There’s a familiar face back at the Seminary after more than two years. Donna Werner is the new administrative assistant for Resident Field Education. She previously worked in the vicarage office with Dr. Glenn Nielsen from 2008-15. She retired in January 2015, but says she’s missed her work at the Seminary and decided to return.
Werner, a St. Louis native, also worked at Ralston Purina and Salem Lutheran Church in Affton, Mo. She says she first arrived at the Seminary the day before Call Day 2008, and said she had to type the vicarage assignments on a typewriter!
Werner and her husband, Gus, have been married for 45 years. They had two sons, Jim and Grant. Grant passed away in December 2016 from a blood clot in the lungs. They have two grandchildren, Avelyn and Mitchell.
Werner enjoys ushering at the Fabulous Fox Theatre and volunteering with her high school alumni board.
Wayne Oliver is a new senior gift officer in Seminary Advancement. He is deployed and serves donors living in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Northwest Indiana.
He previously served in banking, securities and insurance as a manager and personal adviser. He is active in several nonprofit boards in his hometown of La Crescent, Minn., including Downtown Mainstreet, La Crosse Historical Society, La Crescent Community Foundation and La Crosse Community Theatre. He also worked alongside Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., to found a nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, and a master’s degree in servant leadership from Viterbo University.
He is married to Sandi and has two daughters, Allyse and Lauren.