Dr. Arthur Krentz (2018)

Dr. Arthur Krentz (2018)

Dr. Arthur (Art) Krentz served Luther College at the University of Regina for thirty-four years, and was instrumental in establishing the academic program at Luther on the University of Regina campus. Throughout his career, he emphasized the need to create a balance between pursuing progressive ideas and preserving traditional roots.

Upon his arrival to Luther in 1971 with his wife, Caroline, Art was hired as a Professor of Philosophy, and was one of three founding faculty members at the University campus. He was appointed Academic Dean a year later in 1972 and served Luther in this role on three different occasions from 1972-1977, 1982-1983 and 1990-1995 – the longest-serving Dean to date.

During his time as Dean and in response to the dramatic increase of registered Luther students and students taking Luther College courses, Art hired a number of faculty members who embodied the academic context and mission of Luther. These key hirings formed the core faculty of Luther College for the next several decades; some of them remain at the College today. He established an Academic Office with a Dean’s Assistant, Secretary, and eventually a Registrar, to better serve students and meet their daily needs.He assisted in acquiring a number of scholarships, bursaries, and awards to support students financially, from initial enrollment through graduation, both for their academic as well as their service achievements. Through all this, Art remained a popular lecturer and mentor to so many students in and outside the classroom; alumni continue to comment on his passion for his subject and his care of students.

Art also advocated and successfully engineered the computerization of the College’s University campus including the Academic Office in the early 1990’s, long before others recognized the need. He was also very conscious of the look and feel of the physical building, heading up aesthetics committees over the decades and providing guidance as to where valuable artwork was displayed. Perhaps most importantly, he formed numerous long-lasting friendships with his colleagues at both Luther College and the University of Regina campus.

At the time of his retirement in 2005, Art was the longest serving staff member at the University campus. Following his retirement, Art continued to give back to Luther by establishing the Emil & Natalie Krentz Scholarship in Humanities and Fine Arts in 2009. Art and Caroline’s children, Nathan and Adrienne, are also alumni of Luther College.