Once a Bulldog, Forever a Bulldog
Story: Danielle Luebbe
Photos: Courtesy of Concordia Marketing
Many of Concordia’s full-time faculty trace their own educational roots right back to Concordia.
Tobin Beck HS '71
Assistant Professor of Journalism and Political Science
High School Diploma
Kent Einspahr '79
Professor of Computer Science, Director of IT Special Projects
B.S. Math
B.S.Ed. Education
B.A. Physics
Dr. Mark W. Meehl ’79
Professor of Theology
B.A. History
B.S. Secondary Ed
I wanted to be a long-term part of that community of educators and scholars and to contribute what I could to my students.
Dr. Lorinda (Schomacker) Sankey ’80
Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, Professor of Education
B.S.Ed. Elementary Education
Dr. Mark Blanke CO ’82 GR ’93
Professor of Education, DCE Program Director, Director of University Institutes, Director of the Institute for Religious Education
B.S.Ed. Education, DCE
M.A. Parish Education
Dr. Vicki Boye ’82
Professor of Health & Human Performance
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
Dr. Kregg Einspahr ’82
Professor of Biology
B.S. Biology
Dr. Andrew Langewisch ’82
Professor of Business Administration
B.S. Mathematics
Dr. Annette (Klenke) Anschutz CO ’83 GR’02 GR ’09
Director of Master of Early Childhood Education
B.A. Social Work
M.S. Family Life
M.Ed. Early Childhood Education
Dr. Kurt von Kampen ’83
Chair of the Music Department, Professor of Music
B.S. Education, Music Education, English Education (7-12)
Dr. Edward Reinke ’85
Professor of Mathematics
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
Dr. Robert Hermann ’87
Professor of Physics
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
When the opportunity arose for me to return, it felt like the right thing to do, like coming home.
Rev. Dr. Paul Holtorf CO ’87 GR ’94
Chair of the Theology, Philosophy and Biblical Languages Department, Professor of Theology
B.A. History
M.P.Ed. Parish Education
Dr. Lisa Ashby ’88
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor of English
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
I wanted to return to teach at Concordia because it gave me the chance to give back all that I had received at Concordia: caring professors, a Christian education and the opportunity to serve others. This was really a dream job for me, and I felt so privileged to join the Concordia faculty.
Dr. Brent Royuk ’88
Professor of Physics
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
James Bockelman ’89
Professor of Art
B.S.Ed. Elementary Education, Secondary Education, LTD
Dr. Amy (Dencklau) Stradtmann ’91
Middle Level Program Director, Assistant Professor of Education
B.S.Ed. Elementary Education, LTD
Dr. Thaddeus Warren CO ’91 GR ’96
Chair of the Human and Social Sciences Department, Professor of Human and Social Science (DCE)
B.S.Ed. Elementary Education, LTD, DCE
M.S. Family Life
Dr. Joel Helmer ’92
Chair of the History, Geography, Intercultural Studies and Modern Languages Department, Professor of Geography
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
Jerrita (Kahle) Staehr ’95
Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Field Experience
B.A. English
Dr. Beth (Royuk) Pester CO ’96 GR ’04
Director of Dual Credit and School Partnerships, Associate Professor of Education
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
B.A. Biology
M.Ed. Secondary Administration
Concordia is such a formative and positive part of my story – growing in faith and knowledge – and being able to give back to this institution, her students, and her mission, is fabulous. I’m right where God is using me best, and I love it!
Dr. Amanda (Reither) Geidel ’96
Chair of the Education Department, Special Education Program Director, Professor of Education
B.S.Ed. Elementary Education, LTD
Dr. Laurie Zum Hofe ’96
Professor of English
B.S.Ed. Elementary Education
Dr. John Jurchen ’97
Professor of Chemistry
B.A. Chemistry
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education
Dr. Shanna (Sander) Opfer CO ’99 GR ’05
Elementary Education Program Director, Associate Professor of Education
B.S.Ed. Elementary Education, LTD
M.Ed. Elementary School Administration
Dr. Joseph Herl GR ’01
Professor of Music
Colloquy Lutheran Teacher
Amy Hubach ’01
Assistant Professor of Education, Intern Site Coordinator
B.A. Theology, DCE
After 20 years of parish education, God called me to educate and train future church workers. I have loved every second of being back at Concordia.
Amy Royuk ’01
Assistant Professor of Spanish
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
Dr. Timothy Schroeder ’01
Professor of Mathematics
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education, LTD
Seth Boggs ’03
Associate Professor of Art
B.F.A. Commercial Art
B.F.A. Studio Art
Dr. Kyle Johnson ’08
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S. Biology, Chemistry
Justin Groth ’11
Assistant Professor of Art
B.F.A. Art Education, LTD
Marcus Gubanyi ’13
Chair of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
B.S. Computer Science, Math
Robert Cody ’14
Assistant Professor of Music
B.Mus. Music Education, LTD
The call to equip the next generation of music teachers and church musician weighed heavily on my heart, and the Lord provided a means for me to do that here at Concordia, and I look forward with joyful anticipation of all that God will do through our program in the coming decades!
Benjamin Hinckfoot ’14
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.S.Ed. Secondary Education
Degrees listed were earned at Concordia and may not include the entirety of the faculty members’ educational journey.