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 Vocation and Education Unit 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
| Michael Aguirre (2018) Southwestern Texas Synod |
Platinum Wealth Solutions of Texas, LLC | San Antonio, TX |
| Clarence Atwood, Jr.(2019) Churchwide |
Director of Internal Audit, University of Chicago Medical Center, Retired | Chicago, IL |
| Rev. Dr. Gordon Braatz (2019) Churchwide |
Psychologist | Minneapolis, MN |
| Rev. Melody Eastman (2018) Metropolitan Chicago Synod |
Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church | Glen Ellyn, IL |
| Bishop Paul Erickson (2020) Region 5 Bishops’ Rep. |
Greater Milwaukee Synod | Milwaukee, WI |
| Kristi Ferguson(2018) Southeastern Iowa Synod |
Professor of General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| Emmanuel Jackson (2019) Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod |
Pastor, Living Word Lutheran Church | Katy, TX |
| Gregory Kaufmann (2019) Northwest Synod of Wisconsin |
Assistant to the Bishop, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin | Chippewa Falls, WI |
| John Kiltinen (2019) Northern Great Lakes Synod |
Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Northern Michigan University | Marquette, MI |
| Dale Landgren (2018) Greater Milwaukee Synod |
Vice President & Chief Strategic Officer, American Transmission Company, LLC, Retired | Pewaukee, WI |
| Scott Leisinger (2019) Vice Chairperson Northeastern Iowa Synod |
Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Wartburg College | Cedar Falls, IA |
| Jessica Liles (2020) Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod |
Bentonville, AR | |
| Brian Lund (2020) Nebraska Synod |
Senior Systems Administrator, ConAgra Foods, Inc., Retired |
Omaha, NE |
| Rev. Jane Mar (2019) Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Mission Area |
Retired, Bishop Assistant for Lifelong Leadership Formation | Argyle, TX |
| Karen McClain (2020) Churchwide |
Senior Director, UCLA Alumni Affairs | Gardena, CA |
| Harry C. Mueller (2017) Treasurer |
President, Delta Group Electronics, Inc. | St. Louis, MO |
| Rosalise Olson (2020) Western Iowa Synod |
Assistant Emmet County Prosecutor | Spirit Lake, IA |
| Rebecca R. Pallmeyer (2018) Congregational and Synodical Mission Unit |
United States District Judge, Northern District of Illinois | Chicago, IL |
| Melinda Pupillo (2019) LaCrosse Area Synod |
LaCrosse, WI | |
| Maryjeanne Schaffmeyer (2020) Chairperson East Central Synod of Wisconsin |
Chief Operating Officer, Appleton and Theda Clark Medical Centers, Retired | Appleton, WI |
| Rev. Twila Schock (2019) Northern Illinois Synod |
Senior Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church | Belvidere, IL |
| Jeanette C. Schumm (2018) Central States Synod |
Owner of certified public accounting firm, Retired | Overland Park, KS |
| Bishop Ray Tiemann (2019) Region 4 Bishops' Rep. |
Bishop, Southwestern Texas Synod | Seguin, TX |
| Phyllis C. Wiederhoeft (2020) Secretary South-Central Wisconsin Synod |
Executive Director, Association of Lutheran Development Executives | Verona, WI |
LSTC Alumni Board 2017
The Rev. Tracey Breashears Schultz,’14 DMin; Pastor, Zion Lutheran Church
3606 Beauchamp St
Houston, TX 77009
210-863-1107 (cell)
713-869-1493 (office)
revtracey@gmail.com
Region IV F); 1st Term; Ends 2020
Alumni Relations Committee
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, Chair
Board Development, Chair
The Rev. Dr. Sandra Chrostowski ’93 and ‘06
ELCA Director of DEM Relationships
8765 W Higgins Road, Domestic Mission Unit
Chicago, IL 60631-4101
773-380-1470 (work)
414-803-7206 (cell)
773-380-2632 (fax)
sandra.chrostowski@elca.org
Region V; 2nd Term; Ends 2017
Advancement Committee, Chair
Board Development 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 Development Committee
Board Vice Chair
The Rev. Roger D. Dennis
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 2017
Alumni Relations Committee
The Rev. William E. Flippin, Jr., ’05 ThM
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. Karl J. Nelson ‘67, Retired
1640 Black Walnut Trail
Sheboygan, WI 53081-5089
Home: 920-452-8280
knelson41@gmail.com
Region V; 1st Term, 2017
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 2017
Alumni Relations Committee
The Rev. Zachary W. Parris ’10; Pastor
Lutheran Campus Ministry at the
University of Colorado-Boulder
1001 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302
720-583-3857 (work)
720-505-1653 (cell)
lcmpastor@colorado.edu
At Large (Region II); 2nd Term; Ends 2017
Admissions Committee
The Rev. Kwame Pitts, ‘15
Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church
651 East 166th Street
South Holland, IL 60473
708-331-4100 (office)
312-952-1811 (cell)
PastorRedeemerLC@gmail.com
Region V; 1st Term; Ends 2020
Admissions Committee
The Rev. Beverly Rautenberg-Panko ’98; Pastor
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
Board Secretary
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 Development Committee
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
Alumni Board Committees – Staff Assignments
Alumni Relations
Jennifer Thomas
Jan Boden
Advancement
Mark Van Scharrel
Admissions
Matt James
Clyde Walter
Board Development
Jennifer Thomas
Executive Committee
Michelle Townsend de Lopez, Chair
Michael Coffey, Vice Chair
Elaine Siemsen, Secretary
Jen Thomas, Staff
Mark Van Scharrel, Staff
Marilyn Olson, Staff
LSTC Foundation Board of Trustees
| Clarence Atwood, Jr. | Retired, Director of Internal Audit, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL | Chicago, Ill. |
| Andrew Helge |
Sculpture and Artist, Drew Helge Art |
Rockford, Illinois |
| Susan Johnson, Chairperson |
Community Leader | Seattle, Wash. |
| Dale Landgren | Retired Chief Strategic Officer of American Transmission Company |
Pewaukee, Wis. |
| Roger Lewis | Retired, Executive Director, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Foundation |
Omaha, Nebraska |
| Robert McCarthy | CEO, Cheyenne Construction, Keller, Texas |
Ft. Worth, Texas |
| George Meslow | Retired Pastor/Social Service Executive The Martin Luther Homes |
Hernando, Florida |
| Harry Mueller | CEO Delta Group Electronics |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| James Nieman | President Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Cindy Peine, Vice-Chairperson |
Retired Executive - Finance/Human Resources |
Overland Park, Kansas | John R. Reed | American Airlines, Manager, Business Intelligence Technology |
Ft. Worth, TX |
| Randall Schneider, Secretary |
Retired World Com Telecommunications |
Oswego, Ill. |
| Andrew Stackel | Retired Executive Exxon Mobil |
Sugarland, Texas |
| Wilbert A. Thiel | Retired CEO ABN AMRO, Inc. |
Oak Brook, Il. |
| Laurence Tietjen | President Experitec, Inc. |
Ballwin. Mo. |