Dana College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dana College | |
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| Motto: | We're with you all the way. |
| Established: | 1884 |
| Type: | Private, non-profit |
| President: | Janet Philipp |
| Staff: | 45 professors, 8 instructors |
| Students: | 637 |
| Location: | Blair, Nebraska, US |
| Campus: | Rural |
| Athletic Director: | Bill Danenhauer |
| Mascot: | Vikings |
| Website: | http://www.dana.edu |
Dana College is an accredited baccalaureate college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Blair, Nebraska. Its rural 150 acre (607,000 m²) campus is approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Omaha, overlooking a portion of the Missouri River Valley.
"Dana" is the Poetic name for Denmark and the college was founded in 1884 by Danish pioneers.
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[edit] Introduction
The student body is taught by 45 professors and eight non-doctorate instructors, resulting in an average teacher-student ratio of 1:12.
The college offers on-campus housing in five residence halls and contractually maintains off-campus apartments for married or non-traditional students. Campus life is fostered by an active student government and many student organizations. There are no fraternities and sororities.
[edit] History
The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Association in America (or Blair Church) was formed in 1884 by a group of Danish members who left the Conference of the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Many of Blair Church pastors were supportive of the Inner Mission.
The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America (or North Church) was formed in 1894 when seminary professor P.S. Vig, along with a number of pastor and congregations, left the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over theological differences.
In 1896, two small groups of Danish Lutherans in America - known as the Blair Church and the North Church - came together to form the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (commonly known as the United Church). This church body was a part of the Danish Lutheran "Inner Mission" movement, and strongly opposed the influence of the ideas of theologian N.F.S. Grundvig.
Led by P.S. Vig and C.X. Hansen, one of the United Church's first priorities was to establish an educational system. The Dana School, in Blair, Nebraska, was begun as preparatory school. By the early 1910s - in cooperation with the University of Nebraska - the Dana School was awarding Associates Degrees. In the 1930s Dana became an accredited four-year school, and began awarding Bachelors Degrees.
When the Dana School was founded, part of its purpose was to be a pre-seminary school for those preparing for the ministry in the Lutheran church. Many of Dana's early graduates went on to study at Trinity Seminary, also located in Blair. For many years, Dana and Trinity shared faculty, administrators, staff, and presidents. This relationship ended when Trinity Seminary merged with Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
[edit] Presidents of Dana College & Trinity Seminary
Trinity Seminary was served by six Presidents. A.M. Andersen (1884-1889) was the founding President of the seminary. The two men who followed him were intimately involved in both the formation of the school and of the United Church. G.B. Christiansen served the school from 1890-1896. PS Vig led the school on and off for the next thirty years (1896-1899, 1902-1905, 1909-1914, 1919-1925). Other Presidents of the seminary included S.C. Eriksen (1908-1909), J.P. Nielsen), and T.I. Jensen.[1].
Five men were appointed by the United Church to serve as Presidents of both the Dana College and Trinity Seminary. These were Kristian Anker (1899-1902), J.P. Jensen (1905-1908), L.A. Laursen (1914-1919), T.M. Hansen (1925-1929), Erland Nelson (1929-1931) and R.E. Morton (1946-1956)
The Presidents of Dana College were:
- Kristian Anker (1902-1905)
- C.X. Hansen (1908-1914, 1919-1925, 1936-1938)
- Erland Nelson (1931-1936)
- Lawrence Siersbeck (1938-1944)
- R.E. Morton (1944-1946)
- C.C. Madsen (1956-1971)
- Earl R. Mezoff (1971-1978)
[edit] Majors offered
Dana College offers a bachelor's degree in the following:
- Business Administration
- Education
- Special Education
- English Language and Literature
- History
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Fine Arts
- Music
- Religion
- Chemistry
- General Psychology
- Social Work
- Art
- iMedia
- Community Journalism
- Management Information Systems
- Spanish
- Musical Theater
- Sports Management
[edit] Athletics
Dana College is a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Former pro wrestler Bill Danenhauer is the athletic director. The athletic program provides for a baseball, soccer, cheer and dance, basketball, American football, golf, softball, track, volleyball, and wrestling program.
In addition, Dana College has a number of intramural and club sports programs below the varsity level that function independently from the athletic department.
[edit] References
- ^ Lists of Presidents compiled from Peter Petersen, A Place Called Dana (Omaha: Acme Printing, 1984) p.193
On the history of Dana College and Trinity Seminary:
- Christensen, William E. Saga of the Tower: A History of Dana College and Trinity Seminary. Blair, Nebraska: Lutheran Publishing House, 1959.
- Petersen, Peter L. A Place Called Dana: The Centennial History of Trinity Seminary and Dana College. Blair, Nebraska: Dana College, 1984
On the history of the Danish Lutherans in America:
- Jensen, John M. The United Evangelical Lutheran Church: An Interpretation. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1964.
- Nyholm, Paul C. The Americanization of the Danish Lutheran Churches in America: A Study in Immigrant History. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1963.
[edit] External links
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