Concordia Nebraska announces new and re-elected members of Board of Regents
Seward, NE (08/08/2025) — Concordia University, Nebraska recently announced election results from The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) Nebraska District Convention, which took place June 20-21, 2025 in Kearney, Nebraska.
Rev. Richard L. Snow of Seward, Nebraska was elected to his fourth term as president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Nebraska District.
"Rev. Snow is a great blessing to the District and a valued part of the Board of Regents," said Concordia University, Nebraska President Dr. Bernard Bull. "We give thanks to God for his service and ask that God grant him all that is needed to lead and serve as our district president."
The convention also included a number of elections for Concordia Nebraska Board of Regents positions. Rev. Doug Gaunt of Kearney, Nebraska, and Mr. Dick Helms of Arapahoe, Nebraska, were re-elected.
Prior to the convention, the Concordia Board of Regents recently appointed Mr. Sam Huebner of Seward, Nebraska, to the board.
Ms. Melanie Standiford of Curtis, Nebraska, and Mr. Preston Sunderman of Norfolk, Nebraska, were newly-elected to the board at the convention.
Melanie Standiford is a wife, mother to nine and grandma to eight. Two of her children will attend Concordia Nebraska this fall, and two more plan to attend the university within the next four years. She is a member of St. John in Curtis, Nebraska, and serves her congregation as a council member and member of the hand chime choir. She graduated from Mid-Plains Community College, received a bachelor's degree from Bellevue University in leadership and a master's degree in international security studies from Bellevue University. She has a master of philosophy in forensic psychology from Walden University and is currently working on her dissertation for a Ph.D. in forensic psychology. She is self-employed as a journalist and writer and has received a National Press Women Award and Associated Press Award. She has served as a lay delegate and on floor committees at LCMS Synodical Conventions and at District Conventions.
Preston Sunderman '13 GR '24 is a member of St. John in Battle Creek, Nebraska, and since 2013 has served as social studies teacher and activities director at Lutheran High Northeast, Norfolk. Since 2023, he has also served his congregation as adult education teacher, and he previously served as elder and confirmation teacher. He attended high school at Lutheran High Northeast and received his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Concordia University, Nebraska in 2013. As an undergrad at Concordia, he was elected student body president for three consecutive years. In 2019, he received his master's degree in history with a museum and archives studies certificate from the University of South Dakota. He also has a master's in education administration from Concordia University, Nebraska. He currently serves as a NLSA accreditation team member, board member for Lutheran Community Hospital Association, LCHA Board executive committee member, LCHA Board president, board member for Faith Regional Health Services and member of American Historical Association.
The Concordia University, Nebraska Board of Regents also includes Rev. Scott Adle of Imperial, Nebraska; Rev. Benjamin Ball of Worden, Illinois; Mr. Stuart Bartruff of Omaha, Nebraska; Dr. Craig Ernstmeyer of Saint Peters, Missouri; Mr. John Fraser of Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Gail Hawkins of Omaha, Nebraska; Mr. Timothy Hu of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Mr. Dennis Meyer of Las Vegas, Nevada; Mrs. Trudy Meyer of Lincoln, Nebraska; Mr. Timothy Moll of Seward, Nebraska; Dr. Doug Tewes of Bennet, Nebraska and Mr. Erik Vieselmeyer of Holyoke, Colorado.
"Concordia has been blessed with a tremendously dedicated Board of Regents who care deeply about our mission, faculty, staff, and students-and they come to each meeting seeking ways to challenge, encourage, and advance our mission and strategic direction," said Bull. "These new additions to the Board reflect these very same commitments. I have no doubt that we will be blessed by God at work through them and their service."
About Concordia University, Nebraska
Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 1,700 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.
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