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Title: Augsburg Now Spring 2013: Auggies Love Life In The City
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: Twin Cities urban anchors Nobel Peace Prize Forum 2013 Physician assistant program success Getting social with Auggies auggies LOVE LIFE IN THE city SPRING 2013 | VOL. 75, NO. 2 inside AUGSBURG NOW $10 MILLION GIFT ONE GIANT LEAP FOR AUGSBURG In early April, Augsburg College was hono...
Show more Twin Cities urban anchors Nobel Peace Prize Forum 2013 Physician assistant program success Getting social with Auggies auggies LOVE LIFE IN THE city SPRING 2013 | VOL. 75, NO. 2 inside AUGSBURG NOW $10 MILLION GIFT ONE GIANT LEAP FOR AUGSBURG In early April, Augsburg College was honored with a $10 million, unrestricted gift from a 1965 alumnus. The funds will be used for a new academic building that will house the College’s science, business, and religion programs. Visit Inside Augsburg to learn more: IN THIS ISSUE inside.augsburg.edu. Features Departments 6 Getting social with Auggies | COMPILED BY STEPHANIE WEISS 8 Nobel Peace Prize Forum 12 Urban anchors | BY JAY WALLJASPER 18 Physician assistant program success | BY LAURA SWANSON 20 Drawing from experience | BY LAURA SWANSON 2 Around the Quad | 5 My Auggie experience All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 11 Auggies on the ﬁeld | 16 Auggie voices 21 Alumni news | 24 Alumni class notes 28 It takes an AAuggie Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Notes from President Pribbenow Doing the work Campus is still buzzing with excitement about the generous $10 million donation that will support the Center for Science, Business, and Religion (see opposite page). This unprecedented gift profoundly honors the important work we do at Augsburg College, and it builds on a growing trend of external recognition for the role Augsburg plays in our community. Another testament to Augsburg’s value was earning the National Society for Experiential Education’s 2012 William M. Burke Presidential Award for Excellence in Experiential Education this past fall (see “Around the Quad” in the fall 2012 Augsburg Now). The award honors the College’s long-standing commitment to experiential learning—reaching across decades from the legends of our faculty, including Joel Torstenson, Vern Bloom, Garry Hesser, Mary Kingsley, Frankie Shackelford, and countless others, to a newer generation of teachers and scholars who come to Augsburg intent on ensuring that this distinctive educational experience will continue for future generations. I am proud to be their partner in this important work and to tell their stories far and wide. Augsburg’s commitment to engaging in and learning from the world is one that the College has sustained even through very difﬁcult times. Four years ago, when Augsburg student Ahmednur Ali was fatally shot as he left the Brian Coyle Community Center where he was tutoring Somali junior high students, was one of those times—a time of immense sadness that challenged our mission and character as a College dedicated to serving our neighbors. It is fair to say that fear and anxiety could have led us to pull back from our community, but that is not what Augsburg did. Certainly we took the time we needed to heal, but then we stood together and recognized that our work in the neighborhood— work that is at the heart of our academic mission— was more important than ever, and that it was critical for us to return to our work so that our entire neighborhood might be safe, healthy, and prosperous. And that—I am proud to say—is what we did. We Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Integrated Communication Specialist Laura Swanson swansonl@augsburg.edu Creative Director formed a neighborhood partnership to address security and economic development and infrastructure needs. We forged additional partnerships with neighborhood groups and community agencies. And we spent time together, doing the work of improving our community. Today, I can ﬁrmly attest that our neighborhood is safer, stronger, more vibrant, and more united than ever before. That, to me, is what our commitment to experiential learning is meant to achieve: education for our students, of course, and also a safer and more just community for all of us who live and work here. Each fall, I offer our incoming students a simple message about “what is required of them” as they join our community. One of those requirements, I tell them, is to “do the work.” Yes, the work assigned to them, but even more so, the work that they discern and pursue as important and meaningful. Our mission at Augsburg—“to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders”—is not just a set of nice aspirations, but a challenge to all of us to do the work that the world so needs done. This issue of Augsburg Now includes many examples of the work our students and alumni do—on campus and in the world. I couldn’t be more proud of our commitment to real-world experiences—a commitment at the heart of our mission. Auggies take their studies out into the world and enrich both their learning and the world around us. Our location, our active and highly connected faculty, our dedicated and generous donors, our commitment to linking the liberal arts and professional studies, and the important role Augsburg plays in the Twin Cities and around the world—all of these provide our students with experiences that deepen their learning and their preparedness for life beyond college. That’s good for our students, and it’s good for the communities where Auggies live and work. PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Production Manager/Now Online Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Senior Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reﬂect ofﬁcial College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu Email: now@augsburg.edu quad around the MASTER OF FINE ARTS Photo by Natasha D’Schommer in Creative Writing SCHOLARS at the Capitol During February, McNair Scholars Charles Olson ’13 [pictured above] and Roseanna Benser ’13 represented Augsburg at the Minnesota Private College Scholars at the Capitol research poster session. Olson, a biopsychology major, presented the research he conducted with biology assistant professor David Crowe on brain activity during perception. Benser, a sociology major, shared an analysis of audience perception during stand-up comedy performances, research she conducted with sociology professor James Vela-McConnell. This annual event, sponsored by the Minnesota Private College Council, highlighted the research of undergraduate students from 15 Minnesota colleges and universities. Augsburg College is accepting applications for its new, low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. The program initially will offer four concentration areas: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. The twoyear program features an annual 10-day summer residency, one-on-one work with mentors, a student-to-mentor ratio of five to one, and engaging online classroom sessions. This program, the only one of its kind in the region, will be taught by distinguished Augsburg faculty and visiting writers. To find out more about the MFA program, go to augsburg.edu/mfa. CONNECT STROMMEN SPEAKER SERIES 2 Augsburg Now The Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Speaker Series at Augsburg College, which brings local business leaders to campus to share insights and expertise, kicked off in November with Sally Smith [pictured at left], president and CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings. Smith, who joined the company as chief financial officer in 1994 when it was a chain of only 35 restaurants, talked of establishing the infrastructure needed to create the nation’s fastest-growing restaurant chain. The company now has nearly 850 restaurants in 48 states and Canada. In February, Auggies heard from Chris Killingstad, the president and CEO of Tennant Company. Killingstad described how Tennant is pursuing its vision—through product innovation and employee engagement— to become a global leader in chemical-free cleaning and other technologies. Killingstad joined Tennant, a world-leading manufacturer of cleaning solutions, floor coatings, and industrial equipment, in 2002 and became CEO in 2005. Augsburg named a“Top 5” theater program outside of New York Backstage magazine’s 2012 Fall College Guide listed Augsburg College among the top five U.S. institutions for theater majors who wish to continue their studies professionally. “In our Theater Arts Department, students connect with professional artists in the city while they delve into their theater courses,” said Darcey Engen ’88, Augsburg College associate professor and chair of theater arts. Backstage, a theater publication in existence for more than 50 years, recommended an Augsburg education for “enterprising, driven students looking to climb the [professional] ladder in double time.” The article described the three academic theater concentrations offered by the College, which include performance, directing/ dramaturgy/playwriting, and design/technical. The article also highlighted Augsburg’s course offerings and emphasized the theater program’s proximity to the renowned, Minneapolis-based Guthrie Theater. FIFTH AUGGIE WINS prestigious Milken Award Since 2004, five Augsburg College alumni have won the prestigious Milken Educator Award. Steve Abenth ’04, a fourth-grade teacher and choir director at Highland Park Elementary in St. Paul, was awarded the Milken Educator Award for the State of Minnesota this past November. Abenth earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education through Augsburg’s adult undergraduate program. The $25,000 award was established in 1985 by the Milken Family Foundation to recognize excellence in early- to mid-career educators. Other Auggies who have won the award include Jacki Brickman ’97, Tracey Cross ’01, Maggie Knutson ’91, and Kelly Woods ’98. To read more about Augsburg’s Milken Educator Award winners, go to augsburg.edu/now. To read the full article, go to augsburg.edu/now. Norwegian parlimentarian visits Augsburg Augsburg College hosted Norwegian parliamentarian Marianne Aasen on her first trip to Minnesota. Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow invited Aasen to visit the College to further her understanding of U.S. higher education and to explore topics central to her vocation. Her trip included meeting dozens of Auggies, including those from Norway, students in an environmental politics class, interns to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum (hosted and organized by the College), and Augsburg’s Peace Scholars. Aasen, far right, meets with Augsburg students. Spring 2013 3 AUGGIES SHINE at college film festival Three Auggies were recognized for outstanding work as filmmakers at the 2012 Student Film Festival hosted by the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC). • Carly (Lassegard) Johnson ’11 won Best of Show for her film Angel. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in film and English. CONVOCATION SERIES 2012-13 BOLD VISIONS quad around the The Humanities and Fine Arts Convocation in November featured Dan Phillips, a designer and builder of recycled housing. Phillips also is founder of the Phoenix Commotion, a building initiative that was created to demonstrate that salvaged materials can be and are viable building materials. In January, a group of performers at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation explored the legacy of King through song, movement, images, and writings by the civil rights leader. The performers were led by T. Mychael Rambo, an accomplished singer-songwriter, playwright, and arts educator. The Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics in February welcomed Susan E. Pick, professor of psychology at National University of Mexico. Pick shared insights on ways the “Human Capabilities Approach” was used to develop programs that reached more than 19 million people in Mexico who became agents of change in their own lives and communities in areas of citizenship, development, education, and health. The approach also was used in 14 other Latin American countries. Augsburg’s Convocation Series is a cross-disciplinary speaker series that explores ideas and thoughts around the impact each person can have in a world of nearly seven billion people. To find out more about the Augsburg Convocation series, go to augsburg.edu/convo. MANY VOICES • Casey Bargsten ’14 won for Best Experimental Film. Bargsten is studying film at Augsburg. • Joe Funk ’11 won the Technical Award. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in film and theater arts. The ACTC Student Film Festival celebrated more than 60 short films including narratives, documentaries, experimental films, and avant-garde films. All the films were created during the 2011-12 academic year. Augsburg students submitted work from virtually every class offered in the College’s film studies program, said Wesley Ellenwood, an Augsburg communication studies instructor. Ellenwood, who serves on the ACTC Student Film Festival committee, said the festival is a chance for students to have their work formally presented in a theater of more than 200 seats. 4 Augsburg Now INTERACTIVE ART Students in Graphic Design I and II courses during the fall semester researched the history, philosophy, and practice of the Augsburg Central Health Commons and the Health Commons at Dar Ul-Quba. The students learned that for many of the 20,000 people seen by the nurses every year at the Commons, a pair of clean socks can be very important. The students worked with assistant art professor Christopher Houltberg to host “Health Commons: Exhibition and Sock Exchange,” an interactive art exhibit where viewers could take an original print home if they donated a clean pair of socks to the Health Commons. To read the full article, go to augsburg.edu/now. my auggie experience Have a dream. Focus on key priorities. Recognize the importance of the team. Never give up. THESE ARE THE FOUR LIFE LESSONS Mike Good ’71 shared with Augsburg alumni at the Eye Opener breakfast in January, a talk that tied together key themes of Good’s journey to Augsburg and back again. It started at Fridley High School where, Good said, his dream was to become a wrestling state champion. He posted a sign above his bedroom door—“SC” for “state champion”—to remind him every day of his goal and the importance of working toward it. In his senior year, his high school won the state championship as a team. Individually, though, Good lost in the semi-finals, ultimately placing third—a result that was critical to the overall team’s victory. Listening to Good recount the story, it’s clear that the team accomplishment is as important to him as any individual title might have been. Have a dream. Focus on priorities. Recognize the importance of the team. At Augsburg, Good said, he was passionate about racial justice and freedom from hunger. A sociology major and physical education minor, he also remained passionate about wrestling. His new goal: to be Augsburg’s first All-American wrestler. Again, as Good recounted the outcomes of this dream, he not only reported his own success in winning an All-American title, but with equal relish named several of his teammates—Daryl Miller ’69, Ron Johnson ’72, Pat Marcy ’72—who also earned All-American titles during their time at Augsburg. Dream. Focus. Team. When Good got into real estate, he brought this same focus and drive to his leadership. By 1998, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer for NRT Incorporated, responsible for the oversight of more than 1,000 offices nationally. Then, in 2004, when his parent company, Cendant Corporation, bought the rights to use the Sotheby’s brand, he was tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. No one ever had built a luxury real estate franchise before, Good said. So, early on, many of the premier independent real estate companies in the U.S. were not interested in joining Sotheby’s. Instead of worrying about that, Good focused his team on building a unique value proposition for Sotheby’s real estate, growing the franchise to 650 offices in 45 countries. In the end, many of those same independent real estate companies who said, “no thanks,” at the beginning, joined the Sotheby’s operation and, according to Good, dramatically grew their sales within the first few years of taking on the Sotheby’s name. Focus on priorities. Recognize the importance of the team. Never give up. This past January, Good retired from Sotheby’s and, with his wife, Ann, moved back to Minnesota. He also just completed four years as chair of the Augsburg College Board of Regents, where he has served since 2001. So now he has taken on a new challenge: serving as campaign chair of Augsburg’s capital campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. In his January talk, Good acknowledged that the campaign has moved forward more slowly than desired but, he said, “Nothing happens without belief.” Today, Good has another sign above his door: “CSBR. Believe.” Another dream, another focus. A team, Good said, that will include alumni and others who can and will make a significant impact on the College. And, even if it takes longer than expected, Good said, he is in this for the long haul. “I believe in this college,” Good said. “I believe in what it does for young men and women, helping them grapple with the issues of today and come out as leaders.” To learn more about Augsburg’s capital campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion, contact Heather Riddle, vice president of institutional advancement, 612-330-1177, riddle@augsburg.edu. I couldn’t be more proud to represent @AugsburgCollege as a @FulbrightPrgrm scholar in the Czech Republic – @adamspanier Getting Nice day for a bike ride, right @niceridemn? Temps in the single digits, but that’s not too cold for #Auggies. #AuggieCAM SOCIAL with Auggies Drove by @AugsburgCollege today & involuntarily beamed with pride when I saw the “#Auggies We are Called” banners outside Oren. #AuggiePride – @mnemosynekura Members of the Augsburg College community are increasingly turning to social media to get connected and to stay in touch with what is happening on campus. People connecting to the College in social media— Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or other social media sites—include current students and alumni, faculty and staff, media and policymakers, and people from across the globe. Here’s a snapshot of some of the College’s most established social media channels by number of followers: Facebook: 5,336 JOIN THE CONVERSATION facebook.com/augsburgcollege Twitter: 2,365 @AugsburgCollege LinkedIn: 2,263 linkedin.com/company/augsburg-college Check us out online and on your favorite social media sites. We welcome your comments, tweets, posts, and photographs. facebook.com/augsburgcollege “Like” us and get updates in your Facebook feed. twitter.com/AugsburgCollege Follow @AugsburgCollege on Twitter for information about upcoming events and other news. instagram/AugsburgCollege Get a glimpse into life at Augsburg through our Instagram photo feed. storify.com/AugsburgCollege Check us out on Storfiy to see what’s happening on campus and what students, alumni, and others are saying about their Auggie experience. 6 Augsburg Now WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING TWITTER Found out I could graduate from @AugsburgCollege summa cum laude. My heart is in my throat. It’s a lot of work, but I think I’m gonna try. – @littlelizbeth The college I really want to go to is Augsburg College. – @ThE_KinG_54 So thankful for the tunnels and skyways @AugsburgCollege today! – @jordan_leigh13 Graphic design students @AugsburgCollege met w/@cityof saintpaul staff to discuss concepts for a new stormwater drain stencil #CityLabs – @CityLabsatACTC Accepted into the PA program at Augsburg College! God is faithful! #PAbound – @jennanoonan33 Oh my gosh. The people from Augsburg College were such sweethearts. I love each & every one of y’all. <3 – @amyyvon A big congrats to my son’s college basketball team, they are 7-0. Way to go Augsburg – @sdionyoung WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING My research @AugsburgCollege just got accepted for the APA National Conference in Hawaii! (jumps up and down repeatedly) – @LadyChristy So glad I picked Augsburg. Happy kid right thereeee. – @kfec3 INSTAGRAM 1 Getting ready for the 25th @NPPF March 8-10 in Minneapolis! @AugsburgCollege #NPPF #NobelPeacePrize – @LandOLakesInc I am now a college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree! #AugsburgCollege #MinneapolisMinnesota – @ZachKim21 Can’t wait to walk with the Class of 2013 in early May. We’re a great class. #Auggies – @WhatAPriss Steve Abenth ’04=5th @AugsburgCollege grad to win prestigious @Milken award for teaching. #WeAreCalled – @Milken To say the #NobelPeacePrizeForum is inspiring is an understatement – @OfficialGNiver 2 3 1 “With one day remaining in January, let’s cheer on the #Auggies who are sticking with their fitness resolutions for the New Year.” #AuggieCAM 1/21/2013 2 “Arianna Genis ’13 received the Spirit of MLK Award at today’s #MLKConvocation.” #WeAreCalled 1/30/2013 3 “Alumni & their families ice skated during the recent #Auggie Night at the Depot. What’s your favorite winter hobby?” #AuggieCAM 1/23/2013 #AUGGIEPRIDE Auggie Eddie Frizell back on campus for Mpls Police Department promotions. He’s now a Deputy Chief! #AuggiePride – @AugsburgCollege Wear pink at Augsburg’s home athletic events this weekend to support the fight against breast cancer! #AuggiePride – @AugsburgAuggies I’ve got big dreams. Augsburg records I’m coming for you at the MIAC championships tomorrow #AuggiePride – @LouLouBell0491 I am soo geeked1 that my school is hosting Omar @Offendum and Brother Ali for the #2NobelPeacePrize. S/O3 to @Augsburg College! #AuggiePride – @LoveLikeHani THE TWEET DEFINED: 1 ➦ geeked = excited 2 # = A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by a hash mark that’s used to categorize social media posts by topic. 3 S/O = shout out Spring 2013 7 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM March 8-10, 2013 Augsburg’s Ibrahim Al-Hajiby ’14 [above center] leaves Christensen Center with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman [above right] and Karman’s husband. Al-Hajiby served as Karman’s attaché during her visit to Minnesota for the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Karman and Al-Hajiby both are from Yemen, and Karman is the youngest person in history to be named a Laureate. Al-Hajiby accompanied Karman to appointments, helped her navigate campus, and became a trusted member of her team while she was at Augsburg. To watch an audio slideshow about Al-Hajiby’s experience, go to augsburg.edu/now. 8 Augsburg Now WE ARE Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Tawakkol Karman [center] and Muhammad Yunus [right] leave Si Melby Hall at Kennedy Center following their addresses to K-12 students at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum Festival. Karman, of Yemen, won the Nobel Prize in 2011 for her work as a journalist and human rights activist. She is called the “Mother of the Arab Spring.” Yunus, who won the Nobel Prize in 2006, is from Bangladesh. He pioneered a form of banking known as “microcredit,” the practice of making very small loans to people with little or no collateral. “The Father of Microcredit,” Yunus founded Grameen Bank to give loans of about $100 each to more than 8.4 million people, 94 percent of whom are women. HIP HOP AND PEACE CALLED TO INSPIRE PEACE Internationally known hip hop artist and activist Brother Ali [above left], of Minneapolis, presented and performed during the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. He was joined by Omar Offendum [above right], a Syrian-American rapper and activist. The two men explored the dynamics of peace and hip hop through songs, poetry, lecture, and dance. The event built upon the success of last year’s “Ethics and Hip Hop” presentation by Dessa, a Minneapolis rapper, singer, and writer. Spring 2013 9 THE 25TH ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM—a conference that celebrates the importance, consequence, and controversy of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates—was March 8-10 in Minneapolis. “This event brings members of the world’s most exclusive club—Nobel Peace Prize Laureates—to campus,” said Maureen Reed, executive director of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, which is housed at Augsburg College. “Students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to interact with people who fundamentally have changed and are changing the world.” More than 6,000 people attended throughout the three days of the event, which explored issues related to peacemaking, world security, and global stability. One of the 2011 Nobel laureates, Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, spoke on Global Day, and 2006 laureate Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh spoke on Business Day. Dr. Paul Farmer, chair of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School and cofounder of Partners in Health, spoke to a packed house [left] on Science and Health Day. In addition to offering inspiration from global peacemakers, the Forum provides an opportunity for participants to understand why individuals “halfway across the globe” should care about one another. “One of the mission commitments of Augsburg is to educate students to be informed global citizens,” said Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow. “By bringing the world to campus, we also get to know our neighbors, which is fundamental to our identity as a college of the Lutheran church.” Watch the laureate addresses and other keynote presentations from the Forum at nobelpeaceprizeforum.org. To see more photos from the Forum, go to augsburg.edu/now. LEAD SPONSOR MAJOR SPONSORS SCIENCE AND HEALTH DAY SPONSOR GLOBAL DAY SPONSOR EVENT SPONSORS Jeanne M. Voigt Foundation US Embassy-Oslo Winds of Peace Foundation MEDIA SPONSOR DONORS Global Spotlight-GPS Alliance HealthPartners Liv Dahl Fund of the Saint Paul Foundation 10 Augsburg Now auggies on the field Steward, athlete, scholar If Paul Hallgren ’13 isn’t at Parade Stadium, home of the Auggie baseball team, he might be in Augsburg’s Writing Lab helping a student with a paper. He could be studying in the Honors program lounge or having a high-minded discussion in the Quad with colleagues in the Philosophy Club. And if he’s not in the aforementioned places, it’s possible that he is at an event representing the College as an Augsburg Steward. This busy outfielder and double major in philosophy and English is able to balance his studies with his other activities and responsibilities in part because he’s bright and talented, but he also gives a lot of credit to his coaches and professors. “I love that I can have direct correspondence with my professors and that they know me and know I’m involved on campus,” Hallgren said. “They are always willing to make sure I have what I need.” Hallgren was able to meet some of his future professors when he was recruited by Coach Keith Bateman to play baseball and came to Augsburg for a campus visit. “I felt that they were genuinely interested in me in ways that professors at a large institution might not be,” Hallgren said. Hallgren has played with the Auggie baseball team since his first year at Augsburg and said that being an athlete with off-season practices helped him adjust to the rigor of a college schedule. “I was responsible for putting my schedule in order and making sure I got everything done,” he said. If not for athletics, Hallgren supposed he might have been a bit lazy. But “lazy” is one word most would not use to describe Hallgren. During his first year at Augsburg, he provided research assistance to professor Larry Crockett for Crockett’s paper on pragmatism, and last year he spent a semester in Scotland studying English modernism and Scottish literature. Through the Augsburg Stewards program, Hallgren learns leadership and networking skills by connecting alumni to the College and working with current students to encourage their continued involvement with Augsburg after graduation. As a tutor in the Writing Lab, Hallgren helps undergraduate and graduate students with all stages of the writing process and in all academic areas. “I really enjoy reading others’ papers and helping them learn how to convey their thoughts in a coherent way,” Hallgren said. “I hope they come away from a session feeling more confident in themselves and in their ability to write.” Hallgren said these extra activities have shaped him and his Augsburg experience. “I feel like I’m a much more well-rounded individual as a result of participating in other activities.” This spring, find Hallgren and the Auggie baseball team at Parade Stadium, 400 Kenwood Parkway in Minneapolis. The regular season begins in late March and ends in early May. And see the new baseball dugout built with donations from the Augsburg A-Club, a service organization of former and current Augsburg College athletes and friends of the College. e WENDI WHEELER ’06 Spring 2013 11 AN INCREASINGLY GLOBALIZED ECONOMY leaves communities everywhere anxious about losing good jobs. Even the prosperous Twin Cities is no exception, as the closing of the St. Paul Ford plant and the transfer of Delta Air Lines employees show. It’s bad news for the whole region when jobs leave, including local institutions like Augsburg that benefit from being located in a thriving community. An increase in unemployment, poverty, and social dislocation in neighborhoods surrounding the campus would raise new challenges for the College in attracting students, faculty, and contributions. But there’s good news, too. Some of the Twin Cities’ biggest employers aren’t going anywhere. How can we be sure? Because “anchor” institutions like colleges, medical centers, and cultural institutions serve the people of a particular area and are in fact defined by their location and the people they serve. For example, try to imagine Fairview Hospital moving to Beijing or Augsburg to New Orleans. They would not be the same in another place because they 12 Augsburg Now anchor the communities in which they are located. Many communities coast-to-coast see these “eds and meds” institutions as crucial, not just for keeping jobs but for keeping neighborhoods vibrant. Anchor institutions are the largest employer in 66 of the 100 largest U.S. core cities, according to a study from the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. “Colleges and hospitals are embedded in their community and have a real stake in seeing that it thrives,” explained Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow, who is chair of an ambitious new anchor initiative along the light rail Central Corridor. Large-scale anchor strategies have been proven to work under rigorous conditions in Philadelphia, Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Syracuse—where economic challenges far surpass those here in the Twin Cities. But anchor strategies are not confined to cities with dire social and economic conditions. A set of Boston hospitals has established successful training, employment, and housing programs to boost surrounding neighborhoods; other projects are underway in Phoenix, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. Augsburg stands out as a leader in the Twin Cities’ anchor institution strategy—thanks to longstanding programs that partner students and faculty with the community to increase public safety, boost local education, provide health care services, promote economic development, work with immigrant groups, train neighborhood youth, improve the urban environment, and feed people in need. Steve Peacock, Augsburg’s director of community relations who works closely with many of the projects, said the programs fit with Augsburg’s distinctive mission as an urban liberal arts college. “It’s one of the things that distinguishes us. We offer an opportunity for students to be engaged in the neighborhood. For us, it’s not just a charitable activity. It creates shared value.” Augsburg recently became one of a dozen anchor institutions—ranging from Allina and HealthPartners to the University of Minnesota—that were first to sign on to the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership, a joint effort funded by the McKnight Foundation to strengthen communities along the light rail line between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Pribbenow pointed out the immense economic and civic potential of nine medical facilities and seven colleges in the corridor that together account for 67,000 jobs, 115,000 students, and 100 current or planned capital improvement projects totaling $5 billion. Eric Muschler, the McKnight Foundation program officer involved with the project, noted that Augsburg’s long involvement in the West Bank community offered inspiration for the overall Anchor Partnership. “[Augsburg IN THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR, AUGSBURG IS ONE OF 9 MEDICAL FACILITIES 7 COLLEGES AND THAT TOGETHER ACCOUNT FOR 100 67,000 JOBS, 115,000 STUDENTS, AND CURRENT OR PLANNED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TOTALING has] been thinking about this longer,” he said. “This is not do-gooderism,” Pribbenow stressed. “This is moving beyond the charity model. We have real interests that are at play with the neighborhood. For us, this is about our students. It contributes to their education, their safety, and a vital urban environment where they live. This is not just what we give to the community, it’s about our shared interests and mutual benefits.” Five years ago, Augsburg took a leading role in the creation of the CedarRiverside Partnership, where stakeholders including West Bank businesses, Fairview Clinics-Riverside, University of Minnesota, neighborhood organizations, the City of Minneapolis, and Hennepin County explore new ways of working together in the neighborhood. Pribbenow currently serves as the partnership’s chair. “At first the group was all about safety,” Pribbenow said, noting how partners raised funds to increase security at a community center, supported a neighborhood crime prevention group, and helped plan a community safety center that opened at a nearby housing complex. “If you talk to the police department, they will tell you that all of this work by many institutions and community organizations has improved the safety and vitality of the neighborhood in a surprisingly short amount of time.” That initial success showed everyone what could be accomplished cooperatively. The group’s attention then widened to the coming Central Corridor light rail line. Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin told the group, “If you get this right, it will undo the damage that was done” when Interstates 94 and 35W essentially walled off Cedar-Riverside from the rest of the city. “This work is about resurrecting a neighborhood,” Pribbenow noted. “Cedar-Riverside could become a destination for the whole region.” That’s also a goal of the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership: to make sure that adjacent neighborhoods capitalize on the transformative benefits of this nearly $1 billion public investment. Pribbenow outlines four major initiatives to strengthen Central Corridor communities, which in turn strengthen anchor institutions such as Augsburg. 1 PROCUREMENT—A Central Corridor Funders Collaborative study found that 16 major anchor institutions already spend more than $300 million $5 BILLION in goods and services from neighborhood businesses. Finding practical ways to increase this local spending—both individually and as a group—makes a good investment, said Augsburg’s Peacock. “Local purchasing benefits the local economy, which means a healthier neighborhood.” When it came time to reupholster the chairs in Hoversten Chapel, for instance, Augsburg found a small Native Americanowned business in the nearby Phillips neighborhood to do the job. A class of Augsburg MBA students is now investigating more opportunities on this front. 2 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT— The same principle of keeping resources circulating throughout the community applies to the goal of hiring more neighborhood residents at anchor institutions. Of course, as Peacock noted, this depends on finding people with the right skills. “How do we connect residents to the training and certification programs that are needed for the jobs?” That’s where Augsburg’s nursing and physician assistant programs come in, preparing young people to work at the nine medical facilities along the light rail line. For several years, Augsburg has gone one step further in developing the future health care workforce by hosting Spring 2013 13 “THIS IS NOT DO-GOODERISM,” PRESIDENT PAUL PRIBBENOW STRESSED. “THIS IS MOVING BEYOND THE CHARITY MODEL. WE HAVE REAL INTERESTS THAT ARE AT PLAY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. FOR US, THIS IS ABOUT OUR STUDENTS. IT CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR SAFETY, AND A VITAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY LIVE. THIS IS NOT JUST WHAT WE GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY, IT’S ABOUT OUR SHARED INTERESTS AND MUTUAL BENEFITS.” Urban Scrubs Camp (in conjunction with Fairview and the state-funded HealthForce Minnesota) to excite young people about careers in health care. Augsburg’s many community partners invite interested high school students to spend a week on campus in order to get a feel for work in these fast-expanding fields and for college life. St. Paul College, at the other end of the Central Corridor, is now adopting the idea. 3 ENGAGED LEARNING—Augsburg holds honors from the National Society for Experiential Education (2012) and the White House’s Presidential Award for Community Service (2010), which demonstrate the College’s leadership in this area. “Since the 1960s, we’ve taken advantage of the city itself as a classroom,” Pribbenow noted. “It’s part of what make us distinctive.” Nursing students, for instance, gain invaluable experience working at the school’s drop-in health centers at Riverside Plaza and Central Lutheran Church. Hundreds of students also have volunteered at the Cedar Riverside Community School, a K-8 charter school at Riverside Plaza, and the Augsburg Fairview Academy public high school in the Phillips neighborhood. All Auggies can be involved with the Campus Kitchen, a student-led project that distributes 2,000 meals a month to homeless shelters, youth programs, and senior and community centers. Similarly, Augsburg’s community garden finds students, community groups, and neighborhood residents growing vegetables side by side. Trinity Lutheran Congregation, which was founded by Norwegian immigrants 140 years ago and today is home to many Eritrean and Ethiopian immigrants, is housed right on campus in a unique arrangement that further strengthens the ties between college and community. Students are involved with the congregation’s tutoring program for immigrants living in Cedar-Riverside and in interfaith collaborations with Augsburg’s many Muslim neighbors. 4 PLACEMAKING—Neighborhoods do not stay vital on economic development alone; a strong sense of place contributes greatly to their success. Augsburg reaches out into the community in many ways to improve the built environment and enhance the distinctive character of the neighborhood. This goal is woven throughout the College’s campus master plan. The Oren Gateway Center, which opens onto Riverside Avenue, is symbolic of the College’s commitment to community connection. Another welcoming gateway is being considered long term for property Augsburg owns on Riverside Avenue on the east side of campus. Riverside Avenue itself underwent a remarkable makeover in the last few years—with improved bike lanes and a new street configuration to calm traffic—thanks in part to the College’s cooperation with the city of Minneapolis. “There are improvements on Riverside that would not be there if we had not sat down with the city and said we wanted them,” Pribbenow said. It is exactly this type of leadership, collaboration, and active engagement in community building that Augsburg and its anchor partners will now extend to the entire Central Corridor region through this innovative new anchor institutions initiative. Jay Walljasper, a senior fellow with Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning, specializes in city and community issues. He is author of The Great Neighborhood Book and All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons. Read more at jaywalljasper.com. 14 Augsburg Now ANCHOR INSTITUTION STRATEGIES across the United States Augsburg’s recent participation in an “anchor” approach to community revitalization does not rely simply on theory. Large-scale strategies have been tested successfully under rigorous conditions in U.S. cities where economic challenges surpass those in the Twin Cities. CLEVELAND • Anchor institutions teamed up to create a series of worker-owned cooperatives. • Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, and University Hospitals will benefit from light rail improvements and a new high-speed bus line. • A growers cooperative was formed to produce local food. A FUTURE PROJECT MAY INCLUDE A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY TO SHUTTLE PATIENTS TO HOSPITALS. PHILADELPHIA • Anchor strategies were pioneered in West Philadelphia. • The University of Pennsylvania redefined its relationship with the community from isolation to interaction. SYRACUSE • The city’s Near Westside, one of the 10 poorest census tracts in the United States, is transforming into a center for technology, design, and art. Successful initiatives included launching an incentive program for workers to live in the area, reviving commercial districts, creating more than 600 jobs, and more. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY RAISED $ 56 million FOR ITS PLANS TO BETTER CONNECT DOWNTOWN WITH ITS CAMPUS. DETROIT • Housing initiatives transformed an area notorious for abandoned properties into a desirable neighborhood. • Hospitals convinced a medical products vendor to move its distribution center from the suburbs to the city, creating 140 jobs. • The Henry Ford Health System established a five-year program in area high schools that trains and certifies students for jobs in 10 health care occupations. Other communities with anchor initiatives underway: ATLANTA BOSTON CINCINNATI PHOENIX WASHINGTON, D.C. To learn more about anchor initiatives in these communities, go to augsburg.edu/now. Spring 2013 15 auggie voices From Z to A: Zimbabwean student discovers his dream at Augsburg During the 2011 Agre Symposium at Augsburg College, Kirubel Frew ’14 was apprehensive in introducing himself to Peter Agre ’70—the 2003 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. But the conversation between the Auggie and one of the College’s most notable alumni proved to be the first discussion of many. “I happened to mention that I was from Zimbabwe,” Frew recalled. “[Agre] said, ‘Zim? Zim? I love Zim. It’s a beautiful country. I believe Zimbabwe will have a scientific boom within the next decade.’” As an international student, Frew selected Augsburg because of its well-respected science programs and its welcoming staff, which he identified during his college application process. Today he recognizes that the warmth of the Augsburg community extends beyond campus to its alumni network. That’s because what began as a simple chat between Agre and Frew regarding their ties to Zimbabwe matured into a bond through which the Nobel laureate has shaped the career aspirations of one of the College’s standout third-year 16 Augsburg Now chemists. Frew views Agre’s ability to operate a research lab, speak to audiences around the globe, and inspire young scientists as ‘a dream job’ and a goal he could not have identified without studying at Augsburg. “Years ago, I wouldn’t have believed all this was possible,” Frew said. “Meeting a Nobel laureate in chemistry is awesome, and being mentored by him is even more awesome.” This mentorship began when Agre invited Frew to conduct research at the Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute during summer 2012 and to attend the Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany, an exclusive annual event that brings together several dozen chemistry and physics laureates and an equal number of student guests. Frew was a fitting choice for these life-changing opportunities because he developed the critical thinking skills that high-level research requires during the summer after his first year at Augsburg. He participated in a 10-week faculty-led research program through the College’s Office of STUUDDEENNT Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO). “Research is so unscripted and there are so many turns,” said assistant professor of chemistry Z. Vivian Feng, one of Frew’s faculty advisers. Feng presented Frew with the opportunity to conduct a complex proof-of-concept project in which he could demonstrate the feasibility of making a bench-top reactor, a small instrument tied to revolutionary biodiesel experimentation conducted by Augsburg alumnus and businessman Clayton McNeff ’91, chemistry professor emeritus Arlin Gyberg, and Augsburg’s first Rhodes Scholar Brian Krohn ’08. Feng said she knew the research project would be challenging for Frew given his limited experience in the chemistry lab, but she also believed it suited his background in physics and interest in engineering. Frew was determined to independently achieve his goal of modifying the reactor design using his creativity, ingenuity, and knack for problem solving. Frew said his experiences on the Augsburg campus and around the globe have proven so inspiring that he now is determined to continue his science education and align his career path to his vocation. Dixie Shafer, URGO director, sees this objective as a nearperfect fit. She said that from Frew’s first days of research at Augsburg, he has demonstrated a gift for explaining complex scientific processes in terms that an interdisciplinary audience can understand. “He sees communication as one of his life-long missions,” Shafer explained. “He may become a serious scientist and work on issues that are related to policy—realizing that too many people in policy don’t know the science and too many scientists have difficulty communicating with the non-science community … he’d love to be doing what Peter Agre does.” Frew cites Agre’s hard work and intellect as key components in the Nobel laureate’s career success, and the young Auggie is on track to take his Augsburg education to the next level with his own tenacity. Students and alumni from Augsburg’s science and mathematics departments commonly go on to conduct research, attend graduate school, and accept employment at some of the nation’s leading research institutions including Cornell University, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University, among others. Augsburg is a place for young scientists like Frew to set dreams for the future and lay the educational foundation on which to achieve them. research As spring turns to summer, life on a college campus typically quiets. But for a select group of undergraduate researchers, the summer months are anything but slow. From May to August, Augsburg students perform faculty-led research in the sciences, humanities, and fine arts. Their work is supported by funding from Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) program, the McNair Scholars program, the Sundquist Scholars program, the Northstar STEM Alliance, a NASA Space Physics grant, and the National Science Foundation. To watch audio slide shows featuring Laura Essenburg ’12, Samantha Cantrall ’14, and other summer researchers, go to augsburg.edu/now. ’12 LAURA ESSENBURG Essenburg studied stereotypes and the portrayal of race in college admissions marketing materials. ’14 SAMANTHA CANTRALL Cantrall studied the hip hop protest music inspired by the Arab Spring movement. LAURA SWANSON To watch an audio slideshow in which Frew discusses his URGO research, go to augsburg.edu/now. Spring 2013 17 18 Augsburg Now PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT FIELD SWELLS IN U.S.; AUGSBURG LEADS IN MINNESOTA BY LAURA SWANSON IN JUNE 2012, Forbes named physician assistant studies one of the best master’s degrees for jobs, citing the discipline’s salary and employment outlook in which job opportunities are expected to grow 30 percent by 2020. Physician assistants (PAs) are in demand due to an aging U.S. population, a projected shortage of primary care physicians, and a need for increased access to affordable health care. And—in alignment with health care industry demand—100 percent of Augsburg PA alumni are employed within six months of graduation, according to Dawn Ludwig, the College’s PA program director. Jamie Schneekloth ’11 MPA is one of these graduates. She worked as an emergency room technician and nursing assistant for a half dozen years. After witnessing firsthand the important role PAs play in the health care industry, she gained admittance to the highly competitive Augsburg College PA program. She wanted to earn a well-regarded education in general practice medicine, to expand her earning potential, and to pursue an exceptionally versatile career path. Schneekloth secured her first full-time PA position at La Clinica following her master’s degree completion. “In my day-to-day practice, I manage a number of acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and I focus on preventive health,” Schneekloth said. “I perform procedures as needed, such as joint injections … and laceration repair.” As a Spanish-major-turned-physician-assistant, she was a natural fit for employment at the St. Paul-based community health center that provides multicultural and multilingual treatment to immigrant and low-income communities. “PAs are a cost-effective way to deliver quality health care in primary care areas,” Ludwig said. “The licensure of a physician assistant is dependent upon the practice of the physician, which means physicians can delegate certain responsibilities to the PA to help them run their practices.” Augsburg began its PA program in 1995 and during 2001 became the first college in Minnesota to offer the Physician Assistant Certificate along with the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies—a degree program that prepares mid-level health care providers. As a PA, Schneekloth is licensed to examine, treat, educate, and write prescriptions for patients while under the supervision of a physician. “The profession has exploded in the past 15 years,” Ludwig said. Schneekloth completed the Augsburg College PA program in three years. Current Augsburg students earn a PA certificate and a master’s degree in 31 months. The program’s duration is a fraction of the length of medical school, which requires a commitment of at least seven years. Like med students, Augsburg College PA students enroll in lecture courses emphasizing science and diseases, then complete 2,500 hours of clinical rotations during the second half of their education. These rotations are “key to what makes you confident in providing quality care for a patient,” Schneekloth said. PAs also are generalists who can easily change medical disciplines. “I liked that the career was versatile,” Schneekloth added. “I could work in any specialty, as opposed to physicians who have to maintain the particular career path that they chose in residency for their entire career.” The Augsburg PA program promotes a commitment to lifelong personal and professional development and has a “strong reputation in the country,” according to Ludwig. “That leads to high-quality people applying, which means we are selective about the candidates we admit, which then leads to high-quality graduates.” DID YOU KNOW? The first physician assistant program was established at North Carolina’s Duke University Medical Center in 1965, and the discipline has become increasingly popular in all 50 U.S. states. Early PA programs were modeled after the fast-track training available to World War II doctors and addressed a shortage of primary care physicians. Spring 2013 19 Drawing from experience Tara Sweeney, Augsburg College associate professor of art, looks for the extraordinary in the ordinary, drawing from direct observation with watercolor and ink. After 21 years at Augsburg, she is at ease teaching painting and drawing in the College’s on-campus studios. But, Sweeney said, since 1999 she has pushed herself—and the students she instructs—into “deeper observing, questioning, and creating” through shortterm study abroad programs in Italy and France. “Learning to draw in a study abroad program is an opportunity to travel in an entirely different way than a typical tourist,” Sweeney said. “It wakes us up. Sketching in the midst of daily life challenges the habitual ways we think about ourselves, where we are, and what we know. It coaxes us to be more open, more present to what we encounter.” In January 2013, Sweeney collaborated with Merilee Klemp, associate professor of music, to teach the fine arts course, The Sights and Sounds of Europe: Paris, which encouraged students to embrace art and music as interrelated disciplines during an Augsburg Abroad winter break program. Sweeney said students sketched at key cultural locations as well as at art museums and live musical performances throughout the City of Lights, prompting the travelers to learn new visual and aural skills, engage with people in the community, and embrace the diversity of their unfamiliar setting. “Drawing is its own language—one that can be shared without words,” Sweeney said. “It makes the artist and the art-making more visible and approachable. Strangers pause, watch the sketches unfold, and sometimes share their stories. Empathy and trust grow out of this experience. These attitudes are essential to drawing and designing, to teaching and learning, and to embracing and understanding the world we live in.” Prior to teaching, Sweeney was a freelance book illustrator and designer as well as executive art director for Mpls. St. Paul Magazine. She is a prolific artist whose recent work ranges from artist books to mixed media paintings and drawings. She holds signature status in the Minnesota Watercolor Society. The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wis., recently exhibited 42 drawings from her current series, “Close to Home: A Visual Journal.” Her spring 2013 sabbatical project focuses on the completion of this series. Sweeney, at right, with student Nina Robinson ’14. Augsburg students who participated in The Sights and Sounds of Europe: Paris course recorded their travel experiences in sketchbooks and journals. Sweeney taught students drawing techniques by demonstrating in her own visual journal. Sweeney’s examples, included here, show how Paris provided both the subject matter and the classroom for this unique approach to experiential education. 20 Augsburg Now alumni news FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, d ALUMNI AND STUDENT networking During February, Augsburg students connected with alumni at a networking event sponsored by the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations and the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work. Here psychology major Joe Kempf ’16 talks with Auggie alumni. To find out about future opportunities to mentor or support current students, go to augsburg.edu/alumni. Current and former Alumni Board members gather at the first Alumni Leadership Summit. provide all alumni with an opportunity to return to campus, meet with current faculty and students, learn about the exciting things that are taking place at Augsburg, and discover how we can play a role in the continued success of the College. Please join with me in taking ownership of the future of Augsburg! CHRIS ASCHER ’81 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT AUGSBURG ALUMNI ASSOCIATION uring February, the Alumni Board hosted the first Alumni Leadership Summit, bringing to campus key leaders who have served on the Alumni Board of Directors in the past. The objective of this summit was to educate our most engaged alumni about the importance of the Center for Science, Business, and Religion; to introduce them to its Campaign Action Team; and to discuss meaningful ways that they can contribute to the success of the campaign and engage their classmates in the process. The summit was a wonderful opportunity to see the outstanding work being done by Augsburg faculty and staff members, to tour the current science facilities, and to reconnect with the College and our classmates. I was truly overwhelmed, although not surprised, by the enthusiasm demonstrated by those in attendance. As alumni of Augsburg College, we are in part responsible for its financial future. This summer and fall, we have planned a series of additional class year and affinity group summits to The Augsburg Alumni Association is looking for volunteers to serve on the Alumni Board. All alumni are welcome and encouraged to apply. The Alumni Board is a governing body of the Alumni Association. Together with the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations, it provides resources and opportunities to engage alumni with the College and each other through consistent communication, inclusive programming, and intentional relationship-building. For more information, email alumni@augsburg.edu. Spring 2013 21 alumni news YOUNG ALUMNI AUGSBURG HONORS FORMER WRESTLING COACH summer series RON PFEFFER BRIT’S PUB 1100 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis Complimentary beverage and appetizers provided. Wednesday, June 19 TWINS VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX 5-7 p.m.—Pre-game reception at Hubert’s, 600 N. First Avenue, Minneapolis 7:10 p.m.—Game at Target Field. $30 includes ticket to game in The Pavilion, appetizers, and a complimentary beverage at Hubert’s. Thursday, July 18, 5:30-9 p.m. YOUNG ALUMNI LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Minneapolis Club, 729 Second Avenue S., Minneapolis Join fellow young alumni leaders to learn how you can support the future of your alma mater. Pre-reception cocktails, dinner, and presentation. Friday, August 2, 5-7 p.m. Photo by Don Stoner Thursday, May 30, 5-7 p.m. Former Augsburg College wrestling coach Ron Pfeffer, who coached the team’s first four Augsburg All-American wrestlers and led the team to its first top-10 national tournament finish, was honored on Saturday, January 26, when a new competition mat was named in his Ron Pfeffer celebrates with the All-Amerhonor. Augsburg wrestling icans who competed during his Augsburg coaching career. [L to R]: Mike Good ’71, alumni, including many Ron Johnson ’71, Ron Pfeffer, Daryl Miller who wrestled for Pfeffer, ’69, and Pat Marcy ’72. attended the ceremony. Pfeffer coached the Auggies from 1966 to 1971, compiling a 52-10-1 dual-meet record. His teams from 1967-68 to 1969-70 won three straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) championships, and his 197071 team became the first Augsburg wrestling squad to earn a top-10 national finish. Pfeffer coached 17 MIAC individual champions, taught health and physical education courses, and served as an assistant football coach at Augsburg. AUGGIE NIGHT AT CANTERBURY PARK 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee Free admission, picnic buffet, and reserved seating. Friday, September 27, 6-8 p.m. HOMECOMING 2013— REPUBLIC AT SEVEN CORNERS 221 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis Complimentary beverage and appetizers provided. To register, go to augsburg.edu/alumni. Join the Augsburg College Young Alumni Facebook group to learn more and stay connected. 22 Augsburg Now SAVE THE DATE Leland B. Sateren’s 100th birthday celebration SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 4 p.m., Normandale Lutheran Church Edina, Minn. Leland B. Sateren ’35, director of the Augsburg Choir from 1946 to 1979, would have been 100 years old on October 13, 2013. To celebrate Sateren’s legacy, a special public concert including Augsburg Choir alumni will be held on his birthday. Choir alumni will receive more information this summer. To learn more, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu. Scholastic Connections’ students, mentors forge deep bonds Beverly Bushyhead ’98, a professional in nonprofit leadership and management, volunteered to serve as a mentor through the Scholastic Connections program at Augsburg because of her strong desire to assist Native American students with navigating college. Scholastic Connections is a scholarship and mentorship program for high-achieving undergraduate students of color at Augsburg College. The program is designed to assist students in the completion of their undergraduate degree by pairing them with a mentor—usually also a person of color—who recognizes, supports, challenges, and inspires them. In addition, mentors provide meaningful insight and guidance on becoming engaged, successful citizens of the world when students graduate, in part by facilitating career development and planning. Bushyhead, who is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee from North Carolina, was paired in 2010 with Rebecca Dickinson ’13, a double major in Spanish and sociology. Dickinson is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. Since they first met three years ago, their mentoring relationship has grown to focus on challenging questions related to life and professional success, and the two regularly connect. Bushyhead describes Dickinson as “incredibly bright and competent, and more than that—she is brave and ethical.” Bushyhead also said she’s watched Dickinson’s commitment to others deepen during the course of their three-year mentor relationship. Dickinson, indeed, is engaged in Beverly Bushyhead ’98 and Rebecca Dickinson ’13 the community. She teaches voice to middle-school girls, is a Page Scholar in community centers, works with Minnesota Public Research Group, and is a tutor at a community library. Dickinson said when she questions whether she can make a difference in the world, she leans on words from Bushyhead: earn an education because you can, represent similar voices that are unheard, and work to create systemic change so that educational opportunities are available to more people. CHERYL CROCKETT ’89 Alumni are needed to mentor students in the Scholastic Connections program. If you are interested in volunteering your time, contact Cindy Peterson at 612-330-1754 or petersoc@augsburg.edu. Reunion Classes SEPTEMBER 23-28 50th Reunion—1963 40th Reunion—1973 30th Reunion—1983 25th Reunion—1988 10th Reunion—2003 augsburg.edu/homecoming Spring 2013 23 alumni class notes After 10 years of service as chief technology officer at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., Dan Terrio accepted the position of chief information officer at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. 90 Sara (Quigley) Brown was installed on October 28, 2012, as the pastor at Alaska Native Lutheran, an Inupiaq (Eskimo) congregation of the ELCA in Anchorage, Alaska. Her husband, Russell, works in IT for Wells Fargo. 00 Kathryn Koch has been appointed the event and administrative manager for the O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. 01 auggie SNAPSHOTS Stephanie Quick-Espinoza was named the director of evangelical mission and synod minister for expanding vision in the Rocky Mountain Synod Office of the Bishop. Her call began in 24 February 2013. Stephanie and her family relocated to Denver, Colo. Jaclyn Gehrke is teaching at a bilingual school in Roatán, Honduras. 07 Jake (Johnson) Rapp directed Brain-Dumb for the Minnesota band STNNNG. The video was named a Best Twin Cities music video of 2012 by City Pages. Rapp earned his bachelor of arts in film production at Augsburg. Rapp’s student work was featured at the 2011 and 2012 ACTC film festivals. 12 Graduate programs Lori Peterson, Augsburg assistant vice president and dean of graduate and professional studies, was recognized with the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award. Peterson was commended for her leadership in adult education. Filling their father’s skates When Bill McClellan ’86 [center] attends Augsburg men’s hockey games, he is proud to see his sons, Ben ’15 [left] and B. J. ’14 [right], stepping out onto the same rink where he skated with the Augsburg hockey team more than 20 years ago. If you’re an Auggie alum and would like your grandchild, son, daughter, or sibling to be an Auggie too, contact the Office of Admissions about the Augsburg Legacy scholarship at 612-330-1001 or admissions@augsburg.edu. To read more about the McClellans, go to augsburg.edu/now. Kaye (Nelson) Jenness ’67 and Gretchen (Strom) Schmidt ’68 and their spouses met in Astoria, Ore., for a two-day visit during September 2012. 67-68 Marilyn Elness Froiland and her husband, Pastor Philip Froiland, spent the month of August 2011 in Sitka, Alaska, as volunteer docents at Sitka Lutheran Church, the oldest Lutheran church on the West Coast of the United States. The church was founded in 1840 by Pastor Uno Cygnaeus of the Church of Finland after the Russian czar granted permission for a Lutheran church to be built by the Russian American Company. Throughout the month, the Froilands showed 1,100 tourists the artifacts of the original church and explained its history. 53 Augsburg Now Neil Pauluk Paulson completed a marathon in each of the 50 U.S. states and in the District of Columbia. Paulson ran 36 marathons in 2010 and 32 in 2011; his longest streak was 14 races in 14 weeks, and he completed two marathons (in New Hampshire and Maine) in one weekend. He also competed in 50K and 24-hour races. Paulson is the director of a private mortgage investment fund affiliated with Equity Trust Company and owner of Franklin Financial, LLC, a mortgage and real estate investment company. 77 auggies are awesome Carol (Kenyon) Dekker’s son, Sam, was named Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball in 2012 and led the team from Sheboygan Lutheran High School to the Division V state basketball championship by hitting a game-winning 3-pointer with 6 seconds remaining on the game clock. Sam also was selected to play on the USA Basketball Men’s U18 national team that won the gold medal in Brazil during June 2012, and he was a member of the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team in the 2012-13 season. 80 Jessica Barker, Jen Ringeisen Berg, Christa Winkelman, Tara Cesaretti McLeod, and Jane Ruth Zirbes attended their 15-year reunion during Homecoming 2012 at Augsburg. 97 Cristina M. Olstad ’00, ’05 MSW was named the assistant vice president for student affairs at Towson University in Maryland. Olstad began the position on January 23. She previously served as the assistant director of residential education at the University of Vermont, where she completed her doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies. Olstad and her wife, Kirsten Fricke, are thrilled to be moving to the Baltimore area to be closer to family and friends. 00 Christina (Boe) and Michael T. Anderson ’13 WEC welcomed Savannah Elizabeth on October 9, 2012. She joins big sister, Charlotte. The couple hopes the girls will become third-generation Auggies by attending the College following their parents and their grandfather, David E. Boe ’68. 04 Laura (Eliason) Faitsbau was married on January 8, 2011, to Lauren (Jung) Faitsbau in Decorah, Iowa. The couple welcomed Rowan Sage Faitsbau on August 16, 2012. 05 Stacey (Kinder) and Ryan Plasch welcomed daughter Audrey Valda Plasch on November 22, 2012. Ryan works for South Metro Human Services and Stacey is currently a full-time mother. The family lives in Maple Grove, Minn. 09 Kelsey Crockett married Stacey Gadsden in Belknap Springs, Ore., on July 7, 2012. The couple lives in Spring Hill, Tenn., where Stacey works at Olive Garden and attends college while Kelsey is a consultant for Verizon Financial Services, Southern Region. Kelsey’s parents are Larry Crockett, professor at Augsburg College, and Cheryl Crockett ’89, a volunteer in the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations. 07 Brittney Ruth Hodgdon was born to Andrea (Slack) and Clint Hodgdon ’04 on August 15, 2012. Andrea is an accountant at Renewable Products Marketing Group, and Clint is a sales manager at Ameriprise Financial. 07 Jenessa Payano Stark married Geomar Payano Stark in Glenwood, Minn., on June 8, 2012. The couple lives in New York City, where they met as bicycle messengers. Jenessa works as a homebirth midwife assistant for Cara Muhlhahn Midwifery, and Geomar works as a bicycle messenger. 07 Spring 2013 25 auggie SNAPSHOTS Dixon Dehmer and Melissa Ludwig were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minn. on September 15, 2012. Dixon is employed at Nilfisk-Advance in Plymouth, Minn., as a financial accountant. Melissa is employed at Venture Photography in Edina, Minn., as the office manager. The couple resides in Buffalo. 09 Ali Rapp and Jake (Johnson) Rapp ’12 were married on November 10, 2012. Jake owns a video production company, and Ali is a master of arts candidate at the University of Minnesota. Carmen Crockett ’12 MBA married John Williams in Eagan, Minn., on October 6, 2012. Larry Crockett, professor at Augsburg College and father of the bride, officiated at the ceremony. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her mother, Cheryl Crockett ’89, who is a volunteer in the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations. Carmen is an account manager for SPS Commerce in downtown Minneapolis, and John works for Wells Fargo in the area of mortgages and foreclosures. They live in Eagan, Minn. 12 26 Augsburg Now Later this year, the offices of Alumni Relations and Marketing and Communication will administer the member magazine readership survey created by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This web survey is designed to help college and university editors evaluate how readers view their campus magazine and to benchmark the results. Please email langemo@augsburg.edu to update your email address. A random sample of Augsburg Now readers will be asked to participate in this survey. The Landmarks of South Africa and Namibia 11 CORRECTION: On page 37 of the Fall 2012 issue of Augsburg Now, Gretha (Halvorson) Loken ’38 and her daughter Mary (Loken) Veiseth ’70 were pictured at the graduation of Amy Aylsworth ’12. Aylsworth was incorrectly listed as Veiseth’s daughter; she is Veiseth’s niece. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK Dr. Amit K. Ghosh ’12 MBA received the Laureate Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Physicians. The award was presented in Minneapolis on November 2, 2012. Ghosh is a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and a consultant in the division of general internal medicine. He is also the current director of the Mayo Clinic international program. Pictured with Dr. Ghosh are his wife, Karthik [left], and daughter, Divya [right]. 12 AUGUST 11-24, 2013 Join Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow and fellow alumni and friends on this African tour through South Africa and Namibia’s shared political past and the popular tourist attractions and landmarks this history has created. This trip is offered by the Augsburg College Alumni Association and Center for Global Education (CGE) at Augsburg College. To request more details about the trip, call 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu. In memoriam Send us your news and photos Rev. Lester A. Dahlen ’39, Richfield, Minn., age 95, on September 25. Richard H. “Dick” Velve ’57, Eden Prairie, Minn., age 76, on September 24. Rev. Luther O. Strommen ’39, Minneapolis and Sun City, Ariz., age 95, on September 29. Allen J. Johnson ’61, Sioux City, Iowa, age 73, on October 23. Clair K. “Kenny” Chelmen ’40, Bloomington, Minn., age 93, on September 17. Ronald T. Hagenson ’63, Plymouth, Minn., age 76, on May 2, 2012. Mildred D. (Tweed) Thudium ’40, Oreland, Pa., age 93, on August 6. Charles M. Daggett ’64, Watertown, Minn., age 74, on November 6. Philip C. Helland ’42, Minneapolis, age 92, on December 12. Christ J. Behm ’68, Little Canada, Minn., age 65, on January 14. Shirley Ann (George) Foster ’49, Springfield, Minn., age 84, on September 19. John G. Telste ’72, Ashburn, Va., age 61, on October 7. Charlotte E. Leafblad ’49, Zion, Ill., age 85, on January 2. Merida N. (Collin) Erickson ’50, Naperville, Ill., age 85, on November 22. Marolyn (Sortland) Halverson ’51, Columbus, Ohio, age 83, on October 31. Jean (Vettel) Kiteley ’51, Exeter, N.H., age 83, on November 16. Orpha (Hushagen) Iseminger ’54, Sioux Falls, S.D., age 82, on June 14. Walter K. Josephson ’54, Rochester, Minn., age 82, on May 16, 2012. Kermit E. Bolstad ’56, Culbertson, Mont., age 77, on August 8. John W. Haynes ’56, Pengilly, Minn., age 80, on September 15. Charles “Chuck” Howard ’56, Madelia, Minn., age 81, on October 15. Harlan C. Christianson ’57, Los Angeles, Calif., age 77, on December 15. Karen L. Johnson ’75, St. Paul, age 58, on April 2, 2012. Deidre (Durand) Middleton ’88, Plymouth, Minn., age 73, on November 24. Vicki C. MacNabb ’07, Minneapolis, age 65, on December 24. Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300 dpi or a 1MB file.) For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni. ______________________________________________________ Full name ______________________________________________________ Maiden name ______________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ______________________________________________________ Street address ______________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP code Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No ______________________________________________________ Home telephone ______________________________________________________ Email Okay to publish your email address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Daniel J. Martin ’10, Lafayette, Colo., age 27, on October 23. ______________________________________________________ Employer Eric Dietz ’11, Hilo, Hawaii, age 29, on January 6. ______________________________________________________ Position Mark C. Langdon ’13, Omaha, Nebr., age 22, on December 7. ______________________________________________________ Work telephone Andrew Pehrson ’13, Eden Prairie, Minn., age 23, on December 27. Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No Austin R. Conley ’16, Minneapolis, age 20, on October 27. Professor Emeritus Ray Anderson, Minneapolis, age 88, on January 6. Professor Emeritus Vern Bloom, Bloomington, Minn., age 78, on October 20. If yes, class year__________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable) Your news: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ❑ I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Spring 2013 27 it takes an auggie AUGSBURG STEWARDS: auggies for life A group of dedicated students play an important role in the life and future of the College. Since 2005, the Augsburg Stewards have shared their stories of being a student with alumni. The Stewards also have taught their college peers about the importance of philanthropy to the life of the College. These dedicated Auggies perform their service to Augsburg through alumni relations programs and Augsburg Fund initiatives. In return, the Stewards find that their service yields unique career development opportunities. In addition to educating their peers on the role they will play as alumni, Stewards also connect with other students throughout the year through Philanthropy Week, the Feed the Pig class challenge, and the 100 Days to Graduation Senior Party. Each of these programs is intended to inspire a lifetime of Auggie Pride in Stewards and other students. Stewards, as current Auggies, connect with alumni at events such as Advent Vespers, the Convocation Series lectures, Homecoming, the Alumni Summer Series, the Alumni/ Student Networking evening, and Scholarship Brunch, and begin to build relationships that can lead to internships or career opportunities. Augsburg Stewards [pictured clockwise from top]: Justin Lochner ’13, Ashley Pepper ’16, Emily Bauermeister ’15, Gary Mariscal ’14, Jake Haehnal ’14 THE Maroon & Silver SOCIETY JILL WATSON ’10 MBA is one of the newest members of Augsburg’s Maroon & Silver Society. Members pledge to contribute $1,000 annually to The Augsburg Fund to provide scholarships, help the College hire and retain outstanding faculty, and foster academic growth and achievement for Augsburg students. The generous donors of the Maroon & Silver Society make up 8 percent of all donors to The Augsburg Fund but provide 69 percent of the dollars received each year. Watson gives to The Augsburg Fund because she knows it supports all students—undergraduate and graduate—in their pursuit of an Augsburg education. “In January, I was fortunate to be invited to a Leadership Summit where I learned about Augsburg’s long-term vision and goals. This experience was truly inspiring, and I walked away knowing that I had to get more involved in the life of the College. I chose to support The Augsburg Fund through the Maroon & Silver Society because it touches all Augsburg students in some way.” augsburg.edu/giving Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Auggies are everywhere! As part of the Rochester community for nearly 15 years, Augsburg College’s campus in downtown Rochester offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, education, and nursing. To watch a video of Auggie Eagle in Rochester, go to augsburg.edu/rochester or scan the QR code.
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Title: Augsburg Now Fall 2013: Celebrating Auggie Pride!
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: inside AUGSBURG NOW What the world wants is a good job Augsburg College Homecoming 2013 Keeping track of Auggies Augsburg 2019: A strategic vision CELEBRATING auggie PRIDE! FALL 2013 | VOL. 76, NO. 1 Auggie class challenge Vice President of Marketing and Communication NOTES NOTES F...
Show more inside AUGSBURG NOW What the world wants is a good job Augsburg College Homecoming 2013 Keeping track of Auggies Augsburg 2019: A strategic vision CELEBRATING auggie PRIDE! FALL 2013 | VOL. 76, NO. 1 Auggie class challenge Vice President of Marketing and Communication NOTES NOTES FROM FROM PRESIDENT PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW PRIBBENOW “Big “Big for for the the world…” world…” In this issue of In this issue of Augsburg Now, you Augsburg Now, you will ﬁnd a summary of will find a summary of Augsburg 2019, Augsburg 2019, a strategic framework a strategic framework developed over the developed over the past several months past several months with the involvewith the involvement of Regents, ment of Regents, faculty, staff, and faculty, staff, and students. Focused on students. Focused Augsburg’s 150th anniversary in 2019, the plan sets on Augsburg’s 150th out an ambitious vision, which claims that in 2019, anniversary in 2019, the plan sets out an ambitious “Augsburg will be a new kind of student-centered, urban vision, which claims that in 2019, “Augsburg will be a university—small to our students and big for the world.” new kind of student-centered, urban university—small to I hope you ﬁnd in this vision statement a glimpse our students and big for the world.” of the Augsburg we all know and love—and that we all I hope you find in this vision statement a glimpse want to support and help strengthen for the future. of the Augsburg we all know and love—and that we all The Augsburg that we all know is a college where want to support and help strengthen for the future. students are central to our daily lives; where personal The Augsburg that we all know is a college where relationships and a sense of community combine to students are central to our daily lives; where personal provide rare opportunities to learn and serve; and relationships and a sense of community combine to where academic, civic, and faith commitments are provide rare opportunities to learn and serve; and explored and strengthened. A college that is small to where academic, civic, and faith commitments are our students. explored and strengthened. A college that is small to At the same time, we are a college that makes our students. a remarkable impact on the world—as a community At the same time, we are a college that makes and through our thousands of graduates pursuing a remarkable impact on the world—as a community their vocations in various settings around the globe. and through our thousands of graduates pursuing A college that is big for the world. their vocations in various settings around the globe. When reviewing the editorial plan for this issue A college that is big for the world. of Augsburg Now, I was struck with how this vision When reviewing the editorial plan for this issue of “big for the world” is evident in so many different of Augsburg Now, I was struck with how this vision ways. And at the risk of violating what my predecesof “big for the world” is evident in so many different sor, President Bill Frame, called Augsburg’s “militant ways. And at the risk of violating what my predecesmodesty,” allow me to brag a bit about this very sor, President Bill Frame, called Augsburg’s “militant special college… modesty,” allow me to brag a bit about this very s !BOUTONEOFTHELARGESTlRST YEARCLASSESIN special college… Augsburg’s history this fall—more than 460 ﬁrst• About one of the largest first-year classes in year students—and the effect they already are Augsburg’s history this fall—more than 460 firsthaving on campus with their spirit and activism. year students—and the effect they already are s having !BOUTTHEFACTTHATOURSCIENCEFACULTYHAVEGENERon campus with their spirit and activism. ated unprecedented funding from the National • About the fact that our science faculty have generScience Foundation and other federal agencies, ated unprecedented funding from the National ranking Augsburg third in the state among all higher Science Foundation and other federal agencies, ranking Augsburg third in the state among all higher Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Communication Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu education institutions, behind only the University education institutions, behind only the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Minnesota-Duluth. s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWEWERENAMEDTHISPASTFALLAS • About the fact that we were named this past fall as one of the top 25 colleges in the country for service one of the top 25 colleges in the country for service learning programs, exemplifying how our commitlearning programs, exemplifying how our commitment to education for service is imbedded in the ment to education for service is imbedded in the curriculum and recognized by others as a highcurriculum and recognized by others as a highimpact way of learning. impact way of learning. s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWEAREPARTNERINGWITHMORE • About the fact that we are partnering with more than a dozen colleges and health care institutions than a dozen colleges and health care institutions in the Twin Cities to combine our human and ﬁscal in the Twin Cities to combine our human and fiscal resources in support of neighborhoods along the resources in support of neighborhoods along the new Central Corridor Light Rail Line between downnew Central Corridor Light Rail Line between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. town Minneapolis and St. Paul. s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWERAISEDMORETHANMILLION • About the fact that we raised more than $19 million in gifts and pledges during the 2012-13 academic in gifts and pledges during the 2012-13 academic year from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and year from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and foundations—another record year in fundraising for foundations—another record year in fundraising for Augsburg, our third record year in a row—and that Augsburg, our third record year in a row—and that WEHAVENOWRAISEDMORETHANMILLIONFORTHE we have now raised more than $25 million for the planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion. planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion. s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWECONTINUETODEVELOPINNOVA• About the fact that we continue to develop innovative academic programs, including our new Master tive academic programs, including our new Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which was launched of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which was launched this past summer with a ﬁrst cohort of 16 students, this past summer with a first cohort of 16 students, and a partnership with the Minneapolis Community and a partnership with the Minneapolis Community and Technical College to offer the ﬁrst fast-track and Technical College to offer the first fast-track RN/Bachelor of Science in Nursing professional RN/Bachelor of Science in Nursing professional program in Minnesota between a two-year public program in Minnesota between a two-year public institution and a four-year private college. institution and a four-year private college. And I could go on. There’s more in the pages And I could go on. There’s more in the pages that follow and even more in the daily life of the that follow and even more in the daily life of the Augsburg community. Come and visit, as Minnesota Augsburg community. Come and visit, as Minnesota State Senator Terri Bonoff, chair of the Senate State Senator Terri Bonoff, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, did recently, and see Higher Education Committee, did recently, and see for yourself what she described this way: “This is a for yourself what she described this way: “This is a special college—one where being small to students special college—one where being small to students and big for the world is really true.” I couldn’t have and big for the world is really true.” I couldn’t have said it better. said it better. Faithfully yours, Faithfully yours, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Integrated Communication Specialist Laura Swanson swansonl@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter Christina Haller haller@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Production Manager/Now Online Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Advancement Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reﬂect reflect ofﬁcial official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu Email: now@augsburg.edu fall 2013 AUGSBURG NOW 16 Courtesy photo 12 Features 20 18 02 09 14 18 20 Augsburg 2019 What the whole world wants is a good job Augsburg College annual report Mixing teamwork into the courseload Homecoming 2013 Departments inside front cover 4 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad 12 Auggie voices 16 Auggies on the court 19 My Auggie experience 23 It takes an Auggie 2 On the cover Edor Nelson Field, home to Auggie football, softball, lacrosse, and soccer, was resurfaced with more durable and safe FieldTurf Revolution this summer. The field is named for Edor Nelson ’38, longtime Auggie athletics coach and World War II veteran. Read about other Auggie veterans on page 12. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 19 24 Keeping track of Auggies 31 In memoriam AUGSBURG 2019 A STRATEGIC VISION In January 2013, the Augsburg College Board of Regents launched a strategic planning initiative that involved conversation and input from across the campus community. The outcome of that work is a strategic vision statement that looks out to 2019, Augsburg’s sesquicentennial year: In 2019, Augsburg College will be a new kind of student-centered, urban university that is small to our students and big for the world. “Small to our students” reflects the relationships, community, and personal attention that are hallmarks of the educational experience at Augsburg. “Big for the world” acknowledges the significant impact we know our students—and alumni—do and will make in the world. The strategic plan is grounded in Augsburg’s mission statement, which was updated in 2010. The plan is organized into three categories, or dimensions, each with three goals. Detail about each of the strategic planning dimensions is provided on the next page. The strategic vision will anchor the College’s institutional initiatives and priorities throughout the next five years, reflecting the values and commitments stated in our mission: AUGSBURG EDUCATES STUDENTS TO BE INFORMED CITIZENS, THOUGHTFUL STEWARDS, CRITICAL THINKERS, AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERS. THE AUGSBURG EXPERIENCE IS SUPPORTED BY AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY THAT IS COMMITTED TO INTENTIONAL DIVERSITY IN ITS LIFE AND WORK. AN AUGSBURG EDUCATION IS DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, GUIDED BY THE FAITH AND VALUES OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND SHAPED BY ITS URBAN AND GLOBAL SETTINGS. 2 Augsburg Now DIMENSION 1 DIMENSION 2 DIMENSION 3 EDUCATING FOR LIVES OF PURPOSE AT THE TABLE BUILT FOR THE FUTURE The first dimension articulates OUR ACADEMIC The second dimension focuses on OUR The third dimension is about how OUR DISTINCTION: Augsburg educates students for REPUTATION AND IDENTITY: Augsburg is “at INSTITUTION WILL THRIVE NOW AND IN THE lives of purpose. The goals in this category the table” with our neighbors and institutional FUTURE. The goals in this category call on challenge us to: partners in shaping education to address the Augsburg to be: world’s needs. The goals here call on us to: • rigorously integrate the liberal arts and the professional studies; • a welcoming, sustainable campus, • prepare an intentional mix of diverse learners for a complex, interconnected world; • use high-impact teaching and learning practices, enriched by our core com- • provide experiential opportunities that mitments of faith and spiritual inquiry, enable students to discover their gifts, vocational discernment, civic engagement, discern their vocations, and open doors to and global understanding; and careers; and anchored in our community and designed for educational excellence; • organized for collaboration, efficiency, and effectiveness; and • committed to maintaining a sound and sustainable financial footing. • provide each student with pathways for success to graduation and beyond. • publicly advance the core commitments that enrich our learning environment— faith and spiritual inquiry, vocational discernment, civic engagement, and global understanding. Fall 2013 3 AROUND THE QUAD COLLEGE AWARDS Top 25 schools for service learning U.S. News & World Report designated Augsburg College as one of the top 25 colleges and universities in the nation for its dedication to service learning. Schools named to the list were nominated by college presidents, chief academic officers, and deans from more than 1,500 higher education institutions. Augsburg was the only Minnesota school named to the list. Best Regional Universities by U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report named Augsburg one of the Best Universities in the Midwest. Rankings are based on several factors, including average first-year retention rates, graduation rates, class sizes, student-faculty ratios, acceptance rates, and more. “Best in the Midwest” by Princeton Review Augsburg College is one of 155 colleges that The Princeton Review has named “Best in the Midwest” for academic excellence. Named Top 200 school by Winds of Change The American Indian Science and Engineering Society Winds of Change magazine has selected Augsburg as one of the Top 200 Schools in 2013 for Native American and Alaska Native students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. Recognized nationally for contribution to the public good Augsburg College was the No. 2 institution in Minnesota named by Washington Monthly in its 2013 Master’s Universities Rankings. The list rates schools based upon their contribution to the public good in three categories: social mobility, research, and service. Named a High ROI College by Affordable Colleges Online Augsburg College was named a top college for return on investment (ROI) in Minnesota for having high-earning graduates in comparison to tuition and fees. The ranking, by Affordable Colleges Online, is the result of a partnership among the National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System, the Carnegie Foundation, and PayScale.com. 4 Augsburg Now BOARD OF REGENTS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS At its annual meeting in September, the Augsburg Corporation elected two new members to the Board of Regents and re-elected five others. Wayne Jorgenson ’71 Dennis Meyer ’78 Elected to their first term on the Augsburg Board of Regents: • Wayne Jorgenson ’71 serves as senior vice president of wealth management with UBS Financial Services, Inc. and brings decades of financial planning and investment management experience to the Board. • Dennis Meyer ’78 has extensive experience in strategic marketing and global business development. He has held executive positions in several industries, most recently in architecture and building engineering with AECOM Ellerbe Becket, as well as in communications, printing and imaging, and supply chain management. Elected to a second or third term: • Ann Ashton-Piper, president of The Bridge Group • Norman Hagfors, president (retired), Norsen, Inc. • Jodi Harpstead, chair of the Augsburg Board of Regents and chief executive officer, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota • Dr. Paul Mueller ’84, physician and chair of general internal medicine, Mayo Clinic • Lisa Novotny ’80, vice president human resources, International, General Mills Mike Good ’71 and Jennifer Martin were named Regents Emeriti at the May meeting of the Augsburg Board of Regents. Each had served three four-year terms on the board. Marie McNeff also was named Regent Emerita by the Board at that meeting. McNeff, who passed away in September, was elected to the Board in 2005 and served as a Regent for the College until her retirement from the Board earlier in 2013. Augsburg science faculty awarded more than $695,000 in grants Augsburg College science faculty continue to be awarded grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research. During 2012, the College was ranked third in Minnesota for the total dollar amount awarded to a school, behind only the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In addition, science faculty members recently were awarded an additional $695,087 in grants. These grants include: MARK ENGEBRETSON, professor of physics, was awarded a three-year, $185,940 grant for continued study and probing of Earth’s space environment, known as the magnetosphere. The project will help society better understand the relationship between Earth’s magnetosphere and its interaction with the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field. The project, which builds upon a long-standing relationship with the University of New Hampshire and that also makes data available to space physics researchers throughout the world, will study ultra-low-frequency waves on Svalbard, Norway, which is the only place in the northern hemisphere where the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) can be observed for longtime periods in darkness at noon. The grant, Federal Award ID Number AGS-1202267, brings to more than $2 million the awards earned by Engebretson since mid-2008. Funds will support the continued operation of four search coil magnetometers and the analysis of the data gathered. DAVID HANSON, assistant professor of chemistry, was awarded in excess of $386,000 for a three-year project that ultimately will help increase understanding of the sources of particulate matter that are harmful to human health. Hanson will test models for what is called nucleation rates that can be incorporated into global climate models. Nucleation is a process that drives the formation of new particles in the atmosphere. Hanson’s team will look specifically at nucleation in sulfuric acid, water, and amines. The funds from Federal Award ID Number AGS-1338706 also will support work by eight students in Hanson’s lab. David Hanson, assistant professor of chemistry, will use National Science Foundation funding to advance atmospheric chemistry research and support Augsburg students working in his lab. ANN IMPULITTI, assistant professor of biology, received an NSF grant for nearly $123,000 to investigate the physiology and productivity of economically important plants infected by parasitic, mutualistic, and commensal fungi. Research will focus on soybean due to its high economic value and the diverse uses of soybean products. The funds from Federal Award ID Number 1337582, along with an additional award of more than $52,000 that Impulitti received from the LiCor Environmental Education Fund, will be used to purchase a suite of instruments for plant ecophysiology research. The instruments will support interdisciplinary research in the plant biological sciences, mathematics, and environmental sciences, and also support collaboration between Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota. The instrumentation will enhance research experiences for undergraduates and will improve student instruction and discovery-based labs in plant biology, environmental science, and mathematics. Co-principal investigators on the grant include John Zobitz, Augsburg associate professor of mathematics, and Dean Malvick, associate professor of plant pathology at the University of Minnesota. Editor’s Note: Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Fall 2013 5 AROUND THE QUAD AUGSBURG HONORS PRESIDENT EMERITUS CHARLES S. ANDERSON Augsburg College renamed its music building the Charles S. Anderson Music Hall to honor the legacy of the College’s eighth president, who passed away June 14. Anderson oversaw significant growth in the College’s enrollment, program offerings, commitment to its Lutheran heritage, and student diversity. He was a constant advocate for Augsburg and helped to establish the College’s public presence in the Twin Cities. During his 17-year tenure, Augsburg launched the Weekend and Evening College (WEC) program, established the Center for Global Education, and introduced the StepUP® program for young people in recovery and the CLASS office for differently abled students. “Charles Anderson’s influence on the Augsburg community is deep and long-lived,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “The priorities Anderson outlined and championed during his tenure continue to shape how we live out our institutional mission and celebrate life and learning in the city each day.” Anderson Music Hall occupies a central location on campus and houses an array of music programs that welcome students of diverse musical interests. More than 100 students each year pursue traditional liberal arts music studies as well as degrees in music business, music education, [L to R]: Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow with Charles S. Anderson’s family: daughter Kristin Anderson, Augsburg College professor of art history and archivist; wife Catherine Anderson, an active Augsburg Associates member; and son, Eric Anderson. music performance, and music therapy. More than 350 music majors and non-music majors alike participate in the College’s numerous vocal, concert band, symphony orchestra, and jazz ensembles. Anderson’s legacy also includes the College’s beautiful annual Advent Vespers—celebrating the Advent season with a service of traditional and contemporary hymns, anthems, and carols. The celebration is one of the largest seasonal events in the Twin Cities, with 300 participants, including choral and instrumental performers, readers, a full liturgical party, and more than 10,000 worshipers annually. Each year, two Augsburg music students receive the prestigious Orville and Gertrude Hognander Music Scholarship. Initiated during Anderson’s tenure, Orville and Gertrude (Lund) Hognander, both 1936 Augsburg graduates, established the Hognander Scholarships in 1998 to provide up to full tuition for students with exceptional music performance and academic achievement. Students present AT BERKELEY In front of Dwinelle Hall on the University of California, Berkeley campus: Front row [L to R]: McNair Scholars Program Assistant Director Brian Greening, Mahelet Maru ’14, McNair Scholars Program Administrative Assistant Lara Crombie, Amineh Safi ’14, Sawiya Hassan ’14; middle row [L to R]: Magaly OrtizAucapipa ’14, Enrico Barrozo ’14; back row [L to R]: Raesean Sneed ’15, David Fowler ’14, Dereck Dasrath ’14, and Amir Rose ’14 6 Augsburg Now Last summer, nine researchers from Augsburg College traveled to California for one of the largest national gatherings of McNair Scholars. The Auggies presented findings from their summer research at the University of California, Berkeley for the 21st Annual Ronald E. McNair California Scholars Research Symposium, which boasts more than 300 student attendees. Augsburg students spent an average of 400 hours exploring their research topics, developing theses, collecting and reviewing data, and preparing formal paper presentations. Scholars were paired with a faculty mentor in their discipline to gain extensive skills and knowledge, learn research methods, and practice writing and public speaking. The students represented a wide range of disciplines including biology, philosophy, physics, and sociology. CONVOCATION SERIES 2013-14 First held in 1990, the Augsburg College Convocation Series is an annual speaker series that incorporates long-standing endowed and special programs. This fall, the series kicked off with the Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium featuring Krista Tippett, host and producer of the public radio show, On Being. Tippett shared thoughts from her book, Einstein’s God: Revisiting Science and Religion in a New Century. During the Center for Counseling and Health Promotion Convocation in October, Sian Beilock, an expert on performance and cognitive science, revealed the brain science behind “choking under pressure” in a lecture based on her book, Choke—What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting it Right When You Have To. GIVE FROM YOUR HEART GIVE TO THE MAX GiveMN, an online resource that helps Minnesotans donate to the state’s nonprofit community, hosted its annual Give to the Max Day on November 14. Auggies created more than 20 fundraising projects to help raise money for an Augsburg cause that they are passionate about. Contributions from Give to the Max Day help: • Faculty develop creative course offerings that encourage Augsburg students to think beyond the classroom. • Augsburg graduates prepare for their next chapter. • Keep Augsburg affordable—thanks to the generosity of donors, more than 94 percent of Augsburg day undergraduate students receive financial aid through grants and scholarships. The Humanities and Fine Arts Convocation in mid-November featured the Rose Ensemble’s performance of Portraits of Peru, 1785 Exotic Folksongs and Dances from Trujillo, inspired by a collection of watercolor paintings compiled by the local bishop for Spanish King Carlos IV, imaginatively depicting the plants, animals, people, and archaeological monuments of this diverse region in northern Peru. The next event, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, is scheduled for January 20 and will celebrate the life and legacy of this important civil rights leader. Convocations are free and open to the public. • Encourage a tradition of vocation and faith, going back to Augsburg’s roots as a Lutheran seminary. • Make healthy food accessible to all people in and around the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and provide for basic needs, service learning, leadership development, and genuine engagement between the College and the community through Campus Kitchen. Check out the final results from the challenge online at givemn.org/auggiesgive. Fall 2013 7 AROUND THE QUAD Innovative partnership allows students to earn BACHELOR’S IN NURSING IN ONLY THREE YEARS A new partnership between Augsburg College and Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) gives students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in only three years. The program, the first fast-track BSN professional program in Minnesota between a two-year public institution and a four-year private college, allows the schools to respond to the changing needs of health care professionals and local communities. “Augsburg has long been committed to offering high-quality bachelor’s and master’s programs in nursing,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “We are excited to partner with MCTC given our shared commitment to educating diverse student populations.” The partnership leverages unique relationships and strengths in each program. Students will study for two years Minn. Senate Higher Education Committee visits campus Photo by Laura Swanson To view additional photos from the event or watch a video in which Sen. Bonoff discusses Augsburg’s unique emphasis on service learning, go to augsburg.edu/now. 8 Augsburg Now at MCTC and then transfer to Augsburg for the third year. During their study at Augsburg, students will experience first-hand community health nursing in diverse settings including at the Augsburg Health Commons in downtown Minneapolis and at Dar Ul-Quba in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. In addition, third-year students in the program will be offered BSN practicum opportunities locally or abroad in Namibia or Nicaragua. Prior to their time at Augsburg, students will study in new, state-of-the-art classrooms and labs at MCTC. State, local, and education officials attended an opening ceremony at MCTC to announce the partnership. Those in attendance included Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, and leaders from Augsburg, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and MCTC. Dozens of Augsburg College students, faculty, and staff took part in a September town hall meeting with Minnesota Rep. Phyllis Kahn and Sens. Terri Bonoff, Greg Clausen ’69, and Kari Dziedzic. The legislators visited Augsburg as part of a statewide “listening tour” effort launched by Bonoff, chair of the Minnesota State Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. The legislators were enthusiastic to learn more about private colleges in Minnesota and invited Auggies to consider ways to improve the state’s higher education system. The Augsburg students discussed with the legislators a number of issues, including transfer credits, financial aid options, career preparation, and on- and off-campus service learning experiences. One of the key themes the legislators stressed during the meeting was the important role colleges and universities play in educating the nation’s future leadership and workforce. “Education is the engine that runs our Minnesota economy,” Clausen said, addressing the Augsburg crowd. “We need to invest in you, and you need to invest in your education.” Clausen is part of an Augsburg legacy family—his wife, Roberta ’69, and son, Steven ’96, also attended the College. “What the whole world wants IS A GOOD JOB.”* BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA Today, higher education has come under question— is the debt worth it, are students graduating at sufficient rates, are we educating enough of our population, are students actually learning what they need? In this environment, the value of higher education increasingly is being defined—by parents and prospective students alike—as “getting a good job.” In fact, this is the No. 1 reason cited by U.S. respondents in the 2012 Gallup/Lumina poll for pursuing education beyond high school. And the second reason? To earn more money. “When college students and their parents think about the value of higher education, they typically think about it too narrowly,” said Brandon Busteed, executive director of Gallup Education. “People tend to get caught up with things—like potential income or getting a job with a ‘blue chip’ company—that don’t matter” when it comes to predicting career success and satisfaction, Busteed said. “Focusing on those things is not the best way to think about a great job and a great life.” “WELLBEING” AS A MEASURE OF CAREER SUCCESS What factors do predict career success? According to Gallup, it’s being able to respond affirmatively to statements like the following: • • • • “I like what I do each day.” “I do what I do best every day.” “My supervisor cares about my development.” “I have a best friend at work.” Agreeing with statements like these indicates that a person is engaged in interesting and meaningful activities at work, is using his or her strengths to achieve goals, is motivated by the team leader, and is supported by colleagues who share a common purpose. Those characteristics, according to Gallup’s “wellbeing” research, correlate more with top performance than income or title or working for a prestigious organization. Gallup has been studying wellbeing, on a global basis, since the 1930s. “Wellbeing is not ‘wellness,’” Busteed said. “It is a multidimensional measure of how people rate their lives.” In the past several decades, Gallup’s study of people in more than 150 countries has revealed five universal, interconnected elements that shape our lives: career wellbeing, social wellbeing, financial wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and community wellbeing. “We didn’t invent these categories,” Busteed said. “The factors that correlate with wellbeing are what we found from the data collected over time and across populations.” Of those five *Source: Gallup World Poll, 2010 Fall 2013 9 Opportunities to learn and grow Progress in last six months How do we grow? 10 Augsburg Now What do I get? ic Bas s d Nee The career wellbeing issue is connected with low worker engagement, Busteed said. According to Gallup’s 2012 “State of the American Workplace” report, only 30 percent of full-time U.S. workers are engaged and inspired at work. Fifty percent are not engaged, the report states—“they’re just kind of present, but not inspired by their work or their managers.” The remaining 20 percent of all full-time U.S. workers are actively disengaged in their jobs. One significant driver of high or low engagement is a person’s manager, Busteed said. People looking for a “good job” focus so much on income and landing a position at a “good” company, but finding a good manager is vastly more important than working for a well-known company, he explained. Another factor causing low worker engagement is whether a person is using her or his strengths every day. “Not just once in a while, not once every week or so, but every day,” Busteed said. Among college graduates, he said, the lack of opportunity to use one’s strengths at work every day points to career misalignment—either getting a degree in a field in which one isn’t What do I give? . WELLBEING AND WORKPLACE ENGAGEMENT In c interconnected elements of wellbeing, career wellbeing is the most important, Busteed said. “Our careers are a fundamental piece of how we define ourselves,” Busteed said. “Plus, work is where you spend the majority of your waking hours,” so it is going to have a major impact on your life evaluation—not to mention your social, financial, and physical wellbeing. Gallup’s research shows that those who have high career wellbeing are 4.5 times more likely to be “thriving”—versus merely surviving or, worse, suffering—in life. However, just 31 percent of the U.S. population has very high career wellbeing. p, llu ual Ga ivid Ind ibution tr Con Materials and equipment to do the job I know what is expected of me at work ce: Someone encourages my development Supervisor/someone at work cares Recognition in the last seven days Do what I do best every day ur So Do I belong? ork mw Tea I have a best friend at work Coworkers committed to quality Mission/purpose of company At work, my opinions seem to count wth Gro What does a ‘GOOD JOB’ look like? able to get a job or pursuing a field because of others’ expectations instead of based on one’s own strengths. “The onus is certainly on the individual [student], but it is also on the college and mentors to make sure that students are asking themselves” what they are truly good at, what engages and excites them, Busteed said. EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT SUPPORT CAREER SUCCESS In addition to studying workplace dynamics that correspond with career wellbeing, Gallup also has identified specific college experiences that correlate with subsequent career success. In its research, Gallup has found two educational experiences that are twice as likely as other factors to predict high work performance: 1) Working on a long-term project that took several classes to complete, and 2) Using what was learned in class to develop solutions to real-world problems. In short, Busteed said, “what works in school is ‘real work.’” “Real work”—including problem-solving and experiential education opportunities—helps prepare students for success after graduation, but Gallup also has done extensive research on the factors that predict success during college. Here, Busteed said, Gallup has found that “hope” is statistically a stronger predictor of educational outcomes than test scores or grade-point averages. (In fact, according to the work of Gallup Senior Scientist Shane Lopez, hope is the leading indicator of success in relationships, academics, career, and business—as well as of a healthier, happier life.) HOPE: AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN COLLEGE SUCCESS “Hope is a strategy,” Busteed said. However, it is not just wishful thinking, he explained. Instead, it refers to one’s ideas and energy for the future and includes the following three elements: 1) Attainable goals, 2) The ability to see multiple pathways to achieve those goals, and 3) Agency—i.e., a belief that you can achieve your goals. Measures of hope, engagement, and wellbeing account for one-third of the variance of student success in college, Busteed reported. And, although college success is also driven by other things—such as academic preparation and content knowledge—those things are being measured fairly consistently and systematically through cognitive measures, such as tests. “But no one is paying attention to measuring the noncognitive factors that account for a whopping one-third of student success,” Busteed said. “We need better balance and alignment around how we track and promote student success [in college].” The same is true for college outcomes, where job placement percentages and average salaries tell only part of the story. “What’s the ultimate outcome of an education?” Busteed asked. “To have a better life,” he said. We need to pay attention to how we measure that. Augsburg and Career Wellbeing MATCHING YOUR GIFTS TO THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD According to Gallup, career wellbeing requires that people understand what they are truly good at and pursue career opportunities that allow them to use their strengths every day. Augsburg calls this vocational discernment. “Augsburg is about forming and shaping students to lead lives of meaning and purpose,” said Mark Tranvik, professor of religion and director of Augsburg’s Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation. “At Augsburg, we encourage students to move beyond self-enhancement and think about their lives within a wider horizon. We want them to ask questions like, ‘What am I good at?’ and ‘How can my gifts best be used to make a difference in the world?’ “For many at the College,” Tranvik said, “faith plays an important role in how those questions are answered.” The exploration of one’s gifts is rooted deeply in the Lutheran theological tradition of vocation, and it is a critical part of the educational journey at Augsburg—for students of all faith and spiritual backgrounds, Tranvik said. FINDING THE RIGHT WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT Another important part of the self-discovery journey is determining what types of work environments might suit you best, said Keith Munson, director of the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work. “You can get a job doing something you love, but if that job is not in the right place—the right work environment or culture—you won’t be able to sustain your motivation for the job very long,” he said. In other words, you need to pay attention to where and how your gifts will be used. A good way to learn about work environments is through informational interviews, Munson said. “Networking, of course, ensures that people learn more about you than can be picked up from your résumé, but that’s not the only reason to network,” he said. It is as important “for you to actually find out if a given company or department is a good place for you to work.” Determining whether a given work environment is a fit, however, requires that you understand what kind of work cultures and relationships are best for you. This involves self-reflection and, usually, some amount of coaching. But many students—and many adults in job transitions, for that matter—skip that step and just focus on securing a job. EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF A “GOOD JOB” Munson said he understands why students (and their parents) think it’s important to get a “good job” after college. “For many students, following their passion without worrying or thinking about their income is not a realistic option,” he said. “I always tell these students that it’s okay for them to think about the realities of their career choices. You can be practical about those matters and still pay attention to the other piece”— the search for work and work environments that suits you—as well. “You’re looking for a job anyway,” Munson tells students. “Why not also try to find something that you are going to like to do?” In fact, Munson said, by actively seeking work environments that suit them, students tend to be more effective in the job search process. “When you are looking for something—and someplace—that’s interesting to you, you are likely to be more motivated in the job search,” he said. You’ll do more background preparation, seek more informational interviews, and ask more purposeful questions. In the end, Munson said, students shouldn’t think that they need to choose between following their hearts and getting a “good job.” You can— and should—do both. Fall 2013 11 AUGGIE VOICES Launching a new mission Augsburg College celebrated 56 Master of Social Work graduation candidates at the June 2013 Commencement, and it’s quite possible that Christine Dawson ’13 MSW was the only graduate who began her professional career as a mechanic. Shortly after high school, Dawson joined the United States Marine Corps where she spent three decades and worked in two distinct military occupations. While Dawson met her goals of traveling the world and doing something “most women didn’t do” at the time, she felt called to serve the Marine Corps troops—rather than Marine Corps vehicles—and began a new assignment as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. This role turned out to be a perfect fit because of her ability to help “people go on to live their best life and achieve their goals,” she said. Dawson completed a 17-year tenure with the Marine Corps and served an additional 13 years in the Army National Guard where she continued work as a mental health specialist. When she approached military retirement, she returned to school to earn a graduate degree at Augsburg College, which offered her the opportunity to advance in her civilian career and integrate her military experience into a challenging professional role. Augsburg, she found, was a place that understood her desire to live a purpose-driven lifestyle and to embed meaningful service within her career. Military and veterans support CHRISTINE DAWSON ’13 MSW 12 Augsburg Now Many of Augsburg’s students with military experience enroll in an undergraduate or graduate degree program to build upon the education and training that were part of their military service. For other students, Augsburg is a way to prepare for a civilian career that’s unlike any past duties. Some students who have served in the armed forces are eligible for state and federal financial aid assistance to help pay for college. At Augsburg, more than 100 students with military experience are working one-on-one with the College’s Student Financial Services and Registrar’s offices to successfully claim their education benefits and get individualized help navigating complex eligibility rules. Augsburg College also directly supports these students by hosting an on-campus space for them to meet and by employing a Student Veteran Liaison who mentors peers and works to connect students with College resources. A.J. ANDERSON ’15 “We’re seeing more nontraditional-age students in our undergrad population and some of those people have been around the world and have served our country,” said Lori York, assistant registrar and Veterans Affairs certifying official. “A veteran’s sense of ‘a call to serve’ totally meshes with Augsburg, and we want to make sure they can make the most of their education here.” From call to campus During four years of Marine Corps service, A.J. Anderson ’15, Augsburg’s student veteran liaison, led an amphibious assault team as the crew chief for vehicles that he likens to those that carried troops onto Normandy beaches during World War II. At age 25, Anderson had reconsidered his decision to attend a large public university and left school to become a Marine. “I felt that joining the military was my calling for a little bit,” he said. “Other people backpack in Europe or just take a break. I went to war.” Anderson served around the globe and later joined the Marine Corps Reserve military police unit at Fort Snelling in St. Paul before he began thinking about his long-term career. He said his military experiences didn’t translate into a civilian profession, but—through his service— solidified his aspirations. He resumed his education and in 2012 transferred to Augsburg with a plan to serve his country in a new way. “I’m devoting my life to helping veterans,” he said. “I didn’t know I wanted to do social work until I got out of the military, so coming to Augsburg and working toward that goal is a big part of my life.” And, Anderson is getting a jumpstart on this career through his student involvement. “We know that peer mentors and peer leaders play an important role in students’ achievement,” said Ann Garvey, vice president of Student Affairs. “For example, student athletes serve on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and Orientation Leaders welcome our new Auggies to campus. Our Student Veteran Liaison does outreach with a different group, but the premise is the same.” For Anderson, helping other veterans succeed at Augsburg College couldn’t be a better fit. “I want to give other students the tools I’ve been working with,” he said, “and make sure they have the support I’ve experienced.” From assisting veterans on campus to one day serving them as a clinical social worker, Anderson’s Augsburg education has prepared him for a meaningful career that aligns with his passions. And Dawson, who has been working with veterans for decades, shows that this path is clearly a worthwhile one. LAURA SWANSON Fall 2013 13 Augsburg College 2012-2013 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Augsburg College realized another record year of fundraising in 2012-2013, with $19,367,258 received from more than 4,500 donors. This philanthropy helps Augsburg to attract gifted, engaged students and the talented faculty and staff who teach and guide them. Your gifts provide financial aid, building and maintenance support, and instructional and other resources that help Augsburg provide a quality education to more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students at our Minneapolis and Rochester, Minn., campuses—students like Zach Baltich, Jenna Leahy, and Hector Camarena. Zach Baltich ’14 is studying music performance. Originally from Ely, Minn., Baltich received the Sampson and Carlson scholarships. The Sateren and Gyllstrom scholarships were awarded to Jenna Leahy ’15, a music education major. Leahy is from New Richmond, Wis. 14 Augsburg Now Hector Camarena ’16, a physics major from Fridley, Minn., received the Grindal and Gjerde scholarships. 2012-2013 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS REVENUE BY SOURCE Tuition 72% Room and board 12% Private gifts and grants 9% Government grants 4% Other sources 3% EXPENSES BY CATEGORY Salary and benefits 45% Financial aid 26% Operating expenses* 17% Debt service 3% Equipment and capital improvements 4% Utilities and insurance 3% Student salaries 2% *Expenses in this category include: facility repairs and maintenance, information technology expenditures, marketing expenditures, membership dues and fees, outside consultants, supplies, and travel and business meetings. $25.4 $34.6 $33.3 $32.4 $31.5 $27.2 $27.8 ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE $29.8 $28.2 May 31, 2013 $34,552,615 $24.5 In the year ending May 31, 2013, the value of the endowment increased by 16.04 percent. Our five-year average annual return on the endowment is 2.24 percent and the ten-year average annual return is 4.22 percent. We are committed to maintaining the value of the principal and to providing support to the College in perpetuity. