The ninth president of Augustana College

Dr. Andrea Talentino will become the ninth president of Augustana College on July 1, 2022. Her selection was announced on campus Dec. 7, 2021.

President Steven C. Bahls announced his retirement on Jan. 25, 2021, after 18 years of service.

Starting in February 2021, a committee of trustees, faculty members, administrators and a student representative worked with an executive search firm, Academic Search, to conduct a national search to identify exceptionally qualified candidates. (For more information about the process, see Frequently Asked Questions.)

John Murabito, chair of Augustana’s board of trustees, led the search committee. Murabito, a 1980 Augustana graduate, serves as executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Cigna.

Committee members

John Murabito '80, chair and trustee
Wiley Adams '82, trustee
Barbara Lundblad '66, trustee
Michael Gapen '91, trustee
Gail Richard '76, trustee
Lee Selander '72, trustee
Diane Hill '66, trustee
Dr. Doug Parvin, faculty 
Dr. Megan Havard-Rockwell, faculty 
Dr. Mariano Magalhães, faculty
Anna Castro '95, administrator
Kelly Bethke, coach, faculty
Lauren Hall '22, student

Listening sessions

Academic Search conducted virtual listening sessions from Feb. 24-26 to hear from the campus community what important skills and qualities candidates should possess. Email invitations were sent to faculty, staff and students.