Alumnus Daniel Dorpat: “Concordia Nebraska definitely prepared me for my calling.”

From a young age Daniel Dorpat ’91 thought he wanted to be a teacher. Although his career path ultimately led him in a different direction, his heart to serve others is evident. He chose to study Concordia Nebraska for a variety of reasons including the university’s strong academics, competitive athletics and faith-based focus. Several of his family members are university alumni, as well.  

“From a young age I knew that I wanted to be a teacher and coach,” he said. “It was my exposure to the different teaching and coaching styles that really steered into what type of teacher I wanted to be. The professors helped me recognize my God given talents and how best to use them to the benefit of my students.” 

Dorpat has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the university. He said many things made his time at the university special including his involvement in athletics and the many lifelong friends he met while at the university. 

Even though I never went into education full-time, what I learned at Concordia Nebraska definitely prepared me for my calling.

After graduation, he spent several years working in the fitness industry. In 1994, he began a career in law enforcement as a juvenile probation officer. In 1998, he joined the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office Illinois where he was employed as a deputy sheriff until retirement at the rank of detective in 2020. He is currently employed by the Supreme Court of Illinois as a marshal where he is responsible for the safety and security of the Illinois Supreme Court, the Justices and Illinois Appellate Court 1st District Justices and staff. 

“Even though I never went into education full-time, what I learned at Concordia Nebraska definitely prepared me for my calling. I learned to work hard for what you want in life, that Christ must be the center of your life, that God has a plan that plan will be executed on His timetable and that there is no higher calling than one of service.” 

Dorpat and his wife Dina have been married for 25 years and have two grown children, one of whom is a Concordia graduate. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling and working in the yard. He still fondly recalls his time at the university. 

“Concordia Nebraska’s faculty, staff and students walk the walk and don’t just talk the talk,” he said. “What I mean is that you can see their Christianity daily in how the treat students and their colleagues.” 

Concordia University, Nebraska strives to create a learning community that sees each student as a unique child of God, full of potential and that invites people to approach their lives, learning and work with conviction, character, courage and compassion. At Concordia Nebraska, students are surrounded by peers, professors and a distinctive community of believers that will not only help them discover what they are meant to do, but also the joy of being part of something bigger than self. By intentionally combining Christian, Lutheran faith, rigorous academics and practical, real-life experiences, Concordia helps students fulfill a higher purpose in chosen vocations and in life.