Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, Names Its First Woman President in Its 170-Year History

Rebecca Neiduski has been selected as the eighth president of Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa. When she takes office on July 1, Dr. Neiduski will be the first woman president in the college’s 170-year history.

Wartburg College enrolls just over 1,500 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 54 percent of the student body.

“My entire career has been built on the values of Wartburg’s mission statement. Throughout my career, I have challenged and nurtured others to reach their greatest potential and provided leadership and service at universities, in the classroom, and around the world,” Dr. Neiduski said. “Being raised as a Lutheran, by Lutheran school teachers, instilled in me a deep commitment to the integration of faith and learning.”

Dr. Neiduski has been serving as dean of the School of Health Sciences at Elon University in North Carolina. Earlier, she was the chair and program director for the department of occupational therapy at Concordia University Wisconsin and an associate professor of occupational therapy with tenure at Maryville University in St. Louis.

Dr. Neiduski, who grew up in Chicago, earned a bachelor’s degree in movement and sport science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in education from Saint Louis University.