The Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor Board of Regents is pleased to announce that Dr. Erik P. Ankerberg will be extended a Divine Call to serve as the University’s next president.
Ankerberg, who is currently serving as provost and senior vice president for academics & chief academic officer for Concordia University Chicago, would succeed Rev. Dr. Patrick T. Ferry, who served as president from 1997-2021.
Ankerberg earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University Chicago, and also holds a Master of Arts and a PhD in British Renaissance Literature from Marquette University. Prior to joining CUC, he served as University Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Concordia University Texas. He also served in several roles at Wisconsin Lutheran College, and taught English at both CUAA and CUW. He is currently pursuing pastoral ordination within the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He and his wife Jennifer, also a Concordia-Chicago alumna, currently reside in Wheaton, IL.
“As a Board of Regents, we give thanks to God that He has brought forth to Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor an experienced, God-filled, Lutheran Christian leader who appreciates our traditions and successes while recognizing that our faith-filled journey into the future will be guided by His divine hand,” said Mr. Terry Donovan, chair of the CUWAA Board of Regents. “The Board of Regents feels blessed and excited to begin our Lutheran Christian mission-focused journey with Dr. Ankerberg.”
The call that will be extended to Ankerberg to become the next CUWAA president is the result of a thorough, prayerful, Christ-centered search process. On May 12, 2022, the Board of Regents voted unanimously to interview three candidates who were approved by the Prior Approval Panel and appeared on the list of highly-qualified candidates identified by the search committee. Each of these three candidates was invited to visit both campuses and take part in a rigorous series of interviews. On October 25, following a unanimous vote, the Board announced that Dr. Ankerberg had been selected to receive the call to become the ninth president of CUW and seventh president of CUAA.
Ankerberg would likely begin his tenure as CUWAA president in January 2023. In the meantime, Interim President Dr. William Cario will remain at the helm. Please join us in supporting this transition in prayer as we look forward to a blessed new chapter in the history of Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor.
About CUWAA
Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor is an uncommon community of students, faculty, alumni, and staff who are gifted by grace and ever-preparing to live out our purpose to serve Christ in the Church and world. For more information about our academic programs and campus life, click one of the links below.