Luther College has named a new vice president for finance and administration

The director of business services at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota has been named Luther College's new Vice President for Finance and Administration.

Eric Runestad will serve as the college's chief financial officer and be responsible for leading and directing Luther's financial planning, as well as serving as adviser to the president on the administrative support operations of the college.

For the past three years Runestad has led the operations of SMSU's Office of Business Services, with responsibilities for developing and implementing fiscal management policies and procedures, providing financial forecasting, overseeing audit activities, and supervising risk management, sponsored program accounting and financial reporting.  Prior to working at SMSU, Runestad worked for six years as the director of cultural events, music organizations and program operations at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.  He has also served as executive director of the Wisconsin School Music Association, Wisconsin Music Educators Association, Wisconsin Foundation for School Music in Madison, and Minnesota Music Educators Association in Minneapolis.

Runestad succeeds Diane Tacke, who served 18 years as Luther's vice president for finance and administration.