The Wagner College community takes great pleasure in welcoming its new chaplain, the Rev. Martin Malzahn, to the Grymes Hill campus.
Pastor Malzahn, an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, holds master’s degrees from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary. He comes to Wagner College from Columbia University, where he served as assistant university chaplain in partnership with 22 religious life advisers to support programming and create opportunities for interfaith dialogue.
Prior to his work at Columbia University, Malzahn developed ecumenical religious programming at California State University, Monterey Bay. He has also served as pastor for two Lutheran congregations, St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Carmel, California, and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Naugatuck, Connecticut.
“I hope to help link Wagner College’s diverse religious traditions with their commitment to civic engagement and the pursuit of knowledge,” Malzahn said concerning his goals here. “I’m looking forward to working with administrators, interfaith partners, the ELCA’s Metropolitan New York Synod and Wagner students to create a place of spiritual respect and mutual appreciation.”
Bishop Robert Rimbo, head of the ELCA’s Metropolitan New York Synod and a member of Wagner College’s Board of Trustees, expressed his pleasure at Malzahn’s selection as chaplain.
“I am delighted at the choice of Pastor Martin Malzahn to serve as chaplain at Wagner College,” said Bishop Rimbo. “Pastor Malzahn brings years of experience as a campus pastor and administrator, an inquisitive mind, an ecumenical and interfaith perspective, and great wisdom for this ministry. As we continue to strengthen the relationship between Wagner College and the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pastor Malzahn will be a valuable partner. Congratulations to our friends at Wagner and to our friend, Martin!”
Ruta Shah-Gordon, Wagner College’s assistant vice president for campus life and internationalization, seconded Bishop Rimbo’s enthusiastic welcome of Martin Malzahn to Wagner.
“We are excited to return to a full-time chaplain at Wagner, and we believe that Rev. Malzahn’s previous experience and his passion for partnerships and spirituality will enhance Wagner’s mission to assist students in finding their identities and their faith,” Shah-Gordon said.
Martin Malzahn’s office is located on the ground floor of Kairos House, next to the Knubel Chapel.
