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Title: Augsburg Now Fall-Winter 2017: Auggies Make an Impact
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: An alumna’s cutting-edge research Augsburg University Day Women of influence Nobel Peace Prize Forum AUGGIES MAKE AN IMPACT FALL–WINTER 2017 | VOL. 80, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing...
Show more An alumna’s cutting-edge research Augsburg University Day Women of influence Nobel Peace Prize Forum AUGGIES MAKE AN IMPACT FALL–WINTER 2017 | VOL. 80, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu Assistant Director of Marketing Management NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On celebration Augsburg’s ninth president, Bill Frame, was fond of pointing out our “militant modesty,” the tendency to avoid touting our accomplishments for fear that we might be accused of boasting. Whether occasioned by our Lutheran faith tradition or Scandinavian roots (or some combination thereof), this modesty meant that often our good work as an institution was hidden under a bushel. Now, as someone steeped both in Lutheran and Scandinavian ways, I may have occasionally fallen victim to that same modesty, but perhaps I am being rehabilitated because there is just so much to celebrate at Augsburg these days! We can no longer hide our light, as this issue of Augsburg Now most clearly illustrates. Whether it is our name change to Augsburg University, officially celebrated in early September; the 29th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum in mid-September, attracting international attention for this remarkable gathering of Nobel laureates and other peacemakers; the progress on the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, our signature academic building to open for classes in early January 2018; or one of the myriad other signs of good work—like the renewal of our McNair Scholars program, preparing first generation and students of color for graduate and professional school—I just can’t deny the need to celebrate! So, here’s my point. I’m all for humility and modesty in pursuing the mission-based work we are called to do for our students and our community. The gifts we share as a community—our values and commitments, our faculty and staff, our alumni and partners, and our inspiring students—these truly are gifts to be stewarded responsibly, not exploited. But it is not boasting when we celebrate how those gifts come together and are deployed to achieve our distinctive calling in the world: to be small to our students and big for the world, to educate students as informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. In fact, I might argue that not celebrating what has been achieved means that we miss the opportunity to proclaim what God has done in our midst and how others are invited to join us in the work we are called to do. We live in a world marked by a sense of scarcity; Augsburg models what it means to model the way of abundance. We choose abundance, and we celebrate all that God has made possible at Augsburg University—surely a beacon of light and hope in the world. Faithfully yours, Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Denielle Stepka ’11 johnsod@augsburg.edu Web Manager Joe Mann mannj@augsburg.edu Communication and Social Media Specialist Briana Alamilla ’17 alamilla@augsburg.edu Advancement Communications Specialist Asha Sorenson sorenso3@augsburg.edu Contributing Writers Kate H. Elliott Jessica Mueller All photos by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated. augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official University policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu AUGSBURG NOW Fall–Winter 2017 The Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is located near the corner of 21st Avenue South and South 7th Street on Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus—a site strategically selected to further connect the University to the community. 02 Around the quad 19 Women of influence 08 Annual report to donors 22 Auggies connect 10 Augsburg University Day 26 Class notes 12 The fatherhood bonus and the motherhood penalty 32 In memoriam 16 Nobel Peace Prize Forum On the cover The Augsburg University quad featured vibrant autumn colors this October. Photo by Kevin Healy. Inset photo by John Solem, University of Massachusetts Amherst. that Augsburg University’s quad now boasts a splash of color. At more than 82 feet wide, the vinyl graphic installed on Science Hall’s eastern-facing facade is nearly impossible to miss. The design pairs an excerpt from Augsburg’s strategic vision statement with vibrant hues chosen to reﬂect the accent colors on the exterior of the new Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, which stands northwest of Science Hall and is blocked from view in the quad. One of the priorities outlined in Augsburg’s 2016 campus master plan is to extend the quad from the west edge of campus, through the existing campus core, and on to Murphy Square. This vision requires the demolition of Science Hall, which will be possible only after departments and program offices now housed in the facility relocate following the completion of the Hagfors Center. The timeline for this work is not yet determined, so, in the near term, those strolling through the heart of campus or navigating nearby streets will see Science Hall stand as an illustration of Augsburg’s vision to be “small to our students and big for the world.” 160 Y E A R S A G O Fifteen years before Augsburg moved in next door, Edward Murphy donated land for the first city park in Minneapolis— what is now Murphy Square. For years prior, the parcel had been used as a cow pasture. 1937 1857 LOOKING BACK: DECADES OF AUGSBURG HISTORY BEFORE AFTER ARCHIVE PHOTOS 8 0 Y E A RS A GO Augsburg elected an erudite and scholarly teacher, Bernhard Christensen ’22, ’25, to be president. He led the institution for nearly 25 years, during which time Augsburg made vigorous efforts to expand and enhance academic offerings. 1967 IT WOULD BE OVERLY MODEST to claim 5 0 Y E A RS A GO Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel played for more than 3,000 people in Si Melby Hall on Nov. 10, 1967. According to an Augsburg Echo review, the lengthiest applause was reserved for the song, “To Emily, Wherever I Might Find Her.” The same year saw the openings of Urness Hall and the Christensen Center, with the Marshall Room at the time serving as a faculty lounge to the resentment of the Echo’s editorial board. PHOTO BY MARK CHAMBERLAIN CURB APPEAL AROUND THE QUAD Where faith and public life meet 30 Y E A RS A GO Augsburg began offering its first graduate degree program, the Master of Arts in Leadership. Augsburg now offers nine post baccalaureate programs and set an enrollment record this fall with 1,035 master’s students. 2007 40 Y E A R S AG O Construction began on what is now the Charles S. Anderson Music Hall, which would open a year later, bringing the entire music department under one roof for the first time in 100 years. AN AUGGIE THROWBACK PHOTO BY REBECCA SLATER 1987 1977 The Rev. Mike Rusert [center] and members of Intertwine NE meet on a Sunday morning to plan a December 10 launch event designed as an inclusive experience for young adults interested in being part of an intentional spiritual community. PHOTOS BY DON STONER It is no secret that the gap between young adults and Christian congregations is widening. The good news, though, is that young people are not rejecting faith or religion; many are living out their faith through political activism, the arts, environmental stewardship, and interfaith engagement—places where public life and faith intersect. Bridging this gap will require congregations to adapt and innovate. To support this adaptive work, Augsburg’s Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation has launched a five-year project, called the Riverside Innovation Hub, with $1.5 million in funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc. In its first year, the Riverside Innovation Hub will work with an interdisciplinary research team of Augsburg faculty to study 12 local congregations that are effectively engaging young adults in their communities. Using the lessons learned from that research, the program will recruit and train a cohort of youth to serve as coaches, working alongside approximately 15 partner congregations committed to new ministry with young adults. “Partner congregations can then apply for two-year innovation grants to implement their programs in 2019 to 2021,” said Kristina Frugé, program manager for the Riverside Innovation Hub. At the end of that experience, all program participants will share their key learnings. Augsburg will publish the results and share the outcomes and insights through conferences and workshops. “Vocation is at the center of this project,” Frugé said. “For congregations, it’s about discerning their call in relationship with their young adult neighbors. For young adults, it’s about a connection with a Christian community who can accompany them in exploring how faith and public life intersect in ways that matter most to them.” Melissa Lee ’04, Augsburg’s head softball coach, threw out a ceremonial first pitch before an August Minnesota Twins game at Target Field as part of the team’s annual Lutheran Night festivities. Lee joined former St. Olaf pitcher the Rev. Charlie Ruud, with the pair dressed in costume as historical husband and wife duo Martin Luther and Katharina (von Bora) Luther in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the 1517 Protestant Reformation. Ruud previously served as a Campus Ministry intern at Augsburg. 1 0 Y E A RS A GO In 2007, Oren Gateway Center opened, connecting Riverside Avenue with the James G. Lindell Library, which opened a decade earlier. OGC will lose the distinction of being Augsburg’s newest building when the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is completed in late 2017. FALL - WINTER 2017 3 A N O T H ER F IV E YEARS OF SERVING SCHOLARS Every year, more than two dozen undergraduate students participate in Augsburg’s McNair Scholars Program, an intensive 21 months of graduate school preparation that opens doors to some of the most competitive institutions in the U.S. What’s more, these McNair Scholars are from populations who statistically are less likely to have the opportunity to pursue advanced research and doctoral degrees—firstgeneration college students with financial need and/or students from racial and ethnic populations who are underrepresented in Each year, Augsburg selects two graduate education. McNair Scholars to represent Now, with a five-year renewal of its grant, the University at the Minnesota Private College Scholars Showcase Augsburg’s McNair Scholars, a federal TRIO at the Minnesota State Capitol. program funded by the U.S. Department of Education, will be able to continue supporting these students’ pursuit of advanced degrees through at least 2022. The McNair Scholars Program was created by the U.S. Congress in honor of Ronald E. McNair, one of the first African American astronauts in the U.S. space program. Augsburg’s program provides graduate school preparation workshops, travel to a national research conference, hands-on scholarly research projects with faculty mentors, and more. Since 2007, according to “Tina” Maria Tavera, director of the McNair Scholars Program, Augsburg McNair Scholars alumni have completed or are currently pursuing more than 30 master’s degrees, 19 doctoral degrees, two medical school degrees, and two doctor of pharmacy degrees. With nearly $1.2 million of future funding, Augsburg is excited to see further program success. Augsburg awarded $475,000 to infuse sustainability in university life Augsburg University has new opportunities to live out its commitment to sustainability on campus, in the community, and among institutional partners thanks to nearly half a million dollars in new grant funding from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, a Minnesota-based foundation that believes colleges and universities can serve as models of operational sustainability for society at large. Using the grant award, Augsburg will facilitate student internships and other experiences at sustainability-focused organizations, strengthen and expand course offerings in Environmental Studies, fund student and faculty research, integrate In 2015, the Margaret sustainability and wellness A. Cargill Foundation contributed $1 million to across the academic the campaign to build the curriculum, and more. Hagfors Center for Science, “The next breakthrough Business, and Religion. in sustainability could come from a student majoring in communications, philosophy, or education,” said Allyson Green, Augsburg chief sustainability officer. “For all of us to live on this planet sustainably and equitably, we need all perspectives, experiences, types of knowledge, and skill sets to be part of the work.” Did you know? AN OC C A S IO N TO C E LE B R AT E Augsburg event series honors Reformation anniversary Augsburg held a series of events this fall marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. To kick off the series, Augsburg was honored to host ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton for two events: the Christensen Symposium, which focused on interfaith friendships, and a panel discussion with representatives of #DecolonizeLutheranism, a grassroots movement challenging long-held patterns of white power and privilege in the ELCA and stereotypes of what it means to be Lutheran. The series continued in October, in observance of Heritage Day, when Mary Lowe, associate professor of religion, invited community members to consider Martin Luther’s perspectives on bodies and creation. Lowe explained how—even today—Luther’s theology relates to complex issues. Lowe discussed themes related to climate change, gender and sexuality, abuse, and deforestation. In November, award-winning musical group The Rose Ensemble presented “Welcome the People: The Musical Legacy of the Reformation.” The ensemble creates musical performances and educational programs that connect audiences to compelling stories of human history, culture, and spirituality from around the world. The celebration ends with this year’s Advent Vespers, the theme of which is inspired by Luther’s hymn, “From Heaven Above.” Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about Augsburg’s Reformation event series and Advent Vespers. 4 AUGSBURG NOW AROUND THE QUAD MAKING HISTORY VISIBLE In the basement of Wilson Library at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a team of researchers is working to map the history of racial segregation in Minneapolis. The group is unearthing racial restrictions buried in Minneapolis property deeds to create the first comprehensive visualization of historical racial covenants for a U.S. city. The project, called Mapping Prejudice, started with Augsburg’s Historyapolis Project, which seeks to illuminate the history of Minneapolis and has traced the roots of the city’s present-day racial disparities through historical research. To date, Mapping Prejudice researchers have found around 5,000 property deeds containing language that historically restricted ownership of residential properties by race. Enforcing these restrictions has been illegal in Minnesota for more than 60 years, but the records provide insight into the racial segregation that persists in Minneapolis neighborhoods. “Minneapolis is known for its parks, high-quality schools, and progressive politics,” said Kirsten Delegard, director of the Historyapolis Project and Augsburg scholar-in-residence. “Yet we have the highest racial disparities in the country.” Delegard said racial covenants were once pervasive in many U.S. cities and were instrumental in remaking the racial landscape of Minneapolis, which had not always been segregated. As many as 10,000 or more Minneapolis property deeds may contain such racially restrictive language. One of those properties is the Augsburg House, a residence on West River Road in Minneapolis that the University purchased in 1998. “When I saw the information that the Mapping Prejudice team had compiled for south Minneapolis, I suspected that Augsburg House originally had a racially restricted deed,” said Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow. “Nearly every new development in south Minneapolis in the early 20th century carried those types of restrictions.” The property’s 1926 deed didn’t initially show up in the project’s electronic search process because the document was handwritten, but Delegard was able to locate the deed manually. The University has sought legal counsel regarding options for clarifying that Augsburg does not support discriminatory restrictions on the property. “At the same time, we want to ensure we maintain the historical record represented by the deed,” Pribbenow said, “so that we never lose track of the disgraceful manners in which covenants were used to segregate our communities and to inﬂict real harm on so many.” The Mapping Prejudice project is a massive undertaking, so the group strives to engage volunteers in the work. Many Augsburg students have become involved, including two history students who did semester-long internships last year helping build a digital map display and an entire history The Mapping Prejudice team includes Kevin Erhman-Solberg ’14 [left], a University of Minnesota graduate student in geographic information science; Penny Peterson [center], a veteran property records researcher; Kirsten Delegard [right], director of the Historyapolis Project and Augsburg scholar-in-residence; and Ryan Mattke [not pictured], a map and geospatial information librarian from the University of Minnesota. class that is working with the project throughout the fall semester this year. Several sociology classes got involved this past spring and summer, helping develop the program’s volunteer outreach strategy. Students from Pribbenow’s honors seminar also helped transcribe deeds this past spring, and a cohort of Augsburg first-year students engaged in the work as part of City Service Day at the beginning of the 2017 academic year. “We absolutely could not have developed the project without this kind of participation from both students and faculty,” said Delegard, who is continuing to seek funding that will allow the project to get even more students involved in all aspects of the work. Go to augsburg.edu/now to link to an interactive map illustrating the spread of racially restrictive deeds across Minneapolis during the first half of the 20th century and to learn more about getting involved in Mapping Prejudice research. FALL - WINTER 2017 