Campus clips: Partnerships provide new opportunities

Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., and Creighton University College of Nursing, Omaha, Neb., have partnered to offer a dual-degree program in biology and nursing. (CUNE)

Nursing partnership

Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., has partnered with Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., to provide students an opportunity to receive both a Bachelor of Arts in biology and an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing while still finishing their college programs in a total of four years.

Through this partnership, students will spend the first three years of the program at CUNE and the final year at Creighton’s Grand Island campus. Students can choose to stay in CUNE housing during the last year.

“This partnership with Creighton University will provide Concordia’s students with access to one of the most successful and longest-running accelerated nursing programs in the nation,” said Dr. Tim Preuss, CUNE provost. “Nursing is already Concordia’s principal pre-health program. This partnership will allow students to continue their Christ-centered education from two nationally recognized Christian universities right here in Nebraska.”

Find out more at cune.edu/nursing.

Visit from Rove

Karl Rove, former White House deputy chief of staff and senior advisor under President George W. Bush, visited Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., in March, giving CUW students a behind-the-scenes peek at Washington, D.C. Rove, who helped bring Bush to speak at CUW’s commencement in 2004, covered topics such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the upcoming U.S. election season. Read more at blog.cuw.edu/karl-rove.

New therapy space

Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA), Ann Arbor, Mich., remodeled its North Building to prepare for the upcoming launches of CUAA’s entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. These are the first doctoral programs to be offered on the Ann Arbor campus. The new space boasts two classrooms and four labs, one of which includes an adaptive kitchen and washer/dryer for therapy purposes. Learn more at blog.cuaa.edu/ot-pt-remodel.

Alumni shine

Four alumni from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., were honored with Lutheran Education Association (LEA) awards, presented each year to outstanding Lutheran teachers. Mark Bahr (B.A. ’82, M.A. ’88), head of schools for the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee, received the Christus Magister award, LEA’s top honor. Richard Cohrs (B.A. ’71) of St. Charles, Mo., received the Distinguished Retired Lutheran Educator EncourAGING Award. Julie (Luber) Weil (B.A. ’11), a teacher at Zion Lutheran School in Georgetown, Texas, was named Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Teacher. Daniel Sterling (B.A. ’86), a teacher at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Des Peres, Mo., was named Distinguished Lutheran Middle School Teacher.

Goldwater scholar

Averie Perez, a junior at Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif., majoring in biochemistry, has been named a 2022 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The Goldwater Scholarship, established by Congress in 1986 in honor of U.S. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, is presented annually to the nation’s top undergraduate scholars in the sciences, mathematics and engineering. From an estimated pool of over 5,000 applicants, 417 students received this year’s awards.

“Averie’s accomplishment speaks so well to her motivation, drive and academic achievements,” said Dr. Bret Taylor, dean of the CUI School of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. John Kenney, CUI professor of chemistry, said Perez “truly and richly deserves this scholarship in recognition of her dynamic enthusiasm, work ethic, can-do attitude and lofty professional goals.”

At CUI, Perez has researched treatment strategies for antibiotic and multidrug resistance using zebrafish to determine possible treatment method success. She is currently working on modifying the bacteria and breeding her fish in Concordia’s Marine Lab.

“I was so shocked when I won,” Perez said. “This award means that I am on the right path and gives me the confidence to pursue my career goals.” After graduation, Perez plans to pursue a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology with an emphasis in immunology and infectious diseases.

Mission and ministry

Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn., is expanding resources for mission and ministry through a variety of partnerships. Beginning in April, the Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann is co-teaching an online continuing education course, “Missional Leadership in the Urban Context,” in partnership with Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. In May, the Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann will teach a course on “Mission and Ministry in Urban Contexts” for Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In June, CSP’s Center for Biblical Studies will serve as a host site for Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, as the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Pulse teaches “The Joseph Narratives: A Tale of Two Brothers in Genesis 37–50.”

Seminary news

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), have partnered to implement a recently awarded $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to establish a joint pastoral formation project. The project is designed to help theological schools across the U.S. and Canada as they seek to prepare future pastoral leaders for Christian congregations.

“I am grateful to Lilly Endowment for this generous grant and to President Rast and all of our friends at CTSFW for their commitment to this kind of collaboration,” said CSL President Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Egger. “This grant application concept sprang from a meeting between our seminary administrations in May 2021, which identified the areas of student recruitment, faculty development and continuing education as ripe for team effort. These initiatives aim to provide more pastors and deaconesses for the church as we continue to strive for efficiency, excellence and ethnic catholicity at our seminaries.”

“The Lord tells us that ‘the harvest is plentiful,’” said CTSFW President Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. “We only have to look around us to know this is true. … In this project, we intend to heed our Lord’s command to form more servants in Jesus Christ who can teach the faithful, reach the lost and care for all. Partnering in this work will maximize the limited resources of both seminaries and serve to advance the Gospel and global mission of the LCMS.”

Posted May 11, 2022