Luther College has appointed Decorah educator and Vesterheim leader Andrew Ellingsen as director of the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies, placing a familiar local figure at the center of the college’s work connecting students with Norway and the wider Nordic region.
Provost Pam Bacon announced the appointment during the week of Aug. 17, 2026. Ellingsen’s first day on campus was Wednesday, Aug. 12. He succeeds Nordic Studies Associate Professor Maren Johnson, who was recently appointed executive director of the center.
“We’re pleased to have Andrew Ellingsen serve as the center’s director,” Bacon said. She described his background as an educator and program leader as a major strength and said he has “deep roots in Decorah” and strong connections within the Norwegian-American heritage community.
A new role for a familiar Decorah educator
Ellingsen previously served as director of folk art education at Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School in Decorah. During more than five years there, he expanded participation and grew programs through strategic planning and organizational initiatives.
His work at Vesterheim also included close collaboration with Luther College on educational opportunities. Those efforts included hosting January term classes at the museum, supporting a Vesterheim–Torgerson Center internship pipeline for Luther students and planning education-focused tours in Norway.
One of those tours was FCUL 139: Nordic Tales and Traditions, a 2024 pilot program for Luther students studying away during their first year. Ellingsen co-taught the course with Johnson.
Before joining Vesterheim, Ellingsen taught elementary music for nearly 20 years, first in the Twin Cities and later in Decorah. He also taught undergraduate elementary music methods at Luther and served on the faculty for Orff Schulwerk graduate courses at Southern Methodist University, the University of Memphis and the University of St. Thomas.
What the Torgerson Center does
Established in 2018, the Torgerson Center honors Luther College’s history as the first college in the United States founded by Norwegian immigrants. Its mission is to build connections with modern Norway and other Nordic countries through innovative programs and strategic partnerships.
The center also 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.
Johnson welcomed Ellingsen’s appointment, calling him “a generative, thoughtful leader” who will help advance the center’s work. His appointment gives the center a director with experience spanning classroom teaching, museum education, international programming and Luther’s own academic community.
Ellingsen earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Luther College in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in music education.