Campus clips: Preparing future leaders

From left, Wisconsin Student Nurses Association (WSNA) President Mara Kiekhoefer is pictured with fellow Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., students Brigit Burkett and Ally Cisco. Burkett and Cisco concluded 2024 terms at the WSNA state level as projects director and stat editor, respectively. (CUW)

This monthly column includes brief reports submitted by LCMS schools, campus ministries, universities and/or seminaries.

Future nursing leaders

Mara Kiekhoefer, nursing student at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis., is the Wisconsin Student Nurses Association (WSNA) president for 2025. Hundreds of students in Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs throughout Wisconsin elected her to the position at this year’s WSNA convention.

The WSNA exists to help future nurses develop professionally by offering resources, career guidance, and leadership and service opportunities. The association is often a stepping stone to involvement in the Wisconsin Nurses Association, which is the premier organization representing the interests of Wisconsin’s 95,000 registered nurses. The WSNA is heavily involved in advocating for the profession in front of legislators and policy makers in order to improve the quality of health care for professionals and patients alike. Learn more at blog.cuw.edu/wsna-president.

Master coaches

Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., recently announced the launch of its new Master of Science in Athletic Coaching (M.S.A.C.) program, designed to equip coaches with advanced leadership, strategy and sports psychology knowledge to enhance athletic performance and team success.

This fully online program offers a flexible and comprehensive curriculum tailored for coaches at all levels — whether they are current professionals looking to refine their expertise or aspiring coaches seeking to advance their careers. The M.S.A.C. program integrates faith-based principles with cutting-edge coaching methodologies, providing students with the skills to lead with integrity, develop athletes holistically and foster a culture of excellence.

For more information about the Master of Science in Athletic Coaching program at CUNE, visit cune.edu/msac.

Flipping the model

At Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA), Ann Arbor, Mich., the “flipped” classroom isn’t just an occasional tool. It is fully embraced as the preferred instructional model for CUAA’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

At its core, the flipped classroom model turns the traditional educational setup on its head. Instead of spending class time receiving lectures from instructors, students engage with asynchronous material outside of class, typically through videos, readings or online modules. Then, when students arrive in class, they apply that knowledge through hands-on activities, discussions and problem-solving exercises. While the flipped learning approach as a concept has only started to gain traction within the past couple decades, the pedagogical approach is far more than just a passing trend; research backs its efficacy too. Learn more about how it’s applied to CUAA’s DPT program at blog.cuaa.edu/flipped-classroom.

Nurturing the whole child

The Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) at Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., earned reaccreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) — the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.

NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality improvement in high-quality early learning environments.

The ECEC is a laboratory school of CUC, with full-day and part-day programs for children from birth through age 6. The ECEC offers Christ-centered, developmentally appropriate practices; low student-to-staff ratios; and programs designed to nurture the development of the whole child.

Cathy Gruenwald, ECEC director, said, “The ECEC has earned this accreditation for over 25 years because we value children and their development, and are committed to doing what it takes to be the best we can be.”

Learn about the Global South

Deressa

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Deressa, associate professor of Theology and the Global South at Concordia University, St. Paul, St. Paul, Minn., serves as the editor of the Global South Theological Journal (GSTJ). The journal focuses on Christianity in the Global South, namely Asia, Africa and Latin America, and explores the full range of Christian theological inquiry, providing a platform for Global South scholars and practitioners to share theological perspectives, mission practices and research findings.

Learn more about the GSTJ and read articles at gstjournal.org.

Virtual voyages

Students at Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, Calif., have new virtual tools to study human anatomy and physiology in 3D: two synthetic human models and an innovative new Virtual Anatomy table — with another table on the way soon. The models and the Virtual Anatomy table enable students to dive deeply into the human body and explore everything from nerve pathways to muscle structures and organs. No human subjects necessary!

Posted April 23, 2025