Dr. Richard Bakken
Martin Luther College welcomes Adjunct Instructor Richard Bakken, PhD, who comes to our graduate faculty with a rich and eclectic background encompassing music, technology, education, travel, and leadership. Dr. Bakken’s studies began in Wisconsin, took him around the world to Qatar, settled him in San Diego, and gave him a place on the adjunct faculty in New Ulm, Minnesota.Rich earned his BA in music education from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2000 and holds Wisconsin licenses for teacher, administrator, and principal. After graduation he worked as director of media services at WLC until 2006, earning his MA-Ed from the University of Phoenix while working.
Jobs at KVL Audio Visual Services in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and 620 WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee followed. At TMJ, he was both a producer and on-air news anchor. Since 2007 he’s worked at San Diego State University in the instructional technology services department, supporting classroom technologies across campus.
In 2013, he received his PhD in leadership studies from the University of San Diego. His dissertation research took him to Qatar, where he worked with students and administrators at Education City in Doha.
Rich comes by his interest in education and leadership naturally: both his parents DMLC graduates and teachers. His dad is currently principal at St. Paul-Tomah, Wisconsin. Music runs in the Bakken family as well; all of them sing and play instruments. Rich still sings, plays for church, and enjoys directing choir when he can.
We feel blessed that Dr. Bakken has joined our graduate faculty as adjunct instructor, teaching Multimedia Technologies this spring. “I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with students who are interested in technology and using new tools for instruction,” he says. “We have so many more opportunities to make use of these tools than at any other time in history!”
A Closer Look: Instructor Richard Bakken, PhD
- Resident of San Diego—“where the weather is always perfect,” he says.
- Member of Risen Savior-Chula Vista CA
- Traveler: “Flying around the world on points and miles for nothing has been a hobby for many years!”
- Philatelist: “I started collecting stamps in fourth grade.”
- Snowmobiler: “In winter you might find me on snowmobile trails in northern Wisconsin.”
- Reader: “My favorites are Leadership without Easy Answers by Ronald Heifetz; Executive Orders by Tom Clancy; andTeam of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.”
- Member and presenter for International Leadership Association
- Member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences: “That means I can vote on the Grammys each year and attend the ceremony.”
