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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: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2017: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2017
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY SPRING–SUMMER 2017 | VOL. 79, NO. 2 COMING SEPTEMBER 2017 PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On the power of both/and I am writing these notes on c...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY SPRING–SUMMER 2017 | VOL. 79, NO. 2 COMING SEPTEMBER 2017 PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On the power of both/and I am writing these notes on commencement weekend when we have just sent the final graduates of Augsburg College into the world, full of promise and aspiration—as has been the case for almost 150 years. As you will read in this issue of Augsburg Now, the change of our name to Augsburg University will become official in September, and we will welcome the incoming class on Labor Day weekend. We are busy preparing for this exciting new era for Augsburg! For some, the name change may reflect a break with Augsburg’s past. For others, perhaps this is a welcome acceptance of the need to embrace the future. For the Augsburg community, however, the change is a remarkable opportunity to re-present Augsburg to the world—to tell a story that is about an abiding mission and identity shaped by faith, and academic and civic values, and at the same time to point to innovative and urgently needed responses to our dynamic environment. In other words, this change is about the pivot from “either/or” to “both/and.” This is about embracing the best of past, present, and future. This is about Augsburg University. The almost 1,000 Auggies who commenced into the world this spring reflect in their achievements and aspirations the foundation for embracing this change. Across undergraduate and graduate programs, the Class of 2017 achieved academic excellence of the highest order, excellence that defines a university: national and international honors for scholarship and service; exemplary undergraduate research that equips students for graduate work and professional opportunities; innovative community building that strengthens democratic engagement; and a commitment to equity in education that promises to change the world. At the same time, our newest graduates reflect the diversity that we expect in a university—diversity of ethnicity, thinking, life experience, identity, and ability—diversity not for its own sake but for the promise of a more robust, healthy, and just world. As I watched our diverse graduates cross the stage, I could not help but be filled with hope in our future leaders who already have learned to navigate difference in ways that unite rather than divide. In a final way, these newest Augsburg graduates offer a perhaps countercultural lesson about what makes for a great university. Though some imagine a university as big and bureaucratic and faceless, Augsburg has a vision to be a new kind of student-centered, urban university—small to our students and big for the world. The sense of community was palpable in our commencement ceremonies as graduates cheered each other and celebrated the relationships they have forged at Augsburg, lifelong relationships that engendered achievement and success. And propelled by those relationships, our graduates will indeed be “big for the world,” as they live Augsburg’s mission as “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.” Here’s to the power of “both/and” and the promise of Augsburg University! Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Communication Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu Communication Copywriter and Editorial Coordinator Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Denielle Johnson ’11 johnsod@augsburg.edu Production Manager Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter Jessica Mueller muellerj@augsburg.edu Contributing Writers Kate H. Elliott Jen Lowman Day 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 Faithfully yours, Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu. Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT AUGSBURG NOW Spring–Summer 2017 02 Around the quad 08 Preserving Norway’s treasures 12 Augsburg University name change 18 Winning the long game 24 Auggies connect 28 Class notes 33 In memoriam PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY On the cover Augsburg College will become Augsburg University effective September 1. Learn more about this historic transition on page 12. An Auggie passes by the first art installation in the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. This new academic building, which will open in January 2018, celebrates Augsburg’s commitment to learning at the intersection of disciplines. Glass fritting on the lobby curtainwall depicts the pattern of Martin Luther’s handwritten score of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” overlaid with the cell structure of elm wood. “Knowing that light will pour through the tall glass of the Hagfors Center, and that people will pass through the reflected shape of the notes of this stirring hymn, ties the whole idea of the building together for me. Science, business, and religion, drawn together in space, time, and rhythm of the ages,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, who, with his wife, Abigail Crampton Pribbenow, sponsored the artwork. AROUND THE QUAD HONORING PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY Retiring Faculty RALPH BUTKOWSKI MAGDA PALECZNY-ZAPP Assistant Professor, Department of Biology—with the College since 2001 Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration—with the College since 1986 CASS DALGLISH NOEL PETIT Professor, Department of English— with the College since 1986 Professor, Department of Computer Science—with the College since 1984 PETER HENDRICKSON ’76 Associate Professor, Department of Music—with the College since 1994 BOYD KOEHLER Associate Professor, Library—with the College since 1967 SANDRA OLMSTED ’69 Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry—with the College since 1978 DEBORAH REDMOND Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies—with the College since 1981 STUART STOLLER Professor, Department of Business Administration—with the College since 1986 TARA SWEENEY Associate Professor, Department of Art—with the College since 1990 Auggies advocate at STATE CAPITOL The Augsburg community celebrated the Class of 2017 on Saturday, April 29. In a morning ceremony, 503 traditional undergraduate students were conferred their degrees. In the afternoon, the school recognized 469 adult undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students—50 of whom studied at Augsburg’s Rochester site. [Pictured]: Fatimah Kinaphone ’15, ’17 MBA receives her master’s degree hood. 2 AUGSBURG NOW PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE COMMENCEMENT Augsburg College students recently visited the Minnesota State Capitol to participate in advocacy events hosted by the Minnesota Private College Council. First, in February, two of Augsburg’s TRIO McNair Scholars took part in a Private College Scholars at the Capitol event that promoted the role undergraduate research plays in students’ educational and professional development. Then, in April, Auggies met with Minnesota representatives and senators for Day at the Capitol. These students advocated for several programs, including Minnesota State Grants, that help undergraduates afford higher education. [L to R]: Professor of Sociology Diane Pike advised McNair Scholar Devin Wiggs ’17, who was invited to present his undergraduate research project at Scholars at the Capitol. AROUND THE QUAD TICKETS ON SALE: NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM Visit nobelpeaceprizeforum.org to find ticket, presenter, and schedule information. PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 COURTESY PHOTO September 15-16 Each year, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum offers opportunities to learn from the world’s most celebrated, innovative, and dedicated peacemakers. Hosted and presented by Augsburg, the Forum invites attendees to turn abstract ideas into the skills our world needs for fostering better relationships and for building peace. In September, international guests from leading organizations will explore the theme “Dialogue in Divided Societies” and honor the work of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, for its decisive contribution to building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia after the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. Electronics lab is electrifying!! Building the circuits of tomorrow, today. #MaroonMilestone @AugsburgCollege FUEL FINISH THERE IS, PERHAPS, NO GREATER CURE FOR STRESS than taking a moment to acknowledge the good. As Augsburg students soldiered through the last week of classes this spring—turning in final papers and finishing projects—they also made time to reflect on their achievements in 2016-17. Students posted, tweeted, and shared #MaroonMilestones on social media, and soon a powerful collective story came together. Whether it was winning athletic championships, landing job interviews, or beating cancer, Auggies finished strong. FOR THE CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS FUEL E FOR TH FINISH For those who posted #MaroonMilestones, Augsburg partnered with its food service provider, A’viands, to provide handdelivered treats and cheerful notes that offered additional fuel for the end of the term, though physics students kept their beverages safely stationed outside the lab (pictured above)! Read about the scope of prestigious academic achievements, awards, and honors earned by Auggies during the 2016-17 year at augsburg.edu/now. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 3 PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 AROUND THE QUAD After a morning practice, goaltender Jordyn Kaufer ’17 and members of the Augsburg men’s hockey team presented Minasie Theophilos with a check for $5,000. In comments aired on KARE 11 news, Kaufer told Theophilos the sum was, “A token to give you thanks for your selflessness, your service, your care to the rink and the guys.” Honoring Luther’s legacy To mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Augsburg is hosting a series of events this fall. Visit augsburg.edu/ccv/events for dates and details. 4 AUGSBURG NOW A SEASON OF REFORMATION CELEBRATIONS! In September, Augsburg will welcome the fourth presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, as an honored speaker for the Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium. To mark Augsburg College Heritage Day in October, Associate Professor of Religion Mary Lowe will lead a discussion on the revolutionary life of Martin Luther. In November, award-winning musical group The Rose Ensemble will present “Welcome the People: The Musical Legacy of the Reformation.” To kick off the holiday season in December, Augsburg will host Advent Vespers with the theme “Welcome, Noble Guest,” inspired by Martin Luther’s hymn “From Heaven Above.” AROUND THE QUAD MINASIE THEOPHILOS has cared for Augsburg’s athletic facilities—most notably the ice arena— during his more than 25 years of service on the College’s custodial staff. Theophilos and the men’s hockey team developed a life-changing relationship that was shared by media outlets across the United States and around the globe. When members of the team learned that Theophilos’ mother had died in Ethiopia—a home Theophilos hasn’t seen for nearly 35 years—and that Theophilos missed her funeral because he didn’t have the money to visit, the team created a fundraiser. In less than 48 hours, the players and Auggies worldwide raised thousands of dollars for Theophilos to use to visit his family. Today, Theophilos and his wife are planning a trip to see his father and their families, thanks to a special friendship with the Augsburg athletes he has supported for decades. PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 FRIENDSHIP ON ICE … AND OFF right,’ ou raised ’em ‘y of y or g te ca “In the y team.” Augsburg hocke e th of s d ki e we give you th —Bob Collins, Minnesota Public Radio News Cut COURTESY PHOTO Who’s on first? Auggies are! This spring, the Augsburg baseball team kicked off its season at U.S. Bank Stadium, competing in four nonconference doubleheaders. The new Minnesota Vikings venue is only a stone’s throw (or a really strong pitch) from Augsburg’s campus. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 5 PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE ON THE SPOT IT’S SIMPLE MATH: Fewer people are entering the teaching profession, more are leaving it, and many educators lack the qualifications required to teach Minnesota’s increasingly diverse student body. These factors have prompted teacher preparation programs—including those at Augsburg—to adapt in support of more inclusive, flexible learning environments that accommodate a spectrum of needs and abilities. As the director of education programs at Augsburg’s Rochester location, Kaycee Rogers is working alongside colleagues and legislators to better support and retain teachers and to inspire a more diverse workforce. She is driven to ensure the next generation of Minnesotans experience a meaningful education through hands-on, relevant learning. Q: How does educating, training, and employing K-12 teachers with specialty backgrounds improve our schools? A: The demographics of our student population have changed given the influx of new populations into our welcoming state and education’s shift to incorporate students with special needs into the general classroom. Because of this, teachers with specialty licenses are in demand, and these positions are often tough to fill. Augsburg is leading the charge to offer broader licensures, which prepare teachers to succeed in today’s classrooms and qualify them for a wide range of teaching positions. Exposure to more teaching strategies and more specializations helps teacher 6 AUGSBURG NOW candidates adapt and innovate so they can offer students multiple access points for understanding. Q: A: What’s an example of an innovative teaching strategy? Students learn best when they’re engaged in experiences that matter to them. We’ve been incorporating real-world, student-led experiences into the classroom, and the results are impressive. Augsburg teacher candidates, for instance, are helping fourth- and fifth-graders write grants, speak to community groups, navigate teamwork, and participate in democracy. It’s been amazing to watch our teachers transition to more of a coaching role, while students PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH Education expert Kaycee Rogers describes how an inclusive, agile K-12 model can help Minnesota classrooms make the grade take the lead to apply classroom learning to issues and situations of meaning to them. Q: A: How do teachers recognize students’ home cultures and diverse experiences? Although “English as a Second Language” is a widely used term, we say, “English learners,” because it’s more accurate given that some students learn English as a third or fourth language. We also celebrate home culture and language rather than asking students to check their heritage at the door. In special education, we try to be more inclusive. It used to be that educators relied on what was called a medical model of diagnosis and treatment. Today, AROUND THE QUAD Outstanding EDUCATORS Share your ideas for Each year, Augsburg recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to creating an engaging academic learning environment. The 2017 recipients of the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards are: AUGSBURG’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 1869-2019 Visit augsburg.edu/150 to submit your suggestions. Alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff are invited to celebrate Augsburg’s 150th anniversary in 2019. What aspect of your Augsburg experience would you like to highlight during the sesquicentennial year? Were you connected to a team, an organization, or a department that made a difference? Would you like to see a reunion for your favorite activity—whether it was campus ministry, KAUG radio, student government, or a music ensemble? Let us know how to best honor Augsburg’s past, present, and future. Teaching Full-time faculty Joyce Miller ’02, ’05 MAN, ’11 DNP, assistant professor and Nursing Department chair Part-time faculty Alyssa Hanson ’01, mathematics and statistics instructor Scholarship William Green, professor of history Service Q: A: David Crowe, associate professor of biology How do we inspire a workforce that is more reflective of diverse classrooms? It’s well documented that students retain more information and have a positive view of education when they relate to teachers. We want to reach out to people who look like our students and come from the same backgrounds, particularly those already working as teacher aides or in other supporting roles. Growing teachers from within each community’s diverse population will beget more teachers of color and inspire some to remain in their community to make a lasting difference. Stella Hofrenning, associate professor of economics Dixie Shafer, director of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity PHOTO BY BOB STACKE ’71 we recognize that our role isn’t as much about changing someone as it is about using an approach that welcomes learners of different styles, that encourages support networks to address, adapt to, and respond to each young person. We seek to accept, listen, and innovate as we help students gain as much as possible to prepare them for a fulfilling life. Both approaches fall under an umbrella of universal design that can be applied to all students, regardless of ability. If our goal is understanding, then we must create multiple access points for students. We urge teacher candidates to get to know students, their families, and the community to appreciate the backgrounds coming together in each classroom. [L to R]: Stella Hofrenning, Dixie Shafer, William Green, Joyce Miller, David Crowe, and Alyssa Hanson. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 7 PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI 8 AUGSBURG NOW Juliane Derry ’00 works on an artifact from Norway’s national collection. As an objects conservator, she studies and preserves historical materials. BY LAURA SWANSON LINDAHL ’15 MBA “As you can see, I’m not in my office,” says Juliane Derry ’00 answering a video call and gazing toward the cell phone resting in her outstretched palm. “It’s kind of a little crisis.” Behind her, a warehouse complex comes into focus. It looks tidy—for the most part—but there’s chaos emerging in what otherwise would be a meticulously organized space. Derry is standing in one of the storage facilities for Norway’s Nasjonalmuseet, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, and she is responding to an immediate, all-hands-on-deck plea to mitigate an unnerving discovery in the archive: water. “Oxygen, light, and variations in humidity are the things that cause damage,” Derry said, hours later, offering a primer on the fundamental culprits in the degradation of historical materials. As a conservator for the national museum in Oslo, she plays a multifaceted role in the institution’s efforts to hold, preserve, exhibit, and promote public knowledge about Norway’s most extensive collections. Vestbanen – Downtown Oslo Future home of the Nasjonalmuseet Norway’s new national museum will open in 2020. Juliane Derry ’00 is working to prepare hundreds of objects for public display. Oslo, Norway SPRING–SUMMER 2017 9 PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI During her career, Derry has restored furniture, objects, frames, and gilded surfaces. 10 AUGSBURG NOW “There are so many different materials in our collection that we have textile, paintings, paper, and book conservators,” said Derry, who is an objects conservator specializing in furniture, frames, and gilded surfaces. She has studied restoration on three continents and has become an expert in both preserving national treasures and making new creations shine. Derry is someone who excels at finding connections between seemingly disparate areas. Her conservation work blends science with artistry, research with intuition, and the practical with the theoretical. Derry’s personal life has been filled with complementary relationships as well. She was born in Norway, and she lived there until age 15 when she, her sister, and her American mother moved from the tiny alpine town of Ål to the densely populated Twin Cities lying on the edge of Minnesota’s prairie. Later, as an Augsburg student, she focused on women’s studies, international relations, religion, and studio arts. “I took classes based on what interested me,” Derry said, shrugging her shoulders. “When you get out into the real world and meet new people you begin to realize that [some of them] followed a very narrow path. I’m not looking down on that in any way, but I appreciate the fact that I was able to experience so many different things.” As her former faculty advisor, History Professor and Director of General Education Jacqueline deVries acknowledges that Derry is the type of person who thrives in interdisciplinary programs like women’s studies. Now known as “gender, sexuality, and women’s studies,” the major includes courses in biology, English, history, political science, sociology, and other disciplines. And it seems Derry’s inclination toward diverse opportunities only increases with time. “Juliane’s path is fantastic. She totally wandered,” said deVries, who now counts Derry among her friends. “I think she’d laugh that I said that, but along the way she discovered a true passion.” Derry’s career in restoration and conservation began because misdirected mail literally came across her desk. Shortly after graduating from Augsburg, Derry worked as an assistant to buyers at Dayton’s, Minneapolis’ storied hometown department store chain. Even though she didn’t support staff in the furniture division, she received heaps of catalogs for that area. Eventually, a thoughtful colleague noticed her growing interest in woodworking and encouraged her to pursue her calling. After some networking and introspection, Derry signed up for a wood finishing program at a technical college—an experience that ultimately led to her launching a small business, obtaining an advanced degree, and developing industry contacts around the world. One of those connections is Don Williams, an author, educator, scholar, and furniture conservator who retired after serving the Smithsonian Institution for 29 years. Williams was a guest lecturer who instructed Derry during her Minnesotabased finishing program, and he became a mentor as she took her education and career to new levels. Williams has taught hundreds of students, and he’s noticed that those who succeed often have similar predispositions. “How many people do you know who are both scientists and artists?” he asked. “That’s what we are. If you are not consumed by creativity, this is going to be a miserable path for you. People need not only creativity but also curiosity.” For Derry, an eagerness to experiment and to learn has triggered some of her most defining life events. After working a handful of day jobs and operating an independent business in the U.S. for three years, Derry enrolled in an immersive, full-time restoration program near Florence, Italy. There she gained studio experience and new skillsets, including the ability to speak Italian through a crash course lasting a single month. After completing the restoration program, Derry moved with her wife, Jody Scholz ’97, to Norway. Derry was armed with a portfolio of recent work and ambition to relaunch her business in the Land of the Midnight Sun. “I ended up making a CD full of pictures of various restoration projects, and I made the rounds in town,” she said. “I looked up people in the yellow pages and then handed out my pictures. In the beginning I worked a little bit at a frame shop, and then I got a job in a gallery where I restored frames.” During the years since, Derry’s workload has grown to match her expertise, and sometimes her expertise has grown due to Derry prepares an Oslo city model from the 1930s for display in an architectural exhibit. PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI the requirements of her work. She earned a master’s degree at the University of Oslo’s Institute of Archeology, Conservation, and History by completing a project-based thesis