wfn.org | Mark Erickson Named President Of ELCA's Wittenberg University

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 2, 2005

Mark Erickson Named President Of ELCA's Wittenberg University
05-035-KG*/JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of directors of Wittenberg University
unanimously elected Dr. Mark H. Erickson as the university's 13th
president, according to a Feb. 28 news release from the university.
Erickson, vice president for administrative and government affairs, Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, Pa., will assume the role of Wittenberg president
July 1.
     Wittenberg, Springfield, Ohio, is one of 28 colleges and universities
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
     "We are terrifically excited to engage Dr. Erickson as the next
president of Wittenberg," said Ingrid Stafford, Evanston, Ill., board
chair and search committee chair.  "His qualifications and background
clearly stood out among the other candidates, and we are thrilled that he
accepted our offer to be part of the Wittenberg community."
     "Dr. Erickson's strengths in strategic planning, enrollment
management, global education, diversity and community engagement are
particularly compelling and applicable to Wittenberg's current strategic
directions," Stafford continued.
     Erickson was named Wittenberg president following an eight-month
search process.  He succeeds Baird Tipson, who was president of Wittenberg
from 1995 to 2004 and left to accept the presidency at Washington College,
Chestertown, Md. Attorney and business executive William H. Steinbrink,
vice chair of the board and a 1964 Wittenberg alumnus, has served as
interim president since July 2004.
     "I am both honored and excited to be selected to lead Wittenberg
University as its next president," Erickson said. "Wittenberg is an
extraordinary university that is beautifully poised for even greater
success. From day one, I felt a resonance with Wittenberg's mission to
educate 'the whole person,' its commitment to the liberal arts, its focus
on global education, diversity and community service, as well as its
connection to the Lutheran Church."
     As vice president for administrative and government affairs at
Lehigh, Erickson provides leadership and vision for the university's
government and community affairs operations, securing federal and state
funding in excess of $30 million to support the university's mission,
according to the news release.
     In addition, Erickson serves as senior adviser to Lehigh's president,
traveling extensively to develop key partnerships with international
corporations and universities. Erickson previously led the university's
strategic planning process and has spearheaded diversity initiatives to
foster an inclusive campus environment, the release said.
     Prior to serving as vice president for administrative and government
affairs, Erickson served in numerous capacities at Lehigh, including
associate vice president and executive assistant to the president from
1999 to 2001, and the university's dean of students from 1990 to 1999.
     Before joining Lehigh, Erickson helped advance student development
efforts at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and at Framingham
State College, Framingham, Mass.  In addition, he has taught a range of
undergraduate and graduate courses on such topics as communication, policy
and politics, and higher education throughout his 28-year career.
     In 1997, Erickson was selected as one of 34 American Council on
Education (A.C.E.) Fellows.  Erickson is a frequent presenter at national
and regional conferences and a member of numerous professional
associations.
     Erickson earned a bachelor's degree in American history from
Princeton University, Princeton, N.J., and a master's degree in education
from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.  He earned a doctorate in
educational leadership from Lehigh University. He also completed
additional study in world religions and pastoral care at Harvard Divinity
School, Cambridge.
     Erickson's wife, Lin, currently serves as chief executive officer and
executive director of the Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science and
Technology, Bethlehem, Pa.
     The Ericksons have two children, Sarah, 19, a student at Princeton
University, and David, 15. Erickson is Presbyterian but attends St. Paul
Lutheran Church, Coopersburg, Pa., with his family.
     Erickson's election follows an eight-month search process conducted
by a 14-member search committee.
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     Information about Wittenberg University can be found at
http://www.wittenberg.edu on the Web.

*Karen Gerboth is director of university communications at Wittenberg
University.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news