Reek and Bork Reflect on Time at Concordia

by Tationa Trice

Concordia professors Dr. Dirk Reek and Dr. Ron Bork are retiring at the end of the spring semester.

Reek’s time at Concordia started in 2004 when he was called to be a theology professor. He had previously served as an interim pastor at St. John Lutheran Church.

“For me personally, [Concordia] gave me chances to grow in my thinking and awareness,” Reek said. “Many of (the) things through the courses of the years that I taught I was aware of, but I had to immerse myself in a lot of things that I kind of knew about…I really needed to know about (how) to teach it effectively to the students.”

In May, Reek will retire as the assistant professor of theology, but still teach Faith and Life and an independent study in philosophy on Kierkegaard.

Reek plans on spending his retirement with his wife, traveling to different states and countries. They have made a list of places to go, such as Seattle and New England.

After 15 years, Bork is retiring as the associate dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences and chair of the Education Department. After retiring, he will still be teaching Math Methods for Elementary Teachers and Teaching the Christian Faith as well as working as a paraeducator for the Teacher Career Ladder Program.

Bork’s experience with Concordia started 50 years ago as a student and throughout his career he has continued to guide new students.

“Just seeing young people come here as freshmen and grow up and graduate in four years or four and a half years later, going out, taking their place in the world for teaching and some of them (continuing) to keep in touch… is pretty special,” Bork said.

Bork came up with an idea “Dr. Bork Giveaway” in order to clear out space in his office. In the hallway on the second floor outside his office in Thom Leadership Education Center, he plans on giving away lanyards, old yearbooks and miscellaneous knickknacks he doesn’t need anymore.

“There’ll be a little sign on the table saying if it’s on the table you can have it for free. If you [would] like it autographed, find Dr. Bork, he’s got a Sharpie,” Bork said.

Bork also plans on traveling with his wife after retirement. He hopes to visit his older daughter Kristin in St. Louis and his younger daughter Allison and his three grandchildren in Omaha. He also hopes to ride excursion steam trains.

Though both professors are looking forward to new adventures, there are aspects of life at Concordia that they will miss.

“I’ll miss being around here all the time,” Bork said. “(I’ll miss) the students, teachers and the people that I work with in teacher education. When you’ve been doing that for a long time, you get kind of attached to them.”

“These are the kind of things I treasure: the kids who will disagree with me, and we’ll go and talk; and kids who knock on my door, and we’ll go and talk,” Reek said. “I’ll miss watching the kids fall in love.”