that examined shellac, a sealant created using a resin secreted by insects. For this project, Derry conducted fieldwork in the rural Jharkhand region of India where villagers harvest stick lac—the key ingredient that becomes shellac and its by-products—and she analyzed the chemical characteristics of several samples at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute where Williams served as her internship sponsor. “Investigative problem-solving” is one of the aspects Derry said she most enjoys about her field, and her liberal arts experience at Augsburg informs the way she approaches her assignments. She uses traditional techniques and materials in her conservation projects whenever possible, and her ability to think critically is paramount. While employed at a furniture restoration company, she was tasked with repairing beloved pieces used by the Oscarshall Summer Palace, the Office of the Prime Minister, and private clients. She also has served Fortidsminneforeningen, a nonprofit that preserves and protects monuments, including 40 of the stave churches located throughout Norway. “Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is not only a homily, it is an inexorable law of the universe,” said Williams, describing the vital role individuals like Derry play in preserving cultural heritage for future generations. “Everything is going back to dust. As conservators, it is our job—to the extent that is rational—to slow that process down and concurrently enjoy and extract the most utility from an artifact on its path.” Today Derry’s workdays primarily are devoted to making internationally important materials accessible to the general public. At the national museum, she has completed assignments that range from applying gold leaf on the frames of masterworks to cleaning a plaster-of-Paris city model measuring more than 100 square feet. And still, her current undertaking is the largest one yet. The Norwegian government is building a joint “all-arts” museum, which is slated to open in Oslo in 2020. Intended to be a dynamic arena for people to interact with the visual arts, the space requires new exhibits so curators and conservators are working hand-in-hand to select and prepare pieces for display. Derry is in the midst of locating, evaluating, cataloguing, and potentially repairing 400 pieces of furniture for the museum. It’s a process that requires passion and persistence—two words that also perfectly describe the manner in which Derry has shaped her career. She’s prepared to address new challenges if issues arise in a workshop, at a laboratory bench, or during the process of managing complex projects. Even in a soggy situation at a storage venue, Derry sees the annoyance of rewrapping objects impacted by a minor cooling system leak as an opportunity to formulate a plan for the future should staff ever need to address a true disaster. “She can pursue something with intelligence and diligence and still with a smile on her face,” Williams said. “That’s an unusual gift.” SPRING–SUMMER 2017 11 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY: SMALL TO OUR STUDENTS AND BIG FOR THE WORLD BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA O n September 1, “Augsburg College” officially will become “Augsburg University”—a change approved by both the Board of Regents and the Augsburg Corporation. For generations of Augsburg alumni and friends, it may seem like the place always has been called “Augsburg College.” That’s been the formal name of the school for the past 54 years. Over the course of the school’s history, nearly 24,000 people have completed degrees at Augsburg. With so many Auggie alumni accustomed to thinking of Augsburg as a college, why change the name? In short, the term “university” illustrates the breadth of Augsburg’s current reality and goals for the future. And, “while our name is changing,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, “the essence of who we are is not.” As the first seminary created by Norwegian Lutherans in America, the name Augsburg—chosen by the school’s founders in 1869 to honor the Augsburg Confession—always has defined the ethos of this institution and its mission to support those called to service in the world. Since its founding, Augsburg has been known by at least four different names. The name has shifted as the school has grown, but our commitment to an accessible, quality education has never wavered. Likewise, our dedication to the Lutheran principles of hospitality, service to the neighbor, and social justice is as steadfast today as ever. 12 AUGSBURG NOW In announcing the name change, Pribbenow affirmed that becoming Augsburg University “does not alter our dedication to integrating the liberal arts and professional studies or our commitment to being small to our students and big for the world.” Rather than moving Augsburg away from its roots, the name change helps Augsburg remain both faithful to its heritage and relevant to the educational needs of students in the 21st century. Ever evolving, always Augsburg: Growth in graduate programs From its early years, Augsburg stressed that a good education is practical and focused on educating ministerial candidates and theological students as well as farmers, workers, and businesspeople. So, it’s no surprise that Augsburg today offers a number of professional master’s and doctoral degrees — a mix of programs that makes Augsburg already more like a university than a college. While there is no fixed definition outlining the distinction between a “college” and a “university,” offering post-baccalaureate degrees commonly is associated with institutions named as universities. Augsburg’s first advanced degree program, the Master of Arts in Leadership, launched 30 years ago. Since then, 3,700 people have earned master’s or doctoral degrees from Augsburg. This past fall, Augsburg’s graduate enrollment reached a record high — representing 28 percent of total enrollment — and continued growth in Augsburg graduate programs is anticipated in the coming years. An international perspective Today, Auggies live and work all over the world. In many countries and cultures, the word “college” is associated with a high school-level education. Alumni who work in international settings have noted that they already refer to their alma mater as “Augsburg University” in order to avoid confusion. For the same reason, the name change also will help Augsburg be more attractive as a destination for international students, which represents a potential growth area for Augsburg. A view from the outside in With nearly 150 years of history, it’s no surprise that Augsburg is well known in the region—even among people who haven’t (or haven’t yet) studied here. What impact would a name change have on their perceptions of Augsburg? We asked the following groups to share their thoughts: • high school students, • parents of high school students, • high school counselors, • people considering getting an advanced degree, and • people who didn’t finish an undergraduate degree right after high school and are thinking about going back to school to earn a bachelor’s. These conversations generated several important insights, but the core takeaway is that Augsburg’s reality, reputation, and promise are aligned with the name change. Our reality and reputation. Conversations with members of the general community demonstrated that people associate the word “university” with a number of attributes that clearly apply to Augsburg. Specifically, people view universities as having high academic standards, a commitment to research, strong international programs, and diverse student populations. Augsburg has robust programs for scholarly research and global study, and is recognized nationally for its leadership in inclusion and equity. In many ways, Augsburg already embodies much of what people expect of a university. The promise of a student-centered university. We also learned from these conversations that Augsburg has a strong reputation for direct student-faculty engagement. We already know how important this is to our alumni, students, faculty, and staff, but it was gratifying to hear that members of the broader community also value Augsburg as a student-centered organization. This is something Augsburg needs to ensure does not change. Augsburg University will not become an institution marked by big campuses or large studentto-faculty ratios. Instead, as is articulated in our Augsburg2019 strategic vision, Augsburg will be a new kind of student-centered university, and just as we have done for decades, Augsburg will remain committed to educating students for lives of purpose in a vibrant, engaged learning community. Learn about the visual identity of Augsburg University on the following pages. Learn more about the Augsburg2019 strategic vision, the name change, and the logo update at augsburg.edu/now. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 13 AUGSBURG NAME CHANGE HISTORY 1869 1872 1892 1942 AUGSBURG SEMINARIUM THE NORWEGIAN DANISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN AUGSBURG SEMINARY AUGSBURG SEMINARY AUGSBURG COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY EMBRACING OUR LEGACY AND OUR FUTURE When Samuel Gross ’03 was a student at Augsburg, he designed the original Auggie eagle-head symbol as an assignment for one of his graphic design courses. The design was so good, Augsburg ended up buying the rights to the image and has used the eagle symbol for campus life, student organizations, and athletics for the past 15 years. During that time, Gross became an award-winning designer and creative director who founded his own graphic design firm, 144design, with a specialty in developing logos for clients. So, when Augsburg needed to update its logo as part of the transition to the Augsburg University name, it was a perfect opportunity to re-engage with Gross to envision and design the next-generation Augsburg logo. “Early on, our conversation about the logo confirmed that this project should be an evolution of the Augsburg brand, not a revolution,“ Gross said. “We wanted to preserve the strong recognition that has been built for Augsburg over time. “Our goal was to preserve and respect the historic nature of Augsburg’s logo — especially since it already has strong 14 AUGSBURG NOW [Top Left]: The Augsburg “A” shape is reimagined. [Top Right]: Samuel Gross ’03 works on Augsburg University’s visual identity in April 2017. [Left]: Gross shows off merchandise displaying the first eagle-head symbol shortly after he created it for Augsburg in 2003. energy and good familiarity — while at the same time creating a treatment that also embraces the future,” he said. The results, including the updated Augsburg logo, “A” icon, and eagle-head symbol are shown on the next page. Separately, the Augsburg seal — which is used on transcripts, diplomas, and other official documents — was updated by Augsburg staff Mark Chamberlain and Denielle Johnson ’11 and is shown on pages 16-17. 1963 2017 AUGSBURG COLLEGE AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Augsburg marks: honoring the legacy Augsburg logo Augsburg “A” icon Eagle-head symbol The Augsburg University logo is designed to feel familiar to people who are already acquainted with the College logo, connecting the new design with Augsburg’s legacy. In the new logo, the word “Augsburg” is more bold than the word “University.” This approach was informed by research suggesting that people’s strong associations are with the name, “Augsburg,” whether or not it is followed by “College” or “University.” The font selected for “Augsburg” conveys an established, academic feel, while the font for “University” provides a sleek, contemporary balance. The contrast of the two words creates a dynamic energy. By strengthening the design of the “A” icon — broadening its base and making the vertical strokes bolder — Augsburg will be able to use the “A” icon as a standalone graphic element much more frequently and effectively going forward. For example, current plans call for the “A” icon to be installed on the shorter ends of the sign on top of Mortensen Hall. This is one of the most visible signs in the region and will be updated this summer as part of the transition to “Augsburg University.” The eagle-head symbol is stronger and bolder with this evolution. Whereas the original design lost detail and contrast when translated to black-and-white treatments, the updated design is much more effective across a broader range of uses. Currently, designs using the updated eagle-head symbol are under development for an array of installations—from the Si Melby gym floor and the Edor Nelson athletic field scoreboard to the Christensen Center student lounge and merchandise sold in the Augsburg bookstore. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 15 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY SEAL: HISTORY AND MEANING Past seals T he seal conservation process began as Augsburg College explored the steps involved in changing its institutional name to Augsburg University. The seal enhances an original centennial symbol design and aligns with the institution’s current reality, reputation, and promise. THE AUGSBURG COLLEGE SEAL WAS BASED ON A CENTENNIAL SYMBOL CREATED BY PAUL KONSTERLIE ’50. THE LION REPRESENTS AUGSBURG’S NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE. AUGSBURG’S CENTENNIAL SYMBOL, CREATED BY KONSTERLIE. THE LAMP OF LEARNING DEPICTS SOUND SCHOLARSHIP. THE FONT WAS INSPIRED BY THE CENTENNIAL SYMBOL. THE SEAL FOR AUGSBURG COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FEATURED MARTIN LUTHER. 16 AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG WAS FOUNDED IN 1869 IN MARSHALL, WISCONSIN, AND MOVED TO MINNEAPOLIS IN 1872. THE CROSS DEPICTS THE SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THE SILHOUETTE OF THE MINNEAPOLIS SKYLINE EMPHASIZES AUGSBURG’S METROPOLITAN RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE DEEPLY THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT, “THROUGH TRUTH TO FREEDOM,” SUMMARIZES THE BELIEF THAT THE TRUTH SETS US FREE TO BE EDUCATED AND TO SERVE. THE EAGLE REPRESENTS U.S. DEMOCRACY. THE FOSHAY TOWER RETURNS TO THE CENTER OF THE SEAL AS A NOD TO AUGSBURG’S CENTENNIAL SYMBOL. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 17 PHOTO BY DON STONER PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY [L to R]: At an Auggie Compass event, panelists Mike Gallagher ’12, Katie Jacobson ’11, and Dan Brandt ’11 spoke to students about the journey from college to their careers. PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY [Left]: This fall, student-athletes engaged in team-building exercises led by U.S. Marines. 18 AUGSBURG NOW [Above]: Student-athletes kicked off evening workshops by dining together. WINNING THE LONG GAME BY KATE H. ELLIOTT Meaningful, relevant workshops equip students to excel in the classroom, competition, and their careers S tudent-athletes file past tables, stacking breadsticks on mounds of pasta, but this crew isn’t carb-loading for the next matchup. The nearly 550 students from Augsburg’s 19 sports teams are preparing to tackle Auggie Compass—a series of workshops and team-building exercises designed to inspire personal and professional success. After piloting the program in 2014-15, Augsburg Athletics recruited this year’s lineup of on- and off-campus partners to engage each class in issues relevant to each stage of their undergraduate lives. Associate Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks said the biannual series starts a conversation with studentathletes, then builds upon those themes each year as Auggies develop the confidence, expertise, and support networks they need to navigate known and unknown challenges during college and after graduation. For instance, first-year students discussed study skills, time management, and wellness, while seniors learned about financial planning, living their values, and networking techniques. “When I moved into my first house, I didn’t know furnaces had filters, and that’s just one example of the many things I should’ve known—but didn’t—before graduation,” said Anderson Diercks, who spearheaded the program. “We developed Auggie Compass from the best aspects of similar programs and from conversations with our coaches, student-athletes, and alumni. Our students seem more aware of campus and community resources and better prepared to excel in the real world.” Panel of alumni shares lessons from ‘professional lumps’ Among the spring event’s most popular sessions was a student-athlete alumni panel, “Not Where They Thought They’d Be,” which—as the title suggests—invited alumni to share lessons from their not-so-straight-orsmooth paths to personal and professional fulfillment. Mike Gallagher ’12 was among the four panelists asked “not to sugar coat” their transitions to the workforce. “My first paid job out of college lasted 21 months before I was laid off with 25 SPRING–SUMMER 2017 19 PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY Auggie Compass workshops target needs and issues specific to the phases in student-athletes’ academic and personal journeys. Each session builds upon the previous event, equipping Auggies with a deeper understanding of their values, career preparation, and wellness practices. percent of the company’s workforce, and that’s just one example of the professional lumps we shared,” said Gallagher, an academic advisor at Walden University and the on-air host/ producer of Gopher Sports Update and MIAC Weekly. “Our stories reinforced that new graduates likely will have to do things they don’t enjoy as they work toward goals. But we encouraged them to channel the persistence and dedication they gained as athletes toward new challenges and to say ‘yes’ to any opportunity to better themselves or gain new skills.” Gallagher, also a freelance sports broadcaster and emcee, talked openly about his path, which is a fairly common one: going to college with hopes of playing professional baseball, then realizing he wasn’t any better than his teammates. Then, struggling to find balance within the fun, demanding routine of workouts, competitions, classes, and life until he walked across the commencement stage and into a 9-to-5 job without the sport, the people, and the routine he’d always known. “It is, indeed, a huge wakeup call,” he said. Women’s golfer Wendy Anderson ’17 was among the seniors who rotated through the panel discussion. The double major in music business and accounting said she valued sessions about financial planning and interviews, but the alumni 20 AUGSBURG NOW panel resonated with her the most. “I’m a type-A, perfectionist planner. Hearing their stories reassured me that I may not end up where I thought I might, but because of these types of sessions and my Augsburg experience, I’ll survive and hopefully have a fulfilling career,” she said. “I’m glad I attended sessions about fiscal responsibility, but workshops that encouraged us to consider our values and worth and to step outside our comfort zones were the most rewarding. Guidance from Auggie Compass sessions paired with the entirety of our experiences prepares us to achieve.” Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 is glad to hear student-athletes position Auggie Compass within the greater framework of their Augsburg education and athletic experience. The lessons and skills are interconnected, he said, strengthening one another. “Our athletes learn to win and lose with class, to embrace leadership, and to play their role—whatever that may be—to achieve a shared goal,” said Swenson, who has been a member of the Augsburg community for more than 30 years as a student, coach, and administrator. “These are all great lessons for life after sports, and Auggie Compass builds upon what teams and coaches are already instilling. At our core, we are about community and supporting these fine student-athletes on their journey. Auggie Compass prepares them to carry that legacy out to the world.” Building skills to navigate a complex environment Mike Matson ’07 knows all about Augsburg’s core principles. They guided him through his time as one of the College’s top linebackers, then through seminary, and now in his role as an assistant director of leadership gifts at the College. Matson said Augsburg’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community outfits students with empathy and poise to respectfully engage in meaningful conversations and authentic relationships. He talked with juniors about how to lead difficult conversations. “We live in a complicated world with complex people and issues, and those who are able to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner advance progress and understanding,” said Matson, who also serves in the Navy Reserves and as chaplain for the Minneapolis Police Department. “Instead of talking at the students, we challenged them to work through case studies. I can’t say I was all that surprised at how well they handled themselves, but I was impressed with how willing they were to share PHOTO BY DON STONER PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY This spring, members of the junior class headed to the gym for basketball and bean bag competitions with Special Olympics athletes, and in September, first-year students learned techniques to manage stress and practice mindfulness. vulnerabilities, speak about biases, and view situations through alternate perspectives. It was amazing to watch ‘community’ happen.” Unified tournament puts principles to practice Student-athletes didn’t only talk about ideals, they practiced them. Juniors headed to the Si Melby gymnasium to compete alongside 40 Special Olympics athletes in basketball and bean bag toss competitions. Jennifer Jacobs, who organized the volunteer effort, said the tournament underscored Augsburg’s commitment to service and inclusion. “We added [the unified competition] because civic engagement is one of the college’s co-curricular learning outcomes,” said Jacobs, then-assistant athletic director and assistant volleyball coach. “We decided to collaborate with Special Olympics because of an NCAA Division III partnership with the organization and because our ongoing involvement with the area chapter continually inspires our students.” Student-athlete Cody Pirkl ’18 had never interacted with Special Olympics athletes before the Auggie Compass event this spring. Initially, the baseball player had not been excited about the obligation on what otherwise would have been a free night. But as he said goodbye to Special Olympics teammates, the social work major said it felt like parting with dear friends. “We, as college athletes, become so focused on our own goals and everyday lives that we forget how rewarding it is to give back to others,” Pirkl said. “Our involvement with Special Olympics shines Augsburg’s positive light on our broader community, but it also gives us meaningful perspective. Watching the Special Olympics athletes’ pure love of the game reminded me how lucky I am and how much I love to play.” Pirkl said he and his teammates took a lot away from the mix of formats and engaging activities. That active structure was intentional, Anderson Diercks explained, as presenters played to student-athletes’ competitive nature. “For years, we had brought wonderful, inspiring speakers to campus once or twice a year to talk with students about hot topics or enduring life-aftercollege lessons,” Anderson Diercks said. “Although these experts offered great perspective and information, the format was a challenge, and we were never able to cover as many of the topics as we would have liked. The new Auggie Compass format allows us to engage each class in specific topics to prepare them for the next year and beyond. We can more easily adjust based on student feedback, and it’s a nice way to highlight our alumni and campus experts as well as celebrate community partnerships and resources.” Celebrating mindfulness and meditation One such resource is Jermaine Nelson, a meditation and mindfulness coach and yoga instructor. The former athlete urged students to seek mind-body connections as they strive to be more present. He also reminded them to give themselves grace during transitions and various phases of life. “It’s so easy for student-athletes to continue to eat and sleep how they did in college without the same level of activity, and then they look up one day and realize they are out of shape and out of sync,” Nelson said. “It’s important to anticipate, on the field and in life, so that you avoid injury and prepare for the next phase of your life.” Nelson wasn’t expecting to, but looking out at the dozens of student-athletes reminded him of his nephew, and Nelson got personal. His nephew was a promising college recruit, with plans to play in the NBA, but he broke down from all the pressure. “I wish he would have had a program like this when he was in school,” Nelson said. “Imagine all the heartache and recovery he would have avoided had he been offered the tools to cope and achieve without grinding himself into the ground. I worked with him, and he’s on a good path now, but it took a while. If Auggies can practice these techniques now, they’ll succeed.” SPRING–SUMMER 2017 21 Nelson’s talk reinforced some of the themes presented by Augsburg’s Center for Wellness and Counseling. For example, counselor Jon Vaughan-Fier and Beth Carlson, the center’s assistant director, co-facilitated “Becoming Resilient to Stress,” which challenged student-athletes to assess what drains them and to identify ways to recharge. In addition to discussing the importance of sleep, nutrition, and meaningful relationships—among other topics—students engaged in yoga, mindful breathing, and relaxation strategies. As a senior, Chuckie Smith ’17 took part in Auggie Compass workshops on financial planning, job search strategies, living authentically, and a variety of other topics. During the Compass program’s pilot year, the entire CWC staff also presented on a range of topics related to wellbeing, including body image, depression, healthy choices, and stress management, which Vaughan-Fier said is critically important for today’s overly busy student-athletes. “To emphasize the connection to sports and improved performance, we showed testimonials from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russel Wilson about his ‘one play at a time’ mindset and New York Knicks President Phil Jackson’s philosophy of ‘one breath, one mind,’” Vaughan-Fier said. “We hope these tools help student-athletes as they strive to incorporate self-care practices into daily life.” According to a 2015 health survey, the top stressors among Augsburg students are: a death or serious illness of someone close, conflicts with roommates, parental conflict, and the end of a personal relationship. Director of the counseling center, Nancy Guilbeault, said the opportunity to interact with student-athletes about these and other topics is a proactive way to introduce the center’s role and resources. “Mental health and GPA are linked, and they affect your performance,” she said. “We want to make sure these studentathletes are working on their physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellbeing. These sessions provide an overview and tips, but we also encourage them to follow up with one-on-one or group support.” 