When Learning Fuels Learning
Allison Grunke MLC ’22 has always been interested in learning — her students’ learning and her own. She happily spent five years on MLC’s campus to earn a double-major in elementary ed and early childhood ed, and now she’s back at it, working on an MLC master’s degree in education with an emphasis on instruction. […]
Tech Director Degree a “Slam Dunk”
For Ethan Mallow MLC ’24, choosing MLC’s graduate program was an easy decision. In his words, it was a “slam dunk.” A Ministry with Many Moving Parts: In May 2024 Ethan was assigned to serve as technology director and science instructor at Winnebago Lutheran Academy. Now in his second year there, he’s busy with all […]
A Passion for Teaching God’s Word
As Eric Dorn MLC ’18 taught third grade in Antigua during his first year of ministry, he discovered a clarity of calling that would shape the direction of his ministry for years to come. Teaching those 8- and 9-year-olds was a unique and enjoyable experience, but one subject consistently captured his heart and attention. “I […]
A Master’s Matched to Ministry
It’s no surprise Keely (Keese) Prekop MLC ’16, ’25 wanted to be an early childhood teacher. Her own early years at a WELS preschool changed everything for her—and for her family. A Preschool that Changed Everything When Keely was small, her dad was a nominal Catholic and her mom unchurched. As they searched for a […]
Mitchell Giovannettone: Uniquely Christian Leadership
Mitchell Giovannettone has always been drawn to leadership—but not just any kind. The 2019 graduate of Martin Luther College (MLC) sought a form of leadership grounded in Christ, shaped by service, and focused on people. At graduation Mitch was assigned to St. Paul in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, where he was a candidate in the Principal […]
Josh Wong: Becoming a Wise Leader for Families Today
Raising children today isn’t easy. Changing values in society, social media temptations, family conflicts, learning difficulties, financial strains—all the contemporary results of Adam and Eve’s sin make parenting a tough gig. When families struggle, they often turn to their WELS church and school leaders for help. Josh Wong MLC ’21 wants to be there for […]
New Degree, New Vocation
Since her graduation from DMLC in 1986, God has put Gina (Hoerning) Grove’s gifts to work in many different vocations—teacher, consultant, Bible study writer, speaker, life coach, counselor, mom, grandma—and she has taken Scripture with her everywhere she’s gone. When she decided in her 50s to pursue her Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) […]
Guided Studies from the Ground Up
When Kirsten Gullerud’s principal at St. Paul in Appleton, Wisconsin, asked her to help him create a Guided Studies program, she was a little hesitant. She was working as an aide in the first-grade classroom at the time, and she really didn’t know much about special education. But she did have a broad teaching background. […]
Ben Carlovsky Finds Deep Content to Match Deep Passion
Ben Carlovsky MLC ’03 was originally enrolled in MLC’s Master of Science in Educational Administration program. As an elementary school principal at Abiding Word-Houston, that made sense. But when he accepted a call to teach religion at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, he switched programs midstream. Now he’s a 2023 graduate of our Master of Arts […]
The Best Time for a Master’s Degree—Now!