5 AWARDS 2017 Top 25 LGBTQ-friendly Colleges & Universities: Augsburg was named to Campus Pride’s list of the top 25 LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities in 2017. Campus Pride is the leading national organization for creating safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. Top 50 nationally for contribution to the public good: Augsburg was the No. 2 institution in Minnesota named by Washington Monthly in its 2017 Master’s Universities rankings. The list rates schools based upon their contribution to the public good in three categories: social mobility, research, and service. Top 25 schools for service-learning: Augsburg has been named one of U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 Top 25 Colleges and Universities for Service Learning. The sole Minnesota school on this list, Augsburg requires volunteering in the community as an instructional strategy. Schools garnering recognition were nominated by fellow institutions, college and university presidents or deans, and chief academic officers. At its September meeting, the Augsburg Corporation elected four additional members to the Board of Regents and re-elected three currently serving members. In addition, in accordance with the bylaws for Augsburg University, two bishops were appointed as ex-officio board members this fall. Augsburg University welcomes these new regents and thanks them for their service. • Eric J. Jolly, president and chief executive officer of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. Jolly previously served on the Augsburg Board of Regents from 2008-2015. • Cynthia G. Jones ’81, senior level advisor for nuclear safety and analysis at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Jones previously served on the Augsburg Board from 2010-2012. • Dean Kennedy ’75, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Texakoma Oil & Gas Corporation. Kennedy previously served on the Augsburg Board from 2005-2013. • Karolynn Lestrud ’68, retired photography and publishing industry professional; former board member in historic preservation and performing arts organizations; and active volunteer in arts, education, and theater. COURTESY PHOTO Elected to a new four-year term in 2017: Eric J. Jolly COURTESY PHOTO Recognition for being student-centered: For the second year in a row, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranked Augsburg No. 2 in Minnesota for student engagement in the learning process in their ranking of U.S. colleges and universities. The student engagement score is based largely on results of a student survey that addresses how challenging classes are, whether they foster critical thinking and prompt students to make connections to the real world, and how much interaction the students have with faculty and other students. WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS Cynthia G. Jones ’81 COURTESY PHOTO Best Regional Universities: U.S. News & World Report again named Augsburg among the best universities in the Midwest. Rankings are based on factors including average firstyear retention rates, graduation rates, class sizes, student-to-faculty ratios, acceptance rates, and more. BOARD OF REGENTS Elected to a second four-year term: • Wayne Jorgenson ’71, senior vice president of wealth management at UBS Financial Services Inc. • Dennis Meyer ’78, chief marketing and business development officer at Robins Kaplan LLP • Pam Moksnes ’79, vice president for gift planning services, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, through the Lutheran Church Extension Fund Elected to a third four-year term: • Ann Ashton-Piper, president of the IT consulting firm The Bridgie Group Appointed as ex-officio members of the Board of Regents for a three-year term: • The Rev. Patricia J. Lull, bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod • The Rev. Steven H. Delzer, bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Dean Kennedy ’75 PHOTO BY CAROLINE YANG Augsburg University is consistently recognized for excellence. This year’s accolades include: Karolynn Lestrud ’68 S T C FA AROUND THE QUAD ON THE SPOT Communications expert describes history and peril of “fake news” WHILE THE TERM “FAKE NEWS” IS RELATIVELY NEW, the phenomenon, of course, is not. People throughout time have been motivated to share false information in ways that give it the appearance of legitimacy or to discredit accurate information in order to serve their own interests. Newer, digital media channels have made the tools to do so readily available and more effective, according to Jenny Hanson, assistant professor of communication studies, film, and new media. What’s more, social media sites tend to present users with information that confirms existing biases. In her classes, Hanson teaches students the media literacy skills necessary to be critical consumers of the news. Q: A: What is the history of “fake news” in media? Fake news has been around for centuries; it’s probably as old as humans’ ability to communicate. People seem to have a natural desire to tell tall tales. After all, spectacles draw crowds and outlandish stories trend. Fake news took off with the invention of the printing press in 1439, in part because stories were difficult to verify and mass distribution meant news could travel relatively quickly. A journalistic code of conduct toward objectivity and the practice of fact-checking did not yet exist. Stories about strange beasts, hideous crimes, and falsified scientific discoveries sold papers, and for advertising-supported publications, that was the goal. As journalism evolved and as newspapers came to rely on subscription models, impartiality and accuracy became guiding principles. In the 1980s, standards changed when cable TV made the 24/7 news cycle a reality. Next, the internet created alternate—and rapid— means of news distribution and increased access to content-creation tools among the general population. Today, new reasons for using fake news are emerging: to distract, to challenge existing knowledge, and to raise doubt about the validity of information, all in order to favor particular interests. In this way, calling something “fake news” and creating fake news both can be used to advance political, social, or personal interests in a way that functions more like propaganda. Calling something fake triggers a reaction in us to question and doubt, thereby decreasing our confidence in the information and opening us up to different possibilities. Q: A: What are the potential real-world implications? There are immense implications when news is inaccurate. Journalists understand that if they misreport, misquote, or just plain get the story wrong, there are often legal implications, damage to the outlet’s reputation, and harm to those wronged. When fake news is used as propaganda, it threatens the very legitimacy of news itself, inviting us to believe what is most aligned with our own ideologies rather than what actually is. The damage can be widespread, creating lasting impacts that go on to shape industry, policies, procedures, culture, artifacts of history, and society. Q: What can individuals do to protect themselves from falsities and to process news and information critically? A: There are many actions people can take to become savvy information consumers. The advice we tell students includes getting your news from a variety of sources, seeking connections on social media who have viewpoints differing from your own, and reading beyond the headline and before sharing information. In a critical reading, check the author’s credentials, watch out for emotional appeals or outrageous claims, look to see that sources are named and are experts in their fields, review the article date for context, and consider your own bias. Understand the source and their interests, and be sure websites are the official sites and not ones intended to mimic another’s appearance. Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn more about the line between falsehood and satire. FALL - WINTER 2017 7 2016-17 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT When you give to Augsburg, you aren’t just supporting a private university—you’re paving the way for students to make a living, make a life, and make a community. The impact of your generosity can be seen in the lives of thousands of students who are now embracing financial security, finding their vocation, and following their calling. TO DONORS ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE $40.5 $38.3 May 31, 2017—$43,878,362 $32.4 $28.2 $39.4 $34.6 $33.3 $31.5 $43.9 REVENUE BY SOURCE $29.8 75% 8% 7% $24.5 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 As of May 31, 2017, Augsburg University’s endowment had annual realized and unrealized gains of 12.19 percent. The five-year average annual return on the endowment is 8.21 percent, and the 10-year average annual return is 4.34 percent. The University is committed to maintaining the value of the principal to provide support to Augsburg in perpetuity. Your philanthropy is creating an Augsburg that will be SUSTAINABLE, 7% 3% EXPENSES BY CATEGORY 38% 33% 20% 4% 3% 2% 1% Salaries and Benefits Financial Aid Operating Expenses Debt Services Utilities and Insurance Student Compensation Capital Improvement FAITHFUL,and RELEVANT long into the future. Thanks to you and other committed friends, Augsburg is preparing students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to serve and lead in our communities, schools, places of worship, and businesses. During fiscal year 2016-17, more than 9,300 individual donors gave $17,216,961 through cash gifts, pledges, and planned gifts. Augsburg Fund supporters provided the University with more than $1.1 million in unrestricted, discretionary funds to improve the student experience. Tuition Room and Board Private Gifts and Grants Other Sources Federal Grants MAKE A LIVING When juggling the rigors of family life, owning three businesses, and coaching high school sports, starting a graduate program might not hit the top priority list for many people. But for Joe Tadros ’98, ’17 MBA, the benefits of pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree to further his career and build greater financial security for his family were worth the effort. “My graduate experience was an eye opener. It reminded me where I came from, and where I wanted to be in the future,” said Tadros. “My classmates had unique abilities and talents, and I learned so much from them.” Joe Tadros ’98, ’17 MBA Shika Addo Memorial Scholarship Tadros now serves as a guest lecturer for Augsburg finance classes, sharing life lessons with undergraduates. With his degree, and your gifts, he looks to the future with confidence, knowing that his kids will be well provided for and that his impact will extend beyond his career. MAKE A LIFE As a shy, small-town kid, Kevin Tran ’18 would never have believed it had someone told him that as a college student he would become a board member for three student organizations, travel abroad with the choir, work as an intern for US Bank, and volunteer in the community in his free time. Tran began to really come out of his shell by living his life through the Auggie experience. “When I came [to Augsburg], I didn’t know what to expect. In high school, I was just really all about my work. Augsburg exposed me to who I am supposed to be ... I became more independent, more knowledgeable, more vocal, and more myself.” Kevin Tran ’18 Leland and Louise Sundet Scholarship Because of you, Tran has found his calling and is planning to pursue his dream by working in marketing for the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. MAKE A COMMUNITY Singing, studying, social work, public policy, and reconstructing the criminal justice system. These are among the top priorities for Augsburg student Alexa Anderson ’19. Anderson may be a proud member of the Honors Program and Augsburg vocal ensembles, but the deeper she dives into her studies as a social work major, the more motivated she has become to change her community through restorative justice. Alexa Anderson ’19 Mabeth Saure Gyllstrom Scholarship Dorothy Lijsing Kleven President’s Scholarship in Choral Music “Augsburg has completely changed me as a person, specifically regarding how I view my role as a member of a community,” she said. “Before coming here, I didn’t understand how important being an active member of a community was. Through my classes, volunteering, internships, and living in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, I now believe that in order for a community to succeed, its members must act and live in a way that encourages understanding, acceptance, and unity.” A NEW DAY, A NEW KIND OF UNIVERSITY BY JESSICA MUELLER AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY DAY was a moment of celebration—a time to honor and appreciate the abiding principles on which Augsburg was founded and an opportunity to consider Augsburg’s commitment to shaping the world for generations to come. Augsburg marked the transition from college to university through a commemorative day full of fun and fellowship. And, although Augsburg College officially became Augsburg University on September 1, the campus threw its proverbial hat in the air a few days later—on September 5, the day Augsburg formally welcomed its most diverse incoming class in school history. OPENING CONVOCATION On September 5, Augsburg’s Class of 2021 rose early to participate in the grand finale of their welcome week: Opening Convocation. New students marched across campus, past rows of cheering faculty and staff, and toward Hoversten Chapel with pride (and maybe a few sheepish grins), to engage in a historic beginning for them and for their school: the commissioning of Augsburg University’s inaugural first-year class. This year’s event featured elements linked with Augsburg’s commitments to faith, diversity, and vocation: Lutheran hymns, interfaith blessings, and international flags representing the countries from which Augsburg students come. President Paul Pribbenow encouraged new Auggies to do justly, love mercy, walk humbly ... and follow him on Twitter. And that was just the beginning. A MOMENT TO REMEMBER Following Opening Convocation, the Class of 2021 processed from the chapel to the quad where they were met by stilt walkers, local musicians, Haitian and Somali dancers, and the smells of dishes as varied and diverse as the neighborhoods surrounding Augsburg’s metropolitan campus. More than 800 students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University convened to feast on sambusas, Mexican tacos, cotton candy, brats and sauerkraut, and, in some cases, all of the above. 10 AUGSBURG NOW Students had nearly two hours to take in their surroundings, grab food, pose at the Auggie photo booth, and assemble hygiene kits for the Augsburg Health Commons, which serves unsheltered persons throughout Minneapolis. Many even had time to read a proclamation, signed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, naming September 5, 2017, Augsburg University Day. A UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY In the afternoon, more than 500 students, faculty, and staff gathered in small groups and dispersed throughout Minneapolis to listen to, learn from, and volunteer with local partners and nonprofits with ties to Augsburg. In total, the Class of 2021 donated nearly $35,000 in service work at more than 20 Twin Cities locations. The entire string of events—from the convocation, to the celebration, to the service-learning opportunities—demonstrated that Augsburg’s name change was much more than updated monument signs (though they do look nice), letterhead, and websites. The name change was a collaborative effort to share Augsburg’s story—the narrative of a place that’s deeply embedded in its community, that richly lives out its traditions, and that points to a bolder vision of what a student-centered, urban university can be … small to its students, and big for the world. FALL - WINTER 2017 11 The fatherhood BONUS a n d th e PENALTY motherhood BY KATE H. ELLIOTT G r o un d b r e a k i n g r e s e a rch by alum na M i c he l l e B u d i g ’ 9 3 s h eds light on wage ga p b e t we e n f a t h e rs and m others Michelle Budig’s story is deeply woven into her pioneering research to expose gender inequality and examine family policies in the workforce. The product of an outspoken dental receptionist and a pious electrician— who staked the yard with opposing political signs—Budig learned from a young age to question, wonder, and voice her beliefs. In preschool, for example, she insisted her class change the lyrics of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to remove “and with the girls be handy.” But despite her early and strong advocacy for girls’ rights, Budig still believed that as an adult she would have to choose between motherhood and a meaningful career. Indeed, at 22, she married her Augsburg sweetheart, nurse practitioner Peter Landstrom ’91, but then waited almost 20 years—until 12 AUGSBURG NOW after she secured tenure as a sociology professor—to adopt their daughter, Lucy. Her beliefs about how things should be were tempered by her understanding of how things actually are. It may be no surprise, then, that Budig focused her scholarly research on the impact of parenting across gender—specifically the wage inequities between fathers and mothers across the pay scale. Her latest findings, currently making rounds in The New York Times and the like, assert that although the gender pay gap is decreasing (women now make about 76 cents for every man’s dollar), wage inequalities among parents who work are increasing. Overall, fathers incur an average wage increase of more than 6 percent with each child, while women experience, on average, a 4 percent decrease in salary per child. Fatherhood, ultimately, is considered a “valued characteristic, signaling perhaps a greater work commitment, stability, and deservingness,” said Budig, Sociology Department chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Mothers, on the other hand, are often perceived as “exhausted and distracted at work,” rendering them less productive. Beyond perception, other significant contributors to the discrepancy include that women often take time off to care for children and bypass higher wages for mom-friendly roles. “Kids are seen as a privilege, not a right, so if you want to have them, you must pay the price,” Budig said, referencing a view some hold. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SOLEM, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST TY Michelle Budig ’93 is an award-winning professor and author whose research interests focus on gender, employment, labor markets, earnings, stratification, and family. FALL - WINTER 2017 13 But it’s not as simple as “dads make more, moms make less,” Budig said. Using sophisticated statistical techniques on a large sample of U.S. workers, Budig found that parenting exacerbates earnings inequalities within genders depending on income. The “fatherhood bonus,” as she calls it, is highest for the most advantaged men—married, white, college graduates with professional jobs. Unmarried, black men in non-professional occupations, for instance, receive minimal—if any—bonus. The motherhood penalty is smallest among women who earn above the 90th percentile of female workers, with women at the very top of the income distribution experiencing no wage penalty. Low-to-average earning women incur the greatest motherhood penalty, Budig found. “I always thought that women who made the most would have the most to lose, but that is certainly not the case, and it makes complete sense when you consider factors and stressors influencing populations at the top and bottom of the pay scale,” Budig said. “Fathers and mothers earning lower wages often rely on fragile networks of free child care, and when a grandmother or friend is sick or doesn’t show, those parents can’t make it to work. Conversely, parents who can afford it, secure reliable, consistent child care operated by licensed professionals.” Additionally, lower-earning men and women statistically are more likely to have children, Budig said, which leads to higher penalties for those families. Accessible child care among policies to close the gap Budig suggests two policy shifts to reduce the gap: publicly funded, high-quality child care for babies and toddlers and nontransferable paid leave for both mothers and fathers. The “nontransferable” part is critical, Budig reiterated, as “evidence suggests that if fathers can transfer leave to a female partner, they will.” “Access for all to high-quality, reliable, licensed child care options would certainly even the playing field for both parents and children,” Budig said. “Think of all the stress it would alleviate from low-income families relying on less dependable child care. Businesses would likely be more productive with a more resilient, consistent workforce. And children growing up in low-income situations would benefit from the same instruction and care as wealthier families, giving those young ones a stronger start.” This approach is not new. Many Scandinavian countries, which support publicly funded child care and offer incentivized paternal leave, report smaller It' s not as simple as “dads make more, moms make less.” Wider wage gaps among lower-earning individuals are exacerbated by the fact that people tend to marry within socioeconomic situations, Budig adds, so low-earning couples take greater hits, while highly paid duos keep climbing. 14 AUGSBURG NOW or no parental pay gaps. In contrast, countries with entrenched gender roles, like Germany, where new mothers are expected to take a year or more off work, report the highest motherhood penalties. “Workplace policies matter,” Budig Budig’s 19-page curriculum vitae details the more than $725,000 in grants she’s received, including some from the National Science Foundation, and lists her articles in professional journals, including the American Sociological Review. She regularly contributes to national and international media outlets, including The New York Times, Money Magazine, and the Washington Post. said. “Most of my life, I had to choose between being a mother and having a meaningful career, and unless progressive policies are adopted, the parental and economic gaps will persist.” The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked the United States last in a study the intergovernmental organization conducted about the national paid maternity leave policies of its member countries. The average amount of paid leave time for mothers among its 35-member countries was a little more than one year, as of 2016. Budig notes there is progress on the state level, citing California’s paid family leave, which allows family members to take time off to care for a loved one or to bond with a new child entering their life (either by birth, adoption, or foster care). Without a comprehensive federal approach, however, Budig warns of the implications of inconsistencies across states. “It’s encouraging to see states and companies take action, but it leads to inequities among states and industries, which may only add to our country’s increasing divide,” said Budig, who has testified before Congress and the United Nations about the implications of her research. “More universal support will reduce wage gaps, promote greater equality, and better prepare our children to be productive members of society.” The culture is shifting as men embrace female roles But beyond evolutions in policy, Budig sees hope in the young people she interacts with as a professor and mentor. They expect both parties—and want both partners—to be involved in maintaining the household. Single-paycheck families are difficult to sustain, and popular books and blogs are encouraging mothers to shed the mom guilt, cast aside the superwoman expectations, and go order a pizza for dinner. “Believe me, I get it. Even with the most supportive husband, who as a nurse, experiences his own gender stereotypes, I still slip into unrealistic expectations,” said Budig, who earned a master’s and doctorate in sociology from the University of Arizona. “Our marriage is a constant conversation, and splitting up the chores by room works for us.” A 2016 PayScale Gender Pay Gap Report found that men still out-earn women in every state in the union, but Vermont is the closest to equality, with women earning 84.8 percent of what men earn overall, as opposed to Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Wyoming where women earn from 71 to 73 percent of their male counterparts’ income. The national average is 76 percent, per the report, which does not factor in years of experience, education, or job title. When such national statistics were first calculated in the 1970s, it was about 60 percent. Mentors pushed her to live with a ‘heart for service’ Budig lost both her parents nearly two years ago. She often wishes she could talk with her mom about her latest research, knowing her mom would get a kick out of hearing about innovative solutions to promote equality and increase access for women. “My mom was wildly supportive of my work, but I’ll never forget the first time she read a major study I published about the wage gap. I was driving, and she was in the back seat. She looked up and said, ‘Michelle, everyone knows women earn less than men. That’s what you’ve been working on?’ Gee, thanks, mom,” Budig said. “I think she would have appreciated this last batch of research and what I’m focused on next, which involves female entrepreneurs and a study about the motherhood penalty in Israel.” Although there is no replacing a driveand-talk with mom, Budig is not short on inspiring female mentors. At Augsburg, where she majored in English and sociology, Budig sought out educators to support her journey. Sociology Professor Diane Pike has taught Auggies for more than three decades, and Budig certainly stands out. “Michelle had a seriousness and sophistication about intellectual ideas and work that was exemplary, and being a first-generation student, she never lost sight of the privilege it is to pursue higher education. She set the bar high for herself, and we’ve been following her career ever since,” said Pike, who specializes in organizational analysis, sociological theory, and research methods. “There is nothing better than seeing one of your students succeed at such a level. Michelle’s a big deal in sociology, speaking at top conferences and advocating for important change. She has a rare ability to convey complex data and theories to general audiences, and we are very proud of her.” Budig’s Auggie roots run deep, and both she and Landstrom commit themselves to its mission through caregiving and advocating for change. Augsburg gave them a way of looking at the world and approaching life that will never leave them, Budig said. “The greatest takeaway from Augsburg is our desire—the responsibility, really— to give back and live with a heart for service to others. Every day, we try to live out that change in our personal and professional lives.” FALL - WINTER 2017 15 N I E U G O DIAL SOCIETIES D E D I V I D 20 17 N ob e l Pe a ce P rize Forum li s o p nea n i M — [Above] Representatives of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet are joined on stage by Peace Scholars and other participants at the closing ceremony of the Forum. [Left] During a break, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureates posed for photos in front of a three-story mural featuring their images along with dozens of other past laureates. N obel Peace Prize laureates, world leaders, and renowned peacemakers came together this fall as Augsburg University hosted the 29th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum—Minneapolis. As an international peace congress, the Forum united honored guests, students, and community members in considering the globally significant, multidimensional nature of peace by examining topics that ranged from disarmament and human rights to economic development and environmental sustainability. This year’s Forum kicked off with several hundred attendees filling Augsburg’s Si Melby Gymnasium to listen to the incredible, true story of the 2015 Nobel Laureates—leaders who inspired a sharply divided nation to find common ground and, ultimately, form one of the world’s newest democracies. During a conversation presented in both English and Arabic, representatives of the Tunisian National Dialogue 16 AUGSBURG NOW Quartet described an arduous and inspiring peacemaking model in which members of business, labor, human rights, and law disciplines crafted a sustaining democratic constitution through peaceful dialogue. Recognized collectively with the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for their contribution to building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia following the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet is made up of leaders from four key organizations in the north African nation’s civil society. In the tense early moments of the Arab Spring uprisings, the Quartet exercised its role as a mediator and demonstrated the power of civil communication in sensitive political circumstances. Perhaps no other Forum experience better illustrated the event’s overarching theme: Dialogue in Divided Societies. Nobel Peace Prize Forum art festival Augsburg University has served as the Nobel Peace Prize Forum’s official host since 2012, but in recent years, the event itself has taken place at several conference venues across the Twin Cities. Bringing the Forum back to Augsburg this fall gave global peacebuilders the opportunity to experience the unique, urban beauty of the University’s location and to engage with a large-scale outdoor art exhibition on display across campus. In the spirit of fostering dialogue during the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, artists from across the United States collaborated on installations that highlighted the layered and often overlapping complexity of finding solutions to global issues. The art exhibition was curated by Christopher Houltberg, assistant professor of art and director of Augsburg’s Design & Agency program, a student-run design studio experience that teaches design thinking and problem-solving in graphic design. One of the most talked-about installations at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum was a Hex House constructed in Murphy Square. Designed by Architects for Society, a nonprofit seeking to enhance the built environment for disadvantaged communities, the Hex House is a prototype for dignified, low-cost, flexible housing that’s easy to deploy in emergency situations. Given that the Forum dates fell just after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma brought havoc and destruction to the Caribbean, Texas, and Florida, the Hex House was a timely opportunity to see how smart design can address critical community needs. Building peace in the greater Twin Cities, around the world Throughout the four days of the 2017 program, attendees participated in dozens of breakout sessions led by globally recognized leaders in the fields of international development and peacemaking. Participants had the opportunity to meet and hear from national and world leaders—including Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Kåre Aas, Tunisian Ambassador to the United States H.E. Fayçal Gouia, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison. Other often-recognized presenters at the event included former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who is seeking to end gun violence, and Barbara Bush, who founded the Global Health Corps organization to mobilize young leaders to support health equity. The Nobel Peace Prize Forum also prompted attendees to consider local peace-building needs, convening conversations focused on present-day issues in the Twin Cities. Students, community members, and facilitators worked through difficult discussions on respecting and honoring sacred spaces, bridging political differences through civil dialogue, and addressing cross-generational injustice. These mediated conversations went beyond campus to places that brought the topics to life. For example, part of the dialogue on preserving Native American sites took place in suburban Eagan at Pilot Knob, an area that was an indigenous gathering place and sacred burial ground for centuries. “It’s entirely fitting that these important conversations are happening at Augsburg University as part of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum,” said the Forum’s Program Director Joe Underhill, reflecting on the entire event. “A university is a place where civic dialogue on difficult topics is not only allowed, but highly encouraged,” said Underhill, an associate professor of political science at Augsburg. “It is only through that kind of dialogue that we are going to move toward any mutual understanding on these issues.” [Far left] Augsburg Design & Agency students created numerous large-scale art installations to convey the theme, Dialogue in Divided Societies. [Near left] The Hex House, a low-cost, emergency housing prototype, showcased how smart design can create humane solutions during crises. FALL - WINTER 2017 17 JOIN US FOR THE 30TH [Above] Chief Arvol Looking Horse and Methodist Bishop Bruce Ough visit the Red Rock, a boulder that is located at a United Methodist Church in Newport, Minnesota, and considered sacred by the Dakota people. The 2017 Forum included site visits addressing local peace-building topics. September 19–22, 2018 Augsburg University [Left] Interactive art installations allowed Forum attendees to participate in creating displays that reflected their own perspectives on peacemaking. PRESENTED BY LEAD SPONSORS ® SPONSORS MEDIA SPONSORS 45 0 100 3 18 AUGSBURG NOW #93C33A 0 70 85 0 #F76 WOMENOF INFLUENCE BY KATE H. ELLIOTT Augsburg outscores national average of female coaches, supports inclusive culture across Athletics department “Only priests and participants’ fathers can be anywhere near the pool,” three St. Catherine’s nuns echoed in protest as Augsburg’s 1963 swim instructor, Malcolm “Mac” Gimse, led then-20-year-old Joyce Pfaff ’65 and three other physical education majors onto the pool deck. Gimse reluctantly exited the building, but as the Auggies lined up at water’s edge, “GO AUGSBURG” boomed from the stands. Pfaff looked up, and there was her instructor, wearing a big smile and a clerical collar. Call it obstinate or call it resolute, but Pfaff adopted that tenacity—and it helped her climb over, chisel away, and bust down a decade’s worth of walls in women’s athletics and coaching prior to the passage of Title IX, a federal law that allows women access to any federally funded educational program or activity. So, it comes as no surprise that Augsburg’s first women’s athletic director is “beyond proud” that a recent report ties Augsburg with Macalester College as the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s schools with the most female head coaches. Head Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Coach Meghan Peyton ’14 MAL leads a team practice. FALL - WINTER 2017 19 PHOTO BY CYNDI NIGHTENGALE, CYNBADMEDIA This distinction, out of the University of Minnesota’s Tucker Center for Research on Women and Girls in Sport, is particularly encouraging as national studies point to dramatic decreases in women coaching women’s sports. When Title IX was passed in 1972, women coached 90 percent of women’s collegiate athletic teams. Today, only about 40 percent of those teams are led by female coaches, according to the NCAA. Augsburg hits national average out of the park Pfaff coached at a time before women’s athletics were afforded official equipment or facilities. In fact, Pfaff helped build Augsburg’s first softball field. Today, she remains confident in Augsburg’s ability to advance equality. According to the Tucker Center, Augsburg leapt from having slightly more than 36 percent female head coaches in 2014 to nearly 73 percent in 2017. “Think of how far we’ve come,” Pfaff said. “Augsburg’s first volleyball coach, Mary Timm ’81, could ‘afford’ to coach for us because she had a full-time job as a day care supervisor, and she used vacation time to travel with the team. Today, Augsburg has more women’s teams (11) than 20 AUGSBURG NOW men’s (10), and the Athletic Department works hard to create an equitable, forward-thinking, and inclusive culture.” Augsburg Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 and Associate Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks appreciate the Tucker Center’s acknowledgement of Augsburg’s dedication to women’s athletics. University leaders are ever-vigilant in their efforts to support all coaches, staff, and student-athletes in achieving a well-balanced life. “Coaching demands all of you and more, with 365-day recruiting on top of practices, planning, and leading studentathletes in competition and out in their everyday lives,” said Swenson, who has worked at Augsburg for more than 36 years. “We are committed to work-life integration. The best coaches are fulfilled, healthy, and productive members at home and in the community— an approach to life we want to mirror for our student-athletes.” Anderson Diercks recruits coaches and advises studentathletes interested in transitioning from court to clipboard. She is keenly aware