22 AUGSBURG NOW Financial stressors, professional communications among top concerns A key barrier to wellness, Guilbeault said, is stress related to finances—a worry that plagues many students, particularly studentathletes who might not have the time to hold a job or internship. To build upon the counseling center’s session, Auggie Compass introduced a practical question-and-answer session with Tommy Redae ’09 MBA, a treasury management sales consultant and vice president of Middle Market Banking for Wells Fargo in Minneapolis. “Talking with upper-class students, I focused on the importance of budgeting and managing credit for a healthy financial future,” Redae said. “I shared several of the many online tools and apps to help them stick to a budget and monitor credit for suspicious or fraudulent activities.” Also in the category of practical and purposeful guidance, Auggie Compass enlisted faculty mentors Carol Enke and Shana Watters to offer best practices for professional communications. The pair broke student-athletes into groups to review and assess emails students sent professors, many of them lacking clarity, starting with an informal “hey,” or displaying accusatory language. “Research shows that people read emails more negatively than intended, and therefore, communicating effectively in this medium reduces ambiguity and negative perceptions,” Watters said. “The students did a great job of improving the emails, and we hope they will apply the guidance we shared to communicate with professionals now and in the future.” Program reinforces Augsburg’s mission, commitment to students The blend of practical knowledge and conceptual, creative exploration reflects Augsburg’s care for and commitment to student-athletes, and it supports community-building across teams and among coaches, said Swenson. This year, the program added a track for coaches that focused on situational leadership, social media training, and a DiSC® behavioral assessment inventory. “We’re not offering Auggie Compass to check off the ‘personal development box,’” Swenson said. “The program was developed by former collegiate players, thinking about what they wished they would have known, so that our student-athletes can have more tools to reach for as they strive for success.” The creation and evolution of Auggie Compass embodies some of the innovation, self-reflection, and grit the program aims to instill. Anderson Diercks said organizers continue to have conversations with student-athletes, alumni, and experts to align sessions with players’ needs and to reflect the latest trends and topics. As a former athlete turned furnace-filter-changing adult, she knows greatness doesn’t come from perfection but from the drive to keep playing until you get it right. HOMECOMING THOUSANDS OF AUGGIES. ONE AUGSBURG. Celebrate the first Augsburg University Homecoming NEW NAME. SAME SCHOOL SPIRIT. Gather among friends to celebrate the memories and milestones that define your Augsburg experience. Whether it’s to participate in a reunion, see campus updates firsthand, or cheer on a favorite team, it’s time to register for this year’s historic Homecoming—the first as Augsburg University. Interested in organizing your reunion? October 13-14 Call the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu. Find accommodation information, the event schedule, and more at: augsburg.edu/homecoming FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, s my second year as Alumni Board President comes to a close, I look back on the past several months with gratitude for what the Alumni Board has accomplished. We hope you have enjoyed recent alumni events, both on campus and off. At the start of my tenure, when I challenged the Alumni Board to change, not a little, but a lot, everyone stepped up to the plate and went to work. Today the board maintains more committees with fewer people on each, operates with clearly defined goals for each committee, and sustains a high level of engagement. We’ve also partnered with staff throughout the College to increase the board’s effectiveness and relevance. The Alumni Board continues to seek new pathways to connect with students, whether through mentoring, visiting classrooms, or simply sharing tips on LinkedIn. Students have said they enjoyed taking part in a Homecoming lunch last fall where they had the chance to share a table with distinguished alumni who pursued similar fields of study. We also held another successful Auggie Networking Experience in February, and if you couldn’t make it to campus, you’ll find some tips for reluctant networkers on page 27. In June, we transition board leadership. I’d like to welcome Nick Rathmann ’03 as Alumni Board President for the 2017-19 term. He is full of energy, has a passion for Augsburg, and is a dynamic leader with innovative ideas to take the Alumni Board even further. He is the athletic director at The Blake School, a longtime supporter of Augsburg as a member of the A-Club, and an all-around amazing volunteer. The Alumni Board is in great hands under his leadership. I’d also like to recognize Greg Schnagl ’91, who has led our Networking Committee for the past two years. His passion for creating meaningful connections between students and alumni has helped make the Auggie Networking Experience event bigger and better. I recently moved away from the Twin Cities for work, and I am so pleased to see alumni events scheduled across the U.S. more often. In the past two years, alumni gatherings have occurred in Denver, Las Vegas, Raleigh, Washington, D.C., and other cities. If you’re in the Minneapolis area, we hope to see you at some of this summer’s exciting alumni events! JILL WATSON ’10 MBA, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT SUMMER ALUMNI EVENTS Minnesota United Soccer Night June 21 | 7 p.m. Republic 420 SE 23rd Ave., Minneapolis Meet for an alumni reception at Republic from 4:30–6:30 p.m. before taking the light rail to TCF Bank Stadium for a game. 7 People. 7 Passions. 7 Minutes. July 7 | 7–9 p.m. Sisyphus Brewing 712 Ontario Ave. W., Minneapolis Hear idea-stirring talks from seven passionate Auggies. $10 covers your first beverage and light appetizers. Auggie Night at Canterbury Park July 21 | 5:30–7 p.m. 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, MN $5 reservation covers a buffet meal, $5 of Canterbury Currency, and reserved seating. Happy Hour Squared URBAN ARBORETUM Join the Alumni Board to sponsor a tree You can help transform Augsburg into an urban arboretum that serves as an educational and community resource in harmony with the environment. Join the Alumni Board’s effort to sponsor a tree in the urban arboretum planned for Augsburg’s campus. The trees selected for this plan will surround the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion and include species native to Minnesota. All gift levels are welcome. The total cost to sponsor a tree is $25,000, which includes long-term care and maintenance. Help us reach this goal by December 2018! Visit augsburg.edu/giving for more information or contact Amanda Scherer, assistant director of leadership gifts, at scherera@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1720. 24 AUGSBURG NOW September 5 | 5–7 p.m. Brave New Workshop 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis Join alumnae business owners Jenni Lilledahl ’87 and Jacquie Berglund ’87 for a happy hour with a purpose. Make sandwiches for a good cause and enjoy a FINNEGANS® as part of Augsburg’s annual City Service Day. For more information and registration, visit augsburg.edu/alumni. COURTESY PHOTOS AUGGIES CONNECT [Top]: Travelers pose at Wat Chedi Luang Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. TRAVELING WITH [Far Left–L to R]: Hans Wiersma and Lori Brandt Hale, Department of Religion faculty members and trip leaders, pose with Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and constituent relations. AUGGIES This winter, 15 Auggies traveled to Thailand and Cambodia with Augsburg College Professor of English Kathy Swanson and her husband, Jack, as their hosts. “The trip was beyond amazing,” said traveler and Alumni Board President Jill Watson ’10 MBA. “Our hosts, Jack and Kathy Swanson, have a passion for the people and culture of Thailand that was contagious throughout the trip. They were always willing to share insights, recommend food (such as sticky rice and mango at a floating market) and go out of their way to help others and ensure everyone was having a great trip. “Memories that stand out include the elephant camp in Chiang Mai, Thai cooking school, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Light for Kids orphanage, and the food ... all the foods! “Traveling with fellow Auggies meant I [Near Right]: Travelers stand in front of the Castle Church in Germany where Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door. had at least one thing in common with so many people I had never met before. By the end of the trip, I had developed new friendships, and I will be keeping in touch.” Celebrating Lutheran heritage in Germany and the Czech Republic Last fall, another group of Auggies traveled to the land of Luther to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Religion Department faculty members Hans Wiersma and Lori Brandt Hale led a group of 30 Augsburg alumni and friends on a multi-city tour that included Dresden, Prague, and Wittenberg—the long-time home of Reformation catalyst Martin Luther. One of the highlights for Augsburg Alumni Director Katie (Koch) Code ’01 was the opportunity to be in Wittenberg on Reformation Day. The town marked the occasion with a festival, and the Augsburg group visited Castle Church where Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door. “At worship that morning we sang, ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God,’ which took me back to my Augsburg days enrolled in the Luther and the Reformers class with Religion Professor Mark Tranvik,” Code said. Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Jean Hopfensperger and photographer Jerry Holt accompanied the group to chronicle how Minnesotans observed the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In a story published after the group’s return home, Augsburg alumnae Carol Pfleiderer ’64 and Kathleen Johnson ’72 described how the trip itinerary offered participants opportunities to build and reflect on their faith. To view trip photos, visit augsburg.edu/now. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 25 A GIFT FOR AUGSBURG IN ROCHESTER Louise and Regent Emeritus Leland “Lee” Sundet will help Augsburg’s Rochester site grow thanks to a generous $1.5 million gift. The Rochester location attracts more than 350 working professionals to undergraduate and graduate programs in business, education, health care, and nursing. As longtime supporters of Augsburg, including the Weekend College and Youth and Family Ministry programs, the Sundets have used their frugality to benefit others and to raise the profile of Augsburg. Several years ago, in an effort to better communicate Augsburg’s identity locally, Sundet helped form a marketing committee and was instrumental in choosing a new logo with a cross embedded in the “A.” He remains steadfast in his commitment to religion and religious freedom as essential to education. In his 88 years, Lee has never lost sight of the basics: thrift, generosity, and faith. “I also believe in old-fashioned discipline—‘don’t spend it till you’ve earned it,’” he said. Lee learned these principles early, growing up in Spring Grove, Minnesota, where most Norwegian-American community members attended the big Lutheran church. “My father died when I was six months old, and my mother PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH AUGGIES CONNECT was quite ill so she had to sell everything she had to pay the bills. She got $7.43 a month, and of that, 74 cents went to the church,” said Lee, who has embraced tithing ever since. A retired industrialist and manufacturer, Lee owned several companies, including Century Manufacturing, Goodall Manufacturing, Britt Manufacturing, and Fountain Industries. His business acumen earned him such honors as Minnesota’s Small Business Man of the Year and the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award. The couple has sponsored a business scholarship at Augsburg since 1992. Overall, the Sundets are impressed by the potential of Augsburg’s programs in Rochester and by the work of another community anchor, Mayo Clinic, which the couple believes shares their values. “Augsburg has come a long way, and I would love to see it grow in Rochester.” 26 AUGSBURG NOW “I have met people at Mayo who have gone through the Augsburg program, and I’ve seen what it’s done for them. It’s a wonderful thing,” Lee said. “It wasn’t easy to get it started, but it’s fun to look back on. Augsburg has come a long way, and I would love to see it grow in Rochester.” tips for the reluctant networker Augsburg College alumna Jenni Lilledahl ’87 was a featured speaker at the Auggie Networking Experience in February. As co-owner of the sketch and improvisational comedy theater Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, Lilledahl brought insight from the improv world to the crowd of nearly 300 alumni and students meeting to exchange career advice. No matter their personality or career, Lilledahl said, all people have anxiety about jumping into new conversations or taking new career paths. Here she shares tips for individuals to jump-start meaningful conversations and say “yes” to new experiences. 1. We all get uncomfortable, yet we cannot let this feeling control us. Instead, we must face our fears and immerse ourselves in new experiences. 2. Sometimes saying “yes” is easier than we think. Don’t rattle off 20 excuses; jump in with an open mind. 3. PHOTOS BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 Stop yourself from using the word “but.” Instead, use the reframing mindset of “yesand” to add something positive to each situation you are in. Don’t use excuses to squash new ideas, possibilities, or adventures. Rather, embrace them. 4. Be intentional about your communication. Don’t just be there. Be awake, aware, and connected to the other people in the room. 5. Have gratitude for the chance to develop relationships, share ideas, and try new things. People who create authentic connections with others are often more successful than those who possess only technical skills. Augsburg alumni and students participated in short improvisational exercises at the event. with the Young Alumni Council Auggies who have graduated from any Augsburg degree program in the past 10 years are invited to join the Young Alumni Council and help plan year-round activities for recent alumni. In the past, the Young Alumni Council has organized a Twins game outing, a financial planning talk and social hour at Summit Brewery, and an afternoon of ice skating at The Depot in Minneapolis. For Young Alumni Council Vice President Evan Decker ’12, taking part in the group provides opportunities to practice valuable life and business skills that he doesn’t necessarily hone in his day- to-day work, such as planning meetings and events, communicating with fellow alumni, speaking to groups, and networking. Serving the council also is a way to stay engaged with the College. “Some people feel there aren’t resources for them after graduation, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Decker said. “This group is here to help bridge that gap.” To join the Young Alumni Council, visit augsburg.edu/alumni. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1961 Last year, First Lutheran Church in Red Wing, Minnesota, recognized Arlan Johnson ’61 for 50 years of service to its choir as a singer and director. While a student at Augsburg, Johnson played in the band for four years and sang in the choir for two years. He enjoyed tours with the band and choir in the Pacific Northwest, and in 1960 he participated in an extended Alaskan band trip to the Anchorage Music Festival. After graduating from Augsburg, he completed his education requirements, student taught at Braham (Minnesota) Area High School with Herman Aune ’50, and finished a second major in biology. Johnson taught band and vocal music in Stewart, Minnesota, and elementary, junior high, and middle school band in Red Wing until his retirement. He and his wife, Phyllis, continue to live in Red Wing. 1967 5 0-Y E AR RE UNI ON HOMECOMING 2017 Associate Professor of Chemistry Sandra Olmsted ’69 retires after serving Augsburg since 1978. See page 2. 1971 Darrell Skogen ’71 retired after teaching for 46 years. He spent the past 41 years at St. MichaelAlbertville High School in Minnesota. Skogen is the longest-tenured employee in the history of the school district. He taught classes such as AP World History and AP U.S. History. Skogen continues to instruct part-time at the high school and records stats for its football program. He says that the school’s Class 5A football state championship victory in 2015 was the first in his 50 years walking the sidelines. 1974 Dr. Subhashchandra “Pat” Patel ’74 and Annette (Hanson) Patel ’73 donated their dental clinics in Clarkfield and Cottonwood, Minnesota, to Open Door Health Center of Mankato. Open Door will run satellite dental clinics in the towns. Pat retired in June 2016. Associate Professor of Music Peter Hendrickson ’76 retires after teaching at Augsburg for more than two decades. See page 2. 1977 40- YE A R R E U N I O N HOMECOMING 2017 In August, Neil Paulson ’77 was elected state committeeman for the Republican Party in Orange County, Florida. for Advanced Science and Technology. 1979 1990 Walter Ohrbom ’79 earned a doctorate in chemistry from North Dakota State University after graduating from Augsburg. He retired from BASF as a senior research associate with more than 120 U.S. patents. Over the years, he and his wife, Patricia, have traveled around the world to backpack, bike, canoe, and scuba dive. Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 draws connections between student athletes’ time on campus and leadership roles after graduation. See page 18. 1988 Kiel Christianson ’88 was promoted to full professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he conducts research on language processing, reading, and bilingualism. He is associate chair of the department, as well as leader of the Educational Psychology Psycholinguistics Lab and co-chair of the Illinois Language and Literacy Initiative, both in the Beckman Institute In July, Karen Jean Reed ’90, a music therapy major, was honored with the President’s Award at the Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church Of God in Christ 50th State Women’s Convention, held in Palm Desert, California. She also was nominated for the 50 Women of Excellence honor for her exemplary service and outstanding achievement in music and administrative service in local, church, district, regional, and state positions. Reed has excelled in music as a gospel saxophonist and in women’s ministry. She was recognized for exemplary service by Barbara McCoo Lewis, the assistant general supervisor of the Church of God in Christ International. Reed serves as the assistant regional missionary for the Santa Barbara region and also works with youth. Professionally, she is a program director at the Department of State HospitalsCoalinga, overseeing the treatment of sexually violent predators. She is the author of “Music is the Master Key.” AUGGIES NEAR AND FAR [L to R]: Sociology Professor Tim Pippert and Torstenson Scholars Ellen Sachs ’17, Emily Campbell ’17, and Jen Kochaver ’19 meet with Mark Johnson ’75 on campus. [Not pictured]: Torstenson Scholar Mark Daniels ’17. 28 AUGSBURG NOW Last fall, metro-urban studies alumnus Mark Johnson ’75 invited Sociology Professor Tim Pippert to the remote country of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. The pair distributed solar lights donated by Johnson to villages on the island of Tanna, which in 2015 suffered widespread destruction due to Hurricane Pam. For Pippert, the trip was an adventure of a lifetime and an opportunity to observe the relationships Johnson has developed with local people over the course of several previous trips. The connection between Johnson and Pippert was built, in part, through their involvement with Augsburg’s Torstenson Community Scholars program that supports undergraduate research. Since 2015, Johnson has funded research opportunities for Auggies engaged in the program, which is named in memory of Professor Joel Torstenson ’38, a founder of Augsburg’s Department of Sociology. This February, four Torstenson Scholars traveled with Pippert to North Dakota’s Bakken oilfield region to assess how residents have been impacted by oil exploration. From the Auggie Connections blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. 1992 2 5-Y EA R RE UNI ON HOMECOMING 2017 Scott Peterson ’92 has accepted a call to be the pastor at Lutheran Church in the Foothills in La Cañada, California. After living in Canada for more than 17 years, Peterson has returned to the U.S. to continue ministry within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 1993 Chad Shilson ’93 is the Minnesota women’s wrestling director for USA Wrestling. He has completed his 100th marathon and qualified for his fourth Boston Marathon. Marathon running has taken him to 36 states, including 29 states in the past two years. A dedicated daily runner, Shilson has run at least one mile per day for more than six years. 