WAVERLY -- He remembers that first board meeting, when he sat down with members of Wartburg College's Board of Regents 10 years ago. Jack Ohle, the school's newly minted president, recognized faces at the table.

The atmosphere felt comfortable, familiar. Conversation flowed, absent first-meeting introductions and awkwardness, Ohle recalls.

"It was as if we were best friends."

Prior to the meeting, Ohle took care to meet with each board member and their spouse in their home. The gesture did more than help break the ice. The visits also gave regents a taste of Ohle's personality and philosophy of leadership.

On June 30, Ohle will leave Wartburg College after serving there for a decade. The president, who ushered in 10 years of multifaceted growth, recently agreed to head Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.

In the context of his career, Ohle categorized the question of whether to leave as the "toughest decision I've ever made." The offer came about rather unexpectedly, and his decision to accept followed.

"My joy is I'm going to an institution that has some of the same opportunities that Wartburg had," Ohle said.

Wartburg will host a farewell reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday for Ohle and his wife, Kris. A program is scheduled for 5 p.m. The event will take place in the Saemann Student Center, and the community is invited.

Legacy

Since the announcement in April of Ohle's pending departure, Wartburg and the larger community have reflected on his contributions.

From the beginning, Ohle demonstrated an understanding of the college's place and its potential, Board of Regents Chairman Fred Hagemann said. Over the past 10 years, Ohle helped the board and the college identify, map out and accomplish many of its goals, he added.

"His real ability is his ability to seize the moment," Hagemann said.

Under Ohle's leadership, the college embarked on Commission Wartburg, a long-range planning initiative, and a subsequent capital campaign that raised $90.3 million. Ohle also helped enrich the college's endowments, enrollment and faculty and rebuilt campus infrastructure.

Ohle said he will probably be remembered as a "building president" because infrastructure is an obvious and visual accomplishment. Campus improvements in the last decade include the new science center and renovations at the Saemann Student Center, Vogel Library, residence halls and Walston-Hoover Stadium. Most recently, the college added the Wartburg-Waverly Sports and Wellness Center, a $30 million, 200,000-square-foot complex.

Ohle points out another type of growth he feels is essential to the institution.

"The strength of Wartburg is this is a much stronger place not because of me, but all those who have participated in the college," he said.

Not everyone rallied behind the wave of physical changes. The process that led up to the wellness center's construction -- a joint venture between the college and city of Waverly -- raised concerns for some about Wartburg's focus and spending.

Supporters have said criticism is to be expected with significant change.

Sue Vallem, a member of the department of social work faculty, feels Ohle gave a fair hearing to new ideas.

"I found he truly had an open-door policy," she said.

Ohle said he approaches conflict by listening and sharing. College presidents, he added, can't act effectively without authority and consensus, and Ohle feels he has consistently engaged the board -- and others -- in decision-making.

"A president has to provide vision, but that vision can only be fulfilled if the people take their role in helping fulfill it," he said.

The college recently launched Commission on Mission, an effort to enhance the college's concepts of leadership, service, faith and learning.

Students speak

As a person moves up the leadership ladder in academia, the gap between student and administrator typically grows increasingly large, Ohle observed. To prevent disconnect, Ohle and his wife, Kris, regularly invited students to their home for conversations.

"What it did is it gave me a perspective that you aren't getting sitting here in an office," Ohle said.

Kate Elliott, a senior this fall, formed her opinions of Ohle early on in her college career. Elliott came down with viral encephalitis and had to be quarantined at a hospital. To her surprise, Elliott said the president paid her a visit, wearing a mandated face mask and bringing an orange cookie as a gift.

"How many presidents would do that for a freshman?" Elliott said.

Ohle also made an effort to attend as many campus events and activities as possible, she added.

Amy Tucker, a junior, said Ohle invited first-year students over for ice cream each fall.

"That's a tradition that hopefully carries over to our next president," she said.

Emmy Taber, also a junior, remembers her president strolling through hallways exchanging greetings with students. Another memory also comes to mind.

"His tapestry speech will be missed," Taber added.

Apparently the president articulated his vision for the inner workings of a unique and diverse community in the form of a metaphor about fabric. Frequently.

Future

William Hamm, a 1966 graduate of Wartburg and former president of Waldorf College, will serve as interim president beginning July 1. The Board of Regents hopes to have a permanent leader in place by June 2009, Hagemann said.

Ohle speculated the next president may be a leader with different strengths and skills. Though Ohle wasn't looking to leave Wartburg, he noted change is necessary for an institution's growth and said a fresh face can bring new energy.

While Hagemann said he is satisfied with the outgoing president, he acknowledged Wartburg is in a different place than when Ohle took the reins. Ohle helped usher Wartburg through a phase of building, fundraising and growth. Now Wartburg needs someone skilled in management, Hagemann said.

"The good part was we did have him and he did what we wanted him to do, and the college is forever changed for it," Hagemann said.

Contact Karen Heinselman

at (319) 291-1581 or

karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.