Category: Luther College and Decorah Schools

For the third consecutive year Luther College welcomed an increase in the number of new students, saw an increase in retention for its second year in a row and maintained its overall enrollment for the 2026-27 academic year.

Luther College students gather to participate in the Be the Light, Ring the Bell ceremony at Bentdahl Commons on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.

“We are growing in a shrinking enrollment landscape and we are well on our way to achieving our overall enrollment and retention goals,” Luther College President Brad Chamberlain said in a campuswide memo. “Congratulations to all of the faculty, staff and students who contributed to our success this year.”

This fall, Luther welcomed 428 new students, and the majority – 401 students – are first-year students. Luther reported a 13.5% increase in first-year students over the past three years.

Along with marking the third year of more than 400 incoming students, the overall enrollment reverses a declining overall enrollment trend.

Luther’s enrollment improvement was also supported by a first-to-second year retention rate of 80.9% of last year’s incoming class returning for their sophomore year. This marks the second year of steady sophomore retention and a significant increase in retention compared with 2024.

“We have now observed three successive years of growth in the size of the incoming class and two successive years of growth in first-to-second year persistence rates,” Chamberlain said. “Additionally, this year we more than doubled the number of students from Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) who are living on campus in Larsen Hall as part of our residential housing partnership with NICC’s Calmar Campus.”

Official enrollment figures from Luther’s 10th-day census showed the total 2026 fall semester student enrollment to be 1,327. Overall, 36 states including Iowa and 64 countries are represented in Luther’s 2026-27 student body. Luther saw growth in students from its four-state region, particularly in Iowa and Minnesota.

“Along with a wide range of students from across the country and around the world, this year’s first-year class is also one of the most academically prepared in recent years,” said Matthew R. Beatty, vice president for enrollment management at Luther. “As a whole they have higher average high school grade point averages and higher average test scores.”

In the last two years, Luther has adopted several new strategies for attracting and retaining students.

In February 2026, Chamberlain announced the Luther Promise, a set of four institutional commitments designed to provide incoming students with support to earn their bachelor’s degrees in four years and career preparation for their futures. Each commitment represents a strategic, purpose-driven investment from Luther and is intentionally designed to ensure that students thrive both on campus and after graduation. The promise includes a four-year graduation guarantee and a substantial investment of $120,000 in scholarship assistance over a student’s career.

The 2026-27 incoming class of first-year students are the first students to have the Luther Promise available to them.

The Luther Way is a four-year approach to guide students from their arrival at Luther through graduation, helping them connect their academic experiences, interests, and goals to their future careers and lives of purpose. Paired with the Luther Promise, the Luther Way provides a clear path, meaningful opportunities, and support for students to find their way, explore with intention, build their story, and launch with purpose.

In April 2025, Luther College and NICC announced a residential campus partnership which allowed a cohort of NICC students to live on the Luther campus starting in the fall 2025 semester. As campus residents, the NICC students may purchase meal plans, including cafeteria dining and on-the-go choices. They have access to the fitness facilities within the Gerdin Fieldhouse and resources at Preus Library.

Christian Schlaerth, associate professor of sociology at Luther College, received a grant of $7,400 from the Winneshiek County Community Foundation (WCCF) to establish and lead a nationally recognized self-defense training program in Winneshiek County for area women.

A Luther College student (left) learns self-defense techniques from Christian Schlaerth, associate professor of sociology at Luther College, during a R.A.D. (Rape.Agression.Defense) Basic Physical Defense for Women class.

The self-defense training program called R.A.D. (Rape.Agression.Defense) Basic Physical Defense for Women is open to women throughout the region. Participation is not limited to Winneshiek County residents. The next three-part session will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, in room 112 in Main Building at Luther College. Each session lasts approximately three hours. Space is limited. Additional classes will be added to accommodate community interest.

