Deaconess Betsy (Karkan) Dodgers has serves as Concordia University Chicago's Director of Ministry Strategies.

A Concordia-Chicago alumna, she graduated from Concordia in 2008 with a B.A. in theology before beginning a 2-year deaconess internship in Thailand as a missionary with LCMS World Mission and the Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation-Thailand. In 2010 she received a call to Concordia-Chicago to work alongside University Pastor Jeff Leininger caring for the spiritual needs of the CUC community as well as advising the Spiritual Life student organization, helping coordinate the Pre-Seminary and Westfield House programs, and supporting the University's Church Relations office. In 2018 she completed her M.A. in Human Services and in 2019 led the initiative to establish the Pillars Pantry to assist students facing food insecurity.

Degrees

  • MA, Human Services - Concordia University Chicago; River Forest, IL
  • BA, Theology and Deaconess Studies - Concordia University Chicago; River Forest, IL

Academic and Professional Highlights

Prior Positions

  • LCMS Office of International Mission - Thailand Service Coordinator

Publications:

  • "The Holy Innocents" Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/theology/the-holy-innocents/ (December, 2017)

  • "The Cradle of Christ in Every Home: Reformation Translations of the Bible." Lutheran Reformation, lutheranreformation.org/history/cradle-christ-every-home-reformation-translations-bible/ (October, 2017)

  • "What Did The Reformers Say About Angels," Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/theology/reformers-say-angels/ (September, 2017)

  • "Hope That Gives Life," The Lutheran Witness, (June/July, 2017)

  • "Luther's Love for St. Mary, the Queen of Heaven," Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/theology/luthers-love-st-mary-queen-heaven/ (May, 2017)

  • "Lutheran Advent Traditions," Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/get-involved/lutheran-advent-traditions/ (December 2016)

  • "Why Mercy?" Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/theology/why-mercy/ (September, 2016)

  • "Lutherans in Lithuania," Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/history/lutherans-in-lithuania/ (July, 2016)

  • "Faithful Women of the Reformation," Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/history/faithful-women-reformation/ (May, 2016)

  • "Confessional Lutheranism in Finland (Tunnustuksellinen luterilaisuus Suomessa)," Lutheran Reformation, https://lutheranreformation.org/history/confessional-lutheranism-in-finland-tunnustuksellinen-luterilaisuus-suomessa/ (March, 2016)