Roland Thorstensson was a professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota for many years. With expertise in Scandinavian studies, Roland taught Swedish language as well as courses in Scandinavian literature, poetry and music, Nordic film, and other topics. In 2009, he launched a study abroad program at the university that took students throughout Sweden to learn about Swedish and Nordic politics, traditional Sami culture, emigration and immigration, modern Sweden, and science and environmental law. A native of southern Sweden, Roland earned his academic degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle.