CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. John Sladek of Evergreen, Colo., was
named the new president and chief executive officer of California
Lutheran University (CLU), Thousand Oaks, succeeding Dr. Luther S.
Luedtke who had served as president of the university for nearly
14 years. CLU is one of 28 colleges and universities of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Luedtke resigned in December to accept a position as
president of the Education Development Center, Newton, Mass. A
national presidential search was conducted over the past four
months by a committee of CLU constituents, chaired by Kate
McLean, member, CLU Board of Regents. The Rev. Howard Wennes
served as interim president and will continue until Sladek is
officially instated Aug. 15.
"The selection of Dr. Sladek as the sixth president is an
important step for CLU, given the progress that the university is
making both academically and physically," McLean said in a CLU
news release. "He will be a crucial addition to CLU's leadership
team, rounding out the impressive blend of talents already
present in the CLU faculty and administration."
A graduate of Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., Sladek
received his master of science degree in biostructure from
Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago,
and earned a doctorate in anatomy from Chicago Medical School.
Carthage is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.
Sladek currently serves as vice chancellor for research at
the University of Colorado at Denver. His scholarly work is in
the field of neurology and anatomy. Sladek has served as vice
chancellor of research and professor of psychiatry and
neuroscience at the university since 2001. He has also held
faculty leadership positions at Chicago Medical School and the
University of Rochester, N.Y.
"Dr. Sladek's distinguished career as a leader and scholar
and his commitment to the distinctive mission and excellence of
Lutheran higher education uniquely qualify him for the tasks
ahead," said William Kane, chair, CLU Board of Regents.
Sladek has remained connected to his Lutheran undergraduate
alma mater as a 10-year member of the Carthage College Board of
Trustees, where he serves as chair of the Division of Natural
Sciences advisory committee.
"I have been impressed by CLU's commitment to excellence in
undergraduate and graduate studies, its high-quality faculty and
students, its strong sense of tradition and community, and its
very evident potential for growth and greatness," Sladek said in
the release. "I am aware of the president's need to articulate
the overall mission and Lutheran identity of the university. I
look forward to working with the Lutheran church and the larger
faith community," he said.
Sladek and his wife Celia have three grown children --
Jonathan, Stefan and Jessica. Formal inauguration ceremonies
will be held for the president-elect at a later date.
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More information about California Lutheran University is
available at http://www.callutheran.edu/ on the Web.
* Lynda Paige Fulford is the senior director of communications,
CLU. Katherine R. Hinck is a senior journalism and religion
major at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer Hinck
is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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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.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
