The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is governed by a board of directors composed of representatives of the 18 synods of ELCA Regions 4 and 5, a bishops’ representative from each of those regions, and 10 members elected by the Church Council of the ELCA.
LSTC’s Foundation Board of Trustees has 15 volunteer members who guide the seminary’s endowment investments.
LSTC’s Alumni Board advises the administration on alumni relations, continuing education, fundraising and communications.
Board of Directors
| Rev. Dr. Gordon Braatz (2022) Churchwide Representative |
Psychologist | Minneapolis, MN |
| Bishop Susan Candea (2022) Region 4 Bishops’ Representative |
Bishop, Central States Synod | Kansas City, MO |
| Bishop Paul Erickson (2020) Region 5 Bishops’ Representative |
Bishop, Greater Milwaukee Synod | Milwaukee, WI |
| Kristi Ferguson (2021), Vice Chairperson Southeastern Iowa Representative |
Professor of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Retired | Iowa City, IA |
| Warren L. Geier (2022) Northern Great Lakes Synod Representative |
Pastor, Bethany Lutheran Church | Ishpeming, MI |
| Terry Goff (2021) Central/Southern Illinois Synod Representative |
Director, Emissions Regulations and Conformance, Caterpillar, Inc., Retired | Hanna City, IL |
| Emmanuel Jackson (2022) Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Representative |
Pastor, Living Word Lutheran Church | Katy, TX |
| Bridget Jones (2022) Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Representative |
Pastor, Bethel Lutheran Church | Superior, WI |
| Dale Landgren, Treasurer (2021) Greater Milwaukee Synod Representative |
Vice President & Chief Strategic Officer, American Transmission Company, LLC, Retired | Pewaukee, WI |
| Scott Leisinger (2022), Chairperson Northeastern Iowa Representative |
Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Wartburg College | Cedar Falls, IA |
| Jessica Liles (2020) Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod Representative |
Bentonville, AK | |
| Brian Lund (2020) Nebraska Synod Representative |
Senior Systems Administrator, ConAgra Foods, Inc., Retired | Omaha, NE |
| Jane Mar (2022) Northern Texas- Northern Louisiana Synod Representative |
Bishop Assistant for Lifelong Learning Formation, Retired | Argyle, TX |
| Karen McClain (2020) Churchwide Representative |
Senior Director, UCLA Alumni Affairs | Gardena, CA |
| Harry Mueller (2020) Churchwide Representative |
President, Delta Group Electronics, Inc. | St. Louis, MO |
| Rebecca R. Pallmeyer (2021) Churchwide Representative |
United States Chief Judge, Northern District of Illinois | Chicago, IL |
| Maryjeanne Schaffmeyer (2022) East Central Synod of Wisconsin |
Chief Operating Office, Appleton and Theda Clark Medical Centers, Retired | Appleton, WI |
| Janette C. Schumm, (2021) Secretary Central States Synod Representative |
Owner of certified public accounting firm, Retired | Overland Park, KS |
LSTC Alumni Board
The Rev. Tracey Breashears Schultz,’14 DMin; Pastor, Zion Lutheran Church
201 E 23rd Street
Houston, TX 77008
210-863-1107 (cell)
713-869-1439 (office)
revtracey@gmail.com
Region IV F; 1st Term; Ends 2020
Alumni Relations Committee
Board Secretary
Ms Madelyn Busse ’96, Deacon, Retired
138 Lighthouse Lane
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Home: 360-375-6052
Cell: 360-298-5848
mbusse5@aol.com
At Large, Region IB; 1st term, 2018
Admissions Committee
The Rev. Michael Coffey ’93, Pastor
First English Lutheran Church
3001 Whitis Ave
Austin, TX 78705
512-478-1933 (cell)
pastor@felcaustin.org
Region IV; 1st Term; Ends 2018
Admissions Committee
Board Vice Chair
The Rev. Roger D. Dennis ‘81
St. John Lutheran Church
505 North Brooks
Russell, KS 67665
785-445-8065 (mobile)
785-483-5358 (office)
pastor@ruraltel.net
Region IV; 1st Term; Ends 2019
Advancement Committee
The Rev. Jésus Escamilla ’10 (LSPS)
Pastor, San Gabriel Lutheran Church
9209 Johns Road
Alvarado, TX 76009
817-739-4588 (church)
sangabriel.jesus@yahoo.com
Region IV; 1st Term; Ends 2021
Alumni Relations Committee
The Rev. Michael Fick, ‘04
Pastor, Ebenezer Lutheran Church
1650 West Foster
Chicago, IL 60640
773-561-8496 (cell)
michaelfick@gmail.com
Region V A; 1st term; Ends 2021
Admissions Committee
The Rev. William E. Flippin, Jr., ’05 Th.M.
