Staff
Dr. Deanna Thompson | Director
thomps38@stolaf.edu 507-786-3118
The Lutheran Center is led by Deanna A. Thompson, a nationally recognized Lutheran theologian. Thompson is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from vocation and trauma to Martin Luther and feminism, and what it means to be the church in the digital age. She is author of five books, including Crossing the Divide: Luther, Feminism, and the Cross; The Virtual Body of Christ in a Suffering World; and most recently, Glimpsing Resurrection: Cancer, Trauma, and Ministry.
Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox | Director of Programming, Engagement and Innovation for Congregational Thriving
cox11@stolaf.edu
Rev. Dr. Charlene Rachuy Cox serves as the Director of Programming, Engagement, and Innovation for Congregational Thriving through the St. Olaf College Lutheran Center. She has served as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for over 30 years, serving in congregational, collegiate, and seminary settings. Pr. Char holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, with an emphasis in Spirituality.
Rev. Peter Carlson Schattauer | Associate Director
schatt2@stolaf.edu 507-786-3872
Peter Carlson Schattauer serves as the Associate Director of the Center. Schattauer is a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), called by the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA to his work at St. Olaf. He has previously served congregations in Maple Grove, Minnesota and Seattle, Washington. He previously served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Campus Ministry – Twin Cities and volunteers with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries.
Pam Christoffers Peterson | Associate Director for Congregational Thriving
christ66@stolaf.edu
Pam serves as the Associate Director for Congregational Thriving at the Lutheran Center. Her role is to manage the Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA), oversee assessment and effectiveness of all the Lilly Endowment, Inc grant-related programs and initiatives, and oversee project mapping and administration. Pam holds a M.S. in higher education administration and has over 30 years of experience in grant management, assessment of student learning, faculty development, and accreditation.
Dr. Pippa Younger | Administrative Assistant
younge2@stolaf.edu 507-786-3605
Pippa serves as the Administrative Assistant. She holds a Doctorate in Hydrology and Meteorology from Lancaster University and comes to the Lutheran Center with a background in church financial management. As well as traditional administrative duties, Pippa manages the budgets for the Center as well as a number of its grants and funds and that of St. Olaf’s Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts.
Advisory Council
The Advisory Council provides counsel and advice concerning the Center’s mission, vision, strategic plan, partnerships and impact. The Council includes members of the St. Olaf community and external partners.
Advisory Council Members
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee provides guidance on the Center’s day-to-day operations. The Committee includes St. Olaf faculty, staff and students.
Steering Committee Members
Interfaith Fellows
The Interfaith fellows are current junior and senior students who assist the Lutheran Center in working to deepen campus understanding of the role that religious identity plays in many people’s lives and of the importance of interfaith, including non-religious, education and cooperation, with a special emphasis on student programming and outreach.