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General Inquiries

General Inquiries are directed to our Director of Development, Samuel Preus:

s.preus@lutherclassical.org

Admissions Inquiries

Real Mail

Letters and donations can be sent to:

Luther Classical College
2300 Hickory St.
Casper, WY 82604

Administration

Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau
President
Bio
Contact
Dr. Ryan MacPherson
Academic Dean
Bio
Contact
Mr. Samuel Preus
Director of Advancement
Bio
Contact
Mrs. Rebekah Bennick
Chief Financial Officer
Bio
Contact
Dr. William Lipke
Director of Admissions
Bio

Faculty

All faculty serving at LCC are to be LCMS members in good standing who support LCC’s “Theological Confession” (Academic Catalog, p. 3). Clergymen serving at LCC are to be rostered LCMS pastors who receive a divine call from Mount Hope Lutheran Church of Casper, Wyoming, concurrent with their appointment to LCC. See “The Religious Affiliation of Luther Classical College” (p. 3) and “Confessional Subscription” (p. 4).

Dr. William Lipke
Professor of Music
Bio
Dr. Ryan MacPherson
Professor of Humanities
Bio
Contact
Rev. Roger Mullet
Adj. Lecturer of Theology
Bio
Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau
Professor of Theology
Bio
Contact
Dr. Gene Veith Jr.
Adj. Professor of Humanities
Bio

Staff

Mr. William Gottwalt
Business Manager
Bio
Contact
Mrs. Tiffany Hoff
Administrative Assistant
Bio
Contact
Mr. Asa Hoffman
Advancement Officer
Bio
Contact
Rev. Dr. Timothy Rossow
Mission Ambassador
Bio
Contact
Mrs. Phyllis Rossow
Asst to the Mission Ambassador
Bio
Contact

Board of Regents

Rev. Paul Cain
Regent
Bio
Mr. Micah Christensen
Regent (Treasurer)
Bio
Mr. Larry Harrington
Regent
Bio
Rev. Joshua Hayes
Regent
Bio
Rev. John Hill
Regent
Bio
Rev. Christopher Maronde
Regent (Vice-Chair)
Bio
Rev. Robert Paul
Regent
Bio
Rev. Dr. Christian Preus
Regent (Chairman)
Bio
Rev. Mark Preus
Regent (Emeritus)
Bio
Rev. Andrew Richard
Regent (Secretary)
Bio
Rev. Reed Shoaff
Regent
Bio
Mr. Jeffrey Snyder
Regent
Bio
Mr. Timothy Wood
Regent
Bio

Luther Classical College

Rev. Dr. Maj. (ret) Harold Ristau
Walter C. Dissen Chair in Confessional Lutheranism / President / Professor of Theology

Dr. Harold Ristau has served the Church faithfully for over twenty years. A native Canadian, Dr. Ristau earned his M.Div. at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catherines, Ontario, in 2000. He holds an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Waterloo (1996) and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from McGill University (2007).

From serving as a parish pastor in an inner-city, multi-ethnic Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LC–MS) congregation in Montréal, which included prison chaplaincy and ministry to refugees, and from the mission field with Chinese and Muslim immigrants in Canada to the mission field in Africa, Dr. Ristau has committed his life to proclaiming the gospel to the lost and using his unique gifts to serve the Church in challenging positions all over the globe.

In addition to his extensive service for Lutheran Church Canada (LC–C) and LC–MS ministries, Dr. Ristau also served honorably as a chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces in both English and French Canada for eleven years with the Air Force, paratroopers, and Special Operational Forces, serving alongside U.S. military. Deployed to the Middle East on several occasions, Dr. Ristau has been honored by the Canadian government and Chief of National Defense with one of their highest commendations for his work in Afghanistan.

Called as a professor to CLTS in 2017, Dr. Ristau led accreditation and recruitment efforts for the seminary. In 2021, CLTS deployed Dr. Ristau to Lutherans in Africa in Kenya as missionary and Academic Dean at the Lutheran School of Theology.

Dr. Ristau has authored several books and articles, on topics ranging from theology to contemporary culture.

In addition to serving as President at Luther Classical College, Dr. Ristau is also an assisting pastor at Mount Hope Lutheran Church and a member of the collegiate teaching faculty, holding the Walter C. Dissen Chair in Confessional Lutheranism. This endowed professorship is named in honor of a prominent LC–MS layman who served on several important synodical boards and bequeathed $2 million to LCC to ensure faithful theological teaching for generations to come.

