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About

Alumni Board

Bethany Lutheran College > About > Alumni > Alumni Board

About the Alumni Board

The Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Board’s purpose is to strengthen relationships between BLC and its alumni, providing opportunities for alumni to serve their college, and for the college to serve its alumni. The board serves in an advisory capacity to Bethany’s Manager of Alumni Relations and the Advancement Department.

All members of the Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Board are selected to this position based on demonstrated involvement, support, and commitment to BLC.

Terms

A term is three years with the option of reappointment for a second term (three additional years) with the approval of the Alumni Board. No board member will serve more than two consecutive terms.

Requirements

All members must have graduated from Bethany Lutheran High School, College, or both.

Board makeup

The board will consist of no more than 26 alumni members, which includes an executive committee consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. There is no requirement to live in close proximity to serve on the Board. The current President of the Bethany Student Senate will have a seat on the Board as well. All members are required to attend and actively participate in the first semester meeting (First Saturday of November), second semester meeting (Last Saturday in April), any special meetings that may come up, and their subcommittee meetings during their term. They are encouraged to attend BLC alumni events when able, act as an ambassador/greeter for the College, remain engaged between meetings, and respond to inquiries from the institution.

Nominations and Elections

The members of the Alumni Board are elected by the current board at the annual second-semester meeting. Nominations can come from anyone affiliated with Bethany Lutheran College, but must be submitted to the Bethany Manager of Alumni Relations one month prior to the second semester meeting.

For more information on the Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Board, please contact Jake Krier in the Advancement Department.

Meet the Alumni Board Members

Smiling woman with wavy blonde hair, wearing a beige top, posed in front of red curtains at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota.

Alyssa (Wiechmann) Messner – Chair

North Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 2012

Bethany Fundraising Committee 

Second Term Ends 2024-2025 Academic Year

  • Business Administration (BA)
  • Parametric Portfolio Associates – Director of Institutional Client Onboarding
A smiling man in a gray suit and blue plaid tie, photographed against a white background at Bethany Lutheran College.

Brent Fassett – Vice Chair

Baxter, Minnesota
Class of 2009

Bethany Fundraising Committee 

Second Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Business Administration (BA)
  • History (BA)
  • Owner – Brent Fassett Thrivent Financial Agency
A young woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a maroon sweater, smiles outdoors on a Minnesota campus, representing student engagement.

Lauren Zimmerman – Secretary

Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 2021

Bethany Alumni Events Committee

First Term Ends 2025-2026 Academic Year

  • Engineering (BA)
  • Mechanical Engineer for Minn Kota/Johnson Outdoors
A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a blue top, stands outdoors in Mankato, Minnesota. Greenery and sunlight are visible in the background.

Inez (Schey) Bergquist

Eagan, Minnesota 
Class of 1972 (AA)

Bethany Fundraising Committee 

Second Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • B.S., Augsburg University
  • M.A., University of Minnesota
  • Waltman Associates, President
A man with short dark hair, wearing a light gray plaid suit, smiles; he represents student engagement at Bethany Lutheran College.

Ramon Pinero

North Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 2003 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee 

First Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Bachelor of Science in Teaching from MSU-Mankato 
  • Master of Science in Leadership from MSU-Mankato 
  • Financial Advisor for Northwestern Mutual 
A smiling man with glasses, short gray hair, wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie poses; Bethany Lutheran College in Minnesota.

Bob Heidenreich

Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 1962 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee

First Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • BA in Social Studies and a minor in Economics from University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
  • Served in the United State Army
  • Retired teacher and high school basketball coach
A smiling man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt sits indoors near a window and a plant at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.

Eric Christenson

Madison, Wisconsin
Class of 1970 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee

Second Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Retired teacher
A man in a suit and pink tie smiles, representing the Mankato campus community, against a plain white background.

Derek Peterson

Farmington, Minnesota
Class of 2013

Bethany Fundraising Committee

Second Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Financial Advisor – Mutual of Omaha Investor Services
Smiling woman with straight blonde hair wearing a pink top, symbolizing student engagement at Bethany Lutheran College.

Dr. Carrie Ketel Opheim

Hopkins, Minnesota
Class of 1997 (AA)

Bethany Fundraising Committee – Chair

Second Term Ends 2025-2026 Academic Year

  • Normandale Community College (Bloomington, MN), Biology faculty
  • B.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Ph.D. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
A man with short brown hair, wearing a maroon shirt and tie, smiles in front of a beige background in Mankato, Minnesota.

James Otten

LaGrange Park, Illinois 
Class of 1995 (AA)

Bethany Fundraising Committee

Second Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Automotive Mechanic
A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a patterned top, stands in front of red curtains at Bethany Lutheran College.

Carole (Honsey) Falconer

Savage, Minnesota
Class of 1972 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee

Second Term Ends 2024-2025 Academic Year

  • Retired Sales and Marketing Rep. for Avnet Electronics and Purchasing agent with Data Card Corp
Smiling man with short blond hair wearing a blue collared shirt, standing outdoors at Bethany Lutheran College in Minnesota.

