Longtime Religion Professor, Rev. Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes, Installed as Associate Vice President of the Office of Mission and Identity

By Jacqueline Shaw

The Religion Department would like to congratulate Rev. Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes on her installation as Associate Vice President for the Office of Mission and Identity as of February 22, 2024!

The Office of Mission and Identity aims to provide spiritual leadership and diplomacy to the Cal Lutheran community and works to share values of Lutheran higher education. This includes building relationships with Chumash leaders and Indigenous Cultural Educators. 

“I began the work as a professor and get to participate in different ways through my new role,” says Dr. Windham-Hughes. “This work includes ensuring ‘government to government’ relations with senior leadership, working with Indigenous Cultural Educators and colleagues to design meaningful educational experiences, and opening the campus to relationships with our neighbors and the land that supports us.”

One of the core values of Lutheran higher education is education for all. The Office of Mission and Identity works closely with Campus Ministry, as well as the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) programs. Martin Luther not only advocated for religious reform, but also for increased inclusivity and diversity in education, calling for typically excluded groups such as women to have access to an education. In line with Luther’s emphasis on serving the world through one’s work, the Office also supports and encourages individuals in the exploration of their passions and vocations. 

“I admire the commitment in Lutheran higher education to the education of the whole person and the focus on vocation(s),”Dr. Windham-Hughes states. “Everyone has gifts and the capability to serve others, and everyone needs the gifts of others. A community has what it needs when everyone gives and everyone receives.” 

Dr. Windham-Hughes, known affectionately as Dr. Dub, served as professor of the Religion Department for thirteen years and is beloved by students and faculty alike. 

“Dr. Dub is a colleague with myriad talents,”says Religion professor and clergy member Dr. Julia Fogg. “She has a lot of skills and experience for teaching, the church, and cooperative leadership of a staff team. I think she brought all of those tools into the Religion department and really helped us move many things forward.”

Looking into the future, Dr. Fogg states, “I think this call to Mission and Identity helps her utilize all these gifts and experiences that our university and colleges in general really need right now. We need to know who we are and how to be who we are in the world, and she’s the best person for that job.”

Dr. Dub has described her vocation as pastoral work, though not pastoral in the sense of giving sermons in front of a congregation. This work includes collaborating with communities on and off campus. Dr. Dub is currently working with the Office of Institutional Research and others to ensure that Cal Lutheran takes the necessary steps to achieve ongoing accreditation. 

“Accreditation is a regional process with national and global implications. It is an accountability process for our educational programs and integrity of our mission,” says Dr. Dub. “Working through the process takes effort from people working all across the university.”

Dr. Dub is also co-chairing the campus climate assessment with external consultants to ensure that Cal Lutheran is a safe and supportive space for our entire community. 

Cal Lutheran is incredibly lucky to have such a compassionate and dedicated leader in Dr. Windham-Hughes! Her devotion to helping our community flourish is evident in everything she does and we are excited for the good work she will continue to do in her new position!

Dr. Dub extends a welcome and invitation to all to visit and spend some time chatting with her. Her office is Pederson 205B located on the second floor of the Pederson Administration Building. (In addition, if you have any needs, please feel free to contact her at windhamh@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3330)