Dr. Ristau, married to his wife Elise, is the father of five children, and grandfather of one.

Dr. Ryan MacPherson
Academic Dean

Dr. Ryan MacPherson serves as the Academic Dean of Luther Classical College. He holds a Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science from University of Notre Dame and is author/editor of several books, including: Rediscovering the American Republic, Studying Luther’s Large Catechism, and The Culture of Life. He and his wife, Marie, are homeschool parents to seven children. Dr. MacPherson comes to LCC with 20 years of previous experience in Lutheran higher education. He is passionate about leading his family in home devotions and guiding his students through the primary texts that have shaped Western Civilization and Christian thought.

Mr. Samuel Preus
Director of Advancement

Samuel Preus is the Director of Development for Luther Classical College. He earned his B.A. in International Business at the Berlin School of Economics and Law in Berlin-Shöneberg, Germany, and has lived with his family in Laramie, WY since 2017. He is thankful for his faithful Lutheran church and the classical Lutheran school connected to it. He and his wife, Rachel, have five children: Job, Eve, Herman, Anja, and Philip.

Mrs. Rebekah Bennick
Chief Financial Officer

Rebekah earned her Master of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Wyoming. She has been working in accounting for nearly ten years with a wide range of experience including tax, audit, payroll, and teaching. Rebekah and her beloved husband Joe are members of Mount Hope Lutheran Church in Casper, WY and enjoy spending time outdoors, cooking for family and friends, and continuously learning.

Dr. William Lipke
Director of Admissions / Professor of Music

Dr. William Lipke’s successful career as a performing musician, conductor, administrator and college professor includes performances with musicians of international stature and numerous recitals in Europe, including in Russia, Serbia and Germany. He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, “one of the nation’s leading conservatories” (New York Times). He studied privately with Ozan Marsh (a student of Franz Liszt’s pupil Emil von Sauer who also had lessons with Horowitz and Rachmaninoff), with Walter Hautzig, and in master class with Menahem Pressler and chamber music with the LaSalle Quartet and Dorothy Delay (the teacher of Itzhak Perlmen and Sarah Chang). Skilled and trained in piano, pipe organ, and harpsichord, he has also taught music history and music theory, conducted a symphony for ten years, conducted church choirs and performed chamber music and numerous concerti with orchestra. He began playing the organ for Lutheran services at age 16 and continues to play for weekly services, celebrating “the paradigmatic marriage of text and music” that characterizes the hymns of Paul Gerhardt, the cantatas of Bach, and other masterpieces, such as Handel’s Messiah.

Lipke enjoys being out in God’s great Creation, hiking in the Rocky Mountains with his wife, Kristen, and their three children. While Lipke is eager to support the Parish Music Track at LCC, he also recognizes the broad relevance of music for students in other tracks. “Beyond training church workers, I will also help students explore, understand, and in some cases perform, the great musical works of Western Culture.” “My educational philosophy,” explains Lipke, “is to meet students where they are, to present relevant material in an engaging manner, then help them process the material so as to equip them for lifelong service in the church and to the world.”

Rev. Roger Mullet
Adjunct Lecturer of Theology

Rev. Roger Mullet serves as pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Wyoming. He earned the M.Div and STM degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, with an emphasis in the areas of Old Testament and Hebrew. He and his wife, Megan, have three sons; Aaron, Josiah, and Jonathan. The Mullet family enjoys hiking in the Bighorn Mountains, reading good books, and singing Lutheran hymns together. 

Dr. Gene Edward Veith
Adjunct Professor of Humanities

Dr. Gene Edward Veith Jr. has authored about 30 books adressing the importance of a Lutheran liberal arts education and how to examine modern and postmodern worldviews on the basis of Holy Scripture. He holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Kansas. He previously taught literature at Concordia University Wisconsin and Patrick Henry College, where is also served as provost. Now in retirement, Dr. Veith continues to serve on the board of directors for the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education. 

Mr. William Gottwalt
Business Manager, Librarian & Registrar

William Gottwalt serves as Business Manager, Librarian, and Registrar for Luther Classical College. He holds a Master’s degree in Library & Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has over 5 years of professional experience in business and records management. He and his wife, Mary, have six children: Louisa, Elizabeth, Heidi, Matthew, David, and Idella. The Gottwalt family are members of Mount Hope Lutheran Church in Casper, Wyoming.