Donald Lehne

Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 1987 (AA)

Bethany Fundraising Committee

Second Term Ends 2025-2026 Academic Year

  • BA in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Retired – Mankato Fire Department – Operations Commander
A smiling woman with glasses and long brown hair, wearing a black top, representing student engagement at Bethany Lutheran College.

Megan Maschoff

Faribault, Minnesota
Class of 2016

Bethany Alumni Events Committee

First Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Communications (B.A.)
  • Director of Communications at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School
A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a pink blazer, representing the Bethany Lutheran College campus community.

Mary (Theiste) Farquhar

Plymouth, Minnesota
Class of 1980 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee

Second Term Ends 2024-2025 Academic Year

  • B.S. Business Administration major, Mathematics minor – Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Master of International Management – University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.
  • Self-employed Marketing Director
A smiling man with dark curly hair, a beard, and blue glasses, wearing a grey sweater—capturing student engagement at Bethany Lutheran College.

Julio Garcia

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Class of 2015

Bethany Alumni Events Committee

First Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Psychology (B.A.)
  • Palmer Printing – Account Manager
A man wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie stands in front of a blurred campus community background.

Channing Handberg Jr.

Appleton, Wisconsin
Class of 1984 (AA)

Bethany Alumni Events Committee

Second Term Ends 2027-2028 Academic Year

  • BS in Science, Business, Real Estate, Insurance from Minnesota State University – Mankato
  • Owner of Handberg Insurance Agency
A man wearing glasses, a tan jacket, a red shirt, and a striped tie stands in front of a red curtain at Bethany Lutheran College.

Rev. Wayne Halvorson

Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 1961 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee

Second Term Ends 2024-2025 Academic Year

  • English and History Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary
  • Ministry in the ELS since 1966
A woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a navy shirt, smiles outdoors on the Bethany Lutheran College campus.

Jerusha (Londgren) Cascione

Boerne, Texas
Class of 2007

Bethany Fundraising Committee

Second Term Ends 2026-2027 Academic Year

  • Music (BA)
  • Currently, a Homemaker and has served music director and organist positions, as well as marketing & communications positions for several non-profits and a law firm.
A man with short white hair, wearing a suit, blue shirt, and patterned tie, smiles at the camera at Bethany Lutheran College.

Dr. Willis Anthony

Saint Peter, Minnesota
Class of 1955 (HS), 1958 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee

Second Term Ends 2027-2028 Academic Year

  • BA – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Master’s in agricultural economics – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Ph.D. in agricultural and applied economics – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Agricultural Economist for the United States Department of Agriculture
  • Professor of Agricultural and applied economics at the University of Minnesota
  • Owner of Anthony Farms, Inc. and Josie’s Pork Farm
Smiling woman with short light brown hair, wearing a black jacket and teal top, representing the Bethany Lutheran College campus community.

Jennifer (Brassow) Schwartz

Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 1992 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee

Second Term Ends 2027-2028 Academic Year

  • BA in Accounting from Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Senior Vice President of U.S. Bank Corporation
A smiling man wearing a gray sweater over a collared shirt stands in front of a red curtain at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.

Dr. Eric Peterson

Plymouth, Minnesota ​
Class of 2008

Bethany Alumni Events Committee – Chair

Second Term Ends 2024-2025 Academic Year

  • Chemistry and Human Biology (BA)
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from New York University College of Dentistry
  • Dentist, Lake Dental Care (Big Lake, MN)
A smiling young man in a suit and tie poses in front of a blurred Bethany Lutheran College campus community background.

Nathan Birr

Chanhassen, Minnesota
Class of 2020

Bethany Alumni Events Committee 

Second Term Ends 2027-2028 Academic Year

  • Business Administration (BA)
  • Safety Certification Administrator – Life Time Inc.
A man wearing glasses and a gray sweater stands in front of a red curtain, smiling slightly in a Mankato campus community setting.

Rev. Erling Teigen

Mankato, Minnesota
Class of 1958 (HS), 1960 (AA)

Bethany Awards Committee 

Second Term Ends 2024-2025 Academic Year

  • Retired ELS Pastor, and Bethany Professor
  • Currently oversees Bethany Lutheran College Archives

Bethany Representatives and Support

A man with dark hair and a beard, wearing a red collared shirt, smiles in front of a gray background at Bethany Lutheran College.

Jake Krier

Bethany Director of Alumni Relations
Class of 2006

  • Business Administration major
  • Jake assists the Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Board in their work, and offers the necessary support so they can accomplish their mission.
A smiling young woman with long blonde hair, wearing a red shirt, representing student engagement at Bethany Lutheran College.

Ashley Casper

President of the Bethany  Student Senate
Senior

  • Majoring in Legal Studies and Criminal Justice