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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 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 more for the betterment of life. – HENRY FORD At Augsburg College, students and staff have turned inside out the federal mandate that all colleges and universities deliver financial literacy programs. Instead of delivering top-down programs of expert panelists or lectures, Augsburg involves students as key partners in creating and developing the school’s financial literacy program. A key goal of the program is to help students open the door on conversations that typically are difficult and sometimes uncomfortable—conversations about personal and family finances, budgeting, and the cost of college. “If you make public the stuff you usually hide, you can change individual behavior,” said Carly Eichhorst, associate director of financial aid. “But you have to start by being open with your own story.” Having students shape the conversation is critical to helping them learn how to make good financial decisions today and in the future. That’s because research shows that knowledge retention soars to 75 percent when learning is practiced by doing, compared with 20 percent retention when we learn by listening. “This is hard stuff to talk about,” Eichhorst said, “but when students see their friends sharing and grappling with tough ideas, it becomes easier and more acceptable to open up about their own stories.” The College’s annual Money Matters program runs for a week during the spring and includes a range of events and activities to help students and their families talk openly about financial topics. In addition to counseling sessions and opportunities to connect with financial experts, 2012 Money Matters activities included: • A student panel in which five Auggies from different socioeconomic, cultural, and faith backgrounds talked about how they make college work financially. Some student panelists also shared their stories with a Star Tribune reporter. Later in the spring, some of the students participated in a student loan and student finance roundtable with U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison. • My Money Secret, a participant-generated project in which students, staff, and faculty posted their money secrets in the skyways on campus. The secrets were hung on a line using clothespins—a display that was intentionally meant to invoke the feeling that participants were “airing their laundry,” Eichhorst said. Some students shared tips for saving, while other students disclosed habits of overspending. Because investing in a college education is such a significant undertaking, Augsburg is committed to helping families build financial literacy from the first oncampus encounter through a student’s full experience. By beginning the process of talking about money at the very start, students and their families not only learn important information about how to better manage their finances, but also have the chance to consider how they want to use their money—through saving, spending, and giving. Summer 2012 11 E Commencement May 5, 2012 A F D 12 Augsburg Now During the commencement processional, faculty line 7 ½ Street and applaud as graduating students walk from Christensen Center to Si Melby Hall. The tradition marks the transition from student to graduate and allows faculty to show respect for the students. The ceremony also is a bookend to the Auggie experience. Four years earlier—on their first day of class—faculty welcomed incoming students with applause during the opening convocation ceremony. A Faculty greet passing students with waves and handshakes and sometimes even give students a high-five or hug. B Members of ethnic student groups often wear sashes that denote their membership. Here, a group of students who are members of the PanAfrikan Student Union wear stoles made of Kente cloth that originates in Ghana, West Africa. C Students can be seen wearing bow ties, a fashion phenomenon that started to take hold in 2006 when Paul C. Pribbenow was installed as president of Augsburg College. Pribbenow has a reputation for his bow tie collection, and the bow tie often makes an appearance when students dress in formal wear. D Colored cords represent honors given by the College, academic departments, and the Honors program. Candidates for Latin honors—students graduating cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude—receive maroon and gray cords. Students who complete requirements of the Augsburg College Honors program wear gold cords. Other cords indicate departmental honors. E Students can line up in whatever order they choose. Because there is no formal order, being the last person in line—and, therefore, the last to cross the commencement stage—has become a coveted spot. Students will jockey for the position and stall during the procession, and the last person to cross the stage usually makes a grand statement of it. F Like many faculty members, Phil Adamo, associate professor and chair of the History Department, breaks from the reception line to congratulate a student in the procession. B C Summer 2012 13 In 2007, Augsburg started the tradition of holding two commencement ceremonies—the first in early May for the undergraduate day students and the Masters in Physician Assistant program graduates, and the second in late June for Weekend/Evening College, Rochester undergraduate, and the remaining master’s degree program graduates. A President Paul C. Pribbenow and Jodi Harpstead, chair of the Board of Regents, shake hands with every graduate who crosses the stage. For the July commencement ceremony, that was roughly 300 hands. B Tom Kelsey and Lori York of the Registrar’s office perform a well-choreographed dance to make sure the President always has a diploma holder in his hand the moment a graduate crosses the stage. C A large stack of diploma holders will be whittled down to almost nothing during the ceremony. In case you are wondering, the holders are empty. Diplomas are mailed to the graduates after their final grades are processed by the Registrar. D Master’s and doctoral degree candidates in business administration, education, leadership, nursing, and social work sit on the left side of the gym. E Graduates of the Weekend/Evening College and Rochester programs sit on the right side of the gym. F Handing out diplomas is like an assembly line: grab your name card, follow the faculty marshal to the front of the gym, hand over your name card, cross the stage as your name is called, shake hands with the Board chair, take diploma in your left hand while shaking hands with President Pribbenow and smile while your photo is taken, proceed down the ramp, smile for another photo and be sure that the front of the diploma holder is facing forward, return to your seat, breathe a sigh of relief. To view more commencement photos, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. 14 14 Augsburg Now Augsburg Now E A C Commencement July 1, 2012 D F B Summer 2012 15 Augsburg grad students mix philosophy of social work with drive for business Leading nonprofits increasingly want top-level leaders who understand complex financial issues, can implement strategic business practices, and are able to serve diverse local and global communities. Recognizing the changing expectations and requirements of nonprofits, Augsburg College in 2009 began offering a dual Master of Arts Degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Business Administration (MBA). The College’s first two MSW/MBA graduates completed their dual degrees this spring. “We chose to respond to changing dynamics. More and more, leaders of nonprofits, if they want to continue moving up the ladder, need the same business skills as their counterparts in the forprofit world,” said Steven Zitnick, who during June retired as director of the MBA program. Those with a Master of Arts in Social Work can, if they choose, progress to a different point in their career with formal business training, said Lois Bosch, director of Augsburg’s Master of Social Work program. “Larger social service agencies want business leaders for their business acumen,” Bosch said. “Increasingly, they also want people who are trained formally to understand the needs of their clients.” Jana Nicolaison ’12, one of Augsburg’s MSW/MBA dual degree graduates, said the program provided her the knowledge and tools to manage social service programs by understanding the business behind the programs. “I have the confidence to advocate for clients on the macro level because I under- stand all aspects of the services they receive,” Nicolaison said. The dual degree program isn’t just a good idea for those who want to lead social service agencies, though. “There’s an emerging trend of social entrepreneurship that opens another path for joint MSW/MBA students to pursue,” Zitnick said. “Through Augsburg’s combined curriculum, we can meet the vocational needs of this type of contemporary MSW student.” One such potential social entrepreneur is Miki Peterson ’12, who hopes to use her skills and insight to bring critical healthcare services to underserved markets. “We operate in a complex economic, societal, and political landscape. I now have the knowledge and diversity of skills to bring critical health care services to underserved markets,” Peterson said. “I have insights gleaned from both social services and business administration to allow me to accomplish this goal in any corporate, small business, or non-profit setting.” STEPHANIE WEISS To learn more about the dual MSW/MBA, go to www.augsburg.edu/msw or email mbainfo@augsburg.edu. “I have the knowledge and diversity of skills to bring critical health care services to underserved markets.” MIKI PETERSON ’12 MSW/MBA Miki Peterson ’12 MSW/MBA and Jana Nicolaison ’12 MSW/MBA 16 Augsburg Now HONORING our retired faculty Augsburg College celebrated the accomplishments and dedication of faculty during the spring Faculty Recognition Luncheon and formally thanked 10 faculty for their service. Below are brief biographies of those who finished their careers as Auggies. The group contributed more than 240 years of service to the College. Anthony Bibus III, professor of social work, joined Augsburg during 1992. He served the College as department chair, as faculty parliamentarian, and on key faculty committees. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of St. Thomas and the University of Virginia, respectively, and a doctorate in social work from the University of Minnesota. Shelley Burkhardt, instructor of education, worked as the special education program director at Rochester and as an adjunct faculty member. She received a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso and completed master’s-level studies at Winona State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, and the University of Minnesota. Prior to her work with Augsburg, Burkhardt served as the director of special education for the Rochester Public Schools, where she also was a special education teacher. C. Lee Clarke, assistant professor of business, started his career as a Lutheran parish pastor and then spent 20 years working in management information systems. He joined Augsburg during 2000 as a faculty member Front Row [L to R]: Glenda Dewberry Rooney, professor of social work; Norma Noonan, professor of political science; Lynn Lindow, associate professor of education; Grace Dyrud, professor of psychology; Steven Zitnick, director of the Master of Business Administration; Back Row [L to R]: President Paul C. Pribbenow; Bradley Holt ’63, professor of religion; Arlin Gyberg, professor of chemistry; Anthony Bibus III, professor of social work; C. Lee Clarke, assistant professor of business; Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Barbara Farley. Retiring faculty not pictured: Shelley Burkhardt, instructor of education in the Business Administration Department. Clarke co-taught with religion faculty and served as faculty adviser for Augsburg Seminar, a program to help first-year students learn about the Augsburg community and participate in neighborhood service programs. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Capital University, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas. Arlin Gyberg, professor of chemistry, started his career at Augsburg during 1967. He taught general and analytical chemistry for science majors and chemistry courses for non-science major students. He is one of several co-founders of the Mcgyan process reactor, a continuous flow device that is used to produce biodiesel from plant material. He maintains close connections to alumni in local industry (at companies such as Aveda, General Mills, and SarTec, to name a few) over the years. He earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Bradley Holt ’63, professor of religion, began his teaching career during 1978. His scholarly interests revolved around the history of Christian spirituality and Christianity in a global context, and he is the author of Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality. Holt taught theology in Nigeria for 10 years. He graduated from Augsburg with bachelor’s degrees in English and philosophy and received a Bachelor of Divinity from Luther Theological Seminary, and a Master of Philosophy and doctorate from Yale University. Lynn Lindow, associate professor of education, joined the College during 1985 as a member of the Health and Physical Education Department. She subsequently took a position in the Department of Education and was a K-12 expert. For seven years, she served as chair of the Education Department. Lindow also helped with the department’s reaccreditation. She received a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Mankato, a master’s degree from Summer 2012 17 North Dakota State University, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. Norma Noonan, professor of political science, served Augsburg for more than 45 years, joining the faculty during 1966. She was instrumental in the development of the Master of Arts in Leadership, the College’s inaugural graduate program offering, and served as program director for 18 years. She chaired the Political Science Department, served on key faculty committees, and was a mentor to many. Noonan received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University, respectively, and a doctorate in Russian and East European Studies from Indiana University. Glenda Dewberry Rooney, professor of social work, began working at Augsburg during 1992. An expert in direct social work practice, she served as department chair and taught in advanced clinical placement courses. Her research and teaching interests include child welfare, particularly where racial disparities exist. She is the author of one of social work’s most widely used texts. Rooney received bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of North Texas, a master’s in social work from the University of Illinois, and a doctorate in social work and industrial relations from the University of Minnesota. Maryann Syers, associate professor of social work, joined Augsburg during 1998. Her teaching experience was strengthened by her previous private clinical practice and ongoing research working with women of color, sexual minorities, and persons with physical disabilities. She was a leader in conceptualizing content for the Master of Social Work program’s multicultural clinical practice concentration. Syers also served on the Personnel Policies Committee and Faculty Senate. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Arizona State University and a master’s of social work and doctorate in social welfare from the University of Minnesota. Steven Zitnick, director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, joined Augsburg during 1999. Prior to that, he served as a military officer and held senior executive positions in human resources and organizational development in the private sector, including at H.B. Fuller. In 2008 Zitnick was named director of the Augsburg MBA program. He helped launch MBA study abroad programs in Argentina, Chile, Germany, and Russia and launched the Mini-MBA program with Luther Seminary. Zitnick received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Shimer College, a master’s degree in human resources management from the University of Utah, and is on track to complete a doctorate from Tilburg University in the Netherlands during retirement. On May 3, faculty gathered at the annual Faculty Recognition Luncheon to celebrate a successful academic year and to recognize their colleagues’ accomplishments. The program honored retiring faculty members, recipients of tenure and promotion, milestone years of service, and recipients of the Distinguished Contribution to Teaching and Learning awards. 18 Augsburg Now GAGE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Who comes to the Gage Center for Student Success and the Groves Technology Center? At one time or another, nearly every student at Augsburg does. I have to write a paper. I’m here to use the computer lab. I am a Weekend College student, and I'm planning to graduate next year. I'm here to plan out my degree progress with an academic adviser. I have ADHD and struggle with reading. I’m here to use the software program that helps me read my textbooks. I am visually impaired. I’m here to talk to an adviser about the services that can help me at Augsburg. I am having a tough time with one of my classes. I’m here to see a tutor. I’m the first person in my family to go to college. I am here because I heard you have a program to help people like me learn how to be successful in school. I’m a pretty good student, but I really have trouble with time management. I’m here to learn how to be better at that. Spring 2012 19 success INTEGRATING ACADEMIC SUPPORT tradition of bringing programs and services together to improve the student service experience. As in the case of the Enrollment Center—which first opened in 2000 and combined the offices of academic advising, the registrar, financial aid, and financial services—co-location benefits students because all services are in one convenient location. In addition, when staff work closely together, they often discover new ways of working that lead to new initiatives and better student service. The Gage Center staff is evaluating a caseload management software tool that will allow them to build connections for students and refer them to additional resources. Gort said the software will help to create a network of student support that extends beyond the Gage Center. “We’re at the start of a really cool project, and we have high hopes for what this is going to be,” she said. While staff and students are still learning how the Gage Center will function to best meet students’ needs, Gort said she has been pleased with the outcomes so far. GAGE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS At one time, academic support services at Augsburg were scattered across campus. One program was tucked around a few corners in a basement. A few others were in Science Hall. While seeking out and asking for help is already difficult for some students, having support staff in different locations made getting help even more complicated. To address this situation, Augsburg moved all of these academic support services to the new Gage Center for Student Success, which opened on the second floor of the Lindell Library in January. The center provides a one-stop shop for students to access academic advising, tutoring, academic accommodations, assistance with learning and physical disabilities, academic skills coaching, and other support services. “The Gage Center helps us see how students can benefit by having people and programs together,” said Amy Gort, dean of Arts and Sciences. Co-locating the offices in Lindell has made student support services more visible on campus and provides greater access for students. And with all support staff in proximity with one another, the center is the first step in creating a seamless experience of academic support for students. The Gage Center follows an Augsburg 20 Augsburg Now “What is great about this group of staff is that each program has a history of being innovative, constantly evaluating, and looking for opportunities for students to have an even better experience.” Nearly every graduate and undergraduate student at Augsburg comes into contact with the Gage Center staff or services at least once—and usually multiple times—in her or his college career. The center provides a one-stop shop for students to access academic advising, tutoring, academic accommodations, assistance with learning and physical disabilities, academic skills coaching, and other support services. GAGE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS Gifts from the Gage and Groves family foundations allowed Augsburg to create an integrated and highly visible academic support services center. The Gage Center for Student Success, which officially opened in January, includes the Groves Technology Center, the Groves Accommodations Lab, meeting rooms, testing rooms, and staff offices. DEPARTMENTS IN THE AUGGIES ARE ACHIEVERS GAGE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS ACADEMIC ADVISING supports students in achieving their educational and vocational goals. THE ACADEMIC SKILLS OFFICE provides coaching to help students develop skills and strategies for academic success, and also works with students in the Conditional Admit Program (CAP) and Augsburg Advantage St. Kate’s (AASK) program. THE CENTER FOR LEARNING AND ADAPTIVE STUDENT SERVICES (CLASS) provides services and accommodations for students with attentional, learning, and physical disabilities. THE GROVES TECHNOLOGY CENTER provides computer workstations for all students and adaptive software programs, such as speech recognition software and screen readers, for learners with special needs. TRiO/STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, helps students overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to complete their college education. TUTORING AND SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION is available for most courses; the type of support offered depends on the course and student demand. ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS Augsburg College is committed to ensuring all students have access to the campus resources and tools they need to succeed. To support this commitment, the College recently formed an accessibility committee of more than 50 staff and faculty from 16 departments. One of the committee’s primary responsibilities is ensuring the College meets the obligations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Recent revisions to the ADA as well as legal settlements at other colleges and universities make the committee’s work especially timely. One of the more high-profile lawsuits was a case brought against Penn State University by the National Federation of the Blind, which settled in 2010 for $150,000. The settlement cited inaccessible technology for blind and print-disabled students and is now serving as a guideline for institutions nationwide to review accessibility of technology and facilities. As part of its charge to ensure the College meets its obligations, the Augsburg accessibility committee is conducting an audit of campus facilities and technology, delivering training to faculty and staff, and working to identify a compliance officer. The work of the committee to identify and address accessibility issues helps mitigate risk for the College as it strives to live up to its commitment to student success. Summer 2012 21 A NEW approach to learning For most of his life, Nic Adducci ’15 was the kid who couldn’t read or write. The kid who had to go to the principal’s office to take his pill every day. The kid with a learn- said, when educators, students, and parents were just beginning to understand learning disabilities. “I was the only student in a small class with a learning disability. I was the kid who had emotional and behavior problems, and when I had a NIC ADDUCCI “I have to give credit to the CLASS office for giving me the support that I needed to really be successful, but I also have to credit the professors who really pushed me to see something more in myself than what I had been taught in the past 27 years of my life.” ing disability. Today, due in part to support he receives from Augsburg’s Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services (CLASS), Adducci made the dean’s list with a 4.0 grade-point average. A double major in business management and psychology with minors in economics and political science, he has shed much of the stigma associated with having a learning disability and has found success at Augsburg. In the second or third grade, Adducci was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was a time, he 22 Augsburg Now bad day, [the question] was, ‘Did you take your pill today?’” he said. “That was the foundation for my educational experience, and that followed me everywhere I went,” Adducci said. The labels and messages followed him to the workplace where he was a project manager for an educational testing company. “I thought that I couldn’t do a lot of things because I believed I couldn’t rely on myself.” In 2006, Adducci was told he needed to complete a bachelor’s degree as a requirement for his job. A co-worker who had gradu- ated from Augsburg through Weekend College recommended the program, and Adducci found himself back in the classroom. For several years, he took a class here and there while he continued to focus primarily on his work and personal life. Then in 2011, he realized he needed to make his education a top priority. He enrolled as a full-time student in the College’s day undergraduate program and moved onto campus. That’s when education changed for Adducci, and he discovered his passion for learning. “I approached my professors and the CLASS office right away,” he said. “They really didn’t accept the ‘I’m a bad writer’ excuse I used when I was younger, and they showed me that there was a different way for me to approach learning.” Adducci’s biggest learning-related challenge is reading. “It’s hard to concentrate and my retention is really low,” he said. The accommodations provided through CLASS include extra time to take exams, working with a notetaker in classes, and using the Kurzweil software program that reads his textbooks aloud for him. In two semesters as a full-time student, Adducci not only raised his grade-point average and made the dean’s list, he also landed a position as a residence life adviser for next year and made an impression on his classmates and instructors. “Nic made a marvelous contribution to the class,” said assistant professor of business administration John Cerrito, whose human resource management class Adducci took in the spring semester. “He was mature, serious, and a very positive student,” Cerrito said. “He is a real credit to Augsburg.” At Augsburg, Adducci said, he is able to attain a level of academic success that he hadn’t ever come close to in his life. “People saw something valuable in me in areas where I thought that I would never be able to accomplish anything,” he said, “and that gave me the motivation to actually put the effort in. Then I was successful.” Photo by Sally Ryan A TYPICAL college student In many ways, Rachel Hastings ’15 is a typical college student. She takes Spanish class, sings in a choir, eats in the cafeteria, and works out in the fitness center. But she is also atypical—a student who uses her ears and fingers to find her way through campus and through life. She’s training for a marathon, learning arias by ear, and spreading joy throughout the Augsburg campus. A sophomore from Maple Grove, Minn., Hastings has been legally blind since birth. Through the Gage Center for Student Success at Augsburg College, Hastings gets individualized support services and accommodations that help her succeed. The photos that follow show a typical day in the life of this atypical college student. Hastings checks to see if she is at the studio office for her voice lesson with vocal coach Susan Druck. RACHEL HASTINGS Laughing as they finish lunch, Hastings and a group of friends talk about their upcoming finals and what they need to do before school lets out for the summer. Summer 2012 23 1 2 3 independence 1 By touching her right hand to the treadmill every three or four steps, Hastings keeps her position on the machine during her daily workout. Hastings has completed two half marathons and is planning to run the Twin Cities Marathon in October. 2 “Hi Rachel, it’s Noah,” a student says as he meets Hastings. But Noah Sievert does not need to identify himself because Hastings recognizes his voice. To her, a voice is as distinct as a face is to a sighted person. 3 The complex nature of music theory means that Hastings needs accommodations for this course. Hastings took adapted music theory Pressing on her belly button to physically remind herself to breathe from her diaphragm, Hastings works on the piece “Mi Sueño” during her voice lesson with vocal coach Susan Druck. from assistant professor of music Doug Diamond as a summer independent study course. 4 Before she gets even two steps into a classroom, a classmate hops up and says, “Rachel, there is an open spot right over here.” One of the few times Hastings requires help is when she needs to navigate a full classroom with her cane. 5 Practicing on a baby grand piano is one of the perks of being a music therapy major whose main instrument is the piano. Since she does not read Braille music, Hastings learns music by ear, but she has perfect pitch, which makes learning easier. After a year of finding her way around the campus, Hastings has memorized almost every inch of the grounds. The only thing that will throw her off is an object that is left in an unpredictable place. 5 See more photos and hear Hastings talk about her experiences at www.augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2012 4 25 Augsburg’s TRiO/Student Support Services (SSS) program. Programs like AVID and TRiO/SSS help first-generation and lowincome students succeed in college. For students in high school, these programs provide Blue ribbons and gold medals. These are preparation for college entrance exams, what we normally associate with being assistance with college research and applica“first.” But for Andrena Murphy ’15, being tion, and information about the financial aid first—the first in her family to go to college— application process. On college campuses, meant making new connections, proactively these programs help students find resources seeking advice, and learning new skills. and support to complete their degree. During high school, Murphy said, her Murphy applied for and was accepted to mother encouraged her to do well but didn’t Augsburg’s TRiO/SSS program. She attended THE FIRST in her family share some of the lessons she has learned with the incoming TRiO students. During the past academic year, Murphy met regularly with her TRiO/SSS adviser to update her academic plan and to talk about the challenges of balancing school with family time, social life, volunteering, and her job. She said that her time management skills and even her eating habits improved in her first year of college. She also learned how to make connections with professors and to reach out to them for advice. “That’s something I never did in high school,” she said. ANDRENA MURPHY When Andrena Murphy ’15 saw her first initial in the flower garden outside Memorial Hall, she took it as a sign that Augsburg was the place for her. insist that she go to college. Though her mother had taken some community college courses, neither she nor Murphy’s two older sisters had obtained a college degree. And each of them had been able to find a good job without a college education. “Nobody in my family knew what college was like,” Murphy said, “so no one could help me figure out if it was right for me.” Murphy used her senior year of high school and the resources of her high school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college readiness program to help determine if college was the next step for her. Through AVID, Murphy discovered 26 Augsburg Now TRiO’s Summer Bridge program in July and August 2011 to begin her Augsburg career. Summer Bridge is a five-week residential program in which students take introductory religion and public speaking courses and attend academic support seminars, workshops, and other activities to help provide for a smooth transition to school in the fall. “It was fun to be in an atmosphere where I could keep learning through the summer,” Murphy said. She appreciated getting a head start on classes, learning what college was like, and meeting her classmates and professors. This summer, she will be a residential peer mentor for Summer Bridge and will Murphy also was involved with the Bonner Leader program during the school year. Through Bonner, she served as a youth development and enrichment coordinator at Kaleidoscope Place, an after-school program for elementary and junior high school students. Murphy officially will enter the Education Department this fall. She’s excited about her education classes and about becoming an elementary teacher one day. “When I look back, there were a few teachers who really made a difference for me, and I want to do that for someone.” it takes an Auggie Gift to future students allows son’s memory to live on at Augsburg “Nathan Schott’s life is an inspiration to me, and I’m humbled and honored to receive a scholarship in his name, a scholarship that is about future possibilities, not past liabilities.” These are the words of Alexandra Stoiaken ’13, recipient of the inaugural Nathan R. Schott Scholarship. Nathan Schott came to Augsburg as a first-year student in September 2009. His time at Augsburg was short, but significant. He touched the lives of faculty, staff, and students like Alexandra. He had a unique ability to make connections within the Augsburg community. Nathan was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the age of six. He passed away at the end of his first year of college. Yet Nathan continues to make a difference in the lives of Auggies, present and future. Teri and Chuck Schott, Nathan’s parents, established the Nathan R. Schott Scholarship to honor Nathan’s life and to give other students an educational opportunity in a supportive community. The scholarship provides support for students who, like Nathan, participate in the Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services (CLASS) program. CLASS provides services and accommodations for students with attentional, learning, and physical disabilities. “Augsburg was the right place for Nathan,” Nathan’s father, Chuck, said. “He had a feeling of belonging, and this was a place where he could participate and contribute to the makeup of the community.” Teri Schott, Nathan’s mother, added, “The scholarship is a chance to see that the spirit of Nathan continues. It means he’s still a part of this place.” “[Nathan] always had a ready smile for me when we passed in the halls,” Stoiaken said. “There was real joy in his life, and he shared it easily.” Stoiaken, who manages life with cerebral palsy, said she was inspired by Nathan. “By receiving this scholarship, I will always endeavor to make Nathan and his family proud. Like Nathan, I will never allow my disease to define me. I will live life to its fullest, finding inspiration wherever I can.” DOUG SCOTT, DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP GIFTS If interested in supporting this or similar scholarship funds, contact Doug Scott at 612-330-1575 or scottd@augsburg.edu. “By receiving this scholarship, I will always endeavor to make Nathan and his family proud. Like Nathan, I will never allow my disease to define me. I will live life to its fullest, finding inspiration wherever I can.” ALEXANDRA STOIAKEN ’13 Nathan Schott in his senior year at Maple Grove High School. [L to R]: Teri Schott, Alexandra Stoiaken ’13, and Chuck Schott at the 2011 brunch for Augsburg scholarship donors and recipients. Courtesy ph oto Summer 2012 27 calculus AND BY STEPHEN GEFFRE Fog-covered mountains, roosters crowing at 4 a.m., dinner by candlelight, 60-foot waterfalls, and calculus. Strange components in a college class, maybe, but for seven students and two faculty members, this was reality during the 2012 spring break. In the course MAT 496: The Calculus of Sustainability, students spent the first eight weeks of the spring semester studying coffee plantations of Nicaragua. With this knowledge, they created projects ranging from calculating the carbon footprint of coffee production to building a largescale differential equation model that would be used while in Nicaragua. Once in-country, students were asked by the farm families with whom they stayed for feedback and advice on an ecotourism model the farmers were creating. The farmers, all members of the GARBO coffee cooperative in the Peñas Blancas region of Nicaragua near the Honduran border, were exploring diversifying their income by inviting tourists to learn about and stay on the plantation. So although they had prepared projects for months before arriving in Nicaragua, the students set them aside and put the needs of the farmers in the forefront. The class came up with ideas like creating a map of the cooperative and installing a water filtration system. They also suggested paving the roads and creating a store to sell convenience items to tourists as well as products grown on the plantation. When all was said and done, the students learned that when working in a place like Nicaragua, plans can change quickly. Adaptation and the willingness to think on your feet are great skills to have when trying to apply complex mathematics in a real-world situation. 28 Augsburg Now coffee See more photos, hear the students talk about their experiences, and watch video of the class at www.augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2012 29 Courtesy photo my Auggie experience Posts from the road Summer Travel 2012 The Augsburg Choir U.S. Tour The Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Peter Hendrickson ’76, toured the Midwest in May. With stops in Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming, the choir performed nine concerts and had opportunities to connect with potential Auggies and their families as well as alumni and friends of the College. Teaching English in Thailand This was the fifth year that English professor Kathy Swanson and her husband, Jack, took students to teach English in Thailand as part of a short-term study abroad course through the Center for Global Education. In addition to teaching for 10 days in the village of Prachuap Khirikhan, the students learned about Thai culture and history, sailed on the Gulf of Siam, rode elephants, and tried to stay cool in the 120-degree heat. See photos from the 2012 Thailand course at www.flickr.com/photos/augthailand. International Management and Finance in Germany For four weeks in May and June, a group of German students and professors from Karlsruhe, Germany, paired with Augsburg students and assistant business professor Marc McIntosh to study international business practices. The group met for two weeks in Europe, visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg and witnessing firsthand the financial crisis that was occurring in Europe at that time. They also went to the Frankfurt stock exchange and experienced the volatility in the financial market as a result of the crisis, McIntosh said. Then, back in the U.S., the students visited three companies with strong ties to Germany and gained insights into how to do business in overseas markets. Finally, the students participated in an intensive business simulation game with teams competing to maximize shareholder value through the launches of multiple product offerings. The Augsburg students teaching English in Thailand pose outside of the Wat Benchamabophit, a temple in Bangkok. study abroad program coordinated through Augsburg’s Center for Global Education. An excerpt from Underhill’s blog: Election day is notable for its calm. Everyone is voting and waiting; my sense is that people are still feeling that they are in a dream, not sure that this can really be happening, and wondering if they will wake up in the morning to find the military back in power, or in fact with a leader they have chosen. The city is quieter than usual, less traffic and crowds, with people staying home to vote. Read more of the Egypt 2012 blog for more about the elections, the extreme traffic in Cairo, and sharing a plane ride with former President Jimmy Carter at http://augsburgegypttrip2012.blogspot.com. Social Service in a Global Context: Namibia and the U.S. During July, a group of 25 Master of Social Work (MSW) students studied in Namibia and South Africa accompanied by Lois Bosch, professor and MSW program director, and Nancy Rodenborg, associate professor and chair of the Social Work Department. The group visited social service agencies, hospitals, schools, and other venues. Auggies abroad in 2012-13 • 30 Augsburg Now 28 students participated in summer programs in Austria, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Jamaica, Jordan, Spain, and the United Kingdom • Political and Civic Engagement in Egypt Political science professor Joe Underhill and Mohamed Sallam, director of Pan-Afrikan student services at Augsburg, led students to Egypt in May to study youth movements and social change. The group visited cultural sites, villages, an ecotourism resort, and a Bedouin camp, observed the historic presidential election, and examined ongoing efforts to rebuild the country in the wake of the 2011 revolution. The combined political science and history course, Political and Civic Engagement in Egypt, was a faculty-led (including summer 2012) 41 students took part in summer short-term faculty-led programs including programs in Egypt, Germany, and Thailand • 27 students will study abroad in fall semester • 6 students will study abroad for the full 2012-13 academic year Read more posts from the road in the Augsburg Abroad blogs at www.augsburg.edu/augsburgabroad/blogs.html. WENDI WHEELER ’06 auggie voices In a room of her own In A Room of One’s Own, writer Virginia Woolf asserts that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” This critical feminist essay, first published in 1929, examines the obstacles that women writers faced in a literary tradition that was, at the time, dominated by men. It was in a room of her own, a quiet space where she could remove herself from the distractions of college social life, that Erika Hammerschmidt ’04 began to write her first book while she was a student at Augsburg. A private room is beneficial for students with Asperger’s syndrome (AS), an autism spectrum disorder that affects a person’s ability to socialize and communicate with others. Students with AS are characterized by poor social skills and restricted interests, but they typically possess great knowledge in specific areas and have extensive vocabularies. Hammerschmidt was diagnosed with AS at the age of 11. “In some ways, having Asperger’s is a gift,” she said. “I have a good memory and a gift for logical thought. And I can get very focused.” As a student, however, Hammerschmidt said she was easily distracted and had trouble concentrating on schoolwork because of anxiety she felt about her social life. Augsburg’s Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services (CLASS) program, one of the student support resources available in the Gage Center for Student Success, helped Hammerschmidt deal with the social aspects of college. “They helped me get a single room, a ‘room of my own’ as Virginia Woolf wrote. It helped me get started on a lot of projects and stay focused on them.” The ability to focus helped Hammerschmidt complete her book, Born on the Wrong Planet. First published in 2003, it is a collection of poems, short stories, and For Erica Hammerschmidt ’04, living with Asperger’s syndrome makes her feel as though she is an alien on Earth, and she taps into that alienation to create art. In her hands is a language she created. It's tactile, and is made up of disk and small sculptural objects that are put together to create words and sentences. Her tactile language offers others a chance to experience and feel how different she feels because the language is intuitive to her, and completely foreign to others. “[Augsburg’s CLASS program] helped me get a single dorm, a ‘room of my own’ as Virginia Woolf wrote. It helped me get started on a lot of projects and stay focused on them.” ’04 ERIKA HAMMERSCHMIDT essays using alternating voices to illustrate the complexities of Hammerschmidt’s life with Asperger’s. A revised edition was published in 2008 by the Autism Asperger Publishing Company. Since graduating from Augsburg, Hammerschmidt has continued writing in the Minneapolis apartment she shares with her husband, John Ricker, whom she met at Augsburg. In 2011, the couple co-authored Kea’s Flight, a science fiction novel that Hammerschmidt said is “like [George Orwell’s] 1984 for autistic people.” The couple also speaks about living with autism spectrum diagnoses to special education students, teachers, and parents of children with autism. In 2005, they were featured speakers at the Annual Autism Society of Minnesota Conference. To learn more about Hammerschmidt and her work, go to www.erikahammerschmidt.com. WENDI WHEELER ’06 Summer 2012 31 alumni news FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, t hank you for the opportunity to serve as the Alumni Board president. We are welcoming five new Auggies to the board (see their biographies below) and are excited about the ideas and gifts they bring. This year, we will build on the work that has already been done by the Alumni Board and make an effort to reconnect even more alumni to Augsburg. My experiences as a member of the men’s soccer team keep me connected to Augsburg. We won the MIAC championship in 1980 and went undefeated that season. Many of my soccer teammates are still friends to this day. Several of my former teammates attended the student-alumni networking event held on campus this past February, and it was great to see them give back by sharing their experiences with current students. At the networking event, 60 students met with 50 alumni who hosted tables for students to ask about specific careers; my table was for those interested in financial services. I talked with several students for an hour, and I’ve since met with two of them to personally guide them on their career paths. You can stay connected to Augsburg by attending one of many events hosted by the Alumni Board this year, including Homecoming during the week of September 24 to 29. Read more about the activities scheduled for Homecoming on page 33. You’ll find information about more upcoming events on the following pages, and we will continue to update you in the monthly NOW@Augsburg e-newsletter. Be sure to read it when it comes to your inbox. I’d like to see you at an event this summer or at Homecoming. When we meet, I hope you’ll tell me your ideas for staying connected to Augsburg! CHRIS ASCHER ’81 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT New Alumni Board Members Five Auggies were recently elected to three-year terms on the Augsburg Alumni Board. Frank Grazzini ’96 helps run TelemetryWeb, Inc., a software startup he co-founded. After earning his degree in accounting, he worked in finance and now is focused on general business management. Grazzini said he would like to see the alumni connection to Augsburg begin at commencement. After graduating, Marie (Eddy) Odenbrett ’01 served Augsburg in event and classroom services and in advancement services. Now that Odenbrett works in donor relations at Macalester College in St. Paul, her desire to stay connected with Augsburg led her to join the Alumni Board. Lisa K. Olson ’79 lives in Washington, D.C., and is president and owner of a business and clinical research consulting firm. Several in Olson’s family are Augsburg graduates, and her grandfather, Henry P. Opseth, was head of the Music Department and the first director of the Augsburg Choir. Nick Slack ’02 has a degree in business administration and is currently a manufacturers’ representative for sporting goods companies in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. While at Augsburg, Slack was active in student government and wrestling. After graduating, he served as an Augsburg wrestling coach for seven years. He is also a member of the Augsburg Young 32 Augsburg Now Front Row [L to R]: Holly Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA, Marie Odenbrett ’01, Jill Watson ’10 MBA; Middle Row [L to R]: Nick Slack ’02, Lisa K. Olson ’79, Kathy Amos ’87, Rob Wagner ’02, Chris Hallin ’88; Back Row [L to R]: Michael Loney ’03, Heather Cmiel ’02, Tracy Anderson ’95, Jerry Poland ’92, Chris Ascher ’81 Not pictured: Jennifer Carlson ’91, Sharon Engelland ’87, Sarah Grans ’01, Frank Grazzini ’96, Dan Hickle ’95, LeeAnn Lack ’67, Sharon Mercill ’05, Nancy Nordlund ’91, John Stadler ’07 MAL Alumni Council. Jill Watson ’10 MBA is a business analyst for Land O’Lakes. Watson said she wants to facilitate opportunities to increase alumni engagement and participation at Augsburg events as well as in the recruitment process. If you have ideas for alumni involvement, forward them to the Alumni Board at alumni@augsburg.edu. CHERYL D. CROCKETT ’89 Join Us for homecoming SEPTEMBER 24-29 Whether or not you are celebrating a reunion this year, Homecoming is a perfect reason to return to campus to reconnect with former classmates and enjoy the Augsburg spirit! Join Augsburg alumni, parents, students, and friends in a fun-filled week of Homecoming events and activities. This year marks many milestones for the College that will be recognized during Homecoming, including the 25th anniversary of the Master of Arts in Leadership program, which will be celebrated following the Sabo Symposium on Wednesday, September 26, and the 30th Anniversary of Weekend/Evening College (WEC), which will be celebrated at the WEC Alumni Reunion Breakfast on Saturday, September 29. New events have been added to this year’s Homecoming schedule, including a Faculty and Faculty Emeriti Meet and Greet Reception, an Augsburg Cabaret Reunion and sing-along on Friday, September 28, and a Latino/a Alumni Reunion Breakfast on Saturday, September 29. Homecoming Convocation will start the weekend off on Friday morning, September 28, when we will recognize the First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished Alumni Award winners, as well as members of the class of 1962. Don’t miss the opportunity for fellowship and reminiscing at the Homecoming Convocation Luncheon that afternoon or at the 10-year, 25-year, and 30-year reunions at Republic (formerly Preston’s) Friday evening. Experience the Best of Augsburg on Saturday morning, September 29, when you can hear a brief lecture from two of Augsburg’s outstanding faculty members—Darcey Engen ’88, associate professor and chair of theater arts, and James Vela-McConnell, professor of sociology. Before the football game on Saturday, enjoy the Taste of Augsburg event with fun for the whole family, including carnival-style booths operated by student, parent, and alumni groups. That afternoon, cheer on the Auggies at the Homecoming Football Game as they take on Bethel College. The Auggie Block Party is back by popular demand! Following the football game, gather in the parking lot north of Si Melby Hall to enjoy food, entertainment, and camaraderie. It’s a wonderful way to conclude the Homecoming weekend. Homecoming has something for everyone. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.augsburg.edu/homecoming. We look forward to seeing you in September! reunion classes 60th Reunion—1952 50th Reunion—1962 40th Reunion—1972 30th Reunion—1982 25th Reunion—1987 10th Reunion—2002 Summer 2012 33 alumni news Networking at Work In the past year, the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations partnered with Career Services and the Alumni Board to host two student-alumni networking events. These events provide an opportunity for current Augsburg students to have one-on-one interactions with alumni from a variety of professions and also allow alumni to share their professional experience and insight. Several lasting connections were made at these events, including one between Janeece Oatman ’05 and Julie Bednark ’13, who met during Homecoming 2011. The two found they have a shared passion for high-energy, intense projects, and they connected immediately around their Augsburg experiences. Their conversation sparked a connection that led to a friendship and an internship opportunity for Bednark with the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure annual bike ride, for which Oatman is the director. Oatman said she feels good about giving back to the College by offering a unique experience for a current Augsburg student. “Julie was so approachable, smart, worldly, and willing to work hard,” she said. Following her internship, Bednark plans to volunteer for the Tour de Cure to maintain her connection to Oatman and to the American Diabetes Association. Chris Ascher ’81 and Dennis Som ’12 met at a networking event, but their true connection began after Som invited Ascher to lunch and they discovered a mutual passion for the world of finance. Som was inspired by Ascher’s character, goal-setting structure, and willingness to be a resource for current Augsburg students. Now the two connect regularly via email to share personal and professional developments. Both agree that a long-term mentor/mentee relationship is in the cards. Oatman and Ascher agreed they would return to participate in future alumni and student networking events to recapture the sense of gratification and pride that comes from “Auggies supporting Auggies.” Make your own connection with a current Auggie at the next alumni and student networking event that will take place on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. SARA SCHLIPP-RIEDEL ’06 Julie Bednark ’13 and Janeece Oatman ’05 Dennis Som ’12 and Chris Ascher ’81 auggies supporting auggies 34 Augsburg Now s ‘Augsburg Start’ Mentor Program SHARE YOUR SUCCESS WITH A NEW AUGGIE! Do you remember your first days as a new Weekend/Evening College student? Navigating a new campus? Balancing work, life, and family? Learning about resources and success strategies? Now that you are an Augsburg WEC alum, you can give back to Augsburg and share your experience and success by becoming a mentor for a new Augsburg WEC student this fall. Augsburg Start is a mentor outreach program focused on pairing new Augsburg for Adults/Weekend College students with an alumna/us mentor who will support them in their first term. Once paired with a new student, you will be asked to connect with them in the first week and at least two other times in the term and be available as a resource for help and support in person, by phone, or by email. Each mentor/mentee relationship is different, but here are some ways to be an Augsburg Start mentor: • share your strategies for success as an adult student • encourage the student to connect with their faculty adviser so they will be ready to register for the next term • help the student reach out to student support programs • be sure the student knows how to use Moodle and Augnet • connect the student with the library and its resources For more information, visit www.augsburg.edu/alumni/getinvolved or contact Pat Grans in Alumni Relations at 612-330-1329 or gransp@augsburg.edu. BUILDING CONNECTIONS FROM THE ground up When Yemissrach (Yemi) Melka ’15 met Guy Wojtowicz ’81 in March, she had several questions in mind to help her learn about the personal and professional journey of the Augsburg grad. But she was in for a surprise—one that would bring a unique experience to the general chemistry students at Augsburg. During the visit, Wojtowicz told Melka about his family, many of whom are Auggies, including his son Zach who has completed his second year at Augsburg. He also talked about his professional career, describing some of the chemical and agricultural projects currently underway at the stucco and plastering company that he founded with his brother in 2006. The project that took Melka by surprise involves a compound that can be sprayed on depleted soil to significantly increase its fertility. Wojtowicz said the compound could also be instrumental in remediating contaminated soil without having to excavate and remove the soil to a toxic disposal site. As a chemistry major and an international student from Ethiopia, where agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and soil depletion has been an issue, Melka was excited about exploring the application of the technology in her home country. She couldn’t wait to tell [L to R]: Yemissrach Melka ‘15, Guy Wojtowicz ‘81, assistant professor of chemistry Vivian Feng her professor, Vivian Feng, about the chemistry lesson she received outside of class. Feng was impressed with the capabilities of the compound and brought it into a first-year general chemistry classroom for students to use in the environmental chemistry section of the course. Generally, Feng said, first-year students don’t work with commercial compounds used in the real world, so Melka’s discovery provided a rare, hands-on learning opportunity for her classmates. Melka met Wojtowicz through her involvement in IGNITE (Involving Graduates Now In Thoughtful Engagement), a program launched in 2009 with a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™. Students in IGNITE conduct face-to-face visits with alumni to learn more about their Augsburg experience and their interest in volunteer opportunities at Augsburg. If you have an interest in meeting with an IGNITE student representative, contact Pat Grans, volunteer coordinator, at 612-3301329 or gransp@augsburg.edu. CHERYL D. CROCKETT ‘89 Summer 2012 35 alumni news save the dates Saturday, October 13, 1-3 p.m. FALL FOLIAGE PHOTOGRAPHY AND BOAT TOUR auggie IS FLYING SOUTH THIS WINTER! Join President Paul C. Pribbenow and Augsburg alumni and friends in Arizona for the following events. To register or for more information call 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu. Saturday, February 16, 2 p.m. AUGSBURG RECEPTION At the home of Donald ’60 and Violet Anderson, Sun City The Anderson home is located two blocks northwest from the American Lutheran Church in Sun City. Taylors Falls, Minn. Augsburg’s resident photographer, Stephen Geffre, will provide insight into what makes for a successful photo and share stories and images from his “365 Project.” This unique event will be held on the St. Croix River aboard the Taylors Falls Queen excursion boat of Wild Mountain/Taylors Falls Recreation, owned by Amy Raedtke Frischmon ’92. Register at www.augsburg.edu/ alumnievents. Thursday, October 18, Noon CT AUGSBURG LIVE: STATE OF THE COLLEGE Hear first-hand from President Paul C. Pribbenow about the College’s priorities for this academic year on this hour-long webinar. See images of the campus, hear stories of student successes, and learn about how the College continues to live out its mission and promise to students and its community. To register, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents. Saturday, February 16, 6 p.m. RECEPTION AT HEARD MUSEUM Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix Featuring The Couriers quartet from the Augsburg Centennial Singers AUGSBURG CENTENNIAL SINGERS: ARIZONA TOUR Sunday, February 17 - American Lutheran Church, Sun City Sunday, February 17; 8, 9:15, and 10:45 a.m. Monday, February 18 - The Church at Litchfield Park, KING OF GLORY CHURCH SERVICES Litchfield Park King of Glory, 2085 East Southern Ave., Tempe Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow will be the guest preacher Tuesday, February 19 - Desert Hills Lutheran, Green Valley Sunday, February 17, 6 p.m. RECEPTION At the home of Lute ’56 and Kelly Olson, Tuscon Featuring The Couriers quartet from the Augsburg Centennial Singers Thursday, February 21 - Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, Sun Lakes Friday, February 22 - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, Fountain Hills Saturday, February 23 - Vista de la Montana Methodist Church, Tucson Sunday, February 24 - Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, Gold Canyon 36 Augsburg Now 62newly published book on sciKen Olson is the author of a alumni class notes 57lished two books: Daily Walks Rev. Neal Snider recently pub- with Saints and Sinners and Walking Together through the Bible. ence and religion, Lens to the Natural World: Reflections on Dinosaurs, Ga
