CUAA Commencement 2025: Here’s what you need to know!

Commencement Speaker : Rev. Dr. Randy Duncan

Rev. Dr. Randy Duncan is the Campus Pastor and adjunct professor at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Before receiving the Call to Concordia University Ann Arbor, Randy served as the Senior Pastor of a congregation he planted in Plymouth, Michigan named Living Word Lutheran Church. He is a graduate of Concordia, Ann Arbor (where he met his wife) and received his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. Randy received his Doctor of Education degree from Concordia University Wisconsin.

Pastor Duncan has planted nine churches. He has been a missionary church planter among the Gypsy population of North America, and has assisted in the planting of churches in Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa, among the Krahn tribe. He was the founding missionary of a mission society named People of the Book Lutheran Outreach, which is dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus cross-culturally with the Arab and Pakistani populations in North America. Randy is a co-author of the Concordia Publishing House book “Lutheranism 101” and his personal mission is to know Jesus more fully in order to make Him more fully known. He recently accepted a Call to be the Pastor of Campus Mission at University Lutheran Chapel Ann Arbor in partnership with the Michigan District, LCMS.

He and his wife, Amy, live in Brighton, Michigan, and have six children—Joshua, Christopher, Heather, Jackson, Joseph, and Grace.

Student Speaker : Rachel Yuhas

Rachel is a graduating senior from Waterford, Michigan. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Finance. During her time at CUAA she has served as a Resident Assistant at Esther Hall and played four years as a member of the Cardinals women’s golf team. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).

Christus Primus Award: Karl Kreft

Dr. Karl Kreft has been a supporter of our Concordia Universities for many decades and has been an especially close friend of CUAA. Karl has been instrumental in encouraging and supporting CUAA through many challenging chapters. His significant financial support of CUAA is evident in student scholarship endowments, capital funding, and fine arts programming.

Karl is recognized throughout our Synod as a trusted advisor to LCMS leaders and as a generous supporter of Lutheran causes. It would be hard to identify a national LCMS ministry that has not benefited from the work of Karl and his late wife, Shirley. Karl is an extremely deserving recipient of this award in honor and recognition of his life of service to the Church and community

Outstanding Alumnus: Pastor Randy Duncan

Nominated by Dr. Erin Laverick: “As campus pastor, Randy has demonstrated unwavering dedication to faith, service, and leadership. He has embodied the university’s mission to prepare leaders who transform lives through Christ-centered service. He walks with faculty, staff and students through good times and bad. He provides spiritual care for the entire community and is a blessing to us all. His heart for service and love for our community has been especially noticed this academic year in which he has made himself greater available to students as they ponder next steps in their vocations.” See speaker bio above for more.