He was the founder of the soon-to-be-named Gustavus Adolphus College in Red Wing, Minn. Norelius Residence Hall is currently named after the founding president.

Johnson served as the college president for 29 years, the longest in Gustavus’ history. In that time, the College improved its facilities, added more academic departments, and increased student enrollment. The O.J. Johnson Student Union is named after him.

Before becoming president, Carlson was a professor in the Christianity Department. During his presidency, Christ Chapel was erected in 1962 and Alfred Nobel Hall in 1963, which started a collaboration with the Nobel Foundation to start the Nobel Conference in 1965.

Barth was the first non-clergy president The College had. During his time, the Auditorium caught on fire and was completely gutted on January 8, 1970. He oversaw the construction of the Scaefer Fine Arts Center, the second Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library, and  Linnaeus Arboretum.

During Steuer’s presidency, the March 1998 tornado whipped through campus, creating $60 million worth of damage. Steuer was dedicated to rebuilding the campus. The following fall, Gustavus had a record number of 695 First-years enrolled in The College.

Ohle helped plan the College’s Sesquicentennial in 2012-13. He also established Campaign Gustavus, a fundrasing program for The College. The state-of-the-art Warren & Donna Beck Academic Hall was also erected  during his presidency.

President Bergman is the first female president of Gustavus.She served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2014. She will be inaugurated on Oct. 3, 2014 in Christ Chapel.