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 (IN MILLIONS) Please visit augsburg.edu/giving/report for our 2013 Honor Roll of Donors. Fall 2013 15 [L to R]: Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Charlie Scott ’08 and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Aaron Griess AUGGIES ON THE COURT [L to R]: Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Charile Scott ’08 and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Aaron Griess Communication. Accountability. Service. Nine years ago, Aaron Griess moved from Pacific to the middle of the middle of the Paciﬁc the United States to become the Augsburg College men’s basketball coach. It was a path back to his Midwest roots and to a culture that values college athletics. “Living in paradise has its obvious advantages, but athletics just isn’t part of the culture in the same way it is in the Midwest,” said Griess about serving as coach at Chaminade University in Honolulu. “Here, lots of families go to games together, many kids grow up in organized sports.” Griess found in Augsburg not only a school that values the student-athlete experience, but also one whose mission refl ects his own vision for coaching and reﬂects leadership. “Coaching gives me a chance to instill important principles of life in the athletes I work with,” he said. “I want to provide these students tools that will help them succeed beyond the court. “My vision of success in coaching is fairly unique in this profession,” said the head men’s basketball coach. “I want 16 Augsburg Now to build a sustainable program of fi rstﬁrstclass leaders who don’t complain about challenges, and who solve problems. A team that consistently wins. A program that helps graduates land good jobs, and helps them understand the value of giving back.” Augsburg College Athletic Director Jeff Swenson said the program epitomizes what Augsburg College strives for throughout its teams. “Coach Griess and his staff exemplify what we want to see in all our sports—student athletes who display great athleticism and who work hard to achieve in the classroom and in the community,” Swenson said. “Griess’ program has helped studentathletes become leaders on and off the court during their time at Augsburg—leaders who stay connected and who give back when they graduate.” Griess also requires that players take seriously their academics. “We communicate throughout each semester about their academic progress. We expect our studentathletes to know exactly where they stand in their progress toward graduation,” Griess said. “They need to learn to be able to talk about progress or struggles, and to be able to communicate that with us, their professors, and families.” Mentoring and service work also are components used by Griess. Juniors and seniors help younger players understand the culture and values of the team. The team currently is part of an Adopt-a-Road program and is exploring the start of a reading program with a neighborhood school. The impact of Griess’ effort is visible in the players’ grades, the team’s standing, and the players’ actions after graduation. “Coach Griess’ guys are known for their work ethic. We never have to worry about his student-athletes meeting eligibility standards,” said Kelly AndersonDiercks, associate athletic director and compliance director. During his nine seasons with the Auggies, the team’s overall winning percentage steadily has climbed to .750. The team, which is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), has made it to conference playoffs four times, twice reaching the semiﬁnals. semifinals. In 2012-13, the team earned a spot in the championship game. In the past ﬁve five seasons, the Auggies have won 65 percent of their games—the second-highest men’s basketball winning percentage in the MIAC for that time period. Griess’ work earned him MIAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year honors during the 2009-10 season. Assistant coach comes full circle The impact of Griess’ vision also can be seen in the growing number of players who contribute to the team and College after they graduate. One of the best examples of this can be seen in Charlie Scott ’08, who now serves as Griess’ assistant coach. Scott, who hails from Ely, Minn., was recruited as a fi ﬁrst-year rst-year student to Augsburg by former Coach Brian Ammann. Scott picked Augsburg because of its urban location, which he said allowed him to make campus as small or as large as he wanted. He played for Ammann for two years and for Griess for two years. Griess and Scott both acknowledge that at the time Griess arrived at Augsburg, just as Scott ﬁnished finished his second year as an Auggie, Scott wasn’t yet the leader he later grew to be. “When we met, Charlie wasn’t ready to be a team leader. He didn’t completely believe in himself because he hadn’t put in the necessary work. I talked to him about whether he wanted to be a leader,” Griess said. “I wanted him to take himself seriously, and to use the tools he had. I knew the players would follow him, but he had to become our team’s hardest worker.” Scott said he was ready, and he was in the weight room and gym every day the summer before his fourth year of college. He also talked to Griess every day, picking his brain for advice on how he could help the team and reach his potential. “Coach sparked the drive and determination in me,” Scott said. “When Coach shared his vision for how he wanted the team to be, I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to help the team accomplish its mission to be nationally known and respected as a ﬁrst-class first-class program and to cultivate student-athletes who understand the values of hard work, perseverance, honesty, integrity, and teamwork.” Scott was so committed to the success of the team that he wanted to stay involved even after his four years of eligibility expired. He served as a volunteer coach during the ﬁfth fifth year of college that it took him to ﬁnish finish his double major in ﬁnance finance and business management. After graduation, Scott continued to volunteer while working full time in ﬁnancial financial services. He gradually became a part-time coach. Then, when the opportunity to apply for the position of full-time, assistant coach opened up, Scott chased it. He was one of more than 100 applicants who wanted to work with Griess at Augsburg. “I look for leadership qualities in my assistant coaches, no matter whether they are volunteers, fellows, or paid coaches. They have to be willing to learn and work,” Griess said. “Charlie is the guy who jumps in and works as hard as anyone. He leads. He digs in.” Developing strong relationships with prospective families is one thing Scott is looking forward to as he works to fulﬁll fulfill his recruiting responsibilities. “I have a huge passion for Augsburg, for basketball, for working with Coach Griess,” Scott said. “I’m excited to meet prospective athletes and their families, helping them learn about Augsburg and our program, and decide whether Augsburg is the right place for them as it was—and is—for me.” While Scott exempliﬁes exemplifies a studentathlete turned servant-leader, he’s just one of Coach Griess’ players who is ﬁnding finding a way to give back to a program and school that means much to them. Some players give back by volunteering as Scott did. Others serve as a resource to students to help ready them for the working world, and some have hired qualiﬁed qualified alumni to work at their companies, knowing they are hiring people with shared ethics and determination to succeed—qualities honed on and off the basketball court at Augsburg. Others give back in the form of gifts to the College. Today, the two coaches are continuing to build a special program founded on communication, accountability, and service. They know that the program will support student-athletes in their studies and when they look for their ﬁrst first jobs. They also know that new recruits are coming to a college that will help them not only develop as an athlete, but also as a whole person. STEPHANIE WEISS Fall 2013 17 Courtesy photo A promising experiment in organic chemistry: MIXING TEAMWORK INTO THE COURSE LOAD Capitalizing on an opportunity to recreate Augsburg College’s advanced organic chemistry class, assistant professor of chemistry, Michael Wentzel, has developed a highly attractive approach to a complicated subject matter. He forces his students to work together. “Originally, I wanted to make it so everybody understood how to write a reasonable organic mechanism,” said Wentzel. “But after taking a step back, my major goals became communications, and group work, and teaching students how to work together and how to communicate better as scientists.” Each week Wentzel breaks his students up into teams of four. The groups are then given a simple assignment: prepare to send a randomly selected group representative to a guest lecture at the University of Minnesota. After the lecture, each group is required to put together a presentation on what they feel is the essence of the subject matter. “Every person got a chance to be the point person for his or her group,” said Wentzel, in reference to his first class. “I wanted to see people work together. To force them to be uncomfortable.” Inside the lab, Wentzel’s unique approach to teaching ensues. He delegates his workload by directing his students’ questions to other students. He assigns 18 Augsburg Now As for the class itself, Wentzel’s methods are driving enrollment. “You can imagine how many people are excited to take organic chemistry, let alone advanced organic chemistry,” joked Wentzel. “I think the most students to ever take the course at one time was maybe five students before I got it,” he said. “And now we have [another] 20 or at least 15 people for next year. It’s been exciting.” individual students specific pieces of lab equipment, has them write out instructions for that equipment, and then dubs them the go-to person for that instrument’s technical support moving forward. The results of this interactive style of teaching are compelling. “The biggest thing I’ve seen is the students are confident in talking about science,” he said. Using the confidence learned in his class, some of Wentzel’s former students have landed internships and entry into competitive graduate degree programs following graduation from Augsburg. Wentzel is clearly proud. “We had a Goldwater Scholarship winner and an honorable mention [this year]. These were kids that were in [my] classes,” he said. Editor’s Note: An integrated course design grant from Augsburg College’s Center for Teaching and Learning funded peer-review sessions and other opportunities allowing Wentzel to revise the advanced organic chemistry class. Reprinted with permission. Article by Phil Meagher for JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments. JoVE is a peerreviewed journal dedicated to publishing methods and research in a visual format. MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE Augsburg shifts student’s dream into high gear Trevor Rodriguez-Sotelo ’13 was the kid who was fascinated by anything with a steering wheel and motor. From a young age, instead of playing with Matchbox cars or Tonka trucks, he would tinker with real engines in his uncles’ garages. Later, when Rodriguez-Sotelo enrolled at Augsburg College, he had a clear vision of his dream: to work as an engineer designing automobile—specifically BMW—engines. He knew entering this highly specialized field was going to be a challenge, but he soon learned that Augsburg faculty and staff were eager to help him achieve his dream. During his first semester at the College, Rodriguez-Sotelo took Calculus Workshop, an elective course designed by Rebekah Dupont, the coordinator of an Augsburg program that seeks to increase the number of minority students who complete degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Rodriguez-Sotelo said Dupont helped prepare him for success in college-level mathematics courses, supporting him inside and outside the classroom. She recognized RodriguezSotelo’s remarkable abilities and suggested that he take them to the next level through undergraduate research on campus, which he went on to conduct with Benjamin Stottrup, associate professor of physics. “Trevor came with a dream, and he had to slog through my biophysics lab to get to that dream,” said Stottrup, who for two years advised Rodriguez-Sotelo in the use of scientific instruments to measure resistance to flow in biomaterials. Rodriguez-Sotelo said he knew this research wasn’t linked perfectly to his automotive engineering interest, but would give him priceless experience. Part of Rodriguez-Sotelo’s on-campus research was made possible through Augsburg’s McNair Scholars Program, a federal grant-funded graduate school preparatory program to help ready underrepresented students for doctoral study. “Stottrup stressed writing skills even though we’re in the sciences,” Rodriguez-Sotelo said. “This helps you become more articulate and allows you to present yourself better— those skills are applicable in my future.” Rodriguez-Sotelo’s work on campus bolstered his offcampus research applications and opened the door to a prestigious summer automotive engineering position at Oakland University outside of Detroit, Mich. In addition to conducting research on and off campus, Rodriguez-Sotelo was a member of the men’s track team, was president of Augsburg Latin American Students and of As Trevor Rodriguez-Sotelo ’13 crossed the stage at Augsburg’s May Commencement, he celebrated a successful undergraduate experience that accelerated his ability to achieve his dream of becoming an automotive engineer. Augsburg’s Society of Physics Students chapter, mentored first-year STEM students, and more. “I had the opportunity to do all the academic, cultural and social activities I liked,” he said. “I was able to do everything because of personal and academic support from faculty and staff. I followed their advice, and they put me on the right path.” Rodriguez-Sotelo graduated last May, and in August took a step closer to achieving his goals by beginning a master’s degree program at the renowned Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. He earned a competitive BMW fellowship, which will help fund his graduate studies and allow him to intern at BMW Manufacturing Co. next summer. He credits earning this award to his “whole body of work” at Augsburg. “The beautiful thing about Augsburg is that faculty and staff pay attention to their students…they care what kind of person I am and where I go after Augsburg,” he said. “Since I was a little kid, I knew this was where I wanted to be, and now I’m here—an automotive engineer.” LAURA SWANSON Fall 2013 19 IT’S NOT YOUR AVERAGE WEEK. IT’S HOMECOMING. 20 Augsburg Now Homecoming brings alumni, friends back to campus Homecoming 2013 reunited former classmates, friends, roommates, and professors, and invigorated the Auggie spirit in everyone in attendance. Traditional celebrations ensued, including the Homecoming Convocation with Distinguished Alumni Awards; the Taste of Augsburg event in Murphy Square featuring food, carnival-style booths, and bounce houses; and lively athletic events including an alumni baseball game and dugout dedication ceremony, as well as volleyball, soccer, and football games. The week also boasted the Eye-Opener Breakfast featuring Augsburg alumnus Dr. Paul Mueller ’84; reunion brunches; campus tours; an Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony to honor 2013 inductees; an Auggie Author book reading with Cheri Johnson ’99; a panel discussion about the Center for Science, Business, and Religion; and the Augsburg Associates luncheon with a presentation by Jacqueline deVries, Augsburg professor of history and director of general education. The merriment came to a close at the Auggie Block Party with live music and s’mores. Homecoming is just one of many ways for Augsburg alumni to stay connected to the College. If you are interested in serving on your reunion committee or volunteering to help plan next year’s events, contact alumni@augsburg.edu. For more information, visit augsburg.edu/alumni. AUGGIES AREN’T ORDINARY. NEITHER IS THEIR HOMECOMING. Fall 2013 21 ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS First Decade Award Honors an Auggie who graduated during the past 10 years who has exemplified the mission of the College while achieving significant progress in his or her professional achievements and contributions in the community. Alexa Halford ’03 Halford, who graduated from Augsburg with a bachelor of arts in physics and mathematics, currently is a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher in physics at Dartmouth College. After graduating from Augsburg, she earned a master’s degree in astronomy and planetary sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder and a doctorate in physics at the University of Newcastle. Shortly afterward, she won a highly competitive Visiting Young Scientist fellowship from Dartmouth College. “Augsburg is small, but that’s what makes it so special. I have people here in my corner, and you will, too.” director from 1993-2001. “I’ve had the wonder of studying music for many years…it’s for Him we sing, to tell the wonders of His love.” Alan Rice Rice, an Olympic athlete and coach, is one of the most respected and honored men in U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling. He also is a member of the U.S. Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is a long-time friend and supporter of the College, and responsible for the worldclass Alan and Gloria Rice Wrestling Center in Kennedy Center. “I’ve been so privileged to be so involved in Augsburg. Thank you for allowing me to participate. Thank you, Augsburg.” Distinguished Alumni Awards Honors alumni in recognition of a significant achievement in their vocation, for outstanding contribution to church and community, and for leading a life that exemplifies the ideals and mission of the College. Spirit of Augsburg Award Honors alumni and friends of the College who have given of their service to substantially impact the well-being of Augsburg’s mission and programs. Alfred Reesnes ’58 Reesnes is dedicated to using his love of music to serve the College. For 33 years, he taught high school music and developed choirs noted for high-quality performance and literature. He was a charter member of the Augsburg Centennial Singers and assistant 22 Augsburg Now H. Theodore Grindal ’76 Grindal is former chair of the Augsburg Board of Regents and a partner in the law firm of Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP. He repeatedly has been recognized as one of Minnesota’s top lobbyists. “I’ve tried to follow five principles throughout my life: God, family, friends, work, and service. Remember who you are. Be true to yourself, be authentic, let that be your guidepost.” HOMECOMING 2013 Clayton McNeff ’91 McNeff is vice president of research at SarTec, Ever Cat Fuels LLC, Mcgyan Biodiesel LLC, and other family businesses. He is known as the co-creator of the patented Mcgyan process, which uses non-food sources to create biodiesel. “I dedicate this award to my mother, Marie Olive McNeff, and I urge you to use your gifts to help those around you. Work together to pay it back and pay it forward.” Roselyn Nordaune ’77 Nordaune is founder of the law firm, Nordaune & Friesen PLLC, and is known for her work in family law. She is a former member of the Augsburg Board of Regents and dedicated to engaging Augsburg alumnae in the philanthropic priorities of the College. “I pledge you: I’m not done yet. I pledge to Augsburg my work, my resources, my service.” IT TAKES AN AUGGIE Class Challenge spurs friendly competition among Auggies to build new academic building Alumni from throughout the decades have responded to a charge presented by Augsburg College Regent Wayne Jorgenson ’71 and former Alumni Board President Christopher Ascher ’81. The two men established alumni Class Challenges to create a friendly philanthropic-giving competition between their respective classes, and to invite all alumni to give back to the College to help build the Center for Science, Business, and Religion (CSBR). “Early gifts from alumni and friends of the College made it possible for each of us to experience a great Augsburg education,” Ascher said. “We are convinced. Now is our time to make the investment and help open doors for others.” “No other campus we know has created such an exciting intersection of disciplines—science, business, and religion—to serve students and forge a pathway to a better future for all of us,” Jorgenson said. Many classes already are involved in Class Challenges, and some have surpassed their goal of donating $1 million to the campaign. As of October 15, 42 classes had contributed more than $25,000 (see chart below). The Class Challenges, combined with a recent gift of $10 million from a member of the class of 1965, bring the CSBR fund to more than $25 million. The overall goal for the campaign is $50 million. To see the status of all Class Challenges—and to learn more about the CSBR—visit blogs.augsburg.edu/alumni. To join an existing Class Challenge or to start a new Class Challenge, contact Kim Stone at 612-330-1173 or stonek@augsburg.edu. Surpassed the $1 million challenge Contributed between $250,000-$499,999 Contributed between $50,000-$99,999 Contributed between $25,000-$49,999 1962 1965 1945 1956 1963 1968 1971 1972 1977 1950 1953 1955 1959 1961 1962 1964 1966 1974 1982 1991 1994 1946 1951 1954 1960 1969 1970 1973 1978 1986 1987 1998 2002 2014 Contributed between $500,000-$999,999 1981 1984 1985 Contributed between $100,000-$249,999 1957 1967 1975 1979 1980 1962 1977 1968 1972 1956 1965 1971 1984 1981 1963 1985 1945 Fall 2013 23 ALUMNI NEWS Dear alumni and friends, t hank you to those of you who participated in the alumni survey that was conducted earlier this fall. We received a tremendous response: More than 4,000 alumni records have been updated, and the Alumni Board is able to more effectively connect with alumni with whom we had lost touch. We’ve included many of the alumni updates from the survey in a special “Keeping Track of Auggies” Class Notes section on pages 24 to 30 of this issue of Augsburg Now. You can also discover information about your fellow Auggies in the recently relaunched Auggie Maroon Pages online. To open the door to this network, go to augsburg.edu/alumni and click “Auggie Maroon Pages.” This will take you to an overview page for the Auggie Maroon Pages, where you can click the “Sign In or Sign Up” button and log in or register as a new user. In reading all the wonderful notes sent in response to the survey, it is obvious to me that an Augsburg education has made a huge difference in the lives of our alumni! healthy and active at ages 89 and 86, respectively. Reprinted with permission from Duluth News Tribune FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Joseph T. Seto received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2011 in Washington, D.C., for Military Intelligence, Service Veteran WWII. Ebba (Johnson) Brooks recently was presented the Swedish Council of America’s Award of Merit. She was acknowledged in the Duluth News Tribune with an article and photo (above). Brooks is pictured in the center of the image. 42 Evelyn H. Sonnack Halverson married Dr. Bill Halverson on July 14, 2013. They honeymooned in Norway and England, and currently reside in Edina, Minn. 43 Mary Lou Nelson received a scholarship to Syracuse but got married instead. She is 90 years old, and a 50-year member of AAUW and LWV. 45 Jack E. Jacobsen was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop in 2010 by the Ordaining Council of the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology. 46 Courtesy photo Sincerely, TRACY (ANDERSON) SEVERSON ’95 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Peter A. Lokkesmoe retired after 36 years with the Boy Scouts of America. Immediately after college, he served in the U.S. Navy. 47 Eugene Hasselquist was ordained in 1951 at Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Racine, Wis. He retired in 1987 from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Red Wing, Minn. 48 Augsburg Now iPad Edition Get the enhanced, interactive version of Augsburg Now on your iPad. Search “Augsburg Now” on the Apple App Store. Beatrice M. Walker moved to Otterbein North Shore, a senior continuing care facility. She and her husband, Tom, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary September 10. 49 24 Augsburg Now J. Forrest Anderson and his wife are blessed to be Arne Simengaard is blessed with a loving family of five daughters, 11 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Carol V. Larson, at age 85, was thankful to walk up the 203 steps of Florida’s Ponce De Leon Lighthouse. She and her husband have four sons: Gary Larson ’72, James Larson ’73, Daniel Larson ’77, and Fred Larson ’81. 50 Norman F. Nideng retired from his service in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps. James E. Christopherson served since 1954 as a Lutheran pastor, primarily in South Dakota. He and his wife have three grown children: John, Mary, and Tom. 51 Lillian K. Ose trained and worked as a medical laboratory technologist at Minneapolis General Hospital from 1951-57 when she married her husband, Kenneth. She worked at various hospitals and/or clinics in Minnesota until her retirement in 1994. Arvid D. Dixe published a book titled Come, Meet the Church, which included a foreword written by Minnesota journalist Jim Klobuchar. 52 Charlotte M. Rimmereid served for three years as a teacher in North Branch, Minn., where she directed two choirs and taught music, geometry, and algebra for grades 1-12. Dorothy Christopherson recently retired from serving 11 years as director of the women’s choir for First Lutheran 53 KEEPING TRACK OF AUGGIES Church of Sioux Falls, S.Dak. She also has directed choirs for children, youth, adults, and handbell ensembles. Minnesota. Their sons, Dan, Dave, and Brad, all work for Dart Transit. Daughter, Angie, is very busy at home with her three sons. 59 Reidun H. Newquist had several music therapy students from Augsburg observe at Michael Dowling School. Lawrence E. Gallagher and his wife, Barbara, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August. Gloria M. Thorpe and her husband, Gordon, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 23. Ellayne V. Velde-Conyers retired in 2011 but continues to write a weekly column in the Marshall Independent newspaper. She hosts a public access television program in Marshall, Minn., once per week, and was elected to the Marshall City Council in November 2012. 60 Lois A. Agrimson’s son Erick Agrimson ’98 welcomed son, Anders David Agrimson, on June 22, 2012. James N. Holden recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northfield (Minn.) High School Booster Club for support of the tennis program. Helen Witt is very thankful for her two years spent at Augsburg while earning her nursing education at Deacon’s Hospital from 1949-52, also being included in the class of 1953 at Augsburg College. Both the school and the hospital were a major influence in her life. Woodrow W. Wilson’s niece, Catha Jones, attended Augsburg and graduated in 1970. After graduation she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. In 1975, her parents, Kenneth and Carmen Jones, endowed the Catha Jones Scholarship, which has supported 21 students who share Catha’s interest in elementary education and music. Herbert W. Chilstrom and his wife, Corinne, recently wrote Every Morning New—a book of devotional readings for every day of the year. 54 George W. Fisher and his wife, Mary, began their 18th year singing with the Lexington County (S.C.) Choral Society. George has played violin for 17 years and recently began learning clarinet. James W. Anderson taught music for 40 years and was a real estate agent for 27 years. Four of his children also graduated from Augsburg College. 55 Dorothy Devick worked for three years as a school teacher, then worked with her husband at their business. Beverly J. Oren and her husband have 12 grandchildren. All of their children have children of their own and live close to them in E. William Anderson taught at Bagley High School and Mound-Westonka High School. He has visited more than 100 countries. 56 Robert R. Lockwood was inducted into the Augsburg College Hall of Fame in 1994. He taught and coached for 42 years in Golden Valley and Hopkins (Minn.) District 270. At 82, he continues to spend his time swimming, skiing, biking, and golfing. Mark C. Thorpe retired from a lifetime of aircraft design work at McDonnell Aircraft, McDonnell Douglas, and Boeing in St. Louis. Oscar E. Olson taught for many years, including as a substitute for Willmar (Minn.) Public Schools. He partially retired to Bozeman, Mont., where he substitute taught for several years before moving to Billings, Mont. 57 Dennis E. Barnaal and his wife, Doris, in 2011 traveled to Norway and the Barnaal Farm/ Mountain Hotel with their children and children’s families. While in the Luther College Physics Department, he conducted three research sabbatical leaves in Norway, including one with Keith Anderson ’54. 58 Harland P. Danielson continues crop farming in Wisconsin. He and his wife have 10 children, 23 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Luther A. Anderson is a founding board member of the Lake Region Writers Network, and serves as the managing editor of Lake Region Review, an annual regional literary magazine. Carol A. Casperson’s granddaughter, Harley Ann Fulton, was born on September 1 to parents Laura Casperson and Scott Fulton. Karen (Erickson) McCullogh in 2012 walked the pilgrimage route, Camino Frances, from St. Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Philip Q. Bauman was blessed with three greatgranddaughters in 2013. 62 Arden Flaten with his wife, Alice, celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary in September. Dennis E. Glad continues to cocoordinate work teams for the United National Church to the Caribbean and Central America. Glad will lead work teams with the Caribbean Mission Cruise in 2014. Gordon L. Syverson retired in 2008 but continues to lead worship services. He welcomed grandchildren in 2011 and again in 2013. Lowell “Zeke” Zieman was honored by Marshall (Minn.) High School in April and inducted into the school’s Hall of Honor. Kenneth L. Akerman and his wife, Marilyn A. Akerman ’62, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2012. 61 Larry B. Cowl practiced law for more than 30 years prior to his retirement in 2005. He continues to work part time as a legal consultant. James E. DeMars has been married to Susan for 52 years, and they have six grandchildren. Roger and Judy Lerstad Hill ’62 reunited with Gretchen Carlson at the Miss Minnesota/Miss America Sisters Reunion Gala held at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington, Minn., in June. Hill was Augsburg’s first Miss Minnesota in 1962, and Carlson was Miss Minnesota in 1987 and Miss America in 1988. Hill was the first Alumni Director for the Miss Minnesota Pageant from 1964-78. Glenn D. Peterson retired in 1997 after 35 years as a teacher of choral music in Rush City, Minn., and Duluth, Minn. In 2001, he founded Garden Street Landscape. 63 David D. Proctor was ordained into the Lutheran ministry in 1963. He served congregations in Ohio and Michigan before his retirement in 2000. Andrew M. Berg and wife, Jean, are retired near Willmar, Minn. They have visited 64 Fall 2013 25 all 50 states, Norway numerous times, and many European countries. Roger G. Johnson, a Minnetonka, Minn., native, was awarded Fergus Falls (Minn.) High School’s Hall of Fame award for Distinguished Service. Arla P. Landon retired in 1985. Jean S. Olson retired in 2011 following 23 years of service as an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society. her husband have done a lot of traveling around Colorado and the U.S., plus trips to Norway, China, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. third grandchild, Bridget Erin Causby, on July 3. Their other grandchildren are Charles Lawton Ogburn, IV and Selah Eliot Ogburn. Adeline R. Sarkela is involved in volunteer ministry with church music and children. Jan Pedersen Schiff was honored and inducted into the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame for her community service as the founder and artistic director of Singers Marin. For the past 26 years, Pedersen Schiff has created structured programs to develop vocal skills that support musical development. When Harold J. Bagley graduated in 1966, he was the last (youngest) of several children of Rev. Emil G. Bagley ’49 to attend Augsburg College. He also was the first lawyer from a family of ministers, teachers, and social workers. 66 Carolyn E. Anderson celebrated 50 years of marriage with her husband, Don Anderson ’66, in September. 67 Larry G. Buboltz and his wife, Adrienne, recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. Larry served as the Director of Rural Minnesota CED, Inc. He was a member of the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) City Council from 1976-1988, and elected mayor from 1988-2008. Bruce L. Hansen is a retired English teacher from Minneapolis Public Schools, and now serves as a lay minister for his local church. Myrna J. Sheie retired in 2011 after more than 30 years working in the Twin Cities, Minn., and Chicago for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the American Lutheran Church (ALC). Susan E. Ferguson earned her masters of theology in 2004 from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Diane J. Tiedeman is retired from Bloomington (Minn.) Public Schools where she taught secondthrough fourth-grade students. Kay E. Jenness and her husband, Dave, moved from New Mexico to Washington to be closer to their family. Karen M. Alm recently retired after 31 years teaching elementary education in the Forest Lake (Minn.) School District. 69 Dennis D. Miller and his wife, Christine, are members of the faculty at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Miller serves as the chair of the Department of Food Science. Richard E. Cummings has been active in civic and service organizations, including the Stillwater (Minn.) City Council and, since 1983, Rotary International for which he is proud of his 30 years of perfect attendance. 65 Dennis D. Gray celebrated 50 years of marriage to Marilyn Rokke Gray on July 13. They have three sons and eight grandchildren. Carmen D. Herrick studied Norwegian at the University of Oslo International Summer School from 2008 to 2010. In 2011-2012, she attended Elverum Folkehogskole in Elverum, Norway. Marie D. McNally retired from her work as an English teacher. Her husband, Tom, continues employment as chief operating officer of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minn. Diane S. Ristrom sang in a special choral concert in October with hundreds of alumni to celebrate the 100th birthday of Augsburg’s Leland B. Sateren ’35. Marlys Tron, retired, stays involved in her community through church activities and as chair of a polio support group. Richard E. Sandeen retired from teaching and coaching in Edina, Minn. Jerome Schaubach was inducted into Minnesota Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in 2013. Margaret P. Albright and her husband have two daughters. One is a kindergarten teacher in Bemidji, Minn., and the other works for Mayo Clinic in the Legal Department. 70 James Fischer was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame and received the Excellence in Coaching award. Ric Hovda retired last June from San Diego State University, where he served as dean of the College of Education for six years. Prior to his work at SDSU, Hovda was dean of the College of Education at the University of Memphis. Susan M. Pursch was awarded the ELCA’s Tom Hunstad Award for Excellence in Youth and Family Ministry in 2007. She currently works as a development officer at The Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia, Penn. Mary J. Loken Veiseth retired last July following 24 years of work at Apple Valley (Minn.) Medical Clinic. 68 Lois J. Peterson enjoys living in Colorado, spending time with her grown children, friends, and family, and spoiling her six-yearold granddaughter. She and Paul A. Andell retired from his call of 39 years as senior pastor of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Penn. Mim Jacobson and Marian Korth were married in September in Augsburg’s Harbo Meditation Chapel. Charles A. Niles and Bonnie (Board) Niles ’71, welcomed their Glen J. Peterson has been employed for 27 years as the Augsburg Now Patricia A. Piepenburg was inducted into Augsburg’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. Bonnie K. Risius retired during 2010. Jane M. Norman is a business coowner of Kultur Hus, a Norwegian heritage shop in Sunburg, Minn. 26 director of the Hyland Snow Sports Academy in Bloomington, Minn. Jane C. Bracken retired in 2012 from Cannon Falls (Minn.) Area Schools after teaching first grade for 41 years. She continues to work as an organist and pianist at St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls, Minn. 71 KEEPING TRACK OF AUGGIES Wayne D. Jorgenson has long enjoyed Civil War re-enacting and studying the Civil War. He recently published a book on the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, titled Every Man Did His Duty. Janice K. Thompson retired in 2012 after 35 years of teaching. She enjoys traveling with her family, and she is the Pine Island, Minn., WCCO Weather Watcher. Darrell L. Skogen is in his 43rd year of teaching, with a goal of continuing until his 50th anniversary. He recently retired from 47 years of charting statistics for high school and college games, and from maintaining statistics for St. Michael-Albertville (Minn.) High School football. Clarence D. Anderson is a retired Air Force Bandsman stationed mostly in Northern California. 72 Robert A. Engelson’s son, Matthew, graduated from Luther College with a degree in music education this past May. Kristin P. Parbst Rohde retired in June. Scott J. Brown is a customer service specialist at Walser Honda in Burnsville, Minn. 73 Joyce L. Casey retired after 39 years of teaching elementary grades in the St. MichaelAlbertville (Minn.) School District. Mark A. Ladwig is retired and enjoying his grandchildren, running, playing viola, genealogy, and learning German. Beth C. Walen retired in January after more than 33 years of service as a flight attendant. 74 Debra D. Johnson has worked as a pediatrician and clinical geneticist for HealthPartners since 75 1985 and is the mother of two daughters. Patti (Edwards) Kramlinger was honored with the Claire E. Faust Public Service Award from Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minn. The award is presented to faculty or staff members in recognition of their years of dedicated service to the university, the Mankato community, the state of Minnesota, and the United States. Clifford G. McCann’s three children, Kevin, Meredith, and Allison, are married and he has three grandchildren. Heidi (Leaf) Haagenson recently was named vice president of Academic and Student Affairs at Anoka Technical College. 77 Ruth A. Underdahl-Peirce welcomed her first grandson, Cyrus Steven Richard, born to her daughter, Beth Underdahl-Peirce, on August 9 in Bloomington, Ind. Son, Jon Underdahl-Peirce, served in the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, Africa, and now works for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. Roberta Aitchison Olson gets together with five of her former classmates and roommates on a regular basis, and cherishes lifelong friendships and professional support. They call themselves “chez nous” and started out by forming an intentional living community based on social justice principles: Megan Webster Stemper ’78, physical therapist; Jackie Goheen ’78, gardening business owner; Grit Youngquist ’79, health educator, adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota; Patty Frazier, psychology professor at the University of Minnesota; and Jane Bjorndal McAdams ’78, pharmaceutical compensation director. 78 Marion G. Hinz is an “empty nester” with her only child now in college in Chicago. 79 David L. Norgard was appointed a teaching faculty member in the Graduate Management program at Antioch University Los Angeles. 80 Roxanne K. Williams is in her 34th year of teaching physical education and credits Lavonne “Ma Pete/Mrs. Pete” Peterson for her skills in the classroom. Jennie Clark-Anderson is the executive director for the Living at Home of the Park Rapids (Minn.) Area, which helps seniors remain in the home of their choice. She performs with the Northern Light Opera Company and the Park Rapids Area Community Band. 81 Kyle A. Anderson’s daughter, Kaitlyn, married Peter Langston, Jr. on July 14 in Delwood, Minn. Both Kaitlyn and Peter are graduates of Bethel University. 84 Janet B. Bolm welcomed her grandson, Brody, on November 13, 2012. Brent J. Crego co-founded Comfort Love Care Assisted Living Operations. Crego helps nonprofit organizations care for their elder members while generating income. Charles K. Evans retired as a correctional police officer in 2013. Kathi A. Osmonson has a new job with the State Fire Marshal Division as the youth firesetting prevention and intervention specialist. Kirsten M. Schwappach is a fulltime proofreader at Medical Arts Press. She began her career as an assistant librarian at the Blake Upper School and a reference librarian at Hamline University. Liz Sheahan recently became the director of transformational gifts with Society of St. Andrew, a national nonprofit focused on getting fresh produce to hungry Americans. Jodi L. Holden is enrolled at Saint Mary’s University pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and psychology, and she expects to graduate in May 2014. Holden works as a career counseling graduate intern in the career and internship services center of the University of Minnesota. She holds an MBA in international management from the University of Dallas. 88 82 Lynda C. Ott has worked at Seward Montessori School for seven years, and many Augsburg students have volunteered in her fourthand fifth-grade classrooms. Ott and her husband, Peter, have two grown sons. Diane Wells received the 2012 Lifeworks Advocate of the Year award. Matthew Butler in 2013 was promoted to Lt. Colonel. Jacqueline E. Forrester is working to establish a nonprofit in her home country of Jamaica. The organization will provide food, clothing, and other services to children. Dan Wright and his wife, Kristen Haglund, celebrated the birth of their second son, Bjorn Arthur. Their first son, Johan Rowen, is now 8 years old. Dan is a senior applications engineer at Nike, Inc. and Kristen is a naturopathic physician. Michele L. Boyer and her wife, Melissa Conway, have two kids, Evan (age 10) and Rita (age 9)—both adopted from Nepal. They came home in 2003 and 2006. 89 Fall 2013 27 Michelle C. Goldberger is the program director of COR Retreat, a nonprofit spiritual retreat for food addicts. She is mother to five children ranging in age from 10 to 24. Marilee A. Mowry completed three degrees through Augsburg College and recently retired from teaching music and kindergarten in St. Paul Public Schools. She continues to teach piano and woodwinds in her home. Julie A. Edstrom accepted a new position in enrollment management at the University of Great Falls in Great Falls, Mont. Her son, Cameron, began his first year at Augsburg in August. 90 Joel B. Bue has an 18-month-old daughter and another baby due in February 2014. 91 Stephanie A. Trump is serving as adjunct professor of music at the University of NorthwesternSt. Paul, and she directs the Women’s Chorale. Madelyn D. Browne earned a Green Belt certificate at the University of St. Thomas in 2012. 92 Terri A. Burnor is a student at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and she will intern with two Unitarian Universalist congregations. Sharol Tyra, a professional certified coach at Life Illumination Coaching, was elected president of the Board of Directors, effective in 2014, for ICF Minnesota, a chartered chapter of the International Coach Federation. Marilyn J. Vick-Kalar is a working artist. She recently was crowned Mrs. Arizona International 2013 and competed in the Mrs. International competition in July. Throughout her reign as Mrs. Arizona International, McCune continues to support Adopt a Senior Citizen programs as her platfom and raise awareness for the nation’s growing senior citizen population. Lisa M. Zahn recently opened her own business as a Co-active Life Coach. Michael P. Schmidt married Steven A. (Bartkowicz) Schmidt in Decorah, Iowa, on April 6. Kristin A. Lehne is a physical therapist and works at Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. in Mankato, Minn. 97 93 Summerei-Dawn Hamille is creating an original ballet to “Thumbelina.” 94 Beryl J. Deskin is semiretired and employed parttime as a business writer and facilitator. 95 Jennifer S. Kvidt welcomed son, Ethan, on February 13, 2012. Michelle Boyum Breen and Trenda Boyum-Breen legally were wed on August 1. Shari Hornseth welcomed daughter, Claire, on February 19. She joins big brother, Andrew. Shari is a social work MSHO manager with HealthEast. The family lives in Farmington, Minn. 99 Lillian Lillian Jane Jane Moore Moore was was born born January January 23 23 to to proud proud parents parents Anne Anne (Osberg) (Osberg) Moore Moore and and Scott Scott Moore, Moore, and and prouder prouder grandparents grandparents Jack Jack Osberg Osberg ’62 ’62 and and Nina Nina Osberg. Osberg. Kat Kat Wolfe Wolfe and and her her husband husband opened opened aa talent talent agency, agency, Wolfe Wolfe Talent, Talent, which which serves serves the the Twin Twin Cities. Cities. Robert P. Wasik retired from corporate life in 2012 and opened his own business in White Bear Lake, Minn. 96 Holly (Kolander) McCune, a Minnesota Vikings cheerleader for five years, recently was interviewed by the NFL Alumni Organization for its “Where are they now?” series. McCune lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with her husband and twin daughters. Ryan R. Ball welcomed his son, Owen Ball, on February 20. 01 Jesse (Lipelt) Moen and Jason Moen ’98 welcomed daughter, Ada, on May 15. Emily Emily E. E. Larsen Larsen Scaglia Scaglia and and her husband recently her husband recently welwelcomed comed their their son, son, Logan Logan Thomas, Thomas, born on February born on February 10. 10. 02 Jacob Jacob M. M. Wegscheider Wegscheider welcomed welcomed aa daughter, daughter, Whitney Whitney Nichole, Nichole, on on June June 6. 6. She She joins joins brother, brother, Henry Henry Tate, Tate, born born April April 6, 6, 2011. 2011. Brian Brian L. L. Kuhl Kuhl graduated graduated summa summa cum cum laude laude from from the the University University of of Wisconsin Wisconsin Law Law School, School, fifinishing nishing in in the the top top 1 1 percent percent of of his his graduating graduating class. class. He He is is an an associate associate attorney attorney at at Mayer Mayer Brown’s Brown’s Chicago Chicago offi office, ce, aa proud proud husband, husband, and and aa father father of of aa fifive-year-old ve-year-old son son and and 10-month10-monthold old daughter. daughter. 03 Carl Grulke ’07 and Bart Rall ’05 graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. Grulke will serve as associate pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebr., and Rall will serve as pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Monterey, Calif. 28 Augsburg Now Mac Gordon and Nicki Gordon welcomed their daughter, Vivian, on May 16. She joins big brother, Foster. 00 Michael G. Hargadine completed his 18th year working for the St. Paul Public School system. Matt Matt Christensen Christensen and and his his wife wife Katie Katie Lindenfelser Lindenfelser ’02 ’02 welcomed welcomed their their baby baby boy, boy, Daniel Daniel Gordon Gordon Christensen, on Christensen, on January January 16, 16, 2012. 2012. They They are are working working to to build build KEEPING TRACK OF AUGGIES a children’s hospice and respite care home for kids with life-limiting conditions and their families, the first in the Midwest. Kari A. Badali and partner, Jodi, welcomed their first son, Oliver Joseph Badali-Winters, November 29, 2011. 04 Deanne M. McDonald performed as Rosalind in “As You Like It” in Chicago’s Hamlin Park with her theater company, The Traveling Players. Colleen R. Peterson welcomed son, Cole Lee Peterson, on August 5. Lauren Wood relocated to San Francisco, Calif., after accepting a position as an associate at the law firm, Glynn & Finley LLP. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation. Dallas Worth, and her husband, Jarod Worth, welcomed their son, Kainen David Worth, on June 15. Jennifer L. Galvin-Anderson published her memoir about overcoming cancer and traumatic brain injury, Crawl Walk Run, and welcomed son, Evan Craig, in 2012. 05 Bethany Stolle recently graduated from an interaction design and social entrepreneurship program at the Austin Center for Design. She won the Intel-sponsored Student Design Challenge at the Interaction Design Association’s annual international conference. Her concept was playful technology to support communication and connection for nonverbal people on the Autism Spectrum. Perry D. Mathison’s son, Alex, attended St. Thomas University and graduated in May of 2013 with a major in neuroscience. 06 David L. Nash is planning to pursue a fellowship and career in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. Sara Nash ’06 is a senior marketing coordinator for HDR Engineering. The couple is expecting their first child in February. Jennifer L. Annett married Douglas Annett on May 18, 2008. Their son, Julian, was born on October 7, 2010. 07 Lenette M. Baron is married to Jason with three daughters, ages 8, 5, and 3; another baby due in November. Therese M. Maas completed her master’s degree and graduated as adult-nurse practitioner from the College of St. Catherine. She is completing her doctorate of nursing practice degree at the University of Minnesota. Brooke H. Brown welcomed Morgan Elizabeth to her family in November 2012. 08 Chad Greenwaldt and his wife welcomed their third child, Nikolas Nielsen Greenwaldt, on April 10. Kevin M. Haglund graduated from the doctor of physical therapy program at A.T. Still University and began a physical therapist position at Spooner Physical Therapy in Fountain Hills, Ariz. Jessica H. Snider is teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Guanajuato, Mexico. Prior to teaching in Mexico, Snider taught in Istanbul, Turkey. Webster L. Ford teaches through the Minnesota Math Corps, and he is the sports director of a small-market radio station. 09 Shonna L. Fulford began a senior admissions counselor position at Augsburg College in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Cody Lewis Oaks graduated from Luther Seminary with a master’s degree in systematic theology. He and his wife, Melody, recently welcomed their first son, Theodore. Jenni Pickford is completing her master’s in philosophy at Northern Illinois University. She and her husband, Thomas R. Anderson, Jr., live in DeKalb, Ill. Ryan Sorensen and Kristi Castelic ’09 were married in Green Bay, Wis., on August 3. Ryan is the St. Francis High School boys’ varsity head coach and Augsburg men’s soccer assistant coach. Kristi is employed at DCM Services in Richfield, Minn. The couple resides in Maple Grove, Minn. Brett T. Thompson works fulltime as a customer service team member at Whole Foods Market in Minnetonka, Minn. Whitney P. Holman recently graduated from St. Cloud State University with a master’s in communication sciences and disorders. Holman received the Mary E. Weise Clinical Excellence Award and Plural Publishing Master’s Research Award for her work on Parkinson’s disease and pre-motor brain potentials, which was presented at the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association Conference. 10 Stephanie A. Hubbard
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2013: Auggies Shape Our World
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: inside AUGSBURG NOW Augsburg Commencement 2013 Student success and achievements Hybrid teaching and learning Auggie teachers shape our future New women’s lacrosse program SHAPE oUr WORLD SUMMER 2013 | VOL. 75, NO. 3 auGGiEs Vice President of Marketing and Communication NOTES from P...
Show more inside AUGSBURG NOW Augsburg Commencement 2013 Student success and achievements Hybrid teaching and learning Auggie teachers shape our future New women’s lacrosse program SHAPE oUr WORLD SUMMER 2013 | VOL. 75, NO. 3 auGGiEs Vice President of Marketing and Communication NOTES from President Pribbenow Faithful and Relevant During the past several months, Augsburg’s Board of Regents has invited the campus community into a strategic mapping process focused on our priorities and aspirations leading up to the College’s sesquicentennial in 2019. Fittingly titled “Augsburg 2019,” the plans emerging from extensive research and conversations are aimed at enabling the College to live into a vision we have stated this way: In 2019, Augsburg will be a new kind of studentcentered, urban university, small to our students and big for the world. As we have engaged in this important strategic work for Augsburg, I have been struck by the synergy we have found between what it means to remain faithful to our core values—our Lutheran faith, the liberal arts, diversity, and urban life—while at the same time looking for ways to be relevant in the world—equipping students for lives of meaning and purpose in the 21st century. Some might note the paradox in such a framework—faithful and relevant—but as good Lutherans, we know well how to live as people centered in the gifts of our faith and of service to God’s good creation. It seems especially fitting that this issue of Augsburg Now includes a meaningful tribute to Charles Anderson, who served as Augsburg’s eighth president from 1980 to 1997, and whose legacy is very much the foundation for the College’s work today and in the future. Chuck Anderson believed deeply in the College’s Lutheran heritage. He was a tireless advocate for the liberal arts. And he made the College’s urban setting an even more central part of its daily life and work. At the same time, Chuck paid close attention to the needs of the world. He championed Augsburg’s ground-breaking Weekend College for adult undergraduates, its Rochester campus, the StepUP® program for students recovering from addictions, Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Integrated Communication Specialist Laura Swanson swansonl@augsburg.edu Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu the CLASS program for students with learning challenges, the Center for Global Education, and the College’s first graduate programs. Chuck also set the stage for Augsburg’s commitment to intentional diversity, a commitment that has been realized in the increasing diversity of our student body during the past several years. Chuck Anderson’s legacy of sustaining Augsburg as a faithful and relevant institution may be best captured in our new vision statement. He put students at the center of the College’s life. He cared deeply for the urban neighborhoods around campus and saw them as an extension of the classroom. And he watched over the expansion of Augsburg’s academic programs, leading to the comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs that characterize the College’s academic profile today—the profile of a small university, a new kind of 21st century university. As this issue of Augsburg Now so powerfully demonstrates, this vision is very much alive and thriving on campus and around the world today: Keeping students at the center of our lives through scholarships made possible by the generosity of remarkable alumni like Milt Kleven ’46. Students and faculty achieving at the highest level and being recognized nationally and internationally for their work. Innovative new curricula, aimed at sustaining Augsburg’s abiding commitment to face-to-face instruction, while at the same time using technology to enhance student experiences. Augsburg’s ground-breaking work to educate teachers for diverse schools, bringing the best of new classroom methods together with the College’s strengths in the sciences and mathematics. And so much more. It is a great time to be an Auggie! Augsburg is a new kind of 21st century university. Small to our students—the reasons we exist—and big for the world. Thanks for all you do to help keep Augsburg faithful and relevant. Senior Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Production Manager/Now Online Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Advancement Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu Email: now@augsburg.edu PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT summer 2013 AUGSBURG NOW 22 20 36 10 Features 10 20 22 24 Shaping our future BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 AND REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA Commencement 2013 Success after college BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Hybrid learning BY LAURA SWANSON Departments inside front cover Notes from President Pribbenow 2 Around the Quad 9 My Auggie experience 18 The Center for Science, Business, and Religion 19 It takes an Auggie 28 Alumni news 30 Alumni class notes 36 Auggies on the field 9 On the cover Kassie Benjamin-Ficken ’12, an Augsburg elementary education and math major, and a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, teaches first grade at Tatanka Academy in Minneapolis. She is one of the seven Auggie teachers and education alumni featured in “Shaping our future,” page 10. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 19 quad around the Augsburg top-ranked in Dave Wold named NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANTS Campus Pastor Emeritus Augsburg was ranked third in Minnesota for the total dollar amount awarded in 2012 by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Augsburg received three awards from NSF last year, totaling more than $1 million. The top two Minnesota NSF grant recipients are the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota, Duluth—which means that Augsburg was the leader in NSF funding among private higher education institutions in the state. This achievement was highlighted this past spring in a list published by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Auggies had the rare opportunity to go on stage at the Bon Jovi concert this past spring. The group was interviewed by television stations—including KARE 11, KSTP 5, and WCCO 4—about their community service, education, and experiences working backstage. Auggies earn behind-the-scenes opportunity on Bon Jovi tour Six Augsburg College students were given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get an inside look at the music business when they worked backstage during the Bon Jovi “Because We Can” tour held in April at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The students were selected for the band’s Community Service College Campaign based on their community engagement and leadership. Participants included [pictured L to R] Alom Martinez Aleman ’13, Andrea Batt ’13, Alexandra Jamieson ’14, James “Bear” Mahowald ’13, Thu Nguyen ’15, and Morgan Waldorf ’15. The group got hands-on experience in public relations, media, management, and ticketing; and took advantage of the opportunity to network with media and music professionals. To read more about Auggies backstage at Bon Jovi, go to augsburg.edu/now. 2 Augsburg Now Pastor Dave Wold—Augsburg’s pastor since 1983—retired at the end of the 2012-13 academic year, and, in its May meeting, the Augsburg College Board of Regents resolved that he would be named Campus Pastor Emeritus. Pastor Dave served faithfully and well for three decades, ministering in a variety of ways to individual members of the Augsburg community and the entire College. His service in organizing and leading daily chapel services, his accessibility to all with spiritual needs, his inimitable style as announcer for Auggie athletic events, his leadership of outreach programs such as the Augsburg High School Basketball League, his guidance of the annual Advent Vespers worship services, and his ubiquitous presence at College events— especially student events—all of this and so much more have been Pastor Dave’s remarkable contributions to Augsburg. A community-wide celebration of his ministry at Augsburg is being planned for fall. Excellence in teaching and learning The 2013 Distinguished Contribution recipients [L to R]: Laura Boisen, David Matz, Darcey Engen ’88, and Colin Irvine. Each year, the Augsburg College faculty recognizes select colleagues with Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards— acknowledging those who have demonstrated outstanding support for students through teaching, advising, and mentoring. The 2013 recipients include: • For Excellence in Teaching—Colin Irvine, associate professor of English • For Excellence in Mentoring and Advising— Laura Boisen, professor of social work • For Excellence in Scholarship—Darcey Engen ’88, associate professor of theater arts, and David Matz, associate professor of psychology COMMUNITY CELEBRATES STEPHEN ‘GABE’ GABRIELSEN The Augsburg College community celebrated the life, music, and contributions of Professor Emeritus Stephen “Gabe” Gabrielsen ’63 in an April ceremony at Hoversten Chapel. Gabe, as he was known to students, staff, and faculty, taught at Augsburg for 47 years. He is known for his service to the community as College organist. His majors in music and religion were the foundation for his vocation, which found expression in music and faith. He played organ in daily chapel throughout his time at Augsburg and was organist for 28 Advent Vespers services. URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE Minnesota Urban Debate League is affiliated with Augsburg College’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning. The Center, named for former Congressman Martin Olav Sabo ’59, is home to programs that foster civic engagement, including Bonner Leaders, Campus Kitchen, the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, and more. The Minneapolis Public School District committed to provide Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL), with funding of $100,000 over a two-year period. The funding, combined with support the program already has from the St. Paul Public Schools, means the MNUDL will add seven schools to its program. MNUDL serves more than 500 middle- and high-school students in the Twin Cities, and students in the program have a 100 percent on-time high school graduation rate. Summer 2013 3 quad around the STATE GRANT PROGRAM Augsburg Day at the Capitol, held in March, gave students a voice in the important debate surrounding the Minnesota State Grant program. Patrick DuSchane ’13, Augsburg’s former day student body president, said the event was a chance to help ensure that legislators understand the value of the state grant program to Augsburg students and their families. The program is designed to help make college more affordable to more than 88,000 Minnesota students. In addition to their visit to the Capitol, students were invited to a post-event reception with former U.S. Representative Martin Olav Sabo ’59. Earlier in the legislative session, Ben Yawakie ’13 testified at a committee hearing on behalf of the Augsburg College community. Rosie Benser ’13 and Charlie Olson ’13 spoke about the value to their education of participating in undergraduate research. The 2013 Minnesota Campus Compact Presidents’ Awards recognized leaders on the Augsburg campus and in the College’s surrounding community. • The Presidents’ Civic Engagement Steward Award went to Augsburg’s Health Commons programs at Central Lutheran Church and Dar Ul-Quba. It recognizes those who advance a campus’s distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic engagement, and working to institutionalize engagement. • The Presidents’ Student Leadership Award was presented to Rachel Svanoe ’13 for her commitment to civic responsibility and leadership. • The Presidents’ Community Partner Award was presented to the Brian Coyle Community Center for supporting Augsburg students’ experiential education. 4 Augsburg Now HIGH-DEMAND TRACK ADDED TO DOCTORAL NURSING PROGRAM The Augsburg College Nursing Department added an innovative, accredited, and high-demand track to its Doctor of Nursing Practice program to respond to the evolving needs of nurses, communities, and the medical industry. The new track, DNP—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), is geared toward preparing students who already hold their bachelor of science in nursing to apply for certification as FNPs through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It is the second doctoral program offered by Augsburg. The first doctoral program, the DNP—Transcultural Nursing Leadership, readies nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing for advanced transcultural nursing across care settings and care systems. Ensembles perform throughout Turkey The Augsburg College Concert Band and Augsburg Jazz delivered their annual Bon Voyage Performance the day before May Commencement. The two groups then went on an international tour to perform throughout Turkey. The groups played in cities including Istanbul, Izmir, and Bodrum; met in small groups with school children in grades K-12; and took time to tour destinations including the Blue Mosque and world heritage site Hagia Sophia, which was built in 537 A.D. as an Orthodox Christian church. Each year, Augsburg music ensembles tour and perform both domestically and internationally. Read the Augsburg Concert Band and Jazz Tour blog to learn about the full trip: augsburgmusic.blogspot.com. Honoring our retired faculty Marilyn Pearson Florian ’76, assistant professor of health, physical education, and exercise science, joined the College in 1980. She received a master’s from St. Cloud State University. Along with her classroom teaching, she served as chair of her department, head women’s volleyball coach, and, most recently, women’s athletic director. She has been a strong advocate for gender equity in athletics throughout her career. Garry W. Hesser, professor of sociology and metro-urban studies and Martin Olav Sabo Professor of Citizenship and Learning, started his career at Augsburg in 1977. He received a bachelor’s from Phillips University, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and a master’s and PhD from the University of Notre Dame. Hesser played a key role in the development of the College’s metrourban studies program and the intensive curriculum for the hybrid Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) program. He is recognized nationally as a leader in the field of experiential education and urban education. His scholarship and accomplishments in these areas reflect the College’s mission as a “College of the city.” Kenneth S. Kaminsky, professor of mathematics, began his work at Augsburg in 1987. He received a bachelor’s in mathematics, a master’s in statistics, and a PhD in statistics from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Along with his classroom teaching, Kaminsky is an active scholar, having published books and articles in the areas of statistics and financial mathematics. Through a bi-weekly newsletter and by inviting alumni, industrial mathematicians, and local academics to speak in the mathematics colloquium series, Kaminsky keeps mathematics alumni and current students connected. Ned D. Kantar, assistant professor of music, joined the College in 1999. He received his bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Minnesota. Before joining Augsburg, Kantar taught music to students from elementary school age through college. Drawing upon his wide ranging professional experiences that included performance (jazz and classical), booking, and production, Kantar brought to Augsburg the music business degree, which has grown significantly in both numbers and innovation, and in which Kantar taught classes in improvisation, aural skills, and music business. Anne M. Kaufman, associate professor of education, began working at Augsburg in 1987. She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD from the University of Minnesota. Kaufman has been a leader in secondary social studies teacher preparation at Augsburg College and for the State of Minnesota. She is the director of the Paideia Institute at Augsburg and has led teacher professional development workshops in this area for the past 20 years. Kaufman has been active in statewide efforts to set social studies standards and has been a member of the Minnesota Board of Teaching. Laura K. Lazar, assistant professor of business administration, has worked at the College since 2005. She received her bachelor’s from Valparaiso University, and her MBA and PhD from Indiana University. Lazar teaches all levels of accounting in both the undergraduate and graduate program. She is uniquely gifted to make this information accessible to students of all abilities. Along with her teaching responsibilities, Lazar has served as the coordinator for the accounting program and its faculty. Susan K. Nash, associate professor of nursing, began teaching at Augsburg in 1977, and in her full-time role in 1998. She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and EdD from the University of Minnesota. Nash received the Augsburg College Distinguished Contribution to Teaching and Learning award for Mentoring in 2009. She has been instrumental in developing a partnership and agreement with Rochester Community and Technical College that has introduced hundreds of students to Augsburg. Nash was one of the initial architects for the adult learner programs in nursing on the Minneapolis campus. Her scholarship has focused on complexity science in family nursing. Ronald W. Petrich, assistant professor of education, began his career at Augsburg in 1980. He received his bachelor’s from Augsburg College and his master’s from United Theological Seminary. Petrich returned to Augsburg as a member of the faculty following an extensive career in the Minneapolis Public School system, giving him a rich history of hands-on experience from which to teach his students. Petrich integrated these experiences in the undergraduate education program and also in the MAL program, where he examined the role of the school in modern society as well as the significance of mentoring relationships, models of leadership, and professional development. David G. Schwain, assistant professor of business administration, began teaching at Augsburg in 1995 and five years later started in his full-time role. He received his bachelor’s from the University of Cincinnati and his MBA from Harvard University. Prior to joining Augsburg, Schwain had a distinguished career in general management with more than 15 years in positions at the executive level. Schwain brought this extensive experience to bear as one of the architects of Augsburg’s MBA program. For the past several years, he has coordinated the Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Speaker Series, while teaching marketing classes in the undergraduate and graduate business programs at Augsburg. COMPILED BY JUDI GREEN Summer 2013 5 quad around the CONVOCATION SERIES 2012-13 The Koryne Horbal Lecture in April featured Gloria Steinem, a prominent spokesperson for women’s issues. Steinem has traveled the globe speaking on the topic of women’s equality, has led awareness rallies, is author of six books, and has launched two magazines including Ms. She spoke to a packed Hoversten Chapel about the founding of the women’s movement, the gains made to find equity for all people, and areas in which improvement still must be realized. In addition to Steinem’s talk, recipients of the Women’s Resource Center’s Courageous Woman Award (CWA) were acknowledged at the lecture. Recipients included Kristina Monje ’14 and Bo Thao-Urabe, a long-time advocate for Hmong women, children, and refugee families. The CWA recognizes women who strive for social justice and peace on campus or in the community. Strommen Executive Speaker Series Augsburg College welcomed HealthPartners CEO Mary K. Brainerd, a national leader known for her business acumen and unwavering commitment to the community, as a featured presenter in the Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Speaker Series in April. Brainerd, who spoke on the topic of health care reform, is the president and chief executive officer of Minnesota-based HealthPartners—the largest, consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the United States. The Sverdrup Visiting Scientist Lecture in April featured Harvard University Professor David Weitz who talked about the everyday physics involved in cooking food. Weitz explored with attendees the manners in which foods change during cooking as a way to illustrate scientific processes. The annual Sverdrup Visiting Scientist lecture series brings renowned scientists to campus to share their expertise with the Augsburg community, the College’s aspiring scientists, and members of the larger scientific community. Augsburg welcomes new Provost/Chief Academic Officer In July, Augsburg College welcomed Karen L. Kaivola as provost and chief academic officer. Kaivola serves in a key leadership position as the second in command to Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. Kaivola has wide-ranging responsibilities, including working with faculty, administration, and the Board of Regents to implement the College’s strategic vision; providing oversight of the accreditation process, as well as planning, development, and administration of the academic program for graduate, undergraduate, and international programs; academic budgeting; and leadership of and advocacy for the faculty. She most recently served as the associate provost for faculty development and J. Ollie Edmunds Chair in English at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. She holds a master’s and a PhD in English from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in English from Georgetown University. 6 Augsburg Now cElEBraTIng student success Scholarships and fellowships Augsburg students earned a range of prestigious accolades during spring semester. Some of the awards include the following: Allison Zank ’14 Kayla Johnson ’13 • FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS: Kayla Johnson ’13 and Emily Jensen ’08 were awarded English teaching assistantships. Johnson, who graduated with degrees in biology and mathematics, will teach in Taiwan. She plans to attend medical school in the future. Jensen, who earned her bachelor’s in international relations and peace and global studies, will teach in the Czech Republic. Jensen has worked in the Minnesota State Senate and House of Representatives, most recently as a research director. She hopes to pursue a master’s in social work and public policy following her year as a Fulbright Scholar. In 2010-11, Augsburg was recognized as a top producer of Fulbright students by The Chronicle of Higher Education. • GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Four Auggies received Gilman International Scholarships from the U.S. State Department to study overseas this summer and fall. Celia Hernandez Payan ’13 traveled this summer to Amman, Jordan, while Mariam Ali ’15, Darius Sean Gray ’14, and Magaly Ortiz ’13 will study abroad this coming fall. Thirty Auggies have been awarded this prestigious scholarship since fall 2008. • GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP: Allison Zank ’14, who is studying chemistry, received a Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Ashley Waters ’14 This $7,500 award is given to students from throughout the United States who excel in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines and who plan to work in a STEM field upon graduation. Zank is Augsburg’s first female Goldwater Scholar and one of only eight students in Minnesota to receive the award. Augsburg’s Ashley Waters ’14 was recognized for her outstanding scholarship when she was named one of seven Minnesotans to receive an Honorable Mention in the Goldwater Scholarship competition. • KEMPER SCHOLARS PROGRAM: Keisha Barnard ’16, who is studying sociology and international relations, was named the College’s third Kemper Scholar. Students in the prestigious Kemper program receive academic scholarships and stipends to cover the costs of two summer internships in major nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Augsburg is one of only 16 U.S. liberal arts colleges with the Kemper Scholars Program distinction. • NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP: Joe Buchman ’13, who graduated with majors in chemistry and biology, received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship that will provide $40,500 each year for the first three years of his doctoral study in chemistry. The selection of these fellows is very competitive and is based on the viability of the student’s proposed research. Summer 2013 7 cElEBraTIng student success Student research awards and achievements STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ZYZZOGETON 2013: More than 70 Auggies presented their research in the annual poster session, Zyzzogeton. The spring event is an opportunity to celebrate student research, creativity, and scholarship. The festival is sponsored by the McNair Scholars Program, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. POSTERS ON THE HILL: Three Augsburg College students were recognized for outstanding research at Posters on the Hill in Washington, D.C. This highly competitive annual celebration of student research, sponsored by the U.S. Council on Undergraduate Research, featured the work of only 60 students out of a pool of more than 800 applicants. Brianna Noland ’13, a mathematical economics major, was selected to present her research on college loans and firstyear retention in Washington, D.C., to members of Congress and congressional staff. She also met with U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, both of Minnesota. Samantha Cantrall ’14, a communication studies major, received an Honorable Mention, ranking within the top 80 applicants, for her investigation of the influence of hip hop on the Arab Spring. Megan Rich ’13, a biology alumna and Master of Arts in Education student, also received an Honorable Mention. She studied ways to reduce the growth of soybean pathogens. Auggies conduct off-campus research At least a dozen Augsburg students are spending their summer doing off-campus research at locations throughout the United States as well as on the European and African continents. • Katherine Aleman ’14, psychology, research intern at Mayo Clinic • Elianna Bier ’14, physics, National Institute of Standards and Technology • Eric Bowman ’14, biology and chemistry, University of Nebraska • Emma Capman ’14, physics, University of Maryland Robotics Center Brianna Noland ’13 [at left] met with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. [center], when Noland was in Washington, D.C., to present her research at Posters on the Hill. Noland traveled with Stella K. Hofrenning [at right], associate professor of economics. 8 Augsburg Now • Haley Diem ’13, environmental studies, field research in Tanzania on sustainable agriculture • Kirubel Frew ’14, chemistry, Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Ben Grant ’14, physics, Colorado School of Mines National Renewable Energy Lab • Anna Herauf ’14, biology and chemistry, North Dakota State University’s program for research on prairies • Dan Kornbaum ’14, physics, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Geospace Sciences Research Experiences for Undergraduates at University of Michigan • Marie-Aimee Ntawkulityayo ’14, international relations, research in Belgium on ethnic identity and conflict in the Kivu Region of Eastern Congo • Promise Okeke ’15, biology, Johns Hopkins University Malaria Research Institute • Casey Powell ’15, biology, University of Minnesota Plant Pathology Lab • Emily Rutten ’14, biopsychology and psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey • Rachel Shaheen ’15, biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health • Ryan Sullivan ’14, computational philosophy, Carnegie-Mellon University Summer Workshop on Cognitive Science and Epistemology my auggie experience Janice Murphy Gladden— an Auggie All-Star When it came time for Janice Murphy Gladden ’14 to think about returning to college, she found herself taking advice from her college-aged daughter. Several decades earlier, while studying at a junior college in Cupertino, Calif., she and Dan Gladden met. The two later would marry. She would leave school to focus on being a wife and mother, and also would work to support the family. She would put on hold the education her father urged her to pursue while her husband developed his baseball-playing career, going from an amateur free agent to a major league star. “It was one of those things where Dan had the opportunity,” she said. “Someone needed to work. It’s worked out really well, and we’ve been very fortunate.” Dan would become a champion left- and center-fielder for the Minnesota Twins, a core part of the dream teams that propelled the Twins to victory in two World Series. A couple of years ago, Gladden decided that the time was right for her to return to college to finish what she started some 30 years ago. She talked with and listened to one of her two daughters, Whitney Nicole Gladden ’12. “My daughter had such a great experience at Augsburg,” Gladden said, “so she encouraged me to visit.” Gladden met with an admissions counselor, and said she was hooked from the very beginning—even though the idea of again being in the classroom was daunting. Augsburg faculty and staff supported her and made easier her transition to life as a college student in communications studies, she said. “I thought I’d be on my own, navigating this journey,” Gladden said. “But there are so many ways to access services and help and to be connected. “I feel valued in class. My thoughts matter, my opinions matter,” she said. “As adult learners, we kick around our experiences, and I get to hear from people at Medtronic and Target and other places. I’m more well-rounded.” In addition to benefitting from the experiences shared by her peers, Gladden said her Augsburg education has helped her develop valuable workplace tools including stronger interpersonal and nonverbal communication skills that she is using in her career. For 18 years, she has worked for Target Corp. in the financial and retail services division. While Gladden chose on her own to return to college, she also said the decision was made easier because her company encourages employees to continue to develop and supports pursuit of education. But perhaps one of the biggest influences stretches back through the decades to her days as a child growing up in California. “My father would be so proud, so proud I stuck to it, no matter my age,” she said. “Education was the biggest deal to him. It’s what I remember him emphasizing when I was little: ‘Education. Education. Education.’” Gladden is less than a year away from finishing her undergraduate degree, and is thinking about what is next in her life. She said her positive experience at Augsburg has her pondering a graduate degree. “I love Augsburg. I love the vibe. I like the peer networks. I like that it is small enough that even after 30 years I could find a way to come back,” she said. “I’m thinking now about getting a master’s degree at Augsburg. I’d love to teach.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 AND STEPHANIE WEISS Summer 2013 9 Shaping our future “TO PREPARE AMERICANS FOR THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE… WE HAVE TO OUT-EDUCATE THE WORLD.” —WHITEHOUSE.GOV 10 Augsburg Now BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 AND REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA The programs in Augsburg’s Education Department prepare teachers— at both the undergraduate and graduate levels—to meet our national education challenge. The U.S. government recognizes that “the strength of the American economy is inextricably linked to the strength of [our] education system,” which means “America’s ability to compete begins each day, in classrooms across the nation.” Auggie teachers and education alumni are leading these classrooms, improving education outcomes, and shaping our future. They are igniting student interest in math and science, educating an increasingly diverse youth population, bringing global perspectives and learning into the classroom, and leveraging new technologies and teaching practices to enhance learning. The following are just a few examples of the ways Auggie teachers and education alumni are leading the advancement of education in our schools. Cutting-edge science research for middle and high school students When Dan Forseth ’08 was a student at Augsburg, he spent many hours in the lab with associate professor of physics Ben Stottrup. It was Stottrup, he said, who helped him realize he wanted to be a teacher. “He taught me how to make things work with what you have,” Forseth said. Today Forseth uses that lesson in his own classroom to excite students about science and to inspire the next generation of teachers. He teaches biology, physical science, and robotics at St. Paul Preparatory School, an international college-preparation program in St. Paul. He said he enjoys teaching because he loves the transformation when students grasp a difficult concept after struggling with it. “When they get it, seeing that light bulb turn on for them is very exciting.” During the summer of 2012, Forseth was one of six teachers who participated in a research program at Augsburg funded by a grant from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation. The program paired Augsburg undergraduate science education students studying to be secondary teachers with current science teachers. The teams conducted college-level research, which was supervised by Augsburg faculty, and developed curricula to adapt science projects for middle and secondary school classrooms. The Augsburg education students in the program learned about the practical realities of teaching from their interactions with current teachers, Forseth said. “And teachers like me were revitalized by the opportunity to work in new labs and develop new and different topics for our classes.” Along with engaging in scientific research, participants had opportunities to expand their scientific professional networks through conversations and workshops with scientists in the workplace and college science faculty, said Tracy Bibelnieks, Augsburg associate professor of mathematics and director of the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation grant. Summer 2013 11 “Feedback from last year’s participants was very positive.” she said. “We are looking forward to building on that experience to continue developing ways that cutting-edge research and engaging experiences can be integrated into 9th- through 12th-grade STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) classrooms.” Forseth will participate in the program again this summer, working with Augsburg faculty to create a website to share materials produced in the program with 9th- to 12th-grade STEM teachers across the state. “This program provides an opportunity for Augsburg students pursuing secondary STEM licensure to learn from experienced science teachers and helps current teachers integrate more research and authentic learning experiences into their classrooms,” he said. Teaching in a diverse world When Will Ruffin ’13 MAE moved from California to North Dakota to attend college, he left his little brother behind. “He struggled in school. I was the smart older brother who wasn’t there for him, and that always bothered me,” Ruffin said. It’s the memory of leaving his brother that today drives Ruffin to make a personal connection with each of his students. For Kassie Benjamin-Ficken ’12, it’s her ability to relate to the experiences of first-generation and minority-culture 12 Augsburg Now students that has strengthened her connections with her students. “As a first generation student, I think it’s easier for me to explain to my students why it’s important to get an education,” she said. Ruffin and Benjamin-Ficken are examples of Auggie teachers working in increasingly multicultural communities— where the ability to connect with students of diverse backgrounds is critical to student success. Despite his passion for teaching, Ruffin didn’t begin his career in education. He first completed a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business and began working for a retail company in southern Minnesota. Then one of his customers— a teacher—asked if Ruffin would volunteer at his school because the teacher wanted a strong, black, male role model to work with his students. “There was just something about being with kids that hooked me,” Ruffin said, “and I fell in love with teaching.” Ruffin became a substitute teacher and eventually was teaching full time, so he decided to attend Augsburg to pursue a master’s degree in education. For the past five years, he has been teaching fifth grade at Riverside Central Elementary in Rochester, Minn. For many students, Ruffin is the first black teacher and the first male teacher they have had, so he takes seriously his responsibility to be a role model in a community that is increasingly more ethnically and culturally diverse. Judging by the drawings and awards posted by students on his classroom walls, and by the former students who often stop in at Riverside to visit, Ruffin is making a difference in students’ lives. As a student himself, Ruffin said, he was quiet and seldom participated in class discussions. As a teacher and leader, however, he’s learned that his voice is important. “I know I have a lot to share, and I can enrich others’ experiences through my own,” he said. “I can’t be a leader and be silent. I have a perspective that too often is lost or overlooked, and I need to share that.” Benjamin-Ficken, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, also embraces the opportunity to bring her cultural perspective into the classroom. “My culture teaches that you are on this Earth to help others,” she said. “Education is how I can make a difference.” At Augsburg, Benjamin-Ficken double majored in elementary education and math. This July, she completed her first year at Tatanka Academy in Minneapolis, where 13 of her 14 first-grade students were Native American. In working with students from minority populations, Benjamin-Ficken strives to instill in them the belief that they can—and should—excel in school, especially in STEM fields where populations of color and females are significantly underrepresented. For example, this past spring, BenjaminFicken celebrated “Pi Day” (which falls on March 14, or 3/14, representing the first three digits in the mathematical constant, pi) with her students. A self-professed “math nerd,” Benjamin-Ficken believes that these types of classroom experiences will help her students see math as a subject they can succeed in and, potentially, choose to pursue in their lives. Augsburg’s focus on urban education and teaching in a multicultural classroom were an important part of her educational experience, Benjamin-Ficken said. “My education studies at Augsburg really taught me to reflect,” she said. “Taking time to ask what went well [in class], what didn’t, and whether you reached every student—that’s what makes you a better teacher.” NATIONAL RECOGNITION Since 2004, five Augsburg education graduates have received the prestigious Milken Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award provides public recognition and financial awards to elementary and secondary education professionals. Only 30 Milken Awards are given annually across the United States. Summer 2013 13 KATE WOOLEVER ’11 14 Augsburg Now Bringing global issues and perspectives into the classroom Teaching and traveling are more than passions for Kate Woolever ’11—they are vital to her own education as a citizen of the world. As a studio art and education major at Augsburg, Woolever combined her interests into a career that today allows her to continue her own education and to provide meaningful learning experiences for her students. Woolever’s mother, father, and brother are teachers, so it’s no surprise that she also chose to become a teacher. “Teaching is completely a part of my life,” she said. “For me it’s about service to others.” Woolever came to Augsburg because she wanted to teach in an inner city or international school, and she felt Augsburg’s program would best prepare her for that career. As a student, Woolever took advantage of opportunities to study abroad through the College’s Center for Global Education. She studied in Namibia, Thailand, and Ghana, where she completed her student teaching. She said she has always “traveled with a purpose,” using travel to learn about others by experiencing their lives firsthand. After she became an art teacher at St. Paul Preparatory School in the Twin Cities, Woolever had another opportunity to travel and teach abroad. She was one of five U.S. teachers selected to participate in a program through World Savvy and the U.S. State Department. With 30 U.S. high school students, she studied the environmental, social, economic, and political impacts of climate change in Bangladesh. The group spent one month living with host families while participating with Bangladeshi students in research and service projects. Woolever lived in the Rayer Bazar slum located on the edge of the capital city of Dhaka—the fastest growing city in the world. She interviewed and photographed climate refugees who had moved to the city from outlying areas because the flooded coastal lands are uninhabitable and the soil is too saline-contaminated to support crops. “These climate refugees now live in indescribable squalor,” Woolever said. “There are a thousand people per square kilometer living in Rayer Bazar; 100 people sharing three open gas flames for cooking and a single squat toilet.” This experience, Woolever said, made her more aware of the global effects of climate change and emphasized the importance of spreading the word. “The guilt I felt—coming from my bountiful country and witnessing these people’s atrocious living conditions—constantly tugged at me, and I needed to find a way to respond.” One way Woolever responded was to turn her photos and stories into a traveling exhibit, which she hopes to show at numerous venues across the state. This past March, her work was displayed in Augsburg’s student art gallery in Old Main; the exhibit then was shown in the Pelican Rapids (Minn.) Library during May and June. Because of her experiences in Rayer Bazar, Woolever also is committed to finding ways to incorporate real-world issues into her classroom. The Bangladeshi trip was a stark lesson in how much we consume and how wasteful we are as a culture, Woolever said. Education, at the very least, “is not something we should take for granted.” To see samples of the photos and stories from Woolever’s studies in Rayer Bazar, Bangladesh, go to augsburg.edu/now. Flipped classrooms: Creating studentfocused learning environments Most of the time, a noisy middle school classroom doesn’t seem like a productive learning environment. But, when the classroom is “flipped,” noise is a sign that students are engaged in the learning process and working constructively with each other. Tara Martinson ’09 MAE leads a lively seventh-grade INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS In 2009, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation awarded Augsburg more than $400,000 in support of its teacher preparation programming. Augsburg was one of only four Minnesota colleges receiving these grant funds. Augsburg also participates in the Network for Excellence in Teaching (NExT) and is one of six private colleges in the Twin Cities working to improve teacher education through the Twin Cities Teacher Collaborative (TC2), made possible by major funding from the Bush Foundation. The College also gives education majors an opportunity to engage elementary school children in the sciences through Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS) and Guys in Science and Engineering (GISE), two summer programs held on the campus. Spring 2013 15 pre-algebra class at Central Middle School in Eden Prairie, Minn. The reason for all the activity is that Martinson uses the flipped learning model of instruction. With this particular method, students listen to an online lecture at home and complete a “note sheet”—a structured note-taking guide—on the lesson. The next day in class, students spend the majority of their time in “hands-on” learning exercises, working out practice problems and completing small group activities. Students can ask each other for help and are required to check their work with Martinson. Martinson, who has taught middle school math for five years, flipped her classes in January 2012 after learning about the method at the 2011 Education Technology Conference hosted by TIES, the St. Paul-based education technology training organization. During the winter break, she recorded lectures and set up the resources for her classes and then introduced the model to her students at the start of the new term. With flipped learning, Martinson said her students are more engaged because the responsibility for learning the material rests with them. “Before [flipping the class format], I typically would lecture for 35 minutes, and the students would have the last 10 minutes of class to start their assignment,” Martinson said. “Then, if a student got lost, they would just shut down. Now there is a much higher level of engagement and retention.” Flipped learning changes education from a teachercentered classroom to a student-focused learning environment, said Kari Arfstrom ’89, executive director of the Flipped Learning Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources With research support from George Mason University and sponsored by Pearson, the Flipped Learning Network this summer released the first comprehensive literature review on the flipped learning model. The full-length literature review, along with an executive summary and white paper, are available to download for free at flippedlearning.org/research. 16 Augsburg Now TARA MARTINSON ’09 MAE to successfully implement flipped learning. “When I went to school,” Arfstrom said, “it was the teacher who was imparting information to the student. Now the students are leading and determining what they need.” This model makes students more accountable because the teacher has an opportunity to talk with them every day, Arfstrom said. With flipped learning, teacher interaction with students increases dramatically, said Taylor Pettis ’03, ’09 MAE, senior manager of marketing communications at Minneapolis-based Sophia Learning, which has worked with thousands of teachers to create flipped classrooms. “One of the teachers we worked with said his feet hurt after class because he’s walking up and down the aisles so much more.” Teachers also have a greater opportunity to provide differentiated instruction to each student when they use a flipped learning model, Pettis said. This customized, student-centered attention leads to improved student learning. “Eightyfive percent of teachers we work with report improved grades in their flipped classes.” For Martinson, the benefits go beyond improved performance in class. In the flipped environment, she said, students learn social skills, relationship building, and selfadvocacy—abilities that will serve them well in high school, in college, and beyond. STATE FUNDING TO EXPAND THE DIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA’S TEACHER WORKFORCE In May, the State of Minnesota approved legislation granting Augsburg College nearly $400,000 over the next two years to launch the East African teacher preparation program. The new Augsburg EAST (East African Students to Teachers) initiative will provide scholarships, academic support, and service learning opportunities for East African students who are education majors at Augsburg’s Minneapolis and Rochester campuses. The number of East African students in K-12 public schools is growing in many communities throughout Minnesota. School systems are challenged to meet the needs of these students, many of whom are the first in their families to receive education in the United States. Augsburg’s strong relationships with the Somali and East African communities and its successful record of teaching East African education majors, in both Minneapolis and Rochester, make it uniquely qualified to lead this initiative. Every year , more than 600 Auggies are enrolled in education degree programs at Augsburg’s Minneapolis and Rochester campuses. About 250 of those students are undergraduates—of all ages—pursuing bachelor’s degrees in education. The remaining 350 are enrolled in the College’s Master of Arts in Education program, which provides training for professionals to begin a career in teaching or for current teachers to obtain additional licenses or endorsements. Every day, these Auggie educators—both in and outside of the classroom—are preparing our children to live and grow in our increasingly diverse, globally connected, and technologically sophisticated world. They are, literally, shaping our future potential. Summer 2013 17 THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION Expanding undergraduate research THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION at Augsburg College will bring together the study of global business, advanced science and technology, and religion and the search for meaning into a first-of-its-kind education center. The Center will house classrooms, labs, and key Augsburg initiatives, including programs that support our success in undergraduate research. It will enable Augsburg to accommodate a greater number and larger scope of year-round research projects across disciplines—the kind of long-term educational projects that help students gain 21st-century problem-solving skills. The tremendous impact of these research programs is evidenced by the growing number of students who leverage the robust, hands-on skills they learned in their on-campus experiences to obtain off-campus research positions and continue to graduate programs. Augsburg students are sought after by institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Mayo Clinic, the University of Maryland Robotics Center, and many other organizations. (See more examples on page 8.) We know that Augsburg’s faculty-led research makes a profound difference in the educational experience of our students—and, through their work, will shape advancements in science, technology, and other fields across the globe. The Center for Science, Business, and Religion (CSBR) is a fitting manifestation of our commitment to the growth of this work. 18 Augsburg Now it takes an auggie Leading the way for others ALUMNI ENGAGE IN SUPPORT OF THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION “We know what a difference the generosity of others made for us. Truly, it was the acts of strangers, other Augsburg leaders, whose gifts provided foundational support for the College, before our times here. It’s our turn.” So said Wayne Jorgenson ’71, as he and Christopher Ascher ’81 met recently on campus to help plan a series of Alumni Leadership Summits for their classmates from the decades of the ’70s and ’80s. “Those early gifts from alumni and friends of the College made it possible for each of us to experience a great Augsburg education,” Ascher said. “We are convinced. Now is our time to make the investment and help open doors for others.” Both Jorgenson and Ascher know some things about good investments through their accomplishments in the field of finance. Jorgenson has applied his business degree from Augsburg, now serving as senior vice president of investments at UBS Financial Services in Bloomington, Minn. Ascher, a finance major with a psychology minor, also played on the Augsburg soccer team. Ascher now leads and manages the wealth management office for Morgan Stanley, also in Bloomington, Minn. “We are convinced. Now is our time to make the investment and help open doors for others.” Both men chose to step up, inspired by the message of CSBR Campaign Chair Mike Good ’71 to “Believe.” By first making their own leadership gifts in support of the building, and then by chairing their respective Alumni Leadership Summits and $1 million class challenges, they are adding their enthusiasm and leadership to the cause. Their goal is to ensure the success of the effort to build a new Center for Science, Business, and Religion at the very heart of the Augsburg campus. “We both see this building as the essential next step in the College’s development. No other campus we know has created such an exciting intersection of disciplines—science, business, and religion—to serve students and forge a pathway to a better future for us all,” Jorgenson said. Watch for updates on the Alumni Leadership Summits in future alumni communications. CATHERINE REID DAY Wayne Jorgenson ’71 [left] and Christopher Ascher ’81 [right]. Summer 2013 19 INTRODUCING AUGSBURG’S NEWEST ALUMNI The graduating class of 2013 added more than 700 Auggies—from our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs—to the College’s alumni ranks. This brings the total number of alumni to more than 28,000 people living in all 50 states and 57 countries around the world. We Are Called | Auggies! INFORMED CITIZENS The 2013 Augsburg College Commencement theme— “informed citizens”—was inspired by the College’s mission statement. “To me, an informed citizen is someone—in any profession, living out any vocation—who seeks information, digests it, and vigorously participates in society by putting their knowledge to a good, collective use. It means that we are prepared to inform, encourage and uplift people to make a difference for themselves and for the world we live in.” — MARY GODI ’13, MAY COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER To see additional photos, read Commencement addresses, or watch ceremony videos from May and June, go to augsburg.edu/now. 20 Augsburg Now May 4, 2013 June 23, 2013 Summer 2013 21 auggies ARE ACHIEVERS Each year, Augsburg College mints hundreds of new graduates who go on to continued education in graduate schools and workplaces across the nation. Preparing students for success is a key part of an Augsburg education and central to the College’s mission of educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. Here’s a snapshot of facts and figures—and student stories—that show how recent Auggie graduates are having an impact early in their careers. SUCCESS AFTER COLLEGE COMPILED BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Each year, more than 100 employers 60% visit campus to recruit students or to participate in career-related events More than OF AUGSBURG STUDENTS including Fairview Riverside Hospitals and Clinics, the federal government, KDV consulting, KPMG, Target Corp., Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™, and Twin Cities television and radio stations More than ENGAGE IN INTERNSHIPS and major-related work with business, non-profit, and government employers, gaining professional experience before graduation 90% OF AUGSBURG STUDENTS are fully employed or enrolled in graduate school within 18 months of graduation LAURIE BARGER ’13 Associate Analyst—Merchandising and Business Intelligence, Target Corporation At Augsburg: Mathematics and Spanish major, played on the women’s soccer team, studied abroad in Mexico and Cuba, tutored for the Mathematics Department, volunteered at a local social service agency doing taxes for low-income families, member of the Augsburg Business Association “From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew that Augsburg was going to give me the drive, motivation, and opportunities I would need to become successful. Through networking and community involvement, making strong relationships with my professors and peers, as well as being educated in a high-level, real-world environment, I was able to build a résumé that made me stand out from everyone else. With the help of the Strommen Center and my professors, I was able to confidently take what I had learned and comfortably transition from a full-time student and intern to a full-time employee.” 22 Augsburg Now The CLAIR AND GLADYS STROMMEN CENTER FOR MEANINGFUL WORK provides individualized assistance with choosing a major, finding an internship, writing résumés, developing interviewing skills, attending job fairs, and helping students find meaningful work after college JOHANNA FRYKMARK KITZMAN ’10 EDI implementation analyst, SPS Commerce JENS OLSON ’10 Medical student, University of Minnesota Medical School At Augsburg: Double major in international business and business management, Honors program, co-captain of women’s golf team, worked in the alumni relations office At Augsburg: Biology major, Honors program, did research related to asthma and presented at a national conference, first-year orientation leader, studied abroad in Vietnam, volunteered and worked at hospitals, was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Vietnam “When I moved from Sweden to begin school at Augsburg, it was the first time I had set foot in the U.S. The international student staff, my golf coach, my team, and my professors all helped me get past my homesickness and establish friendships. Thanks to their support, I finished my degree and today I am happily married, am working in the city, and own my very own American house in the suburbs.” “Augsburg’s emphasis on service and openness to all members of our world community not only aligned with my beliefs but helped me develop and shape myself into who I am today. The experiences I had at Augsburg and the relationships I developed with staff and faculty helped me decide that I wanted to serve others as a doctor and then get into medical school—definitely an accomplishment I am proud of.” Graduates from the class of 2012 SECURED FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT with organizations including: 3M, Advanced Medical Electronics, Air Force Research Labs, Ameriprise Financial, Cargill, Comcast, Dart Transitt Company, Com Delfi Technologies Inc., Delta Airlines, Hennepin County, t Marriott, the Mayo Clinic, the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Minnesota Twins, Piper Jaffray, Prudential, Regions Hospital, Robert Half Technology, Robotics Redefined Inc., Sherwin-Williams, Target Corp., Teach for America, Thomson Reuters, University of Minnesota, and Wells Fargo KATHLEEN WATSON ’12 Editorial assistant at a GLBT media company that produces a bi-monthly magazine, web content, international news, and podcasts/ entertainment At Augsburg: Double major in theater arts and English, Honors program, Honors house president, did research on dramaturgy, member of Feminist Collective “My experience at Augsburg College allowed me to not only create a successful and fulfilling career— it allowed me to embrace and love who I am and use my talents and skills to work for a community I believe in. My job truly feels like my vocation: I’m using my gifts to meet a need in a community I advocate for and support.” Spring 2013 23 LEARNING or Lisa Benjamin ’06, ’12, the possibility of going back to school was appealing, but finding time to spend in a classroom was challenging. In 2010, Benjamin sought a license to teach in Minnesota and to sharpen her skills in American Indian student instruction—a field she has been passionate about since her youth. But, like many of Augsburg’s non-traditional learners, Benjamin had the busy schedule and family responsibilities of a working adult. That’s why a unique Augsburg College program that takes advantage of the strengths of both classroom and web-based learning environments—called hybrid or blended learning—offered an ideal opportunity. Courses delivered in a hybrid format combine traditional face-to-face components and online learning activities to optimize student engagement. F 24 Augsburg Now BY LAURA SWANSON Students will earn degrees through combination of online and in-person instruction “I thought the Augsburg program was a perfect match for what I was working toward,” Benjamin said. “I liked the fact that a partially online course meant I didn’t have to go into school every weekend or every day. My son was 3 years old, and I didn’t want to be away from him all the time.” By taking advantage of the strengths of a hybrid program structure, Benjamin met her teaching licensure goal and joined a tight-knit community. “The other students were a remarkable, supportive group of people,” she said. “I got to learn from them and their experience.” THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HYBRID LEARNING Augsburg historically has offered only select hybrid classes. However, beginning this fall, the College will expand the num- ber of courses offered in a blended format. Augsburg will launch a hybrid instruction model for a significant number of graduate and adult undergraduate courses at its Minneapolis and Rochester campuses, shifting approximately half of students’ course contact time to a webbased format. Students in these blended courses will follow a schedule in which in-classroom meetings and online instruction alternate every other week. Augsburg already employs a variety of approaches to hybrid instruction, and the proportion of in-class versus online course contact time varies from program to program based on student demographics. For example, Augsburg’s Master of Arts in Leadership and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing programs offer a low-residency schedule in which one- or multi-week intensive face-to-face sessions are paired with Summer 2013 25 “Many organizations are finding out that, where possible, combining face-to-face meetings with work in an online environment increases student satisfaction, student learning, and retention when compared to a course that’s offered solely online.” online coursework completed throughout the term. The new initiative to expand hybrid program offerings with an every-other-week format is based on recommendations made following multi-year studies through which faculty, staff, and administrators identified how the College could best further its tradition of delivering high-quality, face-to-face instruction; integrate technology into programs for non-traditional students; align with the changing demands of the adult education market; and satisfy federal education regulations. “Much of the inspiration for this work stems from the opportunity we identified as an institution to enhance the way we serve our students,” said Lori Peterson, assistant vice president and dean of graduate and professional studies. Peterson, who chaired a task force on academic program structure, said the College is taking a thoughtful approach to integrating online elements into teaching and learning. “Our faculty and curriculum committees have done tremendous work to ensure quality in our blended learning approach and to identify the ways in which we will achieve the highest level of learning outcomes,” she said. By shifting additional academic programs to a hybrid format, the College will meet the needs of current and future non-traditional learners. A 2010 U.S. Department of Education analysis of online-learning studies concluded that hybrid courses were at least as good if not marginally better and more engaging than a fully online model. 26 Augsburg Now “Many organizations are finding out that, where possible, combining face-to-face meetings with work in an online environment increases student satisfaction, student learning, and retention when compared to a course that’s offered solely online,” said Dan McGuire, an education and communication specialist who is working with the College as the project manager for a hybrid teaching and learning transition team. Nationally, 6.7 million higher education students took at least one online course in 2011, accounting for nearly onethird of all such students. These figures, released in the 2012 Survey of Online Learning, detail those classes in which at least 80 percent of the course content was delivered online, but schools offer online learning in varying degrees—including a web-facilitated instruction model with few online elements as well as the blended learning model Augsburg selected. Non-traditional students 21 and older constitute the majority of online learners. Frequently, adult students prefer to take courses online or to have some combination of an online and a face-to-face format because it affords greater flexibility as the students juggle full- or part-time employment, family commitments, and other obligations while attending school. By implementing a hybrid model for adult students, “Augsburg is retaining the power of its physical community—of a social, spiritual place that exists within a long, vibrant history—and is fusing the educational tradition of the College with an effective teaching and learning system,” McGuire said. A COLLEGE-WIDE ENDEAVOR Rolling out a new academic program structure is an effort that requires diligence, commitment, and coordination. In order to offer adult undergraduate programs in a hybrid format, Augsburg faculty and staff for almost a year have worked to re-conceptualize and redesign face-to-face classes so that content can be presented through online course management software. Often times, students in hybrid courses master more basic material online at their own pace so that the classroom becomes a place where the application of that knowledge can be refined through lab experiments and discussions with peers or the professor. The online component in Augsburg’s hybrid courses will be delivered through Moodle, a website in which educators create micro-sites for each unique course. Augsburg has used Moodle since 2005 and selected this learning management system because the platform is “grounded in sound teaching principles,” according to Scott Krajewski, director of information technology. Moodle is recognized for supporting activities common in a classroom, and it “provides an elegant structure to ask and answer questions, to present information, and to engage in an educational community in between meeting times,” McGuire said. “The beauty of Moodle is that it’s a very powerful tool— all of the different variations of interacting with students have been thought through.” According to Krajewski, Augsburg faculty and staff are working in collaboration to design the hybrid courses and to implement best practices for teaching online. Members of Augsburg’s information technology staff are certified in online course design and are experts at tailoring classes so that they “best match the institutional mission as well as the needs of distinctive academic departments, course sections, and students.” By the end of May, nearly 200 faculty members had begun the process of converting adult undergraduate courses for fall 2013 into a hybrid model, and their work continues this summer. Together, faculty and staff members will convert approximately 300 unique courses into a new format—tasks that McGuire said require a time commitment ranging from 10 to 40 hours per class. Developing high-quality hybrid courses requires sufficient time for planning, designing, developing, and testing. Moodle then allows professors to maximize the productivity of the inclass portion of their instruction and to use innovative, multimedia elements online. In contrast to an in-person course with minimal supplementary material, the instructor and students in a hybrid course interact with each other online—they engage in discussion, complete activities, and consume entirely new information in textual, visual, and auditory formats. Susan O’Connor, associate professor of education, has been teaching in a hybrid model for the past five years and served as a co-instructor for Benjamin’s teaching licensure program. O’Connor found that while she initially was hesitant to instruct online, she quickly realized the benefits of the new format. “It turned out to be one of the best teaching experiences of my career,” she said. “This teaching method calls students to take more ownership in their learning, it offers a lot more freedom of time around their schedules, and it sharpens the objectives that they need to fulfill during each class session.” Benjamin found that the blended learning model pushed her to be specific and clear in her written communication and to master course content by approaching assignments at her own pace. “I feel like the program helped me in my career and served the K-12 students I work with,” she said. “I was challenged, but at the same time it was possible for me to be a mom, to be a student, and to have a full-time job.” Summer 2013 27 alumni news FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, a s a third-generation Auggie, I am thrilled to be serving as the new president for the Augsburg College Alumni Board. My grandparents, Rev. Waldemar and Thora (Torrick) Anderson, attended Augsburg in the 1930s, and my father, Dan Anderson, graduated in 1965 and is currently a member of the Board of Regents. I have fond memories of attending Augsburg basketball games with my dad as a little girl, and I’m proud to carry on the Augsburg legacy. Graduating from the Augsburg Weekend and Evening College program in 1995, I was immediately grateful for the flexibility of the program, which allowed me to work full time while pursuing my degree. Today I am an accomplished Realtor® in Minneapolis and its western suburbs, and I live in Woodland, Minn., with my husband, Scott, and our new baby boy, Finn. My first order of business as president is to inform you that the Auggie Alumni Directory and the Maroon Pages have joined forces to provide you with an all-encompassing resource to find professional and personal information about your classmates in one simple-to-use location. The new Auggie Maroon Pages will make it easier for you to stay connected with fellow Auggies and your alma mater. This fall you will be asked to complete an alumni survey. The personal and professional information collected in this survey will appear online in the re-launched Auggie Maroon Pages. As a business owner, I’m excited about the potential the Auggie Maroon Pages offer for connecting with other alumni, but the success of the new service depends on user participation—so log in now! To open the door to this network, go to augsburg.edu/alumni, click on “Maroon Pages,” create your own login name and password, and click again on the “Maroon Pages” box. The Alumni Board is committed to lifting up the accomplishments of our fellow Auggies. The new Auggie Maroon Pages is one more tool that will help us discover and share the many success stories of Augsburg graduates. Please consider sharing an update for class notes that will be featured in future issues of Augsburg Now and the NOW@Augsburg online newsletter. Help us share the difference an Augsburg education can make. Sincerely, TRACY SEVERSON ’95 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT 28 Augsburg Now ALUMNI BOARD Front Row [L to R]: Jill Watson ’10 MBA, Holly Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA, Marie Odenbrett ’01, Kathy Amos ’87, Rachel Engebretson ’98; Back Row [L to R]: Chris Hallin ’88, Jerry Poland ’92, Jordan Moore ’12 MBA, Sarah Grans ’01, Tracy Severson ’95, Chris Ascher ’81, Brent Peroutka ’02, Rick Bonlender ’78 NEW MEMBERS “The College is doing tremendous work, and I want to be a part of this great team. I also will be a visible promoter of Augsburg College in my workplace, church, and community.” BRENT PEROUTKA ’02 FINANCIAL ADVISOR, COMPREHENSIVE WEALTH SOLUTIONS “I want to serve on the Augsburg College Alumni Board because I believe that building a strong network of current and former students—from both the Rochester and Minneapolis campuses— will enrich the experience had by all.” JORDAN MOORE ’12 MBA FINANCE MANAGER, IBM “It’s difficult to express what Augsburg College means to me. Augsburg has been a huge part of my life and has offered me opportunities to gain a great education, see the world, and discover that anything is possible.” NICK SWANSON ’09,’12 MBA HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR, ALLINA HOSPITALS & CLINICS “Simply put, my experience at Augsburg was much more than I had hoped for from any college. I enjoy the sense of community that came with being an Auggie.” RACHEL ENGEBRETSON ’98 ATTORNEY, BINSFELD & ENGEBRETSON, PA “I look forward to helping spread the word about the transformation taking place at Augsburg, to getting classmates reconnected and engaged with the College, and to improving the board’s ability to leverage connections to achieve larger goals.” RICK BONLENDER ’78 BUSINESS BANKER Leland B. Sateren’s 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION On October 13, 2013, Leland B. Sateren ’35 would have been 100 years old. Family and friends will commemorate Sateren’s legacy at a musical celebration at 4 p.m. on his birthday at Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Road, Edina, Minn. The event is open to the public. Sateren taught at Augsburg from 1946 through 1979, during which time he also was chair of the Music Department. His work includes more than 400 choral pieces that are sung in churches throughout the United States. Sateren’s accomplishments include premieres of works with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and a piece that was commissioned by the United Nations. Peter Hendrickson ’76, director of the Augsburg Choir, is the music advisor for the event. He is assembling a program of Sateren compositions in addition to a couple of pieces by good friends of Sateren. Each piece performed will be conducted by an Augsburg alum who was mentored by Sateren. The program also will include hymns and Sateren anecdotes. Nearly 160 alumni from the 1950s-80s plan to participate in the event by singing. A rehearsal—and reunion—is Saturday, October 12, at Normandale Lutheran Church. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 4 p.m., Normandale Lutheran Church Edina, Minn. Every effort was made to reach all music alumni who sang during Sateren’s career at Augsburg. If you would like to participate, email sateren100@gmail.com. Mike Walgren ’64 is chair of the planning team. Others working on the event include Hendrickson, David Clarke ’76, Jim Erlandson ’76, Tom Fischer ’72, Bill Halverson ’51, Sally (Hough Daniels) Herron ’79, Anne (Mollison) Klus ’76, and Naomi (Christensen) Staruch ’81. In addition, John Hanson ’76 and Paul Read ’77 were instrumental in the early stages of planning. Meet David ‘DJ’ Hamm ’08 The Augsburg College Alumni Association welcomes David “DJ” Hamm ’08 as the new volunteer and alumni engagement manager within the alumni and constituent relations office. David comes to Augsburg with a background in event planning, social media communication, and philanthropy. “Civic engagement and service learning are major parts of the Augsburg experience,” Hamm said. “As Auggies, ‘we are called’ to serve the community beyond Augsburg as I did in 2008 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. I want to build upon the tradition of giving back by creating meaningful opportunities for alumni, current students, and local residents that instill pride and strengthen our collective community.” David lives in Minnetonka with his wife, Emily Crook ’07. He can be reached at 612-330-1329 or hammd@augsburg.edu. Follow David on twitter @DJHamm1. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK Later this year, Augsburg will invite alumni to participate in a magazine readership survey created by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This web survey is designed to help colleges and universities evaluate how readers view their campus magazine and to benchmark the results. Email langemo@augsburg.edu to update your email address. A random sample of Augsburg Now readers will be emailed to participate in this survey. Summer 2013 29 alumni class notes John Luoma published an article in the book Religion: A Clinical Guide for Nurses 2012. 65 Tom Koplitz was named Director of the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center. He has managed several federal and state prevention projects during the past 22 years. He also manages the drug-free coalition, Partners for a Drug Free Chisago County. 74 Scott Seal released an online video that brings to life a scene from his 2011 novel Convergence: A Novel of Science Fiction. Doug Greseth, boy’s basketball coach at Wesley Chapel High School near Tampa, Fla., won his 400th career game in December. He has coached 26 people who have gone on to play college basketball or football, including three players in the NFL and one in the NBA. He was named the Sunshine Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2011-12 and 2012-13. 79 Terri Bocklund was chosen by jury as an Artist in Residence at Isle Royale National Park, located in the northwestern section of Lake Superior. 81 Kristine West Denton performed Beethoven’s “Emperor” piano concerto with the Erie (Pa.) Philharmonic Orchestra at Edinboro University on February 12. She is an associate professor of music at Edinboro University. 82 Jacquie Berglund, owner of FINNEGANS Inc. and the FINNEGANS Community Fund, was awarded the Social Impact Award for Best Social Entrepreneur from Minnesota Business Magazine. Berglund also received the Best Small Business Award from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce in March. For the past four years, Berglund has been coached by Buffie Blesi ’90, ’97 MAL, owner of the KnowledgeSphere Group of AdviCoach. Blesi helps FINNEGANS grow its profits so that it can continue to purchase fresh produce for food banks in each of the markets where its beer is sold. 87 Heather Johnston was promoted to city manager of Burnsville, Minn. 92 Heather Cmiel, account director with Minneapolisbased public relations firm 02 Auggie Legacy Family The fourth of five children from the Schmit family graduated this past May from Augsburg College. This fall, the College will welcome to campus the fifth Auggie from the Schmit family. The Schmit children, shown holding their fingers up in their birth order, include [L to R]: Hannah Schmit ’18, Peter Schmit ’13, Caitlyn Schmit ’11, Michael Schmit ’09, Christianna “Christi” Lobermeier ’08. These Auggies are the children of Kathy and Dave Schmit of Tomahawk, Wis. Weber Shandwick, was named to the board of directors for the Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Mel Freitag completed her PhD in curriculum and instruction with minors in composition/rhetoric and educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has accepted a position as a clinical assistant professor and director of diversity initiatives for ie augPg SHOTS SNA Allison (Cornell) and Matt Broughton ’06 welcomed their son Calvin Patrick Broughton on April 24. Calvin joined the family as the first grandchild for Randy and Pam Cornell and Cal and Alice Broughton, and the first nephew for Jeff Cornell ’15. 05 Iris Grace Terrell was born on February 25 to Lisa (Ritchie) Terrell and Chris Terrell. She joins big sisters Julia, age 9, and Cece, age 7. 94 30 Augsburg Now Tara (Cesaretti) McLeod and Chris McLeod ’00 welcomed daughter Maren on October 11. She joins big sister, Cora. 97 the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing. James Pope, instrumental music instructor at North Branch (Minn.) High School organized the North Suburban AllConference Honors Band program this past January with 10 high schools represented. Bob Stacke ’71, chair of the Augsburg College Music Department, directed the concert band’s performance. The festival also included a separate 03 CORRECTION: On page 25 of the Spring 2013 issue of Augsburg Now, Cristina M. Olson ’00 ’05 MSW was incorrectly listed as the assistant vice president for student affairs at Towson University. She is the assistant to the vice president for student affairs. HOMECOMING All-Conference jazz band under the direction of Dave Mitchell, director of the Minnesota Youth Jazz Ensembles. 2013 Elsa Maxwell and her husband, Rodrigo Bello, have relocated to Duluth, Minn., after residing in Santiago, Chile, for nine years. Elsa completed her master’s degree in Latin American Studies at the Universidad de Chile and is working on her doctorate in literature. 04 Kimberly A. Cruce was appointed to the University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital Nursing Governance Committee. Before joining Mott, Cruce was on staff at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. 08 Alissa Nollan started a new position in November as coordinator for the graduate business programs at Saint Mary’s University in Minneapolis. 09 Jenni (Pickford) Anderson married Thomas R. Anderson, Jr. on July 28, 2012, in Rosemount, Minn. They now live in DeKalb, Ill. where Jenni is working on her master’s degree in philosophy at Northern Illinois University, after which she hopes to pursue a doctoral program. Matthew Curtis joined The Principal Financial Group’s Minnesota Business Center. He serves as a financial advisor and financial representative. 10 Graduate programs Dan Dierfeldt ’94 MSW was elected to represent Minnesota as a delegate to the 2012 National Education Assembly in Washington, D.C. Kathy Thoreson ’96 MSW retired in January after serving as chief executive officer of Lutheran Services in Tennessee. Ed Frizell ’05 MAL was promoted during February to deputy chief of the Minneapolis Police Department. He previously served as the First Precinct inspector and has had a career with the Minneapolis Police Department since 1993. Dr. Amit K. Ghosh ’12 MBA earned the Certified Physician Executive (CPE) degree from the Certifying Commission in Medical Management. The CPE degree indicates that the physician has achieved superior levels of professional excellence and management experience while also demonstrating effective knowledge and leadership skills. SEPTEMBER 23-28 Come back to campus to enjoy Homecoming 2013 and Parent and Family Weekend with alumni, parents, and friends. New events along with traditional favorites make this one of the best times to visit campus all year. Visit augsburg.edu/homecoming for more information and to register. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Friday, September 27 Saturday, September 28 Homecoming Convocation with Distinguished Alumni Awards Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Recognizing the First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished Alumni Award winners. Breakfast with the Provost Oren Gateway Center Atrium, 9:30 a.m. Current Auggies and their parents are invited to a breakfast to meet Karen Kaivola, the College’s new Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Homecoming Convocation Luncheon Dining Commons, 12 p.m. Enjoy a time for fellowship as we continue to recognize and celebrate our distinguished alumni award winners as well as the 50-Year Club inductees from the class of 1963. Faculty and Faculty Emeriti Meet and Greet Lindell Library, 4 p.m. Reconnect with faculty from your time at Augsburg College and take the opportunity to meet current faculty from a variety of departments. Refreshments will be served. Auggie Hours Republic, 6 to 9 p.m. Augsburg Young Alumni, 10th Reunion, and 25th Reunion will come together for an all-out Homecoming bash! Republic is located at 221 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis. Augsburg Legacy Family Event Admissions Suite, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Augsburg legacy families—past, present, and future—will enjoy time together at this special reception. Taste of Augsburg Murphy Square, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event includes carnival-style booths operated by student groups, alumni, and local restaurants, as well as games, inflatable bounce houses, and fun for the entire family. Homecoming Football Game vs. Hamline Edor Nelson Field, 1 p.m. Cheer on the Auggie football team as they take on the Hamline Pipers! Auggie Block Party Parking Lot K, 3:30 to 6 p.m. Enjoy live music, barbecue fare, reunions, and more. Summer 2013 31 Augsburg College President Emeritus Charles S. Anderson dies at 83 Charles S. Anderson, respected reformation scholar, higher education leader, and president of Augsburg College from 1980 to 1997, passed away June 14. As the eighth president of Augsburg, Anderson led the College to expand diversity in enrollment and programs; to advance its curriculum to draw more fully on the resources of the city as an extension of the College’s campus and classrooms; and to strengthen its commitment to spiritual growth, freedom, and liberal arts education. During his tenure, Anderson said, “A liberal arts education answers what business leaders say they need: people who can communicate, people who can think, people equipped for change… people who understand history and the possibilities of the future,” and he led the College to be clear and focused in its mission while embracing opportunities for growth and progress. Anderson was a constant advocate for Augsburg and helped to establish the College’s public presence in the Twin Cities, said David Tiede, Augsburg College Regent and former Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation. Tiede, who studied under Anderson and served as his faculty colleague at Luther Seminary, said that Anderson “brought Augsburg into the public square of the city of Minneapolis in a way that it hadn’t been previously” and put the College on “a trajectory that has been taken effectively forward.” “Chuck Anderson was a careful steward of Augsburg’s distinctive legacy of liberal-professional-experiential education in the city,” said President Emeritus William V. Frame, who succeeded Anderson at Augsburg. “He took the view that the College was, in fact, the Church at 22nd and Riverside, and he made it profoundly hospitable to a daring array of diversity—not only religious and cultural, but of learning styles and varying physical capacities.” Anderson wears the Knight’s Cross, an honor presented in 1993 by His Majesty King Harald V of Norway to recognize Anderson’s work to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Norway. Anderson advanced the College vision he inherited from Oscar Anderson and, before him, Bernhard Christensen and passed on “an extraordinary College of the Church, which continues today along the path he and his predecessors laid out for it,” Frame said. Anderson was born in Madison, Wis., in 1930—the 400th anniversary year of the Augsburg Confession, the statement of faith for which the College was named. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College in 1951 and after graduation went on to serve as a Marine Corps officer. He later continued his studies, earning a master’s degree in English from the Anderson pictured during his tenure as a Luther Seminary professor. Anderson attends Augsburg College’s 1994 Commencement ceremony with his wife, Catherine. His Majesty King Olav V of Norway and Anderson meet in 1987. 32 26 Augsburg Now University of Wisconsin in 1954, a bachelor of theology degree from Luther Theological Seminary in 1957, and a doctor of philosophy degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1961. For 15 years Anderson taught church history at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, and for six years he also was director of graduate studies. He was a guest professor in 1968 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., and for five years was a guest lecturer at St. Paul Diocesan Seminary. A frequent guest pastor and educator at Lutheran churches throughout the United States, his publications include four books: The Reformation, Then and Now; Augsburg Historical Atlas of Christianity in the Middle Ages and Reformation; Readings in Luther for Laymen; and Faith and Freedom: The Christian Faith According to the Lutheran Confessions. As a lifelong scholar, Anderson completed postdoctoral study in Strasbourg, France, and at Columbia University, the University of Minnesota, Harvard University, and Union Theological Seminary. Anderson came to Augsburg in 1976 as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college—a role he served until his election as College president. During the 17 years of Anderson’s presidency, Augsburg instituted two graduate degree programs, launched the Weekend and Evening College program, and established the Center for Global Education. The College amplified its support of students of diverse backgrounds and abilities by creating the StepUP® program for young people in recovery and the CLASS office for differently abled students. Augsburg also celebrated the addition and improvement of numerous campus facilities such as the Foss, Lobeck, Miles Center for Worship, Drama, and Communication; the Oscar Anderson Residence Hall; and the James G. Lindell Family Library. At the time of Anderson’s retirement, then-Board of Regents Chair Barbara Gage described his legacy as one in which “leadership, energy, faith, and pursuit of new ideas... helped Augsburg fulfill her mission to create leaders in service.” Gage said Anderson epitomized the servant leader and left Augsburg strong, healthy, and ready to have a positive impact in the 21st century. Anderson, a respected leader in higher education service learning, was appointed chair of the Youth Works Commission by former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson. He received the Knight’s Cross, First Class of the Royal Order of Merit, from His Majesty King Harald V of Norway in 1993 for his work to preserve and strengthen ties between the two countries. Anderson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Augsburg College in 2007. “Charles Anderson’s influence on the Augsburg community is deep and long-lived,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “The priorities Anderson outlined and championed during his tenure continue to shape how we live out our institutional mission and celebrate life and learning in the city each day.” Anderson is survived by his children, Eric and Kristin, Augsburg College professor of art history and archivist; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and his wife, Catherine, with whom he established the Charles and Catherine Anderson Diversity Scholarship in 1989 and with whom he was recognized by the June and Julian Foss family with the establishment of the Charles and Catherine Anderson Scholarship in 1997. The scholarship awards help the college fulfill its mission of being an intentionally diverse community and supporting students’ exceptional academic ability and Christian service. A memorial service was held at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church on June 18. The Anderson family has requested that memorials be sent to St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, Luther Seminary, or Augsburg College. Anderson greets American folk singer Peter Yarrow, the 1990 Augsburg College Commencement speaker. Anderson pictured in 1980, the year of his inauguration as Augsburg College President. To learn more about President Emeritus Anderson’s legacy, view archival images from his tenure at Augsburg, and read articles from the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, go to augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2013 33 In memoriam Irene (Hagen) Kyllo ’39, Donovan A. Moe ’56, Canton, Bloomington, Minn., age 96, on January 26. Julia (Sletten) Benson ’42, Minneapolis, age 98, on January 18. Muriel (Quanbeck) Turrittin ’42, St. Peter, Minn., age 93, on March 10. Orloue N. Gisselquist ’43, Minneapolis, age 91, on March 16. Ruben N. Egeberg ’45, Rock Island, Ill., age 89, on March 2. Joyce K. (Opseth) Schwartz ’45, Minneapolis, age 88, on February 3. E. Milton Kleven ’46, Edina, Minn., age 90, on April 11. Gudrun (Vik) Kampen ’48, Plentywood, Mont., age 90, on October 27. Reynold “Ray” J. Skotte ’48, Long Beach, Calif., age 92, on January 28. Iris J. (Johnson) Brustad ’49, Eden Prairie, Minn., age 85, on November 4. Glenn C. Grahn ’49, Atwater, Minn., age 87, on April 6. James Cleatus Hodge ’49, Minneapolis, age 89, on April 22. Norman C. Hoium ’50, Coon Rapids, Minn., age 87, on May 3. Allen D. Hanson ’52, Knoxville, Tenn., age 82, on April 10. Elwood “Woody” H. Larson ’52, Roseville, Minn., age 83, on January 12. John R. Madsen ’52, Spring Park, Minn., age 85, on April 30. Arnold Paulson ’52, Woodbury, Minn., age 84, on March 6. Dean L. Lapham ’53, Bloomington, Minn., age 81, on March 29. Donald J. Reimer ’53, Mound, Minn., age 81, on March 31. Jeneane (Abrahamson) Stein ’53, Killen, Minn., age 82, on February 7. Ga., age 78, on December 29. Harlan C. Christianson ’57, Los Angeles, age 77, on December 15. Janice “Jan” M. (Bremseth) Larson ’55, Sparta, Minn., age 79, on April 23. 34 26 Augsburg Now Leona M. (Samuelson) Nelson ’57, Payson, Ariz., age 75, on March 14. Marvin S. Rodvik ’57, Franklin, Minn., age 85, on April 5. Genevieve T. (Trenne) Michelsen ’61, Charlotte, N.C., age 73, on April 7. Stephen “Gabe” Gabrielsen ’63, Minneapolis, age 73, on April 8. David S. Ziegler ’64, Crystal, Minn., age 71, on April 13. Francis W. Monseth ’65, Rogers, Minn., age 71, on March 29. Carolyn A. (Hanson) Schildgen ’68, Northbrook, Ill., age 66, on April 20. Timothy J. Wattman ’70, Minnetonka, Minn., age 66, on April 8. James “Jim” M. Genia ’87, Shoreview, Minn., age 48, on March 30. Scott E. Humphrey ’89, Plymouth, Minn., age 47, on January 17. Erika L. (Timm) Rodriguez ’96, Alexandria, Minn., age 39, on December 11. Kirsten (Kvamme) Salmi ’99, Golden Valley, Minn., age 38, on March 23. Allan T. Davey ’00, Maple Grove, Minn., age 50, on September 16. Juli Elisabeth Crees ’05, Plymouth, Minn., age 30, on March 3. Ana M. Strandemo ’12, Minneapolis, age 29, on January 26. President Emeritus Charles S. Anderson, St. Paul, age 83, June 14. CORRECTION: The name of Richard “Dick” Vevle ’57 name was misspelled in the Spring 2013 Augsburg Now. Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300 dpi or a 1MB file.) For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni. ______________________________________________________ Full name ______________________________________________________ Maiden name ______________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ______________________________________________________ Street address ______________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP code Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No ______________________________________________________ Home telephone ______________________________________________________ Email Okay to publish your email address? ❑ Yes ❑ No ______________________________________________________ Employer ______________________________________________________ Position ______________________________________________________ Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No If yes, class year__________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable) Your news: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ❑ I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. In memoriam E. Milton Kleven E. Milton “Milt” Kleven ’46, active Augsburg alumnus, generous scholarship benefactor, teacher, businessman, Navy Reserve commander, and friend of Augsburg College, passed away April 11. Kleven, son of a Norwegian immigrant mother and a Norwegian-American father, grew up two blocks south of Augsburg College. He enrolled in the College in 1940, but his studies were interrupted by World War II. Kleven returned to Augsburg after the war and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a minor in physical education. He later earned a master’s degree in vocational education from the University of Minnesota. Kleven began his career teaching mathematics in the Minneapolis Public School District in 1946. He was an educator in Minneapolis for 34 years. In 1947, he founded Kleven Flooring Service, a hardwood flooring company that he led for more than 60 years. “The impact on Augsburg students—past, present, and future—of Milt’s incredible generosity will be felt for generations to come,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “Growing up and teaching in Minneapolis, Milt understood what a full scholarship could mean to students from low-income families. He loved getting to know the students his family supported, and he was a strong advocate among his peers for greater scholarship funding for even more students.” Kleven and his wife, Dorothy, who met at Augsburg in 1943, were generous supporters of the College and student scholarships for more than 50 years. In 2001, he established the Dorothy Lijsing Kleven Scholarship in Choral Music, the College’s first endowed President’s Scholarship, providing a full scholarship to students interested in choral music. Dorothy was interested in choral music throughout her life. In 2007, the Kleven family created two additional endowed President’s Scholarships: one in memory of Milt’s and Dorothy’s parents, Magnus and Kristofa Kleven, and David and Florence Lijsing; and a second in Milt’s name— the E. Milton Kleven Scholarship in Public Service. Kleven also helped to facilitate two other scholarships. The Margaret E. Andrews Scholarship was established by Kleven and his fellow trade and industry coordinators in the Minneapolis Public Schools to honor Andrews, who founded the district’s Cooperative Education Training program. The Reverend Donald C. Carlson Scholarship, through the Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation, is named for Normandale’s founding pastor, a 1942 Augsburg alumnus. This scholarship supports students from Normandale who attend Augsburg College. The Klevens also provided major support for the construction of the James G. Lindell Library. Kleven joined with Glen Person ’47 and Dick “Pork Chop” Thompson ’61 to provide funding to name the Jeroy C. Carlson ’48 A-Club Hospitality/Classroom in the Kennedy Center, in honor of Carlson, their longtime friend. “The impact on Augsburg students—past, present, and future—of Milt’s incredible generosity will be felt for generations to come.” AUGSBURG COLLEGE PRESIDENT PAUL C. PRIBBENOW Summer 2013 35 auggies on the field Lacrosse team maps new ground in women’s athletics Being first can be daunting. It’s intimidating because no one before you has done what you are trying to do. There’s no road map to keep you on track. But it’s also exhilarating to create the map for others and to leave an indelible mark on everything that follows. “I am excited to be at the forefront of Augsburg College’s varsity women’s lacrosse team,” said Coach Kathryn Knippenberg. “I’m looking forward to building a team that knows winning is as much about team chemistry and bonds as it is about the stick.” It’s not just that Knippenberg is Augsburg’s first women’s collegiate varsity lacrosse coach. It’s bigger than that. Knippenberg is the first women’s collegiate varsity lacrosse coach at any college in Minnesota, and at the one that launched in 1995 the first women’s collegiate varsity hockey team. “It’s an honor to help pioneer this great sport,” Knippenberg said. “Getting to lead at a place that believes in the value of women’s athletics is thrilling and challenging.” Knippenberg, who as a student at the University of Minnesot
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring 2015: Auggies Are Peace Builders
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: SPRING 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 2 Everyday work advice for Auggies Magazine survey results A tale of two Auggies Nobel Peace Prize Forum AUGSBURG COLLEGE RECEIVES $10 MILLION CASH GIFT to name Center for Science, Business, and Religion This winter, Augsburg College was honored with a $10 mil...
Show more SPRING 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 2 Everyday work advice for Auggies Magazine survey results A tale of two Auggies Nobel Peace Prize Forum AUGSBURG COLLEGE RECEIVES $10 MILLION CASH GIFT to name Center for Science, Business, and Religion This winter, Augsburg College was honored with a $10 million philanthropic gift that will support a new signature academic building housing the College’s science, business, and religion programs. Visit augsburg.edu/csbr to learn about the celebration to announce the building’s name and the capital campaign’s progress toward its IN THIS ISSUE $50 million fundraising goal. Features On the cover 2 Magazine survey results | COMPILED BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA 10 Everyday work advice for Auggies | BY STEPHANIE WEISS 16 A tale of two Auggies | BY STEPHANIE WEISS 24 Nobel Peace Prize Forum | BY STEPHEN GEFFRE AND LAURA SWANSON Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter addressed middle school and high school students during a Youth Forum event in Augsburg’s Si Melby Hall as part of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum, held March 6-8 in Departments Minneapolis. Carter spoke in front of 4 Around the Quad | 13 It takes an Auggie exhibition about past Nobel Peace Prize Augsburg student artwork created for an 14 My Auggie experience | 20 Auggie voices winners that opened at the American 22 Auggies on the court | 27 Alumni news Swedish Institute in February. Learn more 31 Alumni class notes | 36 In memoriam All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. on pages 8 and 24. Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW Abundance at Augsburg 2015 is off to a remarkable start at Augsburg! The announcement on the facing page about the $10 million gift to name the Center for Science, Business, and Religion certainly ranks as our most exciting news. The momentum to break ground on this signature academic building is now palpable on campus and beyond as we imagine its transformational impact on our community for generations to come. And this issue of Augsburg Now is full of many other examples of the good news of this academic year. News of national recognition for community engagement and interfaith initiatives. News of special events featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy (a fellow bow tie lover!) and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates U.S. President Jimmy Carter and The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. News of more than 100 Augsburg students and faculty from five academic departments collaborating to create an interactive exhibit to engage people in the topic of peace. News of student and faculty achievements on and off campus. News of generous alumni and friends supporting the mission-based work of the Augsburg community—including more than 1,300 donors who, for the second year in a row, helped Augsburg surpass every other Minnesota college or university in fundraising on Give to the Max Day. And much, much more to celebrate. For me, all of this good news points to a core value at the heart of Augsburg’s identity and character—we are a community of abundance in a world of scarcity. What do I mean by abundance? It is a way of life that calls our community to live and work together with a focus on our common wisdom, experience, and aspirations. It is an ethic that challenges us to believe that we can do more and Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Communication Copywriter and Editorial Coordinator Laura Swanson swansonl@augsburg.edu better together than on our own. It is a vision that says we are small to our students and big for the world. As I near the end of my ninth year as Augsburg’s 10th president, I am more and more struck by the abundance of our lives together, the many ways in which the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of our community aspire to embody a way of life that links faith, learning, and service to the neighbor. I also am struck by the abundance of our place, the remarkable work of Augsburg as an institution and community in this neighborhood, city, and world, and our firm resolve to send our students out into the world as educated and faithful citizens, to be good stewards of our environment, and to embrace hospitality and generosity for our fellow humans. Finally, I am struck by the abundance of the promise we make each and every day to each other as we dedicate ourselves to collaboration, to doing things differently, and to working together to meet the needs of students and neighbors. Where others say there is not enough, we say there is more than plenty if we believe and bring resolve, courage, and imagination to our efforts to educate, to feed the hungry, to clothe the poor, and to meet the needs of strangers. What a deep privilege it is to be a partner in this work of abundance at Augsburg College. Thanks to all of you for your abiding support and passion for this good and faithful work. Creative Associate Denielle Johnson ’11 johnsod@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter Christina Haller haller@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Production Manager Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Advancement Communication Specialist Jen Lowman Day dayj@augsburg.edu augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Yours in Augsburg, Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Email: now@augsburg.edu 600 Took the survey TURNING A NEW PAGE 35-49 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RESULTS: 34 & under Who took the survey COMPILED BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA More than 600 people responded to the Augsburg survey, with 541 completing the entire questionnaire. Augsburg Now magazine survey: What you told us NATIONAL This past summer, Augsburg College participated in a national higher education magazine survey developed by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. This survey has been used by more than 350 college and university magazines across the United States, allowing Augsburg to compare its results with national benchmarks. AUGSBURG 30 percent of the Augsburg Now survey respondents were 65 years of age or older, nearly 10 percentage points above the national response rate. Top ways the magazine helps keep Auggies connected* Augsburg’s results National results Auggies are connected 87% 80% 53% As a reminder of your college experience 46% 46% Keeping you in touch with your graduating class 39% Encouraging financial support for the College and current students Survey respondents confirmed that Augsburg Now strengthens their connection with the College. In fact, 80 percent of respondents older than age 35 agreed with this notion, and 70 percent of respondents under age 35 agreed as well. SO, WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN? Readership, connection, and format Topics of interest The magazine will build on its strengths in order to maintain high readership levels and the strong connection that the magazine helps Auggies feel with the College. Augsburg will continue publishing the magazine in both print and online versions, but those who prefer a digital format are encouraged to let us know their preference for receiving notifications instead of printed editions. The topics of greatest interest across all age groups align well with the College’s Augsburg2019 strategic vision, which states that, in 2019, Augsburg will be a new kind of student-centered, urban university that is small to our students and big for the world. Stories about student achievements, alumni in their professions, and campus facilities and growth illustrate our commitment to educating for lives of purpose, being “at the table” with our partners and neighbors, and building a vital and sustainable institution. In addition to those topics, the magazine will continue to include events, speakers, obituaries, and class notes given that these topics garnered strong response rates, especially among readers over 35 years of age. See augsburg.edu/Augsburg2019 for information about the strategic plan. Go to augsburg.edu/now for more information about changing your Augsburg Now delivery format. 2 Augsburg Now ended event ade a nation 64% h These categories were ranked substantially higher than the national averages. prefer print Agreement with these statements among people age 35 years or older was 10 or more percentage points higher than for respondents under age 35. * 12% prefer online Magazine readership 23% Ages represented: 65+ 50 to 64 35 to 49 34 and under 11 percent of Augsburg’s respondents were under age 35, which is only half of the percentage in that age category nationally. Attended an event Recommended Top actions taken as a Augsburg Recommended result of reading Augsburg Now Augsburg Augsburg’s results National results Made a donation Recommended Augsburg Most respondents indicated that Augsburg Now was the No. 1 way they get information about the College, and 82 percent said they read all orprefer mostboth of each issue. Most respondents said they prefer to read the printed version of Augsburg Now, although some favor digital formats. It is exciting to learn that 1/3 of respondents indicated that the magazine Made a donation prompted them to recommend Augsburg to others. One of the primary objectives of the magazine is to equip Auggies to act as advocates of the College, so this result was of particular significance in measuring the impact of the magazine. Renaming the magazine Although the name of the magazine was not specifically addressed in the survey questions, the time has come to rethink the name of the publication. “Augsburg Now” served well for decades, but in an age of digital communication, a publication that comes out three times per year cannot reasonably include information about what’s happening at the moment. As a result, the plan is to announce a new name for the magazine in the summer 2015 issue and officially change the masthead in the fall. Look in the summer issue for more information about these future plans for the Augsburg College magazine! 82% read all or most of 64% prefer print 13% prefer online 23% prefer both Topics of interest When asked what topics readers preferred to see in the magazine, the following categories rose to the top. 1. Cultural events and performances 68.1% * 2. Alumni in their professions 67.5% 3. Class notes 67.4% * h 4. Institutional history and traditions 66.5% * h 5. Obituaries 65.8% * h 6. Campus facilities and growth 62.5% 7. Student achievements 61.2% h 8. Visiting speakers 60.3% * h Subscribe to NOW@Augsburg For the past few years, Augsburg’s alumni relations staff has published a monthly email newsletter and blog called “NOW@Augsburg,” which features stories about Augsburg alumni, upcoming events, fundraising milestones, and College accolades. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog for past newsletter content, or email langemo@augsburg.edu to sign up for the monthly email newsletter if you are not already receiving it. Spring 2015 3 Jamar Esaw ’05 directs members of Triad:4Christ, a gospel choral ensemble, during the 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation. MANY VOICES, BOLD VISIONS 2014-15 Convocation Series sparks critical thinking, meaningful conversation The Augsburg College Convocation Series each year offers the community a chance to hear from outstanding leaders and visionaries who ignite important conversations and contribute to making the world a safer place for future generations. The first event held during the spring semester was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation in January, featuring collaboration among on-campus student groups and ARTS-Us, a St. Paul-based arts education organization; Dare 2 Be Real, a Twin Cities-based interracial student leadership program; and Triad:4Christ, a renowned gospel choir led by Jamar Esaw ’05. The Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics in February welcomed Rami Nashashibi, executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network and a visiting professor at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Nashashibi spoke on “The Sociology of Seerah: Reclaiming Prophetic Tradition for Our Time and Place.” The Koryne Horbal Lecture in March featured Janell Hobson, associate professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University at Albany. Hobson’s presentation was titled “Historical Consciousness and Black Feminist Imagination.” 4 Augsburg Now AROUND THE QUAD FROM SCREEN TO SCRIPT: Auggies win big at film festival Augsburg students were recognized for their excellent work at the fourth annual Student Film Festival hosted by the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities. Delegates from Wells Fargo’s Diversity Council Leadership Team visit with Augsburg student leaders, faculty, and staff. WELLS FARGO MAKES $100,000 GIFT to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion In recognition of Augsburg College’s leadership in closing the higher education disparity gap for students of color in Minnesota, Wells Fargo made a $100,000 gift to the campaign to build the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Wells Fargo joined several other corporations—including 3M and General Mills— in supporting the CSBR. Dave Kvamme, CEO of Wells Fargo Minnesota, in a statement expressed admiration for Augsburg’s commitment to partnering with college access programs Wells Fargo also supports a to help recruit, support, and retain first-generation and scholarship program through low-income students. the Minnesota Private College “We support Augsburg College’s commitment to Fund. The fund, started in 1976, provide opportunities for a college education for those provides scholarships at each of students who may face life challenges to attain it,” the 17 Minnesota Private Colleges, Kvamme said. “We know our donation will help Augsburg including Augsburg. be successful in developing Minnesota’s future business and community leaders.” DID YOU KNOW? U.S. BANK SUPPORTS STUDENT VETERANS and Center for Science, Business, and Religion with $125,000 gift Augsburg College and U.S. Bank celebrated the opening of the new U.S. Bank Veterans’ Lounge on campus with a dedication ceremony this fall. U.S. Bank recently pledged $125,000 toward the building of the Center for Science, Business, and Religion at Augsburg, and the College recognized the contribution to the campaign by granting naming rights to the Veterans’ Lounge. The renovated space, located in Oren Gateway Center, honors the contributions student veterans have made to their country. U.S. Bank and Augsburg College are nationally recognized as top supporters of veterans and military families. Augsburg was named a 2015 Military Friendly® School for its ongoing efforts to provide transitioning veterans the best possible experience in higher education. • Thomas VandenDolder ’15 won Best Experimental Film for “Oblivious.” • Rebecca Schroeder ’18 won the Best Music Video award for “We Are The Art.” This year’s ACTC festival included a new screenplay contest. Students who have participated in courses in the Augsburg Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program took home top awards in all three categories. • Michelle Herrin ’15 MFA won the Overall Excellence award for “Side Effects.” • Amanda Symes ’15 MFA received an Honorable Mention, FeatureLength Narrative for “Celia.” • Mark Woodley ’14 received the Best Short Screenplay award for “Missing.” The festival included work submitted by students from Augsburg College, Hamline University, and the University of St. Thomas. More than 100 people attended the film festival screenings this year, and all films were created during the 2013-14 academic year. Spring 2015 5 Augsburg earns dual national COMMUNITY SERVICE HONORS Augsburg was the only Minnesota college or university named a finalist on the Corporation for National and Community Service’s 2014 Interfaith Community Service Honor Roll as well as on the Corporation’s General Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. Augsburg is one of only four colleges out of hundreds of applicants nationwide to be named a finalist in the interfaith category, an honor recognizing institutions that support exemplary community service programs, promote greater interfaith cooperation, and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus-community partnerships. Augsburg receives Carnegie Foundation’s Community ENGAGEMENT CLASSIFICATION Augsburg College has earned its second Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Institutions are recognized based on evidence of their collaboration with the larger community, which: • enriches scholarship, research, and creative activity; • enhances curriculum, teaching, and learning; • prepares educated, engaged citizens; • strengthens democratic values and civic responsibility; • addresses critical societal issues; and • contributes to the public good. Augsburg was one of only eight Minnesota colleges or universities recognized in 2015. The College previously received the Community Engagement Classification in 2008. 6 Augsburg Now Bush Foundation grant supports DIVERSITY IN TEACHING Augsburg College’s Department of Education was awarded a $150,000 grant from the Bush Foundation through its Teacher Effectiveness Initiative. The award will be used to fund a project that builds the College’s capacity to recruit and support students of color as they work toward a degree in teaching. Augsburg was one of only five higher education institutions selected to receive this one-time award. Augsburg’s Department of Education Chair and Associate Professor Margaret Finders will lead the project in partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, and St. Paul Public Schools. This team will create a coordinated, sustainable infrastructure that will recruit high-quality teacher candidates and reduce attrition. This infrastructure will help the partner institutions engage in proactive recruitment of teacher candidates of color from multiple entry points, improve experiences for teacher candidates of color, and foster smooth transitions into teaching. AROUND THE QUAD This winter, AUGSBURG COLLEGE PRESIDENT PAUL C. PRIBBENOW joined other private college leaders in testifying before the Minnesota State Senate Higher Education Committee. Pribbenow thanked senators for their support and discussed the ways in which Augsburg works to best educate the state’s future leaders. DAY AT THE CAPITOL During the 2013-14 academic year, more than 34 percent of all Augsburg undergraduates—1,054 students—received Minnesota State Grants totaling more than $3.4 million. This February, Augsburg College students and members of the larger Twin Cities community met at the Capitol with their respective representatives and advocated for the Minnesota State Grant program. Augsburg’s StepUP® program, the EAST (East African Student to Teacher) program, Student Financial Services, Multicultural Students Services, and Athletics partnered to recruit and train students before the event. The students’ agenda included a policy and lobbying briefing with comments from House and Senate members representing Augsburg and a breakfast with alumni legislators followed by a meeting with representatives. Spring 2015 7 AROUND THE QUAD 128 AUGGIES exhibit at the American Swedish Institute Led by Assistant Professor of Art Christopher Houltberg, 128 students and six Augsburg faculty members contributed to a collaborative exhibition, Shaping Peace, at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. The project is a collaboration involving the disciplines of art and design, English, music, political science, and religion. Shaping Peace, a visual exploration of the past 128 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, is on display from February 28 through May 24 and aims to broaden the awareness of the Nobel Peace Prize. The interactive installation encourages viewers to actively participate in exploring the history of the prize by contributing their own ideas surrounding the concept of peace. AUGSBURG YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE ONLINE SOON The Augsburg College student yearbook, the Augsburgian, is being digitized for online viewing. Issues are being scanned from newest to oldest, and all editions dating back to the early 1900s will be available online soon. Check for your yearbook at augsburg.edu/now. 8 Augsburg Now Archival Photo PRESIDENTIAL SCULPTURES undergo restoration public monuments, sculpted busts of Augsburg College Presidents Sven Oftedal and Georg Sverdrup. For many years, the sculptures were housed in the College’s original Main building and Old Main before being relocated to the Marshall Room in Christensen Center. As time passed, the sculptures had become dirty, scratched, and damaged. In fact, the bust of Sven Oftedal had even fallen off its pedestal, which resulted in a broken nose. In 2014, the sculptures were properly restored for the first time in 125 years. They are now on display in all their glory in Lindell Library. All of this work has been supported by the Nydahl Family fund, which was created in 2006 to celebrate the history of Augsburg and the Lutheran Free Church on campus. THE CENTER FOR COUNSELING AND HEALTH PROMOTION gets new name and location The Center for Counseling and Health Promotion recently became the Center for Wellness and Counseling to better capture the mission of the department, which is to support students to “stay healthy in body, mind, and relationships.” The services of the center— to offer free counseling, low-cost medical services at a neighborhood clinic, and selfhelp information—will remain the same. The name change comes at the same time the center moves from a house on the corner of 7th Street and 21st Avenue, to a remodeled first floor of Augsburg’s Anderson Residence Hall. The new location will allow students easier access as well as add a dedicated relaxation space. The house that the center staff once occupied will be razed this spring as part of the preparation of the area where the new Center for Science, Business, and Religion will be built. explores reputation management During spring semester, Augsburg College invited leaders with experience in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors of the Twin Cities business community to share their expertise as part of the annual Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Speaker Series. In February, Lynn Casey, CEO at PadillaCRT, spoke on building and protecting reputations in real time. Casey also discussed her work at the Minneapolis-based headquarters of PadillaCRT—the largest employeeowned agency in the United States. Courtesy Photo FROM 1888 TO 1890, Jacob Fjelde, a Norwegian portraitist and creator of SPEAKER SERIES The College welcomes MayKao Hang, president and CEO of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, in April. Hang leads the foundation as it works to live out its mission to promote the social welfare of persons resident or located in the greater St. Paul metropolitan area. Courtesy Photo ABOVE: Augsburg’s historic presidents sculptures were first housed in the College’s original Main building. RIGHT: The sculptures are transported to a professional restorer. Courtesy Photo STROMMEN EXECUTIVE “When we’re talking about building and protecting reputations, high standards, good character, and good operating principles up-and-down [an organization] are really essential ingredients.” –Lynn Casey Spring 2015 9 Meet Dave Conrad Dave Conrad has honed his knowledge through decades of work as an independent business consultant, his experience in sales and marketing for public and private companies in a range of industries, and his positions in higher education. He’s author of “Ask Dave,” a column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin. His first book, which shares the same name as his column, is available for purchase at the Augsburg College bookstore. Ask Dave EVERYDAY WORK ADVICE FOR E I G G U A Y R E V E Business professor Dave Conrad shares workplace guidance with 100,000 readers through weekly newspaper column BY STEPHANIE WEISS T he majority of American workers report being unhappy in their jobs. One of the biggest factors for this dissatisfaction is poor workplace communication, according to The Conference Board’s annual survey of 5,000 U.S. households. Other top factors that contribute to workplace dissatisfaction include issues related to compensation, recognition, and career development. None of this is surprising to Dave Conrad, assistant director of the Augsburg College Master of Business Administration program at Rochester and associate professor in Rochester and Minneapolis. Each week for the past eight years, Conrad has shared straightforward business and workplace guidance with 100,000 readers of his column, “Dear Dave,” published in the Rochester Post-Bulletin since 2006. Conrad said that while he fields plenty of questions on workplace communication issues, he also responds to queries on everything from conflicts among coworkers to issues of company culture, managing change, and problem solving. There’s probably no question that has been left unasked of Conrad. And his advice is so popular that he published a book based upon his column and has another one in the works. Conrad dispenses usable guidance that blends management processes with leadership thinking so that readers can gain insight into the worlds of their coworkers. “My readers tend to be everyday, hard-working staff employees or mid-level managers who need everyday advice,” he said. Spring 2015 11 Clear counseling cleans up clumsy communication Conrad doesn’t really need to be told by a national survey that communication problems vex employees at all levels. He knows it because, time and again, he receives questions from readers struggling to give voice to their opinions or to share information about the direction an organization is heading. “People are bursting at the seams with ideas, input, and feedback, but there often is no one listening,” he said. When one reader in 2013 asked Conrad why it seems that managers don’t interact with employees—not even to ask how the employees are coping—Conrad delivered his trademark guidance, mixing simple steps with insight: “Organizations thrive on communication and dialogue. It is crucial that managers simply interact with employees ... and ask if they can help the employees in any way,” Conrad wrote. “Managers should pass along information about the company that will help employees understand the mission, vision, goals, and objectives pertaining to where the company is heading.” Conrad said that the reason this type of communication is critical is because it creates what he calls “we-ness,” a shared purpose among employees that can inspire everyone to work toward shared goals. Conrad also offers practical guidance for how managers should communicate with employees: share honestly, strive to promote dialogue, ensure every voice is heard, and welcome ideas and input without chastising the messenger. When a manager asked Conrad how to more effectively guide change after learning that her employees felt she didn’t connect well with those employees who most needed information, Conrad first shared insight on the organizational need to develop 12 Augsburg Now “Keep things fresh, engaging, and constructive—dare I say ‘positive.’” Read Dave Conrad’s weekly column in the local business section found at postbulletin.com. a change-management communication plan. The creation of such a plan is an important step in ensuring that the manager delivers the right information to the right people at the right time. He followed up with the types of information to include in the plan so all his readers could understand steps toward shaping and managing change. “Communication gaps and weaknesses must be discovered, and a systematic means of providing instructions, information, and feedback must be created and implemented,” he responded via the 2014 column. “To get and keep people on board: Explain the ‘why’ of the change. Clearly communicate the vision, mission, and the objectives of the change management initiative. Have and articulate ideal outcomes. Get people interacting and sharing ideas and perspectives.” Insight for Auggies Conrad’s approach was no different when we asked him what insight he has for Augsburg College alumni just starting out in the work world and those who want to grow their careers. Conrad said that it’s likely Auggies who are beginning their careers will need to perform unglamorous — and possibly, humbling — work for a while. But that’s normal. “I love the saying: If you do what you love, you will never work a day the rest of your life,” Conrad said. “The problem is, when you’re just out of college, it’s easy to get confused about what you can do in the workplace, or even what you want to do.” Just as Auggies are sorting through what they might want to do, employers will be watching. Conrad encourages Auggies to stay positive, maintain enthusiasm, and take on tasks they never thought they would have to perform. Early in their careers, he said, Auggies should show off their work ethic no matter the task assigned. Conrad’s tips for young employees include taking on the assignments nobody wants, asking managers for feedback on their work, and seeking guidance for how to earn promotions. “Not only is this a way to demonstrate drive and ethic, but it also offers a way to practice the communication skills that make a workplace more rewarding,” he said. For Auggies further along in their career, Conrad offers similarly upbeat advice. “Keep things fresh, engaging, and constructive—dare I say ‘positive,’” he said. “Volunteer for small and big projects, mentor budding managers, be there for people in need, learn new things, and do anything that shows care about the productivity and wellbeing of the organization, others, and especially yourself.” Employers are attracted to employees who understand the importance of their work on their team, department, and organization. Through the reflective practices and hands-on learning built into an Augsburg College education, Auggies leave campus knowing how their work makes a difference in the world, and they are ready to lead in organizations ranging from nonprofits to Fortune 500 businesses. And, they are ready to do it well. IT TAKES AN AUGGIE IMPACT Augsburg’s day of record-breaking fundraising supports new opportunities More than 1,300 donors gave Augsburg College more than $430,000 on Give to the Max Day 2014. For the second year in a row, Augsburg surpassed every other Minnesota college or university in this annual online fundraising event. The achievement reflects the work of alumni, faculty, and staff who championed nearly three dozen unique projects. A new drone copter for student filmmakers. IN THE CLASSROOM $1,605 was raised to help students purchase essential — but sometimes pricey — textbooks for class. The College launched its first student-run publishing organization, Howling Bird, which is part of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. The Communication Studies Department purchased a drone camera that takes student filmmakers’ work to new heights. (above right) ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH Biology students will benefit from the opportunity to fund additional DNA sequencing critical to their research. Faculty in the Department of History will further their research on topics ranging from the deathbed conversions of medieval knights to Minnesota after the Civil War to women’s medicine in the Victorian era. LEARN ABOUT THE OTHER PROJECTS AUGGIES ON THE MOVE The Augsburg College women’s hockey team traveled to four European countries, playing games against international opponents, and touring historic and cultural sites. Gifts from Give to the Max Day helped to fund student learning and success through 34 projects. Find the full list at augsburg.edu/now. Spring 2015 13 AUGGIES HAVE AND FOOD COOKING DOWN TO A SCIENCE Unique course makes science approachable for all students Ceviche is a South and Central American favorite that’s also been popularized in the United States. It’s a bright and flavorful seafood dish that’s not raw, but it’s not exactly cooked either. In fact, it’s never exposed to heat. Although it’s not cooked in the traditional sense, the raw fish in ceviche goes through a chemical process that rearranges or “denatures” its proteins, much like what happens when meat or other protein is cooked with heat. The acid in citrus juice cures the raw fish, which makes it safer to eat. This is just one of the fascinating processes students learn in one of Augsburg College’s popular physics courses: The Science of Food and Cooking, taught by Associate Professor Ben Stottrup. Among other concepts, students in the course learn the fundamental physics and chemistry of materials science through hands-on preparation, like the phase change that occurs when spinning cotton candy and the Maillard reaction caused by searing a steak. They are taught the mechanical properties of ricotta cheese and the states of matter in a root beer float. And the students love experimenting with various cuisine. SPECIAL THANKS to chefs Erick * Harcey of Victory 44, Landon Schoenefeld of Haute Dish, and Karyn Tomlinson of Borough for lending their expertise to the course. 14 Augsburg Now “My biggest takeaway from this class is that science is, in fact, present in everything in our daily lives,” said Cynthia Del Villar ’15, business administration and economics major. “Even eating is a daily reminder that food undergoes its own scientific transformation through cooking or even combining certain ingredients, like oil and vinegar.” Del Villar took much away from the class—from learning how to prevent freezer burn to emulsifying a mayonnaise to gaining an understanding of heat transfer through a molten chocolate cake. But she also made a personal contribution to the course— her Mexican family’s traditional shrimp ceviche recipe for experimentation in the lab. (See recipe on the next page.) Restaurant reviews, cook-offs, and potlucks But it’s not just the food that gets students engaged—Stottrup also introduces competition and community involvement. For example, while baking cupcakes, some groups are allowed the use of measuring devices while others are not. Or some use measurements based upon volume versus weight. This, of course, determines the outcome of each recipe. At the end of each lab, guest judges from “ This is a traditional family recipe from my parents’ home state of Nayarit, on Mexico’s west coast. - Cynthia Del Villar ’15 MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE SHRIMP CEVICHE FOR A CROWD Serves 20 INGREDIENTS: • 4 pounds headless shrimp • 10 medium limes • 10 medium tomatoes • 4 large cucumbers • 1 purple onion • 8 small green serrano chili peppers • 2 tablespoons salt • Tortilla chips PREPARATION: 1. Cleanse shrimp in water, peel completely, and chop into half-inch pieces. Place in large bowl and set aside. 2. In a blender, combine lime juice and serrano chili peppers and blend until smooth. Pour over shrimp. 3. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to mixture and stir. various departments on campus decide whose dish was most successful. The competition and participation of the wider campus community “creates an educational, memorable, and interactive experience,” Stottrup said. Members of the greater Twin Cities restaurant scene also play an important role in the class. One requirement of the course is that students dine at one of three well-known Minneapolis restaurants and then write a restaurant review describing the materials science on their plate. Afterward, one chef from each restaurant comes to campus to participate in a panel discussion on the creativity and lifestyle of being a chef.* Community members participate in these panel discussions each term, which range from local cooks revealing the process of handcrafting the perfect scoop of natural, organic ice cream to urban planners explaining 4. Cut onion into thin slices and add to shrimp. Allow mixture to sit for 20 minutes. 5. In the meantime, dice tomatoes and cucumbers into small cubes and add to shrimp. 6. Mix all ingredients well and salt to taste. 7. Serve with chips or tostadas. sustainable food systems to entrepreneurs from the craft beer industry talking about the chemistry of brewing. To wrap up the semester, the class participates in a “Minnesota potluck,” where each student makes a dish to share and describes the science behind it to their peers. These engaging, communal activities make science “fun and accessible to all students, not just science majors,” Stottrup said. He hopes the class helps students gain a new appreciation for science, as well as “for growing, preparing, cooking, and simply enjoying food.” BY CHRISTINA HALLER Spring 2015 15 A TALE OF TWO AUGGIES ST. PAUL COLLEGE EXPERIENCES SHAPE WORK BY ALUMNI IN THE MINNESOTA CAPITAL AND ON THE NORTH SHORE BY STEPHANIE WEISS As a young man growing up on Minnesota’s far western prairies during the 1960s, Allan Torstenson ’75 felt the lure of big cities tugging at him when he was deciding where to go to college. He considered leaving his hometown of Dawson, Minn., for campuses on the coasts in Berkeley, Calif., or New York City, but it was the beehive of activity in Minneapolis and near the Augsburg College campus that drew him in. 16 Augsburg Now “I was watching the anti-war movement unfold on television. People in a counter culture were fighting construction of HUD-planned communities, including Cedar Square West,” he said. “It was all happening on the West Bank of Minneapolis. I wanted to be there to watch it.” At the same time that Torstenson was responding to the pull of Augsburg and all that its location in the heart of Minneapolis offered students, Mark Johnson ’75 found himself similarly drawn to Augsburg from his hometown of Two Harbors, Minn., on the scenic north shores of Lake Superior. When the two young men arrived at Augsburg, they began to explore life in the city. They were among the first to enroll in what was a brand new interdisciplinary major, metro urban studies. Allan Torstenson ’75 St. Paul city planner Mark Johnson ’75 Two Harbors city planner, retired Courtesy Photos TWO HARBORS This new program would prove to build a solid foundation for the careers of both men, equipping them to navigate constantly changing landscapes in their careers. Torstenson’s Augsburg College education provided the skills and knowledge to begin work as an intern in 1981 for the City of St. Paul— where he continues to work today as principal city planner with responsibility for planning and zoning. Johnson’s education allowed him to successfully return to Two Harbors where he took a detour from city planning for more than 20 years to run the family business before becoming the city planner from 1999 until his retirement in 2001. Industry changes reshape Minnesota cities Two Harbors is the birthplace of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) and was long shaped by the railroad and an ore shipping port. St. Paul is the state capital and has been home to breweries such as Hamm’s and Schmidt’s, manufacturing such as Whirlpool and the Ford Assembly Plant, and more. When the dominant industries in the cities served by Torstenson and Johnson inevitably shifted over time, the two planners needed to interpret what those changes meant for their communities. Spring 2015 17 Courtesy Photo In Two Harbors, the changes meant an opportunity to reclaim what once were private railroad beds and begin converting rails to trails. It also meant the opportunity to create greater public access to the waterfront. In St. Paul, Torstenson was faced with answering questions about how to respond to a changing economy that has resulted in the shuttering of multiple large businesses. “Our big building and manufacturing companies—Ford in Highland Park, Whirlpool on the East Side, [and] the breweries are all gone,” Torstenson said. “Our challenge was to begin to address the economic, structural, and job training issues left in the wake of these closings.” One of the problems faced by Torstenson is that the underpinnings of earlier city planning—as it was practiced in the United States after World War II—wasn’t flexible or resilient, two concepts now at the forefront of civic design. From the 1950s through the early 1980s, city planning primarily relied upon a single-use approach that identified different areas—or zones—for different uses. Single-family housing was clustered in one area, and apartments and condominiums in another area. Businesses were situated somewhere else, and industrial areas were planned in yet another spot. This type of planning, possible largely because of the automobile, created what we now understand to be an expensive form of spread-out development often called “sprawl.” This type of segregated development can make responding to changing markets and demands difficult. “Cities need to think about the social and market needs of the people who live there,” Torstenson said. “Cities also need to be resilient in their design so that they can be sustainable while evolving to meet changing needs.” The more compact, high-density design used in Oslo, Norway, after World War II (and studied by both Torstenson and Johnson during their undergraduate study-abroad trip to Scandinavia in 1973) now is shaping the work Torstenson does for St. Paul. Multi-use design allows buildings to be placed closer together and to be used in multiple ways all at 18 Augsburg Now once. Business and light industry can be placed at street level with housing above. It means residents of a building have a greater likelihood of being able to walk to work and shop close to home. In addition, these environments typically include sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transit—whether in the form of light rail, trains, or streetcars. “Many people want to live and work in a close, compact area,” Torstenson said. “Mixed-use and shared-use planning can create ways for us to change to meet the demands of a new and creative, diverse, and collaborative economy.” Today, Torstenson continues to work to shape a city code that will guide “The question always has been: higher-density development and How can we manage change for redevelopment the good of all?” –Mark Johnson that also fosters efficient, flexible, and mixed-form uses with multi-modal transportation corridors—all things that are sought-after by the Millennial Generation as well as today’s teenagers who are putting off learning to drive in favor of public transit. While Torstenson was working in St. Paul, Johnson was grappling in Two Harbors with a community that at first didn’t have a history of proactive engagement, which meant that change had the potential to be seen as negative and foster greater outcry. “The question always has been: How can we manage change for the good of all?” Johnson said. “There are always unintended consequences of change. At the core, we have to respect the values of the community we work with, and we have to reflect those qualities in the work.” Community-classroom connection MAKES REAL-WORLD IMPACT Shawn Thompson Photography Two Harbors railroad depot near Lake Superior For instance, when Two Harbors in the 1990s began the work of creating greater public access to the waterfront by converting old railroad beds to trails, the community wasn’t happy. “It seems that, in a smaller community, there can be a lot of pushback on any type of change,” Johnson said. “North Shore people are tough, independent. It’s just innate. We’ve spent our lives battling Lake Superior.” But civic engagement is one tool that local governments such as cities and counties, no matter their location, can use to help learn about and understand the desires of a community. “Community involvement is important,” Johnson said. “My job was a chance to encourage people to reach out beyond themselves and to seek ways to be a bridge builder of relationships.” Although Johnson retired from city work more than a decade ago, he remains involved in Two Harbors through a community fund that he helped establish and that is used to support new projects in response to emerging and changing needs. Johnson said that his days as an Augsburg student continue to influence him today and have played a role in creating a rewarding path for someone who has been driven to serve. “I never saw my work at the family business or as city planner as separate paths,” he said. “My work as an employer, as a city planner, and as someone with an interest in community service gave me ways to make Two Harbors a better place.” Community engagement is an essential part of city planning, but how that takes shape beyond town hall meetings and open forums varies. City planners meet with community members, government entities, and local and federal agencies to gather perspective, priorities, and input from groups before projects are undertaken. But getting community participation that represents the diversity of viewpoints and priorities of any community is challenging. The Friendly Streets Initiative in St. Paul is an emerging model of community engagement that aims to identify the shared needs and wants of people directly impacted by proposed change. It’s a model being forged by Lars Christiansen, lead organizer of FSI and associate professor of Augsburg’s interdisciplinary metro-urban studies program. Christiansen, who also is chair of the Augsburg College Sociology Department, is known DARIUS GRAY ’15 for his teaching and scholarship focused on urban resilience and sustainability, and public engagement. Because of this community-classroom connection, metro-urban studies majors such as Darius Gray ’15 have augmented classroom experiences with hands-on learning. “We engage [people] to give input on how they want their street to be designed,” said Gray, who has worked as an FSI intern for the past three years. “Basically we throw block parties and ask questions like: What if this was on your street? How would you feel?” FSI staff facilitates community organizing, gathers and examines information, and helps citizens understand how local government operates. “The model of engagement used by the Friendly Streets Initiative invites in those who feel left out of planning processes or who believe their input is sought for projects that are already a fait accompli,” Christiansen said in his article, “The Friendly Streets Initiative: Bringing Community Voices into the Planning Process.” Christiansen writes that this groundbreaking work has unearthed lessons for successful community engagement, including bringing multiple voices into the mix before formal planning is underway; creating community engagement events that are fun, family-friendly, and easy to access; helping neighbors navigate formal city processes; and using multiple methods to garner input. Through their work in the classroom and out in the community, a new generation of Augsburg College students is prepared to leave its mark on American cities and to steward the world’s resources well into the future. Learn more about the Friendly Streets Initiative and model used at friendlystreetsinitiative.org. Spring 2015 19 USING MUSIC’S POWER TO SOOTHE AND INSPIRE COMPILED BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA In addition to regularly composing music for Twin Cities companies including Theater Latté Da, Stages Theater Company, and Wonderlust, Aaron Gabriel ’99 serves as resident composer for Interact Theater. Interact is a radically inclusive theater company that creates new musical theater for performers with and without disabilities, and Gabriel is committed to ensuring that each production is shaped by and for the performers. This winter, he took his expertise on the road—spending a month in Chiang Mai collaborating with Interact Thailand and the children it serves. “We’ve created many new scenes and many new songs for The Love Show—a show about all the different ways we find love in life … We decided to write The Love Show because one of our performances falls on Valentine’s Day (a very popular holiday in Thailand). The songs and stories will all deal with different kinds of love: romantic love, love of friends and family, love of singing, love of disabilities, love of food.” Thematically, the show resonates with nearly all audiences, but the cast and crew greatly anticipate one special attendee. In July, the children will perform an excerpt of the show for Her Majesty the Princess of Thailand, who will be visiting the hospital that houses Interact Thailand for its grand opening, “so it’s important,” Gabriel said, “that the songs and scenes really showcase the stories and talents of these unique performers.” Comments are from Gabriel’s blog chronicling his work with the Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the hospital that houses Interact Thailand. aarongabrielcomposer.com 20 Augsburg Now Photo courtesy of amyandersonphotography.com AUGGIE VOICES #MLKConvocation @AugsburgCollege. Lovely! Thank you @JamarEsaw for fillin’ my spirit. And … wow, #AmaniWard is only 15! Lordy. -Tweeted by community member Noreen Bulmann after the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation MUSIC MOVES US. It makes us smile, dance, cry, remember. Like Augsburg alumnus Jamar Esaw ’05, whose choral ensemble, Triad:4Christ, performed at the College this past Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Auggies are sharing their musical gifts with their communities and the world. Conie Borchardt ’98 founded Grace Notes hospice choir, a group that sings to people in hospice care at Twin Cities nursing homes, and co-created the Arts Responding to Foreclosure (ARF) project, which, she says, creates a community for people experiencing foreclosure—turning an isolating experience into a supportive one. Music, Borchardt says, transforms us and changes us from the inside out. She has witnessed music’s power to unite and soothe—both performers and audiences—during times of financial challenge and even in a person’s final hours. “We have been blessed with so many meaningful moments … We sang for a gentleman who seemed at peace, though his breathing was labored. We sang to him about journeys. Later we would find out that he completed his earthly journey about 24-hours later. “And then there are the stories we could tell you about other second-hand listeners! … Some non-hospice residents spontaneously decide to join our band of singers on rounds to the amusement of the nursing staff. Oh, and the staff smiles we see. Some are coy and some are gratefully enlightened for the service we provide. It is like watching the sunrise change your mood!” “There are times in life when I am absolutely certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that music, singing, movement, and dancing are how we heal ourselves,” said Nicole Warner ’01, an Augsburg College alumna whose major in music performance prepared her for life as an independent artist and professional ensemble singer. In 2011, Warner had the opportunity to sing the Mozart Requiem in a United We Stand concert marking the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Opportunities like this one remind Warner why the joy she feels while singing is only a small part of the performance’s real impact. It’s the audience, she says, who are truly benefiting. “Most of the time, I think of the beauty of the people sitting in front of me, and I wonder at their ability to take in the music, to restore their souls, to be filled by and to fill up with the music,” she explained. “Time gets lost, and we all get lost in the music together.” Comments are from the 2011 “To Sing is to Heal” blog post regarding Warner’s participation in the 2011 United We Stand concert. nicolewarner.com/blog Photo courtesy of Karen Nichols Photography, knicholsphoto.com Quotations are from the Points of Light Music blog written by Borchardt. pointsoflightmusic.blogspot.com Photo courtesy of Intermedia Arts To learn more about Auggies at the intersection of career and composition, go to augsburg.edu/now. Spring 2015 21 PA S S I N G O N A Augsburg College volleyball finds success on 40th anniversary of historic season This fall, the Augsburg College women’s volleyball team qualified for the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the second straight year, an achievement that marked its reemergence as a regional powerhouse. Recent team successes—which include back-to-back co-conference championship seasons and several All-American honors—hearken back to the achievements of Augsburg’s earliest volleyball teams. THE FIRST FEW YEARS Archival Photos Augsburg launched its varsity volleyball program in 1972 when students Nancy Soli Mollner ’75, Marilyn Pearson Florian ’76, and Cindy Schendel ’76 walked into the office of Athletic Director Joyce Anderson Pfaff ’65 to ask about joining Augsburg’s volleyball team. Anderson Pfaff didn’t have the heart to tell The Augsburg College women’s volleyball team during the 1974-75 season. 22 Augsburg Now Photos b y John N icholso n AUGGIES ON THE COURT The Augsburg College women’s volleyball team earned Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season co-champion honors during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. the passionate students that there was no team at the time, so she created one on the spot. Augsburg’s first volleyball players proved their sport was to become a staple in Auggie athletics, and in 1973 the College hired star coach Mary Timm. The next year, the volleyball team earned a perfect 8-0 record at home. While there were 14 women on the roster during the 1974 season, six Auggies played nearly every minute of the regular season and did, in fact, play every minute of the postseason. The Auggies completed the regular season with a 15-4 record, which earned them a spot in the Minnesota Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women State Tournament, where teams competed against one another regardless of their schools’ sizes or types. After beating Concordia-St. Paul, Bemidji State, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the Auggies faced the No. 1 seeded University of Minnesota in the finals. Soli—a setter and team captain—dislocated her thumb in the first game, but adrenaline allowed her to continue to play, ensuring that the Auggies could maintain the offensive strategy they had in place all season. Augsburg didn’t win the tournament, but its secondplace finish secured a bid to participate in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Region 6 Tournament at the University of Nebraska. However, there was one more obstacle to overcome: the team was ineligible to participate because of an issue with its AIAW membership. Anderson Pfaff was determined to remedy the issue, so she and Soli filed a complaint with the District of Minnesota fourth court. After the Auggies successfully argued their case, United States District Judge Miles Lord allowed Augsburg to participate in the regional tournament, but his ruling was made just one day before the tournament was set to begin. When they got the news, the Auggie crew jumped in vans and drove all night, arriving in Lincoln, Neb., at 3 a.m. only to find that there was no place to stay due to a Nebraska-Oklahoma football game that weekend. At the regional competition, the underdog Auggies ended up playing 10 matches in only three days and earned a fourth-place finish—the best finish for an Auggie volleyball team until its NCAA tournament appearances in 1982, 2013, and 2014. TODAY’S PLAYERS Augsburg College volleyball alumnae from across the past four decades continue to support the talented students who take to the court in Si Melby gymnasium each fall. Alumnae involvement ranges from cheering in the stands to encouraging the young women as they venture out into their careers and callings after college. Current Head Coach Jane Becker, a two-time MIAC and Region Coach of the Year, sees firsthand the ways that those from the College’s past help uplift its future. “Being a part of rebuilding the Auggie volleyball program has truly been a remarkable experience,” Becker said. “I am so blessed to work with such a talented group of studentathletes and to be so supported by an amazing group of Auggie alumnae.” BY KELLY ANDERSON DIERCKS Spring 2015 23 U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, spoke to a sold-out crowd at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. He discussed the need to protect the rights of women and girls, setting the stage for further discussion on the last day of the Forum, which was International Women’s Day. NOBEL PURSUITS BY STEPHEN GEFFRE AND LAURA SWANSON 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum This spring, the 27th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum embraced a new, interactive approach in fulfilling its charge to inspire peacemaking. Even before opening its doors to audiences from March 6-8 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Minneapolis, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum encouraged Augsburg College community members— and citizens across the globe—to share the ways they promote peace in their daily lives. In 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum was founded by five Norwegian-American colleges under the auspices of the Norwegian Nobel Institute to inspire peacemaking by exploring the work of Nobel Laureates and international peace builders. According to Gina Torry, executive director of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, the event also has the power to change the dialogue around peace by uplifting the important roles all people play in fostering a more just, amiable, and nonviolent world. Using a common theme, #peaceitforward, individuals spanning generations and continents shared in social media how their actions positively shape the present and the future. The “#peaceitforward [campaign] was not just about the prevention of conflict but the promulgation of good,” Torry said. The campaign uplifted “the idea that you can be an ordinary person and still do something extraordinary, which is a powerful message that the Laureates send.” This year’s Forum concentrated on the work of 2013 Nobel Laureate The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and also featured former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the 2002 Nobel Laureate who presented, “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power.” The Forum welcomed more than 1,000 attendees, known as delegates, during its three days and invited these individuals to join in the important work of peacemaking—a task that aligns with Augsburg’s own identity and role in educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. View #peaceitforward images, read comments, see additional event photos, watch featured presentations, or learn more about the Forum at augsburg.edu/now. 24 Augsburg Now INSPIRING PEACE 1 Former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland [at left] stops to chat with Nobel Peace Prize Forum delegates after her speech on human rights and democracy. 1 2 Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü [at right], a representative of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, speaks with Minnesota Public Radio host Tom Crann about demilitarization and the destruction of chemical weapons. 4 3 An ensemble of Native American women sings on International Women’s Day to honor and raise awareness of those Native American women who are victims of violence. 4 The closing presenter at the Forum, Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, co-founder of the International Civil Society Action Network, calls for greater participation by women in global conflict management and peace building. 2 Arvol Looking Horse, who is the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and a spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations, offers closing comments on the second day of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Rev. Mark Hanson ’68, Imam Muhammad Ashafa, and Pastor James Movel Wuye [L to R] share a laugh during their panel discussion at the Forum. Ashafa and Wuye are featured in a 2006 film, “The Imam and the Pastor,” which is a story about forgiveness and grass roots peace initiatives. Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow [at right] participates in the dearworld.me portrait project by having words of peace written on his arms. Robert X. Fogarty, founder of dearworld.me, brought his internationally renowned project to the Forum to help participants share their messages of hope and peace. HOST SPONSOR LEAD ACADEMIC PARTNERS DIALOGUE SPONSORS PEACE BUILDERS DELEGATE SPONSORS THANK YOU SPONSORS ALUMNI NEWS FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, I was connected to Augsburg as a student working in the admissions office, as a resident assistant, and even after college. But there’s something that comes with age, time, and distance that really makes me appreciate the Augsburg that I continue to be involved with today. When I began to connect with fellow Auggies and eventually the Alumni Board, my connections to the College were enriched, and they continue to grow. Augsburg has grown, too. It’s exciting to see the ways in which the College has become larger—not only with new buildings and faculty, but through an energetic and engaged commitment to the city and the community—in both programs and leadership. Augsburg is thriving, and this growth makes me so proud to call myself an Auggie. In honor of Augsburg’s sesquicentennial in 2019, the College is embracing a vision for its future that is both bold and rooted in values that are uniquely Augsburg. Focusing on where the College wants to be in 2019, the Augsburg Board of Regents and President Paul C. Pribbenow engaged the College community in creating a strategic vision statement that includes three aspirational dimensions: the College will educate for lives of purpose, be at the table with our neighbors and partners, and be built for the future. I believe my education at Augsburg prepared me for the future. When I see what’s happening at Augsburg today— and what’s planned—I know the College’s future is bright. Augsburg today is a place that calls many to the table to participate in the life of the College. The time I first heard about the Center for Science, Business, and Religion, I may have wondered how all these disciplines would work together in the same space. I have come to know that this building represents the future, and its interdisciplinary emphasis is deeply Augsburg. It is a demonstration of the College’s vision to work with its community, to embrace the world, and to prepare its students for the future. Today’s students know Augsburg as a place where faith, service, and learning intersect. It is a College we can be proud of, and I know I want to help build an Augsburg that continues to generate pride and equip graduates for the world in which we live. The outstanding scholarship and research being done by our faculty and students deserve to take place in a facility whose quality and capability match their exceptional work. I want to be a part of preparing for that future. The interdisciplinary emphasis of the CSBR will match the world that today’s graduates enter and will truly demonstrate Augsburg is a sustainable and vital force for educating future generations. As you’ll see on the inside of the back cover of this magazine, we can all be part of building that future for Augsburg by buying a brick that will be a part of this important new building. Won’t you join me in helping Augsburg build for the future? Sincerely, CHRIS HALLIN ’88, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT HOMECOMING 2015 MARK YOUR CALENDARS OCTOBER 5–10 augsburg.edu/homecoming OCTOBER Spring 2015 27 ALUMNI NEWS IN FEBRUARY, Augsburg wrestling alumni celebrated the championship teams from 1975, 1985, 1995, and 2005 in the College’s Kennedy Center with a Reunion of the 5s. Teams from these class years exhibited exemplary accomplishments both on and off the mat, and their successes represent four of Augsburg wrestling’s record 32 MIAC Championship teams and two of the College’s record 11 NCAA DIII National Championship teams. Former teammates and wrestling alumni from all classes gathered to hear coaches and managers Jim Moulsoff and Tony Valek ’12, and Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 share memories and laughs about the incredible talents from these four wrestling classes. The crowd of wrestling legends, families, friends, and current Auggies cheered at the Battle of the ’Burgs competition as Augsburg took on longstanding rival, Wartburg College, on the elevated stage. Despite a packed house of enthusiastic supporters, Wartburg took the victory. The two teams battled for the newly created Swens-Millboy Championship Belt. The belt is named in honor of Augsburg’s Jeff Swenson (nickname: Swens) and Wartburg’s Jim Miller Mike Fuenffinger ’15 opened this year’s Battle of the ’Burgs match. 28 Augsburg Now (nickname: Millboy), the head coaches who led these teams to power. Both men won 10 national team championships as head coaches and now, retired from coaching, are active in supporting their winning wrestling programs. The belt will travel with the previous year’s winner to the duel each year and will be engraved with the score and the winning team. Scores from previous years were engraved to mark the historic nature of this rivalry. As Auggies, we are proud to celebrate the history, legacy, stories, and success of four generations of Augsburg College wrestling. Future Auggies can become a part of the action with our 29th year of summer wrestling camps. Augsburg wrestling coaching staff and athletes supervise these camps, which serve a variety of ages. Learn more at augsburgwrestling.com. ALUMNI NEWS TORSTENSON LEGACY lives on through gifts Augsburg alumni shaped and inspired by Professor Emeritus Joel Torstenson, known as the College’s “father of sociology,” have contributed more than $180,000 to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion to honor the legacy of the man who greatly influenced their Auggie experience. Torstenson, who died in 2007 at age 94, was well known for his advocacy for civil rights and social services. His decades-long legacy is being extended and honored through generous gifts to name a hall for him in the new CSBR. One alumnus central to the effort to honor Torstenson is the Rev. Herb Chilstrom ’54, the ELCA’s first presiding bishop. Chilstrom, who grew up in Litchfield, Minn., said being a student in Torstenson’s class opened his eyes to justice issues and pulled him from his comfort zone. Then, as today, the College’s location in the city was an asset to its faculty and students. Torstenson’s impassioned teaching and perspective on civil rights inspired Chilstrom years later to fight for the rights of gay and lesbian people. “Dr. Torstenson impacted me not only during my student years but throughout the rest of my life,” Chilstrom said. “He taught that if you are a Christian, you need to face the problems of the world and be out on the front lines, even if it makes you unpopular.” Torstenson challenged students to confront the world’s problems by engaging directly with individuals. It seems only fitting, then, that Augsburg’s proposed CSBR pay tribute to Torstenson’s influence on generations of people, including the Chilstroms and another family with deep roots in the College: U.S. Rep. Martin Olav ’59 and Sylvia Sabo. “Clearly, people like Joel have an impact on what you think and who you are,” said Rep. Sabo, who spent 46 years serving his state and country as an elected official. Rep. Sabo’s Augsburg connection never waned. He served on the Board of Regents from 1973 to 1984, and daughters—Julie ’90, a former state senator, and Karin ’86— are also Auggies. The Sabos share enthusiasm that the CSBR will be a great addition to campus. “The facilities need to keep up with the quality of the faculty,” Rep. Sabo said. Combining three disciplines in one facility, the Sabos believe, is a unique and positive step for the College, which has long embraced interdisciplinary and experiential education. The Sabos also marvel at the lifelong friendships that evolved from Martin’s undergraduate experience, and the couple remains close to Torstenson’s widow, Fran. “I’m always amazed at Augsburg,” Sylvia Sabo said. “I think so much good comes out of it, and Martin had such a great four years there. I think its size and location give it a specialness that a lot of colleges don’t have.” CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION JOEL AND FRANCES TORSTENSON CORRIDOR This space will be provided through the generosity of Norman ’59 and Delores Berg Richard ’78 and Linda Bonlender Herbert W. ’54 and E. Corinne Chilstrom Joel ’61 and Yvonne “Bonnie” ’62 Egertson Harold Hansen ’52 Garry Hesser and Nancy Homans Lowell O. Larson ’47 Steven ’64 and Rebecca ’65 Nielsen Martin ’59 and Sylvia Lee Sabo Allan Torstenson ’75 and Frances Homans Beth Torstenson ’66 Gale ’59 and Barbara Torstenson Linnea Torstenson Lyndon Torstenson ’78 Robert ’65 and Sylvia ’66 Torstenson Herb and Corinne Chilstrom pledged $30,000 to kick off the Torstenson corridor initiative. “Giving is a lot of fun,” Rev. Chilstrom said. “We have been blessed, and we like to share our blessings. Giving to the CSBR means I can say ‘thank you’ to Dr. Torstenson for the major impact he had on my life, and maybe, by example, we can encourage others to do likewise.” If you are interested in donating to the CSBR or honoring Torstenson with a gift, contact Doug Scott at 612-330-1575 or scottd@augsburg.edu. Spring 2015 29 ALUMNI NEWS AUGGIES CONNECT on campus and throughout their careers Building connections, facilitating networking opportunities, and supporting students and graduates keeps the Alumni Board and Alumni Relations engaged with inspiring Auggies year-round. Thanks to those who attended the annual Alumni Board-sponsored Auggie Networking Event, a reception that welcomed nearly 150 alumni and more than 100 current students for an evening of networking, conversation, career pointers, and speakers who shared their stories of finding success after graduation. Among the speakers were Tina Nguyen ’08, small business project analyst for U.S. Bank, and Greg Schnagl ’91, former educator and founder, TeacherCentricity. The event was a partnership with the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work, which assists students in discovering their vocation; offers career and internship tips; and helps students with interviewing skills, resume building, and networking. The Strommen Center also seeks to help companies recruit more Auggies. One company with a strong connection to Augsburg alumni is 3M. In January, Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow joined more than 100 Augsburg graduates now working at 3M for an alumni event coordinated by Alumni Board member Holly Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA. In addition to celebrating the amazing presence of Auggies in the Maplewood, Minn.-based company, the event honored Nicholas Gangestad ’86, who last summer was appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer at 3M. 3M also is a major donor to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion and a strong recruiting partner, hosting internships for Augsburg students and hiring Augsburg graduates. If you are interested in hosting an alumni gathering at your workplace, contact Sara Schlipp-Riedel ’06, director of Alumni Relations, at 612-330-1178 or schlipp@augsburg.edu. More than 200 Augsburg College students and alumni attended the 2015 Auggie Networking Event. New Volunteer and Alumni Engagement Manager Katie Radford ’12 joined the Augsburg Alumni and Family Relations team in January as the new volunteer and alumni engagement manager. In this role, she hopes to continue to provide meaningful opportunities for students, alumni, and friends to connect, give back, and thrive together as Auggies. Radford previously worked at Greater Twin Cities United Way, helping plan and execute corporate United Way campaigns dedicated to community outreach, volunteerism, and community giving. She is excited to be back at Augsburg to continue those initiatives in the College’s community. If you are interested in volunteering, mentoring, or serving in a volunteer leadership role, email her at radford@augsburg.edu. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE All over campus and in corporate communities, Auggies are connecting and sharing their insight and expertise. There are many ways to support current students and recent graduates as they move between classroom and career. No matter your position—whether you’re navigating a career change or looking to bring more Auggies into your workplace—Augsburg programs can help. As alumni, you are invited to share your career expertise, interests, and life experience with Augsburg students. One way to do this is through the mentorship program Augsburg Builds Connections. Learn how to get started in this program by contacting Katie Radford, volunteer and alumni engagement manager, at volunteer@augsburg.edu. To learn more about helping Auggies succeed or to take advantage of career planning services and graduate school information, contact the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work at 612-330-1148 or careers@augsburg.edu. ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1951 John Garland lives in St. Paul and has fond memories of his time as sports editor for the Echo, including the rare time he covered a meeting of the Augsburg Women’s Club. He recently shared a couple of his columns with Augsburg Now. In his final column, he handed the reins to Richie Howells ’52 and paid tribute to fellow writers. 1953 Edmund Youngquist first remembers being drawn to Augsburg in 1945. Augsburg’s choir put on a concert at Calvary Lutheran Church in Mora, Minn., and soloist Evelyn (Amundson) Sonnack Halverson ’43 became a never-to-beforgotten memory. “At Augsburg,” he writes, “I roomed in Memorial Hall with Jerry Elness ’54 and Wally Hanson ’54. An occasional visit to our suite was from blond, blue-eyed Herb Chilstrom ’54.” After graduation, Youngquist graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and was ordained in 1958. His daughter, Margaret “Grit” Youngquist ’79, went on to become a president of the American Lutheran Church Luther League. His cousin, Beverly Gustafson, is married to Professor Emeritus of History Donald “Gus” Gustafson. 1956 Richard Thorud, who lives in Bloomington, Minn., with his wife, Darlene, was recently named Toro’s most prolific inventor for its first 100 years. He has 80 Toro patents and worked for Toro for 34 years before retiring in 2000 as a senior principal research engineer. He was inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame in 2011 and was named a Distinguished Alumnus at Augsburg in 2009. 1957 of the Ashford University Faculty Senate, the governing body for 250+ full-time instructors and more than 2,000 adjunct faculty. 1974 Kenneth D. Holmen was named president and CEO for CentraCare Health. Holmen, who is a medical doctor and has served as vice president of physician strategies and business development for HealthPartners, took leadership of CentraCare in January. Stanley Baker was recognized as the Counselor Educator of the Year by the North Carolina School Counselor Association at its annual conference in November. He is employed as a professor of counselor education at North Carolina State University. In the summer of 2014, Stan Nelson ’43 won a gold medal at the Minnesota Senior Olympics, shooting a 47 in the golf competition. In July 2015, he will compete in the 95-99 age group at the National Senior State Games held in Bloomington, Minn. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. 1967 Dennis Miller and his wife, Christine, spent the fall semester on sabbatical at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. They are faculty members at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. 1972 Rob Engelson is completing 34 years of full-time college/university teaching and department chairing, including the past 20 years at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa. He recently rose to become chair Jerry Gerasimo used to take us karate guys to at the Cedar Theatre on the weekends. It was lots of fun marching around inside and outside the Student Center, playing my bagpipes during Augsburg College Day. I just want to say,” he added, “that Boyd Koehler was the very best boss a guy could ever have. He was an uncle, big brother, therapist, and encourager to me, and [he] had a wonderful dry sense of humor. God bless you, Boyd.” Mark S. Johnson ’75 and Allan Torstenson ’75 shape cities and build communities. See page 16. 1977 David Charles Friedman has fond memories of his stays in Urness and Mortensen towers and the delightful people he met during that time. He writes that he fondly remembers “the samurai movies that anthropology instructor and fellow karate-ka Neil Pauluk was a U.S. Infantry Army officer and later used the GI Bill to become a trial lawyer. He legally changed the spelling of his last name in 1978 to Paulson, for the convenience of others, and still goes by either last name. He set up a scholarship in his parents’ name at Augsburg and started a nonprofit organization, HelpTheVets.org. He writes that his Augsburg education paid off. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 1967 Sue Nelson was given the title of Community Hero for her 10+ years of service to the John Deere Classic. She has worked tirelessly to support other organizations, including the National Education Association, Missouri Valley – U.S. Tennis Association, and Special Olympics. She also has gone to Yale University and the University of North Carolina as Team Iowa tennis coach for the World Games. 1970 The newly released book, “Waters Like the Sky,” is a short adventure tale of a young voyageur and is authored by the late Agnes Peloquin Rajala and her daughter, Nikki Rajala (pictured), who are direct descendants of voyageurs, explorers, and fur traders. After Agnes passed away in October 2013, Nikki carried the legacy of the book forward, determined to share this historical adventure with readers. The story is steeped in the history of the French-Canadian voyageur journeys in the early 1800s in North America. To learn more about the book, visit nikkirajala.com. Nikki is available for interviews and presentations at schools, meetings, and other events. Spring 2015 31 Pauluk runs into Ron Robinson, also in Orlando, Fla., from time to time. “God has blessed me more than I can imagine. Good friends, good family, and good times. I ran marathons in each of the 50 states in 2010 to 2012. I am director of the Orlando Marathon each year. Look me up if you come to Orlando, The City Beautiful!” 1978 Arvella E. Edwards had a children’s book, “Town of Never Never,” published in May by Xlibris, ISBN #978-1-4931-1486-3. She is so excited and proud. Paula (Winchester) Palermo has moved to St. Charles Parish, La., and continues her work with the St. Charles Parish School System. Donadee (Melby) Peterson and husband, Tim ’76, will celebrate 20 years in business in 2015. Donadee is the president of their family company, SDG Computing, Inc. Tim, a graduate of Luther Seminary and an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, served two parishes full time until 1995 when he turned bi-vocational and started the 1979 Karla (Wiese) Miller was honored with the 2014 Minnesota Choral Director of the Year award. She is in her 21st year as fulltime music instructor/director of choral activities at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minn. At Augsburg, she received a bachelor’s degree in piano performance with a vocal music (K-12) certification. 1980 John Edwin Carlson is a lead chaplain at Redeemer Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis, which provides senior housing and health care in the spirit of Christ’s love. 1981 Carla (Isachsen) Kukkonen is working at Allina hospice as a medical social worker. 1989 Steven Torgerud is an assistant professor of life sciences at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, where he teaches neuroanatomy and biomechanics courses. His students have selected him “Teacher of the Year” three of the past four years. Justin Grammens ’96 presented “The Science of My Life and Career After Augsburg” in an AugSTEM seminar. He provided insight into current technology trends and advice on what employers are seeking from graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Grammens is a software architect and has been a business owner for the majority of his career. He is an engineering co-founder at Code42 Software where he is protecting the world’s data with high-performance hardware and easy-to-use software solutions. He enjoys family movie nights with his wife and two children. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. family business. He has since served as a part-time and fill-in pastor as well as chaplain in the Minnesota National Guard. He retired from the National Guard in 2012 after 28 years of service. Tim and Donadee have spent one or two months each year for the last three years in Drammen, Norway, where Tim has worked as a computer consultant for Conexus, a company that reports on all aspects of the Norwegian educational system. Their son, Nathan, also works for the business from Concord, Calif. 32 Augsburg Now Courtesy of Kelly Browne ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1990 Peter Morlock began serving a new call as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church and Lost Island Lutheran Church in western Iowa in February 2014. 1991 In September, Bill Koschak was appointed a vice president of the global internal audit division at General Mills. In this role, he will provide leadership and guidance to the global internal audit team and support the audit committee in executing its charter. 1981 Bev Benson was elected to the judgeship for the 4th Judicial District of Hennepin County, Minn., in November. Augsburg alumni supporting her campaign included former roommate Leeann Rock ’81, Brian Anderson ’81, Kristine Johnson ’81, Kristin Lehmann ’08, Peggy Larkin ’09, and Benson’s son, first-year student Robb Benson-Ernst ’18 (pictured), as well as Gaynelle (Webb) Buckland ’81, Fred Buckland ’81, Molly (Olson) Blomgren ’81, and Jim Blomgren ’81. Benson thanks her Auggie supporters, including Martin O. ’59 and Sylvia Sabo and professors Milda Hedblom, Norma Noonan, and Janelle Bussert. 1993 Heidi Staloch is now vice president and senior corporate counsel, managing U.S. Bank’s legal channel for default accounts nationwide. Heidi is an active alumni volunteer, serving as a member of AWE–Augsburg Women Engaged. 2010 John Ideen has been named executive chef at Covenant Village of Golden Valley, a continuing care retirement community in Golden Valley, Minn. In his new position, Ideen will manage dayto-day food operations for the 344-resident community, including casual and formal dining in the residential and assisted living, memory support, and health care settings. He is responsible for managing and training a kitchen staff of 65; creating innovative, healthful menus; and managing the community’s catering services. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1992 Terri Burnor is interning at the Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. 2005 Charles “Rusty” Brace graduated from Luther Seminary in May 2014. He is looking for a call somewhere in the Twin Cities area. Conie Borchardt ’98 transforms lives with song. See page 20. Bryan Ludwig ’08 is a head coach and general counsel for the PHD Baseball Club, LLC, which was created in 2009 by another Auggie, Brian Bambenek ’07, and two of his friends. The idea behind PHD—which stands for pitching, hitting, and defense—is for the coaches to share the love of baseball with and return value to participating athletes, training young men and giving them the tools they need to succeed on and off the field. Learn more at phdbaseball.us. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. Aaron Gabriel ’99 creates new musical theater for performers with disabilities. See page 20. 2000 In May 2014, Ann Staton received a master’s of English in technical communication from Minnesota State University Mankato. She accepted a oneyear visiting instructor appointment to teach technical communication during the 201415 academic year at Montana Tech of the University of Montana in Butte. Debbie Heard, a tax managing director for KPMG’s San Francisco office, was honored with Silicon Valley’s 40 Under 40 award. 2001 Sarah Grans is a new director of confirmation and youth ministry at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minn. Michael Reed has taken a new position with Robbinsdale (Minn.) Area Schools as a district behavior coordinator and focuses on reducing racial disproportionality in suspension rates. Nicole Warner ’01 gets lost in the music. See page 20. 2002 Christy Blake completed a master’s of urban planning from Virginia Tech’s Alexandria campus in 2007. She has been working in local government and economic development. She resides in Winchester, Va., in the Shenandoah Valley. Mark and Jessica (Bjurquist) ’06 Matzek announce the birth of their daughter, Natalie Violet, who arrived February 9, 2014. Dan Vogel started a new position as an inside sales/marketing specialist at the technical and outdoor apparel company, Storm Creek, based in Hastings, Minn. He’s excited to pair his passion for the outdoors and an active lifestyle with a new, exciting professional career at this up-and-coming organization. Jamar Esaw ’05 inspires members of Triad:4Christ. See page 4. 2006 Tyra (Jensen) Taylor is completing her graduate-level internship. She is working with elementary students needing mental health services. She plans to graduate in May 2015. 2007 Brett Cease began a doctoral program in public policy and political economy with an emphasis in sustainable development at the University of Texas-Dallas. Andrew L. Johnson is a manager of franchise recruiting and engagement at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., in Cleveland. Molly Shortall recently became engaged to Brian Kaszuba of Brooklyn, N.Y. She is a senior annual giving officer at Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center and also serves as one of the primary musicians for the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. 2009 Amber Davis is working as a moderator at the Zürich International Film Festival. Stephanie (Holman) Hubbard works as a music therapist for St. Paul Public Schools. She is attending St. Mary of the Woods College for a master’s in music therapy. 2010 Sylvia Bull is studying at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J., for Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian education degrees. Her anticipated graduation date is May 2015. She is a candidate for ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Gabriella Hamerlinck is a doctoral candidate in ecology at the University of Iowa. She is an alumna of Augsburg’s biology and mathematics departments, as well as the McNair Scholars and North Star STEM programs. In addition to Hamerlinck’s academic successes at Augsburg, she was a two-sport athlete who participated in soccer and track. Sara Kaiser ’08, a social worker for Rice County, Minn., has seen first-hand the need for daily support for single moms. In addition to helping families, she convinced the mayor of Northfield, Minn., to designate a month for “Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness,” and she has worked in collaboration to create a young moms’ support group. She interned at the Northfield Women’s Center and worked at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. She has found her life’s calling and is pursuing a master’s of social work from the University of Southern California. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. Spring 2014 2015 Fall 2014 17 33 37 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Michael Hamm has accepted a position with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota. He has been an officer with the Department of Public Safety at Augsburg for the past several years, and he will move to oncall status with DPS. Grant Rostad is employed with Best Buy for Business as an account manager. He also is a licensed certified public accountant. 2011 Kate Edelen is a legislative associate on climate and conflict for the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington, D.C. Edelen submitted a letter on climate change to the editor of The New York Times, which was published in October. 2012 Joseph Fahnhorst was promoted to vice president of a payments application at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Fed, with one branch in Helena, Mont., serves six states in the Ninth Federal Reserve District: Minnesota, Montana, North and South Dakota, 26 counties in northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 2013 Since graduating, Alex Bennett has gotten married and had a beautiful baby, Layla. He graduated with a degree in music business and has accepted a position at Mystic Lake Casino in the entertainment department. Kayla Johnson is in medical school at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Rachel Rixen graduated from the American University of Paris with a master’s in cultural translation. 2014 Janelle Holte has a new job as a marketing and communications coordinator at the University of Minnesota. After a summer internship with Dart Transit, which is owned and operated by Don ’53 and Bev ’55 Oren, Mike Schumacher landed a position as a fleet leader with Transit America. Anne Skriba is happy to share the news that she is employed at Bemidji State University as an assistant women’s basketball coach. Lani (Langanki) Hollenbeck ’77, ’11 MAN is a staff nurse in an infant care center at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in St. Paul. She was named 2014 Nurse of the Year by March of Dimes Minnesota, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics, and Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine. “We do not get to rock babies all day long,” she said of her care team. “We’re very like-minded in focusing on the developmental needs of infants.” From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. Katia Iverson celebrated two years at Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services in February 2015. She recently was promoted to a case manager position. Kim (Saukkola) Simmonds is an executive director at the MonDak Heritage Center in Sidney, Mont., and is completing a master’s degree in public and nonprofit administration at Metropolitan State University. 34 Augsburg Now Through bridge program funding for research and extra assistance, Enrico Barrozo is preparing for a doctoral program at the University of Georgia. Maya Sutton has accepted a special education teaching position for the 2014-15 school year at Fraser Academy, a charter school in Minneapolis. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Rebecca (Johnson) Koelln ’76, ’91 MAL has been named director of leadership development and senior consultant for Learning Sciences International. LSI is a learning and performance management company focused on continuous improvement at all levels of the system. Tom Driscoll ’07 MBA was featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune as one of the construction industry’s “Movers and Shakers” due to his work as partner and vice president of business development at the Minneapolis office of Big-D Construction. Chris Wolf ’09 MAN recently became a nurse manager for Ask Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Physician Assistant Kelly Kleven ’10 MPA joined the hospitalist department at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minn. Kleven is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Lori (Langager) Higgins ’94, ’12 MAL was appointed to the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission by Gov. Mark Dayton. Since 2010, she has been the president of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce, which is the fourthlargest chamber in the Twin Cities metro area. She lives in Blaine, Minn., with her husband and two children. In September, Carmen (Crockett) Williams ’12 MBA accepted a position as director of business development at Mediaspace Solutions in Hopkins, Minn. Carmen and her husband, John (who works in mortgages and finance), recently purchased a home in Burnsville, Minn. Christine Dawson ’13 MSW was featured on the cover of the Regions Hospital Foundation newsletter for her outstanding work with the HeroCare Program for veterans at Regions Hospital. Dawson, who is herself a veteran, coordinates services and advocates for patients in Regions Hospital’s mental health programs. ARE YOU AN AUGGIE IN PUBLIC SERVICE? Whether you are serving as an elected, appointed, or volunteer official, we would love to hear from you! Submit a Class Note, and we’ll enter you into a raffle to win an Augsburg College swag bag to display your Auggie pride at work. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 1998 Kaydee Kirk and Peter Spuit welcomed Paul Johann Spuit, who was born May 27, 2014, and joins 3-year-old sister, Miriam. 2005 Ellen (Kvitek) Saj and her husband, Nathan, welcomed their second child, Hazel Christine, at home on April 26, 2014. Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300 ppi or a 1 MB file.) For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni/connect. ______________________________________________________ Full name ______________________________________________________ Maiden name ______________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ______________________________________________________ Street address ______________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP code Is this a new address? q Yes q No ______________________________________________________ Home telephone ______________________________________________________ Email 2011 Korri (Yule) Corrigan married Joshua Corrigan on December 13 in Hoversten Chapel at Augsburg College. Okay to publish your email address? q Yes q No ______________________________________________________ Employer ______________________________________________________ Position ______________________________________________________ Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No If yes, class year___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable) 2011 Jessica (Hilk) Kociemba and Joel Kociemba celebrated their marriage with Auggies Amy Opsal ’12, Katie (Christensen) Beadell ’11, Laura (Harms) Faruq ’09, Katelyn Berens ’14, Amanda Rueb ’09, Jamila Lee ’13, Korri (Yule) Corrigan ’11, Colleen Ourada ’14, Julie Jenkins ’09, Denielle Johnson ’11, Amanda Unze, and Morgan Baumgarten ’14. Your news: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Spring 2014 Spring 2015 17 35 In memoriam Nellie I. (Thorud) Blake ’38, Barron, Wis., age 98, on October 16. Edward M. Alberg ’50, Minnetonka, Minn., age 87, on September 22. Albert S. Olson ’40, Amery, Wis., age 97, on November 7. Delphine J. (Jensen) Bakke ’50, Hendricks, Minn., age 85, on November 30. Maynard Bahre ’41, San Francisco, Calif., age 97, on January 14, 2014. Mark C. Thorpe ’56, Kirkwood, Mo., age 80, on October 30. Birgit E. Birkeland ’58, Minneapolis, age 87, on October 23. Elizabeth V. Koenig ’72, Minneapolis, age 91, on December 2. Julia C. Blixrud ’76, Lawrence, Kan., age 59, on October 29. Sylvia A. (Moe) Overlund ’59, Portland, Ore., age 90, on October 26. Dennis C. Callahan ’82, Grand Rapids, Minn., age 55, on December 22. Louise A. (Heydenreich) Swenson ’60, Princeton, Minn., age 89, on October 7. Wendy J. (Miller) Johnson ’90, Sanford, N.C., age 58, on August 22. Gail W. Castor ’61, Redwood Falls, Minn., age 83, on September 16. Eric H. Peterson ’91, Minneapolis, age 45, on November 19. George O. Johnson ’61, Pequot Lakes, Minn., age 77, on December 4. Kathleen M. (McCullough) Zander ’91, ’04 MAN, Minneapolis, age 54, on October 2. Robert M. Sletta ’51, Dayton, N.J., age 86, on September 27. Richard “Dick” “Pork Chops” M. Thompson ’61, Long Lake, Minn., age 74, on September 11. Sarah (Christiansen) Schuck ’95, Hager City, Wis., age 64, on November 29. Dayel M. Olson ’44, Storden, Minn., age 87, on October 11. Warren C. Nelson ’52, Buffalo, Minn., age 86, on July 7. Richard L. Strand ’66, Mayville, N.D., age 70, on December 1. Peter A. Lokkesmoe ’47, Elgin, Ill., age 90, on March 20. Elwood Nestvold ’52, Houston, Texas, age 81, on January 11, 2014. Dale L. Strom ’66, Venice, Fla., age 71, on October 24. Sandra “Sandy” S. (Hawley) Hamann ’00, Fredericksburg, Iowa, age 58, on October 23. Mildred I. (Krinke) Sandel ’42, North Mankato, Minn., age 94, on September 9. John R. Bergeron ’43, Detroit Lakes, Minn., age 93, on October 12. Floyd J. G. Rodmyre ’43, Eden Prairie, Minn., age 92, on September 17. Verona A. (Woyke) Blasing ’44, Mankato, Minn., age 89, on October 7. Christine M. (Westman) Behrend ’48, Manistique, Mich., age 88, on October 29. Rona B. (Quanbeck) Emerson ’48, Kenyon, Minn., age 90, on November 1. Anna M. (Strand) Olson ’49, Amery, Wis., age 88, on September 10. 36 Augsburg Now LaVerne “Lu” A. (Gothe) Engelstad ’50, Moorhead, Minn., age 86, on October 16. Sylvia R. (Kleven) Hanson ’50, Big Lake, Minn., age 86, on November 7. Ann B. (Spencer) Zaudtke ’50, Meadows Place, Texas, age 86, on October 5. Luella (Neumann) Hanson ’51, Phoenix, Ariz., age 90, on August 15. Orville B. Walters ’52, Minnetonka, Minn., age 89, on November 29. Marlys P. (Stock) Giese ’53, Morris, Minn., age 83, on September 15. Wayne G. Steinbrecker ’55, Princeton, Minn., age 82, on November 2. Paul W. Frank ’69, Brooklyn Park, Minn., age 66, on September 18. Jeffrey T. Kosse ’70, Minneapolis, age 67, on September 16. Arnold “Bud” M. Rader ’71, Minneapolis, age 69, on December 23. Nancy J. Mohs ’08, Lakeville, Minn., age 46, on October 30. Professor Emeritus Henry Follingstad, Arden Hills, Minn., age 92, on October 1. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before January 10. THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION HELP BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE AUGGIES Read about the $10 million gift to name the new building on the inside front cover. Briana Alamilla ’17 Marketing major Buy a Brick. Build a Legacy. A ugsburg College invites you to join your fellow alumni and participate in the Buy a Brick, Build a Legacy program. When you buy a brick, you are doing your part to help make Augsburg’s newest academic building, the Center for Science, Business, and Religion, a reality. The CSBR will replace the existing 60-year-old Science Hall and bring together academic disciplines that refle
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2015: Building For The Future
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: BUILDING INSIDE Faculty-student research duo Auggie brews up a business The changing face of Auggies Commencement memories FOR THE FUTURE SUMMER 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 3 AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of News an...
