Wisconsin Lutheran College

A History in Making

In the early 1970s, a handful of dedicated Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod members came together to start a college. They only had a part-time faculty and two dozen students.

In 1977, Wisconsin Lutheran College purchased 8.5-acre of land and start building up the campus. In 1982, it purchased the entire academic library (60,000 volumes) from Milton College and in 1983, the college purchased and installed the science laboratory furnishings of the University of Wisconsin Center at Medford.

In 1984, the Board of Regents approved the four-year program for implementation in the fall of 1985 with the addition of the junior class. The evaluation team from North Central Association of Colleges and Schools concurred with the Board’s decision and agreed that the necessary planning and resources existed to enable Wisconsin Lutheran College to move toward accreditation as a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.

In May of 1987, the first 12 students graduated from the new four-year curriculum with baccalaureate degrees. In June of 1987 the Executive Commissioners of the North Central Association granted Wisconsin Lutheran College initial accreditation as a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.

Dr. Gary Greenfield, who served as the college’s first full-time President for 28 years, retired in June of 2003. Dr. Timothy Kriewall was inaugurated as the second full-time president on September 7, 2003, and served until his retirement on June 30, 2008.

On April 24, 2009, Dr. Daniel W. Johnson was inaugurated as third full-time president. God’s abundant grace has been evident throughout the years at Wisconsin Lutheran College. And always, to God be the glory.