About the Dovres

It’s hard to imagine a Concordia without Dr. Paul and Mardeth Dovre who served here for 35 years, including more than 20 as president and first lady. Upon their retirement at the close of the 1998-99 academic year, the Board of Regents established the Paul J. and Mardeth L. Dovre Endowment for the Center for Faith and Learning. Funds designated in their name to the 21st Century Fund: Sustaining the Mission, underwrite in perpetuity the work of the Dovre Center for Faith and Learning.

Paul graduated from Concordia in 1958 and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from Northwestern University. He also attended Luther Seminary for one year. Paul joined the communication studies and theatre art faculty in 1963 and served as dean and academic vice president.

In 1975, at age 39, he became the eighth president of Concordia. Paul was instrumental in the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; was named one of the nation’s top 100 college and university presidents; and received the Concordia Alumni Achievement Award. He has honorary degrees from Capital University, Concordia College, Wartburg College, St. Olaf College and Luther College.

Mardeth (Bervig) Dovre graduated from Concordia in 1957 and was a business teacher for 20 years at Fargo South High School. She has been honored with the Concordia Alumni Achievement Award and most recently served in leadership roles with Hospice of the Red River Valley, Moorhead Healthy Community Initiative (now Metro Youth Partnership) and the Women’s Fund of Fargo-Moorhead.

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