Chris Kimball named CLU's seventh president

He has served as provost at CLU and Augsburg College

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Chris Kimball talks to the CLU community after the announcement that he will become the university's seventh president.

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – March 6, 2008) Chris Kimball, Ph.D., has been named the seventh President of California Lutheran University.

Kimball, of Thousand Oaks, joined the CLU administrative team as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2006, after serving as Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He had served on the faculty and held a variety of administrative positions at that Lutheran university since 1991.

A widely published author and speaker on academic affairs, Kimball’s scholarly work is in the field of American history, specializing in social history and the history of sport. During his tenure at CLU, he has also been a member of the History Department faculty, working with both undergraduate and graduate students.

An alumnus of McGill University in Montreal, Kimball received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Well known in academic circles and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America university network, he has a keen understanding of Lutheran higher education. Kimball and his wife, Liz, and their two children are members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and active in the community.

“Chris is a man of integrity and a man of action,” said Bill Kane, chair of the Board of Regents. “With his distinguished career as a leader and scholar and his passion for Lutheran higher education, he embodies the academic excellence of CLU and is uniquely qualified for the tasks ahead.”

Kimball was a chief architect of the ambitious new strategic plan approved by the Regents two weeks ago. The blueprint for the next four years focuses on attracting and retaining a high-quality faculty, staff and student body and investing in programs and facilities, including the $8.5 million Swenson Center for Academic Excellence.

“Chris’ leadership will be crucial to CLU’s continued success as we approach our second half century,” said Karen Bornemann Spies, a Regent and the chair of the presidential search committee.

Members of the Board of Regents made the announcement to the campus community at 12:15 p.m. today. Kimball will begin his official duties on April 1. He will replace the Rev. Dr. Howard Wennes, who has served as Interim President since July.

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