Schlaerth is a certified R.A.D. instructor. The WCCF grant helped to purchase a R.A.D. simulation equipment package along with additional student suits, impact targets and impact shields used for the training.

“National statistics show that one in two women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime,” Schlaerth said. “R.A.D. Systems seeks to reduce that statistic by educating women on the powers they already possess and teaching them to effectively use those powers in a manner that is best suited to them.”

Class participants are taught to recognize potentially dangerous situations and to avoid them when possible, to use their voice and weapons, and to find their power in order to protect themselves.

“By establishing a R.A.D. program, we are preparing women of all ages to feel safer and more confident wherever they travel, study or live, while also creating a safer community here in Winneshiek County and helping to prevent future assaults,” Schlaerth said.

The training is free for Luther community members. Non-Luther community members may participate and they are asked to pay a $25 fee, which covers the cost of the R.A.D. manual. Those interested in registering for the next session should email Schlaerth at schlch02@luther.edu. They may also call or text (786) 999-2069 for more information.

Participants should wear comfortable, active clothing and sneakers. They can expect light physical activity.

Schlaerth is also willing to offer private courses to members of local organizations and employees of area businesses. Those interested in this opportunity are encouraged to contact Schlaerth for more details.

R.A.D. is the only self-defense program endorsed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, National Academy of Defense Education and the National Self-Defense Institute.

This is the second time that Schlaerth has offered R.A.D. classes to the local community. In April 2026, Schlaerth partnered with Luther College Campus Safety, Student Life and the Title IX Office to offer training for Luther students, faculty and staff. Future classes will be scheduled and promoted locally.

Schlaerth received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Miami, where he studied social theory, statistics and methods, race and ethnicity, and social psychology. In 2025, he started teaching at Luther College.

The cast of Broadway’s Next Hit Musical will create and perform a spontaneous evening of music and laughter at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, in the Center for Faith and Life (CFL) Main Hall at Luther College.

Broadway’s Next Hit Musical is the first performance in Luther College’s 2026-27 Center Stage Series.

“The performers in Broadway’s Next Hit Musical are master improvisers and incredibly creative at customizing their on-stage performance to match the entries from the local audience. This is going to be a hilariously fun night for everyone in attendance, and it’s appropriate for all ages,” said Susan Potvin, director of programming and outreach.

Tickets for Broadway’s Next Hit Musical can be purchased at tickets.luther.edu or at the Luther Ticket Office in the CFL. Contact the ticket office at tickets@luther.edu or 563-387-1357 for more information.

Under the direction of improv veterans Rob Schiffmann and Deb Rabbai, Broadway’s Next Hit Musical will present an original improvised awards show titled “The Phony Awards” on Sept. 12. Master improvisers will gather made-up, hit song suggestions from the audience. Then, the audience votes for their favorite song and watches as the cast turns this Phony Award-winning song into a full-blown, improvised musical. Every show is personalized to the audience.

“Everyone will be entertained by the unique storyline that evolves, not to mention amazed by the skill of the performers. I hope you’ll bring your families and friends for a memorable evening,” Potvin said.

Broadway’s Next Hit Musical has performed extensively throughout the United States, as well as internationally. When the group is not on the road, they perform regularly at 54 Below, a Broadway-themed supper club and nonprofit venue committed to preserving the art of the cabaret in New York City. They have also been seen at the Triad Theater, the Tribeca Film Festival and at the New York Musical Theater Festival.

Broadway’s Next Hit Musical is the first performance in Luther College’s 2026-27 Center Stage Series.

Nora Krug. Photo by Nina Subin

Nora Krug, author of “Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home,” will give the Luther College Opening Convocation address on Thursday, Sept. 3. Convocation begins at 9:40 a.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall on campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Krug is associate professor of illustration at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. Her 228-page visual memoir “Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home” wrestles with the idea of “Heimat,” the German word for the place that first forms us, where the sensibilities and identity of one generation pass on to the next.

