Kathryn Lohre ’99 joins St. Olaf leadership team as new chief of staff
St. Olaf President Susan Rundell Singer has announced the appointment of Kathryn Lohre ’99 as the college’s new chief of staff. She will assume the role on January 1, 2026.
Lohre has a deep connection to the St. Olaf community and more than two decades of experience in advising, supporting, and demonstrating executive leadership. She brings a dynamic background of professional work to this role, having served as the assistant director of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, as the president of the National Council of Churches, and as the executive for ecumenical and interreligious relations in the Office of the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). These roles required strong skills in managing complex projects, communicating clearly to a wide variety of audiences, and developing and implementing strategic plans. She has also served on several boards, including the St. Olaf Board of Regents and the Advisory Council for the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community.
Lohre majored in psychology, religion, and women’s studies at St. Olaf before earning a master of divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School. She says her education at St. Olaf taught her to embrace the value of bridging differences in the interest of shared solutions — and across her professional experiences, she has a strong record of working with diverse groups of people seeking solutions to challenges.
“It is an honor and joy to return to the Hill in this exciting new chapter of my vocation,” Lohre says. “I am eager to work alongside the president, the Board of Regents, and the wider campus community as we strengthen the college’s mission and vision, and deepen our commitment to develop solution seekers. The very ethos of bridge-building nourished in me at St. Olaf will be vital for these endeavors.”
As the chief of staff, Lohre will support the St. Olaf Board of Regents and work as a strategic partner and advisor to Rundell Singer. She will facilitate presidential initiatives and manage projects, playing a key role as a liaison to facilitate collaboration across the President’s Leadership Team and the broader campus community.
“Kathryn is deeply connected to St. Olaf, and she brings a depth of knowledge about the St. Olaf Board of Regents and relationships with many of its members that will enable us to further elevate our high-level strategic planning and work,” Rundell Singer says. “With Kathryn on our team, the President’s Office will be even better positioned to support the St. Olaf community. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome to campus.”