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Title: Augsburg Now Fall 2011: Auggies Go Beyond
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW FALL 2011 VOL. 74, NO. 1 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing Augsburg as a Citizen Dr. Amit Ghosh ’12 MBA Travel What is the Commons? Norwegian Royal Visit Homecoming 2011 Annual Report to Donors page 20 go beyond notes f...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW FALL 2011 VOL. 74, NO. 1 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing Augsburg as a Citizen Dr. Amit Ghosh ’12 MBA Travel What is the Commons? Norwegian Royal Visit Homecoming 2011 Annual Report to Donors page 20 go beyond notes from President Pribbenow Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Director On politics and informed citizens Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design t he creation of the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning a few years ago allowed us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the life and work of our distinguished alumnus, Martin Olav Sabo ’59, whose life-long commitment to public service is an inspiration to all of us. As we live out our mission and vision here at Augsburg, we, of course, are deeply engaged in helping our students to understand the electoral political process, which Congressman Sabo so ably served. In addition, our students are closely involved in local political and advocacy efforts, in public service internships, in get-out-the-vote campaigns, and in helping our many new U.S. neighbors to participate in U.S. electoral politics. At the same time, we also are deeply committed to the ideas and practices of a broader public claim—a claim that calls on all citizens to “get political”—to follow the call of our Augsburg colleague, Harry Boyte, director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, who suggests that “Despite its bad reputation, politics is the way people in any setting deal with differences to get something done. Politics means creating alliances, negotiating, engaging people around self interests, using levers of change in a strategic way. Politics is how diverse groups of people build a future together … Politics is from the Greek root, politikos, ‘of the citizen.’” As Boyte reminds us, “For over two thousand years politics meant not parties or vertical relations with the state but rather horizontal engagement among citizens.” In other words, politics and getting political is the authentic and important work of citizenship, claimed by all of us as our birthright and moral obligation. One of my heroines in U.S. history is the great social reformer, Jane Addams, who lived and worked at Hull-House in Chicago for almost 50 years, helping her immigrant neighbors to practice citizenship—not because of a political system but because democracy is a social ethic, a way of living together in commu- nity, neighborhood, country, some of us think even, the world. She described democracy as a “mixed and thronged road” on which we all are travelers together, navigating our lives together. Surely, Miss Addams illustrated in her own life and work the ways in which mature citizenship—genuine politics—is meeting the needs of our neighbors, building stronger and healthier neighborhoods, finding common purpose and then the will to make it real, and learning to be what political philosopher and ethicist Jean Bethke Elshtain has called “chastened patriots,” those who love a cause or community or country but love it in ways that make it stronger, more responsible, and more faithful to common purpose. This is politics as common, public work. The great Illinois senator, Adlai Stevenson, who ran for president against Dwight Eisenhower in 1952, was once said to have responded at a whistle stop to a supporter who shouted out, “All thoughtful Americans are with you, Adlai,” with this great line, “That won’t be enough.” For those of us committed to the public and civic roles of higher education, we know that one of our great challenges is to educate more informed and thoughtful citizens—work that is a central claim of Augsburg’s mission—and to challenge our students to help others become the same as they reclaim a sense that politics is not simply about who is in power and who is not, not simply about ideology and partisanship, not simply about winners and losers, but instead that politics is the work we all are called to do to ensure that our common purposes will be realized. Please enjoy the many stories in this issue of Augsburg Now that illustrate Augsburg’s commitment to educating informed citizens—a commitment that has implications for our work on campus, in our neighborhood, and around the world. 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 Webmaster/Now Online Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@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 fall 2011 augsburg now Features 7 Homecoming 2011 BY CHERYL CROCKETT 11 15 14 augsburg as a citizen BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 . 13 The Sabo Center Educating citizens and leaders 14 Course-based service-learning Learning beyond the classroom 15 The Bonner Leader program Developing future leaders 16 Community relations The College as an anchor 3 contents 10 7 On the cover Banners along Murphy Square, part of the commons Augsburg shares with the neighborhood, reflect the College’s commitment to service. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 17 What is the commons? BY JAY WALLJASPER 21 Annual report to donors BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Departments inside front cover 2 6 10 29 35 40 44 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad Auggies on the court My Auggie experience It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes Auggie voices Correction: The Summer 2011 issue of Augsburg Now reported that the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council awarded two $10,000 grants to Augsburg College. The awards were granted to Medieval Minnesota and OverExposure. Both programs work in partnership with the College. The grant to Medieval Minnesota was funded, in part, by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. The grant to OverExposure, which worked in partnership with Centro Youth Workshop and Augsburg, was an Arts Learning Grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. quad around the NEWSNOTES U.S.News & World Report names Augsburg College a 2011 Best Regional College This fall, Augsburg was named to the 2011 top 30 “Best Regional Midwest Universities” by U.S.News & World Report. The ranking is based on assessment in 16 areas related to academic excellence. To find out more about the U.S.News & Word Report ranking, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Augsburg one of six to win Washington Center Higher Education Civic Engagement Award For its commitment to public service and community involvement, Augsburg was selected by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to receive the Higher Education Civic Engagement Award. The College is one of six higher education institutions in the nation to receive the honor, which was awarded October 3 at The Washington Center’s annual luncheon, held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Last May, the College was also one of six schools—and the first in Minnesota—to win the Presidential Award for Community Service, the highest federal honor available for service learning. PA students complete a unit on working with older adults by hosting a community health fair for residents of Augustana Apartments in downtown Minneapolis. Physician Assistant program is granted accreditation The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Continued Accreditation to the Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Augsburg College. Continued accreditation is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. Continued Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next comprehensive review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2018. The Augsburg program went from a three-year accreditation cycle to seven—the longest that a program can receive. Dawn Ludwig, Augsburg PA program director, said, “Obtaining seven years of accreditation is a welcome reward and recognizes the dedication of the PA faculty and staff who work to make our program one of the best in the country.” Board of Regents MEMBERS ELECTED At their fall meeting in September, the Augsburg Corporate Governing Board elected four new members to the Augsburg Board of Regents and re-elected three members to second terms. RE-ELECTED REGENTS: Andra Adolfson, Business Development Director, Adolfson & Peterson Construction, Inc. NEW REGENTS: Karen (Miller) Durant ’81, Vice President and Controller, Tennant Company Rolf Jacobson, Associate Professor, Luther Seminary Matt Entenza, Founder and Senior Fellow, Minnesota 2020 Bonnie Wallace, Scholarship Director, Fond du Lac Reservation, and Founder of The Bearheart Women's Foundation Jeffrey Nodland ’77, President and CEO, KIK Custom Products Gary Tangwall ’80, Wealth Advisor, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™ 2 Augsburg Now Also appointed to three-year terms on the board, ex officio, are Bishop Peter Rogness, Saint Paul Area Synod of the ELCA, and Bishop Harold Usgaard, Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. Norwegian royalty VISIT AUGSBURG Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway visited Augsburg College during October as part of their first trip to the United States since 1995. President Paul Pribbenow said the visit was an honor, particularly given the College’s deep commitment to peacemaking and global citizenship, and was a chance to provide the royal couple with a firsthand experience of the deep relationship between Norway and the College. The king and queen attended a worship service with Norwegian students from the region and guests, including the 28 Norwegian students attending Augsburg this semester through the International Partners program. The king and queen also visited Luther and St. Olaf colleges. To commemorate this visit, Augsburg installed a peace pole near the main entrance to the Foss Center. The peace pole celebrates the College’s Norwegian heritage, its relationship with the country and people of Norway, and its work with the Norwegian Nobel Institute to support peacemaking through the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum. The Augsburg College peace pole is constructed of stainless steel and copper, reflecting the College’s urban setting. Inscribed on two of the five sides of the peace pole are statements in Norwegian and in English: Må fred herske på Jorden and May peace prevail on Earth. The other three sides of the pole display the word “peace” or an equivalent word, reflecting the diverse populations that make up Queen Sonja with Abigail Pribbenow, Maya Augsburg’s communities in Pribbenow, and Olivia Szaj, daughter of Vice Minneapolis and around the world. President and Chief of Staff Chris Szaj. The MAL Integrated Graduate Studies cohort explores responsible leadership in downtown Minneapolis. New graduate program offerings This year, Augsburg launched new offerings for graduate students in leadership, social work, and business. INTEGRATED MAL The first cohort of the Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) Integrated Graduate Studies program began meeting in August. This two-year hybrid program uses a combination of online and intensive on-campus learning. Students met in August with Professor Garry Hesser for a one-week intensive session that included neighborhood excursions and visits with local business and community leaders, including Minneapolis city council member Cam Gordon. SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP President Paul Pribbenow and his family dedicate a peace pole outside of Foss Center in honor of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. Augsburg also added a certificate in social entrepreneurship, a program that combines courses in the master of business administration, social work, and leadership programs. The curriculum is designed for students interested in obtaining the skills and competencies necessary for the entrepreneurial pursuit of social impact, and recognizes the unique challenges, opportunities, and qualities associated with trying to create social value. For more information about this certificate, go to the Augsburg MBA website at www.augsburg.edu/mba. Fall 2011 3 quad around the Summer construction on campus Two capital projects were completed this summer on the Minneapolis campus: the Gage Center for Student Success on the link level of Lindell Library, and the creation of new offices for Undergraduate/Graduate Admissions on the lower level of Christensen Center. The Gage Center was made possible through a $900,000 gift from the Gage Family Foundation and the Carlson Foundation. This generous gift allows the College to co-locate critical academic student services in a new learning commons at the heart of campus—further demonstrating Augsburg’s commitment to equipping all students for success. The Gage Center project involved relocation of a portion of the library collection from the link level to new, high-density shelving in the lower level of Lindell Library—a solution that enhances the efficiency of the College’s existing space in supporting student academic needs. Also during the summer, improvements were made to the locker rooms and public spaces in Si Melby Hall. Mortensen Hall, one of Augsburg’s oldest residence halls, received extensive upgrades to its student living and common spaces, including new flooring, plumbing and bathroom upgrades, kitchen cabinetry, shelving, light fixtures, and paint. To see a slideshow of more construction photos, go to www.augsburg.edu/now GAGE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS UNDERGRADUATE/GRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICES 4 Augsburg Now Nobel Prize winners visit Augsburg developing approaches for sharing our commons sustainably and equitably. The two-day event explored the concept of the commons (see story, page 17) and included a social gathering in Murphy Square, Minneapolis’ oldest public park, as well as a walking tour of the neighborhood and a bike tour of the commons in Minneapolis. Festival of the Commons In early October, Elinor Ostrom, winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics, spoke at Augsburg for the Festival of the Commons. This event was a joint project of Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning, the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, and On the Commons, a commons movement strategy center that connects organizations, community leaders, and individuals in Courtesy photo 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Forum (March 1-3) In a master class held at Augsburg, Elinor Ostrom gives advice to area college students about commons-related work they are doing on their campuses and in their communities. This spring, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of South Africa, F.W. de Klerk, will keynote the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Forum on March 2. The Nobel Peace Prize Forum is an annual event that inspires students and other citizens to become active participants in peacemaking efforts around the world. For nearly 24 years, it has been the Norwegian Nobel Institute’s only such program or academic affiliation outside of Norway. De Klerk, who won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela, is known for his work to end apartheid, a systemic policy of racial segregation. De Klerk supported the transformation of South Africa into a multiracial democracy and in recent years has continued his work on peacemaking efforts. Learn more about the Nobel Peace Prize Forum at www.peaceprizeforum.org. STUDENTS TAKE ON interfaith community service challenge This summer, Augsburg was chosen by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge. Throughout this academic year, students representing the Muslim Student Association, Campus Ministry youth ministry teams, ALAS (Allied Latinas/os), Interfaith Scholars, the Pan-Afrikan Student Union (PASU), the women’s track and field team, Campus Kitchen, and the Bonner Leader program will participate in service projects centered on Somali youth in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. In addition, the Interfaith Scholars program, which began formally last spring, will explore and develop the roles of students as public leaders around interfaith literacy and action at Augsburg. President Paul Pribbenow expressed the importance of the College’s commitment to this initiative. He wrote, “As we consider our interfaith work, we are convinced that dialogue and service must be interwoven in all we do. We believe that what we learned through re- Interfaith Scholars team members: Front [L to R] Halimo Abdulkarim ’13, Mai Yang ’13, Luis Hernandez ’14, Miriam Medina ’13, Macha Shatonova ’13, Megan Holm ’12. Back [L to R] Lonna Field, Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning project coordinator; Jorge Mondragon ’13, Pastor Sonja Hagander. Not pictured: Salma Ahmed ’12, Fardosa Hassan ’13, Griffith Orman ’15. cent efforts to encourage interfaith dialogue with our neighbors is something we must do each day. We must seek to live side-by-side, day-by-day, within our neighborhood. Interfaith living is what we must—and do—aspire to teach our students.” Fall 2011 5 auggies on the court Hard work shapes Auggie Honors student, athlete Shelby Vogel stands out in the classroom and on the volleyball court. The Auggie— a pre-med honors student double majoring in chemistry and physics—chalks it up to elbow grease. “I get good grades because I work hard,” Vogel said. “And I don’t feel good unless I work hard. I think that same mindset transferred to sports.” Although she’s a first-year student, she earned enough college credits during high school to enter Augsburg as a sophomore. Vogel was in the National Honor Society during high school and received two of Augsburg’s highest merit-based scholarships—the Regents’ Scholarship and the Courtland Agre Scholarship, which is awarded to incoming first-year students with exceptional academic achievements in science and who meet standards for national test scores and grade point average. Professor Larry Crockett, Vogel’s honors adviser, said that Vogel is setting some of the agenda for discussions in the Honors Scholar Citizen class. “She engages well and raises good questions, which is the heart of the honors academic enterprise,” Crockett said. “It’s what I like to call ‘academic jazz.’” Outside the classroom, Vogel excels on the court. She is a high school all-conference and Junior Olympic volleyball player and was team captain. One of Vogel’s favorite high school memories was going to the state championship during her senior year where she and her teammates beat their rival in the semifinal round. “It was happy and sad,” Vogel said. “We all had played to- 6 Augsburg Now gether since sixth grade, and we beat our rivals in the semifinals. But we lost the championship to a big school, and it was our last game as a team.” Augsburg’s head volleyball coach, Jane Becker, said she’s had her eye on Vogel since Vogel was a high school sophomore. “Shelby brings a maturity to the court that is rare in any athlete, let alone a first-year athlete,” Becker said. “Her priority on the court is that the team succeed. Her work ethic and team attitude have already earned her the respect of her teammates and will serve her as she enters the medical profession. We’re grateful Shelby is an Auggie on the court and in the classroom.” On the court as an Auggie, Vogel hopes to play at the NCAA Division III Tournament. Vogel visited a number of private colleges—most of them in rural settings like her home city of Sheldon, Iowa—before selecting Augsburg. “I wanted to be in the city. I graduated with 89 people in a town of about 5,000,” Vogel said. “I like it here because I’m in a big city on a small campus.” STEPHANIE WEISS 2011 homecoming HOMECOMING 2011 HAS COME AND GONE, but it has left lasting memories for the more than 1,200 Augsburg alumni, students, parents, and friends who participated in the festivities. Several events during the week sparked the homecoming spirit. A student/alumni networking reception provided students an edge in navigating their career paths as they met with alumni already seasoned in their professions. Sports enthusiasts reunited around an alumni baseball game at Parade Stadium. Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were celebrated and awards presented at a special induction ceremony. The Eye-Opener Breakfast featuring Brad Hewitt, president and CEO of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™, provided alumni and friends time to network and learn about community issues. Friday and Saturday came alive with a rich pastiche of “remember when” conversations as reunion classes each gathered to reconnect with one another and the College, including members of the class of 1961 who were inducted into the 50-Year Club. The Friday morning convocation honored six Auggies, and the celebration continued over a lunch, which featured Martha Stortz, Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation. Saturday morning featured the “Best of Augsburg” mini-lectures from three outstanding professors: Garry Hesser, David Murr, and robert tom. A 5K Fun Run Saturday drew alumni, students, and friends, all decked out in their Auggie gear for a morning run through the neighborhood. In the Gage Family Art Gallery and the Christensen Center Art Gallery, artwork from 23 alumni was on display, including ceramics, painting, drawing, multi-media, sculpture, photography, book arts, fiber arts, and printmaking. On Saturday in Murphy Square, more than 30 vendors at the Taste of Augsburg event served up a variety of inviting vittles. The weekend’s centerpiece was, of course, the football game against St. Olaf, and Auggie spirit was at a fever pitch. The celebration continued after the game at the Block Party where more than 600 Auggies gathered to enjoy live music and more fellowship. The crowning touch for an already unforgettable week was the Saturday evening Hognander Music Scholars reunion concert featuring some of Augsburg’s finest musicians from the past 12 years. CHERYL CROCKETT Save the date for Homecoming 2012, September 23 to 29. To nominate an Augsburg alumnus or alumna for the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu. Fall 2011 7 2011 homecoming To see more photos of Homecoming 2011, go to www.augsburg.edu/now 8 Augsburg Now 2011 alumni awards Distinguished Alumni Awards First Decade Award Spirit of Augsburg Awards Corky Hall ’71 Adam Seed ’01 Arlin Gyberg Founder and CEO of Stellus Consulting Vice President, Astra Ventures Inc. Chemistry Professor, Augsburg College I didn’t come to college for reading, writing, and arithmetic; I came for the three Es: Edor Nelson, Ernie Anderson, and Ed Saugestad. But I learned that it’s not about winning and losing on the field; it’s how you win, and lose, every day. Augsburg showed me how to live—how to win and how to lose—which makes us all champions in life. Giving to others, thinking about others, thinking less about oneself—this has been the key to my success. The less I think about myself, the happier I am. Augsburg taught me to manage in life without focusing on myself. It's given me everything I have today. One of the values that stands out at Augsburg is the community of learning experienced here. What has been most rewarding [over the years] are the alumni who stop by to visit, who are still connected. The strong alumni support has been important in the success of the College. I thank you, “family of Augsburg.” Athletic Hall of Fame Wayne Jorgenson ’71 Senior Vice President of Investments at UBS Financial Services In high school, I knew I wanted to be a stockbroker—an ethical one. When you do what’s right for the client, they become more than clients; they become friends. Whatever you choose to do in life, do what’s right. In your heart you will know what that is. Congratulations to the alumni who have been inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame: • Mike Burkhardt ’81, men’s hockey/ baseball • Carrie (Lind) Cabe ’01, women’s track and field • Stu Engen ’86, men’s basketball • Mitch Hegland ’91, wrestling • Kara (Seibel) Hoard ’96, women’s soccer • Matt Kretlow ’91, wrestling • Pat Piepenburg ’69, women’s basketball Norma Noonan Professor and former Director of the Master's of Arts in Leadership, Augsburg College After 45 1/2 years at Augsburg, I still believe it is a special place to work. The Augsburg spirit inspires our work and encourages our success. It nourishes us daily. The Augsburg community continues to be a place of learning, discovery, and collaboration. • Angie Rieger ’01, women’s hockey/ volleyball Judith Schaubach ’68 President of Education Minnesota, retired Education always seems to be a passion of mine. I know how important education was for me; I learned so many values here at Augsburg. Part of my success was being open to new things. You never know what door will open for you as you go through life. Take advantage of those opportunities. • Don Skoy ’73, football For biographies and more information about this year’s alumni award winners, go to www.augsburg.edu/now homecoming alumni awards Fall 2011 9 my Auggie experience This is what an Auggie looks like: Dr. Amit Ghosh ’12 MBA At first glance, it might seem surprising that an accomplished physician and educator, one whose office walls are lined with plaques highlighting his achievements, would count an MBA program as one of the most valuable experiences of his career. But give him a few minutes, and Dr. Amit Ghosh will offer many reasons why the Augsburg MBA has been a highlight for him. As the director of the Mayo Clinic international program, a full professor in the Mayo College of Medicine, and the recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Mayo Educator award, Ghosh had established a successful career as a physician and a diagnostician. “But what I could never do was see what was going on add depth to classroom discussions. “We ask all kinds of questions from all angles, and without any trouble the professor answers them.” After class, Ghosh said his professors often send additional articles and materials to continue the discussions. Ghosh also likes the team-based cohort model and the opportunity to learn from classmates who he said bring valuable and diverse points of view to the program. “I have learned so many things about business from the students in my cohort,” he said. Ghosh appreciates how his classmates challenge him. “They have forgotten I am a physician, and they really ing an organizational diagnostician. He said the program has changed not only how he approaches his work as a physician but also how he teaches at Mayo. “I teach a whole spectrum of learners from students to faculty and use the things I have learned in business school to highlight relevant areas related to service-delivery that I think are not stressed or are missing from medical education,” he said. Ghosh will complete the Augsburg MBA in “My life journey would not be what it is without the Augsburg MBA program. It is one of the highlights of my career.” around me in the business world,” he said. So in 2009, Ghosh’s colleague, Augsburg College regent Dr. Paul Mueller ’84, suggested the MBA program. Now Ghosh is learning, through connections with both the faculty and the students in his Rochester MBA cohort, to become what he calls an “organizational diagnostician.” “At every point in our lives we define ourselves,” Ghosh said. “I thought in my journey with my career I needed to redefine myself, and my Augsburg education has helped me do that.” An esteemed educator in his own field, Ghosh holds the Augsburg faculty in high regard and appreciates the rigor of the curriculum. “I work in a world-class institution, and I can assess quality,” Ghosh said. “The professors at Augsburg are amazing.” Ghosh said his Augsburg MBA professors bring real world experience to the classroom, which is helpful because their experiences 10 Augsburg Now give me a run for my money.” In addition to the faculty and his fellow students, Ghosh said Augsburg staff members have enhanced his experience. He related a story about Ron Kurpiers, a librarian at the Minneapolis campus, who helped Ghosh with a paper. Kurpiers took time on a Sunday, while he was caring for a sick family member, to lead Ghosh step-by-step through the process of finding articles to write a paper. “He thinks like a student, but he works like a librarian,” Ghosh said. “It was as if he were sitting with me.” Perhaps Kurpiers’ extraordinary dedication is one reason why Ghosh now says looking at the library website to find articles is one of his favorite pastimes. His Augsburg education has helped Ghosh grow professionally toward his goal of becom- March 2012, and though he said he looks forward to finishing, it is clear that he does not want his Augsburg experience to end. Maybe, he said, as he matures as a manager, he could consider becoming a part of the Augsburg MBA faculty. Whatever the future holds for Dr. Ghosh, it is clear that he is proud to call himself an Auggie. “My life journey would not be what it is without the Augsburg MBA program. It is one of the highlights of my career.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 A T S R E E T A D A G L U AUGSBURG COLLEGE EDUCATES STUDENTS urban TO BE INFORMED CITIZENS, THOUGHTFUL center for debate democracy league STEWARDS, CRITICAL THINKERS, AND community campus relations kitchen RESPONSIBLE LEADERS. THE AUGSBURG EXPERIENCE IS SUPPORTED BY AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY THAT IS COMMITTED TO INTENTIONAL DIVERSITY IN ITS LIFE league ANDcampus WORK. AN AUGSBURG EDUCATION IS compact DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, GUIDEDbonner BY THE FAITH AND VALUES OF THE leader LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND SHAPED BY ITS service URBAN AND GLOBAL SETTINGS. learning sabo and citizenship high school mathematics center THE MISSION STATEMENT that Augsburg College launched last year begins with a statement of educational outcomes: Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. There is a reason, President Paul Pribbenow said, that “informed citizens” appears first on that list. “It is a part of our legacy to equip our students to think of themselves as citizens in a democracy,” he said. “And this shapes our work through our statement of vocation: we believe we are called to serve our neighbor. That is faith, learning, and service linked.” BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 AUGSBURG AS A citizen BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THE SABO CENTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND LEARNING Fall 2011 11 SABO CENTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND LEARNING The Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning provides venues for Augsburg students and the community to learn from local and national civic leaders and connects students with civic engagement and service-learning opportunities. The components of the center are highlighted here. THE SABO PROFESSOR, SABO SENIOR FELLOWS, AND SABO SCHOLARS uphold Congressman Martin Sabo’s ’59 abiding faith in the role government can play in improving the lives of citizens. Sociology professor Garry Hesser, the Sabo Professor for Citizenship and Learning, is aided in his work by the Sabo Fellows: Senior Fellow for Academic Civic Engagement, Lars Christiansen, associate professor of sociology; Senior Fellow for Civic Agency, Harry Boyte, director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship; Senior Fellow for Leadership and Change, Bill Green, associate professor of history; and Sabo Center Senior Fellow, Jay Walljasper, editor of OnTheCommons.org. The 10 Sabo Scholars collaborate with Congressman Sabo and Hesser to create opportunities for Augsburg students to engage more fully in civic and public life. See page 20 for more about the Sabo Scholars. (See story, page 13.) THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENSHIP collaborates with a variety of partners to promote active citizenship and public work by people of all ages. The center’s work is grounded in the belief that a healthy democracy requires everyone’s participation and that each of us has something to contribute. The center is involved in projects such as the Jane Addams School for Democracy, Public Achievement, the American Commonwealth Project, Twin Cities Teacher Collaborative, and more. (See story, page 13.) COURSE-BASED SERVICE-LEARNING is an integral part of an Augsburg College education. More than 35 courses per year include a service-learning component, bringing students into the community. The Engaging Minneapolis and Augsburg Experience curricular requirements reinforce this commitment to experiential learning. (See story, page 14.) THE CAMPUS KITCHEN program served 23,000 meals last year to residents of the community. Campus Kitchen sponsors a farmers’ market on campus during the growing season, provides growing space in the community garden, and also uses the garden to teach neighborhood youth. 12 Augsburg Now THE AUGSBURG BONNER LEADER program provides financial support through work study jobs, leadership development, and practical skill development for students who are dedicated to integrating community and civic engagement into their college learning experience. (See story, page 15.) Through participation in academic competitive debate programs, the MINNESOTA URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE empowers junior high and high school students in Minneapolis and St. Paul to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities. THE MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS LEAGUE identifies more than 3,000 Minnesota high school students with unusual mathematical ability and brings them together for study, competition, and recognition. MINNESOTA CAMPUS COMPACT leverages the collective assets of higher education institutions and communities, building partnerships and educating students to develop creative solutions to pressing public issues. The coalition brings together all types of higher education institutions dedicated to the civic purposes of higher education. It is also affiliated with the national Campus Compact network, which includes more than 1,100 campuses in all 50 states. As a college in the city, the role of Augsburg’s director of COMMUNITY RELATIONS is vital to establishing and maintaining quality relationships with community members and organizations. (See story, page 16.) the center EDUCATING CITIZENS AND LEADERS Perhaps one of Augsburg’s most important contributors to educating informed citizens is the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning. Established officially in 2009 and named for Martin Olav Sabo ’59, Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District representative in the U.S. House for 28 years, the Sabo Center serves to connect the College to the greater community. The Sabo Center is the College’s hub for public outreach with Campus Kitchen and Augsburg Reads as well as with the Minnesota Urban Debate League, the Minnesota High School Mathematics League, and Minnesota Campus Compact. Also, through community service-learning classes and projects, and programs like The Sabo Scholars have dinner with Martin and Sylvia Sabo each semester. Bonner Leader, Sabo Scholars, and the Center for Democracy and Citizenship (CDC), the Sabo Center gives voice to the College’s mission of educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. And finally, with the support of the Sabo Center staff and College leadership, the director of community relations fulfills the center’s third purpose: to ensure Augsburg’s position in the community. The fact that Augsburg received the 2010 Presidential Award for Community Service is due in great part to the programs and partnerships of the Sabo Center. This is the highest honor in the annual President’s Higher Education Community Serv- sabo sabo ice Honor Roll, and Augsburg was one of only six colleges and universities to receive this distinction. Harry Boyte, director of the CDC, articulates the role of the Sabo Center as a platform for interaction and relationships between the campus and the community. He said, “It’s a way to develop working relationships and engagement and a thematic and philosophical way to address the mission of the College. The public work at the Sabo Center allows serious conceptual thinking about citizenship—being a citizen is about more than being a ‘good person,’ and this provides the public frame to break it open and talk about it.” HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD The Center for Democracy and Citizenship initiated two major projects this fall to help reinforce the role of higher education in promoting active citizenship. THE AMERICAN COMMONWEALTH PROJECT fosters civic learning, public engagement, and stewardship in higher education. The project is a partnership among the Center for Democracy and Citizenship at Augsburg College, the U.S. Department of Education, and the White House Office of Public Engagement. It will deepen connections and relationships and create policies, initiatives, and practices in public engagement efforts across higher education. THE FESTIVAL OF THE COMMONS, co-hosted October 7 and 8 by At the Festival of the Commons, groups discuss how the principles of the commons can be used to address today’s cultural, economic, political, and social divides. center for democracy and citizenship Augsburg College and On The Commons, focused on how society creates, uses, and manages the commons—things we all share and own together. The event featured keynote speaker Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics. Fall 2011 13 course-based service-learning LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM The community service-learning component of the Augsburg curriculum provides significant opportunities for Augsburg students and faculty to interact with the community and develop mutually beneficial relationships. Mary Laurel True, director of servicelearning, emphasized that service-learning is more than community service; it is part of the College’s commitment to the community. “This is about sharing our resources in all areas, asking what the community needs that we can provide,” she said. “It’s not just the courses, it’s the institution as a citizen.” The curricular aspect of service-learning begins at the summer orientation program for undergraduate students in the day program. Throughout their orientation experience, groups explore the neighborhoods and begin to learn about opportunities to engage with and learn from Augsburg’s neighbors. An Augsburg tradition for more than 15 years, City Service Day gives first-year day students an opportunity to serve in and learn about the community through service projects on the day before fall semester classes begin. This September, more than 400 students and their faculty leaders contributed 1,200 hours of service at local schools, community service centers, churches, and theaters. Students continue building neighborhood relationships in their first-year seminar called “AugSem.” AugSem groups are determined by a student’s anticipated major area of study, so AugSem courses and service-learning opportunities engage students in ways that often continue after their first semester at Augsburg. Every year, more than 35 service-learning courses include an experiential education component, which involves an average 14 Augsburg Now of 25 hours of off-campus service-learning in a semester. More importantly, True noted, students must reflect on their experiences. “They get credit for their reflection, not the time they spend in the community,” she said. One example of how service-learning enhances the educational experience is found in the Education Department, where a field service experience is included in all major methods courses. In fact, education majors at Augsburg will complete at least 120 hours of service-learning in different elementary or secondary classrooms before student teaching, according to Jeanine Gregoire, associate professor of education. Augsburg teacher candidates have opportunities to work with schools such as Seward Montessori and the Cedar-Riverside Community School. In cooperation with the classroom teachers, candidates learn how to build a curriculum to address the needs of all learners, including many who are English language learners from the Somali, Hmong, and Korean communities. “It’s a great experiential program for them to see how teaching and learning play out in the classroom,” Gregoire said. Gregoire added that some teacher candidates come to Augsburg with little experience in diverse schools, so service-learning provides a broader perspective on the classroom. “It takes them out of their comfort zone and forces them to think critically about the issues affecting the curriculum,” Gregoire said, “and they get an understanding about the complexities of teaching to eager, bright students who have a huge range of abilities.” Service-learning is an integral part of sociology professor James Vela-McConnell’s upper-division course on social problem analysis. Vela-McConnell chooses a social problem for the class to focus on, and students learn about the issue through traditional research, service in organizations, and intensive interviews with lay people and those who work in social service organizations. The goal, Vela-McConnell said, is to combine all the students’ work into a complete examination of a social problem. “By doing this as a class project and not an individual project,” Vela-McConnell said, “I emphasize that I am not the expert and I become part of the collective learning experience.” He sees this role as valuable for the students because it allows professor and students to connect as equals and to work together. These examples highlight how the learning experience can be enriched for students through service and show how Augsburg can benefit the community by sharing resources. True noted that many of the organizations involved in service-learning relationships with Augsburg have a small group of staff, so Augsburg students provide dedicated volunteer support that helps these organizations succeed and grow. “I think what we have going here is thick and deep and grassroots,” True said. “It’s a reciprocal relationship with the community. It’s a long-term commitment.” To see a video about James Vela-McConnell’s class, go to www.augsburg.edu/now service learning bonner leader DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS the bonner leader program The College’s commitment to the community has been extended through the Bonner Leader program. Now in its fourth year at Augsburg, the Bonner program connects 40 students to local partners including schools, community centers, churches, and other nonprofit organizations. Bonner students commit 10 to 12 hours per week working with the organizations as well as three to five volunteer hours per month. Kristin Farrell, director of the Bonner Leader program, said she believes the program affects students in multiple ways. “It changes the way they see themselves and their communities, and it changes the way they do academics. They see their education as a way to make change in the world,” she said. Bonner students meet as a group with Farrell three times monthly for training and enrichment, giving them a chance to reflect with their peers and to make connections to their classes. Through these experiences, Farrell said students uncover their gifts, and this discovery can lead to new direction in their education or career paths. ’13 ARIANNA GENIS Working with Urban Ventures creating a leadership development program for Latino students “Bonner has taught me the importance of being a part of a community and going out and really getting to know people. The people I have worked with in my placements have given me much more than I have to them.” Because Bonner students often make a long-term commitment to an organization, Farrell said the partners tend to expect more from the students than they would from a short-term intern or a volunteer. This provides opportunities for students to become deeply engaged in the work of the organization. Farrell added that the program shapes community leaders who are sought after by employers. “I think being in the Bonner Leader program gives students a leg up as they leave Augsburg,” she said. “Organizations want people who are knowledgeable about communities.” “The Bonner program provides a deep level of relationships to community partners and a very purposeful way of getting students immersed in the community,” Farrell said. It also connects Augsburg students to a network of more than 10,000 Bonner alumni—students focused on social justice issues who help connect Augsburg grads to opportunities beyond college and in communities outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. ’12 MALLORY CARSTENS Assisting with the school social worker and afterschool programs at the FAIR magnet school in downtown Minneapolis “I was undecided in my major, and Bonner really helped me grow into what I consider my vocation. It led me to social work and to a whole new set of values and interests. It really shaped my Augsburg experience.” ’12 CLAIRE BERGREN A community organizer at the Harrison neighborhood association in North Minneapolis “I came to Augsburg thinking I wanted to be a lawyer because I wanted to help people in some way. Now I realize that is not the best way for me, but I can help people through direct interaction with them. I am attracted to doing community organizing because you are so immersed in the experience and in the communities, and you become part of people’s lives.” To read about Bonner Leader Andy Rodriguez ’12 or view a video about the program, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2011 15 community relations community relations THE COLLEGE AS AN ANCHOR 16 Augsburg’s engagement in the community is deepened by its commitment to becoming an “anchor institution”—an organization that thinks and behaves as a citizen and contributes to community wealth building and local economies. The College serves as an anchor institution not only through service-learning and outreach programs but also through Steve Peacock, director of community relations. He sees his work as a complement to other Sabo Center programs, playing the behindthe-scenes role of representing Augsburg and developing relationships with community organizations. For more than three years, Augsburg has been a member of the Cedar-Riverside Partnership, which is currently chaired by Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. The partnership, which includes the City of Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and Pillsbury United Communities, provides a venue for neighborhood issues to be addressed in creative ways. One example is the road construction on Riverside Avenue, which began this summer. The members of the partnership saw this as an opportunity to change the character of the area and provide a welcoming, safe gateway to the neighborhood. Working with the City of Minneapolis, the partnership advocated for lighting, new green spaces, and other improvements to the Riverside corridor that would enhance the vitality of the neighborhood. “As an anchor institution, we have a responsibility to ‘place.’ It is in our self interest to ensure that the neighborhood is healthy, vibrant, and safe,” Peacock said. “But we also have a responsibility to strengthen our shared values.” Part of an anchor institution’s role is to support workforce development within a community. Augsburg has been involved in one such initiative as a host for the Urban Scrubs Camp, which is presented by HealthForce Minnesota with support from Boston Scientific. This one-week camp gives more than 70 inner city high school students a hands-on opportunity to learn about healthcare careers. It also helps to educate area youth, addresses the need for workforce development for local hospitals, and strengthens relationships with community partners. In 2011, nearly all of the students attending received a scholarship to the camp through the CedarRiverside Partnership. Augsburg also works closely with the Seward and Cedar-Riverside business associations to promote local businesses to the College community. “As a consumer and investor in the community, we are sensitive to neighborhood businesses and are helping to strengthen them as much as possible,” Peacock said. Augsburg Now In the past, Augsburg marketing courses have developed promotional campaigns for local businesses aimed at students, staff, and faculty. Last spring, a group of marketing students promoted the local restaurant, the Wienery, with a “wiener walk.” This year Cedar-Riverside restaurants, including the recently opened Afro Deli, participated in the Taste of Augsburg event during Homecoming, and Augsburg will be involved in the “Franklin Frolic” to support Franklin Avenue businesses in early December. Because the College has a strong commitment to and sees itself as part of the community, Peacock finds his work very gratifying. “Augsburg is a really exciting place to do this kind of work. Building upon strong relationships and taking them to another level improves not only our opportunities but our neighbors’ as well.” EDUCATING INFORMED citizens At the September 2011 Augsburg Corporation meeting, President Paul Pribbenow described the College’s vision of neighborhood well-being related to the anchor institution movement. He said, “In major urban areas, higher education institutions have begun to think of themselves differently, not as places that have all the answers … but in fact places that want to enter into mutual conversation and mutual benefit for each other, for the sake of the city, for the sake of the neighborhood.” Pribbenow makes clear that the College’s role in the community is reciprocal. “We are moving away from a charity model,” he said. “It’s not what we can do for them but what we can do together.” In Augsburg’s mission, in its academic programs, in the common life of the College and its neighbors, and in outreach to the community, Augsburg lives out its commitment to service. Guided by the work of the Sabo Center, the College will continue its deep and lasting commitment to the community as it educates informed citizens who will build and sustain the communities in which they live and work. WHAT IS THE commons? AND WHY DOES IT MATTER TO US RIGHT NOW? BY JAY WALLJASPER, Senior Fellow of Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning Editor's Note: On October 7 and 8, the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning hosted a “Festival of the Commons” in partnership with On the Commons, a commons movement strategy center. This article, written by Jay Walljasper, editor of OnTheCommons.org and senior fellow of the Sabo Center, provides an explanation and examples of the concept of the commons in our world today. It’s an old idea—the chief organizing principle for human society for most of history—that’s now being rediscovered and reinvigorated all around the world. The commons means what belongs to all of us—and the many diverse ways we share it equitably and sustainably among each other and coming generations. It describes a sweeping set of practices that range from the intricate social structures of indigenous people to the ever-evolving networks of connection fostered by the Internet. And everything in between—natural and human-made. The commons is essential to our survival and happiness, touching our lives all day long—from the water with which we brush our teeth in the morning to the fairy tales we tell children at bedtime. The natural commons makes life itself possible thanks to air, water, biodiversity, and DNA. The cultural commons makes human civilization possible through the sharing of knowledge, language, inventions, stories, and art. The social commons makes our modern way of life possible through educational institutions, medical expertise, engineering know-how, and communication tools. Even the market economy depends on the commons for the natural resources and human capital that drive its profits, as well as the legal and regulatory systems without which it would fall apart. Unfortunately, the commons today is under assault. The natural environment continues to suffer devastation, including the specter of global climate disruption. Privatization policies fence us out of resources that once could be used by everyone, and budget-squeezed governments and civic institutions scale back on services upon which we depend. Meanwhile, many people are convinced their security and well being depend entirely on what they can possess individually, to the detriment of the common good. But the good news is that people everywhere are standing up to protect and promote what we all share. Some, inspired by the work of Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom (who visited Augsburg this fall; see page 5), are launching a movement to draw attention to all the ways that the spirit and practice of the commons can help solve the pressing problems of our time, including economic inequity, environmental decline, Fall 2011 17 social isolation, and political alienation. Many others are not familiar with the term at all but continue to roll up their sleeves to do crucial work in their communities, guided by their instincts for the common good. They are commoners, too. At this tumultuous moment in history, the commons provides us with a compelling vision of a society where “we” matters as much as “me.” THE WEALTH ALL AROUND US Examples of the commons in our daily lives • Air and water • Parks, libraries, streets, and sidewalks • Social Security, the National Weather Service, police protection, and other public services • Wilderness preserves and national forests • Wikipedia and open source initiatives • Musical styles, dance steps, and fashion trends • Biodiversity • The Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Koran, Zen Koans, Hindu Upanishads, Norse sagas, and indigenous tales of creation • Blood banks, soup kitchens, 12-step groups, museums, and other civic efforts • Oceans, Antarctica, and outer space GOOD NEWS ABOUT YOUR NET WORTH We are all co-owners of some very valuable assets Let me offer some good news about the state of your wealth. Sure, real estate values and the stock market look shaky these days, and no one’s job appears safe anymore. But what you possess individually accounts for only part of your true net worth. Each of us also owns a stake in some extremely valu- 18 Augsburg Now able assets: clean air, fresh water, national parks, the internet, civic institutions, cultural traditions, and more. Just like personal property, these things enhance our lives in countless ways—roads we travel, public spaces where we gather, medical and scientific breakthroughs we take advantage of, and accumulated human knowledge we use for free many times each day. In fact, without these commonly held resources, our modern society and market economy would never have gotten off the ground. When the economy appeared to be booming, many of us didn’t care about the commons; it hardly seemed to matter that the local recreation center was in disrepair and Social Security in trouble. Private health clubs and IRAs would meet those needs. But today, Americans are increasingly grateful for services and opportunities provided for us beyond profit-making ventures. But the news about our common wealth is not all good. It faces major threats. The financial crisis has created new pressures for federal, state, and local governments to slash critical services and programs that we depend on. Transit, public schools, libraries, medical assistance, social services, and parks have been on the chopping block in many communities. Fortunately, there’s a new movement of “commoners” from all walks of life who are standing up to protect things that we all share. More than just an activist cause, the commons is becoming a model for thinking differently about how we make decisions, manage resources, and think about responsibilities. BUSINESS BASED ON WHAT WE SHARE Latino entrepreneur—and Augsburg grad— returns to his roots with a local food project “Common sense” is a term entrepreneur Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin ’03, uses with ever increasing enthusiasm to describe the local food initiative he is creating with immigrant Latino farmers in Minnesota. “I come from the commons,” said Haslett-Marroquin, who grew up in Guatemala, where his family still farms communal lands. “And I am going back to the commons.” Haslett-Marroquin, who graduated from Augsburg with a degree in business administration, is the co-founder of the fair trade Peace Coffee Company. In 2006, he founded the Rural Enterprise Center in Northfield, Minn., which, like many Midwestern communities, has attracted growing numbers of Latin American immigrants. In times of economic stagnation, many people worry that immigrants are taking jobs needed by native-born Americans. These fears are especially keen in small towns, where the impact of the continuing economic crisis hits hard. HaslettMarroquin, however, sees an opportunity that can benefit both immigrants and the community as a whole. He noticed that many people around Northfield were eager to eat more locally raised, healthy food but were unable to afford it or sometimes even find it. At the same time, he saw that Latino immigrants had lifelong experience as sustainable farmers but lacked the financial means to take up farming. The solution was obvious. Find a way to get Latino farmers back on the land and connect them with consumers seeking wholesome food. This is exactly what Haslett-Marroquin did in launching a free-range poultry cooperative, market garden, and family farmer training program, all designed to put good food on local dinner tables and income into the pockets of family farmers. “Agripreneurship” is how HaslettMarroquin described this effort to revive family farming for local markets by taking advantage of immigrants’ first hand knowledge of small-scale sustainable agriculture practices. “Commons sense,” he said, is another word for what he and his colleagues are doing. This small-farmer training center and coop is a shining example of an emerging co-op idea known as commons-based development—a strategy that strengthens the commons by making sure that economic expansion projects help the community as a whole. While commons work is often seen as an activist or community cause more than a business model, Hasslett-Marroquin’s projects embody fundamental commons principles: a commitment to future generations, a focus on sustaining the earth, and a means of providing a benefit to everyone. As Haslett-Marroquin said, “The commons is a very straightforward commonsense approach to creating systems that sustain society and sustain life on the planet.” COOPERATION IS NO TRAGEDY First woman to win Nobel Prize in Economics proves that common ownership does not inevitably lead to ruin izenship and Learning) has documented how communities around the world equitably and sustainably manage common resources such as grazing lands, forests, irrigation waters, and fisheries over the long term. A classic example is her field research in a Swiss village where farmers tend private plots for crops but share a communal meadow to graze their cows. While this would appear a perfect model to prove the tragedy-of-the-commons theory, Ostrom discovered that in reality there were no problems with overgrazing. That is because of a common agreement among villagers that no one is allowed to graze more cows on the meadow than they can care for over the winter—a rule that dates back to 1517. Ostrom has documented similar effective examples of “governing the commons” in her research in Kenya, Guatemala, Nepal, Turkey, and Los Angeles. YOU MAY ALREADY BE A COMMONER Many people view the commons as a tragedy rather than a fresh new worldview to help us move toward greater economic fairness, environmental harmony, and democratic participation. This notion was popularized by wildlife biologist Garrett Hardin in a 1968 essay in Science magazine, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” in which he described how people who share common resources will inevitably degrade them. Although Hardin later qualified his theory as applying only in specific situations, the phrase is still widely invoked to argue that privatized property is the only practical method for managing land, resources, or other valuable assets. The message is clear: Any kind of cooperative ownership will lead to ruin. But that blanket assertion was debunked two years ago when Indiana University political scientist Elinor Ostrom won the Nobel Prize in Economics. Through the decades, Ostrom (who spoke at Augsburg in October as part of a Festival of the Commons, organized by the Sabo Center for Cit- Ten ways to find out You may be a commoner if you: 1. Question the prevailing myth that all problems have private, individualized solutions. 