Letter of Support
Letter of Support for Colin C. Irvine, Ph.D.
The Next President of Concordia College
The appointment of Colin C. Irvine as the President of Concordia College as of July 1, 2023, is an important milestone in the history of the college. Colin is the perfect person to lead Concordia in the coming years as the landscape of higher education changes and evolves.
He has a deep understanding of and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Concordia College and Lutheran higher education. He recognizes the historic relationship between Concordia College and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and will work to sustain and nurture the college’s affiliation with the ELCA throughout his tenure as President. Colin has served as a faculty member and administrator of two ELCA colleges, Augsburg College in Minneapolis and Augustana University in Sioux Falls.
Colin is a teacher at heart and is motivated by a deep commitment to serving students. He has spent his career in higher education, first as a faculty member and then as a college administrator, and enjoys the life of the college. We have seen him interact enthusiastically, authentically, and charismatically with students, staff, and faculty.
He is a student of higher education who is always seeking to learn more and find ways to do things better. Thus, he understands the trends, challenges, and opportunities in higher education and will sustain and enhance Concordia’s long-standing track record of delivering an excellent liberal arts education, with a focus on professional development.
Colin brings competency, creativity, resilience, and a wonderful sense of humor to the work of leading Concordia. He will be bold, nimble, and entrepreneurial in leading and managing change, growth, and innovation. Colin has a strong record of building and leading high-performing teams.
He will continue the ongoing work of building a diverse student body, faculty, and staff at Concordia, supporting an inclusive and welcoming culture, and providing an equitable and inclusive experience for Concordia students.
The leadership capabilities and strategic focus that Colin brings will allow us to build upon the Board of Regent’s institutional advancement initiatives and the strategic goals established in Concordia Leads: The Plan for 2030, the college’s strategic plan.
We are excited to welcome Colin to Concordia College and its presidency later this year and look forward to working with him for the good of Concordia and its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and all of the Concordia family.
Gary R. Henderson ‘79
Chair, Presidential Search Committee and Regent
Mary S. Ranum ’78
Chair, Board of Regents