Show more BUILDING INSIDE Faculty-student research duo Auggie brews up a business The changing face of Auggies Commencement memories FOR THE FUTURE SUMMER 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 3 AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW A college that is student ready The 2014-15 academic year—the 146th in Augsburg’s history—was a very good year for the College. National honors for students. Awards for faculty teaching, research, and advising. The successful completion of the $50 million campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion, and the early preparation work on the construction site. Important conversations on and off campus about interfaith living, race relations, demographic trends, and diversity. Remarkable outreach programs like the Minnesota Urban Debate League and Campus Kitchen receiving major support for their important work. A national wrestling championship! And so much, much more. Reflecting on these accomplishments, I am so grateful for all our faculty and staff do for this special college and its students. But I also realize that these achievements are made possible by an increasingly clear vision of our future that says we will be “a new kind of student-centered urban university, small to our students and big for the world.” And the fruit of our labors is made possible by our common efforts to live into this vision and our shared commitment to an Augsburg education that equips our students for lives of meaning, purpose, and significance in and for the world. That is what truly excites me about Augsburg’s future—a persuasive vision that proclaims our desire to be a college that is student-ready! What do I mean by student-ready? I mean that we are turning 21st century higher education on its head by not focusing on whether students are “college-ready.” You’ve probably read and heard that phrase many times. Demanding that students are college-ready allows lots of smart people to claim that the responsibility belongs elsewhere when it comes to ensuring that students show up on our campuses prepared by someone else for what we think a higher education should look like. If students aren’t able to read or speak English as well as we would like, if their math skills are lacking, if they don’t participate in class like we once did, if they demand more of us because of difficult personal circumstances or diverse learning and leading styles, then they are not ready for college. In other words, if they don’t learn and behave like us, they are not college-ready. So here comes Augsburg offering a different— even countercultural—vision of what higher education is all about today. And it is a vision grounded in our faith and academic heritage. It is a vision that claims we are called to be ready for students with the diverse gifts and experiences they bring to our campus, gifts and experiences that demand changes in how we engage them, teach them, and learn from them. It doesn’t mean that we lower our standards—that is the too-easy retort to our vision. It means that we define and claim even higher standards of academic excellence and achievement, of teaching and learning, of civic engagement and community life—standards shaped not by measures imposed from without, but by a collaborative and democratic measure borne of our shared experience and engagement. And, come to find out, when you take the path of being student-ready, when you quit measuring by someone else’s standards, you begin to witness to a way of being in the world as educated people that others want to embrace. And students and faculty win major recognition, your campaigns are successful, and you are positioned to lead in the 21st century. Wow, that is exciting and inspiring. I give thanks every day for a community that embraces this vision of a college that is student-ready and student-centered. A college that is faithful and relevant. Our college—Augsburg College! PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Director of Marketing Communication Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu Communication Copywriter and Editorial Coordinator Laura Swanson ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Creative Associate Denielle Johnson ’11 johnsod@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter Christina Haller haller@augsburg.edu Production Manager/Now Online Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Advancement Communication Specialist Jen Lowman Day dayj@augsburg.edu augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 now@augsburg.edu Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu summer 2015 AUGSBURG NOW Features 02 08 11 18 22 Ahead of the curve BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA Commencement memories BY LAURA SWANSON ’15 MBA Making their mark BY STEPHANIE WEISS Departments inside front cover Notes from President Pribbenow 02 Around the Quad 08 Celebrating student success 14 18 14 Auggie voices 20 It takes an Auggie 26 My Auggie experience 28 Alumni news 34 Alumni class notes 38 In memoriam 22 26 On the cover A photo illustration depicts what the future Center for Science, Business, and Religion will look like from Urness Tower; see pages 20-21. Photo illustration by Mark Chamberlain. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. Correction: In the Spring 2015 issue of Augsburg Now, the names of donors Richard Bonlender ’78 and Mary Ahern were listed incorrectly in the article “Torstenson legacy lives on through gifts,” which described an initiative to name a gathering space for Faculty Emeritus of Sociology Joel Torstenson in the new Center for Science, Business, and Religion. AROUND THE QUAD PUTTING MINNEAPOLIS IN THE SPOTLIGHT This spring, hundreds of prospective Augsburg College students and their families visited campus as part of “Destination: Augsburg,” an event designed to offer a glimpse into on-campus life. The event also included guided excursions to well-known attractions in the heart of Minneapolis including Target Field, Nicollet Mall, and the State Theatre [above]. MINNESOTA URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE adds first-ever Somali Debate Initiative The Minnesota Urban Debate League—a program of Augsburg College—sponsored the first debate in the state among Somali youth. The Somali Debate Initiative serves middle- and high-school students from Minneapolis and St. Paul. A community forum featuring U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison followed the debate. MNUDL also hosted four Spanish tournaments throughout the Twin Cities, which helps make debate more accessible to Spanish-speaking communities. In May, MNUDL hosted its third Mayor’s Challenge fundraiser. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman; Donald Lewis, co-founder and shareholder of Nilan Johnson Lewis in Minneapolis; and Barb Schmitt, senior director at Microsoft, served as judges. The event raised $18,500 plus $3,000 in matching grants from the Pohlad Foundation. 2 Augsburg Now Keynote speaker and debate judge Ilhan Omar encourages Somali Debate Initiative guests to pursue college degrees. AROUND THE QUAD A TEACHER’S INFLUENCE NEVER ENDS Each year, the Augsburg College faculty recognizes select colleagues with Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards—acknowledging those who have demonstrated outstanding support for students through teaching, advising, and mentoring. EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Joan Kunz, professor of chemistry Soup for You! Café Chef Judah Nataf seasons one of his signature recipes. SOUP FOR THE HEART and soul of Augsburg’s neighbors Alumnus launches community meal program Kunz is recognized for her commitment to Augsburg’s students, embodying the College’s mission to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. Since 1987, Kunz has worked toward creating and sustaining a vibrant learning community in the sciences. EXCELLENCE IN ADVISING AND MENTORING oto Courtesy Ph Susan O’Connor and Donna Patterson, assistant Five days a week, Minneapolis community members convene at Bethany professors of education Lutheran Church to dine on gourmet fare prepared as part of the Soup for You! Café—a program the Star Tribune O’Connor and Patterson are recognized recognized for its ability to redefine for their work to incorporate Public “Our model is mutuality, and community outreach. Achievement into the special education what better way is there to Augsburg College alumnus, Chaplain teacher training program in the College’s show mutuality than to gather Department of Education. The Public to Student Athletes, and Linebacker Coach the Rev. Mike Matson ’06 is the pastor at at the same table together?” Achievement model changes lives for Bethany Lutheran and the driver behind this students in special education by giving —The Rev. Mike Matson ’06 community meal. Supported by volunteers Star Tribune, April 5 them a voice to act as citizens in a and one talented chef, Soup for You! Café is democratic society. a chance for people of all backgrounds to come together in an environment that focuses on dignity. In the Star Tribune article “Church program offers hot soup, warm welcome,” Matson underscored that the program is designed to bring together people from the many faiths and cultures of the Seward neighborhood. Augsburg College students, faculty, and staff find varied—and valuable—ways to lend their time and talents to support the Soup for You! Café. Auggie Jens Pinther ’15 contributed an article about the program to the June edition of The Lutheran magazine. The story, available at thelutheran.org, included photos by Augsburg photographer Stephen Geffre. The 2015 Distinguished Contributions recipients [L to R]: Donna Patterson, Susan O’Connor, and Joan Kunz. Summer 2015 3 (RE)NAME THE MAGAZINE? From Augsburg’s CAMPUS KITCHEN to the community table Unique program expands its reach The Campus Kitchen program at Augsburg College works to make healthy food accessible to all people living in and near the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis. The program also provides opportunities for service learning, leadership development, and genuine engagement between the College and the community. Based in the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Campus Kitchen is a student-driven organization that addresses hunger locally and globally. Corporate partners support Campus Kitchen’s efforts, providing a solid foundation for Auggies’ stellar work. 2014-15 academic year highlights: 7 Augsburg student leaders took home a “Going Beyond The Meal” award from the 2015 Food Waste and Hunger Summit in Athens, Georgia. The honor recognized Campus Kitchen’s exceptional education and outreach efforts. 34 13,036 What do you think? Last summer, Augsburg College participated in a national higher education magazine survey developed by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. This survey allowed more than 600 people to share feedback on the ways Augsburg’s magazine helps them stay connected with the College. Based on the survey results, we worked to develop a clearer picture of the roles the magazine plays and found that the Augsburg College magazine serves to: • Foster inspiration and pride. • Provide intellectual stimulation and ongoing education. • Bridge the Augsburg of today with people’s past experiences. • Define and illustrate what it means to be an “Auggie.” • Help the Augsburg community learn how to talk about itself and equip individuals to advocate for the College. Given the importance of these commitments, there was a desire to have the magazine name align with and support the publication’s purpose. After an exploration of dozens of name options, Augsburg Spirit and Augsburg Experience stood out. It also was evident that the name Augsburg Now remains appropriate. To determine which of these three names is best, you’re invited to share your opinion on the name of the magazine by voting online for Augsburg Now, Augsburg Experience, or Augsburg Spirit. Go to augsburg.edu/now to share your input to help guide our naming decision. student volunteers engaged in Campus Kitchen activities per month on average. pounds of unserved, edible food were recovered from A’viands campus dining and the Mill City Farmers Market and thereby diverted from the waste stream. 11,210 total meals prepared using recovered, gleaned, and homemade food served to youths, adults, and seniors in need in the Cedar-Riverside, Seward, and Phillips neighborhoods. KEY CORPORATE PARTNERS’ YEARS OF GRANT SUPPORT LAND O’LAKES TARGET A’VIANDS GENERAL MILLS AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL =1 year Plus, a new grant from The Campus Kitchens Project and AARP has enabled Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen program to provide a weekly lunch for more than a dozen additional seniors living near campus. augsburg.edu/campuskitchen KNOW? DID YOU General Mills has invested more than $125,000 in the Augsburg College Campus Kitchen program. Renovations are underway on a number of spaces on the Augsburg campus in Minneapolis, including the Sateren Auditorium in the Anderson Music Hall. The space will return to service this fall. ACCLAIMED ARTIST CREATES painting for Hoversten Chapel This spring, Augsburg’s Campus Ministry welcomed the Rev. Paul Oman—a professional watercolorist whose artistic work draws inspiration from his experiences, travels, and Lutheran faith—to take part in a three-day worship event on campus. Oman created a large-scale painting of Jesus during Daily Chapel services as on-campus worshipers took part in music, prayer, spoken word, and Scripture. Oman’s visual ministry, known as “Drawn to the Word,” offered the Augsburg community the opportunity to engage in conversation and reflection on race, radical hospitality, reformation, faith, and the Lutheran tradition that continues to shape the College’s identity. The painting is on display in the Hoversten Chapel in Foss Center. The Rev. Paul Oman paints “Jesus Withdraws to Pray” during Daily Chapel time. Summer 2015 5 Photo by Mark Chamberlain AROUND THE QUAD AROUND THE QUAD While traveling to or from campus, some Auggies have near-perfect views of the construction underway on the new Minnesota Vikings football stadium. This vantage point is near the intersection of Cedar and Riverside avenues in Minneapolis. ON THE SPOT Kristin Anderson In the discipline of art history it’s common to discuss the visual representation of saints and sinners, kings and queens, and maybe even a Viking or two. At Augsburg College, Kristin Anderson teaches courses on the history of art and architecture, and she’s prepared to talk about works ranging from the Mona Lisa to the Metrodome—may it rest in peace. Anderson’s current writing and research are focused on sports architecture, and she is co-authoring a book on the history of athletic facilities in the Twin Cities. As the St. Paul Saints baseball club settles into its new CHS Field in Lowertown and the Minnesota Vikings football team awaits the completion of a new stadium in Augsburg’s own backyard, here is Anderson’s take on the region’s shifting sports scene. 6 Augsburg Now Q: During the past decade new sports venues including TCF Bank Stadium, Target Field, and CHS Field have opened their doors in Minneapolis and St. Paul. What factors have spurred so much change in such a brief period of time? A: Quite simply, we have moved out of an era of multipurpose stadiums. They were popular in the 1960s and 1970s, and we got one of the last ones— the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome— in 1982. Sport-specific facilities like baseball parks and football stadiums have become the standard, and that drives all kinds of new construction. And, of course, when one team gets a new space, everyone else gets in line. ... MAKING SPACE FOR A AROUND THE QUAD NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING On May 1, the campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion surpassed its $50 million fundraising goal. To make room for the construction of this new academic building, the College razed two existing houses on campus. One of the structures was occupied by the Admissions Office from 1970-2003 before that department moved to a more student-accessible location in Christensen Center. The house also was home for a time to the Center for Counseling and Health Promotion (now called the Center for Wellness and Counseling), which has relocated to the first floor of Anderson Residence Hall. A second house, formerly called Delta House, was first used for student housing. It was later home to various Admissions staff, then the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, which has moved to the Oren Gateway Center. Before these two buildings were removed, an event was held to honor the work and experiences of staff and residents who once occupied the spaces. There were 30 people in attendance, some even traveling from as far as North Dakota and New York. A house on 21st Avenue South is razed. Former and current staff members reminisce over a collage of names written within one of Augsburg’s former houses. Learn more about the next steps for the CSBR on page 20. Q: Q: Q: A: A: A: Today’s sports venues offer amenities that extend far beyond a wooden bleacher seat and a bag of popcorn sold at the concession stand. What does this mean for stadium architecture and game attendees? Every new sports facility offers more than its predecessor, and fans seem to expect this improvement. The rising expectations are not new: fan amenities have been part of the discussion since the 1860s. Like us, people from that time period talked about food selection, legroom, and comfort at the games. Attending to the fan experience can add cost to a project, but it is an investment worth making. Just think about the many amazing differences between the Metrodome experience and the Target Field experience. What effect does an indoor stadium (like the new Vikings stadium) versus an outdoor stadium (like TCF) have on attendance, especially in Minnesota’s climate? We have an amazing range of weather, from glorious to horrible—and we don’t always agree on which is which. This raises the stakes on decisions about stadium design. Rather than choosing “indoor” or “outdoor,” many contemporary facilities combine aspects of each. The new Vikings stadium will have a glass roof and enormous windows, bridging the indoors and outdoors in space, light, air, and views. Target Field is an outdoor ballpark, but it is designed with sheltered areas, heat lamps, and other climate-mitigating features. Baseball is said to be America’s pastime. How does new stadium architecture show that the sport can remain relevant—and sustainable—into the future? While most contemporary ballparks pay homage to the history and tradition of baseball, they also employ an amazing array of cutting-edge technologies. One of the most exciting recent developments is the emphasis on environmental sustainability. Target Field has two LEED Silver certifications, and other sports facilities like the Xcel Energy Center and CHS Field have also engaged in significant sustainability efforts, including rainwater recycling systems and sophisticated trash-sorting and recycling programs. Kristin Anderson is a professor of art history and the Augsburg College archivist. Summer 2015 7 CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS $7,500 GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Fikre Beyene ’16 and Lyle Nyberg ’16 15 STEM researchers 80+ off-campus Auggies presented at Zyzzogeton Research Festival on campus Taylor Kuramoto ’15 FULBRIGHT TEACHING ASSISTANT in South Korea 3 ROSSING PHYSICS SCHOLARS One of 104 to present at Fikre Beyene ’16, Andris Bibelnieks ’16*, and Cain Valtierrez ’16 *Also Goldwater Honorable Mention NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP Honorable Mention, Alex Sorum ’13 2015 WINCHELL UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM Aisha Mohamed ’16 Awale Osman ’15 2 2015 NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOW KEMPER SCHOLARS Mitchell Ross ’18 and Rebecca Schroeder ’18 BENJAMIN A. GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP David Gersten ’16 and Amal Warsame ’16 8 Augsburg Now EDDIE PHILLIPS SCHOLARSHIP FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN Malick Ceesay ’17 For more information about these awards and recipients, go to augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2015 9 12 HONORING retiring faculty “ I love the accessibility Augsburg students have to faculty and staff, especially when we meet students in passing in the quad or elsewhere when conversations become more candid, genuine, and authentic.” — Gregory Krueger, Assistant Professor of Education PAULINE ABRAHAM Assistant Professor and Director of BSN Program, Nursing, Rochester Joined the College — 2005 KATHRYN SCHWALBE Faculty Emerita Professor of Business Administration Joined the College — 1991 FRANKIE SHACKELFORD Faculty Emerita, Professor of Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies Joined the College — 1990 MARTHA JOHNSON Faculty Emerita Professor of Theater Arts Joined the College — 1997 BEVERLY STRATTON Faculty Emerita Professor of Religion Joined the College — 1986 AMIN KADER Associate Professor of Business Administration Joined the College — 1974 ELIZABETH ANKENY Faculty Emerita Associate Professor of Education Joined the College — 2008 GREGORY KRUEGER Assistant Professor of Education Joined the College — 2000 STEVEN LAFAVE GRACE DYRUD Faculty Emerita Professor of Psychology Joined the College — 1962 Faculty Emeritus Professor of Business Administration Joined the College — 1991 DAVID VENNE Assistant Professor of Physics Joined the College — 1990 STEVEN NERHEIM Medical Director Instructor of Physician Assistant Studies Program Joined the College — 2005 10 Augsburg Now To read about what these faculty members love about Augsburg and teaching, go to augsburg.edu/now. AHEAD of the curve Augsburg leads in shaping higher education for Minnesota’s increasingly diverse population BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA F or more than five years, Augsburg College has undertaken “Employers are going to have a much greater interest important efforts to intentionally diversify the traditional in bringing populations who previously may have been undergraduate student profile. This work is not only a marginalized into productive work,” Brower said. “We don’t prudent move in terms of growing enrollment, but it is also have the capacity, going forward, to leave anyone behind.” proving to be an important factor in sustaining the region’s For Augsburg, this demographic reality is significant economic health. because about 25 percent of college-bound Minnesota high This spring, more than 200 Augsburg College faculty school graduates express interest in Augsburg by applying, and staff met with Minnesota State inquiring, or visiting campus. In order Demographer Susan Brower to to successfully enroll and retain these “We don’t have the discuss the “shape and scale” of the students, Augsburg needs to be intentional capacity, going forward, demographic trends in the state that about meeting the educational needs of will influence its vitality in the coming this diversifying population. to leave anyone behind.” decades. Two significant trends detailed Augsburg already has an important —Susan Brower by Brower were the increasing diversity advantage in this area because, with Minnesota State Demographer and aging of the state’s population – nearly 33 percent students of color in trends that heighten the importance of the traditional undergraduate program, education now and into the future. the College is one of the most diverse higher education Education will grow in importance because the relative institutions in the state. This is attractive to students of both size of our workforce affects economic production and the minority and majority populations because it offers them the strength of our region. As older adults retire in the next 20 opportunity to learn and work with many different types of years and the workforce shrinks in proportion to the overall people, which is increasingly important given that the pace of population, Minnesota will need the skills and talents of the demographic change will accelerate dramatically in the next entire working-age population. 15 years. Summer 2015 11 1 Demographic Trend #1: Growing diversity. If you went to college or lived in the Twin Cities before the 1990s, your experience with the diversity of the area’s population was different from today’s scenario. 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 Total Twin Cities population 2,000,000 The Twin Cities experienced accelerated growth among populations of color from 1990 to 2010. During that time, people of color represented more than 80 percent of the overall population growth. 1,500,000 Before 1980, fewer than 6 percent of the Twin Cities population were people of color, numbering only 25,000 to 115,000 people in the total population of 1.5 million to 2 million. 1,000,000 500,000 10% 5% 2 15% 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 What’s driving the growth in diversity? • Younger populations are more diverse. Approximately 25 percent of Minnesota residents younger than age 35 are people of color, whereas populations older than 65 years are predominantly white. So, as the entire population ages, overall diversity grows. **Sources: 2, 3 2 • The number of foreign-born residents in Minnesota is growing. Minnesota, today, is home to nearly 400,000 foreign-born residents—a level not seen since the 1930s. By contrast, from 1960 through the 1990s, just more than 100,000 foreign-born people lived in the state. **Source: 4 Demographic Trend #2: Our aging population. • Minnesota’s foreign-born population is increasingly diverse. In 1950, 80 percent of the foreign-born population in Minnesota was from Europe. Today, most foreign-born residents are from Mexico, Somalia, India, and Laos. **Source: 4 335 Minnesota—and other regions of the United States—are experiencing an unprecedented aging of our populations. 285 How dramatic is the change? Change in Minnesota population age 65+ (in thousands) Minnesota will add more than 620,000 older adults (age 65+) between 2010 and 2030. By contrast, during the 60 years from 1950 to 2010, the population of older adults grew by just 416,000. **Source: 1 12 85 55 1950s Augsburg Now 1960s 71 1970s 97 91 67 1980s 47 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s 66 56 2040s 2050s A commitment to diversity and inclusion Today, the Twin Cities population is estimated at 3 million residents, with nearly 800,000—about 26 percent—people of color. This number is expected to reach 30 percent in the next 10 years.* 30% 25% 20% 2010 2020 2030 *Other areas of the United States are experiencing similar diversity growth. The U.S. population in 2010 was 36 percent people of color. **Sources: 2, 3 The size of the labor force is expected to stagnate in the coming decades while the 65+ population will double. As a result, the ratio of adults ages 18 to 64 relative to adults 65 and older will go from nearly 5 to 1 in 2010 to less than 2.5 to 1 in the next 25 years. That means there will be fewer working-age people in the population as a whole. That’s an important consideration because payroll taxes are critical for funding programs like Social Security and Medicare that the growing population of retired and elderly adults will increasingly draw upon. **Sources: 2, 3 To learn more about the range of programs Augsburg offers to support diversity and inclusion, go to augsburg.edu/now. 2010 2040 One million adults age 65+ In 2015, Augsburg graduated its most diverse traditional undergraduate class in history, with more than 30 percent of graduates from underrepresented populations. In fact, every incoming first-year class since 2009 has included 30 to 40 percent students of color. Augsburg also has identified faculty and staff diversity as a priority initiative in its Augsburg2019 strategic plan. As a first step, the College highlighted its commitment to intercultural competence, diversity, and inclusion in all job postings this past spring. An early result is that six of the College’s 10 new tenure-track faculty are from non-majority populations. Augsburg also has named Joanne Reeck, director of Campus Activities and Orientation, as chief diversity officer. Reeck launched an intercultural competence program that involved more than 100 members of the campus community this spring and will expand to include a certificate program in the fall. These programs complement the diversity and inclusion workshops offered each May by the College’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Augsburg’s work in intentional diversity has garnered attention from corporations and community organizations alike. For example, Wells Fargo recently donated $100,000 to Augsburg’s Center for Science, Business, and Religion specifically because of Augsburg’s proven work in educating underrepresented populations. Augsburg also recognizes that diversity extends well beyond ethnicity and provides award-winning programs for students who represent a diversity of ages, national origins, faith traditions, gender identities, and learning and physical differences. “Of course, there is still much more we need to do,” Reeck said. “But we are committed to diversity and inclusion because it creates a richer educational environment and prepares our students to lead, innovate, and serve in a diverse and globally connected world.” This work not only supports future graduates’ individual success, it creates a diverse and well-educated generation that’s critical to our collective future prosperity. One million adults age 18-64 **Sources: 1. Minnesota State Demographic Center and U.S. Census Bureau. 2. Minnesota State Demographic Center and U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census and Population. 3. Estimates as presented by Minnesota Compass, mncompass.org. 4. IPUMS version of U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010-2012 American Community Survey. Tabulated by the Minnesota State Demographic Center. Summer 2015 13 Auggie Matt McGinn ’13 finds innovative ways to serve an old favorite BY CHRISTINA HALLER Matt McGinn ’13 has accomplished more in his 27 years than most. He overcame alcohol dependence to graduate from Augsburg College and its StepUP ® program and then went on to become a successful entrepreneur in the coffee industry. And when it comes to coffee, he does it all. McGinn roasts his own beans. He uses recovery working to earn his bachelor’s degree in social work. “Augsburg helped me to become a leader,” McGinn said. “I showed people you can go from not being capable of holding a job and passing out in class, to working two internships, being a resident assistant, and succeeding in five classes.” Though he later decided not to pursue a career in social work, he practices skills gained while at Augsburg to help himself succeed every day—including business savvy, budgeting, dedication, confidence, detail orientation, leadership, and follow-through. them to cold brew coffee. He bottles it. Tapping an underserved market Distributes it. And, he co-owns and runs a McGinn has been working in the coffee industry since he was a barista in high school. Once he got to Augsburg, he climbed his way up to manager at a struggling coffee shop and was able to revive it by crafting new drink recipes, learning a range of brewing techniques, improving food and drink menus, training staff, and creating more efficient labor schedules. coffee shop where he serves his cold brewed coffee on tap—an innovation that very few shops offer, especially in the Twin Cities. A transfer student from the University of Massachusetts, McGinn applied to Augsburg and StepUP early on in his sobriety. He went from drinking hard liquor every day for six years, to a student in 14 Augsburg Now “People were complimenting my work, and the owner gave me free reign to do what I wanted,” McGinn said. “I thought— I’m really good at this. What are my ideas? What do I want to do? Well, I make really good cold brew. People love my cold brew. And I was like, ‘Why am I not doing this for myself?’” So he did. McGinn now co-owns and runs artisan coffee shop Quixotic Coffee in St. Paul. His branded coffee, Blackeye Roasting Co., comes in three varieties on tap—a signature blend called “Blackeye Brew;” a nitro blend called “Left Hook;” and currently under production, a nitro Guinness, which is similar in texture and flavor to a creamy stout. Currently, you can find Blackeye Brew bottled and sold at select local retailers, but soon it’ll be distributed nationally. Blackeye Brew coffee is also kegged and served in many area restaurants, on college campuses, and even in Twin Cities workplaces. AUGGIE VOICES Summer 2015 15 AUGGIE VOICES Watch McGinn discover his passion for coffee at augsburg.edu/now. 16 Augsburg Now Wake up and smell the coffee. Q: You serve a nitro blend at Quixotic. What is that? A: Nitro cold brew is coffee infused with pure nitrogen. It’s stored in a keg and served on draft for a cascading, foamy, and velvety ice-cold drink. Q: What’s the difference between iced coffee and cold brewed? A: Iced coffee is just hot coffee that’s been brewed with twice as much ground coffee, then poured over ice. Cold brewed coffee is ground coffee that’s been steeped in cold water overnight. Q: So does cold brew have a different taste? A: Yes. When you brew coffee hot you get a lot of acidity due to the chemical reaction. When you brew it cold, you don’t get the acidity. In fact, there’s 67-93 percent less acidity in cold brewed coffee—and two times the caffeine. Q: So you roast your own beans. Is the origin of coffee beans important? A: Absolutely. Most of our coffee beans are from Africa and Central America. The coffees we select from Africa are bright and floral and have more character. The coffees we get from Central America have chocolaty notes. We blend the two for a perfect balance, so they’re not too tangy or fruity. StepUP® at a glance StepUP at Augsburg College is a residential collegiate recovery program focusing on helping students sustain their recovery, achieve academic success, and thrive in a community of accountability and support. • More than 700 students served since 1997 • 93 percent average abstinence rate • 100 students served annually • 3.2 average GPA Learn more at augsburg.edu/stepup Summer 2015 17 Augsburg College held back-to-back Commencement ceremonies May 2-3. The College welcomed nearly 4,000 people to campus who celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2015, gathered as family and friends, and participated in Augsburg’s unique approach to the centuries-old tradition of graduation. COMMENCEMENT MEMORIES BY LAURA SWANSON ’15 MBA A s one of life’s “big days” alongside events like a wedding or the birth of a child, it’s common for a commencement to be a memorable experience that people can recall for years—and even decades—afterward. Yet, of the thousands of attendees at this year’s ceremonies, it is unlikely that any two people will retain exactly the same event details in the same way. Why is that? Naturally, it’s due to the fact that each person’s process of making and recalling memories is complex. Augsburg College professor and cognitive psychologist Bridget Robinson-Riegler helped illuminate how and why people remember the standout days in their lives in accurate—and inaccurate—ways. Bridget Robinson-Riegler Augsburg professor and cognitive psychologist What makes a commencement day memorable? Uniqueness. Emotion. Cognitive psychologists have found that the most distinctive life events also are the most likely to be remembered. For many people, participating in a commencement ceremony is the type of occasion that only happens a few times over the course of their lives, such as when they complete high school, college, a graduate program, or attend a graduation event for a child or loved one. The event as a whole is unique and so are particular elements of the day. For instance, contemporary Augsburg graduates process to the commencement ceremonies by walking down 7 ½ Street, which is lined with faculty members applauding the graduates’ achievements. This type of event is so unique that the experience likely will form a memory that persists over time, according to Robinson-Riegler. Just as distinctive events are more likely to be remembered, occasions that are laden with emotion also make their mark. The two parts of the brain that serve in memory-making include the amygdala, which is responsible for the emotion of a memory, and the hippocampus, which is responsible for creating the coherent story of a memory. People are likely to remember many of the feelings they experienced on a commencement day because it’s a time of high emotion and maybe even some stress. While graduation is not stressful in a traumatic sense, there’s a lot of excitement associated with the event, which accentuates the activation of the amygdala. Then, because the amygdala is functioning at a relatively high level, a person remembers much of the emotion of a commencement. 18 Augsburg Now “Ten or 20 years into the future, you remember some of the day’s details— some of the big things about it—but it may be easier to remember how you felt,” Robinson-Riegler said. Timing. When an event occurs also affects a person’s ability to remember it. For many traditional undergraduates, graduation falls at a time in life known as the “reminiscence bump,” the period that spans approximately from age 10 to age 30 when things are most remembered. “As we age, things become more routine, so what stands out are things that are distinctive in your life,” Robinson-Riegler said. “The things that you talked about, that you spent a lot of time rehearsing or explaining—the events like graduations and weddings—those are things that are better remembered.” What affects the accuracy of memory? Despite the memorability of unique and emotional moments, the accuracy of our memories is not always reliable. One of the reasons memories change over time is that people come into contact with new situations that shape their recollection of the past. “None of us really should trust our memories as much as most of us do; the gist of our memories is often accurate, but the details of exactly what happened are often inaccurate,” Robinson-Riegler said. Graduation is an interesting event to recall because there’s not a lot of “cross-contamination” of memory from the event happening repeatedly, but there are disturbances in memory caused by outside influences. For instance, people have what’s known as “schematic knowledge” about what graduations entail. Due to popular culture, a person who has never attended a graduation may be able to explain what happens at the celebration because the event typically follows a formulaic structure that includes listening to speeches, watching graduates walk across a stage, and so on. In addition, people’s memories about past events can become skewed by the individuals they interact with later and the discussions that follow. Graduations might spur conversations with friends and family that help a person “fill in the gaps” where their own memories have faded, according to Robinson-Riegler. “Think about how easy it would be for someone to infuse a memory from what someone else said about graduation, and suddenly it becomes your memory so you have no idea what the reality is,” she said. In addition to pulling outside comments into your memory pool, commencement recollections can be influenced by the photos and other artifacts from the day that a person comes across later. “If you see pictures of the graduation ceremony, those things get into your head, so to speak, as you reconstruct your memory based on several different components,” Robinson-Riegler said. Ultimately, when Auggies of all ages think back on their commencement experiences, those memories are shaped by myriad factors, but it’s the outcome of the education that persists over time and can be counted upon for the remainder of their lives. And, while college memories may fade and change over time, they still serve several purposes—one of the best being to make us smile. Summer 2015 19 Augsburg College hits $50 million campaign goal for new, signature academic building Augsburg College has successfully surpassed the $50 million mark in its capital campaign for a unique, interdisciplinary academic building that brings together science, business, and religion. The campaign—the largest in the College’s history— met its goal a year in advance of the original schedule. With the campaign fundraising milestone achieved, the Augsburg College Board of Regents approved moving forward with the next stage of architectural and construction design for what will be the College’s state-of-the-art, signature academic building. Once that design work is completed, the Board will set a timeline for groundbreaking and construction. The College already has begun the planning and preparation necessary to make the new building a reality. Examples of this collaborative effort include the following: • A Board-designated project leadership team is selecting an architect who will work with the College to verify that the building meets the needs of academic programs in order to create detailed interior and exterior drawings. • Augsburg readied the future site of the building by razing two existing houses on 21st Avenue South. (See page 7.) • Faculty members are using grant funds to design new, interdisciplinary courses and to revise existing classes to better integrate the science, business, and religion subject areas. Anderson Residence Hall Urness Tower Luther Hall N Mortensen Hall Old Main Christensen Center Sverdrup Hall Memorial Hall Lindell Library 20 Augsburg Now Find campaign news and building updates at augsburg.edu/CSBR. IT TAKES AN AUGGIE Graphics by Mark Chamberlain Summer 2015 21 “Individuals matter in stopping the spread of disease because disease has no boundaries ... I have made it a personal goal to advocate for the development of generic medications for infectious diseases that unfairly affect the developing world.” —Anika Clark ’14 22 Augsburg Now Unique research experience draws faculty-student duo to East Africa and Capitol Hill BY STEPHANIE WEISS ho gets pooped on by chimpanzees, zig-zags through a mountainous forest to elude elephants, and has been recognized by members of the U.S. Congress for her impressive research? The first undergraduate student from the United States ever invited to study the world’s largest known community of chimpanzees and to gather research data to build a foundation for understanding how human diseases—including Ebola—can be transmitted to and move through the animals. By gathering data to model how disease spreads through the nearly 200 chimps in the Ngogo community in Kibale National Park in Uganda, Anika Clark ’14 may be able to help identify and develop vaccination plans to protect this and other groups of chimpanzees from being devastated by transmissible human diseases for which the chimps have no resistance. Clark, a biology major, spent four weeks in Africa doing field research under the direction of Kevin Potts, a biology instructor at Augsburg and one of the nation’s leading primatology experts. His studies on chimpanzee conservation, food, habitat, and foraging behaviors are featured in some of the world’s most prestigious primatology journals. Potts earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Yale University and studied under the Yale faculty who founded the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in Kibale National Park. It’s through his decades-long study of chimpanzees, in which he’s watched some members of the animal group go from juveniles to adult leaders, and his deep professional and personal relationships with the project’s founders that he was able to invite Clark to conduct research on this unique group of chimpanzees. Summer 2015 23 Undergraduate research—an opportunity for hands-on practice of skills helpful to science majors and necessary to succeed in graduate school—is an important part of an Augsburg College education and is evidence of how the College lives out its vision of educating for lives of purpose. Clark was among nearly 100 Augsburg students who conducted summer research in 2014, spending many hours in the lab and in the field to solve complex problems. Fieldwork is grueling. “You have to be physically and mentally alert at all times,” Clark said of the work she did in Uganda. “Elephants can be in the forest. You have to move away from them quickly … once I zig-zagged down a mountain ravine to get away.” The work also can be very, very dirty. Even gross. “Once, a chimpanzee in the canopy pooped on me and my field notebook,” Clark said. But she wasn’t deterred. Potts acknowledged the physical demands of fieldwork. He said it’s not uncommon for researchers—including graduate-level researchers—to burn out after a few weeks, especially in places as rugged as Ngogo. Clark was up and in the field by 7 a.m., walking for miles and as many as 10 hours per day in the forest to find where chimps were feeding so she could gather her data. Clark’s research is unique because she is creating a baseline for understanding how infectious diseases spread in the largest group of chimpanzees on Earth. While some other researchers are trying to understand dispersal of illness among chimpanzee troupes of about 65 individual animals, nobody else is seeking to explain how disease moves through Ngogo’s population of nearly 200 individuals. “Chimpanzees are strange among mammal species,” Potts said. “Unlike most other mammals, chimps that make up one social group rarely are together all at the same time. Instead, on a day-to-day basis, small foraging parties go out to look for food, and members of groups can change daily.” This means that unlocking how an infectious disease spreads is complex because chimps don’t interact consistently with the same community members day after day. Unraveling this mystery may allow people to protect chimps from transmissible human diseases for which the animals have no immunity. An Ebola vaccine for chimpanzees is in development and could feasibly be used on wild chimps in the near future. But vaccinating all the chimps would be prohibitively expensive and logistically impossible. 24 Augsburg Now “If we can identify a few individuals who are disproportionately gregarious and, therefore, more likely to spread a disease to others, we can target them for vaccines and stop an outbreak,” Potts said. Uganda’s forests may depend upon this understanding, too, since chimps are prolific distributors of seeds from the tree fruits that they eat and thereby ensure reforestation and new growth. Clark’s grit in the field and outstanding achievements in the classroom have garnered attention in the nation’s capital. Last spring, she was selected to present at Posters on the Hill in Washington, D.C. This annual event highlights outstanding undergraduate research and was a chance for 60 selected students from more than 800 applicants to meet with policymakers and lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Keith Ellison of Minnesota. “Anika’s work stood up exceptionally well against top-tier student researchers from across the nation, and I hope she sees how talented she is,” Potts said. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present scientific results directly to those who implement policy based upon science.” Clark is applying her resolve to working as a medical scribe at three different hospitals. At one of the hospitals, Clark serves as lead scribe, a leadership role that includes responsibility for recruiting other top pre-health students to work as scribes. Clark’s determination to excel is further readying her for the challenge of applying to medical schools, her next step toward fulfilling her goal of one day working for Doctors Without Borders. Through Doctors Without Borders, an internationally renowned humanitarian organization that provides assistance to countries overwhelmed by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and malnutrition, Clark will have the opportunity to use her talents and gifts to alleviate some of the world’s greatest global health problems. The organization also is recognized for its dedication to serving people who experience neglect and discrimination from local health systems. “Individuals matter in stopping the spread of disease because disease has no boundaries. The world is connected through trade, aviation, and immigration,” Clark said. “I have made it a personal goal to advocate for the development of generic medications for infectious diseases that unfairly affect the developing world. An infectious disease in one part of the world must be considered a global threat.” As Clark turns her sights toward medical school and a future serving as an international doctor of medicine, other Auggies will head into the lab and field with faculty to unravel problems and seek solutions to better our shared world. While Auggies have worked to protect chimpanzees from infectious diseases in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, these animals also face constant threats from poaching. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about chimps and how you can help in their conservation. The field journal of Anika Clark ’14 carries the mark of a chimpanzee encounter. Clark trekked many miles through sometimes muddy forests in these shoes. A solar sun shower was the closest to a hot shower Clark got while in Uganda. Biology instructor Kevin Potts uses his own codes and shorthand to track information on chimpanzees. Summer 2015 25 BY CHRISTINA HALLER Augsburg student travels 900 miles in search of answers The last thing studio arts major Indra Ramassamy ’17 thought she’d get out of her course, Women and Art, was a life-changing trip and lasting friendship with an established artist. But it just so happened that Augsburg’s commitment to experiential education fostered a memorable experience for Ramassamy and cultivated skills that will prove useful throughout her life. Ramassamy, an international student from Paris, was assigned to choose an object from Augsburg’s permanent collection of art and complete a research project resulting in a final paper, a speech, an installation, and a curatorial file. Ramassamy was drawn “Augsburg expects us to discover to a print by Nilda Getty things. We are encouraged to make called “Psychic,” one work deep connections with people, to find in a five-piece series titled, new ways to problem-solve, to make a “Life Series.” difference.” “What drew me to this —Indra Ramassamy ’17 print was a sort of ‘motion’ around a white circular shape—to me, it represented the moon,” Ramassamy said. “We can see six female figures around the shape, but there is a possibility that these female figures might actually be one person at different moments.” A little persistence goes a long way In researching the piece, Ramassamy found that biographical information about the artist was limited. She was, however, able to locate and contact an art gallery where Getty had once exhibited. The art gallery contacted Getty about Ramassamy’s inquiry, and within a week, they were speaking regularly on the phone for Ramassamy’s project. A few weeks later, Getty and her son, Leslie, contacted Ramassamy and invited her to Colorado, offering to fly her out so she could complete her assignment. Ramassamy gladly accepted. “It was about a lot more than the paper,” she said. “Through phone conversations and an exchange of emails, I had already made a connection with Nilda and was beyond excited to meet her.” Leaving a lasting legacy A few weeks later, Ramassamy was on a flight from Minneapolis to Fort Collins, Colorado, for a 48-hour stay. While there, Ramassamy toured Getty’s studio, met Getty’s family, learned how to use metalsmithing tools, and studied Getty’s artwork—from silk prints to photographs, metalwork to jewelry. She also visited Colorado State University where Getty taught metalsmithing in the Art Department. When Ramassamy asked Getty about “Psychic,” Getty said the white circle represented both the world and the universe. But the artist also explained that it doesn’t matter what she thinks of the piece. What is important to Getty is the viewer’s experience with the art and the relationship formed with it. Ramassamy was inspired by Getty’s work, by her outlook on art and life, and by her warmth and spirit. “One of the sweetest things was when Nilda told me her ‘greatest works of art are her children’—and she also asked me a lot about my own mom,” Ramassamy said. “I believe Nilda’s legacy will be what her children go out into the world and achieve.” An Augsburg education is shaped by its global settings Ramassamy is grateful to Augsburg for the whole experience. “There’s a culture at Augsburg to go the full extent—do as much as you can,” she said. “Augsburg expects us to discover things. We are encouraged to make deep connections with people, to find new ways to problem-solve, to make a difference.” And that’s exactly what Ramassamy did. 26 Augsburg Now MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE FUN FACTS ABOUT AUGSBURG’S PERMANENT COLLECTION OF ART MOST FAMOUS? Andy Warhol’s “Liz” LARGEST? Henry Lande’s minimalist sculpture, 24 Elements, stands outside between Urness Tower and Christensen Center at 33 feet tall. BEST-TRAVELED? A photograph of Gerda Mortensen vanished from Mortensen Hall (more than once) and reappeared at St. Olaf College. MOST GENEROUS DONORS? Don and Dagny Padilla, avid art collectors, who gave dozens of pieces to Augsburg’s permanent collection of art, including Nilda Getty’s “Psychic.” AVAILABLE IN TWO SIZES? Jakob Fjelde’s life-size marble bust of Augsburg’s third president, Sven Oftedal, and Fjelde’s small-scale plaster copy, a recent gift from Melinda and Jim Kohrt. Summer 2015 27 ALUMNI NEWS INTRODUCING NEW ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS Six Auggies―successful in business, mentorship, leadership, and advocacy for the College recently were elected to threeyear terms on the Augsburg College Alumni Board. New members: Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA Mary Prevost ’12 MBA National corporate director, UnitedHealth Group Owner, MJP Strategic Communications Hannah Dietrich ’05 Howie Smith ’80 Principal planning analyst, Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation Manager, talent development, Ameriprise Financial Services Jay Howard ’03 Take a moment to read a few of the reasons why these new representatives are excited to be part of the Alumni Board. Go to augsburg.edu/now for more information. Director of global sales, Innovative Computer Software Chau “Tina” Nguyen ’08 Project analyst, U.S. Bank 28 Augsburg Now ALUMNI BOARD Back Row [L to R]: Adrienne (Kuchler) Eldridge ’02, Sarah Grans ’01, Howie Smith ’80, Jay Howard ’03, Rick Bonlender ’78, Greg Schnagl ’91, Nick Swanson ’09, Patricia Jesperson ’95 Front Row [L to R]: Marie (Eddy) Odenbrett ’01, Hannah Dietrich ’05, Jill Watson ’10 MBA, Meg (Schmidt) Sawyer ’00, Melissa (Daudt) Hoepner ’92, Chris Hallin ’88, Adriana Matzke ’13, Rachel (Olson) Engebretson ’98, Chau “Tina” Nguyen ’08, Mary Prevost ’12 MBA Not Pictured: Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA; Sharon Mercill ’09; Jordan Moore ’12 MBA; Brent Peroutka ’02; Nick Rathmann ’03; Tracy (Anderson) Severson ’95 If you have ideas for alumni involvement, email the Alumni Board at alumni@augsburg.edu. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME RECEPTION AND CEREMONY 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Honor the 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. HOMECOMING 2015 OCTOBER 8-10 REUNION CLASSES Silver Auggies and 60th Reunion—1955 50th Reunion—1965 40th Reunion—1975 25th Reunion—1990 10th Reunion—2005 For Homecoming this year, let’s come together and revel in our Augsburg connections with great events all weekend long. Alumni, families, and friends are all invited to this celebration of our shared Augsburg experience. Registering for Homecoming is easier than ever with an allaccess pass. One $40 pass admits you to all events. Register to guarantee your spot. The price increases to $50 after September 8. Go to augsburg.edu/homecoming to register. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 HOMECOMING CONVOCATION AND DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS 10 to 11:30 a.m. Recognize the First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished Alumni award recipients. HOMECOMING AND REUNION CELEBRATION LUNCHEON 12 p.m. Celebrate this year’s distinguished award recipients and the newest inductees into the 50-Year Club from the class of 1965. AUGGIE HOURS 6 to 8:15 p.m. Join the all-class Auggie happy hour. HOMECOMING FIREWORKS 8:30 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Join Homecoming co-chairs Jacquie Berglund ’87 and Devean George ’99 for Augsburg alumni’s favorite weekend of the year. “Connecting with folks you haven’t seen in such a long time is just heartwarming.” Jacquie Berglund ’87, 2014 Spirit of Augsburg award recipient HOMECOMING AND REUNION BREAKFAST 8 to 9:20 a.m. HOMECOMING CHAPEL 10 a.m. TASTE OF AUGSBURG 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family fun takes over Murphy Square park with carnival-style booths, great food, student groups, and games. HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME VS. UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS 1 p.m. AUGGIE BLOCK PARTY 3:30 to 6 p.m. Enjoy live music, s’mores, and a post-game social hour. ALUMNI NEWS THE YOUNG ALUMNI COUNCIL The mission of the Young Alumni Council is to provide opportunities to engage young alumni through planning and hosting networking, fundraising, and volunteering events and programs. In May, Auggies joined the Rev. Mike Matson ’06 and his congregation during an annual rummage sale at Bethany Lutheran Church in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. This summer the Young Alumni Council hosted a sold-out gathering at a St. Paul Saints game in June and an evening at Canterbury Park in July, bringing more than 600 Auggies together. If you’ve graduated within the past 10 years and are interested in joining this growing group of active alumni, contact Katie Radford ’12, volunteer and alumni engagement manager, at radford@augsburg.edu. FINAL EVENT OF THE SEASON Summer Series: On Tap Monday, August 10 5:30 to 8 p.m. | Surly Brewery Build your Auggie network and learn how fellow alumni are fulfilling their vocations today. Appetizers and two drink tickets provided. Tickets: $10 To register, call 612-330-1085 or visit augsburg.edu/alumnievents. To learn more about the Young Alumni Council members, go to augsburg.edu/now. Courtesy Photo Buy a brick. Honor a friendship. “We came together to buy a brick in honor of the strong friendships we formed at Augsburg and the memories we continue to make among our families.” –Brittany Jakubiec ’96 There is still time to participate in the campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion! Buy a brick as a tribute to the bonds that helped to create your Augsburg story. 30 • Augsburg will inscribe a brick with your name, the name of someone you’d like to honor, or a special message. • Each brick will be displayed in the CSBR, creating a lasting legacy for the future of the College. • Augsburg alumnae from the class of 1996 support the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. You will receive official recognition of your participation in this program. • Front Row [L to R]: Brittany (Lynch) Jakubiec, Jennifer (Cummings) Ackland, Wendy Laine, Brooke (Manisto) Reseland. Back Row [L to R]: Connie (Arndt) Clausen, Stephanie Harms, Jodi Monson, Natasha (Solberg) Sheeley. The first 500 to buy a brick will receive a VIP invitation to the CSBR dedication. Foundation Brick (40 characters, 3 lines) = $250 Legacy Brick (80 characters, 6 lines) = $500 Augsburg Now augsburg.edu/csbr | 612-330-1085 ALUMNI NEWS A mix of current students, alumni, and former faculty serve as the backup band for one of the Midnimo artists. Somali-British musician Aar Maanta (far right) practices with musicians [L to R]: Kyle Burbey ’15, Steve Herzog ’06, Andy Peterson ’05, and Ben Somers. BEHIND THE MUSIC Auggie backup band’s role helps bridge cultures and generations Augsburg College students, alumni, and faculty have helped bring a cuttingedge musical partnership to life by performing alongside the rising voices of the Somali music scene and even some “super stars.” Midnimo was awarded one of six $200,000 grants from the highly competitive Building Bridges: Campus Community Engagement program by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. Midnimo, the Somali word for “unity,” is a two-year partnership between Augsburg and the Cedar Cultural Center to bring Somali artists to Minnesota for educational residencies and concerts. This unique opportunity is supported by a prestigious $200,000 grant award and a number of Auggies—including Faculty Emeritus Bob Stacke ’71—whose crosscultural relationship building and love for performance set the stage for a truly intergenerational, intercultural musical immersion. At concerts held through Midnimo, artists ranging from the pop collective North American Super Stars to SomaliBritish singer-songwriter Aar Maanta played alongside backup ensembles comprised of a mix of Auggie students, alumni, and former faculty whose own musical gifts and talents helped make Midnimo a critically acclaimed program. For many of the Auggies, participating in Midnimo has offered the opportunity to join a partnership that’s the first of its kind in the nation and to do what they love best: play. Bob Stacke ’71, retired associate professor of music, is known and respected for his crosscultural percussion performances. Stacke’s deep musical connections were critical in forging the partnership between the College, the Cedar Cultural Center, and visiting artists. Steve Herzog ’06 [pictured, right] was selected by Bob Stacke ’71 to write and arrange the music for Midnimo visiting artists. Herzog often has needed to transcribe and arrange music in less than a week. Through this work, Herzog has been inspired to develop a program for engaging Somali youth in the advancement of Somali music. He’s also pursuing a master’s degree in education at Augsburg. See a clip of the band performing with Aar Maanta at augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2015 31 ALUMNI NEWS AUGGIES FIND LEADERSHIP IN inneapolis shoppers can find a little Auggie Pride in an unexpected location—a secondhand clothing store that is an active illustration of Augsburg College’s mission, which includes collaborating with others to serve the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and providing students with hands-on learning opportunities. Sisterhood Boutique (2200 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis) has been a training ground for young, Cedar- the idea of opening a clothing store. Richardson, who in high school founded a secondhand clothing store through Youth Express, an after-school program in St. Paul, used her retail experience and business management training to help the women get started. First, she collaborated with a youth social entrepreneur coordinator, a store founder, and other interested young women to develop a paid internship program for the boutique. The program provides young Augsburg College alumnae Yasameen Sajady ’11 and Stella Richardson ’15 serve the Sisterhood Boutique. Riverside neighborhood women in entrepreneurship, business, community partnerships, and sustainable fashion since its opening in February 2014. Since then, 60 women ages 14 to 23 have participated as staff and interns, and two Auggies—Stella Richardson ’15 and Yasameen Sajady ’11—have played roles on the store’s leadership team. Two years ago, East African women in the Youth Social Entrepreneur Program at the Brian Coyle Center, a neighborhood resource and community center, began envisioning a way to empower young women in the area. The women worked with Richardson, then an intern at Brian Coyle Center, to explore 32 Augsburg Now East African women with professional development, peer-to-peer mentoring, and classroom training, followed by three months of employment in the store. The founders of the boutique also collaborated with Augsburg’s Director of Community Engagement Mary Laurel True, who has been integral to the store’s success. Community engagement for Auggies happens both on and off campus—and when True learned about the vision for a women’s entrepreneurial project in the neighborhood, she ensured that Augsburg joined with other community groups to make the innovative business venture a reality. True serves as the Augsburg liaison to the program, is a mentor for the staff and interns, and has been on the Sisterhood’s Advisory Committee since the beginning. Seizing the opportunity for realworld training, classes on campus got into the act. A group of Augsburg MBA students created a business plan for the store through a management consulting class project. Christopher Houltberg, assistant professor of art, led Sisterhood interns in a branding exercise and assisted with the design of a boutique logo; classes taught by Marc Isaacson, assistant professor of business, provided website recommendations; and, through clothing drives, Residence Life collected thousands of pounds of clothing to donate to the startup. Today, Augsburg alumna Sajady manages the Sisterhood Boutique. Sajady, a business marketing major, was hired last November through Pillsbury United Communities to lead Brian Coyle’s Youth Entrepreneur Program. Under her leadership as the operations coordinator, the Sisterhood Boutique has exceeded its social media and community engagement goals. The program is supported by Fairview Health Services, an institution that, like Augsburg, is committed to its role as a community partner. Fairview donated a vacant retail space to the Brian Coyle Center for workforce development. Additional donors and community partners include the Foundation of Minnesota, Sundance Family Foundation, Marbrook Foundation, and Women Investing in the Next Generation (WINGs) Fund of the Greater Twin Cities United Way. ALUMNI NEWS CULTURAL TRAVEL Courtesy Photos WITH AUGGIES A ugsburg organizes international tours for the College’s alumni, parents, families, and friends. Each customized trip is led by Augsburg faculty members whose distinction and expertise adds to a uniquely Augsburg experience. Celebrating Lutheran heritage in Germany and the Czech Republic Mark Tranvik and Hans Wiersma, Religion Department faculty members, host this journey through Germany and the city of Prague October 27-November 6, 2016, celebrating Lutheran heritage in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Cultural immersion in Thailand and Cambodia English Professor Kathy Swanson, who is fluent in Thai, will lead this exploration through Thailand and Cambodia January 3-15, 2017. This voyage takes travelers to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha), and floating markets. It continues to Chiang Mai for elephant rides, an authentic cooking class, and volunteer work at a local orphanage. The journey concludes in Siem Reap at Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. If you are interested in traveling with fellow alumni, contact Sally Daniels Herron ’79 at herron@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1525. To learn about Augsburg cultural travel opportunities, go to augsburg.edu/alumni/travel. Summer 2015 33 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1963 After serving as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Vista, California, since 1969, the Rev. Beryl Droegemueller retired in April. Over the course of his 45 years of shepherding the congregation, membership grew from 125 to more than 1,000. During those four decades, the church opened preschool, elementary school, middle school, and extended daycare programs. Droegemueller trained 37 pastoral interns through the church’s vicarage program and, in the early 1970s, worked with church members to develop a new mission church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran in Oceanside, California. He led Faith Lutheran through the construction of the sanctuary, a parish hall, an early childhood center, and offices. Together with members of the congregation, Droegemueller was instrumental in building a multi-level care retirement facility, now Rancho Vista retirement community, which was dedicated in 1981. When he talks about the projects and productivity, he points to his “very dedicated, creative, and hardworking members” and his staff. Along with his doctor of ministry degree, he earned a law degree, which he said was helpful in the many building projects. He assisted area churches with numerous legal challenges and served as circuit counselor and chairman of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod board of directors. The Minnesota native entered Concordia Lutheran Seminary after a year of working for a bank and following graduation from Augsburg with a double major in history and English. Jean (Bagley) Humphrey married her husband, Roger, one week after graduation. Nancy (Bloomfield) Bottemiller and Ruth (Sather) Sorenson were her bridesmaids. The Humphreys moved to the Boston/Cambridge area where they lived in married student housing at the Massachusetts Institute of As a public relations expert, Kari (Eklund) Logan ’82 assists clients in raising awareness about topics that range from education to urban forestry and from financial services to the arts. At CEL Public Relations, Logan leads a media relations team and couples her talents in writing and networking to serve her clients. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. Technology and had their two children. After five years, they moved to California where Roger’s first job was with Chevron Oil. They lived in California for 38 years. Nine Bagley children attended Augsburg including Robert Bagley ’58, who went on to Luther Seminary, and Yvonne (Bagley) Olson ’52, who lived with Gerda Mortensen and married Orville Olson ’52. 1967 Jerilyn (Bjugstad) Wibbens is the choral director of the NW Nordic Ladies Chorus of Everett, Washington. The group recently performed with other Nordic choruses in a Seattle-area celebration of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. They sang “Finlandia” with the Seattle Symphony. In May, Robert and Sandra (Syverts) ’68 Benson were grand marshals for Trout Days in Preston, Minnesota. The Bensons remain active in this community where Bob served as a county judge. Bob (now retired) is a certified firearms instructor and a retired fireman. Sandra is the founder of the Preston Farmers Market. 1970 Ray Hanson is working for Goldbelt Raven as an assistant program manager for chemical forensics at the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency. His role supports the Chemical and Biological Defense Directorate in Washington, D.C., which is developing forensic methods for detecting signatures for chemical threat agents. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 1982 Diane (Peterson) Kachel is now a clinical research manager for Metro Urology, the largest urology private practice network in Minnesota. In this newly created position within the organization’s management team, she is responsible for managing all aspects of the research program in addition to developing new research opportunities and scalable research infrastructure across multiple clinical sites and patient conditions. 34 Augsburg Now 2008 Jay Matchett ’08, ’13 MAL was named director of Our Neighbors’ Place, a social service agency, in River Falls, Wisconsin. The social service agency includes a day center, shelter for families, community closet, classes, and a successful backpack program. He cites Tim Pippert, associate professor of sociology, and Andy Aoki, professor of political science, as strong influences during his time at Augsburg. Matchett believes he truly has found his path to vocation. He would like to establish a partnership with Augsburg’s social work program so that Our Neighbors’ Place may serve as an internship site for current students. ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1972 After more than 40 years of regional sales management and marketing for two Fortune 500 companies, James Piepenburg has retired and lives in the Phoenix metro area with his wife, Lucy. He has two great daughters, Krista and Jaime, along with son-in-law, Chris, and 12-year-old grandson, Nicolas. Currently, Piepenburg is doing parttime art consultation with Thomas Kinkade Art Gallery of Arizona. music therapy and has done additional study at Colorado’s Center for Biomedical Research in Music. 1988 Kiel Christianson is associate chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign. He is an associate professor of educational psychology, psychology, and linguistics, and he directs the EdPsych Curt Rice ’84 has been chosen to lead Norway’s largest university college, taking charge of Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences as rector on August 1. Rice received his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Augsburg. His wife, Tove Dahl ’84, is a professor at the University of Tromsø, Norway, and is the dean of Concordia Language Villages’ Norwegian camp, Skogfjorden. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. John Sherman, sports editor of Sun Newspapers, has been inducted into the Minnesota State Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Sherman said he was truly honored to join the ranks of Stan Nelson ’43, Dave Nelson, Sid Hartman, Bronko Nagurski, and Ray Christensen in the Hall of Fame. Psycholinguistics Lab at the Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology. In his spare time, he is a senior writer for the Golf Channel websites, where he writes about golf, golf travel, golf courses, and golf equipment. He lives in Mahomet, Illinois, with his wife, Jen, and their two children. 1978 1989 Steve Hoffmeyer is interim general counsel and executive director of the new Minnesota Public Employment Relations Board. He also teaches business law classes at the University of Phoenix campus in Minnesota and arbitrates labor cases outside of the state. 1979 Phil Madsen and wife, Diane, moved into the fitness business, opening their first Anytime Fitness franchise gym in July 2014 in Port Orange, Florida. A second gym will follow in nearby New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Phil says, “This is a wonderful opportunity. The franchise business model is sound, we interact with members in truly personal and lifechanging ways, and we get to improve our own health and fitness like never before.” 1982 Sandra (Walter) Holten, a music therapist who specializes in caring for people with Parkinson’s, was featured on Minnesota Public Radio in March for her work with Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota. She has a bachelor’s in Leah (Parker) Maves graduated from Luther Seminary in May 2014 with a master’s in children, youth, and family ministry. She received her first call on December 22 to the Tomorrow River Lutheran Parish in Amherst and Nelsonville, Wisconsin. She was commissioned and installed on February 11 by Bishop Gerald Mansholt. 1991 Stephanie (Grochow) Trump has been elected to serve as the choral vice president of the Minnesota Music Educators’ Association. 1992 Todd Lange was honored with the Albert Lea (Minnesota) Area Schools’ 2015 Teacher of the Year award. He teaches high school English. Sharol (Dascher) Tyra is a professional certified coach and mentor for leadership development at Life Illumination Coaching. Tyra has been a mentor to Augsburg students since 2011. She will serve as president of the Minnesota charter chapter of the International Coach Federation, and she represented ICF Minnesota at four global leadership forums. 1998 Raylene Dale (Navara) Streed has been appointed executive director of the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank at the University of Minnesota. Streed has served in other leadership positions, including as interim executive director and technical director. Streed graduated from Augsburg with a bachelor’s degree in biology. 1999 Scott Hvistendahl manages the event department at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, where he is a member of the football coaching staff. He enjoys being involved with football and having a chance to work with fellow coaches in developing players in a Christian environment as well as helping them to grow as men on and off the field. Hvistendahl and his wife, Alisha, have two children: Macey and Jordan. The couple met through an Augsburg staff member who knew Scott from football and Alisha through athletic training. Jenna (Bracken) Held ’05 is following in the footsteps of her mother, Jane (Catlin) Bracken ’71, by serving as a teacher and pursuing her love of working with children. Last year, after having taught fourth and fifth grade for eight years, Jenna switched to first grade at Lincoln Center in South St. Paul, Minnesota. She enjoys working in the community where she lives. She met her husband, Andrew Held ’05, at Augsburg and started to date him after doing homework together for Calculus II. They welcomed their third child in June. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. Summer Spring 2014 2015 Fall 2014 17 35 37 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Josh Krob ’08, ’15 MBA was granted a prestigious “Twin Cities Finest” award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in recognition of his extensive community volunteer efforts and professional growth. A believer in the value of lifelong learning, Krob earned his MBA at Augsburg seeking to expand his understanding of how to be an effective leader. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. 2001 Maggie Tatton was among those named “40 Under 40” honorees by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. This honor includes young business and community leaders from throughout the Twin Cities. Tatton is partner at Lindquist & Vennum, P.L.L.P. 2002 Brent Peroutka was featured in the Faribault (Minnesota) Daily News as a “40 Under 40” honoree for his community achievements and career in finance. A financial advisor at Comprehensive Wealth Solutions. Peroutka holds a business administration/finance degree from Augsburg. The best part of his day is helping his clients achieve their goals, he says. “We can make a difference each and every day, whether it’s at home, at work, or in the community.” with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to help improve the lives of those with disabilities. 2012 Lauren Grafelman is the 2015 Business Administration Scholar Award recipient at Hamline University. This award is given to the university’s top MBA student based on academic performance and leadership within the program. Grafelman was honored with this award at a graduation and recognition reception in May. 2013 Mike Lanski is in a long-term position with U.S. Bank. He also has started his second season with the Minnesota Twins, working as an usher, and he is in his 10th year with the Minnesota Wild in the same capacity. Madalyn Johnson is employed as a promotions assistant at 1500 ESPN Radio at Hubbard Broadcasting. Matt McGinn ’13 talks coffee on page 14. 2014 Janelle Holte was accepted into the U.S. Peace Corps and departed for Jamaica in March to serve as an agriculture extension volunteer. During the first three months of her service, Holte lived with a host family in Jamaica to learn the local language and integrate into the local culture. Holte will work with her community to identify resources and agriculture projects that can be developed and implemented to generate income. She also will facilitate training in farm management and work with schools to enhance and expand environmental education. Anika Clark ’14 discussed the research she conducted in Africa with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. See page 22. 2015 Ben Menzies graduated in May and is about to begin a master’s program at the University of Minnesota in integrated behavioral health. He and Shira Bilinkoff are looking forward to their wedding in fall 2016. 2008 Justin Reese has been named head football coach for Fridley (Minnesota) High School. A native of Houston, Texas, Reese earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education at Augsburg and went on to earn a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Minnesota. His vision for the Fridley football program is to inspire academic and athletic excellence in students by challenging them to achieve the highest level of personal development. 2010 Michael Polis was nominated for the “32 Under 32” awards. This honor was created in partnership with the Advertising Federation to recognize the top young Minnesota marketing and advertising professionals. 2011 Samantha Drost was appointed to the State Quality Council for a twoyear term. The council works in partnership 36 Augsburg Now Meghan (Armstrong) Peyton ’14 MAL is the head men’s and women’s cross country coach and assistant track coach at Augsburg College. Augsburg, she says, has opened her eyes in many ways. Her time at the College has shown her the joy of serving others and becoming a more thoughtful steward and responsible leader. She wants to continue to make a difference in the lives of future Auggie alumni. Peyton and her high school sweetheart, Cole, were married in 2010 and live in Richfield, Minnesota, with their pets. In 2008, she joined Team USA Minnesota, a post-collegiate distance training center that encourages holistic development. In 2013, she won the U.S. 20K Championship. You can “track” her successes and find her personal best records at meghanpeyton.com. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL has taken a position with the University of Minnesota as lead of the Creative Services team in University Relations, the central marketing office. She works closely with the university’s brand. Anna Coskran ’09 MBA has been named a principal of NTH, a Twin Cities real estate and project management firm where she has worked since 1998. With more than 15 years of real estate experience, she has worked with a diverse array of clients including The Minneapolis Foundation, the Star Tribune, and Xcel Energy. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 2001 Hilary English Crook and her husband, Jacob Seljan, welcomed Lovisa Emily Seljan on March 30. Both Lovisa and big brother, Britton, are sporting their Augsburg gear! Chris Wolf ’09 MAN was named chief nursing officer of a medical element of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Jordan Moore ’12 MBA and his wife, Jen, became parents on March 27 with the birth of their daughter, Carla Jo. Jim Miles ’14 MBA recently published “Hero,” a middle grade novel. In addition to writing as a lifelong passion, “Hero” is the result of Miles’ MBA program. He came to Augsburg to learn how to give artistic projects the business legs they needed to walk and thrive. He named one of his supporting characters after Magda Paleczny-Zapp, associate professor of business. Magda Corbett originally was conceived as a minor character, but she quickly became a rather significant part of the story, which Miles considers the result of the influence of the name. For more information on “Hero,” go to coltonsilver.com. Submit a Class Note Please tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and births. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/connect to submit your announcements. 2007 Sarah (Gilbert) Clay and her husband, Ryan, welcomed Oscar Leo Clay on March 19. 2010 Matt and Sarah (Thiry) Solberg celebrated their marriage on August 8, 2014. Auggies in the wedding party included maid of honor Hannah Thiry ’17, Emily Wiles, and Dan Thewis. 2012 Courtney Gamrath and J.P. Perpich were married on August 15, 2014. Summer 2015 37 In memoriam Ingeborg C. Garborg ’38, Grand Marais, Minnesota, age 94, on January 20. Euna G. Nelson ’50, Evansville, Minnesota, age 86, on March 18. James S. Carlson ’55, Richfield, Minnesota, age 88, on October 12. Darwin G. Thorbeck ’60, Charleston, South Carolina, age 76, on January 26. Bernice A. (Westman) Giguere ’39, Columbia Heights, Minnesota, age 97, on April 26. Kerman J. Benson ’51, Victoria, Minnesota, age 85, on January 13. Lyle I. Hunter ’55, Cathedral City, California, age 85, on September 27. James F. Redeske ’61, Golden Valley, Minnesota, age 75, on February 16. Karl I. Krohn ’41, Memphis, Tennessee, age 95, on February 7. John “Al” A. Johnson ’51, Maplewood, Minnesota, age 88, on January 7. Eileen M. (Wirkkunen) Thompson ’55, Astoria, Oregon, age 81, on January 23. Kay L. (Hanenburg) Madson ’62, Minneapolis, age 74, on January 21. Thelma (Sydnes) Monson ’41, San Diego, age 95, on April 27. Raymond V. Trochmann ’51, Ulen, Minnesota, age 93, on March 29. Laurayne R. (Helgerson) Solberg ’56, Stoughton, Wisconsin, age 91, on October 20. Paul R. Engwall ’64, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 75, on May 14. Philip “Phil” W. Rowberg, Sr. ’41, Chico, California, age 95, on March 24. Marion M. (Myrvik) Buska ’46, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age 90, on January 18. Willard “Bud” W. Glade ’49, Dows, Iowa, age 94, on March 1. Georgette F. (Lanes) Ario ’50, Minneapolis, age 86, on January 17. Irving R. Burling ’50, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 87, on April 16. Bernice A. (Larson) Howell ’50, Beltsville, Maryland, age 89, on January 30. 38 Augsburg Now Elmer H. Hanson ’52, Elk Mound, Wisconsin, age 90, on February 24. Karl D. Puterbaugh ’52, Eagan, Minnesota, age 86, on March 22. Dennis H. Erickson ’58, Rochester, Minnesota, age 85, on March 10. Lorents J. Flak ’58, Santa Rosa, California, age 83, on March 8. Berton R. Hushagen ’53, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 87, on February 16. Jon W. Matala ’58, Carver, Minnesota, age 78, on March 15. Harold E. Peterson ’53, Bella Vista, Arkansas, age 89, on April 1. Ronald “Ron” J. Stave ’58, Minneapolis, age 83, on March 7. Gloria M. (Parizek) Thorpe ’53, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, age 84, on May 5. Nancy Bauman ’59, Rochester, Minnesota, age 78, on April 10. Lloyd A. Nelson ’54, Willmar, Minnesota, age 91, on January 27. James “Jim” A. Noble ’60, Grand Blanc, Michigan, age 76, on January 25. Wayne E. Myrvik ’64, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 72, on February 7. Gary E. Utoft ’64, Owatonna, Minnesota, age 72, on February 23. Kathryn “Kathy” A. (Lundby) Young ’64, Williamsburg, Virginia, age 72, on March 9. Lowell H. Asplund ’65, Butterfield, Minnesota, age 73, on February 6. Anita M. (Gransee) Christopherson ’65, Belle Plaine, Minnesota, age 71, on April 28. Neil C. Sideen ’65, Howard Lake, Minnesota, age 71, on March 6. Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300 ppi or a 1 MB file.) For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni/connect. ______________________________________________________ Full name ______________________________________________________ Maiden name ______________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ______________________________________________________ Street address ______________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP code Karen L. (Torkelson) Leverentz ’66, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 70, on February 7. Magdalen A. (Ardolf) Miller ’75, Silver Lake, Minnesota, age 91, on January 20. Richard “Rick” A. Niles ’67, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 69, on March 6. Robert “Bob” A. Roberge ’77, Rochester, Minnesota, age 60, on March 7. Mary M. (Dolan) Peterson ’67, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, age 69, on March 25. Eunice C. (Holmes) Johnson ’80, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, age 84, on February 28. Russell E. Ilstrup ’68, Buffalo, Minnesota, age 70, on March 21. Lori L. (Johnson) Rosenkvist ’81, St. Paul, age 55, on March 25. Ronald A. Nilsson ’68, Wheaton, Illinois, age 69, on January 9. Timothy J. Beck ’83, St. Paul, age 53, on March 30. Nancy E. Stevens ’68, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 68, on December 29. Jeffrey T. Miller ’94, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 52, on January 29. Ronald L. Danckwart ’72, Lake City, Minnesota, age 64, on February 25. Alfred “Al” A. Drears ’11, St. Paul, age 51, on March 24. James E. Ericksen ’72, Edina, Minnesota, age 68, on January 27. Max D. Bassinson ’17, Minneapolis, age 23, on March 7. Alan C. Kelsey ’73, St. Paul, age 63, on January 19. Professor Emeritus Jerry Gerasimo, Menomonie, Wisconsin, age 84, on April 4. Ronald “Ron” A. Hart ’75, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, age 62, on March 9. Longtime staff member Irene Steenson, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 102, on April 18. Is this a new address? q Yes q No ______________________________________________________ Home telephone ______________________________________________________ Email Okay to publish your email address? q Yes q No ______________________________________________________ Employer ______________________________________________________ Position ______________________________________________________ Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No If yes, class year___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable) Your news: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before May 20. Summer 2015 39 In memoriam Courtesy Photo JAMES E. ERICKSEN ’72 James E. Ericksen ’72, whose life was marked by his commitment to faith and passion for the arts, passed away in January at age 68, leaving Augsburg an unexpected and extraordinary bequest of more than $5 million. To honor his legacy, the majority of Ericksen’s gift will be designated to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Part of this gift will honor Ericksen’s faith and be directed to Christ Auditorium, the 80-seat classroom at the heart of the new building. In tribute to his love of music, a renovation to Sateren Auditorium and its lobby also will be named for Ericksen. His gift was one of the largest estate gifts in Augsburg’s history. “We wish so much that we could have thanked him during his lifetime,” said Heather Riddle, vice president of Institutional Advancement. Ericksen graduated from Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis in 1964 and enrolled at Augsburg College that fall. While still a student, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. Ericksen returned to Augsburg College after his service, finished his business administration degree with an emphasis in accounting, and graduated with the 139-member class of 1972. A history minor, Ericksen later told Augsburg staff that Carl Chrislock, remembered as one of Minnesota’s preeminent U.S. historians and a professor emeritus of history at the College, was one of Ericksen’s favorites. He returned to Augsburg College several times over the years to attend concerts, particularly those for which his piano instructors served as accompanists. A loyal public servant The entrance to the Sateren Auditorium lobby. 40 Augsburg Now After starting his career at Polaris, Ericksen worked as an auditor for the State of Minnesota Department of Revenue for 31 years before retiring in 2009. Along the way, he invested wisely and lived carefully. “Nobody knew much about him, including his family,” said his cousin, Robert Quick. But they knew he loved history, travel, and classical music—especially symphonies. In mid-life, Ericksen began piano lessons at MacPhail Center for Music, where he studied with Victoria and Dan Sabo for many years. Friend and piano instructor Janet Holdorf described Ericksen as “so sincere and ardent in his appreciation of music making.” He didn’t consider himself much of a musician, but he enjoyed learning and playing. His home was equipped with a large sound system and filled with carefully cared-for albums, many of them the symphonies he loved so much. Ericksen traveled often, venturing to France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. He took long driving trips, eventually visiting nearly all 50 of the United States and taking time to explore each destination’s history. When he was at home in the Twin Cities, he attended Bible study at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. In his will, Ericksen remembered many family members, friends, and organizations dear to him. Doctor of Nursing Practice Master of Arts in Nursing Master of Arts in Education Master of Arts in Leadership Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Master of Music Therapy Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Master of Social Work TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW ALUMNI AND FAMILY DISCOUNTS FOR GRADUATE DEGREES augsburg.edu/grad/discount GRADUATE PROGRAM TUITION DISCOUNT FOR ALUMNI Many of Augsburg’s current graduate students are alumni who earned their first degree at Augsburg and returned to pursue further education. Become a part of this growing group and take advantage of our Alumni Tuition Discount—a savings of $80 per credit! Auggie graduates who’ve earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from Augsburg qualify for this alumni discount. Additionally, parents or spouses of alumni and current students are eligible to receive the Family Grant of $80 per credit on graduate programs. gradinfo@augsburg.edu | 612-330-1101 * This alumni discount also applies to Augsburg graduates who are currently Summer 2015Fall 2015. 25 enrolled in a graduate program at Augsburg effective Photo illustration by Stephen Geffre. Photos courtesy of D3sports.com and NCAA. 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031 Auggies win 12th national wrestling title The Augsburg College wrestling team claimed its record 12th NCAA Division III national championship, winning two individual national crowns and earning six All-Americans in the finals of the national tournament. Heavyweight Donny Longendyke ’17 [pictured, left] joined 125-pound back-to-back national champion Mike Fuenffinger ’15 [pictured, right] in earning top individual honors. Augsburg also swept the awards presented by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about the College’s national tournament win.
