Month: July 2026

Luther College President Brad Chamberlain recently announced that the Luther College Board of Regents unanimously elected Shannon Duval, a 1995 Luther graduate, to serve as the board’s next chairperson. Chamberlain also announced that five Luther alumni, Ann Bentdahl, Michael Gerdin, Mark Jensen, Lee Valenta and Cassandra Warner, will join the Luther College Board of Regents in the fall.

First appointed a regent in 2018, Duval has served as vice chairperson since 2022. She is senior vice president and enterprise chief philanthropy officer for Advocate Health in Castle Rock, Colorado. As chairperson for the Luther College Board of Regents, she replaced J. Robert (Bob) Paulson, a 1978 Luther graduate. Paulson has been the board’s chair since 2022.

“While I am honored to be entrusted with the role of chairperson, most of all I am grateful for the work that Bob has done for his alma mater,” Duval said. “Bob’s years as a member of the Board of Regents were marked by steady leadership the past four years as our chairperson. His fellow regents think of him as our ‘oak tree of stability’ leading this board through transitions and challenges, and maximizing opportunities on behalf of the college.”

Dr. Mark Larson, a 1978 Luther graduate, was elected as vice chairperson. Since 1989, Larson has been a consultant in gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic, specializing in interventional endoscopy and malignant and pre-malignant gastrointestinal conditions and syndromes. Larson is a longtime member of the executive committee of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology within Mayo’s Department of Internal Medicine. He also serves as the medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, which is a collection of domestic and international organizations that work collaboratively with Mayo Clinic.

With the new chairpersons in place, the board recognized the service of two outgoing regents by approving Regent Emeriti status for Paulson and Connie Plaehn, a 1975 Luther graduate.

“Both Bob and Connie have been stalwarts of our board, and they will be missed as both colleagues and friends,” Duval said.

New members — Bentdahl, Gerdin, Jensen, Valenta and Warner — will attend their first Board of Regents meeting in October.

“I am excited to welcome our new regents to the board,” Duval said. “Collectively, their impressive professional experiences and unique perspectives will contribute to the valuable work the board does in support of Luther College.”

Bentdahl, a 1985 Luther graduate, is the former president and CEO of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF). Prior to MHIF, she had a long-standing banking career as part owner of Excel Bank Minnesota, where she served as senior vice president of the bank and president of the Excel Bank Minnesota Foundation. She formerly served on Luther’s Board of Regents for eight years (2013-2021). Her family’s philanthropic legacy is visible on campus through the Bentdahl Commons and the Bentdahl Memorial Pipe Organ in the Center for Faith and Life. She established the Bentdahl Award for Excellence in Nursing at Luther College, and her parents, Ray Bentdahl, a 1959 Luther graduate, and Shirley (Klingsheim) Bentdahl, a 1959 Luther graduate, established scholarships for students attending Luther College as well.

Gerdin, a 1992 Luther graduate, is the chairman, president and CEO of Heartland Express headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa. The Gerdin family has a transformative philanthropic relationship with Luther College, underscored by a historic $10 million lead gift in 2023 for the renovation of the Regents Center, now known as the Gerdin Fieldhouse for Athletics and Wellness.

Jensen, a 2007 Luther graduate, is the president of Viking State Bank and Trust in Decorah and Waukon State Bank of Waukon, Iowa. He served on the Decorah Area Fundraising Committee for the Gerdin Fieldhouse campaign. Jensen is a member of the WinnMed Board of Trustees and the Winneshiek County Development and Tourism board.

Valenta, a 1978 Luther graduate, serves as a managing director at Cloverfields Capital Group LP and lives in Sarasota, Florida. He has remained engaged with the college through alumni activities and events over the years, and co-founded the Kirk Harbaugh Accounting Scholarship at Luther College.

Warner, a 1985 Luther graduate, recently retired as executive vice president at Weis Builders in the Twin Cities. She served as co-chair for the Regents Center Fundraising Committee, the group that kicked off the fundraising efforts for the Gerdin Fieldhouse.

Seven Luther College students have been awarded a $1,000 Steven Mark Anderson Scholarship for the 2026-27 academic year. The recipients are Aaron Claxton, Eleanor Dickson, Emma Hansing, Kenna McGee, Avery Potter, Aiyana Taipe and Ren Talerico.

“These scholarship recipients exemplify resilience, determination, and commitment to service, community, and self. The selection process was highly competitive and considered not only students’ academic achievement, but also their leadership, service to others, personal experiences, career aspirations, and challenges they have navigated on their path to earning a college degree,” said Jennifer Hanifl, Ed.D., director of TRIO Student Support Services.

