Marlene Lund Named Executive Director of the Center for Urban Education Ministries  
 
Wheat Ridge Ministries is pleased to announce that Ms. Marlene Lund has been named as the Executive Director of its Center for Urban Education Ministries.  Marlene brings a strong educational background to the position and continues to dedicate her vocational life to urban education.

The purpose of the Center for Urban Education Ministries is to help Lutheran congregations in their efforts to use Christian education to bring health and hope to children and adults living in highly urban areas.  Thanks to significant support from friends and donors, Wheat Ridge is helping the Center fulfill its mission, providing administrative oversight for the Center while it moves toward independence and sustainability.

"I am really excited that Marlene will lead the Center for Urban Education Ministries," said Dr. Richard Herman, president of Wheat Ridge Ministries.  "Her broad range of skills and experiences will help 're-seed' this ministry that will, in turn, result in the seeding of many new ministries of health and hope in our cities!  I am so pleased to have her on the team!"

Ms. Lund has served as executive director of the Lutheran School Association of Metropolitan New York for the past 15 years.  She will continue to serve LSA on a part-time basis while also serving the Center part-time, developing programmatic and development plans for the Center.

In 1974, Ms. Lund began her teaching career after graduating from Cortland State University, New York.  She immediately began advanced studies and earned her Master of Arts in Education from Hunter College in New York.  While serving as a school guidance counselor, she began her second Masters in Counseling Education at New York University and was awarded that degree in 1986.

Ms. Lund continued her career as Principal at Queens Lutheran School and in 1992 was awarded the National Distinguished Principal Award by the U.S. Department of Education.  She has an avid interest in leadership and development and completed the Dimensions in Leadership training offered by WellSpring, a church development organization.  She is a national presenter on leadership and team building, as well as other educational issues.

Ms. Lund currently serves on the Commissioner's Advisory Council for Non-Public Schools in New York State and the Committee of Non-Public Schools Officials for New York City.  She is an Associate in Ministry of the ELCA and serves on the staffs of the Atlantic District-LCMS and the Metropolitan New York Synod-ELCA.

The Leadership Award for Non-Public Schools, New York, was presented to Marlene in 2000.  Wheat Ridge Ministries honored Marlene with their Seeds of Hope Award in 2004, and she received the Servant of Christ Award from Concordia College, Bronxville, New York, that same year.

The Center for Urban Education Ministries is a means through which Wheat Ridge pursues its mission of seeding new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ.  The Center connects leaders of Lutheran congregations, schools and agencies with resources to help them provide effective educational opportunities, nurturing the health of body, mind and spirit in children, youth and families living in urban environments.