In 1937, Dr. Mae Anderson became the first woman to head a department at Concordia College in a non-traditional subject for women: mathematics. She was also one of the few women in the United States to achieve a doctorate in the subject before 1940. In addition to her scholarly achievements she was active in campus organizations and events.
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Martha Brennun was a Norse and math instructor at Concordia, who later worked as registrar. Brennun was the salutatorian of the first collegiate class at Concordia. She also helped establish the first literary society at the college. |
In 1944, Anna Jordahl was appointed head librarian at Concordia College. In this capacity she helped develop the plans for the Carl B. Ylvisaker library, built in 1956, which gave her the space to increase the collection size to over 100,000 volumes before her retirement in 1973. |
Norma Gooden Ostby took charge of Concordia’s dramatic program in 1932. Initially the theatre was unsupported by a formal budget or theater season; Ostby described the early productions as a “desperate financial enterprise.” In 1938, Ostby revitalized the artistic community of Concordia College by forming the Concordia Theatre, which provided the school with the organization and budget necessary to hold an annual theater season. |
Emma Norbryhn was a linguistically gifted woman who instructed a variety of language courses at Concordia. During her lengthy teaching career she introduced new language courses and taught Norse, French, Latin, German, and Greek before retiring in 1948. At her retirement she held the title of longest term of service at the college. Today she is among a handful of Concordia faculty to reach the forty year mark. |
Clara Duea taught music classes and directed musical groups at Concordia for nearly two decades. In 1927, she established Concordia’s Music Club, which performed and sponsored the first Christmas Concert, a tradition that continues at the college. |
Barbara Glasrud (née Crawford), taught art history at Concordia College for over three decades. During her time at the college, she shared her enthusiasm for art and culture with many students and was instrumental in building the art program at Concordia. |
Dorothy Johnson was hired by Concordia College in 1953 as Fjelstad dormitory resident head and assistant to the dean of women. Soon after her arrival she founded the college’s Reading Service to improve students’ reading skills. She also developed an annual Conference on Reading at Concordia and became president of the Minnesota Reading Association in 1966. |
Margaret Nordlie came to Concordia first as a student and then returned to teach classes in library science and work in the library under head librarian Anna Jordahl. In collaboration with Jordahl, Nordlie facilitated the growth of library collections as well as the beginnings of the Concordia College Archives. |
Vivian Wensel was a faculty member of the Concordia physical education program for thirty-five years. She taught over twenty different classes and coached the women’s badminton and golf teams. Through her work on campus and in May travel seminars abroad, she provided a positive role model for young female athletes at Concordia. |