Mrs. Tiffany Hoff
Administrative Assistant

Tiffany is the Executive Assistant for Luther Classical College. In addition to the college, she is the Administrative Assistant for the Wyoming District. She and her husband, Tim, have five children; Katharine (resides in Colorado), Deborrah, Lyezabeth, Timothy Jr., and Thomas. They are thankful to have a classical Lutheran school to send their children and look forward to sending them to Luther Classical College. She enjoys spending time with her family outdoors, photography, watching her kids participate in sports, and singing Lutheran hymns with her church choir.

Mr. Asa Hoffman
Advancement Officer

Asa Hoffman is the Associate Director of Development at Luther Classical College. He graduated from Hillsdale College with a B.A. in Politics, and he minored in Music. His interests include composing hymnody, reading and discussing patristic and reformation theology, and enjoying the beauty of Creation. He and his wife live in Milwaukie, Oregon and have one child.  They attend Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gresham, where Asa serves on the board of Evangelism and directs choir.

Rev. Dr. Timothy Rossow
Mission Ambassador

Dr. Rossow is a retired LCMS clergyman who currently resides on the beach in the state of Washington and is a professional painter (watercolor) and operates his own art gallery (Tim Rossow Watercolors & Associates) in Ocean Shores, WA. He served as a parish pastor for thirty years in Michigan and Illinois. After retirement, he went to work part time as the Development Director for Lutherans in Africa and helped raise the funds to build an impressive 10 building seminary in the bush outside of Nairobi, Kenya. Tim holds a BA in Humanities from Concordia College, Seward, NE, a M.Div from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, a MA in medieval philosophy from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO and a D.Min from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. He is currently writing an introduction to philosophy for students and pastors for Steadfast Press. He and his wife Phyllis enjoy traveling around the country and supporting the work for Luther Classical College.

Mrs. Phyllis Rossow
Assistant to the Mission Ambassador

After growing up in Snohomish, Washington Phyllis was ready to escaple all the rain and so made her way to the Midwest. She attended what was then known as Concordia Teachers College, Seward, NE where she earned a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. While attending CTC she met Tim Rossow who became her husband. From Seward it was on to the Seminary in St. Louis, MO, and 30+ years of life as a pastor’s wife. After retiring to Ocean Shores, WA life now includes working at Tim’s art gallery, walking the beach, tide pooling, clamming, bonfires with friends, hiking area trails, and once again, lots of rain. 

Rev. Paul Cain
Regent

Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster Emeritus and Instructor of Liberal Arts at Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, First Vice-President of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Rhetoric Teacher for Wittenberg Academy, a regent for Luther Classical College, a Director for Steadfast Lutherans and Associate Editor of Curriculum for Steadfast Press, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman, District Evangelism Chairman, District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and District Secretary. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the LSB Hymnal Companion hymn and liturgy volumes.

Mr. Micah Christensen
Regent (Treasurer)

Micah Christensen serves as Natural Resource Counsel for the Wyoming County Commissioners Association. Previously, Micah worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Wyoming and a judicial clerk for Scott W. Skavdahl, Chief Judge of the United States Federal District Court, for the District of Wyoming. He currently serves as Treasurer for Luther Classical College and church chairman of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Casper, WY. Micah and his wife Erin have three children. When he is not wrangling or reading to kids, he enjoys hunting, mountain biking, and brewing beer.

Mr. Larry Harrington
Regent

Larry Harrington obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1973 and a Juris Doctorate in 1976 from the University of Wyoming. He worked for the U.S. Department of Energy until 1981 when he went into the practice of law in Casper, Wyoming, and retired in 2018. He has served in numerous community organizations including the Natrona County Red Cross, Casper Lions Club, and Casper Youth Soccer League. He belongs to Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyoming, where he served as Vice President of the congregation, chair of the board of elders and chair of the board of education. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and the Board of Regents of Luther Classical College.

Rev. Joshua Hayes
Regent

Pastor Joshua Hayes is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, KS and Linn Lutheran School. He is graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and holds an M.A. in Classics from Washington University in St. Louis. He is also editor for Johann Gerhard’s Theological Commonplaces (CPH) and a contributing translator to the American Edition of Luther’s Works. He and his wife Diane have five children. Together they enjoy playing music, gardening, and raising chickens and sheep. They watch too many modern “homesteading” videos on YouTube.

