Luther College’s Brad Chamberlain to serve as interim dean for institutional planning and mission

Chamberlain to replace Terry Sparkes as dean for institutional planning and mission

Luther College President Paula Carlson announced Monday, Dec. 11, that Brad Chamberlain, Luther professor of chemistry and co-chair of the strategic planning process, will serve as interim dean for institutional planning and mission. He began transitioning into his new duties on Dec. 1.

As interim dean, Chamberlain will lead Luther’s campus-wide strategic planning process and coordinate the college’s re-accreditation process with the Higher Learning Commission through 2019. He will oversee two critical components of the re-accreditation process: federal compliance and the assurance review. Chamberlain will oversee the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement, the Center for Sustainable Communities, Campus Programming and College Ministries.

Since 2001, Chamberlain has been a professor of chemistry at Luther College, focusing on organic chemistry. He has served as chair of the Academic Planning Committee, the head of the department of chemistry and interim director of advising. He is currently participating in the Thrivent Fellows program for faculty and staff in Lutheran higher education.

Chamberlain replaces Terry Sparkes, who is retiring in May 2018. Chamberlain and Sparkes have worked together during the last year as they co-chaired the strategic planning process. Through May 2018, Sparkes will work on a part-time basis to support the strategic planning and re-accreditation processes.

“I would like to offer my thanks to Terry on behalf of the campus for her diligence and care in the strategic plan and scholars program, and her many years of service to the college,” said President Carlson.

The president asked the campus to join her in welcoming Chamberlain to this leadership position. “Brad’s experience and knowledge as a faculty member, department chair and faculty committee leader, as well as his passion for and commitment to liberal arts higher education, will be great assets as he leads institutional planning and mission for Luther College,” she said.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,050, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: http://www.luther.edu.

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