CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Jack R. Ohle, 51, took office July 1 as the 15th president of Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. He succeeds former president Robert L. Vogel, who retired June 30 after 18 years of service. Wartburg is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Ohle left his position as senior vice president for external affairs and secretary to the university at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.
"Jack Ohle brings to Wartburg considerable experience as an administrator and fund-raiser," said Frederick W. Hagemann, chair of the college's Board of Regents. "These are traits the board was looking for when searching for someone to continue the work of Vogel in making Wartburg one of the strongest liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, as it nears its 150th anniversary year. We think Ohle is the right fit for us at this point in history."
Ohle had been at Drake since 1987, serving first as vice president for institutional advancement. He coordinated a $190-million fund-raising campaign there. Prior to Drake, Ohle served for nine years as vice president for institutional advancement at Nebraska Wesleyan College, Lincoln.
Ohle began his career as assistant to the dean of students and a resident counselor at another ELCA school -- Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio -- during the 1970-1971 academic year. He earned a master of arts degree in higher education administration at Bowling Green University, Ohio, in 1974.
A member of the board of trustees of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Ohle chairs CASE's Board Committee for Education. Earlier this year he received the Distinguished Service Award from CASE District VI, an international association of educational institutions.
Ohle and his wife, Kirsten Lindquist Ohle, are the parents of three children. They are members of Faith Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director 1-773-380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
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