Bethany Lutheran College officially welcomed its tenth president, Dr. Gene Pfeifer, when he was inaugurated on Friday, November 13, 2015, in Trinity Chapel.
The guest speaker for the event was Dr. David Wendler, Professor Emeritus at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota. Others participating in the ceremony included Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux, Organist, Rev. Craig Ferkenstad, Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, The Rev. Herbert Huhnerkoch, Chair of the Bethany Lutheran College Board of Regents, Prof. Andrew Overn, Chair of the Faculty Assembly, Miss Míša Sparley, Student Body President, Ms. Kristine Straumann, President of the Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Board, and Dr. Eric Woller, Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Bethany Lutheran College Concert Choir performed during the ceremony under the direction of Rev. Prof. Dennis Marzolf.
Delegates from eighteen institutions of higher learning were in attendance for the inauguration ceremony. Those institutions by year of founding included: Hamline University, Saint John’s University, Winona State University, Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota State University, Mankato, University of St. Thomas, Augsburg College, Bethel University, Martin Luther College, Viterbo University, Concordia University of St. Paul, University of Northwestern – St. Paul, St. Catherine University, The College of St. Scholastica, College of Saint Benedict, South Central College, Minnesota Private College Council, and Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Prior to beginning his service to Bethany Lutheran College, Dr. Pfeifer served as President of St. Croix Lutheran Grades 6-12 in West St. Paul, Minnesota, since 2007. Pfeifer was Professor of Education and Director of Clinical Experiences at Martin Luther College (MLC) from 1993 until 2007. Under Pfeifer’s leadership, St. Croix saw significant growth in both traditional and international enrollment numbers, and the campus of the private, Christian, college preparatory school was expanded.
Pfeifer earned a bachelor’s degree from MLC, a master of science in education from The University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and a doctor of philosophy in education, curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota.
Pfeifer is married to Carrie Pfeifer, who holds a doctor of education with special education focus from Nova Southeastern University. She also serves at Bethany as a full-time associate professor in the Education Department, and as director of the Academic Resources Center.