1996 Stephanie Harms ’96 and Kristin (Young) Miller ’91 are helping change the nation’s response to vulnerable individuals and families through their work in the supportive housing movement. Both Auggies work at CSH, a national nonprofit organization that connects housing with services for vulnerable populations. Based in New York City, Miller leads a successful CSH program that assists communities throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Harms serves as chief operating officer and leads CSH’s communications, administrative, talent, and human resource efforts. CSH has ended veteran homelessness in several communities throughout the U.S., created more than 100,000 homes for individuals and families, and changed public systems to address the root conditions that create turmoil in the lives of vulnerable individuals and families. ’05 ’03 1999 Peter Durow ’99 has been commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota for the 2018 ACDA-MN State 4-5-6 Girls’ Honor Choir. ACDA-MN has been committed to commissioning new choral works for all-state and honor choirs from Minnesota composers each year since 1975. Durow serves as visiting director of choral activities at St. Cloud State University. ’67 Juliane Derry ’00 blends science with artistry and research with intuition as a historic materials conservator. See page 8. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Andrea (Carlson) Conway ’05 and Riley Conway ’05 welcomed a son, Soren Jon, in December. Soren is the grandson of Jon Carlson ’79 and great-grandson of Jeroy Carlson ’48. Golf Association and president of Women in the Golf Industry. She also wrote an e-book titled, “Hit It, Alice! A Woman’s Golf Guide to Everything But the Swing.” Barb (Walen) Hanson ’67 became president of the Minnesota Golf Association at its annual meeting in November. She is the first woman to serve in this role. Since retiring from her teaching career, Hanson has been actively involved in the golf world, having served as president of the Minnesota Women’s Paul Putt ’03, ’15 MAE and his wife, Katie, celebrated the birth of a son, Theodore Howard, in October. ’05 ’67 ’03 Pete Pfeffer ’87, who holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and his daughter, Maggie, served on a chiropractic and medical ’87 ’87 mission team in Kimana, Kenya. The team provided care and education to hundreds of Maasai villagers living in bomas and orphanages in an underserved area. Pete and his brother, Mike Pfeffer ’92, jointly own and serve as chiropractors for a HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehabilitation Clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota. In addition to private practice, Pete has taken on a national role with the HealthSource Corporation to provide training in technique and rehabilitation procedures for new franchises. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Mathematics and Statistics Instructor Alyssa Hanson ’01 is honored with a Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning award. See page 7. 2002 JCI Minnesota (formerly Minnesota Jaycees) selected Katie Lindenfelser ’02, founder of Crescent Cove, as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans for 2016. The mission of Crescent Cove is to offer care and support to young people with a shortened life expectancy and their families. The vision of Crescent Cove is to build and operate the first residential children’s hospice and respite care home in the Midwest. Started in 1950, the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans honor is Minnesota’s only statewide recognition program for outstanding young leaders ages 18-40 who have devoted themselves to improving their communities. The program acknowledges the efforts and accomplishments of young adults who contribute to Minnesota through their service, thought and influence, community involvement, or entrepreneurship. 2003 Reginaldo HaslettMarroquin ’03 published “In the Shadow of Green Man.” The book, published by Acres USA, chronicles Haslett-Marroquin’s upbringing in revolution-torn Guatemala and how he built his vision to develop a regenerative farming model that uplifts individuals and communities. Throughout the book, he shares the fable of the Green Man, a tiny and wise Guatemalan folk character whose stories teach the importance of respecting the natural world. HaslettMarroquin is chief strategy officer for Main Street Project, based in Northfield, Minnesota. Haslett-Marroquin has served as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program’s Bureau for Latin America and as an advisor to the World Council of Indigenous People. He was a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation, and was Director of the Fair Trade Program for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy from 1995 to 1998. He also led the creation, strategic positioning, startup, and launch of Peace Coffee, a Minnesota-based fair-trade coffee company. Samuel Gross ’03 designs new university logo. See page 12. 2007 10-YEAR REUNION HOMECOMING 2017 Mike Matson ’07 helps teach student-athletes how to engage in difficult conversations. See page 18. Jenessa Payano Stark ’07 began a Master of Science in Nursing program at Yale University this past fall. She is studying in Yale’s Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. She received a prestigious National Health Service Corps Scholarship that pays her tuition and fees, and defrays her living expenses for three years in exchange for future service in an area with a shortage of health professionals. 2011 Dan Skaarup ’11 and Casey (Ernst) Skaarup ’11 welcomed a daughter, Eowyn River, to the world in December. Laura Schmidt ’11 and Sarah Witte ’12 launched a nonprofit, spiritually based community called Intertwine Northeast. The group’s mission is to be “made and moved by story, convinced by compassion, always in process, and about questions, not answers.” Mike Gallagher ’12 shares life lessons with current students. See page 18. 2014 Composer and percussionist Zack Baltich ’14 was featured in the 2017 Cedar Commissions. Baltich’s piece “ingress/passage” used contact microphones and uncommon performance techniques on marimba, glass bottles, and other found objects. The Cedar Commissions (formerly the 416 Commissions) is a flagship program for emerging artists made possible with a grant from the Jerome Foundation and has showcased new work by more than 30 emerging composers and musicians. Catherine Colsrud ’14 was one of 25 leaders who participated in the eighth cohort of the Native Nation Rebuilders Program sponsored by the Native Governance Center and the Bush Foundation. Representatives from 12 Native nations from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota were selected for the Rebuilders AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Kathleen (Watson) Bradbury ’12 and Krissy Bradbury ’12 welcomed Peter Gene to their family. ’12 Beckie Jackson ’10 received a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching and is one of approximately 45 U.S. citizens traveling abroad through the program in 2016-17. In January, she headed to Botswana to spend five months conducting educational research. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected ’10 30 AUGSBURG NOW on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential. Jackson teaches at Moose Lake High School in Moose Lake, Minnesota. Nick Rathmann ’03 and wife, Shannon, welcomed a daughter, Finley Grace, in November. ’03 ’11 Several Augsburg College alumni serve as tutors and coaches with Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps. Tutors pledge one year of service in schools to help children become proficient readers by the end of third grade and proficient in math by the end of eighth grade. [L to R]: Charmaine Bell ’11, Kathleen Abel ’76, Joaquin Vences ’16, Kacie Carlsted ’15, Christine Fankhanel ’02, Amy Riebs ’18 MAE, and Alicia (Oppelt) Musselman ’14. ’91 Nancy Palmer ’91 joined the Minnesota Reading Corps September Program as a leadership component of a larger initiative to support tribes as they strengthen their governing capabilities. Colsrud serves the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe as the commissioner of administration, chief of staff, and acting commissioner of natural resources. Native Governance Center and Bush Foundation Rebuilders convened for four structured sessions during which they developed action plans to share knowledge with peers and their respective tribal governments. ’12 ’10 GRADUATE PROGRAMS Nursing Department Chair Joyce Miller ’02, ’05 MAN, ’11 DNP earns a Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning award. See page 7. Tommy Redae ’09 MBA helps Auggies prepare for a healthy financial future. See page 18. Rochelle Fischer ’14 MSW became a hospital administrator at Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center in January. For the past four years, she has been an assistant program director at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota, providing day-to-day operational and administrative leadership for persons with complex behavioral health symptoms. ’03 ’11 Dan Klein ’15 MBA and Kaitlin (Astleford) Klein were married February 25 in Hollywood, Florida. Nicole (Egly) Olson ’15 MBA and Mark Olson were married February 24 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Institute and tutors students in kindergarten through third grade. ’91 Chris Stedman ’08, an interfaith activist and author, is joining Augsburg this spring as a fellow serving the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship where he will facilitate and build new community partnerships for non-religious and interfaith civic engagement. Stedman also will consult on the development of interfaith engagement programs at Augsburg. ’08 ’08 31 HEALING WATERS ’68 Jason Kusiak ’08 spends late winter and early spring long-lining for cod and haddock, and most of the year catching lobster. Fishing in long-established seaports near Gloucester, Massachusetts, gives Kusiak an appreciation for the area’s rich history and a healthy respect for those who made a living fishing the Atlantic in earlier times. “With fishing,” he said, “you can see the direct result of your work ethic.” Today Kusiak recognizes that his entrepreneurial inclination was shaped by Assistant Professor of Business John Cerrito and former staff member Peggy Cerrito, and that his drive for continual personal growth was influenced by his involvement in StepUP®, the College’s residential collegiate recovery community. While at Augsburg, Kusiak found that the College’s commitment to building strong community connections and emphasis on learning through experience resonated with him. He now seeks out opportunities to interact with new people, to give back, and to offer hope to individuals and families who struggle with substance abuse. He’s driven to invest in the future of his business and his community. ’78 From the Auggie Connections blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’83 [L to R]: This fall, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service President Linda Hartke met with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the Rev. Mark Hanson ’68, former presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, at the LIRS Walk of Courage Award Gala. Albright and Hanson were honored at the event for their commitments to furthering equity for all people. ’68 ’71 Actor and performing arts educator Luverne Seifert ’83 won a $25,000 fellowship from the William and Eva Fox Foundation. He is part of a national cohort of artists supported by the foundation, which underwrites training and career development for performers. The support will enable Seifert to deeply explore his art and travel to France and Switzerland. In the past 25 years, he has acted at theaters in the Twin Cities and across the U.S. ’83 ’05 [L to R]: Margaret Marx ’78, Margo Casey ’78, and Cathy (Kaiser) Bloomquist ’78, all members of the original second step Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at ’78 ’06 32 AUGSBURG NOW Augsburg, continue their friendship today. The women gathered in Scandia, Minnesota, in September, and they share this photo as a reminder of the second step program’s impact on the nursing profession in Minnesota. Bob Stacke ’71 received an award from the Somali Museum of Minnesota on the occasion of the museum’s third anniversary last October. Stacke has provided music and photography services to the museum since its inception. ’71 Janeece (Adams) Oatman ’05, an Augsburg Alumni Board member, and Jim Gross, associate provost for academic innovation and strategic initiatives, were part of the Auggie team at the Rochester, Minnesota, Tour de Cure in October. ’05 Missy (Gaulke) Wilson ’06 completed her first Ragnar trail race and ’06 her third Ragnar overall race in September. She ran 15.2 miles on the Ragnar Trail Northwoods - WI in the Ragnar relay. Helen M. (Anderson) Johnson ’40, Hallock, Minnesota, age 96, on September 4. Eleanor C. (Christenson) Kline ’44, Minneapolis, age 93, on May 31. Marvin W. Johnson ’45, Rochester, Minnesota, age 93, on November 28. Olav Overold ’45, Cando, North Dakota, age 103, on January 23. Bonnie J. (Sorem) Anderson ’46, Cedar Falls, Iowa, age 92, on December 7. Delpha M. (Randklev) Berg ’47, Grand Forks, North Dakota, age 91, on September 12. Ray E. Gerlinger ’49, Overland Park, Minnesota, age 93, on December 4. Theodore C. Nystuen ’49, Altoona, Wisconsin, age 94, on January 19. Lorraine G. V. (Lundh) Qual ’49, Lisbon, North Dakota, age 93, on October 4. Joan L. (Sears) Ryden ’49, Cedar Hill, Texas, age 91, on October 18. Phebe D. (Dale) Hanson ’50, Minneapolis, age 88, on December 16. Evelyn I. (Shelstad) Kriesel ’50, Alamo, Texas, age 88, on September 21. Rhonda M. (Hektner) Lybeck ’50, Fargo, North Dakota, age 88, on January 29. Daniel Nelson ’50, Spicer, Minnesota, age 90, on February 14. Melvin E. Vigen ’50, Irving, Texas, age 88, on September 26. Arvild T. Jacobson ’51, Sun City, Arizona, age 93, on November 26. Donald H. Olson ’51, Henderson, Nevada, age 87, on December 19. Robert “Bob” R. Hage ’52, Hector, Minnesota, age 88, on December 16. William “Bill” J. Kuross ’52, Hopkins, Minnesota, age 87, on January 31. Charlotte M. (Kleven) Rimmereid ’52, St. Paul, age 86, on December 29. Roger V. Anderson ’53, Ottawa, Ontario, age 86, on February 11. Joan J. (Johnson) Kuder ’53, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, age 86, on December 19. Harry E. Olson ’53, Apopka, Florida, age 84, on October 7. Nola E. (Bengtson) Studer ’53, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 85, on September 5. Donna R. (Osland) Gaines ’54, Laguna Hills, California, age 84, on September 17. Ruth M. (Pousi) Ollila ’54, Minneapolis, age 84, on February 14. Betty J. (Dyrud) Oudal ’54, Rochester, Minnesota, age 85, on December 31. Arlene V. (Tollefson) Paulson ’54, Lake Oswego, Oregon, age 89, on September 20. Gary R. Rust ’54, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 85, on October 12. Robert “Bob” E. Twiton ’54, Brainerd, Minnesota, age 84, on February 26. Theodore “Ted” S. Berkas ’56, Minneapolis, age 88, on January 15. Robert A. Fundingsland ’65, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age 73, on September 19. Sanford E. Egesdal ’56, Minneapolis, age 82, on October 3. Marie D. (Hafie) MacNally ’65, Minneapolis, on November 7. Robert A. Roos ’56, Robbinsdale, Minnesota, age 86, on September 3. Dale H. Peterson ’69, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, age 69, on November 27. Merlin J. White ’56, Fridley, Minnesota, age 86, on September 8. Anita M. (Lindquist) King ’70, Pella, Iowa, age 68, on September 1. Raymond Seaver ’57, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 82, on December 5. Chuck S. Marsh ’73, Puyallup, Washington, age 65, on November 14. Robert H. Gustafson ’59, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 84, on January 28. Colleen M. (Brown) Olson ’74, Shakopee, Minnesota, age 63, on August 20. John P. Martisen ’59, Minneapolis, age 81, on August 30. Sheila M. (Conway) Kortuem ’84, St. Peter, Minnesota, age 76, on August 26. Lloyd H. Reichstadt ’59, Flagstaff, Arizona, age 84, on November 21. Paul C. Casperson ’60, Dallas, Texas, age 77, on January 31. Wayne R. Juntunen ’60, Esko, Minnesota, age 83, on December 5. Karen O. (Egesdal) Trelstad ’61, Red Wing, Minnesota, age 79, on November 30. Coralyn J. (Lunsted) Bryan ’62, Minneapolis, age 77, on October 25. Joshua B. Lerman ’08, Louisville, Kentucky, age 33, on November 18. Angel G. Rodriguez ’15, Minneapolis, age 25, on January 3. Tyler G. Kotewa ’17, Fairmont, Minnesota, age 25, on December 7. Mark A. DiCastri ’18, Minneapolis, age 29, on February 27. Clair A. Johannsen ’62, Hagerstown, Maryland, age 79, on February 10. Paul W. Anderson ’63, Moorhead, Minnesota, age 77, on January 31. Gaylen K. Heggen ’63, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, age 75, on October 26. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before March 15. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 33 PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 IN MEMORIAM PHOTOS BY COURTNEY PERRY 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Steve Wozniak inspires Auggies to ‘Learn Different’ Apple, Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak engaged the Augsburg community in a conversation that emphasized the importance of creativity, education, and innovation in an increasingly connected world. Wozniak launched Apple with Steve Jobs in 1976, revolutionizing the personal computer industry. Wozniak’s visit took place this winter during Scholarship Weekend, an opportunity for prospective students to compete for Fine Arts and Honors scholarships. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2018: Cultivating Connections
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: Strengthening community Inspired design The best is ahead Welcome to America CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS SPRING–SUMMER 2018 | VOL. 80, NO. 2 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Stephen Jendraszak j...
Show more Strengthening community Inspired design The best is ahead Welcome to America CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS SPRING–SUMMER 2018 | VOL. 80, NO. 2 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On unexpected connections There are many ways in which higher education is a leap of faith. Students come to campus brimming with curiosity and promise. Faculty and staff meet them where they are and seek those connections that lead to genuine learning. And, if all works as intended, promises are kept, learning happens, and our mission to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders is advanced. Easy, right? Or maybe not, because more often than not, those promises, that learning, and our mission are embedded in the daily, mundane, and sometimes messy interactions and intersections that define our lives together. One of the cornerstones of our educational leap of faith is the importance of the unexpected conversations and experiences that transform our learning and our lives. These serendipitous moments are at the heart of every aspect of our work at Augsburg. Serendipity is built into our curriculum, which emphasizes experiences in which students face the unexpected—in the classroom, the laboratory, the neighborhood, and around the world—with the belief that they will be changed and equipped for their vocations. It’s in campus life, where our remarkably diverse students are challenged in their daily interactions with each other to imagine what a vibrant democracy looks like—the unexpected ways in which people of different backgrounds and faiths and perspectives learn to live together. And it’s also in the ways we are designing campus spaces and facilities, including the remarkable Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion— which is highlighted in this issue of Augsburg Now. Nearly half of Augsburg’s faculty now call the Hagfors Center home, and, day by day, they are interacting with each other, forging new and unexpected relationships that are leading to new courses, new research projects, new ways of connecting students and faculty to the neighborhood. Students are making themselves at home in the building, enjoying departmental neighborhood spaces as well as group study rooms. There is an energy in the building that is itself serendipitous—who knows what unexpected connections will be forged to keep our promises, expand learning, and advance our mission. What are your serendipitous moments at Augsburg? Send them to me at augpres@augsburg.edu, and we’ll share what we learn in a future issue of Augsburg Now. In the meantime, thank you for taking the leap of faith that defines an Augsburg education! Faithfully yours, Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications Gita Sitaramiah sitarami@augsburg.edu Associate Director of Internal Communication Katie Langston klangston002@luthersem.edu Assistant Director of Marketing Management Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Elizabeth Kästner kaestner@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Denielle Stepka ’11 stepkad@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter John Weirick weirick@augsburg.edu Communication and Social Media Specialist Briana Alamilla ’17 alamilla@augsburg.edu Advancement Communications Specialist Asha Sorenson sorenso3@augsburg.edu Web Manager Joe Mann mannj@augsburg.edu Contributing writer Kate H. Elliott Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official University policy. ISSN 1058-1545 AUGSBURG NOW Spring–Summer 2018 ART THAT SPEAKS TO YOU On the cover: An art installation in the skyway connecting Augsburg’s new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion with the James G. Lindell Library features dozens of unexpected word pairings that reflect a range of academic disciplines. The artist, Teri Kwant, also created inspirational wooden tabletops embossed with spiritual texts from a number of faiths and traditions to furnish casual study spaces [pictured] on the Hagfors Center’s first, second, and third floors. See story on page 10. 02 Around the quad 20 Welcome to America All photos by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated. 08 25 Auggies connect Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu 29 Class notes Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu 32 In memoriam Building bonds, strengthening community 10 Inspired design 18 The best is ahead AROUND THE QUAD Leah Phifer teaches Political Statistics and Methodology during Spring 2018. HONORING Augsburg instructor featured in Retiring Faculty TIME MAGAZINE The January 29 issue of Time magazine acknowledged the record-breaking number of women engaged in political campaigns this year and featured photos on its cover of nearly four dozen women running for office. With them was Leah Phifer, an Augsburg adjunct faculty member who teaches courses on politics, policy, immigration, and political methodology. Phifer, who at the time was running for the DemocraticFarmer-Labor nomination for the 8th district seat of the U.S. House of Representatives, was approached for the Time magazine cover story because of her involvement with VoteRunLead, an organization that provides candidate training to women of all parties for local and state level offices. Phifer has served Minnesotans through her work at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. Several faculty members retired following years of dedicated service to Augsburg University. Augsburg is grateful for their commitment to advancing the University’s mission within and beyond the classroom. JEANINE GREGOIRE Associate Professor, Department of Education— with the University since 1996 DONNA PATTERSON Assistant Professor, Department of Education— with the University since 2006 KATHRYN SWANSON Professor, Department of English—with the University since 1985 CELEBRATING 2 AUGSBURG NOW STUDENT SUCCESS Read about the scope of prestigious academic achievements, awards, and honors earned by Auggies during the 2017–18 year at augsburg.edu/now. Board of Regents HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP Augsburg’s Board of Regents was awarded the 2017 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership for efforts including initiating an inclusive, five-year strategic planning effort and leading the institution’s largest-ever capital campaign. The formal recognition came in April at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges National Conference on Trusteeship held in San Francisco. This year’s honorees were chosen from approximately 40 nominations nationwide. “Traditionally, governing boards have stayed out of the public eye except when something goes wrong,” said Richard Legon, president of the association’s board of directors. “But it is important that we honor the best of us and inspire good governance practices in others. These boards’ stories represent some of the sharpest and most innovative thinking in the sector.” Now in its third year, the award is named for higher education leader John W. Nason, recognizing his work as chair of the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council in helping more than 4,000 interned students continue their college studies across the U.S. during World War II. AUGSBURG RECEIVES FUNDING FOR RIVER SEMESTER Augsburg University received $30,000 from Pentair for the River Semester, a high-impact educational program that combines rigorous coursework with an immersive field experience. Sixteen students will travel in four large voyageur-style canoes and camp alongside the banks and on the islands of the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Memphis, Tennessee, from August to December 2018. All participants in this hands-on learning experience will earn 16 credits. PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE COMMENCEMENT 2018 Augsburg celebrates first commencement as a university. Augsburg University celebrated students completing degrees in the traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate, and graduate programs during commencement ceremonies held April 28. The morning ceremony recognized 441 undergraduate students, and the afternoon ceremony honored 497 adult undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students. The class of 2018 was the first class to graduate from Augsburg University. