Dr. Victor J. Christenson

Dr. Victor J. Christenson was a veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict. Vic was a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, and received his master’s degree from the University of Montana. He then earned his doctorate from the University of Nebraska in 1967. A lifelong educator, he
served in Iowa as a high school teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent before joining the WKU faculty in 1969.

While on the Hill, Vic was a professor in and the first chairman of the Educational Administration Department. In that capacity, he was instrumental in bringing WKU to students throughout the state of Kentucky by developing off-campus courses for students pursuing graduate degrees in educational administration. Affectionately known as “Dr. Bow Tie,” he always put his students’ needs and interests first. He retired in 1984, after nearly 15 years.

He was married to Inez M. Christenson. Vic passed away on June 1, 2001.

To honor his memory, friends and family established the Dr. Victor J. Christenson Scholarship Fund. The fund assists graduate students who are full-time employees in the education system, while also pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in educational administration with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Through this fund, Vic’s legacy at WKU lives on in perpetuity.