ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 1, 2007
ELCA's Texas Lutheran University Names Ann Svennungsen President
07-028-MRC/KH*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- On Feb. 26 the board of regents of Texas
Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas, named the Rev. Ann M.
Svennungsen to become the university's 14th president. Effective
July 1, Svennungsen will be the first woman president in TLU's
116-year history. TLU is one of 28 colleges and universities of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"It is an honor to be chosen to serve as president of Texas
Lutheran University. This is a vital community of faith and
learning, where rigorous academics and strong relationships
prepare students for lives of success, meaning and service. In
partnership with its excellent faculty, staff, students, regents
and alumni, I am confident we can lead TLU to an even stronger
future," said Svennungsen.
An ordained minister of the ELCA, Svennungsen served as
president and chief executive officer of The Fund for Theological
Education (FTE), Atlanta, since 2003. She succeeds Dr. Jon
Moline, who will retire on June 30 after serving 13 years as
TLU's president.
"Ann Svennungsen brings an unusual combination of talents
and experiences to this position that we believe will help her
lead the university to new heights in the years to come," said
Karen Norman, chair of TLU's board of regents. "She has a
passion for Christian higher education, a strong public presence,
a record of success as a fund-raiser, and a deep understanding of
and commitment to the missions and values of Texas Lutheran
University. The board of regents and I have no doubt that she is
the right person for this important job," said Norman.
At FTE, Svennungsen helped secure more than $20 million in
grants from major foundations and raise the organization's
national profile. FTE provides financial assistance and a
network of support to young adults from diverse backgrounds who
are studying to become pastors or scholars in theology. Founded
in 1954, FTE has awarded more than 5,800 fellowships.
Prior to leading FTE, Svennungsen served as senior pastor of
the 3,700-member Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minn. As
senior pastor there she served the largest ELCA congregation led
by a woman and was the principal grant writer and supervisor of
the congregation's "Transition into Ministry Pastoral Residency
Program," funded by a $750,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment,
Inc. She also served as pastor of congregations in Iowa City,
Iowa, and Minneapolis.
Svennungsen earned a degree in mathematics from Concordia
College, Moorhead, Minn., and was elected the first female
student body president there. Concordia is a college of the
ELCA.
Svennungsen earned a master of divinity degree at Luther
Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and was awarded Luther's "Seminary
Preaching Award." Luther -- one of eight seminaries of the ELCA
-- honored Svennungsen with its Alumni Achievement Award in 2005.
One of five Lutherans nationwide selected to participate in
the Lilly Endowment National Religious Leadership Program from
1997 to 1999, Svennungsen was also one of 12 pastors nationwide
chosen for the Lilly Endowment Pastors' Working Group from 2001
to 2002.
Svennungsen and her husband William Russell, a professor of
humanities and church history, Columbia Theological Seminary,
Atlanta, are parents of three children.
- - -
The home page of Texas Lutheran University is at
http://www.tlu.edu on the Web.
*Kathy Hughes is director of communication, Texas Lutheran
University.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