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Title: Augsburg Now Fall 2008
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW FALL 2008 VOL. 71, NO. 1 inside auggies 1 Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Nursing Years of Life-Changing at the grassroots level Travel that transforms Clever student + wise professor + Travel expert alum = awesome discovery Ready, action, page film20 suc...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW FALL 2008 VOL. 71, NO. 1 inside auggies 1 Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Nursing Years of Life-Changing at the grassroots level Travel that transforms Clever student + wise professor + Travel expert alum = awesome discovery Ready, action, page film20 success! Street pastoring in Wales get political Editor notes from President Pribbenow Our neighbors o ne of the most compelling moments in the Christian scriptures is the question asked of Jesus by one of his disciples: “And who is my neighbor?” His answer, of course, is the parable of the Good Samaritan. For me, the disciple’s question is at the heart of the mission and vision of Augsburg College—a question that is at once theological, reflecting our understanding of what God intends for us to be and do, and also educational and practical, helping us to link our learning with service. So, let’s do some theology! Ask yourself— who is my neighbor? Is it the Somali woman I met this morning on Riverside Avenue struggling to carry her groceries home from the bus stop? Or is it the family in the ravines of Cuernavaca, Mexico, who will offer me both refreshments and life lessons when I meet them on a Center for Global Education trip? Or is it my classmate, who is struggling with balancing school with life at work and home, and who needs my time and comfort? Once the question is asked, we are compelled, as was Jesus himself, to answer with stories and parables—stories of how being educated at Augsburg prepares us to serve our neighbors no matter when or where we encounter them. In that way, the question leads us to think about the links between learning and service. A central aspect of an Augsburg education is to nurture and sustain the work of civic engagement—the practices of citizenship, negotiating our lives together, navigating what political philosopher and Roman Catholic theologian John Courtney Murray once called the “intersection of conspiracies,” his definition of democracy. Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Creative Director Kathy Rumpza rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski nagorski@augsburg.edu Here at Augsburg, we believe we are called to serve our neighbor. I am so proud of our Augsburg community for its abiding commitment to civic engagement, to meeting the needs of our neighbors—there are abundant examples of ways in which students, staff, faculty, regents, parents, and alumni are modeling for all of us and the rest of the community what it means to be reflective, productive, and responsible citizens of our campus, our neighborhood, and our world. At the same time, I want to challenge all of us to think at an even deeper level about the work of civic engagement, to see it not simply as acts of service and compassion, but also as the abiding and messy business—the lifelong business—of being educated, of building communities of trust and accountability, and of helping to create a more just and humane world. The stories in this issue of Augsburg Now about the Center for Global Education (CGE) offer fine examples of how the Augsburg community has answered the question of “Who is my neighbor?” time and again in parts of the world where our neighbors are partners in the work of teaching and learning. We celebrate CGE’s remarkable legacy and promise in Augsburg’s continuing and common work to serve our neighbors. Yours, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication David Warch warch@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, Minn., 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 a fall 2008 Features 14 Lights, camera, and action by Bethany Bierman A new film major has come of age and now attracts students from around the world. augsburg now 19 Get Political! by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Augsburg students got up front and backstage as interns for The Washington Center at the Republican National Convention. 24 Travel that transforms by Betsey Norgard contents Augsburg’s Center for Global Education reached the quarter decade mark last year and continues to transform the way students and participants view global issues and challenges. 29 Annual report to donors, 2007-08 Departments 2 4 6 13 45 56 Around the Quad It takes an Auggie Auggies on the Field Augsburg Voices Alumni News and Class Notes My Auggie Experience On the cover (L to R) Erik Franzen, Mai Lee, and Ben Krouse-Gagne—three of Augsburg’s interns for The Washington Center at the Republican National Convention—each found unexpected discoveries in the experience. Editor’s note: Welcome to Augsburg Now’s new look! If you visited us at the State Fair last summer or at our Web site lately, you’ve noticed more vibrancy and energy— with just a touch of edginess. We’re in the city and we’re all about learning by doing—whether it’s in the classroom, on the playing field, around the world, or on the floor of the Republican National Convention. Please let us know what you think, or what you’d like to see in the Now. Auggies are everywhere, and we want to connect with you. E-mail us at now@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1181. — Betsey Norgard, editor All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. around the quad Regents elected and honored Five new members were elected to four-year terms on the Augsburg Board of Regents at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Corporation Governing Board in September. In addition, Anthony L. Genia Jr., MD ’85, was re-elected to a second fouryear term. Mark A. Eustis, president and CEO of Fairview Health Services. At the board’s fall meeting, outgoing regents were honored for their commitment, loyalty, and service. Those leaving the board after serving several years are Michael Freeman and Beverly (Halling) Oren ’55. Regents who retired after two six-year terms are Rev. Gary Benson ’70, Ron Nelson ’68, and former board chair Ted Grindal ’76. In addition, two ELCA bishops completed ex officio terms: Rev. Harold Usgaard, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, and Rev. Peter Rogness, Saint Paul Area Synod. Three retirees worked closely with students Darrell Wiese ’59 has always had a knack Alexander J. Gonzalez ’90, senior financial advisor at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Eric J. Jolly, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota Gloria C. Lewis, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities Marshall S. Stanton, MD, vice president for clinical research and general manager of the cardiac rhythm disease management business of Medtronic, Inc. Appointed to three-year terms on the board, ex officio, are Bishop Craig E. Johnson, Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA, and Bishop Duane C. Pederson, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA. To read more, go to www.augsburg.edu/regents for finding “diamonds in the rough,” baseball and football players who may not have put up the big numbers in high school, but had the potential to shine. It’s estimated that Wiese, a 1959 Augsburg alumnus, helped to bring literally hundreds of students to Augsburg over the last several decades as a recruiter and assistant coach. For his lifetime of service to Auggie athletics, Wiese was honored with the Distinguished Athletic Service Award this fall. “I always had a genuine concern for youth and athletics, and something always kept drawing me back to Augsburg over the years,” Wiese said. “I would talk about Augsburg and say it was a great school with friendly people; they’ll give you a chance to succeed and get your degree.” After Wiese had been scouting for talent as a volunteer for more than 20 years while still owning and operating his family farm in rural Northfield, Minn., he spent more than a decade as an assistant coach for both the football and baseball teams. Several of his football recruits provided the backbone of the Auggies’ 1997 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title team, the school’s first since 1928. Many of his players were key members of the 2005 MIAC baseball playoff team. “One of the things that strikes me so much about Darrell is his ability to identify potential talent,” said former football coach Jack Osberg, now a football coach and A-Club advancement manager. … “When he recruits, he doesn’t just recruit the athlete, he recruits the family and gets great connections with the families and siblings of the athletes he recruits.” Wiese officially retired from coaching after the 2008 baseball season. A baseball team trophy has been named in his honor—the Darrell Wiese Most Respected Player Award. DON STONER 2 Augsburg Now Retiring faculty and staff, continued Karen Sutherland, professor of computer science, came to Augsburg in 1999 and retired at the end of the academic year in May. Often her students would find her in the small lab in Sverdrup surrounded by computer robots roaming the floor— AIBO dog robots used for their ease in teaching basic programming, and search and rescue robots designed to stay in communication with each other during emergency situations. They were all part of National Science Foundation grant research in which Sutherland collaborated. These projects were at the core of Sutherland’s passion for improving how computer science is taught to non-traditional students, including weekend students, immigrants, women, and first-generation college students. “These students didn’t relate well to computer science and how we were teaching it,” Sutherland said. With the grant funding she could do a better job of both attracting and retaining non-traditional students. The National Science Foundation CSEMS (Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship) program enabled her to offer scholarships to non-traditional students. She had upper-class students serve as peer mentors to CSEMS students, encouraging them toward career possibilities in computer science. “A number of our young people want to do something to make this world better,” Sutherland says. “They don’t see how computer science is going to help that. You have to show them ways it can, and they have to see how they could make a difference, a mark.” Via e-mail, she keeps in touch with many former students, some who have accepted jobs in industry directly after graduation and others going on to graduate programs. There is no shortage of plans for her retirement, which center around gardening and travel. Even her gardening will keep her near a computer, as she serves as the webmaster for the Garden Club of Ramsey County. At her lake home, she serves as a board member of the lake association, working to promote shoreline conservation and sustainability. Kenneth N. Erickson ’62, in his nearly 40-year tenure teaching physics, allowed students to see just how vast the world is and just what is possible. After one year at Augsburg in the 1960s, Erickson returned in 1970 and never left. For much of that time, he held a shared professorship between Augsburg and the University of Minnesota, cooperating with the University’s physics and astronomy faculty in grant-funded research. “As part of the shared appointment at the “U,” I was able to do a lot of research,” he said. In 1970, Erickson started an active undergrad research program at Augsburg. In 1991, he started the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium, part of a NASA-funded program that provides research and program development grants to students and faculty. “His satellite studies and rocket experiments in Alaska, often involving other scientists from around the globe, gave his students a window to a much wider and very exciting world,” said Mark Engebretsen, an Augsburg colleague. “He helped many of his students catch the excitement of trying to find out new things about our world.” The soft-spoken Erickson is reluctant to discuss his achievements, but colleagues and many former students appreciated Erickson’s teaching and mentoring. Stu Anderson ’78, a current member of Augsburg’s physics faculty and a former student, said, “He displayed the art of an excellent teacher—to invite students into the voyage of discovery, to develop an appetite and tolerance for mathematical complexity, and to give students like me the courage to be persistent.” Matt Broughton ’06, a physics and English major who was awarded a Fullbright grant called Erickson—who has a scholarship established in his name—“the best instructor he had in college.” Now Erickson is staying busy by growing corn and soybeans and raising cattle on his farm near Cambridge, Minn. “I haven’t done much physics lately,” he joked. WENDI WHEELER BETSEY NORGARD Fall 2008 3 it takes an Auggie New President’s Circle recognizes annual giving During Homecoming Week, President Pribbenow announced the creation of the President’s Circle, a new giving society that recognizes annual gifts of $1,000 or more, at several levels of support. By recognizing all current gifts, the President’s Circle shares the Augsburg story among greater numbers of alumni and donors and builds stronger connections with the College today. Within the President’s Circle, one of the top funding priorities of the College is the Augsburg Fund, which provides support across a range of critical needs of the College. Most important is the financial support made possible through the Augsburg Fund that helps the College fulfill its promise to a richly diverse student body. Financial support makes an Augsburg education possible for more than 85% of its students. The Augsburg Fund also provides needed support for current technology to improve teaching and learning, faculty recruitment and retention, facilities maintenance and renovation, and opportunities for community events and services. “There’s no other way to give to so many priorities—to touch the lives of so many students in so many different ways—than through the Augsburg Fund,” says Jeremy Wells, vice president for institutional advancement. “It’s giving that moves Augsburg forward just as it also honors its past.” The President’s Circle Challenge, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, will match all increases in gifts to the Augsburg Fund up to $1,000 for those who become charter members of the President’s Circle. President’s Circle members will receive a special pin and a new, members’ e-newsletter plus invitations to special events and other benefits offered for support at higher levels. Sven Oftedal Society honors Augsburg’s legacy Augsburg’s Heritage Society, which recognizes donors who have made a future gift commitment to the College, has a new name and identity—the Sven Oftedal Society, named for the second person appointed to Augsburg’s faculty, who became the College’s third president and chaired the Board of Regents for over three decades. During the 1870s, vast numThe recognition of donors who make future gifts to the College bers of immigrants flocked to has been named the Sven Oftedal western and northwestern MinSociety, in honor of Augsburg’s third president, who saved the Col- nesota. Augsburg’s move to Minlege from bankruptcy, ensuring an neapolis in 1872 placed it closer to Augsburg education for the center of Norwegian-American future generations. settlement, but by 1877, the College faced a financial crisis that threatened its very existence. Augsburg was heavily in debt; the region was in an economic depression. Sven Oftedal stepped forward to lead a heroic fundraising effort that saved Augsburg. Oftedal rallied and inspired farmers, merchants, businesses, and churches throughout the 4 Augsburg Now region to support Augsburg’s mission, an effort securing gifts from over 30,000 individuals. Augsburg was no longer a school of a select few—Augsburg truly became a school of the people. Exemplifying Augsburg’s commitment to civic involvement, Oftedal established a community newspaper, was elected to the Minneapolis Board of Education, appointed to the Minneapolis Library Board, and served as the president of Augsburg’s board for 36 years. His legacy of service is honored by Augsburg through the founding of the Oftedal Society to recognize the loyalty and vision of those who make a commitment of future support to the College. “By renaming the planned giving recognition society in honor of Sven Oftedal, we have a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the nature of Augsburg’s foundation—its roots,” noted Jeremy Wells, vice president for institutional advancement, “and to reaffirm that those ideals continue to be the core of the College and its mission. To learn more about the Sven Oftedal Society or making a gift of future support, contact the Office of Planned Giving at 1-800-273-0617 or via e-mail to development@augsburg.edu. Another million-dollar year! • The Augsburg Fund, the College’s annual fund, reached its goal of $1 million—for the third time and the first time outside of a campaign year—ending the fiscal year at $1,001,979. • Important to achieving this goal was the President’s Challenge of $100,000, which resulted in additional giving of nearly $69,000 in new or increased gifts, triggering a total of $158,000 in challenge gifts. This was made possible by Don ’53 and Bev (Halling) Oren ’55 and anonymous donors. • During this last fiscal year, a 100% participation rate was reached with gifts to the annual fund from all members of the Augsburg Board of Regents, the Alumni Board of Directors, and the President’s Cabinet. It’s Augsburg Calling … Mai Yer Vang ’11 Mai Yer Vang was born in Thailand and moved with her family to the U.S. in 1994. When she was in high school, Vang was introduced to Augsburg on a tour with the Upward Bound program. “We had a really good tour guide who showed us everything on campus,” she said. Vang liked Augsburg’s small campus atmosphere and was intrigued by a presentation given by Richard Webb, a counselor for Augsburg’s TRiO program, a U.S. Department of Education program that helps first-generation college students overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to completing their education. “My family is on welfare,” Vang said, “but Richard talked about financial aid and told us that we could go to Augsburg if we wanted to. He helped us understand that a college education was possible.” In fact, Vang became the first in her family of eight children to attend college. She came to Augsburg in the summer, before many of her classmates, for TRiO’s Summer Bridge program, a five-week residential program that introduces students to the college experience with classes, academic support seminars, workshops, and social activities. As a TRiO scholar, Vang must not only maintain a 3.0 GPA each term, she also meets regularly with her TRiO counselor to discuss her academic progress and financial issues. TRiO students complete all of their financial aid application paperwork on their own, an often-daunting procedure many of her peers delegate to parents. Vang is grateful for this experience because she is now helping one of her older sisters complete college and financial aid applications. For two years, Vang has worked as a caller for the Augsburg Fund in Augsburg’s Office of Institutional Advancement. Through her conversations with alumni, Vang has received career advice and has learned more about Augsburg traditions and history. “I learned that Homecoming used to be huge here,” she said, “and there were a lot more dances and royalty and parades during the year than we have now.” To date, Vang and the student caller team have helped raise more than $114,000 for the Augsburg Fund. To learn more about the Augsburg Fund and other ways to support students like Mai Yer Vang, go to www.augsburg.edu/giving. WENDI WHEELER ‘06 Mai Yer Vang ’11 is one of the student callers of Phonathon and enjoys learning about Augsburg in past years from the alumni she calls. Fall 2008 5 Auggies on the field Jordan Berg: Football, physics, and far more Division III athletics is more than simply the games. It’s just as much about academics, family friends, and hobbies. Augsburg senior quarterback Jordan Berg understands the importance of balancing. On the field, the Gaylord, Minn., native is already the most accomplished passer in Augsburg history, owning single-season and career records for passing touchdowns, completions, and yardage. Despite starting his college career at Division II MinnesotaDuluth, Berg is on pace to break the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference career passing record of 7,290 yards. But Berg is more than just a quarterback. He’s also a physics major with a 3.8 GPA. In his time at Augsburg, Berg has taken classes ranging from chemistry to American Sign Language, and Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning. “One of the reasons that Jordan is so successful is his preparedness,” says offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Drew Privette. “He is prepared on the field, in the classroom, and in his social life. If we have a quarterback’s meeting and Jordan also has a big test in one of his classes, he’ll find a way to reschedule the meeting, so he can take care of his first priority, his academics.” Berg, a self-described “motor head,” has a variety of other interests. He restored his own Harley-Davidson motorcycle, complete with a custom paint job. He designed t-shirts for the football team. And Berg designed two tattoos for himself and a few others for his teammates. “Jordan is a unique blend of character, artist, and student-athlete. He is gifted in each of those areas and it is a joy to work with such a colorful and outstanding individual,” said football head coach Frank Haege. KELLY ANDERSON DIERCKS 6 Augsburg Now For the full story, go to www.augsburg.edu/now homecoming ’08 2008 Alumni Awards DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LaRhae (Grindal) Knatterud ’70, specialist on aging, Minnesota Department of Human Resources Dennis Kalpin ’61, retired mathematics teacher and coach, Alexandria, Minn. FIRST DECADE AWARDS Zach Curtis ’98, actor, artistic director, and theatre manager Jeffery Cameron ’96, intellectual property attorney, E.J. Brooks and Associates, PLLC Save the date for Homecoming 2009—September 28-October 3 For more about Homecoming and the alumni awards, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2008 7 Grassroots health care the CENTER CLINIC Augsburg nursing student Eileen Johnson confronts poverty and patient needs at the small, volunteer-run Center Clinic in Dodge Center, Minnesota. arty Alemán has a passion for public health. She is one of Augsburg’s Rochester Campus nursing faculty, and she believes that “greater community and social awareness make a better citizen and a better nurse, no matter where they work.” Thus, it seemed fitting that she, along with the Augsburg nursing program, was chosen by the Center Clinic in Dodge Center, Minnesota, a small, rural, volunteer-staffed clinic, to receive their Social Awareness award at their annual appreciation event. From her office at Olmsted County Public Health, Alemán coordinates a number of the county’s public health nursing positions. As the Community Health II nursing instructor at the Augsburg Rochester Campus, she integrates her knowledge of public health and connections to community health agencies with the course content to be a catalyst for transformation in the lives of most of the Rochester Bachelor of Science in nursing M 8 Augsburg Now (BSN) students. She loves it. She loves introducing her students to a side of health care that few of them have ever seen. Community Health II is Augsburg’s only BSN course with significant clinical hours outside of the classroom; all 48 hours must be spent in community health settings. Alemán notes that about 90% of Rochester BSN students are hospital nurses. “Some students have only worked in surgery where they see a very limited view of patient care. Community health nursing is not such a controlled environment,” she says. It stretches and challenges the students. Alemán helps students to navigate the challenges of a different healthcare culture and to connect the dots of relevance between their work in a large hospital to social justice in the community. To that end, she raises questions within the context of diversity about the uninsured, about poverty and patient needs upon dismissal from the hospital, and about the community resources to meet those needs. She also encourages students to consider health issues in public schools such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual activity, bullying, and obesity. Clinical hours bring the questions of the classroom into the realm of experiential knowledge. Students integrate these experiences, comparing them to their currently held beliefs, and seeing things first hand rather than in text. They return to class and talk about the experiences and how their current belief systems are being challenged. For their clinical hours, students may choose from a number of cultural immersion options or community health settings in Olmsted County or in the county where they reside. Alemán is fluent in Spanish, having spent four years early in her nursing career living and working in Ecuador, and has coordinated and led immersion trips and home stays for students in Nicaragua and Guatemala. It’s obvious that Alemán has a special place in her heart for arranging student placements in county community health settings. She encourages them to divide their time among a variety of agencies and clinics. Her students can be found at the Good Samaritan Medical Clinic, Migrant Health Clinic, Christ United Methodist Church Health Fair, the county jail, and working with church parish nurses. The Center Clinic, directed by Jan Lueth, who is also a public health colleague of Alemán, is a favorite placement for Alemán and her students. Lueth welcomes the students and describes the clinic as “a small non-profit agency staffed by volunteer nurses, nurse practitioners, and Mayo doctors and residents that provides family planning and limited healthcare services to the uninsured and underinsured, many of whom are Latino.” Some of the BSN students have chosen to continue volunteering at the clinic. One student returned for six months as a paid staff member. Since the clinic relies heavily on volunteer hours to stretch their limited revenue, Lueth says their services are invaluable. “Social awareness is an important part of our mission at the Center Clinic,” says Lueth. “We believe that awareness is the first step toward social change.” Part of the clinic’s motivation for giving Alemán and the nursing program the Social Awareness award was that “always their questions and comments challenge us to clarify what we believe and strengthen our determination to continue our mission,” Lueth says. When asked about Alemán’s passion for social awareness, Lueth says, “only a professional like Marty, who truly empathizes and appreciates the complicated world in which our clients reside, and the positive effect that nursing students could experience by exposure to this, would have considered the Center Clinic as a possible clinical site for her students.” She continues, saying the clinic is “a world where, like a messy closet, you can make the conscious choice to close the door, so you don’t have to look at it. But, you still know the mess is there. … Marty puts her foot in the door, so you have to look, have to experience the ‘mess’ at least for a moment.” LIBBY HENSLIN ’06 OPERATIONS AND ADMISSIONS COORDINATOR, ROCHESTER CAMPUS “Social awareness is an important part of our mission at the Center Clinic. Pictured, right: In her community health nursing course, Augsburg student Eileen Johnson (left) is learning from Center Clinic staff person Ramona González (center) about difficulties faced by clinic patients, many of whom are Latinos. We believe that awareness is the first step toward social change.” Fall 2008 9 awesome DISCOVERY clever student + wise professor+ experienced alum = BY WENDI WHEELER AND BETSEY NORGARD Brian Krohn (second from right) poses with the scientists who named the process (“Mcgyan”—from their own names) that they hope will revolutionize the biofuel industry: (L to R) Chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, SarTec vice president Clayton McNeff ’91, Krohn, and SarTec chief scientist Ben Yan. A student’s passion for research Brian Krohn originally came to Augsburg to study film, but after only one semester without any science classes, this lifelong scientist felt “so deprived” that he officially changed his major to chemistry. Even so, he was unsure where the degree would lead him. “I thought with a degree in chemistry, I could only be a teacher or a pharmacist,” he said. Then in the summer of 2006, Krohn received a grant from Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) program. It was support to conduct research, one of his passions. He and his adviser, chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, were both interested in biodiesel, so Krohn set out to find a more efficient way to produce the fuel. Krohn describes the research process as difficult but exciting. “You have to really dig into the whole process and read all the literature to join into the conversation about your topic before you can figure out what you can contribute,” he said. Whereas most undergraduate researchers “do what they are told, like calibrate a machine all day,” according to Krohn, he had more freedom to explore and experiment. Eventually his work led to the discovery of a process that converts animal feedstock to biodiesel. Gyberg advised Krohn to contact alumnus Clayton McNeff ’91, a chemist and vice president of SarTec, a company specializing in yucca-based products and CEO of ZirChrom Separations, a chromatography company. McNeff, his chief scientist at SarTec Ben Yan, and Gyberg took Krohn’s idea and created the “Mcgyan” Process (from their three names), an efficient and environmentally friendly method that will allow McNeff’s new start-up company, Ever Cat Fuels, to produce more than three million gallons of fuel per year at a first-of-its-kind biodiesel plant in Isanti, Minn. Krohn says it was his research and connections through Augsburg, not the discovery itself, that opened doors for him. In fact, he said this opportunity might never have been available if not for McNeff’s ties to the College. “It’s almost unheard of that the vice president of research would sit down with an undergraduate student and his old professor,” he said. clever student 10 Augsburg Now wise professor A professor’s connections to industry It’s an event, says chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, that probably wouldn’t have happened anywhere else in the world. He’s referring to senior Brian Krohn’s research, his relationship with Clayton McNeff ’91, and the partnership that ultimately yielded the invention of the Mcgyan Process. Gyberg, who is beginning his 42nd year teaching at Augsburg, has supervised many student research projects over the years beginning with Richard Olmsted ’69, the husband of current Augsburg chemistry professor Sandra Olmsted ’69, in the summer following their junior year. Krohn began his research by poring over hundreds of abstracts of research on biodiesel. Eventually he found two examples of projects that had been somewhat successful, which had suggested that solid-state strong acids might be effective catalysts for conversion of plant oils to biodiesel. Gyberg knew that this material was used as a bonded solid stationary phase in chromatography, so they attempted a conversion using a batch process that had been used since World War II. Gyberg summed up the results: “It didn’t work.” Then Gyberg recalled a seminar given four years earlier by McNeff on zirconia-based stationary phases used for liquid chromatography and the ease with which it could be bonded with various substances. Gyberg contacted McNeff, and Krohn and Gyberg went to present their research to McNeff at SarTec Corporation. They asked for some bonded strong acid zirconia and again tried a batch process experiment with no success. “Here is where the confluence of events occurred that would not likely have happened anywhere else,” said Gyberg. McNeff’s ZirChrom Corporation is a world leader on zirconia and its properties. McNeff and fellow scientist Ben Yan had been working on oven-heated zirconia-based high temperature liquid chromatography. It occurred to McNeff that pressurized, heated, continuous column catalysis using solid-state acidified zirconia might work—and it did, the very first time. The Mcgyan Process was born. “It would appear that this is only the beginning,” Gyberg said. Research continues, with SarTec and Augsburg investigating algae growth as a feedstock source for biodiesel as well as other reactions that are possible for new types of biofuels that have not been possible to synthesize before. Gyberg is also working on a project with a University of St. Thomas engineering professor who believes that in three years all biodiesel will be made using the Mcgyan Process. They are developing a “pickup bed biodiesel plant” that the individual farmer could use to make his own biodiesel fuel. This would also benefit Third World countries where jatropha, a weedy bush that grows on noncropland and needs only about eight inches of rain or so a year, is readily available. Jatropha can produce about five times more plant oil a year for biodiesel than soybeans, and the Mcgyan reactor is the only one that can completely convert the oil efficiently and cleanly to biodiesel with virtually no waste and no pollutants. Rather than spend his summers on the golf course or on the lake, Gyberg supervises research because, he says, “It keeps things interesting and exciting, keeps one up with current science, and keeps the mind sharp.” He adds, “One of the great pleasures over the years is using my background and experience to work with students, some of whom are smarter than I am.” Gyberg says students are fortunate to be able to do research at Augsburg, since faculty there can spend more time working with students than at large research institutions. Above, left: Senior Brian Krohn and chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg explain the Mcgyan Process, a new, improved method of making biodiesel, at a press conference in March. Fall 2008 11 awe som e SarTec vice president Clayton McNeff ’91, whose team discovered the Mcgyan Process, shares the discovery with alumni and friends during Homecoming in September. “It can be cost effective and environmentally friendly— experienced alum and it’s portable.” A chemist on the cutting edge In March 2008 at a press conference at Augsburg College, Clayton McNeff became somewhat of a media sensation in the biodiesel world. He is vice president of SarTec Corporation, and together with his chief scientist Ben Yan, his former professor Arlin Gyberg, and Augsburg student Brian Krohn, McNeff announced a discovery they said would revolutionize biodiesel production and lessen or eliminate the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. This was the first public announcement of the Mcgyan Process and the biodiesel fuel it can produce more efficiently, less costly, and without harmful byproducts than existing processes. He went on to announce that the group was already successfully producing 50,000 gallons per year at a pilot plant, and even powering the plant with it. Through a new company, Ever Cat Fuels, a new large-scale production plant is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2009 that will yield three million gallons per year, using non-food grade corn oil from ethanol plants and free fatty acid waste products from the current conventional biodiesel industry. In July the Star Tribune described the Mcgyan production process as immensely appealing to countries and companies around the world because “it can be cost effective and environmentally friendly—and it’s portable.” The goal is for farmers to be able to produce the biodiesel they need to run their farms completely on site. More than 35 countries have contacted SarTec inquiring about the technology. Algae is a large part of McNeff’s vision. He refers to it as the “holy grail” of biodiesel production because it can be grown utilizing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from 12 Augsburg Now bioethanol and coal-burning power plants, and it can potentially yield enough oil for biodiesel to replace all U.S. petroleum needs without competing for food crops or cropland. SarTec, in partnership with Augsburg and Triangle Energy, is pursuing this research with grants from Great River Energy and Xcel Energy. McNeff is a 1991 Augsburg chemistry graduate, who pursued his PhD in analytical chemistry at the University of Minnesota. He joined SarTec, the company founded by his parents where he first worked as a high school student, fostering his love for science. In 1995, as he became known for his expertise with zirconia, McNeff co-founded ZirChrom Separations, Inc., along with Steven Rupp and University of Minnesota professor Peter W. Carr. Carr has won numerous awards in the field of analytical chemistry and has been announced as the recipient of the 2009 American Chemical Society Award in Analytical Chemistry. In 2002 McNeff was awarded the Tibbetts Award from the Small Business Adminstration’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This award was given in recognition of McNeff’s achievement in innovation, research, and business that contributed to the commercial success of ZirChrom Separations. McNeff considers the success of the experimentation leading to the Mcgyan Process as “serendipity,” but it’s a success that can extend far beyond their projected goal of three million gallons per year and be licensed worldwide to companies seeking more efficient and sustainable fuels. For more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/chemistry DIS COV ERY V Courtesy Glendine Soiseth auggie voices Street pastors bring care and hope to the streets Glendine Soiseth graduated from Augsburg and Luther Seminary in 2004 with a dual degree—Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in Theology. She was ready for the challenge of an international experience and is the supervisor of therapy services for a fostering agency in Flintshire, Wales. She lives in nearby Chester, England. In 2006 Soiseth heard about the three-year-old Street Pastors program and trained as a street pastor leader in Wrexham, Wales. She led her team on patrol once or twice a month, from around 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Recently, with her move to Chester, she also serves as a Chester lead street pastor and will alternate patrols and voluntary time between the two locations. In September she wrote about street pastor work for a community ministry blog in Chester. With permission, we’ve reprinted excerpts from it. Call Historically, I have consistently been involved in faith, community, and political organizations, either working with people, programmes, or the community in developing a voice and making a difference. When the St. Margaret’s vicar in Wrexham started talking about Street Pastors during a service, I immediately experienced a ‘call.’ Not a lightning bolt, but it was made very clear that this (street pastoring) was something I needed to do. I realized I was being asked to take a leap of faith despite not knowing how the new initiative would take me. After training and graduation, I was out on the streets in my street pastor uniform talking and explaining to people, door staff, vendors, police, and emergency personnel what a street pastor is and does. Community When I mentioned to people at the time that I lived in Wrexham, the response was universal, ‘nothing good comes out of Wrexham … .’ I knew it would take more than a marketer or one person to make a difference. It would take the ‘Urban Trinity’—police, civic partners, and church—coming together in agreement on community initiatives and protocols, as a means for it to work. Glendine Soiseth ’04 MSW/MA Theology dual degree graduate (left), is a social worker in North Wales and volunteers as a street pastor in an interdenominational church/community initiative with Rev. Trevor Beckett (right). Street pastors are now recognized, respected, and welcomed in the community by pub/club goers, police, emergency personnel, door staff, street vendors, CCTV, and visitors. They have witnessed and experienced our commitment, tenacity, unconditional positive regard, and passion for what we do. We’ve been accepted as part of their community for not only sticking it out when it is raining, cold, and miserable, but, more importantly, for listening, being authentic, and providing practical assistance—not preaching ‘heaven and hell,’ but getting back to basics of what it means to be a ‘caring’ community and how diversity can bring together unity. Hope I can’t begin to tell you all the stories I have heard on the street in my role as street pastor. … about the drug dealer, or the rugby player, or the person we picked up off the road just before a car came round the corner, or the person who had been involved in a cult, or the alcoholic, or the soldier. But they are just stories about people you don’t know. What I do know is that Street Pastors makes a difference in our community. I make a difference. We make a difference. From a human perspective, getting back to basics with the above is a step in not only providing a community with hope, but also it can be a difference between life and death for that person we talk to on the street. … A good deal of our work is ‘working in the moment where that person seems to be at that time.’ Street pastoring works. I truly feel blessed and privileged every time I go out into the street.” Street Pastors is an inter-denominational church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen, and dialogue. For information, go to www.streetpastors.org.uk. BETSEY NORGARD Fall 2008 13 LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND ACTION BY BETHANY BIERMAN Augsburg’s film program, based in liberal arts and giving students knowledge in production, performance, and theory, attracts students from around the world. 14 Augsburg Now ugsburg film comes of age The coffee shop in Christensen is nearly full, so we grab two empty stools by the computers in the back. Wes Ellenwood sits poised on the stool, looking relaxed in his blue jeans and vintage New York baseball cap, balancing his coffee between his hands. “What makes our department unique is its three tracks,” he explains. The former NYU professor specializes in documentary and 16mm film and was just last year given full-time status, making him the only full-time film faculty member. He breezes through the description as if he’s told it many times before. There’s the production track (creating films and videos), the performance track (acting for the camera), and the theory and culture track (the analytical track). “And our faculty are not just faculty—they are professionals and experts in film.” Picture, bottom left: For more than a decade, communication studies professor Deb Redmond has worked with alumni to nurture the film courses that have grown Augsburg’s film program. Pictured, below: Auggie Mike Bodnarczuk ’85 built a career in music video production and has helped other Auggies get a start in LA. Just then communication professor and director of the program Deb Redmond approaches with a young man. “I’m sorry, but may I interrupt?” she asks. “Matt, this is Wes Ellenwood, who teaches our production courses. Wes, Matt is looking at transferring to Augsburg to study film.” The professors exchange knowing glances. This is not the first time such an introduction has been made. In fact, the film department averages two visitors per week. For a program that officially finished its fourth year, numbers are exploding. While Augsburg has a strong history of graduating students who have excelled in film, it was only in 2004 that the major was added. It jumped from one graduate in 2006 to now nearly 40 students. Five new film majors transferred in this past semester. “We’re different from most of the metro college campuses,” Ellenwood tells Matt and me, “because there is actual film being shot on this campus.” He goes on to explain that because Augsburg students develop an understanding of film, video, television, and digital media, in addition to being grounded in the liberal arts, these graduates are better prepared than most to truly succeed in the industry. A seed is planted It was the early ’80s, and every Friday English professor John Mitchell showed movies in his class. One student recalls nearly leaping out of his seat with excitement. “He really opened up the gateway for me,” says Michael Bodnarczuk, the son of Ukrainian immigrants and a St. Paul Johnson High School graduate. He Nick Vlchek A LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION had come to Augsburg to study prelaw and to play soccer. “I got very involved with politics with my lifelong friend John Evans … and Franklin Tawha, but then started spending a lot of time with film.” Bodnarczuk took a 16mm film course taught by a friend of Mitchell’s during January term. “After that, I was completely hooked, and then it became an addiction.” He took Julie Bolton’s television class and Stan Turner’s class in newswriting at St. Thomas. Jeroy Carlson found him an internship at KARE11, which turned into a job editing stories for the sunrise show. But Bodnarczuk’s passion was music videos, and how they told a story in four minutes. Augsburg didn’t have cable at the time, however, so with the rise of the MTV boom, he persuaded the College to invest in a satellite dish for the top of Christensen Center. He’d record videos and host a showing on Sunday nights during dinner, until they got too risqué and the administration shut him down. Beyond the classroom, he made connections with several people, including Jimmy Jam, Steve Rifkin (editor of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy) and Darrell Brand (cameraman). During college, he directed videos for Twin Cities music sensation The Jets and spent a couple days as a production assistant on Purple Rain. Following graduation, he worked at a law firm for a while but just wasn’t satisfied. He drove to Hollywood in a Fall 2008 15 Augsburg’s first “official” film grad, Trevor Tweeten ’06 has won awards for his films and is now living and working in New York. yellow Dodge Charger, with about a thousand dollars in his pocket, moved in with a friend, and volunteered on an American Film Institute film. Through persistence and personal connections, he eventually started to get work. His first breakthroughs were as a production assistant on Lionel Ritchie’s “Say You, Say Me” video and the film La Bamba, which led to work on Stand and Deliver. “It snowballed from there.” Within two years he was producing his own videos and commercials such as Michael Jordan’s Gatorade ads, and within a decade was running the commercial/music video department of A Band Apart with co-founders Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender. While his Hollywood connections blossomed and his résumé grew, his Augsburg connections never died. 16 Augsburg Now Breaking new ground “Michael [Bodnarczuk] wanted the film major here desperately,” recalls Redmond. “He contacted us.” Redmond and theatre professor Martha Johnson traveled to LA to spend time meeting with him about the idea. This became the impetus for the program. Courses in film continued to find their way into the catalog, and when confirmation came from the dean’s office, a film minor was established. As more and more Augsburg graduates entered the world of film, momentum for the program continued to grow. President William Frame visited Hollywood to raise money for the film program, and Bodnarczuk donated equipment and money for it. Students like Adam Schindler ’00 and Hanne Anderson ’99 came to Augsburg before the major was established, but knowing that film was their passion. Schindler took creative writing classes, looking to hone his storytelling ability, and ended up with a communication major and minors in English and film. “As I continued churning out scripts, taking broadcast production courses, film-related J-term courses, I was approached by a few students about the possibility of forming a film group.” They applied for a grant through Student Senate, and, with the help of Redmond, put together the Augsburg Association of Student Filmmakers (AASF). “We were pleasantly surprised when we had 30 or so students show up for our inaugural meeting,” Schindler remembers. “It was a very collaborative effort with all the members chipping in film ideas, cameras, and loads of time,” says Anderson. While he was still a student, Schindler had a chance to meet Bodnarczuk through a contact in Augsburg’s Alumni Office. Bodnarczuk extended Schindler an invitation to intern if he ever decided to move to LA. Needless to say, Bodnarczuk was the first person Schindler called when he made the decision to go west. “I hired a lot of Auggies,” Bodnarczuk recalls. “I helped open doors for them because I knew how hard it was for me. I think every single one of them has gone on to greatness. I am very happy for and very proud of them.” A distinctive major emerges “It took years to put [the major] together because we really wanted it to be interdisciplinary, and truly based in the liberal arts,” says Redmond. The application for approval of the major was submitted during the 2002-03 school year and was approved for fall of 2004. In the past year, Ellenwood has begun teaching full time, and additional courses have been added. Today, first-year film students are not allowed to take production courses, but instead start with still photography and core academic courses. From there, they take courses in the history of cinema, criticism, and issues in contemporary cinema, which lead into documentary and acting courses. Students have the opportunity to take electives in areas such as graphic design, journalism, and art, and for their lab science requirement they may take Physics for the Fine Arts. Robert Cowgill, who spent years as a dramaturg at the Guthrie and is past performer, owner, and manager of the Oak Street Cinema, teaches courses in analysis. Elise Marubbio, an award-winning author on the representation of Native Americans in film, teaches courses that cross-list between the American Indian studies and film programs. “Our focus is on training students to recognize within a system like Hollywood that there are very particular narratives around groups of people,” Marubbio says. “Our hope is that film students begin to realize that when they create a film and an image of someone, they need to be aware of the cultural implications.” Marubbio coordinates Augsburg’s Native American Film Festival. “The combination of things that we’re doing is unique to Augsburg.” The program’s first student to officially major in film was Trevor Tweeten ’06. “The whole theory side at Augsburg was fantastic, between [John] Mitchell and [Robert] Cowgill,” he says. “There’s a practical side of it with Deb [Redmond] and Wes [Ellenwood], but also the heavy side of theory and history. I think there’s a good balance … I feel really lucky to have gone to a liberal arts school and have a broader understanding of politics and life and literature and all that stuff.” Augsburg also brings in adjunct faculty who are experts in their field, such as Christina Lazaridi, a New York-based screenwriter whose first screenplay was nominated for an Emmy. She teaches screenwriting in the summer. Beyond the classroom, the program encourages study abroad and internships. It is often past graduates who provide the internships for current students. “We are growing our own,” says Redmond. “When people come to Augsburg to study film, they are not committing themselves to four years, but for life … We’re growing our own faculty, in essence.” “The thing that fits with the mission of the College is we’re looking for people with a commitment to a message, particularly using the language of film to tell their stories,” Redmond states. One such example is a film by senior film major David Siegfried, who used still photographs with voiceover to tell the story of the teaching career of his grandfather, Augsburg anatomy and biology professor Erwin Mickelberg. In his film are photos of Siegfried’s mother riding her bicycle in Murphy Park as a young child. (http://davidsiegfried.com/ mycampusfinal.html) The current crop “We’re grounded now,” says Ellenwood, pointing to the fact that there is now a common place for film students to hang out, a space shared by communication, film, and theatre students. Just through the hallway of faculty offices are the editing suites, then the film studio, and the “closet” they hope will soon become the screening room. “Loitering is happening on a regular basis. That’s a good thing.” Ellenwood attributes the increased interest in Augsburg’s film program to the fact that it is deeper and broader than most programs. “Without any marketing, students are finding us. Word is getting out,” he says. Students have come from as far as Argentina, and now India. “We need more faculty, space, and equipment to allow for the increasing number of students.” “Our hope is to grow donors,” Redmond says. “It can start with supply items, like an extension cord, then volunteering to take interns, then, if they’re in the position to hire, to look at our graduates. Eventually, they can donate larger sums of money.” At the end of each semester, there is a screening of student work. The event is not broadcast across campus, and yet last semester’s screening filled the TV studio, with over 100 in attendance. “That’s an astounding number for us,” says Ellenwood. Starting in fall 2007, film students Film professor Wes Ellenwood, who specializes in documentary and 16mm film, connects students with film pros in the Twin Cities for hands-on experience. Fall 2008 17 were included in the Fine Arts Scholarship program, which awards $3,000 per year to selected students who have demonstrated excellence in film. Four students were awarded the scholarship in its inaugural year. This fall Augsburg is launching a partnership with the highly-regarded film studies program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. MCTC students will be able to complete a four-year degree in film studies at Augsburg, and Augsburg film students will be able to take courses in the film program there. A rich harvest Students who recently graduated have enjoyed rubbing shoulders with professionals in the business, just as those in the early days. w Ben Katz ’08, Steven Jacobson ’08, Trevor Tweeten ’06, and Joe Lueben ’07 all worked on a film accepted into the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival last year. Matt Goldman, who has written for Disney and for Seinfeld, directed the film. “Working with Matt opened up a lot of doors,” says Lueben. “It was the first time we’ve taken somebody else’s story, and not our own.” The four also created a feature film called “Bits” with a group of Augsburg alumni, which has been featured on www.mnfilmtv.org and was screened at the Uptown Theater in August. He has freelanced for such organizations as 3M and the University of Minnesota, and worked on a Kid Dakota music video, on a short film with the lead singer of Motion City Soundtrack, and made a 50-minute compilation of clips of Minnesota-made films. For his senior project, Katz worked ho’s who in film alums with Ellenwood to research the documentation needed for an independent film. With a 90-page script, he created a production book with scene breakdown, shooting schedule, budget, and business plan, which he then presented to the writer in LA. “I love that the program’s grown with me,” says Katz. “When I started out [at Augsburg], everyone was excited about the film program, but the department was not very structured. It’s gotten better. Once Wes was hired full time, it changed. It’s a real program now.” “It’s this current wave of graduates who will probably be the best ones,” Wes says of the dozen or so who graduated this last spring. “They are positioning themselves to be out in the industry, in the field; not pumping gas.” Bethany Bierman formerly worked in the Office of Marketing and Communication and lives in Minneapolis. To learn more about Augsburg’s film program, go to www.augsburg.edu/film Michael Bodnarczuk ’85 Owner of Battle Creek Productions. Past president and co-founder (along with Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender) of A Band Apart, which produced videos for such megastars as U2, Metallica, and Bon Jovi (and in 1999 alone was up for 21 of the MTV Awards). Adam Schindler ’00 Past assistant to producer Lawrence Bender. Assistant to the executive producer of Desperate Housewives; current assistant for director Marty Calner. Semi-finalist in the Academy of Motion Picture’s Nicholl Screenwriting Contest; horror script, “Sundown.” Garret Williams ’89 Attended graduate school at the American Film Institute; directed Spark, which received a Best Director Award; selected as one of nine filmmakers for Fast Track in 2005 on his work on Lost Dog. IFP Blockbuster/McKnight Film Fund winner. JoLynn Garnes ’02 Editor of The Fearless Freaks, featuring the Flaming Lips documentary, winner of the Mojo Vision Award. Has edited videos for artists such as Liz Phair, Hilary Duff, and Prince, as well as Target commercials, the feature documentary Summercamp!, and video visuals for Beyoncé’s 2007 world tour. Bryce Fridrik Olson ’97 Director of feature films The Caretaker (2008) with Jennifer Tilly and Judd Nelson, and Be My Baby . Co-produced instructional DVD “OT for Children with Autism, Special Needs & Typical.” Hanne Anderson ’99 Emmy nominee for camera editing for her work on Guiding Light; editor for digital group at Spike TV, and, as a sideline business, co-owns Riveting Productions, a DVD authoring company that works primarily with Comedy Central Records. Jenny Hanson ’05 Completing graduate work in Austria in a trans-arts program; owns Sprouted Wolf Productions; teaches film at North Hennepin Community College and Normandale Community College. Trevor Tweeten ’06 The first official film major. Won first place at the Oak Street Cinema’s 24hour film festival; recently moved to New York City to freelance; currently shooting for TLC’s What Not to Wear. THE PIONEERS 18 Augsburg Now auggies In the first days of September, while Gulf Coast residents battled Hurricane Gustav, more than 45,000 Republican delegates, party officials, volunteers, and members of the media converged on the Xcel Center in downtown St. Paul for the 2008 Republican National Convention. An event as significant as the RNC was not contained, however, to a single site. Across the Mississippi on Augsburg’s campus, students and faculty from 48 colleges and universities met for a two-week program of the The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Because of its commitment to civic engagement and service-learning, Augsburg was chosen to host the seminar in conjunction with the convention. Twenty-three Augsburg students participated in internships through the program, each working in the preparation and planning stages to learn about the behind-the-scenes efforts involved with a national convention. Augsburg communication studies professors Robert Groven and Kristen Chamberlain served on the faculty of The Washington Center Seminar. Three Augsburg students shared their convention experiences—a young Hmong woman who changed her major from premed to political science, a graduate student who entered a state legislative race, and a politically liberal political science major who learned that Republicans and Democrats are more similar than he thought. l a c i t i l o p t e nter G ngton Ce ashi W e h T h wit BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 The Washington Center at the RNC Fall 2008 19 ’11 Ben Krouse-Gagne Getting active in politics The Washington Center at the RNC 20 Augsburg Now Though he says he has been involved in politics for a short time—just two-and-a-half years—Ben Krouse-Gagne has done more than some of us will do in our lifetimes. He worked on Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer’s Senate campaign, did a summer internship with the Anti-War Committee, served as a delegate to the 2008 Democratic state convention in Rochester, Minn., and spends weekends door-knocking for state congressional candidates. Krouse-Gagne, a second-year political science major who grew up in Minneapolis’ progressive Seward neighborhood, said he was really always involved in politics because his family, neighbors, and church community were politically active. Then in high school, he traveled to the School of the Americas in Georgia, a military combat training school and the site of frequent anti-war protests. “It really hit me when they read the names of those killed in the war,” he said, “and one of the names was ‘one-month-old baby.’” That experience fueled Krouse-Gagne’s desire to become active and led him eventually to a summer job at TakeAction Minnesota, where he worked to educate voters about political issues. “People don’t understand how state politics affects them,” he said. “A lot of people don’t even know who their state representatives are.” His RNC field placement was with the Bloomberg News Service. On the first day of the convention, he covered the protests outside Xcel Center. “I knew a lot of the people and organizations protesting,” he said, which gave him an opportunity to get close to the action. Protestors told him their goal was to slow down the convention. “Inside, they didn’t even know what was happening out there,” he said. “It didn’t slow down the convention at all.” Through conversations with delegates, Krouse-Gagne learned that he had more in common with Republicans than he thought. “Republicans are just the same as us,” he said. “They want what we want, just in a different way.” Krouse-Gagne also became friends with Eric Franzen, another intern who is currently the president of the Augsburg College Republicans. The two are working with the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning, with the help of Augsburg Sabo Professor Garry Hesser, to bring speakers to campus to further the “Get Political” civic engagement events. Their goal is to ensure that the Augsburg community is exposed to multiple perspectives on political issues. Being at the RNC made Krouse-Gagne want to be a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention and to become even more involved in politics. A lot can happen in four years. ’11 Mai Lee Changing courses In the Hmong culture, young people often follow the path chosen for them by their parents. For Mai Lee, a second-year student from Minneapolis, this meant a career in medicine. Though she had always wanted to study political science, she pushed the idea away and filled her fall semester schedule with science courses. “I was all set to take biology and chemistry and 99% sure about majoring in pre-med,” Lee said. Then she attended the 2008 Republican National Convention, and that experience changed her course. Days before the fall semester began, Lee changed her major from premed to political science. “At the convention, I met many people who gave me good advice about a career in politics,” she said. Lee thought her family would disapprove of her decision, but she knew she needed to trust her instincts. “My dad wasn’t too happy,” she added, “but I said I just knew pre-med wasn’t what I wanted to do.” Lee said she had always considered herself politically conservative, but the convention gave her an “up-close look at the Republican Party” and persuaded her to consider a career in public or government administration. She wants to change the immigrant mindset that government is “bad” or against them. “I want to help people,” she said, “and show people that government can be good.” As a Hmong American woman, Lee acknowledges that she would be a minority in the public administration world. “There are not many Hmong women in politics,” she said. “I could change that and make a little difference if I get involved.” During the convention, Lee was placed with Fox News as a “runner.” She ran errands, picked up politicians or celebrities, brought coffee to producers, and did whatever else was needed. “At one point, I had to pass out these ridiculous Fox News hats to convention delegates,” she said. “If they didn’t want it, I was told just to put it in their faces.” Her convention experience not only influenced Lee’s future, it also encouraged her to become a more active citizen. She’s joined the Augsburg College Republicans and says she is watching the news and reading the paper more. “I’m doing what voters should do,” she said. While she plans to support John McCain, Lee says she will still not be discouraged from pursuing a career in public service if the presidency goes to the Democrats. “If McCain doesn’t win the election, it won’t be over for me.” The Washington Center at the RNC Fall 2008 21 ’10 MAE Eric Franzen Because I can Even at the RNC, Eric Franzen felt like he was in the minority. He was certain that he and another intern from St. Louis, Mo., were the only Republicans placed with Talk Radio News Service. As a student in Augsburg’s Master of Arts in Education program, Franzen is not required to complete an internship. He applied to The Washington Center program because he said he recently became intrigued by the “reality” of politics. “Politics is real people doing real things with real consequences,” he said. “It’s democracy in action.” He felt the convention would provide an opportunity to become part of the political reality. For his internship, Franzen covered convention events with a video camera and then posted interviews and stories on the Talk Radio News website. His most rewarding experience, however, happened after the convention because he said he finally felt free to have open conversations about politics with other students at Augsburg. “This campus is very politically liberal,” Franzen said. “Some of us get a little nervous.” Franzen is grateful to Augsburg for hosting The Washington Center program because he said it created opportunities for dialogue and has allowed him to engage with others, including his politically liberal friend and fellow intern, Ben Krouse-Gagne. “I want to push for political diversity and inclusivity at Augsburg,” he said, “but certain opinions aren’t always included in the discussion.” In the future, Franzen aspires to hold a public office. He even added his name to the ballot in the Republican slot for the District 60A state representative seat. His opponent? Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the 10-year incumbent and current speaker of the House. Why would a young graduate student put his name on the ballot against an incumbent in an overwhelmingly liberal district? Franzen answered. “Because I can.” “No one was running, and I didn’t want to see the office go unopposed,” he said. “My goal was for voters to have a choice, so I’m doing what I can to give them that choice.” Though he’s not likely to unseat Kelliher, he’s has been campaigning, calling voters, and attending events to promote his candidacy. “It’s a lot of work.” 22 Augsburg Now Paul Nixdorf In the production of Fiddler on the Roof, Janet Paone ’83 met John Vaughn, who became her kidney donor. Here, as Golde and Tevye, they once again ask, “Do You Love Me?” The Kidney Kabaret for Janet Paone BY BETSEY NORGARD In a summer 2007 community theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof, Janet Paone ’83 played Golde. Golde’s husband, Tevye, was played by John Vaughn, a Northwest Airlines pilot. Four months later, she underwent transplant surgery and received a kidney that was given to her by Vaughn. Paone remains amazed at how this whole series of events evolved. Since September 2005, Paone had appeared in the cast of Church Basement Ladies, playing Mrs. Vivian Snustad, in the comedy based on the book Growing Up Lutheran, by Janet Letnes Martin ’68 and Suzann (Johnson) Nelson ’68. While Paone had lived with reduced kidney functioning since birth, it worsened into renal failure, and her doctors put her on the transplant list. Paone turned down out-of-town gigs, and a friend told her about the Fiddler production, a show she had done as an Augsburg student and loved. When she got to know Vaughn, he asked about her illness. “Oh, I need a kidney,” Paone said offhandedly. “Well, you can have mine,” Vaughn replied. Paone took this as purely a casual remark, but Vaughn persisted. He told her he would contact the clinic. Prelimi- nary tests showed him to be a potential match, to be confirmed with a battery of testing. They became close friends. Four months later, Paone’s regular check-up indicated she had reached a crisis point and would have to start dialysis until a transplant became available. After Fiddler, she and Vaughn had gone their own ways, and she thought he might have reconsidered. She set a date for dialysis. But the very next day, Vaughn contacted her with news that he had finally been able to schedule the battery of tests. He asked how she’d been. She told him honestly, and added, “Is that kidney still available? “I just started crying,” Paone says. “The timing was crazy.” Vaughn was a good match, and on November 27, after several heart-toheart talks with him, Paone received the kidney he donated. She says he told her that the true gift she could give him in return was her good health. Paone’s recovery went remarkably well, and she was back on stage in the winter, continuing her role as Mrs. Snustad in Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping. She and Vaughn have remained in close touch since. What Paone now faces are thousands of dollars in medical bills, with few resources to cover them. A month after surgery, several friends in the theatre community began talking about a fundraiser, and a planning “posse” formed, including several Augsburg classmates. Katie Koch ’06, assistant to the director at the Guthrie Theater, knows Paone well and served as coordinator. The “Kidney Kabaret” played at Augsburg on April 21, with many actors and musicians stepping forward to donate services, time, and talents, which also included technical support for sound and lighting, and event decorations. A silent auction offered more than 125 items from theaters, restaurants, churches, sports teams, and radio stations. The program acts were all friends, co-actors, and colleagues of Paone from past theater productions. WCCO’s Frank Vascellaro and Dale Connelly, from Minnesota Public Radio, co-hosted the evening. Special guest Dr. Mark Odland, Paone’s transplant surgeon, was introduced, along with staff from HCMC’s kidney transplant program. Vaughn was recognized and lauded for his gift of life to Paone. More than $15,000 was donated, and the Janet Paone Transplant Fund was set up at U.S. Bank with the help of Auggie classmate David Young ’82. Sponsors for the event were Curt Wollan and TroupeAmerica, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Augsburg. For more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2008 23 Travel that transforms BY BETSEY NORGARD The Center for Global Education Amazing. Life-changing. Transforming. Participants are not shy about describing their experiences on trips organized by the Center for Global Education. They seek out opportunities to talk about what they learned, and they want to return. The difference is that they have not been on casual, sightseeing trips, but reflective travel; and CGE has built a reputation as a national leader in international experiential education. 24 Augsburg Now Courtesy CGE-Namibia Courtsey CGE Social work students from eight colleges spend a semester learning about social work issues and meeting social work students in Mexico City and Cuernavaca— and here, posing next to papayas in rural Morelos. While the first student seminar in Mexico took place in 1979, it wasn’t until 1982 when Joel Mugge led a group that officially established the Center for Global Service and Education. He did this in response to a request from the Lutheran Church for programs to raise awareness of international issues. Mugge developed a new form of international education, basing the curriculum on the educational principles of Brazilian educator and theologian Paulo Freire. In this, students learn in a cycle of three phases. Initially they have direct experience in the local community, listening to the voices of people not usually heard in mainstream media, telling their own stories and stories of their communities. Then, informed by readings, students reflect on what they saw and heard. Lastly, as a group, students share their reactions, discuss issues, and formulate actions to carry with them. It becomes a continual process of “learning how to learn.” CGE’s programs include study and travel abroad for students, faculty development in global education, and customized group travel around specific issues or targeted for specific groups. As a result of these programs, CGE has served as a catalyst in the Lutheran Church for a new understanding of global mission, putting people from the U.S. face-to-face with people in local communities around the world to learn from each other and build partnerships across faiths. CGE programs tailored for small businesses have helped their employees understand complexities in social, economic, and political issues, and the development of more responsible global citizenship. “The goal is not to simply educate persons, but to encourage them to pursue a life of involvement that will ultimately lead to wisdom,” says Larry Hufford, a political science professor at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, who has led numerous study seminars with CGE’s as- sistance and who finds them spiritually renewing. During the 1980s and 1990s, CGE planned travel seminars literally around the world. Study centers with resident Augsburg faculty and staff were then established in three locations—Cuernavaca, Mexico; Managua, Nicaragua; and Windhoek, Namibia. Offices and staff are also located in El Salvador and Guatemala. CGE became known for the quality of learning their travel provided; in 1988 they were hired by the American Society of Newspaper Editors to organize a seminar for journalists to Central America and Mexico. CGE has also received Fulbright grants to organize several group projects. In 2003, the program was named the National Society for Experiential Education’s Program of the Year. In 2001, the position of CGE director was expanded to include the associate dean of international programs. The Office of International Programs (OIP) was created, which, in addition to CGE, includes Augsburg Abroad, the study abroad office; International Partners, including European institutions in Germany, Norway, and Finland that have reciprocal agreements for study with Augsburg; and International Student Advising, providing advising and advocacy for international students at Augsburg. Students say… Comments from the “Religion and Christian Faith” travel seminar to El Salvador, January 2007 NATALIE SASSEVILLE ’09 “Going on the trip to El Salvador was like getting stuck in an earthquake—it shook me and all of my values to the core…Never before have I felt so inspired or impassioned…” JOE SKOGMO ’08 “This trip gave me knowledge that cannot be learned in any textbook, but it is knowledge that one cannot do without in order to understand the magnitude of human responsibility, vocation, and global citizenship. Studying in El Salvador is simply the greatest practical application for understanding why our vocations matter.” MICHELE ROULET ’09 “The people of [El Salvador] are our textbook, and their stories are frightening and funny and inspiring. To say that everyone comes back changed is to make light of the experience. People come back enriched, enlightened, and energized.” OLEE AMATA ’11 “The concept of affecting another human being by decisions I make made me see the world differently. … As a business major, I want to learn how I can help be a global citizen when globalization is the enemy to developing countries.” Fall 2008 25 Courtsey Donna DeGracia Students training to become physician assistants visited clinics in Guatemala, learning about healthcare practices there and presenting health clinics—such as teaching children about oral hygiene. INTERNATIONALIZING AUGSBURG EDUCATION Shortly after the arrival of new Augsburg president Paul Pribbenow in 2006, the College began to focus on internationalizing Augsburg education. OIP launched efforts to integrate study abroad experiences into the curriculum of all majors on campus, seeking to create a culture shift toward a more internationalized campus and college experience for students. The goal is a more seamless relationship between campus curriculum and study abroad. Students may choose from the semesters abroad offered by CGE or participate in other study abroad programs approved by the Augsburg Abroad office. In addition to infusing study abroad into all majors, CGE has made it possible for all students—undergraduate and graduate—to have a cross-cultural experience. For weekend students it means only a oneor two-week course, a shorter time away from family and work than the semester program. For graduate students, it means a short-term seminar that directly links to their program work or research. For all students, the direct, personal experience in another culture is carried back into their lives and work at home. A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS Following are examples of programs that have been designed for specific disciplines or target audiences: 26 Augsburg Now Social work in a Latin American context This semester-long program in Mexico for social work undergraduate students was developed within a unique consortium of eight colleges and universities in South Dakota and Minnesota—both public and private. It provides a common experience for students at schools lacking the resources to create a program of their own. This experience gives future social work professionals better preparation to serve the needs of Spanish-speaking clients in their home areas. The social work students live at Augsburg’s center in Cuernavaca. They take classes in culture with Augsburg’s adjunct faculty there, and classes in social work theory and practice with a visiting professor from one of the consortium institutions. In 2006, the consortium was awarded the Council on Social Work Education’s Partners in Education award for “advancing education for international social work.” Exploring health care in Guatemala In July the physician assistant studies master’s program became the third graduate program to offer a study abroad course tailored for its students. Twelve students traveled to Guatemala for two weeks to learn about indigenous culture, and specifically to explore health practices and spirituality in Mayan cultures. While there, the students visited clinics, learned about deep social and cultural disparities, and presented programs on healthcare topics, such as hypertension and diabetes. They learned and saw how healthcare practices can be developed with vastly fewer resources—something which may serve them well as they seek physician assistant positions in areas with underserved populations. Before traveling, the PA students raised money to buy supplies and materials to give to the clinics, such as over-the-counter vitamins and pain relievers, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, etc. Lilly vocation seminars As part of “Exploring Our Gifts,” Augsburg’s grant from the Lilly Endowment for exploration of vocation, a total of nine travel seminars have been designed with a focus on vocation. Religion professor Bev Stratton has twice led a vocation-themed seminar—Religion and the Christian Faith (REL 480)— to El Salvador, where students have studied how powerfully the faith of the Salvadoran people has impacted their struggles for social justice. These courses fulfill the students’ keystone requirement—a seminar generally taken in their last year that pulls together their total Augsburg experience, combining the liberal arts foundation with their in-depth major, while revisiting the Courtsey Jennifer Hipple As part of the Hoversten Peace Seminar, an Augsburg faculty, staff, and student group stopped for a photo while touring the fields of a coffee cooperative in Guatemala. critical conversations about vocation. The El Salvador group visited massacre sites, met with survivors, and heard from leaders such as Bishop Medardo Gomez of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church, who spoke about how he sees his vocation at work in El Salvador. The group also became immersed in the work and legacy of Archbishop Óscar Romero, killed in the civil war in 1980. The Lilly seminars have given students both a cross-cultural experience and a framework to understand how Christian vocation is part of daily life. Other Lilly seminars have taken students to Namibia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Hoversten Peace Seminar Supported by the Hoversten Peace Endowment, this biennial travel seminar for Augsburg faculty, staff, and students aims to develop a strong learning community among participants. Pre-departure orientation introduces the group to each other, and living and learning together abroad strengthens their bonds. Upon return, the group continues to build community around their common experience by sharing it with the larger Augsburg community. In August, 10 faculty, staff, and students—coincidentally, all women—par- Courtsey Rachel Olson “I learned how to learn” Hannah Glusenkamp ’09 Students in the 2005 study seminar to El Salvador studied the legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was killed while championing the struggle of the Salvadoran people during their long civil war. ticipated in the 10-day “Peace and Reconciliation after Conflict: A Guatemalan Perspective.” The women learned about the history of civil war and the peace accords, heard from leaders with differing perspectives, and confronted the realities of the local communities. The efforts to internationalize the Augsburg campus are showing results. In 2007-08, a record number of 221 Augsburg students studied abroad. As their first quarter-century came to a close, CGE director and associate dean Orval Gingerich noted in their anniversary publication that “the work of CGE is unfinished, and is perhaps more important than ever in bringing tools for critical analysis and action and ultimately hope to a new generation of students, professors, and global citizens.” Stay tuned for the next 25 years. Hannah Glusenkamp is a senior majoring in women’s studies, with minors in Spanish and religion. At the 2008 Peace Prize Forum at Concordia College in Moorhead, she was selected as one of Augsburg’s two Peace Scholars, a new program that strives to develop students leaders aspiring to careers in world peace issues. Glusenkamp studied on two CGE programs—“Sustainable Development and Social Change” in Central America, and “Gender, Sexuality, Politics, and the Arts” in Mexico. “Both of these experiences challenged, shook up, and reshaped my values, beliefs, and world view,” she wrote. “From the first day of the trip we, the students, were encouraged to reflect on our multi-dimensional selves and to approach education from a holistic standpoint, a standpoint that incorporates all aspects of our lives into the learning process.” At the Council on International Educational Exchange conference last fall, Glusenkamp and nine other student panelists were asked to share the most important thing they learned while studying abroad. “I thought about the question for a moment and then realized that my answer had to be, ‘I learned how to learn,’” she said. “I learned to become an active participant in my education. … I learned to be curious and to ask questions. I can no longer travel to a city or country without wondering what the healthcare system is and if it benefits the people in that community, or how the public transportation runs, or how subsidies in the United States might affect the agricultural practices of the indigenous peoples in that community. … I learned to question whose voice I am hearing and whose voice is being left out. “My experiences and time with the Center for Global Education … showed me that I am not just a student of Augsburg College for four years, but rather that we are all students of life, with the rights and responsibilities to engage in the dynamic, liberating, and transformative ongoing process of experiential education.” Fall 2008 27 TRAVEL SEMINARS 850 sponsored groups CGE has worked with 25 Celebrating years of educating for transformation by Kathleen McBride, regional co-director for Central America and adjunct professor, Center for Global Education Crossing borders and challenging boundaries is a powerful metaphor for our journey of the last 25 years. It is the title of the first Center for Global Education publication that documented the collective memory of our first years of work. The Center’s initial experiences in 1979 included crossing the Mexican border with students for short-term educational experiences. Since that time, thousands of participants have joined the Center’s travel seminars to Mexico, Central America, the Philippines, the Middle East, Southern Africa, and [locations in the U.S.]. As educators, we see our role as one that engages students and participants in the world, facilitating critical analysis and reflection that leads to action. We believe that intercultural dialogue and collaboration with decision makers and historically disadvantaged urban and rural communities are a way of developing greater understanding of the power relations in the world and planting seeds towards more just relations and fair practices. These assumptions are at the root our pedagogical model. An expanded pedagogical framework While the pedagogy of Paulo Freire continues to be the foundation of our educational process (experience—reflection—action), in recent years other kindred approaches, including feminist and indigenous pedagogies, have influenced our practice and strengthened our analysis. All of 28 Augsburg Now the numbers 12,000+ travel seminar participants Center for Global Education SEMESTERS ABROAD 300 colleges, whose study semesters are arranged by CGE, including institutions in the U.S., Germany, Canada, and Norway 1,900 semester program participants COUNTRIES VISITED 40+ in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, China, and Hong Kong, and the U.S. CGE FACULTY AND STAFF LOCATIONS 9 Minneapolis 16 Mexico 9 Nicaragua 1 El Salvador 2 Guatemala 8 Namibia And, millions of stories shared, hearts touched, and perceptions changed over 25 years across the globe. these pedagogies place significant emphasis on learning in community. For Freire, learning in community is one of the foundations of liberating education. Historically, learning in community has been a fundamental characteristic of indigenous teaching and learning, though underrepresented in traditional educational systems. Similarly, feminist pedagogy upholds learning in community as central to educational processes that gives voice to all people, particularly women, whose experience and voice have oftentimes been silenced. Concepts of autonomy and empowerment that are key to feminist and indigenous scholarship have informed our methodologies and expanded our understanding of the world and of the educational process. Our efforts to foster ongoing critical analysis of power relations in the world are grounded in a practice of intercultural dialogue and experiences that continue to break open new understandings of the world, leading us to a deeper analysis that continually informs our teaching. Ongoing challenges While our role has become clearer with regard to our niche in the field of transformative education, we still face significant challenges. As we facilitate participants’ reflections on educational experi- ences and encourage the exploration and implementation of action steps, we are confronted with an institutional challenge if we are in fact going to continue to practice what we teach. To fully engage the circle of praxis with the goal of transforming society, follow-up to participants’ experience as they return to their home communities is essential. How do we, as an institution, provide a space for participants and students to fully engage the circle of praxis upon their return? How can we facilitate the exploration of actions steps in participants’ home communities? … The Center for Global Education’s work today continues to be the fruit of dialogue and reflections with staff and resource people from over a dozen countries and hundreds of students and participants from the United States who have inspired our work, shaped our analysis, challenged our language, and informed our worldview. We are excited to be engaged in an educational process that will continue to be refined and changed in the coming years by new generations of staff and participants engaged in transformative education. Excerpted from Global News & Notes, Summer 2007; 25th Anniversary Issue: “Building a Just and Sustainable World: Educating for Transformation” AUGSBURG COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS 2007-2008 Fall 2008 29 DEAR FRIENDS, I write with a deep sense of humility and gratitude for your remarkable support of Augsburg College. When I received the call to serve as the 10th president of Augsburg College, I enthusiastically accepted, filled with a sense that God intended my life’s work to intersect with Augsburg’s mission and vision. I give thanks every day for the opportunity to serve this special college. I am impressed by the deep commitment so many individuals show toward Augsburg and its important work in the world. This annual report is a reminder to all of us of the importance philanthropy plays in the life of our college, and in the lives of our students. On their behalf, thank you for your generosity. Our common work here at Augsburg calls us to be good stewards of the many gifts and resources we’ve been given. Each year, thousands of alumni, parents, and friends make gifts not to the College, but through the College, directly benefiting the many students we serve. These students either embark on, or continue, their vocational journeys here at Augsburg, and the WE BELIEVE WE ARE CALL many gifts we receive on an annual basis directly imTO SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR pact their experience—in the classroom, on campus, and in our neighborhood. We have a new and bold way of stating the vision of Augsburg College. It is this: We believe we are called to serve our neighbor. It is a vision statement that resonates deeply with the legacy and promise, the commitments and values, and the aspirations and reality of our college. It is a statement that confirms our strong conviction that faith, learning, and service are at the very heart of our identity as a college. I am especially grateful for the faculty and staff of the College who live out this vision in educating our students. To continue to live out this vision in a very real and meaningful way, Augsburg College needs your abiding and increased participation and support. I ask each of you to join me as we work together to secure a strong and vibrant future for our college, and for our students. Sincerely, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW PRESIDENT 30 Augsburg Now ED ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2007-08 Six new regents elected to board Six new members were elected to fouryear terms on the Augsburg College Board of Regents at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Corporation in October 2007. In addition, Michael Good and Jennifer Martin were re-elected to second six-year terms. New members: Andra Adolfson, business development director of Adolfson & Peterson Construction, Inc; Rolf Jacobson, writer, educator, and associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary; Ruth E. Johnson, MD ’74, consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic and assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School. She was recognized as a Distinguished Alumna of Augsburg in 1996; Stephen Sheppard, former CEO of Foldcraft Co; Joan Volz ’68, private practice attorney specializing in mediation; Bonnie Wallace, scholarship director, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Garry Hesser appointed new Sabo Professor President Pribbenow announced the appointment of Garry Hesser, professor of sociology and director of the MetroUrban Studies program, as the College’s first Sabo Professor of Citizenship and Learning. His work in this new role lays the groundwork for the establishment of an endowed Martin Olav Sabo Center and chair. As the Sabo Professor, Hesser’s activities include collaboration with the Center for Service, Work, and Learning concerning student engagement and leadership, and development of events, Students from the organic chemistry and analytical chemistry class labs paused to thank Augsburg donors John ’74 (chemistry) and Marvel Yager for their gifts that support scholarships for chemistry majors. Their $10,000 annual gift is fully matched by John’s employer, Beckman Coulter, and has provided $80,000 over the past four years to support chemistry students. programs, and lecture series that promote civic engagement and build community outreach. Hesser has taught at Augsburg since 1977 and is recognized as a pioneer in experiential education. In 1997 he received the Thomas Ehrlich Award for leadership in service-learning, and in 2004 was named the Minnesota Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The Sabo Center in Citizenship and Learning is the culmination of nearly 20 years of fundraising and advocacy by the friends and colleagues of Martin Sabo ’59 that celebrates the College’s commitment to education for democracy. Metro-urban studies director and professor Garry Hesser (right) was appointed Sabo Professor of Citizenship and Learning, honoring the legacy of retired Congressman Martin Sabo ’59 (left). Fall 2008 31 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2007-08 Two Augsburg giants are mourned Within one month of each other last year, Augsburg lost two of its most wellknown and longstanding faculty. Joel Torstenson ’38, professor emeritus of sociology, died on October 18, 2007, at the age of 94. So much of Augsburg’s identity today as a college of the city stems from Torstenson’s work at Augsburg. He founded the sociology and social work departments, and the metro-urban studies program. He developed urban programs in Minneapolis that launched HECUA (the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) and that led to the work of our Center for Service, Work, and Learning, including Engaging Minneapolis, which requires all students to connect with the city in their studies. Torstenson graduated from Augsburg in 1938. He went on for his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Minnesota in history and sociology. In 1947, Augsburg president Bernhard Christensen invited him back to Augsburg, even while still completing his PhD, to develop programs in sociology and social work. Torstenson’s deep commitment to social issues led him to explore and work in farmers’ cooperative movements, rural community life, churchlabor relations, racial justice and human rights, and urban studies, especially studying the question of the role of a 32 Augsburg Now liberal arts college in a metropolis. Torstenson’s memoir, Takk for Alt: A Life Story, opens a window into his life’s work and thought. Leland Sateren ’35, professor emeritus of music, died on Nov. 10, 2007, at the age of 94. Sateren graduated from Augsburg in 1935, and for the next 10 years attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where he was music director at the KUOM radio station. After public service during World War II he returned to Augsburg, and four years later he became chair of the Music Department and director of the Augsburg Choir. He retired in 1979. His work includes more than 400 choral pieces he composed, and he was passionate about Scandinavian choral music. Sateren introduced the work of many Scandinavian composers to American choral directors. Among Sateren’s many notable accomplishments are premieres of works with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and a commissioned piece at the United Nations to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sateren was the first recipient of the F. Melius Christiansen Memorial Award for choral directors. In 2002 he was awarded the Weston Noble Choral Directors Award. He was also honored Home economics graduates from 1950 to 1970 honored the memory of their mentor, teacher, and friend Ruth Segolson, who served as chair of the Home Economics Department. Following her death in 1980, a fund was established to provide a special gift in her memory. In November, on behalf of all former home economics majors, Jerilyn Hovland Cobb ’63 presented a tea service to the College, pictured here as it was first used at the Augsburg House reception honoring convocation speaker Jane Fonda. (L to R) President Pribbenow, Abigail Pribbenow, Dora (Frojen) Quanbeck ’49, and Philip Quanbeck Sr. ’50. ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2007-08 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton held a campaign rally at Augsburg on February 3, just prior to the “Super Tuesday” primaries. With one day’s notice, Augsburg staff, along with her campaign team, readied Melby Hall for the lively Sunday afternoon event that drew nearly 5,000 people, plus local and national media. with the St. Olaf Medal, presented by King Olav V of Norway, and received two honorary doctorates. Sateren’s impact on the many hundreds of Augsburg students who sang in his choir was remarkable. Peter Hendrickson ’76, director of choral activities and current conductor of the Augsburg Choir, studied with Sateren. A number of other Sateren choir alumni currently sing in the Masterworks Chorale at Augsburg, directed by Hendrickson. $100,000 Class of 1957 Endowment Fund Congratulations to the Class of 1957 alumni and their spouses for establishing the Class of 1957 Endowment Fund in celebration of their 50th class reunion. Their commitment and loyalty help ensure that Augsburg can meet the needs of its future students, especially Jane Fonda presented the 2007 Koryne Horbal Lecture in November, sharing her thoughts on the importance of beginning the “third act” of her life as she celebrated her 60th birthday. in areas of financial aid, program support, enhanced technology, and student support services. The endowment was jumpstarted through the generosity of a class member who provided matches for all gifts up to $50,000, challenging fellow classmates to participate at all levels. Augsburg is grateful to the Class of 1957 for creating this important legacy during their milestone year to honor their Augsburg education. The foundation provides for today’s and tomorrow’s students. It keeps them connected to the traditions and heritage of the College as they craft their own legacies and ties with students who come after them. Spirit of Augsbu
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2009
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2007
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:00 PM Page 1 Augsburg Now COMMENCEMENT 2007 INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS SUMMER 2007 VOL. 69, NO. 4 Diggin’ Dinos in Murphy Square page 6 P. 4 P. 7 703724-Pages 1-12, 17...
