Professor Paavola came to Concordia University Wisconsin in August, 1996.  Prior to his arrival at CUW, he was a parish pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Butternut, Wisconsin, from 1984-1996.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in English from Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota, 1979, a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1983, and a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, 1984.  Dr. Paavola completed his Ph.D. degree at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 2004.  Particular interests include the Gospel of Mark, prayer in general and the Lord's Prayer in particular, and Pauline studies.

Prof. Paavola and his wife Holly have three children, Christy born in 1983, Stephen, born in 1986, and Nicole, born in 1990.  His interests include restoration of a 1917 Ford Model T touring car, Honda motorcycles , running, and woodworking.