Saleem Akhtar grew up in Pakistan in a faith-oriented Christian family and earned an M.Div. in the Church of Pakistan. He is currently a residential Th.M student at Luther Seminary and is grateful for the rhythms of study, worship, service, and community he experiences here on campus. He is passionate about music and plays the tabla.
Student Spotlight: Kaylee Vance
Kaylee Vance was raised in a military family, has practiced as a licensed therapist, and was a professional Latin dancer. She’s pursuing an M.Div. at Luther and serves as a Synodically Authorized Minister. Her current call is to the Hearth, a worshiping community that meets in bars and breweries around Central Florida.
Student Spotlight: Kaitlyn Jedrzejowski
Even in high school, M.Div. student Kaitlyn Jedrzejowski felt nudges toward ministry but brushed them off. As an undergrad at Valparaiso University, the nudges became tugs, and she started paying closer attention to her call. She chose Luther for its academic rigor and openness to asking big questions.
Student Spotlight: Amy Boyer
As a youth in her congregation, Amy Boyer taught Sunday School, assisted with VBS, hand-washed glass communion cups wither her mom and grandmas, and repaired nursery chairs with her grandpa. Today, she’s finishing up work on a graduate certificate in leadership and looking to provide lay leadership in a rural area that needs more of it.
Student Spotlight: Eric Nelson
Eric Nelson is an M.Div. student at Luther Seminary and an intern with Lutheran Campus Ministry–Twin Cities. He lost a chunk of his undergraduate experience to the pandemic and, for a time, had buried any thoughts of pursuing theological education. He’s grateful for the beautiful path he took to get where God wanted him to go.
Student Spotlight: Michelle Hintz
Michelle Hintz was working on a Graduate Certificate at Luther Seminary and recently changed to the M.Div. program. She lives, works, and studies in North Dakota and loves coming to the Twin Cities for residential focus sessions.
Meet New Faculty Member Kurty Darling
Kurty Darling has joined the Luther faculty as a visiting instructor for Children, Youth, and Family Ministry and serves as grant manager for the Nurturing Children through Worship and Prayer initiative grant. She has taught for the past five years at Bethel University.
Student Spotlight: Omega Mwamini
Omega Mwamini is an M.Div. student and a candidate for ministry in the ELCA. She grew up in Tanzania and has felt a call to ordained ministry since she was young.
Meet Dan Lantz, Director of Advancement Services
Dan Lantz recently joined the Seminary Relations team as Director of Advancement Services. We caught up with Dan to learn more about his background with Children’s Minnesota, his passion for integrating technology at nonprofits, and his commitment to working at organizations with a clear mission built on service.
Student Spotlight: Sophie Warnberg
Sophie Warnberg is an M.Div. student with a Children, Youth, and Family concentration who has extensive experience in outdoor ministry and intercultural ministry contexts.