Dovre Named Interim President

Dr. Paul J. Dovre, who was with the college for 24 years, will serve as the college's interim president.

Ron Offutt, chair of the Board of Regents, made the announcement Wednesday, June 30. Dovre succeeds President Pamela M. Jolicoeur, who died June 9.

“We are fortunate to have Paul leading us through this transition,” Offutt says. “He is grounded in Concordia’s mission and thoroughly prepared to carry forward the vision established by President Jolicoeur. The wisdom and experience he brings are unmatched in higher education. We have great faith in Paul’s leadership.”

Dovre retired as Concordia’s eighth president in 1999. A 1958 Concordia graduate, Dovre earned his master’s and doctorate from Northwestern University. He came back to serve as a member of the Concordia faculty in 1963 and remained until his retirement.

Since that time, Dovre has been active in higher education through roles as a visiting scholar at Harvard University, interim dean of students at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., interim president at Capital University and as Concordia’s interim president in 2003-2004.

A book of Dovre’s homilies titled "Holy Restlessness: Reflections on Faith and Learning" was published in 2009.

“President Jolicoeur had a profound impact on enhancing Concordia’s image as a recognized leader in higher education,” Dovre says. “My objective will be to sustain the momentum established under her leadership and to do so in partnership with the outstanding group of leaders that she had assembled."

A national search process for the next president is now being developed by the Board of Regents, Offutt says.

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