Staff

Pastor Kate Reuer Welton

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Pastor Kate Reuer Welton grew up in South Dakota and settled back in Minneapolis after many adventures, including completing a Master of Divinity degree at Harvard Divinity School. Kate was called to serve as Campus Pastor at the University of Minnesota in 2010 and remains excited about proclaiming the Gospel in this lively context and working with student leaders to discern God’s call for our community each year.

Pastor Kate has worked as a community organizer and teacher in a wide range of places including Lutheran Social Service of MN, Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, and Native Arts High School on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Her favorite travel adventures include studying Spanish in Oaxaca and hiking the Annapurna Trail in Nepal with her little brother. Kate is married to Jim, mother to Benjamin and Eleanor, and is an eager gardener in May and June. She enjoys hiking and camping with her family, and the occasional Netflix binge. Her approach to the Christian life? “Awe, wonder, and curiosity.”

Feel free to send her an email! pastorkate@umnlutheran.org

Dana Rademacher – Outreach + Communications

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Dana was born and raised in Minnesota, and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (Ski-U-Mah!). The best part of their job is getting to know students, hear their stories, and to help share and spread God’s expansive and unconditional love on campus in new, creative ways.

Dana lives in Minneapolis with her cat Rosie, and she loves board games, a good cup of coffee or tea (iced!), scrolling TikTok, and reading. She is passionate about Queer Theology and Queer readings of scripture, abolition, and dreaming up ways to use Dungeons & Dragons in the church! They finished their studies at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, with a Master of Divinity. With LCM, Dana coordinates the work we do to welcome and gather students, including our outreach efforts and digital communication.

Reach her by email at dana@umnlutheran.org.

Ian Wreisner – Community Life

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Ian was born in Anoka County Minnesota and has been in Minnesota ever since – save for a brief intermission in Iowa to attend Luther College. While he spent most of his post-college career thus far as a journalist, he originally intended on becoming a teacher, so being back on a campus is a welcome change. Ian has spent his entire life in the Lutheran church, as is excited to use the Gospel constructively and in service of building beloved community here at the U.

 

Ian lives in St. Paul with his wife, Ashley, two cats, Leonard and Georgia, and if he’s not home with them he is probably in a mosh pit or spending an inordinate amount of time in a trading card store.

 

Reach him by email at ian@umnlutheran.org.

Eric Nelson – Seminary Intern

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Eric is a current Masters of Divinity student at Luther Seminary. He graduated from North Central College in Naperville, IL in 2022, where he found a home with his campus’ Office of Faith and Action. After graduation, he spent three summers working and leading worship services in Glacier National Park, MT. Eric is passionate about helping ministries through times of transition and walking with those who have difficult faith questions. In the classroom, Eric loves studying the bible through a historical lens and practicing pastoral care. Still, he probably knows more about Star Wars than scripture. He has been to Greece and Turkey over the course of his studies, and loves long drives to visit beautiful places and dear friends.

 

Reach him by email at ericg@umnlutheran.org.

Andy Pokel – Musician

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Andy Pokel (poke-ELL) is (almost) an ordained deacon in the ELCA. He grew up in Wisconsin and studied vocal music education at St. Olaf College. After twelve years of teaching music, theater, and special education, Andy discerned a call to ministry and completed an MA at Luther Seminary. Andy loves the way music helps us bridge all sorts of gaps: from tradition to innovation, from neighbor to neighbor, from heart to mind, and more. Andy serves as Minister of Music and Community Connections at Spirit Garage, a ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Twin Cities. He also writes and records music for worship with his wife, Rev. Elise Pokel, under the name Foundry Hymnal, and has done freelance work with Church Anew, Sundays and Seasons, The Reverb Collective, Convergence Music Project, Waters Edge Ministries, Gather Twin Cities, and more.

 

Andy shares a musical, mildly chaotic home with his wife and kids. His office features toddler art, family photos, Byzantine iconography, taxidermy, mood lighting, and coprolite, among other treasures. Andy likes podcasts that make him laugh and music that makes him cry. When he’s not in work or family mode, Andy enjoys cooking, doodling, and walking around lakes.

Michelle Greene – Development

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Michelle has served as the administrative assistant for LCM-TC since 2014. She worked professionally in the arts, but somehow found her way to the non-profit sector in development. Now, she is blessed to be a part of the gig economy because she refuses to settle on just one of her many interests. Her life centers around her non-traditional family where she is happily unmarried to Frank and spends most of her time with his two adult children and three beautiful grandchildren. She cares for her parents and geriatric dog, gardens, pumps iron, consults with a variety of other non-profits and is a massage therapist in private practice. She reads like a fiend and follows the news a little too closely.

info@umnlutheran.org

Jon Buuck – Philanthropy

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Jon has come full circle by returning to LCM-TC after a break of more than 40 years! Jon feels like he’s back home where curiosity about God and life is encouraged, integrity is celebrated and nurtured, and belonging is found in the midst of a large, vibrant campus of Gophers.

During his time away, he’s traveled to India three times and once to Ethiopia, along with a few more traditional trips to international destinations, married Ruth, had two kids, and now has two grandkids. Bread for the World, Lutheran World Relief, Global Refuge, and a few congregations are places where he’s hung his hat.

Besides seeking justice, Jon’s passion is that everyone knows the joy of being generous. This is truly a gift from God. He’s thrilled to share this amazing ministry with others, so more people can celebrate and support this truly remarkable ministry at the University of Minnesota.

Reach him by email at jon@umnlutheran.org!