Title: ELCA's Texas Lutheran University Names Ann Svennungsen President 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 Dr. William Russell, a professor of humanities and church history, 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 news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog