Concordia Nebraska begins 132nd academic year with evening worship service
Seward, NE (08/29/2025) — Concordia University, Nebraska began the university's 132nd academic year with an evening worship service conducted on Sunday, August 24 St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. The service emphasized the university's theme Bible verse for the year, "continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister" (Colossians 1:23).
Concordia Nebraska Campus Chaplain Rev. Ryan Matthias preached at the service. Music for the service was provided by University Organist Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, Assistant Professor of Music Robert Cody and by the University A Cappella Choir under the direction of Dr. Kurt von Kampen.
The service also recognized new faculty and staff and those professors advancing in academic rank.
New faculty and staff:
Cari Berner - College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Administrative Assistant
Jon Black - Director of Strategic Financial Aid Initiatives
Erica Bobby - Assistant Professor of Communications
Karen Centeno - Director of Library Services
Amy Crawford - Communications Manager
Joel Endorf - Director of Advancement Operations
Holly Guilford - Administrative Assistant for Dual Credit
Anne Hobbs - Professor of Health and Human Sciences
Levi Homp - Security Officer
Emma Hoyer - Admissions Counselor
Deb Jurchen - Director of University Institutes
Jeffrey Poore - Disability Support Services Coordinator
Marcos Ramos - Security Officer
Kacey Russell - Athletics Initiatives Specialist
Anna Stumpf - Director of Student Life (DCE - commissioned and installed)
Natasha Tupper - Scenic Designer/Shop Supervisor
Nick Wiles - Assistant Director of Student Life
Faculty advancing in academic rank
To Associate Professor: Justin Groth, Amy Royuk and Rev. Dr. Hans Trinklein
To Professor: Dr. Nolan Harms, Ed Hoffman and Dr. Beth Pester
University President Dr. Bernard Bull, Provost Dr. Tim Preuss and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Nebraska District President Rev. Richard Snow welcomed new faculty and staff and honored those advancing in rank.
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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