by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
Dr. Luther S. Luedtke, president of California Lutheran University (CLU) since 1992, will leave in 2006 to be president and chief executive officer of Education Development Center (EDC), Newton, Mass. EDC is a $100 million nonprofit organization dedicated to improving education, health care and community development worldwide. He will begin his new post with EDC in April following a three-month sabbatical at CLU.
Luedtke, 62, recently led a capital campaign that raised nearly $100 million. During Luedtke's tenure, CLU -- one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities -- increased enrollment from 1,250 to 2,000 undergraduate students, and several new graduate programs were established. This year CLU broke ground for the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center and 27 new faculty were hired. The Rev. Howard E. Wennes, named acting president during what was to be Luedtke's sabbatical, will continue as acting president until a presidential search is completed or other arrangements are made. Wennes, who most recently served as director of church relations and assistant to the president for university ministries, is a former bishop of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod.
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