Show more 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:00 PM Page 1 Augsburg Now COMMENCEMENT 2007 INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS SUMMER 2007 VOL. 69, NO. 4 Diggin’ Dinos in Murphy Square page 6 P. 4 P. 7 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:00 PM Page 2 Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Notes from President Pribbenow on… Staff Writer Bethany Bierman bierman@augsburg.edu Design Manager Kathy Rumpza rumpza@augsburg.edu Class Notes Designer Students at the center of our lives I t is the end of July as I pen these Notes for the summer 2007 issue of Augsburg Now, and we have just concluded our summer orientation for more than 400 incoming first-year students, the Class of 2011. I am as energized as always by the sense of wonder and hope that comes with an incoming class of college students! At the other end of the continuum, you will find in the following pages the stories and images of our two 2007 Commencement ceremonies—the first early in May for our day undergraduates and our physician assistant graduate students; the second late in June for our weekend undergraduates and the other five graduate programs (nursing, social work, education, leadership, and business administration). All combined, we graduated more than 900 new Auggie alums this spring—what grand celebrations we enjoyed! I have been thinking a lot about this continuum of student experiences—and have enjoyed some rich and important conversations the past several months with the Augsburg community about how we might better honor the centrality of students to our life as a college. It is, above all, about the promise we make to our students. Let’s call it the Augsburg Promise. As students come to us, no matter their prior experience or background, we regard them as: Photographer As they enter the College—as undergraduates or graduate students—we engage them in missionbased academic and social experiences that prepare them for meaningful work and service in the world. In the classroom, on the playing fields, in the residence halls, on stage, and in the neighborhood, students enter a teaching and learning community that prepares them to make a living and to make a life in the world. And as they leave us, our students remain at the center of our lives as graduates whose lives and work are emblems of this college’s aspirations and commitments. We expect them to have gained an informed vision of the world, focused on discovery and appreciating difference. We prepare them for intelligent understanding, full of curiosity and a commitment to dialogue. And we offer them remarkable opportunities for relevant experience, learning to apply what they have learned and lead others. Students are at the center of our lives. There is no more energizing and engaging work. And there are few places that do it as well as Augsburg College. It is the Augsburg Promise, a promise we strive to keep each and every day. Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Faithfully yours, Send address corrections to: Advancement Services, CB 142, Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu • Gifted—a gift to us and the world, to be cared for, educated, and nurtured, • Called—on a vocational path that we will help them discern and navigate, • Accountable—persons of responsibility and integrity. Signe Peterson petersos@augsburg.edu Media Relations Manager Judy Petree petree@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication David Warch warch@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni Relations Heidi Breen breen@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published quarterly by Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, Minn., 55454. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Paul C. Pribbenow, president E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 3 Summer 2007 4 Contents Features 4 2007 International Programs Photo Contest Selected winners of the seventh annual student photo contest for international study programs showcase the experiences of students abroad. 6 An “Auggieasaurus” in Murphy Square by Betsey Norgard 7 Senior Jen Janda created the “Auggieasaurus” as Augsburg’s entry in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Diggin’ Dinos project. 7 Commencement 2007—May Nearly 400 students in undergraduate semester programs and the Physician Assistant program received their diplomas in May. 10 Commencement 2007—June In the College’s first Commencement focused on programs in the trimester schedule, undergraduate and graduate students who studied on weekends and evenings received their degrees. Departments 10 On the Cover: “Auggieasaurus” is one of about 50 dinosaur statues decorated and displayed by local businesses and organizations as part of the Science Museum’s 100th-year anniversary project, Diggin’ Dinos. Studio art major Jen Janda created Augsburg’s entry. 2 3 13 inside back cover Around the Quad Supporting Augsburg Alumni News Calendar All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 4 AROUND THE QUAD NOTEWORTHY Social Work Student of the Year Lisa Luinenburg ’07 was named Social Work Student of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for her “outstanding scholarship and service to the community.” She graduated in May with double majors in social work and international relations. Physician Assistant program earns national award Augsburg’s Physician Assistant program was recently awarded the 2007 American Academy of Physician Assistants’ Constituent Organization Award of Achievement for a high school curriculum project developed in 2005. With the help of the Minnesota Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA), the PA faculty developed a program to educate high school students about the role of a PA, increase the diversity among PA providers, and provide health education and hands-on learning. In May 2006 and 2007, Augsburg hosted high school groups on campus who participated in interactive educational activities on how diseases, specifically HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, can spread, as well as how to administer a neurological exam and take blood pressures. Current PA students and recent graduates helped with the teaching. 2 AUGSBURG NOW Nou Chang ’09 joins Minnesota’s Future Doctors Junior Nou Chang participated this summer in Minnesota’s Future Doctors, a program to explore the medical profession that is sponsored by the University of Minnesota and Mayo Medical School. Over three summers, it aims to increase the number of Minnesota minority, immigrant, and rural physicians by helping these students develop academic skills, an understanding of medicine, and an appreciation for serving in an underserved community. Chang, a biology and English major with a religion minor, immigrated with her family to Rochester, Minn., from Thailand in 1988. She also is the recipient of a Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship that awards potential student leaders who intend to dedicate a portion of their lives to community service. She works with homeless Hmong refugee children, ages 612, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Community Council, and hopes to create a center where the homeless children can participate in culturally-based programs. Rick Thoni retires as WEC celebrates 25 years As Weekend College celebrated 25 years in May, the program’s founder, Rick Thoni, prepared to retire from the College in June, after 35 years of service. Mia Bothun, WEC student body president, spoke at the 25th anniversary celebration on behalf of WEC students, urging them to become more involved in building greater community. Rick Thoni, with his wife, Linda, listened as President Pribbenow announced the creation of the Richard J. Thoni Award for a graduating WEC student that Thoni joined Augsburg in 1972 as a part-time psychology professor and counselor in the Student Affairs Office and went on to fill such roles as associate dean of students, acting vice president of student affairs, vice president for research and development, director of Weekend College, and vice president for enrollment management. On May 17, students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Weekend College gathered to look back on a quarter century. President Pribbenow commented that the number of stories from faculty and staff of being asked to help students get an education clearly demonstrates the organic nature of how WEC grew, beginning with the student at the center. He also commented on the commitment of Rick Thoni and others in WEC who didn’t merely launch the program, but threw themselves into the work of meeting students’ needs. would honor him “in an abiding way.” Don Gustafson, professor of history, applauded WEC students and described the rewards of teaching in WEC—meeting students who bring different experiences, perspectives, and commitment to class. In Thoni’s honor, President Pribbenow announced the creation of the Richard J. Thoni Award, which will be given annually to a graduating WEC student whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations most profoundly demonstrate a commitment to Augsburg’s motto, “Education for Service.” 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 5 SUPPORTING AUGSBURG The Kennedy Center— filled with Auggie spirit On May 4, the dedication of the Kennedy Center, the three-story addition to Melby Hall, brought together Augsburg alumni, donors, regents, faculty, staff, and students in celebration of Augsburg athletics, fitness, and health and physical education. Greco-wrestling champion Alan Rice President Pribbenow expressed gratitude to was greeted by President Pribbenow the family of former regent James Haglund in front of the Alan and Gloria Rice and his wife, Kathleen, whose gifts provided Wrestling Center, a state-of-the-art the spacious, new fitness center bearing their training facility for Augsburg’s family name. championship team and GrecoRoman wrestling. President Pribbenow (second from left), together with President Emeritus William Frame (left) and lead donors Dean ‘75 and Terry Kennedy, cut the ribbon to showcase the new training, fitness, locker, classroom, and hospitality facilities. The Lute Olson Hall of Champions highlights and celebrates the accomplishments of The open entryway provided a great gathering place for the many Auggie student-athletes across 18 men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports. the Augsburg community to celebrate the dedication. SUMMER 2007 3 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 6 2007 International Programs Photo Contest FIRST PLACE “Mysterious Ireland” Anthony Porter ‘07, Wicklow, Ireland SECOND PLACE “Cliffside: Bonsai Overlooking Tea Hills” Ryan Treptow ‘07, Munnar, Kerala, India THIRD PLACE “Beneath African Skies” Krista Costin ‘08, Ada-Foah, Ghana LANDSCAPE 4 AUGSBURG NOW HONORABLE MENTION “Eiffel Tower“ Laura Henry ‘07, Paris, France 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 7 PHOTOJOURNALISM SECOND PLACE “Untitled” Jennifer Oliver ‘07, Chiang Mai, Thailand FIRST PLACE AND BEST IN SHOW “Pilgrims and Three Oceans Converge at Sunrise” Ryan Treptow ‘07, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India THIRD PLACE PORTRAITS “The Boat Keeper” Allison Hutterer ‘07, Rabat, Morocco SECOND PLACE “Lumbini Woman” Ryan Treptow ‘07, Bijapur, Northern Karnataka, India FIRST PLACE “Las Hermanitas” (“The Little Sisters”) Megan Schiller ‘07, San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala SUMMER 2007 5 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 A 8/22/07 11:02 PM ugsburg senior Jen Janda has been “Diggin’ Dinos” this summer—not on an archeological dig in Egypt, but in downtown St. Paul. It’s part of the “Diggin’ Dinos” summer celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of the Science Museum of Minnesota. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, 53 dinosaurs were placed around the streets of St. Paul, mostly downtown, and seven in the parks of Minneapolis as part of their 150th anniversary celebration. Much like the Snoopy statues a few years ago, these dinosaurs have been painted by local artists. Until Labor Day, Janda’s 4.5 feet tall by 8 feet long, 80 lb. dinosaur will live in Murphy Square, Minneapolis’s oldest park, located in the heart of Augsburg’s campus. When the College joined the project, Janda was selected as Augsburg’s designer by the art faculty. In keeping with the overall theme, she named the dinosaur “Auggieasaurus.” All the statues were painted during the Diggin’ Dinos Paint-Off at RiverCentre in St. Paul, just before Memorial Day weekend. “My idea for the Auggieasaurus was to incorporate Murphy Square’s history into a ‘map’ of the various activities that go on in the Page 8 park each spring and fall because of its location in Augsburg College’s campus,” Janda says. Around the base of the statue, she inscribed: Murphy Square Celebrating 150 Years, 1857-2007 “From cow pasture to community center” The Dinosaur of Minneapolis Parks The activities she depicts on the Auggieasaurus are: • Runners—The Auggie cross-country team runs around Murphy Square every fall. • A biker—Minneapolis has many biking commuters who travel through the park area every day. • A picnic scene • A student reading Murphy Square, the College’s literary and arts journal • Kayaks, representing Minnesotans’ love of the outdoors The four legs of the Auggieasaurus are designed to represent the Minneapolis skyline, Augsburg campus, Seward neighborhood, and the University of Minnesota. On Sept. 9, all the statues will be auctioned off to benefit the work of the Science Museum of Minnesota in its next century. Janda is a senior in the Honors Program, with an art studio major. During the summer she is working on a project to illustrate a book for children in hospitals to help them understand medical treatments and surgery. She also works as a graphic designer in the Marketing and Communication Office. • A Somali family, representing the rich cultural diversity of our neighborhood • Frisbee players • The Campus Kitchen van that delivers meals in the neighborhood A S U R A U E I S an G G AU lives in murphy square by Betsey Norgard and Judy Petree page design by Jen Janda ’08 A Paint-Off took place in downtown St. Paul as local artists created dinosaurs to be placed around the city, all in honor of the Science 6 AUGSBURG NOW Museum of Minnesota. 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:02 PM Page 9 traditional day undergraduates and master’s program in physician assistant studies commencement Jeanette Clark receives Marina Christensen Justice Award Jeanette Clark, a senior graduating with a double major in metrourban studies and youth and family ministry, was selected as the 2007 recipient of the Marina Christensen Justice Award. Each year, this honor is presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies Augsburg’s motto, “Education for Service.” Clark, a President’s Scholar, participated in the Honors Program as well as Concert Band. At Augsburg, she held numerous leadership roles, including serving as a campus ministry commissioner, resident adviser, and leadership team member for the Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College. As a Spanish minor, Clark spent a semester in Cuernavaca, Mexico, through Augsburg’s Center for Global Education, where she worked for a pre-school and after-school program. This past year, Clark created a spring break opportunity for students staying in Minneapolis, called “Go Away Here.” In order to show students opportunities in the city, it included service projects, visits to neighborhood organizations such as the Sierra Club and East African Women’s Center, and social outings. The award recipient must have demonstrated a dedication to community involvement as characterized by the personal and professional life of Marina Christensen Justice, who reached out to disadvantaged people and communities. — Jen Winter ’07 Senior Jeanette Clark was honored with the Marina Christensen Justice award from President Pribbenow for her work in the community and on campus. May 2007 SUMMER 2007 7 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:04 PM Page 10 Eboo Patel, founder of the Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core, in his Commencement speech, described the “faith line” that separates religious pluralists, who seek tolerance and cooperation, from the religious totalitarians. excerpts from the commencement address “The Faith Line: On Building the Cathedrals of Pluralism” Eboo Patel … In his new book, Peace Be upon You, Zachary Karabell writes: “If we emphasize hate, scorn, war, and conquest, we are unlikely to perceive that any other path is viable … ”. Hate, scorn, war, and conquest sounds like a pretty good summary of our newscasts; it certainly seems like the dominant narrative of our times. And the soundtrack of violence these days appears to be prayer—in Arabic, in Hebrew, in Hindi, in various inflections of English. There are many who are eager to divide humanity along a faith line: Sunnis vs. Shias, Catholics vs. Protestants, Hindus vs. Buddhists. I believe there is something else going on. I believe that the faith line is indeed the challenge of our century, but it does not divide people of different religious backgrounds. The faith line does not separate Muslims and Christians or Hindus and Jews. The faith line separates religious totalitarians and religious pluralists. A religious totalitarian is someone who seeks to suffocate those who are different. Their weapons range from suicide bombs to media empires. There are Christian totalitarians and Hindu totalitarians and Jewish totalitarians and Muslim totalitarians. They are on the same side of the faith line: arm in arm against the dream of a common life together. A pluralist is someone who seeks to live with people who are different, be enriched by them, help them thrive. Pluralists resonate with the Qur’annic line, “God made us different nations and tribes that we may come to know one another.” Pluralists are moved by the image of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. marching together with the Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel in Selma. Pluralists love the words of the poet Gwendolyn Brooks: We are each other’s business We are each other’s harvest We are each other’s magnitude and bond… We pluralists far outnumber the totalitarians. What if we let ourselves imagine? What if we began building? What if every city block were a cathedral of pluralism; every university campus; every summer camp and day care. There would not be enough bombs in the world to destroy all of our cathedrals. Read the full Commencement Address at www.augsburg.edu/commencement/ patel.pdf President Emeritus Charles S. Anderson (right), who led the College from 1980-1997 during a period of significant growth, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Maria Belen Power is the third in her family to graduate from Augsburg. She poses here with sister and brother Ana Gabriela ’05 and Camilo Jose ’02, and their uncle, Dennis Power, from White Plains, N.Y. The three grads are from Managua, Nicaragua, where their mother, Kathleen McBride, is the Center for Global Education regional co-director for Central America and adjunct professor. 8 AUGSBURG NOW 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 11 As the graduates process down the street lined with faculty, hands are shaken, hugs exchanged, and high-fives given. m” Theatre arts professors Darcey Engen ’88 Physician Assistant program director Dawn (second from left) and Martha Johnson (second Ludwig places the master’s hood on Huong from right) pose with grads James Lekatz (left) Timp, one of the 31 newly-graduated PA and Justin Hooper (right). students. President Emeritus William V. Frame, who retired last year from Augsburg, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, and was lauded for his work in sharpening the mission of the College. SUMMER 2007 9 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 12 The flags of the Commencement procession represent the countries of Augsburg’s graduating students. A I t e t w s h i w f t t w e p T r b a 2007 weekend, evening, and graduate programs commencement Faculty line both sides of the street as graduates march through them on their way to the ceremony. June Nursing Department chair Cheryl Leuning takes a photo of instructor Pauline Utesch ’05 MAN (right) with graduates in the Bachelor of Science nursing completion degree program. Roberta Kagin, associate professor and director of the music therapy program, shares a graduation moment with her daughter, Julia (Metzler) Mensing ‘00, who serves on Augsburg’s Alumni Board and received her 10 AUGSBURG NOW MBA degree. a d i a w s e e 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 13 Angela Brand receives first Richard J. Thoni Award In honor of his retirement from Augsburg, the Richard J. Thoni Award was established earlier this year. It was awarded for the first time on June 24 to Angela Brand, a social work major. Beyond the required 240 hours of public service volunteer work Brand completed for her major, she also provided parenting instruction and visitation supervision to a working mother in Chisago County. She facilitated and organized meetings to ensure that the transportation needs of clients at the Chisago County Social Services office were met. Additionally, Brand developed an evaluation of the youth-oriented services provided by Chisago County Social Services. The county is currently following up on her recommendations to ensure that youth are better prepared for their transition into adulthood. During his or her time at Augsburg, the award recipient must have demonstrated a dedication to the kind of community involvement characterized by the personal and professional life of Richard J. Thoni, who until his retirement in June 2007, served as a tireless advocate for higher education at Augsburg. — Jen Winter ’07 Social work major Angela Brand is the first recipient of the Richard J. Thoni Award, established in honor of the retiring Weekend College founder and given to a weekend student committed to service in the community. Dean Barbara Edwards Farley places a doctoral hood on Srividya Raman, who received her master’s Martin Marty, retired University of Chicago professor and degree in social work, spoke on behalf of the historian of religion, who was awarded an honorary Doctor Class of 2007 and told how, after receiving a of Humane Letters degree. In his Commencement speech, business degree in India, she realized her he gave suggestions about learning to live life as a process, passion was in “doing something different that not a product, continually questioning and testing. was closer to [her] heart.” A future college coed straightens the tassel of her mom’s mortar board following Commencement. More than 50 graduating students and their families from Rochester were able to leave the driving to Augsburg and relax on their way to and from the Commencement ceremony. SUMMER 2007 11 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 14 Going to college with your mom With more classes than ever offered in Weekend College, more students are finding out what it’s like to attend college with their parents. The Clark and the Spargo families are two who have had more than one generation attend Augsburg simultaneously. Jeanette Clark and her mother, Mary Simonson Clark, both graduated in the spring. The Spargos have three family members graduating from Augsburg this year and next. According to Clark, “Augsburg’s graduate programs and Weekend College facilitate adult learning and, therefore, increase the prevalence of multi-generational students in families.” The Clark family went through four commencements this past spring. There were so many that Mary referred to their graduation schedule as: “It’s a weekend, who needs a robe?” Jeanette graduated from Augsburg with a Bachelor of Arts degree in youth and family ministry and metro-urban studies on May 5. Mary graduated from Luther Seminary with a Master of Arts in theology on May 27. Mary’s other daughter, Marie, graduated from the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, Calif., with a Master of Architecture on June 16, and Mary received the other half of her dual degree, a Master of Social Work, from Augsburg, on June 24. Concerning being coeds together, Mary said, “I needed to learn how to be on the same campus with my daughter without either of us interfering with each other’s schedules.” Jeanette added, “To be honest, I had some small anxieties when my mother started college at Augsburg. It just doesn’t fit the norm to go to college with your mother.” But both assert that not only did it work, but that the family grew closer because of it. Jeanette claimed, “I think it was really good for both of us to have others in our family who were going through the stress of homework, tests, etc. at the same time. I think this really promoted understanding.” Jeanette Clark (left) who graduated in May, shares graduation joy with her mother, Mary Simonson Clark, who completed dual master’s degrees at Luther Seminary and Augsburg College. For more on Jeanette, see page 7. The Spargos had three members attending Augsburg last year, and all three participated in Advent Vespers. Antonio graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and secondary education. Carolyn, mother to Annika and Antonio, graduated from Augsburg in 1980 and will complete the Master of Arts in Leadership program next year. She says, “It’s been fun to have some of the same professors my kids have.” Annika, who will graduate next year also, with a Bachelor of Arts in music and education, adds, “Although there are several of us on campus, we all have our separate programs which allow us to maintain some individuality.” Continuing, she says, “I think the neatest thing about being a family of Auggies is that I have seen and met so many different people from different departments at the school whom I normally would not know.” — Jen Winter ’07 the class of 2007—956 graduates May 5, 2007—semester programs 31 Master of Science, Physician Assistant Studies students 409 Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science 440 Total graduating June 24, 2007—trimester programs 234 Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science 172 Weekend College 52 Rochester 10 United/Unity/Mercy Hospitals 20 Master of Arts, Education 26 Master of Arts, Leadership 15 Master of Arts, Nursing 178 Master of Business Administration 43 Master of Social Work 516 Total graduating An MBA degree was also awarded posthumously to Shika Addo, a student in the program, who died in April 2006. 12 AUGSBURG NOW ALUMNI NEWS From the Alumni Board president … Greetings fellow Auggies, Well, a year has come and gone. My time as president of the Alumni Association is at an end. My hat is off to all the wonderful folks on the Alumni Board and to the faculty and staff at Augsburg. They’re a great group dedicated to Augsburg and her mission. As I handed off the president’s role to Buffie Blesi, we had a great strategic planning retreat in June to define our new objectives. I’m excited to report to you that our focus areas for 2007 include: • Augsburg Stewards—Connect with the Augsburg Stewards and build our Auggie Pride! • Career Development Program—support Augsburg’s efforts around Career Development for (soon to be) alumni; • Gateway—participate in the opening of the Oren Gateway Center and ongoing activities there • Vespers—support the annual Advent Vespers programming • Awards Committee—honor Auggies each year who have done amazing things in service to the world and Augsburg’s mission • Augsburg Now Advisory Committee—provide input and advice to the great group of folks producing the Augsburg Now • Affinity Groups—build connections with other groups at Augsburg • Fundraising—help build Augsburg’s strength through support of the Annual Fund Centennial Singers perform in the Twin Cities The Centennial Singers, a male chorus of Augsburg alumni and friends, will present a series of concerts this fall in the greater Twin Cities area. The chorus was formed in the early 1990s of former Augsburg Quartet members to revive and continue singing the gospel quartet tradition. Since then, they have toured both to Norway and the Southwest U.S. twice. Fall Concerts/Appearances: Fri., Sept. 28, 7 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church, Staples, Minn. Sat., Sept. 29, 7 p.m. Salem Lutheran Church, Deerwood, Minn. Sun., Sept. 30, 4 p.m. Cambridge Lutheran Church, Cambridge, Minn. Sat., Oct. 6, 7 p.m. Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1900 7th St., New Brighton, Minn. Sat., Oct. 20, 7 p.m. Calvary Lutheran Church of Golden Valley,\ 7520 Golden Valley Rd., Golden Valley, Minn. Benefit—Wilderness Canoe Base Sun., Oct. 21, 4 p.m. Colonial Church of Edina, 6200 Colonial Way, Edina, Minn. Sat., Oct. 27, 7 p.m. Community of the Cross Lutheran Church, 10701 Bloomington Ferry Rd., Bloomington, Minn. Sun., Oct. 28, 4 p.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Dr., Woodbury, Minn. Sat., Nov. 3, 7 p.m. Minnetonka Lutheran Church, 16023 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, Minn. Sun, Nov. 4, 4 p.m. St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 9201 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, Minn. You are invited and encouraged to participate. Please contact the Alumni Relations office. All my best to you and your family as the cycle turns and we start another year. Barry M. Vornbrock ’96 MAL President, Alumni Board, 2006-07 SUMMER 2007 13 CLASS NOTES 1950 1969 Frank Ario, Minneapolis, was featured on the Minnesota Public Radio show, Midday on May 18, in a program, “Two Minnesotans Touched by WWII; Two Strikingly Different Stories.” Royce Helmbrecht, Austin, Minn., is principal at Lyle Community School in Lyle, Minn., a small school of 240 students recently named by Newsweek in the top five percent of high schools in the nation. 1952 Robert R. Hage Sr., Hector, Minn., was entered into the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame on April 21. He is the former football coach at Hector High School. Rev. Orville Olson and his wife, Yvonne (Bagley), Excelsior, Minn., celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He is currently a pastor at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior. Gifts will be given to the Timothy Olson Memorial Scholarship, honoring their son. John R. Hubbling, St. Paul, Minn., received the Max Hecht Award from ASTM International Committee D19 on Water. The committee cited Hubbling for his outstanding service and advancing the study of water. He is laboratory manager for Metropolitan Council/ Environmental Services in St. Paul, and also serves on ASTM International’s international committees on waste management, and quality and standards. 1970 1967 Gerrie Wall (Neff), Rapid City, S. Dak., retired in May, after a five-decade teaching career, from Western Dakota Technical Institute (WDTI) in Rapid City, where she has taught in the general education department for the last 18 years. At this year’s commencement ceremony, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the school, and is the first faculty member to be honored with its highest award. Mary (Tweeten) Gladwin, Pocatello, Idaho, has retired after 21 years in education. She taught in Cottage Grove, Minn., and was the media specialist at Grace Lutheran and Hawthorne Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho. physical education and aquatics in the Glynn County (Ga.) schools. She was also principal horn with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and played in other bands and small brass groups. At Augsburg, she played in a brass group named Neophonic Brass with Mike Savold, Bob Stacke, Johnny English, and others, and would love to continue playing brass music. 1982 Les Heen, Maynard, Minn., was recently appointed president and general manager of Pioneer Public Television in Appleton. He and his wife, Barbara (Westerlund) ’89, have two children, Chris, 9, and Erik, 6. Barbara (Mattison) Lagrue, Lamberton, Minn., has recently moved back to the Midwest, with her husband, Paul. For many years, she taught adaptive 14 AUGSBURG NOW John Sheehan, Lakeville, Minn., has been named boys varsity basketball head coach in Lakeville South High School. For seven years he was an assistant coach with the Lakeville North girls team. 1997 Jasmina Besirevic-Regan, Hamden, Conn., and her husband, Matt, welcomed their second daughter, Lejla, on June 14, 2006. Rev. Scott M. Ludford, Hayward, Wis., was installed as senior pastor of First Lutheran Church on January 21, after serving at Concordia Lutheran Church in Superior, Wis., for eight-and-ahalf years. 1987 Jody Abbott was recently named senior vice president and chief operating officer at North Kansas City (Mo.) Hospital to provide direction for upper management in the areas of nursing services, support services, and facilities. Previously, she worked at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla., in a similar position. 1992 1975 1993 Rev. Judith Bangsund, San Jose, Calif., is pastor, along with her husband, Rev. James Bangsund, at Timothy’s Lutheran Church. She graduated in nursing, served with her husband in Tanzania for several years, and became ordained. Join the Augsburg Online Community • Keep in touch with classmates • Find out what’s happening on campus • Change/update your address and e-mail www.augsburg.edu/alumni CLASS NOTES 1999 Cheri Johnson, Minneapolis, received a $25,000 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Writers, through the Loft Literary Center, in creative prose. She has graduate degrees in English from Hollins College and the University of Minnesota and is a regular participant in the English Department Homecoming Reading and Career Night. 2000 Sara M. Quigley, St. Paul, Minn., graduated on May 27 from Luther Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. She is the youth director at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake, Minn., and hopes to become ordained in the ELCA. Jennifer Rensenbrink, and her husband, Adam Miller, Minneapolis, welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, at Fairview Riverside Hospital on June 9. Rowan Charles weighed 5 lbs., 2 oz.; and Anneke Rensenbrink weighed 4 lbs., 14 oz. certified nursing assistant/ environmental aide at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minn. 2003 Natalia Pretelt, Roseville, Minn., was mentioned in the Money and Business section of the Star Tribune on April 15 for her role as a loan specialist with the Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers. She is involved in microlending and small loans to help immigrants and others start businesses. Jonathan Fahler, has studied since 2004 in the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences program at Loyola University Chicago and was recently admitted to medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. John Tieben, St. Louis Park, Minn., received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota on May 4. Tieben and his wife, Danielle (Slack) ’04, will live in Duluth, where he will serve a three-year family practice residency in the St. Mary’s/Duluth Clinic Health System, St. Luke’s Hospital, and the Duluth Family Practice Center. Options, a volunteer mentoring program that connects with atrisk kids, ages 10-14, in the Twin Cities through biking and running. See blog photos at bolderoptions.org. 2005 Brooke Dornbusch received a Master of Arts in counseling degree in May from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Mo. Mark Simmonds, placed fourth in the 120-kilogram GrecoRoman class at the 2007 USA Wrestling Senior World Team Trials. He is a damage controlman third class (DC3) in the U.S. Navy, operating out of the Mayport, Fla., Naval Station and is a member of the Navy’s wrestling team. 2006 Lauren Falk, Eden Prairie, Minn., has started her own portrait/wedding photography business, Lauren B. Photography, with on-location photography of weddings, portraits, and events in the Twin Cities metro area. Graduate Programs Jeff Falkingham ’95 MAL, Eden Prairie, Minn., donated his services to author a 2007 commemorative edition of his earlier book, The County Courthouse Caper, recounting the history of his native Browns Valley, Minn. The publisher, Beaver’s Pond Press, has donated 1000 copies for the city to sell as a fundraiser for its Long-Term Flood Recovery Fund. Dietrich-Swanson Wedding 2004 2001 Emily Waldon, Salem, Mass., recently joined the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates at its Cambridge internal medicine practice as a physician assistant. She received a master’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Formerly she was a Max Langaard, Oakland, Calif., was recently featured in an article titled, “Teaching Leadership through Coaching.” The article is focused on the Sports-4-Kids program centered in the Bay area inner city schools. The program attempts to help children become not only healthier but also to learn what it takes to lead. Laura Simones, St. Paul, has biked from Boulder, Colo., to Minneapolis with Bolder Hannah Dietrich and Nathan Swanson ’05,, Lincoln, Neb., were married on June 8, in Luverne, Minn. The wedding included several Auggie students and staff, including Sadie Dietrich ’09, Lynde Kuipers ’08, cross-country and track coach Dennis Barker, Marcia Gunz ’05, Anna (Ferguson) Rendell ’05, Kyla Rice ’05, Tim Stowe, and Janeece (Adams) Oatmann ’05. Jeremiah Knabe ’05 also served as an officiant at the wedding. Hannah is a doctoral student at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and Nathan is pursuing a job with Lincoln Public Schools. SUMMER 2007 15 CLASS NOTES SEND US YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN, 55454, or e-mail to alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news to the Augsburg Online Community at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. Full name Maiden name Class year or last year attended Street address City, State, Zip In Memoriam Larsen, Norman ’34, Morristown, Minn., age 97, on June 12. He was a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame. Woolson, Gladys (Oudal) ’34, Minneapolis, age 92, on May 9. Knudsen, Rev. Richard I. ’37 Sem, Minneapolis, age 95, on July 10. Gilseth, Margaret (Chrislock) ’40, St. Charles, Minn., age 88, on June 10. She was a Distinguished Alumna. Framstad, Rev. Waldemar ’41, Marinette, Wis., age 87, on June 14, after a lengthy illness. Ahlberg, Rev. G. Harold ’42, Valparaiso, Ind., age 86, on June 4. Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Home telephone Stolee, Magdalene (Gronseth) ’42, Kenyon, Minn., age 87, on June 11. E-mail Okay to publish your e-mail address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Employer Position Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No If yes, class year Spouse’s name Maiden name Your news: 16 AUGSBURG NOW Estness, Borghild ’43, Minneapolis, age 92, on July 8. She served as a recorder in Augsburg’s Office of the Registrar. Gronseth, Luther C., Sr., ’43, Apple Valley, Minn., age 86, on June 23. Lindahl, Burton J. ’50, Wayzata, Minn., age 82, on May 22. Bakken, Rev. Hardis C. ’52, San Pablo, Calif., age 97, on May 5. Thompson, Robert D. ’52, Bloomington, Minn., age 81, on June 29. Pundy, Eileen “Dolly” ’59, Minneapolis, age 69, on May 4. Peterson, Rolf ’61, University Place, Wash., on April 24. Heimbigner, Marlene (Hanggi) ’65, Olympia, Wash., on Jan. 15. Timmons, Peter ’74, St. Paul, age 63, on June 16, from pancreatic cancer. Ness, Sheela Jo ’86, Plymouth, Minn., on July 4, of injuries from an auto accident. Galland, John H. ’93, Durango, Colo., age 56, on May 18, in an auto accident. Hope, Jared ’00, West Concord, Minn., age 28, on May 8 of injuries from an auto accident. Neitzel, Daniel Kurt ’06, Eden Prairie, Minn., age 27, on June 11. Ward, Sister Agnes, CSJ, on April 10. She taught classical languages at Augsburg in the 1960s. 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 15 CALENDAR For music information, call 612-330-1265 For theatre ticket information, call 612-330-1257 For art gallery information, call 612-330-1524 SEPTEMBER September 10 Seventh Annual Scholastic Connections Gala and Dinner Celebrating the scholarship/ mentorship program and the four ethnic services programs Free and open to the public 6:30–8:30 p.m.—East Commons, Christensen Center Info and reservations: 612-359-6480 or scholar@augsburg.edu September 24-25 2007 Christensen Symposium Everyday Life in the Light of the Gospel Rolf A. Jacobson, associate professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary. Free and open to the public. September 24, “Why Do You Weep? Sadness, Grief, and the Gospel” 7 p.m.—Hoversten Chapel September 25, “How Can I Keep from Singing? Laughter, Joy, and the Gospel” 11 a.m.—Hoversten Chapel September 27 Theatre Artist Series From Augsburg to the Guthrie Theater Katie Koch ’06, stage manager and executive assistant to Joe Dowling, Guthrie Theater 9:40–11:10 a.m.—Tjornhom-Nelson Theater September 14–October 26 Glass from the American-Swedish Institute and Its Local Influence Gage Family Art Gallery, Oren Gateway Center Opening reception: Friday, Sept. 14, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Artist Presentation: To be announced September 14–October 26 Reweaving a Life Prints by Alejandro González Aranda and baskets by women weavers of Tlamacazapa, Guerrero, Mexico Christensen Center Art Gallery Artist Printmaking Demonstration: Friday, Oct. 12, 8:30–10:10 a.m. Artist Presentation and Reception: Friday, Oct. 12, 3:30–5:30 p.m. September 18 Theatre Artist Series Technical Direction at the Guthrie Theater Craig Pettigrew, assistant technical director 9:40–11:10 a.m.— Tjornhom-Nelson Theater September 20 Featured Artist Presentation A Life in the Theatre Peter C. Brocius, artistic director, Children’s Theatre Company 7 p.m.—Tjornhom-Nelson Theater October 17 Many Voices: Bold Visions Convocation Series Peter Bisanz, film director, documentary One 10 a.m.—Hoversten Chapel NOVEMBER November 2–11 Life is a Dream (La vida es sueño) by Pedro Calderon de la Barca Directed by Martha Johnson Nov. 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 and 11 at 2 p.m. Tjornhom-Nelson Theater OCTOBER October 8 Theatre Artist Series Working in the Theatre Buffy Sedlacheck, literary manager, Jungle Theatre 12:10–1:10 p.m.—Tjornhom-Nelson Theater October 8–13 Homecoming 2007 See www.augsburg.edu/alumni for information October 11 Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet November 14 2007 Koryne Horbal Lecture Anne Pedersen Women’s Resource Center Jane Fonda “My Life’s Lessons about Sex and Gender” 10 a.m.—Hoversten Chapel November 30 Velkommen Jul Celebration 10:15 a.m.—Chapel Service, Hoversten Chapel 11 a.m.—Scandinavian treats and gifts, Christensen Center October 12 1957 50th Anniversary Celebration Homecoming Convocation Homecoming Luncheon Campaign Completion Celebration and Oren Gateway Center Dedication Dept. of Sociology 60th Anniversary Celebration November 30–December 1 That All May Have Light 28th Annual Advent Vespers: A service of music and liturgy 5 and 8 p.m. each night Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis For seating envelopes, 612-330-1265 English Alumni/ae Reunion and Reading October 13 1967 40-Year Reunion Picnic in the Park Football game vs. University of St. Thomas Auggie Block Party SUMMER 2007 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 16 An Augsburg Mural Augsburg’s history is celebrated in the mural across the Barnes and Noble Augsburg Bookstore windows at the new Oren Gateway Center. Artwork by photographer Stephen Geffre. 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2010: Auggies On Stage
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2010 VOL. 72, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing StepUP program Environmental literature Travel 10 reasons to come back Coach Mark Matzek ® Commencement 2010 Exploring Our Gifts page 20 on Stage Editor Bets...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2010 VOL. 72, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing StepUP program Environmental literature Travel 10 reasons to come back Coach Mark Matzek ® Commencement 2010 Exploring Our Gifts page 20 on Stage Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu notes from President Pribbenow Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design A new mission statement and Commission Augsburg Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer o ver the past two years, the Augsburg community has been engaged in a lively and rich conversation about our character and identity. Augsburg last modified its mission statement nearly 20 years ago, and although much that defines Augsburg’s distinctive identity as a college of the church in the city has remained constant, there also have been some remarkable changes. The expansion of nontraditional undergraduate programs, several new graduate programs, campus sites in Rochester and Bloomington, significant work around the world, and continuing initiatives to meet the needs of diverse students have combined to make Augsburg a more complex and, I would argue in addition, a more innovative and faithful college. Given the reality of Augsburg’s current missionbased work, the College community explored together how we might state our mission in such a way as to affirm our abiding values and commitments, while also to articulate how the College’s circle of influence and impact has expanded. The result of those explorations is a wonderfully nuanced and meaningful new mission statement, enthusiastically adopted by the Board of Regents at its spring 2010 meeting. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The new mission statement begins with a bold claim of our aspirations for our students as we send them out to live their callings in the world. As citizens, stewards, thinkers, and leaders, Augsburg graduates bring their education and experience to bear in all aspects of their lives and work. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community, committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. This important statement of our selfunderstanding is an explicit reference to our values as a participatory community—very much in line with our Lutheran Free Church heritage—dedicated to the common work of educating all of our students. At the same time, we reaffirm our abiding sense of the im- portance of intentional diversity—diversity of experience, background, and thought—that is supported by our theological, academic, and civic legacies. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church, and shaped by our urban and global settings. This closing sentence lifts up our core values: excellence across all academic programs, the particular gifts of our Lutheran faith, and the central role that our place in the world plays in the education we offer. The circle has been widened to reflect how Augsburg embraces its distinctive role in higher education. I could not be more pleased with the participation of the entire community in crafting this new mission statement. As we move into the next academic year, I am excited to announce an opportunity for all Augsburg alumni and friends to learn more about how our mission sets in place a clear map for our future. Beginning this fall, we will launch Commission Augsburg, a series of conversations that bring together those across the country who care about Augsburg to explore three strategic pathways for Augsburg’s work in the years ahead: Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu (1) We will create and sustain a culture of innovation and excellence. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. (2) We will help all of our students to succeed. Webmaster/Now Online Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Jeff Shelman shelman@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 (3) We will tell Augsburg’s story in word and deed. ISSN 1058-1545 Please watch for opportunities to gather and to learn more about the key initiatives the Augsburg community intends to pursue in order to live out its mission and to honor its distinctive saga as a college of the Lutheran Church. Your perspectives will help shape Augsburg’s future. Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT a summer 2010 7 12 16 Features 24 contents 20 27 augsburg now 7 12 16 20 24 27 Commencement 2010 A step in the right direction by Wendi Wheeler ’06 10 reasons to come back to campus by Jeff Shelman Learning from the environment by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Nine years on the mats by Jeff Shelman Making connections by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Departments inside front cover On the cover Tessa Flynn ’05, community engagement manager and teaching artist with the Children’s Theatre Company, is one of the theatre alums who talks about making connections and the importance of those connections to their life after Augsburg. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 2 4 6 33 36 40 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience around the quad A project of steel Not many senior projects require countless hours spent shaping steel with a hammer and finishing it with sandpaper and steel brushes. But Josh Davis’ project wasn’t like most. For more than two years, Davis spent the vast majority of his free time working to construct a full suit of armor. The project, which was on display during Zyzzogeton—Augsburg’s celebration of student research and creative activity—was featured both in the Star Tribune and The Chronicle of Higher Education. The suit is made out of sheet steel of varying thickness and includes 20 individual pieces, many of which are smaller pieces riveted together, that fit like a puzzle to form the complete armor. Each leg, for example, is 13 separate pieces of steel, some of which were placed on top of each other to increase strength. Building the suit required Davis to shape the steel with a hammer—pounding heated steel over or into a form to produce the required curves—while using a pattern specially developed to fit him. Davis also made each of the buckles and straps on the suit. To call it a labor-intensive process would be an understatement. After originally keeping track of the time on the project, Davis stopped when he reached 1,000 hours, the equivalent of 25 weeks of eight-hour workdays. “The hardest part is finishing it,” Davis said. “I can rough out a form in an hour or two, but fine-tuning it, sanding out the hammer marks, and making the Josh Davis’ suit of armor took two years and hinges and buckles took a long time.” painstaking work to construct. Dal Liddle receives NEH summer research stipend Dal Liddle, associate professor of English, received a National Endowment for the Humanities summer stipend for travel to London to test a hypothesis he’s been formulating. Liddle, whose research focuses on Victorian literature, is spending three weeks in England poring over the private archives of the London Times and the early Victorian holdings of the British Library. Using Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, editorial articles from British papers, and Brontë’s Jane Eyre, he will try to test whether current theories about the historical development of technology will also fit the way British literature developed between 1800 and 1850. What if literary history turns out to change in some of the same ways that technological history changes? Could the history of novels and poems show some of the same patterns as the history of steam engines, microchips, and jet airplanes? “I'm taking a big chance,” he says about his research question. “There’s a big disprovability factor here, but if I’m wrong I want to prove it.” NewsNotes The Nursing Department launched a three-year Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Augsburg’s first doctoral degree, that prepares nurses for advanced practice and leadership in transcultural and community/public health nursing. The DNP is a cohort program that begins in the fall. David Tiede, retiring after five years as the Bernhard Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation, has accepted the interim presidency of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Two new summer camps are bringing young people to campus. Two week-long film camps in July bring high school students together to work with 16mm film, teaching them techniques for scripting, directing, and editing. The Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop brings middle and high school students together with the state’s top coaches in a two- or three-week institute. The deaths of two retired faculty are noted. Robert Herforth, professor emeritus of biology, died on June 18. He is remembered as an extraordinary zoologist who remained very much engaged in current research throughout his life. Rosalie Clark, who taught in the Social Work Department from 1979 for more than a dozen years, died in January 2009. She brought perspectives on American Indian issues to faculty and students and encouraged social work graduates. AUGSBURG NEWS SERVICE 2 Augsburg Now Three faculty members retire from the classroom Julie Bolton—Theatre’s “artist-educator” Curt Paulsen—Social work professor, mentor Paul Grauer—Coach, mentor, teacher Thirty-five years ago, Julie Bolton, a professional actor, was hired part time to teach acting. She soon became full time, added courses, hired faculty, and began to build a theatre arts program, which she then chaired for 12 years, plus four more years when it became a new department. Building on her connections in Twin Cities theatre, Bolton both pushed students to get internships in the theatre community and helped them explore vocations in theatre. And, she brought theatre artists to campus to work with students. She hired faculty whose varied expertise helped create a comprehensive, professional theatre arts program within a liberal arts education. Bolton reflects with pride and gratitude on the collaboration in the mid-1980s that helped bring about Augsburg’s black box theater in Foss Center, with the support of President Charles Anderson, Dean Ryan LaHurd, and donors Barbara (Tjornhom) ’54 and Richard Nelson. Bolton considers herself an “artist-educator” and has used her theatre knowledge in the docent tours she gives at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. “If we are looking at Rembrandt’s Lucretia,” she says, “I introduce similar themes in Shakespeare’s epic poem Lucretia or Hamlet’s soliloquies.” In addition to expanding her role as a docent, Bolton also looks forward to spending time as grandmother to her five grandchildren. Social work professor Curt Paulsen often sang to himself on the way to his classrooms—just one indication of the joy he received every day in teaching. “Just as I have pushed my students,” he explains, “they have also pushed me, and I’m grateful for it.” He found continuing satisfaction in the “joint enterprise of reaching great understanding.” Paulsen taught both undergraduate and graduate students in the Social Work Department and, together with his wife, Cathy, taught a personality theory course to graduate students in the leadership program. He has also taught in the Religion Department and Honors program. Paulsen enjoyed most working with students who weren’t functioning to their ability. With respect, and in an atmosphere of intellectual rigor, he pushed them to their point of real reaction, with high expectations, helping them not only to learn, but to grow as people. It meant facilitating a process where students moved from answers to questions. Paulsen always considered liberal arts and crossing disciplines as “just the beginning of lifelong learning.” For him, “To gain a real understanding of human beings, one must go to the poets and to great literature.” Paulsen now anticipates more time for photography, reading, gardening, and for his family—Cathy, their two daughters and husbands, and four grandchildren. Paul Grauer says that even after 31 years, Augsburg has always been “exactly where I wanted to be.” He served long stints as coach, athletic director, and instructor, and he lists a whole series of strong relationships, high points, and changes that kept it interesting. A big change is the continual improvement of athletic facilities that has made it more likely that recruits will choose Augsburg—early in his tenure he recalls one hockey recruit who told him that Augsburg “had no curb appeal.” In addition, the continual development of the Health and Physical Education Department that now includes exercise science can prepare students for varied careers in teaching, fitness, and training. Grauer recalls 1997–98 as “a special, magical year,” when four Auggie teams— football, men’s basketball, men’s hockey, and wrestling—won conference championships and went to national playoffs, resulting in a wrestling championship and a hockey Frozen Four appearance. Among the high points was the celebration in 2007 of the 35th anniversary of Auggie varsity women’s sports, some of which pre-date the Title IX era. Grauer prepared and submitted early reports for Title IX that “showed we had to pay attention to equality,” and which spurred further expansion of women’s sports. Grauer will always remember the friendships, the colleagues, and the continual growth he’s seen both with the coaches and student-athletes in their training, resiliency, and good sportsmanship in a very competitive athletic conference. Grauer now looks forward to having more time to play his trumpet—especially at Augsburg in the brass ensemble. For Auggie sports news and schedules, go to www.augsburg.edu/athletics. BETSEY NORGARD Summer 2010 3 auggie voices Exploring Our Gifts— looking back over 8 years In 2002 Augsburg received a $2 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to integrate a theological understanding of vocation into the life of the College over a five-year period. In 2007 the grant was renewed for $1 million to cover an additional three years. As of summer 2010, the funding from the Lilly Endowment has ended. The College has now established the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning in order to sustain a number of the programs of the Lilly Endowment grants and to support new initiatives on vocation. Mark Tranvik, associate professor of religion and chair of the Religion Department, was director of Exploring Our Gifts. He reflects about the impact of Exploring Our Gifts on Augsburg’s curriculum and experience. Q: Why did Augsburg apply for the Lilly Endowment grant? A: We should be clear that the Lilly Endowment grant didn’t introduce vocation to Augsburg College. Augsburg began as a seminary, and it had a sense of calling embedded into its DNA. Throughout much of its history, students, faculty, and staff came to the College out of a deep sense of calling. They saw their work here as an expression of what God wanted them to do with their gifts and talents. I think some of that sensibility was lost at a lot of our church colleges during the 1970s and ’80s, Augsburg included. But the idea of vocation never went away, and the Lilly Endowment money provided the school with an opportunity to bring new energy and imagination to the concept. In other words, it was natural for Augsburg to apply for the grant, given our heritage. Q: Why do you think the Lilly Endowment grant has been successful? A: The group who worked on the original application, led by Carol Forbes, Academic Affairs, and Bruce Reichenbach, Philosophy Department, did a wonderful job in making sure the proposal “fit” with the culture at Augsburg. Instead of “top-down” planning, they made sure to solicit proposals from a wide variety of groups on campus. They received more than 30 proposals for projects and were able to whittle that down to 16. When the money actually arrived to fund the projects, a campus-wide conversation had already been going on for some time. In my mind, the genius here is the way this is consistent with the ethos of the school. Augsburg is a college deeply rooted in the traditions of the Lutheran Free Church, and the egalitarian spirit of that church still pervades this community. 4 Augsburg Now Professor Mark Tranvik directed Exploring Our Gifts, Augsburg’s Lilly Endowment program to explore vocation. Q. Didn’t a lot of schools receive Lilly Endowment grants? What’s distinctive about Augsburg’s? A: The Lilly Endowment’s initiative on vocation was incredibly generous. More than 80 colleges and universities, many of them church-related, received grants. And to no one’s surprise, the grants seemed to work especially well at Lutheran schools. This is because the theology of vocation was developed in new ways by Martin Luther and the other reformers in the 16th century. Those places that trace their heritage back to the Reformation found it easier, in general, to talk about vocation on their campuses. One of the distinctive things about Augsburg is the way the College has been willing to integrate a theological understanding of vocation into its core curriculum. This has been one of the fruits of our discussion about vocation on campus. All Augsburg students are required to take two religion classes that have vocation at the center—Religion 100 and 200, Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning I and II, respectively. Furthermore, all students are asked to think about vocation again in their senior seminars. So, you could say that vocation serves as the “bookends” for the Augsburg educational experience. And we also hope that students will be asked in other classes to think about their sense of calling. Of course this will happen, but it’s more dependent on the inclination of individual instructors. Q: What about the specific vocation of ministry? How has the grant helped students who are thinking about working in the church? A: One program of the grant that has worked well in this area is the Lilly Scholars. Every year, 10 juniors or seniors were chosen to take part in a fullcredit seminar dedicated to thinking theologically about vocation and receive a scholarship from the grant. The main prerequisite for the course is to be interested in studying about vocation in-depth. And some of these students do not sense a calling in the institutional church, which is fine. But over half of the participants (about 50 over the eight years) have decided to study theology after receiving their degrees at Augsburg. This is one important way the College continues its long tradition of developing leaders for the church. Q: It is especially important for colleges to document their successes. Is there evidence that the programs of the Lilly Endowment grant have actually made a difference? Purpose: To integrate a theological understanding of vocation into the life of Augsburg College Programs 2002–2010 Total participants Alumni mentoring Student vocation assessments 265 1,962 International exploration 263 Lilly Scholars 82 Church leader development 100 Lilly Interns 54 Youth Theology Institute ~125 Orientation, Augsburg Seminar 2,600 Forums 2,450 Till & Keep journal (copies) Vocatio Chapel 3,600 ~3,600 Interreligious dialogue 471 Courtesy photo A: Augsburg has been fortunate in that it was selected, along with Luther College and Augustana College of Rock Island (both of whom also had received Lilly Endowment grants), to participate in a study by the Wilder Foundation that assessed how effectively vocation had been integrated into these schools. The results were gratifying. They showed significant progress made in helping students view their lives through the lens of vocation. For example, students who had exposure to Lilly Endowment programs were more likely (50% to 23%) to see their life as a “calling,” with a sense of purpose, than those who were not exposed to the grant. Furthermore, 91% of the class of 2007 reported that their understanding of vocation deepened while at college. Go to www.augsburg.edu/cfl to read the full study. Exploring Our Gifts—Augsburg’s Lilly Endowment grant program Q: The Lilly Endowment grant on vocation seems to be strongly rooted in the Christian tradition. Yet Augsburg also stresses the importance of diversity and the acceptance of people from a wide variety of faiths and backgrounds. How do you answer those who suggest that this stress on vocation is done at the expense of diversity? A: That’s a great question and one that many of us have struggled with during the time of the grant. I think I would answer it on two different levels. First, the emphasis on vocation is a way in which we are trying to be faithful to our mission statement and its claim that Augsburg will be “guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church.” We are a college of the church, and that is nothing about which we should be ashamed. As one of the Lilly vocation seminars, students in the Religion and the Christian Faith course in 2005 Second—and this is the point that is often misundertraveled to El Salvador to study the legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero and to explore the depth of stood—I would argue that our Christian faith and emphasis Christian vocation in daily life there. on vocation do not lead to exclusivity and the formation of a community of the like-minded. Jesus spent a good deal of his ministry breaking down walls and crossing so-called “forbidden” boundaries. In a similar vein, I would argue that an emphasis on diversity naturally flows from our Christian faith. We are not diverse in spite of being Christian. Rather, we are diverse because we are Christian. Now this can make life messy, especially for those who insist on nice boxes with neat straight lines. But as Christians we gladly welcome the “world” to our campus and the plurality of faiths and beliefs that come with it. We promise we won’t “coerce” anyone to be Christian (as if that would work!), but we do ask that a respectful and public discussion on faith occur. And we also insist that both sides be open to be challenged and changed. Summer 2010 5 it takes an Auggie StepUP® parents are grateful for support to students and families When Maureen and Harold Thompson realized their daughter Anne was not going to graduate from high school with her friends, they were devastated but not surprised. They knew that something was wrong and that their daughter needed help. Anne went into treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and then began attending daily recovery meetings. During this second phase of her recovery, she worked hard to complete her high school graduation requirements. Anne impressed her teachers and others with her hard work, and her parents thought the situation was under control. This sense of security and relief quickly faded when they discovered that Anne had relapsed. Anne returned to treatment, this time at the Hazelden Center for Youth and Families, where she learned about Augsburg College and the College’s StepUP program for students in recovery. Anne entered StepUP in 2004 and graduated from Augsburg in 2008. She is now a graduate student in higher education and student affairs at the University of Connecticut. “We feel that StepUP has allowed our daughter to attend college, continue with her recovery, and experience college life. Anne has learned to deal with the stresses of projects, schedules, papers, and exams while developing a safe and solid support network. She worked hard in class, and she has worked hard on her recovery. We don’t think this could have happened anywhere else.” Maureen and Harold remain thankful for all that Augsburg did for their daughter and continues to do for other students. That’s one of the reasons they consistently support the StepUP program, The Augsburg Fund, and more. “The StepUP program reinforces the belief that each program participant is accountable. They are accountable to themselves, to their peers, and to the StepUP staff. We believe that the program provided an environment that allowed Anne to blossom and grow, and allowed our family to heal.” “We believe that the program provided an environment that allowed Anne to blossom and grow, and allowed our family to heal.” “StepUP allowed me to go to college,” Anne says. “College is hard for students in general, but students in recovery have all the same challenges that others have and more. This program allowed me to have a ‘traditional’ college experience, which would otherwise be unavailable.” Maureen also noted, “It has been often said that someone with an addiction impacts at least four other people. We believe that StepUP not only helps the student, but it also helps the family, and for that we are eternally grateful.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 Courtesy photo Maureen and Harold Thompson are proud parents as their daughter, Anne, graduated from Augsburg and the StepUP program in 2008. 6 Anne speaks to a campus group about her experiences at Augsburg and in the StepUP program. Augsburg Now t n e m e c n e comm NS THE TRADITIO MORTARBOARD TASSELS There is no official color for bachelor’s degree tassels. Thus, Augsburg chose maroon and gray, and all undergraduate students wear this tassel. Tassels for graduate students are different. In 1895, the Intercollegiate Commission was established to standardize academic dress and to prescribe specific colors to represent different fields of study. This was the last time academic dress has been updated. Augsburg has six fields of post-baccalaureate study, each with a different color: business—drab; nursing—apricot; social work—citron; leadership—white; physician assistant studies—green; and education—light blue. Augsburg graduate program students and faculty all wear the colors of their fields. ‰ ‰ DOCTORAL DRESS The academic dress worn today has its roots in the 12th and 13th centuries when most scholars were clerics in monastic orders. Today’s doctoral robe is based on monastic robes; the hood, originally a cowl, was used to keep the head warm before indoor heating. Robes were formerly all black, but now institutions choose their own colors, and all official doctoral robes have three velvet stripes along the bell-shaped sleeves. Today, professors wear either an Oxford cap (the square mortarboard) or a Cambridge cap (the decorative, beretlike caps). This robe belongs to Nathan J. Hallanger, special assistant to the vice president of academic affairs. The four-foot doctoral hood is scarlet with blue trim, signifying a PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. ‰ DRUM In 1991, music professor Robert Stacke ’71, a professional drummer, began to lead the procession of graduates through Murphy Square to Melby Hall. In this now-beloved tradition, faculty line the street and congratulate their students as they walk by. In 19 years, Stacke has never missed Commencement and has only once dropped the drum. Summer 2010 7 THE TRADITIONS HONOR CORDS Though a variety of colored cords and stoles show up on students’ shoulders at Commencement, two cords are officially given by Augsburg to undergraduate students. Students who have earned a grade point average of 3.6 or higher are candidates for Latin honors, shown by their maroon and gray cords. All students who have completed the requirements of the Augsburg College Honors program wear gold cords. Other cords indicate that the student has completed a departmental honors project. THE CROSS In 1988, Professor Emeritus Norman Holen created the cross used in Chapel and carried in Augsburg ceremonies. ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ 8 MACE The mace, like academic regalia, also originated in the Middle Ages. First used by medieval European bishops who were not allowed to carry swords into battle, the mace was useful as an armor-splitting weapon. By the 16th century, the mace was converted into a symbol of authority and was embraced by colleges and universities as a ceremonial icon. At Augsburg, the mace is carried into all official College ceremonies by the president of the Faculty Senate. Professor Emeritus Norman Holen created Augsburg’s mace in 1970, which, until 1988, was laid on a table during events. Holen was then commissioned to create a stand for it. MASTER’S HOODS Like tassels, the hoods given to master’s degree students have specific meaning. The main color of the 3.5-foot hoods is black, and they are lined with the colors of the college conferring the degree. The hood’s trimmings are three inches wide and correspond to the field of study. For example, the master’s hood shown here is given by Augsburg College (maroon and gray) in the field of nursing (apricot). commencement ‰ MAY 1, 2010 PRESIDENTIAL CHAIN OF OFFICE ‰ OTHER COLORS Augsburg College’s Chain of Office represents the president’s authority to head the university, and is worn by President Pribbenow at ceremonial functions such as Commencement. The chain is in fact not a chain but a maroon ribbon that suspends a medal imprinted with the College seal. The colorful stoles worn by African American students are made from a material called Kente cloth, which originates in Ghana, West Africa. The cloth was woven by the Asante people of Ghana and was exclusively made for Asante kings and queens. Now the stoles are given to members of the Pan-Afrikan Student Union (PASU) as a way to denote their fraternity and to connect them with their past. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEPHEN GEFFRE commencement JUNE 27, 2010 GRADUATES, FAMILIES, FACULTY, AND GUESTS CELEBRATE 2010 COMMENCEMENT MAY 1 COMMENCEMENT 416 undergraduate day students and physician assistant graduate students Speaker—Governor Tim Pawlenty Honorary degree—Father Fernando Cardenal, SJ, educator and activist, Nicaragua Marina Christensen Justice Award—Jessica Spanswick Jessica Spanswick graduated with a major in international relations and a minor in peace and global studies. She has been a Sabo Scholar in civic engagement, a Hoversten Peace Scholar, a Peace Prize Forum Peace Scholar, and a Lilly Scholar. Locally, she has worked with grass-roots organizations on environmental issues and has tutored Kenyan and Somali immigrants in a neighborhood program. Spanswick studied abroad in Namibia, and while there she worked on HIV/AIDS events and water rights issues. The Marina Christensen Justice Award honors a student who has demonstrated a dedication to community involvement as characterized by the personal and professional life of Marina Christensen Justice, who reached out to disadvantaged people and communities. JUNE 27 COMMENCEMENT 492 weekend/evening and Rochester undergraduate students, and graduate students in business, education, leadership, nursing, and social work Speaker—Congressman Keith Ellison Honorary degree—Peter Heegaard, founder of Urban Adventure Richard J. Thoni Award—Michele Roulet Michele Roulet graduated with a major in studio art and a minor in religion. In immersing herself in student life at Augsburg, Michele provided leadership, community spirit, hospitality, and innovation within the adult programs. She served as Weekend College Student Senate vice president and president and as a student commissioner in Campus Ministry. Her leadership created the First Word gatherings, an on-campus faith community for adult students. In the wider community, she has worked with programs to combat hunger. The Richard J. Thoni Award is given to a weekend student who exemplifies the spirit of community involvement demonstrated by Rick Thoni’s career at Augsburg. To view slide shows and a video of Governor Pawlenty’s commencement address, go to www.augsburg.edu and click on the YouTube icon. commencement IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILY AT AUGSBURG Jeff and Suzi Burt and their daugher, Crystal Studer, graduated together, all receiving nursing degrees. Studer is a nurse at the hospital in Austin. “Augsburg’s been great,” she says. “It’s made me a more well-rounded nurse, and the faculty is phenomenal.” A little more than a year after Suzi and Crystal began, Jeff returned to the program. “Mayo is in the process of going bachelor’sonly for RNs,” Jeff says. “If you have an [associate’s degree in nursing], you'll be required to go back. I just thought it was the best thing to do.” All three say there are benefits to having family members in the program at the same time. Suzi and Crystal were frequently in the same class, and since they also live across the street from each other in Blooming Prairie, Minn., they were able to share textbooks. They have also encouraged and motivated each other as they worked to balance work, school, and family. “As a married couple, it’s nice to be in the same thing because you know what each other is going through,” Suzi says. While excited to finish, all three found the program both rewarding and beneficial. “It’s been better than I thought,” Crystal says. “In your first two years, you learn a lot of skills. In these two years [at Augsburg], you learn why we do what we do. The content has all been really useful, and it has inspired me.” JEFF AND SUZI BURT AND CRYSTAL STUDER CAROL DEMULLING, SARAH DEMULLING, AND HEATHER DEKOK Jeff Burt was the first member of his family to enroll in Augsburg’s nursing completion program. He was working at the Mayo Clinic when he began taking classes at Augsburg in 2000. He stopped about three-quarters of the way through the program to allow his wife, Suzi, to enroll in a two-year nursing program at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn. In fall 2008, Suzi Burt and Crystal Studer, one of the couple’s daughters, enrolled at Augsburg, largely because of Jeff’s positive experience. Carol Demulling and her daughters Sarah Demulling and Heather Dekok all ended up in Augsburg’s business administration program for the same reason—they all knew the education they had wasn’t going to be enough. While all three have positions at Mayo Clinic and the two daughters have two-year degrees, they wanted more opportunities for advancement. “When I started work in the ’70s, you could have a high school education and work your way up,” Carol says. “To make moves Families have always been a big part of Augsburg—second- and third-generation Auggies, Auggies following the paths blazed by older siblings, and couples who met at Augsburg and inspired their children to attend. The June 27 Commencement, however, featured a new twist: two families of parents and children from Augsburg’s Rochester campus graduating together. The first is a mother, father, and daughter, all earning bachelor’s degrees in nursing. The second featured a mother and two daughters who studied business administration together. Carol Demulling (center) and her daughters Sarah Demulling (left) and Heather Dekok (right) graduated with business administration degrees. now, you need education.” Her daughter Heather was a little more blunt. “I graduated with a two-year degree in business in 2005,” she says. “And I realized that a two-year degree doesn’t do anything.” They all say their Augsburg education has been practical from the beginning. Dekok works in the international office at Mayo Clinic, and what she has learned about different cultures has been immediately applicable. “I work in an office full of women,” she says. “Some of the countries we deal with, they frown upon women in the workplace. You realize why you get some of the attitudes that you do at times.” Carol developed a complicated spreadsheet for a class project that is still being used by members of her office in the evaluation of grant proposals. As they finish at Augsburg, they’re happy to have experienced college together and appreciate the people they met through the process. “I didn’t really realize until the last two trimesters how many relationships we’ve built here,” Carol says. “People in the Mayo system, people at IBM. I’ve really enjoyed that and getting to know these people. We all have something in common.” JEFF SHELMAN Summer 2010 11 12 Augsburg Now step in the right direction A BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Editor’s note—In order to be respectful of the students in the StepUP program, their last names are not used. StepUP students wear purple cords when they graduate from Augsburg. GOING TO COLLEGE was never a part of Emily A.’s future plans. She dropped out of high school and eventually got her GED. When she first heard about StepUP®, she was in her late twenties and living in a sober house in St. Paul. “I thought my time had passed,” Emily said. “College was one of the mountains I just wasn’t going to climb.” But she called Augsburg and made an appointment with Patrice Salmeri, StepUP program director. “All the time she was talking to me, I was saying, ‘Yeah, yeah. Sounds great,’ but I had no intention of applying.” Then she met Chris Belbeck ’06, an admissions counselor and a StepUP alumnus. “He asked me, ‘What are you waiting for?’ and he wasn’t taking no for an answer.” So before she left campus that day, she had started filling out an application. Four years later, Emily graduated with honors from Augsburg this spring. “I didn’t have any goals when I was using,” she says. “But StepUP has taught me that I have amazing drive and potential.” Without StepUP, Emily says she doubts she would have even tried going to college. Since 1997, the StepUP program has helped students in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs learn similar lessons about themselves. To date, more than 400 students from across the nation have participated and have maintained an 85% abstinence rate while in the program. They are successful in sobriety and in the classroom, earning a collective 3.2 GPA at Augsburg. For many StepUP graduates, the thought of going to college was at one time unimaginable—never mind staying sober in school and getting good grades. But the StepUP community has given many students in recovery the opportunity to contribute to society in ways they never thought they would. (Photo at left) Emily A. ’10 and Tyler P. ’11 The community is the program Several colleges and universities sponsor 12-step meetings and provide academic support or counseling services for students in recovery. But StepUP goes further by offering chemical-free housing for students in what they refer to as a collegiate recovery community. “The community is a safe place where you feel supported,” says Scott Washburn, the program’s assistant director. The students guard and protect the safety of the community by holding each other accountable. While they are involved in StepUP, students meet individually with a StepUP counselor each week. They are required to attend two 12-step meetings per week and to maintain an active working relationship with a sponsor. Students also attend a weekly StepUP community meeting where they hear from outside speakers, discuss program business, share service opportunities, and celebrate even the smallest of victories. “Getting an A on a math test or just making it to the first day of class, those are chances for us to celebrate,” says Salmeri. “The little things really make a difference.” Achieving success—in sobriety, academically, and in the community—is part of the StepUP culture. “We build positive community norms that are geared toward succeeding, growing, and doing well,” Washburn says. “That’s why it’s different. That’s why it works.” The other component of StepUP that makes it stand out from traditional recovery programs is that the program is constantly shaped by student input. In particular, students serve on the leadership team, which meets regularly with staff to share what is happening in the community and to keep the program moving in the right direction. “The students really take initiative to make changes for the better in the community,” Salmeri says. This mature partnership, where staff and students work together, gives students the confidence to develop into leaders. Salmeri adds, “I can see the potential in them, and it is our role to help them realize it within themselves.” A perfect fit The idea for StepUP began when two students at Augsburg approached Don Warren, the former director of Augsburg’s Summer 2010 13 Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services (CLASS), to ask for his help. The students shared with Warren how being in college was difficult for them. They struggled not only with the usual day-to-day challenges of college life but also with staying clean and sober. Warren turned to Dave Hadden, then the educational and vocational liaison at Hazelden, for his help. Washburn, who worked with Hadden at that time, said Hadden had developed an educational and vocational packet for patients coming out of treatment “to get them thinking about their direction in life,” Washburn says, but they didn’t have a college to recommend. In fact, Washburn says, “We would discourage young people from going to college straight out of treatment. We told them they needed a year of sobriety first and a really solid foundation.” Warren and Hadden’s idea for a residential program that would offer counseling and support proved to be just the foundation students needed to transition from treatment to college. In the fall of 1997, 23 students moved into Anderson Hall to begin college and the StepUP program. Thirteen years later, the program serves 72 students who live in Oren Gateway Center, a chemical-free facility that is also home to the StepUP staff offices. Washburn believes the StepUP program and its students have flourished at Augsburg due in part to the values shared by the program and the College. “Augsburg’s culture is about providing access and helping all kinds of students get the support they need to be successful,” he says. “That’s perfect for students like ours.” Also, as a private liberal arts college of the ELCA, Washburn says the Augsburg community is open to conversations about spirituality. In 12-step programs, students learn to rely on a higher power or a God of their understanding. “We work really hard with students to help them define their meaning and purpose …” Washburn adds. 14 Augsburg Now Students receive a medallion when they complete the StepUP program. Part of that purpose is being of service to others, another value in line with Augsburg’s mission. “We help students find a vision and see that no matter what they do, they can make a difference in the world,” Washburn says. Making a difference means being of service to the community—not just the StepUP community or the recovery community but at Augsburg, in the city, and throughout the world. Success through service Being a part of the StepUP community helps students maintain sobriety because it gives them a chance to help others. Being “of service” is an essential component of any 12-step recovery program, whether it is by sponsoring others, sharing in meetings, or even making coffee. Tyler P. has learned that success in college can come through helping others, not just from studying. After he faced serious consequences from his drug use, Tyler entered treatment at Hazelden. One of his friends from treatment, the only one he knew who had stayed sober, was in StepUP. Tyler saw that the young man was a good student and that he wasn’t getting high or drunk. For Tyler, that kind of life was hard to imagine. He enrolled at Augsburg in 2008 and now participates in the StepUP community, sharing his experience with other men as a sponsor. “I’ve earned more As through being of service to others than when I white-knuckled it for eight hours cramming for a test,” he says. In recovery, Tyler has seen students transform their lives. “I’ve seen guys go from not being able to sweep the floor when they first get sober to being able to run meetings, get on the dean’s list, and participate in life.” And Tyler’s life has also been transformed. “I was not an all-star student in high school, but I’ve found a lot of success here.” He’s been on the dean’s list for three semesters and has developed a network of sober friends. Most importantly, Tyler says being a part of the community has given him the chance to practice the principles he’s learned in his recovery program. A new way of living Salmeri says StepUP also helps students learn that they are leaders and role models, not only for other students in recovery but for all members of the Augsburg community. Students can serve in formal leadership positions in StepUP, in student government, as a member of residence life, or by participating in athletics. But many also become role models to their peers simply by becoming the people they were meant to be. When Julia G. first learned about the StepUP program, she had only been sober for a few weeks. As time passed and she neared the six-month mark of her sobriety, the minimum requirement for acceptance into StepUP, Julia realized that going back to college was possible for her. While in the program, students in StepUP are required to live on campus. This meant that Julia, who had been living in a sober house where she was the youngest resident, would now be the oldest woman in her residence hall. For the first month, Julia says she felt out of place because of the age difference. “I thought I was unique because I had more life experience,” she says. “I judged the other girls.” Eventually Julia began to realize she was more like the other students than she had thought. “We all had different experiences, but we also had something very important in common.” That sense of belonging helped Julia form “intense, involved relationships” with the other students. “For the first time in my life, I was a trustworthy person. It meant a lot to me that the other women looked up to me.” Today Julia has a degree, a career she calls “fantastic,” and a relationship with her nine-year-old son. And she’s stayed sober for seven years. “I really turned into myself at Augsburg,” Julia says. “StepUP showed me that anything is possible.” Moving in the right direction Over the years, StepUP has provided a safe, supportive community for hundreds of students. The program has allowed them to achieve the goal of college graduation while also staying clean and sober—a goal that was at one time overshadowed by their addiction. And the confidence students gain in StepUP keeps them going in the right direction after they move on from Augsburg. Witnessing this achievement is a great joy for Salmeri and the other StepUP staff. “The privilege of my position as director is to witness the growth of each student as they experience the transition into mature adults,” she says. For 10 years, Salmeri says her dream job was to work for Augsburg in the StepUP program. “After eight years of working here, I can still say it is my dream job. I feel honored and humbled to work with the students and their families.” “I am your biggest fan” Every year the StepUP program celebrates the accomplishments of its graduates— those who have completed their studies at Augsburg as well as those who have completed their residency with StepUP and will move off campus. The StepUP graduation ceremony is a special time set aside to recognize the outstanding achievements of the StepUP students and for the Augsburg community to hear their inspirational stories. The theme, chosen by the students on the StepUP leadership council, was “I am your biggest fan.” These are sentiments shared by Patrice Salmeri, StepUP program director, at this year’s ceremony: “… let this statement sink deep into your soul. Write it on a rock. Etch it on a tree. I am your biggest fan. I am rooting for you all the way. And it has been this way since your first contact with the StepUP program. Through the ups and downs, the difficulties and celebrations, life’s twists and turns—I am your biggest fan! Your legacy here at Augsburg and the StepUP program has already been left, and it is more than enough! Whether it was a kind word you said or being a consistent friend in another’s life, you may never know. But each of you has left their mark on this place and it is forever changed because of your presence.” A tradition at the StepUP graduation is for a student to read from “The Awakening,” an anonymous poem about recovery. This is an excerpt from the poem: You learn that, for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve … and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline, and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it’s OK to risk asking for help. Summer 2010 15 1 10 So try to jog your memory bank and answer this question: Just when was the last time you were on the Augsburg campus? And we’re talking about really being on campus. You know, park the car, get out, walk around, go into a building. Because giving a little wave when you see the sign atop Mort as you cruise down Interstate 94 doesn’t count. Has it been a year? Two? Five? That’s all right. We’re not going to judge. Everybody is busy, you don’t always get to Cedar-Riverside, we get that. But we also know that sometimes you just need a little inspiration. And that’s why you need to keep reading. Because while you only need one reason to come back to campus and remember the role that Augsburg played in shaping your life, we’re going to give you 10. So stop by, check the place out, see how much it has changed. And be an Auggie. 10 reasons to come back to campus BY JEFF SHELMAN 16 Augsburg Now 1 0 OREN GATEWAY CENTER If it has truly been a while since you’ve been on campus, well, this is Augsburg’s new front door. Located on Riverside Avenue, the Oren Gateway Center is the newest building on campus. The multipurpose building has classrooms, residences, offices, meeting rooms, and common spaces. And if you want to learn about alumni programming, our Alumni and Constituent Relations folks are located on the third floor. . 2 Campus model Yes, we know the Augsburg campus has a new look to it. But it isn’t a finished product either. In the lobby of Oren Gateway Center is a model that depicts what Augsburg’s campus master plan looks like. You can see where the planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion will go. Once that is built, Augsburg’s urban campus will have green space from 20th Avenue to Kennedy Center. 3 GET SOME GEAR Let’s be honest, that Augsburg sweatshirt in your closet is looking pretty grungy, isn’t it? We can fix that. The Augsburg bookstore in Oren Gateway Center has many ways for you to show off some Auggie pride. A hat for the golf course? Check. A sweatshirt for fall weekends? Yep. Cool workout gear for the gym? We’ve got that too. Gear Summer 2010 17 4 EAT The food available on campus is no longer how you remember it. It isn’t mass produced and boring. It actually has, you know, flavor. The folks at Nabo, in Oren, will make a fresh sandwich or salad right before your eyes. There’s also homemade soup and even sushi. At the A-Club Grille in the lower level of Christensen Center, the options range from burgers to chicken sandwiches to wings, and fresh fries are an option. Our choice? We love Nabo’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (left). You’ll just need a few extra napkins. 5 VELKOMMEN JUL On the topic of eating, who doesn’t need some sweets as you head into Advent? Stop by campus on Friday, Dec. 3, and take part in the Augsburg tradition that honors our Scandinavian heritage. And if anybody can make treats the way your mother and grandmother did, it is the Augsburg Associates, a group of volunteers who support the College. 6 Athletic events For each of the past two years, Augsburg has been the most improved athletic program in the MIAC, and teams are making the playoffs with much greater frequency than ever before. Why not load up the family and watch some of our student-athletes show their Auggie pride? Our defending national champion wrestling team takes on rival Wartburg in the Battle of the ’Burgs on January 18, 2011. There’s a home football game each Saturday in September. Other schedules can be found at www.augsburg.edu/athletics. 18 Augsburg Now 8 7 Christensen Center We know how you work. You have a meeting somewhere in Minneapolis, it ends, and you proceed directly to Starbucks or Caribou. Right? If you’re near campus, why don’t you stop by Christensen Center? It’s a little different than last time you were here. Cooper’s will brew you up some good java and you can get a wi-fi password at the info desk. And you might meet some current Auggies. Art on campus There’s the Gage Family Art Gallery in Oren Gateway Center. There’s the Christensen Center Art Gallery. And there’s also a student gallery on the main level of Christensen. Stop by, see some of the cool stuff from local and Augsburg artists in the galleries and across campus. Exhibit information can be found at www.augsburg.edu/galleries. 9 DAILY CHAPEL There are days when you just need a little reflection, a reminder of what is really important. At Augsburg, there is time set aside to do just that. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:20 a.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:20 a.m., a 20-minute chapel service is held during the academic year. While daily chapel is considered a given by Auggies, it is very much a rarity for liberal arts colleges. Stop by and take a break from your busy day. 10 Homecoming If you are only going to make one trip to Augsburg in the next year, make it for Homecoming weekend, Oct. 15-16. Among the highlights is the expanded Taste of Augsburg prior to the football game against Concordia Moorhead. After the game with the Cobbers, stick around for the Auggie Block Party and see old friends and classmates. Summer 2010 19 E H T M O R F LEARNING t n e m n o r i v n E BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 College students who take a literature course expect to do a lot of reading. But few who register for a course titled “Environmental Literature” would imagine being asked to go camping, wear the same clothing for a week, or borrow someone’s book and not return it. A student wouldn’t expect this—unless he or she had taken a course from Colin Irvine, associate professor of English and environmental studies. In order to encourage his students to experience the literal and literary landscape more deeply, students in Irvine’s spring semester course found themselves taking on some creative challenges. In addition to reading books and taking exams, students were asked to observe a spot in nature and note its changes over time, learn to identify Minnesota’s birds, wear the same outfit for one week, spend 24 hours in the great outdoors, and go “off the grid” for an entire weekend. The point of these unusual assignments was to challenge students to move outside of their comfort zones. “I wanted, as Thoreau suggested at the outset of Walden, to wake them up to help them see their world—not the distant world connected with wilderness but the one they inhabit daily—as being connected to a dynamic, ultimately dangerous living, evolving world. I wanted them, in short, to feel challenged, unsettled, unsafe,” Irvine says. “It’s a risk when you put these kind of things in the syllabus, but I got away with it.” On the following pages, students share some of their blog and journal entries about Irvine’s challenges. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALDEN 20 Augsburg Now BECOME A BUDDING phenologist (pun intended) Select a plot of land and visit two to three times a week. Spend time in your place observing, recording, and reflecting on what you find, hear, note, and think. SPRING IN THE CITY It seems as if my professor was right in his recommendation to visit our sites twice a week. If I had followed his advice, perhaps I would be able to better appreciate my hillside. Where I stand right now, I am unsure as to how much has changed and how drastically so. The snow is slowly receding into an indistinguishable brown mass of diamond dirt. Wildlife can be heard through the dripping trees as well; the chattering squirrels, the squawking crows, the cooing mourning doves. Something that strikes me as I stand here is the indescribable sense of movement I feel from my site. The water from the once frozen crack in the concrete dam is now a dull trickle on the hill. In the right moment, a flash of sun bounces off of the stream and hits my eye. This sharp glint always jars me awake from my hypnotized state; I feel a bit silly admitting this, but I often lose myself in the sight of the hillside. It’s as if all of the attempts of description are fruitless as my words hold no candle to the majestic power of nature. The subtle movement of the water almost gives the land a pulse. With each trickle of the stream, the surrounding leaves shift and rearrange. The grass sways above the mud’s restless state and the flow of the dirty water draws me in; it’s almost as if the pulse of the hillside is acting as a siren. The movement in the grounds suggests a voice; a voice that beckons me to join with the land. To see my plot of land move, so see it breathe, this is an experience I have never had before. DAVE MADSEN ’11 THISONE’SFOR the birds Learn to identify the birds of Minnesota by their physical characteristics and by their calls. MARCH 1, 2010 I’m so pleased that now I know what a cardinal sounds like—a great mystery of my life, solved! There are three of them—two males and a huge female—that frequent my mulberry bushes and the neighbor’s tree, but somehow I’ve never made the connection before that they’re the ones whose song I wake up early to on work days. I’ve been late more than once on my way to the coffee shop; I can’t help but pause and watch them hop and flutter from branch to branch, circling each other in some birdish dance that I suspect is carefully organized, though I can’t tell what they’re doing. The downside of my new bird watching discovery is that I can’t whistle. When my dad would take me hiking as a little kid, I was constantly fascinated by his ability not only to identify birds by their calls but also to repeat them, and I’ve tried my whole life but never learned how to do the same. When I was five, I remember writing a list of things I had to learn how to do: zip zippers, cartwheel, snap my fingers, raise one eyebrow, tie my own shoes, and whistle. The cartwheel and the whistle have never been checked off. DALEY KONCHAR FARR ’13 Summer 2010 21 GOINGOFF the grid Go off the grid for three days—a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Though there are many reasons tied to this course that I am presenting you with this challenge, here are four of the most important: first, when we are plugged in, we are often tuned out to the natural sights and sounds specific and central to this course’s focus on landscape; second, when we are off the grid, we are more inclined to sync with those around us, an important consideration given the emphasis in this course on communities; third, unplugging means consuming less and thus preserving/conserving more; fourth (though not finally), much of today’s communications-based technology reinforces the idea that having instant access to information in small bits represents progress. Jessica was determined to go off the grid one weekend, but she was waiting for important news from her family. She received the call and then checked her e-mail to find a message from her graduate school program, which required her to log on and register for classes. She didn’t make it entirely off the grid—she didn’t call anyone and checked e-mail only twice a day. She wrote, “But I know, deep down, that this doesn’t count.” GOING OFF THE GRID: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (EXCERPT) I have become entirely trapped in our mechanized society. The demands placed on me are not the be-all and end-all of the world, but it is easy to define them as such. This being said, I do not completely resent the technology I have allowed to enter my life. My family has always been very close, and even now, as a senior in college, my parents call me at least three times a week to check in. I do not resent their phone calls, but I relish the contact I have with my family, it helps me feel connected to them. In the same way, some close friends that do not go to school here talk to me via various types of communication. It helps to keep us together when we cannot be physically together. I think there is a danger in setting aside the people we are physically present with for those who are distances away, but there is also a danger in shunning people we could be communicating with for those that are closer. I don’t think technology is evil; it, like everything else, can be used poorly and abused. The key is to use it wisely. I would like to try to go off-grid some other time, because there is no way to understand how to truly utilize technology if we don’t know what life is like without it. JESSICA FANASELLE ’10 “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” JOHN MUIR 22 Augsburg Now Bear Grylls HASGOT NOTHINGONYOU By the end of spring break, spend 24 uninterrupted hours in Minnesota’s great outdoors. 3/21 IT’S FREEZING!! We didn’t anticipate these temperatures. The night dragged on, freezing temperatures resulted in tossing and turning and shivering all night. I think we all learned a valuable lesson—it’s impossible to share a mummy bag. 24 hours later and the land seems unchanged except for the layer of frost that confirmed the freeze. It seemed like time froze along with the water in the bottle outside of the tent (note: always take the time to tuck the water bottle UNDER the tarp INSIDE the tent). It was hard to fully appreciate the hours without sun. No sleep, the shivers, numb toes, sounds like initiation criteria. It’s amazing how a few hours of pain and uncomfortable conditions can change how you feel about the outdoors, I’d been winter camping twice before but this was definitely more of a challenge. We may have underestimated the amount of preparation and anticipation that was needed but by morning it didn’t matter. MATIE MINASIE ’11 CAN I BORROW your book? Borrow Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit from someone—perhaps a stranger—and then convince that person to let you give the book away to someone else. I USED TO BELIEVE I used to believe, before coming to Augsburg, that ‘try’ was a useless word. I used to believe that if something couldn’t be accomplished fully, successfully, it wasn’t worth much. I used to believe that everything I did meant only what value could be found in final products. I think my journey away from this belief has taken place slowly over the last four years but it seems perfect and fitting to me that this Environmental Literature class, with its challenges, has come at the end of my Augsburg education. The challenges of this curriculum represent everything I was wrong about before coming here. Education, growth, things of beauty and worth are rarely born from end products. Trying to spend 24 hours outside, trying to spend a week not planning outfits each morning, trying to memorize Minnesota birds, trying to find a copy of Ishmael that someone would let me borrow then give away, trying to spend hours writing outdoors in the bitterness of February, these attempts taught me more about myself and the world around me than easily succeeding ever could have. Some of the challenges I completed, some I completed creatively, and some I failed but I don’t feel that any taught me less than another. Find all the Environmental Literature challenges at www.augsburg.edu/now One of the best examples of all this, I think, was the challenge to find a copy of Ishmael to borrow and give away. In my search, I learned who around me had read the book and wanted to talk about it when I’d finished (though none from that group still had the copy they’d read), who wanted to borrow it from me when I was done, and what it would mean for me to give up a book that had no intention of coming back to me in physical form. Now I understand, in a way I didn’t before, that a conversation with my father (who will receive Ishmael from me) about the book is worth more that the book’s long life on my shelf. When I couldn’t find a copy of Ishmael from anyone I knew, I ended up making a trade for the book at a used bookstore in St. Paul. “Ishmael?” the girl behind the counter said as she handed it over, “this book will change your life.” Having finished reading it, I know she was right but that she may not have understood entirely what she was saying. The book has changed my life, to be sure, but the journey to find it and the conversations that will come are life-changing things as well. We do not grow through successes, final products, and exams but through journeys, challenges, and trying things once, twice, or fifty times without fear of the result. MOLLY BUDKE ’10 Summer 2010 23 MARK MATZEK It was spring 2007 and Mark Matzek ’05 couldn’t sleep. He was 25 years old, had just finished his first full year of teaching mathematics at Apple Valley High School, and suddenly was faced with a significant life decision. Ever since deciding to become a high school teacher, Matzek’s goal was to return to his hometown of Ellsworth, Wis., coach his nephews on the wrestling mat, and teach math to his nieces. With only two coaches over the past 60 years, Ellsworth had become a wrestling power in Wisconsin, and continuing that interested Matzek. But Matzek was also an Auggie. The three-time All-American and two-time national champion had spent two years as a part-time assistant coach at his alma mater. So, three years ago Matzek had to make a choice. A math position opened in Ellsworth and plans would be made to make him the coach-in-waiting. At the same time, Jeff Swenson retired as Augsburg’s wrestling coach, the assistant coach was promoted, and Matzek was offered the full-time assistant coach position. “I kept waking up thinking Augsburg was the right choice,” Matzek says. Turns out it was. BACK ON TOP AT NO. 1 Fast forward three years and Matzek doesn’t have some of the worries that many 28-year-olds have. He doesn’t worry about whether that promotion is really going to happen. He doesn’t fret about that next job. And he isn’t in that wondering-what-is-next mode that seems to go along with that time of one’s life. 24 Augsburg Now Nine years on the mats BY JEFF SHELMAN Fresh off a Colorado vacation filled with mountain climbing, Matzek couldn’t be more comfortable with where he is. And for good reason. Sitting in his Kennedy Center office, Matzek has two pieces of serious hardware within arm’s reach. The first is for the NCAA Division III wrestling national championship that Augsburg won in March. The second is for Matzek being named Division III Coach of the Year. “There is no ‘what’s next’,” says Matzek, the youngest coach to ever win a Division III title. “This is where I want to be. It’s Augsburg. This is the premier small wrestling school in America. This is a dream job.” And this winter, the Augsburg wrestling program truly became Matzek’s program. With former coach/program architect/athletic director Jeff Swenson ’79 simply a spectator, Matzek led the Auggies to one of its most successful seasons in school history. The Auggies simply didn’t lose. A team with great balance, Augsburg was perfect in dual meets; it won every tournament it entered and the Auggies closed the season by winning their 11th national championship in the past 20 years. It was a season that included dual meet victories over the teams that finished both first and second in the Division II championship and a drama-free Division III national championship in which Augsburg clinched the title before the championship matches began. While there were certainly questions about whether Matzek would be able to keep the Augsburg wrestling program at the same level—the fact that he looks both younger than his age and younger than some of his wrestlers didn’t help—there is little question now. “I couldn’t be happier for Mark; they got the monkey off their back,” Swenson says. “You win one and then you don’t have to answer the question any longer. And I couldn’t be happier that I had nothing to do with it.” Matzek says he didn’t feel pressure to win that first title, but he also knows that there were people nationally who expected a misstep. “If Augsburg was ever going to falter, it was going to be the last two years,” he says. “And we finished second and first.” BUMPS ALONG THE WAY It was a little more than two years ago when Swenson walked into Matzek’s office and asked him to serve as the program’s interim coach. It was the end of July, the school year was less than six weeks from starting and Matzek was handed the keys. “Was I prepared as well as others in the nation? No,” Matzek says. “But I didn’t want it to go outside the Augsburg family. I didn’t really know what I had agreed to until I went home and told my wife.” The next eight months were a blur for Matzek, who at times was just trying to stay a step ahead of his wrestlers and make it to the next day. Because in addition to leading the Auggies, he was also part of the way through a graduate program at Concordia-St. Paul, a program that was much more manageable when he was an assistant coach. “I had three full-time jobs,” he joked. “I had Augsburg, I had my master’s program, and I had my wife. Our guys would study and I’d be there working on my homework at the same time.” Summer 2010 25 MARK MATZEK AT AUGSBURG 2001-05: Student-athlete Two individual national championships Three-time All-American The team won two national titles and had two runner-up finishes. 2005-2008: Assistant coach Augsburg won the 2007 national championship and finished third in both 2006 and 2008. 2008-09: Interim head coach Team rose to No. 1 in the national rankings and won the National Duals. 