2. Notice how many of life’s pleasures exist outside the money economy—gardening, fishing, conversing, playing music, playing ball, praying, watching sunsets. 3. Take time to appreciate and enjoy what the commons offers. (As the visionary Brazilian educator Paulo Freire once declared during an Augsburg College visit, “We are bigger than our schedules.”) 4. Keep in mind that security and satisfaction are more easily acquired from family and friends than from money. 5. Offer a warm smile or greeting to people you pass. The commons begins with connecting, even in brief, spontaneous ways. as if you own them (which, actually, you do). Tidy things up. Report problems, or repair things yourself. Initiate improvement campaigns. 7. Are interested in exploring ways that things you now pay for could be acquired in more cooperative ways—checking out DVDs at the library, perhaps, or quitting the health club and forming a morning jogging club. 8. Watch where your money goes. How do the stores, companies, and financial institutions you use help or harm the commons? This includes their impact on the environment and on poor communities around the world. 9. Share your knowledge ideas with online commons such as Wikipedia, online communities open-education projects, and open-access journals. Or you could form your own online community around what matters to you. 10. Think of yourself as a commoner and share your enthusiasm. Raise the subject in conversation, around the neighborhood and at work. Stand up against threats to the commons in your community and around the world. Speak out in favor of opportunities to expand the commons. These articles are updated from All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons (The New Press, 2011) and a flyer handed out at the Festival of the Commons on the Augsburg College campus October 7 and 8. Jay Walljasper, former editor of Utne Reader, is author/editor of All That We Share and editor of www.OnThe Commons.org. On The Commons, a commons movement strategy center, co-sponsored the Festival of the Commons at Augsburg. Walljasper was recently named a Senior Fellow of Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning. 6. Treat common spaces in your community Fall 2011 19 it takes an Auggie A continuing legacy of public service It is hard to imagine a career more dedicated to public service and civic engagement than that of Martin Sabo ’59. One year after graduating from Augsburg College, Sabo was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. More than 45 years later, he retired from a distinguished 28year career in the U.S. House of Representatives. During that time, Sabo also served for 12 years as a regent for the College, was named an Augsburg Distinguished Alumnus, and received the first 2011-12 SABO SCHOLARS honorary degree, a Doctor of Humane Letters Front Row [L to R]: Rachael Okerlund ’12, Angela Bonfiglio ’13, Katherine DeKrey ’12, Sylvia Sabo, Martin Sabo ’59, (Honoris Causa), conferred by the College. Katie Radford ’12; Back Row [L to R]: Adam Spanier ’12, Rachel Svanoe ’13, Eli Grobel ’12, Claire Bergren ’12, Sabo Today, Martin and his wife, Sylvia Sabo—parProfessor Garry Hesser, Arianna Genis ’13, Andrew Rodriguez ’13. ents of Auggies Karin Mantor ’86 and Julie Sabo ’90—continue their public service work by supportpublic service. By engaging these students in conversation about ing the Augsburg College Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning, public service, the Sabo Scholars program carries forward the the Sabo Scholars program, and the annual Sabo Symposium. Sabos’ abiding faith in the role that government can play in imAs the stories on the previous pages show, the Sabo Center enproving the lives of citizens. compasses a wide-ranging set of programs that include the ColThe Sabo Center also annually convenes the Sabo Public Policy lege’s civic engagement, community-based involvement, and Symposium. Last year’s event was “2010 Healthcare Reform: What service-learning programs. Through the work of the center, Will It Mean for You (and The Nation)?” This year, in place of the Augsburg has earned national recognition as a college with a public policy symposium, the Sabo Center hosted the Festival of strong commitment to education for service. the Commons, featuring 2009 Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom, disIn addition, each year the Sabos, along with Sabo Professor cussing how society creates, uses, and manages “the commons”— Garry Hesser, work directly with 10 Augsburg juniors and seniors things we all share (see story, page 5). chosen as Sabo Scholars for their interest in and commitment to Through these programs, supported by the generous gifts and engagement in the political process, public policy, or careers in engagement of the Sabos and others, Augsburg creates opportunities for civic experiences and skill-building— inside and outside the classroom—for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members—and carries on the Sabos’ and the College’s important commitment to public service. REBECCA JOHN The 2011-12 Sabo Scholars kick off the academic year with conversation and dinner at the home of Sylvia and Martin Sabo. The Sabo Scholars meet monthly with Representative Sabo, Sabo Professor Garry Hesser, local alumni, and other leaders engaged in public service, policy-related work, and the political process. 20 Augsburg Now AUGSBURG COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS 2010-2011 Fall 2011 21 DEAR FRIENDS, It is no accident that the first four words of our mission statement are, “Augsburg College educates students...” I put the emphasis on the word “educates” because our academic program is at the heart of what we do as a college. The quality of that program—its innovative core curriculum rooted in vocational exploration, its focus on interdisciplinary inquiry, its commitment to student learning, its excellence and national recognition in several different disciplines—has been deeply influenced by private philanthropic support over the years, and this year is no exception. In fiscal year 2011, the College received nearly $9.3 million dollars in external financial support. Daily, we are reminded of this generous philanthropic investment on our campus: the buildings that house our academic programs, our offices, and our students; our ability to entice academically gifted students to enroll, to aid students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a college education, and to support students who show intellectual promise but may be lacking social or personal support structures that ensure success; and the talented faculty and staff who teach and guide the next generation of leaders. But this philanthropy—your philanthropy—has not only paid for buildings, scholarships, salaries, and resources; it has also advanced and continues to enhance and grow the quality of teaching and learning at Augsburg. • The impact of your gifts is realized in the remarkable number of students undertaking annual research projects that are funded through the Sundquist Science Scholars program, the Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunities (URGO) office, and the McNair Scholars program, among others. • It is exemplified in our robust Honors program that challenges students to think critically and perform to the very best of their abilities. • It is illustrated by the national recognition for Augsburg’s notable achievement of embedding service learning into our core curriculum and by the recognition of our graduates who successfully compete for the highest international academic honors and awards such as the Fulbright, Gilman, Goldwater, Rhodes, Rossing, Rotary, and Udall scholarships. • It is embodied in the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work, which guides and supports students as they seek to discern their vocations and in the Gage Center for Student Success, the College’s newest learning commons, which houses critical academic enrichment services in Lindell Library, at the heart of campus. The long and meaningful history of private investment in Augsburg makes a difference not only in resources but also in the quality of outcomes of our academic program. Our generous donors matter, your gifts matter, and we are grateful and humbled every day because you have been willing to translate your commitment to education, your love for this place, and your belief in our mission into financial support for our work. We believe that philanthropy is a place where your values and passions intersect—it is part of your vocation—and we celebrate the fact that you have found Augsburg a worthy recipient of your generosity and partner in your vocational journey. Thank you. Sincerely, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW PRESIDENT 22 Augsburg Now ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 2010-2011 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Where the Money Comes From 3% Other sources 2011 Endowment Market Value May 31, 2011 $33,268,034 4% Government grants 9% Private gifts and grants 11% Room and board As of May 31, 2011, we have annual realized and unrealized gains of 17.01% on our endowment. Our five-year average annual return on the endowment is 3.44%, and the 10-year average annual return is 3.08%. We are committed to maintaining the value of principal gifts and to provide support to the College in perpetuity. 73% $33.3 $32.4 $31.5 Tuition $25.4 $28.2 $27.2 $27.8 $24.5 $22.7 $22.9 2% Where the Money Goes Student salary 4% Debt service 3% Equipment and capital improvement 44% Salary and benefits 3% Utilities 24% 2002 Financial aid 2003 2004 20% 2007 2008 “ WHY I GIVE “ I had such a wonderful education at Augsburg, and I think my whole philosophy of life and giving was developed here and in my family. I have given since I graduated … and I continue, I suppose, because I see the ongoing mission of education to serve others, and what I am most thrilled about these years is that Augsburg welcomes everyone…. I’m proud of the strides in everything from community service to Rhodes Scholars to you name it. We’re just getting better and better, and more diverse and wonderful. Leann Hanson Lake ’67 2006 2009 2010 2011 Endowment Assets (in millions) June 1, 2002 – May 31, 2011 Other “ 2005 ” I give to Augsburg because somebody else had given before me and that allowed me to attend a four-year private school that met all the needs I had. Hopefully my giving will do the same for another student. Marie Odenbrett ’01 ” “It’s our conviction, Kathy’s and mine, that God gives gifts that they might be used in the world. We started giving to Augsburg when we were seniors in Augsburg … way back in 1976. Augsburg has grown; we have seen it over the decades just become a better and better school, and we’re happy to be a part of that so that more and more people might be educated under the auspices of the church … that they might be better servants of the world.” Norman Wahl ’76, Kathy (Anderson) Wahl ’76 To hear more Auggies tell why they give, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2011 23 s e i g augANGING ARE CH E WORLD TH AUGSBURG RECOGNIZES DONORS with event series This summer Augsburg launched a new event series to recognize contributions at all levels and methods of giving. The series began in August with the Celebration of Philanthropy to recognize a broad range of annual, lifetime, and deferred gift donors. At this evening of activity and fellowship, guests had their photo taken with Auggie Eagle, shared why they support Augsburg in a video booth and on a large display board, and met student researchers. The evening ended with dessert and discussion and the presentation of a video showing how Auggies and donors are changing the world. The series continued with a September boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka for recent alumni donors to The Augsburg Fund. Upcoming events include a holiday dinner and Advent Vespers service in December for the College’s leadership and major gift donors, the annual Scholarship Donor Brunch for benefactors in April, and a class party for the winners of the 2012 student philanthropy competition. Individual invitations will be sent closer to the events. To see the video featured at the Celebration of Philanthropy, go to www.augsburg.edu/now celebration of philanthropy 24 Augsburg Now ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 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 (6) Geoffrey ’89 and Kelly Gage Harris ’57 and Maryon Lee Helen and Ernest† Alne Richard ’96 and Britt Gage James Lindell Sr. ’46† Brian Anderson ’82 and Leeann Rock ’81 Scott and Gina Gage Susan Scott ’97 Lindquist and David Lindquist Catherine and Charles Anderson General Mills Foundation Arne ’49 and Jean Swanson ’52 Markland Daniel ’65 and Alice Anderson Martha Gisselquist ’86 Jennifer and Richard Martin Donald ’60 and Violet Anderson Michael ’71 and Ann Good Clayton ’91 and Denise Sideen ’94 McNeff Oscar† ’38 and Leola† Anderson Roger Griffith ’84 and Jean Taylor ’85 Marie and Larry McNeff Steven and Stephanie Anderson H. Theodore ’76 and Michele Grindal Gerard and Anne Meistrell Leona Radman Antholz ’41† Raymond ’57 and Janice Grinde Hoyt ’39† and Lucille Messerer Clarette† ’29 and Luther† ’29 Arnold Phillip ’55† and Lynne Mueller Gronseth Robert ’70 and Sue Midness Earl and Doris Bakken Carolyn and Franklin Groves Spencer ’66 and Gay Johnson ’66 Minear Loren and Mary Quanbeck ’77 Barber Guarani Foundation Alan Montgomery and Janet Karvonen-Montgomery Elizabeth ’82 and Warren Bartz Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Marlys Backlund ’54 Morland and Robert† Morland Paul ’63 and LaVonne Olson ’63 Batalden James and Kathleen Haglund Paul ’84 and Nancy Mackey ’85 Mueller Sidney ’57 and Lola Lidstrom ’50 Berg Dale ’60 and Carolyn Hanka William and Stephanie Naegele Barbara and Zane Birky Hunt and Diane Harris George ’68 and Tamra Nelson Carl Blegen† Hearst Foundation Ida Nelson† Roy ’50 and Ardis Bogen Loren Henderson† Ronald ’68 and Mary Kay Nelson Joyce and John† Boss Donald Hennings Clifford and Martha Nylander† Donald Bottemiller and Shellie Reed Grace Forss ’57 Herr and Douglas Herr Robert Odegard ’51† Rodney and Barbara Burwell Orville ’36† and Gertrude Lund ’36† Hognander R. Luther Olson ’56 Bush Foundation O. C. Hognander, Jr. Beverly Halling ’55 Oren and Donald ’53 Oren Carlson Companies Donald ’39 and Phyllis Holm John and Norma Paulson The Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation Allen and Jean Housh Robert ’50 and Ruth Paulson Judith Christensen Garfield Hoversten ’50 Richard Pautz ’37† Richard ’74 and Nancy Colvin Robert Hoversten George† and Elizabeth† Pennock Mary Brandt ’79 Croft and David Croft Lester Hoversten† Glen Person ’47 Oliver Dahl ’45 Huss Foundation Harvey ’52 and Joanne Varner ’52 Peterson Michael ’86 and Dorothy Darling Glenda† and Richard Huston Joyce Anderson ’65 Pfaff and Douglas Pfaff Theodore and Pamala Deikel Sandra and Richard Jacobson Addison and Cynthia Piper Deluxe Corporation Foundation James Johnson and Maxine Isaacs David Piper Darrell ’55 and Helga Egertson Kinney Johnson ’65 Harry and Mary Piper Tracy Elftmann ’81 Wayne ’71 and Carol Pederson ’72 Jorgenson Philip ’50 and Dora Frojen ’49 Quanbeck Fuad and Nancy El-Hibri Dean ’75 and Terry Kennedy Mark ’53 and Jean Raabe Raymond Erickson ’50† Bruce and Maren Kleven Alan Rice Malcolm† and Maybelle† Estrem David and Barbara Kleven Olive Ronholm ’47† Ever Cat Fuels, LLC E. Milton ’46 and Dorothy Lisjing ’47† Kleven Curtis and Marian Sampson Philip and Laverne Fandrei Dean and Susan Kopperud Ward ’74 and Catherine Schendel Jerome ’37† and Winifred Helland ’37† Formo Kraus-Anderson Construction Company Ruth Schmidt ’52† Jerry and Jean Foss Roy† and Eleanor† Krohn James and Eva Seed Julian Foss ’30† Harriett Kurek† Rodney Sill ’82 William and Anne Frame Dean ’62 and Barbara Beglinger ’63 Larson John and Martha Singleton Paul† ’42 and Maxine† Fridlund Diane and Philip Larson Glen and Anna Skovholt Barbara and Edwin Gage George ’61 and Mary Larson David Soli ’81 Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correctly. If you notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. † Deceased Fall 2011 25 Paul† and Lorene† Steen Gary ’80 and Deanna Tangwall Robert Wagner ’02 Genevieve Stelberg† Glen A. Taylor Foundation Scott Weber ’79 Gladys Boxrud ’46 Strommen and P. Dawn Heil ’78 Taylor and Jack Taylor† Larry Wefring Teagle Foundation Robert Wick ’81 Conrad Sunde ’15† Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Elsie Wildung† Leland and Louise Sundet Barbara Tjornhom ’54 Nelson and Richard Nelson John ’74 and Marvel Yager Dean ’81 and Amy Norman Sundquist Robert ’63 and Marie Tufford Lisa Zeller ’81 and Glenn Fuller Helen Sverdrup† Emily Anne and Gedney Tuttle Johan Sverdrup† Andrew Urness† Clair Strommen ’46† PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE GIFTS RECEIVED JUNE 1, 2010 TO MAY 31, 2011 The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College who made annual gifts of $1,000 or more in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Founders Society ($100,000 and above) Alvin John and Ruth Huss Anonymous (1) James Johnson and Maxine Isaacs Cynthia Landowski ’81 Jones and Rick Jones Barbara and Edwin Gage Wayne ’71 and Carol Pederson ’72 Jorgenson Craig Jones E. Milton Kleven ’46 Dean and Susan Kopperud Dean ’75 and Terry Kennedy Dean ’81 and Amy Norman Sundquist Douglas and Norma Madsen Linda Larson ’70 and C. Jerry Sells Jennifer and Richard Martin Lyle ’68 and Susanne Starn ’68 Malotky Regents’ Fellows ($50,000 - $99,999) Marie and Larry McNeff Marilyn McIver Helen Alne Clayton ’91 and Denise Sideen ’94 McNeff Rick and Jean Mofsen Richard ’74 and Nancy Colvin Spencer ’66 and Gay Johnson ’66 Minear Jeffrey ’77 and Becky Bjella ’79 Nodland Alan Rice Lisa Novotny ’80 and Mark Flaten Vance and Darin Opperman Paul Pribbenow and Abigail Crampton Pribbenow Robert ’50 and Ruth Paulson Regents’ Society ($25,000 - $49,999) Mark ’53 and Jean Raabe Karl D. Puterbaugh ’52 Aaron Assad ’10 Philip Rowberg ’41 Philip ’50 and Dora Frojen ’49 Quanbeck Alfred Assad Joseph and Lynn Schmitt Bruce and Sharon Reichenbach Michael ’71 and Ann Good James and Eva Seed Leeann Rock ’81 and Brian Anderson ’82 James Lindell ’46† Earl ’68 and Lisbeth Jorgensen ’70 Sethre Philip Jr. and Margaret Rowberg Christopher McIver Gladys Boxrud ’46 Strommen Curtis and Marian Sampson Donald ’53 and Beverly Halling ’55 Oren Jean Taylor 1985 and Roger Griffith ’84 Marilee Alne ’65 Schroeder and William Schroeder John and Norma Paulson Emily Anne and Gedney Tuttle Inez Olson ’59 Schwarzkopf and Lyall Schwarzkopf Rodney and Theresa Schott Robert Wick ’81 Michael and Pamela Sime John Schwartz ’67 John and Eleanor Yackel Philip ’79 and Julia Davis ’79 Styrlund John ’74 and Marvel Yager 26 Jodi and Stanley Harpstead Gary ’80 and Deanna Tangwall President’s Executive Cabinet ($10,000 - $24,999) President's Council ($5,000 - $9,999) Peter and Linda Vogt Andra Adolfson Anonymous (1) Renata Winsor Daniel 1965 and Alice Anderson Deloris Anderson ’56 Frank ’50† and Georgette Lanes ’50 Ario Brian Anderson ’82 and Leeann Rock ’81 President’s Society ($2,500 - $4,999) Carla Asleson ’91 Steven and Stephanie Anderson Anonymous (2) Fuad and Nancy El-Hibri LaVonne Olson ’63 Batalden and Paul ’63 Batalden Scott Anderson ’96 Matthew Entenza and Lois Quam Judith Christensen Paul ’63 and LaVonne Olson ’63 Batalden H. Theodore ’76 and Michele Grindal Larry Cole 1966 Carolyn Burfield ’60 Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Richard ’72 and Tamara Ekstrand C. Lee Clarke James and Kathleen Haglund Susan Engeleiter Liv Dahl Hunt and Diane Harris John ’82 and Joan Moline 1983 Evans Grant Dasher Richard and Dail Hartnack Leola Dyrud ’61 Furman Karen ’81 and Charles Durant Augsburg Now Tyler Uccellini ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 Ronald Engebretsen Thomas Anderson ’72 Mark and Margie Eustis Jamie Fragola Charles and Catherine Anderson Jennifer and Dean Eyler Anthony ’85 and Traci Genia Scott ’76 and Lisa Anderson Barbara Farley Roger ’61 and Barbara Milne ’60 Gordon Orvella Anderson Duncan Flann ’55 Raymond ’57 and Janice Grinde Christine Pieri ’88 Arnold and James ’88 Arnold Dawn Formo Gaylord (Corky) ’71 and Lori Hall Ann and Kenneth Ashton-Piper William and Anne Frame Lisa Svac ’85 Hawks Vera Thorson ’45 Benzel Robert Frantz and Janell Grazzini Frantz Bruce Holcomb ’90 and Caroline Vernon John Berg ’59 Andrew Fried ’93 Allen and Jean Housh Norman ’59 and Delores Berg JoAnne Digree ’68 Fritz and Barry Fritz J. Vernon ’47 and Irene Jensen John and Lorelei Bergman Barbara and Frederick Gaiser Dr. Ruth E. Johnson ’74 and Philip Quanbeck II Buffie Blesi ’90 and John Burns Ann Garvey Carol Jones David ’68 and Lynn Boe Orval and Cleta Gingerich Joanne Stiles ’58 Laird and David Laird Florence Helland ’54 Borman and Dennes Borman John and Carolyn Goddard Harris ’57 and Maryon Lee Donald Bottemiller and Shellie Reed Alexander ’90 and Simone Gonzalez Andre Lewis ’73 and Kathleen McCartin Louis Branca Shirley Larson ’51 Goplerud and Dean Goplerud Robert ’71 and Cheryl Lindroos ’72 Martin Marilyn Saure ’61 Breckenridge and Tom Tim ’80 and Gail Gordon Christopher ’00 and Tara Cesaretti ’97 McLeod Breckenridge Thomas Gormley and Mary Lesch-Gormley Deidre Durand ’88 and Bruce Middleton Paul ’55 and Rosalind Britton Amy Gort Thomas and Lorraine Morgan Michael Brock Charles Gould ’76 and Gayle Kvenvold Ronald ’68 and Mary Kay Nelson Adam Buhr ’98 and Laura Pejsa ’98 Charles and Barbara Green Beverly Omdahl ’55 Nelson Michael ’81 and Sheryl Burkhardt Sharlene and Gordon Griebenow Richard and Janet Neville Marion Buska ’46 Mabeth Saure ’58 Gyllstrom and Richard Gyllstrom Norma Noonan Timothy and Frances Campbell William ’51 and Marolyn Sortland ’51 Halverson Roselyn Nordaune ’77 Norman and Janet Carpenter Betty Johnson ’58 Haas Martin ’59 and Sylvia Sabo Carrie and Peter ’02 Carroll Christopher Haug ’79 and Karl Starr Douglas Scott and Grace Schroeder Scott Carol Johnson ’60 Casperson Mark Hebert ’74 Stephen and Kay Sheppard Rev. Dr. Herbert ’54 and Rev. E Corrine Chilstrom Philip ’42 and Ruth Helland Glen and Anna Skovholt Robert Clayman and Carol Miller Rodney ’59 and Arlene Selander ’59 Hill Arne and Ellen Sovik Margaret Clyde Thomas ’57 and Arlene Hofflander Lawrence ’69 and Susan Turner Joseph Cook ’89 Kenneth ’74 and Linda Bailey ’74 Holmen Mark and Kathryn Weber Walter and Janet Cooper Paul Holmquist ’79 Jeremy Wells Robert and Mary Crosby Bradley ’63 and Linda Holt David and Susan White Pamela Herzan ’81 Crowell and Dring Crowell Ethel Holt George ’72 and Janet Dahlman Elizabeth Horton Sally Hough ’79 Daniels Donald ’65 and Delores Hoseth Christopher and Britt Dougall Phoebe Hough Anonymous (1) Greg ’88 and Mary Duckson Kermit ’50 and Ruth Hoversten Ruth Aaskov ’53 Douglas and Linda Lundeen ’74 Dunn Clarence Hoversten ’41 Phyllis Acker ’61 Julie Edstrom ’90 Allen ’64 and Lenice Hoversten James Agre ’72 Darrell ’55 and Helga Egertson Philip ’71 and Patricia Hoversten Lois Richter ’60 Agrimson and Russell Agrimson Judy Thompson Eiler ’65 Thomas ’72 and Karen Howe Edward ’50 and Margaret Alberg Daniel ’77 and Patricia Eitrheim Thomas and LaDonna Hoy Misti Allen Binsfeld ’93 Avis Ellingrod Joseph Hsieh ’61 and E. Mei Shen Hsieh Paul ’59 and Pearl Almquist Rona Quanbeck ’48 Emerson and Victor Emerson Tammy Huddle-McGee and Mike McGee Beverly Almquist Mark and Lynette Engebretson Rebecca Beito ’67 Huseby and Ed Huseby ’66 Bruce ’60 Amundson and Joann Eliason ’62 Dennis ’64 and Mary Lou Ervin ’64 Erickson Richard Huston President’s Associates ($1,000 - $2,499) Stephen Erickson ’68 and Marilyn McKnight ’67 Brandon Hutchinson ’99 Robert ’77 and Katherine Anderson Amundson Dean ’68 and Diana Olson ’69 Ersfeld Deborah Hutterer ’99 and Gary Erickson Leif Anderson Duane Esterly ’75 Duane ’68 and Diane Ilstrup Sheila ’05 and Lee Anderson L. Craig ’79 and Theresa Serbus ’79 Estrem Arvild Jacobson ’51 Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correctly. If you notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. † Deceased Fall 2011 27 28 Jeffrey ’80 and Jacqui Jarnes Allan Nelson John ’62 and Ruth Sather ’63 Sorenson Rebecca John Debra and Robert Nelson Allan ’53 and Eunice Nystuen ’50 Sortland Carol Oversvee Johnson ’61 John ’95 and Rachel Schultz ’95 Nielsen Carolyn Johnson ’80 Spargo and Lawrence Spargo Bruce Johnson ’68 Steven ’64 and Rebecca ’64 Nielsen Joyce Engstrom ’70 Spector and Robert Spector Gary ’74 and Melody Johnson Wedel Nilsen ’45 David ’63 and Karen Henry ’64 Steenson Merton ’59 and Jo An Bjornson ’58 Johnson Betsey and Alan Norgard Todd ’89 and Amy Steenson Eric and Elizabeth Jolly Terry ’70 and Vicki Nygaard Myles† and Eunice Stenshoel Michael Kivley ’89 Leroy ’52 and Betty Munson ’53 Nyhus Mary ’74 Stickelmeyer and Henry Havel Linda Klas ’92 Sandra Larson ’69 Olmsted and Richard ’69 Olmsted Benjamin Stottrup and Neota Moe Lowell ’54 and Janice Kiebach Kleven Wanda Warnes ’56 Olson and Ted Olson Beverly and Thomas Stratton Michael Klutho and Jill Manske Lee ’59 and Patricia Olson Ralph and Grace Kemmer ’58 Sulerud Elsie Ronholm Koivula ’49 Bruce L. Olson ’71 Leland and Louise Sundet Gregory Konat and Teresa Daly Linda Olup Kenneth Svendsen ’78 and Allison Everett ’78 George ’50 and Vivian Lanes L. Beth Buesing ’45 Opgrand Brian Swedeen ’92 and Terri Burnor ’92 Thomas and Kathy Langdon Laurie Nelson ’79 Orlow and Steven Orlow Jeffrey ’79 and Melissa Swenson Kathryn Lange ’72 and Dennis Sonifer Tamera and William Ostlund Amanda Symmes ’11 Marvin and Ruth Ringstad ’53 Larson Beverly Ottum Christine Szaj George ’61 and Mary Larson Patricia Parker Tracey Morris ’87 Terrio and Paul Terrio ’87 Debora Liddell and John Westefeld Bonnie Carlson Pehrson ’62 LaJune Thomas ’75 Thomas-Lange and Patrick ’88 and Beth Lilja Barbara Petersen James ’67 and Laurie Lindell Karin Peterson Richard (Porkchop) ’61 and Jane Thompson Jean Lingen Eugene ’59 and Paula Peterson Gordon ’52 and Gloria Parizek ’53 Thorpe Brent Lofgren ’88 Corwin and Doris Peterson David and Martha Tiede Mary Loken ’70 Veiseth and Dennis Veiseth Noel and Sharon Petit Cassidy Titcomb and Scott Simpson Ronald London Ronald ’69 and Jane Petrich Barbara Tjornhom ’54 Nelson and Richard Nelson Dana Lonn Diane Pike and Stephen Willett Beth Torstenson ’66 Marissa Hutterer Machado ’99 James and Kathryn Ramstad Frances Torstenson Donald ’66 and Margaret Mattison Helen Haukeness ’49 Ranck and James Ranck Marcia Thompson ’78 Turcotte and John Turcotte Donna McLean Lloyd ’63 and Linnea Raymond Andrea and Michael Turner Dennis ’78 and Beverly Ranum ’78 Meyer Timothy and Christine Ring Betty and Paul Tveite Paul ’70 and Barbara Durkee ’71 Mikelson Frances Roller Rockey Robert Wagner ’02 Deborah Anderson ’73 Miller and Timothy Miller Laura and Martin Roller Norman ’76 and Kathryn Anderson ’76 Wahl Thomas ’86 and Susan Rogers - Miller Kevin ’91 and Amy Ronneberg Ronald Wahlberg ’70 Joyce Schroepfer ’02 Miller John ’77 and Gail Ronning Bonnie Wallace and Ronald Haglund John and Margaret Miller Mary and Stuart Rose Lois Wattman ’76 and Douglas Shaw Eileen and Grant Mitchell Stella Kyllo Rosenquist ’64 Sarah West and Raymond Robertson Thomas ’59 and Ruth Carlsen ’60 Moen Gerald ’48 and Judith Ryan Wheelock Whitney and Kathleen Blatz Pamela Hanson ’79 Moksnes and Mark Moksnes ’79 Dennis ’67 Sackreiter and Karen Sackreiter Craig Wisness ’73 Lori Moline ’82 and Steven Olson Leo and Patricia Samson William Wittenbreer Thelma Monson ’41 Carolyn Hanson ’68 Schildgen and William Schildgen David and Catherine Wold Alan Montgomery and Janet Karvonen-Montgomery Michael ’71 and Bonnie Scott Joyce Leifgren ’64 Young LaWayne ’51 and D. LaRhea Johnson ’51 Morseth Richard ’70 and Linda Seime Mark ’76 and Debra Zellmer Sharon Lindell Mortrud ’64 Frankie and Jole Shackelford Paul ’84 and Nancy Mackey ’85 Mueller Sandra Phaup ’64 Patricia and David Murphy David Soli ’81 Bruce ’71 and Kathleen Nelson Kathleen ’69 and Earle ’69 Solomonson Augsburg Now Thomas Lange ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 ORGANIZATIONS GIFTS RECEIVED JUNE 1, 2010 TO MAY 31, 2011 The following list recognizes organizations that provided generous gifts to Augsburg College of $1,000 or more in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. 3M Foundation GMAC-RFC Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation Adolfson & Peterson Construction Google Give Presser Foundation Charles and Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation Grafix Shoppe Quad Graphics The American Foundation Gray Plant Mooty & Bennett Ramstad Recovery Fund Ameriprise Financial Gray Wolf Ranch, Inc. RBC Foundation - USA Anderson, Helgen, Davis & Nissen Groves Foundation Regiscard International, Inc. Anthony Ostlund Baer & Louwagie PA The I Box The Saint Paul Foundation A'viands Imaging Path Sheltering Arms Foundation Bank of America Imation Corporation Stellus Consulting LLC Best Buy Children’s Foundation Incredible, Inc. The Summit Group Bonner Foundation C. Charles Jackson Foundation Superior Family Dentistry The Bridgie Group, Inc. Kettering Foundation Target Foundation Bush Foundation KPMG LLP TCF Foundation Margaret A. Cargill Foundation John Larsen Foundation Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Carlson Family Foundation Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP Thrivent Financial For Lutherans Foundation Carolyn Foundation Estate of Henry and Selma Lundene Travelers Companies, Inc. Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis Marcus McCoy Foundation Trillium Family Foundation CollegeNet McKnight Foundation Trust for Meditation Process Data Recognition Corporation Metropolitan Regional Arts Council UBS Foundation The Donaldson Foundation Minnesota Debate Teachers Association United Nations Foundation Dorsey & Whitney Foundation Minnesota Private College Foundation United Way of Rhode Island Eagle Elevator Corp MOA Marketing, Inc. US Bancorp Foundation ELCA National Science Foundation US Bank The Sherry Lou Engebretsen Memorial Fund The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues W. K. Kellogg Foundation Ever Cat Fuels, LLC Network for Good Warren Foundation The Family Partnership The New York Academy Of Medicine The Washburn High School Foundation Formo Family Charitable Fund of the St. Paul Nilan Johnson Lewis Weber Marketing/Promotions, Inc. Edwin and Edith Norberg Charitable Trust Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program Gage Family Foundation NRG Energy Center Wells Fargo Foundation Community Support Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Olup and Associates The Whitney Foundation General Aviation Services Peace Lutheran Church of Plymouth Women's Foundation of Minnesota General Mills Foundation Play-More Travel, Inc. Foundation Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correctly. If you notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. † Deceased Fall 2011 29 SVEN OFTEDAL SOCIETY, Supporting Augsburg’s mission into the future The following list recognizes individuals who have documented planned gifts to Augsburg College. 30 Anonymous (7) Avis Ellingrod Allen and Jean Housh Lois Black Ahlbom ’47 Denise Engebretson ’82 Ruth Hovden Paul H. ’57 Almquist and Pearl M. Almquist Edna Kastner Ericksen ’42 Chester ’60 and Clenora Hoversten Helen Alne Duane M. Esterly Clarence Hoversten ’41 Charles and Catherine Anderson Alice C. Evans Garfield Hoversten ’50 Daniel ’65 and Alice Anderson John ’82 and Joan Moline ’83 Evans Lorna L. Hoversten Deloris Anderson ’56 Alice Evenson Rev. Deborah Hutterer and Gary Erickson Donald ’60 and Violet Anderson John ’68 and Martha Fahlberg Leroy ’54 and Orpha Iseminger E. William Anderson ’56 Norman Ferguson Kathleen and Bruce Jackson Gary and Mary Anderson Roger L. Fisher Sandra and Richard Jacobson Keith O. Anderson ’54 and Beverly Anderson Halley Foss-Katter ’99 and Daniel Katter Sherry Jennings-King Lisa Petska Anderson ’86 and Morey Anderson Martha Fosse Palmquist Clair Johannsen ’62 William ’86 and Kelly Anderson William and Anne Frame Carolyn E. Johnson ’63 I. Shelby Gimse Andress ’56 Rev. Terry Frovik ’67 Edryce Johnson ’46 Betty Arnold Leola Dyrud Furman ’61 Jerry and Bonita Johnson Dorothy Bailey Ann Garvey Kinney Johnson ’65 Earl and Doris Bakken Virgil ’57 and Farolyn Johnson Gehring ’56 Mark ’54 and Thelma Johnson Andrew ’50 and Barbara Kolden ’50 Balerud Dr. Kenneth A. Gilles ’44 Oliver ’50 and Grace Gisselquist ’49 Johnson Loren and Mary Quanbeck ’77 Barber Alexander ’90 and Simone Gonzalez Ruth Johnson ’74 and Philip Quanbeck II Elizabeth Anne ’82 and Warren Bartz Charles and Barbara Green Helen Johnson-Nelson and Robert Nelson ’44 Thomas ’56 and Bernadine Benson Joan Griffin Ralph ’60 and Mary Jane Kempski Vera Thorson Benzel ’45 Gracia Grindal ’65 Mary Kingsley Norman ’59 and Delores Berg H. Theodore ’76 and Michele Grindal Jean Vettel ’51 Kiteley and Murray Kiteley Sidney ’57 and Lola Lindstrom ’50 Berg Raymond ’57 and Janice Grinde E. Milton Kleven ’46 JoAnn Berg Bablitch ’73 Margery Kyvig ’64 Haaland and Sheldon Haaland Gloria Grant ’57 and Arthur Knoblauch Inez Schey ’77 and John Bergquist Gary Hagen ’71 Dean and Susan Kopperud Birgit Birkeland ’58 Donald J. and Sonja S. Hagestuen Gwen Johnson Krapf ’58 Ruth Anderson ’44 Blanshan and Ralph Blanshan James and Kathleen Haglund Paul Kwiecien and Rhonda Kwiecien Richard and Nancy Borstad Arvin Herbert Halvorson ’55 Lee Anne ’67 and Gene Lack Donald Bottemiller James and Corrine Hamre Calvin ’49 and Agnes Valvik ’47 Larson J. Bernhard ’48 and Hildur Anderson ’43 Bretheim Dale ’60 Hanka and Carolyn Hanka Dean ’62 and Barbara Beglinger ’63 Larson Nancy Brown-Koeller ’74 Shirley Bondo Hansen ’44 George S. ’61 and Mary K. Larson Jeroy ’48 and Lorraine Carlson Anna J. Hanson Linda Larson ’70 and C. Jerry Sells Rev. Dr. Herbert ’54 and Rev. E Corrine Chilstrom Cynthia Hanson ’66 Luther and Janice Larson Judith Christensen Mark ’68 and Ione Agrimson ’68 Hanson Ruth Ringstad ’53 Larson and Marvin Larson Mary Brandt ’79 Croft and David Croft Jodi and Stanley Harpstead Julie (Gudmestad) and Joe Laudicina Oliver Dahl ’45 Betty Johnson Hass ’58 Dorothy Lee ’30 George ’72 and Janet Dahlman Lawrence and Lois Hauge Rev. Harris and Maryon Lee Sally Hough Daniels ’79 Rodney (Rock) A. and Jane M. Helgeson Ronald and Rebecca Gisselquist ’67 Lien Michael ’86 and Dorothy Darling Philip ’42 and Ruth Helland Mary Loken ’70 Veiseth Living Trust Carolyn Benson ’71 Dauner and Daniel Dauner Robert ’55 and Karin Herman Susan Scott Lundquist ’97 Dallas ’63 and Sharon Day Rodney ’59 and Arlene Selander ’59 Hill John ’65 and Gracia Luoma Laura Kompelien Delavie ’92 Esther Tungseth Hinschberger ’49 Deborah Mahoney ’79 Richard A. ’55 and Audret S. Dronen Helen C. Hjelmeland Ronald ’56 and Christine Munson ’56 Main Beverly Durkee Kenneth ’74 and Linda Bailey ’74 Holmen Lyle ’68 and Susanne Starn ’68 Malotky Ruben ’45 and Thelma Egeberg Ethel Holt Arne ’49 and Jean Swanson ’52 Markland Tracy L. Elftmann ’81 John Holum Karen Mateer and Terrance Metz Augsburg Now ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 Lucille Messerer Robert ’50 and Ruth Ann Paulson Naomi Christensen ’81 Staruch and Steven Staruch Dan ’65 and Mary Tildahl ’61 Meyers Harold E. Peterson and Pearl A. Peterson John and Lavene Steen Edith Middleton Harvey ’52 and Joanne Varner ’52 Peterson Roger ’54 and Bonnie Stockmo Karla Krogsrud Miley Joyce Anderson ’65 Pfaff and Douglas Pfaff Hazel Thorson Stoick Stoeckeler Pamela Hanson ’79 Moksnes and Mark Moksnes ’79 Janet Evenson ’63 Potratz and Edward Potratz Gladys Boxrud Strommen ’46 Jonathan ’78 and Bonnie Lamon ’78 Moren Quentin ’50† and Lucille Quanbeck Merton ’42 and Irene Huglen ’42 Strommen Orval and Bernell Moren Eileen Quanbeck ’46 Kenneth Svendsen ’78 and Allison Everett ’78 Robert B. and Marlys Backlund Morland Mark ’53 and Jean Raabe Elizabeth Mortensen ’56 Swanson and LaWayne ’51 and D. LaRhea Johnson ’51 Morseth Cecil Ramnaraine Mildred and Van Mueller Helen Haukeness ’49 Ranck and James Ranck Ronald ’69 and Susan Scott ’71 Swanson Paul ’84 and Nancy Mackey ’85 Mueller Nancy M. (Joubert) Raymond Gary Tangwall Jeanne Narum Paul Rensted ’87 Gary L. Terrio Vivian Nelsen Alan Rice LaJune Thomas Lange ’75 and Thomas Lange Rev. Carl O. Nelson Arthur ’53 and Charlotte Kleven ’52 Rimmereid Richard and Barbara Tjornhom ’54 Nelson Pastor Hub Nelson ’54 Gregory and Barbara Ritter Frances Torstenson Kenneth and Vera Nelson Frances M. Roller Rockey Marcia Thompson Turcotte ’78 Mildred Nelson ’52 Barbara Rodvik Robert E. and Margaret H. Twiton Robert ’97 and Rose Nelson Laura Roller Robert ’65 and Kay Tyson Roger M. Nelson Rev. Lyle E. Rossing Morris ’51 and Bonnie Biere ’54 Vaagenes Norma Noonan Gerald ’48 and Judith Ryan Mark ’83 and Beth Voelker Roselyn Nordaune ’77 Audrey Nagel Sander ’51 Robert J. Wagner II ’02 James ’57 and Shirley Norman Marianne and Robert Sander Norman ’76 and Kathryn Anderson ’76 Wahl Glenn and Ann Nycklemoe Robert Sander Jr. ’76 Bonnie Wallace and Ronald Haglund Jonathan Nye Lars ’69 and Ann Sandven Colleen Kay
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring 2011: Research In Focus
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2011 VOL. 73, NO. 2 inside research Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Calculus Years of Life-Changing Workshop Good coffee, good cause International photo contest Sundquist Scholars Travel Vocation in interfaith context Chris Stedman ’08 page 20 the l...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2011 VOL. 73, NO. 2 inside research Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Calculus Years of Life-Changing Workshop Good coffee, good cause International photo contest Sundquist Scholars Travel Vocation in interfaith context Chris Stedman ’08 page 20 the lens Serving Auggie athletics Under in focus Editor notes from President Pribbenow a Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheep-like passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving. Not that it always effects this result; but conflict is a ‘sine qua non’ of reflection and ingenuity. As I listened to these aspiring Auggies consider what Dewey intended, I was convinced that this quote gets at the heart of an Augsburg education. Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Conflict and learning s I write this column, there are reports from far and near of conflicts in the world that reflect fundamental questions about our values and aspirations. We have witnessed clashes on the Augsburg campus between different lifestyles and value systems. We have experienced shootings in our neighborhood and lived in the aftermath of violence in our community. We have seen mass gatherings in neighboring states reflecting deep divisions in visions of a good society and a good life. And we have felt the rising tide of freedom and democracy in nations around the world and the seismic shifts underway in political and social systems. The challenge we must face as a teaching and learning community is what we will do in the face of this conflict. Will we withdraw and wait to see what happens? Or will we find in the various conflicts the “stuff” of a liberal arts education and the inspiration to put our education to work in engaging the conflicts and seeking to make a difference in the world? I think it is fair to assume that the Augsburg community chooses the latter challenge. Recently, prospective Augsburg scholarship students were asked to reflect on a provocative quote from the great American educator and philosopher, John Dewey, who once wrote: Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Our students learn to observe and remember. Our students engage and learn from the messiness and complexity and conflict of the world through experiences on campus, in our urban neighborhood, and around the world. Our students—indeed our entire community—are shocked out of passivity to be informed, thoughtful, and courageous actors in the world. This issue of Augsburg Now offers ample evidence of Dewey’s argument for the links between conflict and learning. Chris Stedman’s journey through interfaith dialogues—a growing aspect of an Augsburg education—illustrates how our students face otherness and difference in considering their own callings in the world. The work of our MBA students helping neighborhood youth start a small business reflects the ways in which Augsburg’s location in the city shapes an education that does not flinch from the realities of urban life. And the good reports on student research projects offer important evidence of how an Augsburg education—across the disciplines—challenges our students to fight complacency, to push the edges of learning, and not to settle for what is expected. I am proud to report that in our classrooms and residence halls, on campus and out in the community, and indeed all around the world, Auggies are pursuing what John Dewey called us to be— informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. We are learning from our experiences of the complexities and messiness and conflicts of the world—and then we are getting to work in our own ways, with our distinctive gifts and callings. 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 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT spring 2011 Features 15 12 19 contents 10 26 On the cover Justin Ingebretson ’12 is an incredibly bright and talented young scientist whose story could get anyone excited about water fleas. He is one of six students featured in “Under the lens: Student research at Augsburg.” All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. augsburg now 10 Talking about faith and values 12 Good coffee. Good cause. 15 Calculus—and so much more 19 Under the lens: Student research at Augsburg 26 BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Chris Stedman learned how to focus on values and foster dialogue between faith communities and the nonreligious. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Augsburg MBA students complete a management consulting project and get much more than a grade. BY BETSEY NORGARD A workshop for introductory calculus also builds community and pushes students to engage in research and scholarship opportunities. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Student research is more than Bunsen burners and petri dishes. 2010 International Programs Photo Contest Departments inside front cover 2 7 8 9 29 32 36 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad Auggies in sports My Auggie experience Auggie voices Alumni news Class notes It takes an Auggie around the quad Augsburg hosts international symposium on music therapy Augsburg College will host the Ninth International Society for Music in Medicine Symposium, June 8-12. The conference will provide an interdisciplinary and international forum for exchange of achievements in the field, state-of-the-art research, and applications of music in medicine, music therapy, and counseling. Scientific research as well as creative and innovative concepts will be discussed, and visits to local hospitals and clinical sites are planned. Medical doctors, nurses, healthcare practitioners, and music therapists from 11 countries—Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the U.S.—will present their research on the use of music in medicine. Find more information and register for the symposium at www.augsburg.edu/musictherapy/ismm_home.html. NewsNotes Kemper Foundation selects Augsburg for scholarship Augsburg was selected as one of the Kemper Foundation’s Scholar Institutions, one of 16 institutions that best prepare students for organizational leadership. Each year, a first-year student is selected for a three-year scholarship and paid summer internship program funded by the Kemper Foundation in Chicago. Commencement 2011—speakers and honorary degrees May 7 Commencement—for day students and physician assistant graduate students Speaker: Kjell Magne Bondevik, former prime minister of Norway, founder and president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters —Kjell Magne Bondevik and Ishmael Noko, Zimbabwean theologian and former general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation June 26 Commencement—Weekend College, Rochester, and graduate programs in business, education, leadership, nursing, and social work Speaker: Krista Tippett, writer and host of American Public Media’s Being Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters—Krista Tippett and Kwok Siu Tong, former executive vice president, United International College, China Nobel Peace Prize Forum relocates to Twin Cities The annual celebration of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum will evolve into a new format beginning in spring 2012. The forum will be held each year in the Twin Cities, organized by Augsburg in close partnership with the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. It will continue with the support of the other four Norwegian Lutheran colleges, with strong ties to area organizations that share a commitment to educating for peace, and with opportunities for deeper engagement between the United States and Norway. Three Auggies receive athletic awards Bruce Johnson ’68 Healing Wisdom of Africa Malidoma Patrice Somé, an elder of the West African Dagara tribe in his native Burkina Faso, spoke twice during the Counseling and Health Promotion Convocation in February. In the strife and stress of the modern, materialistic world, Somé offered insights on healing and reconciliation in bringing together “the visible worlds of nature and community” with the “invisible forces of the ancestors and Spirit.” 