Bahls to continue leading Augustana through 2021

The Augustana College Board of Trustees and President Steve Bahls have agreed to a contract renewal that continues his presidency through 2021.

President Bahls has been with the college since 2003 and is the third-longest serving president since President Gustav Andreen, who served for 35 years, and also the third-longest serving president of the 26 ELCA Colleges.

The college is in a period of unprecedented growth, including welcoming its second-largest class ever for the 2017-18 academic year. To build on this success, and continue to oversight of the Augustana 2020 strategic plan, the board voted to extend President Bahls’ tenure.

“On behalf of the Augustana College Board of Trustees, we are pleased that Steve will be leading the college for another three years,” said board Chair John Murabito. “Steve has been an outstanding president for 15 years and in the years to come, the college will require the ongoing visionary leadership that Steve brings. I have every confidence that he will continue building upon his existing legacy of excellency and service to Augustana College.”

The Augustana 2020 plan was created in 2013 and outlines four pillars: enhanced preparation for success, integrated experiences, affordability and value, and diversity and inclusion. Two recent hires point to continued progress in the areas of enhanced preparation for success and diversity and inclusion: Executive Director of Career Development Laura Kestner-Ricketts and Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Monica Smith.

There was, and continues to be, a strong desire from President Bahls and the board to ensure Augustana reflects the nation’s diversity and prepares students for a global market. As part of the plan to increase diversity, the college set a goal to have 10 percent of the student population represent international students by 2020. The college is currently at about 8 percent, which equals 195 students from nearly 30 countries.

In the last 10 years, the population of students of color has more than doubled, from 212 in 07-08 to 570 for 17-18. Dr. Smith’s role will ensure the increasing diversity of the student body is met with a plan to create a welcome and inclusive environment that gives everyone the best chance for success at Augustana.

In addition, the college recently announced it will be adding a graduate program in speech language pathology, which will welcome its first class in 2020. Other undergraduate program additions include data analytics, which was created in partnership with John Deere, neuroscience and engineering physics.

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue to serve the Augustana and Quad Cities communities. In the coming years, we hope to substantially build the Augustana College endowment, continue to attract and retain outstanding faculty, and advance our programming for the benefit of this and future generations of Augustana students,” said President Bahls. “But most importantly, I could not turn down the chance to work with our wonderful students for another three years.”

President Bahls received an undergraduate degree from University of Iowa and graduated with a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. Prior to being appointed at Augustana, he was a dean at the Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.