WAVERLY -- The community is invited to say goodbye to Wartburg College's departing president.

The college will host a farewell reception honoring President Jack and Kris Ohle from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

The event will take place in Knights Ballroom of Saemann Student Center, with a brief program scheduled for 5 p.m.

The Ohles request no gifts.

Ohle will become president of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., on July 1. Ohle has led Wartburg since 1998. Both colleges are affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

During his decade at the college, Ohle, Wartburg's 16th president, directed Commission Wartburg, a long-range planning initiative that engaged 235 Wartburg alumni and friends to create a blueprint for the future. Commission Wartburg led to Campaign Wartburg, which surpassed its goal of $88 million by raising $90.3 million, and the implementation of 97 percent of 266 recommendations. It was so successful that it became part of Harvard University's higher education case study catalog for general instructional use.

Campus renovations during his tenure included the new Science Center, Saemann Student Center, Vogel Library, Knights Village and Löhe residence halls, a new campus entrance, Walston-Hoover Stadium and, most recently, Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center, a 200,000-squarefoot complex housing indoor intercollegiate athletics and campus and community fitness facilities.

Enrollment increased from 1,400 to 1,800, and 21 new full-time faculty positions were created. New technology was integrated across the campus.

The college also expanded its community outreach with programs that have gained a national reputation. A $2.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. led to a vocational discernment program called "Discovering and Claiming Our Callings," and the Center for Community Engagement was opened.

Ohle graduated in 1969 from Ohio Northern University with a degree in social work. He did graduate work toward a Master of Divinity degree at Hamma School of Theology in Springfield, Ohio, and completed his Master of Arts degree in higher education administration at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque.

Before coming to Wartburg, Ohle served at Drake University in Des Moines for 11 years, first as vice president for institutional advancement and later as senior vice president for external affairs and secretary to the university. Prior to that, he held administrative positions at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Ohio Northern University and Muskingham College in Ohio.

During her tenure at Wartburg, Kris Lindquist Ohle served as hostess of Greenwood, the college's presidential residence, and oversaw coordination of many large and small college events on and off campus. In addition, she is a longtime child advocate for the court system and was an active member of the board of Waverly Child Care and Preschool for many years. She also was on the board of Lutheran Services of Iowa.

The Ohles belonged to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waverly. They were married in 1970 and have three grown sons.