2009-10: Permanent head coach The Auggies completed a perfect season, winning every dual meet and tournament. Augsburg won its 11th Division III national championship in the past 20 years. Matzek was named Division III Coach of the Year. The Auggies finished second at the NCAA championships. While athletics may not be as cutthroat at the Division III level as it is, say, in the Big Ten, contests are still scored and it isn’t intramurals. “I didn’t want to just hold on and be a bridge from one coach to another,” Matzek says. “I wanted to win the title for those guys. It was a year of extreme highs and extreme lows for me. I was learning to manage all of the different guys, manage personalities and figure out that not all athletes were like me when I was in college.” Matzek was certainly more than just the guy to get Augsburg by. The Auggies defeated rival Wartburg, won the Division III National Duals, and entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 1 in the country. “I knew we didn’t have as good of a tournament team as we did a dual meet team,” Matzek says. “We had a couple of injuries, and we had a couple of matches that didn’t go our way. After the first day I knew it was going to be tough.” The Auggies finished second, but Matzek did enough to ensure his future as Augsburg’s head coach. While the search 26 Augsburg Now committee did bring in two outside candidates to interview for the position, Matzek was hired. “Given the circumstances, he did a great job,” Swenson says. “We were a lowly-ranked team and he took us to the No. 1 ranking and a second-place finish. There was a real strong assumption with the committee that he had done a good enough job.” IN THE RIGHT PLACE NOW While Matzek has been a head coach for only two seasons—and only one season in which he knew the job was really his—he has impressed the guy who is both his boss and the architect of the Augsburg program. “I think Mark has become a quick expert at preparing his teams for competition,” Swenson says. “I think he gets it. I believe he has taken the Augsburg system and tweaked it to have Mark Matzek’s name on it. He’s done it by having a keen sense of what athletes need. “He’s a lot closer in age to his wrestlers. He knows how it feels to go through this. He’s really in tune to when the guys need to be pushed, need a day off, need rest.” Like anyone in a new job, the second year was easier for Matzek than the first. He had a better understanding of what the job entailed, there were fewer surprises, and he could learn from both high points and challenges of his first year. And when the Auggies reached the NCAA Championships, Matzek knew the work had been done. “I don’t want to sound cocky or arrogant, but we expected [the national championship], we expected to win it,” he says. “It wasn’t a real surprise.” While Swenson was happy for Matzek, Matzek was happy for his boss. “It was big for Augsburg wrestling to win it without Jeff in the wrestling room, it was a big relief for him and the search committee,” Matzek says. “They took a chance and it worked out.” And, as a result, Matzek is exactly where he wants to be. m c Making Connections making connections In theatre, as in life, finding success is often about who you know. But knowing the right people isn’t enough. In order to build the foundation for a thriving career in theatre, students need to form and maintain connections with the people and the places that make up the “theatre scene.” Perhaps this is one of the most important lessons that Augsburg theatre students learn. Through participation in AugSem, the Artist Series, internships, and by attending some of the hundreds of productions staged throughout the Twin Cities every year, stu- dents are challenged to go away from Augsburg, and sometimes outside of their comfort zones, in order to make connections in the BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 theatre community. Summer 2010 27 CONNECTING TO THE CITY From the beginning of her Augsburg education, Tessa Flynn ’05 says she was encouraged to get involved in the city. A theatre arts and mass communication major, she was particularly interested in the role of theatre in the public school system. She was fortunate to land an internship with the Children’s Theatre Company following her sophomore year, an opportunity that served as her introduction to critical literacy in the classroom. The Children’s Theatre’s Neighborhood Bridges program was started in 1997 by Jack Zipes, fairy tale scholar, and the Children’s Theatre Company artistic director, Peter Brosius. Using a variety of mediums such as theatre arts, storytelling, and creative writing, students work through issues in their lives and develop critical thinking and communication skills. “It’s like a little poison, this whole critical literacy thing,” Flynn says. “It gets in your system, and your teaching is forever changed.” Before Flynn’s last year of school, sociology professor Garry Hesser encouraged her to get involved with the Project for Pride in Living college house in the Phillips neighborhood. She lived there with other college students and tutored middle school students from the community. “I saw that my students needed to break a cycle of violence and poverty, and I became even more convinced that theatre could be an important part of that process,” Flynn says. “Being in the city, you get to have the Guthrie and so many other theatres as an extension of the classroom.” KATIE KOCH ’01/’05 Now Flynn is the community engagement manager and a teaching artist with the Bridges program at Children’s Theatre. She works with students in grades 3–8 and has 22 classrooms where she spends two hours a week. Flynn says the Bridges program engages multiple learning styles and allows students to recognize their individual skills. “When I see students shine in Bridges, who in other areas of the school day are thought of as low-achieving or who hide in the shadows, I am convinced that this is important work.” Flynn says she is grateful for the opportunities she had at Augsburg. “I don’t know if I would be where I am now if not for the encouragement of faculty to get involved in the city.” 28 Augsburg Now Katie Koch ’01/’05 also made many connections in the city that led her on a circuitous path—from campus to downtown Minneapolis to New York and back to Augsburg with a few more stops in between. Koch started out as a music major, but when her high school drama teacher took a position as stage manager at Hey City Theatre, longtime home of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, Koch was given an opportunity to assist him. She worked as the assistant stage Katie Koch ’01/’05 manager and as an actor in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding at Hey City for three years while she was in school. “I would be in Augsburg Choir with my hair in pin curls,” Koch said, “because I literally had to go straight from rehearsal to the theater.” She says it was the advice of Sonja Thompson, a piano instructor and vocal coach at Augsburg, that finally convinced her she could leave the music department. “She said, ‘You’re doing all this work in theatre … you don’t have to be a music major,’” Koch says. Instead of declaring a new major, Koch left school to stage manage the next show at Hey City, Smokey Joe’s Cafe. She then became an assistant stage manager for the Minnesota Opera, went on to work with Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, N.Y., and freelanced as a stage manager from Milwaukee to Miami. Eventually she came back to Augsburg and completed a degree in theatre. Koch, who was by then a theatre veteran, found herself in the classroom with younger students. “It was interesting to be tossed in with a group of young, eager students,” she says. But she formed relationships with students and even became a mentor to some. “It was exciting to watch such a talented group of artists learn and get ready to begin their careers.” After school, Koch worked at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts until a friend encouraged her to respond to a posting for the assistant to the director of the Guthrie. She went through several interviews including a very brief interview with Joe Dowling who, she says, asked her mostly about the professionals she’d worked with in her career. “I guess he’d already made the decision to hire me,” she says. She’s worked with Dowling now for three years. Koch maintains connections to Augsburg, sometimes serv- “I knew my experience at Augsburg wouldn’t end after graduation.” LEE FISHER ’06 Summer 2010 29 Justin Hooper ’07 (left) and Michael Kelley ’05 ing as a guest lecturer and hosting Augsburg student groups who visit the Guthrie. “A huge advantage for Augsburg and the theatre department is the city,” Koch says. “Being in the city, you get to have the Guthrie and so many other theaters as an extension of the classroom.” She adds that anytime she gets a chance to talk to Augsburg students, she tells them to take advantage of the opportunities to see high-quality performances in the city. “I say you need to sit in the seats and watch … this is your practicum.” GOING BEHIND THE SCENES Each year many aspiring actors come to Augsburg hoping to make a name for themselves onstage. And while many do just that, they also sometimes discover and develop their calling to work behind the scenes by getting involved backstage. This was the case for Lee Fisher ’06, Michael Kelley ’05, and Justin Hooper ’07. All three were very talented actors who performed in a variety of roles while at Augsburg, but each one also learned a lot about his craft while working on the technical side of shows. Fisher, who has taught English and directed the theatre program for five years at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, says that being a stage manager was an important part of his education. “When I was behind the scenes, it wasn’t 30 Augsburg Now about me. As an educator that has been very helpful,” he says. “Success happens when the focus is on what the students need and how I can help them.” Today he directs two major productions a year and frequently draws on his connections with Augsburg theatre faculty for advice about organizing shows. He’s sought out professors Michael Burden ’85, Martha Johnson, and Darcey Engen ’88 for help on developing a curriculum and organizing a show, and he says he wouldn’t be able to do what he’s done without their help. Fisher also stays in touch with education and English faculty who were instrumental in his education because he values the professional connections. “I knew my experience at Augsburg wouldn’t end after graduation,” Fisher says. He adds that his Augsburg professors continue to be sources of guidance and friendship. “That commitment to bringing in outside artists puts Augsburg one step higher than other college programs.” JUSTIN HOOPER ’07 Kelley and Hooper also had eye-opening experiences working backstage at Augsburg. Kelley says he came to college wanting to be a professional actor but became interested in other career possibilities after working in Augsburg’s scene shop for four years. And Hooper says his experience was all-encompassing because he worked on- and offstage. “There was always a lot of good discussion,” he adds, noting that theatre majors tended to spend a lot of time together and to continue their classroom discussions outside of class. “You see that everything in theatre is so connected.” Hooper is grateful for the opportunities he had to work with and get to know guest artists while he was a student. “In theatre, it’s all about who you know,” Hooper says. In addition to meeting professionals through faculty connections, he and all theatre students work with actors, directors, and designers from the community on Augsburg productions. “That commitment to bringing in outside artists puts Augsburg one step higher than other college programs.” The connections they made while studying theatre at Augsburg have contributed to their busy and sometimes complicated professional careers. Since graduation, they have acted in and directed shows, painted and designed sets, and written original and adapted works. They’ve been from Winona, Minn., to Acadia, Maine, and back. And now, in addition to maintaining their day jobs, the two are putting their blood, sweat, and tears into managing 3AM Productions, a small local theatre company. At 3AM, Kelley says they draw on their connections with other artists in the community to create unique and multidimensional productions. “We want every show to be something people aren’t used to seeing,” he says. He adds that they strive to provide a well-rounded “big theatre” experience to the patrons who are supporting their small theatre. “I think it’s what we do well.” During and after college, Steen worked in the box office at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. An actor friend there suggested she become a dramaturg, and eventually she went to Columbia to pursue an MFA. “When students see other actors on the great stages of this city, they can read their bios and see their training, and that helps them see how to get from Augsburg’s stage to another.” CARLA STEEN ’91 Because she had very little experience in the “creative side” of theatre, Steen says her MFA was an immersion experience. “I said, ‘Oh, so this is how all this works.’” Today Steen says it is interesting to come back to Augsburg because as a student she wasn’t really involved with the theatre department. She has taught and been a guest lecturer at the College, and she tries to see at least one production a year. Steen says theatre students in the Twin Cities are fortunate because of the opportunities to meet and see high-quality actors, directors, and artists. “When students see other actors on the great FINDING YOUR STAGE It takes more than theatre majors and faculty and staff to stage a production. Often many non-majors get involved in theatre in college but don’t end up in “the business” until later in life. Carla Steen ’91 is one student whose path to professional theatre went through the English and history departments at Augsburg. As a first-year student, she ran the light board for Julie Bolton’s production of Macbeth—with a set designed by Burden (then a graduate student at the University of Minnesota) and starring Engen as Lady Macbeth. But that was the end of her participation in theatre at Augsburg as a student. Instead, Steen, who has worked at the Guthrie for 12 years as a dramaturg and publications manager, studied literary criticism with English professor Doug Green and worked on a senior honors project under his direction. She also researched Shakespearean history and sources for her history senior seminar taught by Richard Nelson, now professor emeritus. “In many ways, that was the beginning of me thinking that research for theatre was an interesting thing I could do,” Steen says. Carla Steen ’91 Summer 2010 31 “We hire people because they are active and are creating their own work, not waiting for someone … And they also have some other passions that aren’t about theatre.” JENNI LILLEDAHL ’87 Jenni Lilledahl ’87 stages of this city, they can read their bios and see their training, and that helps them see how to get from Augsburg’s stage to another.” Another student who played a minor role at Augsburg and went on to a thriving career in theatre is Jenni Lilledahl ’87. As a student, Lilledahl took courses with Ailene Cole, now professor emerita. “She seemed like she lived and breathed theatre and was completely consumed with passion for the forum,” Lilledahl says. “She influenced me as an artist, and I always admired her from a distance.” Though Lilledahl took courses to obtain a minor in theatre, she felt the need to study in a more lucrative field. “I remember hearing voices saying, ‘You have to pay the bills and have a reliable income.’” Lilledahl majored in communication and public relations. After graduating and working in corporate public relations, she decided to try the “comedy thing,” so she started taking improvisation classes and met her future husband, John Sweeney. Eventually she jumped off the corporate ladder so that she and Sweeney could pursue their dreams, and the couple moved to Chicago 32 Augsburg Now and worked at The Second City. Then in 1997, along with Mark Bergren, the couple bought the Brave New Workshop from its founder, Dudley Riggs. “John and I had three or so years of experience in theatre but had a lot more business experience,” Lilledahl says. “I guess we were sort of the oddballs of the theatre community, but Dudley appreciated that we could manage the business as well as the artistic side.” As the current co-owner of Brave New Workshop and executive director of the Brave New Institute, Lilledahl oversees the theatre’s school, which reaches more than 150 students a week, and she conducts improvisation workshops around the country. She is also on the board for Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, an organization that provides emotional and social support for families impacted by cancer. Lilledahl returns to Augsburg at least once a year to speak in chapel. Often her advice to students, which she says is based on years of seeing who gets work and who doesn’t, is to get as much stage time as they can—wherever, whenever, and however—and to have a life outside of the theatre. “We hire people because they are active and are creating their own work, not waiting for someone,” she says. “And they also have some other passions that aren’t about theatre.” Lilledahl adds that an actor’s experiences outside of theatre help them bring life to a script and creativity to the stage. And perhaps that is what makes all these alumni successful. At Augsburg students are trained as actors, directors, and technicians, but they also learn how to become involved in their community as artists and as informed citizens. They understand that making connections is important to their careers and to their personal lives as well. They’re encouraged to explore many aspects of theatre, to develop their craft, and to work and learn at Augsburg and in the city. More than blocking and movement or scene study and character analysis, these are the lessons that will stick with them as they make their mark on the world’s stage. auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … Dear fellow alumni, ummer is in full swing, and that means one thing— lots of activities to enjoy with our families. Nobody celebrates summer quite as well as Minnesotans, and at Augsburg we are no exception. The Alumni Board has a number of family-friendly events planned for 2010 and 2011, and we hope you’ll join us! The annual Auggie Day at the Races, held at Canterbury Park on August 5, usually attracts more than 700 Augsburg alumni. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to enjoy an evening together. If you didn’t get to it this year, we hope to see you at Canterbury next year. Another summer favorite is the Minnesota State Fair. When you attend the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” this year, be sure to visit the Augsburg booth in the Education Building and tell us what you’re up to these days. Believe it or not, Homecoming is just around the corner—October 10–16. This year’s events feature something for everyone, including continuing education classes, Auggie Author Book Signing, alumni concerts, 5K fun run, football game against the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers, and much more. Don’t forget to stop by the Alumni Board booth at the Taste of Augsburg to learn how to get involved. This fun event has been expanded with more carnival-style booths for a great time for the whole family. The mission of the Alumni Board is to connect alumni with the College to enjoy the events, friendships, and company of fellow Auggies. Each year the board has a planning session to ensure that we support our mission to provide great, compelling programs that renew and sustain your interest in Augsburg. Some ideas for this year include an expansion of the Uniquely Augsburg series, similar to June’s Dead Sea Scrolls event at the Science Museum that featured Professor Phil Quanbeck II; networking events; volunteer opportunities; lectures featuring Augsburg’s beloved faculty; and more. Augsburg was a gateway to the future for us as students. Now, as alumni, we put the lessons we learned from Augsburg’s unequaled education into action every day. Thanks to the life-altering experiences we share because of our alma mater, those of us on the Alumni Board work hard to unite the alumni of Augsburg College. Enjoy the rest of the summer! I look forward to seeing you at the many alumni events. s Sincerely, Welcome, new Alumni Board members! At its June meeting, the Augsburg College Alumni Board welcomed four new members who will serve three-year terms. Tracy Anderson is a third generation Auggie. She graduated in 1995 with a major in communication and a minor in business administration. Tracy attended Augsburg as a post-secondary student, studied as a day student, and completed her degree in Weekend College. She is a realtor with Edina Realty in Edina, and looks forward to networking with alumni and becoming involved in the Augsburg community. Christopher Ascher, a 1981 graduate with a major in finance and minor in psychology, played on Augsburg’s soccer team and is an A-Club member. He is senior vice president and a branch manager for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Bloomington. He enjoyed meeting more than 80 alumni as host of the January alumni winetasting event. Sarah Grans is a youth and family ministry graduate from 2001, also with a minor in psychology. She is director of outreach and faith formation at St. Peder’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. As a student she was active in Campus Ministry and was co-commissioner during her senior year. She wants to give back to Augsburg and reconnect alumni in meaningful ways. Sharon Mercill graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2009 in Rochester and is currently a student in the Master of Arts in Nursing program. When she attended an Alumni Board meeting for a study project and enjoyed connecting with other alumni, she decided to become more involved and join the board. She is the RN study coordinator of breast cancer research at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. JOHN STADLER ’07 MAL PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Summer 2010 33 auggie alumni news Eye-Opener Breakfasts and Speaker Series Are you looking for an opportunity to hear from Twin Cities business leaders? Are you interested in a chance to network with fellow Augsburg alums? Well, Augsburg— through a pair of programs—has opportunities for you. The Eye-Opener Breakfast Series is for Augsburg alumni who want to network and learn from either a business leader or an Augsburg professor. The Strommen Executive Leader Speaker Series provides opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to hear from high-level business executives. Here’s a look at the first speakers of the next academic year for both programs with dates to mark on your calendar. President Pribbenow and members of the Alumni Board celebrated with graduating day program seniors at their reception in May. (L to R) Rob Wagner ’02, John Stadler ’07 MAL, Holly (Ebnet) Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA, President Pribbenow, Dale Hanka ’60, Dan Hickle ’95, and Jennifer Carlson ’91. Eye-Opener Breakfast Series: The first event of the 2010-11 academic year will be held on Thursday, Sept. 30. In addition to breakfast and networking, attendees will hear from Nate Garvis, former vice president of government affairs and senior public relations officer for Target Corporation. Garvis will present his thoughts on innovative ways to share the work of building prosperous communities. Other EyeOpener Breakfasts will be held in 2011 on January 25 and May 10. The Eye-Opener Breakfasts are held at Town and Country Club in St. Paul, from 7–9 a.m. The cost is $5 person, which includes breakfast. RSVP by September 27 at www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents. Strommen Executive Leader Speaker Series: Richard Davis, CEO of U.S. Bank, will be the featured speaker for the first event of the academic year on November 18, at 5 p.m., in Sateren Auditorium. Additional events will be held on February 3 and April 7, 2011. The speaker series is free and held on campus. 34 Augsburg Now 2010 Augsburg graduates were excited to join the Alumni Association as they celebrated their achievements at the Senior Reception. (L to R) Lisa Yankauskas, Rosine Johnson, Brenna McHugh, and Barbara Simmons. go es i g g u a Ruth A. Schmidt ’52—Distinguished alumna and educator Ruth Schmidt, the first female president of Agnes Scott College, benefactor to Augsburg’s Women’s Resource Center, and Distinguished Alumna, died on May 24 in Decatur, Ga. Schmidt graduated summa cum laude in 1952 with a major in English and minors in Spanish and library science. She continued to study Spanish, earning master’s and doctoral degrees, and taught Spanish at the high school and college levels, including at Wheaton College and the State University of New York at Albany. After her appointment as dean of humanities at SUNY Albany, she went on to become president of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., until her retirement in 1994. She remained active in retirement through travel, international development work, women’s social justice issues, and peace initiatives. Her legacy at Agnes Scott includes establishment of study abroad programs, and increased diversity among faculty and students. Professor Emerita Ruth Aaskov ’52 was a classmate of Schmidt’s, and they became lifelong friends. As students, both were close to Anne Pederson, their English professor and mentor. When Augsburg established the Women’s Resource Center in 2000, it was named in memory of Pederson and funded by a generous gift from Schmidt. 0 1 0 2 G N M O HOMEC e it! 2010 c n e i r e exp Block off your calendar for the weekend of October 15–16 and return to campus for Homecoming 2010’s fun-filled festivities. The Homecoming Convocation kicks off the weekend on Friday, Oct. 15, when First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished Alumni Award winners will be recognized. Professor Emeritus Philip Quanbeck Sr. ’50 will provide the keynote remarks at the Homecoming Convocation Luncheon. A number of Augsburg Experience lifelong-learning sessions are scheduled for Friday afternoon. In addition, the Auggie Author Book Signing and reading will take place prior to the Welcome Back Banquet. If you come to Saturday’s football game against the Concordia Cobbers, plan to get to campus long before the 1 p.m. kickoff. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with the Come back for Homecoming October 10–16 family-friendly Anderson Hall Homecoming 5K Fun Run, and campus tours are available from 10 a.m. until noon. Three hours prior to kickoff, the Taste of Augsburg in Murphy Square will feature carnival-style booths operated by student groups, alumni, and local restaurants. In addition to carnival-style food, there will be games, inflatable bounce houses, and fun for the whole family. Back by popular demand is the Auggie Block Party (in Parking Lot K, between Melby Hall and Riverside Ave.) following the football game. Join alumni, students, and friends for food, entertainment, and camaraderie. Join fellow Auggies and music lovers after the Block Party for a celebration concert in Hoversten Chapel honoring Professor Stephen “Gabe” Gabrielsen ’63. Go to www.augsburg.edu/homecoming for information. Summer 2010 35 alumni class notes Stan Nelson, Andover, Minn., Jerilyn (Bjugstad) Wibbens, 43was selected as one of the 67Mukilteo, Wash., founded the World War II veterans whose service would be honored by flying them to Washington, D.C., at no cost, to visit the World War II memorial. Stan is the last survivor of four Navy officers from a landing craft that participated in the D-Day invasion in June 1944; he still attends annual reunions. Northwest Nordic Ladies Chorus, based in Everett, Wash., to keep singing the Norwegian songs she learned in her family and to learn songs from the other Nordic countries. They regularly perform at Scandinavian events and senior centers. Vera (Peterson) Rachuy, West- Peter Agre was honored in 52brook, Minn., a retired 70June, along with four other teacher, discovered a love and talent for painting that began during a prolonged and severe winter when she started to sketch her and her daughter’s dogs. graduates of Norwegian Lutheran colleges, with the “Going Viking” Award by Norway House in Minneapolis. The award recognizes the contributions of Norwegian Americans to the region. Rev. Darry
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Title: Augsburg Now Fall 2010: Go Auggies! Homecoming 2010
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW inside FALL 2010 VOL. 73, NO. 1 Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing Meet Martha Stortz Exploring separate worlds Travel Celebrating our success Healthcare symposium Augsburg annual report Coach Greg Holker page 20 go auggies! Homecoming ...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW inside FALL 2010 VOL. 73, NO. 1 Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing Meet Martha Stortz Exploring separate worlds Travel Celebrating our success Healthcare symposium Augsburg annual report Coach Greg Holker page 20 go auggies! Homecoming 2010 Editor notes from President Pribbenow w Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Coming Home e celebrated Homecoming this year in grand fashion, welcoming more than 1,000 alumni, families, and friends at events during the week. I am mindful of the many ways in which coming home to Augsburg has meaning for alumni and those of us on campus. We all share in common this place and the experience that continues to shape our lives in the world. And when we “come home,” we mark just how powerful those connections and shared experiences are to our personal and common callings in the world. So what does it mean to come home to Augsburg? First, it is quite literally a homecoming to this place in the heart of Cedar-Riverside and Minneapolis, this campus home we have inhabited since 1872 when our Norwegian-American ancestors first settled here. Homecoming seems especially meaningful this year as our campus community is engaged in a Commission on Campus Space and Master Planning— exploring together what it means that we are in this urban setting and what our aspirations are for the future of Augsburg’s campus. During this year, we will plan for new buildings, landscape, and the responsible use of space. And we also will consider what it means that we are here in Cedar-Riverside, this neighborhood we share with various neighbors. How best do we honor our role as neighbor here? Second, homecoming also marks our return to a community, a gathering of those who share our commitments to education for service. There are clear distinctions in the nature of this community over time. We are much larger—we now count more than 4,100 students and 650 faculty and staff. We offer a wider range of academic programs—from our traditional day program to adult undergraduate and expanding graduate opportunities. We are increasingly diverse—in ethnic and religious background, in age and in socioeconomic Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu class, and in so many other ways. But at its core it is still Augsburg, a community grounded in offering a superior educational experience for all students that focuses on the intersections of faith, learning, and service. Augsburg is one of the most hospitable and welcoming communities I know, a place that believes deeply that access to education demands of us a commitment to justice for all God’s creatures. Finally, you come home to a mission, a character, and a set of values that abide over the years. Here, we still celebrate the Word made flesh. Here, we still share with our immediate neighbors an immigrant sensibility, the belief that education is at the core of a healthy neighborhood and democracy. Here, we still work together to ensure that all deserving students can receive an Augsburg education. Here, we still help each other discern our vocations and gain the skills and knowledge to live them out in the world. In the work and lives of our alumni, we have remarkable stories of how this distinctive Augsburg mission has made a difference in the world over the years. For those of us who are the current stewards of Augsburg’s mission, I urge you to listen to the stories of our alumni for they are our “epistles to the world,” our parables of what an Augsburg education means. You will be amazed by what they have accomplished. I hope those of you who came to Homecoming were able to meet our current students, because they are the most powerful statements of our mission, our aspirations to make a difference in the world. They are remarkable signs of what we can look forward to as Augsburg seeks to live out its mission to educate students who are “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.” Welcome home to Augsburg! PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Webmaster/Now Online Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 fall 2010 Features 12 18 26 contents 22 12 18 22 26 29 29 augsburg now On the cover Auggies are awwwe-some! With boomsticks in hand, Auggies cheer on the football team at Homecoming. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. Homecoming 2010 She loves being an Auggie: Meet Martha Stortz by Wendi Wheeler ’06 The Sabo Symposium: Understanding healthcare reform by Betsey Norgard Celebrating our success by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Annual report to donors, 2009–10 Departments inside front cover 2 9 10 11 43 48 52 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad Auggies on the course Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience around the quad Partners in the park New Board of Regents members elected Murphy Square, the three acres that sit squarely in the middle of Augsburg’s campus, is the oldest park in the city of Minneapolis. It was given to the city by Edward Murphy in 1857, when he platted “Murphy’s Addition.” At that time, however, this first city park was quite far from the small settlements in St. Anthony and Minneapolis, and for 20 years or more the park served mostly as cow pasture. As Augsburg grew, the park became more and more surrounded by the College and incorporated into college life and traditions. Homecoming parades have flowed around it, science contraptions have been launched in the annual Agre Challenge, tents have held formal receptions for commencements and inaugurations, and many games of Frisbee, grills of hotdogs, and hours of sunbathing have taken place in the park. On October 16 at Homecoming, a formal partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board was celebrated in which Augsburg assumes responsibility for the maintenance of the park. The partnership serves as the foundation for further cooperative efforts and engagement with the park board as Augsburg moves forward with campus master planning, including a proposed sweeping green landscape across campus. At their fall meeting in September, the Augsburg Corporation Governing Board elected four new members to the Augsburg Board of Regents, and re-elected three members to second terms. Elected for first, four-year terms are: Cynthia Jones ’81 Toby Piper LaBelle ’96 LaJune Thomas Lange Rev. David Tiede Cynthia Jones ’81, Senior Technical Advisor for Nuclear Security, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Toby Piper LaBelle ’96, Senior Vice President, Northland Securities LaJune Thomas Lange, Judge (retired), Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota Rev. David Tiede, Interim President, Wartburg Theological Seminary; Bernhard M. Christensen Professor Emeritus of Religion and Vocation Elected to second, four-year terms are: Richard C. Hartnack, Vice Chairman, Consumer Banking, U.S. Bancorp André Lewis ’73, President (retired), RBC Dain Rauscher Foundation Rev. Norman Wahl ’75, Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn. Christensen Symposium 2010 On October 3, Gracia Grindal ’65 presented the life and legacy of Bernhard Christensen, “Devoutly Would He Teach.” On October 4, the symposium continued with the inauguration of Martha Stortz as the Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation (see page 18). Read Grindal’s address at www.augsburg.edu/now. Bruce Rowe, groundskeeper, begins his day beautifying Murphy Square. 2 Augsburg Now NewsNotes Urban Scrubs camp on campus Augsburg joined with HealthForce Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, the Cedar-Riverside Partnership, and the University of Minnesota to host a five-day Urban Scrubs camp. Students in grades 9–12, many from the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, lived on campus and explored opportunities in healthcare fields. Commission Augsburg focuses on mission At its 2010 spring meeting, the Augsburg Board of Regents adopted a new mission statement for the College. Following two years of conversation about the character and identity of Augsburg, the new mission statement incorporates many changes that have come about in the past 20 years, including nontraditional undergraduate programs, graduate studies, a campus in Rochester, global study programs, and continuing initiatives to meet the needs of diverse students. The new Augsburg College mission is: “Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community that is committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.” During this year, Commission Augsburg will present a series of conversations across the country for alumni, parents, and friends to learn about how the Augsburg mission sets a clear map for the future of the College. Watch for opportunities to meet and hear from President Pribbenow and others from the College. To learn more about Commission Augsburg, go to www.augsburg.edu/president/initiatives/Commission.pdf. To learn more about events in your area, contact the Alumni and Constituent Relations Office at alumni@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1085. Augsburg in the rankings: • The Princeton Review—one of 152 schools named “2011 Best in the Midwest,” based on excellent academic programs, visits to the schools, and reports from students. • 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction—115 colleges honored for commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. • “Cool Schools,” Sierra magazine’s 2010 rankings of colleges’ sustainability efforts. Augsburg placed number 102 in the top 162 schools across the nation. • Washington Monthly magazine’s 2010 rankings of best master’s universities in the nation, based on contribution to public good in three areas: social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), producing cutting-edge research and scholarship, and community service. Augsburg placed 71 of 100. Grant to support low-income students The Travelers Company selected Augsburg to participate in the Travelers EDGE program, a five-year initiative that focuses on recruitment and retention of low-income students of color from the St. Paul public schools. Augsburg was one of a small number of colleges selected for the program because of its success in recruiting students from underrepresented populations. Pillsbury United Communities Award to Augsburg Pillsbury United Communities in Minneapolis gave its President’s Leadership Award this year to Augsburg College for “outstanding contributions to the Brian Coyle Center and the entire community.” The award especially recognizes MBA student projects, service-learning, community engagement, and initiatives with the Social Work Department. Gordon Nelson’s death is mourned Professor emeritus of sociology Gordon Nelson died on July 6 following complications from a stroke. He taught in the Sociology Department, including serving as chair of the department, from 1967 to his retirement in 2001. For decades he was a DFL activist, elected city official, and an aide to U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo. A memorial service was held in Hoversten Chapel on September 11. Welcome, Class of 2014 The first-year, Class of 2014, is one of the most diverse in Augsburg’s history. 419 first-year students Composition—41% students of color, 43% first-generation college students Gender—185 male (44%), 234 female (56%) Geography—351 Minnesota residents, plus 17 other states and 10 countries Total Augsburg student body—4,109 (2,132 traditional day students, 1,057 weekend undergraduate students, 920 graduate students) Fall 2010 3 “Gabe” retires after 47 years When asked how he prefers to be addressed, music professor Stephen Gabrielsen ’63 always responds, “My friends call me ‘Gabe.’” After 47 years on the music faculty, “Gabe” is retiring in December. At Homecoming in October, many former students, friends, and colleagues celebrated his work and legacy at a tribute concert. In 1963, while still a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Gabrielsen received an invitation from Music Department chair Leland Sateren to return to teach in Augsburg’s Music Department. Since then, Gabrielsen has also served as College organist and has played organ for chapel every day, which Pastor Dave Wold figures must add up to more than 5,000 services. Gabrielsen was at the organ for Augsburg’s first Advent Vespers service in 1980, and missed only two services in the 30 years since. He fondly recalls that first Advent Vespers service, which succeeded in creating what he and others had hoped for—an unusual spiritual experience through music and liturgy. “From the somber dark of Advent, the service grew to brilliant Christmas light, and down again to peacefully and quietly end … it was just magic.” A new organ for the chapel A high point during Gabrielsen’s tenure at Augsburg was the installation of the Dobson organ in the new Hoversten Chapel in the fall of 1988. “The building of our wonderful organ in the chapel would have to be a MOST exciting [highlight],” he says. “I will always be thankful that the Augsburg Associates financed the organ. They gave me free reign (within reason) to choose which stops would be in the organ. Every organist ought to have such an opportunity!” During the inaugural year of the new organ, Gabrielsen initiated a series of concerts called “Organ Plus” that featured musician colleagues and friends. Because the series grew so popular, Organ Plus became an annual event for the next decade. Gabe’s teaching innovations David Cherwien ’79 recalled at the celebration concert that he and other students often would arrive for one of Gabrielsen’s music classes and find a canon written out on the blackboard. The class would begin with all the students singing in parts. Music professor Merilee Klemp ’75 also remembers those canons as one example of how “Gabe was great at making music real, whether he was teaching theory or President Paul Pribbenow congratulated history—it was just his pracStephen “Gabe” Gabrielsen ’63 as he received tice of making music.” the Spirit of Augsburg award at Homecoming. 4 Augsburg Now Stephen “Gabe” Gabrielsen ’63 has played the organ for daily chapel since Hoversten Chapel opened in 1988. What may be the most vivid in many students’ memories of classes with Gabrielsen, however, were his dreaded “drop the needle” music repertoire tests, which he created as a way to bolster students’ knowledge. Serving the church as organist Gabrielsen is a fellow of the American Guild of Organists and studied at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, Germany, as a Lutheran World Federation scholar. For 50 years he served as church organist in seven metro area Lutheran congregations, including 10 years each at Holy Trinity in Minneapolis and Calvary Lutheran in Golden Valley. In addition, he often played recitals and dedicatory concerts when congregations purchased new organs. Music therapy professor Roberta Kagin was one of many former students and colleagues who offered personal notes to Gabrielsen at the tribute concert. She reflected on the 36 years they shared neighboring offices in Music Hall. The tribute she read to Gabrielsen described the care, devotion, and mentoring that he pays to each of his students. “Years after a student graduated, and we tried to track them down,” Kagin read, “we would always say, ‘Gabe will know’—and you not only remembered the students, but also knew their spouses and children.” At Homecoming Gabrielsen was also honored with the Spirit of Augsburg award (see page 15). In fact, his entire family shares the spirit of Augsburg, as Gabrielsen’s wife, Kathleen ’79, and their two children, Buffy ’89 and Joe ’91, have all attended Augsburg. Gabrielsen grew up in Norwegian communities, where his father, a Norwegian immigrant, was a Lutheran pastor. Many know that Gabe will now have time in retirement to search out and tell more of the Ole and Lena jokes for which he is legendary. Uff da. BETSEY NORGARD Embedded with the National Guard Augsburg’s Center for Democracy and Citizenship collaborates with the Minnesota National Guard to offer opportunities for student journalists to spend a week embedded with the Minnesota National Guard during training exercises. Jenny Avery, a senior majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing, went to the field each day with the soldiers to identify stories, shoot photographs, and conduct interviews. This is one of many examples of students enjoying personal experiences in their learning. A New Universe Courtesy photo by Jenny Avery ’11 24 May, 2010 I had never seen anything like it before. The split second of each fiery explosion was almost disturbingly beautiful as the smoke dispersed into fluffy clouds of ash. Each moment-long eruption took at least 45 minutes to prepare for, which is a generous estimate to say the least. Little did I know that so much preparation would go into a task that one could miss with a blink of an eye. Our van had been driving for about 20 minutes across the grounds where these sorts of exercises are held before we actually found the specific land that this particular event was holding. We parked a ways away though; the remainder of our journey we arrived by foot. I, the four other journalists involved in this embed, and Specialist Cassinos soon enough found the company we were told to meet with. A group of maybe 12 men were grouped near one of the bunkers on top of the hill. When we first laid eyes on the land spread out in front of us, all that could be seen was a plain of grass, a small little hut off in the far distance, and mounds of dirt and sand in between the outstretch of land from the bunkers and the cube-shaped building. About 15 to 20 minutes after we found the National Guardsmen at the bunkers, four enormous M113 vehicles started slinking their way towards us, making their way down the steep hill. We watched as these gargantuan machines lined up in one row facing the hut across the way. The back ramps from each of them slowly lowered themselves to the ground. Emerging then from each vehicle were 13 soldiers, preparing themselves and their equipment for their upcoming mission. I watched as a large, collective group jogged over to the heavilysanded portion of the landscape. Essentially, the mission was to set off the explosions on the land, and eventually inside the house. As the preparation continued, Lieutenant Matthew Sullivan explained to us the layout of what was about to come. “So basically what they’re going to do is breach the mine field here ... breach the wire opposite below, and then breach into the house. And there’s different levels. There’s gaul stage, block stage, and run stage, and for a training scenario it’s gonna be a little slower than what it would be in real life ... a real life operation. A real life operation, we’d be rollin’ in, throwin’ their targets. Boom.” Being such a great distance away from the company below, it was difficult to distinguish what the soldiers were doing precisely, but I got the gist that they were planting the explosives in the field and waiting for the cue to detonate. At some point I even saw a few men crawling across the dirt pit, possibly simulating how one may have to keep hidden in a real circumstance. “… You might wanna cover your ears,” a soldier pointed out. Taking his advice, I temporarily put down my camera and pressed my inner ears with my index and middle fingers. Suddenly I saw a gigantic orb of orange flame burst out from the ground, and a moment later a thunderous rumble shook my entire body. My chest for two seconds felt like it had two hearts inside of it, and then it was all over. Puffy mushrooms of smoke wafted into each other from the aftermath of the explosion. I watched in awe as the cushiony-looking matter spread into thin swirls, eventually disbursing itself evenly to blend back in with its invisible counterpart called air. Around me I overheard conversations from small groups, hearing the words but not registering what they were saying. I was too engulfed in the explosion and the rush that it gave me to even want to try and understand the clearly spoken English emitted from their mouths. Suddenly I saw a gigantic orb of orange flame burst out from the ground, and a moment later a thunderous rumble shook my entire body. My chest for two seconds felt like it had two hearts inside of it, and then it was all over. After the first or second explosion I was able to relocate to the lower bunker, the one closer to the wrecking site. The soldiers in that spot were just as lively if not more so. We cracked jokes about Monty Python and discussed laundry mishaps; for that spot in time we weren’t students and soldiers, we were just people. To read more of Jenny Avery’s story, go to www.augsburg.edu/democracy/videos.html Fall 2010 5 500 years ago in the old church buildings, pilgrim paths, and road markers.” He says that while he went there as a Lutheran pastor, part of a Lutheran Church with all its modern trappings, he came back with a much better understanding of the formation of the early Lutheran movement. “Those monks started Andrew and Sarah Wilson completed the 1,000-mile reading the Bible in a pilgrimage that Martin Luther made to Rome in new way that differed 1510. They presented “Here I Walk” as Augsburg’s Founders Day lectures in November. from the institutional church’s way,” he says. Wiersma’s “Here I Walk” experience caused him to reflect upon Luther’s own experience. Luther’s 1510 pilgrimage brought him to Rome, where he was scandalized by the conduct of clergy and the religious commercialism. Wiersma understood that Luther’s long journey back to Germany would have given the monk a long time to think over and talk about what he witnessed in Rome. Seven years later, he posted the 95 Theses, igniting the Reformation. BETSEY NORGARD Andrew Wilson Scholars of the Reformation gain deep knowledge by studying the writings of Martin Luther, but for Hans Wiersma it also became experiential when he spent four days walking in the footsteps of Luther’s pilgrimage to Rome 500 years ago. Just before fall semester classes began, Wiersma joined the project “Here I Walk,” led by Andrew and Sarah Wilson, two Lutheran ecumenical scholars, who retraced the entire 1,085-mile route walked by Luther from the monastery in Erfurt, Germany, to Rome. Wiersma walked with the Wilsons for 66 miles, from Erfurt to Coburg. Wiersma had met Andrew Wilson at a conference, and what resulted for Wiersma was a fortunate convergence of his disciplinary interest in Reformation studies, his research focus on the early Luther and the Augustinian monks who followed him, and Wiersma’s undergraduate background and continued interest in documentary filmmaking. The modern pilgrims followed the old pilgrim routes, sometimes spotting stone route markers from the 16th century. They followed the traditional rules of pilgrimage—prayers, scripture reading, chores, and conversation. “It gave me a sense of how 16th-century monks traveled,” Wiersma says, “and what it felt like.” He enjoyed the absence of modern distractions. As it was for the early monks, lodging could be found each night, with bigger towns conveniently spaced a day’s walk apart. What Wiersma brought back was an “appreciation of how much Europe is built on its past. It’s still easy to connect with Europe of Religion professor Hans Wiersma joined the “Here I Walk” pilgrimage during its first four days, from Erfurt to Coburg, Germany. 6 Augsburg Now Courtesy photo Here I walk ... Augsburg stands up When Taylor Foster heard that one of her friends had been assaulted because of his sexual orientation this fall, she decided to turn her anger into something positive. Her Facebook event, titled “Stand Up Against Hate,” was the beginning of a show of support that took Foster, and perhaps others in the Augsburg community, by surprise. In her Facebook posting, Foster wrote: As an Auggie and a member of the GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender] community, I am outraged at the fact that these acts are being committed at such a diverse and accepting place as Augsburg. For, “The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community that is committed to … intentional diversity in its life and work.” Intentional diversity is the key part in that statement. We need to make a statement that we are not going to tolerate hateful acts at Augsburg. We need to make it known that it is okay to be who you are …” Foster created the event expecting only her close friends to join. Just two days after she posted it, more than 600 people had responded to show their support. President Pribbenow, faculty and staff, and alumni across the country joined students and donned a specific color of the rainbow each day of the week of October 4. Students held a rally and prayer service and a march for equality on campus. Several local media outlets came to campus to interview Foster. “All of this attention and support was beyond my wildest dream,” she says. In his weekly update to the community, President Pribbenow wrote about the events. “This past week was especially difficult for our campus community because of the hateful and hurtful acts of some individuals. These actions were contrary to everything we value in honoring one another, as clearly stated in our mission. I’m very proud of our students who took the leadership in standing up for and demonstrating their support for the values we share as a community.” Foster says she feels members of the GLBT community now have a better understanding of how many allies are at Augsburg. She also believes the week of awareness-building activities helped allies and others see how GLBT people face discrimination in their lives. Most importantly, Foster says she hopes the Stand Up Against Hate event will continue to reinforce the message that discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at Augsburg. “I was more than thrilled to see Augsburg come together as a community and stand up against hate. It made me proud to be an Auggie.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 Fall 2010 7 Exploring separate worlds On an October afternoon when icy winds and rain interrupted an unusually mild autumn, 15 Augsburg students and their professor donned boots, opened umbrellas, and took a stroll down Minneapolis’ Park Avenue. The group began in the Grand Hall of the American Swedish Institute, a Gothic mansion on the corner of Park and 26th, which once was the home of Swan Turnblad. Guided by Nina Clark, ASI’s director of programs and exhibits, they walked toward Franklin Avenue, learning about other historic homes where some of the city’s wealthiest families lived in the early 20th century. The students learned that many of the homes still standing are occupied by social service agencies that serve those without homes, people facing addiction and mental health issues, and immigrant families. This expedition was just one of the ways students were able to see the juxtaposition of poverty and wealth in the city. In “Separate Worlds: Comparing Homelessness and Affluence in the United States,” associate sociology professor Tim Pippert hopes to help students understand the variables of economic and housing stability. Through a combination of readings, speakers, and involvement in service projects, students learn about housing, financial stability, social networks, and the trend of increased homelessness in the United States. Hearing many different viewpoints, Pippert believes, will help students recognize and appreciate the reasons behind the increasing gap between the wealthy and the poor. Students will also hear from a variety of speakers throughout the semester, helping them to better understand the people and the issues. Youth and family ministry major Justin Daleiden says, “City council member Cam Gordon came into our class so we could discuss how homelessness is affecting our very neighborhood. Hearing these speakers from our city makes the subject a little more palatable.” “Being accepted to Augsburg was one of the best things that has ever happened in my life, and when people ask where I’m from, I say that I’m from Augsburg because this really is my home.” In addition to classroom work, these students are actively involved in the community by volunteering at places such as Peace House and Secure Waiting. Perhaps their biggest connection is with St. Stephen’s Human Services, whose mission is to end homelessness. “We’re beyond the classroom … in all sorts of arenas that this city offers,” Pippert says. These outside experiences help students relate what they are learning in the classroom to real people and present-day issues. 8 Augsburg Now Some of the homes of Minneapolis’ wealthiest families now serve as social service agencies. The Sumner T. McKnight mansion at 2200 Park Avenue is home to American Indian Services. “I think this is a great example in which we are able to learn about a specific topic and serve the community at the same time. I think more courses should incorporate some kind of service work like this one,” Daleiden says. Veronica Berg, a sophomore social work major, has a particular interest in Pippert’s course—before she came to Augsburg last fall, Berg was homeless. She says the class has given her insight into aspects of homelessness that she didn't encounter because of her age and the paths she chose. “I feel validated in this class, learning that my experiences haven’t been that strange and reading about individuals who have walked some of the same paths as me.” Berg says she is grateful for the support of faculty and staff at Augsburg and also for the opportunities she has received in college. “Being accepted to Augsburg was one of the best things that has ever happened in my life, and when people ask where I’m from, I say that I’m from Augsburg because this really is my home,” Berg says. For their final projects, students will compare the differences— social and physical—between the lives of the affluent and people who are without homes. Pippert hopes that through this course, students will develop a deeper understanding of how increasingly stratified American society is and think about ways to mitigate what he sees as a damaging and unjust trend. KATELYN DANELSKI ’13 AND WENDI WHEELER ’06 Auggies on the course Ladies of the links lift the team There was a time not all that long ago when simply getting enough players to field a complete team was a challenge for the Augsburg women’s golf program. As a result, the on-course performance of the Auggies wasn’t where it might have been. Johanna Frykmark (left below) and Stef Zappa (right below) have changed that. The two seniors have brought stability, seriousness, and increased levels of success to Augsburg’s women’s golf program. They have both been All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) selections, both have shown great im- provement on the course, and both will graduate at the end of this semester after three-and-a-half years on campus. “Without them, our team wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are now,” coach Ted Vickerman says. “They’ve really changed the mentality to where we want to do our best. We’re beating teams.” The two take pride in how the program has changed during their tenure. “Our first year, we were last in the conference, but we had fun doing it,” Zappa says. “Everybody’s improved. Both of us have had five or six stokes (average per round) of improvement.” At the MIAC championship meet—her final collegiate event—in early October, Zappa became the first Augsburg women’s golfer to earn multiple All-MIAC honors, finishing seventh, the highest-ever finish for an Auggie at the MIAC championships. Johanna Frykmark finished in 25th place and joins Zappa as the second of three Auggie women’s golfers to record 25th-orbetter finishes in three MIAC meets. Both appreciate their time at Augsburg and the role golf has played in their Auggie experience. “My first year was pretty rough,” Frykmark says. “I had a hard time fitting in and I missed home a lot. I’ve changed so much as a person since I came here. The golf team was a big part of that; they were my second family when I got here.” After completing her degree in international business and business management, Frykmark hopes to find a position with an international company that does business both in the U.S. and in her native Sweden. Zappa is on her way to becoming a teacher, spending this semester student-teaching first- and second-graders at Barton Open School in South Minneapolis. She’s also helping to coach volleyball at Minneapolis South High School. While that’s a heavy load, Zappa wasn’t going to walk away from the golf team. Zappa—who had a hole-in-one on her 20th birthday during a tournament at Carleton— didn’t practice with the team as often this fall as she would have liked. Instead, she practiced in the evenings and remained one of the team’s top golfers—that is, on a team much more stable than before Zappa and Frykmark arrived on campus. JEFF SHELMAN is the former director of media relations in the Marketing and Communication Office. Fall 2010 9 auggie voices Coach Holker becomes an Auggie Greg Holker knows that his class ring from Gustavus Adolphus College is in a box at his house. And he’s pretty sure he knows where his diploma is. But that is it. Those are the only tangible things the Augsburg men’s soccer coach has left from his time both as a player and as an assistant coach in St. Peter, Minn. Holker openly admits he didn’t think that was going to be the case when he took over the Auggie program in 2004. His goal was pretty simple: make Augsburg respectable, win some games, and put himself in position to become the next Gustavus coach. “I had a five-year plan,” he says. “I thought I’d be here three years and I’d be out.” But something happened along the way to mess up those plans—Holker became an Auggie. “The institution has evolved significantly over the six years I’ve been here and I’ve changed as well,” Holker says. “I started to embrace the institution and our work.” He also had success. In 2006 Holker led Augsburg’s men’s soccer team to a 13-victory season and a first-ever Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoff berth. In 2008 Augsburg reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history and reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Loras College in two overtimes. This past spring, however, brought out the truest example that Holker had genuinely become an Auggie. When the head soccer coach position at Gustavus opened, Holker was approached about the job and spent a day in St. Peter. Before the search moved any farther along, however, Holker pulled out of consideration. And this year, following a record-breaking season for men’s soccer, Holker was named MIAC Coach of the Year, and sophomore Chad Gilmer was named MIAC Player of the Year. The team won the MIAC playoff championship and advanced to the national tournament for the second time. It won the first round, but lost to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the second round. “At the end of the day, this is where I want to be,” Holker says. “I like being in the city and I like that there’s a very true identity here. I think I’m 100% in love with what this institution does. Seven years ago, this was a job. Now, it's a part of me.” And now he’s an Auggie. JEFF SHELMAN is the former director of media relations in the Marketing and Communication Office. 10 Augsburg Now it takes an Auggie The student Phonathon—Dialing for Augsburg dollars ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, alumni and friends of Augsburg might receive a call from a student who is working to secure donations to The Augsburg Fund. We asked some of the student callers to share their experiences and knowledge with our readers. COMPILED BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Chris Fleming ’12 Psychology/Sociology major, Spanish minor First year as a student caller Q. What would you like students and alumni to know about giving back to Augsburg? A. When you do become an alum, remember that while you were in school someone made a way for you to get through college. Remember to always give back to the community that gave to you. I know we all say, “Well I will come back to visit and volunteer my time,” but sometimes you must go beyond. If you dig deep to give a few dollars to support another student, they will be able to give back when they graduate. It’s a domino effect. Elisabeth Clemans ’11 Pa Dao Yang ’11 Social work major, psychology minor Has been a caller for four years Sociology major Has been a caller for four years Q. Why should alumni and friends support The Augsburg Fund? Q. What have you learned about Augsburg through this work? A. I am a recipient of financial aid at Augsburg, so I want to thank all the alumni, parents, and friends who give to The Augsburg Fund. It’s really important for students like me because every gift increases the percentage of alumni who give back. That makes the College more reputable and helps me get a job after I graduate! A. What I have learned while working at The Augsburg Fund is the importance of keeping the alumni updated on Augsburg. For example, I talk about the new Oren Gateway Center or speak about events such as the chocolate tasting event at the History Center. It’s fun to talk to alumni about what is happening on campus and to listen to them speak about their experiences. Ember Russell ’11 Elementary education major Has been a caller for two years Q. Have you had any especially memorable calls? A. I was talking with a lady who had studied elementary education. It was really interesting to hear how much the Education Department has changed! She gave me amazing advice on what to do when I graduate. I really enjoyed the call, and she made her very first donation to The Augsburg Fund! Fall 2010 11 homecoming go 12 Augsburg Now auggies! experience it! Fall 2010 13 taste of augsburg 14 Augsburg Now 2010 alumni awards Distinguished Alumni Robert Hanson ’68 A distinguished teacher in bio-organic and medicinal chemistry researche at Northeastern University. “Our three Augsburg wisemen were [Earl] Alton, [Courtland] Agre, and [John] Holum, and their gifts to us were: inspiring us to go far, preparing us with the intellectual and emotional skills to do that, and a dedication to service.” Don ’53 and Beverly (Halling) ’55 Oren Owners of Dart Transit, a transportation company nationally-recognized for leadership, innovation, and promotion of safety for its drivers. “You can choose a career in business and still contribute to society, and you can make a difference.” … “We met here, and that outweighs all other benefits the school had to offer.” First Decade Awards Morgan Davidsen ’00 Internationallyawarded filmmaker who recalls a special moment on the soccer field before a match after just hearing he had the lead in the next theatre production. “Thank you for being part of the greatest picture of my life.” “Augsburg gave me a place to listen and it taught me how to listen.” Stephen Gabrielsen ’63 College organist, music professor, and mentor to hundreds of students and alumni for 47 years. “My delight in being chosen is more significant when I consider all the people who could be standing here—dozens and dozens of students who have helped me become what I am.” Nicolas Thomley ’06 MBA CEO of Pinnacle Services, a successful company now employing 600 people; Marine Corps veteran, political candidate, and world traveler. “I’ve chosen to live an unconventional life—for me, it’s about pursuing my dreams, doing what I’ve wanted to.” Jack Osberg ’62 Retired head football coach, teacher, and mentor who brought the football program to its best season in history and continues to feel the spirit of Augsburg shape his life. “The spirit of Augsburg moves through its people.” Athletic Hall of Fame Richard Spratt ’74 Congratulations to the alumni who have been inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame: Social worker dedicated to connecting people with community resources; adjunct instructor in Social Work Department. Jean Taylor Respected corporate CEO and leader; former Augsburg Board of Regents chair. Learned at Augsburg how to listen to what her life tells her and about values she holds. Spirit of Augsburg Awards • John Beatty ’91, wrestling • Reed Boltmann ’88, football/baseball • Jeff Dainty ’90, baseball • Brian DeClercq ’81 (posthumously), men’s hockey An African proverb says, “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together.” • Natasha Hamann ’99, volleyball/women’s golf • Ann Knutson Brovold ’74, gymnastics • Astrid Larssen ’97, women’s soccer/women’s track and field For the bios and more information about this year’s alumni award winners, go to www.augsburg.edu/now • Tom Weidner ’84, football • Don Wichmann ’89, wrestling Fall 2010 15 Augsburg dedicates Ed Saugestad Rink During Homecoming 2010, Augsburg officially named its main competition rink in honor of Ed Saugestad ’59, the coach who led the Auggies to national prominence in men’s ice hockey during his storied career. At the Oct. 16 ceremony, Auggies were able to see the changes that took place in the arena in preparation for the dedication. One change in the rink that fans will notice during the season was the addition of three murals depicting the Saugestad legacy as well as the history of men’s and women’s hockey at Augsburg College. Saugestad began his coaching career during his senior year, 1958, and coached the Auggies until 1996, compiling a 503-354-21 record. His Auggies won Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) titles six straight years (197782), qualified for national tournament play 10 times, and won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship in 1978, 1981, and 1982. He coached 22 AllAmericans during his Augsburg career. Saugestad was named NAIA National Coach of the Year three times and MIAC Coach of the Year six times. 16 16 Augsburg Now ed saugestad ’59 augsburg hockey Augsburg Men’s Hockey Augsburg Women’s Hockey Augsburg College has had a long history of excellence in men’s hockey. The Auggie program dates to the mid-1920s, as one of the early entrants in MIAC play. The Auggies won state titles in both 1927 and 1928 coached by future U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer Nick Kahler. After not fielding teams from the late 1920s to the late 1940s, the program finally was reestablished under coach Ed Saugestad, who actually began his head coaching duties while still a student at Augsburg in 1958. Under Saugestad, the Auggie program thrived, winning MIAC titles six years in a row (1977-82), while winning National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national titles in 1978, 1981, and 1982. The Auggies have made appearances in national tournaments seven times in school history (five NAIA, two NCAA). After Saugestad retired, Mike Schwartz was named head coach in 1996, and he led the team to conference regular-season and playoff titles, and a berth in the NCAA Division III national championships in the 1997-98 season. Schwartz compiled a 124-11030 record during his Augsburg coaching tenure, and teams he coached made appearances in the MIAC postseason playoffs six times. Chris Brown was named the program’s head coach in 2006, and he has led the Auggies to MIAC playoff berths in three of the last four seasons. In 1995, Augsburg College made history by establishing the first intercollegiate women’s hockey program in the Midwest. The Auggies were one of the dominant teams in the early history of women’s hockey in Minnesota, winning Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) regular-season titles in 1998-99 and 1999-2000, and the conference playoff title in 1999-2000. In 2000, the Auggies made history again, qualifying to compete in the first Division III women’s hockey national championship series, the American Women’s College Hockey Alliance tournament in Boston against Middlebury (Vt.). Over the first 15 seasons of Augsburg’s women’s hockey history, the Auggies have a 171-177-30 all-time record. A total of 150 players have competed as part of the Augsburg women’s hockey program in its first 15 seasons, all under head coach Jill Pohtilla. Pohtilla finished her career third among all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III women’s hockey coaches in career victories and 20th among all collegiate women’s hockey coaches in victories. Michelle McAteer was named the second head coach in program history in 2010. Hockey murals by Stephen Geffre Fall 2010 17 She loves being an Auggie… Many who make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela today take a scallop shell from the beaches of Galicia, where St. James is buried, to commemorate their journey. The shells served as the medieval equivalent of a water bottle for travelers and became a symbol of the route. Martha Stortz, however, did not keep a souvenir when she made the pilgrimage. At the occasion of her inauguration as the Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation, Augsburg gifted her with a shell and a painting of the apostle James by Peter Brandes [background]. Brandes calls St. James the “pilgrims’ apostle.” BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 18 Augsburg Now Meet Martha Stortz Shortly after she settled into her new home in Minneapolis, Martha Stortz (she prefers to be called Marty) did four things: she became a member of the Seward Co-op, she joined the Midtown YWCA, she took her bicycle in for “retooling” at the Hub, and she took herself on walking tours of the Seward, Longfellow, and Downtown East neighborhoods. And those activities, along with a genuine love for the city and an infectious enthusiasm for Augsburg’s mission, are what make her a true Auggie. Stortz came to Augsburg this summer as the second Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation. She succeeds David Tiede, who retired and subsequently took a position as interim president of Wartburg Theological Seminary. The Christensen Chair holds multiple responsibilities including teaching in the Religion Department, serving as counsel to the president and Board of Regents, and chairing the advisory council for the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning. Furthermore, the chair plays a fundamental role in the interpretation and advancement of Augsburg’s institutional vocation, its calling as a college. Stortz says she is honored to be at Augsburg and excited about her role in the College’s work. “I was quite taken with everything that you’re doing,” she says. “I love this city. This is a college in and for and with the city.” Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow says Stortz’ appointment affirms Augsburg’s vision and direction. “I am grateful for the experience and wisdom Professor Stortz brings to this important position, and for the leadership she will provide as we continue to explore what it means to be a Lutheran college in the city,” he says. Stortz served as a member of the core doctoral faculty at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., and taught for 29 years at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. She is an acclaimed scholar, teacher, and leader in the realms of the church, academia, and society at large. Her interest in the Christian pilgrimage has been an important part of Stortz’ personal and scholarly life. She has hiked part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, the Way of St. James, in Spain. She and a colleague have also joined two groups—one in El Salvador and another in Mexico City—as they explore post-modern “pilgrimages” through educational immersion experiences. Though some might question her move from California to Minnesota, from theological education to higher education, and from seminary to college, Stortz feels as though she’s called to be at Augsburg and to bring her connections, an eagerness to share the College’s story with the community, and a commitment to her position. She believes that her experience in circles of theological education and religion and education will bring some meaningful connections to Augsburg. “I’m very enthusiastic about what’s going on here, and I think my key role is to make sure everyone knows what is going on.” “I’m eager to communicate Augsburg’s vision and its sense of a living and lively tradition that is engaged with the city, the community, and the world. I’ve been a writer, speaker, and teacher, and I would now harness those gifts in service of the College’s vocation.” When questioned about her decision, Stortz says, “I say to my friends, ‘You don’t know the Twin Cities, you don’t know how exciting it is to have colleagues in other disciplines and how vibrant those multidisciplinary conversations can be, and you don’t know Augsburg.’” Fall 2010 19 Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation Inaugural Address EXCERPTS FROM MARTHA STORTZ’ INAUGURAL ADDRESS, “LOCATION, LOCATION, VOCATION” “Tell me the landscape you inhabit, and I will tell you who you are.” —Jose Ortega y Gassett However much we claim space, making it our own, space also claims us, telling us who we are. Location shapes identity and gives the people who inhabit it a distinctive vocation or calling. Like the Irish monks, we too live accordingly. I want to look at three dimensions of Augsburg’s location—physical, historical, and spiritual—and probe how it shapes a vocation or calling that is distinctive to this College. Physical location … Augsburg is a college in, with, and for the city … [its] urban location is now central to the College’s identity. The Christensen Center and Memorial Hall do not square off an academic quadrangle; rather, the space between them opens to a public park. The plan for the new Center for Science, Business, and Religion … does not feature a closed quad; rather, it imitates the freeway. As the freeway enables crosstown traffic between the cities, so this new building opens to the neighborhood; it invites cross-campus traffic and cross-disciplinary conversation. Historical location The College was founded by the Free Church Norwegian Lutheran immigrants who settled in the Cedar Riverside area in the mid1800s—and never forgot that they’d been strangers in a strange land … Consonant with that history, the College has welcomed the various immigrant groups that make up this neighborhood: Hmong, Somali, Ethiopian, Eritrean. Moreover, Augsburg consistently saw itself as an institution of higher learning that provided access and excellence to students who simply couldn’t pay higher fees of other private schools. At times when it would have made more financial sense to go after wealthier families and their children, Augsburg elected to be faithful to its historic base. Spiritual location A tradition is not a museum piece, but a lively argument with the past, and throughout its history, Augsburg has loved a good fight. Incarnation and the neighbor stand as signal emphases of this tradition, the first witnessing to the fact that God entered the human condition—to the max. At its best, Lutheranism is a tradition that has always leaned into the neighbor, always learned from the neighbor, and always looked to the neighbor to supply that unexpected bolt of grace that makes all things new (Revelation 21:5). The Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning In the spring of 2002, the Lilly Endowment, Inc. awarded Augsburg College a $2 million grant to expand the College’s commitment to connecting faith and learning. As a result, Augsburg developed and implemented the Exploring Our Gifts program. After four years of successful programming (2002-2006), the Lilly Endowment awarded Augsburg a generous sustainability grant, matched by the College, to help support the project for an additional three years (2006-2009). As a direct result of the success and positive impact of Exploring Our Gifts, Augsburg College is committed to continuing this important work beyond the life of the Lilly grant. To this end, the College has created the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning (ACFL) to embody and build upon the convictions at the heart of Augsburg’s educational mission: “… to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.” The work of the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning is guided by the lessons of Bernhard M. Christensen, president of Augsburg from 1938 to 1962. Christensen taught that: • Christian faith liberates minds and lives • Diversity strengthens vital communities • Interfaith friendships enrich learning • The love of Christ draws us to God • We are called to service in the world The Center’s work focuses on three areas of activity: 1. Student and alumni engagement—Supporting discovery and development of talents and gifts, discernment of vocation, and exploration of calling 2. Faculty and staff leadership—Developing curricular and programmatic offerings to guide the theological exploration of vocation 3. Public witness and outreach—Promoting Augsburg’s leadership in the pursuit and realization of individual and institutional calling For more information about the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning, or to read the full inaugural address and other presentations from the 2010 Christensen Symposium, go to www.augsburg.edu/now 20 Augsburg Now Sammie Guck, Christensen Scholar WHEN SENIOR SAMMIE GUCK sees another Christensen Scholar on campus, she greets them with a simple but reverent, “Scholar.” “It’s just our way of acknowledging each other when we are out in the world,” Guck says. Guck is one of 10 students involved in the Christensen Scholar program. Named for Bernhard Christensen, Augsburg’s president from 1938 to 1962, the year-long seminar helps students explore the Lutheran concept of vocation and define their own calling. Every year 10 junior or senior students are selected for the Christensen Scholar program, which is sponsored by the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning. The heart of the program is a monthly three-hour seminar devoted to texts drawn from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Authors include biblical texts, Augustine, Luther, and Flannery O'Connor. Topics can range from religious pluralism to the art of prayer. A philosophy major and religion minor, Guck says she appreciates the discussion-based seminar and the free exchange of ideas that happens among the scholars. “It’s not a professor saying, ‘Let me tell you what you should know.’” She adds that the scholars, who represent several different faith traditions, are very respectful of each other’s ideas and backgrounds. “It’s a great environment to share and explore,” she says. Guck says she is having a “senior year vocational crisis.” She met with religion professor Mark Tranvik, who leads the scholar seminar, to discuss the idea of vocation. “I grew up Catholic, so I have a different understanding of vocation than the Lutheran concept,” she says. Together Guck and Tranvik explored different ways that a person of faith can live out his or her vocation. “I realized that vocation doesn’t have to be one set thing, it can always be changing,” she says. Guck was considering graduate school but does not think she will begin immediately after graduation. Instead, she is looking into other ways that she can express her vocation through a career in editing or publishing. Whether she’s pursuing her master’s degree or working in a publishing house, two things are fairly certain for this Auggie. One—even after she graduates from Augsburg, she will continue to discern what her vocation is and how to make it a part of her life. And two—if she sees another Christensen Scholar walking down the street, they are sure to greet each other with the brief acknowledgement of the conversations they had at Augsburg. 21 Augsburg Now Fall 2010 21 Understanding healthcare R E F O R M BY BETSEY NORGARD On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It’s complex, difficult-to-understand legislation and is the product of an extremely contentious political process. On October 15, at its fifth public policy forum, Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning hosted a forum to decode and discuss the challenges and opportunities this legislation presents for Minnesota and the nation—that is, how the current healthcare system will change. The symposium was moderated by retired U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo and presented speakers who are leaders in the healthcare field. Donna Zimmerman, senior vice president of government and community relations at HealthPartners in Minneapolis, addressed the overall scope of the law and focused on the impact of provisions concerning changes to insurance coverage. “It is a major task to think about how to explain this major piece of legacy legislation our Congress has passed,” Zimmerman said. “I’ll try to demystify this big bill, and focus on what’s important for us in Minnesota.” Her presentation explained various provisions of the act that have already taken effect or are being phased in shortly; for example, extension of benefits to dependent children up to age 26, adding more preventive care without costsharing by consumers, and prohibition on insurance denial to children under age 19 for pre-existing conditions. Dr. Sanne Magnan, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health, spoke about changes to health care itself and the interface with Vision Minnesota, Min- Demystifying the new healthcare legislation was the focus of the Sabo Center Public Policy Symposium on October 15. Panelists were (L to R) Martin Sabo ’59, moderator; Donna Zimmerman, HealthPartners; Dr. Sanne Magnan, Minnesota Department of Health; and Dr. Bruce Amundson ’60, Community Health Innovations, Inc. nesota’s reform passed in 2008. Her message was that the federal reforms will not have as radical an effect in Minnesota as in some states because Minnesota’s quality and delivery of health care are already consistently higher than in many states. She spoke about how Minnesota is coordinating with federal initiatives to influence how health reform is implemented, “so that we can build on the innovative strategies Minnesota has been doing as well as learn from other states who have been doing health reform.” She compared provisions for reform in the new federal law with similar provisions in Vision Minnesota and showed how a number of them are already being implemented in this state. Magnan also explained that much of the difficulty in enacting reform stems from how the current healthcare system was set up. The incentives and payments for health care are made to doctors and providers for treatment of illness, and not for promotion and maintenance of health. Payment is made for office visits, hospitalization, tests, procedures, and drugs, rather than for better management of chronic disease, prevention, and promotion of wellness. Dr. Bruce Amundson ’60, president of Community Health Innovators, Inc. and assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, spoke about his longtime work to seek reform in the healthcare delivery system to provide everyone with easy access to a team of healthcare professionals who can provide comprehensive care at lower costs. Amundson offered a vision of the optimal healthcare model (see next page) that focuses on a team approach to ongoing, primary care in clinics, which includes clinical care as well as services in other areas that affect health. These clinics or “medical homes” must then be part of, or connected to, a system that includes specialty-care and hospital and emergency services. Sabo Center Public Policy Symposium 2010 Healthcare Reform: What Will It Mean for You (and the Nation)? October 15, 2010 Panel Participants: DONNA ZIMMERMAN, Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations, HealthPartners DR. SANNE MAGNAN, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Health DR. BRUCE AMUNDSON ’60, President, Community Health Innovations, Inc., and Assistant Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine MARTIN SABO ’59, Moderator; U.S. House of Representatives, 1978–2006 HEALTHCARE 22 Augsburg Now To see the slides from these presentations and view the video of the symposium, go to www.augsburg.edu/now E BY DR. BRUCE AMUNDSON ’60 What is ideal healthcare delivery? The recent health reform legislation primarily focuses on helping more people get health insurance and on addressing some insurance injustices. It does not systematically address delivery system reform—how you receive health care—but elements of the act do support ongoing reform efforts. To understand this, you must have a clearer picture of what clinical and healthcare leaders see as a “reformed delivery system” and what we have been working towards—for years. Within the past few years a growing agreement has emerged on what an optimal delivery system should look like, both to be able to provide excellent and comprehensive care and to reduce costs. These are the key elements: First, your health care must be anchored by primary care clinicians—physicians (family practice, general internal medicine, pediatricians), nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. This ensures that you have a personal ongoing relationship with a clinician who is the “general contractor” for your health issues and who is your trusted partner. Second, you should be part of a clinic or system that provides a “medical home” with your primary clinician. Your medical home must serve as the first stop for ANY health issues that arise, short of critical emergencies. Further, your medical home should have: • An electronic health record to ensure immediate access to your history for all who treat you wherever they are located • More convenient access to your clinicians—same-day appointments, expanded hours, e-mail to your clinicians • Management of all referrals to specialists and other services you may need, ensuring coordination and avoiding duplication • Systematic management of common chronic diseases • Case management for people with complex and/or multiple health issues including monitoring of prescription drugs • Healthcare teams to expand clinical competency and services The emergence of primary care teams is one of the most important developments in recent years. I would describe the “optimal primary care team” as comprised of: • Primary care clinicians (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) • Mental health clinician • Social worker with family therapy skills • Nurse case manager for patients with complex conditions • Chronic disease care nurse • Patient educator • Pharmacist • Physical therapist or massage therapist Research has shown that with this range of skills a clinic or medical home can competently handle 80% or more of the health problems that it receives. It can care for the whole person and meet total needs. This is a radical change, but examples of this model now exist across the country. The third component is that every clinic or medical home must be part of an organized system of care that includes most specialty physicians, hospital and ER services, and other important services. If not within the same organization, at least there must be formal ties and relationships between the medical home and these other elements of a comprehensive healthcare system. Because our human condition is complex, people are affected by physical issues, mental health problems, family dysfunction, substance abuse, environmental exposures— and often a combination or all of the above. Clinical care is, therefore, also very complex if it is going to be relevant to the person’s needs and holistic in its aims. The combination of knowledge and skills represented in the optimal team described above brings the healthcare delivery system closer in alignment with human needs, with the foundation being “relationship-based” (versus “diseaseoriented”) care. The reform legislation recognizes the work by clinicians and leaders in defining what we seek as health reform goals. While it does not fundamentally change the current healthcare delivery system, it supports clinician-led reform by: • Recognizing the role of primary care clinicians and increasing financial support for training them • Providing bonus payments for care management of Medicare and Medicaid enrollees when needed • Providing financial incentives for establishing organized systems of care • Expanding wellness and preventive coverage in insurance plans • Funding research on the clinical effectiveness of various treatments • Creating a Center of Innovation The legislation is not radical. It builds on our current private insurance and delivery systems. It may not be able to address cost issues, but it does represent a huge step toward ensuring universal insurance coverage and a more effective delivery system. It also must be seen as a move to narrow the gap between healthcare “haves” and “have nots.” While there’s an immense amount of work ahead, it’s critical to understand that for clinicians and most healthcare leaders, there is no turning back. The whiff of something better, a humanizing system, is in the air and a national reform process is underway. I could not be more hopeful. Dr. Bruce Amundson ’60 is president of Community Health Innovations, Inc. in Shoreline, Wash. Fall 2010 23 Reflection by Adam Spanier ’12, film and English major Reflection by Khalid Adam ’12, economics major and Sabo Scholar I do not plan on becoming a doctor, a pharmacist, or anything else in the medical field, and I am no expert regarding topics like health insurance. Yet, the new healthcare system will affect me and everyone else in this country. In today’s tense political climate of rumored complete government takeover, socialized medicine, and “death panels,” misinformation consumes the media. This is precisely why it is important to sift out all of the ridiculous rumors and myths of the new healthcare bill in order to find some truth and understanding. And this is precisely why events like the Sabo healthcare symposium are important. As a Sabo Scholar, but perhaps more importantly, as an ill-informed citizen, I attended the Sabo healthcare symposium. Fortunately, the symposium panelists were all qualified experts of health care; there was no dumbing down or oversimplification of the topic as is evident on the 24-hour news channels. There was a bit of information I did not fully comprehend; however, I can safely admit that I walked away from the symposium knowing much more about the topic. Fortunately, it’s comforting to know that the very people I will directly depend on for my medical needs were involved in this discussion—doctors, nurses, health professionals, and other people involved in the medical field participated in the symposium. Events such as the Sabo healthcare symposium are exactly what this country needs right now. We need to stop arguing and have more conversations. Similar events are important because it will bring us together to better understand complex topics, and it will allow us to make more informed decisions in the future. So just why has health care spending gone out of control in the U.S., consuming nearly a sixth of gross domestic product (GDP) spending in 2008? Liberals say it’s the health insurance companies’ greed and the government’s inability to contain costs and to regulate the employer market for health insurance. Meanwhile, conservatives argue that it’s too much regulation, citing the growing budgets of government welfare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. They also cite overuse of healthcare resources as the main problem, making the problem of health care a “volume-control issue.” Despite these differing viewpoints, a few observations are unarguably universal: • The science of health care has advanced rapidly in the last 60 years, which has affected prices of medical inputs. • The increased health costs, outpacing growth in GDP, have adverse effects on the economic outcomes on industries with large percentage of workers with ESI (Employer Sponsored Insurance); this results in the loss of output and a de facto loss of jobs in those industries. • The current trend in the growth of per capita GDP spent on health care is unsustainable in the long term. Health spending in the U.S. has increased dramatically in the course of the past 50 years, from $27.5 billion in 1960 to $912.6 billion in 1993, and to a mind-boggling $2.4 trillion in 2008. It is projected to reach $4.3 trillion by 2017. To read more of Adam’s paper from his research on healthcare costs, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Reflection by Phong Le ’13 PA As a first year physician assistant (PA) student, I’m usually busy studying and spending any spare time with my family. Thus I’m afraid to admit I’ve not kept up with the latest news. I attended the 2010 healthcare reform symposium hoping to gain a better understanding of the reform and how it will impact my future as a PA. According to the HealthPartners presenter, the reform will increase insurance coverage to 32 million more Americans. Thus, demand for care will greatly exceed the supply of doctors. In addition, there is also pressure to find a high value but low cost delivery system. According to Dr. Bruce Amundson, these factors have led to a consensus of a team approach in which PAs and nurse practitioners (NPs) will largely fill the demand gap while still able to keep costs low. I was feeling pretty good about my job prospects as I listened to the presenters. However, numerous questions began to emerge as I thought beyond graduation. How far will the trickle-down effect from doctors to PAs and NPs to nurses to healthcare technicians go to increase care volume while decreasing cost? Will money dictate the quality or type of care I provide? Will I be forced to choose between quantity and quality daily? I left the symposium with more questions than answers. One thing I do know for sure is that the reform will happen whether we like it or not, and I believe that any movement toward increased access to care is great. However we should proceed with caution and responsibility to ensure we don’t compromise the quality of care in the process. This drives me to stay informed and involved so that, hopefully, we PAs as a group can help to shape and guide this inevitable health reform. HEALTHCARE 24 Augsburg Now Celebrating our SUCCESS BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 At Augsburg College, we don’t have a lot of traditions. Sure, we have Homecoming every year, and we’ve marked the holiday season with Advent Vespers for the past 30 years. But there’s no annual canceling of classes so that students can go to a local park to hear bands and eat bratwurst. President Pribbenow doesn’t trade places with a student for a day every year. And though we have some important athletic rivalries, none are so longstanding that the matchups attract fans far and wide. There is one thing, however, that Augsburg has done quite well for a long time: we are very adept at the Lutheran Scandinavian practice of not boasting about our accomplishments. Now, after years of celebrating achievements with an occasional internal announcement or a round of applause during daily chapel, we’ve decided it is time for our practice of humility to change. Fall 2010 25 Shift in expectations In the past, Augsburg’s tendency toward humility has kept our students from applying for national scholarships or to graduate school. But that trend is changing, thanks in part to the work of one woman—Dixie Shafer. As director of Augsburg’s office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO), Shafer gives pep talks, takes her trademark green pen to students’ personal statements, and shepherds them through the often daunting graduate school application process. For a small, private college, Augsburg has an impressive résumé of national fellowships and scholarships. In 2010 alone, four Augsburg students were awarded Fulbright scholarships, bringing the total to nine awardees in the last four years, and Augsburg was recently named to The Chronicle of Higher Education list of top Fulbright-producing schools. Five students received Gilman scholarships for the 2010-11 academic year, and in 2009 one Augsburg student became the seventh Auggie to receive a Goldwater scholarship. And in 2008, lest we forget, Augsburg added its first Rhodes Scholar to the list of student achievements. Shafer’s work involves helping students conduct faculty-led research during the summer and school year, advising on the graduate and professional school application process, and helping students apply for fellowships and national competitions. In general, Shafer says she sees students who don’t believe they can be competitive at a national level. “I rarely meet a student who thinks that,” she adds. “We have a pretty humble group of students.” But she acknowledges the slow cultural 26 Augsburg Now Dixie Shafer, URGO director, holds a “bouquet” given to her by Brian Krohn ’08. Krohn fashioned the flowers from drafts of his Rhodes application essays. shift in expectations. “We have more students applying for national fellowships and more receiving them, and that allows others to know that they can do it.” Not just for elite schools Katie MacAulay ’08 was one of the humble students Shafer typically meets. In her junior year, she was studying abroad in Argentina and read a story about two Augsburg students who received Fulbright fellowships. “I had assumed it was a fellowship of the elite schools, one in which a smalltown, Midwestern girl with a relatively average résumé would be of little competition,” she says. But the article in- spired MacAulay, and she made an appointment to meet with Shafer on the day she returned to Augsburg. “Dixie handed me the Fulbright information book and told me to decide whether or not I was serious about applying. As she put it, ‘Once you start, there’s no turning back.’” MacAulay says her desire to apply was motivated out of curiosity to test her beliefs about Fulbrights being only for students from “prestigious” schools and to challenge personal feelings of inadequacy. “Dixie helped me realize that, although I maybe didn’t feel like I had the background, I certainly had the foreground.” Through the application process, MacAulay says, “I realized that your socioeconomic status and upbringing don’t play as large of a role in defining who you are and what you become.” That insight inspired her to stop feeling inadequate in comparison to others and gave her the motivation to challenge her own boundaries. In November, MacAulay completed a 10-month grant as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Terengganu, Malaysia. She says it has been the best experience of her life and a gift that will continue to benefit her in the future. “I am of the opinion that you can never have too many options. Be realistic about yourself, but don’t doubt your own uniqueness and abilities,” MacAulay says. She encourages other Augsburg students to apply for national fellowships and programs and to challenge their own ideas about being competitive at a national level. Educating the whole person Tina (Quick) Sandy ’08 is another student whose path was guided by Shafer’s counsel and by the gentle insistence of a few determined history professors. A first-generation student who says she almost didn’t come to Augsburg, Sandy is in her third year at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. At the end of her second year at Augsburg, Sandy saw a poster advertising the URGO summer research program. This program provides a stipend and housing for students who spend 200-400 hours of their summer conducting research under the supervision of a faculty member. To apply to the program, students must submit a research proposal. Sandy was reading the poster just days before the application was due. She had been taking a history class from Michael Lansing. “He pulled me aside one day and asked if I had consid- Tina Sandy ’08 is a third-year student at William Mitchell College of Law. ered a history major,” Sandy said. So she went to Lansing about the summer program, and the two of them drafted her proposal. That summer Sandy researched the history of the Ku Klux Klan movement in the Midwest, a project that led her specifically to document Klan activities in 1922 in Minneapolis. Throughout the entire project she worked closely with Lansing, especially on writing her final report. “He totally changed my ability to write,” Sandy says. “His red pen shaped my experience, and it served me well.” As a law student, Sandy says she feels much more confident in her writing abilities than some of her classmates who did not receive the same direction and support in their undergraduate programs. In her third year of college, Sandy began considering her plans beyond college with the encouragement of Lansing, history professor Jacqui deVries, and political science professor Joe Underhill. Sandy was considering law school. “We discussed her potential and then rallied the wagons to get her to think about her options,” Lansing said. He recalls that perhaps he tried to be too persuasive at times. “We wanted to see Tina set her sights wide because we knew that she had the potential to go to any institution. We wanted to see that for her because we knew that she could really shine.” “There were a lot of opinions in my ear about what I should do,” Sandy says. That’s when she went to visit Shafer. “She threw a lot of different ideas at me … ideas that opened my mind.” But Sandy says she had a “gut feeling” about law school. She wanted to stay in Minnesota to be close to her family and to her future husband, fellow Auggie Sama Sandy ’08. Because the law school application process requires significant time as well as money, Sandy opted to apply to one school only, something most students are encouraged not to do. The easy part was making the decision; the application process was another story altogether. She needed to study for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), pass it, and submit the necessary application materials, including several letters of recommendation and a personal summary, by the deadline. This she did while taking classes, working, and trying to have something of a social life. Sandy says Shafer was by her side through the entire experience. “She really ended up being my encourager and sidekick.” As a first-generation student, Sandy appreciated the support of someone who knew the process but also understood her own personal background. As Tina Sandy’s story illustrates, both faculty and staff can be instrumental in a student’s success. Lansing says that as a professor, he feels that he is called to educate the whole person. “I think that’s the point of a small college, thinking of a young person not just as a student but as a person becoming who they are. You want the very best for them.” Discovering and meeting challenges Melissa Robertson ’10 is another first-generation student who benefited from the support of faculty who saw her potential and persuaded her to go outside of her comfort zone. Their encouragement helped her meet the challenges of college and discover new opportunities. Robertson’s first year of college presented the common challenges of balancing school work and social life. She struggled, and her grades reflected that. But in her second year she became more serious about school as she focused on the natural sciences and mathematics. As she got to know her professors, they saw promise in her and directed her to study and research opportunities. “Dale Fall 2010 27 28 Augsburg Now school, work, and personal issues, Robertson says there were many times she wanted to give up and put off graduate school for a year. “But I told myself to keep on with the help of mentors, friends, family, and counseling support. I thought if I didn’t get in to any programs or didn’t like the places, at least I would have tried.” She applied to five programs, both master’s and doctoral in biostatistics and biology, and she was accepted to all five. Currently Robertson is studying on a full scholarship in the molecular biosciences program at Montana State University in Bozeman. From first day to graduation day There is more to student success than national scholarships and fellowships. For some students, whether they are 18 or 38 years old, the greatest achievement is simply to have arrived at Augsburg. In fall 2010, Augsburg welcomed the largest first-year class and the largest graduate school class in the College’s history. Within this student body is the potential for many stories of students who overcame the odds to get to college and to obtain a degree. Augsburg has an impressive history of assisting students who might not otherwise be successful in college—first-generation students including children of immigrant families, students in recovery from addiction, students with cognitive disabilities as well as physical disabilities, and nontraditional-aged students who are returning to college to complete a degree. Rich Osborn is an older-than-average student who found success through Augsburg’s weekend program. At the age of 69, Osborn completed his first bachelor’s degree and was one of the oldest Augsburg for Adults students to graduate. Read his story at http://bit.ly/djx2nN. Not only is Augsburg attracting a larger student body—the College is keeping students and helping them persist to graduation. Augsburg can boast an impressive 86% retention rate in the day college program from fall 2009 to fall 2010. That is an increase of 3% from last year and significantly higher than the national average of 73% for four-year private colleges and universities. All of this success is reason for Augsburg to celebrate and to share the stories of student success. Whether it’s the announcement of another Fulbright recipient, a National Science Foundation grant, or publication in a scholarly journal, these stories serve as inspiration and motivation for other Auggies to pursue their goals. Melissa Robertson ’10 is completing a master's degree in molecular biosciences at Montana State University. Kelly Gorham/MSU Pederson and Matt Haines suggested I think about biostatistics, a field that would combine biology and math. I knew I would have to go to graduate school, but at that point I hadn’t even thought about it,” she says. In the summer before her junior year, Robertson participated in a short-term study program to examine the biodiversity and environmental politics of New Zealand. She also conducted research with biology professor David Crowe in the URGO summer research program. “I was new to that type of research, but I was ready and willing to learn,” she says. “David was a very good mentor, always willing to help and always told me when I was doing a great job.” The URGO program presented a new challenge for Robertson, who says she was shy and had extreme anxiety about giving presentations. “Giving reports about my research in front of my fellow URGO people during roundtable discussions was awful for me,” she says, “and I didn’t even want to think about the final oral presentation.” But working with Crowe gave Robertson the confidence in herself as a scientist and a scholar. Shafer recalls the change she saw in Robertson throughout the summer and her enthusiasm about presenting her research in a graduate school interview. “To see her go from this quiet girl who could barely talk with other students to graduate school … what an accomplishment.” Robertson continued her research with Crowe during the academic year and also began, with Shafer’s help, the process of applying to graduate school. Between AUGSBURG COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS 2009-2010 Fall 2010 29 DEAR FRIENDS, This past year has been an extraordinary one for Augsburg College. Despite continued challenges in the economy, through the generosity and good work of the entire Augsburg community, we closed the fiscal year with a solid financial performance and entered the 2010-2011 academic year with a record number of students in our day, weekend, and graduate programs. While these achievements are significant, it is your ongoing and steadfast support for the education of our students that is most gratifying. As a college, we believe we are called to serve our neighbor, and I am humbled by and grateful for the Augsburg alumni, family, and friends who join with us in pursuing this calling. Our new mission statement—adopted last spring following two years of rich conversation across the Augsburg community—makes a bold statement of our aspirations for our students: We educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. Never in the history of this institution has the world had a greater need for future leaders with these abilities. And never before have your gifts been more important to ensuring that this education remains within reach for our growing and increasingly diverse community of students. As we continue to live out our mission and provide a uniquely Augsburg education—an education defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by our Lutheran faith and values, and shaped by our urban and global settings—I ask for your abiding engagement and support. Your gifts make possible an educational experience like no other—one that challenges our students to recognize and live out their individual callings and, through those efforts, make a lasting difference in our world. Sincerely, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW PRESIDENT 30 Augsburg Now ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 2009-2010 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Where the Money Comes From Where the Money Goes 5% Government grants 6% Other sources 4% Debt service 2% 3% Equipment and capital improvement Student salary 4% 3% Private gifts and grants Utilities 12% Room and board 44% 24% Salary and benefits Financial aid 73% Tuition 20% Other $34.5 2010 Endowment Market Value May 31, 2010 $28,641,248 $30.5 $28.6 $26.7 $26.6 As of May 31, 2010, we have annual realized and unrealized gains of 14.65% on our endow$23.2 ment. Our five-year average annual return on $20.0 the endowment is 1.20% and the 10-year average annual return is 1.18%. We $16.4 are committed to maintaining $14.2 the value of principal gifts and to provide support to the $11.5 College in perpetuity. 1995 $33.7 1996 1997 1998 1999 $26.2 $25.4 $24.8 $22.7 $23.3 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Endowment Assets (in millions) June 1, 1995 – May 31, 2010 Fall 2010 31 SCHOLARSHIPS Gratitude On April 25, nearly 300 people, including donors, faculty, staff, and scholarship students gathered to celebrate gifts from the Augsburg community that make an Augsburg education possible for many students. Donors enjoyed the opportunity to meet the students who receive their scholarships. During 2009-10, 716 gifts to scholarships totaled over $529,000. Eight new scholarships were started last year: • L. Gracia Christensen English Scholarship • Inez Olson Schwarzkopf English Scholarship • Hazel Stoeckeler Art Scholarship • Judith (Olson) Nelson Health and Physical Education Scholarship • Jorgensen Sethre general scholarship • Dr. Lowell and Janice Kleven Scholarship for pre-medicine • Leonard and Winifred Leifgren Scholarship for students of color • Jerome and Winifred Formo Music Scholarship Simple Gifts Peter Miller graduated in May 2010 with a major in English and is the son of an ELCA pastor. He is now studying at Luther Seminary. Here are excerpts from his talk at the Scholarship Brunch on behalf of scholarship students. It is truly a gift to honor student success, engaged scholarship, and active citizenship knowing that each of these simple components is intertwined in my own story. This is a story about how simple gifts transform a community into a simple reality. … When I was a child, I used to love to listen to my mom play the dulcimer. She would play “Simple Gifts,” an old Shaker hymn while my brother and I would run around in the yard. ’Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free; ’Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in a place just right, It will be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gain’d, To bow and to bend we shall not be asham’d, To turn, turn will be our delight, Till by turning and turning we come round right. As I recall my mom singing this song and my brother and I turning and turning until we were dizzy, I have come to value the message in these simple words. We celebrate the success of students because simple gifts are freeing, liberating, and life changing. Getting into college is a big deal and it changes you. As students are groomed in success, simple gifts allow us the freedom to engage fully in what we are learning and to develop into the leaders we ought to be, in a college that is just and right. With an Auggie-assemblage of strong leaders, 32 Augsburg Now we continue to build a neighborhood and a city of love and delight. And we, too, have an opportunity to invest in true simplicity where all people bow and bend and never are ashamed. Simple gifts spark the cycle toward a simple reality. I have seen the spark of a simple gift in the eyes of first-year students Peter Miller ’10 spoke on behalf of students at the as they acknowlScholarship Brunch. edge that Augsburg offers them more financial aid than any other school. And I have seen this simple reality come to life when a former scraping, struggling business major takes a few philosophy and religion classes and gets all 4.0s. I have watched it in a group of interfaith friends who never stand still long enough to watch the paint dry, whether they are doing service projects at a mosque down the street, a local church, or a nearby women’s center. That spark, that simple gift that I saw as an orientation leader, ignites a question—how do I become a part of this simple reality? But that was the spark in my eye, too, in the trust that somehow my family and the Augsburg community would help me afford a meaningful education and turn my gifts and theirs into something simple and beautiful. I had to turn from procrastination to participation in simple things like interfaith dialog, global carbon emission regulations, and ending poverty in Minnesota by 2020. I didn't say it was easy. I said it was simple. It is painting with a broad brush, or like we did at the mosque, with rollers and a taste for new colors. This is a simple reality. Ultimately, I believe the simplest gift is who we are and how we spend our time—the time to sing a song in the springtime, study hard, write a thank-you note, share a story, paint, or spare some change. I want to thank you all for your simple gifts and the countless hours you have given to Augsburg, for bowing and bending to the needs of this community and providing the spark for so many to be a part of this story. Together, we are a simple reality. ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 Scholarships for religion, campus ministry, and youth and family ministry The Augsburg community continues to keep the College’s roots as a seminary strong as it provides scholarship support to its students. More than 11% of the value of Augsburg’s endowment supports scholarships for students in religion, campus ministry, and youth and family ministry—a total of 36 scholarships (12% of the total number). Kou Lee is majoring in music and plays flute in the Augsburg Concert Band, the Augsburg Symphony Orchestra, and a woodwind chamber ensemble. His plans after graduation in 2011 are to pursue a graduate degree in music composition that will prepare him for a career as an orchestral director in a university—and hopefully return to Augsburg some day as a faculty member. He has a Hognander Scholarship for 2010-11. The scholarship brunch brought together nearly 300 donors and students to celebrate gifts from the Augsburg Community. A number of donors and recipients of these scholarships gathered at the Scholarship Brunch: (seated, L to R) Carl Vaagenes ’50, Ruth Vaagenes, Dora (Frojen) Quanbeck ’49; (behind them, L to R) Jessica Fanaselle ’10, Sarah Korbel ’12, Emily Wiles ’10, Peter Miller ’10, Morris Vaagenes Jr. ’51, Professor Karl Jacobson, Professor Hans Wiersma, Whitney Holman ’10, Philip Quanbeck Sr. ’50, Harris Lee ’57, Ivory Phung ’13, and Maryon Lee. The Sven Oftedal Society exemplifies the legacy of this early Augsburg president whose leadership and commitment to the growth of Augsburg Seminary secured the financial future of the College. By reaching out to those who shared Augsburg’s vision of providing an education not only for its immigrant Norwegian preachers, but also for everyday people—teachers, farmers, and neighbors in the city growing around Augsburg—he ensured that Augsburg’s students would become responsible citizens and leaders in whatever they chose to do. Planned giving offers a variety of possibilities to provide significant financial benefit to the College while also providing continued income to its donors. Donors and their families can plan with their financial advisors and the College to determine what kind of gift plan (cash gifts, securities, stocks, and others) can be designed to recognize the donor’s commitment to the College and still serve their own financial needs. Planned gifts can be made outright or deferred into the future. For many alumni, families, and friends who are grateful for the education and experience of Augsburg in their lives but have no heirs, planned giving can help them ensure future students receive that same education. Fall 2010 33 I ’ M A N A U G G I E — The Augsburg Fund Your gifts to The Augsburg Fund help to ensure that Augsburg College can continue to support students and give them the opportunity to make the world a better place. What makes you an Auggie? Why do you give? Make a gift and share your story at www.augsburg.edu/auggie. Alex Gonzalez ’90 What makes me an Auggie? I’m an Auggie because of athletics and being a member of the football team. A lot of the close friendships I have are from sports, and I love to bring my kids back and see the games. And I met my wife here—you can’t get much more important than that! Beyond that, faith is a big part of what makes me an Auggie. What I’ve learned at Augsburg, I have carried forward with service to the world through my congregation and in the community. Why do I give? Augsburg has been such an important part of forming who I am, and I want to give back. Serving as a regent is a small way of helping to ensure that this institution continues to make an impact on other people’s lives. I give because I think it’s important to support the unique Augsburg experience. An Augsburg degree has a specific intention behind it—of service to the community. It’s a holistic foundation to approaching life in the world. 34 Augsburg Now Maria Mitchell Helgerson ’07 and Erik Helgerson ’06 What makes us Auggies? We were both drawn to Augsburg by the feeling of community and the opportunity to know people and to be a part of something. We loved our four years here and the relationships we built. We want to keep them going, and we’re so grateful to the Young Alumni Association for helping us do that. Why do we give? We give to Augsburg because we know colleges can’t function just on tuition, and we know that our gifts will be used to better the community and to make a place that is important for others. Augsburg meant a lot to us personally, and giving back helps give opportunities to other students. I’M AN AUGGIE! ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 LIFETIME GIVING The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College, living and deceased, who have generously given a minimum of $100,000, including planned gifts, over a lifetime. We are immensely grateful for their examples of loyalty and commitment to the College. Anonymous (5) Helen and Ernest† Alne Brian Anderson ’82 and Leeann Rock ’81 Catherine and Charles Anderson Daniel ’65 and Alice Anderson Donald ’60 and Violet Anderson Oscar† ’38 and Leola† Anderson Leona Radman Antholz ’41† Clarette† ’29 and Luther† ’29 Arnold Earl and Doris Bakken Loren and Mary Quanbeck ’77 Barber Elizabeth ’82 and Warren Bartz Paul ’63 and LaVonne Olson ’63 Batalden Sidney ’57 and Lola Lidstrom ’50 Berg Barbara and Zane Birky Carl Blegen† Roy ’50 and Ardis Bogen Joyce and John† Boss Donald Bottemiller and Shellie Reed Rodney and Barbara Burwell Bush Foundation Carlson Companies The Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation Richard ’74 and Nancy Colvin Mary Brandt ’79 Croft and David Croft Oliver Dahl ’45 Theodore and Pamala Deikel Deluxe Corporation Foundation Darrell ’55 and Helga Egertson Tracy Elftmann ’81 Fuad and Nancy El-Hibri Raymond Erickson ’50† Malcolm† and Maybelle† Estrem Ever Cat Fuels, LLC Philip and Laverne Fandrei Jerome ’37† and Winifred Helland ’37† Formo Jerry and Jean Foss Julian Foss ’30† William and Anne Frame Paul† ’42 and Maxine† Fridlund Barbara and Edwin Gage General Mills Foundation Michael ’71 and Ann Good Roger Griffith ’84 and Jean Taylor ’85 H. Theodore ’76 and Michele Grindal Raymond ’57 and Janice Grinde Lynne and Phillip ’55† Gronseth Carolyn and Franklin Groves Norman and Evangeline Hagfors James and Kathleen Haglund Dale ’60 and Carolyn Hanka Hearst Foundation Loren Henderson Donald Hennings Grace Forss ’57 Herr and Douglas Herr Orville ’36† and Gertrude Lund ’36† Hognander Donald ’39 and Phyllis Holm Allen and Jean Housh Garfield Hoversten ’50 Lester Hoversten† Robert Hoversten Huss Foundation Glenda† and Richard Huston Sandra and Richard Jacobson James Johnson and Maxine Isaacs Kinney Johnson ’65 Wayne ’71 and Carol Pederson ’72 Jorgenson Dean ’75 and Terry Kennedy Bruce and Maren Kleven David and Barbara Kleven E. Milton Kleven ’46 and Dorothy Lisjing ’47† Kleven Dean and Susan Kopperud Kraus-Anderson Construction Company Roy† and Eleanor† Krohn Harriett Kurek† Paul ’86 and Rhonda Spitzer ’85 Kwiecien David Lankinen ’88 Diane and Philip Larson George ’61 and Mary Larson Harris ’57 and Maryon Lee James Lindell Sr. ’46 Arne ’49 and Jean Swanson ’52 Markland Jennifer and Richard Martin Marie and Larry McNeff Gerard and Anne Meistrell Hoyt ’39† and Lucille Messerer Robert ’70 and Sue Midness Gay Johnson ’66 Minear and Spencer Minear ’66 Alan Montgomery and Janet Karvonen-Montgomery Paul ’84 and Nancy Mackey ’85 Mueller William and Stephanie Naegele Barbara Tjornhom ’54 Nelson and Richard Nelson George ’68 and Tamra Nelson Ida Nelson† Ronald ’68 and Mary Kay Nelson Clifford and Martha Nylander† R
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring 2010: Out Of The Box Auggies
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 1 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2010 VOL. 71, NO. 3 inside out of the Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Peace Prize Forum 2010 Lutefisk and a legacy In the neighborhood Travel Learning t...
