by Jadyn Aldrich
Class of 2025

While many in higher education are committed to academic excellence, there are perhaps few who live up to the legacy of Crown Alumna and Faculty Emerita Dr. Marilyn Weldin. At 91 years old, Dr. Weldin possesses an extensive record of achievement. Her program initiations and book publications have made valuable contributions to both Crown College and the greater community of academia. Perhaps what is most admirable about Dr. Weldin is that her career success has in no way overshadowed her spiritual walk, and her greatest impact has been her faithfulness in ministry.

The road was not easy. Marilyn’s father worked as a secret agent for the government, which led to a civilian posting assignment near a location with a severe polio outbreak in the 1940’s. At age 10, she woke up one morning to discover that she had contracted the virus and was completely paralyzed. Wartime meant that there was a shortage of ambulances, so to bring her to the hospital, emergency responders transported her in a hearse! She was hospitalized for months, and she finally recovered only to contract polio again at age 16. Her condition was so severe in both occurrences, that she had to relearn how to talk. Yet, in an inspiring display of tenacity, she recovered and pushed herself to take extra classes so that she graduated high school only one year behind. The following fall, she and 11 others from her church in Montana left for Crown College, which was named St. Paul Bible College at the time.

Dr. Weldin says she has always felt called into ministry. She earned her from Crown in 1954. Towards the end of this time, she met her future husband, Dr. Charles “Chuck” Weldin (1954), who would share her passion for ministry. They pursued this joint calling through church planting, program development, and relationship building. “We really were a team,” Dr. Marilyn Weldin said. This extended into their education.  As they were both working to attain their bachelor’s degrees, the couple often had to rotate who would attend night classes and who would stay home to watch their children.

This persistence did not go unnoticed. Dr. Weldin was teaching at the University of Nebraska in 1965 when Crown asked her to return as a professor. Having already attained her master’s in education, she accepted the call and joined the faculty while completing her bachelor’s degree in religious education the same year.

When she began teaching at Crown, the school only offered a few degrees, all of which were related to missions or Bible and theology. Dr. Weldin quickly recognized the importance of adding more majors, even those that would be considered “secular” (she attained her own degree in Special Education in 1969). Inspired, she took the initiative to start the education department at Crown.

“We built the philosophy into it that God can call you as a teacher, which could be used anywhere, even on the mission field,” she said.   Dr. Weldin created the curriculum for Crown’s four-year teaching program while simultaneously attaining her doctorate (only a year before Chuck received his). In her work with the state department and curriculum building, she eventually attained an impressive eight licensures. This project is what she considers her greatest accomplishment. However, her career was not without its challenges.

Dr. Weldin has always been passionate about is women’s rights. When she originally joined the faculty at Crown, she was one of only two women. At the time, there was still a lot of stigma in the church around women needing to be married and being viewed as less autonomous than their husbands. Dr. Weldin was key to moving this issue forward at Crown. This was one reason why she was so passionate about implementing the teacher education program, as teaching was one of only a few socially acceptable professions for women. 

Dr. Weldin highly valued the relationships she made at Crown, especially the student connections. One such student was Dr. Verna Price (1984), who would eventually become a member of the Crown College Board of Trustees. Dr. Weldin enjoys following the lives of many of her students, as well as keeping up friendships with faculty and staff. During her time at Crown, she grew especially close to the dean of women, Claudine Hindmand. They shouldered their burdens together and prayed with each other weekly. 

This integration of faith and community played a large role in Dr. Weldin’s spiritual journey. She appreciated Crown’s Chapel services and the opportunity to be surrounded by so many Christian coworkers. Amid her vast experience and multiple connections, Dr. Weldin shared that the most significant way she has seen God at work in her life has been in her own, personal relationship with Him. After her husband Chuck passed away, Dr. Weldin was blessed with a second husband named Chet Frey. While she was married, she would pray together with her husband. But with Chet’s passing making her single again, she now continues the practice of praying out loud. “I feel closer to the Lord in being able to verbalize directly to Him.”

In fact, when choosing her current place of residence, Dr. Weldin prayed that God place her somewhere where she could still have a ministry. Spending even a few moments with her and watching her interact with the other residents makes it tremendously clear that God has answered that prayer. She is a well of wisdom and encouragement and exhibits true, Christ-like love to those around her.

Dr. Weldin stays involved in Bible study and her center’s ambassador program. These opportunities, as well as her leadership role in a program called “Around the World,” where she coordinates weekly guest speakers, provide her platforms for continued ministry. At age 91, she also continues to teach! Dr. Weldin currently runs a series on sociology for seniors, one of a few psychology and sociology series she has facilitated. While she referred to these involvements as her “subtle ministry,” the impact she has seems to be anything but.

Crown College still remains dear to Dr. Weldin. When asked what advice she had for current professors, she encouraged them to keep prioritizing their own spiritual life. She knows from experience how demanding the job can be, and in those busy seasons she says, “It is very easy to drop your own spiritual time with the Lord, but that time is so important!” She also emphasized building individual connections with students. Her own intentionality, behind orienting her desk and strategically placing objects as conversation starters, helped students feel at ease in her office. Being a welcoming presence to new Crown faculty and staff is another priority she embraced.

In her advice for students, Dr. Weldin says they should keep themselves open for what God has for them. “We always need our dreams … but often dreams change, and hopefully they change for the better,” she said. “If you really want the Lord’s will in your life, He will give it to you.”