Luther College announces presidential transition for beginning of spring semester 2025

Current Luther College Provost Brad Chamberlain will begin serving as Luther’s 12th president as of Feb. 7. (Photo submitted)

Luther College recently announced Provost Brad Chamberlain will begin his new role as the 12th president of Luther College on Friday, Feb. 7 — two days after classes for the 2025 spring semester are scheduled to begin.

Outgoing President Jenifer K. Ward will step into the role of president emerita and senior advisor for strategic projects on the same day, and she is expected continue to support major projects, such as the current renovations to the Gerdin Fieldhouse on Luther’s campus.

Physics professor Jeff Wilkerson will begin serving as the interim provost for Luther College as of Feb. 7. Both Ward and Wilkerson are slated to serve in these new roles until June of 2025.

“As we mentioned in October, when Brad Chamberlain was appointed president-elect, his selection provides Luther College with the opportunity to capitalize on the great momentum of recent accomplishments,” Board of Regents Chair Bob Paulson said. “By having him step into the position at the start of the spring semester, we take advantage of the shorter selection process and allow him to begin work on behalf of Luther College.”

Ward announced her retirement from the presidency in April of 2024. A formal inauguration of Chamberlain is planned for October of 2025. The Board of Regents honored Ward with a special commission of a musical composition, which premiered at Christmas at Luther in December of 2024. Ward’s presidency is also to be the cover feature of the upcoming winter edition of Luther Magazine.

A nationwide search for Luther College’s next provost is now underway. A Provost Selection Committee co-chaired by Luther Vice President For Advancement Mary Duvall and David Thompson, faculty speaker and professor of Spanish, was recently announced.

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