2 Augsburg Now Mike Good ’71 Jeff Swenson ’79 Men’s hockey assistant coach Bruce Johnson ’68 will be honored for his lifetime contributions to the growth of amateur hockey. In April, he will receive the American Hockey Coaches Association’s John “Snooks” Kelley Founders Award. Augsburg Board of Regents chair Mike Good ’71 and athletic director Jeff Swenson ’79 both will be honored in April by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter. Good, who is CEO of Southeby’s International Realty, will receive the chapter’s Outstanding American award, given to wrestlers who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers. Swenson will receive the Lifetime Service award for his long career as a national champion student athlete, distinguished 25-year coach, and athletic director. Nicaragua In January, several regents, senior administrators, faculty, and staff traveled to Augsburg’s Center for Global Education study center in Managua, Nicaragua. Several Augsburg regents spoke about their experience at the Board of Regents meeting that followed. Here are excerpts from regents Jodi Harpstead and Rev. Norman Wahl. A potter demonstrates his craft in Masaya, a region in Nicaragua known for its handicrafts. Strong women, incredible stories “In Nicaragua, we met the woman who heads the feminist movement in the country, and she gave me a t-shirt that says, “Todos los derechos para todas las mujeres” (All the rights for all the women). We met so many amazing women, like the women at the spinning facility, and we heard so many incredible stories of strong, beautiful, courageous women working to turn around their families and their country. Women in Nicaragua are getting microloans. Women are running businesses. Women make up most of the student body of the college we visited. We heard about young women who had worked for Father Cardenal teaching literacy. The Contras began to kill them one at a time, hoping that the others would run away and return home. But they refused to go home, and they continued to work until the Contras gave up when they realized their violence wasn’t getting anywhere. We also met the woman who is the rector of UCA (Universidad Centroamericana), a large, private, Jesuit university. She is the only woman in the world who leads a Jesuit university. And, of course, Nicaragua has already had a woman as president of the country; they’re ahead of us in that respect. We learned just how many women there are across Nicaragua who are working to develop their country—in different places, in different roles, and in different levels of work—and it was incredibly inspiring to see how much they are willing to risk for freedom.” Neighbor to so many people “I did not know I was a neighbor to so many people in Nicaragua, including the great people that Augsburg has working there. I can’t say enough for the Center for Global Education, and while I’ve always been supportive of Augsburg, I will be a much more vocal advocate of that kind of global travel and the great things it can do. I did not know that I was a neighbor to a bunch of potters who live in Masaya, a place that we visited one day. As we came in, everybody was busy—the matriarch who ran the pottery place, which was a tworoom hut with an outdoor place for a kiln and a throwing wheel—everybody was busy. They were busy mixing the clay, they were throwing clay, they were painting, they were etching, they were polishing. Everybody was so busy. We went through the whole process. And then at the end we had an opportunity to buy some of the very fine wares that this little family company put together. And as I looked up from where we were making our exchanges with the people, the whole family was gathered in the doorway to look to see how their products were being bought and enjoyed by those people from the United States. And I thought, wow, this is really selling merchandise at its very best—from the people who make it to the people who will enjoy it. They really are our neighbors, and I did not know that until this trip.” JODI HARPSTEAD, BOARD OF REGENTS REV. NORMAN W. WAHL ’76, BOARD OF REGENTS Learning about war and peace in El Salvador In January, students traveled with Religion Professor Bev Stratton to El Salvador to study REL 480: Vocation and the Christian Faith. We met with several speakers and visited different places, such as churches, a university, and a rural community, in hopes of learning more about their culture, history, and people. We primarily learned about their civil war (19791992) and about the roles faith and identity play in the midst of social injustice, oppression, and conflict. … We visited a church where Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated in 1980. … He became increasingly involved with the people and underwent a personal transformation, becoming a leader and a voice for the people. He once said, “If they kill me I will arise in the Salvadoran people.” … We also heard from speakers who experienced the civil war. We visited Suchitoto and took boats to an area where a massacre had taken place. A man who had endured the massacre spoke to us about his experiences as a child during the war, losing his family at age 9 in the massacre; he recalled memories with startling clarity. Outside of hearing intense personal stories, we also visited places of national interest, such as the U.S. Embassy and the National Assembly building. … Senior Adam Jacobsen commented on how remarkable it was that the people were so open to us, as Americans, in spite of [the U.S. money and support for the Salvadoran government during the civil war]. “They really understood that our government’s decisions at the time were not our own.” These experiences serve as testimony to what all of us hopefully learned from this trip: people are people, and no matter creed, religion, or race, we are all united by a common thread of humanity. KATELYN DANELSKI ’14 Read Danelski’s full story and see photos from her study in El Salvador at www.augsburg.edu/now. Spring 2011 3 Every spring, as long as February snowstorms don’t threaten, Augsburg College welcomes the best and brightest prospective Auggies to participate in Scholarship Weekend. In addition to an opportunity to meet with their future classmates and professors, students interview or audition for the President’s Scholarships and for Fine Arts Scholarships. On Friday evening, students are treated to The Big Show—a spectacle unlike any other experience they will have as Auggies. It’s a chance for them to relax and for the College to showcase its less serious side. The evening features performances by Bob Groven, director of Augsburg’s Honors program; history and medieval studies professor Phil Adamo; and President Pribbenow himself. This special event is for the eyes of Scholarship Weekend guests only—few current students, faculty, or staff are treated to the performance. The rumor is that Bob Groven is surprisingly funny and that Phil Adamo puts on a fantastic show. 4 Augsburg Now THE Scholarship Weekend 2011 BIG SHOW Reviews for the show keep coming in… Augsburg Honors program director Bob Groven poses as Conan O’Brien in a postcard mailing to Scholarship Weekend attendees—a prelude to what the audience would experience at the event. “I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SEE CONAN AND THAT’S JUST NOT TRUE.” “BOB GROVEN DELIVERS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR. I SHOULD KNOW. I AM BOB GROVEN.” —Bob Groven, Honors program director I Know I Can Yo Se Que Puedo WENDI WHEELER ’06 Admissions counselors Peter Schattauer (left) and Justin Nash (right) and junior Sam Waskosky (center) read to third-graders at Seward Montessori School. Courtesy photo Auggies help third-graders get ready for college It may seem that third grade is a bit too early to begin thinking about going to college. But Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak doesn’t think so. Auggie Eagle doesn’t think so. And neither did the 2,700 Minneapolis third graders who participated in the “I Know I Can” College Awareness Day. On Thursday, Feb. 10, Augsburg elementary education majors joined staff from Augsburg’s Office of Admissions at Seward Montessori School. With Auggie Eagle also in attendance, they read to 60 students from the book, I Know I Can, written and illustrated by Wendy R. Rouillard. The book helps students begin thinking about how they can take steps, even in elementary school, to prepare themselves for college. By working on improving their skills and studying hard, the book suggests they can do anything they want when they grow up. Sam Waskosky, a junior education major and a Bonner Leader, read to one of the groups. Waskosky has been volunteering at Seward Montessori for several years. After she finished reading, she answered questions about Augsburg including what dorm life is like and whether or not college is “hard.” Auggies Devyn Pittorf and Alexis Stadstad also read to different groups. Brenda Hemmingsen, the Augsburg admissions visit coordinator, reminded students that part of getting into college involves getting good grades and having good attendance. She asked students to identify the subjects they would focus on, such as reading, math, and languages. The event, part of The Minneapolis Promise initiative designed to eliminate barriers to post-secondary education for Minneapolis youth, is a partnership of the Augsburg College Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning, the Office of the Mayor (Minneapolis), RBC Wealth Management, Minneapolis Public Schools, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota College Access Network. Rod Gonzalez ’04 (right) and Mayor R.T. Rybak greeted children in the Windom Spanish Dual Immersion School on College Awareness Day. Rod Gonzalez, a native of Mexico, knows first hand the challenges of learning another language and succeeding well enough in school to get into college. He joined Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak on “I Know I Can” College Awareness Day as they read to third-graders in both English and Spanish at the Windom Spanish Dual Immersion School. The 20 to 30 children in the class were about half native Spanish-speakers and half Spanish learners. Gonzalez spoke Spanish with them, telling them about how he had decided he wanted to study business and make decisions about college. Asking the children what they wanted to do when they grew up elicited a variety of responses. “There were some who wanted to be firefighters and police, and there was one girl who wanted to be a paleontologist,” Gonzalez says. “Obviously they had been thinking about what they wanted to do in the future.” After Rybak read I Know I Can to the class, he and Gonzalez introduced themselves to each of the children. “We reminded them that in order to go to college, they had to start early, study hard, and do their homework,” Gonzalez says. Gonzalez graduated from Augsburg in 2004 with a finance major and French minor, and he studied in Paris. With help from the Center for Service, Work, and Learning, he interviewed with RBC Wealth Management and began a 12-month rotational program internship, which helped him discover his interests within the company and match his skills to jobs. For the past seven years he has worked at RBC as a fixed income strategist. In January, Gonzalez was honored with the 2010 Irv Weiser Diversity Award, which recognizes and rewards an individual in the company who exhibits RBC’s commitment to diversity. He recently moved to Chicago to continue his work with RBC Wealth Management and to begin an MBA program at the University of Chicago. BETSEY NORGARD Spring 2011 5 ‘A Tale of Two Cities’—a Report on Civic Health Minneapolis-St. Paul enjoys the highest civic health of any metropolitan area in the country, according to a report released by Augsburg’s Center for Democracy and Citizenship (CDC). People in the Twin Cities are the most engaged in their communities—they are more likely to volunteer, to participate in community activities, to vote, and to engage with their neighbors. This healthy civic behavior correlates with greater economic well-being and individual health and happiness. The report, “A Tale of Two Cities,” is a joint project of the National Council on Citizenship (NCOC), the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, and the CDC. It compares Minneapolis-St. Paul with Miami, which is shown to be the country’s least civically engaged city. While the two metro areas differ in many factors, the report indicates that these differences—including demographic measures of education and income—do not explain the disparities in their civic engagement. The report identifies several areas that contribute to the higher levels of Twin Cities’ civic engagement: more school–community collaboration and civic learning, stronger family and social networks, higher trust and diversity in government, and higher voting rates. In a commentary for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and a blog posting for the American Democracy Project, CDC director Harry Boyte draws parallels to the Civil Rights movement, recalling when the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was formed to spread a “culture of civic empowerment” and promote nonviolence and a desire to change. Just as “the Montgomery Way” helped spread democratic © All rights reserved by The Bob Graham Center Harry Boyte, director of Augsburg’s Center for Democracy and Citizenship and senior fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, participated in a project that compared levels of civic engagement in the Twin Cities and Miami. change in the South, Boyte believes in a Minnesota Way, which “teaches the skills of collaborative work across differences, connects institutions to the life of the communities, and generates a spirit of optimism that people can share their future together.” He points out that the “civic treasures” in Minnesota—including educational institutions like Augsburg that work across differences to foster a culture of civic empowerment—are critical factors in preparing students to discover how they can become agents of change to spread democratic hope and reform. Read more about “A Tale of Two Cities” and download a PDF of the report at www.ncoc.net/ttcrelease. Read Harry Boyte’s blog post at American Democracy Project at http://adpaascu.wordpress.com. BETSEY NORGARD Scholars at the Capitol On Monday, Feb. 28, 37 students and their faculty advisers from 14 colleges presented posters describing their research in various disciplines at the Minnesota State Capitol. From biology to psychology, engineering to English, this event showcased the breadth and quality of undergraduate research happening at Minnesota’s private colleges. Augsburg representatives were: Jessica Pfaffendorf and Professor James Vela-McConnell Facebook: Making the World More Connected? 6 Michael Wilson and Professor Eric Buffalohead The Impact of Intertribal Transmission on the Design Aesthetic of the Grass Dance Augsburg Now When President Paul Pribbenow came to Augsburg in 2006, he discovered a gap between the two sides of the small campus. “There was this natural divide… Melby and Kennedy [athletic facilities] on one side of campus, and, even though we’re a small campus, it seemed like the divide was both geographical and it was also symbolic in some ways—there wasn’t a connection between the two sides,” he says. His goal was to bridge the philosophical gap and to fully incorporate Augsburg’s intercollegiate athletic program into the broader campus community. In the pursuit, Augsburg has become an emerging leader in both the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Since 2007, Pribbenow has served as chairelect and chair of the MIAC Presidents Council, leading a move to redefine the institutional leadership within the conference. He has also worked to increase its influence within NCAA Division III, the largest of NCAA’s three divisions. “We … think that the presidents need to be involved in the strategy and priorities of the conference, making sure that our student-athletes are having the kinds of experiences we want them to have. That’s the best of the Division III ideal.” Augsburg’s influence will not end with Pribbenow’s term. Augsburg’s faculty athletic representative (FAR) to MIAC, Tracy Bibelnieks, associate professor of mathematics, will begin a two-year term as chair of the FAR group this August. Athletic director Jeff Swenson also serves as chair-elect of MIAC’s athletic directors and will assume a two-year role as committee chair in 2013. A faculty athletic representative is a liaison between the faculty and athletics and an advocate for student-athlete affairs, while also serving as part of the conference’s chain of legislation. Bibelnieks will also serve on the conference’s Executive Committee. “The Division III philosophy of giving students an opportunity to excel in both the academic and athletic aspects of their experience here requires that we be able to have an understanding across the campus of what that balance looks like for students. Certainly, faculty play a significant role,” Bibelnieks says. “There has to be a check and balance in how you keep those wants and needs in balance with each other, both in the academic realm and the athletic realm.” DON STONER serving Auggie athletics President Pribbenow finishes his term as chair of the MIAC Presidents Council as Professor Tracy Bibelnieks begins her term as chair of the faculty athletic representatives. Jeff Swenson (not pictured) is chairelect of MIAC’s athletic directors. Spring 2011 7 my Auggie experience Like father, like daughter—Katie and Karsten Nelson For Katie Nelson ’14, the Augsburg experience is just beginning. But for her dad, Rev. Karsten Nelson ’83, it is simply continuing. When it came time for Katie to consider college, of course her father suggested Augsburg. In fact, he had been grooming her to be an Auggie since she was a child. “We were planting the seed when she was three years old,” Karsten says, “by throwing Augsburg sweatshirts on her.” But Katie was reluctant to enroll at her dad’s alma mater. On the day she came to campus for a visit, it was a dreary fall day. “I was thinking, ‘You know, dad, this is clearly your school. How in the world would I ever make it mine?’” Karsten says he remembers that first visit. “I was excited to give her a ride back home and find out what she thought. When she said she didn’t think it could be her school, it was one of those disheartening times where you say, ‘Oh no.’” After visiting several other area schools, Katie decided on Augsburg in part because of the location and the strong sense of community, but also because of its disability programs and attention to access for disabled students. “I love that Augsburg has tunnels,” Katie says. She knew she wanted a small campus with a close-knit community, a diverse campus with many opportunities, and an open and friendly place. “And Augsburg was definitely it.” In her first year of college, Katie has certainly made Augsburg hers—making new friends, getting involved as a tutor for neighborhood Somali residents, and even hosting weekly Disney movie-watching parties in her dorm room. Karsten Nelson was a student at Augsburg in the early 1980s, studying communication. He went on to graduate school at Luther Seminary and currently serves as pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Paul. He has also served on Augsburg’s alumni board. “There are a number of changes,” he says, noting that the buildings, the diversity of the student body, and the academic atmosphere are different than when he was in school. He also likes to tell Katie that the kitchen of the house where he used to live is in the same spot as the front doors of Oren Gateway Center. At the same time, Karsten says, a lot of things have stayed the same. “It has continued to be a place that has a great grounding of faith for people to explore and to wonder and to be challenged,” he says. Today Karsten is enjoying returning to Augsburg and seeing it through his daughter’s eyes. “It’s really fun to see Katie in her own setting with friends and connections.” He says that after one semester, Augsburg has exceeded his expectations in providing a sense of community, intellectual stimulation, and a foundation in faith for his 8 Augsburg Now daughter, “as well as her own growth and independence,” he adds. “Augsburg has drawn out more from Katie than we saw for her.” Katie receives services from Augsburg’s ACCESS Center, a unique program that provides services and support to students with documented physical disabilities. Her dad is grateful for the people who have provided assistance to her and allowed her to find independence. Katie says that not only the ACCESS staff but also her personal care attendants, her classmates, and people from the community are supporting her. “I can do almost anything on my own, and I have a lot more freedom to decide my own fate.” Both Katie and Karsten think of Augsburg as their home away from home. “It has been for me,” Karsten says, “and I think it is becoming that again.” WENDI WHEELER’06 auggie voices Vocation in an interfaith context I think about Augsburg’s mission statement and general education student learning outcomes—a lot. It makes sense. They shape and direct my work in and out of the classroom. At the same time, that very work, my colleagues, and my students inform my understanding of these statements and sustain my commitment to the realities and possibilities they create. At the center of my thought most recently is Augsburg’s call to intentional diversity coupled with our college-wide commitment to the theological exploration of vocation. All things considered, it was no surprise to me when I walked into my fall sections of REL 200 Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning II and encountered a wide array of religious traditions and commitments among my students: Buddhist, Muslim, Christian (Catholic, ELCA-Lutheran, LCMSLutheran, United Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and six or so other denominations), and students who identified as agnostic and atheistic. Some of them grew up in a tradition, others did not. And, at least six of my 55 students named the Shamanistic tradition as their own. In this rich and exciting pluralistic context, what am I called to do? How do I both express the depth and history and promise of the Christian, particularly Lutheran, understanding of vocation while affirming the presence and possibilities proffered by each student’s tradition? In the end, I invite students to conversation the only way I can—openly and honestly. I speak from my own particular context and perspective, and I invite them to do the same. I insert the voice of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—who describes vocation as responsible action in response to God—into the conversation, and they insert the voices of Dorothy Day and the Dalai Lama, for example. In the title of my course I add parentheses around the word “Christian” and, together, my students and I add the words “and justice”: REL 200 (Christian) Vocation and the Search for Meaning and Justice. In this rich and exciting pluralistic context, this is what I am called to do. LORI BRANDT HALE is associate professor of religion and director of general education. The above is adapted from devotional thoughts she presented at Augsburg‘s Leadership Council. Spring 2011 9 faith & values Talking about faith and values BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 While Chris Stedman ’08 was studying religion at Augsburg, he avoided engaging in any conversations about the subject of his beliefs, God, or religion. So how did a student who wouldn’t talk about religion manage to graduate, go on to get a master’s degree in religion, and become a prominent and respected voice in interfaith dialogue? He stopped talking about religion and started talking about values. “I came to Augsburg after a number of years of struggling with religious identity and sexual orientation,” says Stedman, “but I felt like ministry was what I was called to do.” After his first semester, Stedman declared himself an atheist, but he kept quiet about it and continued pursuing a major in religion. In fact, he says he developed a negative stance on religion and God. “I didn’t really want to engage with it on the real world level.” Stedman worked with Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen program serving meals at the Brian Coyle Center once a week during his first year of college and eventually became a member of the leadership team. The Coyle Center serves many of the Muslim residents in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Even in this environment he was hesitant to engage in dialogue with anyone about faith or values. “One day I stayed a little late and had a conversation with a woman, and out of the blue she told me that sometimes she gets 10 Augsburg Now really nervous about going out in public because of her hijab [head scarf].” Normally, Stedman recalls, he would have ended the conversation, but he surprisingly found himself saying he could relate with the woman’s feelings because he felt nervous about going out in public with his boyfriend. “She asked what gives me strength and told me she got hers from Allah,” Stedman says. Later he realized the woman was inviting him into a conversation about values and about how they both lived in the world where people judged them, but he was unwilling at that time to talk more with her. It wasn’t until after graduation that Stedman began to open up about his values and beliefs. He was working in a group home for adults with developmental disabilities and had a particularly good relationship with one gentleman who often asked Stedman to read to him. One day, he recalls, the man asked Stedman to read from a Lutheran book of prayers. “My initial instinct was to say no,” Stedman says, but he read with the man. “I expected to feel either very irritated or to have a longing to return to something that was once so important to me, but I felt neither.” Instead, Stedman experienced relief and gratitude because he had shared in an important part of another person’s life. “We really lose out when we are afraid of those who have dif- CHRIS STEDMAN ’08 ferent beliefs from ours because it prevents us from engaging and developing meaningful relationships.” This experience served as the beginning of Stedman’s conversion from a silent religion major to a vocal member of the interfaith movement. Today he identifies as a secular humanist, reflecting a philosophy based on reason and compassion that does not include belief in a god. He writes often about seeking respect for religion among the community of nonbelievers, about identifying common values between believers and nonbelievers. Stedman went on to obtain a master’s degree in religion from the Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago. In the summer following his first year of graduate school, he began an internship with the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a program founded by Eboo Patel. IFYC works with young leaders, primarily college students, helping to promote religious pluralism through service to the community. Stedman is currently the Interfaith and Community Service Fellow for the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University. He works with Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain, and author of Good Without God. Their work focuses on helping students initiate and organize interfaith service projects and creating positive com- munities for the nonreligious. In addition, Stedman is managing director of State of Formation at the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue. He is also founder of the blog NonProphet Status, a columnist for the Huffington Post, and the youngest contributor to the Washington Post’s On Faith blog. Currently, he is writing a book for Beacon Press. His speaking engagements focus on fostering positive and productive dialogues between faith communities and the nonreligious. In the few years he has been doing interfaith work, Stedman says he has learned the value of working and talking with those whose beliefs may be different but whose values are similar to his own. His message to young people, particularly those who are dissatisfied with religion or who identify as nonbelievers, is to get involved. “There is value in organizing around common values and a lot to be gained from working with and learning from religious communities,” Stedman says. He encourages young people not to simply wipe their hands of involvement with religious people but to find communities where their needs can be met. “I look back on my time at Augsburg and realize I was doing interfaith work, but I left the discussion out of it. Now I am so excited to reclaim that missed opportunity.” Spring 2011 11 good coffee. good cause. Wouldn’t it be great if you could complete a project for your graduate school class, earn a passing grade, and help someone else in the process? That is what happened for a group of Augsburg MBA students. Their management consulting capstone—an online marketing research project—has the potential to help one incredible organization and at least 1,500 young people in Minneapolis. When it came time for Lynn Harris, Darren Chaloner, and Kelly Ambourn to choose an organization to work with for their MBA project, they wanted to move beyond the obvious choices. Harris says they wanted to help a local social enterprise, so she did a bit of research and found CityKid Java. CityKid Java is a local for-profit coffee company located off Lake Street in Minneapolis’ Phillips and Central neighborhoods. Every dollar of their profit is returned to the community, specifically to their non-profit partner, the Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation’s youth programs. Urban Ventures’ youth programs provide mentoring, athletic teams, camps, leadership experience, and after-school programs for at-risk inner city youth. In 2010, CityKid Java gave $80,000 to Urban Ventures. The team worked closely with MarkPeter Lundquist, CityKid’s founder and vice president of Urban Ventures; Jenifer 12 Augsburg Now BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 CityKid Java founder Mark-Peter Lundquist is passionate about coffee and kids. Augsburg MBA students completed an assignment and got much more than a grade out of it. They got some great coffee and the good feeling that comes from giving back. Hagness, general manager of CityKid; and board member Joyce Hansen. They asked what CityKid needed, outlined the deliverables, and went to work. Hagness says the team provided marketing research and recommended tools and resources that CityKid could begin using immediately. “When they came to us, we really gave them a blank slate in terms of the website. We thought we knew some things about our market and our customers, but they really gave us some great tools and resources,” Hagness says. Ultimately the team developed a Web 2.0 marketing plan including a social media strategy for increasing traffic and sales and building awareness on the CityKid website. Harris says she was excited to see how their ideas could help the organization. CityKid took the team’s information, moved ahead with their recommendations, and even dedicated an employee as their “chief listening officer” to focus on social media. Harris says CityKid also invited the team back to share feedback and the action plan they created based on the team’s work. “We didn’t see this as just a project,” Harris says. “We really took this to heart.” (Photo above) CityKid Java’s Lindquist and general manager Jenifer Hagness (on right) talk with MBA students Darren Chaloner and Lynn Harris (on left) at the skatebard ramp at CityKid’s rec center. Spring 2011 13 coffee. good cause. good Throughout the six-month project, Lundquist and Hagness treated the MBA group as a part of their team. “They were very open to questions and made our job a thousand times easier,” says Chaloner. The students were invited to sit in on board meetings and tour Urban Ventures’ facilities. Harris says she even joined Lundquist and Hagness at a local roasters “cupping” experience. This project, however, had a much greater return on investment for the students. In addition to gaining consulting experience and practical application of marketing research principles, the team had an opportunity to give back to their community. They bought the coffee, of course, but they also shared the story of CityKid Java with their classmates, family, and friends. “You can’t work with CityKid Java and not tell the story,” Chaloner says. So that is what Harris and Chaloner have continued to do even after their project was complete—tell the story of CityKid Java. It’s one of good coffee for a good cause and the opportunity to get a good grade while working with great people. world setting value The courses in the Augsburg MBA program are designed to prepare students with content knowledge and theoretical application. The MBA consulting project puts this into practice in a real-world setting. To be successful in the management consulting project, students have to crystallize their knowledge into the real demands and needs of an existing for-profit, notfor-profit, or community service organization—they must use their education to be of service to an organization. This is where their learning becomes real, and of real value, in the world. Students have worked with a broad spectrum of companies from Fortune 100 companies to much smaller organizations such as local theaters and charter schools to individual entrepreneurs starting a company. About half of the recent projects have been with local nonprofits that serve the local communitites within Minneapolis and St. Paul. 14 Augsburg Now Lynn Harris and Darren Chaloner with Kelly Ambourn (not pictured) continue to share the CityKid Java story—and drink their great coffee! calculus and so much more BY BETSEY NORGARD A dozen or so first-year students in groups of threes and fours are talking, scribbling, erasing, and rewriting equations on the board. The professor watches and offers hints as needed. Two student leaders wander around, pausing to respond to questions or give a word of praise. Sometimes students work at tables, but rarely do they listen to a lecture. Welcome to Calculus Workshop, a twice-weekly elective workshop for students enrolled in Calculus I and II. Professor Rebekah Dupont is the Augsburg coordinator of the North Star STEM Alliance, a program that seeks to increase the number of minority students who complete degrees in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She developed Calculus Workshop as a strategy to help these students succeed in collegelevel mathematics courses. Spring 2011 15 The workshop particularly targets the needs of underrepresented minorities, firstgeneration college students, and women in majors that require calculus, but any student taking Calculus I or II who is interested in working collaboratively and setting high performance standards is welcomed. The first workshop began as a pilot in fall and spring last year, starting with 12 students. At the end of spring semester, the results were impressive. The mostly-minority students in the workshop achieved a 0.6 higher grade point average (GPA) than the Calculus I and II students not in the workshop, despite having entered college with an overall lower average ACT score and GPA. So, now in its second year, Calculus Workshop is an official department offering. Just why is it so successful? To begin with, Dupont grounds it in the research and best practices developed for STEM students participating in workshops linked to academic courses. She designed the workshop for students to preview the material to be presented in their calculus class, reinforce it, and synthesize it by working together to solve problems. The intent of the workshop is not remedial, but to promote high levels of academic excellence, which also promotes retention. Its major objective is to build community and collaboration among stu- Professor Rebekah Dupont coaches the students in Calculus Workshop. The North Star STEM Alliance is … A program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). • The Minnesota North Star STEM Alliance is a partnership of 16 higher education institutions plus the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota High Tech Association. • Its goal is to double the number of minority students receiving bachelor’s degrees in STEM in a five-year period. • Its objectives are to provide support, tutoring, supplemental instruction; engage students through faculty mentorship and research; explore career directions; and build community among students. 16 Augsburg Now dents, who, in this case, are mostly in their first year. Not your classroom calculus Jazmine Darden took the pilot Calculus Workshop last year and credits it in large part for the grade she received in Calculus I. One factor for her was that the workshop is hands-on, not class lectures. “Workshop teaches in a different manner … There are many days that we, the students, are up at the chalkboard solving problems,” says Darden. “Or other times we are given worksheets and work in small groups … Workshop is a very team-oriented and group-oriented environment.” Darden also finds the workshop a comfortable environment. “Workshop is very diverse,” she continues. “It’s nice to walk into Workshop and see other students just like me. It gives us all an extra push to strive for success.” Mathematics + opportunities In addition to building community, the workshop has emerged as an effective means for Dupont to connect first-year students with leadership, academic, and research opportunities. In some cases, these are opportunities such as study abroad and Fulbright awards that wouldn’t be familiar to students whose parents have not attended college. “We have so many programs to support and help students, but they have to get connected to them,” Dupont says. “They have to hear about these opportunities and then start thinking about them.” Several of last year’s students have become McNair Scholars, which provides them summer research and ongoing support to apply to graduate school. Some have joined the North Star STEM program and work closely with Dupont. It was in this workshop where sophomore Fred Vedasto heard about the Minneapolis schools’ summer Guys In Science and Engineering (GISE) program, which brings middle-school boys to Augsburg for hands-on science exploration, with Augsburg students hired as mentors. “It was all about the kids for me,” Vedasto says. He loved feeling like a “big brother” while helping teach them science— it meant letting them have some fun and fool around, but also making sure they got the work done. Workshop big brothers and sisters Two student mentors assist Dupont in the workshop. These students also offer help beyond calculus. One of last year’s mentors, Research— jumping right in Gaby Hamerlinck, was a senior biology and math major. She says that she and junior Tom Lopez, another mentor, helped students prepare for exams, learn how to approach their professors, and answer questions about college life. “There were a few student-athletes in the group who did not think that a math major and collegiate sports could work in their schedule,” Hamerlinck says. “But being a multi-sport athlete as well, I was able to help them with time management, which allowed them to succeed on and off the field.” This year’s student mentors are Darden and Trevor Rodriguez Sotelo, both sophomores and workshop students from last year. They are closer in age to the workshop students and believe this makes a difference in connecting with their mentees around campus, sometimes eating and studying together. “Workshop has allowed me to build relationships with many first-year students in and out of the classroom,” says Darden. “I don’t like to be called a tutor to these students because I have built a relationship that is so much more.” “As a student leader, it’s important to be a positive role model in the classroom,” says Rodriguez Sotelo. “… but my biggest challenge has been how to be a positive role model of life. … I hope that if I can teach them a thing or two about schoolwork and also about everyday life, they will have a more enjoyable experience throughout their college career.” Students in the workshop are expected to set high goals for themselves. While first-year students do not usually begin research in their first year, Dupont seeks funding and encourages them to connect with faculty about research opportunities. Sometimes it takes a little push from Dupont—which is how Vedasto got into his physics research project last spring. “She was asking,” he says, “but it wasn’t a question.” With NASA funding, physics professor David Murr, junior Chris Woehle, and Vedasto developed a payload of instruments to measure light that was launched in a rocket 40 miles high as part of a nine-college project. Vedasto determined the rocket’s navigation using math calculations. He plans to continue research with Murr again this summer. Vedasto says the research helped him figure out his interests. “I always thought I wanted to be an electrical engineer, and my research confirmed this,” he says. “It was fun, interesting, and helped me get a feel for what I wanted to do.” Last spring, Dupont also helped Hamerlinck and first-year student Kayla Johnson secure funding for research with mathematics professor John Zobitz, who had taught calculus to both of them. They studied the spread of the flu through a contained population of Augsburg day students. With the project, Hamerlinck and Johnson had to face the challenges of learning how to present their research at poster sessions, which they did at three events in late spring. “It was a great experience, and I wish I had been able to do it sooner in my career at Augsburg,” Hamerlinck says. “But FRED VEDASTO ’13 [About getting involved in research] “Professor Dupont was asking us, but it wasn’t a question.” Spring 2011 17 KAYLA JOHNSON ’13 “I’m so glad I filled out that application for Workshop … Isn’t it crazy how one choice can make such a huge impact on someone’s life?” I’m so proud of Kayla for getting it done her freshman year!” Working together with Hamerlinck was great for Johnson. “Gaby pushed me, helping me with study skills, with balancing my time, and mainly showing me that I could do it.” This combination of faculty, upper-level student, and first-year student research is a nontraditional model, but proving especially important to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in mathematics, Zobitz says. “Gaby gave Kayla some helpful advice about courses and navigating a four-year degree that I (as her adviser) could not.” What does Zobitz see the students gain from the research experience? “The first-year students see a direct connection between their coursework and research topics,” he says. “For Kayla, I tried to give specific readings commensurate with her skills, typically tied to her calculus textbook.” “The upper-level students have an opportunity for reinforcement of previouslylearned skills by having to communicate with younger students,” continues Zobitz. “More importantly, this is an opportunity for mentorship and collaboration. … It was important to foster a sense of community 18 Augsburg Now that this is a shared, collaborative endeavor, rather than each person pursuing their own individual research.” Especially exciting for Dupont last summer was to secure research spots for all six of the North Star STEM workshop students by the end of their first year. An incredibly valuable experience Students have high regard for Calculus Workshop, even those who may have signed on reluctantly because of the extra time involved. One student, with a heavy work schedule in addition to classes, found out how valuable the workshop could be when his Calculus I grade improved from a failing first test to a score in the 90s on a subsequent one. Dupont enjoys watching the growth of the students. “At the beginning, going to the board was so hard for them,” she says. “They’re so smart and have ideas in their head, but they fear they’re wrong. For them, it’s about gaining the confidence to be on their feet and get to the point where they want to know how to fix what they do wrong and take that understanding to the next level.” Hamerlinck, who is now working toward a PhD in evolutionary biology on a scholarship at the University of Iowa, agrees: “The best part for me was watching the students grow more confident in themselves and their academic skills.” For Kirubel Gezehegn, a current student in the workshop who graduated from British schools in Zimbabwe, the transition to American college life was difficult. “The workshop prepared me for learning about American education, seeing that processes here are different, and it helped my understanding.” He welcomes the challenges—“I don’t want to breeze through and think about what I could have done with the time.” It’s clear, however, among all students, that a key to much of the workshop success has been the leadership of Dupont, whom Vedasto refers to as “the godmother of our class.” Darden says, “I am so thankful for all the opportunities I have been given in the last couple of years due to North Star STEM, Rebekah Dupont, and my upper-class mentors.” She says that there’s nothing she would rather do than “give back and try my best to give these opportunities to other students.” In an e-mail to Dupont, Johnson writes, “Without your help and my experience in Workshop, I would have missed out on so many opportunities.” She continues, “I’m so glad I said ‘why not?’ and filled out that application for Workshop. … Isn’t it crazy how one choice can make such a huge impact on someone’s life?” Student research at Augsburg It’s not uncommon to associate “research” with a scientific laboratory, microscopes, and tiny glass slides smeared with cells. But research at Augsburg is more than Bunsen burners and petri dishes. Every year students in the natural and social sciences, the humanities, and the arts conduct intensive 10-week summer projects as well as ongoing projects throughout the year. Last summer alone, students wrote music and screenplays, tested the water quality in Rice Creek, studied aggression in Girl Scouts, produced wearable art, and tried to find a body mass index for dogs—among other things. Student research is funded from a variety of sources: grants provided by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO), the McNair Scholars program, a NASA Space Physics grant, the Northstar STEM Alliance, and Augsburg donors. The funds not only allow students to focus on their projects for 40 hours a week in the summer but also provide opportunities for them to travel to national conferences to present their work. Here we highlight the work of six outstanding Augsburg undergraduates—students whom we may see winning awards or publishing scholarly journal articles in the future. To meet some of these student researchers and many others, attend Zyzzogeton, Augsburg’s annual celebration of academic and artistic student achievement. The spring 2011 Zyzzogeton student research poster session will be held Wednesday, April 13 from 3-5 p.m. in the Oren Gateway Center atrium. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 To watch videos of four other students who spent last summer researching algae, biodiesel, dogs, and songwriting, go to www.augsburg.edu/now justin ingebretson The Effect of Dopaminergic Neurotoxins on Daphnia magna Swimming Behavior Faculty adviser, Matt Beckman Justin Ingebretson spent a good deal of his summer shooting video of swimming water fleas. Actually, he was filming perturbed water fleas, also known as Daphnia magna. The purpose was to understand the role that certain neurotoxins have in motor behavior, with applications for humans suffering from disorders like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Ingebretson presented his research at the national conference of the Annual Society for Neuroscience, where he says he was able to hold his head high next to students from multimillion-dollar research institutions. A member of the recovery community who at one time did not see college in his future, this promising scientist says, “I feel honored that the faculty and this college entrusted me to represent them.” 20 Augsburg Now becky shaheen Art Song: Poetry into Music Faculty adviser, Sonja Thompson You wouldn’t think a recipe or a letter to Miss Manners would make for a good song, but Becky Shaheen ’11 knows otherwise. A talented musician and composer in her own right, Shaheen researched the relationship between text and music using the art song, a classical form that incorporates piano and voice. She analyzed the work of different composers and wrote seven songs, one for each of seven composer-poet teams. Shaheen’s project emphasizes that research is not only for students in the sciences. “This project was created exclusively by me and really fed my passions,” she says. In addition to funding her summer research, the URGO program also provided funds for Shaheen to travel to the Vancouver International Song Institute where she workshopped her pieces with singers and composers. Spring 2011 21 tom lopez Construction of a Magnetic Needle Viscometer for Use in Research and Undergraduate Education Faculty adviser, Benjamin Stottrup Three years ago Tom Lopez, then a first-year mathematics and physics major, went to Google’s scholar database and typed the words “magnetic lipids.” No, these aren’t typical search terms for the average student, but Lopez isn’t the average student. A former construction foreman, Lopez entered Augsburg at the age of 27. He became interested in research after completing a project for his general physics course and meeting professor Ben Stottrup. Since that first summer, Lopez has had his research fully funded through the McNair program, a NASA Space Physics grant, the Computational Science Training for Undergraduates in the Mathematical Sciences (CSUMS), and the North Star STEM Alliance. He’s applied to graduate school and hopes one day to return to the classroom as a professor. “I want to be able to mentor students and introduce them to opportunities like the ones I have had at Augsburg,” he says. 22 Augsburg Now lucreshia grant Hair Is, Hair Ain’t: Black Women and the Meaning of Their Hair Faculty adviser, Jessica Nathanson When Lucreshia Grant shaved her head a couple of years ago, her friends started calling her “Mikey” and asking if she was going through some kind of phase. Then when she began growing dreadlocks, they asked if she was still going to be able to get a job after college. All this caused Grant to ask, “What does my hair mean?” Augsburg’s McNair research program allowed her to ask this same question of several black women. She learned that hair shapes women’s identities as well as their vocabularies, and she explored how black women’s attempts to change their hair were both an assimilation of a white standard of beauty as well as an exploration of the versatility of black hair. A sociology and psychology major with a minor in women’s studies, Grant hopes she can continue this research one day in graduate school. Spring 2011 23 walker krepps Quantitative EEG as a Bio-Marker for Addiction Risk Faculty adviser, Henry Yoon Sometimes research is boring. Even research that results in a new discovery can start out with some mundane tasks. But every once in a while, a student is able to be involved in research that has the potential to break new ground in its field. Such is the case with Walker Krepps and his work with psychology professor Henry Yoon. They have connected with a University of Minnesota team to examine brain waves that may predict the tendency toward addictive behavior in children of alcoholic and addict parents. What makes this so exciting for Krepps is the opportunity to conduct tests on a “perfect sample,” namely students in Augsburg’s StepUP® residential recovery community. 24 Augsburg Now kathleen watson The Dramaturgical Process in Context: Sketches of Eastern European Jews at the Turn of the Century Faculty adviser, Sarah Myers Theatre-goers have undoubtedly seen the listing of a “dramaturg” in the playbill at their local playhouse and wondered what it meant. Kathleen Watson wondered, too, and spent the first few days of her research project trying to figure out how to explain it. In the case of her project, Watson worked with theatre professor Sarah Myers to provide the historical and creative research for Myers’ play based on her family history. Watson immersed herself in Jewish culture and history, learning about Jews who entered the U.S. through Galveston, Tex., reading letters and looking at photos found in Myers’ grandmother’s attic, and even becoming a fan of klezmer music. “I learned some naughty words in Yiddish, too,” she says. Watson plans to attend graduate school for dramaturgy. “It gets under my skin. I could do it all day, every day.” And now she can explain what it is as well. Spring 2011 25 International Programs Photo Contest 3 explore experience 26 challenge discover Augsburg Now Photojournalism 1 First place “Comfort Women Protest” Tracy Olsen South Korea 2 Second place “Love and Heineken” Nora Dahlberg France 3 Third place “La Cueca” Erika Osterbur Chile Also winner of the People’s Choice Award 1 2 Landscape/Cityscape 1 First place “Seoul from Namsan Tower” Tracy Olsen South Korea 2 Second place “Nueva Esperanza” Katherine Walker El Salvador 3 Third place “Daybreak” Kate Woolever Thailand 2 3 1 Spring 2011 27 Portrait 1 First place “Bird Man” Nora Dahlberg France 3 Third place “A Blessing” Jeffrey Xiong Thailand 2 Second place “Gazing toward Change” Chelsie Duckworth Mexico 1 2009-10 Study Abroad by the Numbers 274 Augsburg students studied abroad 66% female and 34% male 14 Augsburg faculty-led programs 47% Studied in Latin America and the Caribbean 9% 2 Studied in Asia 31% Studied in Europe 11% Increase in students studying abroad from 2008-09 to 2009-10 28 Augsburg Now 3 auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … Dear fellow alumni, ransition takes many forms, and occurs at many points throughout our lives. Important to living with transition is our continued growth—growth through education, growth through volunteer work, or growth through professional development—and education is one of the many ways to spark that growth in our lives. Consider how you can embrace transition through learning—especially in a rich learning environment like the one at Augsburg College. Learning and enlightenment open doors of opportunity that you can only imagine—your first job, a promotion, or reflection on a satisfying career. Each has rewards that will benefit both you and the people with whom you interact. Continuing your education can provide a keen awareness in an ever-changing world, and can enable you to engage the world in a meaningful way, as well as adapt to new experiences and change more readily. Transition is a normal part of life! Why not consider the richness of opportunities to embrace transition by becoming an active alumnus/a, or by re-engaging with Augsburg? T JOHN STADLER ’07 MAL PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION P.S. The Alumni Board is looking for a few new leaders! To receive more information about becoming a member of this dynamic group, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1085. Alumni Board 2010-11 Front row (left to right): John Stadler ’07 MAL, Chris Hallin ’88, Maggie Tatton ’01, Misti Allen Binsfeld ’93; Back row (left to right): Jennifer M. Carlson ’91; Chad Darr ’04; Sharon Mercill ’09; Nancy Nordlund ’91, ’07 MAL; Holly Ebnet Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA; Sarah Grans ’01; Daniel Hickle ’95; Chris Ascher ’81; Michael Loney ’03 Save the Date! Homecoming 2011 October 17–23, 2011 Reunion Classes 50th reunion—1961 40th reunion—1971 25th reunion—1986 10th reunion—2001 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 2011 29 auggie alumni news Young Alumni Council Estate sales group: Outreach + service = tangible outcomes A little history: The Augsburg College Associates began to conduct estate sales in 1996— 15 years ago. However, the idea of raising funds to help with College projects began with the founding of the Augsburg College Associates in 1984-85. The first very large and challenging project was funding a new pipe organ for Hoversten Chapel in the new Foss Center. The Associates held one gigantic “Trash and Treasures” sale in Melby Hall. It was a huge success and continued to be held each fall until the old music hall was razed and the Associates’ storage space was no longer available. Eager to find a new source of funds, the group began conducting estate sales in 1996. Coordination, leadership, and expertise over the years have been provided by scores of loyal, energetic volunteers. The Augsburg Associates have conducted a total of 62 sales through 2010, earning approximately $136,000, which has helped fund campus renovations, support for new buildings, and the establishment of several scholarships. The Augsburg Associates is a people-powered organization in need of constant refueling. The group is as strong as its numbers. Imagine the possibilities if they could increase the number of Associates and friends who would participate in this outreach and income-producing program. Contact Kate Anderson at 651-645-3262 or andersoc@visi.com if you are willing to be added to the list of estate sales associates. There is another way you can help that does not involve a commitment of time—help pass the word to your friends and neighbors about the Augsburg Associates’ estate sale services. Potential clients should contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085. The Young Alumni Council is busy planning great events for Summer 2011. Join the Augsburg College Young Alumni group on Facebook and check the alumni calendar for a full schedule. Front row (left to right): Cory Allen ’07, John MacCormick ’10, Lauren Back ’08, Teresa Barnhill ’08, Robert Wagner ’02, Ali Fitzpatrick ’11; Back row (left to right): Mark Matzek ’05, Maria Helgerson ’07, Jennifer Oliver ’07, Nick Slack ’02, Cody Tresselt-Warren ’09, David Lange ’08, Nick Swanson ’09, Megan Benrud ’10, Charles Sletten ’09, Beth Franklin ’09, Missy Motl ’06, Julia Mensing ’00, ’07 MBA Enjoy recordings of Augsburg’s music 2010 Advent Vespers service—music, liturgy, and hymns A two-disc set is $25. To order, go to www.augsburg.edu/vespers. Augsburg Choir Legacy Recordings, 1949–1979 Three boxed sets, each with five CDs, plus a monograph about the life and career of Leland B. Sateren with each order: • From Opseth to Sateren (1949–1962) • Sateren Intermezzo (1964–1972) • Sateren Finale (1972–1979) Cost: $49 per box (5 CDs); $135 for all three sets (15 CDs), plus shipping and handling. To order, go to www.augsburg.edu/music/saterenCD.html or call the Augsburg College Bookstore at 612-359-6491. Watch for these— coming later this spring! The Augsburg Choir, “Stay with Us” Augsburg Jazz, Volume II My Song in 1 1 1 17 The 31st An nual Augsburg 30 Augsburg Now the Night College Adven t Vespers Alumni artists— call for submissions auggies VOLUNTEER Augsburg Alumni Juried Show 2011 The Augsburg art galleries are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for alumni to show their artwork in a juried exhibition featured in both the Gage Family Art Gallery and Christensen Center Art Gallery opening in early August. Each artist may submit up to three images. The submission deadline is June 24; notifications of acceptance will be sent out July 12. For more information about the Augsburg Alumni Juried Show, go to www.augsburg.edu/galleries or e-mail gallery@augsburg.edu. Feed My Starving Children In mid-January, 75 Augsburg volunteers of all ages gathered in Coon Rapids to work together with other volunteers to package meals for hungry children around the world. During the session, more than 22,000 meals were packaged, which would be made available through the Feed My Starving Children program. Thank you to all who participated in this effort, once again demonstrating the difference alumni continue to make living out the values gained as Augsburg students, giving back and helping others. Called to Lead: An invitation If you wonder where you are going in your professional and personal life and feel you could be doing something more significant, you are invited to explore “Called to Lead,” a four-week intensive experience for Augsburg alumni and friends of the College. Explore the challenges of leadership, the nature of servant leadership, the centered life, seeing things whole, and development of your strategic game plan. Facilitators include Professors Tom Morgan, Jack Fortin, and Norma Noonan. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning and the Center for Leadership Studies. Spend four spring mornings before work—April 26 and May 3, 10, and 17 from 7:30 to 9 a.m.—and emerge energized and renewed for new challenges in your life. For more information and an application, contact Norma Noonan at noonan@augsburg.edu. The total cost is $200, which includes books, weekly breakfasts, and all sessions. Registration closes April 11. Above left: Jennifer Oliver ’07 and Carolyn Mollner ’07 Left: Amy Forsberg ’95 and her children, Aubrey and Olin. A journey to the Holy Land with Professor Philip A. Quanbeck II Encounter the geography, places, and people of the Holy Land. Visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Caesarea, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, and much more on a journey departing in early January 2012. Woven into the itinerary are opportunities to share in dialogue with local community leaders. Return home with a broader and deeper understanding of a land that is holy for the world’s three monotheistic religions. The cost for this comprehensive program includes airfare from the Twin Cities and a carefully planned and paced schedule of activities The Mount of Beatitudes is topped by a Catholic chapel built by the Franciscan Sisters. and site visits—along with select accommodations, most meals, special educational programming, and a licensed guide throughout. To receive further information as details are finalized, contact Alumni Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1085. Spring 2011 31 alumni class notes Frank Ario was featured on 50KARE-11 TV in Minneapolis in December, recalling his experience fighting in a tank batallion in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. He taught economics and philosophy at Washburn High School for 30 years, and in retirement he has volunteered at the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis. He and Georgette (Lanes) ’50 have been married for more than 60 years. to share their building, including a Mennonite congregation and a First Nations worship center. Douglas Emerson was honored 66on January 15 as the Man of the Year by the San Benito County (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce. Since 2005 he has served as city councilman and in 2008 became mayor of Hollister, Calif. Nancy Brown-Koeller, received Margaret “Grit” Youngquist was in Marketing Awards given to the North American marketing organization at Kimberly-Clark Corp. She led a team that received the award for a workshop to educate about the challenges senior citizens face when shopping or using products or services. It was featured in the Wall Street Journal business section in September 2009. Hubbard Maternal and Child Health Leadership Award from the Minnesota Department of Health that recognizes leadership and achievements in promoting good health for mothers, children, and youth. She is the adolescent health and healthy youth development coordinator for the Ramsey County Public Health Department. Richard Pearson was elected in November to the board of directors of North American State Bank of Willmar, Belgrade, and Elrose. He is now retired, after a 34-year career in senior financial positions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. 84ate vice president of develop- 74one of the seven 2010 Legacy 79awarded the 21st annual Betty Susan Nelson, Moline, Ill., re- Dr. Leland Fairbanks, Tempe, Ariz., in his retirement from the Indian Health Service and U.S. Public Health Service, is actively advocating a ban on smoking in tribal casinos. In 1983 he succeeded in passing a smoking ban at the Indian Health Service center in Phoenix, the first in the country at a health institution. 