Our panel is made up of various individuals who the Lord God has molded through different experiences as young adults. He continues to do that as they now serve in various places and vocations that mentor to young adults. They see and hear of the various challenges that the devil, the world, and the sinful flesh put before young adults with the intent to destroy them. In this panel time they will share some key things that they have seen and dealt with while allowing time for questions from the group. One specific area that all of them have experience with is that challenge that comes as students transition from the college world to the working world. Part of their mentoring includes listening. Part of it includes preparing and equipping not just for their field of study but for life in congregations, a secular world, and a vast mission field.

Jennifer Johnson is the Senior Vice President and Director of Compliance at Ixonia Bank in Ixonia, Wis. Jennifer grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin, graduated from Northwestern Preparatory School and then graduated from Martin Luther College with a Bachelor of Science degree. She served in the teaching ministry at Luther Preparatory School and St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Citrus Heights, Calif. When her husband, Josh, took a call to Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School, Jennifer switched over to banking where she has been working for around 20 years. She has a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation from the American Bankers Association, a Certified Community Bank Internal Auditor designation from the Independent Community Bankers of America, a Certificate of Executive Leadership from the Wisconsin School of Business and an Honors Diploma from the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wis.

Jennifer is active in the community and currently serves as a member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Community Bank Advisory Council. She also serves as an organist/pianist/accompanist for Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Hubertus, Wis., and is also heavily involved with the Washington County Youth Hockey Association. In her leisure time, Jennifer and her husband love spoiling their nieces and nephews and hanging with her dogs. She also enjoys camping, hiking, concerts and watching youth and professional hockey.

Professor Joshua Johnson serves as the director of academic technology and associate professor of education at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He grew up in Oswego, Ill., a small suburb of Chicago near Aurora. He attended Martin Luther Preparatory School before enrolling at Martin Luther College. Prior to WLC, he was assigned to teach 6th grade at St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Citrus Heights, California. He served there for five years with his wife, Jennifer, before accepting a call to Nebraska Lutheran High School. At NELHS He was privileged to teach in a variety of subjects including Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, American History, Senior Religion, Journalism, Digital Media, and Computer Applications. He also served as the IT director and registrar while coaching women’s basketball along with men’s and women’s soccer. He accepted the position as the director of academic technology and assistant professor of education at WLC in 2015 and enjoys working with faculty and students to improve their understanding and use of technology in their teaching, learning, and personal lives.

Dr. Jennifer Krause served as an elementary teacher in WELS schools for 17 years before accepting a call to Martin Luther College in 2013. After eleven years as a college supervisor of student teachers, she recently moved to a full-time, on-campus teaching role at MLC, and she also coaches the women’s tennis team. Through her interactions with college students in these various roles, Jennifer often provides a listening ear, encouragement, guidance, and support for these young adults as they navigate the challenges of this stage of life. The transition from college student to professional educator can be daunting, and the responsibilities of living independently in whatever place God calls them to serve can create doubt and uncertainty. Jennifer enjoys mentoring these young people as they enter their first years of ministry and pointing them to Jesus as their source of strength. She has an M.S. in Education from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. in Literacy Leadership from Concordia University-Chicago. Jennifer enjoys traveling, reading, tennis, spending time with her nieces and nephews, and cheering for the Packers and Jayhawks.

Rev. Ron Koehler serves as the administrative pastor at Grace Lutheran Church of Southern Arizona, a multi-site congregation with four locations. His day-to-day ministry at the Tucson location now includes serving as the WELS campus pastor at the University of Arizona…once again! He served in that capacity when he arrived at Grace in 1993 through 2005, while also serving on the WELS Campus Ministry Committee for most of that time. We’ll hear the unique perspective he brings as he has picked up campus ministry again after a 19-year hiatus.