They are Pat Bastion, dean’s office, 13 years; Rich Glas, athletics, nine years; Dr. Linda Keup, Offutt School of Business, 16 years; Linda Nelson, Concordia Language Villages, 21 years; Dr. Sue Oatey, Student Affairs, four years; Dr. Zacharie Petnkeu, world languages and cultures, 11 years; and Thomas Staker, Concordia Language Villages, 13 years.
Pat Bastion
Pat Bastion, executive assistant to the dean of the college, retired this spring after 13 years at the college.
Bastion began her work at Concordia in fall 2003 as administrative assistant to division chairs Dr. Marilyn Guy and Dr. Mark Covey. For the past 10 years, she was an executive assistant to academic deans Dr. Mark Krejci, as provost and dean of the college, and Dr. Eric Eliason, as dean of the college and vice president for Academic Affairs.
Over the years, Bastion held several positions across the country while her husband, David Boggs, Concordia professor of painting who retired last year, went to graduate school before moving to Maine to teach. Bastion worked in Oklahoma, Colorado, Illinois, Maine and the Fargo-Moorhead area before joining the college. Her career included library assistant, medical secretary to a surgeon and assistant to the president of an insurance company, among others.
Eliason said Bastion kept the complex business of the Faculty Executive Committee and the Promotion, Tenure, and Evaluation Committee running smoothly, ensured that the dean found some open time in his schedule now and then, and never missed sending a beautiful handmade card for both regular and special observances.
“Pat brought to work a cheerful, and persistent, organizational genius, a love of making things beautiful, and a deep vocation for using her position to help others,” Eliason said. “In office meetings, her wit and powers of observation kept us laughing even under pressure – we will never let go of the power of ‘tell-the-truth Tuesdays.’ A woman of deep faith and involvement in St. Joe’s Parish, her prayers have perhaps played as big a role keeping us intact as her ability to keep accurate lists.”
Bastion’s replacement, Dawn Rude, said she had big shoes to fill.
“Fortunately, Pat gave me her phone number and said I could use it,” Rude said.
“In retirement, I am enjoying not having a daily schedule,” Bastion said. “I'm also enjoying a cup or two of tea on the deck in the morning, viewing nature or reading, and soaking up the spectacular skyscapes and sunsets in the evening. Retirement also offers the opportunity for long walks with my husband, sewing, card making, and spending more time with our precious granddaughter and awaiting the birth of grandchild number two this fall.”
Rich Glas
Concordia’s men’s basketball coach for the past nine years, Rich Glas, coached his 1,021st and final college game Feb. 18. Glas received a standing ovation and was honored for his legendary 37-year career as a head coach prior to the game against St. Thomas.
Glas began his coaching career at the University of Minnesota-Morris in 1974, was athletic director and coach at Willamette (Ore.), spent a year as volunteer assistant coach at the University of Arizona and two years as assistant coach at the University of Hawaii before moving to the University of North Dakota. Glas was one of the winningest coaches in Division II basketball in his 18 seasons at UND and was inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
Glas was named Concordia’s new athletic director in 2012, and held that role for four years, stepping down when the college changed its administrative structure to the athletics office expanding the position to full time.
When Glas ended his storied career, he handed the basketball off to then current assistant coach Grant Hemmingsen. Glas impacted his student-athletes not just on the court but in life.
“The connection he has built is outstanding,” Hemmingsen said. “His players from over 30 years ago still stay in contact with him. That is the coach I want to be.”
Glas became the seventh active coach in NCAA Division III to record his 600th career win in the Cobbers’ last game against St. Olaf on Dec. 10. He also recently became one of an elite group to coach his 1,000th career game. Glas has a 600-403 overall record.
Glas led Concordia to the MIAC playoffs in three of the past four seasons and in four total years in his tenure as the Cobber head coach. He has a 110-101 overall record at Concordia and helped Jordan Bolger ’16 become the first All-American in the history of the program in 2015.
“Rich’s passion for athletics and his dedication to the Cobber athletic department will be missed,” said Jim Cella, sports information director. “He was always enthusiastic about trying to get Concordia athletics to the next level and was a huge supporter of all the athletic teams.”
Glas and his wife, Sandy, will be selling their home in Moorhead and moving to their lake place.
