On December 22, 1997, Dr. Jacob A. O. Preus III announced his acceptance of the election to serve as the president of Concordia University, Irvine.

Dr. Preus currently serves at Concordia Seminary as Dean of Faculty and as a professor in the department of systematic theology. He also serves as the faculty liaison to the Hispanic Institute of Theology, a special program to prepare Hispanic pastors and lay leaders for service in the LCMS.

Dr. Preus received his Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology, and Doctor of Theology degrees from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1980, 1985 and 1986 respectively. He joined the seminary faculty in 1986. He was chairman of the department of systematic theology from 1992- 94 and has been Dean of Faculty since 1994.

Prior to serving as a seminary faculty member, Dr. Preus was pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Palos Verdes, CA. He has also served as a chaplain for the United States Navy since 1987.

In his letter of acceptance, Dr. Preus indicated that does so"…with a mixture of joy and sadness. I am joyful about the prospect that lies ahead of me, with its challenges and opportunities. I am sad, however, when I think of leaving Concordia Seminary."

Dr. Preus will remain at Concordia Seminary through the end of the current academic year.