Author: Luther College News

Dorian High School Choir rehearsal with Mark Potvin, conductor and camp director, on June 23, 2023.

More than 600 high school and middle school students attended Luther College’s Dorian Summer Music Camps June 11-24—up from 500 students in 2022.

The camps attracted students from 12 states, representing Iowa and all of its border states (Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and beyond (Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas).

“Our world-class faculty and guest instructors coached the students in ensemble rehearsals, applied lessons, music classroom settings, fine arts environments and in grappling with disciplines that transcend music making,” said Mark Potvin, camp director, assistant professor of music and conductor of the Cathedral Choir and Norskkor at Luther. “I am never more proud of this college than during the two weeks of Dorian.”

The Dorian Summer Camp staff included Nathan Knautz, counselor; Shelly Schaeufele, dean of students; and Sam Lubs, counselor.

This year’s camp staff included 36 current Luther students and recent graduates, who served as counselors, with leadership from Luther alumni and Iowa music teachers Shelly Scheufele, Casey Tecklenburg and Cecelia Schutt. Scheufele, assistant camp director and dean of students, teaches middle school choir in the Waukee Community School District and has participated in Dorian for 33 summers. Tecklenburg is the choir director at Union High School, and Schutt serves as the choir director for the Grundy Center Community School District and Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District.

“It is my great joy to work alongside folks who empower our counselors and teaching staff to build relationships with students in a way that inspires them to stay connected to Luther and continue making music,” Potvin added.

The Dorian All Band Reunion also returned to Luther this summer for the first time since 2011—in a new format—and had 150 people in attendance. The former Luther band members played their instruments in a large ensemble, honored past Luther band conductors and premiered two new band commissions honoring Fred Nyline, former Luther band director for 38 years.

The All Band Reunion Alumni Band performs at the Center for Faith and Life, July 2, 2023, conducted by Dr. Cory Near.

Dorian programming—with a rich history and robust series of festivals and camps—is unique to Luther. Summer camps are open to all families, and scholarship opportunities are available. Festivals for high school music students include the Dorian Band Festival, Dorian Choral Invitational Festival, Dorian Keyboard Festival, Dorian Orchestra Festival and Dorian Vocal Festival, where participants are nominated by their school music teacher or private teacher.

“As a high schooler, I knew nothing about Luther until I came to Dorian through a friend,” said Luther rising senior Patrick Carew, who also served as a camp counselor this year. “I had no idea that Dorian would provide an experience that would set up the next path of my life. The connections I made were extremely impactful.”

Dorian began in 1949 when Luther Professor Weston Noble invited regional school music directors to bring selected band students to campus for a two-day honor band festival. A vocal festival was added in 1950, and the family of Dorian festivals and camps has grown in scope and participation ever since. More than 90,000 students have shared in a Dorian musical experience since the first festival was held.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

The three Luther alumni ‘represent a forward-looking mindset with a love and respect for the way their own Luther experience shaped them,’ said President Ward.

Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward announces that Brent Asplin, M.D., CEO of Gather Health; Kelly Birkenholz, MBA, director of the Ernst & Young Center for Executive Leadership Chief Tax Executive Program; and Brad Miller, Ph.D., president of Runestone Academy Ltd., will join the Luther College Board of Regents this fall.

“I am delighted to welcome these new regents to the board at Luther College. In my conversations with them during the process leading up to their selection, I was impressed by the way in which they represent a forward-looking mindset with a love and respect for the way their own Luther experience shaped them as citizens and professionals,” said Ward. “They will be instrumental in working with me and their board colleagues to ensure that we expand our reach, strengthen our organization, and align our resources and student experience to our brand promise, as called for in our strategic framework.”

Asplin, Miller and Birkenholz will attend their first Board of Regents meeting in October. The regents serve as trustees and stewards, ensuring that Luther fulfills its mission by providing fiduciary and strategic oversight in collaboration with college constituents.

