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Luther College announces promotions for 11 faculty members

Posted: Mon, Apr 15, 2019 5:05 PM

Eleven current Luther College faculty members have been promoted to associate professor and granted tenure.

The Luther Board of Regents has approved tenure for Rachel Brummel, environmental studies/political science; Stephanie Fretham, biology; Joseph Madrigal, art; Anna Peterson, history; Dawn Reding, biology; Jennaya Robison, music; Lindsey Row-Heyveld, English; Justin Sprung, psychology; Robert Vtris, theatre; Alexandra White, management; and Jill Wilson, education.

--Rachel Brummel is an environmental studies and political science faculty member who has taught at Luther since 2014. She teaches courses in environmental politics and policy, environmental justice and law, environment and community, rivers and society, global environmental politics and sustainability.
--Stephanie Fretham has been part of Luther's biology department since 2013. She teaches courses in human anatomy, experimental neuroscience and toxicology.
--Joseph Madrigal began teaching in the art department in 2013.  He teaches courses in sculpture, world pottery, ceramics and installation.
--Anna Peterson has been a professor in the history department since 2013. She currently teaches courses in modern European history, including Scandinavian immigration, Vikings in history, Russian history and Holocaust history.
--Dawn Reding has served in the biology department since 2013, regularly teaching courses in principles of biology, genomics and vertebrate biology. Her research interests include using genetic tools to study the evolution, ecology and conservation of wildlife.
--Jennaya Robison has taught in the Luther music department since 2013.  Robison regularly teaches courses in conducting and vocal pedagogy and serves as the conductor for Aurora, Collegiate Chorale and the Luther College Gospel Choir.
--Lindsey Row-Heyveld joined the Luther English department in 2013. She teaches courses on Shakespeare, early modern English literature, medieval literature and film as well as teaching Paideia, Luther College's first-year seminar.
--Justin Sprung joined the Luther psychology department in 2013.  He has taught courses in personality and individual differences, psychology of the workplace, applied psychology and research methods in psychology.
Sprung researches various workplace issues, from worker stress and well-being to personality and job attitudes. Within this research he is particularly interested in how employees balance their work lives with their family demands and leisure activities.
--Robert Vtris has taught in the theatre department at Luther since 2013. He teaches courses in acting, contemporary plays and directing.  His research interests include contemporary acting theory and pedagogy, Shakespeare in performance and adaptation, cognitive studies and theories of affect in relation to theatre arts, and post-colonial theory and dramatic literature.
--Alexandra White joined the Luther economics, accounting and management faculty in 2013 after nearly 20 years of working for a wide range of organizations including Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and management consulting groups. She teaches courses on the principles of management, data analysis for business decision making, introduction to business and project management.
--Jill Wilson joined the Luther education department as a faculty member in 2014.  She has taught courses in music education curriculum and strategies, elementary methods, middle school general music methods and clinical experiences in music education. She also serves as the conductor of Cantorei.