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 3 AROUND THE QUAD Pribbenow appointed to Governor’s Workforce Development Board AUGSBURG NAMED CHAMPION SCHOOL by Special Olympics Minnesota This fall, Augsburg was honored as Champion School of the Year by Special Olympics Minnesota. The award is given to a school or university that outperforms expectations in terms of student leadership, campus involvement, and unified sports—a program in which athletes with intellectual disabilities train and play sports together with partners without intellectual disabilities. According to Devin Kaasa, competition and training manager for Special Olympics Minnesota, Augsburg was selected for the many ways it supported the Special Olympics organization in 2016–17, including: • Participating in a unified rivalry with Hamline University, where the universities competed in flag football and unified basketball; • Engaging in significant volunteer activity, including at the Fall Games, where the Auggie football team filled volunteer spots in bocce and softball; • Holding a “Respect Campaign” and inviting Special Olympics Global Messenger Patrick Elmore to speak about his experience of school bullying; • Hosting “Special Olympics Week at Augsburg” in January 2017 with multiple activities and events; and • Taking the Polar Plunge at Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun) to raise funds. “Augsburg went above and beyond with its participation, and continues to exceed expectations with the program,” Kaasa said. 4 AUGSBURG NOW Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has appointed Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow to a three-year term on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. The board represents key leaders from business, education, labor, government, and communitybased organizations to advise the governor on Minnesota’s workforce system. “I’m proud to represent the state’s private higher education sector as a member of this board,” said Pribbenow, “and to have Augsburg engaged in an integrated effort linking government, employers, education, workforce centers, and employees to sustain a vibrant and equitable Minnesota economy.” The board, which meets quarterly, analyzes and recommends workforce development policies to the governor and the Minnesota legislature to ensure a globally competitive labor pool for the state. Augsburg continues to be top producer of U.S. Fulbright students In February, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs listed Augsburg University as one of the top U.S. colleges and universities in producing Fulbright students in 2017–18. Augsburg ranked No. 9 among 22 master’s institutions, the fifth time Augsburg was ranked on the list. The Fulbright program offers recent graduates and graduate students opportunities for research, study, and teaching in more than 140 countries. Since 2007, Augsburg University has had 28 Fulbright students selected for their academic merit and leadership potential. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH FLORES, © STAR TRIBUNE Interfaith TOUCHDOWN This winter, as the world’s attention focused on Minneapolis and U.S. Bank Stadium during Super Bowl LII, Augsburg also took a turn in the spotlight. Faith leaders from across the Twin Cities and a former Minnesota Vikings star gathered at Augsburg’s Edor Nelson Field to film a football-themed video organized by the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee. The purpose was to raise funds and awareness to end homelessness through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and to promote unity across faiths, races, and politics. Augs burg launches #LOVELOCALWATER initiative Augsburg University is phasing out the use of bottled water to demonstrate a commitment to consume local tap water readily available to everyone on campus. Augsburg’s Environmental Stewardship Committee launched a #LoveLocalWater initiative in May 2017. This new policy aims to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and supports the provision of water as a human right, not a commodity. Since February 1, bottled water purchases have no longer been reimbursed or available at most events. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about Augsburg’s green initiatives. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 5 ON THE SPOT Understanding the sharing economy with Jeanne Boeh When Super Bowl LII came to Minneapolis in February, an estimated 125,000 people descended on the Twin Cities for the big game. But where did they stay? How did they get around? Increasingly, consumers opted into the “sharing economy”—choosing services like Uber and Airbnb. So what exactly is the sharing economy? And how does it impact traditional industries, as well as the economy in general? Augsburg University Professor of Economics and Chair of Business Administration Jeanne Boeh weighs in on the increasing popularity of collaborative services. such as VRBO (lodging) and Turo (cars). Nonprofits are increasingly attempting to share services and equipment not to increase revenue but rather in an effort to reduce costs so that more of their budget can be used for their core mission. Q: How have new platforms influenced traditional industries like hospitality and transportation? A: Q: A: What is the sharing economy? The sharing economy allows individuals and groups to make money from underused assets like their cars or homes. Some economists speak of a new triple bottom line consisting not only of financial returns but also environmental and social benefits by connecting people and resources. The sharing economy also includes nonprofits sharing space or personnel with each other. Q: A: 6 Why are people drawn to participate in the sharing economy? Money is the primary motivating factor in many of the commercial enterprises AUGSBURG NOW Home sharing sites such as Airbnb or VRBO have had an additive effect. Uber and Lyft have served as a substitute for cabs, drastically reducing the volume of business for traditional taxis—I’ve heard by even as much as two-thirds in Los Angeles. Q: A: Are there drawbacks for providers and/ or consumers? Commercial sharing sites work well for those who are middle income or above, but people with lower incomes will have difficulty accessing most platforms without smartphones or technological prowess. Credit cards are often required by these services, also hampering the ability of lowincome consumers to access them. VRBO has attempted to minimize potential problems for both sides of a transaction by offering insurance options. For renters it serves to ensure that the rental will be available and as advertised. On the owner side, damage deposits are collected just as in a traditional rental. Consumers can also buy additional insurance at a low cost to cover any expensive accidental damage. The rapid increases in these markets make it clear that, overall, both providers and consumers are benefiting. Q: The Super Bowl was in Minneapolis in early February and there were widely publicized predictions of a huge uptick in sharing economy participants. Did we see that? A: Airbnb reported $3.7 million was spent on housing during the Super Bowl as a record-high 5,500 listings became available in the Twin Cities. The average last-minute rental was $286 per night. It helped the city because there were simply not enough hotel rooms available. Super Bowl visitors also spent hundreds of millions of dollars on food, shopping, and transportation. One must always be careful to not overemphasize the impact of such events on the underlying economy, especially in the long run. However, the homeowners and workers who earned extra money during the Super Bowl will continue to contribute to the local economy as they spend those earnings. Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn the future of the sharing economy. AROUND THE QUAD Treasures in the Distinguished Teaching and Learning Award winners science labs Augsburg’s new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion features 24 labs and 6,000 square feet of student-faculty research facilities. In the process of moving equipment from Science Hall into the Hagfors Center, Augsburg faculty members and students sorted through devices spanning a variety of applications and a range of eras. One of the oldest pieces of “lab equipment” still in use is a Waring blender from the 1950s. Although these gadgets were initially created as a kitchen tool, Matthew Beckman, associate professor of biology, said these blenders are used in student experiments to break up tissues and show that bacteria mate by exchanging genetic material. The newest lab device moved into the Biology Department was a NanoDrop spectrophotometer, which measures how much DNA or RNA a solution contains by calculating the amount of UV light it absorbs. Although initially purchased for genetics research, the device is broadly used by biologists and chemists at Augsburg. While it’s unlikely that faculty members or students have access to a spectrophotometer in their homes, Beckman said he does keep a Waring blender in his kitchen. As the saying goes, they don’t make ’em like they used to. Augsburg annually recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to creating an engaging academic environment. The 2018 recipients of the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards are: Teaching Dallas Liddle, Associate Professor, Department of English Elizabeth Klages, Instructor, Political Science Scholarship Mary Lowe, Associate Professor, Department of Religion Service Lois Bosch, Professor and MSW Program Director, Department of Social Work SAVE THE DATES: September 13–15 The Nobel Peace Prize Forum—Minneapolis will mark its 30th anniversary in September. Hosted and presented by Augsburg University, the Forum is a platform to educate and inspire a new generation of peacemakers through the exemplary work of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. This year’s program is created around the work of the 2016 Laureate, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, who was instrumental in bringing the South American nation’s 55-year civil war to an end, and the 2017 Laureate, The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, whose work drew attention to the consequences of nuclear weapons use and supported passage of the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty. [L to R]: Dallas Liddle, Mary Lowe, Lois Bosch, and Elizabeth Klages. Visit peace.augsburg.edu for ticket, schedule, and presenter information. COURTESY PHOTOS SPRING–SUMMER 2018 7 BY LAURA SWANSON LINDAHL ’15 MBA his year, John and Kristian Evans started their Thursday mornings off right … and left. At the 6 a.m. DinoMights practices in the Augsburg Ice Arena, young players sometimes put their hockey skates on the wrong feet or jerseys on backward, focusing more on catching up with teammates than on the logistics of assembling pictureperfect uniforms. As a volunteer coach, Kristian describes the weekly 10-minute rush to outfit 20 elementary schoolers for the ice as “pure chaos.” After he and his fellow coaches ensure that skate laces are cinched tightly against players’ tiny ankles and the kids are safely in their gear, these volunteers prepare for a new challenge: channeling the young athletes’ enthusiasm into a successful practice. “It’s crazy how much energy the players have in the morning,” Kristian said. “It’s never a problem to wake them up; it’s always me who’s the sleepy one.” Fortunately, the players’ spirited attitudes are contagious, according to the Auggie, 8 AUGSBURG NOW who is studying communication, marketing, and political science. “They act like a shot of caffeine,” he said. It’s helpful that DinoMights practices leave Kristian with a boost of energy. The thirdyear student was enrolled in a full course load at Augsburg this fall and used his time outside the classroom to intern at a U.S. senator’s office, serve as a sports editor for the Augsburg Echo student newspaper, do play-by-play announcing for Auggie soccer teams, and promote the Nobel Peace Prize Forum—Minneapolis as a student member of the Forum’s marketing team. Volunteering for DinoMights, Kristian said, was a way to carve out time in his schedule for one more thing he loves: hockey. DinoMights builds relationships with at-risk youth in South Minneapolis through hockey teams and training, tutoring and academic support, mentoring, and spiritual development opportunities. As one of approximately a dozen nonprofit organizations that lease athletic space at Augsburg each year—from the CedarRiverside Community School to the Minnesota Sports Federation broomball state tournament—DinoMights benefits from access to quality facilities that are otherwise scarce in the Twin Cities. A passion for hockey—and for Augsburg— runs in the Evans family. John, for instance, has been skating at the university for nearly 40 years. The Augsburg Athletic Hall of Famer played for Auggie men’s hockey teams that won four Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships in 1981 and 1982. While earning two national titles was a thrill, John now looks back on his college days and acknowledges that it’s the relationships he developed with teammates, classmates, and faculty members that truly influenced his life. “It’s [L to R]: Kristian Evans ’19 and John Evans ’82 Kristian Evans ’19 helps a member of the DinoMights Squirt team prepare for hockey practice. Players are 10 or 11 years old. the friendships you remember,” he said. Decades ago, John chose to attend Augsburg because he wanted to live and work in Minnesota’s urban core and was drawn to the school’s pioneering emphasis on experiential education. Today, as fathers and sons go, John and Kristian appear to be more alike than different. Both men played hockey in Norway; John signed a pro contract after Augsburg, and Kristian played there following high school. When Kristian was searching for a college after his junior hockey eligibility expired, at first he thought he’d go to school anywhere but Augsburg, wanting to venture farther afield than his dad and mom, Joan (Moline) Evans ’83. Kristian’s desire to take an entirely new path soon gave way to the revelation that Augsburg’s metropolitan location and commitment to community involvement were a perfect fit for him, as well. And, much like his father, Kristian values the power of Auggie friendships. In January 2017, he was diagnosed with cancer, underwent surgery to remove a tumor, and began chemotherapy treatments to rid his body of any remaining cancer cells. He continued to attend Augsburg full time and learned to lean on his roommates for support, whether he needed help shaving his head after he began to lose his hair or someone to accompany him to chemo appointments. “I have friends who’d walk with me in the middle of winter to the East Bank hospital where I received care and sit with me for three hours before they had class,” Kristian said. “You don’t get that with every group of people, and that fact is never lost on me.” With his cancer in remission, Kristian sees his role with DinoMights as a way to strengthen an important network for Twin Cities youth who face challenges ranging from navigating life as first-generation Americans to living in single-parent households. “It’s amazing to be part of a group that says, ‘We understand that you’re going through some tough stuff, and we will help you in whatever aspect of your life means the most—whether that be through athletics or through faith or through education,’” he said. “That’s why we build communities of support—so that when one of us falls, there are other people who are willing to step in.” For Auggies like John and Kristian who’ve come to embrace Augsburg’s commitments to vocational discernment and civic engagement, DinoMights is just one example of the power of transferring the University’s educational framework to a real-world application. “If you can make one corner of your community better, then you can say you’re doing your part,” Kristian said. “This is what Augsburg teaches when it comes to vocation.” SPRING–SUMMER 2018 9 The Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is the largest academic building on campus. It houses multiple academic disciplines, including biology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, economics, environmental science, mathematics and statistics, physics, psychology, and religion. Several of these departments previously occupied space in Science Hall, which is located across 21st Avenue. BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA “Augsburg sees science as a search for meaning, a collaboration with nature, and a quest for quantitative understanding.” This statement was captured in a 2007 “science credo” authored by Augsburg faculty in the sciences. The credo proclaimed that Augsburg’s science programs should: • Emphasize science in context, seeking out and developing intersections among departments and programs. • Underscore the purposeful practice of science as an essential ingredient to citizenship. • Use Augsburg’s urban setting to highlight the relevance of science in our call to serve our community. This visionary thinking sparked the imagination of faculty leadership across disciplines and led to a vision for a new building concept: a center for science, business, and religion that would not only replace Augsburg’s outdated science facilities, but would foster interdisciplinary collaboration and embody Augsburg’s commitment to its community. That vision came to life this past January with the grand opening of the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, a signature academic building that celebrates Augsburg’s historic roots, contemporary relevance, and promising future. The Hagfors Center was made possible by the generosity of more than 1,200 donors, whose names appear on a glass wall outside one of the ground-floor classrooms. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 11 The exterior colors of the Hagfors Center reflect Augsburg’s Norwegian heritage, connect the decades of architecture represented on campus, and espouse the vitality of Augsburg’s urban setting. The Hagfors Center design complements the colorful residences in the neighborhood surrounding Augsburg. From Old Main to Oren Gateway Center, Augsburg’s campus comprises architectural styles from various decades. PHOTOS COURTESY OF HGA ARCHITECTS The Hagfors Center front doors open onto a brand new roundabout at the west end of South 7th Street, with a direct view to the main entrance of the Foss Lobeck Miles Center and the atrium of Hoversten Chapel. Inside the building, the west wing extends from the lobby at a diagonal that runs parallel to Riverside Avenue. It connects with the north wing in an “open-arms” embrace of the community garden, where neighbors and members of the campus community grow food, build relationships, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. (See story, page 28.) 12 AUGSBURG NOW Community Garden Riv ers ide Ave nue Hagfors Center Foss Center New Green Space Science Hall The Quad Murphy Square Inspiration for the color accents comes from images of brightly colored homes and buildings in Bergen, Norway. Gundale Chapel is named for Elnar Gundale ’33, who emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1930 and studied at Augsburg College and Seminary. He was ordained in 1937 as a Lutheran Free Church pastor and served several parishes for nearly 60 years. He and his wife, Catherine, raised six children (four of whom attended Augsburg). Their daughter, Evangeline, and her husband, Norm, are the named benefactors of the Hagfors Center. The multicolor “Trans:Perspective,” the sculpture in the glass sculpture that Gundale Chapel, was created by artist hangs in the Gundale Bebe Keith and sponsored through the generosity of Augsburg Board of Regents Chapel incorporates Chair Jeffrey Nodland ’77 and Becky textile designs from (Bjella) Nodland ’79. contemporary and ancient cultures and religions. The sculpture also includes glass panels without patterns—suggesting the future of Augsburg yet to unfold—as well as smudges, blurring, and distress to imply imperfection in the world, past and present. From one specific location in the Gundale Chapel, the 3-D sculpture takes on the shape of a cross—a perspective not viewable from any other spot in the room. See a video at augsburg.edu/now. The Hagfors Center anchors the west side of campus, providing new green space that will connect with the quad after the removal of Science Hall and create an open east-to-west pedestrian flow through to Murphy Square. FALL - WINTER 2017 15 The Hagfors Center’s expanded labs provide space for realworld experiments that take longer than a traditional 4-hour lab period. Its grow rooms allow students to cultivate plants for lab courses using modern plant science methods. There are modern meeting rooms for presentations with local businesses and entrepreneurs, aquaria that provide a handson experience with marine aquatic creatures like algae and sponges, and a food lab where students study the physics, chemistry, and social impact of our food systems. There’s even a collaborative makerspace where students build rockets, explore 3-D printing, and more. 14 AUGSBURG NOW PHOTO BY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO BY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY For many years, several Augsburg science departments had dedicated learning and gathering spaces in Science Hall. Augsburg incorporated these “department homes” throughout the new building—providing interactive learning spaces for all science, business, and religion students and faculty. The building also boasts multiple casual learning spaces, which are popular among students of all majors. In fact, during finals week in December 2017—before the building was even officially open—students filled the whiteboard walls in these spaces with notes and equations as they studied together for semester finals. In the skyway that connects the Hagfors Center with the James G. Lindell Library, custom glass etchings bridge disparate disciplines, both figuratively and literally. The etchings, which also make the skyway glass bird-safe, feature unconventional word pairings, such as “define divinity” and “love density,” that are designed to make people think. The skyway was funded through the generosity of John R. Paulson and Norma L. Paulson, whose family also sponsored the skyway link from Sverdrup Hall to Lindell Library. Learn more about the art in the Hagfors Center at augsburg.edu/now. The Hagfors Center is designed to meet the standards for silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability. The building has two green roofs—one on a flexible, ground-floor learning space and one above the front entrance canopy. During construction, Augsburg exceeded its goal of awarding more than 10 percent of the project’s contracts to women- and minority-owned businesses. To ensure the building can adapt to evolving needs over the coming decades, each wing was built on a standard grid that allows walls to be reconfigured to create larger or smaller spaces as requirements change over time. The skyway glass art, “Both/And,” was created by artist Teri Kwant and sponsored through the generosity of Augsburg Board of Regents member Karolynn Lestrud ’68. The skyway art, “Both/And,” was created by artist Terri Kwant and sponsored through the generosity of Augsburg Board of Regents Member Karolynn Lestrud ’68. