DECORAH, Iowa - The Luther College Board of Regents announced the appointment of David L. Tiede, Ph.D., as interim president of the college effective July 1. Luther President Richard L. Torgerson will end his term of service with the college on June 30.
Tiede is emeritus president and emeritus professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He served as the Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation at Augsburg College in Minneapolis from 2005 to 2010, and as interim president of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, in 2010. He currently consults with a variety of higher education institutions as they deal with leadership transitions.
Tiede's appointment at Luther is for a period of 12 months, or until the permanent position is filled.
"The Board of Regents is delighted and honored that Dr. Tiede has agreed to lead Luther during this important time of transition," said Paul Torgerson, chairperson of the Board of Regents. "He is greatly admired as an administrator, teacher and scholar, and he is in high demand as a consultant in the area of educational leadership and governance. With Dr. Tiede serving as interim president, the board can complete the search for a permanent president with every confidence that the college is in very capable hands."
In accepting the post, Tiede said: "Luther College is educationally excellent, grounded in faith, and centered in student lives. President Torgerson's remarkable years have set the stage. This interim gives the whole college the opportunity to call the next president to lead from its strengths into the changing landscape of higher education. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve an institution I have long admired."
Tiede, of White Bear Lake, Minn., served as Luther Seminary president from 1987 to 2005. He was professor of New Testament at the seminary from 1971 to 2006. His academic publications and leadership in scholarly guilds, including the Society of Biblical Literature, Catholic Biblical Association, and the International Society of New Testament Studies, have earned him great respect as a teacher and scholar.
An ordained pastor and past president of the Association of Theological Schools, Tiede is a consultant for Auburn Seminary's "Leadership That Works" research project. He is also a governance mentor for the nonprofit In Trust organization, whose mission is to help strengthen boards and governance in North American theological schools.
Tiede has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout his career and currently is on the regent boards of California Lutheran University and Augsburg College and has served as theologian-in-residence to the board of directors of Baltimore-based Lutheran Services in America.
A 1962 graduate of St. Olaf College, Tiede earned a theological degree in 1966 from Luther Seminary and a Ph.D. in 1971 from Harvard University. He is married to Martha (Muffy), and they are the parents of two grown children, Peter and Kathryn.
A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,500, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in 60 majors and preprofessional programs. For more information about Luther, visit the college's website: www.luther.edu.
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