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Board of Directors
The Luther Seminary Board of Directors is the governing body of the seminary. Pastors and lay leaders from across the country provide leadership in establishing policies and priorities.
Members on the board of directors are elected by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Church Council as well as by the seminary’s supporting synods in ELCA regions 1 and 3.
*denotes Executive Committee Member
Officers
Chair: Marge Hegge*
Vice Chair: Ruth Kimmelshue*
Secretary: Sean Forde*
Treasurer: Carlos Peña*
Committee Chairs
Academic Affairs: Rob Nesse*
Student Affairs: Tracey Gibson*
Finance & Administration: Carlos Peña*
Governance: Ruth Kimmelshue*
Seminary Relations: Dean Gruner*
Investment Committee: Mark Gelle*
Representing ELCA Region 1
| Synod | Name |
|---|---|
| Region 1 Bishops | The Rev. Shelley Bryan Wee Bishop NWWA Synod |
| 1D Eastern Washington- Idaho |
The Rev. Ladd Bjorneby Retired Pastor |
| 1E Oregon | The Rev. Chris Kramer Parish Pastor Nativity Lutheran Church |
| 1F Montana | The Rev. Jennifer Quanbeck Co-Lead Pastor King of Glory Lutheran Church |
Representing ELCA Region 3
| Synod | Name |
|---|---|
| Region 3 Bishops | The Rev. Ann Svennungsen Bishop Minneapolis Synod |
| 3A Western North Dakota |
Murray Sagsveen Synod Attorney |
| 3C South Dakota | Marge Hegge, Ph.D. Retired Professor of Nursing South Dakota State University |
| 3E Northeast Minnesota | Paul Jacobson Musician / Composer |
| 3F Southwest Minnesota | Barb Ostrander Marketing Director, FAST Global Solutions |
| 3G Minneapolis Area | Steve Huseth Retired, Honeywell |
| 3H St. Paul Area |
Representatives Appointed by the ELCA Church Council
| Location | Name |
|---|---|
| Deerfield Beach, FL | The Rev. Dr. Sean Forde Pastor Christ Church |
| Bethesda, MD | Maria Green Cowles Higher Education Leader, Retired |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | The Rev. Tracey Gibson Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Anderson Co. |
| Greenville, WI | Dean Gruner, MD Retired CEO/Chairman SearchAmerica, Inc |
| Annandale, VA | Charlotte Haberaecker Retired CEO Lutheran Services in America |
| Lake Elmo, MN | The Rev. Jeanne Hartfield Pastor Christ LC |
| Sioux Falls, SD | Mike Jerstad Partner Prairie Gold Venture Partners |
| Minnetonka, MN | Ruth Kimmelshue Senior Vice President Cargill Corporation |
| St. Paul, MN | Cristina Lien Marketing Manager Schwan’s |
| Rochester, MN | Robert Nesse, MD Emeritus Staff Physician Retired CEO Mayo Health Clinic |
| Chicago, IL | Linda Norman ELCA, Vice President of Administration, ELCA Mission Investment Fund |
| Galveston, TX | Carlos Peña President Kleen Supply, Co. |
| Portland, OR | David Rutlen, MD Professor of Medicine and Director of Cardiovascular Medicine Oregon Health and Science University |
| Katy, TX | Paul Siegele Retired President Chevron Energy Tech Co. |
| Milwaukee, WI | Brenda Skelton Retired CEO |
| Hopkins, MN | Clarance Smith Retired Vice President Huntington Bank |
| St. Paul, MN | The Rev. Robin Steinke, Ph.D. President Luther Seminary |
Foundation Board of Trustees
The Luther Seminary Board of Trustees provides key leadership in developing the financial support necessary to fulfill the seminary’s mission.
Officers of the Foundation
- David Rutlen, Chair
- Ladd Bjorneby, Vice Chair
- Dean Gruner, Secretary
- John Coskran, Treasurer
Foundation Administration
- Robin Steinke, President
- Heidi Droegemueller, Vice President of Seminary Relations, Executive Director of the Luther Seminary Foundation
- John Coskran, Vice President for Finance, Treasurer of the Luther Seminary Foundation