Dr. Marvin T. Ludwig

Dr. Marvin T. Ludwig is recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Pinnacle Professional in the field of Education as a result of his role as President Emeritus of Defiance College. Currently retired, Dr. Ludwig spent his career educating others and working in the field of Non-Profit Management. Prior to his position with Defiance College, Dr. Ludwig dedicated much of his time to the YMCA. His first professional position within the YMCA was as a youth director at the Marion, Ohio YMCA, a post he held from 1949-1954. From 1955-1968, Dr. Ludwig worked in Ethiopia as a YMCA World Service executive helping to expand that country's YMCA from one association in Addis Ababa to twenty-three centers in eighteen cities. In 1968 he became the executive director of YMCA education and income production for the International Committee, traveling extensively across the country raising money for World Service work.

Under his leadership, the YMCA became the first non-governmental organization to receive the Haile Selassie First Prize Trust Award for outstanding achievements in humanitarian activities. Another achievement of Dr. Ludwig's was the training of indigenous leadership, which eventually led to total

Ethiopian leadership of the YMCA organization and the appointment of the first Ethiopian to serve as

National Executive Secretary. Also during this time, five YMCA buildings were constructed with only three percent of the support coming from overseas. Although becoming President of Defiance College in

1975, Dr. Ludwig remained an integral of the YMCA family. He maintained membership with YMCA

Committees and Boards, including the Ohio/West Virginia Area Board from 1976-1980; Midwest Field

 

Committee from 1980-1990; National Board from 1984-1992 and the International Committee from 1978-2001. Dr. Ludwig earned his BA in Physical Education from Ohio Wesleyan University, and also holds a Doctorate of Human Letters from George Williams College, as well as a Doctorate of Technical Letters from Northwest Technical College. Dr. Ludwig dedicates his success and inspiration in loving memory of his wife of 59 years, Ruth.