of the factors contributing to the diminishing number of female coaches across the U.S. and emphasizes that even if you’re in a position of success, there’s still room for improvement. It’s vital for all students to see women as role models in all professions, including athletics. —Kelly Anderson Diercks, associate athletic director “College athletic departments need to do a better job of recruiting and retaining women coaches through mentoring, professional development, and supportive cultures,” she said. “And it is critically important that this conversation is not just about women coaching women. It should be about women in coaching, which includes women coaching boys and men. It’s vital for all students to see women as role models in all professions, including athletics.” Popularity of women’s athletics contributes to decline in coaching equity The NCAA’s findings suggest that a major factor contributing to the decline of women coaching women is, ironically, tied to the boom of women’s athletics. With increased popularity came expanded staffs and higher salaries, attracting men—particularly longtime assistant coaches—to lead women’s teams. And while 60 percent of women’s teams are coached by men, according to the study, women guide only about 3 percent of men’s teams. Roughly 80 percent of collegiate athletic directors are men. Is a solution to ignore gender? “Absolutely not,” Anderson Diercks said. “Like any dimension of diversity, to ignore or deny a part of someone’s identity does not allow them to show up as their fullest and best self, and then we all miss out. There is richness in diversity, and women are an important part of that diversity, especially in the athletic arena.” A coaching job is demanding, with long hours, travel, and high expectations, but those pressures can be overcome, Swenson said. The more universities exemplify work-life balance, the more family-oriented student-athletes, regardless of gender, will be drawn to the profession, he added. Negative perceptions still cast a shadow Stigmas, misconceptions, and high stakes also contribute to the decline in women seeking and maintaining leadership roles in university athletics, according to the NCAA. Interviews with female coaches across the U.S. drew out comments about increasing demands, assumptions about female coaches’ sexuality, and perceived gender bias. Augsburg Women’s Hockey Head Coach Michelle McAteer said if she could squash an assumption curbing female coaches, it would be the belief that “all women are catty and emotional.” “Since women hold fewer leadership positions in all realms— from athletics and business to politics—we are put under a microscope and our actions are generalized,” she said. “Women in leadership need to become the norm and not the exception in order to combat these myths so we can get onto the business of empowering those we lead (and winning games).” And she would know. McAteer, who led the Augsburg women’s hockey team to its highest MIAC finish since the ’90s, played for female coaches throughout her high school and college years. These models of “strength, resolve, and compassion” gave her confidence and an awareness of her role now, as a coach, to model those values for the next generation, she said. “It’s a responsibility I care deeply about.” For Pfaff, this and other reflections from today’s women coaches signal that the legacy she and others fought to instill is [L to R]: Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Kathryn Knippenberg and Graduate Fellow Taylor Tvedt ’19 MAL greet a prospective student. holding strong. Sure, there always is yet another contest to win, she said, but what’s the fun in not having a fight? The best part, for Pfaff, is knowing that Augsburg is on the right side of the field—maybe even the infield she helped grade for Augsburg’s first softball diamond. FALL - WINTER 2017 21 AUGGIES CONNECT AUGSBURG WOMEN ENGAGED: COURTESY PHOTO Dear alumni and friends, It’s an exciting time for Augsburg University, and the Alumni Board aims to infuse positive energy from Augsburg’s big events this fall in our year-long agenda. The board’s objective is to advance Augsburg’s mission by making the most of the time, talents, and treasure found in our alumni group. Each year, the Alumni Board plans events where Auggies can network, collaborate, and serve together. The 2017 Summer Series was an example of this work. Auggies attended a Minnesota United soccer game, took part in Auggie Night at Canterbury Park, and listened to Augsburg community members give presentations on a range of topics at the 7 People 7 Passions 7 Minutes event at Sisyphus Brewing. Alumni Board members also hosted Happy Hour Squared at Brave New Workshop, which featured a twist on a traditional social hour— attendees enjoyed beverages while making 1,500 sandwiches for unsheltered people in the Twin Cities. It is fun watching the talents of fellow Auggies come to life at our social events, and our upcoming calendar is available online: augsburg.edu/alumnievents. Using your time and talents to make connections with current students is simply one of the best ways to stay connected with Augsburg, so stay tuned for details about the upcoming 2018 Auggie Networking Experience on February 6. Auggies also can join the Alumni Board’s effort to sponsor a tree in the Urban Arboretum planned for Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus. The trees selected for the first phase of this plan will surround the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion and include species native to Minnesota. All gift levels are welcome. As the Alumni Board continues to advance the mission of the University through events and networking, we invite you to join us. We work hard, and we make sure we don’t forget to have fun, as well. MOVING IN A NEW DIRECTION The Augsburg Women Engaged Philanthropy Council has grown in the past year. Augsburg alumnae formed AWE in 2009 to unite women with shared interests and passions through events, mentorship, and philanthropy. Today, AWE inspires women to connect, learn, and give. AWE highlights: Connect—Members gathered at Homecoming for a painting party to prepare pieces of a mural titled “Emergence” that will be installed in the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Learn—AWE hosted a discussion following the 2016 Center for Wellness and Counseling Convocation and a pre-concert reception at the annual Woman Voice: Voice of Hope choral performance. Give—Members raised more than $100,000 for the “Emergence” mural and are engaged in planning to raise an additional $1 million for scholarships. AWE’s participation has nearly doubled during the past year and includes Augsburg women from all generations, degree programs, and career fields. COURTESY PHOTO FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Go Auggies! NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT AWE Philanthropy Council members [L to R]: Debby (Fredrickson) Crowley ’76, Danielle Stellner ’07, Joni Marti ’05 MAL, Lori Moline ’82, Martha Truax ’16 MAL, Shelby (Gimse) Andress ’56, Lisa Zeller ’81, ’89 MAL, Cheryl Jensen ’86, Donna McLean, and Kris (Peterson) Pearson ’78. Not pictured: Rachel (Olson) Engebretson ’98, Dr. Lisa Latham ’83, Diana Pierce ’16 MAL, and Cindy (Winberg) Sisson ’83. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about joining AWE. 22 AUGSBURG NOW AUGGIES CONNECT Celebrate STEPUP ® PROGRAM MARKS 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS COURTESY PHOTO A Heidi Bausch ’07 ugsburg University’s StepUP Program is in its 20th year of empowering students in recovery to achieve academic success. StepUP held its annual gala October 28. The gala was an evening of inspiration and fellowship in which emcee Don Shelby, an Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist and person in recovery, welcomed nearly 500 Auggies, families, friends, and advocates for recovery. Each year, the StepUP Gala is organized by a committee of volunteers with support from Augsburg staff. The 2017 committee co-chairs were Gina Gage and Cindy Piper. Two of the evening’s highlights were the keynote address by alumna Heidi Bausch ’07 and the presentation of the Toby Piper Labelle Award to the James and Sally Dowdle and Pat and Jeanne Dwyer families. Bausch is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her graduation from Augsburg, where she studied psychology and philosophy, was an active member in the StepUP community, and worked for the Center for Wellness and Counseling. Today Bausch lives out a passion for serving the recovery community. She is pursuing a doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of St. Thomas. Her clinical practice included an internship at The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s residential program for young people and work at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview inpatient unit for youth facing chemical and mental health difficulties. Bausch also works with the Minnesota Psychology Association to promote legislation aimed at improving behavioral health care quality. This year, Bausch partnered with her StepUP Program roommate, Samantha Yerks ’06, to launch Singularity Behavioral Systems & Technology, a business that develops clinical software products for the mental health field. Go to augsburg.edu/stepup to learn more about the StepUP Program and its fundraising gala. FALL - WINTER 2017 23 introduces high school students to health science careers When University alumni and community members step up to help make an Augsburg program succeed, everybody wins. Since 2008, Augsburg University has hosted Metro Scrubs summer camps that offer high school students a glimpse into health science careers. Through workshops and hands-on activities, students gain insight into career paths that range from veterinary medicine and public health to physical therapy and nursing. The success of the weeklong program— formerly known as Urban Scrubs— hinges on faculty involvement and volunteer engagement through which working professionals teach workshops and mini-courses. This year, an Augsburg alumna and the parent of two Auggie alumni stepped in to offer their expertise—and to learn a thing or two from their pupils. Jenny Kelley ’85 pursued a nursing degree after completing her Augsburg education and now serves as a nurse and asthma educator at the Hennepin County Medical Center in COURTESY PHOTO METRO SCRUBS PROGRAM Nearly six dozen students participated in Augsburg’s Metro Scrubs Camp this summer. One of nine such programs for Minnesota high school students, Metro Scrubs is a collaborative effort of Augsburg University, HealthForce Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and St. Catherine University. Minneapolis. Kelley initiated a Metro Scrubs class by asking students to inhale and exhale through a narrow cocktail straw, an exercise that highlighted how difficult it is for someone with asthma to breathe. Kelley noticed that her students were from a diverse array of backgrounds, but previous knowledge of asthma was something that unified the group. “I felt I was having an impact on students from many different cultures and different communities,” Kelley said. “Yet, everyone knows somebody with asthma, so this education is helpful in ensuring people use their inhalers the right way.” One out of 12 people in the U.S. is diagnosed with asthma. For Kelley, leading a Metro Scrubs course was a way to teach young people about the medical condition and to spur interest in careers that could help tackle this pressing health care need. For Dr. Robert “Bob” Florence, a primary care internist at Allina in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, teaching Metro Scrubs students was an opportunity to reconnect with the basics. Florence knows Augsburg well through his children, Jeffrey Florence ’02 and Beth Florence ’08, and he noted that teaching high school students was a reminder about the importance of clear doctor-patient communication. “I show the students what it’s like to do an office call with a patient, explaining the types of interactions I have with patients, along with the best and worst ways to handle certain scenarios,” Florence said. “I began teaching the class because the students hadn’t been exposed to primary care in the other Metro Scrubs sessions, and I wanted to teach them what they could and should expect.” While it can be difficult to fit extra opportunities into a physician’s hectic schedule, Florence said leading Metro Scrubs classes has been worthwhile. “It has helped me to be a better physician and taught students interested in medical careers valuable lessons,” he said. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities with Metro Scrubs Camp. 24 AUGSBURG NOW AUGGIES CONNECT GIFT EXPANDS MARINE AQUARIUM FACILITY for study of biological diversity When the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion opens for classes in January 2018, the new building will feature a state-of-the-art marine aquarium facility thanks to the generosity of donor Fritz Grimm, who made a substantial gift to fund the project. Twenty years ago, Associate Professor of Biology William “Bill” Capman created a large multi-tank coral reef aquarium system on campus to inspire interest in biological diversity, to serve as a teaching and research tool, and to provide living specimens for lab demonstrations. In the years since, the aquaria have been integral to Capman’s teaching, making interaction with marine life a unique aspect of Augsburg’s biology laboratory experience, exposing students to biodiversity they would not see elsewhere, and promoting careful stewardship of the world’s ecosystems. Capman has been passionate about aquatic life since his childhood. He and Grimm, as fellow members of the Twin Cities Marine Aquarium Society, have known each other for years. Grimm is the former proprietor of a store selling items for keeping coral, fish, and other sea life, and has assisted Capman in past efforts to care for Augsburg’s aquaria. For Grimm, sponsoring Augsburg’s marine environments is a way to support quality work already underway and build on it for the future. Grimm’s gift is enabling Augsburg to significantly expand its marine facilities to include a 350 gallon coral reef aquarium and six additional 60-90 gallon tanks housing additional diverse organisms, along with a research lab for studying coral biology and captive breeding of coral reef fish. “We rely on places like this to inspire people,” Grimm said of Augsburg’s marine aquarium expansion. “How should people know they need to care about seahorses and coral without ever seeing them?” Grimm is concerned by the known degradation of natural environments, pointing to the fact that a significant portion of the world’s coral are becoming more susceptible to disease and are dying due to increases in water temperature and pollution. “If anyone is going to inspire the future generation to do something about it, it will be Bill,” Grimm said. During a presentation to the Minnesota Aquarium Society, Bill Capman demonstrates how he creates artificial reef structures for new aquaria. COURTESY PHOTOS FALL - WINTER 2017 25 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1950 Carl Vaagenes ’50, a retired pastor, helped to translate the mission articles of Georg Sverdrup. Vaagenes was inspired to translate Sverdrup’s sermons for future generations and did this as a member of The Georg Sverdrup Society. In 1898, Georg Sverdrup and Sven Oftedal, co-founders of Augsburg Seminary and College, published their sermons at the founding of the Lutheran Free Church but without their names. In “Aand og Liv” (“Spirit and Life”), they reveal their mind and heart for the church and for Augsburg. 1952 Millie Nelson ’52 received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming in recognition for her dedication to Augsburg University. Before retiring, Nelson worked at Augsburg for decades. In her role as Christensen Center manager, she guided student assistants who described her as professional, competent, knowledgeable, and kind. These former students acknowledged that Nelson embodied the spirit of Augsburg. 1957 Stan Baker ’57 received the Ella Stephens Barrett Award for excellence in professional leadership and counseling from the North Carolina Counseling Association during its annual conference in February in Durham, North Carolina. 1964 Garrett “Gary” Waldner ’64 and his wife, Nancy, celebrated their 50th anniversary in October. They have three sons and four grandchildren. Waldner is active in the real estate appraisal field, specializing in litigation valuations. 1966 After graduating from Augsburg, Ron Blake ’66 went on to Luther Seminary and has pastored several churches before retiring in 2009 as a pastor with dual membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ. Blake and his wife remain active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood, Washington. They have two children and four grandsons. 1968 Bruce Benson ’68 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. Benson served as campus pastor at St. Olaf College for 30 years and has been a board member at church camps in Minnesota, Montana, and Ohio. He graduated cum laude from Augsburg with a Bachelor of Arts in English, earned his Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in 1972, and further earned a degree in Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School in 1980. Benson hosts a radio program called, “Sing for Joy,” which is broadcast on 140 radio stations in the United States, carried by cable networks, and broadcast in 40 countries in and near Africa. 1970 Mark Francis ’70 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming and was recognized for his leadership in the Arizona school system. After graduating from Augsburg with a music degree, Francis founded the Arizona School for the Arts in 1995. ASA became one of the top charter schools in the state. Today, Francis is a deputy associate superintendent within the Arizona Department of Education. He is an active member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, which he has served in a number of capacities, including as congregational president, treasurer, and music leader. In June, Ray Hanson ’70 retired and moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one day later. He completed his career with Goldbelt Raven, where he provided scientific and technical assistance to the chemical forensics program at the Department of Homeland Security. 1972 In May, Rob Engelson ’72 received the Distinguished Service Award from Ashford University at its commencement ceremony in San Diego. The award acknowledged 21 years as a faculty member and five years as a member of the Faculty Senate. