Luther names Chamberlain as its 12th president

By Seth Boyes,

Luther College Provost Brad Chamberlain has been selected to serve at the college’s 12th president. Chamberlain spoke Friday inside the college’s Center for Faith and Life, saying he has felt blessed by his time at Luther and aims for the college to continue cultivating student talent. (Photo by Seth Boyes)

It’s the first time in more than a century that Luther College has selected an internal staff member to serve as its next president. College officials announced Friday the college’s current provost Brad Chamberlain will succeed outgoing Luther President Jennifer K. Ward, who announced plans earlier this year to retire during the upcoming academic year. A specific date for the transition has yet to be set.

Bob Paulson, chair of Luther’s Board of Regents, said it was important the college’s next president understand Luther’s history, its emphasis on what he called experiential learning and demonstrate an ability to work within the college’s structure of shared governance. Paulson said the college began forming a presidential search committee almost immediately after Ward announced her intention to retire. The committee gathered input over the summer as to the characteristics the college ought to seek in its next president, and that input was assembled into a profile to compare against prospective candidates. The college hired national search firm WittKiefer to aid in identifying the best applicant, but Paulson said the choice was ultimately an easy one. 

“It became clear that we had an internal candidate in Brad Chamberlain, who has the skills, knowledge, experience and proven leadership to give Luther a unique opportunity and advantage to continue moving forward at an accelerating pace, without pause or delays,” Paulson said. 

Paulson said Chamberlain “lives and breaths the mission of the college,” adding that Chamberlain has taken on various administrative roles over the past decade, which Paulson feels have prepared Chamberlain to serve as Luther’s next president.

“In so many ways, my story is another Luther story,” Chamberlain said Friday to an audience inside the college’s Center for Faith and Life. “I am who I am because of who you are — because of who we are.”

Chamberlain, a chemistry instructor specializing in polymers and plastics, first came to Luther in 2001 as a visiting professor.

Full article available in the October 24 Decorah Leader.

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