Pastor, Emmanuel Lutheran Church
1730 County Line Road SW
Atlanta, GA 30331
770-289-7951 (cell)
pastorflip@att.net
At Large (Region IX); 1st Term; Ends 2020
Advancement Committee
The Rev. R. Keith Lingwall, ’67, Retired
7860 East Benson Highway, Unit 69
Tucson, AZ 85756-8301
515-971-0504 (cell)
keithlingwall@me.com
At Large (Region II D); 1st Term; Ends 2021
Advancement Committee
The Rev. Sara K. Olson-Smith, ’06
Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church
2626 Farnam Street
Davenport, IA 52803
563-271-5197 (cell)
Sara.olson@gmail.com
Region V; 1st Term; Ends 2021
Alumni Relations Committee
The Rev. Kwame Pitts, ‘15
Assoc. Pastor for Campus Ministry
Augustana Lutheran Church Hyde Park
5500 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
773-493-6451 (office)
219-433-7261 (cell)
PastorRedeemerLC@gmail.com
Region V; 1st Term; Ends 2020
Admissions Committee
The Rev. Beverly Rautenberg-Panko ’98; Retired
504 East 21st Street
South Sioux City, NE 68776
402-404-8986
308-991-8324 (mobile)
revbev83102@gmail.com
Region IV; 1st Term; ends 2018
Alumni Relations Committee
The Rev. Dr. Elaine G. Siemsen, ’84, ’96, ‘00
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church
305 2nd Ave W
Cresco, IA 52136
563-547-2108 (office)
563-547-2107 (cell)
egsiemsen1@aim.com
Region V; 1st Term; ends 2018
Advancement Committee, Chair
The Rev. Michelle Townsend de Lopez ’09, Pastor, Cross Lutheran Church
1821 North 16th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53205
414-344-1746 (church)
414-467-6441 (cell)
414-931-0537 (fax)
mytmich@gmail.com
Region V; 2nd Term; Ends 2018
Board Chair
The Rev. Jason Wahlstrom, ‘01
Pastor, Holy Nativity Lutheran Church
5824 27th Avenue N
Crystal, MN 55422
612-599-0119 (cell)
pastorjason@holynativity.net
At Large, Region III; 1st Term; Ends 2020
Admissions Committee
Faculty Representatives
The Rev. Dr. Kadi Billman kbillman@lstc.edu
Ext 770
The Rev. Dr. Linda Thomas lthomas@lstc.edu
Ext 778
Alumni Board Committees – Staff Assignments
Alumni Relations
Jennifer Thomas
Jan Boden and/or Julie Sevig
Advancement
Clyde Walter
Admissions
Matt James
Executive Committee
Michelle Townsend de Lopez, Chair
Michael Coffey, Vice Chair
Tracey B. Schultz, Secretary
Jen Thomas, Staff
LSTC Foundation Board of Trustees
| Clarence Atwood, Jr. | Director of Internal Audit, University of Chicago Medical Center, Retired | Chicago, IL |
| Preston C. Fields | Pastor, Salem Lutheran Church | Dekalb, IL |
| Terry Goff | Retired, Caterpillar, Inc. | Hanna City, IL |
| Dale Landgren | Chief Strategic Officer, American Transmission Company, Retired | Pewaukee, WI |
| Lane Lewis | Global Director of Operations and Strategic Planning, ANSYS, Inc. | Naperville, IL |
| Roger Lewis | Executive Director, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Foundation, Retired | Omaha, NE |
| Harry Mueller | CEO, Delta Group Electronics | St. Louis, MO |
| James Nieman | President, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy | Executive Director, Pittsburgh United | Pittsburgh, PA |
| John R. Reed | Manager, Business Intelligence Technology, American Airlines | Ft. Worth, TX |
| Andrew Stackel | Executive, Exxon Mobil, Retired | Sugarland, TX |
| Sarah Stegemoeller | Retired Nonprofit Corporate + Tax Attorney | Santa Monica, CA |
| Laurence Tietijen | President, Experitec, Inc. | Ballwin, MO |