“We plan to travel and visit friends and spend a large part of our winter in Oregon so we can be with our daughter, her husband and two of our grandkids who are 11 and 8,” Glas said. “Due to the distance, we have not had any length of time to be with them. Travel and enjoying our lake place and taking in sporting events is the plan.”
Dr. Linda Keup
Dr. Linda Keup, associate dean of the Offutt School of Business, retires after 16 years at the college.
Keup came to Concordia in 2001 from Minot State University, where she taught from 1988-93 and 1996-2000, and spent 1993-96 as a lecturer at the Asper School of Business in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
She earned a B.S.E. from Minot State in 1969, an MBA from the University of North Dakota in 1987 and a doctorate from the University of Manitoba in 2000.
Keup was actively engaged in the Concordia community, serving on the Professional Growth Committee, Budget Planning Committee and Faculty Executive Committee, as well as chairing the Campus United Way Campaign. In 2014, she became the associate dean of the Offutt School, a role she has served with dedication, passion and knowledge.
When the previous dean announced his departure, Keup agreed to stay on another year to “give some continuity to the Offutt School,” said Dr. K. Brewer Doran, dean of the Offutt School. “And then last year she succumbed to my determined begging and stayed on one more year. I don’t know what I would have done without her these past two years.”
Keup is deeply respected by her peers.
“Linda has always been a great colleague, always willing to assist the department or another faculty member at any time. Most of all, Linda is student-centered and does what is best for the student. This is evident in her teaching, advising, and involvement in college activities,” said Dr. Jim Legler, professor emeritus of management and leadership.
“Linda has high standards and expectations for herself, her students, and her colleagues,” said Ron Twedt, assistant professor of accounting. “She is not inflexible, though, and is always willing to engage in conversation and consider the perspectives of others. Linda likes to laugh and enjoy herself and does not take herself so seriously that she won’t appreciate humor at her own expense. She also has a good way of seeing what’s important in a situation and cutting through to the issues that matter.”
As Carol Hedberg, office assistant for budgets and events in the Offutt School, put it, “Linda is an absolute professional and always, always puts students first.”
She will be deeply missed.
Two years later, she is finally getting to spend time with family: husband, Dave, their two daughters, Krissy and Sara, and son, Ben, and six grandchildren – two in Atlanta, two in Bismarck, and two in Fargo.
“For the time being, we’ll continue to split our time between our farm near Mohall (N.D.) and our townhome in Fargo,” Keup said. “I’m also working on my family history and there are always more books to read!”
Linda Nelson
Linda Nelson, custodial services supervisor, retired from Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji, Minn., after 21 years.
“Linda was extremely loyal to the Language Villages,” said Warren Schulze, director of operations for the Language Villages. “She rarely missed a day of work. As the custodial services supervisor, she trained many, many summer employees over the years on how to properly clean bathrooms, floors, etc. Their mothers should be thankful. I know that we were.”
Dr. J. Sue Oatey
Dr. Sue Oatey, vice president and dean of Student Affairs, made an impact during her four years at the college.
“Oatey has had a remarkable career of unusual breadth at public and private colleges at places large and small,” said President William Craft. “It’s hard to image a division at a college or university that she has not held a leadership position for. That breadth is something that has served us so well.”
Oatey earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching from New Mexico State University and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.
Her long and varied career includes positions in physical education and intramural and recreational sports at New Mexico State, Stephen F. Austin University, the University of Michigan, and as campus center coordinator at Brainerd Community College. She served in several positions at the U of M from assistant and associate director of Recreational Sports to Student Activities and eventually as assistant vice president for Student Affairs. She followed the U of M with positions in Student Affairs/Life at Adelphi University, LIU-C.W. Post, Point Park University, and most recently as vice president for Enrollment and Student Life at Mount Mercy University.
In addition to her work at Concordia in Student Affairs, thinking of ways students can best learn, and student leadership work such as the It’s on Us campaign, she led a search review of the athletic office to strengthen the college’s program.
“I don’t know if I have worked with anyone in my entire professional career who was less concerned about herself and more interested in the lives of those whom she has served and took such great joy in that work,” Craft said. “How lucky we have been to have Sue Oatey with us on this campus and how with gladness and hopefulness we send her out in the next chapter of her life.”
Longtime Student Affairs office manager Karen Bertek worked with Oatey since she came to campus.
