Category: Luther College and Decorah Schools

Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer, Handshake

DECORAH, IOWA—Christine Cruzvergara, chief education strategy officer at Handshake, will give the 2024 commencement address at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 19, at Luther College’s Carlson Stadium. Cruzvergara leads Handshake’s partnerships with the higher education community, which includes more than 15 million students from more than 1,500 higher institutions, to connect students with career and internship opportunities.

Cruzvergara is recognized as an agent of change and an expert on strategies that create equitable student career success outcomes. Handshake, based in San Francisco with offices across the U.S. and the globe, connects students enrolled in four-year institutions, community colleges and bootcamps with more than 900,000 employers. Employers on the site include Fortune 500 Companies, public school districts, healthcare systems and nonprofit organizations.

“I met Christine at the Midwest Roundtable on Talent,” said President Jenifer K. Ward. “I knew I wanted to bring her to Luther — not only because we use Handshake in our Career Center, but because she is an engaging speaker who shows how career aspirations start with self-knowledge, sense of purpose, laying groundwork, and the creative use of networks, from family to friends to more traditional influencers.”

Handshake aims to accelerate students’ careers and democratize access to opportunities. Because of her work, Cruzvergara is regularly referenced in media, such as the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes Magazine, Fortune and Inside Higher Education.

Prior to joining Handshake, Cruzvergara was the associate provost for career education at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, where she received the 2017 Career Services Excellence Award from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the 2017 Innovation Award from Eduventures.

She has also held senior level positions and board roles at George Mason University, Georgetown University, The George Washington University, NACE and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA).

No tickets are required for the outdoor commencement ceremony. The event will be livestreamed. More information is available at commencement.luther.edu.

DECORAH, Iowa – Sheri Brenden, author of “Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX,” will speak at Luther College on April 11 at 7 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall, along with her sister, Peg Brenden. The book covers Peg’s involvement in a landmark civil rights case to allow equal access to sports for women. Both Brenden sisters graduated from Luther College and participated in sports during the early Title IX era. 

The talk is hosted and sponsored by the English department at Luther College, with additional support from the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) and from the law and values program.

In the early 1970s, Peg Brenden sought to have the same opportunity to compete for her St. Cloud, Minn., high school in tennis as male athletes, and during her senior year filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota State High School League and her high school. Her action was joined with runner Toni St. Pierre into a 1972 lawsuit claiming a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The book recalls the courtroom battle before Federal District Court Judge Miles Lord and the subsequent appeals to the Eighth Circuit. The ruling opened the way for Peg to compete as a senior for her high school. In their talk, the Brendens will weave together both their family’s and broader women’s history to remind the audience of the wider implications for female students.

Peg Brenden, left, and Sheri Brenden, right

The book had its genesis when Sheri Brenden, Luther College class of 1981, became concerned that an important story about women in sport risked being lost. She drew on skills learned as a Luther English major, one-time reporter for the St. Cloud Daily Times, and research librarian for two of Minnesota’s largest law firms. To preserve the history, she interviewed teammates, coaches, lawyers and others associated with her sister’s gender-equity case.

During her Luther career, Peg Brenden played first singles on the Luther tennis team. She is a member of the Norse Athletic Hall of Fame. Following graduation at Luther in 1976, she completed her law degree at the University of Minnesota. She is a retired Minnesota Workers Compensation judge. Sheri competed at Luther in tennis and field hockey, and also served as an editor for CHIPS, the Luther student newspaper.

The talk is free and open to the general public. A reception will follow.

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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.

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College raised more than $1.2 million during the ninth annual Giving Day on March 7. The money raised on Thursday will support and enhance the Luther experience at the college through the Luther Fund, Luther’s unrestricted current fund that supports all students, faculty, staff and community endeavors on campus. 

“Together we had the biggest Giving Day ever, both in the amount raised and in the notes and stories about the impact Luther College has had on the lives of those in our community,” said Luther President Jenifer K. Ward. “Gifts came from all 50 states and over a dozen countries, and from lifelong supporters to first-time contributors. There is no “thank you” big enough to express our gratitude.”

