Rev. Tom Ries is a graduate of Concordia Senior College and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Minnesota where he is also a doctoral degree candidate in the Higher Education Administration program.

Rev. Ries began his professional career as a Pastor and shortly thereafter, as Vice President for College Relations and Assistant to the President at Concordia University, St. Paul. He then served for nearly a decade as a Pastor before moving in to foundation and higher education administration where he has overseen operational and financial matters for Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod entities.

Rev. Ries became Concordia University, St. Paul's ninth president on June 1, 2011. He and his wife, Susie, have three grown children, one son-in-law and two granddogs.