A familiar face in Decorah education and Norwegian-American heritage programming is back at Luther College. Andrew Ellingsen began serving as director of the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies on Aug. 12, 2026, bringing experience from classrooms, museum programs and Vesterheim to one of the college’s key links with Nordic studies.
Luther College Provost Pam Bacon announced the appointment during the week of Aug. 17. Ellingsen succeeds Associate Professor Maren Johnson, who was recently appointed executive director of the center.
A return to Luther and Decorah
Ellingsen is a longtime Decorah educator and former director at Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School. Before returning to Luther, he spent more than five years leading folk art education at the Decorah museum.
During his Vesterheim leadership, Ellingsen expanded participation and grew programs through strategic planning and other organizational initiatives, according to the appointment announcement. His work also strengthened connections between Vesterheim and Luther College, two Decorah institutions with overlapping interests in education and Norwegian-American heritage.
The partnership has included January Term classes hosted at Vesterheim and a Vesterheim–Torgerson Center internship pipeline for Luther students. The institutions have also developed plans for education-focused tours in Norway.
Ellingsen had worked directly with Johnson before taking over the center. The two co-taught FCUL 139: Nordic Tales and Traditions, a course piloted in 2024 for Luther students studying away during their first year.
Background in music education and Nordic heritage
Ellingsen began his career in elementary music education and taught for nearly 20 years in the Twin Cities and later in Decorah. He subsequently taught undergraduate elementary music methods at Luther.
His professional and academic work has included faculty roles for Orff Schulwerk graduate courses at Southern Methodist University, the University of Memphis and the University of St. Thomas.
Ellingsen earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Luther in 2003 and a master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In announcing the appointment, Bacon pointed to Ellingsen’s experience as an educator and program leader, as well as his Decorah roots and connections in the Norwegian-American heritage community. Johnson welcomed the selection and described Ellingsen as a thoughtful leader who could help advance the center’s work.
What the Torgerson Center does
Established in 2018, the Torgerson Center reflects Luther College’s history as the first college in the United States founded by Norwegian immigrants. Its mission is to connect modern Norway and other Nordic countries through innovative programs and strategic partnerships.
The center provides learning opportunities for students and faculty and collaborates with Vesterheim on programming. Luther describes it as the only endowed undergraduate Nordic Studies center in the United States.
From Luther’s Decorah campus, Ellingsen’s background in classroom teaching, museum education, international programming and the college’s academic community is expected to support continued work with students, faculty, Vesterheim and Nordic partners.