Moberly named dean of Concordia's College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education, Leinen new MBA director

Jonathon Moberly has been named dean of Concordia University, Nebraska’s College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education. Formerly the director of the Master of Business Administration program at Concordia, Moberly hired Shannon Leinen as the new MBA director.

Moberly spent the past year as the MBA program director and assistant professor of business at Concordia. In Moberly’s tenure at the helm of the MBA program, he designed a new brand of curriculum, launched that curriculum in a new online format and on-ground at Concordia’s Fallbrook campus in north Lincoln and successfully recruited 60 new faculty members to provide the best experience for students. Concordia’s MBA program has experienced a 55% growth over the past year and now has more than 100 students enrolled in classes for the fall 2015 term. 

Some of Moberly’s duties as Concordia’s dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education include the development and implementation of a strategic plan for growth and collaborating with program directors to ensure programs are innovative and provide the highest-quality student experience. 

“One of the many reasons that I decided to take on this position was the opportunity to work with this fantastic group of program directors within the College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education,” said Moberly. “All of them have a strong faith and a dedication to providing a high-quality experience for their students. With the momentum we have been building, we believe the sky is the limit for where the College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education can go from here.”

Moberly earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Eastern Illinois University before earning a Juris Doctor in employment and labor law from St. Louis University School of Law and an MBA from Lindenwood University.

Prior to arriving at Concordia, Moberly spent seven years teaching courses at the university level in all aspects of business and law at universities in the St. Louis, Missouri, area including Central Methodist University, Maryville University, Saint Louis University and Washington University School of Law.  

When Moberly was not in the classroom, he was coaching football, basketball and track at Lutheran High School and Immanuel Lutheran School, both in St. Charles, Missouri. Prior to teaching and coaching, Moberly spent five years representing professional football players and professional soccer players in marketing efforts and contract negotiations.

Moberly’s family includes his wife, Jennifer Fruend, an assistant professor of biology at Concordia Nebraska, and their two daughters Adeline, age 6, and Eloisa, age 22 months.

Shannon Leinen is Concordia’s new Master of Business Administration program director following Moberly’s change of position. Leinen earned a Bachelor of Arts in business communication from York College before completing a Master of Arts in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University and an MBA from Harding University. Leinen spent the last eight years working at York College in various capacities including coaching soccer, being assistant director of admissions and most recently serving as assistant director of communications and coaching forensics. Leinen’s family includes her husband, Jared, and their son, Graham, aged 2 months.

“I am looking forward to continuing to develop this thriving program both online and face-to-face,” said Leinen. “Concordia’s graduate programs are providing great opportunities for their graduates, and it is obvious to me that this institution has a great vision for how professional education should be executed.”

The College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education at Concordia Nebraska offers a wide variety of programs that include RN to BSN, computer science, business administration, athletics administration, healthcare administration, public health, human services and six emphasis areas in education.

All programs can be completed in two years, and the business administration, athletics administration and education programs have accelerated options to be completed in less than two years.

Most students enrolled in a College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education program are eligible to receive a free iPad mini and free textbooks.