Dana Raasch Explains Why When Dana (Pietrzyk) Raasch graduated from Martin Luther College with her bachelor’s degree in 2021, it didn’t take her long to realize that the best time to pursue a master’s degree was immediately. So after just one year in front of the classroom, she became a student again—in MLC’s graduate program. […]
“Still So Much to Learn”
Why One MLC Grad Started Her Master’s Program Right After Graduation Tassia-Channel Wolf, assistant principal at Grace Lutheran School in St. George, Grenada, calls it a heart story. It began when a student with special needs enrolled at Grace a few years ago. Tassia did a deep dive into instruction and assessments, and then put […]
Jarred Beduze: Principal in the Making
Strong Lutheran schools need strong principals. Leaders who set the bar high for student achievement. Who create a Christ-centered culture. Who cast longterm visions for the future of their school and simultaneously handle the day-to-day details. Who supervise instruction, create a budget, and implement a marketing plan—all while maintaining meaningful relationships with faculty, parents, and […]
A Master’s Degree that Fits His Ministry Needs—Today and Tomorrow
When Donovan Waege MLC ’21 began his ministry last summer at Christ Lutheran School in Eagle River, Wisconsin, his duties expanded quickly. In addition to teaching grades 5-8, as assigned, he also found himself in the unofficial role of technology director. Using his own natural interest in technology, coupled with the training he’d received in […]
Theology Is For Everyone
Why would a professor with her PhD in math go back to school and pursue another degree . . . a degree outside her field . . . a degree in theology? We wondered too. So we talked to Dr. Kristi Meyer (pictured), a calculus professor at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Dr. Meyer is a WLC […]
Journey to a Master’s Degree—
Annie Gumm in Her Own Words Annie Gumm MLC ’03 teaches grade 6, upper-grade English, PE, and choir at St. Mark-Watertown, Wisconsin. She earned her MS Education from Martin Luther College in 2021. Here’s her story in her own words. Three reasons she decided now was the time for her master’s program: I was asked […]
Meet Chelsee Earley: Finding the Right Fit at MLC
Chelsee Earley knew what she was looking for. As she researched online master’s programs, she wanted a personal experience, one where she could really interact with the professors. Her friends had told her that their programs were impersonal—just a matter of “checking boxes.” She wanted a relationship with her professors and peers. She also wanted […]
The Gut Family: Master’s Degrees and Life with the Master
Kyle, Justin, and Kayte Gut (pronounced ‘goot’) went to school together at MLC about 20 years ago—graduating in 2000, 2001, and 2002. They found themselves at MLC again just a couple years ago, all of them enrolled in the graduate program. When they realized they would all graduate at the same time and could receive […]
Prepared for the Office
It took three calls and two master’s degrees before he felt ready to step into the role of principal. Phil Gustafson BS ’09, MS ’16, MS ’19 was assigned to St. Mark in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, when he graduated from MLC in 2009. In his 11 years of ministry there, he served as assistant principal […]
Eric Wolf: Because the Word Works!
Eric Wolf ’13 knows the Word of God works, and he’s committed to leading, pulling, and pushing the middle schoolers he teaches deeper into that Word. So he recently decided he wants to go deeper into Scripture himself—through MLC’s Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS).
Joycelyn Williams-Green: Professor and Student
Joycelyn Williams-Green is proud to be both college professor and college student. Professor Williams-Green is Senior Lecturer of Educational Psychology and Special Needs at Antigua State College. She teaches teachers, mentoring them in how to do their jobs even better, especially in the area of special education. While often standing behind the podium as professor, […]
A Passion for Leadership in ECE
The children at the WELS preschool in Raleigh, North Carolina, would never guess that Mrs. Kiecker, the teacher they love so much, never planned on teaching preschool. But early childhood education (ECE)—and becoming a leader in ECE—is now her passion.
Meet Kate Krieger
For Kate (Hieb) Krieger (BS ’10, MS ’17), relationships mean everything. That belief has guided her teaching, her master’s studies, and now the new courses she’s developing as an MLC continuing education adjunct instructor. Maybe relationships are so important because Kate’s a third-culture kid. Born in Japan in 1987, where her parents were WELS missionaries, […]
Nicole Lehman
Even as an upper-level math instructor, Nicole Lehman ’10 sees the need to increase and improve her teaching techniques for students with learning difficulties. That’s what led her to the special education emphasis in MLC’s Master of Science in Education program.
Tom Plitzuweit
Effective Leaders Make Others Better In both his words and his ministry, Tom Plitzuweit captures a foundational premise of leadership: “A big part of being a leader is to help those around me get better.” In all the leadership calls he has filled, he has devoted himself to making those around him better. That’s why […]
Duane Vance: Public University Grad Thankful for MLC Master’s Program
Duane Vance can’t say enough good things about the Martin Luther College master’s program. “I never imagined what kind of impact the graduate studies program would have on our ministry here,” he says.