The Steven Mark Anderson Scholarship benefits first-generation college students, income-eligible students, and students with disabilities involved in the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Luther College. TRIO SSS provides customized support and comprehensive programming that fosters students’ academic success, personal development, and community engagement.

The federally-funded program has been available at Luther for more than 50 years and TRIO SSS serves approximately 165 students annually. While the TRIO SSS program is federally-funded, the scholarships are funded by private donations.

The Steven Mark Anderson Scholarship was established in 2001 by Lloyd and Kathy Anderson of Ames, Iowa, in memory of their son, Pastor Steven Mark Anderson, who graduated from Luther in 1985.

“We are incredibly proud of each recipient and grateful to Lloyd and Kathy Anderson, whose support, in memory of their son, Pastor Steven Mark Anderson, makes opportunities like this possible,” Hanifl said. “These students demonstrate exceptional perseverance, a deep appreciation for the value of a liberal arts education, and a genuine desire to use their education to create meaningful change in their communities. This scholarship represents an investment in students whose potential extends far beyond the classroom, so they can remain focused on achieving their educational goals and preparing for lives of purpose, leadership and service.”

Aaron Claxton ’28, a junior from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, is majoring in Spanish and music. He is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD), a national honor society that recognizes first-year students who achieve outstanding academic success. He is a member of Cathedral Choir and Organ Studio and enjoys being a collaborative pianist and playing for juries. He works as a tutor for students in music theory/ear training and Spanish. In his spare time, Claxton tunes pianos for Luther’s music department. Claxton plans to pursue graduate school in the future.

Eleanor Dickson ’27, a senior from Guttenberg, Iowa, is majoring in economics and minoring in philosophy. She is a staff writer for the Luther College Chips student newspaper and a member of the Business Club. Dickson received the Women’s Swimming and Diving Norse Award for the 2025-2026 season. During the summer, she works on a flower farm.

Emma Hansing ’27, a senior from Cortland, Illinois, is majoring in neuroscience and minoring in art. Through her on-campus work-study job at the Luther College Makerspace, Hansing helps students to bring their ideas to life. She is a member of Tau Delta Gamma. After college, Hansing plans to work as a physician assistant specializing in neuroscience.

Kenna McGee ’27, a senior from Eldridge, Iowa, is double-majoring in economics and environmental studies and minoring in Spanish. McGee volunteers with Luther’s Energy and Water Task Group, the Campus Garden Revitalization project, the Sustainable Foods Task Force, the northeast Iowa chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the Decorah Community Food Pantry. She is an assistant coach for the Decorah High School girls soccer team and coaches various youth soccer teams for the Decorah United Soccer Club. In 2025, McGee received an honorable mention for the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, a national scholarship awarded to future leaders in environmental, Tribal public policy and health care fields. She was the recipient of the Kuh Positively Luther Award, which recognizes students whose character, leadership and active participation in co-curricular activities enhance the quality of campus life. McGee is currently completing a yearlong internship as an energy analyst for the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa. Her intended career path is to become an environmental economist or work in the private sector with a focus upon sustainability and the environment.

Avery Potter ’28, a junior from Newton, Iowa, is majoring in social work and psychology. She is the secretary for Norse Against Sexual Assault and the fundraising chair for Tau Delta Gamma. During the academic year, Potter works as a barista at Nordic Brew on campus. In the summer, she is a server at a steakhouse in Newton. After Luther, Potter plans to complete a master of social work program and become a mental health therapist for teens and young adults.

Aiyana Taipe ’27, a senior from Burnsville, Minnesota, is majoring in sociology and minoring in Spanish. She has a work study job at the Luther Book Shop. She is a member of Alpha Beta Psi (ABY) and helps to organize service-oriented events, such as the Stride Through Their Story 5K. She serves on the TRIO Leadership Council and is a member of the Performing Arts Committee at Luther. Taipe intends to pursue graduate school and earn a master’s degree in human resources.

Ren Talerico ’27, a senior from Madison, Wisconsin, is majoring in elementary education and minoring in art. In addition to being a member of the women’s swimming and diving team, Talerico enjoys volunteering with Luther’s Caf to Community program. She is the vice president of PALS, a student-led mentorship organization that pairs Luther students with Decorah elementary and middle school students. After college, Talerico plans to work as an elementary education teacher.