Faculty Notes
CSP Faculty Continue to be Leaders in their Fields.
In April 2007, Dr. Jeffrey Burkart, associate dean of the College of Vocation and Ministry, taught a DirectED™ telecourse titled “Teaching Law and Gospel” for Early Childhood Directors in Lutheran Early Childhood Centers around the United States. He also taught a telecourse in March 2007, on Communications for the Children’s Ministry Leadership Training program to the LCMS Board for Congregational Services. This telecourse is offered under the auspices of the LCMS Department of Congregational Service, LCMS International Center, St. Louis, MO. Burkart also chaired a meeting of the LCMS National Children’s Ministry Conference 2008 - Northern Illinois District Office, Hillside, Ill. Burkart, and Dr. Victor Gebauer, emeritus professor, presented at the Iowa District West’s pastoral conference. Presentation topics included “I Love to Tell the Story!” dramatic storytelling, effective children’s messages, oral interpretation of the scriptures and music for children, and “Look, Ye Saint, the Sight is Glorious,” a practical guide to the use of visuals, art and projection in the divine service.
Dr. Richard Carter, professor of Religion and Theology, featured “Disturbing India,” a 12-panel, 33-image exhibit of photographs taken during Carter’s 2005-2006 sabbatical, where he traveled and taught in India. The images were chosen to demonstrate the challenges the Christian Gospel brings to India and the challenges India presents to the Gospel. The opening of the exhibit included music from CSP’s Christus Chorus and remarks from Dr. Bruce Corrie. Carter also presented “Images from India: Challenges to Teaching Theology in the United States,” for a breakout session of the March 2007 national conference of LCMS professors of theology in Dallas, Texas.
Department of Child & Family Education chair Dr. Lynn Gehrke and Dr. Karen Moroz, assistant professor of Teacher Education, presented at the Minnesota South District 2006-2007, and Administrators’ In-service #2 in January 2007. The workshop focused on the standardized achievement tests and how educational leaders in Lutheran schools can place value in the tests.
Dr. Thomas R. Hanson, chair of the MBA program, and Jean Rock, instructor of Organizational Management, conducted an all day program designed to teach about workplace ethics. On May 17, they presented to 108 high school seniors who were selected from advanced placement classes. Superintendents, principals, teachers and business leaders were involved in providing support for this program. The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce provided significant support and coordination.
Dr. Katryna Johnson, associate professor of Business, is one of 11 faculty members from institutions across the United States who received the Wal-Mart Teaching Excellence Award, which was presented by Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Criteria for selection included the nominee’s abilities in planning, preparing and delivering effective classroom presentations, having good communication skills and rapport with students/alumni, advising students, developing curriculum, assessing courses and programs, conducting scholarly activity such as research and presentations, engaging in professional activities, having professional experience, involvement in institutional development, adapting to institutional change, and serving in the community, as well as letters of recommendation from peers. ACBSP is the national accrediting agency for Concordia’s Bachelor’s in Business Administration program.
Dr. Kathryn Schenk, professor of Music, retired in July 2007, after teaching at Concordia for 37 years. Known for her talent, Schenk also developed and taught several courses throughout her time at Concordia, including the most recent, “The Human Odyssey.” She was honored as the first speaker of the Poehler Lecture Series in 2002. Although this year marks Schenk’s “official” retirement, she will continue to teach at the University. As part of the “farewell” celebration, Schenk performed with husband Dr. Allan Mahnke for the Faculty Recital Series in September.
Dr. David Mennicke, chair of the Department of Music, was a master class presenter/ trainer for professional adjudicators for Minnesota State High School League Music Contest/Festivals in January 2007.
Professor of Religion and Theology Dr. Mark Schuler and Michael Middendorf published a book titled, “Called by the Gospel: An Introduction to the New Testament.”Their book is part of a fourvolume series of introductory textbooks for the LCMS. Schuler also delivered the plenary lecture for the first day of the LCMS Theological Professors Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Philip Tesch, dean of the Graduate School, was in Washington D.C., June 18-20, 2007, to meet with seven members of congress, a lobbyist and administrators of federal agencies about Church-State issues from a Lutheran perspective.
Cate Vermeland, term faculty in the Department of Art, presented “Harvesting the Imagination: Environmental Arts at Farm In the City” at Macalester College in St. Paul.
Dr. Randy Winkler, interim chair of the Department of Theatre, directed and choreographed a production of Kurt Weill’s “Lost in the Stars,” a musical based on Alan Paton’s novel, “Cry the Beloved Country” for the Skylark Opera.
Dr. Alan Winegarden, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was appointed to a new position with the University that will focus on cultivating funding sources aimed at enhanced academic and faculty development. Winegarden will assume his new role as associate vice president forAcademic Affairs with responsibilities for foundation relations and special projects. Over the past year he has prepared himself to take a more substantial role in development activities that would support the needs of Academic Affairs, particularly through his participation in the Thrivent Fellows program. He will retain some teaching responsibilities in the Department of Communication Studies.
Associate professor of History, Dr. Paul Hillmer presented the culmination of a year-long video project focused on the preservation of Hmong history. The project was made possible through a $10,000 grant from “Save Our History,” the History Channel’s national initiative to promote history education and historic preservation. The project was a group effort involving students from Concordia University and three area schools: Vessey Academy, Como Park Senior High and Hmong Academy. Students interviewed elders in their family to collect their stories for future generations. Hillmer interviewed former politicians, policymakers and members of voluntary and religious agencies in the Twin Cities about their role in welcoming the Hmong to St. Paul (and Minneapolis) and making it their home.
Dr. Amy Gort, chair of the Department of Biology, has been appointed as the new dean for the College of Arts and Sciences effective July 1, 2007. She is a participant in the Thrivent Associates Leadership Program, which seeks to encourage and equip qualified individuals for leadership positions in Lutheran educational institutions. She previously served as chair of the Department of Biology, coordinator of undergraduate student research, and as associate dean for Academic Affairs. Gort joined the University in the fall of 2001 as an associate professor of Biology.
Dr. George Guidera, chair of the Department of Teacher Education and director of Church Work Placement, was selected to be a Faculty Fellow through the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the Washington Internship Institute. Guidera is using his sabbatical during the fall 2007 semester and focusing on educational decisionmaking and the impact of federal decisions upon states and schools, while serving as a faculty intern to the National Education Association. The program is intended to allow faculty to broaden their professional, disciplinary and personal horizons, reinvigorating their own work as scholars, teachers and educational leaders. He is involved four days a week with his host agency, allowing other enrichment activities and opportunities to observe, arranged by the program, on the fifth day.
