FOUR RETIRE FROM BOARD OF REGENTS

Four members of Dana College’s Board of Regents recently retired from their posts.

The retirees were Dr. Paul H. Laursen, Thomas Lippincott, Rev. Carl F. Schattauer and Dr. Rodney Wead. All of the former members served for 12 years.

The Dana Board or Regents is elected to set the strategic direction and policy of Dana, set goals and long-range plans, insure financial solvency and provide tools to the administration to enable the administration to manage the institution.

“This group of board members have been a joy to work with,” said Dr. Myrvin F. Christopherson, president of Dana College. “They love Dana. They have exercised good judgment, and have been willing to take risks to assure that Dana grows in quality of services, facilities, and people. We shall miss them. Happily, they have all been voted emeritus status by their colleagues so they will continue to serve Dana in an advisory capacity as they are able for many years to come.”

Dr. Paul H. Laursen

Dr. Paul H. Laursen had been the chairman of the board since October 1999.

A 1951 graduate of Dana, Laursen went on to earn a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Oregon State University in 1961, after serving three years in the U.S. Army Signal Corps (1951-53). When Laursen joined Dana’s board in 1990, he was a professor of chemistry at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Laursen’s other achievements include serving as provost of Nebraska Wesleyan University (1978-87) and president of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences (1970-71), and earning the Dana College Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1975.

Thomas Lippincott

Thomas Lippincott is a 1955 graduate of Blair High School. Lippincott went on to become owner and president of Nebraska Iowa Supply and Kopper Kettle Inc.

Lippincott’s other achievements include serving as president of the Nebraska Petroleum Marketers Association, the Omaha Oilmens Club and First Lutheran Church. He is also a former member of the Blair Kiwanis Club and the Blair Chamber of Commerce Board.

Rev. Carl F. Schattauer

The Rev. Carl F. Schattauer of Omaha, and formerly of Blair, served as secretary of the board since February 1999.

A 1952 graduate of Trinity Seminary, formerly located on Dana’s campus, Schattauer went on to serve as senior pastor at First Lutheran Church in Blair and assistant to the bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the ELCA.

Schattauer’s other achievements include serving as chairman of the Lutheran Social Services of Iowa (1974-80) and president of the Kiwanis Club of Ames, Iowa (1974-75) and of Youth Shelter Services (1977-1981).

Dr. Rodney Wead

Dr. Rodney Wead, president/CEO of Grace Hill Heighborhood Services, was a 1957 graduate of Dana.

Wead went on to earn a Ph.D. in sociology from Union Graduate School of Experimenting Colleges in Cincinnati. He has also served as an assistant professor and associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Creighton University, respectively.

Wead’s other achievements include serving as executive director of the United Methodist Community Centers Inc., in Omaha, Neb. (1968-74, 1983-91), and associate executive director of the Community Renewal Society of Chicago (1974-83). He was awarded Man of the Year by the Native Omahans for 1990-91, the Malcolm X Award in 1991, the Omaha Public School Black Caucus Award in 1991 and the Urban League Guild Award in 1987. He also received the Dana College Distiguished Alumnus Award in 1974.