Stan holds masters and doctoral degrees from Yale, a Master of Divinity from Luther Theological Seminary, and bachelor’s and associate’s degrees from St. Olaf and Waldorf colleges, respectively. He is an ordained pastor in the ELCA, taught New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and served as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod. He served as president of Wartburg Theologial Seminary in Iowa and Interim President of Trinity Lutheran Seminary.