Grand View University announced today that it has received a $1.5 million gift to create the James E. Rasmussen and Duane M. Skow Chair in Pastoral Excellence at Grand View University. 

Through the gift from Kurt, Lynette and Sandra Rasmussen, the endowment aims to strengthen Grand View’s commitment to providing pastoral leadership for current and future generations of students and enable Grand View’s ministries and its partnership with Luther Memorial Church to become a model or a “center of excellence” for the larger Lutheran Church.

The Rev. Russell Lackey, Grand View’s campus pastor, will serve as the first holder of the Rasmussen-Skow Chair. Lackey oversees Grand View’s campus ministries and also serves as head pastor at Luther Memorial. His work also includes overseeing the Nexus Institute, a grant-funded program aimed at encouraging high school students to pursue lives of ministry.

“This endowed chair will have a profound impact on Grand View’s ability to enhance and sustain our religious service to campus and our community,” said Kent Henning, Grand View’s president. 

Kurt Rasmussen, a 1988 alumnus of Grand View and a trustee, is president and CEO of the Rasmussen Group, a Des Moines-based group of heavy construction companies. Lynette Rasmussen is corporate counsel for the Rasmussen Group and also serves as the honorary consul for Denmark in Des Moines. Sandra Rasmussen is a 1957 alumnus of Grand View. 

The endowment is named for Kurt and Lynette’s late fathers, James E. Rasmussen, a 1957 alumnus of Grand View, and Duane M. Skow. They were both longtime members of Luther Memorial and instrumental in establishing the joint pastor role at Grand View and Luther Memorial.