Waldorf alumnus elected president of Wartburg Seminary

The Rev. Stanley Olson

The Rev. Stanley N. Olson, a Waldorf College alumnus, has been elected president of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, effective Jan. 1.

Olson holds degrees from Waldorf College, St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., Luther Seminary and Yale University. 

In 1997, Olson was honored with the Waldorf College Alumni Distinguished Service Award. He was cited "for inspiring leadership in the church as parish pastor, educator and bishop, and for outstanding dedication and service to community."

Olson graduated from Waldorf in 1966. He grew up on a farm near Eagle Grove.

In addition to serving congregations in New Ulm and Duluth, Olson has served as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod, as executive director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Division for Ministry and as executive director of the ELCA Vocation and Education program unit.

"With confidence in God and deep appreciation for the mission and people of Wartburg Theological Seminary, I accept this call to serve as president," Olson said in a Western Iowa Synod ELCA e-newsletter. "Wartburg is a wonderful asset to the church. In these challenging times, the ELCA needs the kinds of leaders Wartburg is gathering and sending out. And Wartburg needs the church to send the people who should be nurtured for leadership and the resources and partnerships that will make that possible."