About the New Regents

Dr. Brent Asplin, Luther College class of 1990, is the CEO and co-founder of Gather Health.

Dr. Brent Asplin, Luther College class of 1990, is the CEO and co-founder of Gather Health, a holistic, socially-supported primary healthcare service for older adults. Launched this year in Boston, Gather Health is driven by the community for the community, using primary care as a catalyst for positive change. Prior to Gather Health, Brent served as VillageMD’s chief operating officer and as the inaugural president of Village Medical, the medical practices group within VillageMD. An emergency physician, Brent previously served as chief clinical officer for both Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis and Mercy Health in Ohio and Kentucky. He also served in a range of academic emergency medicine and other leadership roles with the Mayo Clinic and HealthPartners in Minnesota. Brent graduated from Luther College in 1990 with a music major in trumpet performance. He earned his M.D. at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in 1995 and Master of Public Health in health management and policy from the University of Michigan in 1999. Brent and his wife, Suzy, live in Barrington, Illinois.

Kelly Woods Birkenholz, Luther College class of 2003, is the director of the Ernst & Young Center for Executive Leadership Chief Tax Executive Program.

Kelly Woods Birkenholz, Luther College class of 2003, is the director of the Ernst & Young Center for Executive Leadership Chief Tax Executive Program. She joined Ernst & Young in 2003 in the Minneapolis audit practice, and her 20-year career spans leadership roles in audit, operations, human resources, talent deployment and leadership development. In her current role, Kelly is responsible for all aspects of the program design, development and delivery of the Ernst & Young Chief Tax Executive Program, which includes leadership development and executive transition support to Fortune 500 and high-growth elite Ernst & Young clients who are new to their chief tax executive role. Kelly graduated from Luther College in 2003 with a major in accounting and earned her MBA from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business in 2013. She is the vice president of the Alzheimer’s Association Board of Directors for the Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter. Kelly and her husband, Matt (Luther College class of 2003), live in Chanhassen, Minnesota, with their daughters, Kya and Sage.

Brad Miller, Luther College class of 1986, is founder and president of Runestone Academy Ltd.

Brad Miller, Luther College class of 1986, is founder and president of Runestone Academy Ltd., a non-profit organization that partners with institutions and professionals to make high-quality interactive textbooks for math and computer science available to all students at no cost. This entrepreneurial venture grew from a sabbatical project at Luther College, where he taught computer science and data science from 2003 to 2018. In 2019, he was an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota; he  also served as an instructional design consultant for Google from 2018 to 2020. Prior to moving into academia, Brad worked in industry as founder and vice president of product development for Net Perceptions and senior software engineer for Apertus Technologies. During his 15 years in Decorah, Brad was an active volunteer, serving in community leadership roles for the Winneshiek County Community Foundation, Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity and First Lutheran Church Council. He served on the Concordia College Board of Regents from 2019 to 2023. Brad graduated from Luther College in 1986 with majors in computer science and physics and earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Minnesota in 2003. He and his wife, Jane Dalen Miller (Luther College class of 1986), live in Luck, Wisconsin, and they have two adult children, Kaia and Joshua (Luther College class of 2017).

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Small Island, Big Song will be featured in the 2023-24 Luther College Center Stage Series. “This season highlights one of Luther’s core values: understanding ourselves and the world by being both grounded and global,” said Kristen Underwood, director of campus programming.

Luther College is thrilled to present the 2023-24 Center Stage Series. Season tickets are available now for six exciting performances by international artists, presented at the college’s Center for Faith and Life. Both the series and its corresponding Center Stage Dinner Series are available at a discounted price if ordered by Sept. 29.

“I’m delighted to present these incredibly accomplished performing artists,” said Kristen Underwood, director of campus programming. “In addition to offering something for everyone, this season highlights one of Luther’s core values: understanding ourselves and the world by being both grounded and global. I hope the cumulative effect of these six performances will be the feeling of having traveled the globe from the Center for Faith and Life.”

