by Lauren A. Lamb, ELCA News Service*
Dr. John R. Sladek resigned as president of California Lutheran
University (CLU), Thousand Oaks, Calif., effective July 23. CLU
-- with about 3,200 students -- is one of 28 colleges and
universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Sladek, who has served as CLU's president since 2006, announced
his plans to resign on July 23. During his tenure, Sladek was
instrumental in reaching out to alumni and private donors to
increase giving, welcoming the university's largest-ever incoming
freshman class, and overseeing a new budget model for university
salaries, according to a CLU news release. "For the past six
years, CLU has experienced unprecedented growth with our
endowment, our student body and our reputation. Dr. Sladek played
a leadership role of substantial impact in that growth," said
William J. Kane, chair of the CLU board of regents. The Rev.
Howard E. Wennes, Thousand Oaks, will serve CLU as interim
president.
Sladek, a neuroscience researcher, will return to the University
of Colorado to renew his work to eradicate the effects of Down
syndrome and Parkinson's disease. "I am honored at the
opportunities afforded to me by CLU, and I am proud that I was
able to have an impact on the university's long-term goals," he
said. "However, I am excited to funnel my passion and energy
toward biomedical research, which means that I will return to my
family and life in Colorado."
*Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech
communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
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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