Meet Graduate Student Andrea Van Sice ’14
In May 2014 you might not have chosen Andrea (Biedenbender) Van Sice as the most likely person to enroll in MLC’s master’s program. She’d just wrapped up her undergrad papers and exams, accepted her diploma, and turned her tassel. She’d just been assigned to Nebraska LHS. She was engaged to be married the next summer. Because […]
Meet 2016 Graduate Jessica Zahrt
Something few people know about Jessica (Rozek) Zahrt is that she’s a twin. Jessica’s twin sister has some cognitive disabilities, and, growing up, Jessica saw how other kids sometimes picked on her. Maybe that’s why Jessica is the teacher she is today, one who not only molds little minds but also massages little hearts with […]
Kyle Bender — Principal Track
Taking His Leadership to the Next Level Kyle Bender DMLC ’93 is taking his school leadership to the next level. Though Kyle’s resume is already impressive, his experience in MLC’s new MS in Educational Administration program is giving him new tools he can use immediately in his ministry. “MLC is challenging me to grow professionally […]
Benjamin Bain, MS Ed
Ask 2010 MS Ed graduate Ben Bain what makes his work as principal and teacher at St. John’s in Red Wing, MN, special, and he’s likely to say, “The people I get to work with really make this a special place, and that’s been a real privilege.” In fact, the congregation, parents and faculty have […]
Amy Bryant, MS Ed
Family comes first for Amy Schmeling Bryant(’03), but she also wants to serve her church. With God’s blessing, she has managed to balance them both—beautifully. Amy serves as a preschool aide and Sunday school coordinator at Salem – Woodbury MN. She also started an additional outreach program at Salem called Smart Start. Working as a […]
Rachel Burgess, MS Ed
July 8, 2010, was an important day for Rachel Perry Burgess ’02. She handed her comprehensive examination to Director of Graduate Studies John Meyer, marking the culmination of her graduate work at Martin Luther College. Emphasis: Of the three emphases—instruction, special education, and leadership—Rachel opted for leadership because the classes seemed most applicable for her […]
Timothy Gustafson, MS Ed
A Second Master’s Degree—Totally Worth It! Twenty-two years ago, Tim Gustafson DMLC ’83 earned a master’s degree in education from Viterbo University. Last May he earned a second master’s degree, this time from MLC. Why another graduate degree? Mr. Gustafson says he enjoyed studying for his first master’s degree and saw how it made him a […]
Aaron Hartwig, MS Ed
First MLC “Master” Aaron Hartwig was the first student to enroll in MLC’s Master of Science in Education program. A decade later, we caught up with him. Did the degree make a difference in his ministry? “There’s no doubt in my mind,” he says, “that I’m a significantly better principal and classroom teacher as […]
Chris Hintz, MS Ed
When Chris Hintz graduates this May with his MS-Ed, he’ll walk off the stage with far more than a diploma. He’s gained skills and insights that have strengthened his God-given leadership gifts and greatly benefited his ministry as principal. The office of principal has called out to Chris since his graduation from MLC in 2004. […]
Sheila Krause, MS Ed
Two brothers with learning disabilities were Sheila Jones Krause’s inspiration. “Working with children who struggle in school in a WELS setting has always been my dream,” she says. As the extended learning teacher at David’s Star, Jackson WI, she does just that, teaching children with learning difficulties and disabilities, as well as teaching grade 7-8 […]
Rebecca Lindenberg, MS Ed
As a language arts instructor in the upper grades at St. John-Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Becky Gohr Lindenberg’s days are always interesting. “I tell my students I have the best job in the whole school, because my assignments aren’t just math problems and multiple choice questions. Every time I assign a paper or essay, I get to read […]
Jeffrey Loberger, MS Ed
Jeff Loberger (MLC 2003, MLC MS 2012) believes that good schools begin with good leaders. As a leader at Good Shepherd-Omaha, he wears a number of leadership hats, but, interestingly, not one of them says “Classroom Teacher.” “I spend my day as principal of our school, development director of our building program, and member ministry […]
Timothy Mueller, MS Ed
