Dr. Ken Stoltzfus begins tenure as president of LCC International University
2026-08-10
KLAIPĖDA, Lithuania — August 10, 2026 — Dr. Ken Stoltzfus has officially begun his tenure as president of LCC International University, effective August 1, 2026. He succeeds Dr. Marlene Wall, who led LCC as president since 2012 and concluded 25 years of service to the university in July.Dr. Wall, whom the Board of Directors named President Emerita at the May 2026 Commencement, offered her successor a blessing in her year-end letter to the LCC community: “I’m grateful that God has brought Ken and Amy Stoltzfus back to LCC. I wish him all the very best as he assumes the leadership of LCC, a university with a continued compelling mission and vision.”The presidency marks a homecoming for Dr. Stoltzfus, who served at LCC as Associate Professor and Chair of the Social Sciences Department from 2012 to 2013, received the university's Faculty Award for Excellence, delivered the December 2013 commencement address, and remained connected to LCC as an adjunct instructor over the following decade.Dr. Stoltzfus was unanimously selected by the LCC Board of Directors following a global search, with his appointment announced in February 2026. “Ken Stoltzfus brings a blend of strategic vision, higher education expertise, and a deep commitment to Christ-centered higher education,” said Roger Friesen, Chair of the Board and of the Search Committee. “We are confident that his leadership will continue to advance LCC's mission of transforming lives through life-changing learning.”Dr. Stoltzfus brings more than two decades of leadership experience in Christian higher education. He comes to LCC from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas in the United States, where he served for nine years in senior academic leadership, most recently as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean. Earlier in his career, he was Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work at Samford University and Associate Professor and Chair of the Social Work Department at Malone University. Dr. Stoltzfus was also a Fulbright Scholar. Before entering academia, he worked as a social worker in direct practice and administrative roles in the substance abuse and mental health treatment fields.He holds a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Case Western Reserve University, a Master of Social Work from Temple University, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.A lifelong learner, he is currently completing a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies at Belhaven University, which he expects to finish in fall 2026.Throughout his career, Dr. Stoltzfus has been guided by the conviction that education is about more than the transfer of knowledge — it is about equipping students to live with purpose, serve others, and contribute meaningfully to the world.That conviction matches the institution he now leads. A distinctly Christian university, LCC integrates faith and learning while welcoming a multi-faith student body — one of the most diverse universities in Europe, representing 58 countries this past year, with large cohorts from Lithuania, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Armenia alongside students from the United States and around the world. Student life is shaped by chapel, residence life, and leadership development programs that prepare students for servant leadership in global contexts.Dr. Stoltzfus takes office at a time of momentum for the university, which celebrated its 3,000th graduate at May’s Commencement. In April, LCC inaugurated its new Learning Commons building, a shared space for collaborative learning at the heart of campus. Speaking at the opening, Canada’s Ambassador to Lithuania, Jeanette Sautner, described the Learning Commons name as especially fitting: “This is not simply a new building; it is a shared space that reflects who you are as a university and what you stand for. At LCC, learning is not confined to classrooms or to individual achievement. It is rooted in community, shaped through dialogue, and directed toward service and leadership.”“I am deeply grateful to be back in Klaipėda and to serve alongside the faculty, staff, and students who make LCC such a remarkable place,” said Dr. Stoltzfus. “Amy and I have been warmly welcomed, and I look forward to walking alongside this community as we continue LCC's mission of providing Christian liberal arts education within a diverse learning community that transforms people for servant leadership. I am excited for all that God will do in and through LCC in this next chapter of its story.”Dr. Stoltzfus and his wife, Amy, have two adult children who live in the United States. The couple has relocated to Klaipėda, where they can often be found exploring the city with their dog, Finn.