The 2023-24 lineup includes performances by:

• Multi-instrumental quartet Invoke on Friday, Sept. 29
• The Acting Company’s “Odyssey” on Thursday, Oct. 26
• Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn on Thursday, Nov. 9
• Langston Hughes’ jazz poem “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz,” featuring the Ron McCurdy Quartet, on Friday, Feb. 9
• tenThing Brass Ensemble on Thursday, March 7
• Small Island Big Song, featuring First Nation artists from the Pacific and Indian Ocean islands, on Tuesday, April 23

All Center Stage Series performances are held in the Center for Faith and Life at 7:30 p.m. Tickets and more information about each of the performances can be found at tickets.luther.edu. Purchase tickets for all six shows before Sept. 29 to waive any ticketing fees and receive 15% off. Individual ticket sales start Aug. 29.

At the Center Stage Dinner Series, guests can enjoy a gourmet three-course dinner before each show in the Peace Dining Room, overlooking lower campus and the Upper Iowa River. Beer and wine are available for purchase. As with the performances, purchasing tickets to all six dinners before Sept. 29 waives any ticketing fees and provides a 15% discount. Information for the dinner series can also be found at tickets.luther.edu, with menus posted two weeks before the corresponding event. Luther chefs can easily accommodate dietary restrictions when notified in advance.

The Luther Book Shop is open for “Sip and Shop” from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on all performance nights. Ticketed guests receive a complimentary glass of wine while they browse the shop before the performance.

Center Stage student matinees

The Center Stage Series also offers matinees for school groups and families. This year, both matinée performances will be in the spring:

• Tomás and the Library Lady, recommended for grades K- 5 but open to all, on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 10am and 12:30pm. Sponsored by Dragonfly Books.
• Small Island Big Song, recommended for 5th grade and up but open to all, on Tuesday, April 23 at 12:30pm. Sponsored by Decorah Bank and Trust.

To reserve tickets for a matinee performance, please contact Bradley Phillips at phillibr@luther.edu or (563) 387-1293. Community members are welcome as space allows.

Thanks to support from sponsors, funds are available to assist with tickets and transportation for school groups. To request financial support for school groups, contact Kristen Underwood at undekr01@luther.edu or (563) 387-1536.

Sponsors make the series possible

The Center Stage Series is made possible by the generous support of major season sponsors, including Gundersen Health System, WinnMed, Decorah Bank and Trust, the John W. Kurtich Foundation, Corey and Suzanne (Roverud) Mineck, and the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

June 21, 2023

Todd Pedlar, professor of physics, has a long track record of preparing students for successful engineering careers.

Luther College will enhance its engineering education with the launch of an engineering science major in fall 2023. The new major expands the college’s current offerings and presents a more distinctly focused degree, giving students an even stronger foundation in engineering.

“At Luther, we have a long tradition of preparing students for a future in the various disciplines of engineering,” said Todd K. Pedlar, professor of physics. “In our new program, we’ll serve such students even more completely.”

The engineering science major

The engineering science major is based on a foundation of physics courses with related courses in math and chemistry. Among the included elements essential to future engineers are:

• Foundational engineering courses in statics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electronics and more.
• Extensive coursework in physics, mathematics and chemistry.
• Hands-on laboratory and project work emphasizing computational modeling as well as experiment and project design.

The major will provide a meaningful foundation for those going on to study a specialized engineering discipline, such as mechanical, civil or electrical engineering. Students will gain an understanding of engineering vocabulary and best practices. The major will also give those who decide not to pursue more training an interdisciplinary set of skills that will prepare them for the technical workforce after graduation.

Studying engineering at a liberal arts college

Luther students preparing for careers in engineering benefit from the college’s focus on critical thinking skills, effective communication with people of diverse backgrounds, and analysis of societal issues. Smaller class sizes, more academic support, a broad education with flexibility in the curriculum, and options for participating in extracurricular and co-curricular activities are additional benefits.

