A new scholarship will support Wartburg College’s peace and justice studies major, while honoring the life of a former professor.

The scholarship is named for Philip Juhl, a member of the Wartburg social work faculty from 1975 to 1980. He died at his home in Waverly on Jan. 21.

“The day his obituary ran in the paper, a story announced the new peace and justice studies major at Wartburg,” said Juhl’s widow, Jackie. “We have been involved with and supported peace and justice issues for many years, and I thought a scholarship in this area would be something Phil would like.”

The new major will begin this fall under the direction of Dr. Jennifer McBride, assistant professor of religion and Regents Chair in Ethics. It is designed to give students analytical and practical tools they need to address complex social problems in concrete and constructive ways.

The annually funded Juhl Scholarship will award $1,000 to a student majoring in peace and justice studies.

“We hope to supplement funding for the scholarship with additional donations from former students who knew Phil and from people interested in supporting this new program,” said Scott Leisinger, vice president for institutional advancement.

Juhl was a graduate of St. Olaf College and completed a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Iowa. He began his career as a juvenile probation officer for Hennepin County, Minn. After working as a counselor at Glen Lake County Home School for Boys and assistant superintendent at the Minnesota State Training School for Boys, Red Wing, he became superintendent of the Iowa State Juvenile Home in Toledo. Following his years at Wartburg, he worked as a mental health and substance abuse counselor in the Cedar Valley.