A familiar Decorah educator is taking on a new role at Luther College, where Andrew Ellingsen has been appointed director of the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies. The appointment places a longtime local teacher and former Vesterheim leader at the center of Luther’s efforts to connect 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.
A Decorah educator with Vesterheim experience
Ellingsen most recently 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 at the museum, he expanded participation and grew programs through strategic planning and organizational initiatives.
His work at Vesterheim also included collaborating with Luther College on educational opportunities. The partnership included January term classes hosted at the museum, a Vesterheim–Torgerson Center internship pipeline for Luther students and plans for education-focused tours in Norway.
Ellingsen co-taught FCUL 139: Nordic Tales and Traditions with Johnson. The course was a 2024 pilot program for Luther students studying away during their first year.
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.
His academic background includes 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.
Building connections across the Nordic region
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 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.
Bacon said Ellingsen’s experience as an educator and program leader is a major strength. She also pointed to his “deep roots in Decorah” and strong connections within the Norwegian-American heritage community.
Johnson welcomed the appointment, describing Ellingsen as “a generative, thoughtful leader” who will help advance the center’s work. His background spans classroom teaching, museum education, international programming and Luther’s academic community—experience that will now guide the center from its Decorah campus.