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 15 CE.COM FINANCE-COMMER E | $1.50 TAG PERIODICALS POS VOL. 131, NO. 14 2018 Project of the Year nter at A e C rs fo g a H e h T Building Blocks: —Design Build Institute of America-Upper Midwest Region “... Hagfors Center exceeds expectations.” —The Echo, January 19, 2018 “The Hagfors Center makes Augsburg more competitive.” —Neal St. Anthony, Star Tribune, March 3, 2018 “Augsburg is one of the most thoughtful, reflective partners that we’ve ever had.” —Bill Blanski, design principal, HGA Architects, Finance & Commerce, January 19, 2018 “We focused on our heritage … experiential learning, our diversity, and our call to serve. That resonated.” —Mike Good ’71, Augsburg regent emeritus and campaign chair for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion, Star Tribune, March 3, 2018 16 AUGSBURG NOW feet of classroo 139,000 square and Religion holds ess sin Bu ce, r for Scien y’s Hagfors Cente Augsburg Universitpolis. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz) helix. An elm tree ms embracing Ave. S. in Minnea reflective of ar communithe Cedar-Riverside uare feet sq ty — holds 139,000 staff offices of classrooms, labs, . It es and communal spac e than or m s ol’ ho serves the sc s. nt de 3,500 stu I BY FRANK JOSS and Name: The Norman er for nt Ce rs gfo Evangeline Ha and Religion Science, Business rsity at Augsburg Unive Ave. S., st 21 0 70 Address: lis po ea Minn gsburg. Website: www.au / er nt ce rs gfo edu/ha r 2017 Opened: Decembe on illi m 3 Cost: $7 chitects Architect: HGA Ar rs and Enginee ough Contractor: McG Construction tion: Property descrip lines cip dis Combining three th wi e llid co es that sometim rs Cengfo Ha e th r, he ot one an siness and ter for Science, Bu tractive at an s te ea cr Religion gsburg UniAu e th to y wa te ga 21st Avenue versity campus on South. ing — The V-shaped build Reprinted with perm middle garden of drop-off. Green ro sections of the bu Moving inside ry, glass-enclosed area has seating, behind glass cur tory Outside, the four-s wall of American ced a pla re ich wh , ing ild bu a small suspe , has a brick by surface parking lot colap ch el where st by façade highlighted windows practice their re y or-coated square ba for better grade ation of difthat signify the loc rtments. holds windowsi pa de ic em ad ac t en fer taken from cam monly found Those colors, com rway, reflect on buildings in No Augsburg’s rwegian No ’s the university communicatio said HGA Lutheran heritage, dent, Rebecca ll Blanski. Bi l ipa inc pr n sig de the school has ate commitme nds hold The Hagfors’ grou sculpture to p s, re tal featu several environmen ter pond, ing muraled s wa among them a gray installation on en on the a community gard replicates the ating area in back side and a se musical nota e a double the front shaped lik ission of Finance & Commerce ©2018 * * + * * * SUMMER 2017 + 0 21st nal spaces at 70 offices and commu oms, labs, staff ing holds Tenants: The build ents: rtm pa eight academic de e, the four-stosiness, chemistry, bu , gy olo Bi d commons physics, psycomputer science, g, classrooms religion. d chology, math, an rtains, and a tall The an elm topped Intriguing tidbits: critical ended triangle a is ing Hagfors build n ca s nt de tu ge’s master element in the colle inneapeligion or pray M by plan, designed .assoc., es. The lobby nd d.a lun os olis-based ce Hall ien sills built of elm Sc said Blanski. The it will m fro mpus trees. t ee str across from re in a tu fu e be demolished in th e green or marketing and m d ad move that will ons vice presispace, he said. t ou a John, points ed s made a passionThe architect enjoy ’s ge lle ent to art, from co e th th wi ing work is one of g ur painting (includsb ug leadership. “A An s). ell l, reflective stairw the most thoughtfu er had,” ev ’ve on the lobby glass partners that we e handwritten id. Blanski sa ation of Martin Lu FALL 2017 rtress is our ther’s “A Mighty Fo symbols th wi d God” — overlai ture. uc str ll ce ’s of the elm * WINTER 2018 e anchors the a circular oofs cover uilding. SPRING 2016 ity Augsburg Univers GROUNDBREAKING APRIL 2016 From groundbreaking to grand opening, construction of the Hagfors Center took 22 months, and was completed on time and under budget. FALL 2016 8 19, 201 Friday | January * PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEPHEN GEFFRE + PHOTOS COURTESY OF McGOUGH CONSTRUCTION GRAND OPENING JANUARY 2018 THE BEST IS AHEAD Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 plays a new role helping plan Augsburg’s 150th anniversary festivities BY GITA SITARAMIAH S ince arriving in 1975 as a first-year student, Jeff Swenson has built a storied legacy at Augsburg University. Swenson was a national wrestling champion as a student and joined the Augsburg coaching staff upon graduation. He then spent 25 seasons as one of the most successful amateur wrestling coaches in the U.S. As athletic 18 AUGSBURG NOW director since 2001, he has led the athletics program through a period of unprecedented growth and improvement. Now, Swenson is playing another key role at Augsburg as Sesquicentennial Steering Committee co-chair, shaping the anniversary festivities planned for the 2019-20 academic year. In a recent interview, Swenson shared his perspectives on the University’s 150th anniversary as well as the importance of academics and civic engagement for student-athletes and why he’s proud to be an Auggie. Despite all of the achievements for Augsburg and Swenson, he feels the best is still ahead. “I’ve never been more excited about Augsburg than I am today.” SE YOU ARE A CO-CHAIR OF THE SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. WHAT DO YOU HOPE THIS MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY WILL DO FOR AUGSBURG? It’s a great time to celebrate our rich history: 150 years, wow! That’s really something special. I’m hoping the sesquicentennial allows us to celebrate the past but also to look toward the next 150 years of Augsburg University. It’ll be a great time to bring people together: faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the institution. Selfishly, I’m looking forward to celebrating athletics’ place in the school’s history. In the past two decades, we were the first university in the state to start a women’s hockey team and a women’s lacrosse team. Last year, we made the playoffs in eight out of 10 sports—the most ever in school history. AUGSBURG ATHLETES ARE INTENTIONALLY CALLED STUDENTATHLETES. HOW DO YOU SUPPORT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT? They’re students first. Every one of our athletes gets a day off of training and games. Professors do understand the demands of students involved in athletics, and they work with the students to help them succeed. Ultimately, our goal is that all students graduate in four years. We want to recruit prospective students and tell them and their families that our students graduate in four years with high achievement in their courses. Our student-athletes’ cumulative GPA averages 3.23, and we’re proud of that. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS INCREASED COLLABORATION BETWEEN STUDENT-ATHLETES AND OTHER STUDENT GROUPS. WHAT’S BEHIND THAT, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE WILL DEVELOP FROM THIS PARTNERSHIP? It’s very intentional, and it’s one of my goals, along with President Paul Pribbenow. Our 2017–18 student body president BK (Bashiru Kormah) ’19 really pushed for it. BK is on the Augsburg men’s soccer team, and he organized a gathering at the president’s house of student-athletes and members of other student groups to talk about experiences and collaborative opportunities. Fostering an even more unified campus culture is hugely beneficial, and I think we’re doing that. We’re very involved with living out the University’s mission in the daily life of athletics. R AT I ON 1869-2019 SQ U IC ENTEN N CE IAL LE B AUGSBURG IS CALLED AS AN INSTITUTION TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR. WHAT’S THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN ATHLETICS? Community service can have a major lifelong positive impact on student-athletes. I will always remember one of my community service opportunities as an Augsburg student. I held a boy who had a severe cognitive disability. I bounced him on my knee, and my objective was to get him to smile. To this day, I remember that experience as much or more than any of the football games or wrestling matches I was in. The Augsburg athletics experience is really well-rounded. All of our student-athletes and coaches participate in at least one community service activity each year. Jane Becker, our head volleyball coach, is our director of athletic community service and engagement. Because of her efforts, we do many more community service activities than in the past. In the 2016–17 academic year our athletes finished with 4,652 community engagement hours and participated in the largest food drive on campus, collecting 410 pounds of food. We are on track to reach or exceed that amount for 2017–18. AS AUGSBURG PREPARES TO COMMEMORATE 150 YEARS, WHAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU? All the relationships stand out for me—from the time I was a student-athlete here and then throughout my career. I’ve seen 10 buildings constructed on campus, worked for four presidents, and held nine job titles, but it would all come down to the relationships more than anything else, including relationships with my coaches, students, faculty colleagues, and my teachers. HOW HAS AUGSBURG EVOLVED AS THE UNIVERSITY APPROACHES THE SESQUICENTENNIAL AND WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE AN AUGGIE? I love that Augsburg is student-centered. We’re at the forefront of society’s changes. We’re inclusive. We’re accepting. We’re innovative in our work. I think the focus in those areas has enabled us to stay ahead of our competition and is why students continue to choose Augsburg. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 19 WELCOME TO Augsburg alumna Katia Iverson ’12 orients newcomers to the United States amid mounting uncertainty and narrowing policies BY KATE H. ELLIOTT 20 Katia Iverson refuses to say “maybe.” She used to say it a lot, as a novice caseworker, unwilling to share disheartening news. But experience has vanquished the word from her vocabulary. “When a mother asks whether her kids qualify for assistance, and you respond with, ‘Well, maybe’ when you know the answer will become a ‘No,’ you give those families false hope,” she said. “It’s much better to be direct and clear: ‘Yes, we can help’ or ‘No, we can’t,’ and if we can’t, let’s not waste time and instead figure out a solution—together.” Iverson is part of a team of 15 “ex-maybe-ers,” who each year assist roughly 400 people—from world-class bodybuilders and doctors to farmers, models, and priests. She and her colleagues guide this cross-section of humanity through securing living arrangements, establishing benefits, landing jobs, and plotting out bus routes to school. Her clients couldn’t be more varied—some are single, while others have 13 children; some speak five languages, while others cannot read or write. But they all share the same status: refugee. Each fled their home country because of persecution based on race, religion, ethnicity, social group, or political opinion. They applied for refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which verified their claims. They applied for resettlement in the United States through a yearslong screening process before the U.S. Department of State invited them to pursue a direct path to citizenship. They arrived on planes, welcomed by strangers. “No one wants to be a refugee,” said Iverson, a team manager for the Minnesota Council of Churches’ Refugee Services. “Many have lived in terrible conditions and experienced unimaginable trauma. Nearly everyone dreams of returning to their homeland— to the family and friends who speak their language, observe their customs, and prepare familiar foods. “Being a refugee is their last option.” AUGSBURG NOW PHOTOS BY RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER, © STAR TRIBUNE Katia Iverson ’12 encourages a new arrival from a refugee family as he practices his English. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 21 he 90-day challenge Refugees resettling in the United States come through a state agency or one of nine voluntary agencies that have cooperative agreements with the State Department to provide reception and placement services. Minnesota Council of Churches’ Refugee Services has welcomed immigrants to Minnesota since 1985, and Iverson has done so on its behalf since 2013. “The clock is ticking from the time refugees walk off the plane. We have 90 days to help them start their lives in Minnesota,” said Iverson, who has welcomed hundreds of refugees to America’s shores. “The federal government provides slightly more than $900 per person to get each family started, but we rely on the support of faith communities, nonprofits, and individual volunteers to help these newcomers gain self-sufficiency.” Iverson is glad to work in one of the more welcoming U.S. states, with Minnesota having resettled more than 90,000 refugees since 1970. But increasingly critical rhetoric around refugees has made life on the front lines tough as the 28-year-old struggles with landlords hesitant to rent to “those people” and discrimination at new arrivals’ workplaces or schools. Increasing day-to-day challenges thicken amid confounding regulations and tightening policies. For the 2018 fiscal year, for instance, the federal government has capped refugee admissions nationwide at 45,000—the lowest in decades—and arrivals aren’t even on pace to reach half that number, 22 AUGSBURG NOW according to the United Nations. “There is fear and uncertainty, but for me, the toughest part of the job remains the short window of time I have with families,” Iverson said of her three-month timeline. “To make real progress, clients need to be open, but they have been telling their life story—almost on autopilot—for years, and trust doesn’t come easily for many of them, especially with strangers.” Building trust among the doubtful Ahmednor Farah has seen Iverson knock down walls of resistance. For four years, the native Somali worked alongside Iverson as a resettlement case manager and interpreter. Katia can flip a switch, he said, from boundless compassion—crying alongside a despairing client—to sober sincerity when she has to administer doses of reality. Clear boundaries within an expanse of empathy is the job. “Katia’s role is challenging, and only a person with her integrity can “Katia managed to learn Somali, as the majority of her clients were Somalis, and she pushes back at the systems working against these families to make sure they receive equitable and just support.” Her family has witnessed Iverson’s devotion. Younger brother, Luke Iverson ’15, roomed with Katia for several years. He comforted her when she would worry about “families not making it” and understood when Katia had to cancel plans in order to meet a new arrival or help negotiate with a landlord. “Sometimes Katia would leave the house at 11 p.m. to head to the airport, but she’d always be at work by 8:30 a.m. the next day, following up with those clients or others,” said Luke, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial in downtown Minneapolis. “Her life is unconventional, but it is the times of deep connection and joy that I believe feed her the most and remind her why she is doing this work in the midst of a climate that fights against her and these families.” It’s all worth it, Katia said. Minnesota has the highest number of refugees per capita nationwide, according to the U.S. Census and refugee-support agencies. With 2 percent of the nation’s population, Minnesota has 13 percent of its refugees. deliver the way she delivers,” said Farah, who now works as a human services representative for Hennepin County, where he said low-income families, including refugee arrivals, apply for food and cash benefits. “There is challenge and sadness in my job, but the positive far outweighs any negative. The resilience of these families is incredible. They are so present and bring with them long-held traditions—how to heal when we don’t Iverson helps refugee families through the steps of resettling in Minnesota, from renting a house to helping children acclimate to their new homes. have a doctor nearby or how to provide emotional healing to one another— that adds a richness to our world. They invite me into a deep foundation of wisdom, and that is a gift.” A heart for service, a passion for others Katia was meant for this work. From a young age, her parents drove their four children from the predominantly white suburbs of Minneapolis to engage in missions in the Phillips neighborhood and other low-income areas. This focus on service inspired Iverson to enroll at Augsburg University, nestled among some of the state’s most prominent refugee settlements. She was an international relations major until her introductory class focused on “the way nations and leaders interacted rather than the humans living in those nations,” Katia said. Mid-year, the then-first-year student headed to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, during which world leaders and peacemakers interact with students and community members. Waiting for a keynote to begin, Katia struck up a conversation about career options with fellow Auggies sitting near her. A voice popped into the conversation: “I’m Professor Frankie Shackleford, and I’m developing a new major: cross-cultural studies. You should consider it.” Katia spoke with the professor of Norwegian—and continued to talk for four years—about the influence language has on our world and the insight people gain when they imagine life through others’ perspectives. “I continue to rely on the lessons I learned at Augsburg as I consider the impact of my work and what I bring to each home,” said Katia, who went on to participate in the Forum’s Peace Scholars program and graduate magna cum laude. “I am constantly analyzing the energy I bring, the questions I ask, and the way I ask them. I strive to be respectful and curious, to dress appropriately for each culture, and to make clients laugh. “Laughter is universal to all people, and it is key to my work. Intercultural interactions provide constant opportunities to laugh when we say or do something a bit off,” she added. “But when both the client and I come with a generous spirit, the response is laughter rather than offense or anger.” Refining her skillset Katia is comfortable being uncomfortable, which she credits to those formative mission experiences that empowered her to become a peer mediator in elementary school and then the first white student on the Maple Grove Senior High School Diversity Council. She embraced new opportunities at Augsburg—traveling abroad SPRING–SUMMER 2018 23 and enrolling in the Bonner Leaders Program, now the LEAD Fellows Program. Her brother, Luke, joined Katia in the service-based, workstudy experience that empowers undergraduates to integrate civic engagement and leadership development into their studies. Katia said the experience honed her ability to adapt, problem-solve, and relate to others. Every year, more than 70 courses at Augsburg include an embedded servicelearning component. Students average 25 hours per semester in servicelearning experience directly connected to course objectives and learning goals. Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL, director for Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, said the Iversons’ experiences reflect the transferable skills and culturally relevant outcomes the program is designed to inspire. “Our LEAD Fellows are engaged in long-term, in-depth communitybased work, and these opportunities are funded, which opens the door for many students who are often unable to engage in service learning because they need to pay the bills,” said Eschenbacher, who guides the 35-40 fellows each year. “Community partners are confident in our students, and some have empowered undergraduates to develop programs like an eight-week nutrition education class for Somali mothers. This is real, impactful work.” Progress emerges from collaboration At Augsburg, the two eldest Iverson siblings shared a focus on those in need but it is a bond with younger sister, Natalie Iverson, that has emerged as of late. Natalie is a secondary ESL teacher at Hmong College Preparatory Academy, a K-12 charter school in St. Paul. As it turns out, several of Natalie’s students are from families Katia serves as a case manager. “It makes me realize how powerful it would be if all systems were in communication, where a teacher could talk to a family’s caseworker and vice versa. I update Katia about a student, and she communicates it with those families, making the families feel seen, welcomed, and supported,” said Natalie, who works with students 11-20 years old. “I can offer her my advice as an educator when she’s got families struggling with school, and she can offer me perspective when I am lesson planning.” Earlier this year, for example, Natalie mentioned to Katia that she was teaching English vocabulary about household problems families might need to communicate to their landlord. Katia offered Hmong, Karen, and Thai language resources related to tenants’ rights, then followed with an ageappropriate presentation she modified from one designed for parents. The sisters maintain that immigrants are the greatest gift our society never knew it needed, and that we should lean into their stories and customs, rather than fear the unfamiliar. Katia urges people to do what they can, from welcoming a new family to the neighborhood, teaching English, writing elected officials, or sponsoring a refugee family through church. The possibilities are endless, Katia said, and there is a way for everyone to welcome others to our nation and set them up to become successful citizens. It’s not work; it’s a calling Has this work changed Katia? Yes. “Although her life is busy, and she is always moving, there are so many still moments of intimate spirituality in her work,” Natalie said of her sister. “Her work allows her to see people in all stages of their lives, both in a literal sense, and in a vulnerable, human sense. And I don’t think anyone can stay the same because of that.” Ahmednor Farah and Iverson show a newly relocated refugee family how to ensure the gas burners on the stove are safely turned off. 24 AUGSBURG NOW AUGGIES CONNECT FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, COURTESY PHOTO T he Augsburg University Alumni Board supports the University’s mission by finding meaningful ways for our members to contribute their time, talent, and treasure. Members meet regularly to create and enhance events where Auggies can network, collaborate, and serve together. Our focus this year has been on connecting alumni with current students. At an annual networking event in February, attendees took part in mock interviews, had their headshot photos taken by a professional photographer, and met with other Auggies working in their industry. Most importantly, students and alumni shared their experiences and stories, often creating longterm connections. Another way the Alumni Board worked to foster connections between Augsburg students and graduates was through piloting a new program called Auggie Take Out. The program matches alumni participants with students who have an interest in their occupation. The alumni volunteers take the students out for informational interviews over coffee or lunch as a way to initiate a mentorship. I had the chance to participate and enjoyed connecting with a second-year student on the football team who is interested in sports medicine. I was impressed by the questions he asked me and the ways Augsburg is helping him plan for his future career. As you consider opportunities to remain engaged with the Augsburg community, I encourage you to join the Alumni Board at an event that’s part of the Auggies in the City series. Learn more about the event series on page 27, and mark your calendar for upcoming outings to see the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota United FC, and Minnesota Lynx. