Education

• Ph.D. (2002) University of Wisconsin, Educational Administration 
• M.S. (1989) University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Curriculum and Instruction
• B.A. (1981) Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN

Background

Has served in Lutheran education teaching and leadership roles for more than 40 years at the elementary, high school, and college levels.

Research Interests

• The Role of Leadership in Culture Building and Mission Fulfillment
• Leadership and Change
• The Efficacy of Christian Education

Teaching

Serves as a member of the graduate faculty of both Wisconsin Lutheran College and Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN.

Scholarly Work

Has written articles, publications, and studies on Christian Education, the ministry of teaching, school improvement, and educational leadership. He is a regular presenter at educational conferences and workshops of Lutheran educators.  

Publications include:

• Foundations of Christian Education: Northwestern Publishing House (2014)
• Christian Education: Northwestern Publishing House (2003)

Service

Provost Kolander is an active member of his home church, serving as congregational president from 2019 to the present. He is also President of the Hoenecke Vulnerable Children’s Foundation, an organization established to fund and operate two schools in in Lusaka, Zambia, in cooperation with the Lutheran Church of Central Africa.

Past service includes membership on the boards of the Northwestern Publishing House, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s Multi-Language Publication Committee, Wisconsin Lutheran High School, and Wisconsin Lutheran College Regents. He also has served as a consultant to more than 30 churches and schools in the context of improving or establishing Christian education.

Professional Memberships

Provost Kolander is an active member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the Council for Independent Colleges and Universities (CIC). He regularly presents and leads workshops for the CIC’s regional and national conferences. In 2018 Provost Kolander received the CIC’s Chief Academic Officer Award for exemplary contributions to academic leadership.