Walther G. Prausnitz

Walt was born on October 2, 1924 to Fred and Maria Prausnitz in Cologne, Germany. The family emigrated to the United States after the Nazis came to power, and Walt completed schooling in New York City at Stuyvesant High School. He worked as office manager for an electrical equipment distributor, continuing college education part-time. Ultimately he completed his degrees at the University of Chicago – A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. – specializing in comparative literature.He taught English and Humanities in the Chicago City College system from 1949 – 1952, and then joined the Concordia College faculty, Moorhead, MN in 1952. At Concordia he was chairperson of the English department, 1952-1970, was awarded the Reuel and Alma Wije Distinguished Professorship, and served as Director of Liberal Arts Studies from 1970 – 1999. In that capacity he developed the college's first formal assessment program, designed for the improvement of teaching, especially in the required undergraduate courses. His research and publications almost all focused on ways of strengthening student learning. He received an honorary doctorate, Litt.D., from Dana College Nebraska in 1980.Walt's career included a variety of other activities. He taught cello at the Concordia Conservatory from 1952 – 1964. He also devoted a good deal of time to community work: as board member of the Fargo-Moorhead Open Forum, 1953 – 1957; as principal cellist and as manager of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, 1952 – 1967; as board member, later vice president for development of Prairie Public Television, 1961 – 1967; as board member, later as state chairperson of the Minnesota Governor's Commission on the Arts, 1975 – 1976.Since retirement from Concordia College, Walt has continued research on teaching and learning, focusing on ways of involving students to help them become efficient owners of their learning.Walt was preceded in death by his parents and brother.