Dr. Rebecca Neiduski looks to ‘extend the reach’ of Wartburg College

BY EMILY CHRISTENSEN | PHOTOS JULIE PAGEL DREWES ’90 & ROLAND FERRIE ’08

Dr. Rebecca Neiduski has built her careeras an educator, hand therapist, and humanitarian on five principles: mobility on stability, adaption to change, reaching in new directions, maximizing function, and creating access. On Friday, Oct. 14, Neiduski was inaugurated as Wartburg College’s 18th president and promised to use those same guiding principles to lead the college into the future.

“Fortifying the foundation of Wartburg College will require a willingness to consider new opportunities, reach in new directions, and maximize our function in higher education,” she said. “Our strong relationships within Waverly and the Cedar Valley will allow us to create forward-thinking programs that will benefit our students and our communities.”

Neiduski was the dean of the School of Health Sciences at Elon University before becoming Wartburg’s president on July 1. Since then, her accomplishments include helping launch the college’s new strategic plan, opening a newly renovated residence hall, hiring a new vice president of student life, establishing three new dean roles to advance academic programs and inclusive community, creating an Extended Leadership Team to engage and empower leaders from across campus in strategic decision-making, and meeting with alumni and friends of the college from across the country.

“To successfully reach in new directions and maximize function will require shared vision and extensive input from both within and outside of Wartburg College,” she said. “Following the lead of our scholars, musicians, and athletes on campus, we will pursue excellence through performance and leadership, extending our reach to faculty, staff, board members, alumni, and advisers to help us solve problems, think through processes, and approach success.”

A week of activity

Neiduski’s inauguration celebration kicked off with a student meal on Tuesday night followed by the homecoming pep rally.

Those returning for Homecoming & Family Weekend were invited to an open house at Greenwood, the president’s home, on Friday morning.

The celebration continued with a lunch, where two of Neiduski’s longtime friends and mentors were able to congratulate her publicly and share stories of her passion and tenacity from before her Wartburg days.

“One of the things that stands out about Becky is her strategic vision. … Becky received some very challenging directives when she was at Elon University. She handled them with poise and vision and engaged her faculty and staff to be part of the strategic solution,” said Dr. Ann Bullock, dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education at Elon and a new member of the Wartburg Board of Regents.

“That is something I see her already doing at Wartburg and something she will continue to do in the future.”

During the inauguration ceremony, Neiduski’s sister and father read verses that spoke to her heart both personally and professionally. Her father, Larry Ehretsman, also used his time at the podium to offer his support to his daughter and Wartburg College.

“We are all in, is our commitment to her and to all of you,” he said, turning back to the audience.

“I speak for all of our family when I paraphrase the words of John F. Kennedy: ‘Ich bin ein Wartburger (I am a Wartburger).’”

In a nod to the history of the college, the Presidential Medallion and Chain of Office was passed down by former presidents the Rev. Dr. Robert Vogel ’56 (1980-1998), Dr. Jack Ohle (1998-2008), and Dr. Darrel Colson (2009-2022) to Bishops Kevin Jones and Amy Current, who placed the medallion around Neiduski’s neck.

“As your 18th president, I am thrilled to become part of the Wartburg family and invest in the traditions, values, and culture of this great institution,” Neiduski said.

“I pledge to honor the work you have accomplished and to use my gifts to help the people around me recognize their potential. We will work together to fortify our foundation and extend our reach, building a bright and prosperous future for Wartburg College.”