'Here Am I': Luther College Inaugurates Bradley Chamberlain as 12th President

Our Driftless region deserves more than postcards — it deserves a watchdog. Be that support. DECORAH — Luther College officially welcomed Dr. Bradley M. Chamberlain as its 12th president Friday morning during a formal inauguration ceremony at the Center for Faith and Life. The event, which also served as the college's annual Homecoming Chapel and Convocation, drew students, faculty, alumni, local clergy and academic delegates from across the country to celebrate the college's new leadership. Chamberlain, a former professor of chemistry and longtime member of the Luther community, addressed a full auditorium with a message centered on identity, calling and the future. "This is a critical moment," Chamberlain told attendees. "Not just for Luther College, but for all of higher education." The inauguration began with an academic procession featuring faculty, alumni, regents and representatives from peer institutions. The Rev. Melissa Bills, college pastor and director of college ministries, presided over the service. In a personal reflection, the Rev. Julie Chamberlain, a 1996 Luther graduate, pastor of Decorah Covenant Church and the new president's wife, spoke about the Hebrew word "Hineni," meaning "Here am I." She linked it to both her family's vocational journey and the college's founding in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants. "Because so many others have said Hineni to their calls," she said, "Brad and I and our boys can say the same to ours. One hundred sixty-four years, 12 presidents, thousands of people, one spirit." The couple's sons, Drew '26 and Liam '29, also served as readers during the ceremony. Chamberlain has spent more than two decades at Luther, first as a professor of chemistry and later in leadership roles including provost and vice president for mission and communication. He is widely recognized on campus for his academic expertise and for mentoring students through challenges, both academic and personal. "Organic chemistry often became a place where identity was tested," he said in his remarks. "I spent as much time talking with students about who they were as I did about molecules and mechanisms." Drawing parallels between individual student experiences and the institution's evolving identity, Chamberlain challenged the audience to see Luther's current moment as a calling. "Will we be sustained by conforming to the world? Or will we remain committed to transforming it?" he asked. Chamberlain acknowledged the pressures facing higher education, including shifting demographics, financial strain and public skepticism about the value of a degree, but defended the relevance of liberal arts institutions like Luther. "The world is crying out for adaptive leaders who can wrestle with enduring questions," he said. "Questions like, 'What does it mean to be human?' and 'Who is my neighbor?'" He emphasized the importance of the college's Lutheran heritage, academic excellence and commitment to service, asserting that Luther's distinctiveness lies in fully embracing its identity and mission. "There are several thousand colleges and universities in the United States," Chamberlain said. "Jon McGee, author of Breakpoint: The Changing Marketplace for Higher Education, argues that colleges like Luther share upward of 98% of their organizational DNA with these other institutions. In my mind, the question before us is not if we have a compelling 2% of difference. The question is: Will we claim it?" Chamberlain closed his address by invoking a family tradition—a daily affirmation he shares with his children—and extended it to the Luther community as both encouragement and charge. "Remember who you are, and remember whose you are," he said. "Because knowing who we are tells us what we must do, together." The inauguration marked the beginning of Chamberlain's presidency with a renewed call for the college to lean into its mission: to educate students for lives of meaning and purpose in service to the common good. "What we need is here," he said. "Let's claim it." The event was supported by the Advancement Office, Bon Appétit Catering, Book Shop, Campus Safety, Center for Faith and Life staff, Document Center, Facilities, Marketing and Communications, Music Department, Brooke Joyce, the Rev. April Ulring Larson, a 1972 Luther graduate, and the Rev. Judd Larson, a 1974 Luther graduate, along with the Luther College Woman's Club and local church members who provided 60 dozen reception desserts. Musical selections throughout the service were provided by Alex Meszler, college organist; Concert Band, directed by Cory Near; Nordic Choir, directed by Andrew Last, a 1997 Luther graduate; Aurora and Collegiate Chorale, directed by Adrianna Tam; and Norskkor and Cathedral Choir, directed by Mark Potvin, a 2001 Luther graduate. Members of the Inauguration Committee included Melissa Bills, director of college ministries and college pastor; Kelly Woods Birkenholz, a 2003 Luther graduate and regent, who served as committee chair; Megan Buckingham, director of alumni and engagement; Emilee Burcham-Scofield '26; Chris Gade, a 1986 Luther graduate and regent, who chaired the Presidential Transition Committee; Karen Martin-Schramm, inauguration project manager; Alex Meszler, assistant professor of music and college organist; Candy Ode, assistant director of facilities; Andrew Peter, a 2014 Luther graduate and director of major and principal gifts; Susan (Stockseth) Potvin, a 2002 Luther graduate and director of programming and outreach; Tara Quass, executive assistant to the president; and Bill Smith, vice president for communication. Elevate your inbox with the DecorahNews.com newsletter! Receive free thought-provoking articles, actionable advice and inspiring stories every week.