Concordia College

Staff

Dr. Arland Jacobson
Director

Dr. Arland Jacobson has worked as the director of CHARIS since 1983. A native of South Dakota, he is an ELCA pastor who has served congregations in North and South Dakota. Ever since he was the first chairman of the board of the American Lutheran Church’s first center for continuing theological education, Jacobson has had a lively interest in the education of pastors and lay people.

Jacobson earned a Bachelor of Divinity from Luther Seminary and a doctorate in New Testament from Claremont (Calif.) Graduate School. He also studied at the University of Chicago. He has taught religion at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and at Concordia College.

Jacki Knapp-Raaen
Administrative Assistant

Jacki Knapp-Raaen began working with the CHARIS Ecumenical Center in 2006. She is also the coordinator of F/M Communiversity, Concordia’s lifelong learning program. Prior to her employment with CHARIS, Knapp-Raaen worked for Minnesota Public Radio. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Concordia.