Alexis Oberdorfer Named First Vice President and Chief Officer of Community Engagement and Partnerships for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Alexis Oberdorfer has been named Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s first Vice President and Chief Officer of Community Engagement and Partnerships. Previously, she served dual roles as President of Children’s Home Society of Minnesota and Associate Vice President for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.  

In this new role, Oberdorfer will lead Lutheran Social Service in partnering with other organizations and community leaders to advance new innovations and enterprises that build healthier and more sustainable communities that improve people’s lives.

“I am excited to step into this new role,” Oberdorfer said. “I am deeply passionate about serving the diverse communities of Minnesota. I began my career spearheading a community-county partnership and continued to foster partnerships throughout my career. Through this work, it is essential that communities have opportunities to voice their needs and be part of developing the best and most effective solutions. I look forward to being part of how we can engage in new ways to offer our support.”

Oberdorfer is a recognized subject-matter expert in child and family wellbeing who has testified at the Minnesota Legislature and led innovative public/private sector partnerships to further family preservation. She also led and operationalized the partnership and subsequent affiliation between Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and Children’s Home Society of Minnesota that began in 2012. 

Oberdorfer has served in child welfare in public and private sectors for more than 25 years, including previous positions with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare and has numerous awards for her work advancing child and family wellbeing.

As an adopted person herself, Oberdorfer brings valuable lived experience to her work having been raised in a multi-racial, multi-cultural family. She and her husband have three children, two of whom were adopted as siblings. 

“Alexis is an exceptionally gifted leader who has deep empathy and compassion for the people we serve,” said Patrick Thueson, CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. “She brings extensive experience in developing public and private partnerships that improve people’s lives and we’re thrilled to have her on our executive leadership team. We look forward to all of the new ways she will be part of inspiring hope, changing lives and building community in the years to come.”