Fall 2019

Dear Class of 1987 Alumni,

I happened to be in Decorah after a family reunion just before the students moved in this fall. The campus looked so ready for all the students to show up and make it the buzzing center of learning that it is. My family reunion had been for the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of some of my Westby ancestors from Norway.  We counted about 22 Luther grads present, but that didn’t take into account the dozens more Luther alums who had predeceased us. I know that a good portion of us had family connections that led us to Luther, but it is my understanding that “relatives who went there” isn’t the pull it once was. So, as ambassadors of the College, it is up to us to bring the college up in conversation with the high school students we interact with.

Did you know that our fellow alum Laura (Johnston) Tiebert has not only co-authored two books about the late musical prodigy Prince, but she took on the task of ”Living like Prince for a Year,” which she had chronicled on her blog, lauratiebert.com. In it, she describes how she takes on a trait of the wonder each month, from dressing well to taking on an alter-ego. It’s been a fascinating journey for those who follow her blog, too!

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.

Sarah (Wold) Allcock
7427 132nd Circle
Savage MN 55378
630-842-3384
[email protected]

CLASS NOTES 

Sarah (Wold) Allcock is a Parent Educator for the Early Childhood Family Education program for the Robbinsdale School District in New Hope, Minnesota. She earned her Master's in Education from the University of Minnesota in May of 2019.

Craig Brandt is a lawyer with Moss & Barnett in Minneapolis.

Greg DeSautel is a surgeon at Northwest Iowa Ear, Nose and Throat in Spencer, Iowa.

Kristi Elliott is a staff physician at the VA Brainerd Community Based Outreach Clinic in Brainerd, Minn., and the women’s health medical director for the St. Cloud, Minn., VA Health System.