53 Lute Olson gave a speech in September in Minot, N.D., at a joint meeting of Minot service clubs as he was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame. 56 Rev. Ron Nelson, Winnipeg, 62Manitoba, is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, which opened its doors 11 years ago to serve the community, inviting a variety of ministries 67tired from Davenport (Iowa) Schools in June, where she was an elementary special education teacher. She coached Iowa’s 2010 Special Olympics National Games Tennis Team, July 17–24, in Lincoln, Neb., where the team played with professional tennis player Andy Roddick. Don Lenzen will retire on June 30 after 13 years as elementary school principal in the Pequot Lakes School District. He has been in education for 42 years. 69 Jerry Johnson, Bellingham, 70Wash., teaches mathematics at Western Washington University and was awarded the Peter J. Elich Excellence in Teaching Award. He was lauded for “drawing upon realworld experiences to illustrate math concepts and reach students with a variety of learning styles.” Catherine (Mork) 48Kordahl, Mora, Minn., shared this photo from 1946, standing with her friends in front of Old Main. Lars Walker is librarian and bookstore manager for the schools of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations in Plymouth, Minn. He is the author of several published fantasy novels, the latest of which is West Oversea, a Norse saga of mystery, adventure, and faith. Anne (Mollison) Klus is presi- 76dent and CEO of Trinity Uni- forms that will begin supplying uniforms for 51,000 healthcare providers around the country. She also is a music teacher and choir director at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. Ruth (Dahlof) Vedvik is a principal at Hardwick-Day, Inc., and has written The Financial Aid Handbook, with co-author and former Augsburg director of admissions Carol Stack. The book will be released in April by Career Press and is already online at Amazon and elsewhere. Bonnie (Lamon) Moren is an 78adapted physical education teacher/lead for Bloomington Schools. She recently received the Allen Burton Developmental Adapted Physical Education Award for outstanding efforts and contributions given to students with disabilities in the area of developmental adapted physical education by a teacher of elementary, secondary, or higher education. She has been teaching for 31 years. 32 Augsburg Now Carmela (Brown) Kranz, associ- ment of the Minnesota Medical Foundation in Minneapolis, received the 2010 Distinguished Service Award from District V of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), its top volunteer recognition for her 20 years of service. Tim Andrew was included on 88the second annual list of Top Lawyers 2010, as chosen by their peers, in Duluth-Superior Magazine. His firm, Andrew & Bransky PA, represents labor unions and employee benefit plans in Northeastern Minnesota. Karen Reed, Program III direc- 90tor at Coalinga State Hospital in Coalinga, Calif., and other music therapists celebrated 60 years of music therapy in the “Rock out the past … Roll into the future.” Earlier, in October, her staff honored her with an engraved silver journal on Bosses Day. Lisa Dietz received a 2010 Proj- 91ect Grant for Emerging Artists with Disabilities through VSA Minnesota. She is a fiber artist who has had a number of exhibitions and won prizes at the Minnesota State Fair for several years. Katie Knutson received a 2009-10 Upper Midwest Regional Emmy for part of WCCO’s promotion and marketing team in the one-time event sports category. Since June she has worked as sales and marketing director at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Anthony Patton has a new novel published, Treaty Violation, exploring murder and conspiracy in the spy world. Holly (Kolander) McCune, a 96former Minnesota Vikings Mary Lou (Mortensen) Nelson was awarded the 2010 Honorary Award, given by the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation for Peace and Justice, recognizing her many years of leadership with the United Nations Association. 45 Michelle (Wincell) and Bill 91Nielsen, Mendota Heights, Minn., welcomed baby Josephine May on October 9. She joins big sister Lena Kay, 3 1/2. Jennifer (Crego) and Chad Carls, Oak Grove, Minn., welcomed the birth cheerleader and 1998 Pro Bowl cheerleader, was recently interviewed for the “Where are they now?” magazine article about former NFL cheerleaders and players. She currently lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with her husband and twin daughters and teaches Spanish part time. She and her daughters are also featured on pool product packages and boxes for Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies stores nationwide. Jackie (Heyda) and Joshua Ey- Mary Elizabeth (Brooks) and 98Jon Wroge, Norwood Young America, Minn., welcomed their beautiful and cherished gift, Aubry Ann, in April 2010. She joins big sisters Hannah and Kylie and big brother Cole. Leah (Spafford) and Taher 00of their fifth son, Isaac Victor, on March 24, 2010, who joins big broth- 02berg welcomed the birth of 02Omar, Brooklyn Center, Minn., ers Tommy, 8; Andrew, 7; Brock, 5; and Nick, 3. Chad teaches physics and chemistry in Anoka Hennepin District 11, and Jennifer is currently home with the boys. their daughter, Lydia Louise, on January 11. welcomed their son, Khalil Nur, home from Ethiopia. Jeff Ronneberg, in his second year as superintendent of the Spring Lake Park school district, was elected in the fall to the board of Learning Forward, a 13,000-member organization based in Oxford, Ohio. Trang Thanh Nguyen and her husband, Osman, welcomed their son, Noah, on Sept. 2, 2009, two weeks overdue. Trang and Osman met while she was pursuing her master’s degree in intercultural relations at Lesley University, and they were married five years later. Currently, Trang is a senior assistant director for multicultural recruitment at Wheaton College (Mass.), and Osman works as a bank examiner for the U.S. Treasury Department. They plan to return to Minnesota this year to be closer to family. 03estate for five years and re- Linda (Moffat) Sauber was ap- 94pointed director of client portfo- Judy Workman is a physician 98assistant at the Prior Lake Park Nicollet Clinic. Aaron Gabriel received a 2010 99Ivey Award in Minneapolis for his musical score for Madame Majesta’s Miracle Medicine Show. lio management services at Advantus Capital Management in St. Paul. Kjirsten Hoversten married Chris Probst on August 28. Nick Gruidl is a managing director in McGladrey’s Corporate Tax and Transactions practice and was a presenter on tax issues in a webinar for the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., in October. Cheri Johnson has won the Second Year Winter Fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Mass., for 2010–11. She has also been hired as a fiction reader at the literary magazine Our Stories. Her novel excerpt “In San Jacinto” was published in the fall/winter 2009–10 issue of Cerise Press. 96 Tara (Cesaretti) and Chris 97McLeod ’00 welcomed a baby girl, Cora, on December 7. Trena Bolden Fields wrote and 00performed a one-woman show, Daring to Think, Move, and Speak, at Dreamland Arts in January. It is a series of monologues and spirituals featuring African American women of the Civil Rights Movement. Chad Moore has been in real cently joined Weichert RealtorsTower Properties in Brainerd. Kristen Opalinski is living and working in Johannesburg, South Africa, as a communications specialist with the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA). Sarah Suter was named to the 2010 “Legal Elite” attorneys in Nevada, as chosen by their peers. She practices at the firm of Ryan Mercaldo & Worthington in Las Vegas in a variety of practice areas throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona. Dara Fernandez, an attorney 04with Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker LLC, was named the Ala- Spring 2011 33 alumni class notes bama deputy representative for the Hispanic National Bar Association. She works in international law. Nikki Lemire and Kent Bodurtha ’08 were married in Hoversten Chapel on October 30. Khoi Tuan Nguyen lives in Irvine, Calif., and is a computer engineer. He is also pursuing music as a singer and a songwriter within the Vietnamese American community in Southern California. and Lindsay (Bonner) 08were married on August 28 in 02Matthew Pavelka are excited to anBrainerd, Minn. Kelly works at Med- Jason Stock joined his father’s roofing company, which has grown and diversified throughout the economic recession, becoming national leaders in sustainability solutions. They installed green roofs on major projects such as Target Center and Minneapolis City Hall. 09leader on a Thrivent Builds Laura Wade married Joe Machacek on October 9 in Lakeville, Minn. They are employed by Mystic Lake Casino and live in Burnsville, Minn. Ryan Davies and Michelle 05Arnhold were married in Grand Rapids, Minn., on June 19. Michelle works at University of WisconsinSuperior. Ryan is employed by Nortrax. They live in Duluth. Mike Matson is currently serv- 06ing a one-year internship at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Killeen, Tex., a church with many military families. He attended Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, and the Chaplain School and Center in Fort Jackson, S.C. Following ordination, he aims to deploy as a military chaplain with an active Navy or Marine unit. Taylor Kroger and Tara Velde ’07 were married in Detroit Lakes, Minn., on August 14. Taylor works for Cappella University in Minneapolis, and Tara is a middle school math teacher in the Minneapolis School District. They live in Minneapolis. Graham Waite started a new business, Man Essentials, an online order service for men’s socks, Tshirts, and underwear. Rachel Forsberg and Tony 07Wernsing were married on June 12. 34 Augsburg Now Kameron Markworth and Lind- 05say (Plocher) ’06 were mar- Kelly (Torfin) and Phillip Ukes tox Scientific and Phillip works at Thomson Reuters. They live in Farmington, Minn. Gena Gilbertson was a co-team trip to Lautoka, Fiji's second-largest city, from October 31 to November 13 to build a two-bedroom home for Pastor Emosi Delana and his family. nounce the birth of their son, Leo Mack, born on January 7. Matthew graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Galveston in May 2010 and is currently an emergency medicine resident at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. ried on July 10 in Stillwater, Minn. They currently live in Philadelphia where Lindsay is pursuing a master’s degree in music therapy through a teaching assistantship at Temple University. Kameron is a creative managing partner for a web publication, DrinkPhilly.com, while also seeking a performance and teaching career in music. Three Auggies were bridesmaids: Miya Kunin ’04, Megan (Feider) Druckrey ’06, and Kristi Billings ’06. Travis Lang joined Cornerstone Bank in Bismarck, N.D., as a mortgage loan consultant. Jennifer Ortloff began a new position in October as finance director for the City of Granite Falls, Minn. Previously, she was deputy city clerk in Brownton, Minn. Matt Carlson is head coach of 10the junior varsity soccer team and assistant varsity and goalkeeper coach at Stillwater High School, as well as goalkeeper coach at the University of St. Thomas. Trisha (Chevalier) and Jason 07Garvin were married on Au- gust 21. They live in Sauk Centre, Minn. Dan Kerrigan married Amber Knutson on August 21. Matthew Tonsager and Melissa 09Moberg ’10 were married by her father, Rev. Steve Moberg in Hoversten Chapel on August 14. Auggies included Dave Afdahl ’10, vocalist/pianist; Kendra Christiansen ’10, photographer; Seth Lienard ’11, videographer; Mikey Cunningham ’09, DJ; and Kristi Castelic ’10, personal attendant. Wedding party Auggies were Brian Gullick ’09, best man; Mackenzie Shiell ’10 and Kathryn Amberg ’10, bridesmaids; Rev. James Shiell ’54, Melissa’s grandfather and a reader. Graduate Programs Will Ruffin ’09 MAE, was awarded the Rochester “ABC 6 News Excellent Educator” recognition and was featured on ABC 6 News at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, and on the Good Morning show the next day. He was also recognized with the fifth-grade students, teachers, and his wife at his school. Buffie Blesi ’90, ’97 MAL, was interviewed by Shoreview Press in November about her business and background. After a career in financial services, she started her own company in 2009, KnowledgeSphere, a franchise business for AdviCoach, business coaching and advising services. Kevin Chou ’07 MBA and Jennifer (Tome) ’99 were married July 30 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in St. Paul. Kevin is an independent Oracle Retail guru and Jennifer recently started a wine brokerage. They love to travel the world and currently call Savage home with their children and two Boxers. 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 e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. ____________________________________________________________ Full name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name ____________________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ____________________________________________________________ Street address In Memoriam Hannah (Mehus) Stensvaag ’38, Minneapolis, age 94, on November 14. Adrian C. Tinderholt ’38, Fergus Falls, Minn., age 94, on November 27. Theodore M. Nelson ’41, Two Harbors, Minn., age 90, on July 30. Rev. Bennett Randolph Quanbeck ’45, Monticello, Minn., age 94, on November 13. Beverly (Tollefson) Uhlenberg ’60, Distinguished Alumna 1994, Grand Forks, N.D., age 72, on December 4. ____________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip code Mary Lee (Felrath) Ebeling Pichner ’62, of Owatonna, Minn., age 70, on January 10. ____________________________________________________________ Home telephone Grace Johnson ’63, Sandstone, Minn., age 71, on October 23. Is this a new address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ E-mail Okay to publish your e-mail address? q Yes q No Phyllis (Fredrickson) Stuckmayer ’64, Northfield, Minn., age 65, on January 11. ____________________________________________________________ Employer Rev. Loren Nelson ’67, Mahtowa, Minn., age 65, on October 21. ____________________________________________________________ Position IvaDell (Kleven) Rice ’48, Edina, Minn., age 80, on November 12. Glenda Potter ’76, Eagan, Minn., age 56, on January 3. ____________________________________________________________ Work telephone Lyla (Larson) Jystad ’49, Rochester, Minn., age 83, on August 12. Terri Monroe ’80, Pequot Lakes, Minn., age 59, on November 27. Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No Thelma (Landsverk) Peacock LeBeau ’48, Eagle Butte, S.D., age 82, on October 3. Richard H. Aune ’50, St. Peter, Minn., age 82, on September 7. Rev. Benjamin Larson ’52, Ely, Minn., age 81, on November 13. Sigrunn Kvamme ’53, St. Paul, Minn., age 90, on September 28. Esther (Olesen) Freund ’54, Fremont, Neb., age 82, on November 9. Richard A. Mahre ’55, Richfield, Minn., age 77, on December 22. James A. Bye ’59, Redwood Falls, Minn., age 73, on December 12, 2009. Mary J. (Holmberg) Severson ’90, St. Anthony, Minn., age 65, on November 18. Susan (Doughty) Moes ’92, St. Paul, Minn., age 60, on November 11. Celeste O’Brien Haugen, former music faculty, Ft. Myers, Fla., on December 22. Howard E. Olson, former senior development officer and regent emeritus, St. Paul, Minn., age 89, on November 18. If yes, class year ________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Spouse’s name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name Your news: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Spring 2011 35 it takes an Auggie A gift for the future Dean Sundquist ’81 has witnessed a few changes to Augsburg’s campus since his days as an undergraduate business major. He describes how, in the campus center during the spring of his senior year, he learned about the assassination attempt on President Reagan by watching a black-and-white television that, he quips, “probably used a coat hanger for an antenna.” Now, noting the facility renovations and technological revolutions of the past 30 years, he remarks simply, “It’s changed a lot.” Sundquist knows about progress. As chairman and CEO of Mate Precision Tooling, which specializes in metal products and laser technologies, he has not only survived the economic downturn, but also guided his company through product expansion and international growth. With offices in Minnesota, Sweden, Germany, China, and Malaysia, and more than 500 employees, Sundquist’s business is a worldwide leader in its market. To many Auggies, however, business success is not Sundquist’s biggest claim to fame. He is the founder of the Sundquist Scholars, a summer research opportunity for students in the sciences. Since 2006, the Sundquist Scholars program has provided funds and resources for five students per year to conduct summer research, either of their own design or in conjunction with a professor’s project. Sundquist claims that his interest in funding the research scholars stems from the opportunity to target his gift to a specific program. “It was more exciting than donating generally to the College,” he explains—adding quickly, “although that’s important too.” While Sundquist believes that the scholars program offers a wonderful educational experience for science students, he is also excited about the potential for their work beyond Augsburg. “Scientific improvements will propel the economy,” he explains. “Science is the way of the future for the health and living conditions of everyone in the world.” The Sundquist Scholars have certainly risen to the challenge. Among the first of these students was Brian Krohn ’08, who researched a groundbreaking method for developing bio-diesel. Krohn, Augsburg’s first Rhodes Scholar, earned a master of science degree in environmental change and management at Oxford University, and is currently pursuing a master of science in the history of science, medicine, and technology. Caryn Quist ’09, another scholar, researched orchid growth and development, was a Goldwater Scholar nominee, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. Besides providing a solid base for postgraduate study, the Sundquist Scholars program provides students the unique opportu- 36 Augsburg Now nity to perform high-level research in close partnership with a faculty mentor. Two of the most recent Sundquist Scholars, Trevor Rodriguez Sotelo and Gottlieb Uahengo, both current sophomores in the physics department, began their research on lipid biophysics the summer after their first year at Augsburg. Sundquist, who has met many of the Sundquist Scholars over the years, commends the students for their ambition and hard work. “They’re setting themselves up to go to grad school and to get jobs in research,” he says. “I’m awfully impressed. I really admire these students.” Sundquist has recently agreed not only to continue funding the program, but also to double its size. His donation will sponsor 50 more young scholars over the next five years. In addition, he has pledged to support the new Center for Science, Business, and Religion. He sees this project as an illustration of Augsburg’s distinctive interdisciplinary perspective. “These departments don’t seem like they would fit together,” he says, “but Augsburg showed me that they do.” Sundquist is humble about his contributions to Augsburg’s students. “If it works for them,” he says, “that’s my main criterion.” KAYLA SKARBAKKA ’09 is a writer living in Minneapolis. an augsburg legacy Michael Darling “After everything Augsburg did for me, it’s a bit of a no-brainer to give something back. That’s why I’ve named Augsburg College in my will. And even better, I’m able to say ‘thank you’ to Professor Emeritus Duane Johnson by designating part of my gift to an endowed scholarship fund in his name.” 1-800-273-0617 www.augsburg.edu/giving 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031 Celebrating in rural Nicaragua While traveling down a rutted road in rural Nicaragua, members of Augsburg’s Board of Regents came upon a massive crowd cheering and celebrating in the middle of the road. Wonder turned to shock as the crowd turned and began running at full speed toward their bus. In the midst of the crowd was a depressed-looking bull being pushed along. The people were celebrating the Feast of St. Sebastian, which this year contained not a running of a bull, but more of a dragging. To view photos of Augsburg’s Board of Regents trip to Nicaragua, go to www.flickr.com/photos/augsburgcollege
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring 2012: Called To Inspire Peace
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2012 VOL. 74, NO. 2 inside called Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing Auggie Pastors Nobel Peace Prize Forum Travel International photo contest Writers’ challenge of place Roger Griffith ’84 pagePersonality 20 to inspire peace not...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2012 VOL. 74, NO. 2 inside called Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing Auggie Pastors Nobel Peace Prize Forum Travel International photo contest Writers’ challenge of place Roger Griffith ’84 pagePersonality 20 to inspire peace notes from President Pribbenow Assistant 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 Innovation and excellence Senior Creative Associate-Design A s I write this, there is much conversation around the country about President Obama’s challenge to colleges and universities to stem tuition increases and make higher education more accessible. It is an important challenge and one we take seriously at Augsburg. In many ways, Augsburg’s longstanding commitment to access and excellence prepares us well to address the challenge. We have developed a strategic model for using College-funded financial aid to make college accessible for a diverse student body. We are involved in ongoing efforts to link academic planning, enrollment outlooks, and a sustainable financial model. We focus our attention as a campus community on ensuring that students are at the center of our lives and that their success is our primary objective. All of these efforts are mission-based and challenge us to be open to innovative ways to ensure that Augsburg’s excellence is sustained into the future. In fact, Augsburg 2019, our strategic map, names innovation and excellence as one of our three key pathways to our future. (The others are student success and telling Augsburg’s story in word and deed.) You will read in this issue of Augsburg Now about several innovative projects, including the Nobel Peace Prize Forum (see page 9), the American Commonwealth Partnership (see page 2), and the opening of the new Gage Center for Student Success (see page 3 and back cover). All of this said, however, we still must ask ourselves a fundamental question about higher education and about Augsburg in particular. That question is this: Is it worth it? Why would any of us—parents and students who pay tuition, alumni and friends who make gifts—invest the time and energy and money that college demands? It is a question I think a good bit about, though I certainly will admit my bias as a lifelong educator. In engaging in the important public conversations about the role of higher education for our economy and democracy, there is great value in re- visiting the reasons why the sort of education Augsburg offers is worth it—for our students, graduates, and the world. I find essayist and poet (and farmer) Wendell Berry’s words in his prose-poem “Damage” particularly instructive when he writes: “No expert knows everything about every place, not even everything about any place. If one’s knowledge of one’s whereabouts is insufficient, if one’s judgment is unsound, then expert advice is of little use.” Education, in other words, is not about taking someone else’s word for it. It is about finding our own way into an understanding of our world and our whereabouts so that we might use our education to make our whereabouts safer and healthier, and more fair and just. This is how we think about education here at Augsburg. Students come here not to be filled up with someone else’s knowledge but to find and ask their own questions, to test their own hypotheses, to create their own art and music, and to engage our neighborhood and world as they learn and serve. They come here to learn about themselves, to learn with each other and with our remarkable faculty, and to learn about the world they inhabit with all its diversity and complexity. And then in a few short years, we send them out from here to use their education in service and leadership in the world. We count on them to take the questions they have asked here and knowledge they have gained about their whereabouts, and then we watch with great pride and expectation how their Augsburg education makes the world a better place for all of us. Accountability for our plans and budgets? Indeed. Innovation and excellence in support of our students? You can count on it. But in the end, we must be passionate advocates for the value—the worth—of the sort of education Augsburg offers and the difference it makes for our students and the world. I thank all of you for your support and passion. Please share our amazing story! 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 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 spring 2012 augsburg now Features 9 13 24 28 Nobel Peace Prize Forum COMPILED BY REBECCA JOHN WE ARE CALLED. auggie pastors. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 . 14 Bob Bagley ’58 16 David Lillejord ’86 18 Jeni Falkman Grangaard ’02 20 Peter Morlock ’90 22 Stephanie Quick-Espinoza ’01 9 contents 13 26 On the cover At the 24th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, Augsburg’s President Paul C. Pribbenow was joined by F. W. de Klerk, former South African president and 1993 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Peter Agre ’70, 2003 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 24 26 28 International photo contest Auggie writers’ challenge COMPILED BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 The personality of place—student break room BY STEPHEN GEFFRE Departments inside front cover 2 5 6 30 31 36 40 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad My Auggie experience Auggie voices Auggies in the front office Alumni news Class notes It takes an Auggie quad around the SportsExtravaganza American Commonwealth Partnership Augsburg was named coordinator of the nationwide American Commonwealth Partnership (ACP), launched in January by the White House Office of Public Engagement, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Association of American Colleges and Universities. The ACP is rooted in the recognition that education should be— must be—delivered for the common good rather than be allowed to become an individual benefit only for those who can afford it. As coordinator, Augsburg will work to deepen connections and relationships and create policies, initiatives, and practices in public engagement efforts across higher education. Read more on page 6 of this edition of Augsburg Now. Auggies majoring in physical education had the chance in November to work with more than 225 grade school kids from 27 schools during the Sports Extravaganza. All the youth who attended have developmental and/or physical needs and participated in nine different activities designed with their needs in mind. The program is a chance for future teachers to get hands-on practice working with students. Academic ACCREDITATION education Youth Day Native American More than 250 Native American youth from grades 6 through 12 were on campus January 13 for Native American Youth Day. As part of their visit, the students from eight metro-area school districts had the chance to hear Olympian Billy Mills talk about living a drug-free, alcohol-free life. Mills, who was born and raised on the Pine Ridge (Lakota) Reservation in South Dakota, also spoke about “Unity through Diversity” in an evening presentation open to the public. 2 Augsburg Now The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Review Board granted Augsburg’s Education Department programs continued national accreditation until 2017. Accredited programs include initial licensure programs in elementary, secondary, and special education at the undergraduate and graduate level. NCATE also granted a two-year accreditation to advanced licensure programs. In addition, the department’s teaching and service to the community received the highest possible rating by the NCATE Review Board. nursing The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Board of Commissioners granted accreditation to the College’s post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program for a term of five years, the maximum time frame granted for accreditation of new programs. Clair and Gladys Strommen EXECUTIVE LEADER SPEAKER SERIES The 2011-12 Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Leader Speaker Series kicked off in November with Steve Wehrenberg ’78, CEO of Campbell Mithun advertising agency. In February, the series welcomed Keith Wyche, a leading African-American executive and CEO of Cub Foods. The next event in the series, March 29, features Jim Owens, president and CEO of HB Fuller. All Strommen Executive Leader Speaker events are free and open to the public. C E L E BRAT I N G 3 0 Y E AR S GAGE CENTER CELEBRATION The Center for Global Education celebrates its 30-year anniversary of offering cross-cultural learning experiences that foster critical analysis of local and global conditions. During December, CGE hosted its first trip to Cuba since 2005. The program provided participants an opportunity to learn about politics, health care, food security, workers’ rights, and more. Beginning in the fall of 2012, Augsburg will conduct semester-long programs in Cuba with courses in history, political science, sociology, and Spanish language. The program will be coordinated by CGE in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, an organization based in Havana and dedicated to community development and national and international politics. Augsburg is one of only a handful of colleges to offer such a unique learning opportunity. Representatives of the Gage and Groves Family foundations joined Augsburg College staff and faculty in February for the grand opening of the Gage Center for Student Success and the Groves Center of Technology, located at the heart of campus on the second level of the Lindell Library. Celebration of Philanthropy Modeling Constructive Debate: The Celebration of Philanthropy, the second annual celebration of supporters and friends of the College, is June 7. The event is open to current annual donors who have made gifts of $1,000 or more in fiscal 2012, Sven Oftedal Society members, donors who have made cumulative gifts of $25,000 or more, and donors who have given to the College for 15 or more consecutive years. Invitations to the event will be mailed this spring. Augsburg’s annual Sabo Symposium modeled constructive debate in addressing some of the contentious issues surrounding K-12 integration funding in Minnesota. The panel included Peter Swanson and Scott Thomas, co-chairs of the Minnesota Integration Revenue Replacement Advisory Task Force, who discussed their experiences on the task force to illustrate how people with differing perspectives can lead and model civil discourse in order to work together productively. Sabo Public Policy Symposium To learn more about the Symposium, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Spring 2012 3 quad around the MANY VOICES BOLD VISIONS New academic programs The Augsburg College Board of Regents has approved two new graduate-level programs—the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing and the Master of Music Therapy—which will launch in the fall of 2013. The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing offers tracks in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Playwriting will be added in 2014. The MFA will be offered through a low-residency, hybrid model that includes online and face-to-face learning. The Master of Music Therapy will address changes to the minimum professional requirements for music therapists as set by the Music Therapy National Board. The program, offered via a combination of online and face-to-face learning formats, focuses on music and medicine, which is projected to be a growth field in nursing homes and hospice care. Also, the Augsburg College faculty approved an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher licensure program, an area of demand in K-12 education today. The program is currently pending final approval from the State of Minnesota and will be offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels of the College’s teacher education programs. Where Condor Meets Eagle NATIVE AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL Frederic Luskin, director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project, spoke February 11 at the Center for Counseling and Health Promotion Convocation about the process of letting go of hurt, helplessness, and anger, while increasing confidence, hope, and happiness. At this year’s Batalden Symposium in Applied Ethics, members of the Augsburg community explored the effects of youth on political change in Egypt through first-hand accounts from members of the EYouth (Engaging and Empowering Egyptian Youth) project, who described their experiences as part of the protests and their observations about the process of youth-led political change in Egypt. Kenna-Camara Cotton, director of Voice of Culture Drum and Dance, a Minneapolis-based Black dance company, performs an African dance at the January Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation. Photo by Mark Chamberlain Augsburg Now The Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, held January 16, featured T. Mychael Rambo, local actor, vocalist, and educator. The convocation featured other local performers using poetry, song, dance, and imagery to explore the topic, “Now is the Time: Giving Voice to the Dream.” A full schedule of the 2011-12 Augsburg College Convocation series is available at www.augsburg.edu/convo. Augsburg’s Native American Film Series partnered with Phillips Indian Educators and the Parkway Theater to present a three-night film festival in March celebrating indigenous film, collaborations across national boundaries, and visual storytelling. The festival featured films by Bolivian and North American artists, many of whom attended the screenings and participated in audience discussions about their films. The festival title, Where Condor Meets Eagle, reflects the prophecy that when the condor (Bolivia) meets the eagle (North America), the Indigenous continent will be healed. 4 Convocation Series 2011-12 my Auggie experience Beating the Odds After completing her PhD from Yale in 2009, Chandra Erdman ’02 was in high demand. She was recruited for tenure track teaching positions at several universities, and the global banking firm Goldman Sachs also came calling with an attractive offer. But Erdman’s dream job was to work for the U.S. Census Bureau. Today, she is one of the 39 percent of Washington, D.C., residents who work for the government. She is a mathematical statistician in the Center for Statistical Research and Methodology, a group that makes up less than one percent of U.S. Census Bureau employees. She also happens to be the only African American ever to obtain a PhD in statistics from Yale University. There was a time, however, when Erdman did not care about graduating from high school, much less obtaining a college degree. But with the encouragement and support from those who recognized her potential, she has not only succeeded as a scholar, she has also landed her dream job. In the 10th grade, Erdman was truant 59 days; if she had missed 60 days, she would have been expelled. While speaking to mathematics students at Augsburg in January, Erdman said she had an “attitude” in high school. Despite her truancy and her bad attitude, she maintained a 4.27 grade point average (out of 4.33). At the end of her 10th grade year, she met a man who directed a program that helped inner city youth focus on their education. “I didn’t think college was an option for me,” Erdman said. Neither of her parents had graduated from high school, and in the low-income housing community where she grew up, she knew no one who had gone to college. Erdman enrolled in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program (PSEO) at the University of Minnesota. After two years, she transferred to Augsburg to complete her undergraduate degree in mathematics. “My only aunt who had been to college went to Augsburg,” she said, “and this just felt like the right place for me.” Erdman continued to excel at Augsburg as a McNair Scholar, a federally-funded program that assists first-generation and low-income students with preparation for graduate school. She also conducted faculty-led research, served as a supplemental instructor for Calculus I and II, and tutored in mathematics. Through McNair, and with the guidance of several staff and faculty members, Erdman realized that a graduate degree could be in her future. “They helped me along each step of the way, getting me prepared and helping me do what I needed to become a strong applicant to grad school,” she said. Erdman applied to and was accepted by three graduate programs in statistics. She chose Columbia, where she received a full fellowship. In the summer before graduate school and again following that year, Erdman participated in Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE), a program aimed at helping women prepare for graduate study in mathematics. She completed her master’s program in one year and then went on to Yale to pursue a PhD. When she finished her PhD program, Erdman applied to the Census Bureau and heard nothing from them for three months. Then she learned that the director of the statistical research division was speaking at a conference in Washington, D.C. She bought a train ticket and went to meet him. “At the end of his presentation, I walked up to him, handed him my C.V., and said, ‘I want to work for you.’” They talked, and he later invited her for an interview. Today Erdman works in the Center for Statistical Research and Methodology at the U.S. Census Bureau. “I wanted to work at Census because I wanted to look at good data, but I got put into the missing data methods group that only looks at bad data,” she said. Still, she loves her work and speaks enthusiastically about the projects in which she has been involved. Now that she is finished with school and settled into her career, Erdman hopes to find a way to mentor other young women through the EDGE program. WENDI WHEELER ’06 Spring 2012 5 auggie voices Higher Education as a Public Good In January, Augsburg joined the White House Office of Public Engagement, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the U.S. Department of Education, other education organizations, philanthropies, and businesses in launching the American Commonwealth Partnership (ACP) to begin a year of activity exploring how colleges and universities can reclaim their civic identity. At the heart of this initiative is the recognition that higher education should be—and must be—delivered for the common good rather than be allowed to become an AT THE CREST OF A WAVE For many years, Augsburg, with its mission of educating students to be “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders,” has resisted forces turning higher education into a private benefit rather than a public good. When the public opinion group Public Agenda recently sounded people’s views on the role of higher education, they found little awareness that colleges and universities can contribute to the health of neighborhoods, or that they educate students to be problem solvers with skills of working across differences. But describing these roles in focus groups also generated animated discussion and created hope. Many remarked that few places any longer teach such skills. There was the sense that the country is dangerously polarized and losing control over our collective future. On January 10 at the White House, many higher education groups launched a major new coalition, the American Commonwealth Partnership, to respond to the civic crisis. It has support from the Department of Education, which released a new “Road Map and Call to Action,” emphasizing citizenship education. Augsburg is the inaugural host institution for ACP, which seeks to mobilize colleges and universities in developing “civic identity, not simply civic activities.” By engaging in this exciting project, Augsburg is at the crest of a new wave of reengagement of higher education with communities and the world. DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENSHIP HARRY C. BOYTE is the director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship at Augsburg College and serves as national coordinator of the American Commonwealth Partnership. 6 Augsburg Now individual benefit only for those who can afford it. As part of the dialogue about the role of higher education in building civic identity, we asked Augsburg faculty from various academic departments to provide their perspectives on how higher education serves the public good. Their responses are published here. For additional information on higher education as a public good, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. CITIZEN NURSES: A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON HEALTH In our society today, people have become so medicalized that we often forget that health is not about the absence of disease but a place of belonging. At Augsburg College, the Department of Nursing has focused on returning to what nursing was originally intended to be about—relationships—by opening two drop-in community health centers. One of these centers provides care to people living on the streets of Minneapolis. This center has been in existence for almost 20 years, and the nurses there engage with 120 people each week. We listen, provide basic necessities, and take the time to make sure people feel they are supported and are part of a community. Our other drop-in center, the Health Commons at Dar Ul-Quba, is a new project focused on immigrant health in the CedarRiverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. Our efforts at Dar Ul-Quba have been about trying to help people not only to understand our healthcare system but also to realize how they can practice health and healing as they did in their country of origin. The center also helps people come together to create the change they want to see in their neighborhood. To us, being citizen nurses means that we are working to strengthen our communities in ways that avoid the expert model. We see people as collaborators and co-creators. Through their experiences at the drop-in centers, Augsburg nursing students are changing their worldviews in ways that benefit our society. Our hope is to continue to do just that. NURSING KATIE CLARK is an instructor in Augsburg’s nursing department and serves as coordinator of the Augsburg Nursing Center. “ In exchange for services rendered to the neighborhood organization, Augsburg students are privileged to observe and learn about citizenship, democracy, and being a ‘steward of place.’ ” AUGSBURG: AGENT AND ARCHITECT OF DEMOCRACY AND STEWARD OF PLACE The work of Joel Torstenson, Bernhard Christensen, Myles Stenshoel, Vern Bloom, and Robert Clyde reveals the history of Augsburg’s role as agent and architect of democracy and steward of place and provides the context for our current activities. As I reflect and write about their work, I marvel at their insight, commitment, and capacity as agents and stewards of place, well before it was in vogue or even acceptable. I probably would not have remained in higher education were it not for Augsburg’s valuing such a commitment for faculty and welcoming me to be a part of this vision and endeavor. For 30 years, students in my Human Community and Modern Metropolis course have engaged in a service-learning experience in collaboration with the official neighborhood organizations surrounding Augsburg: CedarRiverside, Seward, Phillips, and Powderhorn. In exchange for services rendered to the neighborhood organization, Augsburg students are privileged to observe and learn about citizenship, democracy, and being a “steward of place.” In addition to seeing and feeling the value of grassroots efforts to take responsibility for a neighborhood and influence the wider political context, students have learned firsthand about community organizing, community development, and public service. Many students, as alumni, have expanded their sense of vocation, both as citizens and professionals, through these engagements with the commonwealth and as stewards of place. SOCIOLOGY GARRY HESSER is a professor of metro/urban studies and sociology at Augsburg College. To read Hesser’s complete submission, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. FROM COMPLEXITY TO COMPASSION In his book My First Summer in the Sierra, John Muir offered a sentiment which, more than 100 years later, represents as good a justification for higher education in contemporary society as one is likely to find in any college catalogue: “When we try to pick out anything by itself,” he says, speaking of the profoundly ecological nature of the world, “we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” To be sure, college campuses—meaning the empirical kind with living, breathing students, with staff, teachers, textbooks, trees, quads, and stadiums—sit squarely at the various junctures of this tangled-up creation, seeking from these vantage points to understand through intensive study the pressing issues, the timeless questions, and the persistent, ineluctable mysteries that unite our places in time and space with those of countless others. College is literally where and when we hope to experience the joy that comes with accessing the eternal through the particular. It is where we come to study, in our specific yet overlapping disciplines, the problems of the world so as to appreciate the complexity of all things—because it is, without question, an informed appreciation for complexity that inspires reflection and breeds compassion. ENGLISH COLIN IRVINE is an associate professor of English at Augsburg College and serves as the summer 2012 research coordinator for the College’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO). “ College is ... where we come to study, in our specific yet overlapping disciplines, the problems of the world so as to appreciate the complexity of all things. ” Spring 2012 7 ARTS-BASED CIVIC DIALOGUE Arts programs in higher education are all the more vibrant when a wealth of voices and bodies come together to create and discuss work. Community-engaged performance is progressive pedagogy; it’s theater by, for, of, and about the people—and it can be an integral part of a civic-minded college culture. Last winter, the student ensemble of The Living Newspaper Project: Everyone Has Something used collective research, writing, workshops, and performance to generate discussion about a taboo topic: the stigma attached to mental illness. They engaged with audiences through post-show talkbacks and panels, academic conferences, letters in the Augsburg Echo, and outreach to local community organizations. Next fall, students will be invited to tackle a Town Hall Nation project by creating short performances around campus that gen- THEATER ARTS erate civic dialogue on campus about students’ financial needs and crises. Town Hall Nation is a national engagement initiative inviting arts organizations, colleges and universities, and other community groups to create 30-minute events that demonstrate, present, or embody an ideal town hall meeting. Students of any major may audition for or volunteer to participate in the Town Hall Nation project, as with any other Theater Department production. SARAH MYERS is an assistant professor in Augsburg’s Theater Arts Department. “ Community-engaged performance is progressive pedagogy; it’s theater by, for, of, and about the people— and it can be an integral part of a civic-minded college culture. ” 8 Augsburg Now “ In transforming individuals, we transform our communities and our world. DEVELOPING INDIVIDUAL AGENCY TO TRANSFORM OUR WORLD ” Higher education is often viewed as separate from the public arena, something accessible to a few and beneficial to only the individual. However, higher education greatly impacts the public good, and that impact is the true mission of higher education. In transforming individuals, we transform our communities and our world. In this era of globalization, individualism seems to serve little purpose. Preparing children to live in a global society is essential and should begin in the K-12 years. Higher education then is a continuation of that learning and a time to step out into the world. With this in mind, while higher education does serve the individual, the larger goal is the influence each individual will have on the greater public good. The impact of higher education is increasingly more visible and far reaching. More frequently, civic engagement has become part of higher education curriculum. The need for students to see and experience a more seamless connection to their acquisition and application of knowledge is essential. Knowledge is not only something centered in higher education institutions; it is also something constructed and exercised within the community. Knowledge then becomes transformative not only to the individual but to the broader community, society, and world. This is increasingly being seen through civic engagement projects such as Public Achievement, service learning, and travel abroad experiences where students and faculty “develop agency” through active rather than passive means that, in turn, inform theory and future practice. EDUCATION SUSAN O’CONNOR is an associate professor of education at Augsburg College. “I can really say that [the Nobel Peace Prize Forum] has changed my perspective of the world around us!” “Couldn’t have asked for a more thoughtprovoking and inspiring three days.” These are just two of the sentiments shared via social media by participants of the 24th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, held March 1 to 3. The Nobel Peace Prize Forum exists to inspire peacemaking by celebrating the work of Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Founded as a unique partnership between the Norwegian Nobel Institute and five Norwegian private colleges—Augsburg, Augustana (Sioux Falls), Concordia (Moorhead), Luther, and St. Olaf—the Forum this year moved to its new, permanent location in the Twin Cities. It is organized by Augsburg college in partnership with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and with ongoing sponsorship from the original college partners. With “The Price of Peace” as its theme, the 2012 Forum introduced a new format with topical tracks—Business Day, Arts and Music Day, Education Day, and Global Studies Day—to engage participants in exploring the relationship of stability and peace to business, to arts and music, to education, and to international policy. A number of tracks and events were sold out, including Business Day, the Education Festival, and Global Studies Day. In fact, as coverage by major Twin Cities media grew on the second day of the Forum, more than 200 additional tickets were sold for the closing day of the event. In addition to the tremendous attendance, the Forum fostered dialogue around the world through livestreaming. Students from Assumption University of Bangkok, American College of Norway, the Copenhagen Business School, Nagasaki University, and Nelson Mandela University of South Africa watched keynote addresses live, submitted questions, and engaged in dialogue about peace. For additional photos, video links, and social media quotes about the Forum, go to www.augsburg.edu/now NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM WE INSPIRE PEACEMAKING Spring 2012 9 THE 2012 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM 10 Augsburg Now THE 2012 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM Spring 2012 11 “The prizes of peace, in fact, come to us in very little stages…but in order to claim them, we must be willing to pay the price…We have to be willing to recognize and celebrate the humanity of those whom we view as enemy…We must start from the place of believing that those who are opposed to us…are human beings with a story of their own to tell. We must start from an awareness that our side is not necessarily all good. The price of peace is the price of our pride…the certainty that we are right…the comfort that we are on God’s side…As we go out into our lives, be prepared to pay the price for peace—the price of uncertainty, the price of humility, the price of recognizing our connectedness as human beings.” —Naomi Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Forum “Call to Action” address, March 3, 2012 Augsburg College thanks the sponsors of the 24th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, whose financial support and subject matter expertise helped make the 2012 Forum a success. We also owe thanks to the many volunteers, faculty, and staff from all of the participating colleges and universities. We are grateful for the perspectives shared by speakers, the participation of our student and community attendees, and the dedicated work of the volunteers who ensured this rich and vibrant event ran smoothly from beginning to end. Now that the 2012 Forum has concluded, we invite you to stay connected to the work of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum by signing up for e-mail updates at www.peaceprizeforum.org, and by following us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nobelforum) and Twitter (@NPPF). Finally, be sure to mark your calendars for March 7-9, 2013. We look forward to seeing you next year! BUSINESS DAY SPONSORS MAJOR EVENT SPONSORS SPONSORS 3M A Million Copies Initiative Borton Volvo Jeanne M. Voigt Foundation Minnesota Public Radio Nordic Home Interiors GLOBAL STUDIES DAY SPONSOR Oslo Center For Peace and Human Rights Foundation Winds of Peace Foundation Special thanks to our 2013 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM LEAD SPONSOR 12 Augsburg Now THE 25TH ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM March 7-9, 2013 Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs WE ARE CALLED. auggie pastors. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Last year, Bob Bagley ’58 submitted an idea for a story about his teacher, mentor, and friend, Mario Colacci. His submission sparked an idea. We decided to interview different generations of Augsburg pastors who have served in a variety of settings. We wanted to know who inspired them. We wanted to share their experiences and highlight the similarities and differences in their ministries. We wanted to know what they want our readers to know about their lives as servants. The following interviews are with pastors Bob Bagley ’58, David Lillejord ’86, Jeni Falkman Grangaard ’02, Peter Morlock ’90, and Stephanie Quick-Espinoza ’01. To read Bob Bagley’s story about Mario Colacci, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Spring 2012 13 14 Augsburg Now ’58 BOB BAGLEY Retired. First call in Papau New Guinea; served most recently part-time at Christ Lutheran in Lake Elmo, Minn. As a pastor, what did you learn that you didn’t expect to learn? Here’s the biggie: Bishop Rogness’ dad, Alvin Rogness…when I came to a rural parish after being in New Guinea, he said, “Bob, you use this small parish to better yourself for future ministry.” So here’s what I did. I made advanced standing in clinical pastoral education. I was endorsed for specialized ministry, which most pastors don’t make, specializing in chaplaincy work in hospitals. After my fourth parish, I went to Hazelden and did a four-year chaplaincy program. Then I was endorsed for veterans’ hospital ministry. I was a chaplain for a year at the big VA Hospital in Minneapolis. What is an issue that you never imagined yourself dealing with as a pastor? The first parish after Papua New Guinea was easy because it was a bunch of loving, Norwegian farmers. It was a good place to get re-acclimated to the American way of doing things after five years overseas. What are some of the most interesting or prominent changes you’ve seen in the church in your career or since you went to seminary? There’s a lot more support in empowering the pastors to do what they’re most gifted to do. You can’t do everything; you can’t be good at everything. I think a middle-sized parish should have a changeover of pastors every six years because in six years you’ve kind of done everything and it’s time to move on. The concept of the old Lutheran Free Church and many of the old ELC churches was that they were tired of the pastor doing everything and deciding everything, and they hardly needed a church council. The reaction to that was “We’re going to tell the pastor what to do.” Now it’s changed so that the pastors are empowered to do whatever they’re most gifted in. What are your own spiritual practices? Where/to whom do you turn for guidance and encouragement? I work with 60 global students at Luther Seminary who come from all over the world. I also did ministry with people with alcohol and drug issues. At Gethsemane Lutheran in Maplewood and where I am now, I established Stephen ministry, an outreach. I do more training to help others minister to people in great need. Is there a particular passage of scripture that frames your call to ministry? It would be where Jesus said to the whole church, “I send you.” The motto that I follow is: Go out and share the love of Jesus, and only if necessary, say something. Naomi (my wife) says too often I end up telling people I’m a pastor. She says, “You don’t have to say anything. Just be you.” What is one thing you wish non-clergy knew about your life/identity/call as a pastor? I’ve never been satisfied to stop growing in pastoral care and I’m available when people want to talk. The gift I learned from a Catholic priest in my chaplaincy training is this: He asked me what I consider to be my primary gift. I said, “I don’t know.” He said, “When you’re talking with someone, there’s just an automatic pipeline between your eyes and their eyes, and that removes all reluctance to talk.” I can get people to share stuff with me that normally would take four or five visits, but they know I care about them by just looking them in the eye. What is one of your most memorable services? At the VA Hospital, I touched the lives of people there who, if I hadn’t had special training, I wouldn’t have been able to help. One guy owned a million-dollar auto dealership, and he wouldn’t sign his will and he was dying. It was on a Saturday that I wasn’t even supposed to work. The people were waiting for me at the door saying I needed to come up and talk to their dad. I sat down with him and his son and had Holy Communion as a Lutheran priest (he was Catholic). When we were done, I said, “Your family is so upset. It’s unbearable for them that the doctor says you’re dying, and you haven’t signed your will.” He kept saying, “Nope. I got a few loose ends to tie up at the dealership.” In the end, I got him to sign his will by promising I would help him tie up the loose ends. A cheer went forth to the Lord above. The next day he was playing cards with his friends in the hospital, and three days later he died. What do you think you would be if you were not a pastor? I probably would have followed in my older brother Emil’s footsteps and have done some aspect of social work. When you meet God, what do you hope God says to you? Well, I would be meeting Jesus, not God, and he would say, “Well, welcome thou good and faithful servant.” Spring 2012 15 ’86 DAVID LILLEJORD Senior Pastor, Mount Calvary Lutheran in Eagan, Minn., until March 2012; now Senior Pastor, St. Andrew in Eden Prairie, Minn. 16 Augsburg Now As a pastor, what did you learn that you didn’t expect to learn? I mostly learn about myself—what I do well, what I can improve upon. As a little kid who grew up in a parsonage, I knew people inside and out and was able to see in them the really good and the really bad or indifferent. I knew the goodness and the wonderful nature of the church and the underbelly, so what I’ve learned in 20 years is mostly about myself. What is an issue that you never imagined yourself dealing with as a pastor? I think the issue is the number of people who simply are not attending church, even people that years ago would have naturally been inclined to find a new home, start a family, baptize their kids, go to Sunday school, and become involved in the life of the church. There’s a whole subset of people who simply have not engaged for myriad reasons. What are some of the most interesting or prominent changes you’ve seen in the church in your career or since you went to seminary? I think an awful lot of changes have happened in seminary training. When I attended 20 years ago, it was simply, “We need to teach you how to teach people the historical context and facts about the Bible.” I think now it is so much more, “What does this mean for our life?” I do think the younger people who do go to church want a direct connection between what scripture says and how it will connect with their lives. That means we have to make our message contemporary and even futuristic. What are your own spiritual practices? Where/to whom do you turn for guidance and encouragement? What is one thing you wish non-clergy knew about your life/identity/call as a pastor? I’m part of a team ministry, and I’m able to hear really good sermons delivered by my colleague. It’s hard to listen when you’re talking, so I’m fed in and through my colleague who preaches the gospel well. For guidance and encouragement, I’m so inspired by the members of the congregation. I’m always greatly fortified by the faith that parishioners have. I go in as a kind of spiritual lifeguard, and they end up humbling me. They encourage me because they live out their faith. It’s like a good teacher who is fed by the students. My biggest supporters are my wife and children. They are my lifeline—other than Jesus, of course. The importance of balancing all those three and the holistic nature of that continuum. Being a pastor today is different, thankfully, than when my dad was younger, which was you basically served the church, often at the expense of spending time with family. I have a wife (Joy) and three children: two in hockey and one in soccer who also rides horses. Also it’s important for members to know that the vast majority of pastors are trying as hard as they can. It’s just a very difficult and challenging job. Is there a particular passage of scripture that frames your call to ministry? I would say more of a theme or concept, one I learned from one of my many mentors. It is that God is in relationship with you through Jesus. It’s a declaration; it’s not a theory or something that needs to be validated. It’s just “God is,” and you explore how that’s true. You notice it, you name it, and you claim it. We had a healing service a number of years ago for a woman who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. We had never been asked to have a healing service before. So we constructed a service with the laying on of hands. Not that long after the healing service she went to the doctor and they did tests, and the cancer was gone. When we heard about the lack of cancer, even we were amazed. Who at Augsburg inspired or guided you, and how? What do you think you would be if you were not a pastor? The religion professors at Augsburg were helpful to my life of faith because they were “good” and solid Lutherans. I have heard stories of Lutheran colleges that tell students: “What you were taught in Sunday school and Confirmation was wrong.” Thankfully, the professors at Augsburg helped us look deeper into scripture through a Lutheran lens. After this long I can’t imagine what it would be; however, psychology also makes me tick. What is one of your most memorable services? When you meet God, what do you hope God says to you? It would probably be, “Your mom’s over here.” She died much too young, and I would love to see her again. Spring 2012 17 As a pastor, what did you learn that you didn’t expect to learn? It’s a huge learning experience … things from how to learn about sump pumps, budgeting, working with office managers, how to be tactful and graceful, how to balance a really chaotic life and come at it with some sensibility and some sense of peace—all of these are a big part of my learning experience. What is an issue that you never imagined yourself dealing with as a pastor? One is dealing with a local sugar producer. A lot of our people harvest beets, and we have a lot who work in the plant. Their union has been locked out since August. There are some people who aren’t union who are working 12-hour shifts now and can’t see their families. I also have people who are on the board there. So I don’t make any comments on the issue. It’s really messy, and there’s no one side to stand on. What are your own spiritual practices? Where/to whom do you turn for guidance and support? Spiritual practice for me means finding time for silence. Colin (husband) and I went to Taizé in France and got into the rhythm of simple prayer, silence, and meditation. I turn to colleagues and good friends who are in similar positions for guidance. There are some good seasoned pastors who have made themselves available to have conversations with, and certainly our bishop’s staff at the synod has a lot of experience. Who at Augsburg inspired or guided you, and how? Augsburg was a place that really rooted my faith in the world and really shaped the person I am today. Having not grown up in church, I was so young in faith when I came 18 Augsburg Now to Augsburg. The Religion Department faculty took time to respond to my questions, especially Janelle Bussert, Bev Stratton, Mark Tranvik, Lynn Lorenzen, Brad Holt, Phil Quanbeck, and Lori Brandt Hale. Pastor Dave Wold and Pastor Sonja Hagander were my first pastors, and they invited me into the language and liturgy of being Lutheran. The Center for Global Education taught me to see that faith isn’t just a personal relationship with God but a deep engagement with the world, especially in places of suffering; they helped me to see that God is with those who suffer. Augsburg prepared me to be a pastor before I began discerning the call to ordained ministry. Is there a particular passage of scripture that frames your call to ministry? There have been a lot of different verses that I’ve clung to at different times. Galatians 2:19-21. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. What is one thing you wish non-clergy knew about your life/identity/call as a pastor? I just want people to know I’m easy to talk to, and I’m not trying to get anything from them. I’m not here to tell people they are behaving badly. I’d rather just talk about the gospel. I want people to know we don’t fit into a mold, and pastors aren’t the guardians of the gospel. No one can claim ownership on the gospel. What is one of your most memorable services? I did a prayer service and funeral for a 54year-old man who had served on the board of a local company. There were over 1,000 people, and we had to have the funeral at a bigger church in town. There’s something strangely beautiful about a funeral. There’s no pretending. It’s an inevitable part of life. Sometimes it’s a celebration, but this one was special. Before I entered the church, I closed my eyes and was praying, and there was a beautiful light streaming in through the stained glass windows. It was a really meaningful service. I’m still reflecting on it and getting comments on it. Working with the family has been strangely affirming and grounding. When you meet God, what do you hope God says to you? What I hope I’d hear God say is, “I kinda like that Josh Ritter song, too.” The song is Thin Blue Flame, and it includes lyrics like: “Only a full house gonna have a prayer,” and “You need faith for the same reasons that it’s so hard to find,” and “And all wrongs forgotten and all vengeance made right. The suffering verbs put to sleep in the night.” What do you think you would be if you were not a pastor? If I knew, I would go be that. I don’t know! Sometimes I think I’d like to be a chef. I like the idea of making meals and baking bread and spending time with people. Part of me wants to design websites. The thing about being a pastor that is so appealing, other than the vocational call that brings you there, is that you have permission to be a generalist. You get to do a lot of different things. ’02 JENI FALKMAN GRANGAARD Pastor, Glyndon Lutheran Church, Glyndon, Minn. Spring 2012 19 As a pastor, what did you learn that you didn’t expect to learn? All kinds of stuff! One of the things that they can’t really teach you in seminary is how to get into a community and to become part of that community. You can’t really teach how to enter into the daily life and get a sense of the pulse of the community. What is an issue that you never imagined yourself dealing with as a pastor? One of the things I’ve found myself dealing with that I hadn’t thought of while I was in seminary is helping people with their dayto-day problems. There’s such a variety of things that may come up. One day you’re talking with someone about their medications, which I know nothing about, or you’re talking with someone about daily living and how it is to do that. What are some of the most interesting or prominent changes you’ve seen in the church in your career or since you went to seminary? One of the trends I’ve seen over the years is a wider inclusiveness, if you will, in an issue that’s near and dear to my heart. I’ve seen a concerted effort by the church to make their buildings and their worship services and facilities more accessible and more friendly to folks with disabilities. All the things that bring people in and into contact with the gospel are good stuff. What are your own spiritual practices? Where/to whom do you turn for guidance and encouragement? One of the challenges of being a pastor, especially in a setting like this, is where I go to feed myself, to “the well.” I have a men’s Bible study that I’m part of at 20 Augsburg Now church, and they have become the group where I go to get fed. I also meet regularly with my chaplain colleagues in the area, and we worship and pray together. Who at Augsburg inspired or guided you, and how? Without doubt major influences during my time at Augsburg would include the following people: Pastor Dave Wold, Don Gustafson, “Gabe” (Prof. Stephen Gabrielsen), Tom Rossin, and my fellow choir members (1986-1990). One of the things that I truly appreciate about Augsburg, even today, is the willingness to engage the idea of vocation and make intentional questions about the connection between faith and life. Throughout my time at Augsburg and even beyond that, these people were/are instrumental in my walk of life and faith. In broad strokes they helped to provide the arena in which my self-understanding and my sense of call were shaped and honed. Daily contact with these folks helped me to see vocation in action and also gave me the space and the courage to face and voice my questions. They were, and still are, willing to engage with me and push me in conversation and prayer. Is there a particular passage of scripture that frames your call to ministry? people who work only on Sundays. In this setting, people aren’t entirely sure what to do with you. One thing I wish folks would think of is the importance of spiritual stuff, the spiritual nature, and how that needs to be supported and fed. What is one of your most memorable services? We did a service on our Alzheimer’s unit to break up the winter blahs. We did a renewal of vows ceremony for one of the residents and her husband. They’d been married for 56 years. We had a big wedding party, and what was really neat is that on that unit, it’s kind of a crapshoot as to whether or not the resident will remember who their family members are. For that particular moment in that service, the wife, Alyce, walked out of the kitchen and she saw her husband, and her face lit up, and she came up to him and chucked him in the chin and said, “Let’s do this again, sweetie.” It was awesome. It turned out to be a meaningful experience for Alyce and her husband and their family because they’d never had a wedding. Their families didn’t like each other, so they eloped. And they both passed away within three months of that ceremony. The walk to Emmaus story resonates really highly with me, particularly in the work I do now. A lot of what I’m called to do is walk alongside people at the end of life. I also like Psalm 121. What do you think you would be if you were not a pastor? What is one thing you wish non-clergy knew about your life/identity/call as a pastor? “Hi, welcome home.” That’s the short answer. I think the perception is that pastors are A kindergarten teacher. When you meet God, what do you hope God says to you? ’90 AND GUIDO PETER MORLOCK Director of Spiritual Care, Cerenity Senior Care, St. Paul. Spring 2012 21 Senior Pastor, New Hope Lutheran Church/ Iglesia Luterana Nueva Esperanza in North Aurora, Ill. ’01 STEPHANIE QUICK-ESPINOZA 22 Augsburg Now Photo by Sally Ryan As a pastor, what did you learn that you didn’t expect to learn? How to get rid of chickens roosting in the sacristy! What is an issue that you never imagined yourself dealing with as a pastor? Racism. We often feel that our U.S. society is advanced and racism no longer exists, but we are ignorant to and/or ignore how it permeates our lives, culture, and even our church. It is difficult for me to see how racism has affected the lives of the people I have been in ministry with—from Inupiaq in Alaska, to Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica, to Mexicans and other Latinos in the Chicago area. What are some of the most interesting or prominent changes you’ve seen in the church in your career or since you went to seminary? A decrease in the intentionality of becoming an inclusive, multi-cultural church. I would like to see more support of ethnic ministries within our church. For example, there are no longer classes held in Spanish at the seminaries for Spanish-speaking student pastors. What are your own spiritual practices? Where/to whom do you turn for guidance and encouragement? I attend the Spanish worship service on Saturdays at the congregation my husband serves, San Andres Lutheran Church. The mostly Mexican congregation has a great love for the Virgin of Guadalupe (Mary). As a person firmly grounded in Lutheran tradition and faith, I have incorporated the Virgin into my spirituality and turn to her for guidance and encouragement. My Lutheran and Christian faith says that I only need to pray directly to God. I don’t need intercessors, though I find it comforting to ask the Virgin, as mother of our Lord Jesus and mother of all of us, to pray with me. Who at Augsburg inspired or guided you, and how? The whole religion department really inspired me, both academically and in my faith. Their classes were interesting and unique. The quality of the classes helped prepare me, even more than seminary, for ordained ministry. PQ2 (or Phil Quanbeck II), Janelle Bussert, and Lynne Lorenzen especially guided me by always being willing to lend an open ear to listen to my questions about my courses, future seminary plans, and just life in general. They are pastors who were my pastors and helped me become a pastor. Is there a particular passage of scripture that frames your call to ministry? I remember [Professor] Dick Hardel retelling the call of Isaiah to my Youth and Family Ministry class at Augsburg. After Isaiah said, “Here I am, Lord, send me!” I knew I was called to ministry and I also said, “Here I am, Lord, send me!” What is one thing you wish non-clergy knew about your life/identity/call as a pastor? A pastor is on call 24/7, which is really hard on your family life. It is even harder because my husband is a pastor, too. We have people wanting to talk to us starting at 7 a.m. and sometimes we even get calls at 3 a.m. What is one of your most memorable services? When I was a missionary in Costa Rica, one of the congregations I served was only youth and children. Holy Communion was always a powerful experience, as I watched sometimes 80 children come forward to the Lord’s table with their arms outstretched and their hands held out in front of them to receive the sacrament. During a worship service, I noticed that one small boy came through the communion line twice. It was only after the service, I realized it was because he came from an impoverished family and was hungry. After that, I gave every child a whole tortilla, rather then a small piece of bread or a host, during communion. What do you think you would be if you were not a pastor? A religion professor at Augsburg or a firstgrade teacher. When you meet God, what do you hope God says to you? Well done, good and faithful servant. Share your stories… We know these are just a few of the dedicated, inspiring Auggie pastors serving around the world. If you’d like to tell us who you are and what you’re doing, choose your favorite question from those we asked our pastors, and send an answer and a photo to now@augsburg.edu. Or, post it on your personal blog, on Facebook or Twitter, and send us a link. We’d love to hear from you! Spring 2012 23 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 24 Photo Contest A A “Tabacchi” Amanda Rowan ’13 Siena, Italy Landscapes/cityscapes, First place B “The Elder” Susie Mechtel ’13 Maasai Mara, Kenya Portraits, First place C “Afternoon Nap” Jasmine Zand ’12 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Portraits, Second place D E B “Autumn Fjord” Reed Johnson ’12 Flam, Norway Landscapes/cityscapes, Third place “Que Viva Cuba!” Danielle Goodwin ’12 Havana, Cuba Photojournalism, First place F “Iglesia El Rosario” Jakob Anderson ’12 San Salvador, El Salvador Photojournalism, Second place G “Chichicastenango, Guatemala” Danielle Goodwin ’12 Chichicastenango, Guatemala Portraits, Third place Augsburg Now H I C “Recess Stroll” Caleb Wagner ’12 Havana, Cuba Photojournalism, Third place “Shepherd’s Field” Jasmine Zand ’12 Beit Sahour, Palestine Landscapes/cityscapes, Second place To view more student photos, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. D F E H G I Spring 2012 25 AUGGIE WRITERS’ CHALLENGE ith the 2013 launch of the new Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (see Around the Quad, page 4, and www.augsburg.edu/mfa), Augsburg will welcome even more aspiring writers to the College. To celebrate Augsburg’s tradition of creative writing excellence, we asked Augsburg English Department faculty to help us recruit Auggie alumni writers for a creative writing assignment. The assignment was to write a 250-word piece—of any genre—based on the photo below. We told the writers nothing about the photo—not when or where it was taken or by whom. Following are the stories they crafted. Read their stories first, then see the photographer’s story, below. W Write on! The Cat Kayla Skarbakka ’09, writing consultant, Walden University THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S STORY While studying in Augsburg’s Weekend College program, Philip Pelto ’10 made this self-portrait for a class. He wrote: The photo was taken at my condo in downtown Minneapolis. It’s looking east out over the Depot and the Guthrie Theater, and Augsburg is not too far off in the distance to the right. It’s a self-portrait, and I was experimenting with the lighting. I was trying to get a cool silhouette with the outside in focus. What I wound up getting is this really cool photo that reminds me of where I came from and where I am now. The photo conjures up feelings of success. I’m in my condo, surveying my city, taking it all in. There’s a sense that I’ve made it. Alan found the cat in Mom’s bed, under the sour-smelling comforter. It was a weasely thing, patchy, crusty-eyed. “Did you know about this?” he asked the girls. Erin was folding a sweatshirt, one of the syrupy ones, printed with wildflowers and the words Someone special calls me Grandma. She looked up and gasped. “Where did it come from?” she asked. Helen, who’d been sorting jewelry, glanced up and wrinkled her nose. “The question is, where is it going.” She’d always had an armored sensibility. “You know,” she added, “the boys are allergic.” Alan sat down by the cat. It flicked its tail, which was hooked and jointed like a broken finger. “Um,” said Erin, which was how she started most arguments. “I can’t really bring it on the plane.” “Well,” said Helen, “I certainly won’t take it home.” Alan offered no excuse, and they didn’t him ask for one. They rarely did. They’d had few tussles that day. Alan gave the girls credit for that. A debate about the sofa, one watery altercation regarding Dad’s old Dutch clock, but for the most part, they’d worked efficiently, tallying, dividing, and claiming. Alan claimed little. A bar stool, because one of his had broken. A crucifix, because Helen made him. But otherwise he’d chosen odd jobs, clearing the fridge and garage shelves, and stayed out of the way. It was a tactic he’d learned early on from Dad… To read more of Kayla Skarbakka’s story go to www.augsburg.edu/now 26 Augsburg Now Late Morning Window View Jeremy Anderson ’07, client relations manager, Furnituredealer.net First thing, stop at Charlie’s on the corner for a sweet chai on the go. Catch the rail and scroll the morning news. Work will start soon enough, bustling tables, shit shooting with the regs. Don’t let Old Rick ride you too much because tonight it’s microbrews along St. Anthony Main. Usual sites, different taste (order something the menu describes as dark and complex). Let ’em flow down and just talk and listen and talk back. Try and top ’em. Tell ’em, Tell ’em what you learned, what you read, who you ran into, that thing you Googled the other day and what popped up. Remember when? Remember when? Remember when? And all that shit. It’s good to let it blur. The best is when it blurs into something unclear. My head is warm. My arms, heavy and strong. There’s a pulse in these veins, an exciting calm to the night until eventually I’ll gaze back out this way with an arm snug around my Laura (maybe, hopefully) and a glass of pinot in my other hand as street lamps torch the dark dark sky. Profile Pic Orion Wisness ’03, technical consultant, Kroll Ontrack Here is a man who wants to keep you guessing. He looks away from you but commands your attention by looming large in the patio doors. He chooses a strong stance, a confident pose, all while hiding in the light of day right in front of you. But he appears more hat rack than human. An armless X meant to distract you from the finer points, the tiny details, which expose his personality. You suppose he is doing one of three things in decreasing order of profundity: practicing Zen Croquet, contemplating the evening’s dinner (the size of the grill suggests he consumes a fair share of red meat), or standing fully clothed in the sunlight in order to tan only his face. He has cats and creases in his pants. He’s tidy for sure, but he’s forgotten Mr. Whiskers’ ball near the door jamb. He prefers a shirt with a collar but won’t spring for a rug to wipe his feet when stepping from the balcony. A grocery bag near the grill contains the shadow of a Chihuahua, which makes you wonder why a man so tall would have so tiny a dog? You could puzzle yourself with questions all day, but what you want to do is tap him on the shoulder. The opposite shoulder from where you’re standing. Make him guess where you are, who you are, and what you’re doing. The Apocalypse, as Seen from Unit 24E Jaye Lawrence ’05 WEC, director of web communications, Carleton College Franklin liked order. Neatness. Discipline. He’d been a drill sergeant once, and it showed. You could take the man out of the Army but never the Army out of the man. Military experience was an asset. It kept him alive, and his ragtag band of survivors too. But that need for order? That was a problem. That just might be the thing that finally drove him mad. Franklin no longer lived in an orderly world. “You should be asleep,” chided a voice behind him, thready with age. “Weren’t you supposed to wake me for CQ duty at oh-three hundred?” Esther. Franklin didn’t turn or relax his stance, but the corners of his stern mouth twitched. He didn’t smile much, never had, and he sure as hell didn’t have occasion to anymore—but 83-year-old Esther Rosenberg from 23C, bona fide blue-haired lady, former bane of the condo board of directors, spouting military jargon? That tickled his funny bone. With a slow soft tread of orthopedic shoes, Esther crossed the room to stand beside him. Franklin inspected her with a sidelong glance, granting a curt nod of approval to the pistol accessorizing her polyester pantsuit. Esther always kept his rules. Many who’d been younger, faster, and fitter had not. “Why didn’t you wake me?” “I like seeing the sun come up again.” “Ah.” A sigh, light as a whisper. “Yes, I do too.” Esther patted his arm. She used her left hand, keeping the right free for the pistol. Franklin smiled. Witness Andrea Sanow ’09, administrative assistant, Augsburg College Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity They catch sight of each other’s shoes underneath a bathroom stall, and when they are washing their hands, they are too embarrassed to look each other in the eye. Then, they are strangers the next semester when they take Calculus together. They laugh about being two of the four girls in the room and they bond over the fact that they aren’t going to major in mathematics. And when Emily doesn’t come to class, Rachel worries. Em, where r u? My grandma died, take notes for me. And Rachel goes to the funeral. And they take classes together. And they live together and share clothes and try to learn to cook while they recount the jokes of every day. Then, Rachel travels abroad and one night, from somewhere in South Africa where she has gotten drunk for Em’s 21st birthday, she writes: Here’s what I see on my walk home: a tree that grows at a 90degree angle out of the sidewalk, a woman sitting with a baby, a spraypainted stencil of a tiny red man, a few kids who ask me to say something with my accent, and a man, who every day sees me walk back to my apartment and the triangle from foot to crotch to foot reminds me that somewhere we remember geometry or whatever and you are passing me a note and we’re meeting after class and you’re pissed—I’ve borrowed your favorite pair of shoes. Spring 2012 27 1 3 6 4 C 5 E B D A 7 personality of place STUDENT BREAK ROOM BY STEPHEN GEFFRE 28 Augsburg Now A TEXT MESSAGE GOES OUT AT MIDNIGHT ON JANUARY 1. “HAPPY NEW YEAR! And we are working tomorrow. See you at 6:30 a.m.” The next morning, groggy students stroll into the facilities building, a small gray box behind the ice arena. They make their way through a maze of tools, vehicles, and junk into the far back corner, where they fall onto a plethora of salvaged couches and chairs. Then they fall back to sleep and wait for their boss, Bruce. 1 KOELE—A family tradition since 2006, the Koele brothers (Jason and Kyle) have worked on the grounds crew. The years in green are when only Jason worked, the years in white are when they worked together, and the year in blue is when Kyle was the lone Koele brother. 2 THE MANNEQUIN—She was found in a residence hall trash chute. Over the years, some of the more interesting items from the trash are added to her ensemble. Her accessories have come exclusively from the residence halls. 3 WEST HALL SIGN—The students gather unused and outof-date signs to use as decoration. Almost all of these are from the sign cache in the Luther Hall underground parking lot. 4 THE KUBB TROPHY—Kubb is an ancient Viking game that uses wooden sticks to knock over wooden blocks. The grounds crew and other facilities staff play Kubb in Murphy Square on their summer lunch breaks. Stats are kept throughout the seasons, and the top players are awarded the Kubb trophy (which never leaves the break room). 5 THE HEAD—Found in a residence hall trash chute, the head is used to torment student “B,” Brittany Hecker. It is placed by her when she is sleeping, put in her backpack, or just thrown at her to freak her out. 6 I-94 FLAG—The flags in the Urness/Mortensen hall parking lot along the I-94 corridor are replaced yearly, and the old, tattered flags are distributed among the student crew. Some have even found their way to students’ rooms. 7 THE FURNITURE—All of the furniture has been scavenged from residence hall move-out day in the spring semester. There are enough couches and chairs in the break room so that everyone gets their own, but the Lazyboy recliner is the softest and most coveted chair. It is, therefore, reserved for the grounds crew student supervisor’s hindquarters. 2 F This is a typical start to the new year for a group of Augsburg students who are lucky enough to work for Bruce Rowe, the College’s groundskeeper. With Bruce and assistant groundskeeper Arlen Madigan, these students make sure the grass is clipped, the flowers are pruned, the snow is shoveled, and the campus is maintained year round. One perk of their job is access to the grounds crew student break room— a mixture of reclaimed and repurposed items. According to Kyle Koele, the current student supervisor, the room holds a kind of history and acts as an unofficial museum of Augsburg College. STUDENTS IN PHOTO A—Kyle Koele B—Brittany Hecker C—Mary Hildestad D—Benjamin Grant E—Jacob Haehnel F—Meghan Novak Spring 2012 29 auggies in the front office Supporting the home team Roger Griffith ’84 Last season, he didn’t make any three-point shots, pull down any rebounds, or have any assists on the court. But Roger Griffith ’84, executive vice president of the Minnesota Lynx, did have a great season—in part because the Lynx brought home their first championship title, and in part because of the team’s dedicated fans. Griffith came to the Timberwolves franchise in 1994 as a finance officer. When the Lynx, Minnesota’s Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team, came to the state in 1999, Griffith took on the role of executive vice president. In that role, he is responsible for making decisions about the head coach and working with the coaching staff on player and personnel relations. He also maintains the team roster and oversees scouting and drafting functions as well as the signing of free agents. Basically, he said, his work supports the coaches so that they can focus on coaching. And that is how he contributed to the Lynx’ winning 2011 season. In October, the team completed its season, beating the Atlanta Dream in a three-game sweep of the WNBA championship series. It was the team’s first championship and first appearance in the playoffs since 2004. “The championship game was very nerve-wracking,” Griffith said. The team was behind at half-time, but Griffith said they weren’t worried. “We had always been a good second-half team, and we knew we had the skills and talent to pull ahead.” They did, but nearly lost their lead in the final minutes of the game. “It was stressful,” Griffith said, “but it was also fun and exciting to see the large number of fans who traveled to Atlanta to support the team.” Griffith said the Lynx fans are one of the best parts of his job. “Last year, through the whole season, it was great to be able to sit in the stands and look away from the game to see how much the experience meant to the people,” he said. “Our fans have been extremely loyal and supportive, and they got their payoff when we took the championship title.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 30 Augsburg Now alumni news FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear Auggies, n the time since my fall letter, I hope you enjoyed the holiday season with your family and friends, and I hope the new year has begun well for you. With help from our fellow alumni, we have been making a difference in our communities and engaging with our student body. In November, we focused on giving back to the community at our Alumni Board meeting. Partnering with Brian Noy, coordinator of Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen program, we participated in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich-making project and produced 250 sandwiches that were taken to a local homeless shelter. It was a fantastic project and the most fun I can remember ever having at a board meeting! In December, when thousands of Augsburg alumni and friends gathered at Advent Vespers, many brought basic hygiene supplies and warm clothing to donate to the Augsburg Central Health Commons (ACHC), housed at Central Lutheran Church. Alumni who attended the Auggie Night at the Races last summer did the same, helping the center to provide for community members in need. Auggies will have another opportunity to give back on June 5 by participating in a Feed My Starving Children event. Please see details on how to register in the information listed on page 33. I am pleased to announce that alumni engagement is at an all- i s e i augGEg T INVOLVED time high! Alumni event attendance is up by 25 percent compared to last year. We are thrilled to see this progress. It is due in part to your feedback that we have seen such great results. Knowing what events are meaningful and fun for you drives our program development. Thank you for your consistent feedback and participation. In February, the Alumni Board hosted the annual Student and Alumni Networking event. This event consistently attracts alumni who are passionate about being a resource to current students, while providing them the opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni. If you or someone you know would like to help connect or get connected to alumni or students, please consider attending this event in the future. Another tool to reconnect you with Augsburg and fellow alumni is the Maroon Pages. This online tool helps recognize and promote alumni businesses on the web. It can be used as a marketing tool for the self-employed as well as a resource for students to reach alumni for job hunting or networking. Lastly, I want to lift up the Eye-Opener Breakfasts that are held quarterly at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul and the Strommen Executive Speaker Series, which takes place on campus on a regular basis. These events give alumni opportunities for personal and professional development by hearing from successful leaders within our community. Come to be inspired, to network with peers, and to reconnect with your alma mater. Go to www.augsburg.edu/alumni to learn about all the excellent resources available to Auggie alumni. ROBERT WAGNER II ’02 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT 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. To apply or get more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumni/getinvolved. Spring 2012 31 alumni news What a Legacy! As an Augsburg graduate and as the director of parent and family relations at Augsburg, I was delighted to be a part of the first annual Legacy Family Reception, held at the Augsburg House on January 16. I attended with my two Auggie daughters (Kristin ’09 and Maren ’13) and their dad, Paul Daniels ’79. We had such a lovely evening connecting with other legacy families! Currently, 112 students enrolled in Augsburg’s traditional undergraduate program are part of a legacy family. In other words, each is a child and/or grandchild of an Augsburg graduate. At the reception, Wendy Delesha ’10 MAL said, “I am proud to be an Auggie and to have both of my children be Auggies, too. We will have graduates three years in a row: 2010, 2011, and 2012.” Another Augsburg grad who attended the reception was Howie Smith ’80. He said, “I loved my years at Augsburg and am so, so happy to have my son and daughter here now.” If you would like to encourage a member of your family to become an Auggie, please contact the Office of Admissions at www.augsburg.edu/ admissions and the staff will be happy to connect with your family member. SALLY DANIELS HERRON ’79 L to R: Kristin Daniels ’09, Maren Daniels ’13, Paul Daniels ’79, and Sally Daniels Herron ’79 L to R: Erica Wilson ’12, Cliff Wilson ’11, and Wendy Delesha ’10 MAL SAVE THE DATE FOR homecoming New events along with traditional favorites make this one of the best times to come back to campus. Reconnect with fellow alumni and favorite faculty, and experience the Augsburg of 2012. Watch www.augsburg.edu/homecoming for future information. 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. 32 Augsburg Now SEPTEMBER 24-29, 2012 Reunion Classes 50th Reunion—1962 25th Reunion—1987 40th Reunion—1972 10th Reunion—2002 30th Reunion—1982 Auggie IN RESIDENCE Last fall, Augsburg implemented a new volunteer program, Auggies in Residence—yet another great opportunity for alumni to visit campus to reconnect with the College and its students. Through this speaker series, alumni are invited by faculty to speak at a fall or spring class and then engage in a question-and-answer period with students. Of the 70-plus alumni who have volunteered to serve as an Auggie in Residence, those who have experienced this unique program have been gratified and happy with the opportunity to speak in the classroom and interact with future Auggies. If you think an Auggie in Residence experience is something you would enjoy and you want to share your time and talent, contact Pat Grans at gransp@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1329. Courtesy photo Feed My Starving Children JOIN US ON JUNE 5 Join the Alumni Board at Feed My Starving Children to help pack millions of meals for hungry children in 70 countries. Alumni and friends may volunteer on June 5, 6-7:30 p.m. or 8-9:30 p.m. Register to volunteer with the Augsburg College Alumni group at www.fmsc.org (click “join existing group”). Registration code for 6 p.m. is 205100 and for 8 p.m. is 205101. Last year 75 Auggies gathered together to pack 22,000 meals for hungry children around the world through the Feed My Starving Children program. We are hoping for even greater participation and impact during the upcoming June event. Pictured above [L to R] are Maria (Mitchell) Helgerson ’07, Jennifer Oliver ’07, Brandon Elegert, Stephanie Gnojek, Carolyn Mollner ’07, and Erik Helgerson ’07. Meet Sara Schlipp-Riedel ’06 The Augsburg College Alumni Association welcomes Sara Schlipp-Riedel as the new associate director of alumni and constituent relations. She comes to the department with nearly six years of event and project management experience and is thrilled by the opportunity to engage fellow Auggies. “My primary focus will be to connect with and engage our young alumni and recent graduates,” said SchlippRiedel. “We want to build awareness among current students that their connection with Augsburg doesn’t end once they have received their diploma, and our hope is that there will be a lifelong relationship. I want to develop programming across the board that will cultivate community, instill pride, and emphasize tradition.” Schlipp-Riedel lives in South Minneapolis with her husband, Aaron Riedel ’07, and their one-year-old son, Aidan. She can be reached at 612-330-1178 or schlipp@augsburg.edu. SAVE THE DATE auggie night AT THE RACES August 3, 5-7 p.m. Canterbury Park 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, Minn. Free admission, picnic buffet, and reserved seating provided. Go to www.augsburg.edu/ alumnievents to register. Spring 2012 33 alumni news AUGSBURG YOUNG ALUMNI HOLIDAY PARTY 2011 YOUNG ALUMNI summer series To register for Young Alumni events or to see the full calendar of events at Augsburg, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumni. May 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 1900 Marshall St. NE, Minneapolis Live music, one complimentary beverage, and appetizers provided. Courtesy photo PSYCHO SUZI’S MOTOR LOUNGE June 21, 6-9 p.m. Since it launched in 2009, the Young Alumni Summer Series has been an incredible success, engaging young alumni and recent graduates through unique programming. In 2011, the Young Alumni Council expanded the program to include a winter event by hosting the first Young Alumni Holiday Party in December at La Meridien Chambers Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. The event was a huge success and will be added to future programming. YOGA BOAT CRUISE Afton Hudson Cruise Lines 500 1st St., Hudson, Wisc. $15 includes one-hour yoga session, boat cruise, appetizers, and one complimentary beverage. SPACE IS LIMITED. July 18, 5-7 p.m. MINNESOTA TWINS GAME Hubert’s and Target Field $30 includes ticket to game with seating in the Pavilion, appetizers, and two complimentary beverages at Hubert’s. 5-7 p.m. Pre-game at Hubert’s, 600 1st Ave. N., Minneapolis 7:10 p.m. Twins vs. Orioles August 3, 5-7 p.m. Canterbury Park 1100 Canterbury Rd., Shakopee, Minn. Free admission, picnic buffet, and reserved seating provided. September 28, 6-8 p.m. HOMECOMING 2012: YOUNG ALUMNI RECEPTION Republic 221 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis Two complimentary beverages and appetizers provided. Join the AUGSBURG COLLEGE YOUNG ALUMNI FACEBOOK GROUP to get the full scoop! 34 Augsburg Now Courtesy photo AUGGIE NIGHT AT THE RACES L to R: Rebecca Lewis ’07, Aili Brom-Palkowski ’07, Felicia Faison ’09, and Shannon Olson ’07 save the date December 7, 8:30-11:30 p.m. YOUNG ALUMNI HOLIDAY—UGLY SWEATER PARTY Location TBD To register, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents. past meets present A Journey to the Holy Land: EXPLORING THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE PEOPLE Courtesy photo When the travelers heard about the work of the Parent Circle For 10 days in January, a group of 28 Auggies explored the Holy Family Forum (comprised of bereaved Israeli and Palestinian famiLand with Philip Quanbeck II, associate professor of religion, and lies who have lost family members in the conflict, and who support Ruth Johnson ’74, former Augsburg College Regent. peace, reconciliation, and tolerance), Turner was particularly imWhen the group arrived, Larry Turner ’69 was surprised at the pressed by the gentleman who spoke of losing his son in the last contrast in terrain—not only was it more rugged than expected, but parts looked like fertile farmland, especially around Galilee. In addi- week of military service. This Israeli father was soon drawn into the tion to the warm Palestinian welcome, he was struck by many of the historical sites, several of which Herod the Great had built—Masada, the palace in Jerusalem, and Caesarea (where Herod insisted on building a harbor, even though his architects advised against it). From a religious point of view, Turner said it was very moving to visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the Sea of Galilee, the Mount of Olives, Capernaum, Primacy of Peter, Gethsemane, and the Via Dolorosa—the very places Jesus walked some 2,000 years ago. For Turner, images of the region’s past were soon overlaid with realities of the Holy Land of today, especially on a tour bus when the guide pointed to a nearby village in Lebanon and then a fence bordering Syria. He noticed yellow signs reading “Danger, Mines” on a fence along the side of the road. Though Turner didn’t feel endangered during the trip, he Front Row [L to R]: Sandy Prince, Sally Daniels Herron ’79, Charlie Green, Barb Green, Ruth Johnson ’74, Sharon Carlson ’72, Terri Rummans, Mary Kinney ’04, Donna McLean; Middle Row [L to R]: Yousef Eideh (our guide), Larry Turner ’69, Sue Turner, found the most distressing aspect to be the Jennie Wilson, Phil Quanbeck II, Nancy Sampair, Susan Carlson, Liz Weninger ’92, Judy Coppersmith ’66, Lee Furman ’61; wall between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Back Row [L to R]: Barbara Bruce, Sharon Mortrud ’64, Scott Anderson ’96, Judy Reeve ’95, Jeff Gotfredson ’82, Kirk Gill, When Palestinian Lutheran pastor Rev. Paul Kilgore ’80, Becky Kilgore, Jim Weninger ’92, Heidi Hunter Mitri Raheb spoke to the group about his ministry in Bethlehem, he described three areas of focus: culture, forum, where he met a Palestinian who had also lost someone. As a education, and health. Culturally, the ministry helps Palestinians result, his thoughts about the conflict evolved from quite hawkish to deal with identity issues and obtain meaningful work, and it promore conciliatory. In pairs, members of the forum (one Israeli, one vides a place for concerts, art, and theater. Educating the youth is Palestinian) make regular visits to schools in an effort to help another priority since 55 percent of the population is under the younger people think more seriously about the human aspects as age of 18. Dar al-Kalima College, Bethlehem’s new Lutheran colthey consider military expectations. lege (the first in the Middle East), will certainly aid in those efforts Turner and his wife, Sue, have traveled a fair amount since he reas well, providing studies in art, music, communication, and mantired after 38 years with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, but agement. The ministry also offers opportunities in women’s sports, this trip was special, he said. It felt like a real pilgrimage for him. eldercare, and preventive health, helping people learn how to take CHERYL CROCKETT ’89 better care of themselves. Spring 2012 35 alumni class notes Norm Larsen and Jerome “JD” 34Detviler ’74 were inducted into the Saint Paul Park (Minnesota) High School Athletic Hall of Fame in November. Larsen was the head football coach at Park for 10 years and served as Park’s athletic director until his retirement in 1977. Detviler was a soccer, Nordic skiing, and track and field coach at Park. Herb Chilstrom, former presiding bishop of the ELCA, released his autobiography, A Journey of Grace: The Formation of a Leader and a Church (Lutheran University 54 Press). The book is a reflective account of his family roots, childhood, education, and pastoral and teaching career. It tells of his life as bishop, his role in the formation of the ELCA, and his ministry as the first presiding bishop. In June, Richard “Dick” Thorud 56was inducted into the Min- nesota Inventors Hall of Fame. The award was based largely on the 80 patents he was awarded as a principal research engineer with the Toro Company. Corrine (Froelich) Frank 73became a grandmother for the first time in December, when grandson Weston Leslie Frank was born. Steven Resnicek was ap- 74pointed interim director of the Bemidji State University concert choir for the spring 2012 semester. Resnicek is an adjunct faculty member in the music department at Bemidji State. David Larson and Kate Sholon- 77ski released their book, Wide auggieSNAPSHOTS Awake: Three Minutes a Day to an Inspired Life! in Novem- 36 ber. This volume is filled with personal stories of challenge, triumph, empowerment, and motivation. Linda (Slater) Thoni was se- 88lected by the Art Educators of Minnesota (AEM) as the Elementary Art Educator of the Year for the State of Minnesota. She has been employed by the Byron School District for 12 years. AEM annually recognizes teachers who have made significant contributions to AEM, the state of Minnesota, and their school or organization. Award recipients have demonstrated dedication, achievement, and professionalism in the art education field. Members of the class of ’81 met in October in Cable, Wisc., for 81their annual Augsburg reunion. Pictured [L to R]: Mary Beamish, a copy editor at the Duluth News Tribune who is rehabbing a 1920s house in Duluth; Susan (Dahlgren) Sackrison, a history teacher at Lakeville High School; Maureen Webster, a grandma, an Army mom, and a Title I teacher at Sunnyside Elementary in Mounds View; Laura Kasdorf, a master gardener who coordinates the Community Garden in Chippewa Falls, Wisc.; Mary Lou (Schlosser) Suss of Louisiana, who misses being able to grow rhubarb; Janna (Wallin) Haug, who just returned from four years with the ELCA Global Mission in Slovakia. Karla (Morken) Thompson graduated from 81the College of St. Scholastica with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in August. She has worked at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. for 30 years and is a staff physical therapist specializing in women’s health and vestibular rehabilitation. Heidi Anderson gave birth to Jim Lindell and Karri (Birkholz) 04Lindell ’03 were married on July 16, at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Auggies in the wedding party were Kim Birkholz ’05, Britni (Morgan) Robertson ’05, Jeremy Robertson ’05, Travis Kalis, Tom Delisle ’04, Jeff Willihnganz ’04, Kyle Howard ’04, Jillian (Janicki) Howard ’04, Nick Collins ’04, Stefanie (Lindell) Lender ’98, Bruce Lender ’98, Jason Luhrs ’96, and Melissa (Luhrs) Gooder ’93. Karri is a brokerage product manager at Ameriprise Financial, and Jim is a corporate account manager at Choice Communications. They live in Maple Grove, Minn. Janine (Borchardt) Kellogg 93Soren Russell in May 2011. 04and her partner, Jennifer Heidi has worked for GE Lighting in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1999. Kellogg, welcomed baby boy Sawyer Jay on August 8. Becky (Welle) Winters and Paul 05Winters ’07 welcomed Maximilian Robert on August 17. Marette (Hoffman) 09Hahn married Justin Hahn on August 26, in Mendota Heights, Minn. Other Auggies involved included Leah Jarvi ’09 (bridesmaid), Shonna Fulford ’09 (personal attendant), Amber Stransky ’07 (personal attendant), and Kendra (Christiansen) Oxendale ’10 (photographer). Mateo Martin Irby was born on September 7, to Joanne K. Reeck-Irby and Cornelius M. Irby. Joanne is the director of campus activities and orientation at Augsburg. The Political History and Landmarks 91 In a January special election, Marathon Road in January. The film features Augsburg cross country/track and field head coach Dennis Barker, a trainer for Team USA distance athletes. The film was produced through Sanft’s company, Ideatap Studios. of South Africa and Namibia: AUGUST 2013 Courtesy photo Tom Kerr was named Administrator of the Year by the Iowa Reading Association. Kerr has served as the principal of BoydenHull Elementary School in Boyden, Iowa, for six years. Jennifer (Richter) and Dylan 92Susan Allen was elected to the 07Soberg ’06 welcomed baby After nearly eight years, Heather Johnston left the City of Minneapolis to become the CFO and director of administrative services for the City of Burnsville, Minn. In that capacity, she oversees finance, communications, community relations, city clerk, and information technology operations. In addition, she was recently appointed to the executive board of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. boy Alexander David on October 10. Emily Crook, a 2007 graduate and a current student in the Master of Arts in Education program, married David Hamm ’08 on October 8, 2010, in Duluth, Minn. Many other Auggies were in attendance to celebrate with the couple and their families. Angela (Barron) and Charles 08Brewer welcomed Emma Rose on November 17. In November, Dave Lange began a career at Ameriprise Financial in life insurance sales. George Hemmingsen and his Jesus (Alex) Hernandez Herrera was promoted to senior director, principal gifts, in the Northwestern University (Illinois) Office of Alumni Relations and Development in September. 95 Heather Savage has been writ- 01ing (under HK Savage) and editing and opened her own publishing company, Staccato Publishing. Staccato’s purpose is to help authors who want to publish their work but aren’t sure how to navigate the twists and turns on the road to publishing. 09brother Grant Hemmingsen, both 2009 graduates, are assistant basketball coaches at Kentucky Wesleyan College. George is in his second year with KWC and his first year as top assistant coach, and Grant is in his first year as assistant coach. Katie Wornson was named to the Volunteers of America-Minnesota board of directors in December. Volunteers of America is a nonprofit human service organization headquartered in Edina, Minn. Julia Sewell and her colleague Jennifer (Langman) and husband Kevin Reese welcomed Elsie Marie on November 8. 02 Tony Geckler completed a 05Master of Social Work degree from St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas in August. In November, he passed his licensed graduate social worker examination. Augsburg cross country/track and field alumni Paul Sanft ’05, Dan Vogel ’05, Riley Conway ’05, and Tori Bahr ’09 released their documentary 10and partner, Don Patterson, are touring the United States spreading messages of youth voice and action, leadership, and educational reform through their 2011-2012 SWAG (Sharing Wisdom Amongst our Generation) tour concluding in April. Sandra (Albrecht) Sutton married Michael Sutton on August 27, 2010. The couple resides in Baldwin, Wisc., where Sandra works as a sponsor services analyst with Wells Fargo. Namib Desert Join Augsburg alumni and friends on this 12-day tour to learn about Namibia and South Africa’s shared political past and to see the popular tourist attractions and landmarks this history has created. Learn firsthand about this region’s struggle against apartheid while visiting the acclaimed Apartheid Museum, Cape Point where the Dutch conquerors landed and built a lighthouse, and Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Tour the former black and colored townships in Windhoek and Johannesburg and hear from a cross-section of Southern African society. Discover how the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, with a total membership of more than 700,000, mainly in Northern Namibia, played a significant role in opposition to apartheid and was part of the Namibian independence struggle. The Namibia portion of the trip will also include a visit to the Etosha Game Reserve and the Namib Desert, the site of the world’s highest sand dunes. This trip is offered by the Alumni Association in partnership with the Center for Global Education (CGE) at Augsburg College. For 30 years, CGE has provided cross-cultural educational opportunities that foster critical analysis of local and global conditions so that personal and systemic change takes place, leading to a more just and sustainable world. To request more details about the trip, call 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu. namibia and south africa Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 61B. Allen is the first Native American woman to serve in the Minnesota House. Spring 2012 37 A phone call. An e-mail. A diploma. When Jennifer Ivers ’13 e-mailed Larry Couture ’79 as part of her work with Augsburg’s IGNITE program, she couldn’t have imagined the chain of events that would transpire—or that she would end up with an internship as a result. Through IGNITE (Involving Graduates Now in Thoughtful Engagement), current Augsburg students connect with alumni to help them find ways to engage with the College. But when Ivers contacted Couture, she was surprised by his e-mail response. “He sent a short essay explaining why he wasn’t really excited about meeting with me,” she said. It turns out that Couture thought he graduated from Augsburg in 1979 but found out in 2006, when he tried to apply for admission to a graduate program, that his transcript was incomplete. Couture had been one religion course short of completing his graduation requirements in the spring of 1979 and had returned to Augsburg that summer to complete the final class. That course was never posted, but Couture didn’t suspect anything because he’d moved to a new apartment and thought perhaps his diploma had just been lost in the mail. After receiving Couture’s e-mail, Ivers told him that she would like to help him. She said she would forward his e-mail to her boss, who could bring his issue to the attention of the Dean, and together they would try to resolve the situation. “He said that after this long he didn’t think it really mattered, but if I could help, he thought that would be great,” Ivers said. And help she did. On February 1, more than 30 years after he thought he graduated, On February 1, more than 30 years after completing his graduation requirements, Larry Couture ‘79—pictured here with Jennifer Ivers ’13, a summer intern at Couture’s company—received his Augsburg College diploma. nt llege Commenceme 1979 Augsburg Co Larry Couture received his Augsburg College diploma and became a member of the class of 1979. Couture was so impressed with Ivers’ tenacity, as well as her speaking and writing skills, that he asked her to work as a summer intern for his company ECOSmarte, a Richfield, Minn.-based manufacturer of nonsalt, non-chemical water technology for ’79 LARRY COUTURE swimming pools and spas. The relationship has also led to an internship for a second Augsburg student. “This has been one of the more fulfilling aspects of my position,” Ivers said. “The IGNITE program aims to re-involve alumni on campus, and what’s a better way to involve someone than finally getting them their diploma?” WENDI WHEELER ’06 38 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 e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. ____________________________________________________________ Full name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name ____________________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended In Memoriam ____________________________________________________________ Street address Edward L. Evenson ’41, age 93, on September 28 ____________________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP code Verlinda L. (Olson) Huus ’42, age 91, on September 19 Carol A. (Hibbard) Kirtley ’42, age 88, on October 22 Vivian A. (Larson) Loren ’43, age 89, on September 23 Is this a new address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ Home telephone H. Daniel Frojen ’45, age 87, on September 18 J. Bernhard Bretheim ’48 on August 2 ____________________________________________________________ E-mail Ruth O. (Holm) Sawyer ’48, age 83, on January 18 Okay to publish your e-mail address? q Yes q No Evelyn (Green) Harris ’49 on June 29 John H. Wetzler ’49, age 88, on January 22, 2011 Raymond J. Bodin ’50, age 93, on October 27 ____________________________________________________________ Employer ____________________________________________________________ Position Jean (Kuklish) Knudsen ’50, age 83,
