Luther President Richard Torgerson names J. Robert Paulson, Jr. to Board of Regents

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Robert Paulson

DECORAH, IA (04/01/2013)(readMedia)-- Luther College President Richard Torgerson has announced the appointment of J. Robert Paulson of Medina, Minn. to the Luther Board of Regents. Paulson will assume his duties as a Luther Regent at the board's October meeting.

"As an alumnus, Luther parent, and active college volunteer, Bob knows this institution from many perspectives," said President Torgerson. "His experience as a successful entrepreneur will be of great help as we think about new ways to deliver and strengthen the Luther experience."

Since 2008, Paulson has served as the president, CEO and director of NxThera, Inc. Paulson has spent more than 15 years as a leader in the medical technology industry.

Paulson holds a bachelor's degree cum laude in accounting, economics and political science from Luther, a master's in business administration with a concentration in finance and marketing from the University of St. Thomas and a juris doctorate degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Paulson began his career working with the Minneapolis-based company General Mills as a financial analyst, internal auditor and accountant. He left General Mills to pursue a juris doctorate degree at Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Paulson worked as an attorney for the law firm Linquist & Vennum before returning to General Mills where he served as the director of marketing, director of corporate development and legal counsel for the company.

Paulson ventured west to serve as vice president and general manager of Medtronic Surgical Navigation Technologies in Broomfield, Colo., and the senior vice president and general manager of Advanced Bionics in Santa Clarita, Calif.

He moved back to the Midwest to serve as the chief financial officer and vice president of marketing for Endocardial Solutions in St. Paul, and president and chief executive office, and director of Restore in Roseville, Minn.

He then served in various positions at Medtronic, the world's largest medical technology company, whose headquarters are located in Minneapolis. Paulson began at Medtronic in 1995 and during his time there served as the director for corporate development and later as the vice president for corporate strategy and planning.

In the past several years, Paulson has been active on a number of Luther College committees, including the sesquicentennial strategic planning committee, the Annual Fund council, the Luther College Presidentsråd, a presidential advisory group, and most recently, the Regents Outreach and Gifts committee. Other volunteer activities have included serving as president of the St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church council as well as the chair for the personnel committee, chair and director of the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute Foundation board, director of the Pillsbury Neighborhood Services board and the director of the Washburn Center for Children board of directors. He has also volunteered for the Minneapolis Legal Aid Society.

Paulson, originally from Beloit, Wis., and his wife, Barbara Cook Paulson, are the parents of four children; Matthew, Luther class of 2004; Timothy; Christopher, Luther class of 2013; and Bethany. Their family resides in Medina, Minn.