Augustana’s Colin Irvine chosen to be next president of Concordia College
January 12, 2023
MOORHEAD, Minn.-– Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota announced Wednesday Dr. Colin Irvine (pictured) has been chosen as the next president of the college.
Irvine succeeds Dr. William Craft, who is set to retire in June after serving in the role for 12 years. Irvine is currently provost and senior executive vice president at Augustana University in Sioux Falls. He will officially become the college’s 12th president on July 1.
“Colin is the perfect person to lead Concordia in the coming years as the landscape of higher education changes and evolves,” said Mary Ranum, chair of the Board of Regents. “He has a deep understanding of and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Concordia College and Lutheran higher education.”
In a speech after this morning’s announcement, Irvine said he’s spent most of his 20 years in higher education at and around ELCA colleges, but it is clear Concordia is an exceptional place.
“I do not yet know – and indeed I cannot know – all that is involved in being a Cobber. But, in these past few months, being lucky enough through the interview stages to come to know more about this amazing place and the incredibly caring people who give their life and their time and their resources to it, I’ve begun to understand well the reasons why I immediately felt so deeply and genuinely called to this role, at this place, at this time,” Irvine said.
Prior to Augustana, Irvine was senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of Carroll College in Helena, Mont. He taught English, education, and environmental studies at Augsburg University from 2002 to 2015. Irvine earned his doctorate in English from Marquette University, a Master of Arts in American studies from the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and history at Carroll College. A respected scholar, Irvine is the recipient of three Fulbright awards.
“Colin understands the trends, challenges and opportunities in higher education and will sustain and enhance Concordia’s longstanding track record of delivering an excellent liberal arts education, with a focus on professional development,” said Gary Henderson, chair of Concordia’s presidential search committee and member of the Board of Regents. “He will be bold, nimble, and entrepreneurial in leading and managing change, growth, and innovation.”
The presidential search committee was made up of members of the Board of Regents, faculty, staff, alumni, and students. The committee partnered with executive search firm to assist in the process, drawing a national pool of applicants.
Irvine’s formal inauguration will be set after the start of the Fall 2023 semester.