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’01 ’05 ’76 26 AUGSBURG NOW ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1973 Terry Lindstrom ’73 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. After graduating from Augsburg with degrees in chemistry and biology, Lindstrom received his doctorate in biochemistry with a pharmacology minor in 1977. He went on to complete postdoctoral research at Michigan State University from 1978 to 1979. During his career, Lindstrom led research teams that obtained patents for prescription medications Evista and Cymbalta. In addition to Lindstrom’s many scientific achievements, he and his wife, Janet Lindstrom, have provided 16 full Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity summer scholarships for Augsburg students during the past five years. 1974 Thomas Koplitz ’74 has been elected to the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame and was inducted at a September ceremony held in St. Cloud, Minnesota. 1977 Augsburg honored Inez Bergquist ’77 with a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. As the current president of Waltman Associates, Bergquist has more than 35 years experience in fundraising and is an expert in the area of nonprofit management. She served on the Augsburg University Alumni Board for eight years and on the Augsburg Parent Council for four years. Bergquist authored several books on families of wealth including the “Book of Minnesota Family Trees.” She also is a Wells Foundation board member. 1978 Phyllis Bartel ’78 published “Scooter ‘n’ Oaks: A Cat Adoption Story” in October 2016. As Bartel’s premier work, this fictionalized tale teaches children about the pet adoption process with compassion and gentle humor and shares similar themes with human adoption. 1979 Dave Boots ’79, who was inducted into Augsburg’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, was named to the University of South Dakota Vermillion’s Henry Heider Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in October after retiring in 2013 with the 14th most wins in Division II men’s basketball history. He led the Coyotes to 23 consecutive winning seasons from 1989-2011, 10 NCAA Division II tournaments, six NCC titles, and back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 1993 and 1994. At the Division I level, Boots also won a Great West Championship in 2010. Boots began his coaching career at Anoka Ramsey Community College and spent six years coaching at Augsburg before arriving in Vermillion. Sally (Hough) Daniels Herron ’79 is the new parish and communications administrator for Valley of Peace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota. SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE Leah Abdella ’76 retired in 2016 from a 40-year teaching career in the field of special education. At Augsburg, Abdella earned a double major in music and music therapy as one of the first three music therapy majors. Abdella stays fulfilled in retirement through volunteer work and flute performance at assisted living residences, nursing homes, and churches. She also stays active in ballet classes and yoga. She is a former member of the Andahazy Ballet Company. ’76 Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and constituent relations at Augsburg University, married Chris Code in April during an intimate ceremony at the Guthrie Theater—where the couple met while both on staff. The wedding was officiated by Code’s father, the Rev. Jack ’01 ’14 Former hockey and football player Paul Holmquist ’79 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Holmquist was a key member of Augsburg teams that dominated in the late 1970s, earning the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national title in 1979 and qualifying for NAIA national tournament play all of Holmquist’s four seasons. The teams he competed with also won Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in 1978 and 1979. He was named a team MVP in the 1978-79 season, the same time period in which he earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors. 1980 Paul Kilgore ’80 wrote a novel, “The Broken Key,” that is available through online and retail outlets. 1985 Brian Ammann ’85 has been running the Minnesota School of Basketball in Apple Valley and Golden Valley for 12 years. He is the former head basketball coach at Augsburg. 1987 Lee Ann (Burson) Hohenstein ’87 left a 20-year career in mortgage banking to follow her dream and become a staff writer for the Mille Lacs Messenger. She also opened Restoration Books and Gifts in Crosby, Minnesota. Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements. Koch, and was witnessed by sibling Jason Koch ’93 and sister-in-law Heather Johnston ’92. Allison (Cornell) Broughton ’05 and Matt Broughton ’06 welcomed new baby Nicholas James in June. Nicholas joins big brother Calvin, age 4. ’05 This August, Samantha Cantrall ’14 and Austin Smith ’14 were married in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, by Augsburg Professor of Computer Science Larry Crockett. The couple met in Augsburg’s Urness Hall in 2010, and both graduated from the Honors Program in 2014. They have taken Samantha’s mother’s last name as their wedded name and will be known as Samantha and Austin Wolf. ’14 FALL - WINTER 2017 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1991 Kristin Dragseth Wiersma ’91 had an outstanding volleyball career at Augsburg, an accomplishment that earned her induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Wiersma played three seasons of volleyball, earning All-MIAC and Academic All-MIAC honors in 1990, and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors in 1989. She remains in the top 10 players in school history in three career statistical categories: kills per-set, attack percentage, and digs per-set. A team co-captain in 1990, Wiersma also served as an assistant coach at Augsburg in 1991. 1992 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Juli Gustafson ’92 played two years of softball at Augsburg earning All-MIAC honors as a shortstop in both 1991 and 1992, while also earning National Fastpitch Coaching Association All-West Region honors in 1991. Her .395 career batting average is the third-best in school history. She also ranks third in career slugging percentage and sixth in career doubles. Gustafson was a member of Auggie teams that went 47-22 in her two seasons. Though he only competed in one season of wrestling at Augsburg, Bret Sharp ’92 made the most of it. He went 43-2-1 with 15 pins and 95 takedowns, won the MIAC title at heavyweight, and finished third at the NCAA Division III national tournament in the 1991-92 season, where he helped to clinch a second-place national team finish for the Auggies. Sharp was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. He competed his first three seasons at Drake University in Iowa. 1993 Dr. Jason Koch ’93 was appointed president of Southdale Pediatrics, where he has worked for the past 16 years. Wrestling star Gary Thompson ’93 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. A four-year competitor in wrestling, Thompson completed his Auggie career with a 91-40-1 record, finishing fourth at the 1993 NCAA Division III national championships and earning All-American honors. He was a MIAC champion, a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar AllAmerican, and a two-time Academic All-MIAC honors student-athlete. Thompson was a member of Augsburg squads that won the NCAA national championship in 1993 and finished second and third in other years. 1994 Chris Terrell ’94 was promoted to vice president of finance for Medtronic’s Cardiac and Vascular Group Global Operations. Terrell joined Medtronic in 2003 and most recently served as a senior director of operations in finance, where he drove finance strategies for nine manufacturing locations. 1995 Dual sport athlete Marty Alger ’95 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. In football, Alger set an Augsburg program record for career rushing yardage, which stood until 2014. In 1992, he became the first Auggie ever to rush for 1,000-plus yards in a season. He earned All-MIAC honors in football in both 1992 and 1993. As an Auggie wrestler, he qualified for the 1993 NCAA Division III national tournament after winning the MIAC title at 190 pounds. 1997 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Eric Rolland ’97 was a leader on some of the most successful men’s golf teams in school history. He led squads that won the MIAC championship in 1995 and recorded second-place finishes in 1994 and 1996, while competing in three straight NCAA Division III national tournaments. Rolland AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Denielle (Johnson) Stepka ’11 and Timothy Stepka were married July 15 in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Their ceremony was officiated by Josh Corrigan ’11, and their wedding party included Augsburg alumni Katie (Christensen) Beadell ’11, Korri (Yule) Corrigan ’11, Tim Lund ’12, Amy Jo Opsal ’12, and Tyler Phillips ’12. ’11 28 AUGSBURG NOW In July, Enrico Barrozo ’14 and Mara (Breczinski) Barrozo ’14 were married at Augsburg University’s Hoversten Chapel. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Mike Matson ’06. The newlyweds live in Gainesville, Florida, where Enrico is pursuing a Ph.D. in genetics and genomics at the University of Florida, and Mara teaches middle school science. ’14 Rebecca (Welle) Winters ’05 and Paul Winters ’07 welcomed a daughter, Maisy Beverly, in May. She joins siblings Max, who is six years old, and Millie, who is three years old. ’05 Matt Tonsager ’09, co-owner of Gullton Wood, and Melissa (Moberg) Tonsager ’10 welcomed a daughter, Adalind Kay Tonsager, in April. ’09 earned All-America honors in 1995, AllDistrict honors in 1997, and All-MIAC honors in 1995 and 1996. Since 2014, he has served as Augsburg’s men’s and women’s golf head coach. 1999 Elizabeth (Petrik) Brown ’99 had an outstanding goaltending career on the Augsburg women’s soccer team, an accomplishment that earned her induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Brown started all but one game of her collegiate career, finishing with 34 career victories, including a then-school-record 13 in 1995. She stands second in school history in career shutouts, fourth in career wins, and eighth in career win-loss percentage. Her 1.69 career goals-against-average is 10th-best in school history. Cheri Johnson ’99 wrote two book series released this fall for young readers. “Origins: Urban Legends” and “Origins: Whodunnit” are high-interest, low-readinglevel books that target upper-elementary and middle-school students. The books will be distributed by Lerner. Johnson also is working on a performance project in Minneapolis called “Crocus Hill Ghost Story” with the music ensemble Zeitgeist; her sister, Julie Johnson ’98; and actor, director, and filmmaker D.J. Mendel. “Crocus Hill Ghost Story” tells a tale set in an evil house in St. Paul. ’11 ’14 ’05 ’09 ’00 Devoney Looser ’89 published a new ’89 book, “The Making of Jane Austen,” which was named in Publishers Weekly’s list of Best Summer Books of 2017 (nonfiction). This May, Lewis Nelson ’00 graduated from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business with a Master of Business Administration degree. Nelson left a 15-year military and government career and is seeking the next challenge. Nelson resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his three children. ’00 ’89 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 2000 The Rev. Sara (Quigley) Brown ’00 has accepted a term-call as the associate interim pastor at Saving Grace Lutheran, Lutheran Congregations in Missions for Christ, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She will serve and work alongside its faithful congregation and pastor, the Rev. David Irgens, during a time of great transition and growth. Brown will serve Saving Grace Lutheran for one year until the congregation places a call for a permanent associate pastor. 2001 James Shropshire ’01, former assistant director of public safety at Augsburg, is the new director of campus safety at Grinnell College. At Augsburg, Shropshire also served as a Title IX adjudicator and investigator. Besides revising diversity training, Shropshire’s agenda for campus safety at Grinnell will include updating the department’s software, computers, and other equipment. 2002 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Chrissy (Baune) Bloemendal ’02 was a 16-time AllMIAC selection in cross country (three times) and track and field (13 times). The team’s No. 1 runner her final three seasons in cross country, Bloemendal finished sixth in the MIAC championships in 2001 and 13th in 2000. In track and field, she won the MIAC title and qualified for the NCAA Division III outdoor national championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2002, finishing ninth nationally. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 30 AUGSBURG NOW ’15 Two years ago Heather Cmiel ’02 left 13 years of communications agency life behind to go corporate. She now serves as global marketing communications strategist within 3M Healthcare. Cmiel spends her free time as president of Minnesota Public Relations Society of America. She also leads a contemporary worship band. 2003 Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin ’03 is the founder and director of the Rural Enterprise Center, a program of Main Street Project, a nonprofit organization focused on rural development. Haslett-Marroquin also serves on the boards of the Northfield Area Foundation, the Northfield Area United Way, and Fifth Bridge, a nonprofit organization promoting volunteerism. 2005 Ryan Bosshart ’05 is a vice president of services at phData, a global leader in big data consulting and managed services. Most recently, Bosshart was a principal sales engineer at Cloudera. 2006 Michelle Dirtzu ’06 is a new marketing manager at Pacific Trellis Fruit/Dulcinea Farms based in Los Angeles, California. Dirtzu has 10 years of experience in the grocery-retail-produce business. Previously, she was a marketing director for North Shore Living Herbs, in marketing with Flagstone Foods, and in brand management with Supervalu. Dirtzu earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Opus School of Business at the University of St. Thomas in 2014. Brenda Valentine ’06 welcomed her son, Jackson James Valentine Rice, in April. 2007 A managing partner of business planning at the American Public Media Group, Danielle Stellner ’07 received a First Decade Award at Homecoming. After graduating from Augsburg, Stellner went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in 2016. She was recruited for the board of Isuroon and Secretary, and she is the active co-chair of the AWE Philanthropy Council at Augsburg. In addition, Stellner serves the Friendship Academy of the Arts as a board member and expansion committee member. 2008 Tony Landecker ’08 serves as a portfolio manager in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Minneapolis-St. Paul field office and is responsible for assisting with the management of local housing stock. Landecker was named the Minnesota Civil Servant of the Year by HUD’s Federal Executive Board for helping others find the comfort of a home in the aftermath of a disaster. In 2016, he left his home and family to spend time helping Baton Rouge flood victims, leading a team that found permanent housing for 130 families initially placed in temporary shelters. Rachel Shaheen ’15 and Christopher Kopp ’15 were married in July. The bride and groom were joined by fellow Augsburg alumni [L to R]: Becky Shaheen ’11, Patrick DuSchane ’13, Laura Schmidt ’11, Jakob Anderson ’12, Erika Osterbur ’11, Aren Olson ’11, Lily Moloney ’15, Mary Stickelmeyer ’74, Emily Knudson ’15, Kate Gray ’15, Tyler Dorn ’15, and Alisha Esselstein ’15. ’15 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Curtiss Schreiber ’08 is now an associate at the law firm Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC in Chicago. 2011 Jennifer Weber ’11 received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming for her dedication to Minneapolis’ CedarRiverside community and in recognition for the projects she has initiated in the Twin Cities area. Before graduating from Augsburg with a triple major in emotional/ behavioral disabilities, learning disabilities, and American Indian studies, Weber created an American Indian resource library for the Anoka-Hennepin Indian Education Program. Weber has been involved in many community projects and is a crisis prevention and interventions trainer at the Charter School Special Ed Network. She is also a certified school coach, teacher, and member of the Cedar Riverside Community School Board. 2012 Katie Radford ’12, ’18 MBA started a new position at Fairview Health Services as a training consultant. She helps facilitate individual and team development sessions for professional growth. 2014 Maren Daniels ’14 teaches elementary visual art at Hiawatha Academy Morris Park in Minneapolis. 2015 Awale Osman ’15 serves as a community innovation associate at the Bush Foundation. He has experienced much change: coming to the U.S. from war-torn Somalia and Kenyan refugee camps to learning English as a third language and graduating with high academic honors. His work as a change agent has included expanding after-school opportunities for Somali youth; impressing upon Congress the value of federal TRIO programming; and activating safe spaces for women, people of color, and queer students. 2016 Victoria Linstrom ’16, Andrew Kleidon-Linstom ’16, Bridgette Henry ’16, and student Mitch Ross ’18 formed the Open Door Theater where Linstrom serves as the executive director, Kleidon-Linstom is the artistic director, Henry is the company manager/dramaturg in residence, and Ross is the marketing director. Muna Mohamed ’16 received a scholarship at the University of Minnesota to pursue a Master of Science degree in behavioral aspects of physical activity. At the university, Mohamed conducts research on East African mother-daughter physical activity. 