OUR HISTORY
The Center for Urban Education Ministries (CUEM) began as the dream of a few dedicated urban educators and philanthropists seeking to support those involved in urban ministry. Charles and Mary Gundelach, Les Bayer, Richard Engebrecht, and Mel Kieschnick were instrumental in the establishment of the Center at Concordia University, Bronxville, NY in the fall of 1980. For over 20 years, the Center provided resources through workshops and print resources for urban Lutheran educators throughout the U.S. In early 2000, CUEM found its home at Wheat Ridge Ministries and later as a ministry of Lutheran Social Services of New York. 2018 saw the Center for Urban Education Ministries reborn with a fresh mission and unwavering focus. CUEM is now a separate non-profit organization (501c3) located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its mission is clear - to "relentlessly strengthen urban education." The three focus areas serve to be impactful: Recruitment, Resources, and Recognition.
OUR CORE VALUES
CHRISTIAN
COLLABORATION
CELEBRATION
COMMITMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
STEVE
GERNER
Dr. Steve Gerner is a university dean, professor, educational strategist, author, and driven leader passionate about urban school success.
Lifelong learning is necessary to navigate through the constant changes and challenges that surround education. Dr. Gerner holds a state teaching license and administrator's license.
He has created and taught numerous university courses that include, "Diversity in the Classroom", "Human Learning and Motivation", "Analysis of Classroom Practice", and "Human Relations for Teachers". Leadership involves courage, passion, knowledge, and effective communication. Dr. Gerner's leadership embraced these skills as a school administrator, university department chair, executive director of an institute, and university dean. Research-based publications and presentations are given monthly on education topics such as student success, city challenges, recruitment, funding, teacher quality, student engagement, marketing, and innovation. Superhero Educator: How to Teach with Superior Skills and Success has been wildly popular with educational stakeholders. Raising funds and awareness is an imperative for any organization. Dr. Gerner's creativity and persistence has resulted in great success to champion urban education, mental health, and educational innovations. Innovation is extremely important to add value, stay relevant, foster excitement, and secure funding. Training programs, continual improvement models, success metrics, data dashboards, active coaching, and impact projects are just a few of the innovative approaches to improving urban education that were developed by Dr. Gerner. Daily, he looks to ways to "relentlessly strengthen urban education".
Director of Experiences
Hannah
Meineke
Equity in Education has always been a part of Dr. Meineke’s vision and pedagogy. In 2020, she implemented virtual field work during and the pandemic which linked EDU students to K-12 emergent bilingual students. This experience served as a basis for a 2021 publication in the Journal of Education and Training Studies titled Virtually Uncharted Waters: How a Global Pandemic Has Taken Pre-Service Teachers out of Physical Classrooms and Perpetuated Pre-Identified Gaps in Preparedness for Working With Emergent Bilingual Students. Dr. Meineke’s mission is to serve the Lord through service to others using teaching and learning as a platform for promoting equity and embracing the doctrine of vocation. Her love for Lutheran education has strengthened Concordia’s relationship with Lutheran partners across the state and country. In the School of Ministry, Dr. Meineke has helped to create School of Ministry (SOM) time after chapel which brings ministry majors together in community and conversation. Students have described Dr. Meineke as having unmatched pedagogy, truly gifted in creating a Christ-centered and meaningful learning community.
Outside of the academic realm, Hannah, with her husband Zach, cares for her four children Eva (9), Jonah (7), Leo (5) and Nellie (4). Hannah is an active member at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Austin. Hannah and Zach also enjoy competing in distance running events and triathlons including an Ironman, and in the past two years Hannah has qualified for World Major marathons, along with achieving elite status for local races.
BOARD of DIRECTORs
Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of national leaders, experienced innovators, and insightful education experts.
Judy Benke, New York (CHAIR)
Judith Meyer, St. Louis (CO-CHAIR)
Janine Bolling, New York
Jane Buerger, Illinois
LuJuana Butts, New York
Rich Erickson, Wisconsin
Yvonne Ferwerda, MIchigan
James Handrich, Florida
Michael Hillis, California
Kent Schlichtemeier, California
Christopher Steinmann, Ohio
Chrishirella Warthen-Sutton, Wisconsin