Students in the new engineering science program will learn the discipline within larger contexts, gaining an understanding of the historical and philosophical context of theoretical and experimental science and an appreciation for how scientific ideas develop over time. They will develop critical thinking skills and the ability to perform both conceptual and quantitative analysis of physical phenomena. Students in the major will also develop an understanding of the impact of physical science investigations on the global development of human society.

Alumni success

The engineering science major is new, but the success of Luther alumni in engineering fields is not. One hundred percent of Luther’s physics program graduates from the past 20 years who have sought admission to an engineering graduate program were admitted and were able to pursue their engineering aspirations.

“What underlies the success of our alumni is the fact that the rigorous coursework, research and internship experiences our students have provides an excellent and flexible foundation for their engineering future, whatever shape it takes,” Pedlar said.

Luther graduates have earned or are pursuing graduate degrees in engineering disciplines including mechanical, electrical, civil/environmental, materials science, aerospace and optical systems at more than a dozen universities across the country.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

June 13, 2023

Norskkor performs at the 2023 Iowa Choral Showcase.

Norskkor, Luther College’s choral ensemble for first-year tenor and bass singers, was selected to perform at the 2023 Iowa Choral Showcase on Wednesday, April 26. The annual showcase event, which features choral groups from across the state, took place at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Norskkor is the only college choir that was selected to perform at the showcase.

Organized by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, the Iowa Choral Showcase is chaired by Jason Rausch, choir director at Decorah High School.

The Iowa Choral Showcase has a unique selection process among choral conventions. At many other similar events, choirs are selected based on their recordings from the previous three years. The Iowa Choral Showcase, however, makes its decisions based on recorded performances from the current academic year.

Norskkor is a first-year choral ensemble. It is open to students at all levels, whether they have previously sung in choirs or not. It boasts members from various academic majors and musical backgrounds.

Iowa Choral Showcase audition recordings were due in January 2023, representing only one semester’s worth of choral work together for the Norskkor ensemble.

“Norskkor’s Iowa Choral Showcase selection recognizes the singers’ merit, not the school’s reputation,” said Mark Potvin, Norskkor director. “The event is unique in that the students were selected based on their scholastic skill, artistic intuition, work ethic and sense of community, making it the perfect way to acknowledge their achievements,” said Potvin.

Norskkor member Samuel Scheffler, Luther class of 2026, said, “It felt incredible to attend the Choral Showcase with all my friends. I know it is cliché, but Norskkor is family. We are a very tight-knit group that works hard. Only a few first-year groups at the collegiate level get to travel together, so I am grateful for this opportunity to come along for Norskkor.”

During the trip to Cedar Rapids, Norskkor also performed at First Lutheran Church, attracting an audience of approximately 150 listeners.

Scheffler added, “Through this Showcase, Norskkor honed our performance skills and spread the word of Luther choirs to those on the college search. I have had a great experience in the Luther choral program, and displaying that to people searching for such a collegiate choral experience feels fantastic.”

“It is an honor for Norskkor to be selected for the Iowa Choral Showcase,” Potvin said. “We were excited to share our music with the community and represent Luther College on such a grand stage.”

About Luther College Music 

Luther is home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, with five choirs, three orchestras, two bands and two jazz bands. One-third of all Luther students participate in music, including large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 175 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance. Learn more at luther.edu/music.

May 31, 2023

Amanda Weber, class of 2008, receives the Young Alumni Award at commencement, May 21, 2023.

Luther College 2008 graduate Amanda Weber, founder of the Voices of Hope choirs, received the college’s 2023 Young Alumni Award. The announcement was made during the commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21.

The Young Alumni Award is given to a Luther alumnus in the spring of each year for notable personal accomplishments, leadership qualities and service to Luther or society. The recipient must be a graduate from the last 15 years who best represents the college’s mission to serve society.

