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 Yehiel Curry (2022) Region 5 Bishops’ Representative |
Bishop, Metropolitan Chicago Synod | Chicago, IL |
| Kristi Ferguson (2024), 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 (2024), Vice Chairperson 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 |
| Jane Mar (2022) Northern Texas- Northern Louisiana Synod Representative |
Bishop Assistant for Lifelong Learning Formation, Retired | Irving, TX |
| Karen McClain (2024) Churchwide Representative |
Senior Director, Athletic Partnership and Strategic Initiatives | Gardena, CA |
| Harry Mueller (2024) 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, (2024) Secretary Central States Synod Representative |
Owner of certified public accounting firm, Retired | Overland Park, KS |
LSTC Alumni Board
The Rev. Michael Coffey ’93
Pastor, First English Lutheran Church
Austin, TX
Region IV; 2nd Term (2022)
Board Vice Chair
The Rev. Cindy Crane ’88
Director, Lutheran Office of Public Policy
Madison, WI
Region V; 1st Term, (2022)
The Rev. Jésus Escamilla ’10 (LSPS)
Pastor, San Gabriel Lutheran Church
Alvarado, TX
Region IV; 1st Term (2021)
The Rev. Michael Fick, ’04
Pastor, Ebenezer Lutheran Church
Chicago, IL
Region V; 1st term (2021)
Chair
The Rev. Stacie Fidlar, ’95
Rock Island, IL
Region V, 1st Term (2022)
The Rev. William E. Flippin, Jr., ’05
Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Evangelical Mission for the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
At Large (Region IX); 1st Term (2020)
Dr. Melissa James, ‘04 , Deacon
Agape House Garden Steward
La Mesa, CA
At Large (Region 2C); 1st Term (2022)
The Rev. Liz Kocher, ‘17
Pastor, First Lutheran Church
Manhattan, Kansas
Region IV, 1st Term (2022)
The Rev. R. Keith Lingwall, ’67, Retired
Tucson, AZ
At Large (Region II D); 1st Term (2021)
The Rev. Sara K. Olson-Smith, ’06
Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church
Davenport, IA
Region V; 1st Term (2021)
The Rev. Beverly Rautenberg-Panko ’98; Retired
South Sioux City, NE
Region IV; 2nd Term (2022)
The Rev. Dr. Elaine G. Siemsen, ’84, ’96, ‘00
Retired
Cresco, IA 52136
Region V; 2nd Term (2022)
The Rev. Jason Wahlstrom, ‘01
Pastor, Holy Nativity Lutheran Church
Crystal, MN
At Large, Region III; 1st Term (2020)
Executive Committee
Michael Fick, Chair
Michael Coffey, Vice Chair
Tracey B. Schultz, Secretary
Faculty Representatives
The Rev. Dr. Kadi Billman
The Rev. Dr. Linda Thomas
LSTC Staff
Sarah Burdick
Elizabeth Chentland
Sandra Nelson
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 |
| 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 |
| John R. Reed | Manager, Business Intelligence Technology, American Airlines | Ft. Worth, TX |
| Andrew Stackel | Executive, Exxon Mobil, Retired | Sugarland, TX |
| Maryjeanne Schaffmeyer | Chief Operating Office, Appleton and Theda Clark Medical Centers, Retired | Appleton, WI |
| Sarah Stegemoeller | Retired Nonprofit Corporate + Tax Attorney | Santa Monica, CA |
| Laurence Tietjen | President, Experitec, Inc. | Ballwin, MO |