Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary’s New Rector is California Lutheran University Spiritual Leader

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The Rev. Colleen Windham-Hughes, PhD, a longtime professor and spiritual leader at California Lutheran University, has been appointed the rector of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), part of Cal Lutheran. PLTS is the only Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seminary in the western half of the United States and a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union.

“I am excited to join PLTS, which pursues faithful, just action in life and learning together,” said Windham-Hughes, affectionately known as “Dr. Dub.”   

As rector, Windham-Hughes will guide the Berkeley-based seminary’s academic mission with clarity, compassion and courage. She will preach, teach in the TEEM program, lead retreats and shape conversations around interfaith dialogue, equity and vocational formation.

Windham-Hughes joined Cal Lutheran in 2010 as an assistant professor of religion and has served in numerous leadership roles, including department chair. In 2024, she was named associate vice president for the Office of Mission and Identity, which provides spiritual leadership to the Cal Lutheran community, shares values of Lutheran higher education and builds relationships with Chumash leaders and Indigenous cultural educators. She is a national voice in Lutheran higher education, editor of Intersections, and a member of the writing group for “So That All May Belong: Lutheran Roots for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.”

“Her leadership is both timely and timeless,” said Cal Lutheran President John Nunes.  “It’s timely, in the sense of being conversant in the burning contemporary ministry issues of our time, and timeless, in the sense of being derived from ancient and enduring sources of truth and wisdom.”

In other ministry news, Cal Lutheran welcomes Elizabeth “Beth” Gallen as the campus pastor for the Office of Mission and Identity. A Cal Lutheran alum, Gallen grew up in Glendale, Ariz., and completed her seminary formation at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minn. Most recently, she served as pastor of New Journey Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills, Ariz.