“Receiving this award and attending commencement at Luther with my family has me reflecting on so many ways in which my college experience shaped me,” Weber said. “I am so grateful for the memories—the mentoring from faculty who continue to inspire me, the challenging new ideas, the opportunities for leadership and of course the lasting friendships. It was an honor to accept the Young Alumni Award and even more moving to see this year’s graduates and sense their collective enthusiasm for all that awaits them. I am proud to be a part of this community. Go Norse!”

After graduating from Luther with a double major in music and art, Weber has pursued her calling as a musician while working in service to her community. She is the founder and artistic director of Voices of Hope, a choral organization providing singing opportunities in Minnesota state prisons. Weber also serves as director of worship and the arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.

Amanda Weber, Luther College class of 2008

Early in her career, Weber spent a year in Washington, D.C., with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. She was assigned to a church that had a women’s homeless shelter. When her supervisor suggested she get to know the women at the shelter a little better, she decided to start a choir. She directed Bethany’s Women of Praise for three years.

While working on her doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Minnesota, Weber started the Voices of Hope choir at the women’s prison in Shakopee, Minnesota. Voices of Hope has expanded to include a second choir—for men—at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater.

Singing in a choir provides people who are incarcerated the opportunity to feel free, heal from trauma and build community. One Voices of Hope singer said, “We are given many tools at Shakopee, but none have healed me like music.”

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

May 22, 2023

Luther College graduating senior Mychal Shed received the college’s Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal for the class of 2023. The announcement was made during the Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21. 

“I feel truly blessed and honored to win this award. The Jenson Medal is especially humbling for me because it came from my classmates and friends who deemed me worthy enough to represent Luther College and the amazingly talented class of 2023. These are the same people who I entered Luther College with as strangers, and now, four years later, we are leaving as friends, teammates, brothers, and sisters. This is an honor that I will forever cherish and hold near and dear to my heart,” said Shed. 

Luther’s Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal is presented each year to an outstanding senior, selected by the graduating class, who best demonstrates the ideals of the college through service to students and the college community. Established through an endowment gift from Luther alumni Paul ’48 and Elizabeth (Dybdal) Jenson ’49 of Vassalboro, Maine, the Jenson Medal supports Luther College’s mission of service.

During his time at Luther, Shed was a member of the men’s basketball team and was voted team captain. Additionally, he was the president of the Black Student Union and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and on Luther’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He also worked in the Admissions Office as a Lead Student Ambassador and was an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization. The role that was most fulfilling for Shed was serving as camp counselor/mentor for the Junior Norse Skills Camps. 

“Working with the children at camp served as a challenge of patience, understanding, and connection—a challenge that I took pride in achieving. As an aspiring youth and adolescent social worker and school counselor, I know that these experiences will be similar to the day-to-day occurrences that I will face in my career. I am grateful for those campers, as they helped me learn a great deal about myself. They helped me learn how to communicate effectively with different youth, how to build and maintain genuine relationships and connections with them, and the most salient—they taught me how to become a better listener,” said Shed. 

Shed graduated with a degree in psychology. He is the son of Maya Sample and Marcus Shed and is from Teague, Texas. He said, “Coming to the rural Midwest was a concern of mine four years ago. Will I be accepted? If they do accept me, will they understand me? During my first semester at Luther these fears were alleviated completely. Now, after four years of deeply rooting myself in this community through genuine service, leadership, and love—I can wholeheartedly say that my peers have accepted me, understood me, and most definitely have supported me every step of the way.” 

This fall, Shed will attend the University of Chicago, where he has been accepted into the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice to pursue his master’s degree in social work.

Ashley Benson, dean of student engagement, got to know Shed very well during his time at Luther. She said, “Myke is a dynamic human being. I remember meeting him when I interviewed at Luther. I have enjoyed watching him grow as a student leader and seeing the impact he has on his peers. He is valued by so many. He brings warmth and joy to any room he enters. I look forward to watching him grow as a graduate student and a professional. Myke truly deserves this prestigious Jenson Medal award that is woven into the fabric of Luther College.” 

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. 