Rev. John Hill​
Regent

Pastor John Hill serves as president of the Wyoming District LCMS. He holds a BA from Concordia College Ann Arbor and the MDiv and STM from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. He has been engaged in Classical Lutheran education in various capacities for 25 years. He enjoys cross-country skiing, hiking, classical music, good literature, Lutheran hymnody, the theological languages, and sound doctrine. God has given him and his wife Angela five children and many grandchildren.

Rev. Christopher Maronde
Regent (Vice-Chair)

Pastor Christopher Maronde is the pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Hastings, Iowa and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, Iowa. He also serves as the director of the Lutheran Institute of Regenerative Agriculture. Pastor Maronde has taught as an adjunct and graduate assistant at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska and at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is working on his PhD through CTSFW, writing a dissertation on the book of Psalms. In addition to theology, his interests include the literature of the Western tradition, especially Shakespeare, Milton and Dante, more recent authors such as Austen and Bronte, and a strong interest in Tolkien. Pastor Maronde and his wife Bethany have three daughters.

Rev. Robert Paul
Regent

Pastor Robert Paul serves as associate pastor and headmaster at Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, TX. He holds a BA in Biblical Languages, History, and Religion from Concordia College – New York, an M. Div from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, and an STM in Exegetical Theology from CTSFW. He is a PhD candidate in the History of Exegesis Program at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Pastor Paul enjoys playing the bassoon, reading, translating, and cooking international cuisine. He and his wife Amy have five children.

Rev. Dr. Christian Preus
Regent (Chairman)

Rev. Dr. Christian Preus is senior pastor of Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Casper, WY. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Iowa. He and his wife Lisa have nine children. They are very thankful to have a wonderful classical Lutheran school and a faithful Lutheran congregation. Singing Lutheran hymns, enjoying Casper Mountain, and reading great books are the family’s favorite activities.

Rev. Mark Preus
Regent (Emeritus)

Pastor Mark Preus is pastor of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Laramie, WY. He holds a BA from the University of Minnesota, an MDiv. from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, and an MA in Classics from the University of Kansas. God has blessed him and his wife with ten children. He enjoys reading, writing hymns, talking theology, and exploring the Laramie Mountains with his family near his home.

Rev. Andrew Richard
Regent (Secretary)

Pastor Andrew Richard is the Assistant Pastor and Headmaster of Mount Hope Lutheran Church and School in Casper, WY. He teaches Religion, History, English, Literature, Poetry, Logic, and Rhetoric to the upper level students. He enjoys studying the biblical and classical languages, writing poetry and hymns, singing, and reading great works of literature. He is the Education Exec for the Wyoming District and the lead editor for Christian Culture: A Magazine for Lutherans. Pastor Richard and his wife, Renae, have six children.

Rev. Reed Shoaff
Regent

Rev. Reed T. Shoaff is pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Taylorsville, NC. He is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. He and his wife, Emily, have seven children. Together they classically educate their children at home and enjoy singing Lutheran hymnody, playing music, and reading. Pastor Shoaff is active in promoting classical Lutheran education in the South and repristinating old Tennessee Synod publications for the sake of the wider Church.

Mr. Jeffrey Snyder
Regent

Mr. Jeffrey Snyder is the Business Manger for the Wyoming District – LCMS and the LCEF District Vice-President for the Wyoming and Montana Districts. In addition to being on the Board of Regents for Luther Classical College, Jeff is the chair of the Building and Grounds Committee. Jeff earned his undergraduate degree in Business with an M.B.A from the University of Wyoming. He and his wife, Linda, have two sons, Samuel and Jonah. He is an Elder and Secretary for Mount Hope Lutheran Church in Casper, WY. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family camping, hunting, fishing, cross country skiing, aviation, and golf.

Timothy Wood
Regent

Tim and his wife, Wanita, own AdCrucem.com. The family worships at Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver, CO. Their oldest daughter, Jessica, is a Latin teacher at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA. Gregory is a refrigeration technician with Hussmann Corp., and the youngest, Naomi, is a home-schooled high school junior. Tim is also the Executive Director of The Denver Gold Group, a global precious metals trade association.