Loma Linda University News
December 2, 1999
- Memorial services for former LLU president V. Norskov Olsen to be held December 12
- BALL/BHPSA/BSA retreat held at Pine Springs Ranch in November
- Faculty notes
- Chinese delegation visits Loma Linda campus
Memorial services for former LLU president V. Norskov Olsen to be held December 12
Memorial services for former Loma Linda University president V. Norskov
Olsen, PhD, TheolD, will be held Sunday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m., at
the University Church of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda. Dr. Olsen
died Friday, November 19, at Loma Linda University Medical Center following
a heart attack.
Dr. Olsen, who was president of Loma Linda University from 1974 to 1984,
was born July 18, 1916, in Denmark. He was raised in Denmark where he
received his early education.
He served as a minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Denmark
from 1937 to 1946.
In 1946, Dr. Olsen came to the United States and enrolled at Emmanuel
Missionary College (now Andrews University) in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1948.
Dr. Olsen then spent one year at the University of Chicago. While there,
he met and later married his wife, Anita Lippi, in September, 1949.
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V. Norskov Olsen |
Enrolling at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (now located
at Andrews University) in Takoma Park, Maryland, Dr. Olsen earned a master
of arts degree in biblical languages in 1950, and a bachelor of divinity
degree in 1951.
Following his educational training in the United States, Dr. Olsen returned
to his native Denmark. There he continued his career, teaching religion
at Vejlefjord Hojere Skole, Daugaard.
In 1954, Dr. Olsen received a request to serve as chair of the department
of religion and as academic dean of Newbold College, a Seventh-day Adventist
college in Bracknell, England.
He served in this capacity until 1959 when he became president of Newbold
College.
Before Dr. Olsen assumed his new responsibilities, he and Mrs. Olsen returned
to the United States and attended Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton,
New Jersey, where he earned a master's degree in theology.
Through perseverance and hard study, he earned this degree (normally a
two-year program) in one year.
He returned to Newbold College and resumed leadership of the institution
until 1966.
During his term as president of Newbold College, Dr. Olsen earned a doctor
of philosophy degree from the University of London in 1966.
That same year, he resigned from his leadership post at Newbold College
to enter the University of Basel, Switzerland, where he earned a doctor
of theology degree in 1968.
Dr. Olsen began his affiliation with Loma Linda University in 1968, when
he accepted a teaching position as professor of church history on the
La Sierra campus of Loma Linda University, Riverside (now La Sierra University).
Dr. Olsen was named chair of the department of religion at Loma Linda
in 1970, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and provost of the
La Sierra campus in 1972.
In 1974, Dr. Olsen was asked by the Loma Linda University Board of Trustees
to assume responsibilities as president of the institution.
Thus he began a ten-year span of service as presidentÑthe position for
which he will be best remembered out of the nearly 50 years he served
the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
When Dr. Olsen became president in 1974, he built upon the foundation
of his predecessors and began to plan for a building program that would
add new facilities to both the La Sierra and Loma Linda campuses of the
University.
The enrollment at the combined campuses of Loma Linda and La Sierra had
been steadily increasing for several years.
In 1970, a few years before he assumed the presidency, the combined enrollment
of Loma Linda and La Sierra stood at 3,163, but by 1980, enrollment had
increased to 5,351.
During Dr. Olsen's tenure as president, many new building were constructed
at Loma Linda University including a new addition to the School of Dentistry,
Del E. Webb Memorial Library, Alumni Hall for Basic Sciences, and Faculty
Medical Offices.
Also opened during his presidency was the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans
Medical Center, which has close faculty ties to the School of Medicine.
In 1981, the Good Samaritan Sculpture, which stands at the center of the
Loma Linda campus and embodies the institution's motto, "to make
man whole," was unveiled.
While president of Loma Linda, Dr. Olsen opened the University's doors
to more than 400 Vietnamese refugees who arrived in the United States
following the fall of the South Vietnamese government. Most of these refugees
were workers for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Vietnam.
In addition to the erection of new buildings, a number of organizational
changes took place during his presidency. In 1980, Loma Linda University
Medical Center was given its own corporate status.
In 1982, Adventist Health System/Loma Linda (now Loma Linda University
Adventist Health Sciences Center) was organized, which now encompasses
Loma Linda, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda University
Community Medical Center, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma
Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center, and several other related
entities.
Following his retirement as president of Loma Linda University in 1984,
Dr. Olsen was named scholar-in-residenceÑa position he held until his
recent death.