May 16, 2023

Luther College seniors Gideon Perez, Sadie Pichelmann and Berit Skogen have received Fulbright awards for the 2023-24 academic year. All three will serve as Fulbright English Teaching Assistants.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Every year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards more than 2,000 students, artists, and early-career professionals from all backgrounds and in more than 100 different fields of study to teach English and undertake research abroad. Fulbright awards are given based upon leadership potential, academic achievement, and record of service.

Gideon Perez ’23 was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Slovakia.

Gideon Perez ’23 of Austin, Minnesota, will graduate in May with a major in English. He was selected for an English Teaching Assistantship in Slovakia. “After learning about Slovakia’s rich history, deep culture, and beautiful natural landscapes, it was so easy to fall in love with,” said Perez. “Outside of teaching, I’m excited to integrate myself into a new community and meet plenty of new friends,” he said. After his Fulbright, he plans to continue teaching English or pursue a career in publishing.

Sadie Pichelmann ’23 was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Slovakia.

Sadie Pichelmann ’23 of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, will graduate in May with a major in history and minors in biology and music. She also was selected for an English Teaching Assistantship in Slovakia. “I know much more about Western Europe than I do about Eastern Europe, and I hope to fill this gap in my knowledge through my time in Slovakia,” Pichelmann said. “I’m most excited for the opportunity to encounter people and situations that will challenge my sense of self and my worldviews,” she added. After her Fulbright experience, she plans to attend medical school. “I am of the firm conviction that treating each person as a whole and acknowledging their unique individuality is vital to being an effective caregiver, and being able to understand and appreciate other cultural backgrounds and viewpoints is a large part of that,” Pichelmann said.

Berit Skogen ’23 will be a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Norway.

Berit Skogen ’23 of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, will graduate in May with majors in history and Nordic studies and minors in Africana studies and religion. She will be an English Teaching Assistant in Norway, where she previously studied abroad. “I chose Fulbright because it provides grantees with so many amazing opportunities and connections. Living there for 10 months will give me a lot of language practice and opportunities to learn from my students as well as foster connections between the US and Norway,” said Skogen. When not in the classroom, she is excited to run and ski in the mountains. After her Fulbright experience, she plans to pursue graduate degrees in Scandinavian studies.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

May 12, 2023

Joshua Hartl ’23, U.S. Teaching Assistant (USTA) in Austria for the 2023-24 academic year.

The Austrian-American Educational Commission has selected Luther College senior Joshua Hartl of Oskaloosa, Iowa, as a U.S. Teaching Assistant (USTA) in Austria for the 2023-24 academic year.

Administered by the Fulbright Commission, the AAEC has sent more than 3,000 college graduates to teach in Austria since 1962. Teaching assistants act as cultural ambassadors and promote mutual understanding across national borders. The program is funded primarily by direct contributions from the governments of the United States and Austria.

Hartl is graduating from Luther in May 2023 with majors in communication studies, international studies and German, as well as a minor in theater. He has previously studied in Germany. He will serve as an English teaching assistant in Leoben, about an hour north of Graz.

“I wanted to do the USTA program to get experience living and working outside of the United States,” said Hartl. “I also believe education to be an invaluable opportunity to create a better future and want to do so by sharing my skills, unique perspectives and knowledge to the youth of Austria.”

He added, “I chose Austria because I am an adventurer at heart. Its beautiful landscape of mountains, rivers and snow are perfect for all of my outdoor interests.” In his free time, he plans to enjoy the many opportunities for outdoor sports that the region offers.

After his USTA position ends, Hartl hopes to seek further employment in Europe. “I want to find more places to call home and ways to make a positive impact wherever I am,” Hartl said. “I believe this assistantship will help me better understand what I am passionate about and how to use my talents to benefit those around me.”

“Ultimately, I hope it helps me find and narrow my choices for a more focused career after the assistantship,” Hartl added. “I also think working as a teacher with students abroad will teach me valuable lessons and skills applicable to whatever the future holds for me.”

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.