Serving to the Best of His Ability Like most WELS principals, Tim Mueller (MLC BS ’06, MSEd ’11) is a busy man. But he feels privileged – overjoyed, in fact – to be so. “My joy is in serving my God to the fullest of my abilities out of thanks and praise for all that […]
Kurt Rosenbaum, MS Ed
BS 1984 DMLC MS 2011 MLC In 2009, after 25 years of elementary school administration, Kurt Rosenbaum was called to a different kind of ministry: principal of Arizona Lutheran Academy. Fortunately, the change did not interrupt his pursuit of his master’s degree through MLC. And he was pleased to find that the skills and competencies […]
Jenny Johnson, MS Ed
Jenny Johnson Schopper MLC ’98,’14 took a path familiar to many women who graduated from D/MLC. After teaching a few years, she got married, started a family, and resigned from teaching to stay home with her young children. A few years later, when the time was right, she wanted to make herself available again for […]
Minori Yamaki, MS Ed
Minori Yamaki MS Minori Yamaki (MLC 2002, MLC MS 2011) feels that her MS is making her even more of a professional in her unique ministry setting – a Lutheran Japanese preschool in the Chicago area. Ms. Yamaki was assigned as a kindergarten/ preschool teacher for St. Matthew, Niles, Illinois, when she graduated in 2002. […]
Lynn Jungen – Early Childhood Director
“I’ve Been Waiting for This” Lynn Jungen Is Enjoying MLC’s New MS-Educational Administration “I believe my job is to help children use and develop their God-given abilities to serve their Lord, their family, their neighbors, and their congregation.” So says Lynn Craker Jungen DMLC ’80 of St. Peter-Mishicot, Wisconsin. As the sole faculty member—both teacher and […]
Gretl
Gretl—her English name—is one of the newest students in our master’s program, and she takes the prize for a couple firsts. She is our first student taking courses from her home in China, and she is also the first student—and likely the only one ever—with an undergraduate degree in veterinary medicine. After earning her degree […]
Coral Cady
International students are not new at MLC, but Coral Cady is certainly the first WELS teacher from Vietnam to join our master’s program. A 1985 graduate of DMLC, she taught at California Lutheran High School for one year and St. Paul-New Ulm MN for 13 years. Then her life changed drastically, as she took a […]
Chris Hintz
As one listens to Chris Hintz (Emmaus-Phoenix) talk about graduate studies at MLC, it’s easy to see that a big benefit of the master’s program has been the opportunity to reflect—to reflect on the gifts God has given him and the opportunities to use those gifts. At his 2004 graduation, Chris was assigned to Zion-Denver […]
Rendy Koeppel
New Master’s Program at MLC: Training for Principals and ECE Directors Rendy Koeppel DMLC ’81 is leaving the MLC Master of Science in Education program. As principal at St. Paul-First in North Hollywood, Koeppel enjoyed the courses, noting the online flexibility and the knowledge-sharing with other WELS teachers. He saw benefits to his ministry, “particularly […]
Peter Mathwig
A grade 2-3 teacher at St. Peter-Weyauwega WI, Peter Mathwig chose the Instruction emphasis, noting, “I wanted to learn new ways of becoming a better teacher in the classroom.” Although he’s only taken one class so far, he can already see the blessings: “The courses are very applicable to the teaching ministry in our WELS […]
Stacy Shrum
When you get to know Stacy (Scott) Shrum ’02, three words come to mind: energy, enthusiasm, and impact. And it’s clear that God uses these qualities to bless her life and ministry. Her energy and enthusiasm for sharing Christ’s love positively impacts those around her—her students, school, congregation, and husband. Stacy has had a positive […]
Anne Starr
In 2011-2012, Anne Zietlow couldn’t wait to graduate, get married, and find a teaching job in the city where her fiancé, David Starr, would be a vicar. She deferred an assignment call but hoped that a public school job would be available. David was assigned to West Palm Beach, Florida, for his vicarship, but a […]
Lori (Soloviyov) Wetterau
Lori Soloviyov teaches PK/K at St. John-Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. She is also a single mother of four children: Tatyana (15), Yuri (11), Aleksei (8), and Katya (6). As if that weren’t enough to fill her time, she’s pursuing her master’s degree at MLC with an emphasis in special education. She hadn’t actually signed up for […]
