Arthur “Art” Olsen, age 85, of Sioux Falls, S.D., passed away on May 4, 2014, in Sioux Falls. Dr. Olsen was professor emeritus of philosophy and religion and former provost at Augustana College. During his tenure, Olsen served Augustana College for more than 40 years and remained a dedicated advocate for the college, even after his retirement. Olsen earned his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College, went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in theology from Luther Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate in theology from Harvard Divinity School. He later served as a visiting scholar at both Harvard and Stanford universities. He first joined Augustana in 1956. While pursuing his doctoral studies at Harvard, he took a part-time position teaching speech at MIT from 1957-1960. He then re-joined the college and served until his retirement in 1996.

Appointed by former Augustana President Dr. Bill Nelsen, from 1985-1990 Olsen served as Augustana’s first Chair of Religion and Values, later named the Stanley L. Olsen Chair of Moral Values, a position made possible thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. At the same time, Olsen also assumed the post of chief coordinator/implementer of Augustana’s general education curriculum, as the new curriculum moved toward implementation.

The son of Norwegian immigrants, Olsen served as a champion for sharing the Norwegian culture and heritage, organizing Norwegian language camps for children on campus, founding the annual Nordland Festival in 1975, and preserving Heritage Park, a collection of historic Great Plains buildings dating from the late 19^th to early 20^th century, located on campus. Olsen was particularly active in developing and teaching courses related to questions of value. He served as director of Capstone, encouraging and supporting the development of Capstone courses as part of Augustana’s General Education, and chaired the committee that helped define the college’s five Core Values: Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community, and Service.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Arneson Olsen ’53; his four children, Arne Olsen, James Olsen, Solveig Santillano, and Beret Rishniw; and their families.