Fall 2019

Dear Class of 1991 Alumni,

As many of us turned 50 in the past year, it’s often a time one reflects on his/her first five decades of life.  Memories of childhood, high school years, LUTHER COLLEGE years, beginning careers, attending grad school, starting families, changing careers, and watching families grow and change. Many of us now have children who are in college and some children are following in their parent’s footsteps by attending our alma mater! My fellow class agents, Janet and Kory, both have daughters attending college, and one is proudly wearing Luther blue. My daughter is only five but perhaps she, too, will be checking her SPO and hanging out in the Caf in the future. As I reflect upon these past decades, I am filled with pride and gratitude for my four years at Luther College.  It prepared me to be career-ready, it molded me into an independent thinker and problem-solver, it influenced my choices to be a contributing member of society, and it provided me with a top-notch liberal arts education.  THANK YOU, LUTHER COLLEGE! 

It promises to be an exciting year for Luther. In November, the college inaugurated its eleventh president, Dr. Jenifer K. Ward. President Ward joins the Luther community with more than three decades of experience as an educator, scholar, and academic leader after serving, most recently, as provost and dean of the college at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. Prior to joining Centenary, President Ward served in several leadership roles at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington, including dean of the college, interim provost, and associate provost. She was also a faculty member at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she taught German.    

In a message to the Luther community, President Ward said, “Our work together must be strategic, collaborative, creative, and—most importantly—must articulate what it means to be both grounded in Decorah, Iowa with a face to the world, and set goals for how we can adapt Luther’s past and present for a sustainable future.” 

A self-described extrovert and lover of art, film, and literature, President Ward started her duties at Luther July 1, and her official inauguration took place November 1–3.

Learn more about President Ward—including her thoughts on food, art, Twitter, Decorah, and higher ed—on Luther’s YouTube channel (youtube.com, then search “Luther College President Ward”) or in the fall issue of the Luther Magazine: luther.edu/magazine.

Also, while you’re at it, use this checklist to up your Luther social media game

CLASS NOTES

Kyle Elsbernd teaches English and directs drama at Union Grove (Wis.) High School.

David Heimer is assistant principal at Heritage High School in Littleton, Colo.

David Heine is a family medicine physician at the Cresco (Iowa) Medical Clinic.

Chris Heinrich is attorney and shareholder at O’Neill, Heinrich, Damkroger, Bergmeyer and Shultz, PC, LLO, in Lincoln, Neb.

Dean Southern has been appointed as Dorothy P. Schmitt Chair in Opera, serving as director of opera and artistic director of Opera Theater at Cleveland Institute of Music.

Elizabeth (Tabatt) Ziemann teaches kindergarten for the Northfield (Minn.) Public Schools.

OBITUARY

Lynne Allison (Meyer) Elliott of McFarland, Wis., died Dec. 23, 2018, age 49.

The full obituary of the classmate listed above can be found on the Luther College website at: luther.edu/in-memoriam/

If you would like a printout of the obituary listed above in its entirety mailed to you, please contact us at: [email protected], or 563-387-1509