2017 Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Eron Godi ’17 to the Young Women’s Cabinet, part of the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota that aims to improve opportunity for women ages 12 to 24 by bringing together nonprofits, businesses, government, philanthropic organizations, and young women to create plans for building equity. Godi was one of 25 women selected statewide for a cabinet position. Emily Gregg ’17, former Augsburg women’s soccer defender, was named one of 174 nationwide recipients of a $7,500 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship honoring her achievements as both a scholar and an athlete. A biology major with a 3.72 GPA, Gregg is the first Auggie to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2014. Gregg will attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She hopes to someday work as a wildlife/large animal veterinarian. Anna Renner ’17 has been accepted to the Clarkson University Master of Physician Assistant Studies program in Potsdam, New York. Dua Saleh ’17 had one of her songs played on “The Current” radio station. She performs music and poetry at Twin Cities venues. Riley Siddorn ’17 was among nearly 450 summer interns at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Interns seek out new ways to explore their career fields and engage NASA’s international scientific community in Goddard projects. Siddorn, who majored in physics, held an internship in ionospheric physics. The internships covered a wide spectrum in science-related areas, from planetary science to sounding rockets to Earth science. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Doris Rubenstein ’93 MAL won the silver Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Award for her book, “The Journey of a Dollar,” at the association’s 29th annual award ceremony in Portland, Oregon. Kathleen Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP; Joyce Miller ’02, ’04 MAN, ’11 DNP; Katherine Baumgartner ’04 MAN, ’11 DNP; and Cheryl Leuning, former Nursing Department chair, co-authored an article, “The Citizen Nurse: An Educational Innovation for Change,” which was published in the Journal of Nursing Education. Jamie Heitzinger ’11 MPA earned a Certificate of Added Qualifications by completing specialty training from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She works at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. Ryan Stopera ’11 MSW/MBA is a social worker and social entrepreneur. He serves as a program analyst for the Graves Foundation and teaches in Augsburg’s Social Work Department. Stopera enjoys building community through art, cycling, and rock climbing in his spare time. Allison DeGroot ’15 MAL is the new head women’s soccer coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The women’s soccer program competes at the highest level in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, and DeGroot is looking forward to working with players to help the program reach its potential. DeGroot was an assistant coach at Augsburg from 2012 until 2016. Angela Mejdrich ’15 MAE is the new director of administration at Spirit of the Lake Community School in Duluth, Minnesota. She provides lead support and oversight of several administrative and business matters. Mejdrich has more than 20 years of teaching and administration experience, most recently as vice principal of St. Michael’s Lakeside School. Thomas Hirsch ’16 MPA is a new physician assistant at the Essentia Health–Hermantown Clinic in Minnesota. FALL - WINTER 2017 31 PHOTO BY CAROLINE YANG IN MEMORIAM Alfred W. Walck ’40, Urbandale, Iowa, age 96, on April 27. Addell L. (Halverson) Dahlen ’43, Minneapolis, age 96, on June 2. Carl G. Gilbertson ’43, Battle Lake, Minnesota, age 96, on April 14. Arlene L. (Dunham) Sandberg ’43, Madelia, Minnesota, age 95, on May 12. Muriel R. (Ruud) Frosch ’45, Winona, Minnesota, age 94, on July 26. Lorene M. (McGinnis) Hansen ’49, Clear Lake, Iowa, age 92, on July 7. Lorraine (Telander) Hendershot ’49, Mora, Minnesota, age 89, on March 29. Phyllis (Erickson) Quanbeck ’49, Salem, Oregon, age 89, on June 28. Donald P. Sateren ’49, Long Beach, California, age 96, on June 18. Russell G. Solheim ’49, Racine, Wisconsin, age 96, on July 8. Marilyn L. (Larson) Forslund ’50, Moline, Illinois, age 94, on May 26. Roger C. Mackey ’57, Saint Paul, Minnesota, age 83, on July 20. David C. Siedlar ’71, Huaian City, Jiangsu, China, age 68, on March 19. Norman O. Landvik ’50, Port Angeles, Washington, age 89, on April 6. Warren L. Anderson ’59, Grand Marais, Minnesota, age 84, on March 16. Bradley W. Shoff ’77, Akeley, Minnesota, age 62, on June 18. Arnold R. Aasen ’51, Fridley, Minnesota, age 88, on July 23. Carrol A. Bakken ’59, Rushford, Minnesota, age 82, on March 18. John A. Faeth ’89, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 51, on April 3. Elden O. Landvik ’51, Duluth, Minnesota, age 92, on July 3. James D. Slarks ’51, Saint Peter, Minnesota, age 92, on June 27. LeVon M. (Paulson) Dinter ’52, Edina, Minnesota, age 86, on March 18. Mildred C. Hetager ’52, Minneapolis, age 103, on June 30. Donald W. Siegel ’53, Minneapolis, age 89, on April 6. Peter L. Hauser ’62, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 76, on July 10. Michael L. Kropp ’95, Albert Lea, Minnesota, age 49, on April 2. Gerald W. Mortenson ’62, Stone Lake, Wisconsin, age 79, on March 31. Charity Thunder ’99, Black River Falls, Wisconsin, age 71, on July 1. Paul S. Monson ’63, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, age 76, on July 12. Jacob R. Collins ’03, Austin, Minnesota, age 36, on August 25. Gary W. Paulson ’63, Willmar, Minnesota, age 75, on June 10. Christopher G. Frame ’09, Minneapolis, age 33, on March 20. Richard E. Kuehne ’64, Walker, Minnesota, age 76, on August 7. Elnora C. (Hanson) Beireis ’54, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, age 84, on July 27. Ronald A. Hanson ’65, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, age 74, on July 17. Mary Ann E. (Fox) Domholdt ’56, Mentor, Ohio, age 83, on April 5. Terence W. Rindal ’66, Crystal Lake, Illinois, age 82, on August 12. Mark D. Lukitsch ’20, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, age 19, on August 5. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before September 15. 32 AUGSBURG NOW JOIN US FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NORMAN AND EVANGELINE HAGFORS CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2018 4–5 p.m. | Alumni and Community Open House Hagfors Center, Augsburg University 700 21st Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454 RSVP by January 8 at augsburg.edu/alumni/events. Send questions to Hannah Walsh ’14, advancement assistant, at walsh@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1098. FALL - WINTER 2017 33 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Thousands of Auggies. One Augsburg. Augsburg’s 2017 Homecoming celebration was held October 12–14, a festive weekend when alumni, students, and community members took part in more than 35 events, including reunions for the classes of 1967, 1977, 1992, and 2007. In all, more than 600 alumni from different generations visited campus to show their Auggie pride and mark the first Homecoming as Augsburg University. 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. 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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: Sverdrup-Oftedal Plague on Memorial Hall at Augsburg College, circa 1995.
Collection: Photographs

Title: Faculty at Augsburg Seminary, circa 1880.
Collection: Photographs

Title: Augsburg Now Fall-Winter 2018: Remarkable Achievements
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: Literary scholar on skates Athletic facility spotlight Sesquicentennial co-chair Q&A Research and student success REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FALL–WINTER 2018 | VOL. 81, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director...
Show more Literary scholar on skates Athletic facility spotlight Sesquicentennial co-chair Q&A Research and student success REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FALL–WINTER 2018 | VOL. 81, NO. 1 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 “Yes, and … ” I teach the Honors Senior Seminar each spring, which is always a highlight of my year, and one of the class sessions introduces students to the history and practice of improvisation. I invite members of our theater faculty and local improv performers to come to class to help us understand why improv is so important to places like Chicago (think Second City) and Minneapolis (think Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop). Then the fun begins. The improv artists invite us to the front of the classroom where we are taught some basic improv skills. Embarrassment aside, these sessions are full of life lessons. My favorite exercise goes like this: one student makes a statement related to an assigned topic. Perhaps the topic is the weather, and the student proclaims, “Wow, is it hot.” The next student then answers, “Yes, and ... I’m sweating like a faucet.” The next student continues, “Yes, and ... my faucets often leak.” You get the point. No one is allowed to say “No” or even “Yes, but … ”—it’s always “Yes, and … .” That’s how improv works, and I believe that’s how Augsburg works when we are at our best. We live in a “No” and “Yes, but … ” world—a world of scarcity that keeps us from risking ourselves in relation to others. Improv teaches us the way of abundance, a way that finds we are better together. “Yes, and … ” builds upon the gifts of others to help us live healthier, more just and compassionate lives together. The anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson offers this helpful word: “Improvisation and new learning are not private processes; they are shared with others at every age. We are called to join in a dance whose steps must be learned along the way, so it is important to attend and respond.” This issue of Augsburg Now is full of stories of “Yes, and … ”—including highlights of our planning for next year’s sesquicentennial celebration, Augsburg’s 150th anniversary. What a grand celebration it will be, as we recall the abundance of our founding in 1869, the decades of educating students for lives of meaning and purpose, and the promise of Augsburg’s mission in the years ahead. Yes, and ... it will be good! Faithfully yours, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications Gita Sitaramiah sitarami@augsburg.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 Kaia Chambers chamberk2@augsburg.edu Web Manager Joe Mann mannj@augsburg.edu Contributing Writers Katie (Koch) Code ’01 Kate H. Elliott Kelly O’Hara Dyer Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official university policy. ISSN 1058-1545 AUGSBURG NOW IN FOCUS: Fall–Winter 2018 Surprising sights worth a first (or second) glance 02 AROUND THE QUAD This fall, Philadelphia-based artist Margery Amdur created mixed media installations in Augsburg’s Christensen and Gage Family galleries. Amdur’s art emphasizes the creative process and incorporates unusual materials— including cosmetic sponges. The exhibition was presented as part of a collaboration among Augsburg, Bethel University, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and St. Catherine University in conjunction with the publication of the book “Creative Practices for Visual Artists.” 08 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS 10 NO PLAIN JANE 14 CARVING PATHS FOR THE FUTURE 16 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE THE DOME 20 BANNER YEAR IN STUDENT SUCCESS 23 AUGGIES CONNECT 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 32 IN MEMORIAM On the cover: Undergraduate researcher and biology major Angelica Diaz-Juarez ’20 waters plants in Augsburg’s Hagfors Center grow room. Learn about Auggies’ research experiences on page 20. COURTESY PHOTOS Inset cover photo by Deanna Dent, Arizona State University All photos by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated Here’s a new take on the “spring thaw.” Virtually all summer and fall, the Augsburg Ice Arena was iceless, which allowed construction crews to complete facility improvements, including installing a more environmentally friendly refrigerant system and upgrading the ice sheet floors from sand to concrete bases. Augsburg’s two-rink facility opened in 1974 and is used extensively—not only by the university’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, but also by community groups, youth sports leagues, figure skating clubs, and recreational skaters. Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu THAT’S GROOVY. Augsburg students celebrate the start of the school year Have you ever seen a dance floor filled with people swaying to the sound of … silence? That’s what a silent disco looks like. But the amusement was anything but muted for those who took part in an Auggie Bash hosted by the Augsburg Student Activities Council this past September. Participants wore wireless headphones tuned in to one of several audio channels playing a variety of music styles. This unusual approach to parties encourages dancers to move and groove their own way and to let their uniqueness shine as brightly as their neon headwear. THE AUGSBURG PODCAST Listen to the podcast online at augsburg.edu/podcast or download episodes from iTunes. 2 AUGSBURG NOW Hear Augsburg University faculty and staff share stories of their work with students in their own words. Launched this fall, the Augsburg Podcast is a new, 18-episode series offering a variety of perspectives on the university’s most important work: educating students for the future. StepUP makes NATIONAL HEADLINES NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt put Augsburg University’s StepUP® Program in the spotlight this May by showcasing its success in helping students in recovery complete their college education. NBC’s Catie Beck interviewed Neil King ’18 about the support he received from StepUP as a full-time student at Augsburg. Beck also interviewed StepUP Progam Director Tamarah Gehlen. “We always say that no one should have to choose between recovery and a college education,” Gehlen said. King, who began using drugs at age 14, discovered the StepUP Program four months into his recovery. “I really learned to believe in myself and my skills and capabilities,” said King, who’s now pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota. UNIVERSITY AWARDS Top 200 Schools for Indigenous Americans: The American Indian Science and Engineering Society Winds of Change magazine selected Augsburg as one of the 2018 Top 200 Schools for Indigenous American and Alaska Native students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. THE PARADOX OF PEACE: The 30th Nobel Peace Prize Forum INAUGURAL PHOTO BY REBECCA ZENEFSKI SLATER The Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis marked its 30th anniversary in September. The forum, hosted and presented by Augsburg University, celebrated the achievements of the 2016 Nobel Laureate, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, and the 2017 Laureate, The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, represented by Executive Director Beatrice Fihn. The program explored the intertwining complexities and paradoxes of water, conflict, and peace. “The paradox of peace lies in the paradox of the human condition— that we are capable of great love and great cruelty, that we are always a mix of some amount of ability and vulnerability. To achieve peace, we often have to fight for it,” said Joe Underhill, Augsburg associate professor of political science and director of the forum. Schwartz Professor of Choral Leadership and Conducting This fall, Augsburg named Kristina Boerger the inaugural John N. Schwartz Professor of Choral Leadership and Conducting. Boerger leads a visionary program honoring Augsburg’s legacy of engaging both music majors and non-music majors across campus. “Kristina Boerger has collaborated with leading composers and artists in creatively advancing the field of choral study and performance,” said Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow. “Her work has garnered national recognition, and we’re excited to have her join Augsburg.” With a strong commitment to inclusion, access, and equity, Boerger brings to Augsburg a long and diverse professional practice of exploring music from varied cultures. She has worked in public school, collegiate, community, and professional settings. In addition to her achievements in commissioning and premiering new works, Boerger served as director of three choirs that earned critical acclaim from The New York Times. She holds degrees in music education and conducting from the University of Illinois. Best Regional Universities by U.S. News & World Report: U.S. News & World Report again named Augsburg one of the Best Universities in the Midwest, ranking the university No. 5 among the Minnesota schools on the list for undergraduate teaching, No. 10 on best value schools, and No. 14 for most innovative. Best in the Midwest by The Princeton Review: This year, The Princeton Review again named Augsburg one of the Best in the Midwest for academic excellence. Best Value in Minnesota: Best Value Schools ranked Augsburg No. 6 on a 2018 list of 20 Best Value Colleges or Universities in Minnesota. Rankings are based on graduation rate, net price, acceptance rate, and 20-year net return on investment. Top LGBTQ-friendly Colleges and Universities: Augsburg was named to Campus Pride’s list of the top 30 LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities in 2017 and 2018. Campus Pride is the leading national organization for creating safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. Augsburg delegation honors Mandela centenary An Augsburg University delegation that included administrators and Board of Regents members traveled to Namibia and South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s centenary celebration. While there, Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow visited the university’s Namibia operations and met with students. Here, he’s pictured in Cape Town with guide Shireen Narkedien. COURTESY PHOTO AROUND THE QUAD Augsburg adopts test-optional admissions policy NEW AUGSBURG BOARD OF REGENTS MEMBERS Matthew Entenza, senior advisor on energy and the economy to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, was elected chair of the Augsburg University Board of Regents at its October 6 meeting. In addition, the Augsburg Corporation, at its annual September meeting, elected three new members to the Board of Regents and re-elected six members. Elected to their first term on the Augsburg Board of Regents: • Mark Johnson ’75, retired city planner and former president of Sonju Motors in Two Harbors, Minnesota • Terry Lindstrom ’73, drug discovery consultant and former Eli Lilly distinguished research fellow in Indianapolis, Indiana • Nancy Mueller ’85, physics and chemistry teacher in Rochester, Minnesota Mark Johnson ’75 Elected to a second or third term: • Diane Jacobson, former director of the Book of Faith Initiative for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America • Terry Lindstrom ’73 for Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion Toby Piper LaBelle ’96, senior vice president of Northland Securities, a Minneapolis securities brokerage firm Nancy Mueller ’85 • LaJune Thomas Lange ’75, former co-vice chair of the Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Racial Bias in the Courts and of the Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Gender Fairness in the Courts • Dean Sundquist ’81, chairman and chief executive officer of Mate Precision Tooling in Anoka, Minnesota • David Tiede, former president and professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota See the full list of Board of Regents members at augsburg.edu/about/leadership. 