Service to others and the community guides Glena Temple, PhD, president of Viterbo University, the newest member of the Gundersen Health System Board of Trustees.
"One of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday morning is weeding at the organic garden run by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration or cleaning facilities at a local non-profit," Temple says. "La Crosse is inspirational in how organizations come together for the common good. I know Gundersen has made a significant commitment to community engagement. Viterbo has also been an active community partner, and I hope to strengthen this commitment in the years ahead."
A Rochester, N.Y., native, Temple joined Viterbo in 2001 as a Biology faculty member and has since held numerous leadership roles on campus, including department chair; Honors Program director, dean; associate vice president for academic affairs; and vice president. Temple also served as the founding Dean of Online and Distance Education for University of Wisconsin Colleges in 2014 and 2015.
"I have been inspired by Gundersen's vision of enhancing health and well-being in the community through schools, healthy neighborhoods, homelessness and other projects," Temple says. "There is great alignment between this mission and Viterbo's commitment to helping meet the needs of our community through programs in nursing, nutrition and dietetics, social work, and mental health counseling, to name a few. Gundersen also provides clinical rotations to many of our students and hires many of our alumni across their operations, so there are many natural connections."
"Through my service on the Gundersen Medical Foundation Board, I have learned so much about the work Gundersen is doing in education, research, and outreach programs," she says. "I'm excited to continue to learn more about the important work underway throughout the region and be of service however I can to support the organization."
Temple has served as chair of the joint Board of the Amie L. Mathy Center for Recreation and Education, a partnership between Viterbo University and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse. She also serves on the boards of the Franciscan Spirituality Center and Weber Center for the Performing Arts.
Temple earned a bachelor's degree in Biology from Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn., a master's degree in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD in Botany and Plant Sciences from the University of California - Riverside.
Temple replaces Wendy Lommen, who has moved to an emeritus role (non-voting) on the Gundersen Board of Trustees after serving as a trustee from 2011 to 2018, most recently as board chair.