ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 9, 2009 Troy Vanaken Named President of ELCA's Thiel College 09-060-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Troy D. VanAken will become the 19th president of Thiel College, Greenville, Pa., in July 2009. The college's board of trustees elected him Feb. 20. VanAken is executive vice president of Albion College, Albion, Mich. Thiel is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. VanAken, 41, succeeds Dr. Robert C. Olson, who will retire after two years as president of Thiel College. In November the board named Olson president, retroactive to his interim appointment in March 2007. Olson is recognized in the records and history of Thiel College as its 18th president. "I look forward to Dr. VanAken leading Thiel to a new era of excellence and strength. He comes to us with the energy, commitment and depth of experience that will ensure Thiel's success," said Dr. M. Roy Strausbaugh, Erie, Pa., board chair. VanAken said he was impressed with the college's progress and potential. "I am honored to be given the opportunity to join the Thiel College community as president," he said. "During the campus interview, the interactions my wife and I had with trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of the Lutheran church and Greenville communities were overwhelmingly positive." At Albion, VanAken's responsibilities include budget planning and oversight, facilities planning and fundraising. "This presidency represents an outstanding opportunity for Troy, and I know he will continue to demonstrate at Thiel the strong and committed leadership that he has shown at Albion," said Donna M. Randall, president, Albion College. "Troy has served Albion College very well in a variety of roles over the past 10 years and given assistance to many members of our campus community." Born in Hillsdale, Mich., VanAken graduated from Hillsdale College. He holds master's and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Bowling Green, Ohio, where he was a research fellow, course coordinator and teaching assistant. VanAken has worked as a high school football and track coach, serving on committees for both the NCAA and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. He started three technology-related companies and served as facilities, technology and strategic planning consultant. At the University of Evansville, Evansville, Ind., VanAken served as assistant vice president for instructional technology and assistant professor of mathematics. At Albion College he was acting head of institutional advancement, vice president for finance and management, athletic director/executive assistant to the president and vice president for information technology. In 2002 VanAken was awarded an American Council on Education Fellowship and worked at San Jose State University, San Jose, Calif., before returning to Albion. In 2007 he became Albion's executive vice president. VanAken and his wife, Annette, are the parents of two children, Trey and Gabriella. They are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Hillsdale, Mich. Thiel College was founded in 1866. It is a liberal arts, sciences and professional studies institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students. -- -- -- The home page for Thiel College is at http://www.thiel.edu/ on the Web. 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