Concordia Welcomes Alumnus and New Provost Tim Preuss

Photo by Kim Sleeper

By Morgan Consier

A Seward native and Concordia alumnus, Dr. Tim Preuss is glad to be back in Seward once again, this time in his new position as provost.

After growing up in Staplehurst and moving to Seward at age five when his father accepted a call to serve as a member of Concordia’s faculty, Preuss attended Seward High School and then the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL). He later transferred to Concordia to play football and graduated with his Bachelor of Science in education.

Preuss received his master’s degree in exercise physiology through UNL while working as a graduate assistant coach for the Concordia football team. Although his original plan was to be a high school teacher and coach, he joined the admissions office at Concordia in 1994. He continued coaching football as he moved from admissions counselor to director of admissions until he eventually became a faculty member.

“When I moved over to become a faculty member in the Health and Human Performance department, they added softball coaching to my job description, so I was defensive coordinator for the football team and head softball coach and taught in Health and Human Performance,” Preuss said. “I ended up coaching softball for seven years, and I was on the football coaching staff here for 20 years before we left for Irvine.”

From a young age, all the way through college and adulthood, sports have played a large role in Preuss’s life.

“Growing up in a town like Seward, we didn’t have cable, we didn’t have internet, (playing sports) was what we did when we were growing up. When our sport was in season, we played—football, basketball, baseball and track,” Preuss said.

These sports taught Preuss many lessons that he continues to carry with him. One of the things he learned is that failure can provide opportunities for growth.

“It’s not a question of whether you’re going to fall down or get knocked down. That’s going to happen, so what are you going to do when that happens? How are you going to respond?” Preuss said.

Another lesson he learned from playing sports was the concept of interdependence, learning how to be a meaningful member of a team. As a coach, he also learned how to help his players develop that same interdependence in themselves.

After his time at Concordia University, Nebraska, Preuss and his family relocated when he took a position as assistant professor of exercise and sport science and director of athletics at Concordia University, Irvine. He later advanced to become the dean of the Schools of Arts and Sciences and then the dean of the School of Professional Studies, the position he held before accepting the position of university provost at Concordia University, Nebraska.

“It’s not something that I sat down and made a list of goals (about) on a three-by-five card. It’s just kind of been following God’s leading and guiding,” Preuss said.

While the jobs on his resume may not have been in his original plans, Preuss is glad that they led him to return to Concordia University, Nebraska.

“There are great people here. There is a really strong sense of community,” Preuss said. “Of course, it’s my alma mater, so that’s attractive, to want to come back and work again with people that were so influential and formative and impactful for me and our family.”

Preuss has enjoyed working with faculty and staff to get ready for the new academic year, one of the highlights being the opening worship service for faculty and staff that was led by Campus Chaplain Rev. Ryan Matthias on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

“I have really enjoyed getting to reconnect with dear friends and colleagues that we already knew here, and I have just been absolutely blessed to meet so many new and amazingly talented and committed and passionate members of the faculty and staff,” Preuss said.

Since his previous position at Concordia University, Irvine required him to work away from the main campus at the satellite campus for online graduate studies, Preuss says he is looking forward to being able to be on campus. He is excited to fully participate in campus activities such as chapel, concerts, theatre performances and athletic events, as well as being able to interact more with students and other faculty and staff.

After residing in multiple areas throughout his career, Preuss is now back to his Nebraska roots.

“It just gets in your blood. When I met with the faculty the other day, I told them ‘Bulldog born, Bulldog bred. I’ll be a Bulldog till I’m dead.’ It’s just part of who I am. It’s just great to be back and to be part of this family again,” Preuss said.