Dr. Samuel Zalanga will conclude his service as Director of Inclusion and Belonging at Luther Seminary on May 31, 2025. He has been selected as a US Peace Corps volunteer. Samuel joined us in January 2023 and has, over the past two and a half years, made a profound impact on our community. As the leader of our ABIDE program, Samuel brought a gospel-centered approach to justice that aligned deeply with our mission to educate leaders for Christian communities. Through his guidance, we have seen significant development in our inclusion and belonging efforts across the seminary. Samuel built strong, meaningful relationships with faculty and staff and played an instrumental role in developing our ABIDE strategy teams, integrating inclusion and engagement into the fabric of our institutional practices. His work brought theological and sociological depth to our efforts, consistently calling us to center justice and affirm the human dignity of all, especially those who are marginalized. Notably, Samuel also redesigned our Beloved Community Fellowship program and spent the last year working closely with the fellows, mentoring and equipping them with a vision for transformative community. In general, his many collaborative relationships with Luther students inspired their involvement in many ABIDE initiatives. He built significant relationships with international students and served as an advisor to the International Student Association (ISA). As a colleague, Samuel has been kind and light-hearted and has a contagious laugh. His team always appreciated his many stories and book or documentary reviews. We are grateful for the deep insights and wisdom Samuel has shared with us. His vision for a mature, authentic Christian community—where students, staff, and faculty cultivate a true sense of belonging—has helped shape Luther Seminary in lasting ways. Samuel shares that, “I will always remain committed to Luther Seminary and grateful for the time I spent in this community.” Please join us in thanking Samuel for his faithful service and in wishing him all the best in his next chapter.