Sigurd Mundhjeld
Sigurd Mundhjeld (b. 1899 – d. 1977)
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Mathematics Professor 1938-1968
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Mathematics Department Chair 1948-1963
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Treasurer 1938-1948
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Director of Finance 1944-1952
Biography
Born in Norway, Sigurd Mundhjeld came to the United States when he was 15 and settled around Petersburg, ND. He graduated from Concordia College in 1925 and went on to do graduate work in mathematics and French at the Universities of Chicago, Minnesota, and Iowa, ultimately earning a master’s degree from the University of Chicago. After serving as business manager at Waldorf College in Forest City, IA, Mundhjeld returned to Concordia in 1938 as Treasurer and a mathematics instructor.
After attaining his Ph.D., Mundhjeld chaired the Mathematics Department from 1948 to 1963. In 1961, St. Olaf College bestowed upon him an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree. He also received the Outstanding Teacher Award from Concordia’s students in 1961. Proved to be a favorite not only among his students, but also his peers, Mundhjeld was selected as the first recipient of the Alma and Reuel Wije Distinguished Professorship Award, Concordia’s highest honor, from 1962-1965. A colleague once stated of Mundhjeld, “he has always been a favorite teacher. He possesses a subtle sense of humor and relentlessly challenges his students to work their hardest.”