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Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward announces that Michael “Mike” Anderson, a Luther College 1999 alumnus with a distinguished nursing career, will join the college’s Board of Regents this month. In addition, alumni Brian Johnson and Michelle Klisanich are joining the Board of Regents investment committee to provide their specialized expertise in business and financial planning.  

“We are proud of the knowledge, counsel and commitment that these Luther alumni will share with their alma mater,” said President Ward. “Luther College is proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their willingness to offer their leadership to the Board of Regents.” 

Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson, DNP, CRNA, is the chief operating officer for Heartland Anesthesia and Consulting.

Mike Anderson, DNP, CRNA, Luther College class of 1999, is the chief operating officer for Heartland Anesthesia and Consulting. Before this role, he was a clinical nurse anesthetist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he also served as a clinical associate professor and the clinical coordinator of the Anesthesia Nursing Program. He continues to serve as an adjunct associate professor for the University of Iowa’s College of Nursing. 

Anderson earned his Bachelor of Arts in nursing from Luther in 1999, followed by a master’s in nurse anesthesia from Cleveland Clinic/Case Western Reserve University in 2009. He completed his Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) at the University of Iowa in 2014, focusing on infection control in the operating room. 

Mike and his wife, Carryn (Ensrude) Anderson ’99, live in North Liberty, Iowa, with their two sons, Austin and Braden. They are actively involved in their community and remain dedicated to supporting Luther College through endowments for nursing simulation and musical touring.  Mike received the Luther College Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2019. In 2024, they established the Anderson Endowment for musical touring after a transformative experience on the Nordic Choir companion tour to Norway. He has also served on the Alumni Council and is a member of the Heritage Club. 

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson is senior vice president of investor relations and business development for Casey’s General Stores Inc.

Brian Johnson, Luther College class of 1998, has over 20 years of experience at Casey’s General Stores Inc., where he currently serves as senior vice president of investor relations and business development. Before that, he was director of finance and accounting manager. Brian started his career with KPMG. 

With an accounting degree from Luther and an MBA from Drake University, Johnson combines strategic thinking with deep financial expertise. A former Luther swimmer, he remains a dedicated supporter of Luther College. Johnson lives in Johnston, Iowa, with his wife, Patricia, and their children, Joseph, Abigail and Jacob. 

Michelle Klisanich

Michelle Klisanich is a wealth advisor and certified financial planner professional at Navista Wealth Management.

Michelle (Monson) Klisanich, Luther College class of 2006, is a wealth advisor and certified financial planner professional at Navista Wealth Management (previously called Birch Cove Group) in Minneapolis, Minn. Her areas of expertise include retirement strategies, tax-efficient saving and investing, college savings and insurance planning. Michelle previously worked as a wealth advisor at Thrivent Financial. She earned her CFP certification from the American College of Financial Services. 

Klisanich was honored as one of “Twin Cities Finest” for not only excelling in her profession but also giving back to the community. A Spanish major at Luther, she is a former member of the Luther College Alumni Council and a member of the Heritage Club. Klisanich and her husband, Michael, live in Minnetonka, Minn., with their daughters, Anja and Mari.

Luther College announces a new partnership with Lightcast, a global leader in labor market data, to participate in the National Alumni Career Mobility (NACM) survey. This annual national benchmark survey seeks career satisfaction and insights from the alumni cohorts who graduated five years ago and 10 years ago — this year, the classes of 2014 and 2019. 

The data collected by this survey will be used to help Luther College better understand and learn from the professional pathways of its graduates, and to prepare future alumni for continued career success. 

“At Luther College, we deeply value staying connected with our alumni, hearing their stories, and learning about their career journeys,” said Mary Duvall, vice president for advancement. “That’s why the Luther College Career Center, in partnership with other campus departments, is participating in the National Alumni Career Mobility survey. 

