Remarks from the New Luther College President
DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz
Former Provost Dr. Brad Chamberlain was named the 12th president of Luther College in November 2024 and assumed the office with the start of the Spring 2025 semester. He will be visiting our club to provide brief news updates from Luther and will open the floor up to questions and a dialog with Rotary members.
As Provost, Dr. Chamberlain brokered new academic programs and expanded the Office of Student Success with the addition of Advising, the Career Center, the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and the Writing Center to create an integrated student success model, the first of its kind at Luther. Prior to those duties, he was Vice President for Mission and Communication from 2019 until 2022. He led the implementation of Luther’s first integrated brand strategy, developed the college’s first strategic internal communications plan, and co-led the COVID Response Team. Joining the college in the fall of 2001 as a visiting professor, Dr. Chamberlain earned tenure in 2007 and became a full professor in 2014, serving as Chairman of the Chemistry Department from 2014 to 2018.
Graduating magna cum laude with his bachelor’s in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College, Dr. Chamberlain earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Before joining the Luther faculty, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University. He has continued his education with professional certifications in fundraising management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy; in diversity, equity and inclusion from Cornell University’s online campus; and in strategy from the Harvard Business School.
Dr. Chamberlain's presidency comes at a unique moment both in the long history of Luther College and also for higher education in America. He service has begun with emphasis on leading the Luther community into his guide points of honesty and hope; pride and belief, supporting the vision of Luther College becoming the standard for preparing its students for lives of meaning, purpose, and service.
Married to Luther alumnus Julie Torkelson Chamberlain ('96), they are the proud parents of Decorah High products and Luther students Drew (’26) and Liam (’29).
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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email.