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2011: Auggies Go Global
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2011 VOL. 73, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Awesome Years of Life-Changing internships Commencement 2011 Ali Rapp ’11 Gage Center for Student Success Travel International Auggies Ask an Auggie expert page 20 Achievement in the ...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2011 VOL. 73, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Awesome Years of Life-Changing internships Commencement 2011 Ali Rapp ’11 Gage Center for Student Success Travel International Auggies Ask an Auggie expert page 20 Achievement in the classroom Nick Ward ’11 go global notes from President Pribbenow Assistant 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 Education off the main road Creative Associate-Design a s I write these words for the summer issue of the Augsburg Now—which includes stories illustrating Augsburg’s vision of educating global citizens—I am in Oslo, Norway, attending an international conference on the links between higher education and democracy, and also spending time with Augsburg students studying peace and conflict mediation at the University of Oslo. I am struck by how relevant Augsburg’s longstanding commitment to what I call an “education off the main road” is to preparing our students for life in the 21st century. A simple story illustrates my point. In a trip last fall to Augsburg’s Center for Global Education (CGE) campus in Windhoek, Namibia, I remember looking out at the sparkling lights as I was hosted at a dinner in an ultra-modern restaurant high above the city. All was well, it seemed, as I waited for my dinner companions to arrive. But the view from our perch above the city, nestled in an obviously affluent subdivision of the burgeoning city, belied my experiences earlier in the day. I had witnessed the remnants of an apartheid system. Formerly separate cemeteries for whites, colored, and blacks. Housing that was clearly demarcated by tribal class. Primary and secondary schools stratified by social class. A sprawling tin village—the so-called “informal settlements”—in which tens of thousands of Namibians lived in squalor, unable to find work after they arrived in the city and were left to their own devices to survive. Health clinics with waiting rooms full of women seeking both prenatal care and HIV tests. Non-governmental organizations struggling to serve the needs of indigenous people whose rights were neglected. The stark contrasts of the day were mindbending. My dinner companions arrived—a labor activist and a teacher working to improve education for indigenous people—and as I described our day in Windhoek, one of them commented that he was grateful I had witnessed these contrasts because too many outsiders come to Namibia and travel only “the main road,” from which all seems well. I had left that main road and experienced the real Namibia. My experience that day was a snapshot of what our CGE students encounter each semester in Namibia as they participate in intense experiences that open their eyes to the life-transforming dynamics of life in this developing country. Through extended homestays in both urban and rural areas, internships with organizations doing important social and educational work, classes that feature speakers who have firsthand experience of the tensions in Namibia’s life, and opportunities for significant interaction with Namibian people and culture, our students experience life off the main road in this remarkable country, just 22 years after it declared independence. And when these students return home to the U.S., we know they carry with them knowledge and experiences of this place and its good people that will shape the decisions they make about their own lives and what they might be called to do in the world. Some may return to Africa, perhaps as medical workers or teachers. But most will not, and, for them, we trust and know that their experiences off the main road in Namibia will help them understand their own privilege in an increasingly complex world—privilege that must be named and then put to responsible use in the search for equity and justice, both in their personal lives and in the systems they inhabit. Off the main road in Namibia, off the main road wherever Augsburg offers its distinctive education for global citizenship. I’m only beginning to understand how critical our work as a college is in transforming the lives of students and contributing to a different vision of our common future as global citizens. Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Webmaster/Now Online Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@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 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT summer 2011 Features 11 6 “Problem” students become problem solvers BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 14 21 Auggies are everywhere BY STEPHANIE WEISS . 16 Gloria Xinico Morales ’12 A girl of the world 17 Max Bregenzer ’12 Living life to the Max 17 Erica Lippitt ’12 Family teamwork creates a world of possibility 18 Jiahua (Holly) Huang ’12 Holly is a regular Minnesotan 8 14 18 Dat Nguyen ’11 contents Unlocking possibilities and potential at Augsburg 26 19 Faiza Abbas Mahamud ’11 A life that defies definition 20 Ibrahim Al-Hajiby ’14 Life in the United States: Different, but not weird 21 26 Real experience in the working world BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Commencement 2011 BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Departments On the cover International Auggies Gloria Xinico Morales, Alom Martínez, Zebokhon Tursunova, and Gottlieb Uahengo have fun at a Minneapolis landmark, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s Spoonbridge and Cherry. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. augsburg now inside front cover 2 6 8 9 10 28 32 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad My Auggie experience Auggies on the track It takes an Auggie Auggie voices Alumni news Class notes quad around the NEWSNOTES National fellowship and scholarship awards Fulbright Awards, 2011-12 • Katie Edelen ’11, majoring in chemistry, biology, and environmental studies, received a Fulbright Research Grant to Norway. She will study and carry out research at the Peace Research Institute of Oslo. (See story page 10.) Urban Debate League success at nationals Two teams from the Minnesota Urban Debate League (UDL), part of Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning, were among the top 10 teams in the country at the National Urban Debate League (NAUDL) tournament in New York in April. A student debater from each of the two teams—Washburn and South high schools—placed seventh and eighth respectively in individual speaker competition. Newberry Library Fellowship to Michael Lansing Michael Lansing, assistant professor of history, received the Lloyd Lewis Fellowship in American History for 2011–12. The fellowship will support the ongoing work of his book-length research project on the Nonpartisan League. Norma Noonan honored for long-term direction of the MAL program Norma Noonan was honored this spring after stepping down as director of the Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) program. Throughout her 18 years of directing and teaching in the program, Noonan has been both a leader and a shaper of leaders. Since the mid-’90s, Noonan has had an exceptionally steady hand in leading the ongoing development of the MAL program and the Leadership Center. Students have appreciated her accessibility, encouragement, and clarity. Although she is leaving the director position, Noonan will continue to teach at Augsburg and support the College’s commitment to leadership. 2 Augsburg Now • Jennifer Oliver, a graduate student in education and former financial aid counselor in the Enrollment Center, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Germany. Goldwater Scholarship—Math major Austin Wagner ’12 received Honorable Mention for a Barry S. Goldwater Scholarship. Newman Civic Fellows—Claire Bergren ’12 was honored by Campus Compact for her community work around racial justice and social issues linked to poverty. Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship—Katie Edelen will pursue graduate study in environmental management in 2012–13. Udall Scholarship—Kathy DeKrey ’12, an environmental studies and political science pre-law double major, has been awarded a Udall Scholarship for 2011–12. Top green power purchaser Augsburg College has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the 2010-11 top green power purchaser in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Augsburg College purchased more than 13 million kilowatt-hours of green power, representing 100 percent of the school’s annual electricity usage on the Minneapolis campus. This is the equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity use of more than 1,000 average U.S. homes or nearly 2,000 cars annually. EXCELLENCE in research In April 2011, Jeremy Anthony, a senior Presidential Award for mathematics major, represented Augsburg College in the Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on Community Service the Hill event. This event, held each year in Washington, D.C., showcased Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Awards Augsburg College earned two $10,000 grants from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council for programs recognized for providing “high-quality, age-appropriate arts education.” Medieval Minnesota: This one-week boarding camp for students ages 14 to17 reimagines life during the Middle Ages. Students study medieval history, the Crusades, castle design, and the history of labyrinths. They also learn to build a medieval costume, juggle, dance, fence, and entertain. The camp, in its fifth year, attracts students from across the United States and Canada. For more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/medievalminnesota. Centro Youth Workshop: This summer photography workshop provides 10 youths from metropolitan Latino/Chicano communities the opportunity to develop technical and artistic photography skills. The program, which is in its second year, is a partnership between the College and Centro, a Minneapolis-based social service nonprofit. Learn more at http://overexposuremedia.org/. the research of 75 undergraduate stu- Courtesy photo Augsburg is one of six higher education institutions in the nation to receive the 2010 Presidential Award for Community Service from the Corporation for National and Community Service. This is the highest award given that recognizes institutions for their commitment to and achievement in community service, and Augsburg is the only Minnesota school to receive this honor. In three previous years, the College has been named to the President’s Honor Roll with the additional designation of “With Distinction.” During the 2009-10 school year, Auggies contributed nearly 200,000 hours of community service to programs, including course-based servicelearning, Bonner Leaders, Campus Kitchen, community gardens, GEMS/GISE/STEM summer programs, Urban Scrubs Camp, and more. More than 1,700 students and 200 faculty and staff participated in service-learning last year. dents from colleges and universities across the country. L to R: Isanti mayor George Wimmer, Senator Al Franken, and Clayton McNeff ’91, vice president of research at SarTec Corporation. SENATOR FRANKEN visits Ever Cat Fuels On April 21, U.S. Senator Al Franken visited Ever Cat Fuels in Isanti, Minn., which can produce three million gallons of biodiesel each year using the Mcgyan Process. In 2008, the discovery of the Mcgyan Process began with student research by Brian Krohn ’08, along with chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg. The process received its first patent in March 2011. Augsburg receives second grant for Travelers EDGE Augsburg received a second gift from Travelers Insurance for their Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment (EDGE) program. This program focuses on college recruitment and retention of low-income and first-generation students. In Minnesota, the focus is specifically on students graduating from the St. Paul Public School district. The $100,000 grant will be used for Augsburg’s Travelers Pathways program for financial literacy training, which is open to all students. Current Augsburg juniors and seniors who graduated from a St. Paul public high school may be eligible to apply for a $5,000 annual scholarship, which brings with it opportunities for job shadowing, internships, and mentoring. Summer 2011 3 In Memoriam: Jessica Nathanson Jessica Nathanson, assistant professor and director of the women’s studies program and the Women’s Resource Center at Augsburg College, died April 5 of breast cancer. Nathanson’s passion for and knowledge of social justice and gender issues was instrumental in shaping the women’s studies community at Augsburg. Nathanson earned a BA from Wesleyan University and an MA and PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She co-edited the book Mother Knows Best: Talking Back to the “Experts” and enjoyed a wide following as a blogger on feminist issues. The following is an excerpt of an original spoken word piece read by Lucreshia Grant ’11 at the multifaith service in Hoversten Chapel to remember and celebrate Nathanson’s life. An excerpt from There are so much things to say By Lucreshia Grant ’11 For Jessica Nathanson There are so much things to say right now There are so much things to say There are so much things to say right now There are so much things to say … Friends, let me tell you If we had the time to recall every moment where in which this woman made me feel like I could levitate, I swear it’d take all day… This is a piece about praise today because, if there was bad between us I just can’t remember it I never knew I could float with pride this way. I came in here rusty and naïve, too big for my own britches You saw a light in me and followed it My writing then, was sloppy, holey and dishonest There are times when writing for an audience is just plain perjury And every time I lifted my pen from this paper in disbelief Turned my palms up in discouragement You calmly, proclaimed that “That must be the oppression talking.” That day I thought my heart would beat right through my ribcage I never imagined that someone might get it Get me, get this I love you, for the tears you allowed me to cry, often and The beauty you believed me to write And I can’t help believing that we were meant to be in a space like SVERDRUP 207 warm and complicated in the differences between us 4 Augsburg Now age, race, class, time, distance there is love in that and we confronted it daily learning that oppression sometimes smells like privilege and power doesn’t always have to be dominance you are my best memory about this place and I know we’re not done Cuz you African dance through my dreams Reminding me of the freedom I already keep, on my tongue You’re in my windpipe Part of the cadence and confidence in my voice You’re the social justice in my strut I won’t lower my head in fear again Eyes forward ready to stand completely still with another You gave me grace, honored me with respect Not just a Black woman on a stage to you…clap me a round of “thanks and that was beautifuls” But she knew the truth. Knew I was a Queen, believed my words and told me. There are so much things to say I have so much to say, but I can say nothing fully at all. Thanks for all the books and Reminding me that I can do this Thanks for believing in feminism enough to teach it. Thanks for loving us as much as you did Thanks for loving me It’s not over, we’re not done You’ll see Because This place became a home for me because you were in it It is better because you graced it Because you believed it I am better Jessica, thank you! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RETIRING TENURED FACULTY Retiring faculty were honored at the Faculty Recognition Luncheon on May 5. Nora Braun, Business Administration Nora Braun has been described as a role model for successfully balancing the demands of professional and personal responsibilities with incredible patience, integrity, and humor during her 14 years at Augsburg. A few of her contributions include participating in the College’s accreditation program, chairing a keystone collaborative, helping to design the business keystone course, and being involved in the initial design process for the Augsburg Master of Business Administration program. Braun enjoys writing and is the author of a children’s book that explores the life of the middle child. Francine Chakolis, Social Work Bruce Reichenbach, Philosophy Francine Chakolis graduated from Augsburg in 1978. Since 1983, her dedication to her colleagues and students has taken many forms. Always a proud Auggie, Chakolis was a formidable leader and the first director of the Master of Social Work program in the 1990s. Her colleague Tony Bibus used these words to describe Chakolis, “…spouse, mother, family, and COMMUNITY, with capital letters. She is also a teacher, activist, fighter, administrator, leader, and social worker.” Bruce Reichenbach began his teaching career at Augsburg 43 years ago. Students have always been at the top of his priorities, and they received the very best of Reichenbach’s passion and deep commitment to learning. He organized and led the writing team for the Lilly Grant and then served on its advisory board. As a logical outgrowth of the Lilly Grant to explore vocation, he worked on the development of an extended orientation for first-year and second-year faculty. Reichenbach is a prolific scholar, having written a dozen books and many articles, and is regarded for his expertise in helping faculty understand how to teach critical thinking. Dan Hanson, Communication Studies A 1986 graduate of the Weekend College program, Dan Hanson began taking classes when he was a vice president at Land O’Lakes. A dedicated colleague and teacher for 23 years, Hanson developed several courses, including the communication studies keystone course and a course for the Master of Arts in Leadership program. He is the author of several books, including A Place to Shine and Room for J: A Family Struggles with Schizophrenia. Hanson has devoted his energy and years of experience and expertise to the development of his students in both undergraduate and graduate program classes. Lynne Lorenzen, Religion At a reception honoring Lynne Lorenzen’s 22-year career at Augsburg, Professor Bev Stratton referred to Lorenzen as a trailblazer. A tireless advocate for gender rights on campus and in broader communities, Lorenzens’s collaboration on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) first sexuality task force 20 years ago laid the groundwork for the decision to recognize lesbian and gay clergy in committed, same-gender relationships. She played an important role in the design and development of the Augsburg/Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) women’s studies program. An active member and leader in the Lutheran church, Lorenzen’s classes at Augsburg also reflected her interests and focus on theology, church studies, and feminism. Charley Sheaffer, Computer Science Charley Sheaffer has been involved in several curricular development efforts in his department since he joined the College in 1997. He helped revise the computer science major to include the programming languages and compilers sequence. He was a co-creator of a three-credit cognitive science course, which was instrumental in increasing confidence among many students about their ability to handle college-level work. His colleague Larry Crockett said, “If the measure of a person is finally the ability to retain a gracious sense of humor in the face of all that life can present, then Charley is a remarkable person indeed.” Nan Skelton, Center for Democracy and Citizenship As co-director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship (CDC) at Augsburg College, Nan Skelton led the center’s external public work in civic education, reclaiming neighborhoods, and the democratic renewal of education. She is a co-founder of the Jane Addams School for Democracy; and she has been an architect of the Neighborhood Learning Community and, more recently, Learning in Cities (also called Sprockets), pioneering new approaches to learning and education. Prior to joining the CDC in 1994, Skelton served as assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education and provided leadership with the National Governors Association. Summer 2011 5 my Auggie experience Floating on the social media bubble If you’re a friend of Ali Rapp ’11 and weren’t a frequent visitor to the communication and film studies office where she worked on campus, you maybe “saw” her on Facebook and Twitter. And if you didn’t attend a class or go to a local restaurant with her, you may have kept up with the goings-on of Ali Rapp’s life—and maybe still do—through her blog, “No, I am a Cat.” Rapp was the social media intern for Augsburg’s admissions office since 2007. In this position, she maintained her own blog and managed other student bloggers on Homemade, the College’s unobstructed window on student life. 6 Augsburg Now The student bloggers kept prospective and current students entertained and up-to-date with real-life posts about classes, favorite professors, internships, experiences abroad, papers and projects, social events, and general commentary on life as an Auggie. Homemade follows a national trend among college admissions offices to engage and recruit students using social media. A May 2009 article from The Chronicle of Higher Education cites data from the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. It shows that in fall 2008, 61 percent of admissions offices were using social-networking sites and 41 percent had blogs, up from 29 percent and 33 percent, respectively, in 2007. Rapp thinks Homemade is an easy way to give new students a view of Augsburg that they might not get through visits with admissions staff. “Incoming students aren’t dumb,” she said. “They know that things go on that no one talks about. I think they appreciate our honesty.” Staying afloat in the social media bubble is more than writing and editing posts and reminding bloggers to blog. It’s also about using other social media tools such as Facebook and the microblog tool Twitter to raise awareness of the blogs. Throughout her internship, Rapp became more adept at promoting Homemade using unique accounts on those social media sites. Rapp said the key to staying on top of social media is to remember that it is always changing. “For me it’s a matter of realizing I can’t stop learning. If I stay off of Twitter and Facebook for too long, I will lose some of it.” To be sure, social media is growing in importance not only for recruiting new students but also for keeping current students, alumni, donors, faculty and staff, and the community engaged in the life of the College. Many campus departments including the Enrollment Center, Campus Kitchen, the bookstore, and the dining service rely on social media to keep students informed. Auggie Eagle is on Facebook, too. In the fall, Rapp will begin graduate studies at the University of Minnesota in communication studies with a focus on critical media studies. She hopes to continue research started as an undergraduate on computer-mediated communication and to explore the role of social media in the communication studies field. And just in case you’re wondering, “No, I am a Cat” has no meaning. At least none that Rapp can remember. She doesn’t have a cat at her Minneapolis home. She does, however, have a dog named Per. If you were following her social life through social media, you may have read about him on her blog, too. WENDI WHEELER ’06 Keeping up with social media @Augsburg College Throughout Augsburg College, many departments and programs are finding that one of the best ways to stay in touch with prospective and current students, alumni, and the community is through social media. BLOGS YOU MIGHT LIKE: Homemade—www.augsburg.edu/homemade President Pribbenow’s blog—follow at www.augsburg.edu/president FACEBOOK PAGES YOU SHOULD “LIKE:” Augsburg College—the official page of the College (2,879 followers) Augsburg College Alumni Association—all the alumni news you need, and a great way to connect with your Auggie friends (336 followers) Augsburg College Homemade—you guessed it (285 followers) Auggie Eagle—be Auggie’s friend (1,251 followers) FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @AugsburgCollege (1,088 followers) @paulpribbenow (258 followers) @auggieshomemade (107 followers) Number of followers listed are as of July 2011. auggies on the track More than an all-around guy At Augsburg, Nick Ward ’11 worked hard to be an all-around student-athlete—one who was as dedicated to his studies as he was to setting records on the track. In his last year of college, he put in extra time to add one more accomplishment to his list: All-American athlete. A physics and mathematics major originally from Milwaukee, Wis., Ward says he had no intention of participating in college track and wanted instead to focus on academics. Then a couple of his first-year friends talked him into joining the track team. Augsburg track and field coach, Dennis Barker, says Ward was a very coachable athlete and a good listener. “He always tried to absorb and understand the concepts behind what I asked him to do,” Barker said. “I think that’s partly the way he thinks as a physics student.” Barker was impressed with Ward’s commitment. “I don’t know anyone who studies as much as he studies,” Barker said. He speculates that track offered a chance for Ward to let loose after spending long hours in the lab and the library. “I think track and field maybe comes more naturally to Nick than physics, but that never stopped him from excelling,” Barker said. Being a member of the Auggie track team turned out to be a good choice for Ward. One of the top men’s sprinters in school history, he earned his first trip to national competition this spring when he competed in the men’s 55-meter dash at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) indoor championships in Columbus, Ohio. Ward’s qualifying time of 10.73 seconds in the men’s 100-meter dash was the 17th-fastest among the 22 entrants in the event. Last season, Ward won the conference titles in the men’s 55-meter dash and men’s long jump at the MIAC indoor championships, while finishing second in the men’s 100meter dash and winning a conference title as part of the 400-meter relay at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) outdoor championships. In his first-ever appearance at the NCAA championships in May, Ward clocked a time of 11.07 seconds to record a 20th-place finish in the event. As one of the top sprinters in Augsburg school history, Ward will end his career having earned seven MIAC titles, 12 All-MIAC honors, and eight All-MIAC honorable-mention honors, to go along with eight school records. Off the track, Ward completed his studies with a 3.2 grade point average and conducted summer research in physics as a McNair Scholar and also through the North Star STEM Alliance program. He credits his academic success to faculty and staff who encouraged him, namely his physics adviser Ben Stottrup, Tina Tavera from the McNair Scholars program, and Rebekah Dupont who advises North Star STEM students at Augsburg. “They pushed me throughout my whole college career, making me apply for internships and for research opportunities off campus. I guess they motivated me to keep going,” he said. Ward applied to three graduate school programs and was accepted into the master’s program in electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. “Nick has such a great attitude and is always so excited about the opportunities he has,” Barker said. “I think he feels very fortunate to be at Augsburg, studying in a stellar physics department and being on the track team. I think he’s enjoying life here.” After four outstanding seasons and a successful academic career, Ward’s goal for the end of the season was to be named an AllAmerican in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and in the long jump. Unfortunately his name was not on the NCAA Division III list, but that doesn’t change the fact that Nick Ward is an impressive student and athlete. For Ward, a somewhat shy young man, talking about his accomplishments is one thing that does not come easily. “I guess I’m just trying to be an all-around guy,” he said. WENDI WHEELER ’06 AND DON STONER 8 Augsburg Now it takes an Courtesy photo Auggie Visionary leadership in support of student success In 1984, Skip and Barbara Gage’s oldest son, Geoff, made an unexpected choice. Though he had been determined to attend school in California, the high school senior decided after a tour of the Augsburg campus that he preferred to become an Auggie. At parent orientation the following fall, Skip and Barbara joined the campus community for the first time. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with the nurturing and caring environment provided at Augsburg,” Skip said. While they remained proud Auggie parents (all four of their children attended classes at Augsburg, and two graduated from the College), it didn’t take long for Skip and Barbara to take a more active role in the community. Just two years later, Augsburg President Charles Anderson asked Barbara to join the board of regents, where she served for 12 years, including four years as chair of the board. During the early years of Barbara’s service, she and Skip approached President Anderson to discuss ways to expand student support. “We’ve had distinct experience with learning differences in our family,” Skip said, but at that time, little research had been done on learning differences at the college level. In fact, according to the Gages, Augsburg and the University of Colorado, Boulder, were Barbara and Skip Gage Skip and Barbara have supported other campus projects through the years, including the Scandinavian Center, Lindell Library, Anderson Plaza, and the Gage Family Art Gallery. And, with their newest gift, the Gages once again reveal their enthusiasm for student support and innovative programming. The Gage Family Foundation and the Carlson Foundation last spring announced that they will collectively contribute $900,000 toward the creation of the Gage Center for Student Success—a centralized place where all “We were so thankful that we had found a school that actually had ways to help students can go to enhance their learning and students with learning differences,” Barbara said. “We were excited to help achieve their academic goals. Construction for make the program larger and able to meet the needs of more students.” the center started this summer in Lindell Library. The center will be on the link level, the only two colleges they found that provided support services to creating space at the heart of the campus for the CLASS program as students with different learning abilities. well as numerous other academic success programs. Passionate about this cause, Skip and Barbara commissioned a Barbara noted the importance of having the learning center $30,000 study on programming to support learning differences. near the College’s technological resources and at a centralized loBased on this study’s findings, the Gages, together with the cation. Carlson Family Foundation, committed half a million dollars and “The center will be a part of the students’ daily lives,” she raised another half a million to institute a new program at said. “[The students who use the center] will become advocates of Augsburg, which evolved into the Center for Learning and Adaptive learning.” Student Services (CLASS). This program provides services to help The Gages believe that Augsburg’s leadership in student sucall students—regardless of learning style, preference, or need— cess is due in part to its mission for service. reach their full potential at Augsburg. “Augsburg has been wonderful in being inclusive in working “We were so thankful that we had found a school that actually with students of different needs,” Barbara said. “I’m so proud to had ways to help students with learning differences,” Barbara said. be a part of it.” “We were excited to help make the program larger and able to meet the needs of more students.” KAYLA SKARBAKKA ’09 Summer 2011 9 auggie voices Treating the system instead of the symptoms Katie Edelen ’11 wanted to be a doctor from the time she was five years old. She watched surgery on the Discovery Channel before naptime and begged her parents to let her be present at the birth of her two younger siblings. It wasn’t until she was in college and working with doctors in India that Edelen realized she did not actually want to be a doctor. Soon after she arrived at Augsburg, Edelen began looking for an opportunity to volunteer abroad to gain medical experience helping people in war-torn countries. She had been interested in Doctors Without Borders, so she contacted native health non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to find volunteer opportunities. In her junior year, Edelen landed in Chennai, India, where she shadowed doctors in government hospitals and another who brought internal medicine services to refugee camps, slums, and villages. “What really spoke to me were all the people who had been exposed to water-borne, preventable diseases because of unsafe sanitary conditions,” she recalled. Though she had been interested in environmental issues before traveling to India, there she began to see in a new way the consequences of peoples’ actions on the environment. She saw that issues related to health, education, poverty, and social justice were connected to environmental problems. “That is when I started to become interested in treatment of the systematic inequalities as opposed to putting a band-aid on the problem,” she said. This experience led Edelen to pursue other opportunities centered 10 Augsburg Now on water and its role in society. She took a course on environmental and river politics led by Augsburg political science professor Joe Underhill. She traveled to Uganda and worked with villagers on water access and conservation, even starting a “safe water and hygiene club” in the primary school. This summer, she will be in Norway on a Fulbright fellowship researching the correlation between armed conflict and water hazards and scarcity at the Peace Research Institute in Oslo. Following her time in Norway, Edelen will pursue graduate work in environmental studies on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. A triple major in chemistry, biology, and environmental studies, Edelen said her education and experiences abroad have solidified her desire to work in the area of policy analysis and research. “I really see my vocational work and my background bridging the different realms of sciences and the humanities together to address problems,” she said. “The nexus between science, policy, and society can be messy and convoluted, but that’s what really excites me about it.” Edelen said her parents instilled in her the importance of taking initiative, encouraging her interest in medicine even before she began grade school. “I’ve always had a desire to make a difference in the world somehow. That’s what really motivates me. I want to use my gifts as a way to help the world.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 To read more about Katie Edelen, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. “PROBLEM” STUDENTS BECOME PROBLEM SOLVERS BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Visualize young people in our public schools making positive change in their communities. Who comes to mind? Probably not middle school students in the special education classroom—kids with emotional and behavioral disabilities who have difficulty paying attention and communicating with each other or their teachers. Typically, students in special education are labeled as troublemakers. They are marginalized, silenced, and given little choice in their daily school tasks. But a partnership between Augsburg College and Fridley Middle School hopes to change that. By giving students a voice in their education and allowing them to focus their time and energy on an issue they care about, this program has turned “problem” students into public problem solvers. Public Achievement in special education Piloted in the 2010-11 academic year, Augsburg’s program at Fridley Middle School (FMS) is a partnership involving Augsburg’s Center for Democracy and Citizenship (CDC), the Augsburg special education faculty and students in the Master of Arts in Education (MAE) program, and teachers and students from the school. The project began when Susan O’Connor, associate professor of special education at Augsburg, heard Dennis Donovan and Nan Skelton of the CDC speak about the Public Achievement model. This model for youth civic organizing was developed by the CDC’s Harry Boyte. In the classroom, Public Achievement serves as an empowerment tool that allows students to create change in an area that they select and take ownership of as a group. To O’Connor, Public Achievement seemed like a fit for special education classrooms. “It was like the self-advocacy tool we are always encouraging teachers to use with their students,” she said. “The kids with EBD (emotional/behavioral disabilities) are kids that typically don’t have a voice in their school work. They’re told what to do. They’re told how to act.” O’Connor and Donna Patterson from the Augsburg special education faculty learned how to implement Public Achievement in the classroom. They looked for a location to pilot the project and settled on FMS because two of the special educa- tion teachers—Michael Ricci ’07 and Alissa Blood ’07—are graduates of Augsburg’s teacher education program. Finally, they hand-picked five MAE students from the Critical Issues seminar course to work with the middle school students and then began weekly classes at Fridley in the fall term. A new way of teaching and learning The Public Achievement model identifies classroom teachers as coaches and places all responsibility for decision-making and action on the students. The middle school students identified two projects: one concerning alternative energy and another on homelessness. In each project, the students were responsible for designing every aspect. They created timelines, conducted research, contacted experts and members of the community to schedule speaking engagements or field trips, and communicated about their projects with faculty and students in their school. Cheryl McClellan, an Augsburg MAE student, worked with the “Solar Heroes” team on installing solar panels to light the school’s flag and a solar thermal to heat water for domestic uses at the school. “The idea is, the students decide who gets invited to be a part of the project. They find out how to contact people, send them an e-mail or call, and follow up with them,” McClellan said. At the end of the year, Solar Heroes had not been able to finalize the projects but pledged to con- Summer 2011 21 11 tinue working on fundraising initiatives for the solar panels. For many of the students, these were tasks they had never been entrusted to perform. In addition to learning about how it feels to be empowered, McClellan said students also came to understand that community organizing and advocacy is not always easy work. “You get a lot of ‘no’s,’ but they are learning the skills to move forward.” Kayla Krebs is one of the Augsburg MAE students working with “Team Making a Way,” the class focused on homelessness. Her students went to the State Capitol to speak with legislators and also made fleece blankets to donate to Families Moving Forward, a North Minneapolis shelter that provides services for families with children who are experiencing homelessness. Krebs saw her role in the classroom as a facilitator. “I learned how to be flexible and how to let the students’ voices shine.” For students with special needs, she says this is an important part of the learning process because “so many times, people tell them what to do.” Molly McInnis, an Augsburg MAE student, said the program has taught her a new way of teaching. “I have learned how to let the students make the decisions and drive their own project,” she said. “I can’t come in and be a teacher—I need to listen to them and let them lead.” Blood said the program was beneficial to her students because they struggle with taking responsibility. “This program has given them a sense of power and responsibility and taught them that what they think and do matters. They are much more committed and have a sense of pride in what they are doing.” By giving students the power to choose the issues they want to work on and the methods of solving problems, Donovan said the students have developed the capacity to become public problem solvers. That means they work to solve problems affecting the Augsburg-Fridley Public Achievement Team Back Row [L to R]: Dennis Donovan, Stephen Keeler, Cheryl McClennan, Alissa Blood, Steph Bloxham, Heidi Austin, *Barbara West Middle Row [L to R]: Michael Ricci, *Susan O’Connor, *Dee Vodicka, *Elizabeth Ankeny, *Donna Patterson Front Row [L to R]: Molly McInnis, Becki Hamlin, Kayla Krebs *Augsburg College Faculty 12 Augsburg Now “THIS PROGRAM HAS GIVEN THEM A SENSE OF POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY AND TAUGHT THEM THAT WHAT THEY THINK AND DO MATTERS. THEY ARE MUCH MORE COMMITTED AND HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING.” ALISSA BLOOD ’07 public and are doing it in a public way. The students created displays for cases outside their classroom, logos and posters for their projects, appeared on the FMS Friday radio broadcast, spoke at a luncheon at Augsburg, and held a public presentation at the school. “Kids that are marginalized really rise to the top when they are given power,” he said. “In education, we say it’s not an achievement gap—it’s an empowerment gap,” Donovan said. “We have to ask ourselves how we can empower teachers and students to learn about things that are meaningful to them and have a voice in their education.” Lessons for teachers One of the most important reasons for implementing this Public Achievement project was to drive institutional change, O’Connor said. “We want these students to be seen in a more positive light, not as trouble-makers.” She added that the Fridley students were noticed by their administrators and peers, recognized publicly for their work, and asked to contribute to future discussions. Another goal of the project was to bring lessons learned by the Augsburg students and faculty into the special education curriculum at Augsburg. The faculty are creating a three-year plan to integrate into the special education curriculum and hope to develop a Public Achievement coaching course that can be used in other departments. Donovan is excited to see how this project will affect Augsburg’s special education curriculum and students. “I think Augsburg students are going to be different teachers because of this experience,” he said. A former public school administrator, Donovan is passionate about working with teachers and helping them acquire new skills for the classroom. Helping the Fridley students find their voice and become more visible in their middle school community are outcomes that also had a strong impact on the Augsburg students who will one day lead their own classrooms. Heidi Austin, an Augsburg MAE student who worked with the Solar Heroes group, said that as a future teacher, this program makes her very hopeful. “It is so important to give kids an opportunity to see that they can make a difference,” she said. “I came in thinking there wasn’t going to be much progress with this project, but I’ve been totally blown away with what they’ve done.” Speaking to the Augsburg community at an event in May, McClennan said this project transformed the FMS culture, the students, and also transformed her personally in a way she hadn’t anticipated. “At my core I am a better parent, a better citizen, and a better teacher,” she said. She commented that the students have felt empowered by their accomplishments and the public recognition they received. “I have learned that these kids who are so often silenced have a strong voice.” To read more about the Fridley Middle School Public Achievement project, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Summer 2011 13 ERICA LIPPITT ’12 Erica, a Weekend College student, studied abroad in Mexico to learn Spanish. a Cuernavaca, Mexico San Lucas Sacatepequez, Guatemala GLORIA XINICO MORALES ’12 ugsburg’s Office of International Programs (OIP) for more than 25 years has provided internationally recognized and award-winning programs to students who seek cross-cultural and hands-on learning abroad. The office also brings international students to campus. “Increasingly, a global perspective is critical to a liberal arts education,” said Orval Gingerich, assistant vice president for International Programs and director of the Center for Global Education. “Intercultural experiences—at home and abroad—are a way to bridge global and local issues.” During the 2009-10 school year, nearly 275 students studied abroad. At the same time, Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus was home to nearly 100 international students from about two dozen countries including Morocco, Nepal, Norway, Tanzania, Togo, and many more. In this edition of Augsburg Now, we present a snapshot of the stories of students with ties to Guatemala, Germany, Mexico, China, Vietnam, Kenya, and Yemen. Some traveled from Augsburg to other parts of the globe. Others came to Augsburg and the Twin Cities from far away home countries. Still others have graduated and are on to the next chapters of their stories. To learn more about OIP and its programs, go to www.augsburg.edu/oip. Gloria, an international student from Guatemala plans to study in Namibia this fall. auggies are ev 14 Augsburg Now MAX BREGENZER ’12 Max has traveled, studied, and lived in four countries, but was born and raised in Germany. Würzburg, Germany IBRAHIM AL-HAJIBY ’14 Guangzhon, China FAIZA ABBAS MAHAMUD ’11 Faiza went back to her home country of Kenya as an exchange student to help African women. Sana’a, Yemen Hue, Vietnam Holly, a student at United International College in China, came to the U.S. to study education at Augsburg. JIAHUA (HOLLY) HUANG ’12 Ibrahim hopes one day to return to his home in Yemen to start a non-governmental organization. Nairobi, Kenya DAT NGUYEN ’11 Windhoek, Namibia Dat, a recent graduate and international student, will be a graduate student at Dartmouth. verywhere BY STEPHANIE WEISS Summer 2011 15 GLORIA XINICO MORALES A girl of the world Gloria Xinico Morales has worked so hard at Augsburg since arriving during 2008 that she twice won outstanding student of the year awards—once during her sophomore year and again her junior year. The hard work that earned Xinico Morales these honors is fundamental to her personality. She doesn’t give up. She doesn’t quit. Xinico Morales was 18 when she first applied for—and was denied—a student visa. She wanted to study at Augsburg College, a school she has known of for her whole life because her father is director of the Center for Global Education in Guatemala. Xinico Morales wasn’t deterred by the denial. Top: A view of the mountains from Gloria Xinico Morales’ hometown of San Lucas Sacatepequez, Guatemala. Bottom: Xinico Morales, left, is the oldest of three children. Here she is shown with her brother, Manuel, and sister, Nickte. Courtesy photos 16 Augsburg Now She waited the three months before she again could apply, and this time was approved. But the whole process pushed her college plans back by a full year. And as if that wasn’t enough, her visa was delivered to the wrong city the day before she was to fly to the United States. She drove to the city to pick up her visa. “After waiting one year and one week, I had two days to get here, unpack, and settle in,” Xinico Morales said. “I’d never been outside of Guatemala before.” But she still didn’t get to start at Augsburg right away. She said that by working with admissions staff, they decided she should study English for three months before starting college. It was a good plan. “Going to Global Language Institute was very helpful,” she said. “When I did start at Augsburg, it seemed the teachers talked really fast. I wasn’t comfortable with English, homework took a lot longer.” She kept plugging away. She joined the Spanish club and quickly was an officer. She joined Allied Latino/a Augsburg Students, and finally the International Student Organization of which she now is president. That’s not even all of it, though, because Xinico Morales said she can’t say ‘no.’ Being a student from another country can be challenging and students sometimes grapple with living life in two cultures. Xinico Morales grew up in Guatemala and was raised Catholic. She looks for answers to questions about varied perspectives in part through self reflection. “My life is like a tree,” Xinico Morales said. “The roots are the morals my parents taught me. When things get messy, that’s where I go. The trunk is my immediate family that is there for me no matter what. Then there are the leaves. The leaves go away and come back as I grow and change.” Lately, people have been asking Xinico Morales what she plans to do with her degree in international relations and minor in political science. She doesn’t know the answer. “Minneapolis is my second home. My life is built here, but Guatemala is where I belong, all my roots are there and my heart is there,” she said. “But I’ve become a different person and don’t fit there.” She hopes that she’ll find the answer in Namibia, in southern Africa, where she’ll study in the fall as an exchange student. “Namibia is a neutral place, a different country, a different continent,” she said. “It will help me make a decision from far away. Or maybe I’m just a girl of the world and I’ll go other places.” MAX BREGENZER Living life to the Max Max Bregenzer has traveled, studied, and lived in four countries—Germany, Spain, Argentina, and the United States—and he might not yet be done. Bregenzer, 22, was born and raised in Germany and now works in his home country for a large grocery wholesaler. The company, called Edeka, also is sending him to school. He studies for three months, then applies what he’s learned for three months. He’ll do that for a total of three years and at the end will have a holistic perspective of the company. It was through this model that Bregenzer came to Augsburg. He researched schools in the U.S. and found that Augsburg offered the classes he wanted, including human resources and project management, problem-solving for business, and international business. He said he also was lured by the arts and outdoor activities. “I learned about theatre and was totally surprised that everyone is biking here in the winter,” he said. This isn’t the first time Bregenzer has studied or lived abroad. He spent a year of high school in Spain. Then he went to Argentina to work with street youths as part of his civil service. Bregenzer is the oldest of three boys, and his family since about 1869 has owned a group of bakeries and cafés within 40 miles of his home city. You can see all the tasty-looking treats his family makes at Maxl Bäck (http://maxlbaeck.de). He hasn’t shut the door on the idea that he might someday work in the family business, but for now he is focused on learning and practicing regional store management. ERICA LIPPITT Family teamwork creates a world of possibility for WEC student Some people buy home study courses to learn Spanish. Some enroll in Spanish classes. And some people, like Erica Lippitt, go all the way to Cuernavaca, Mexico, to live and study. “I definitely achieved what I wanted in only four months,” said Lippitt, a single working mother and Weekend College student. “My son’s family is from Cuba and they say that my Spanish is getting good. We can communicate, and I understand them.” Studying at the Center for Global Education’s Mexico location was possible because Lippitt’s family pulled together. Her parents offered to care for her son, and Lippitt’s brother helped, too. Her father, a Lutheran pastor, even got a night job so the family could afford daycare for Lippitt’s son. “My parents pushed me,” she said. “They showed me this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Lippitt originally enrolled at Augsburg during 2001 for business administration. She said she left the school—also her mom’s alma mater—because Erica Lippitt visited the pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico City and the Xochicalco pyramids in Cuernavaca, Mexico, with friends she made on her travels. Courtesy photos she wasn’t focused. Lippitt moved to Florida to work and while there, met her son’s father. “I left Florida to escape an abusive relationship,” she said. “My dad is a pastor, and I wasn’t raised to live like that. I had to leave.” When Lippitt returned to Wayzata, she returned to Augsburg where she earned a 4.0 grade point average while working as many as 30 hours a week and raising her son. “It shows I am more focused, more determined. I am here because I want to learn, not because I have to be here.” Studying in Cuernavaca also opened new possibilities and ways of thinking. Erica now knows she wants to work in human resources for an international company. She’d also like to live and work in Mexico for a time so her son can experience living in a Spanish-speaking country. And finding ways to help other women is on her radar screen, too. “I’ve gained so much strength from my experience, that if there is something I can do to help other women, I’d like to,” she said. Summer 2011 17 JIAHUA (HOLLY) HUANG Holly is a regular Minnesotan In the 12 months Jiahua Huang was in the United States, she became a typical Minnesotan. Holly, as she prefers to be known in the U.S., liked the Minnesota State Fair and shopped at the Mall of America. And she got sick of snow. Huang, a student at United International College (UIC) in China, came to the U.S. to study education at Augsburg College. She learned about the college through an Auggie studying abroad at UIC. She wanted to learn about the United States’ culture and improve her English skills, and she was attracted to Augsburg because of its location. “It’s better for me to live in a city,” said Jiahua Huang was originally excited for snow, and her Huang, who comes friends were jealous that she was able to experience from a city of 1.6 milwinter. By April, though, she was ready for springtime. lion people. “Friends who went to [rural private colleges] said they were bored. But, when I got here, I asked where all the people were. I went to the State Fair, and I liked it a lot—all the people.” Huang was raised near Hong Kong. She has two older sisters and an older brother. Many families in China have only one child, but some are able to afford more children. “My parents wanted another boy, but got another girl,” she said. “Many friends would think from my name that I am a boy because my name means ‘handsome’.” Huang struggled with classes at first. “English is so hard,” she said. “I would listen to the professor, and I didn’t know what he was talking about. I would read the textbook, and I didn’t know what I was reading.” She also worked hard to become comfortable with cultural differences in the classroom. “In China, you raise your hand and stand up to participate,” she said. “Here, all the students talk. I wish I were more confident in class—I feel comfortable talking, but it also feels like I am being impolite.” Despite growing tired of the snow, Huang said she would like to return to Minnesota. She wants to go to graduate school at the University of Minnesota and teach Chinese while staying connected with her new friends in Minnesota. 