“The survey is an opportunity for alumni in the classes of 2014 and 2019 to reflect on their personal and professional journeys, including how specific experiences influenced their careers, successes, and engagement with their community,” Duvall added. “These insights, combined with those of peers across the country, will help Luther understand how well we are preparing graduates for successful careers and meaningful lives.” 

If you are a 2014 or 2019 graduate of Luther College, look for an email link to the survey, starting October 15. The survey will be open through December 15. 

About Lightcast

Lightcast provides trusted global labor market data, analytics, and expert guidance that empowers communities, corporations and learning providers to make informed decisions and navigate the increasingly complex world of work. With a database of more than one billion job postings and career profiles, our team provides best-in-class customer service with robust data, clear analysis, and expert guidance on skills, jobs, and opportunities. For more, visit www.lightcast.io.

This fall, Luther College celebrates year-over-year growth in its first-year class enrollment as well as a rise in key national rankings.

“We are pleased to announce that fall enrollment shows a 6.6 percent increase in the first-year class compared to last year,” President Jenifer K. Ward said. “As is the case with the trends in higher education nationwide, Luther has experienced enrollment declines for over a decade, all made more challenging by a global pandemic. Given this past year’s challenges of smaller numbers of 18-to-22-year olds in the Midwest and the unfortunate delays with FAFSA, we have reason to celebrate this positive outcome.”

Coinciding with the increase in first-year students, Luther College appears in a wide range of fall national rankings, including traditional lists like U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges and the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges, as well as newer reports like the Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges in the U.S.

“We are certainly pleased to see positive change in rankings across a wide range of national indicators,” Ward said. “Our standing as a nationally-ranked campus, and as a clear second among our Iowa peers, is attracting the attention of prospective students and families and also encouraging our proud Luther alumni.”

Luther first-year students and men’s soccer team members Henry Murray of Minneapolis, Minn.; Jeff Sieck of Grinnell, Iowa; Ethan Le Moine of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Theo Cornell of Minneapolis, Minn. enjoy an icebreaker activity during Welcome Week, Sept. 1, 2024.

The smaller first-year classes of the past few years at Luther led to slightly lower overall enrollment this fall compared to last fall, but the addition of the 402 new students served as a milestone.

“Even as our overall enrollment plays ‘catch up,’ today is a day for celebration,” Ward said in a message to the campus community. “I want to give special thanks to our team in Admissions and Financial Aid, as well as to the faculty and staff who rolled out the Luther blue carpet for countless individual and group campus visits, Zoom calls, sidewalk conversations, and all manner of creative and hospitable ways to demonstrate to potential students and their families that Luther College welcomed them and had much to offer.”

High marks in national and specialty rankings

Luther rose in the national liberal arts college ranking by U.S. News & World Report this year to 108, eight spots higher than last year. Luther also placed in the top 500 ranking of all American colleges and universities by the Wall Street Journal, and was named one of the top colleges in the Midwest region by the Princeton Review.

Among private liberal arts colleges in Iowa, Luther was second only to Grinnell College in the rankings by U.S News and by the Wall Street Journal. 

Along with these broad-based rankings, Luther continued its high marks in specialty areas.

Luther’s outstanding record on sustainability earned the college another top 10 ranking in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index, issued by the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Along with a gold-level rating, Luther was seventh among baccalaureate institutions in the AASHE top performers.

Luther remains the “hidden gem college” for the state of Iowa by College Raptor, a distinction the college has held since 2019. Luther’s home town of Decorah was listed as a must-see or best small town for Iowa by AFAR and Thrillist.

“I’m incredibly proud of Luther College for being recognized by all of these organizations for our academic quality, commitment to accessibility, and dedication to fostering individual potential,” said Matt Beatty, acting vice president of enrollment management. “This recognition affirms our mission to provide an excellent educational experience that empowers students to thrive in an inclusive and supportive community. For high school students who would benefit from a more intimate campus experience with outstanding programs, Luther deserves to be on their list of college options.”