California Lutheran University Announces Leadership Transition

President Lori Varlotta to step down May 31; Dr. John Nunes to serve as interim president. 

THOUSAND OAKS, CA (May 21, 2024)—The California Lutheran University Board of Regents announced today that President Lori Varlotta will step down from her role effective May 31, 2024. Dr. John Nunes, most recently pastor at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, Ca., and former president of Concordia College New York, will serve as interim president for a two-year term beginning on June 1, 2024. 

“On behalf of my Board of Regents colleagues, I extend sincere thanks to President Varlotta for her service, which leaves the university well positioned as we seek new leadership,” said Board of Regents Chair Ann Boynton. “The future holds many challenges for higher education, and thanks to President Varlotta’s work, Cal Lutheran is already moving to address several of them. During Rev. Dr. Nunes’ tenure, we will continue to build on the university’s strengths.”

Varlotta was appointed president in September 2020 and successfully steered the university through the COVID-19 pandemic, leading efforts to bring Cal Lutheran students back to campus and to face-to-face learning ahead of many other California institutions. She made difficult but necessary changes to mitigate a potential financial crisis; implemented changes to align shared governance structures with university bylaws; and designed a Talent, Culture and Diversity division.

“It has been my pleasure to serve as president of California Lutheran University, and I am proud of the things we have accomplished together over the last four years,” said Varlotta. “The university is lucky to have passionate students, faculty, staff and supporters who share the goal of a bright future for Cal Lutheran and I look forward to watching the university continue to flourish.” 

Nunes has served since 2020 on the Academic Leaders Task Force on Campus Free Expression at the Bipartisan Policy Center. The Task Force’s recommendations about how to foster a campus culture of robust intellectual exchange during the current period of national polarization have been adopted by many universities, both public and private. 

Nunes is a senior fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy and was ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1991. He was also president and CEO of Lutheran World Relief and held an endowed professorship at Valparaiso University. He is the author of five books and numerous articles, and holds degrees from Concordia College, Ann Arbor (BA), Concordia Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario (MDiv), and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (ThM and PhD). He and his wife, Monique, are the parents of six children and 13 grandchildren.

“God is up to great things at California Lutheran University,” said Nunes. “In a world of digitized anonymity, Cal Lutheran represents a personalized community of learning on a beautiful campus where every person matters. I see this opportunity as vocationally aligned with my gifts and I am honored to serve Cal Lutheran by helping to galvanize a uniquely talented team of regents, faculty and staff in educating students for a global society.”

“We look forward to welcoming Dr. Nunes and his family to the California Lutheran community,” said Boynton. “His experience as a scholar, pastor, and leader makes him a natural choice for this interim role, and his embrace of the values that guide Cal Lutheran will serve him well as he works with the board to move the university forward over the next two years.”

Dr. Nunes’ appointment comes with the support of the Region 1 bishops and Region 2 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 

###

California Lutheran University

Founded in 1959 and formally recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2016, California Lutheran University is home to 2,377 undergraduate and 1,033 graduate students. Our students come from 59 countries and represent a wide spectrum of faiths and spirituality. Our dedicated, accomplished faculty teach in small classes, guiding our students as they grow into open-minded leaders who are strong in character and judgment, confident in identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping each student pursue their passions, discover their purpose and transform their community. Learn more at CalLutheran.edu.

Media Contact
Mark A. Berry, PhD
Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications
805-493-3839
markberry@callutheran.edu