Show more 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 1 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2010 VOL. 71, NO. 3 inside out of the Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Peace Prize Forum 2010 Lutefisk and a legacy In the neighborhood Travel Learning to learn Pursuing an ideal education page 20 Connecting the dots for good IGNITE program box Auggies 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 2 Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Creative Director notes from President Pribbenow Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Multiply your mind by giving it away Photographer a Webmaster/Now Online s this issue of Augsburg Now illustrates, the Augsburg community is engaged in many efforts and initiatives that are best characterized as innovative—or “out-of-the-box,” as they’re called here. In fact, I believe deeply that there is something about Augsburg and its mission that lends itself to this sort of entrepreneurial spirit, this willingness to try new ways of doing things in service to our students and neighbors. Just think of the last 30 years of new programs at Augsburg— the Weekend College; the expansion to seven graduate programs; the Augsburg campus at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester and at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington; the Augsburg Core Curriculum ––(AugCore), with its expansive framework for educating students in the liberal arts and in the world; the CLASS office, providing support for students with learning differences; the StepUP program, meeting the needs of students recovering from addictions; and the list goes on and on. All examples of how Augsburg is on the leading edge of providing an excellent education in new and innovative ways. I’ve recently been reading literature on helping organizations to embrace and sustain a culture of innovation—that is, to create organizational cultures that are constantly looking for new and different ways to do things, to make products, to deliver services; to save souls, educate students, heal the sick. Recently, I happened upon the writing of Mark Federman, a Canadian scholar whose writings on innovation include this provocative suggestion: “Multiply your mind by giving it away.” And Federman means exactly what he says—be generous, be charitable, give instead of always taking. Because when you are generous with your mind, with your knowledge and education, you help to create organizations and neighborhoods and agencies and churches and schools that are marked not by the scarcity of the world but by the abundance of what’s possible when generosity of mind and heart and spirit is our guiding principle. How will you give away your mind in the communities and organizations you serve? I constantly find examples of such generosity of mind right here in the Augsburg community, and you’ll see them in the stories featured here. For example, I’m struck by the ways in which staff member Brian Noy and his many colleagues who run our Campus Kitchen program are illustrating this generosity of mind and spirit. In addition to the ongoing preparation and delivery of 2,000 meals a month they serve to our neighbors in Phillips and Cedar-Riverside, they have focused our attention on the important role that food plays in our lives—as sustenance for our bodies, as fellowship for our community, as politics and economics in our neighborhood and world. They have multiplied their minds by giving them away to all of us. And the results are staggering— a community garden on the edge of campus that brings together neighbors and students and children, a Farmers Market that brings organic farmers from across the region to campus, composting of leftover everything in the cafeteria, and so much more—abundance through generosity. The gift of an education, an Augsburg education, calls all of us to this generous undertaking of multiplying your mind and knowledge and experience by giving it away so that it serves God’s abundant intentions for God’s people and world. That is the sort of innovation that is at the heart of Augsburg’s mission and vision. I’m proud to share in this significant work. PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Jeff Shelman shelman@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 au w 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:30 AM Page 3 spring 2010 Features 10 14 6 10 14 10th annual International Programs Photo Contest 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum Lutefisk, a log cabin, and a 50-year legacy by Betsey Norgard 17 auggies out of the box 20 34 20 Pursuing an ideal education by Wendi Wheeler ’06 23 In the neighborhood contents by Jeff Shelman 28 augsburg now Departments 2 5 8 9 37 40 44 Around the Quad Auggies on the ice Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience 25 Learning to learn—without any A, B, Cs by Jeff Shelman 28 Connecting the dots for good by Bryan Barnes 31 IGNITE-ing Auggie spirit by Betsey Norgard 34 The Bod Pod by Betsey Norgard 36 Out of the box partnerships by Rebecca John On the cover It’s impossible to arrange many of the programs, people, and partnerships at Augsburg neatly into a box. With their creative perspectives and unique features, the stories here show how Augsburg often looks and acts “out-of-the-box.” All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 4 around the quad Auggies win 11th national wrestling title With eight All-Americans and three national runner-up individuals, the Augsburg College wrestling team claimed its 11th NCAA Division III national title in the last 20 seasons in March in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Augsburg finished with 110.5 points, 10 points better than second-place Wisconsin-La Crosse’s 100.5. Defending national champion Wartburg (Iowa) was third with 83.5 points, Coe (Iowa) was fourth with 76.0 points, and Delaware Valley (Pa.) was fifth with 50.5 points. In his second year as Augsburg’s head wrestling coach, Mark Matzek ’05 was named Division III National Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association—and at age 27, is the youngest head coach to ever win a Division III wrestling national title. Augsburg assistant head coach Jared Evans ’07 was named National Assistant Coach of the Year by the NWCA. “It was nine individual efforts that created this team national championship,” Matzek said. “I’m proud of each and every one of the guys who wrestled, and I’m proud of each and every one of the guys in this program.” The final session of the tournament completed a unique first for the Auggies—the first time Augsburg has won a national title without an individual national titlist. The feat has occurred just twice before in the 37-year history of the Division III championships. Have you seen the new signs? The new LED “Augsburg” atop Mortensen Hall now serves as a beacon to commuters who pass by on Interstate 94 and as a marker of Augsburg’s location. To read more and see a video of the construction, go to the “Auggie Sign” page on Facebook. Photo by Caleb Williams Auggie wrestlers, students, families, and friends celebrated Augsburg’s 11th national championship. 2 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 5 Augsburg receives five Fulbright awards In the past weeks, three Augsburg students, one faculty member, and the Center for Global Education have all been notified that they have received Fulbright awards for next year. May graduates Jens Olsen and Heidi Le will both teach English in Vietnam during the 2010-11 academic year. Bethany Hellerich, a 2009 graduate who is spending this year as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, will teach English in Indonesia. All three have plans to further their education after their year abroad, as Olsen will apply to medical school, Le has deferred admission to pharmacy school, and Hellerich is interested in a public health graduate program. Seven Augsburg students have been awarded Fulbrights over the past three years and the College has been recognized as a top producer of winners. Hellerich said Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity office (URGO) deserves credit for working with students and pushing them to believe that they can have success. “I’m just fortunate that [URGO director] Dixie Shafer exists and magical things happen when she works with you on your application,” Hellerich said. “She’s very helpful with giving good and detailed feedback.” English professor Colin Irvine will spend the next academic year traveling the length of Norway as a Fulbright Roving Scholar in American Studies. Courtesy photo College mourns the death of faculty Professor Don Steinmetz, who taught in the Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies Department for 41 years, died of an apparent heart attack on Dec. 28. He was 71. His son, Erik Steinmetz, is a member of Augsburg’s Computer Science Donald Steinmetz Myles Stenshoel Department faculty. Don Steinmetz served as chair of the department and taught courses in German and Spanish. He also taught Chinese and linguistics within the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities consortium. Professor Emeritus Myles Stenshoel died on March 26 following a short illness. He taught at Augsburg for 28 years and continued to teach part time in retirement. In 1965 he came to Augsburg and established the Political Science Department the following year. His interests were in politics and religion, and he was deeply committed to social action. Also mourned is Neal Thorpe ’60, former faculty member and a Distinguished Alumnus, who died in Vancouver, Wash., on March 3. Jens Olsen and Heidi Le Colin Irvine In this role, Irvine will prepare presentations on American studies topics and visit schools across Norway to provide opportunities for Norwegian teenagers to learn about the United States. Based in Oslo, he will likely give between 250 and 300 presentations across the country. “I’ve always been interested in the possibility of working or teaching overseas,” Irvine said. “This roving scholar program was perfect.” In addition, the Center for Global Education also received its fifth Fulbright-Hays Group Project award and will host a four-week curriculum development program for teachers during July and August in Namibia. Editor’s Note The last issue of the Now had a story, “Augsburg’s first travel to Egypt.” Alas, we have received a note from social work Professor Emerita Edwina (Eddie) Hertzberg, who tells us it isn’t so. “In 1979, for the January Interim, the College sponsored a course, Social Services and Public Policy in a Developing Country: Egypt, 1979,” she writes. “I was the faculty instructor, assisted by former adjunct professor Nagwa Farag and two of her colleagues from Helwan University in Cairo. My request to Professor Farag had been that we get as close to Egyptian people as possible so that our experience include the depth that only such engagement can provide. Eleven students, Augsburg and St. Olaf, from a variety of disciplines, participated in the month-long program. … [I]t was a remarkable educational and life-impacting experience for us all, students and faculty alike.” Spring 2010 3 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 6 around the quad Yi started out the semester in the back of the room, about as far away from me as possible. He showed relatively little interest; his homework and test grades were poor. Yet when I called on him he responded with reasonable answers. Like others hiding in the back row, Yi had potential; he just needed some personal attention and prodding. I took to writing notes on his homework encouraging him to move forward and talk to me. One afternoon he appeared in my office, and we talked for an hour about many things—about the class, how he came to United International College (UIC), and his goals. Eventually he closed the office door and wanted to talk about the injuries his uncle experienced in Tiananmen Square in 1989. But the fear was still too great and he left. Yi did move forward, began to interact with me, and soon his work, tests, and comments improved remarkably. He began to enjoy thinking philosophically. Through a special arrangement, Augsburg made it possible for me to teach philosophy during the fall semester at UIC in Zhuhai, China. In three classes I was privileged to work with 120 bright Chinese students. A new, English-medium liberal arts college on the mainland, UIC is an experiment to provide a more Western style of education to the Chinese. China is dramatically changing as it attempts to educate its population, and UIC is one of eight brand-new universities built in Zhuhai in the last 10 years. “I told my students that part of my mission was to corrupt them, to move them from the passive state of being excellent note-takers and regurgitators of teachers’ PowerPoints to being able to think and question for themselves.” In Introduction to Philosophy we read Plato’s Apology, where Socrates is accused of corrupting the youth by getting them to question those in authority who claimed that they knew when they really didn’t. I told my students that part of my mission was to corrupt them, to move them from the passive state of being excellent note-takers and regurgitators of teachers’ PowerPoints to being able to think and question for themselves. By the end of the term over half of the students were engaging me in the classroom discussion, raising questions and objections and making the class their own. Courtesy photo Philosophy, religion, and Chinese food Professor Bruce Reichenbach with students (from left) Daisy, Serena, and Charlene enjoy noodles and discussion after class in Zhuhai, China. My Philosophy of Religion students and I would walk down to the student canteen on Friday for lunch and conversation. Jiang sat next to me and between bites of noodles asked, “Do you really believe in God?” Teaching Philosophy of Religion provided both a challenge and opportunity, as both the students and I looked for a common ground of understanding between our two cultures and worldviews. Once the initial barriers of passive learning were put to rest, the classroom boiled with discussion, questions, challenges, and good humor. Here, too, the students would linger. Tony periodically stayed around for an hour, his phenomenology book in hand, to inquire how Heidegger would view these ideas. Self taught in philosophy, he was eager to connect the course ideas with his own reading. Three Augsburg students and four recent graduates, serving as teaching assistants, also joined the UIC community, providing cross-cultural connections that will continue to develop as students and faculty visit each other’s campuses in the years ahead. At the end of the term two of my classes took my wife and me to Chinese restaurants to show their appreciation. We toasted friendship and a wonderful semester as we affirmed that we all liked philosophy and Chinese food. BRUCE REICHENBACH Professor of philosophy 4 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 7 Auggies on the ice Chris Johnson—A third-generation hockey star Chris Johnson certainly has an impressive hockey pedigree. Chris is the son of Mark Johnson, a member of the fabled “Miracle on Ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic team, a pro hockey star, and coach of the 2010 U.S. Olympic women’s silver-medal hockey squad. He’s the grandson of “Badger” Bob Johnson, one of the greatest coaches in American hockey history—who also happened to attend Augsburg for a year before transferring to the University of Wisconsin. And his siblings all played hockey on various teams. But Chris Johnson has also made a name for himself as a leader of the Auggie men’s hockey team. A native of Verona, Wis., Johnson had a terrific career as an Auggie, scoring 41 goals with 74 assists for 115 points in his 104-game career. He had a goal or assist in 15 of Augsburg’s 27 games this season, including seven multiple-point efforts. Johnson’s squads reached the MIAC postseason playoffs in three of his four seasons, including two with him as team captain. He earned All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors all four seasons and All-American honors last year. Off the ice, Johnson will also be remembered as a top hockey player. He’s a member of Augsburg’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has helped lead hockey ministry and Bible-study groups of student-athletes. He’s also worked with the Herb Brooks Foundation’s “Rink Rats” program, teaching hockey skills to students from the Seward Montessori School. Johnson is a finance major with a 3.4 GPA. “Hockey was everywhere when we were growing up, in a good way, not in a pressure way,” Johnson told columnist Rachel Blount of the Star Tribune in a January feature. “We all got to play at the same high school as my dad. He taught us that even though we might have a last name that helps, it doesn’t matter if you don’t work hard. But he also told us that at the end of the day, it’s all about having fun.” This season was a special one for the Johnson family. Since the U.S. women’s hockey team was based at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., prior to the Olympics, Mark—who took a leave of absence from his job as coach of the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team to lead the Olympic squad—had ample opportunities to be with his son in the Twin Cities. Mark attended several of his son’s games at Augsburg, and the two met weekly for dinner and father-son bonding. In a “Profiles of Excellence” feature on the CollegeSportingNews.com website by Rich Mies in January, Chris Johnson said that his experience at Augsburg has been a positive one. “I’ve received a great education here,” he said, “and I cherish the relationships I’ve made here with teammates, coaches, teachers, and friends. I’ve grown up a lot while I’ve been here.” He also said he may consider following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and coach hockey someday. DON STONER Spring 2010 5 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 8 International Programs 1 Photo Contest Portraits 1st place: Matt Anderson “Soccer at Le Sacré Coeur” Paris, France 2nd place: Sandra Meyer “Yes” Managua, Nicaragua 3rd place: Dan Thewis “Friday at Al-Azhar Mosque” Cairo, Egypt Landscape/cityscape 1 1st place: Norah Thompson “Villa Joyosa, España” Madrid, Spain 2nd place: Malena Thoson “Municipal Dump” Managua, Nicaragua 3rd place: Elizabeth Robinson “Work Will Set You Free” Berlin, Germany Photojournalism 1st place: Dan Thewis “Cairo at Midnight” Cairo, Egypt 2nd place: Norah Thompson “El niño en Madrid” Madrid, Spain 6 Augsburg Now 1 3rd place: Sandra Meyer “Nonchalant” Managua, Nicaragua 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 9 3 2 3 3 2009 2 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 2 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:32 AM Page 10 auggie voices How girlfriends do theology “Doing Theology with Girlfriends,” or DTwG as it is known, is not your typical Bible study. Sonja Hagander, associate pastor at Augsburg, started DTwG because students told her they wanted a Bible study on campus. “But you can’t always call it a ‘Bible study,’” Hagander says, “because that means it’s difficult or boring or only for people who already understand the Bible.” So DTwG gives women at Augsburg a chance to connect, to support each other, and to relate their own life experiences to scripture. This group of girlfriends gathers once a month to share stories of their lives and to “do” theology. The idea for DTwG came as Hagander reflected on how she loved spending time with her own girlfriends and on the importance of relating to other women. When the group gathers each month, one woman shares a story from her life. The others then share their own feelings and memories related to the story. Hagander chooses a reading or two from the Bible, which the women use to dig deeper into their experiences. Finally, they ask how what they’ve learned might change their daily lives or the way they practice their faith. On the last Monday in January, one student talked about what it means to “truly experience” nature as she related the story of her family’s vacation in Denali National Park. “I sat there for hours, looking out for miles, reflecting and praying and trying to figure out my place within God’s beautiful creation,” she said. 8 Augsburg Now Hagander passed out copies of Psalm 23, and the girlfriends identified their own green pastures and still waters. For one, a late-night jog around the lakes in Minneapolis was a way for her to connect to nature. Another experienced the majesty of creation while watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Then Hagander asked the group to examine the dark and destructive side of nature using Job’s account of a fire-breathing, stone-hearted leviathan. This led to a discussion about the massive loss of life caused by the earthquakes in Haiti. One woman marveled at the faith that kept some people alive as they waited for days to be pulled from the rubble of destroyed homes, churches, and schools. “Today is a gift that we get to use in the best way possible,” Hagander said, asking how the women could take this discussion into their lives. This hour wasn’t a gab session or group therapy. But it wasn’t an ordinary Bible study either. There were no right answers or theologically sound interpretations. Just coffee and tea, comfortable chairs, a pink candle, and a chance to share. That is how girlfriends do theology. WENDI WHEELER ’06 Back row (L to R): Amy Wenzel, Whitney Pratt, Pastor Sonja Hagander, Ally Streed, Sara Thiry, Emily Wiles; Front row (L to R): Lonna Field, Carly Facchini, Dixie Scruggs, Marrta Wyatt, Angelica Erickson, Sylvia Bull 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:32 AM Page 11 it takes an Auggie A young woman meets her many grandmothers Last year, Krystal Mattison ’10 studied in Korea. Many students who study abroad are profoundly affected by the experience. For Mattison, a history and American Indian studies major from St. Paul, spending the year abroad was a life-changing opportunity to bond with her new grandmothers. Mattison is the granddaughter of a “comfort woman.” During World War II, thousands of Korean women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military. Some of these women did not survive their ordeal, and many were unable to have children as a result of their treatment. Furthermore, the women were unable to talk about their experiences until many years later. Her grandmother died when Mattison was five years old, but she heard the story from her father. While in Korea, Mattison spent time at the House of Sharing, an organization in Seoul that houses and cares for the surviving comfort women. She says that after she told them about her grandmother, the women became her adopted grandmothers (halmonis), even giving her the Korean name Soo-Jeong. “They spoiled me, holding my hands and feeding me,” she says. She learned from the women, who now think of themselves not as victims but as survivors and activists, that speaking out against violence is an important part of the healing process. “This experience brought me so much completion that I had to do something.” That “something” was to connect with Jessica Nathanson, assistant professor of women’s studies and director of Augsburg’s Women’s Resource Center. After Mattison shared her grandmother’s story and her own experience in Korea, the center agreed to donate the proceeds from its annual benefit performance of The Vagina Monologues to the House of Sharing. Eve Ensler’s episodic play began off-Broadway in 1996. Each year The Vagina Monologues and other theatrical productions are presented across the country by women on college campuses on V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. “Since the purpose of performing this show is to fight violence against women by raising awareness about the issue and funds for organizations who do this work, we feel like it was a tremendously successful event,” says Nathanson. “The performances were excellent,” she adds, “beautifully and powerfully delivered.” This year’s production raised more than $800 through ticket sales and donations, which amounts to 940,000 Korean won. “This is such a personal issue for me, and I think it’s amazing that the women of Augsburg took it on,” Mattison says. At the end of each Augsburg performance, Mattison gave a speech about her grandmother. “I felt like she was there with me.” The Vagina Monologues was directed by Julia Sewell, a senior psychology major from Minneapolis. The cast included Irene Abdullah, Veronica Berg, Kia Burton, Amber Davis, Rebecca Dickinson, Sarah Gillund, Annika Gunderson, Lucreshia Grant, Elizabeth Hanson, Brandy Hyatt, Valencia McMurray, Lily Morris, Kris Ness, Magdalen Ng, Shannon O’Brien, Yasameen Sajady, Leann Vice-Reshel, Rochelle Weidner, and Courtney Wiley. WENDI WHEELER ’06 During Krystal Mattison’s year in Korea, she became friends with women, like her own grandmother, called “comfort women,” who were abused by the Japanese military during World War II. These survivors became grandmothers to her, and this year she found a way to help support them. Spring 2010 9 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:33 AM Page 12 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM 10 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 13 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM Striving for Peace A Question of Will March 5–6, 2010 In cooperation with the Norwegian Nobel Institute, five Midwestern colleges of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sponsor the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum. The colleges, all founded by Norwegian immigrants, sponsor the forum to give recognition to Norway’s international peace efforts and to offer opportunities for Nobel Peace laureates, diplomats, scholars, students, and the general public to engage in dialogue on the dynamics of peacemaking and the underlying causes of conflict and war. The Peace Prize Forum is the Nobel Institute’s only such program or academic affiliation outside Norway. Augsburg College Augustana College Concordia College Luther College St. Olaf College This year’s Peace Prize Forum was held March 5 and 6 on the Augsburg College campus, and honored the work of 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland. The other plenary speakers were Kjell Magne Bondevik, president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, and Leymah Gbowee, executive director of Women Peace and Security Network-Africa. Prior to the forum, the 15th annual Peace Prize Festival brought together approximately 800 school children and youth to learn about the importance and influence of the Nobel Peace Prize and to honor President Ahtisaari. For more photos of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Peace Prize Festival, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Spring 2010 11 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 14 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM The Peace Prize Forum is grateful for the support of our sponsors: this year’s host, Augsburg College, for providing the platform and for staging this important event. Together, with all of you in the audience, I look forward to learning from a leader this evening, a man who’s been inspiring in his steadfast belief in peace and transformative in his approach. May we all leave this conference energized by the power of one voice and committed to engaging collaboratively with each other to further the process of achieving peace. Thank you.” Alex Gonzalez ’90 (right), Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Pribbenow meet Ahtisaari. Ann Parriott, vice president for human resources at H.B. Fuller, extended greetings at the forum’s opening ceremony. “Good evening. It’s a pleasure to be here with you tonight to help introduce this year’s conference. H.B. Fuller Company is honored to serve as the lead sponsor for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. We’re delighted to help welcome our very special guest speaker, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, and pleased to help and encourage ongoing dialogue and discussion on the topic of peace and conflict resolution. “As a company operating in more than 100 countries for many of our 120-plus years, H.B. Fuller has long embraced the value of diverse global perspectives to solve problems, address challenges, and maximize opportunities in the business sector. We are truly excited to help bring this year’s program to you and by so doing help provide a platform for dialogue, discussion, and diverse perspectives on an issue that affects all of us as global citizens. “We salute the Norwegian Nobel Institute and our academic sponsors, including 12 Augsburg Now Alex Gonzalez ’90 represented Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™ at the forum. Parriott poses with President Martti Ahtisaari (center) and President Pribbenow. Ann and Todd Parriott converse with Augsburg’s MBA director, Steve Zitnick (left). “As a faith-based membership organization, Thrivent Financial seeks to help enable its members to demonstrate their care and concern for others. While organizationally it does not have a global focus, Thrivent Financial does help its members have a global impact through programs such as Thrivent Builds Worldwide and through various Lutheran relief organizations that have a global reach.” Alex Gonzalez, FIC, CLTC, is a partner with the Stonebridge Group. He is a 1990 Augsburg graduate and a member of the Augsburg College Board of Regents. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 15 Tim McGough (center) greets Ahtisaari and Pribbenow. McGough Construction and “Bright Green” As a result of their extensive experience with “green” construction and knowledge of sustainable building practices and products, McGough has created the Bright Green sustainable program. A guiding principle of the program is to find creative ways to apply sustainable practices to construction projects in a cost-effective manner. This would include exploring techniques for reducing waste and applying eco-friendly operating practices. McGough has adopted green strategies throughout their company to test cleaning products and utilize advanced recycling strategies. This focus on energy conservation and minimizing waste enables it to export these practices to the construction site and provide useful advice to clients. The centerpiece of Bright Green is the Center of Excellence. The Center of Excellence consists of several sustainability specialists who can provide information and advice to organizations who are considering the implementation of criteria developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) or adopting proven practices to reduce the negative environmental impacts of building design and construction. The center draws upon outside research and industry data, as well as lessons learned “on the ground” from McGough Construction projects. Indeed, McGough is a long-standing member of the USGBC and is a founding sponsor of the local Mississippi Headwaters Chapter in Minnesota. The sustainability specialists in the Center of Excellence maintain active roles in local chapter committees, enabling them to stay well-informed about the most recent developments in sustainable design and construction. McGough, in collaboration with Augsburg, will apply these practices to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Kjell Magne Bondevik, president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, spoke in dialogue with President Ahtisaari at the forum. “In the long term, we can never win the fight [against terrorism] by military means. We need to find out why people are willing to give their lives and we need to address the root causes of terrorism.” Nordic Home Interiors Tim McGough (left) and Mike Hangge, with McGough Construction, speak with Barbara Farley, Augsburg’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. EVENT CONTRIBUTORS: Jeanne M. Voigt Foundation Mary T., Inc. Wells Fargo Winds of Peace Foundation The Omari rug/wall hangings donated to the forum were woven by Nordic Home Interior’s partner, Everest Handicraft Industries, in Katmandu, Nepal. They were hand-knotted in the primitive Nepalese/Tibetan art form of Tibetan wool with 100 knots per square inch. The dove design is Indian silk. DONORS: Baker Tilly Faegre & Benson Norway House Spring 2010 13 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 16 “ I T ’ S A B O U T F R I E N D S H I P, L E G A C Y, G O O D F O O D , H E R I T A G E , A G I N G — A L L O F T H O S E . ” JIM PEDERSON ’56 On a cold, crisp February morning, photographer Stephen Geffre and I follow Jim Pederson ’56 through ankle-deep snow up a slope to a small log cabin that overlooks Swede Lake. This log cabin, near Star Prairie, Wis., sits on the farm that was homesteaded by Pederson’s great-grandparents in 1872 and that he and his brother, Dwight ’60, now own. They grew up on the farm, moved away to begin their own lives, and now return often with their families and friends. Our reason for being there is to visit the site of an annual celebration that has occurred on the second Saturday of November for the past 50 years. It’s an afternoon each year when Jim and Elaine Pederson host friends and family in the small log cabin for mulled cider and treats before heading to nearby West Immanuel Lutheran Church for lutefisk dinner. This church dinner is a 75-year tradition that now attracts more than 1,200 people for lutefisk, lefse, meatballs, and more. THE BEGINNING OF ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS Jim Pederson says it’s difficult to put a label on this annual gathering. It’s about friendship, legacy, good food, heritage, aging—all of those. Star Tribune columnist Original furniture, art, and history provide the setting for the pre-lutefisk dinner gathering that fills the cabin in November each year. 14 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 17 BY BETSEY NORGARD Lutefisk, a log cabin, and a 50-year legacy Jon Tevlin, who attended last November’s half-century celebration, described it as “an iconic Midwestern living postcard that turned 50 years old Saturday.” At first it was just an annual trek to the lutefisk dinner, but as years went by and friends began to gather beforehand at the farm, the camaraderie there became as important as the meal that followed. While to the Pedersons the gathering marks the final event of the farm’s social season, many of the attendees consider it the beginning of their holiday festivities. Pederson really can’t put his finger on just what glue has held so many of them together for so long. The short answer, he says, is that it was a group of Augsburg friends who started coming out to the country for a church dinner. “The better answer,” he adds, “is that some of us developed friendships that included faculty members who were our mentors and with whom we greatly enjoyed informal times outside the classroom.” Faculty from the 1950s who became regular attendees include Phil Quanbeck Sr., Paul Sonnack, Joel Torstenson, Ralph and Grace Sulerud, and others. For nearly 20 years, retired history professor Carl and Val Chrislock spent many of their summers at the farm, where Carl did a great deal of writing and where Val tended her flower and vegetable gardens. When there were deaths, spouses and families often continued to participate. “Many of us were deeply interested in public service of some kind, whether teaching, the ministry, public policy, or politics,” says Pederson. In the 1950s, when academic freedom was restricted and McCarthyism caused colleges to shy away from controversy, he credits Augsburg and the leadership of President Bernhard Christensen for encouraging political expression and organization. “Augsburg practiced academic freedom while in some institutions it was only preached,” Pederson says. “Political organizations were encouraged on campus. Faculty encouraged students to become involved in political campaigns, and Political Emphasis Week brought speakers from the whole political spectrum. “It was in this cauldron that lasting friendships developed and continued beyond graduation. While politics was a strong interest of a few, the friendships persisted regardless of the chosen vocation,” Pederson says. It all started with the five Auggie Norwegian bachelors who, as students, lived together above Larson’s grocery store— Martin Sabo ’59, Jim ’56 and Dwight ’60 Pederson, Harlan Christianson ’57, and Erwin Christenson ’58. In 1959, Jim and Elaine Pederson (who were not yet married) and Harlan and Lori Christianson decided to drive out to Star Prairie for the lutefisk dinner. Elaine was a student nurse at Deaconess Hospital and Augsburg, and this trip became her introduction to the farm, to lutefisk, and to her future Pederson in-laws. Each year thereafter has brought additional invited friends and families. On November 14, 2009—the 50th anniversary—the count was 67. The group now includes the families and friends of Jim and Elaine and their children, Michelle and Kirk, a 1987 grad; his fiancée Molly; grandchildren Madeline, Emma, and Ginny; and Dwight and his wife, Marion, also a Lutheran Deaconess nurse; daughter Denise; and grandchildren Laura, Thomas, and Helenya. AUGSBURG STORIES PLAY OUT OVER THE YEARS Pederson says he’d like to tie the story of the 50-year gatherings to what they learned at Augsburg. “‘Education for Service’ we thought of as just a phrase, but it really did mean a lot to us—whether in ministry, nursing, government, or politics. It played out, and that’s an important part of the story for me.” The Augsburg-connected stories include the political career of Martin Sabo, which dates back to the days of the five Norwegian bachelors. Pederson, who served as student body president and was active in student political groups, became manager in 1960 for Sabo’s state house endorsement campaign. “And he never lost an election after that,” Pederson comments, about Sabo’s long and distinguished legislative career, marked by his retirement in 2007. In another Augsburg story, Chrislock, who was a regular at the November gatherings, stayed on the farm while he wrote his 1991 book, Watchdog of Loyalty: The Minnesota Commission of Public Safety during World War I. Emeriti professors Ralph and Grace Sulerud, close friends of the Chrislocks, Spring 2010 15 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 18 Courtesy photo “WE HOPE THIS CARRIES ON FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS— S O , Y O U N G E R G E N E R AT I O N , W E ’ R E C O U N T I N G O N Y O U . ” ELAINE PEDERSON enjoyed the old farmstead and lake so much that they now have a house there, just down the hill from the log house. And so, the Augsburg connections continue. THE MEANING OF PLACE THE LOG HOUSE AND LEGACY Pederson’s log house, the current gathering place, wasn’t part of the original farm. The original log house disappeared long ago, and Pederson had always wanted something like his great-grandfather built in the 1870s. In 1972, he found neighbors wanting to get rid of an old log house on their farm, and he jumped at the opportunity. Courtesy photo The Pederson ties date back more than 130 years in the community—to that farm now in its sixth generation and to the church originally chartered by his grandparents and their neighbors. The log house to which people come each November is for him an icon of family and heritage. In the invitation letter for last November’s gathering, Pederson mentioned a recent book that weaves together themes of story, place, calling, and purpose. Claiming Your Place at the Fire, by Richard Lieder and David Shapiro, challenges those entering “the second half of their life” to consider these themes in finding purpose in what they choose to do during their elder years. Pederson sees the old farm as the locale where at this annual event these themes of aging and legacy play out. “This is a time where family and friends share life experiences, the happenings of the last year, perhaps recalling mentors from college or elsewhere, many of whom are no longer with us; reminiscing about the good times; the not-so-good times; commiserating over losses or illnesses; sometimes engaging in a bit of gossip. Sometimes it’s small groups huddling to solve the world’s problems.” Collectively, they recall stories, redefine place, renew callings, and reclaim purpose. “Oh yes, and there’s the country church dinner, the ostensible reason for the gathering,” adds Pederson. “Each year, however, we hear some say they really come for the hour or two they spend together before the big meal, sipping cider Norwegian traditional goodies, and sharing treats they bring.” Auggies in the group of 67 at the 50th gathering last November included: (Front row, L to R):, Winnie (Nordlund) Anderson ’61, Elaine Pederson, Vicki (Skor) Pearson ’59, retired art professor Phil Thompson. (Back L to R) Kiel Christianson ’88, Jim Pederson ’56 (not visible) holding granddaughter Ginny, Kirk Pederson ’87 (turned away), Pearl Almquist, Paul Almquist ’59, Eunice Helgeson ’69, professor Garry Hesser, retired librarian Grace Sulerud. 16 Augsburg Now The “five Norweg ian bachelors” re united in 2002 wi Erickson ’56 (cen th Rod ter). (Clockwise, from left): Marti ’59, Harlan Chris n Sabo tianson ’57, Dwigh t Pederson ’60, Er Christenson ’58, win and Jim Pederson ’56. An eclectic mix of history and heritage, the one main room of the cabin is barely able to contain the crowd that gathers. Hanging on the walls are the farm’s homestead documents and old photos; some of the furniture is original. Rosemaling and other memorabilia fill the area. A loft offers sleeping space, and an enclosed porch was added for additional room. In addition to Jim and Dwight, the old farmstead has incorporated the Pedersons’ younger generations. Jim and Elaine’s son, Kirk, has his place on the farm where he and his family enjoy the summer. Their daughter, Michelle, enjoys the solitude and serenity of the farm both in summer and winter. So, as years go by, and the annual lutefisk group continues, children and grandchildren play greater roles. “In 1959,” Pederson says, “none of us could have predicted that 50 years later we would speak of a remarkable tradition that we hope will continue far into the future.” Last November 14, after some traditional Norwegian folk music and hymns, Elaine Pederson announced, “We hope this carries on for another 50 years—so, younger generation, we’re counting on you.” To read more and see photos from earlier gatherings, go to www.augsburg.edu/now a 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 19 X O B E H T F O OUT s e i g aug ON PAPER , Augsburg College looks a lot like most other liberal arts colleges. We have similar courses, departments, and programs. We teach students to think critically and to lead responsibly in the world, which is what other schools also aim to do. And our students, staff, and faculty don’t look much different than those at the big school across the street or the small campuses across the river. But in person we look and act differently. At Augsburg, we try to put our own creative spin on things and to look at issues from different perspectives. For example, this year some of our first-year students and a group of faculty spent an entire semester working together on a big problem in our first “I-Term.” In another example, students in the Honors program create their very own courses, write and edit their own scholarly journal, and together shape their own learning environment. And, one of our alums has found a very creative way to do community service while also running a thriving business. The stories in this issue represent just a few of the “out-of-the-box” programs, people, and partnerships that make us uniquely Augsburg. Spring 2010 17 18 Augsburg Now 50 students, 5 professors, 1 big problem. Last fall’s I-Term students discussed three big challenges in the non-graded Fate of the Earth course. I-Term students focused on food, fuel, and media in the course. What’s a great way to engage alumni? Introduce them to current students who have similar majors or interests and let them swap stories. In the end, everyone benefits. Yearbooks are keepsakes that link alumni to their college days. IGNITE I-TERM 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 20 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 21 HONORS houses in the Honors program. Items such as an olive-leaf crown are emblems for specific I-Term students focused on food, fuel, and media in the course. OUT OF THE BOX The Honors program consists of a combination of classes, students, structure, and a whole lot of creativity. FINNEGANS As a student, Jacquie Berglund ’87 dreamed of helping the working poor. Today her sense of vocation drives her to take leaps of faith that make life better for others. NEIGHBORHOOD Working closely with Cedar-Riverside and Seward residents is just one of the ways we live out our vocation to serve our neighbors. Somali students help their classmates learn more about the symbols and dress in Muslim culture. 100% of the profit from every bottle sold provides help at the grassroots level. Spring 2010 19 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 22 PURSUING AN IDEAL EDUCATION Imagine your ideal college education. What classes would you take? Who would teach them? What kind of students would you study with? What activities would you take part in? Where would you travel? When Robert Groven set out to restructure the Augsburg College Honors program, he asked faculty and students these sorts of questions. At first, he said, they were silent. “They had just accepted that college is the way it is,” Groven said. But then, they flooded him with ideas. Students wanted more academic challenge and to be pushed by faculty. They wanted courses to include more content and classroom experiences to be more active and engaging than in high school. They wanted to learn outside the classroom and to have opportunities for unconventional learning experiences—the exact sort of education that a small college in the city can provide. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 The current Honors program house presidents are (clockwise, from front): Adam Spanier, Katie Radford, Becki Iverson, Andrew Fox, David Ishida, Jonathan Chrastek, Kathleen Watson, and Charlie Olson. 20 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 23 UNCONVENTIONAL COURSES Three aspects of Augsburg’s Honors courses distinguish them from courses in other college honors programs. First, each class is specifically created for the Honors program. In other words, it’s not a matter of adding an assignment or text to an existing course or simply creating a new title, Groven says. The content of Honors courses is enriched and the pace is accelerated as well. Second, Honors courses are intentionally interdisciplinary—multiple faculty from different departments teach in each class. This spring, for example, the senior keystone course was taught by faculty whose disciplines include sociology, social work, metro-urban studies, art, English, and theatre. Augsburg’s Honors students in the Liberating Letters class stepped back into ancient Greek times to put Poseidon on trial for the murder of Odysseus’ men and fleet. (L to R): Eric Dooley, Nikki Johnson, Becca Dickinson, and Patrick DuSchane. president, Paul Pribbenow, is one of the lead instructors, focusing on his study of Jane Addams, founder of the settlement house movement. The course, Legacies of Chicago: Ideas and Action in Place, was conceived by Lars Christiansen of the sociology and metrourban studies departments. The course examines how particular places are incubators for unique ideas and actions. In addition to studying about the traditions and concepts that originated in Chicago, the class traveled to the Windy City to experience the “place” firsthand. Finally, each course has a “signature” experience—an unconventional way of learning that involves a high level of effort and also includes a public display of what the students have learned. Students are usually enthusiastic about these experiences, Groven says, because the tasks are generally open-ended and students have more freedom to make decisions about what they learn and how they learn it. In Liberating Letters, a first-year humanities course, students put texts, authors, or fictional characters on trial, serving as judge, jury, prosecution, and defense. But before this class begins, students have to pass a test. In fact, in order to gain admission into the first session, they are required to recite the first stanza of Homer’s Odyssey from memory, solve a riddle about Greek mythology, and present the “prophecies” of three different people who know them well concerning where that student will be in 10 years. A second type of course, which is likely more-than-ideal for many students, is the Student Created Learning Experience, or SCLE. Aptly named, these are classes created by students based on their interests. SCLEs can essentially become an independent study course for one student or 20 students and can be open to all Augsburg students. One of the more popular SCLEs, which generated a great deal of interest when it was first introduced and again this year, was The Art, Science, and History of Brewing. In addition to learning about brewing from the perspective of different disciplines, students also brew two batches of beer and invite guest judges to evaluate the fruits of their labors. This year senior theatre arts major David Ishida created an SCLE on swordplay to fulfill 21 An olive-leaf crown is the emblem of the Hesser Servants House in the Honors program. OUT OF THE BOX The result of all that questioning was a student-centered program where students take responsibility for their own learning, with the full support of the faculty and the resources they need to achieve their goals. “We believe that an ideal education will be different for every student,” Groven says. “We know no one can reach an ideal goal, but we believe the process of exploring and pursuing ideals is essential to college education.” By striving for the ideal, the program has become one where students routinely go above and beyond the requirements outlined in their syllabi. “We set a very high bar, and we insist that they get there. But they set a much higher bar for themselves than we ever would.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 24 very receptive and energized,” Crockett says, “ … not just in the classroom but on campus.” Crockett has engaged 14 current students as research assistants who will read and critique work that he is presenting at an international conference. “I hope they really come at me,” he says. “I’m counting on them to find fresh answers.” EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER Honors senior Nicholas Blixt experiments with ingredients in The Art, Science, and History of Brewing class. a physical education credit but also to explore his interest in medieval history and culture. STUDENTS WHO LOVE TO LEARN Interesting classes and outstanding faculty certainly can combine for a compelling honors program, but the character and quality of the students make Augsburg’s program unique. “We are trying to look beyond good grades and test scores,” Groven comments. “We want intrinsically motivated learners—students who see ideas as living vehicles for human expression and change.” Computer science professor Larry Crockett, who was once the Honors program director, has taught in the program for many years. While he says Honors students are pushed to rise above expectations and challenge each other, he is especially enthusiastic about the extraordinary energy coming from this year’s incoming class. “These students are willing to dig into issues and are 22 Augsburg Now There’s more to Honors at Augsburg than fun classes and energetic students. Honors also provides leadership and scholarship opportunities and fosters an environment where students often start their own activities or groups. “Part of our philosophy is that as much learning should happen outside the classroom as inside,” Groven says. Students are organized into houses, each of which focuses on a different area: scholarship, social justice and service, stewardship, and citizenship. Each house plans and promotes activities and also elects two house presidents who serve on the Honors Council. With faculty advisers, the council sets the policy for the program and helps solve problems. One officially organized non-classroom learning opportunity is the Honors Review, a student-run, student-edited interdisciplinary journal of undergraduate scholarship. Taylor Norman, a senior English major and Honors student, is the current editor-in-chief. This year the Review extended its reach and received 43 submissions from undergraduates all across the country. After articles are selected for publication, Norman and her editorial staff check citations, verify research, and then engage the author to revise and edit. “We wanted to create a scholarly environment with lots of dialogue,” Norman says. All Honors activities and programs serve to support students so they can pursue their academic goals. “Honors tries to show students what amazing talents and abilities they have,” Groven says, and they find countless ways to apply their academic learning. For example, senior Jessica Spanswick, who majored in international relations and minored in peace and global studies, studied in Namibia for a semester and served as a Peace Scholar in connection with the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Her opportunities to volunteer for World AIDS Day in Namibia and to travel as a scholar to Chiapas, Mexico, gave her valuable hands-on global experience. Honors program students have received many of the highest national and international academic awards available; they have been Fulbright scholars, Goldwater scholars, the College’s first Rhodes scholar, and students who have won National Science Foundation grants—and that’s still just the tip of the iceberg. Part of the program’s mission is to encourage students, many who never thought of themselves as award-winning scholars, to apply for scholarships and publication so that their work can be recognized. These courses, the faculty who teach them, the students who take them, and the learning opportunities that happen outside the classroom all come together to try to create an ideal education for Augsburg Honors program students. “I never think of the Honors program as being done,” Groven says. “The best program will always be different because we are constantly adapting to new technologies, new students, and new problems.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 25 Sophomore Madeline Roe helps a Somali student with her work as part of Trinity Lutheran Congregation’s Safe Place Homework Help program. Across the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and the nation, stories of neighbors and colleges clashing bubble to the surface featuring real town vs. gown tension. Augsburg’s philosophy, however, is very different. Augsburg isn’t building walls or installing large steel gates on campus to keep the outside world out. Instead, Augsburg is reaching further out into the Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhoods and, in the process, the College founded by Norwegian Lutherans is working closely with the largest concentration of Somali immigrants in the United States. WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY We believe we are called to serve our neighbor. That is Augsburg’s statement of institutional vocation. Live the experience. Love the city. Learn by living. Those words hang on banners along Riverside Avenue. While the first is formal and the second much more conversational, both, however, sum up what Auggies do. On a near daily basis, Augsburg students BY JEFF SHELMAN spend part of their afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Congregation helping young Somali children with topics ranging from spelling and sentence construction to subtraction and social studies. Several times a week, Auggies serve food in the gym at the Brian Coyle Community Center as part of the Campus Kitchen program. First-year Auggies in the Bonner Leaders program work with nonprofit organizations, most within a mile of campus. 23 OUT OF THE BOX IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Let’s say one person wanted to match the amount of community service that was completed by Augsburg students during the 2008-09 school year. What would it take? Since Auggies performed 67,000 hours of community service last year, someone would have to work for 2,791 24-hour days—more than 7.5 years—or 8,375 eight-hour work days. That’s a staggering total for a college with 2,000 traditional undergraduates and 4,000 total students. That work has led to Augsburg’s inclusion as one of the top 25 schools in the country for service-learning by U.S.News & World Report and the Carnegie [Foundation] Classification for Community Engagement. Earlier this spring, Augsburg became the only Minnesota college or university and one of only four ELCA schools to be named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. The President’s Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition an institution can receive for its commitment to volunteering, 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 26 service-learning, and civic engagement. “We are very proud and honored to be included in the President’s Honor Roll,” Augsburg president Paul C. Pribbenow said. “Civic work and serving our neighbor are at the core of Augsburg’s efforts to educate students for democracy.” Last school year, 900 Augsburg students participated in service-learning and 1,200 students participated in more than 20 hours of community service per semester. Much of the community service takes place in course-embedded service-learning, something that has been part of education at Augsburg for years. MORE THAN JUST SERVICE Augsburg’s work in Cedar-Riverside and Seward, however, is about more than simply donating time; it is also about trying to make the neighborhood safer, more vibrant, and create opportunities for the state’s newest immigrant population. Pribbenow currently chairs the CedarRiverside Partnership, a group that includes larger institutions in the neighborhood including Augsburg, Fairview hospitals, and the University of Minnesota. “There’s a level of trust being built,” said Steve Peacock, Augsburg’s director of community relations. “There are conversations taking place that weren’t before. There’s the coordination of infrastructure and planning among the institutions.” Much of the work has been around safety in the neighborhood. Last summer, for example, the members of the partnership provided funding to ensure security at the Brian Coyle Community Center. There has been much more communication among security at Fairview and Augsburg, the University of Minnesota, and Minneapolis Police Departments. Augsburg has also worked in the neighborhood in other ways, ranging from providing meeting space to sometimes even trying to build bridges. Last year, more than a dozen reporters and editors from the Minneapolis Star Tribune sat in a room in Oren Gateway Center with a dozen or so Somali community leaders and elders. The Somali leaders talked of good things going on in their community that don’t get covered. Star Tribune editors said they would like to tell more stories, but finding Somalis willing to talk is challenging. The Somali leaders—who arrived in the United States having never experienced freedom of the press—gained a better understanding of how the media work. Reporters and editors left with new contacts and resources. CHANGE TO THE CAMPUS Augsburg’s involvement in Cedar-Riverside has led to a change on campus as well. With each passing fall, the number of Auggies of Somali descent grows. This fall, The Somali yarn weaving hanging in President Pribbenow’s office symbolizes the partnership between Augsburg and the East African Women’s Center. there are about 50 Somali students on campus. For some of them, Augsburg was the first college they ever knew. For others, there is a comfort in attending Augsburg. Halimo Adan is a first-year student who grew up in Seward and can see the Augsburg sign atop Mortensen Hall from her home. She’s among the growing number of students on campus wearing both an Augsburg sweatshirt and a hijab, the head covering worn by Muslim women. “People don’t ask stupid questions, they’re very open minded,” said Adan, who came to the U.S. when she was 9 years old. “Even though I’ve been here most of my life, when you get asked questions all the time, you feel like you don’t belong.” But at Augsburg, neighbors are always welcome. First-year students file into the Northern Clay Center to help with clean-up on City Service Day. 24 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 27 For Daley Konchar Farr, the lack of grades was motivation for signing up, but the discussions and professors’ involvement were more rewarding aspects of I-Term. LEARNING TO LEARN WITHOUT ANY A, B, CS 25 OUT OF THE BOX BY JEFF SHELMAN 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 28 It isn’t quite a chicken or egg kind of question, but it is an academic conundrum along the same line. Just how important are grades on a college campus when it comes to actual learning? Do grades really reflect how much a student has learned? Or do students do just enough to get the grade they want? And what happens if you take letter grades and numerical marks completely out of the equation? That’s what 50 Augsburg first-year students, five professors, and several staff members tried to find out this past fall. The Integrated Term, Fate of the Earth 101: Consumption of Food, Fuel, and Media in Contemporary Culture, was more than just a different way to package and deliver several general education courses; it was a semester that challenged many of the standard conventions about what a college education is or should be. There were no traditional letter grades for this learning community nor was there a static syllabus passed out on the first day. This was a term that focused on doing, on students having a say in what they would be evaluated on, and on professors writing detailed evaluations about both what students had accomplished and where they needed to continue to work. Sitting lifeless in the back row and regurgitating enough facts to pass wasn’t an option this term. “This was much more work than grading,” English professor Robert Cowgill said. “But I thought it was a major success.” Most of the students—many of whom were drawn to the I-Term because of the environmental focus or the alternative evaluation method—agreed. Daley Konchar Farr called the semester-long experiment empowering. Veronica Berg said she was pushed to do things she wasn’t sure were possible just one semester into her college career. Katelin Grote called the whole thing life changing. Some of that was because the I-Term, which showed just how parts of a liberal arts education are interconnected, was their entire load for the semester. I-Term students who successfully completed the course received credit for English 101 or 111 (writing), Religion 100 (Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning I), History 101 (Western Civilization), Sociology 101 (Introduction to Human Society) and AugSem (first-year seminar). They also completed their Engaging Minneapolis requirement. REASONS FOR NOT GRADING When a group of professors returned from a conference at The Evergreen State College in Washington in 2007, the goal was to find a way for Augsburg to experiment with a learning community model of teaching as well as non-traditional evaluation methods. Over the next two years, the professors worked with the dean’s office to make this a reality. How was this term going to be structured? Were groups such as Faculty Senate supportive? How would students receive credit? How would the narrative evaluations fit into the very traditional transcript? Once hurdles were cleared, plans were set for a three-year pilot program of the nongraded Integrated Term. The faculty designers of the I-Term hope that the students who spend a semester focused on learning instead of simply making a grade will have higher retention and graduation rates. The longer-term outcomes of the experiment won’t be clear for several years, but this group and subsequent groups of I-Term students will be tracked by the College. While the word “experiment” is often tossed around rather loosely on college campuses, the I-Term is certainly unique. Sociology professor Lars Christiansen, an I-Term faculty member who has studied alternative evaluation methods, said that about 15 colleges and universities across the country have experimented with non-graded courses. Some are completely nongraded while others are partially graded The role of media in contemporary culture was a focus for I-Term students. 26 Augsburg Now or have reverted back to traditional grading. Alverno College in Milwaukee is one of the only schools in the Midwest that is grade free. No grades, however, doesn’t equal no evaluation. In almost every case, I-Term students had a greater grasp of where they stood. They worked very closely with the two English professors on their writing, and received regular written feedback from the other faculty members. “It was kind of like tough love,” Maryam Ayir said. “You knew exactly what you had to work on.” Konchar Farr signed up for the ITerm both because of the subject matter, and also because of lack of traditional grades. “Grades are false motivation,” she said. “In high school, I didn’t get anything out of getting As if I didn’t learn. [Here], I really appreciated that things were so discussionbased and how involved the professors were. They were so dedicated to our work.” For Christiansen, the best thing from the semester is that Augsburg now has the framework in place to continue experimenting with alternative evaluation methods. There is now the ability for the narrative evaluations to accompany a student’s transcript. And there is also at least some appetite from students to not have a semester of work boiled down to simply a number. “The majority of students said it was a good Courtesy photo 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 29 Kwame Collins and other students from the I-Term attended the 350.org event at the State Capitol that was part of an international focus on the climate crisis. LEARNING BY DOING Unchained from the burden of grades, students could concentrate on really learning and figuring out what truly motivates them. And without traditional exercises like exams, students in Fate of the Earth 101 demonstrated their advancement through semester-long projects that incorporated something under the broad umbrella of food, fuel, or media. One group of students met with staff members from Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office about how the bodies of women are portrayed in advertisements. Pushing Best Buy to be more environmentally friendly in its stores was what another group sought. Others looked into the feasibility of Augsburg capturing solar energy and purchasing more locally grown food. “Those are the kinds of things we were hoping would happen,” Christiansen said. “We were hoping through the experiences of the I-Term that [students] were here to learn and that they were here to understand themselves as possible change agents—and that collaboration is an essential component.” And while most courses end as soon as that final exam is completed, a number of the I-Term students are continuing with the ongoing work of their projects. For example, Berg was part of a group that created the website www.mnhomelessyouth.org. Those students met both with representatives from Minneapolis Public Schools and a group working on homeless issues, before and during the spring semester. “It didn’t just end at the end of the course,” history professor Phil Adamo said. “They continue to be engaged.” Because of what they were asked to do, many of the I-Term students accomplished more than they thought possible just months removed from high school graduation. “We were learning at a different level, we were getting to project ourselves at a bigger level,” Berg said. “To sit at the table as a contributor with some of these agencies was something I didn’t think I’d be able to do for many years.” That theme was a common one. “One thing we repeatedly heard was the notion that they were empowered with what they were able to accomplish by the end of their first semester in college,” religion professor Lori Brandt Hale said. “They were surprised and excited about how they will be able to leverage that moving forward.” CHANGING TEACHING METHODS Like the other I-Term professors, Colin Irvine is back teaching more traditional courses this semester. An English faculty member, Irvine has a collection of writing and literature classes this spring. But Irvine acknowledges that he is teaching differently this semester. And the I-Term had much to do with that. “It made me complicate my classes,” he said. “I’m not content with the way I was teaching before. I’m not content with the assignments I was giving. I’m making them more fun, more relevant, and harder to assess. I can’t allow myself to teach the way I’ve always taught.” Irvine talked about a conversation with a biology major who is taking his environmental literature course this season. The student said he’s been doing the reading, working hard, and attending writing lab sessions. “But he said, ‘I don’t know how I’m doing,’” Irvine said. “I told him, ‘Are you kidding me? That’s exactly what I want you to do, you’re figuring it out, you’re doing great.’” Because just like the I-Term students who have adjusted to courses with traditional grading, almost everyone involved in the experiment has a better idea of what motivates them and just how important learning is. I-TERM CREATORS/DESIGNERS Phil Adamo, History, Medieval Studies Lars Christiansen, Sociology, Metro-Urban Studies Robert Cowgill, English, Film Studies Stacy Cutinella, Lindell Library Lori Brandt Hale, Religion Colin Irvine, English, Environmental Studies Nathan Lind, Information Technology Alyson Olson, TRIO Student Services Beverly Stratton, Religion PROJECTS THE STUDENTS WORKED ON • Addressing women’s body representations in advertising by creating a legislative bill requiring advertisers to indicate the presence of airbrushing and similar touch-ups • Website that centralizes resources for homeless youth in the Twin Cities • Energy-producing exercise bicycles at Augsburg’s Kennedy Center • Reducing water waste at Augsburg • Increasing local food sourcing at Augsburg, particularly meat and cheese • Assisting in developing curbside composting in Minneapolis • Reducing paper waste at Augsburg bookstore • Improving environmental practices at Best Buy • Composting at Maple Grove High School 27 OUT OF THE BOX experience to not have grades and they liked the ongoing evaluation,” he said. “It shows me that if you provide it, people will try it, and many will like it. Why don’t we make it an option generally? It’s not dissimilar to our transportation system. Until the last few years, many didn’t believe they had options other than driving. The I-Term is akin to the Hiawatha (light rail) Line: Once a viable alternative is provided, people may see it as useful and desirable.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 30 CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR GOOD BY BRYAN BARNES “I read this article in Time magazine, interviewing all of these 80- and 90-year-old people,” said Jacquie Berglund ’87. “The overwhelming feedback from their question, ‘If you could change one thing, what would it be?’ was that they all wish they had taken more risks.” That was 1983, when Berglund was in her first year at Augsburg College. Since then, she has faced many risks on her way to building one of Minnesota’s most successful social enterprises—an enterprise that uses beer sales to fund its community foundation. One of her first risks? Backpacking through Europe during her sophomore year in the face of parental disapproval. “My parents didn’t want me to do it,” Berglund said. “[My English professor] said, ‘Jacquie, you should absolutely do it. Let’s come up with a way for you to get credit for it here.’” With that, Berglund ventured across the Atlantic for six weeks under the banner of an Augsburg creative-writing course. Her experience fostered a travel bug that would lead her back for a seven-year long stay in France after Augsburg. “[Backpacking] helped me to think globally and really changed my perspective,” Berglund said. “That was a powerful turning point for me.” Graduating from Augsburg in 1987 with a degree in communication studies Jacquie Berglund ’87 knew that with passion and patience she could fulfill her dream of making a difference in her community. 28 Augsburg Now and a minor in political science, Berglund combined an interest in nonprofits with her travel experience to pursue work in international development. By 1990, she had taken an internship in Paris at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the same group that helped administer the Marshall Plan after World War II. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Berglund found herself working with the best entrepreneurial minds at OECD to develop regional economies in former Soviet bloc countries. “We were training government officials, and these guys were all communists—they didn’t want to learn [about how to build free markets],” Berglund said. “I felt like we went in and did all of this work and spent all of this money, and I don’t know what impact we really had. Then I thought, ‘you know, I think the real work is done at the grassroots level.’ I would see the people at the grassroots level in these countries and they were really making a difference, and I thought, ‘that’s where I have to be. I’ve got to get there.’ I just didn’t know how I was going to get there, but that’s where I wanted to go.” While at OECD, Berglund earned her master’s degree in international relations from the American Graduate School in Paris. However, by 1997 Berglund found herself needing expensive back surgery, so she returned to the Twin Cities to work as marketing director for her old friend, Kieran Folliard, restauranteur and owner of Cara Irish Pubs LP. One of Berglund’s duties as marketing director was to help Folliard distribute charitable gifts in the Twin Cities. They found themselves Finnegan’s Inc. created the Finnegan’s Community Fund to distribute 100% of profits to local community projects. giving grants to any organization that asked. Eventually, their CFO put the brakes on their charity bonanza and told them they needed a better strategy. Berglund agreed: she recognized from her OECD days that the Cara Pubs money wasn’t making the desired impact. Berglund had also just attended a conference in Washington, D.C., on self-sustaining nonprofits. “That’s when I thought: we sell beer all day,” Berglund said. “What if we create our own beer, and we choose to give all of the profits from this one beer to our own foundation, and then we pick one cause, and we really make a difference? It took me a little while to sell Kieran on the idea.” With that, Berglund and Folliard set about creat- ing Finnegan’s Irish Amber, named in reference to James Joyce’s final work. They contacted James Page Brewing Company in Minneapolis to help them create the beer, eventually selecting one recipe from over 40 options provided by the brewmaster. At this point, Berglund and Folliard realized that running Finnegan’s and its community foundation would consume all of Berglund’s time. That left one choice: quit Cara Pubs and focus on Finnegan’s, or let the idea die. Berglund bought the Finnegan’s recipe for $1 from Folliard. “That was kind of scary, leaving that job, from having a good salary to no salary,” Berglund said. “It was very scary. It was rather terrifying. I’ve had a lot of terrifying moments—I must handle stress well. I’m still waking and talking and not in a straitjacket.” Starting in 2000, Berglund created forprofit Finnegan’s Inc., which donates all of its profits from beer sales to her nonprofit 29 OUT OF THE BOX S 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 31 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 32 creation, which is now called Finnegan’s Community Fund. She taught herself the beer trade. James Page produced Finnegan’s on contract, but she was responsible for selling it to distributors. “I didn’t even know what a keg fee was,” Berglund recalls. Finnegan’s community focus sold the beer. Distributors, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants in the Twin Cities were sympathetic to Berglund’s cause—and it helped that the beer was popular during the burgeoning craft brew craze. Though she wasn’t turning a profit yet, Berglund was able to make a $2,000 donation in her first year of operation. Then, James Page Brewing Company shut down in 2002. “I was a mess—I was totally a mess,” Berglund said. “I started to panic: ‘If they go out of business, I’m going to go out of business.’” Thinking quickly, Berglund contacted Mark Stutrud, founder of Summit Brewing Company in St. Paul. “They really didn’t do contract brewing, but I think that [Stutrud] appreciated the community-mindedness of what I was doing,” Berglund said. “Plus, I already had a list of accounts, so I already had a proven track record that I could make this thing work.” To this day, Finnegan’s is produced at Summit. In 2003, Finnegan’s made its first profit. By 2009, Finnegan’s was selling 4,300 barrels per year to 475 restaurants and 600 liquor stores in Minnesota and beyond—which translated into $30,000 for the Finnegan’s Community Fund. That money, in addition to direct donations, is being used to fund local grassroots community organizations that are helping the working poor. “When I came back from France, I 30 Augsburg Now Berglund often considers her own experience growing up as motivation for her drive to do good for others. volunteered in St. Steven’s shelter in Minneapolis,” Berglund said. “I got to see for myself … a lot of these guys get up to work factory jobs at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. I saw how many of these guys were working and still homeless.” The needs of the working poor strike a personal chord for Berglund. Growing up, her father started working as a janitor before moving up the ranks, while her mother was a waitress. “I remember as a kid not being able to participate in church activities because we didn’t have the money,” Berglund said. “I feel so fortunate to be able to have done all of the things that I do. I think that, ‘Boy, it’s nice to give back a little bit.’ We owe a bit of gratitude.” That background helps explain Berglund’s drive to build a self-sustaining nonprofit that can help the working poor regardless of government grants or philanthropic whims. But it also comes down to faith in your vocation. “Whenever I do speaking engagements, that’s my whole thing: It’s about following your passions, and then at some point, the dots will connect. Even though it seems so remote that they could possibly connect,” Berglund said. “When I came back and was working in the pub, I thought, ‘What am I doing here? How does this connect to this whole dream job I had of international development projects?’ I just had faith that it’s going to come—I’m going to find it. It’s kind of that whole ‘calling’ thing at Augsburg—I knew I was going to find it, it was just going to take a minute.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 33 IGNITE-ING AUGGIE SPIRIT BY BETSEY NORGARD Senior Brittany Goff is the intern who matches students and alumni for visits and leads the student team. 31 OUT OF THE BOX One student heard about a fire that broke out in one of the houses on campus in the 1970s. Another enjoyed hearing perspectives from a studio art major about his work at a financial organization. A third met with an alum who fondly remembers the tasty cinnamon rolls that students often got in Morton Hall in the mid-1950s. Twenty students working in the Alumni and Constituent Relations Office recently completed the first year of Project IGNITE. They’ve been meeting with alumni to learn more about the role that the College played in the lives of the alumni and to share stories and experiences about Augsburg then and now. Senior Brittany Goff is the intern who directs the students’ work for Project IGNITE. Once she hand-matches students and alums who share similar majors and/or interests, a letter from President Pribbenow is sent explaining the program and alerting the alum to a future call from a student. The student will invite the alum to a meeting preferably on campus or at a convenient coffee shop. That first contact can be a little daunting for students, but knowing they share interests makes it easier. Melissa Herrick, a 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 34 communication studies and art sophomore, says it tells the alum that “this is not a random call; there’s a reason I’m calling you,” which, in her case, is to share with them what art at Augsburg is like now and to hear about their experience studying art at Augsburg. STUDENTS CONNECT WITH ALUMNI On a cold day last fall, Herrick met with Patti Lloyd ’83, who owns a web development and interactive marketing company. While Lloyd was an international business major and not an art major, the two immediately discovered common interests in web design. Herrick was trying to plan a webpage for an arts project and was delighted to get some ideas from Lloyd. “We had a great meeting,” says Lloyd, “and when she left, I think she felt comfortable that all the resources were there for her project.” One of the meetings that Goff enjoyed was with a physician. In the conversation, Goff, a psychology major, learned about the physician’s medical practice that has included a psychologist and a nurse, enabling him to offer both physical and mental testing and care. “This was really a great experience for me,” Goff says, “to help me consider my future career and the option to be in a practice like that.” Adam Spanier, sophomore class president and an Honors student, says he has met many interesting people through Project IGNITE. His favorite aspect of the program, he says, is “hearing the many different bits of advice and wisdom that alumni have to offer.” 32 Augsburg Now Sophomore Adam Spanier enjoys hearing the advice alumni can give to current students. to-face relationship with a person who is going through the experience.” Haug and his partner returned to campus in December for the Advent Vespers dinner and enjoyed talking with people they knew and meeting others. ALUMNI ENJOY RECONNECTING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE Most alumni contacted in Project IGNITE are graduates who have not been active in alumni activities or participated recently in events. Re-engaging with their alma mater through Project IGNITE has also been enjoyable for them, especially seeing the College through the eyes of current students. Christopher Haug ’79 was one of the alumni Spanier met last fall. “What benefited me the most,” Haug says, “is that I felt I was connected again with my school. There’s nothing like a face- Pat Grans, the Project IGNITE volunteer coordinator, follows up with the interests and/or requests that students bring back from the alumni visits. She crafts individual plans recommending events and volunteer opportunities that could include speaking in a class, inviting a student to job shadow, or helping with registration at an event. Or, Grans can seek to create a tailored opportunity based on the alum’s interests. Grans has now developed volunteer job descriptions and oversees all aspects of recruiting, training, scheduling, supervising, and recognizing volunteers. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 35 Project IGNITE means Involving Graduates Now In Thoughtful Engagement. A three-year project funded by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Project IGNITE is designed to serve as a model to help other colleges and universities engage their alumni. What makes Project IGNITE an out-of-the-box program and readily transferable are several components that together offer lifelong alumni connections: • One-to-one interaction between students and alumni—who better to talk about the college experience and re-engage alumni than current students? • Mutually beneficial matching of student and alumni majors and interests • Individualized and ongoing follow-up from a volunteer coordinator to keep engagement and energy alive In the project’s first six months at Augsburg, both attendance at events and volunteering have increased. Of the alumni the IGNITE students have visited during this time, 14% have now attended College events. Nearly 76% have expressed interest in volunteering; and of those, 20% have begun. More than 1,800 hours of volunteer time have been logged. Kim Stone, director of alumni and constituent relations, is excited by the results. She attributes success to the total package Project IGNITE makes possible—engaging students in the alumni program before they graduate, encouraging ongoing attendance at alumni events, and keeping alumni connected to campus through meaningful volunteering. For more information or to arrange to meet with an IGNITE student, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1085. “WELCOME TO AUGSBURG” Larry Menzel ’67 retired three years ago from a long career as a Kmart executive in 17 locations across the Upper Midwest. Working with people was what his job was all about, and in retirement he wanted to be able to continue that. When volunteer coordinator Pat Grans sent a mailing about Augsburg’s new volunteer program, it sparked his interest. Despite the fact that he hadn’t been on campus since graduation, he still felt a connection. “Since my wife was gone from the house regularly on Friday mornings, I thought it would be a good time for me to do something, too,” Menzel says. He called Grans to talk about volunteering. Grans suggested that he staff the welcome desk in Oren Gateway Center on Friday mornings, and he thought that sounded good. In addition to helping people find their way around the building and answering questions, he also provides help to the Institutional Advancement staff. Soon he found himself at Homecoming and other events, which pleases his wife, too, as she sees him doing things he enjoys. His advice to current students he meets? “Study hard, find a rewarding life, and follow the principles of God, family, and work—in that order.” Melissa Herrick, an art and communication studies major who is working on a web project, found a natural connection with Patti Lloyd ’83, the owner of a web development company. 33 OUT OF THE BOX HAS PROJECT IGNITE MADE A DIFFERENCE? 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 36 6 3 7 4 1 3 3 2 34 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 37 6 5 THE BOD POD lives upstairs in the Kennedy Center kinesiology lab. It’s a high-tech apparatus that provides fast, safe, and accurate measurements of body composition, detailing fat and lean body mass. It provides useful information for measuring the effectiveness of exercise and nutrition, fine-tuning top athletic performance, and tracking the progress of obesity and disease. Since Bod Pods are found mostly in fitness facilities and elite training centers, Augsburg’s health, physical education, and health fitness majors are fortunate to have this in their learning portfolio. Used primarily in kinesiology and exercise physiology classes, students learn how to run the Bod Pod, interpret the results, and incorporate recommendations into specialized training plans. If you are interested in being measured in the Bod Pod, contact Professor Tony Clapp at clapp@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1618. THE BOD POD 1. The Bod Pod 2. Data acquisition box—interprets test data coming from the Bod Pod measurements 3. Computer hardware that processes all measurements, manages data, and provides customized printouts of the test data 4. Calibration standards—Weights used to calibrate the Bod Pod before each person is measured, to assure accuracy when the person’s weight is entered 5. “Fast Eddie”—The Auggies’ own skeleton used in health and physical education classes. He arrived when the Kennedy Center opened in 2007. 6. Anatomical charts most likely dating from the opening of Science Hall in 1949, recently found rolled up in a storage closet. They’re now taking on new life in the Health, Physical Education, and Health Fitness Department. 7. Professor Tony Clapp, demonstrating the Bod Pod procedure: • Wear spandex-type swimsuit or bike shorts and a swim cap • Sit in the Bod Pod while measurements take about 30 seconds • Get printouts of test results in about five minutes 35 OUT OF THE BOX 4 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 38 OUT-OF-THE-BOX PARTNERSHIPS BY REBECCA JOHN The annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum (see story on page 10) is the result of just one of the many unique partnerships at Augsburg College. It is the only program or academic affiliation of the Norwegian Nobel Institute outside of Norway. Here are a few more examples of Augsburg’s out-of-the-box partnerships. NEIGHBORHOOD COLLABORATIONS The Cedar-Riverside Partnership was founded in 2008 to foster collaboration among existing community organizations—the African Development Center, Pillsbury United Communities, West Bank Community Coalition, the Cedar Riverside Neighborhood Revitalization Program, and the West Bank Business Association—and local government bodies and institutions, including the city and county, the University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and Augsburg College. “The goal of the partnership,” says Steve Peacock, Augsburg director of community relations, “is to leverage these organizations’ collective resources to strengthen Cedar-Riverside as a vibrant place in which to live, learn, and work.” The partnership is chaired by Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. BUSINESS FEASIBILITY Augsburg plays an active role in the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program (MISP), a unique partnership with the Mayo Clinic that offers an experiential learning opportunity for both graduate and undergraduate students. Through the program, undergraduate science and business students from select Minnesota private colleges are teamed with MBA project leaders from either Augsburg College or the University of St. Thomas to evaluate the commercial potential for patent ideas submitted through the Mayo Clinic Office of Intellectual Property. This year, Augsburg had five teams working on projects—two in Rochester and three 36 Augsburg Now in Minneapolis—which presented their findings and recommendations to professionals at the Mayo Clinic in March. SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT The Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) was founded in 1975 by five liberal arts institutions—Augsburg, Hamline, Macalester, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas—to provide cooperative programs and services for students, faculty, and administrators. In 2009, the consortium’s Chief Academic Officers Council, chaired by Barbara Farley, Augsburg’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, renewed its efforts to explore common areas of academic opportunity using a focus on “sustainable urban development.” “This theme truly ties us together as colleges in the Twin Cities,” Farley says. “Broadly defined, it includes education, health care, transportation, housing, and environmental concerns, offering a rich platform for exploring strategies for enhancing shared academic programs.” PARTNERS ON CAMPUS In recent years, two of Augsburg’s community partnerships have become integrated into the College: Campus Kitchen and the Minnesota Urban Debate League—both of which operate under the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning. In 2003, Augsburg became the fourth college campus in the U.S. to join the Campus Kitchens Project. The program provides meal preparation and delivery to neighborhood organizations, nutrition and food preparation classes for area youth, and outreach to the surrounding neighborhood through the continuously expanding community garden. Augsburg is the first college to wholly integrate its Campus Kitchen as part of the College. The Minnesota Urban Debate League has had a relationship with Augsburg since 2004 and became part of the College in summer 2009. This move allowed the league to focus less on administrative operations and more on reaching urban middle and high school students. In the past year, the program doubled to 350 students and teaches important skills like research, writing, thesis development, and public speaking. CONNECTING YOUTH TO CHURCHES Now in its 19th year, the Augsburg College Congregational Youth Basketball League partners with dozens of metro-area churches to involve junior high and high school boys and girls in an annual basketball league that emphasizes fun, service, sponsorship, participation, relationships, and growth in one’s faith. The program was founded by Augsburg pastor Dave Wold to help keep youth connected to churches. The league starts in January each year and culminates in a March tournament on Augsburg’s campus that involves more than 1,000 players, coaches, officials, and volunteers from Augsburg and area churches. “The program is very successful at enabling our churches to connect with a greater number of young people,” Wold said, “providing the opportunity for them to have some fun; get some exercise; build relationships with teammates, coaches, youth workers, and pastors; and have an encounter with God.” To learn about other out-ofthe-box partnerships, go to www.augsburg.edu/now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 39 auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … Dear Alumni and friends, a 2010 s I write this article we’ve headed into the spring season, and a couple of words appear in my mind: renewal and growth. We can see our world transform around us with a renewed sense of purpose—growth. Trees are beginning to bud, early flowers are beginning to show their bright colors, and I think this lifts our spirits and warms our hearts to the possibility and purpose of our world. It is this renewal and growth I want to discuss with you in this my last article as president of the Alumni Association, as it chooses new leadership in June. One of my main goals this year was that of growth for the Alumni Association—not only in size, but also in commitment and involvement in activities and events that enrich and add value to your life. Every year, the Augsburg Alumni Association’s Board of Directors spends a great deal of time in the creation, planning, and execution of events designed to raise awareness, renew involvement, and create a sense of community among alumni. Looking back on the year, alumni have had opportunities to come together in ways we have not been seen in many years. Ex- HOMECOMING amples of this are the more than 700 alumni who attended the Canterbury Park event last August, the capacity turnout for events such as the Winter Wine Tasting, the Eye-Opener Breakfast Series, and the Young Alumni Council events, as well as alumni attendance at the Guthrie performance of Macbeth. These events and activities are just a few that have been exceedingly well received; and the leadership of the Alumni Association as well as the College’s dedicated staff from the Alumni and Constituent Relations Office plan to enhance what has been a very successful year. I am very grateful for having the opportunity to represent the alumni this year as well as for all of the hard work and dedication of those who helped make this year so successful. I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming years and plan to continue contributing to this wonderful organization dedicated to the alumni of Augsburg College. I wish you a wonderful spring—please continue to check back with the College, as something new will always be springing to life. DANIEL HICKLE ’95 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT October 14-16, 2010 Reunion Classes 60th Reunion—1950 25th Reunion—1985 50th Reunion—1960 10th Reunion—2000 40th Reunion—1970 Recent Grad/Young Alumni Reunion—2001–2010 If you would like to help make your reunion a success, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or alumni@augsburg.edu. Go to www.augsburg.edu/homecoming for updates and reunion information. Spring 2010 37 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 40 auggie alumni news preciate works I already knew—Michelangelo’s David, the ceiling When I returned to Augsburg in fall 2004 after dropping out a year earlier, I was eager to reform the lackluster study habits that had of the Sistine Chapel—and discovered wonderful artists—Bernini, plagued my academic career. At every fork in the road, I purposeCarravaggio—I previously knew nothing about. fully chose the path I previously would never have considered. And Between visits to churches and museums, we made time for that’s how I, a young man who spent his entire adolescence hating wine tasting on a Tuscan vineyard and a tour on an olive farm. to travel, jumped at the chance to study in El Salvador. Food and drink took on greater significance while in Italy. An exThere, we witnessed previously unimagined poverty and became pansive dinner coupled with lively conversation regularly served as inspired by countless acts of resilience. The little free time availan evening’s event. My roommate, a chatty substitute science able was spent in discussions, journals, and books. There were no teacher from Lester Prairie named Gordon, celebrated his 70th moments wasted and no words ignored. birthday in Orvieto during one of our four-course dinners. That summer, I studied literature in France, and over the next The trip to Italy allowed me to escape the stresses of home for a two years, I went on to study in Nicaragua, Uganda, Rwanda, and couple weeks and infused me with a new appreciation of visual art. Tanzania and volunteered on a mission trip to Mexico. It was a fitting continuation of the travel experiences I began while Upon graduating in May 2007, I feared my opportunities to con- studying at Augsburg. tinue traveling oversees had vanished. The expansive summer and JEREMY ANDERSON ’07 holiday breaks were gone; the immediate walls of my work cubicle provided no horizon to look beyond. Fortunately, I spotted a chance to break the monotony—Professor Kristin Anderson was leading a travel seminar to study Italian art and architecture. In November, I boarded a plane alongside 25 other
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2012: Auggies Are Achievers
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: The economics of education Auggies on the road Commencement 2012 Calculus and coffee Gage Center for Student Success Homecoming 2012 preview auggies ARE achievers SUMMER 2012 | VOL. 74, NO. 3 inside AUGSBURG NOW notes from President Pribbenow Vice President of Marketing and Communic...
Show more The economics of education Auggies on the road Commencement 2012 Calculus and coffee Gage Center for Student Success Homecoming 2012 preview auggies ARE achievers SUMMER 2012 | VOL. 74, NO. 3 inside AUGSBURG NOW notes from President Pribbenow Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu The Augsburg Promise Senior Creative Associate-Design A s I recently watched our almost 1,000 graduates of the Augsburg Class of 2012 walk across the stage to receive diplomas, I couldn’t help but be proud of their many accomplishments and successes as Augsburg students. Our remarkably diverse graduates—from various backgrounds, of various talents, on their way to various professions—are the most tangible signs of our strategic commitment to the success of all our students. And yet, the news media and popular opinion would have us believe that there are storm clouds rising in higher education. Some even call it a “tsunami.” Students unprepared for college, students who do not persist or graduate, students who will not get jobs (or, at least, not the jobs they want), students with too much debt. And conversely, colleges and universities that do not meet student needs, institutions that are too bureaucratic and expensive, colleges and universities stuck with an “old” model of teaching and learning. At Augsburg, we are deeply aware of these concerns. In fact, this issue of Augsburg Now includes an overview of the complex economics of higher education because we understand that topics such as this are too important to leave unaddressed. At the same time, we recognize that the markers of student success—graduation rates, academic achievement, or getting into graduate school or the workforce—also must be pursued. The story about our new Gage Center for Student Success shows just one way we are focused on ensuring that our students have the support they need to complete their Augsburg education. So, rather than allow various social and economic trends to define our reality, we are dedicated to planning for our future in ways that are both strategic, that is, focused on what is most essential and important to our mission as a college, and also studentcentered, that is, always mindful that we must do our best for all of our students. We articulate this commitment to student success in a concept we call the Augsburg Promise. It is the relationship we form with our students to ensure their success, and it has three key components. It is, first of all, centered in our commitment to helping our students discern and live their vocations (or “callings”). The concept of vocation—inherited from our Lutheran Christian theological tradition and embedded in the Augsburg curriculum—is not merely about selffulfillment. It is a deeply nuanced way of helping students explore their gifts and commitments, understand the arc of their lives, and embrace how their work in the world—whatever it may be—has significance. At the heart of the Augsburg Promise is the claim that our students will be better prepared for the world because of our work together in the classroom, in residence halls, on athletic fields, and in our neighborhood. The second component of the Augsburg Promise is our focus on academic growth and achievement in terms of both access—how our students are welcomed as part of our diverse community—and excellence—the standards we set and the support we offer to ensure that their education is of the highest order. Our students come to Augsburg with a variety of gifts and talents. Our promise to them is that this educational experience like no other will challenge them to grow as students and as citizens. So, yes, they will attain traditional academic success, and be recognized with honors and awards, but they also will experience the growth and achievement that is recognized in lives of meaning and significance in the world. Finally, the Augsburg Promise is about equipping our students for the lives they will lead in the world. Higher education—especially an education grounded in the liberal arts—must aim at ensuring that our students are educated across a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. At the same time, a college community like Augsburg must also consider how students are formed with certain skills and habits that will prepare them for citizenship and leadership. Whether in the classroom or community, in student organizations or residence halls, on playing fields or international travel, we must have an integrated sense of how our students are “educated to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.” That is our mission—and that is our promise so that all Augsburg students might be successful. PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Production Manager/Now Online Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Senior Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu Email: now@augsburg.edu augsburg now summer 2012 Features 12 19 30 28 6 10 12 17 The economics of education BY REBECCA JOHN Speaking of money BY REBECCA JOHN, STEPHANIE WEISS, AND WENDI WHEELER ’06 Commencement COMPILED BY STEPHEN GEFFRE AND STEPHANIE WEISS Faculty retirements COMPILED BY STEPHANIE WEISS 19 . GAGE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 22 Nic Adducci ’15 contents 23 Rachel Hastings ’15 40 26 Andrena Murphy ’15 28 Calculus and coffee BY STEPHEN GEFFRE Departments inside front cover On the cover Four friends pose for the camera before lining up for the commencement procession. See more photos from the May and July commencement ceremonies at www.augsburg.edu/now. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 2 27 30 31 32 37 40 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad It takes an Auggie My Auggie experience Auggie voices Alumni news Alumni class notes Auggies on the ice quad around the Celebrating Student Success Scholarships and fellowships Augsburg students earned a range of prestigious accolades during spring semester. Some of the awards include the following: Fulbright Scholars: Adam Spanier ’12 and Rosalind “Rose” Sybrant ’12 were awarded English teaching assistantships. Spanier will teach in the Czech Republic during 2012-13, while Sybrant will teach in Venezuela. Augsburg College is recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars. Gilman International Scholarships: Seven Auggies received Gilman International Scholarships from the U.S. State Department to study overseas this summer and fall. Auggies will study in India, Jordan, South Africa, South Korea, and Thailand. Augsburg was awarded more Gilman Scholarships than any other Twin Cities college or university this academic year. Goldwater Scholarship: Joe Buchman ’13, who is studying chemistry, was awarded an honorable mention in the Goldwater Scholarship competition. He will spend the summer doing off-campus research at the University of Minnesota as a Student Summer Fellow for the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota. Kemper Scholars Program: Ibrahim Al-Hajiby ’14, an international relations/international business major, was named the College’s second Kemper Scholar. Students in the Kemper program get academic scholarships and stipends to cover the costs of two summer internships in major nonprofit and forprofit organizations. Augsburg is one of only 16 U.S. liberal arts colleges with the Kemper Scholars Program distinction. 2 Augsburg Now Student research awards and achievements Winner of international contest: Work by biology major Alex Sorum ’13 on a bacterium that affects about 80 percent of cystic fibrosis patients won an international American Association for the Advancement of Science Angela Bonfiglio ’13 was named a Newman Civic Fellow for 2013. This award, presented by Campus Compact, honors college student leaders who have demon(AAAS) poster competition strated their investment in finding solutions to the challenges that face our this spring. Sorum won communities. the student poster competition in the medicine and Newman Civic Fellow: Angela Bonfiglio ’13 public health category at the 2012 AAAS was named a Newman Civic Fellow by international meeting in Vancouver, B.C. Campus Compact. The award recognizes Sorum said that one of the rewards of inspiring college student leaders who work attending the conference was experiencing to find solutions for challenges facing their how going to a small liberal arts college communities. Bonfiglio has rebuilt has made him competitive with students Community Link, a campus service organiat large research universities. zation, doubling its membership while deepening its issue-based work. In North Minneapolis, she is researching community perceptions on the achievement gap and working to close that gap. She coordinates an afterschool program at Redeemer Lutheran Church to ensure that youth have homework help and an evening meal. She is dedicated to social justice, including environmental work, youth develAlex Sorum ’13 conducts research on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that opment, interfaith work, affects cystic fibrosis patients. and racial equality. Zyzzogeton celebrates work of 67 students: Augsburg celebrated the creativity and research of 67 underKirubel Gezehegn ’14, a physics and chemistry major from Zimbabwe, discusses his graduate students during research with physics professor Mark Engebretsen at the 2012 Zyzzogeton student research poster exhibition. mid-April at the annual Zyzzogeton poster session. Meeting of Nobel Laureates: Augsburg ColThe festival—which included work by stulege student Kirubel Gezehegn ’14 attended dents from 17 academic departments— the 2012 Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laurewas a chance for students to present their ates in Lindau, Germany. The meeting research to the Augsburg community and brings together 31 chemistry and physics practice public speaking. A “zyzzogeton” laureates and an equal number of invited is a green leaf-hopper as well as one of the students. Gezehegn also will study chemlast words in the Webster Collegiate Dicistry this summer at Johns Hopkins Univertionary, a fitting symbol to mark the end of sity in the labs operated by Nobel Laureate the academic year. Peter Agre ’70. Auggies are doing off-campus research across the United States at: • Argonne National Laboratory, Physics • Baylor University, Biology • Carleton College, Summer Mathematics Program for Women Undergraduates • Harvard University, National Science Foundation-Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU), Bioengineering, Scientific Computing, Robotics and Materials Science and Engineering • Loyola University, Biology • Mayo Clinic, Neurobiology • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Cell Systems Science Group • Oakland University, NSF-REU, Mechanical Engineering • Rochester Institute of Technology, NSFREU, External Graph Theory and Dynamical Systems • Texas Christian University, Physics • University of Georgia, NSF-REU, Microbiology • University of Minnesota, Lillehei Heart Institute 11th time since 1998 that the team finished in the top 10. On the mat, the team placed second at the NCAA Division III National Championship. National Society of Black Engineers conference At the end of March, physics majors Gottlieb Uahengo ’13, Mohamed Sheikh-Mohamed ’14, Amir Rose ’14, and Fred Vedasto ’13 attended the National Society of Black Engineers conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. The conference included workshops and programming for grade school, collegiate, graduate, technical, professional, and international entities of the society. Uahengo said he was intrigued by his “ability to draw several parallels between [his] Augsburg education and some of the physics behind the technology of companies such as Boeing, Nearly 70 undergraduate students presented their research at the 2012 Zyzzogeton Lockheed Martin, and poster session. Zyzzogeton, held near the end of the spring semester, is the College’s annual festival of student creativity and scholarship. 3M, and to see the real-world applications of the many concepts studied in class.” Travel was funded through the NorthStar STEM The Augsburg College wrestling team during Alliance, a program intended to double the 2011-12 stood out in the classroom and on number of African-American, the mat. Auggies claimed the highest team Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Alaska grade-point average in the National Wrestling Native, and Pacific Islander students Coaches Association Division III Scholar Allreceiving bachelor degrees in science, America program, with an overall GPA of technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 3.73. This is the second time Augsburg has earned this top academic honor and the Scholar All-America Program Summer 2012 3 quad around the Celebrating Student Success (continued) Travelers EDGE Five Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment) scholars from Augsburg will complete internships with Travelers this summer. Three Auggies—Simon Tekle ’13, Ger Lao ’13, and Dustina Granlund ’14—will work in Travelers’ information technology (IT) department. Mai Yang “Maya” Vue ’13 will intern as a cash control analyst, and Mee “Kanee” Lee ’14, will research diverse markets in the Twin Cities. Travelers EDGE seeks to increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to college, help them to graduate, and build awareness of careers in the insurance and financial services industry. This was Augsburg’s second year as a recipient of a Travelers EDGE grant. Thrivent Leadership Fellows Augsburg’s Thrivent Leadership Fellows, a group of students working to engage the Augsburg community in service, organized an annual multicultural dinner at the Brian Coyle Center during April. The event featured foods that represented the cultures in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. Thrivent Leadership Fellows work to strengthen on- and off-campus communities through organized volunteer events and activities such as cooking classes for local shelters, food shelf drives, and tutoring sessions. The Thrivent Leadership Fellows: Front Row [L to R]: Christine Smith ’13, Janelle Holte ’13, Maya Keith ’13, Shana Strong ’13, Masha Shatonova ’13; Back Row [L to R]: Paul Hunt ’13, Jordan Skrove ’13, Billy Mzenga ’13 4 Augsburg Now Celebration of Philanthropy The 2011-12 fiscal year was one of the most successful fundraising years in Augsburg’s history with nearly $14 million raised to support programming, scholarships, buildings, and research. One of the ways the College celebrated this success was by welcoming more than 250 donors and volunteer leaders to campus for the annual Celebration of Philanthropy in June. W.K. Kellogg FOUNDATION The W.K. Kellogg Foundation during May funded a three-year, $1.2 million grant to support Sprockets, a St. Paul-based educational program operated in partnership with Augsburg College’s Center for Democracy and Citizenship. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work, and life. WKKF is based in Battle Creek, Mich., and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to areas where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority locations in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New Orleans, and internationally in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org. National Science Foundation Grant Augsburg College Women’s Varsity Lacrosse Augsburg College announced this summer that it will launch the first collegiate women’s varsity lacrosse team in Minnesota. Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing high school girls’ sports in the state and is currently offered as a club sport at Augsburg. The College’s new varsity team will begin competing during spring 2014. A coach, who will join the staff this fall, will spend the first year recruiting and building the team. By offering women’s lacrosse, Augsburg will be able to expand the number of student-athletes who attend Augsburg for their post-secondary education and increase the total number of female student-athletes at the College. Augsburg was awarded a National Science Foundation grant of nearly $600,000 to support scholarships for undergraduates majoring in sciences or mathematics. The AugSTEM scholarships will provide as much as $7,500 per year to upper-division students. The grant brings to nearly $3 million the College’s total active awards from the NSF. Partial funding is provided by the National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program under Award Number DUE-1154096. MANY VOICES BOLD VISIONS Convocation Series 2011-12 MusicEnsembles Augsburg College’s music ensembles performed regionally and nationally during the 2011-12 school year. Numerous performances were given around the metro area, including the U.S. premiere performance of John Ireland’s “Psalm 42” by the Masterworks Chorale and a rousing year-end performance by Augsburg Jazz Instrumental Vocal Ensemble at Famous Dave’s in Minneapolis. Each of the College’s three touring groups follow a fouryear travel rotation that includes national, international, and two regional tours. The Augsburg Symphony Orchestra and the Augsburg Choir went on national tours this year. The orchestra traveled to Florida during winter break, while the choir after commencement toured Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. The Augsburg Concert Band performed throughout northern Minnesota and Wisconsin during spring break, and performed several joint concerts with local high-school and college bands. The concert band will travel to Turkey in May 2013. The Sverdrup Convocation, held April 17, created the opportunity for the community to learn about NASA’s Mercury Surface Space Environment Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) mission. Brian J. Anderson ’82, deputy project scientist with the mission and a physicist with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, discussed the Mercury mission and whether there is a moral imperative for space exploration. The Rochester Convocation on May 15 was a chance for Auggies to learn about the work of Shanna Decker, a ninetime national award winner for her volunteer accomplishments. Decker’s presentation, “Love Wins,” provided insight into her “Hearts of Hope” project and her family’s co-founding of the nonprofit “Brighter Tomorrows” for families touched by childhood cancer. Decker also has mentored, supported, and visited nearly 1,000 people throughout the world who are amputees or cancer patients. To see photos from the convocation series, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2012 5 { The ECONOMICS of EDUCATION BY REBECCA JOHN A bubble. An eruption. An explosion. These are just some of the words used in news reports this year to describe college costs and higher education loan debt. While these headlines may grab attention, they unfortunately are not very useful in helping people fully understand the multifaceted topic of college affordability. As Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said in a May 9 University Business article, a more accurate though admittedly less exciting headline might be: “A Complex Combination of Economic Factors Increases College Costs and Loan Debt for Certain Students.” As mundane as that headline seems, continued public dialogue is important and timely because many students and families today face real challenges in figuring out how to pay for college. This article provides a brief overview of four core areas related to the economics of higher education: the value of a postsecondary degree, key cost drivers in higher education, changes in government aid, and tuition and student loan debt trends. 6 Augsburg Now VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION { Ironically, if it weren’t for the significant benefits of a college education, the public debate about the cost of college likely would not be nearly as heated. If people didn’t desire the outcomes of and opportunities afforded by having a college education—if they merely thought the price was too high—they would just simply stop going to college. But that is not the case. Instead, the difference between having a college degree and not having one has become even more pronounced as more and more jobs require higher education. The Georgetown University Center on Education predicts that 63 percent of jobs in 2018 will require some form of postsecondary education. Already, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, high school graduates earn less than 70 percent of the income of bachelor’s degree holders. Moreover, as was evidenced in the recent recession, people with 63 percent of jobs in 2018 will require some form of postsecondary education. – THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY CENTER ON EDUCATION college degrees are much less likely to be unemployed than those with only high school diplomas. In 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate for high school graduates was 9.4 percent, whereas people with bachelor’s degrees or higher were unemployed at only a 4.3 percent rate. So, while rising tuition costs and student debt may raise questions about erosion of the ROI (return on investment) of a given college degree, the larger, societal concern is that the required investment— and, therefore, the benefits—of higher education may be out of reach for a growing portion of our population, no matter how promising the return. COLLEGE COSTS An oft-cited book in the discussion of rising college costs is David Feldman’s and Robert Archibald’s Why Does College Cost So Much? (Oxford University Press, 2010). The Augsburg College Board of Regents dedicated a portion of its January 2012 board meeting to a discussion of this book to better understand the key cost drivers in higher education and how those costs affect students and tuition. Many factors affect college costs, but Feldman and Archibald, economics professors at the College of William & Mary, demonstrate that costs steadily have risen during the past 30 years in all personal-service industries that employ highly educated labor. Increasing costs have occurred not only in higher education but also in A one-on-one relationship between a faculty member and a student is critical for student comprehension and engagement. } – JEANNE BOEH, AUGSBURG COLLEGE ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT dentistry, health care, and legal services. Significant productivity advancements in other industries—for example, automation and robotics in manufacturing—have increased the demand for, and therefore the price of, highly skilled labor. As a result, labor-cost increases have affected all personal-service industries, including colleges and universities, which employ some of the most highly educated people in our country as faculty, staff, and administration. This phenomenon is called “cost disease,” said Jeanne Boeh, Augsburg College professor of economics. Boeh, who served as president of the Augsburg Faculty Senate in 2011-12, participated in the College’s Board of Regents discussion of Feldman’s and Archibald’s book. She is a frequent commentator on economic trends for the Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio, and Twin Cities Public Television’s “Almanac.” “In higher education,” Boeh explained, “capital and labor have not been substitutes but complements.” For example, using course management software such as Moodle may enhance collaboration and streamline administrative activities, but it doesn’t reduce the labor involved in teaching or learning in the same way that manufacturing automation does. Online courses also have been affected, resulting in higher operating expenses than originally anticipated. “Augsburg offers several programs in a blended format—merging in-class time with online learning,” said Boeh, who has taught all types of classes at Augsburg. “And we will continue to evolve course formats to take advantage of online technologies where they are most effective.” But no matter the format, Boeh said, “a one-on-one relationship between a faculty member and a student is critical for student comprehension and engagement—not only for any class lectures but also for in-class assignments and projects as well as out-of-class work.” So, while online formats offer attractive benefits—including making lectures available to a broader set of learners and providing flexibility to working adults pursuing advanced degrees—they have not, to date, offered a “perfect” substitute for individual attention from highly qualified faculty. As a result, the trade-offs between cost and quality in higher education exist whether course delivery is in-class or online. Summer 2012 7 { By 2009, institutional grant aid [from Minnesota private colleges] was triple the state’s contribution. GOVERNMENT AID – MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGE COUNCIL Share of Minnesota general fund spent on higher education 18% 17.3% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6.9% 6% 4% Percent of General Fund Appropriated to Higher Education 2% Forecasted Percent of General Fund Appropriated to Higher Education 0% 1967 1975 1983 1991 1999 2007 2013 Chart 1: The percent of the State of Minnesota’s budget appropriated to higher education has declined steadily in the past 20 years. Financial aid trends for Minnesota undergraduates FIGURES IN MILLIONS $1,800 2009 borrowing by Minnesota undergraduates and their families surpassed $1.6 billion. $1,600 $1,400 $1,200 By 2009, grant aid from institutions was triple the state’s commitment. $1,000 By 2005, grant aid from institutions was double the state’s commitment. $800 $600 $400 In 1991, institutions and the state each provided about $80 million in grant aid to Minnesota undergraduates. $200 $1991 1995 State Grants (actual) 1999 Federal Grants (actual) 2001 2005 Institutional Grants (actual) 2007 2009 Total Loans (actual) Chart 2: Since 1991, grant aid from Minnesota private colleges grew to three times the amount provided by the state, while student loan debt increased eight-fold. 8 Augsburg Now Minnesota Private College Research Foundation analysis of Minnesota budget data 20% Minnesota Private College Research Foundation analysis of Minnesota Office of Higher Education biennial survey of aid awarded The financial aid that students receive from the state grant program is an important part of the resources they have to pay for their college education, said Jay Benanav, Augsburg’s director of government relations. “And, while the state has increased the overall dollar amount allocated to support higher education in the past 20 years, this aid has not kept pace with rising higher education costs,” he said. “So, today, state grant aid constitutes a much smaller portion of a student's overall resources for college.” The Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC)—an organization representing 17 private colleges in the state, including Augsburg—has been actively engaged with the Minnesota Legislature on the topic of higher education funding. Chart 1, compiled by the MPCC, shows the declining share of the state’s general fund that has been spent on higher education costs during the past several decades. Because state support covers a smaller proportion of college costs today, a larger portion is falling to students and their families. In fact, the proportion of college costs that families cover has gone up faster than the overall cost of college. To help offset the growing burden on families, Minnesota’s private colleges have increased the aid they provide to students through their endowments and operational budgets. Chart 2, again from the MPCC, shows the dollar amount of college costs covered by Minnesota state grants, federal grants, MPCC collegefunded grants, and student loans. The chart provides data from 1991 to 2009, a period during which student loan debt soared and grant aid from Minnesota private colleges grew to three times the amount provided by the state. NET TUITION AND STUDENT LOANS “Financial counseling is embedded in our admissions process,” As noted earlier, in addition to loans and government aid, many students also receive financial aid directly from their colleges or universi- Edstrom said, “and our financial aid staff work hard to make sure students and parents understand what they are taking on when they ties. This means that the out-of-pocket expenses (or “net tuition”) borrow.” that a given student pays will be less than the published tuition (or Even people with significant financial experience should (and do) sticker price) for that college or university. How much less varies from seek help navigating the financial aid process, said Paul Terrio, student to student based on multiple factors—including the family’s Augsburg’s director of student financial services. “Financing college financial situation, the student’s academic standing, and numerous is a substantial investment for families, and it’s an investment that other factors that enrollment offices take into consideration. has a major impact on one of the most important people in their This variation means that the net tuition one student pays will lives,” Terrio said. “So, naturally, people want to make sure they’re not be the same as another student, even at the same institution. As a result, it has become increasingly important for students and families to understand their specific financial aid package at each institution the student is considering before making a final choice, or before assuming that a certain college is financially out of reach. Even with financial support from colleges, how– JULIE EDSTROM ’90, ’04 MA, AUGSBURG VICE PRESIDENT OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT ever, borrowing has increasingly become a necessary part of how families of all socioeconomic doing the best they can. backgrounds pay for college. Average U.S. undergraduate student “But since college financing is something people do only a couloan debt for 2010 graduates was $25,250, according to the Projple times in their lives, most are not experts in the process,” he said. ect on Student Debt, an initiative of the nonprofit Institute for ColAs a result, every family, no matter their income level or financial lege Access & Success. The average debt of Augsburg graduates was $24,311 that year. sophistication, can benefit from working with a financial counselor In addition to being lower than the national average, Augsburg’s stu- who, according to Terrio, can “help them focus on their own scenario dent loan debt average compares favorably with the averages for rather than on averages and statistics reported in the news, which other higher education institutions in the state of Minnesota, said may have little to do with the specific family’s financial situation.” Julie Edstrom ’90, ’04 MA, Augsburg vice president for enrollment management. { Augsburg’s average student debt in 2010 was $24,311, which compares favorably with other higher education institutions in Minnesota. } } When one steps back from the headlines, it’s easier to see how college costs aren’t driven by one simple factor alone but, instead, are determined by a mix of state, federal, institutional, and individual factors. It’s easier to see, as well, how changing one factor invariably puts pressure on other factors. In the end, the challenge for Augsburg College—and every higher education institution—is to find a sustainable balance among these factors—state and federal government aid, institutional support, and student or family contributions—in a way that keeps higher education within reach for students of academic ability from all backgrounds. At Augsburg’s July 1 commencement, honorary degree recipient David Mathews, president and chief executive officer of the Kettering Foundation, focused his commencement address on the value—specifically the public value—of higher education. Mathews previously served as secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under former President Gerald Ford and as president of the University of Alabama. Read his commencement address at www.augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2012 9 SPEAKING of MONEY BY REBECCA JOHN, STEPHANIE WEISS, AND WENDI WHEELER ’06 It’s scary. Students don’t like it. Parents don’t like it. But for any family with a student in college, money matters, and talking openly about finances is a critical part of figuring out if and how an individual can afford college. It’s a path toward determining whether the costs of college are a good investment for students, and often, their families. It’s also a path toward understanding individual and family philosophies connected to saving, spending, and philanthropy. Augsburg College is committed to talking with students and families about all these issues and sees these sometimes complex conversations as tools to build good decision-making as well as valuable investments in a family’s future. STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. – ELEANOR ROOSEVELT Paying for college is a significant undertaking for families, regardless of their family household income. To help plan for this investment, families need to start talking about their finances long before they’re actually facing tuition payments. “The place to start is by focusing on what the family values and how they make choices about what they buy and how they use the money they have,” said Carly Eichhorst, Augsburg College associate director of financial aid. “When we are working with families, we don’t start by talking about the mechanics of financial aid and student loans; we start by understanding their values.” It’s also beneficial to include both the student and the parent or parents in the conversation, added Paul Terrio, director of student financial services. “We see a difference between families who have had conversations about how they plan to pay for college and families where only some of the members—either the parents or the student—are 10 Augsburg Now involved in the financial discussion,” he said. “It’s a much more productive conversation if all of the family members are vested in the plan.” In order to help support and foster these important family conversations, Augsburg has embedded financial aid counseling into the undergraduate admission process. So, when a first-year undergraduate student receives her or his acceptance letter from Augsburg, the letter clearly states, “The next step is to schedule your first-year meeting,” and invites them to make an appointment with the College’s student financial services staff. Augsburg also has linked financial planning with academic planning in the adult undergraduate program to ensure that adult undergraduate students and their families have resources to help navigate the system of financing college. As a result of this intentional effort to invite families into the student finance discussion, as of June 1, nearly 45 percent of firstyear students who had made their initial fall deposit had also scheduled an appointment with Augsburg’s financial services staff. With sessions continuing through the summer, a majority of firstyear students and their families will have the opportunity to discuss their financial plans with the College before classes start in the fall. “Our goal in working with families is to help them develop a comprehensive plan for the entire college degree, not just to figure out how they can pay for the first semester,” Terrio said. A comprehensive plan includes outlining how much the student or family will need to pay and how long they will need to make payments on any student loans taken out to cover college costs. “Our role is not to prescribe financial solutions or provide a specific answer for how to pay for college,” Eichhorst said. “We are working to help families identify and understand their options.” By gaining a shared understanding of their options, families can enhance their financial literacy and equip themselves to plan for— not just wish for—the means to pursue a college degree. STUDENT PHILANTHROPY Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. – WARREN BUFFETT Auggies give. Every year. This simple instruction forms the basis of the goal for Augsburg’s Student Philanthropy Week, an annual program designed to make students aware of how donor support benefits them and to teach students, from the beginning of their college careers through their graduation, about the importance of giving back to their alma mater. The Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations and the staff of The Augsburg Fund sponsor several programs for students throughout the academic year. To coordinate these programs, staff work closely with the Augsburg Stewards, a group of current undergraduate students who support philanthropic efforts at the College. Each spring, Student Philanthropy Week includes a virtual “donor scavenger hunt” where students use daily clues, conduct library research, and visit donor-named locations on campus to guess the identity of one of the College’s major donors. The first student to accurately identify the donor wins a gift card. The annual Feed the Pig campaign and the senior class giving campaign encourage students to begin donating to Augsburg. To participate in Feed the Pig, students receive a piggy bank in the fall and, throughout the school year, collect spare change to fill up their banks. Classes compete to raise the most money and to engage the greatest number of student participants. The money raised funds a scholarship for a student in the winning class. These activities highlight the fact that, every year, Augsburg relies on thousands of alumni, parents, friends, and students to ensure that Auggies have access to an outstanding, affordable Augsburg education. MONEY MATTERS The highest use of capital is not to make more money, but to make money do mor