Dr. Kurt Krueger was elected president of Concordia University, Irvine in 2010. Prior to his election, Dr. Krueger was the Executive Director of the Board for University Education of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and President of the Concordia University System. From 1986 to 2005, he was a professor of English at Concordia University, Irvine and served as provost for nine years. He has also served on the faculty at Concordia University, Wisconsin. Dr. Krueger has authored several articles on the life and work of Ernest Hemingway, has written about servant leadership for Concordia Publishing House, and speaks frequently about the characteristics of Christian colleges and universities and the value of Lutheran higher education. Dr. Krueger and his wife Val have two married children and one grandchild.
Dr. Norton teaches courses in Shakespearean drama, 18th-century British literature, and American literature. He also teaches in the English core curriculum. Although primarily a Shakespearean, Norton’s academic interests are wide, and he enjoys uncovering and analyzing the life in Shakespeare and other literature in his classes and in his writing. Norton’s articles have appeared in Shakespeare, Early Modern Literary Studies, and Continuum Renaissance Drama. His most recent book (2018), Killing Physicians: Shakespeare's Blind Heroes and Reformation Saints (New Reformation Press), explores the influence of Reformation theology on Shakespeare's tragedies and late plays.
Norton is one of the leaders and developers of the Around-the-World Semester. He and his family- wife Erica, sons Jack and Sheffield, and daughter Naomi- launched and helped lead ATW teams in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Through his work with the ATW semester, Norton has helped to design the Global Cultural Studies Minor and the International Studies Major.
Some of Dr. Norton’s fondest memories at Concordia are from his years as head coach of the men's and women's tennis teams, 2005-2010.
Camelia Raghinaru holds a PhD in English from the University of Florida (2012). Her research interests focus on utopian studies, modernism, and popular culture. Her articles on Conrad, Lawrence, Joyce, Woolf, and Bréton have been published in various academic journals (Studies in the Novel, [sic], Forum, etc.) and edited collections (Great War Modernism and Critical Approaches to Joseph Conrad). Currently she works on two essays dealing with the shift from Victorianism to modernism in Joseph Conrad and popular modernisms.
Curriculum Vitae
Professor Schmidt has over 20 years experience teaching college writing, Romantic and Victorian Literature, and Modern Drama. In addition to teaching, Professor Schmidt serves as lead faculty for Freshman Writing and advisor for the literary magazine, The Aerie. She is also the Director for Concordia's Writing Studio. Professional memberships include the National Council of Teachers of English, the Conference on College Composition and Communication, and The Association of Writers and Writing Programs.
Kerri (Thomsen) Tom holds a PhD in English from the University of Massachusetts (1994). Her primary interest is the English Renaissance, and she has published articles on Shakespeare, Spenser, and Milton. More recently, she contributed a chapter to The Idea and Practice of a Christian University: A Lutheran Approach, entitled, “Mirror, Imagination, and Creation: A Lutheran Approach to Literature” (CPH, 2015).