Dr. Olsen is remembered as a prolific writer. He published numerous articles
and several theological books including The New Testament Logia on Divorce;
John Foxe and the Elizabethan Church; The Advent Hope in Scripture and
History; Man, the Image of GodÑThe Divine Design, the Human Distortion;
Papal Supremacy and American Democracy; and Myth and Truth about Church,
Priesthood, and Ordination.
He was named first distinguished faculty lecturer by Loma Linda University
in 1972, Andrews University Alumnus of the Year in 1973, and man of the
year by the American Religious Town Hall in 1981.
He was a member of many professional societies including the British Ecclesiastical
History Society, American Church History Society, Society for Reformation
Studies, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, American
Council on Education, and American Association of Presidents of Independent
Colleges and Universities.
While serving as president of Loma Linda University, Dr. Olsen authored
a column that appeared in each issue of SCOPE, Loma Linda University's
official alumni publication.
In the final SCOPE article he wrote while serving as president, (JulyøSeptember,
1984) he emphasized what was always close to his heart: the Kingdom of
God.
Dr. Olsen wrote, "As I retire from the presidency of Loma Linda University,ÉI
wish to make use of this opportunity to thank my colleagues at the University,
the alumni, and friends for all their support, kindness, and prayers during
the past years.
"Contemplating what to write I felt impressed to emphasize that which
Christ placed first: the Kingdom of God.
"The central message of the Bible, Old and New Testaments alike,
is framed within, anchored in, and focused upon the Kingdom of God.
"If the past is prologue, the future looms with an ever-increasing
brightness, for each day sees Loma Linda University closer to its motto
Ôto make man whole' through ultimate wholeness with Him in the Kingdom
of God."
Dr. Olsen is survived by his wife, Anita Norskov Olsen, and a multitude
of friends.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a contribution to the V. Norskov
Olsen Endowed Scholarship Fund at La Sierra University, Riverside, California
92515.
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| Curtis A. Fox, PhD, director of family studies and assistant professor of marital and family therapy, in the department of counseling and family sciences, LLU, leads out in an interactive discussion on female and male relationships. |
The Black Health Professional Student Association (BHPSA) of Loma Linda
University and the Black Student Association (BSA) of La Sierra University
enjoyed another annual retreat at Pine Springs Ranch on November 12 and
13.
The retreat was made possible by the sponsorship of the Black Alumni of
Loma Linda and La Sierra Universities (BALL), Loma Linda University's
office of diversity, and La Sierra University's office of the president.
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| More than 155 students, faculty, and alumni from Loma Linda and La Sierra Universities attended the annual BALL/BHPSA/BSA Retreat held on November 12 and 13 at Pine Springs Ranch. |
During the retreat, presenters encouraged students, faculty, and alumni
to approach relationships with an attitude of responsibility and with
the knowledge that healthy relationships promote self-introspection, self-control,
and effective communication.
The retreat activities began with a thought-provoking discourse on the
deconstructive and reconstructive approach to God and human relationships
by Olive Hemmings, MRel, professor of religion and theology, Northern
Caribbean University, Mandeville, Jamaica, West Indies (formerly West
Indies College). This was followed by a moment of prayer on Sabbath morning
prior to breakfast.
Sabbath School featured an interactive discussion on female and male relationships
facilitated by Curtis A. Fox, PhD, director of family studies and assistant
professor of marital and family therapy, in the department of counseling
and family sciences, LLU. Dr. Fox's presentation was well received by
an enthusiastic audience.
¥Beverly J. Buckles, DSW, department chair, and Linda Nugen, LCSW, assistant
professor of social work, both in the department of social work, Graduate
School, presented a workshop on aging at the Gulf Coast (New Orleans)
and Western Regional Conferences (Los Angeles) of the National Association
of Social Workers. The topic of their presentation was "A Bio-Psychosocial-Spiritual
Approach to Geriatric Care Management."
¥James F. Dyer Jr., MSW, LCSW, program coordinator of social work, and
assistant professor of psychiatry, Graduate School and School of Medicine,
and G. Victoria Jackson, MSW, LCSW, assistant professor of social work,
Graduate School, presented a workshop at the Western Regional Conference
of the National Association of Social Workers, held in October in Los
Angeles. Their topic was "Spirituality and Clinical Practice."
¥Craig R. Jackson, JD, LCSW, associate professor of social work, Graduate
School, was keynote speaker for the annual meeting of the Clinical Society
of Social Workers, held in Los Angeles on November 14. His topic was "O
Brave New World with Such People in It: The Challenges of Diversity."
Dr. Jackson was the first non-clinical social worker in the history of
the organization to give a keynote address.
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Wednesday, January 10, 2001 11:57 AM
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