Diego Rodriguez named Luther College’s director of student activities and leadership

Diego Rodriguez, director of student activities and leadership

Luther College Dean of Students Julie Thornton announced that Diego Rodriguez has been named the college’s director of student activities and leadership.

“Diego brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in supporting students at a variety of higher education institutions, NASA and student affairs. His most recent experience at the University of Iowa, coupled with his time at Texas A&M and Grinnell, will help us to continue to strengthen student support and student engagement,” Thornton said.

Before joining Luther, Rodriguez served as the director of multicultural and international student support and engagement at the University of Iowa. In this role, he provided leadership to more than 40 clubs and student organizations and multiple cultural centers across campus. He advised student leaders, supported student leadership development initiatives, and helped them navigate university policies, develop programming and cultivate inclusive and impactful communities.

Rodriguez was the assistant director for educational programs at the Institute of Data Science at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He designed and proposed credit-bearing education and workforce development programs. He also strengthened partnerships across the university, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.

At Grinnell College, Rodriguez led the college’s employer engagement and internship program and developed strategic recruitment initiatives to connect Grinnell students with career opportunities.

Earlier in his career, Rodriguez held several leadership roles with NASA and managed national education and workforce development initiatives for the national space agency.

Rodriguez earned a Master of Education in Differentiated Instruction at Concordia University-Texas in Austin, Texas, and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration at Concordia University-Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bluffton College in Bluffton, Ohio.

Rodriguez joined the student life team on Wednesday, July 8.