David John Zersen

Background

David was born on February 20, 1938 in Elmhurst, Illinois, United States. Son of Carl W. and Alma C. (Selle) Zersen.

Education

Bachelor, Valparaiso University, 1960. Georg August University, Göttingen,1964-65. Master of Divinity, Concordia Theological Seminary, 1973. Doctor of Ministry, Bethany Theological Seminary, 1989. Master of Arts, Columbia University, 1996. Doctor of Education, Columbia University, 1998.

Career

Clergyman, Lutheran Churches, Midlothian, St. Charles and Itasca, Illinois, 1965-1989; Executive Director, Commission on Ministerial Growth, St. Louis, 1991-1992; Dean, Concordia University Wisconsin, 1989-1994; President, Concordia University Texas, 1994-2001; Managing Editor, Concordia University Press, 2002-2016; Dissertation advisor, Precision Consulting, 2018-present.

Works

• book

  • Concordia on the Move

    (A history of Concordia University Texas based on records ...)

    2013

  • Shaping Worship Space: How Christians Shelter and Adorn Their Liturgies

    (A 100 page book to be used by congregations and others se...)

    2008

• Book Translation

  • Sorbian Monuments

    (The life work of Trudla Malinkowa, the 360 page book prov...)

    2025

• Edited and Translated book

  • The Poetry and Music of Jan Kilian

    (Originally wirten in German by Trudla Malikowa, Zersen tr...)

    2010

• Journal Article: Elisabeth von Meseritz Cruciger

  • Lutheran Forum

    (Elisabeth v. Meseritz Cruciger, a former Premonstratensia...)

    2025

• Journal Article: Frederick A. C. Mulhlenberg

  • Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly

    (F.A.C. Muhlenberg, a Lutheran pastor, was the first Speak...)

    2026

Politics

Progressive

Membership

Board of Directors, Colleges and Universities of Texas, Austin, since 1996, Texas College Fund, Dallas, since 1994. Member Lutheran Education Association of North America (president 1999).

• Lambda Chi Alpha , U.S.

  1956 - 2026

Interests

• Reading, travel, collecting art

Connections

David married to Julia Jane nee Schmid on October 30, 1965. Children: Kristin Selear, Rolf Michael.

Father:

Carl W. H. Zersen

Mother:

Alma C. L. (Selle) Zersen

Daughter:

Kristin Selear

Son:

Rolf Michael Zersen