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Wartburg's Ehretsman receives contract extension through 2031

Waverly, IA (08/18/2025) — The Wartburg College Board of Regents has approved a contract extension for President Rebecca Ehretsman through May 2031. Ehretsman, the college's 18th president, has been with the college since 2022.

"President Ehretsman's leadership of Wartburg College over the last three years has been outstanding. She's been instrumental in leading our institution through both challenges and opportunities while advancing our mission," said Michael McCoy, Board of Regents chair. "Renewing her contract affirms our deep confidence in her vision for Wartburg, her integrity and her commitment to our students and the future of the College."

Since joining the college, Ehretsman has helped launch the Wartburg Commitment, a three-pronged approach to increasing affordability and access in higher education. She also oversaw the implementation of the college's strategic plan, Our Brightest Days, and coinciding campaign, Our Brightest Days: The Campaign for Realizing Purpose & Leading Change.

"It is truly a privilege to serve the students, staff and faculty at Wartburg College, and the unwavering support I have received from the Board of Regents, Senior Leadership Team and alumni and friends across the country has led to our shared accomplishments over the past three years," Ehretsman said. "There is no question that God has called me to lead at this time and in this place, with purpose and shared commitment to both honor the past and create a prosperous future for Wartburg College. I look forward with excitement about what we can continue to build together."

  • Accomplishments at Wartburg under Ehretsman's leadership also include:
  • Launching graduate programs in health and human performance.
  • Commencing the first master's degree recipients and welcoming the first graduate assistants in the history of the college.
  • Partnering with Credo Higher Education Consulting to initiate the Moving the Needle project, an initiative that engages the campus community in developing and implementing student success and retention outcomes.
  • Being one of only 25 schools in the nation and the only school in Iowa to earn a Carnegie Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose.
  • Partnering with Dynamic Campus to strengthen and expand the college's information technology capabilities leading to enhanced technology infrastructure, learning-focused technologies and cybersecurity.
  • Expanding opportunities for alumni to engage with and serve Wartburg students in meaningful ways through new mentorship programs, additional career resources and expanded networking opportunities.
  • Overseeing the implementation of the college's new Experience More brand and a new logo.
  • Implementing a new general education plan that creates transformative experiences designed to help students flourish while preparing them for the challenges of the future.
  • Launching a new Division III women's wrestling program and the construction of an esports arena.
  • Hiring the Rev. Maggie Falenschek, who brought with her a renewed vision for Lutheran higher education that supports students in their journey to find connection, presence and purpose in their lives, while embracing interfaith work as an essential aspect of the college.

Recently, Ehretsman entered into a partnership with generational experts David and Jonah Stillman to assemble a think tank of higher education leaders to study the characteristics of Generation Alpha and their parents as a means to inform future planning for residential campus communities within a virtual world.

She also is the chair of the American Rivers Conference Presidents Council and secretary for the Iowa College Foundation Board of Governors. She is a member of the VGM Group Board of Directors, NCAA DIII Presidents Advisory Group, A-R-C Strategic Planning Focus Group, American Hand Therapy Foundation board, and the Allen College Occupational Therapy Advisory Board. She serves as an ex-officio member on the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities boards as well as the Grow Cedar Valley board. She also is an NCAA Pathway Program mentor.

An active volunteer, Ehretsman serves on the board of Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation, an organization that sends specialized teams to Guatemala to provide comprehensive training and education to health care providers and students; screen children; and provide training for and maintain connection with local therapists who provide post-operative care. In November 2025, she will embark on her 21st medical mission.

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