In this visual memoir — equal parts graphic novel, family scrapbook and investigative narrative — Krug draws on letters, archival material, flea market finds and photographs to attempt to understand what it means to belong. A wholly original record of a German woman’s struggle with the weight of catastrophic history, “Belonging” is also a reflection on the responsibility that we all have as inheritors of our countries’ pasts, according to the author’s website.

“Belonging” will be the first book discussed by Luther students enrolled in Paideia for the fall 2026 semester.

“‘Belonging’ asks questions about the boundaries between individual, family and national identities, and about the gap between self-perception and how others see oneself,” said Brian P. Caton, director of the Paideia program at Luther College.

“Belonging” was chosen as a best book of the year by the New York Times, the Guardian, NPR, Kirkus Review, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Boston Globe. It was the winner of the 2018 National Book Critics Circle Award, the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize, the Art Directors Club Gold and Discipline Winner Cubes, the Society of Illustrators Silver Medal, and the British Book Design and Production Award, among others.

Krug holds a bachelor’s degree from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, a Diplom in visual communications from the University of Arts Berlin, and an M.F.A. in illustration as a visual essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York. She was a fellow at Yale University’s Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies in 2024 and 2025, and was a fellow at the American Academy in Berlin.

Longtime Luther College Director of Facilities Services Jay Uthoff posthumously received the 2026 Spirit of Luther award for his “unwavering dedication” to Luther’s mission on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Luther College President Brad Chamberlain presented the award to Uthoff’s wife, Kathy, during the college’s annual Service of Dedication in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. Uthoff died on Dec. 23, 2025.

“Over an extraordinary career spanning 41.5 years, Jay served Luther College with unwavering dedication,” Chamberlain said. “Despite a relentless avalanche of daily demands, Jay cheerfully chipped away at his to-do list without ever showing resentment or grumpiness. A genuine servant leader, he always found time to pause for a conversation or share a chuckle with community members. His profound affection for Luther’s students, faculty and staff was deeply mutual. Jay’s lifetime of exemplary service leaves a lasting legacy, and he is missed profoundly across campus.”

In 1984 Uthoff was hired as an electrician at Luther College. He advanced to the position of lead electrician in 1990, electrical supervisor in 1994 and manager of trade services in 1997.

Uthoff played an instrumental role on campus. He was a member of the building construction teams for Baker Village, the Sampson Hoffland Laboratories, the aquatic center, Center for the Arts and many more facility improvement projects. In 2013, Uthoff was named director of facilities services.

“The scope of Jay’s stewardship was vast,” Chamberlain said. “He oversaw a large and complicated campus network that included buildings, grounds and roads as well as steam tunnels and an underground electrical distribution system. During his tenure, several campus facilities were built or remodeled. Jay worked hand-in-hand with contractors to guarantee the work was finished on schedule. He was equally steadfast during emergency crises, guiding the campus through two 500-year floods in the span of eight years.”

Uthoff also played a pivotal role in the college’s sustainability initiatives, including the installation of Luther’s wind turbine and several large solar arrays, as well as investments in hybrid vehicles and a bio-diesel production facility.

“Jay was proud that Luther was a sustainability leader,” Chamberlain said.

The Spirit of Luther Award recognizes individuals or couples who have provided significant sustained service to the college. This award recognizes persons who have demonstrated a personal commitment to Luther’s mission, quality and character. Recipients are endorsed by the Faculty Honorary Degrees Committee and chosen by the president of Luther College.

David Epstein

Luther College is pleased to announce New York Times bestselling author David Epstein will give a lecture about the value of a liberal arts education at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall on campus.

His lecture at Luther College is supported by the Elwin D. and Helen Farwell Distinguished Lecture Series Endowment. Luther College students, faculty, staff, emeriti faculty and retired staff will be admitted at no charge by showing their Luther College ID card.

The public is invited to purchase general seating tickets for $10 each plus transaction fees. Tickets are on sale now at the Luther Ticket Office and online at tickets.luther.edu.

