Kelly Flege
Flege, a transformational leader known for innovative and data-driven problem solving, brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education and financial services to this new role.
“I’ve been involved with Wartburg as a member of the community, whether that was going to The W or a music performance or an athletic event, so I am excited for the opportunity to make a difference at the college,” said Flege, who has lived in Waverly for more than 30 years.
Since joining Cornell in 2023, Flege has developed new budget models to improve efficiencies and reduce operating expenses, initiated a roadmap for technology upgrades and implementation, and redesigned processes to more efficiently meet the needs of students. She also was charged with overseeing the restoration of King Chapel, an 1882 building on the National Register of Historic Places that was damaged in the 2020 derecho.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kelly as our new vice president for financial innovation. Her intentional and longstanding commitment to reshaping business models in higher education, paired with her leadership in the K-12 space and in our local community, make her a perfect fit as we envision a sustainable and prosperous future for Wartburg College,” said Rebecca Ehretsman, Wartburg College president. “Her notable leadership in advancing technology and creating budgetary efficiency will help us continue to actualize opportunities for our staff, faculty, students, and their families.”
Prior to Cornell, she was the first vice president at Lincoln Savings Bank in Waterloo for four years and served in various roles at the University of Northern Iowa, including assistant vice president for finance and operations, during her 19 years. As Wartburg’s vice president for financial innovation, Flege will be responsible for reshaping the college’s financial framework and business model in anticipation of the evolving higher education landscape.
“The opportunity to be innovative is just one of the things that excites me about this new opportunity. I have a natural curiosity as far as wanting to understand the how and why of operations, and I think that leads to a real interest in the process and how we can ensure what we are doing makes the most sense for the here and now,” Flege said. “Innovation comes in the creativity of thought and solutions, and I’ve always found myself energized by those kinds of challenges.”
Flege also served on the school board for Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools for 10 years, including eight as president. During that time, she oversaw the construction of the Go-Hawk Performance Enhancement Center and renovations to the football stadium complex as well as the approval for two new elementary schools in the district. She also was president during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve always had an immense respect for teachers and educators and found serving on the board was a great way to give back to the community and school district,” she said. “I think the challenges the K-12 schools face are very similar to the challenges that we face in higher education. We all want to deliver the best education we can for the students we serve. I feel strongly that when a student comes to college, it’s not only to get a degree in their area of study. We should also be helping them learn the life lessons that will make them well-rounded adults, and Wartburg does a great job of that.”
Flege and her husband, Bill, have three adult sons and enjoy gardening and traveling to visit family.