“I enjoyed working with Sue,” Bertek said. “Keeping her organized and on schedule definitely kept me on my toes. She was generous with praise and other tokens of appreciation that made me feel valued and I am grateful for that.”
Oatey concluded her service as vice president and dean Jan. 1, 2017, but continued on in a part-time capacity to assist with the Title IX program. She was packing boxes in May for a move to Lexington, Ky., when asked about her retirement plans.
“I have decided to make Lexington my retirement location,” Oatey said. “I grew up riding horses, so I plan to do some volunteer work at one of the area thoroughbred farms or the Kentucky Horse Park.”
She also plans to travel – hopefully to Wimbledon and the French Open tennis tournaments, as she is a real fan.
“I have an uncle and aunt near Brainerd and cousins near Rochester,” Oatey said. “I have promised to visit in the summer, but I will probably not come back when it is negative 20 degrees. I am truly planning on enjoying the much milder winters.”
Dr. Zacharie Petnkeu
After 11 years, the world languages and cultures department at Concordia bids a fond farewell to Dr. Zacharie Petnkeu.
Petnkeu earned his Bachelor of Arts, master’s degree in literature, advanced diploma in research (D.E.A.), and doctorate from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. He was a graduate student in French literature at Indiana University, Bloomington, from 2001-02, and a fellow graduate student from 2003-04 at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a second doctorate in 2005.
Petnkeu’s life and work expands across two continents. In his native Cameroon, he served in the military, worked in administration in both the ministries of Finance and Education, and taught secondary school. Before coming to Concordia, he taught French and Francophone Culture at Indiana University, the University of Maryland and Howard University, Washington, D.C.
“Zach’s presence at Concordia has added depth and breadth to our French program with his expertise in Francophone Africa,” said Dr. Mary Rice, chair of world languages and cultures.
Petnkeu and Dr. Gay Rawson co-led a May Seminar to Cameroon. They also received a Fulbright-Hays grant to take a group of students and K-12 teachers to Cameroon.
“Zach not only took students to Africa, he also brought Africa to Concordia,” Rice said.
He also taught an Inquiry Seminar on postcolonial culture for several years, focusing on Africa.
Petnkeu’s scholarship focuses on Francophone film and he recently wrote a film script, “Maono,” loosely based on his own experiences. Petnkeu created and taught a course on Francophone film that is also part of the film studies minor.
In addition to his research and professional growth, Petnkeu was active in the community. He has been an active member of his church; founded and advised the African Student Union, an organization that serves Concordia and tri-college students; co-led a Habitat for Humanity group to Alabama; and was a member of Francofun, an association of Francophiles in Fargo-Moorhead.
“Zach is very proud of the fact that all of his children have received an education at Concordia,” Rice said. “He and his wife, Marie Claire, have three sons – Boris, Serge and Cedrick – who all graduated from Concordia, and one daughter, Glory, who is a current student.”
Petnkeu says he is now looking to transition to a non-teaching job in the language field.
Thomas Staker
Thomas Staker, a purchasing specialist for distribution/food service, retired from Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji, Minn., after 13 years, although he plans to continue to work for the Language Villages at least this summer in a part-time capacity.
Staker joined the Language Villages Distribution Center in 2004 as both the manager and the purchasing specialist. He had several careers before joining Concordia, including salesperson for a large food supplier, farmer, restaurant owner, oil field worker and farm supply sales.
“Tom is an astute business person and he applied that knowledge to his work at the Language Villages as our primary purchaser for the culinary arts department,” said Warren Schulze, director of operations for the Language Villages.
“He likes to write in his free time but has not done much in the last few years, so he is looking forward to getting back to doing some writing now that he is retired,” said Dan Eastman, food service manager. “Tom is a pigeon enthusiast and racer, and has a small loft on his farm outside of Bemidji. He is also looking forward to putting more time into breeding and racing his pigeons.”
His experiences working at the Language Villages will stay with Staker.
”As for my time at Concordia Language Villages, I always felt and still feel that being there was part of something, something for the greater good for all of us,” Staker said. “I have been committed to Concordia Language Villages and will continue to be so.”
Staker likes to stay mentally and physically active. He is on several boards, and he and his wife of 30 years, JoAnn, plan on doing some traveling both here and abroad over the coming years.
Staker said simply, “I am enjoying myself!”
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