Fox Point's Miriam Odden Receives Luther College Distinguished Service Award

Editor's note: This information was taken from a press release provided by Luther College.

Luther College President Richard L. Torgerson presented Miriam (Strum) Odden with the Luther Distinguished Service Award on Friday, Oct. 5 at the Celebration of Distinguished Service during homecoming weekend at Luther.

The Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the college, is given in recognition of success and achievements in professional fields, service to society, contributions to community and loyalty and service to Luther.

Recipients of the 2012 Luther Distinguished Service Awards are:

Anna Hill Duin, Hastings, Minn., professor of writing studies, director of graduate studies in the Scientific and Technical Communications Program at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, Luther class of 1977

David "Chip" Norris, Champlin, Minn., Alerus Financial president-Twin Cities Region, Luther class of 1982

Miriam (Strum) Odden, Fox Point, Wis., retired owner and consultant for Odden Consulting, Luther class of 1962 and Fran Odden, Fox Point, Wis., retired pastor and interim assistant to the bishop, Luther class of 1959

James K. Oppermann, Brookfield, Wis., senior vice president of Finance and Management Services at Alverno College, Luther class of 1977

Marjorie Opuni-Akuamoa, Lausanne, Switzerland, Evidence Strategy and Results senior advisor for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Luther class of 1992

Kevin L. Sand, Decorah, Iowa, retired family medicine physician and former medical director at Decorah Clinic Physicians-Mayo Health System, Winneshiek Medical Center, Luther class of 1972

Harlan Satrom, Decorah, Iowa, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network financial advisor and president of Retirement Benefits Corporation, Luther class of 1982

Terry A. Sorom, Wenatchee, Wash., retired ophthalmologist at the Eye and Ear Clinic in Wenatchee, Luther class of 1962

Jennifer L. Weuve, Chicago, assistant professor at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Luther class of 1992.

Miriam Odden

Miriam Odden, a 1962 graduate of Luther College, holds the bachelor's degree in sociology and elementary education. After teaching elementary school for five years in Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, Odden served as the Career Services Associate Director at Luther College. She went on to earn the master's degree in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wis.

Odden managed her own consulting business, Odden Consulting, from 1999-2005. She specialized in providing career services to various higher education institutions in the Wisconsin area including Marquette University, Carroll College, Cathage College and Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. During her time as a consultant Odden developed a series of publications for colleges and universities.

Alongside her consulting business, Odden initiated a counseling service program for alumni and students enrolled in distance learning. She has also developed an alumni networking program and managed career fairs for the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Odden was presented with a staff recognition award from Cardinal Stritch University.

Aside from her work in higher education, Odden has been involved in countless community volunteer programs. An active member of Lake Park Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Odden has led high school youth retreats on "Discovering Your God-Given Gifts." Odden developed and taught a nine-hour course on self-esteem for members of her community. She has been involved with Lutheran Volunteer Corps, providing career and job search counseling for former volunteers and created a Career Library for Albert Lea Technical College.

She and her spouse Fran Odden reside in Fox Point, Wis.