18 Augsburg Now Success in the sciences started for Dat Nguyen when his photographer father lectured him on the solar system. It was 1995 and the two were taking pictures of the total solar Dat Nguyen, right, performs with folksinger Peter Yarrow of Peter, eclipse in Vietnam. Nguyen was Paul, and Mary more interested in how the camera and solar system worked than in the photos. Nguyen, who is Buddhist, said that his success also can be traced to selling candy at his mother’s store, and performing improvisational theater with American students visiting Vietnam in 2004. It was through these experiences that Nguyen learned to break out of his comfort zone. “As a Buddhist, we aren’t real loud or active. You have to break out of your shell and contribute,” Nguyen said. The American students that Nguyen’s family hosted invited him in 2005 to an improvisational theater camp in Colorado. “I didn’t expect to be invited to America when we hosted the students,” he said. “But I’ve found that if you do something voluntarily, without expectation, something automatically will come back.” In Nguyen’s case, that “something” turned out to be lifechanging relationships that resulted from his theater performances in Colorado. He met Peter Yarrow—of Peter, Paul and Mary—and later sang backup with Yarrow when the singer was in Vietnam for a fundraiser. He also connected with a group of families who offered to sponsor his education by providing his tuition, health insurance, and a stipend. In the sciences, Nguyen credits his success to the strong advising, encouragement and opportunities provided by his Augsburg professors, all of whom encouraged him to explore his curiosities and broad-ranging scientific interests. He will continue to feed his unlimited curiosity this fall as a graduate student at Dartmouth, where he has earned a full scholarship. He said he is looking forward to continuing his studies in a setting similar to Augsburg College—one with a smaller department where he can connect and interact with many people. DAT NGUYEN Unlocking possibilities and potential at Augsburg FAIZA ABBAS MAHAMUD A life that defies definition Faiza Abbas Mahamud moved a lot when she was young. First her family moved from war-torn Somalia to Kenya. Then the family moved four times in Kenya, including living at one time in a refugee camp. All the moving meant Mahamud wasn’t able to have one set of friends with whom to spend time, connect, and grow up. But she did have one constant—a dictionary. “As a child, textbooks had to be purchased. We couldn’t buy books, but we always had a dictionary. I feel like this is a tradition in our home,” she said. The moving stopped in 2004 when Mahamud’s family came to Minnesota. “My aunt put her life on hold to help us,” Mahamud said. “Aside from God, if it weren’t for my mom’s youngest sister, it would be hard for us to have a stable life.” Mahamud graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2007, then enrolled at Augsburg College. She went back to Kenya during 2010 as an exchange student to work for a United Nations agency in a variety of roles, including as a premarital counselor. “When I went back to Kenya, I was a totally different person,” she said. “I wasn’t the girl who wanted to get away from this country. Where is home for me? When I was in America, I would say ‘I’m going home.’ When I was in Kenya, I kept calling Minnesota home.” Mahamud, now a U.S. citizen, graduated in spring 2011 with majors in English and women’s studies and with a minor in chemistry. She’s now exploring options for graduate school but isn’t ready to confine herself only to the United States. “I want to be in Africa to help women who don’t have that second helping hand like my aunt,” she said. “I want to be in a position to make a difference in the lives of women and children.” And she still needs to finish reading the dictionary. “I spent so much time reading and using the words I learned,” she said. “But there are so many words I haven’t gotten to.” During her trip to Kenya, Faiza Abbas Mahamud learned beadmaking from the women of Narok who sold their goods at Maasai Mara. Courtesy photos Summer 2011 19 IBRAHIM AL-HAJIBY Life in the United States: Different, but not weird Ibrahim Al-Hajiby’s time in America is a study in contrasts. He first came to the United States during 2007 as a high school exchange student. He crossed the globe from Yemen’s capital city of Sana’a to Cloquet, Minn.—in the dead of winter. “I always seem to come to Minnesota in the winter,” he said. “In Cloquet, I loved McDonald’s double cheeseburgers. I would eat one every day. Even in winter, I’d ride my bike and the wheels would just spin in the snow.” Volunteerism and politics are different, too. “I live in one of the most conservative countries in the Middle East, and we have a tribal culture,” said Al-Hajiby, 20. “In Yemen, our schools are focused on academics— there isn’t the focus on serving the community.” Al-Hajiby volunteered time since first arriving in the U.S. and next year will serve as an officer of the International Student Organization. Al-Hajiby said that a key to his success in America is to embrace wherever he is living, and to be open to new experiences and people. “One of my host moms and I have a slogan: ‘It’s not weird, it’s different’,” Al-Hajiby said. Al-Hajiby said he misses and worries about his parents and sister but is glad that his brother also is in Minnesota Al-Hajiby is shown wearing the traditional clothing worn by men in his home country of Yemen. Courtesy photo 20 Augsburg Now Ibrahim Al-Hajiby said two of his favorite foods in the United States are hot dogs from The Wienery and double cheeseburgers from McDonald’s. this year. His country is in turmoil with protests against the government, and some demonstrations turn deadly. “I know people who have been killed,” he said. “My parents’ last words on the phone are that they are glad my brother and I are here and that we are safe.” Al-Hajiby is an honors student in chemistry and recipient of Augsburg’s International President’s Scholarship. He hopes one day to return to Yemen to start a non-governmental organization. “I really want to go back at one point and make a change,” Al-Hajiby said. “I feel like God has chosen me to pursue such a fine education so I can go back and help.” REAL EXPERIENCE IN THE WORKING WORLD BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 INTERNSHIPS, ONCE A NECESSARY STOP ON THE CAREER PATH OF ASPIRING PHYSICIANS, ARE NOW COMMON FOR MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS. WE TALKED TO FOUR AUGGIE INTERNS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. INTERNSHIPS PROVIDE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES for college students to gain hands-on experience in their fields. In addition to practical training, internships can give students an inside view of a business or industry and help them broaden their professional networks. The internship experience often validates a student’s career choice, but it can also lead them to consider options they hadn’t before. Today an internship is part of many students’ college experience and perhaps a must for those hoping to be hired after college. According to a May 2011 Washington Post article, internships are common for 75 percent of U.S. college students. There are a number of reasons why students should and do take on internships, said Lois Olson, executive director of the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work at Augsburg. “Students get excited about what they are learning in the classroom and want to apply it in another setting.” Often, she said, students will tell her that an internship experience helps them better understand lessons from the classroom. “They say, ‘Now I understand why we needed to learn that.’ ” One of the most significant reasons for doing an internship relates to getting a job after college. “A prominent message from employers is that they want practical applied experience related to a student’s major on their résumé,” Olson said. “They want to know they are making a good hiring decision.” In fact, completing at least one internship during college can have great value beyond the learning experience. According to the 2010 Student Survey published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 42 percent of graduates with internships who applied for a job received an offer compared with only 30 percent for students who had no internship experience. In addition, students with internships tended to receive higher starting salary offers. As for internships leading to a job offer, Olson said technically a job cannot be promised in an internship situation. “Most students hope it will lead to a job,” she said. Olson added, “The reality is that many organizations will look to their interns to fill open positions should the opportunity arise.” The prominence of internships and the rise of importance in the hiring process means students should start thinking about an internship early. Olson said students who want to do an internship in their junior year should start the process of planning in their sophomore year. “The competition has really changed. It’s not as easy as making a phone call anymore,” she said. Because the process takes longer, Olson encourages students to dedicate as much time and attention to it as they would when applying for a job. Here we profile four students whose unique and challenging internships have given them insight into their chosen career fields and also helped them grow as future leaders. Summer 2011 21 What are you doing? I bring the children of major donors and long-time season ticket holders onto the field for batting practice so they can see what happens and meet the players. I also coordinate a few of the opening pitches. ’11 22 22 What have you learned? I have learned how much goes into the presentation of a professional sporting event. There is so much that you don’t see or hear about that’s behind the scenes to make a baseball game run. DAN BRANDT What is the value of your internship? Major: marketing Internship: Minnesota Twins public affairs office I have had a lot of unique experiences—meeting people, networking, and doing things out of the ordinary that most people don’t get to do. At some point I would like to have a career in this field, but it is very competitive. Augsburg Now Now Augsburg ’11 KRISTI VINKEMEIER Major: chemistry, biology minor Internship: Aveda Corporation/SarTec Corporation What are you doing? My internship is a joint project between Aveda and SarTec Corporation. We are using the Mcgyan reactor technology to synthesize new surfactant precursors from renewable resources. Surfactants are an important class of molecules and integral to the performance of shampoos, conditioners, and soaps. This new surfactant will be produced almost exclusively from renewable resources and is expected to be fully biodegradable. What have you learned? When you work in lab class, your professor says, “This is what you need to do, this is how you do it, and this is what you are going to get.” In industry, you don’t know what you are going to get. You have to keep strict notes. In lab you assume you’ll remember minor details, but in the real world you can’t remember from the first time to the fifth time. In industry, it’s not always clear as day what is going to happen. The learning curve is much greater. I’ve also learned about myself. Before this, I told everyone I didn’t like research. Now I love it. I need change, so research and development and the variety of tasks I’ve been able to do are a lot of fun. Originally I was strongly interested in becoming a physician assistant, but I have started to explore the idea of getting my master’s or PhD in chemistry. What is the value of your internship? I can’t explain how awesome an internship is. The companies are willing to work with a student who is learning. I wish everyone could have this opportunity. You learn so much about working with people in a real chemistry lab. If I went to a big school I don’t think I would have had the same opportunities as I have had here. Augsburg has great affiliations with companies. Here, the chemistry department [faculty] got to know me and know what I am interested in. Summer 2011 23 What are you doing? I have been researching the area around the proposed stops along University Avenue on the Central Corridor Light Rail line. I have looked at the cost of developing high-density housing units in the area. I have also looked at government policies that were changed, such as some zoning policies and parking regulations. I have had to look at the background information of the proposed stops and give their story. ’11 TOM THAO Major: sociology Internship: Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) What have you learned? I am getting more into urban planning and learning about the policies involved in implementing a big project into a city. What is the value of your internship? I would like to have a career in urban planning, so it’s been beneficial to go into the field and get to know people. I hope I can build up my résumé these next few years and then get a master’s in urban regional planning. But right now it’s about building the connections. ’11 GEOFFREY GILL Major: youth and family ministry, psychology minor Internship: Seeds of Change at St. Paul Central High School What are you doing? Seeds of Change is an after-school program directed toward African American males. We try to give them the support they need in their education and in their personal lives. Our main goal is to get the families involved in the kids’ lives. A lot of their parents don’t go to conferences and don’t know about their kids’ grades. We are inviting the parents to a family night where they come and get involved in conversations. We are doing a small play to portray their experiences in school and life. It’s a chance for them to literally tell their parents what is going on in their lives. At the end we give the parents an opportunity to talk about what they saw. My goal is to be a support for the students. I first of all want to be a listening ear and hear where they are in life and be with them. They talk about how they moved around all their life and they never had a stable home. A lot of them don’t have fathers in their lives. They talk about how their relationship with their parents isn’t good and how they have seen their parents at their lowest points. They didn’t know how to handle it so they found a way to cope. You see kids who get into drugs because it’s the only way that makes them feel normal. Some of them don’t go home sometimes; they just ride the bus all night. What have you learned? It has helped me immensely. I’ve been put in a leadership position as the artistic coordinator. I’ve learned how to be a leader, how to make decisions, and how to lead a group. It’s different leading a group of people who are going out to do volunteer work or working with kids, but having your own employees and needing to delegate and make sure they stay on top of it is different. It’s been totally new for me. I’ve learned the importance of being consistent and organized and on time. If you’re slacking on something, it starts to show. What is the value of your internship? It has prepared me for the real world. When I walk into a new job situation, I am confident that I will be able to step in right away. I feel comfortable working with young people because through the youth and family ministry major we were taught to focus on what youth really want—not just from a religious perspective but on a human level. When I come into a situation I am able to understand what a person really wants. Summer 2011 25 2011 commencment Commencement by the numbers 3,655 150 faculty lined 7 ½ Street and applauded graduates as they processed tickets redeemed 2 drummers 314 steps Bob Stacke, professor of music, was unable to lead the procession in May due to an injury, so he enlisted the help of Andrew Myers ’10. 718 participating graduates (May and June) 18 FLAGS 8 Augsburg Now 210 5,200 minutes of music, speeches, recognition, and applause from Christensen Center to Si Melby front steps 3 number of volunteers Kwok Siu Tong, founder of United International College in Zhuhai, China The Reverend Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway and founder and president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights The Reverend Ishmael Noko, general secretary (retired) of the Lutheran World Federation 70 Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates representing countries of international students graduating 26 sandwiches served at postcommencement receptions honorary degrees conferred 6 bows 1 bow on Colin Stanhill’s beard, photo featured in the May 8 Pioneer Press. on President Pribbenow’s neck (at each ceremony) dnp The first graduates of Augsburg’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program are prepared to bring new perspectives to the nursing practice. Back Row [L to R]: Kristin McHale '08 MAN; Susan Loushin '03 BSN, '06 MAN; Mary Ann Kinney '04 MAN; Kaija Freborg Sivongsay '08 MAN Front Row [L to R]: Joyce Miller '02 BSN, '05 MAN; Katherine Baumgartner '05 MAN; Jean Gunderson '03 MAN; Deb Schuhmacher '04 MAN At this year’s June commencement, Augsburg College graduated its first cohort of students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. The DNP program, which began in 2009, is the College’s first doctoral program. The DNP curriculum focuses on transcultural nursing in community life, and the program has given students new perspectives on treating people and illness. Katherine Baumgartner ’05 MAN has been a member of the nursing faculty since 2005. For her, the DNP program was a logical fit to expand her journey and practice and to strengthen and deepen her knowledge in transcultural nursing. An ongoing focus of her study and practice has been providing training and skill building for health promoters in indigenous communities in rural Guatemala. Baumgartner said the DNP program reminded her that her own experiences matter and encouraged her to go forward with her work in Guatemala. “I learned that the practical wisdom borne from my own experiences is not to be minimized,” she said. “That’s not a classic outcome but is so important to my work.” Joyce Miller ’02 BSN, ’05 MAN also has taught for the past five years in the Augsburg nursing program. Her career focus has always been on leadership, she said, and she felt the DNP program would add a different dimension of care to her practice. “This program has changed the way I look at the world and pa- 2011 tients and the way I envision health care,” Miller said. “I ask who isn’t being cared for and how we can make sure everyone is being cared for in the same way.” Miller said she has learned to value “metis,” a term that refers to collective wisdom, and to respect its role in the nursing practice. “There is tremendous wisdom that we can learn from indigenous healers,” she said. The nurses learned from the practices of healers in Mexico, Africa, and Native American traditions. “This program has given me the ability to stand back and respect everyone for who they are and what they bring,” Miller said. Jean Gunderson ’03 MAN was one of the first students to graduate from Augsburg’s nursing master’s degree program and is also one of the first doctoral graduates. A public health nurse for the majority of her career, Gunderson says she has dedicated her whole life to creating systems of care that resonate with cultural diversity. “This program has been lifelong learning for me,” Gunderson said. She added that the program has transformed her models of care and helped her recognize diverse ways of knowing. She also said she has been moved to honor and recognize indigenous wisdom and to work in partnership with healers. Both Miller and Gunderson said that being “pioneers” of the DNP program has been rewarding. “We jumped right in with huge faith and helped to co-create the program,” Gunderson said. “We felt like we were partners.” commencment Summer 2011 27 alumni news FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear fellow alumni, I t is with great honor and a humble acceptance that I will serve as your Augsburg Alumni Board president for the 2011-2012 academic year. Having been a part of the Alumni Board for three years, I am very fortunate to have been selected to lead our alma mater in connecting and engaging alumni. It is my goal to help create fun and efficient programs that will not only get you connected but will keep you engaged! I grew up playing golf, and I absolutely love the game! My favorite times are when I am heading off that first tee with either family or a group of buddies and we are reminiscing or razzing one another about past memories that bring a few laughs. It’s that type of bond that keeps us connected and eager to reunite. When I think of family, Augsburg is a place I keep close to my heart—the friends that I made and the new friends that continue to emerge. Over the past few years, the Young Alumni Council has helped reunite old and new friends with the Young Alumni Summer Series of events, attended by 1,500 alums. We have had a blast putting this program together and have enjoyed watching its success. Following Auggie Eagle on Facebook and Augsburg College on Twitter have been fantastic ways to stay in touch and relay information when groups are getting together. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 2011 graduating class! I look forward to seeing you at the 2011 Young Alumni Summer Series. We have another engaging and entertaining set of events in store for you, including Canterbury Park on August 5 and a Minnetonka boat cruise on September 15! Register at www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents or 612-330-1085. Auggies are literally all over the world! With more than 25,000 alumni, Auggies can be found from New Zealand to Denmark, the United States to Japan, and Minneapolis to San Diego. We are everywhere doing good things for our communities! The Alumni Board is rolling out a networking program, Augsburg Builds Connections, which will enable alumni professionals to provide information, encouragement, and support to current students and recent graduates. This flexible volunteer program will allow alumni mentors to connect with students via e-mail, phone, or face-to-face meetings and assist them in navigating their career path and achieving their professional goals. Read more about this program on the next page. Now, assisting Auggies is as simple as ABC! With all of this, I can’t help but be excited for the future. I wish you well and look forward to getting connected this year. Sincerely, ROBERT WAGNER II ’02 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT P.S. The Alumni Board would like to welcome our new members: Kathy Amos ’87, Heather Cmiel ’02, Kate Loyd ’05, and Jerry Poland ’92 Alumni Board of Directors 2011-12 Standing (L to R): John Stadler ’07 MAL (past president); Jennifer M. Carlson ’91; Sarah Grans ’01; Chad Darr ’04; Sharon Mercill ’09; Tracy Anderson ’95 (secretary); Julia Mensing ’00, ’07 MBA; Michael Loney ’03 (treasurer); Kate Loyd ’05; Chris Ascher ’81 (president elect); Kathy Amos ’87; Jerry Poland ’92; Dale Hanka ’60; Robert J. Wagner II ’02 (president); Misti Allen Binsfeld ’93; Daniel Hickle ’95 Seated (L to R): Holly Ebnet Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA; Sharon Engelland ’87; Chris Hallin ’88 Not Pictured: Heather Cmiel ’02; Lee Anne Lack ’67; Nancy Nordlund ’91, ’07 MAL; Carolyn Spargo ’80; Maggie Tatton ’01 28 Augsburg Now abc Augsburg Builds Connections CONNECTIONS HELP GRADUATES DISCOVER WHAT’S NEXT After college, many graduates ask, “What am I going to do now?” Since he graduated from Augsburg, Cory Allen ’07 has helped several Auggies answer this question and find ways to share their gifts and talents with the world. “Augsburg is great about helping you understand your vocation, but it’s difficult to go the rest of the way,” he said. “You have to push yourself to discover what is next.” Allen works with students and graduates to help them understand their strengths and their weaknesses, what they do well and where they can improve. He said that knowledge might help in a person’s career but will also be beneficial in other areas of their lives. One recent graduate who has benefitted from Allen’s mentorship is Joe Lichtscheidl ’11. Allen helped Lichtscheidl improve his résumé and also gave him an “in” with a local company. Lichtscheidl said having a mentoring relationship with an alumnus who has gone through the job search is extremely helpful. “I feel that it keeps me from stressing out about getting a job in this tough economy because I have someone who has gone through it to help.” Sama Sandy ’08 reconnected with Allen at a Young Alumni Summer Series event, and the two continued communicating after that e w a Alumni mentoring volunteer opportunities will begin this fall night. Sandy said mentorship is a mutually beneficial relationship because both parties learn from each other. He added, “Mentorships are a fantastic way of networking in every sense because you are able to learn more about a person, potentially provide advice or assistance during times of struggle, and also get to be a part during the times of triumph.” For Allen, mentoring and working with others is simply “organic.” He said, “I think it’s my responsibility to pass on my knowledge and experiences, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see students go from the start of their senior year to a successful career.” SUPPORTING FELLOW AUGGIES IS AS EASY AS ABC The Augsburg Builds Connections (ABC) program is one of the many volunteer opportunities available to Augsburg parents and alumni. Volunteers in the program meet or correspond with students or graduates who are in the process of applying for a job or are interested in a career in their industry. Augsburg alumni and parents who participate in the ABC program have the opportunity to help Augsburg students navigate their career path. To learn more about Augsburg Builds Connections, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumni/abc.html. Auggie alumnae seek to engage women through AWE In late 2009, a group of Auggie women gathered to respond to a challenge: how to effectively engage more women in the life of Augsburg College. They created AWE: Augsburg Women Engaged. In Spring 2010, Augsburg graduates convened to share their insights about meeting this challenge. These alumnae shared two key pieces of advice. First, alumnae desire to re-establish or strengthen meaningful connections with classmates, faculty, current students, and the College community. Second, women desire to make an impact in whatever they do. We invite all alumnae to be part of making strategic connections for the coming years for Auggie women. Participate in whatever way best suits your interests, circumstances, and availability. Contact any of the Advisory Council members or Donna McLean, director of development initiatives, mclean@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1556, to find out how you can be involved. AWE women gathered at Augsburg House on Wednesday, June 1. Pictured [L to R]: Lisa Zeller ’81, ’89 MAL; Donna McLean; Shelby Andress ’56; Buffie Blesi ’90, ’97 MAL; Cassidy Titcomb; Sherilyn Young; Kari Eklund Logan ’82 The AWE Advisory Council members are Shelby Gimse Andress ’56; Buffie Blesi ’90, ’97 MAL; Lisa Svac Hawks ’85; Kari Eklund Logan ’82; Jennifer Hipple ’09; Lori Moline ’82; Roz Nordaune ’77; Heidi Wisner Staloch ’93; and Lisa Zeller ’81, ’89 MAL. We thank them for accepting the challenge to engage more women in the life of Augsburg College. Summer 2011 29 alumni news YOUNG ALUMNI summer series To register for the Young Alumni events or to see the full calendar of events at Augsburg, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumni Friday, August 5, 5-7 p.m. AUGGIE NIGHT AT THE RACES Canterbury Park 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee Free admission, picnic buffet, and reserved seating Thursday, September 15, 6-8 p.m. BOAT CRUISE ON LAKE MINNETONKA Join other Young Alumni donors for a sunset boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka with complimentary appetizers and beverages. Not a donor? Don’t miss the boat! Become a donor today at augsburg.edu/giving. Thursday, October 20, 7-8:30 a.m. EYE-OPENER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BREAKFAST sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™ Town & Country Club 300 Mississippi River Blvd. N., Saint Paul $5 includes full breakfast buffet and networking Friday, October 21, 6-8 p.m. HOMECOMING 2011: AUGGIE HOURS Republic (formerly Preston’s) 221 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis Two complimentary beverages and appetizers provided 30 Augsburg Now 10% Auggie discount In an effort to attract Augsburg’s finest back to campus to continue their education, the Augsburg Master of Business Administration (MBA) is offering a 10% discount on MBA tuition to graduates of any of Augsburg’s undergraduate programs including Weekend College. The discount applies to students who begin the MBA program in September 2011 and will be applied to each course in the MBA program. Admission requirements and deadlines for the Augsburg MBA can be found at www.augsburg.edu/mba or by calling 612-330-1101. The Augsburg MBA is an accredited MBA that has recently become a formal candidate for global business accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP). Consider coming back to Augsburg for a two-year MBA program grounded in the liberal arts with a focus on local, national, and global business issues. Augsburg LIVE! webinar SEPTEMBER 21 Augsburg’s President Paul C. Pribbenow has traveled this year to ten cities and six states to engage the Augsburg community in discussions about the College’s mission, vision, and vocation, and to foster opportunities to advance the College’s key strategic initiatives. Alumni who have had the opportunity to hear from the president have left with a greater sense of pride in their alma mater and excitement for the future of the institution. The Augsburg LIVE! webinar is your chance to hear firsthand from President Pribbenow. Log in at www.augsburg.edu on Wednesday, September 21, at noon CT for a 30-minute conversation with President Pribbenow. See images of the campus master plan and hear stories of student success and excellence. Augsburg alumni experience the EMERALD ISLE Courtesy photo auggie involved in monitoring Japanese nuclear facility After the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Augsburg alumna Cynthia Jones ’81 was called upon to monitor nuclear safety of the affected Fukushima Daiichi nuclear site. Jones, a physics graduate and Augsburg College regent, is a senior staff member in the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and worked as part of NRC’s 24-hour Operations Center team in the aftermath of the earthquake. During mid-May, the NRC transitioned this 24hour monitoring to a Japanese regulatory office. Since that time, Japanese officials have been managing the recovery process for the site. Because of Jones’ early involvement in the response, she now is presenting at scientific conferences. During late June, she chaired a special session at the national Health Physics Society meeting in Florida on the response to the events. For continuing information on NRC activities in response to this event, go to www.nrc.gov/japan/japan-info.html. Early in May, Auggie alumni and friends journeyed through Ireland on an alumni tour led by Phillip Adamo, director of the medieval studies program and history department chair. Highlights from the group’s travels include a Dublin cruise on the river Liffey and sites such as the Rock of Cashel and Holy Cross Abbey. Travelers experienced the majestic landscapes at the Cliffs of Moher and explored the ancient fort of Dun Aengus on the Aran Islands. Traditional Irish music was enjoyed in the village of Dingle and the bustling city of Galway. The travelers are pictured in front of Kylemore Abbey, a working Benedictine abbey in the countryside of the Connemara. Front Row [L to R]: Phil Adamo, Fritz and Linda Morlock, Marya (Christensen) Farrell ’63, Jessica Motschenbacher ’08, Jean Moucha, Sara Naegeli, Sandi Prince ’05, Ted Naegeli, Clodaugh Horner (Irish guide) Back Row [L to R]: Trace Regan, Mary Ellen Kelly, John Greenfield ’66, Mary Jo Greenfield, Bob Farrell, Jennifer Carlson ’91, Sue Tesmer ’74, Nancy and Richard Borstad, Amanda Storm Courtesy photo Journey to the Holy Land With Religion Professor Philip A. Quanbeck II JANUARY 3-14, 2012 Travel with a community of Augsburg alumni and friends under the leadership of religion professor Philip Quanbeck II and Dr. Ruth E. Johnson ’74. Discover the geography, places, and people of the Holy Land. Visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Caesarea, Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and much more. Woven into the itinerary are several opportunities to dialogue with local community leaders who give voice to the complex history and geopolitical issues of the region. Return home with a broader and deeper understanding of a land considered holy by the world’s three monotheistic religions. To register or request more information call 612-330-1525 or e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu Summer 2011 31 alumni class notes 57the 50th anniversary of his or- Rev. Alfred Kaupins celebrated dination on June 11. 72Come Join Their Song (pub- Mark Shepperd's choral piece, lished by Beckenhorst Press) won the 2010 VocalEssence & American Composers Forum Christmas Carol contest. The world premiere performance was given by VocalEssence at their Welcome Christmas concerts in December 2010 and will be rebroadcast in December 2011 on American Public Media. Mark has served as minister of music at Woodbury Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minn., since 1990. 98master’s degrees at Hamline Beverly Bushyhead earned auggieSNAPSHOTS University in nonprofit management 32 and public administration. Bev hopes to do some research and policy work after her graduation. Ann Jenkins has accepted a position as an intake investigator with Allen County Children's Services in Lima, Ohio. Matt Butler licensed his invention, the ROLLORS® lawn game, to Maranda Enterprises. Matt conceived of the game while he was serving in the Air Force in Afghanistan. The game has sold more than 25,000 copies. Julie Johnson, with Doug Otto ’05 and Drew Druckrey, released The Banks of the Little Auplaine, an experimental roots album that mines historic Upper-Midwestern folk music. Julie Johnson & The No-Accounts trio performed the song collection at a CD release show at the Open Eye Theatre in Minneapolis in April. 99graduated in May 2010 with Kyran (Christianson) Cadmus her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University. She finished her Master of Public Health degree in April 2011 through the University of Minnesota. Kyran lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, Pete. 00 Mauris DeSilva received recognition for a study on controlled delivery of antibiotics to wounds. His team of researchers received first place for their work at a poster competition. Meg (Schmidt) Sawyer married Jim Sawyer on October 9, 2010 in Shoreview, Minn. Meg works for Youth Encounter, a Christian nonprofit youth ministry organization, as the business communications executive. 04ated with an MFA in musical Deanne M. McDonald gradu- theatre from Minnesota State University Mankato. 07years as a bicycle courier in After serving for almost three New York City, Jenessa Stark moved to El Paso, Tex., to study midwifery at Maternidad La Luz midwife school. She was also featured in “Triple Rush,” a Travel Channel series about New York City bicycle messengers that aired this spring. 99Damion Spilman welcomed Sarah (Ginkel) Spilman and Elizabeth (Libby) Frances Spilman on December 6, 2010. She joins big brother Zane, 5. 00Nicki, welcomed son Foster Mac Gordon and his wife, 06Aaron Riedel ’07 wel- Sara Schlipp-Riedel and on March 9. 01welcomed their first child, Liam Carrie (Lind) Cabe and Chris Cabe comed son Aidan Theodore on February 22. Christopher, on March 20. 71-73together at Augsburg and have met Members of the Chi House lived annually since graduation. The group received mittens hand knit by Lennice Keefe. Making them was on her “bucket list.” Pictured [L to R] are Julie (Hagberg) Swaggert ’73, Marilyn (Moxness) Hall ’71, Carol (Pederson) Jorgenson ’72, Mary Lynn (Monson) Oglesbee ’72, Lennice “Sparkie” (Nordaune) Keefe ’72, Jill Steele ’72, and Mary (Boraas) Janotta ’73. Not pictured: Suzanne (Olson) Swanson ’73. Augsburg Now 09ried Tom Henry Fields III Emily (Tischer) Fields mar- 02Whaylen were married September 11, 2010 in Brooke (Stoeckel) Whaylen and Courtney Edina, Minn. Shelly Laugerman ’04 and Erica Champer ’04 were also in the wedding party. Brooke works as a hospitality sales director at an area convention and visitors bureau, and Courtney works in IT security software. on August 28, 2010 in Rochester, Minn. Other Auggies in the wedding party included Killa Martinez-Aleman ’08, Caris Warnock ’09, and Kasi (Clauson) Lange ’08. 08 Emma Stensvaag returned to the states in December 2010 after completing 27 months of service for the U.S. Peace Corps in Mozambique. 10program in clinical psychology at the California School of Leann Vice-Reshel has been accepted into the doctoral Professional Psychology in San Diego, Calif. She will begin the program in September 2011. Graduate Programs Timothy (Tim) Van Rooy ’89 MAL and Rob Wagner ’02 (new alumni board president) were chosen to help build a community with families in need through Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity in El Salvador. They helped build homes with families in need thanks to a multiyear, multimillion dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™ and Habitat for Humanity International. Patrick Troska ’94 MAL was appointed executive director of the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation. In addition to providing leadership for the organization’s overall strategy, Patrick will be the lead contact for the foundation’s grantmaking strategies related to housing and transit. Nicolas Thomley ’06 MBA has been named one of the 2011 Minnesotans on the Move by Finance & Commerce. The award honors professionals who are poised to make business history of their own during the coming years. Chris Wolf ’09 MAN recently published “A Head Injury Teaching Module for Pre-Hospital Assessment" in the February 2011 issue of Military Medicine Journal. Susan Nash, Augsburg College associate professor of nursing, was co-author. ENGAGING Homecoming October 16-22 2011 Join Augsburg alumni, parents, students, and friends in a fun-filled week of events and activities. New events have been added to this year’s schedule, including the Student and Alumni Networking Event following the Sabo Symposium on Wednesday, October 19, and the Alumni Art Exhibition on Friday, October 21. Homecoming Convocation will kick off the weekend’s events on Friday, October 21. At convocation, we will recognize the First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished Alumni Award winners, as well as members of the class of 1961. Don’t miss opportunities for fellowship and reminiscing at the Homecoming Convocation Luncheon that afternoon or later that evening at Republic (formerly Preston’s). Experience the Best of Augsburg on Saturday, October 22, by attending a brief lecture from three of Augsburg’s outstanding faculty members: Garry Hesser (sociology, metro/urban studies), robert tom (studio art), and David Murr ’92 (physics). This year’s Taste of Augsburg pregame picnic on Saturday will include carnival-style booths operated by student, parent, and alumni groups. Following the picnic, cheer on the Auggies at the football game as they take on St Olaf. The Auggie Block Party is back by popular demand! Following the game, gather in the parking lot to the north of Si Melby Hall to enjoy food, entertainment, and camaraderie. The activities don’t end there— after the block party, attend the Hognander Music Scholars Reunion Concert at 6 p.m. in Hoversten Chapel. Homecoming weekend truly has something for everyone. For more information and to see a complete schedule, go to www.augsburg.edu/homecoming. We look forward to seeing you there! go auggies! WITH THE SCIENCES • Beer Brewing 101 with physics professor Ben Stottrup. Saturday, September 17, 2-4 p.m. Great Waters Brewing Co., 427 Saint Peter Street, Saint Paul • Stargazing and Minnesota Starwatch Class with WCCO Radio meteorologist Mike Lynch and astronomy professor Mark Bransford. Saturday, October 1, 7-9:30 p.m. Quarry Hill Nature Center, Savanna Room, 701 Silver Creek Road, Rochester For more information and to RSVP, go to www.augsburg.edu/engage or call 612-330-1085. Summer 2011 33 ’72 ASK AN AUGGIE EXPERT Greg Fitzloff Certified barbecue cook-off judge How did you become certified as a barbecue judge? Since I retired five years ago, I’ve been doing a lot of volunteer work. I met a gentleman who was a caterer but also cooked for a living. He would call me and I would go over when he was testing recipes, and he said I should become a judge. There are a couple of professional societies for barbecue cooks, and they have a certification class and process for judges. I found out more about it and said, “Why not?” If you will, it kind of ended up on my own personal bucket list. Why is a judge so important? As the contests become more popular, the key is to draw in top teams, and they want to be sure the judging is done correctly. In the last several years there have been more people involved, and the prize money has grown significantly in the professional circuit. A winner in a recent contest won $10,000. That’s why the judging is so important. After retiring five years ago from a career in teaching and economic development, Greg Fitzloff started checking items off his bucket list. Now he travels around the country tasting chicken, ribs, beef brisket, and pulled pork as a certified barbecue cook-off judge. We caught up with him at his cabin “up North” to find out more about this delicious-sounding job! What’s the key to a perfect barbecue? Two key words: low and slow. Cook it on low heat, 200 to 225 degrees, and slow. It takes time—anywhere from a couple of hours to 12 to 16 hours depending on the size and cut of meat. What are your favorite summer barbecue side dishes? I think the classics tend to go best. In the South and Southeast you see barbecue beans with a great variety of tastes. Further north and in the Midwest you see potato salad and cole slaw, of course. The other thing we’ve discovered over the years is that after you’ve been tasting barbecue all day, the thing that goes extraordinarily well is ice cream. I don’t know why. That nearest Dairy Queen generally gets a big hit after a contest. What criteria do you use in judging barbecue? It is fairly structured, but you are looking for three things. First is appearance—how the meat actually looks. Does it look like something you want to eat right away? Presentation is so important. The second is tenderness—is it cooked correctly? Each category has a slightly different process, but the questions are: Is it done? Is it cooked all the way through? Does the meat pull off the bone? And the final thing is the taste. Can you taste the meat? Does it taste good? We’re trying to judge to a certain sta
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Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 013
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection
Search Result: Mexican National Social Activist Gustavo Speaks at Convocation The Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics featured Mexico's National Prize Winner of Political Economics, Gustavo Esteva, who spoke at the Foss auditorium on February 26, 2010. Gustavo has written hundreds of essays and books about...
Show moreMexican National Social Activist Gustavo Speaks at Convocation The Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics featured Mexico's National Prize Winner of Political Economics, Gustavo Esteva, who spoke at the Foss auditorium on February 26, 2010. Gustavo has written hundreds of essays and books about society and public policy. His economic ideas about education within small communities are of a unique movement coined "post-development" which emphasizes the love of learning of the things that matter within a community rather than what matters to "society." He proposed his ideology by introducing "community involvement" application to education rather than relying on structured education alone to procure "the good life." He stated that: "'Whole' in the world through what is viewed [by commerce and television] as the 'good life' is just a label. Stop following their illusion." According to Gustavo, an individual is a powerful weapon in a fast changing society. if individuals took more initiative to accumulate knowledge it would be a lot easier to become a more economical and productive society. Dustyn Hessie
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Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 016
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection
Search Result: 350.0rg Augsburg has always tried to be environment-friendly. Thus, they have limited the number of papers students can use for printing during the year, as well as having a function that will show you how many trees you killed by your printing. The students on campus have always been active in...
Show more350.0rg Augsburg has always tried to be environment-friendly. Thus, they have limited the number of papers students can use for printing during the year, as well as having a function that will show you how many trees you killed by your printing. The students on campus have always been active in fighting global warming and have devised a way with the school on how to reduce wastage of food. On a similar note, and very importantly, the students and faculty proved their love for the environment by committing to 350.crg's Day of Action, participating with millions of others around the world. By learning what global warming really is, the Augsburg students rallied together and demonstrated their commitment through various activities. 350mg Day of Action was a global initiative to set higher standards on carbon emissions. [in October 24, 2009, Augsburg students rallied with other student organizations to hold different activities to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. The organizations rode their bikes from Minneapolis to the State Capitol to show their support for a legislation that will hopefully bring the nation's carbon emissions down. They rode back to Augsburg to be part of the Augsburg-Gustavus football game at half-time with demonstrative numbers and then headed to the Mississipi River just below Washington Avenue bridge. There were about 300 people who participated all together. If one spends the time to search around on 350.0rg's website, they would be bombarded with information about their current activities to reduce carbon emissions. The site contains information about the climate talks our government is having with other countries to pictures of what organizations like ours are doing to show their support for 350mg. Overall, 350mg Day of Action at Augsburg was a successful event. Samantha Steele
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Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 015
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection
Search Result: Peddlers for Progress The four bicycles were fully loaded and leaning against a picnic table in Murphy Park on the morning of Thursday, May 21st 2009. There were pannier bags stuffed on the front and back of each of the bikes. And before riding away, Tommy Schlaefer, Nate White, Michael...
Show morePeddlers for Progress The four bicycles were fully loaded and leaning against a picnic table in Murphy Park on the morning of Thursday, May 21st 2009. There were pannier bags stuffed on the front and back of each of the bikes. And before riding away, Tommy Schlaefer, Nate White, Michael Wethington and Jake Ouarstad were saying goodbyes to family and friends. The four-two recent graduates and two who are Augsburg seniors‘embarked on an interesting summer Journey this year: They rode their bikes to Portland, Ore. in order to gain a better understanding of why that City is considered to be the most bikefriendly City in the United States, The group, which dubbed itself "Peddlers For Progress," averaged about 60 miles of riding per day. When on flat ground, they covered more distance, but there were days in the mountains when 20 to 30 miles were a lot As they made their way through South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho. and Oregon, they pitched their tents at :ampgrounds, parks and in the yards of people they met along the way, Part of the reason why they embarked on this journey was that riding is what they do every day to get around the city. Only one of the four has a car. Another reason was that this was important to them, Since they expended the energy and sacrifice for the trip-there was certainly a finanCial sacrifice for these guys as SIX weeks )n the road meant less time to hold down a summer Job-they thought they would be less likely to give up on the _;ause when they returned. They also thought they would be a greater authority on bicycling when they returned And become cycling authorities they did. Before they left Augsburg, the Pedalers had worked to arrange meetings With politiCians, policy makers, and bike :dvocates in Portland. The primary lesson they wanted to learn was about poliCIes and strategies that have been successful in Portland and can be applicable to Minneapolis. They gathered ideas for ‘progressive bike legislation .ind infrastructure change.‘
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Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 020
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection
Search Result: The Augsbur . .. t t > f,” - ' Ither an internship or study aboard for their Augsburg Experience component. . ‘ 4- - ents to become well rounded for the diverse world they will meet after they graduate from college. Augsburg offers many opportunities for students to travel abroad every year...
Show moreThe Augsbur . .. t t > f,” - ' Ither an internship or study aboard for their Augsburg Experience component. . ‘ 4- - ents to become well rounded for the diverse world they will meet after they graduate from college. Augsburg offers many opportunities for students to travel abroad every year through either a school exchange or a faculty-led program abroad. This year, many students took advantage of Augsburg's affordable study aboard programs by heading to New Zealand, the Cook islands, ltaly, Egypt, France and other places. In New Zealand they learned about flora and Fauna and in Italy the students were taught the spiritual practices of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assi while they were invited to reflect on vocation. Professor Phillip Adamo and Mohamed Sallam took students to Egypt where they studed the ancient world of an important culture with researching how it related to religious, political, and social issues of today. These three programs were offered in the summer and were led by faculty. While they could have taken a break like most others, the students chose the option of studying aboard by using Augsburg's many Study Aboard programs. Studying Aboard is affordable; it cost roughly the same as Augsburg tuition, room, and board. Financial aid can be applied for and there are scholarships available all year round. It can fit anyone's schedule since the advisor helps the students find programs that relate to their academic goals and helps the students keep on track for graduation. Augsburg offers wide varieties of countries to study aboard in such as Turkey, Greece, France, Non/vay, Thailand, El Salvador, and others. Samantha Steele
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Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 014
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection
Search Result: Convocatin “1!;le m '4 * 3' ~ 25., y . '_ i l {4 w Iupi lily For Martin Luther King Day, Augsburg College invited Charles MclJew to lead the convocation. Mr. McDew talked about his life in relation to important issues, such as human rights, local black leadership, and the fight against racism. l...
Show moreConvocatin “1!;le m '4 * 3' ~ 25., y . '_ i l {4 w Iupi lily For Martin Luther King Day, Augsburg College invited Charles MclJew to lead the convocation. Mr. McDew talked about his life in relation to important issues, such as human rights, local black leadership, and the fight against racism. l was told by multiple sources that it was an interesting convocation that caught many people's attention and was well attended. Charles McDew attended many of the sit-ins that were going on in the South during the Civil Rights Movement. His story, like many others who spoke at Augsburg convocations, was touching and allowed students a glimpse into how someone can help change the world we live in today. Photo by: Stephen Gefer
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Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 019
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection
Search Result: In 1980, Augsburg Choir director Larry Fleming's vision for the first Advent Vespers was unlike any other. Among many holiday performances, Augsburg's program would offer a spiritual experiencea service with both music and liturgyand the focus would be on Advent, preparing and waiting for Christ...
Show moreIn 1980, Augsburg Choir director Larry Fleming's vision for the first Advent Vespers was unlike any other. Among many holiday performances, Augsburg's program would offer a spiritual experiencea service with both music and liturgyand the focus would be on Advent, preparing and waiting for Christ's presence. From this first service. Advent Vespers grew to four services. In 2008, more than 10,000 people attended, making this Augsburg‘s largest event of the year. This year, as Advent Vespers celebrated its 301h anniversary, a fifth service was added, at 2 pm. on Saturday, offering a daytime service to more easily accommodate larger groups of visitors. Augsburg's partnership with Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis, with its majestic sanctuary and stained- glass windows, allows Advent Vespers to be unique "We can create the essence of a Christmas concert and transform it into not just a concert but a spiritual experience," says Peter Hendrickson '76, Advent Vespers anistic director and director of choral activities. "The liturgical elements transform the music to a deeper level." Over the years the Advent Vespers services have stayed the same more than they have changed, says Pastor Dave Wold, campus pastor and director of ministries. "My fascination is with Advent Vespers as a service, and we work hard to keep it close to a theme and give a message of hope for the season." While the liturgical party that carry bells, banners, the cross, and the Gospel has grown in numbers, and four choirs now feature more than 250 singers, the experience has remained constant. The liturgical journey begins in darkness with "0 Come, 0 Come. Emmanuel," moves to recognition and joyful celebration of Christ's birth, and ends with quiet reflection in the warm candlelight of "Silent Night." Music professor and organist Stephen Gabrielsen '63, who has played for all but one Advent Vespers service when he was on sabbatical, recalls that the weather has also been constantthere has never been a service cancelled on this first weekend of December because of winter weatherln 2004, to mark Advent Vespers‘ 25m anniversary, TPT—2 public television made a recording of the service, which continues to be shown each year on public television, and received a regional Emmy for its technical production. Recordings in both DVD and CD format are available through Augsburg's Music Depanment. Anicle by Betsey Norgard. Augsburg New Fall 2009
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Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 018
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection
Search Result: 256m 3” macaw: mmma

Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 017
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection

Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 022
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection

Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 095
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection

Title: Augsburgian 2010, page 096
Collection: Augsburgian (Yearbook) Collection