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/events for details and discounted tickets. I invite you to join the Alumni Board as we continue to advance the Augsburg mission through events and networking. We work hard, and we have just as much fun. HOMECOMING October 11–13, 2018 Interested in organizing your reunion? Call the office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu. augsburg.edu/homecoming Go Auggies! NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT SPRING–SUMMER 2018 25 Alumna’s homegrown art featured in Hagfors Center Having grown up in rural Wisconsin, Amy Rice ’93 had always anticipated a life of farming. From a young age, she had an appreciation for art and enjoyed depicting the beauty of nature in her sketches. “I made art my whole life, but never let myself dream or be so bold as to think I could do it as more than a hobby,” she said. When selling her produce at farmers markets, Rice would display sketches of her flowers and tomatoes, incorporating information about the plants into her sketches. She used the drawings as a backdrop for her produce stand to entice more customers. Soon, her art became popular at the market, and people started inquiring about purchasing her work. When Rice realized that she could earn more from her art than from her crops, she decided to turn her hobby into a profession. In 2015, when Augsburg University launched an Art and Identity campaign, an initiative to bring original artwork into the new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, Rice was already working on a long-term project to draw and write about every plant on her 40-acre northern Minnesota plot. Rice’s project connected science and religion by combining the documentation of plant life with the use of liturgical papers to form a type of collage. She also incorporated letterpress samples and her own Augsburg homework into the art pieces, making the project a perfect submission for the Art and Identity campaign. When potential sponsors were invited to view sketches of the art selected for the Hagfors Center, Stephen K. ’67 and 26 AUGSBURG NOW Sandra L. Batalden were immediately attracted to Rice’s “Six Minnesota Wildflowers to Meet and Know” sketches. “We immediately liked her work,” said Sandra, who shares with Rice an appreciation for the letterpress printing featured in the works. “Not only is she using original materials in her paintings, but the unusual botanical subject matter seems to fit perfectly in a building [that hosts] the life sciences. “In addition to botanical accuracy, Amy’s drawings transport us into an entirely new realm as leaves and flowers become frames for musical scores or other chosen texts woven into each piece. What a creative, beautiful expression for a university of the 21st century.” Rice’s artwork is displayed on the fourth floor of the Hagfors Center. Amy Rice ’93 is represented exclusively by the Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis. Each of the plants depicted is native to Minnesota, and five of the six grow in the St. Croix River Valley where Augsburg students do ecological research. The five are snow trillium (Trillium nivale), eared false foxglove (Agalinis auriculata), spatterdock (Nuphar variegatum), obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), and sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale). The sixth wildflower, the Minnesota dwarf trout lily (Erythronium propullans), grows in only three counties of Minnesota and nowhere else in the world. COURTESY PHOTO O T M R A F M FRO AUGGIES CONNECT hosted a discussion at the “Waitress” pre-performance pie buffet about the significance of the all-female production team. For Auggies with children, popular family-friendly events included an afternoon at the Minnesota Children’s Museum with an Augsburg party featuring Auggie Eagle, coloring books, bow tie making, and a photo booth. Another event attracting families was the interactive learning session at the Minnesota Zoo at which a zookeeper brought animals to the Augsburg reception—including a lizard, a porcupine, and a chinchilla— for children to see and touch. Additionally, Auggie families and friends have embraced Minnesota sports as part of the Auggies in the City series. In January, Auggies watched the Minnesota Wild take on the Ottawa Senators, and four attendees won a drawing to ride the Zamboni machine. A number of current Augsburg University men’s hockey players attended the event and mingled with former Augsburg hockey team members. Events this summer included a St. Paul Saints game and—still ahead—a Minnesota Twins game in July and a Minnesota United FC match in August. For more information or to buy tickets for upcoming events, go to augsburg.edu/alumni/events. COURTESY PHOTOS Beginning this past fall, alumni, parents, students, and friends have had the opportunity to attend a number of events in the new Auggies in the City series that offers discounted tickets and Augsburg-specific programs to popular Twin Cities activities. The series includes arts and cultural programming, family-oriented outings, and athletic events. “Auggies love to explore and appreciate the community in which we live. We have had families, couples, and Auggie friends enjoy a variety of activities, ranging from zoo and museum visits to sports events and theater performances,” said Katie Code ’01, Augsburg director of alumni and constituent relations. The theater events have been a sellout success and included tickets to the Tony Award-nominated musical “Waitress,” fan-favorite “A Christmas Carol,” and the family singalong extravaganza “Annie.” The events were complemented with unique, Augsburgspecific receptions or activities. For example, Darcey Engen ’88, associate professor and chair of Theater Arts, SPRING–SUMMER 2018 27 AUGGIES CONNECT GENEROSITY COURTESY PHOTO BLOSSOMS in Augsburg’s community garden COURTESY PHOTO This spring saw the unveiling of the Medtronic Community Garden at Augsburg University. Nestled in the center of the open-arms design of the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion and facing the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, the innovative garden supports food sustainability and the community’s need to grow, sell, and eat healthy food. The garden was designed by Oslund and Associates, award-winning landscapers who describe the reimagined community garden for Augsburg University as “a place on campus to celebrate the diversity of plants, people, and the community it serves.” The innovative style of the community garden attracted interest from Fortune 500 company Medtronic, which donated $100,000 to officially name it the Medtronic Community Garden. “The Medtronic Foundation focuses on expanding access to quality chronic disease care among underserved populations worldwide, as well as supporting health initiatives in communities where Medtronic employees live and give,” said Sylvia Bartley, global director of Medtronic Philanthropy. 28 AUGSBURG NOW Sylvia Bartley, global director of Medtronic Philanthropy [L], takes a moment during the Hagfors Center grand opening celebration to talk with Augsburg Chief Sustainability Officer Allyson Green about the Medtronic Community Garden, which is nestled between the two wings of the building. “We are proud to sponsor the transformation of the Augsburg University community garden in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, where access to healthy foods is scarce,” Bartley said. “Providing opportunities for communities to cultivate their own natural foods is one of the ways the Medtronic Foundation strives to improve the lives of communities around the world.” According to Allyson Green, chief sustainability officer and program coordinator of Augsburg University’s Campus Kitchen program, the redevelopment of the garden has been an opportunity to further Augsburg’s ongoing sustainability work. Promoting food security, reducing food waste, and feeding students through Campus Kitchen programs are just some of the benefits of the on-campus community garden. Another key feature Medtronic provided $100,000 to fund Augsburg’s community of the garden is the garden expansion that will improve accessibility, provide consistent design for additional space for increasing plot demand, and enhance the planter beds— sustainability through compost management and other initiatives. The community garden expansion reflects some of which are Augsburg’s commitment to stewardship of natural resources, raised to make the student leadership around issues of nutrition and wellness, garden accessible and development of public spaces that are both aesthetically to individuals with pleasing and environmentally sound. mobility constraints, while others are traditional, ground-level planters. These distinct planter beds create a physical language that make them recognizable as part of the community garden, which will eventually enable Augsburg to expand the gardens in small pockets to additional locations across campus. The redesign project also widened the pathways between planters and introduced a series of benches throughout the garden to create a welcoming environment for gardeners and nongardeners alike, transforming the west edge of campus into a public green space for Augsburg and its neighbors. ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1969 The chapel in Augsburg’s new Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is named for Elnar Gundal ’33. See page 13. Glen Peterson ’69 began teaching in Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1969 and taught for 40 years at Lakewood Community College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He spent many years coaching and was the director of the ski/ snowboard school at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, Minnesota. In retirement, he continues to help with instructor training. He and his wife, Kathy (Palmer) Peterson ’70, met at Augsburg, and daughter Jessica Peterson ’09 also attended Augsburg. 1943 Legendary high school coach and veteran Stan Nelson ’43 was honored in September by the Anoka, Minnesota, community. Following his World War II service, Nelson coached in Anoka for more than 30 years and won conference championships in ’55, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’72, and ’76, including 33 consecutive wins from ’62 to ’64. 1960 Retired ELCA pastor Rev. Byron Schmid ’60 received his Swiss citizenship and was honored when he returned to Switzerland in September for the 750th anniversary of Rubigen, his ancestral village. He has done extensive genealogical work to document his family history and lead family tours in both Switzerland and Norway. 1968 1976 In November, Larry Morgan ’76 was presented with the Lifetime Recognition Award by the Twin Cities Compensation Network for his work in compensation and human resources. Augsburg Board of Regents Chair Jeffrey Nodland ’77 and Becky (Bjella) Nodland ’79 sponsored a sculpture now on display in the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. See page 13. 5 0-Y EA R R E UNI ON HOMECOMING 2018 Board of Regents Member Karolynn Lestrud ’68 sponsored an art installation for Augsburg’s newest skyway. See page 15. 1978 40- YE AR R E U N I O N HOMECOMING 2018 John Karason ’78 was among 100 Macy’s employees chosen for a national choir to premiere “Home For Christmas” by composer Wesley Whatley during the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. The choir rode atop the new Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree, caroling from Central Park to Herald Square. Grammy-nominated conductor Judith Clurman led the choir, and Broadway director Stephen Nachamie oversaw production. Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 shares his perspective on Augsburg’s upcoming 150th anniversary. See page 18. 1982 Rev. Scott Snider ’82, priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, was named ecumenical and interreligious officer for the diocese in July 2017. Snider is also the pastor of three Illinois parishes in Pierron, Grantfork, and Pocahontas. John Evans ’82 finds a volunteer opportunity unites his Augsburg legacy and desire to serve. See page 8. 1987 Scott Anderson ’87 retired from the City of Bloomington (Minnesota) Public Works Department in September after 30 years of service. Anderson currently owns the Scott L. Anderson Agency, LLC, an independent insurance agency in Maple Grove, Minnesota. 1990 Alisa “Al” Holen ’90 received tenure at the University of Southern Indiana and is now an associate professor of art and design, ceramics. She also was selected as one of the featured artists in the 2018 American Pottery Festival at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. She and her father, Professor Emeritus Norman D. Holen, were honored to present their exhibition, “Nature/ Nurture,” at the Northern Clay Center this past October. 1993 2000 2 5 - Y E A R R EUNIO N HOMECOMING 2018 Guillaume Paek ’00 was named interim athletic director at Burnsville High School, Minnesota. He was previously the athletic director at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Brian Kuhl ’03, an associate at Mayer Brown law firm, and his wife, Jesca Kuhl, generously donate their money to build homes in Uganda. The couple met while Brian worked as a teacher in the Peace Corps. In addition to paying for two homes that house roughly 15 Ugandan children, the Kuhls also have paid for schooling for these children and more than a dozen others. ’03 ’03 Grant Hemmingsen ’07 is the new men’s basketball head coach at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Grant worked his first college coaching job with his brother, George Hemmingsen IV, at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro. Grant [at left] is shown with his father, George Hemmingsen III, before a Cobbers basketball game. ’07 ’07 SPRING–SUMMER 2018 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 2001 Trang Dinh ’01 was awarded the 2017 Excellence in Servicing Award from NorthMarq Capital. Dinh has 15 years’ experience as a portfolio analyst and asset manager, and is a respected, knowledgeable, and accomplished professional in her field. Mark Peterson ’01 recently concluded a successful season of coaching his son, Charlie, on his first- and second-grade soccer team. 2005 Allison (Cornell) Broughton ’05 and Matt Broughton ’06 welcomed new baby, Nicholas James, on June 10, 2017. Nicholas joins big brother Calvin, age four. Timothy “Tim” Stowe ’05 is the principal for Westwood Elementary School in Zimmerman, Minnesota. He previously served as principal and technology coordinator at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, Minnesota. 2008 10- YE A R R E U N I O N HOMECOMING 2018 Brian Krohn ’08 is launching a smartphone app called Soundly. Developed with funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, the app is designed to help people who snore through a voice-activated game that strengthens the muscles in the upper airway. Newly promoted high school guidance counselor Derrick Smith ’08 received the THRIVE Teacher of the Year award for his work with middle- and highschool students. He teaches math and social sciences to eighth, ninth, and 10th graders of diverse backgrounds at a nontraditional Christian school in Augusta, Georgia. 2009 Andrew “Andy” Kent ’09 has joined the University of Minnesota’s hockey program as the team’s AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Eloisa Echávez ’94, ’98 MAL, executive director of La Oportunidad, a social services organization in Minneapolis, was honored by the Minnesota Vikings in September as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. She received a $2,000 grant, which she donated to La Oportunidad. ’94 Margaret Johnson ’96 has committed to a year of service with Minnesota Math Corps. She will tutor students in Roseville, Minnesota, in eighth grade math. ’96 ’15 Alisha Esselstein ’15 and Tyler Dorn ’15 welcomed their son, Liam, on August 14. Kia Burton ’11 is Augsburg’s new alumni engagement program associate. Burton most recently worked at the MHC Culinary ’11 30 AUGSBURG NOW volunteer goalie coach. Kent has spent the last six seasons as the volunteer goaltending coach with the Gopher women’s program and will continue to work with both teams. He served as the goaltending coach for Finland’s Women’s National Team at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, and also served as the goaltending coach for the Augsburg men’s team from 2013 to 2017. 2010 In October, Joe Finstrom ’10 opened Lithium Mastering LLC, a mastering and music production studio in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Finstrom teaches at the Wirth Center for Performing Arts and plays cello in the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from Augsburg, Finstrom attended the Institute of Production and Recording, where he earned an associate degree in audio production and engineering. Katia Iverson ’12 and Luke Iverson ’15 describe the joys and challenges of helping new arrivals acclimate to life in the U.S. See page 20. 2013 Grant Niver ’13 founded Surrender Salmon in Minneapolis in 2016. Surrender Salmon specializes in distributing wild sockeye salmon from Alaska to Twin Cities restaurants, meal delivery services, and farmers markets. 2017 Katelyn “Katie” Davidson ’17 is the new sports and education reporter for the Pierce County Herald in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. While a student at Augsburg, Davidson worked at the League of Minnesota Cities in St. Paul, in the communications and public affairs department. She also worked part-time with Minnesota United FC professional soccer club in the public relations department. SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements. Group assisting the accountant and the sales team. Prior to that, she was a sales coordinator at the St. Paul Hotel, in St. Paul, Minnesota. As an Augsburg student, Burton was a member of the Pan-Afrikan Student Union, worked as a Summer Bridge program mentor for TRIO/ Student Support Services, and served as a residence advisor in Urness Tower. She was also an Auggie Guide and worked in the James G. Lindell Library for four years. their production department. Nelson-Hopkins received a 2017 Emmy Award for his part in producing a commercial advertisement for Padres membership. Mortensen Hall roommates [L to R]: Karen (Sougstad) Richard ’79, Laurie (Nelson) Orlow ’79, Sue (Johnson) Drakulic ’79, and Deanna (Stanger) Feldner ’79 reunited in September. Sue Nelson ’67 received the President’s Award from the U.S. Tennis Association in October. Nelson organizes the Iowa All Stars event, a one-day tournament designed for athletes who compete in the Special Olympics. ’79 ’14 Nial Nelson-Hopkins ’14 is currently employed by the San Diego Padres in As of this past September, Tom Koplitz ’74 [right] and Bill Nelson ’74 are both in the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. They were co-captains of the 1974 Augsburg baseball team. ’74 ’67 GRADUATE PROGRAMS Laura (Swanson) Lindahl ’15 MBA recently was promoted to assistant director of marketing management in Augsburg University’s marketing and communication division, which serves both Augsburg University and Luther Seminary. In her new role, she will continue to serve as editor of Augsburg Now. ’94 ’96 Heather (Smith) Pokrzywinski ’16 MPA was hired by Essentia Health in the Moorhead (Minnesota) Clinic as a physician assistant. Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL, director of the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, describes how Augsburg’s LEAD Fellows Program shapes students and alumni. See story, page 20. ’15 ’11 ’79 ’74 ’14 ’67 SPRING–SUMMER 2018 31 IN MEMORIAM Ruth C. (Gudim) Wold ’41, Mankato, Minnesota, age 100, on December 13. Hazel L. (Lanes) Angell ’42, Carmichael, California, age 97, on November 4. Sigfrid D. (Aadland) Lybeck ’42, Fostoria, Ohio, age 98, on January 10. Stanley R. Erickson ’51, Aitkin, Minnesota, age 90, on January 4. Hubert C. Hanson ’51, Lady Lake, Florida, age 92, on November 27. Harland A. Nelson ’51, Duluth, Minnesota, age 89, on January 31. Robert D. Larson ’56, Everett, Washington, age 87, on January 1. Harris W. Lee ’57, Edina, Minnesota, age 88, on December 27. James D. Plumedahl ’57, New Brighton, Minnesota, age 83, on September 8. Carl H. Woyke ’44, Minneapolis, age 95, on February 28. Marjorie L. (Lindberg) Sveen ’51, Naples, Florida, age 88, on February 5. Edryce Y. Johnson ’46, Fresno, California, age 92, on January 2. Evelyn I. (Breckey) Swenson ’51, Yakima, Washington, age 88, on October 9. Janet M. (Niederloh) Christeson ’58, Georgetown, Texas, age 81, on January 18. Borghild M. (Rholl) Gabrielson ’47, Sun City, Arizona, age 95, on December 13. Glen F. Gilbertson ’52, Edina, Minnesota, age 87, on October 17. Lois R. (Mackey) Davis ’58, Prairie Farm, Wisconsin, age 86, on January 4. Agnes V. (Valvik) Larson ’47, Rochester, Minnesota, age 94, on January 4. David J. Robinson ’52, Maple Grove, Minnesota, age 87, on July 24. Jerome F. Peterson ’58, Princeton, Minnesota, age 81, on January 25. Clifford V. Aaze ’48, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 89, on September 12. Alyce M. (Larson) Thureen ’52, International Falls, Minnesota, age 95, on December 18. Robert C. Westerlund ’58, Brainerd, Minnesota, age 83, on September 21. James W. Adair ’48, Florence, Montana, age 92, on September 11. Joyce D. (Jorgensen) Eckhoff ’53, Benson, Minnesota, age 86, on March 10. Janet L. (Andersen) Fredrick ’59, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, age 79, on October 9. Duane G. Lindgren ’48, Ponsford, Minnesota, age 93, on February 1. Kristian Frosig ’53, Lynnwood, Washington, age 89, on January 16. John D. Wilsey ’60, St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, age 79, on February 20. Margaret L. (Nelson Foss) Nokleberg ’48, Northfield, Minnesota, age 92, on January 1. Lester D. Grafstrom ’53, Salol, Minnesota, age 87, on January 16. Jean C. (Floren) Honken ’61, Harley, Iowa, age 80, on February 17. Sylvia J. (Kolden) Strong ’48, Olympia, Washington, age 94, on November 3. Elaine L. (Hamberg) Elness ’54, Duluth, Minnesota, age 86, on November 12. Ella S. (Warnes) Lerud ’62, The Dalles, Oregon, age 77, on January 16. Calvin E. Larson ’49, Rochester, Minnesota, age 93, on December 20. Paul R. Britton ’55, Corona, California, age 84, on November 17. Carol J. (Jeckell) Arkell ’63, Lamberton, Minnesota, age 77, on November 27. Dorothy L. (Solheim) Schalk ’49, Racine, Wisconsin, age 90, on February 13. Mavis J. (Johnson) Holland ’55, Hendricks, Minnesota, age 84, on February 17. Carolyn E. (Johnson) Johnson ’63, Fullerton, California, age 76, on November 7. Robert G. Eftedahl ’50, Appleton, Wisconsin, age 89, on September 28. Kenneth W. West ’55, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, age 85, on December 6. Barbara A. (Johnson) Miller ’65, Marinette, Wisconsin, age 74, on October 18. 32 AUGSBURG NOW Joyce G. Boyum ’58, Minneapolis, age 86, on December 9. Timothy J. Leaf ’69, Minneapolis, age 71, on December 2. Robert J. Radebach ’71, Eagan, Minnesota, age 81, on February 3. Marilyn K. Bush ’72, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 69, on October 3. Burton L. Haugen ’72, Walker, Minnesota, age 67, on February 1. James E. Carlson ’73, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 66, on April 18. Mary E. (Benesh) Lundstrom ’73, Lafayette, Indiana, age 66, on September 30. George S. Mathison ’75, Brooklyn, New York, age 64, on September 24. Mark R. Johnson ’76, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, age 64, on November 23. Jane L. (Palumbo) Aubuchon ’82, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 58, on February 3. Mark A. Fulfs ’89, New York Mills, Minnesota, age 55, on December 15. Timothy P. Krenz ’89, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 56, on December 31. Mayrlo D. (Grodnick) Kincade ’91, Farmington, Minnesota, age 50, on February 17. Teresa M. (White) Shanks ’92, Shakopee, Minnesota, age 47, on February 18. Marcus Spiro ’19, Redmond, Washington, age 22, on January 25. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before March 15. MEET YOUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE. Get your Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Leadership, or both via the MBA/MAL dual degree at Augsburg University. ALUMNI DISCOUNT: Complete your MBA or MAL studies for less. Augsburg alumni receive an $80 per credit discount. Learn more at augsburg.edu/grad. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031 Following creative whims Described by National Public Radio as “a singer, rapper, poet, author, speaker, and all-around mogul,” renowned recording artist Dessa visited Augsburg University this spring to engage students and community members in a conversation about making a life and a living in music. During her talk, Dessa emphasized that creativity, resourcefulness, and honest enthusiasm are essential components of a musician’s journey. “Indulging one’s imagination is part of the task of being an artist,” she said.
