position. Andrew has deep roots in Decorah and is well connected within the Norwegian-American heritage community.”

The Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies honors Luther College’s legacy as the first college in the United States founded by Norwegian immigrants. Established in 2018, the Torgerson Center’s mission is to foster connections with modern Norway and other Nordic countries through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, provide learning opportunities for students and faculty, and collaborate on programming with Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School in Decorah. The Torgerson Center is the only endowed undergraduate Nordic Studies center in the United States.

Ellingsen succeeds Nordic Studies Associate Professor Maren Johnson as the center’s director. Johnson was recently appointed executive director of the center.

“I am very excited for Andrew to be part of the Luther team. He’s a generative, thoughtful leader who will help move the needle for the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies,” Johnson said.

Before joining Luther, Ellingsen was director of folk art education at Vesterheim. In that role, Ellingsen successfully expanded participation and significantly grew programs through strategic planning and organizational initiatives.

During his more than five years at Vesterheim, Ellingsen collaborated closely with Luther College on educational opportunities and programs. These opportunities included hosting Luther College January term classes at Vesterheim, supporting a Vesterheim–Torgerson Center internship pipeline for Luther students, and planning educationally-focused tours in Norway, including FCUL 139: Nordic Tales and Traditions (2024), co-taught with Johnson as a pilot program for Luther students studying away in their first year.

Prior to working at Vesterheim, Ellingsen taught elementary music for nearly 20 years, first in the Twin Cities and then in Decorah. During these years, Ellingsen also taught undergraduate elementary music methods at Luther College and served as part of the faculty for Orff Schulwerk graduate courses at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ellingsen earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2003, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education from Luther College.

Ellingsen’s first day on campus was Wednesday, Aug. 12.

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