He later became Dean of Administration at University of Vermont until he became Director of Higher Education for the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which had twelve schools and colleges.
He returned to his alma mater after graduate work at the University of Minnesota to serve as Assistant Dean of Men and Professor of Speech.
[3] He came to Southern California in 1957 (having lived previously in Oakland with his late wife) as a representative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The church wanted to build a liberal arts college in California, and sent Dahl to find a good location.
Orville Dahl Centrum Buildings are situated on the northwest side of campus of California Lutheran University.