4 AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG ACHIEVES LEED Gold Certification Dr. Steven Larson ’72, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Riverside Medical Clinic in Riverside, California • This past spring, the Augsburg faculty approved a pilot test-optional admissions policy, making submission of ACT or SAT test scores optional for fall 2019 first-year and transfer undergraduate student applicants, except in specific circumstances. “The test-optional admission policy aligns with Augsburg’s mission of intentional diversity and is expected to increase the university’s pool of completed applicants each year,” said Nate Gorr, assistant vice president for innovation. For a number of student populations, standardized test scores may not reflect an accurate indication of academic ability—including, for example, people without access to test preparation courses and tutors, those who can’t afford to retake the test, people with learning and physical differences, and English language learners. This policy change also aligns with Augsburg’s holistic admissions process, which looks at quantitative metrics and beyond. The application-review process allows Augsburg to maintain the university’s academic standards and ensure Augsburg admits students with the capacity to succeed. Augsburg University’s new signature interdisciplinary building—the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion—achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In keeping with Augsburg’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the Hagfors Center was designed to incorporate elements that maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact, both in its construction and throughout its operational lifetime. LEED is one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide. HAGFORS CENTER RIVER SEMESTER 2018 A group of 15 Augsburg University students, two professors, and two guides departed August 24 in 24-foot voyageur canoes to spend the semester studying, researching, and living on the Mississippi River. The students and their guides are traveling nearly 1,000 miles, making stops to camp at several locations. The River Semester, led by Associate Professor of Political Science Joe Underhill, is a unique 100-day, hands-on, interdisciplinary program. Students earn 16 credits studying biology, environmental science, health and physical education, and political science. This is Augsburg’s second time conducting the program; the first was in 2015. Experiential education is a trademark of students’ Augsburg experiences. “We do this because we think this is the best way to learn both about the Mississippi River and about what’s going on out in the world,” Underhill said. Students return to the Twin Cities on December 1. COURTESY PHOTOS 2018–19 CONVOCATION SERIES In October, Augsburg’s annual convocation series kicked off with the Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium featuring author and educator Rahuldeep Gill and his presentation, “Who Are ‘We?’ A Sikh Perspective on Vocation, Justice, and Death.” Through his lectures and workshops, Gill works to build pluralism and crosscultural relations to inspire connected communities on campus, in the workplace, and in the marketplace. In November, the Center for Wellness and Counseling Convocation welcomed Gloria Burgess, pioneering scholar, author, and international inspirational speaker. Her presentation was titled “Greatness Lives in All of Us!” SAVE THE DATE: Join us Monday, January 21, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation. All convocation events are free, public, and held in the Foss Center. For more information, go to augsburg.edu/convo. FALL–WINTER 2018 5 A look at environmental privilege with social worker Christina Erickson Whether it’s popping up in social media news feeds or emerging in conversations held around the dinner table, the concept of “privilege” is rising in the public consciousness. “Privilege has become a serious area of inquiry in recent years,” said Augsburg Professor of Social Work Christina Erickson. “White privilege and male privilege have hit the spotlight, as have racial disparities in policing and the #MeToo movement highlighting harassment and sexual assault. Environmental privilege is a related phenomenon, and, while it seems to be an understudied area of privilege (and not the only one), it is still important, probably more than we realize.” Erickson teaches courses in environmental justice and social change, and she’s taking on the challenge of exploring environmental privilege in greater depth. She is the author of “Environmental Justice as Social Work Practice,” a textbook designed to bring an understanding of environmental privilege into social work curricula. Q: A: How do you describe environmental privilege? Environmental privilege is having access to a resource simply because of your social identity categories—race, age, gender, income, and geography. Studies have shown that if you have a higher income, you likely have more green space near your home, work, or school. Not to mention owning a cabin, attending summer camp, or even seeing people who look like you at our most beautiful natural spaces. If you use all the water you want for your daily self care and other activities without thinking about it, you have environmental privilege. Q: A: Is environmental justice similar to social justice and, if so, how? Environmental justice and social justice are intricately linked in ways that we have only begun to discover and name. For example, kids living in neighborhoods with poor air quality are missing school due to asthma more than 6 AUGSBURG NOW kids breathing clean air. If you can’t go to school, your chances for school success, which leads to adult success, are inhibited. Q: Can you describe environmental injustices and the disparities some groups face? A: In 1987, research found that waste facilities were most often near neighborhoods of people of color, many of them containing toxic waste. Even our own Minnesota nuclear power facility, located near Prairie Island Indian Community, is an example of how some people are forced to live closer to environmental burdens than others. Q: A: Why is it important to reflect on our own privilege, and how can we dismantle it? Dismantling privileges is one of the ways we create social change. When we think about creating shifts in society, we generally need to stop certain behaviors—such as racist hiring practices or sexual harassment—to integrate new behaviors to take the place of the old. Augsburg already has taken a stand on water—we encourage our entire campus community to refill water bottles from our own taps, which environmental studies students tested for safety. Q: How does your social work background align with your work in environmental justice? A: For most of my life I viewed myself as a social worker who was an environmentalist. It wasn’t until coming to Augsburg, collaborating on our interdisciplinary environmental studies major, working with my social work colleagues on privilege and oppression, and participating in our Environmental Stewardship Committee that I began to recognize myself, in an integrated way, as an environmental justice social worker. AROUND THE QUAD MINNESOTA URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE receives renewed support from three area foundations The Minnesota Urban Debate League, a program of Augsburg University, entered the 2018–19 school year with a full head of steam thanks to funding and partnership support from three Twin Cities grantmakers. • With a $25,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, MNUDL will launch a program centered on building financial literacy skills. Young women will learn financial concepts using the format of academic debate, which breaks down abstract concepts and makes them more relevant. Funds from this grant also will offer a cohort of women and gender-nonconforming students the opportunity to attend The Advocacy Unit, an advocacy skills training summer camp that takes place on Augsburg’s campus. • MNUDL will reach even more students in St. Paul Public Schools using a $40,000 grant from the St. Paul Foundation. MNUDL will add four middle school programs over the next two years. Funds also will make it possible for MNUDL to expand culturally specific debate programs for Spanish-speaking and Somali students. • A $40,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation will provide general operating support, helping MNUDL expand a variety of priorities, including increasing summer camp opportunities for middle and high school students. AUGGIE STYLE: Athletics apparel, then and now Forty years of serving American Indian students In October, Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services celebrated its 40th anniversary. The program has been a national model of success since 1978. Approximately 130 students representing more than 25 tribes are enrolled part time or full time in Augsburg’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Special invitees to the 40th anniversary reception included Bonnie Wallace, Augsburg regent emerita and the first director of the AISS program, as well as current Board of Regents members Eric Jolly, Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, and Noya Woodrich ’92, ’94 MSW. Today Augsburg University’s varsity athletes wear high-performance gear that aligns with their high-caliber capabilities. Many Auggie teams are sporting new uniform styles following Augsburg’s name change and a recent partnership with BIG Athletics to supply athletes with adidas apparel, uniforms, footwear, and accessories over the next five years. Here’s a glimpse at how current styles compare to those worn in years gone by. See other athletic uniforms at augsburg.edu/now. 1979 1930 1998 1975 ARCHIVE PHOTOS 2017–18 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS Thank you. Your giving supports current and future Auggies as they gain skills and knowledge to thrive in their careers, pursue advanced scholarship, and achieve in leadership roles after graduation. Learn more about opportunities to support an Augsburg education at augsburg.edu/giving. ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE May 31, 2018—$48,136,083 $40.5 $38.3 EXPENSES BY CATEGORY 38% 33% 19% 4% 3% 2% 1% Salaries and benefits Financial aid Operating expenses Debt services Utilities and insurance Student compensation Capital improvement $32.4 $28.2 $39.4 $29.8 $24.5 2007 2008 Fiscal year 2017–18 operating budget: $68,736,254 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 As of May 31, 2018, Augsburg University had annual realized and unrealized gains of 10.19 percent on the university endowment. The five-year average annual return on the endowment is 7.11 percent and the 10-year average annual return is 4.70 percent. Augsburg is committed to maintaining the value of the principal to provide support to the university in perpetuity. $123.6 PHYSICAL PLANT VALUE REVENUE BY SOURCE 76% 7% 7% 7% 3% Tuition Room and board Private gifts and grants Other sources Federal grants $48.1 $34.6 $33.3 $31.5 $43.9 $103.4 May 31, 2018—$123.6 million $73.9 $75.6 $73.8 $70.8 $68.7 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 $67.9 $65.5 $63.6 $65.5 $62.8 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 The quality and value of Augsburg’s physical plant is on the rise. The largest recent contributor is the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, which was completed in November 2017. Augsburg University is stronger and more vibrant than ever. Investments in priorities like scholarships, experiential learning, research, and faculty mentorship change the trajectories of students’ lives. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends who helped Augsburg raise $18,187,380 during fiscal year 2017–18. The philanthropy of more than 9,400 donors will help the university attract talented students and the dedicated faculty and staff who teach and guide them. THIS IS WHAT GRATEFUL AUGGIES LOOK LIKE THIS IS WHAT A PEACE SCHOLAR LOOKS LIKE Lex Dorfman ’18 Mabeth Saure Gyllstrom Scholarship, Helen (Mohn) Henderson Scholarship, Mary E. (Mimi) Johnson Scholarship, Hoversten Peace Scholarship Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota Studying: Religion, Spanish, and Leadership Lex Dorfman ’18 spent her summer in Norway studying alongside students from around the world. As one of two Peace Scholars selected at Augsburg this year and funded by the Hoversten Peace Scholarship and other donors, Dorfman’s time in Lillehammer and Oslo was part of a robust program designed to pair academic inquiry with real-world dialogue and to give students an introduction to the field of conflict studies. For Dorfman, the Peace Scholar program aligns with many of the topics she’s explored throughout her college experience. Also an Augsburg Interfaith Scholar, Dorfman called on her own multicultural background to found a Hillel organization on campus and to foster new opportunities to build connections between people from diverse backgrounds. “Augsburg has offered me a personal, hands-on education,” she said. “I have been able to create an organization on campus, interview Jewish leaders, and collaborate with a variety of students because of Augsburg’s engaging and small-but-powerful community.” THIS IS WHAT AN ALL-AMERICAN LOOKS LIKE Alex Wilson ’19 Arne and Jean Markland Scholarship Hometown: Oak Grove, Minnesota Studying: Biology Alex Wilson ’19 can put the title “All-American” next to his name in two different contexts. Competing in his first NCAA Division III National Championship tournament last March, the Auggie wrestler earned All-American honors with a fifth-place finish at 149 pounds. He also was among eight Augsburg wrestlers to earn the Division III Scholar All-America distinction from the National Wrestling Coaches Association based on student-athletes’ GPAs. Whether he’s facing an opponent on the mat or looking to ace an exam, Wilson has a drive to excel that will serve him well as he applies to competitive graduate programs and pursues his dream of becoming a physician assistant. For Wilson, Augsburg is a place where there’s harmony between athletic and academic achievements. “Augsburg has helped me develop as a student and as an athlete by giving me all of the resources I would ever need to be successful,” Wilson said. “Faculty support creates an atmosphere where it is possible to succeed in whatever you do.” THIS IS WHAT AN ENGAGED CITIZEN LOOKS LIKE Baoyia Kong ’19 Leola G. Anderson Scholarship, William and Anne Frame Scholarship, Adeline Marie (Rasmussen) Johnson Scholarship Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota Studying: Social Work and Psychology Baoyia Kong ’19 has the guts to just dive in. When she studied at Augsburg’s Center for Global Education and Experience site in Cuernavaca, Mexico, the social work major interned at a grade school, helping administrators infuse inclusive practices into the school’s operations and culture—and honing her Spanish skills along the way. Whether studying in Minneapolis or Mexico, Kong sees Augsburg as “a community with so many opportunities.” Kong has enhanced her academic experience by seeking out opportunities beyond the classroom, completing an additional internship with Hennepin County, volunteering at a medical clinic in Augsburg’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, playing intramural volleyball, and joining the Augsburg Asian Student Association and Hmong Women Together campus organizations. Kong said her Augsburg experience has shaped her as a leader because the university encourages students to be engaged in topics that align with their passions and creates “spaces for all to grow and flourish in their education.” FALL–WINTER 2018 9 O N N I A L PJane EIRICK BY JOHN W and introduce her properly into the world,” said one of Jane Austen’s characters, “and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody.” For a line published in 1814’s “Mansfield Park,” it prophetically resonates in the life and work of Augsburg alumna Devoney Looser ’89. Looser earned a doctorate in English and women’s studies, holds extensive credentials as a professor who has served at leading universities, and has written and contributed to dozens of books, scores of academic journals, and even more book reviews. When national and international publications need an expert on 18th-century literature, British women writers, or Jane Austen, they want Looser—if they can catch her before roller derby practice. Looser grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. College seemed like a distant dream, both because of the financial barrier and the fact that she came from a family with no college degree in sight. Her perspective changed when she applied to Augsburg and earned a President’s Scholarship for her academic merit. “That made all the difference in terms of my ability to go to college. Augsburg gave me an incredibly generous opportunity with that scholarship,” Looser said. PHOTOS BY DEANNA DENT, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FALL–WINTER 2018 11 Looser wasn’t outwardly confident, but she caught the eye of Cathie Nicholl, an English professor who taught at Augsburg for nearly 30 years until her retirement in 1999. Though Looser was somewhat quiet, Nicholl said, “her written work was always wonderful. She’s really blossomed a lot since then.” Looser first became enthralled with Jane Austen’s writings through a literature class with Nicholl, who has maintained correspondence with Looser through several decades. “I had no idea at the time how significant, how important [that connection with Nicholl] would turn out to be to my life—to a path toward a future in [literary] work.” Douglas Green, a professor of English who’s taught at Augsburg since 1988, met Looser when he first arrived at the university. “She was exceptional. We had a real conversation about literature,” said Green, a poet and scholar who teaches Shakespeare, drama, and writing