Rev. Jacob Benson has been appointed to serve as the newly established Chief Advancement and Admissions Officer at Luther Classical College in Casper, WY. During our first semester of operation Rev. Benson served the college as Director of Admissions and Assistant Professor of Humanities.

Rev. Benson’s new position as CAAO will include a transition out of full-time teaching and will allow him to oversee both admissions and advancement which the leadership of the College has identified as two closely related departments. The merging of departments allows the college to maximize the skills of its current employees while planning for the future.

Rev. Joshua Hayes, Interim President and Dean of Chapel said, “Reverend Benson is a pastor well-loved by the students. He brings energy and an entrepreneurial spirit to our team. Young institutions like LCC need to stay nimble and use human resources as efficiently as possible. This change reflects our commitment to being responsible stewards of the generosity of God’s people.”

The CAAO position is to be permanently based at the Beech Street campus in Casper. While the position will include significant travel, Rev. Benson will be able to engage regularly with students and faculty on campus as he promotes the college.

“The overlap of advancement and admissions is one that is constantly negotiated at any institution of higher learning. The combining of these positions  allows for more effective communication with the President, staff, and faculty, and provides donors and prospective students with a direct link to what daily life at LCC looks like,” said Benson.

Any change, especially at a small institution, can influence public perception. While the CAAO is not a new face to college supporters, it is a new way of capitalizing on the efforts of our small staff. “These changes reflect the college’s continued commitment to being good stewards of the gifts that have been so generously given to build a new Lutheran college in a time when other institutions have struggled to make ends meet,” said Micah Christensen, Chairman of the Board of Regents, “The board is committed to living within our means without compromising the excellent education given to our students.”

Restructuring positions and resources is a vital undertaking for any institution, especially as we prepare for the possibility of welcoming a new president. Recent changes also include combining certain operational roles to enhance collaboration and reduce overhead. The staff, faculty, and board at Luther Classical College have carefully reviewed our finances and made decisions to strengthen our ability to carry out our mission in a financially responsible way.  As we continue working together to build this college into an enduring institution, it is important that we share these efforts with our supporters, congregations, and friends.  

Please direct all advancement and admissions questions to Rev. Benson.