Drawing on his insights from his book, “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” Epstein will make the case that in most career fields — especially those that are complex, unpredictable and difficult to automate — graduates with a liberal arts education are primed to excel. Using research to dismantle the myth that specialization is the key to high performance, Epstein will discuss how a liberal arts curriculum at colleges, such as Luther College, provides a foundation for individuals to think flexibly and expansively. As a result, a liberal arts education produces graduates who are aware, perceptive, critical and creative, and it gives them the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

“At Luther College, we know that the best preparation for an uncertain future is a broad course of study that develops whole persons,” said Luther College President Brad Chamberlain. “We also understand how nurturing a guiding purpose inspires and equips students with the tools and dispositions to be global citizens working to make a difference in the world.”

Epstein’s latest book, “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better” was published in May 2026 and became an instant New York Times best seller. Building on questions that arose from “Range,” “Inside the Box” examines how constraints, limitations and restrictions can actually be catalysts for creativity, collaboration, contentment, resilience and reinvention in today’s rapidly changing business environments.

“With his two New York Times best sellers, David Epstein affirms the impact of Luther’s approach to learning, explaining why generalists triumph in a specialized world and how a disciplined approach to analyzing, connecting and formulating ideas enable us to engage society’s most pressing challenges and identify innovative solutions,” Chamberlain said.

Both “Range” and “Inside the Box” will be available for purchase in the lobby before and after the lecture. Epstein is planning to sign books following his lecture.

Before becoming an author, Epstein was a science and investigative reporter at ProPublica and a senior writer at Sports Illustrated. His writing has been honored by an array of organizations, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, to the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Center on Disability and Journalism, and has been included in the Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology. His TED Talks have been viewed more than 12 million times.

Epstein has master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism. An avid runner, he was a Columbia University record holder and twice NCAA All-East as an 800-meter runner.

Luther College alum Andrew Ellingsen has been named director of the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies at Luther College, Provost Pam Bacon announced this week.

Andrew Ellingsen

“We’re pleased to have Andrew Ellingsen serve as the center’s director,” Bacon said. “His past experiences as an educator and program leader made him a standout candidate for the position. Andrew has deep roots in Decorah and is well connected within the Norwegian-American heritage community.”

The Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies honors Luther College’s legacy as the first college in the United States founded by Norwegian immigrants. Established in 2018, the Torgerson Center’s mission is to foster connections with modern Norway and other Nordic countries through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, provide learning opportunities for students and faculty, and collaborate on programming with Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School in Decorah. The Torgerson Center is the only endowed undergraduate Nordic Studies center in the United States.

Ellingsen succeeds Nordic Studies Associate Professor Maren Johnson as the center’s director. Johnson was recently appointed executive director of the center.

“I am very excited for Andrew to be part of the Luther team. He’s a generative, thoughtful leader who will help move the needle for the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies,” Johnson said.

Before joining Luther, Ellingsen was director of folk art education at Vesterheim. In that role, Ellingsen successfully expanded participation and significantly grew programs through strategic planning and organizational initiatives.

During his more than five years at Vesterheim, Ellingsen collaborated closely with Luther College on educational opportunities and programs. These opportunities included hosting Luther College January term classes at Vesterheim, supporting a Vesterheim–Torgerson Center internship pipeline for Luther students, and planning educationally-focused tours in Norway, including FCUL 139: Nordic Tales and Traditions (2024), co-taught with Johnson as a pilot program for Luther students studying away in their first year.

Prior to working at Vesterheim, Ellingsen taught elementary music for nearly 20 years, first in the Twin Cities and then in Decorah. During these years, Ellingsen also taught undergraduate elementary music methods at Luther College and served as part of the faculty for Orff Schulwerk graduate courses at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ellingsen earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2003, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education from Luther College.

Ellingsen’s first day on campus was Wednesday, Aug. 12.