Luther students wrote thank you notes to donors for Giving Day.

Giving Day capped off “Luther Gives!”, a weeklong campus event celebrating the generosity of Luther alumni, donors and campus community. Students wrote thank you notes to donors who funded their scholarships, sent Norse Notes valentines to anyone on campus who made a difference in their lives, and posted reasons they love Luther on the walls of the Dahl Centennial Union. 

This year’s Giving Day also included the first Luther Day at the Landing, where 100% of all sales made at Justin’s and The Buzz at the Landing Market were matched with an equal gift to the Luther Fund.

“It’s been great to double down on our partnership with Luther College today,” said Terry Ramlo, class of 1986 and manager of the Landing. “It was fun to see so many people stop by the Landing today. We’re glad to contribute to Luther and the Decorah community, especially on Giving Day.”

Mark your calendars for next year, as Giving Day returns on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 

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.

DECORAH, IOWA—Lydia X. Z. Brown, director of public policy at the National Disability Institute, will give the Price Distinguished Lecture in Women’s Leadership at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. The event is co-sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. 

Lydia X. Z. Brown

Brown, a queer, disabled and East Asian advocate, organizer, attorney, strategist and writer, will give a lecture entitled “Until We Are All Free: Disability Justice Interventions in Queer, Trans, Feminist Movements,” which is part of Luther’s Women’s History Month events through March. ASL interpretation will be provided. Attendees should refrain from wearing any fragrances to this lecture. Childcare is available during the lecture. 

“After I heard Brown speak in Rochester, I knew I wanted to bring their expertise to Luther.  Brown isn’t advocating for disability rights but disability justice,” said Char Kunkel, head of the identity studies department at Luther. “We fundamentally need to change the systems of oppression, not just add in the various identity groups to achieve limited individual rights. We need societal transformation of the many intersecting oppressive systems so that all people can thrive. Justice for all means all, hence why the lecture is titled ‘Until We Are All Free’.” 

Brown has spoken and consulted throughout the U.S. and the world on topics such as disability rights and justice, especially at the intersections of race, class, gender and sexuality, as well as publishing scholarly and community articles on related topics. Their work addresses how ableism is tied to other forms of systemic oppression and marginalization. Brown’s work can be found on their website.

Brown is the founding executive director of the Autistic People of Color Fund. They hold a lecturer appointment in the women’s and gender studies program and the disability studies program at Georgetown University. Brown is also an adjunct professorial lecturer in American studies in the department of critical race, gender and cultural studies at American University. 

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.

DECORAH, IOWA—The Luther College Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Daniel Baldwin, will perform across the U.S. for their spring 2024 tour. The choir will perform a homecoming concert in Decorah on March 26. 

The concert is open to the public with a freewill donation taken at the door. 

Luther College’s Symphony Spring 2024 Tour begins in March.

The program begins with “Three Dance Episodes from Leonard Bernstein’s “On the Town. The orchestra will once again perform Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80, by Gabriel Fauré along with “Introduction and Gopak” from “The Fair at Sorochinsk” by Modest Mussorgsky, “Siegfried Idyll” by Richard Wagner and “Huapango” by Jose Pablo Moncayo. 

Symphony Orchestra, Luther’s largest and oldest orchestral ensemble, is one of Luther’s four main touring ensembles. The Symphony travels regularly in the United States and maintains a three-week residency in Vienna every four years, next scheduled for January 2027. More than 70 student musicians, representing a variety of academic majors, perform with the orchestra. Many are also involved in chamber music, choir, band or a jazz ensemble. 

“Apart from two, month-long residencies in Vienna, Austria in 2019 and 2023, this will be the

Dan Baldwin

orchestra’s first opportunity in more than six years to take an extended tour,” said Dan Baldwin, director of orchestral activities. “We bring with us a beautiful program and a large, talented group of student musicians. We’re very grateful for all those who’ve worked to make our tour possible.”

Baldwin is the head of the Music Department and has served as director of orchestra activities at Luther since 1997. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Baldwin is currently the conductor of the Luther College Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.

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.