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Title: The Dial 1929, Page 01
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: Pubﬁshed by the LITERARY ORGANIZATIONS OF AUGSBURG COLLEGE. Minneapolis, Minnesota IE!

Title: The Dial 1929, Page 02
Collection: Literary Journals

Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 04
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: l AVIIJVAI I: €3.61! ‘ 0|!)

Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 23
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: THE DIAL 21 that characterized by those big brown spots called freckles. One dark rainy day, the type of day which makes people feel blue and lonesome, I was visiting at the home of a friend. There I met a middle-aged man who under- stood youth exceptionally well. The ﬁrst subject of our...
Show moreTHE DIAL 21 that characterized by those big brown spots called freckles. One dark rainy day, the type of day which makes people feel blue and lonesome, I was visiting at the home of a friend. There I met a middle-aged man who under- stood youth exceptionally well. The ﬁrst subject of our conversation was my red hair. Immediately a disap- pointed expression came upon my face. It was a simple thing for me to don such a facial expression, because I had made a practice of looking disappointed when any- one mentioned my hair. He regretted his indiscreetness and tried to cheer me up by telling how he liked red hair and what nice people red-heads usually were. I looked at him with a hazy and doubtful look, but in my heart I was agreeing with him whole-heartedly. KENNETH LEE SCHMIT, ’38. North Hall . . . Funny how a fellow came to love the place. To begin with, it had seemed to be nothing but a dilapidated, huge wooden box with little pigeonholes for rooms. Now one of those pigeonholes had become his home. His books were there, in the curious home-made bookcases; his fa- vorite pictures were on the walls—over his desk, the awe- inspiring picture of Christ in Gethsemane; his clothes hung in the tiny closet, hid from the room by a brightly colored curtain; and in his trouser pocket was a key— the key to his mansion. Not that he would ever be able to call North Hall beautiful. The dormitory must have been painted ages ago, for successive layers of dust and smoke had changed the original white into a hideous brown color. Nor did the six old-fashioned chimneys add to the appearance of the building. Roger smiled to himself as he thought of the time when every room had an iron stove, and the
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 29
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: THE DIAL 27 small mountains, but the White crests are no longer easily discernible. Near at hand the sea leaps high, but nothing in his own vicinity concerns him. Peter’s think- ing is in that distance. Being on the aft deck, he now views the ship’s wake, the far-removed waves, and be- yond, the...
Show moreTHE DIAL 27 small mountains, but the White crests are no longer easily discernible. Near at hand the sea leaps high, but nothing in his own vicinity concerns him. Peter’s think- ing is in that distance. Being on the aft deck, he now views the ship’s wake, the far-removed waves, and be- yond, the still farther-removed past of Platonia. Yet the past and Platonia are very near this after- noon. For Peter is re-living the years at his Alma Mater. “What busy days they were! Work, work, work. I can still see those restaurants, those paper routes, that student provision store, the employment ofﬁce. Was it .all worth the effort? What did I beneﬁt by it? . . . Hm. . . . Did it make me too concerned about my own rights? . . . Did it make me determined to reach my goal too re— gardless of how much I pressed my own cause? . . . Did it lead to my jumping from one thing to another till I became a ‘scatter—brain’; and did that tendency invade my intellectual realm, that of study and thought? . . . Ach! “But why be a pessimist? All that work certainly gave me self-conﬁdence, and put me on my own feet. . . . It certainly stimulated me to a more thorough self-evalu- ation. . . . And What about the inculcated desire to see a thing well done, to say nothing of the opportunity to meet the business world and its character! . . . Those were vigorous days, anyway! . . . Like this young gale! “I wish Professor Burt were here now. There’s a man with reﬁnement and scholarship. . . . The whole crowd of them is likeable now that I see them in the distance. How different and individual they were! One of them y—he’s just as vivid as a star—those principles of free- dom and truth. . . . Another—reverence for things that .last and are beautiful. . . . . Funny how they come to mind so distinctly! . . . There he is—thoroughness, and :scientiﬁc spirit merged with spirituality. . . . And—ques- tions, piercing ones, dissatisfaction with easy conclusions. . . . Yes, and this one: open-mindedness, brilliance, con- cern for the individual, spiritual living. . . . But how about
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 19
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: Clara’s Christmas Piece Tick-tock! Tick-took! The large clock on the corner shelf slowly ticked away the moments. Little Clara danced about from room to room trying to make the time go more quickly. Perhaps time never does pass as slowly as it does when one is very small, and it is but a short...
Show moreClara’s Christmas Piece Tick-tock! Tick-took! The large clock on the corner shelf slowly ticked away the moments. Little Clara danced about from room to room trying to make the time go more quickly. Perhaps time never does pass as slowly as it does when one is very small, and it is but a short while before the Christmas program at which one is going to “speak a piece” like the big boys and girls. Clara had practised and practised her piece for weeks, until she was able to say it without stumbling the least little bit. Every evening right after supper she had stood in a corner of the large living-room and repeated her Christmas story. Mother and father had sat in the farthest corner of the kitchen and listened. Clara could still remember how tired she had been as she practised speaking “loudly and clearly.” Clara could scarcely stand still while her mother dressed her. She looked at herself in the mirror and smoothed the folds of her new red dress. Her new slip- pers shone like black glass and the curls which had made her so uncomfortable during the night were very pretty now as she carefully tossed her head. Clara wanted to look nice when she gave her piece. After Mother had bundled her up in her wraps and Father had carried her out to the waiting sleigh and tucked her in among the robes in the bottom, Clara felt very, very happy, for at last she was on her way to the program. As the prancing horses drew the sleigh swift- ly over the snow, the sleigh-bells tinkled clearly in the cold and frosty air. Clara liked to listen to their merry tune. She soon heard another set of bells on the road ahead. That probably was Alice and her folks going to the program. Clara wished the horses would hurry so that she could get to the church and see Alice’s new dress.
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 25
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: Platonia Once upon a time there was a little boy who went to college. He arrived early for football camp; fought hard, and believed, when allowed to play through the ﬁrst game of the season, that he had “attained.” This Peter was a credulous, enthu- siastic Nordic. Ambition was to him the...
Show morePlatonia Once upon a time there was a little boy who went to college. He arrived early for football camp; fought hard, and believed, when allowed to play through the ﬁrst game of the season, that he had “attained.” This Peter was a credulous, enthu- siastic Nordic. Ambition was to him the atmosphere. It gave zest to life. Though he would have been embarrassed by admitting it, he had his mind set on nothing less than the managing of a large chain of progressive drug stores, or the en- gineering and direction of some great chemical plant; yes, he would even like to become President of the United States. Down deep in his makeup there seemed to be something crying out for expression. Ambition had always been vital to him. After a Sun- day at church he would, as a mere babe, idle away his time chanting like the preacher, and seeing visions of himself in the pulpit. Later, when Peter’s parents moved into town, Candy Kitchens, Hardware Stores, Grocery Stores, and Pharmacies stimulated his imagination. In the world of fancy he was clerk, delivery boy, and man— ager many times over. When thirteen years old, he bought his conﬁrmation suit with money he had earned by actual work, mowing lawns for bankers and others. He also had a cow named “Star,” a pal that he called his own and almost loved. One activity led to another, so when he left home for college he left also the position of clerk in the local drug-store. 3" * * The college year progressed at Platonia. Peter played football, worked for his board and studied mathematics, chemistry, and composition. Studying lasted till one, two, and sometimes three in the morning. Especially
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 03
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: 2' . . hmiﬁlﬁ on)»; ‘ ‘ ‘ «5" INCLUDING . . . Page HENRIK IBSEN . . . . . . 3 STANZA—a poem . . . . . 8 THE DAWN . . . . . . . 9 “BOOKOS” . . . . . . . DEPENDENCIES—a poem . . . 16 CLARA’S CHRISTMAS PIECE . . 17 MYSELF . . . . . . . . . 19 NORTH HALL . . . . . . . 21 DESPAIR—-a poem . . . . . 22...
Show more2' . . hmiﬁlﬁ on)»; ‘ ‘ ‘ «5" INCLUDING . . . Page HENRIK IBSEN . . . . . . 3 STANZA—a poem . . . . . 8 THE DAWN . . . . . . . 9 “BOOKOS” . . . . . . . DEPENDENCIES—a poem . . . 16 CLARA’S CHRISTMAS PIECE . . 17 MYSELF . . . . . . . . . 19 NORTH HALL . . . . . . . 21 DESPAIR—-a poem . . . . . 22 PLATONIA . . . . . . . . 23 YOU AND I—a poem . . . . 30 REVIEWS . . . . . . . . 31 VOLUME SEVEN NUMBER ONE THE DIAL published by the Augsburg College Writers Club, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 0 Editor . . . . . . . . ABNER BATALDEN Associate Editor . ELISABETH THOMPSON Business Manager . JOHN STENSVAAG Associate Business Manager . LUTHABD HANSON
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 36
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: W. ,m w

Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 05
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: Henrik Ibsen’ “Munich is a very pleasant place to live in,” is the verdict of Henrik Ibsen, and he is unquestionably right. Berlin is also a ﬁne city. But take away its zoological garden and its victory column, and Munich eclipses it in nearly every other respect. Its streets, monuments, public...
Show moreHenrik Ibsen’ “Munich is a very pleasant place to live in,” is the verdict of Henrik Ibsen, and he is unquestionably right. Berlin is also a ﬁne city. But take away its zoological garden and its victory column, and Munich eclipses it in nearly every other respect. Its streets, monuments, public squares, churches, museums, theatres, pleasure grounds, palaces, art galleries and a thousand and one other means of education, reﬁnement and luxury, justly make it the pride not only of Bavaria but of the entire southern half of Teutondom. Therefore no one needs be surprised that Henrik Ibsen has chosen this city for a residence He has gone still further: within the city itself he has picked out one of the most centrally located buildings. His rooms are on the third ﬂoor of a corner building on Maximilian street. This street is in the heart of the city, and as it is about ﬁve times as wide as Washington avenue in Minneapolis, only certain parts of it are taken up by walks and drives. Between these are rows of trees interspersed with magniﬁcent bronze statues of illustri- ous Germans of this century. On this street are also many of the chief public buildings of the city. It has been stated that Henrik Ibsen is rather curt towards reporters, autograph ﬁends, etc. I therefore felt rather uneasy when I yesterday knocked at his door at eleven a. m. sharp, his ﬁxed reception hour. His Ger- man servant girl told me he was not at home and advised me to call again at two p. m. From past experience I was inclined to construe “not at home” into “he does not want to be bothered.” At two p. In. I knocked again and was told that he wanted to see me immediately. Upon entering his room I was met by a man of medium size, but of a strong physique. Every movement betrays a vigorous body knit together by a still more vigorous mind. And What a tremendous head! It seemed as if " Interviewed at his home in Munich by the North’s correspondent.
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 22
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: 20 THE DIAL of my life been so stubborn that I have had to suﬂer for it in numerous ways afterwards. Then after I get over the ill effects of it, I am still stubborn enough to go ahead and do the same foolish things, making it necessary for me to go through the same miserable experiences. Up...
Show more20 THE DIAL of my life been so stubborn that I have had to suﬂer for it in numerous ways afterwards. Then after I get over the ill effects of it, I am still stubborn enough to go ahead and do the same foolish things, making it necessary for me to go through the same miserable experiences. Up until a short time ago I was so obstinate I would not admit that I was stubborn. I have found from ex- perience that this is in certain ways a harmful charac- teristic; but it may be exceedingly helpful, also. Many times I attempt to do something which proves to be difﬁ- cult and puzzling. I am sure if I were not stubborn I would start such questionable undertakings, but never ﬁnish them. It hurts me to have to drop anything I have begun, and I am disappointed in myself when I have to ask someone to help me solve problems with which I am confronted. Of course, it would be a wonderful thing for me if I could rid myself of the noxious in my stubborness and keep its beneﬁcial elements, but try as I have, it is one problem I cannot solve. I am sure if I asked anyone for help with such problems he would be just as uncertain about the solution as I am. We often classify people according to their national- ity. Every group has many things in common. Nationals have many identical habits and are alike in a remarkable number of other ways. Whenever I think of the red- heads as a group I classify them into one nationality separate from any other. They are all somewhat alike, so I believe I am justiﬁed in thinking of them as belong- ing to a single nationality. They all have different per- sonalities and characteristics, but that is true also of the people in any national group. Red-heads share another possession, which I almost neglected to mention. They all have an exceptionally tender skin which causes them many troubles. During the hot summer days very few of them are seen out in the sun without shirts; because they have a skin that will sunburn a hundred times a year, but will never be- come tan. The only tan I have ever been able to get is
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 11
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: Several days had passed since the celebration of Chanukah, the Hebrew feast of lights. It was a cheery, gener- ous season, and its kindly inﬂuence might still be observed in some of the most earnest followers of Moses and the most ardent admirers of the Macabees. It was such a man who on this...
Show moreSeveral days had passed since the celebration of Chanukah, the Hebrew feast of lights. It was a cheery, gener- ous season, and its kindly inﬂuence might still be observed in some of the most earnest followers of Moses and the most ardent admirers of the Macabees. It was such a man who on this night was seen swinging joyously homeward along the roughly paved streets. His long, fringed robes proclaimed him a Pharisee; his free, manly stride showed him a vigorous, alert gentleman of high birth and up- right character. As he went, he sang an old Hebrew hymn of praise: Thou art mighty and glorious, Creator of Heaven; Who is like Thee? Thou art surrounded with majesty. Who is like Thee? Thou rememb'reth Thy covenant and art kind Who is like Thee? Thou forgivest sin, and art clothed in truth, Who is like Thee? Thou art most exalted, King of Kings: Who is like Thee? Redeemer, deliv’rer, Thou rulest in glory; Who is like Thee? Thou art nigh unto them who call upon Thee Who is like Thee? Thou dwellest in Heaven and supportest the just; Who is like Thee? Suddenly the glory of the music was hushed as the man met another young Rabbi. “Shilom,” was the ready greeting. “Shilom, Rabbi,” returned the other. - arams:smmmmmsmm
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 16
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: 14 THE DIAL briefcivilmatters. Buttheﬂfthcaseread: ‘Hia Majes- ty, the King‘Empei-or vs. Kalu Baskey.’ That would come up about two o’clock that afternoon." "When court reopened after noon two sirdim came leading the lad up to the dock. A chem brought the ﬁles of the casein from Court Number Four...
Show more14 THE DIAL briefcivilmatters. Buttheﬂfthcaseread: ‘Hia Majes- ty, the King‘Empei-or vs. Kalu Baskey.’ That would come up about two o’clock that afternoon." "When court reopened after noon two sirdim came leading the lad up to the dock. A chem brought the ﬁles of the casein from Court Number Four. As I picked up the ﬁles, my hands became soiled with brown earth that stuck to the under side of the bottom ﬁle. I made a mental note to issue an order that ﬁles be kept in better condition.” Again the Commissioner paused to shake oi! ashes from his cigar. Then he continued, “Kalu had not been able to hire a lawyer to defend him. On the other hand. I saw that the prosecuting lawyer was being assisted by one of the local valcils, a hard fellow, concerning whom I had had previous occasion to know that he stopped at nothing to win his cases. Where there were no wit- nesses, he bought them; and how he had sometimes ob- tained confessions was a notorious matter around the courts. In his hands I knew that Kalu was in for a bad time.” “The court chaprassi announced that all were present, and the court was called to order. The prosecuting vala‘l arose and brieﬂy outlined the case. It seemed that they were ready to prove that Kalu had killed his wife and disposed of the body by ﬂoating it down the river. It was in the rainy season, and the current was swift. No trace of the body had been found, but he would produce witnesses who had seen Kalu at the river in the dead of night. Furthermore, he would depend his case upon the signed confession of Kain, which, he added, was now in the court records. “I tried to open the ﬁles to ﬁnd the confession, but was unable to separate the covers Without a sharp pull. As they opened, my desk became littered with wet, brown soil of the kind we just saw on that backstop pos ." He indicated the post where the mali had just been destroy- ing the white ants. “The prosecuting attorney was standing near me,
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 01
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: Winter . 1934~35

Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 02
Collection: Literary Journals

Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 12
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: 10 THE DIAL And they stopped to converse a moment before con- tinuing on their way. “Do you know, Rabbi,” said the ﬁrst, “there is one passagefromthescrolloftheProphetIsaiahthathu stayed by me longer than any other. I have often read it before and thought of it long, until now it rarely leaves me...
Show more10 THE DIAL And they stopped to converse a moment before con- tinuing on their way. “Do you know, Rabbi,” said the ﬁrst, “there is one passagefromthescrolloftheProphetIsaiahthathu stayed by me longer than any other. I have often read it before and thought of it long, until now it rarely leaves me." “Which one?” “This one: ‘Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given, and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Coun- sellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The government shall be upon His shoulders, and of the increase of His government there shall be no end.’ " The Rabbi instantly replied, “It is no wonder that you should remember those words. They are full of hope and promise, and there are times when I feel that they are very near their fulﬁllment. But speaking of marvellous things, have you noticed anything strange in the Heavens? For two nights now a new star has appeared, seeming to move in the direction of Bethle- hem.” “Is that so unusual?” the other asked. “You forgot to mention that the star was one of the largest and brightest ever seen in our skies.” He stopped abruptly as if listening for some faint sound. “Hark! what was that?” “What? I heard nothing!” “I thought I heard strains of wondrous music from far away across the plains." Both men stood listening in rapt attention, for there was no longer any doubt of the sound which had stirred their interest. It seemed to them the most beautiful mu- sic they had ever heard. And as they listened, a heaven- ly radiance shone ’round about them, a benediction of glory. The Daystar had arisen. God had sent His light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of His people, Israel. ELISABETH THOMPSON, ’36.
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Title: The Dial 1934-1935, Page 20
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: 18 THE DIAL She knew it was blue because Alice had whispered that much to her in school the day before. It was hard for Clara to see anything over the top of the sleigh because of all her wraps; but by twisting her head in a certain direction she could see one bright little star twinkling in the...
Show more18 THE DIAL She knew it was blue because Alice had whispered that much to her in school the day before. It was hard for Clara to see anything over the top of the sleigh because of all her wraps; but by twisting her head in a certain direction she could see one bright little star twinkling in the early evening sky. This made her think of her piece, and Jesus with His mother. Suddenly she sat up very straight. She couldn’t re- member the ﬁrst line! Her heart stopped for a second; her throat felt dry; her head seemed tight. All at once, however, the familiar lines came back. Of course. she couldn’t forget those words which she had repeated so often. They had become almost a part of her. The church was reached at last. Many other teams were standing about in the churchyard. The horses were all covered up with blankets and were hitched to short posts. As Clara entered the door, she found Alice waiting for her. They hurried to the front of the church to take their places with the other boys and girls. Clara looked about her with eyes full of wonder and delight. At the front of the church stood the tall Christ- mas tree with its branches nearly touching the ceiling. At its top was a great big shiny star and around the foot were piled the gifts, big and little boxes. Across the front of the church were the glittering words: “Glory to God in the Highest . . .” “Why,” thought Clara, “that’s my piece. The words look just like those of the angel’s song turned to silver.” The program, the minister’s voice as he read the Christmas text about the shepherds and the angels, the songs and the exercises all entered Clara's little brain as whispers in a dream. When she heard her own name called and knew that it was time for her to give her little piece, she became cold and shaky all over. It seemed like such a long way from her seat to the platform. The church looked large and ﬁlled with strangers. Clara felt
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