Craft was accompanied by his wife Anne Craft during the introductory ceremony.
“It is a day of hospitality and celebration,” Pastor Tim Megorden said. “The Community of Concordia College is blessed today to welcome Bill and Anne Craft into our family,”
The Board of Regents unanimously endorsed Craft to become the 11th president in Concordia College history. Board of Regents member David Solberg voiced how a unanimous decision was possible.
“We had a lot of good applicants but [Craft] stood out above the rest,” Solberg said. “It’s his great passion for our mission that made him stand out above all the other candidates.”
Sophomore Hannah Johnson greeted Craft through song along with the rest of the Concordia Chapel Choir. She also felt the passion that Solberg and the rest of the Board of Regents saw in Craft.
“As a new president you want to see passion and enthusiasm for our mission statement and the college,” Johnson said. “When I first say [Craft] I thought he was such a sweet man and you can see his passion for Concordia.”
During the introductory ceremony, Craft gave thanks to the Concordia Community as well as the work of current President Paul Dovre and the late President Pamela Jolicoeur.
“I am honored to stand here,” Craft said. “Thank you. We are blessed to be among you.”
Craft will take up his official duties of President of Concordia College on July 11th.
“You get a sense of family when you are around him,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to see what he does next year.”