as well as gender, sexuality, and was very shy at 18, and to see the same faces who could tell me, ‘You can do this,’ made a big difference in my believing in myself.” For a suburbanite, moving to the heart of Minneapolis was an education in itself. “Being in an urban area, being able to live among other students was amazing,” Looser said. “Augsburg’s student body was very diverse. Being in class alongside students from all over the world was mind-blowing. It made me reimagine my role in women’s studies at institutions including the University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, Indiana State University, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is described as a thoughtful and wise mentor who empathizes with firstgeneration college students. Her ability to reflect on and relate to the challenges others face is something Looser shares with the central figure of her academic work: Jane Austen. Did Austen predict roller derby? women’s studies. Though literature was central in feeding Looser’s ravenous appetite for knowledge, people and experiences also offered lessons beyond the classroom. “There were lots of things at Augsburg that brought me out of my shell,” Looser said. “I 12 AUGSBURG NOW the world, and what my world could be, and how I was part of their world.” Engaging with a variety of people and ideas has served Looser well in her literary pursuits and academic experience alike. She has held positions teaching English and “Austen is one of the most psychologically perceptive observers in all of the history of the novel,” said Jenny Davidson, a novelist and professor of English at Columbia University who connected with Looser over their shared professional interest in 18th-century literature. Known for romantic plots steeped in English society, including “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility,” Austen’s writings have been in print continuously for nearly 200 years and retain an unassailable foothold in contemporary art and culture. Who was Jane Austen, really— and how did she become what she represents now? That’s the focus of Looser’s latest book, “The Making of Jane Austen,” which earned high praise among literary peers. It was named a Publishers Weekly Best Summer Book for nonfiction, featured in CNN interviews, and reviewed in The Economist, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Looser’s remarkable scholarship has led to an abundance of prestigious opportunities, including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in support of one of her current projects: a book about unheralded British sister novelists Jane and Anna Maria Porter. Davidson offered a scholar’s perspective: “The project on the Porter sisters is a genuine project of reclamation, of rewriting an injustice of literary history: these were two extremely widely read and well-regarded novelists whom literary history has essentially dumped in the trash.” Because of Looser’s background, Davidson believes, the firstgeneration college graduate is attracted to the works of underdogs and can convey their stories empathetically and authoritatively. Perhaps her affinity for the underdog is part of what drew Looser to a lesser-known sport— roller derby. Nearly a decade ago, Looser and her friend Katie Carr, a special collections librarian at the University of Missouri where Looser was a professor of English, reconnected over a mutual sense that they needed a change. Angela Rehbein, one of Looser’s then-graduate students who is now a professor of English at West Liberty University, joined them to skate at a roller rink’s retro night, where members of a local roller derby team invited the three to derby practice. It sounded fun, so they accepted. Roller derby is a sport in which two teams of five players in roller skates line up on a track. The “jammer” on each team tries to maneuver past the “blockers” on the opposing team, and it all happens in a series of two-minute increments called “jams.” Players force opponents off the track or block them with their shoulders, chests, and hips. Because it’s full-contact, they wear helmets, mouthguards, knee pads, and elbow pads. It’s customary for derby players to create personas based on names that use a play on words. Carr dubbed Looser “Stone Cold Jane Austen,” a mashup of Looser’s literary expertise and professional wrestler Steve Austin’s stage name. Looser is now a faculty advisor to the roller derby team in addition to her work as a professor of English at Arizona State University. She still remembers the coaches who patiently taught her to play derby, which perhaps unexpectedly refreshed her perspective on higher education. “It’s humbling to start out as a complete newbie, and being laid flat and embarrassing myself,” she said. “It put me in headspace that made me realize how students must feel their first year of college, when you didn’t know what you were doing, and it was terrifying.” People who know Looser best—like Carr, Rehbein, and her former doctoral student Emily Friedman—point to Looser’s knack for transforming her interests into excellence. “There’s this world-renowned academic and also someone who plays roller derby and excels at it. She is an incredibly generous friend and an amazing wife and mother,” Carr said, referring to Looser’s sons and husband George Justice, a fellow Austen scholar and British literature professor at Arizona State University. “I learned a lot from Devoney’s incredible work ethic and her generosity toward her students and toward other scholars,” added Rehbein, who appreciates Looser’s influence both in and beyond the classroom. The same is true for Friedman, who has also worked on Austen scholarship and now serves as a professor of English at Auburn University. Friedman observed Looser’s simultaneous commitment to hard work and a rewarding life outside of it, and how “she keeps them dancing rather than in conflict and fighting.” Like Jane Austen and many icons before her, Looser will maneuver past any limitations in her path. “She’s the hardest worker I know,” said Friedman. “I’m just trying to skate in her tracks.” Looser’s next book topic: CARVING PATHS for THE FUTURE Theater professor Darcey Engen ’88 helps plan a forward-looking 150th anniversary celebration BY STEPHEN JENDRASZAK D arcey Engen, professor of theater arts, has been on both sides of an Augsburg education: student and professor. As a leader on campus, she brings both perspectives to bear. Thinking from a student perspective, she understands the intense obligations today’s students face and, with her colleagues, implemented a series of changes to make it possible for students from all backgrounds and enrolled in any major to participate in Augsburg’s theatrical productions despite family or work commitments. As a faculty member, Engen observed that faculty in the arts sometimes struggled to receive appropriate credit for their artistic and scholarly work, so she advocated for revisions to promotion and tenure guidelines to address the issue. Now, she’s been asked to call on those twin perspectives in a new leadership role: helping to guide the commemoration of Augsburg’s sesquicentennial during the 2019–20 academic year. In a recent interview, Engen shared her views on the university’s 150th anniversary, the important contributions faculty will make in commemorating the occasion, and what makes Augsburg unique in American higher education. 14 AUGSBURG NOW SE R AT I ON 1869-2019 SQ U IC ENTEN N CE IAL LE B “ One of the things I love about Augsburg is that we are more like the real world than other colleges and universities. The needs of the real world around us are present in everything we do.” You are a co-chair of the sesquicentennial committee. What do you hope this milestone will do for Augsburg? I hope that it gives us a moment in time to understand our past, mark where we are now, and look forward. It’s an opportunity for us to appreciate those who came before us, what we’re doing in the present, and those who will inevitably follow after us. What does this occasion mean to you as both an alumna and a faculty member? In our costume shop, there are boxes and boxes that say things like “summer hats.” Those labels were handwritten by my professor, Ailene Cole, the former chair of the theater department, before she retired in her 80s. When I’m in the costume shop and see her handwriting, I’m reminded of her and what she did for me and all her students. That inspires me to do the same for my students. As a former chair myself, now, I am part of a legacy, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. I’m aware that all of us, chairs and faculty, are so privileged to be able to create an atmosphere where our students can thrive as artists. I keep the past with me as I try to carve out paths for the future with my students. How are faculty members going to be involved in marking this significant moment in the life of the institution? I’m very grateful that we were able to make resources available for faculty to create scholarly projects that reflect sesquicentennial themes. The support opens the door for these scholarly projects, whether they be permanent works or ephemeral experiences, to be installed or occur during our yearlong celebration. They will honor and mark the 150th anniversary and also give faculty the opportunity to expand the good work they do, which is ultimately to support our students. I understand that the number of proposals for faculty sesquicentennial projects exceeded your expectations. What does that enthusiasm say to you? It was amazing to get all the proposals for such thoughtful projects. It goes to show you that we faculty members all have in us, no matter how busy our days can sometimes be, a great love for this institution. What kinds of projects are faculty members working on, and what are they trying to achieve? There’s so much incredible work being done, but I’ll offer a few examples to give you an idea of the scope of the effort. Sonja Thompson, assistant professor of music, is working on an original musical—with original music—about Augsburg, embracing both the rocky and exceptional moments in our history. Her team is interviewing as many people as possible and conducting story circles where students, staff, alumni, and friends can share their Augsburg experiences to inform the production. Erik Steinmetz, assistant professor of computer science, is building an app for exploring Augsburg’s campus now and at various points in history via augmented or virtual reality. The idea is that if you’re on campus, you can look around through your phone and see what a particular part of campus looked like at another time. And if you’re not here, you can virtually explore those same environments. We’re hoping to create online experiences that capture as much of the art and activity and scholarship happening on campus that year as possible. As Augsburg prepares to commemorate 150 years, what stands out for you? I’ve toured a lot of colleges; I’ve taught at two other universities. One of the things I love about Augsburg is that we are more like the real world than other colleges and universities. The needs of the real world around us are present in everything we do. Augsburg’s plans to celebrate the sesquicentennial are developing, and updates will be posted at augsburg.edu/150. FALL–WINTER 2018 15 Augsburg alumna Katia Iverson ’12 orients newcomers to the United States amid mounting uncertainty and narrowing policies 16 AUGSBURG NOW The Augsburg Air Structure—and the rest of the Minneapolis campus—looked practically otherworldly following a record-breaking April 2018 snowstorm. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE DOME THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE BY KATE H. ELLIOTT DOZENS OF BUSES en route from 25 Minnesota school districts pause on 23rd Avenue to unload hundreds of students in grades three through six at the Augsburg University Air Structure (aka the Augsburg Dome). The air lock opens, and grinning youngsters wheel, walk, and run into the 360-by-216-by-63-foot inflatable bubble lined with activities to exercise their cognitive, emotional, and physical muscles. Augsburg has held this one-day Sports Extravaganza for nearly 20 Novembers. Do the math: that’s more than 4,000 children, teachers, and paraprofessionals who have visited campus, and two decades of Auggies who have applied their health, physical education, and exercise science coursework to the field. HPE instructor Carol Enke said the event wouldn’t have started without the dome. “Imagine funneling hundreds of kids with mental and/or physical disabilities into Si Melby Hall via untold batches of elevator trips,” she said. “Without the air structure, this dual community engagement and learning opportunity would have never taken off. “Every year, teachers tell us that students ask about the event from the first day of classes, and we see that excitement as kids meet others and participate in activities they might have assumed were inaccessible to them.” FALL–WINTER 2018 17 AN EXPANSIVE GATHERING PLACE Sports Extravaganza is one of several community events squeezed into the dome between softball and lacrosse games and practices for baseball, track and field, golf, soccer, and football. Physical education classes, intramural activities, alumni events, and more also vie for the space, which features four batting cages, a driving range net, and four soccer goals. About 35 campus and community groups schedule the space each year, according to Greg Holker, the men’s soccer head coach, who helps manage dome schedules as part of his dual role as athletic facilities assistant manager. Thousands of people use the dome for a total of about 3,000 hours during any given year. “Regular users include our sports teams, HPE classes, camps, the Minneapolis United Soccer Club, and other prominent academies and associations,” he added. “During Super Bowl LII this year, a large corporation hosted a Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition, and the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee filmed a commercial in the space.” Each November, more than 500 student-athletes join coaches, staff, and administrators to erect the weather-proof 18 structure. It’s a Herculean effort that illustrates the university’s cooperative, all-in attitude, according to Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79. Come May, after 12-hour weekdays and about 18-hour weekend days, the dome is put away in about three hours, again by a campus-wide team. Swenson said the dome has substantially increased Augsburg’s workout space. “Nobody appreciates the air structure more than our spring sports,” Swenson said. “Access to a climate-controlled regulation field in our backyard gets them in the game earlier in the season without interruptions due to weather.” The university also is able to offer physical education classes, including golf and soccer, in the spring. Eric Rolland ’97, men’s and women’s golf head coach, said without the dome, spring offerings would be limited to indoor activities like bowling. And while Rolland enjoys throwing a strike as much as the best of them, the former All-American golfer said he has enjoyed the ability to teach golf throughout the year. “It’s a lifelong sport that can enhance your career, given that so many business meetings occur on the golf course,” said Rolland, who has taught golf classes for the past five years. “Students make lasting friendships, too, as the dome transforms into a giant driving range where students visit as they perfect their swings.” AUGSBURG NOW The Augsburg University women’s lacrosse team competed in the dome in Spring 2018. THE DOME ‘SAVED OUR SEASON’ Talk of spring takes Softball Head Coach Melissa Lee ’04 back to April, when the Twin Cities experienced its snowiest and fourth-coldest April on record, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which reported 26.1 inches of the white stuff and an average high of 47.4 degrees. “It was the winter that would never end,” said Lee, who is in her 15th season on Augsburg’s coaching staff. “Other teams in our conference have to rent out dome space or practice on hard gym floors incapable of mimicking competition, so when the weather is bad, those players may catch—or try to catch—their first deep pop fly of the season during a game. We made the playoffs last year, and I believe the dome contributed to that success.” Then-senior-outfielder Katie Parker ’18 was among the Augsburg softball players who spent the majority of the 2018 season under the dome. Playing inside requires adjustment, she said, with rules against catching deflected balls (to avoid injuries), turf vs. dirt, and many lights, rather than the sun’s sole beam. But the snowy season didn’t faze the native of Lakeville, Minnesota. “It’s our home turf, literally, so we practice in the space long before our first game,” said Parker, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s in elementary education with a focus on special education. “I loved the sense of community and cooperation as we worked side-by-side with student-athletes on other teams to take down and set up fence panels and goals, depending on the sport. Coach Lee also worked hard and stayed up late to make sure other area softball programs could access to the dome to finish out their seasons.” Will this year be a repeat of last season? The Farmers’ Almanac indicates ‘no,’ Coach Lee said, but the Minnesota native jokes the state’s weather is as unpredictable as a curve ball. What is not inconsistent, she added, is Auggies’ willingness to work together—snow or shine. Assistant Baseball Coach Zach Bakko ’18 echoed Lee’s appreciation for the dome’s ability to bring athletes across Augsburg’s 21 sports together with each other, the campus, and greater community. Bakko spent several seasons fielding balls under the dome lights as an Auggie outfielder. “Whether it be quarterback Quinn Frisell ’19 throwing out routes to his agile receivers, golfer Brett Buckingham ’21 working on his swing, or soccer forward Ashley St. Aubin ’20 figuring out another way to score a hat trick, I’ve been able to see athletes in other sports work to maximize their potential,” said Bakko. Plus, “The space allows our campus to give back to the community and make a positive difference in the lives of young athletes [through camps and clinics].” “Having worked for athletics, I’ve met the real heroes of the dome—athletics administrators, coaches, and all the maintenance staff—managing scheduling, cleaning, and every other task that arises,” he added. “That willingness to come together and do what’s needed, regardless of whether it’s in your job description, has expanded my understanding of the word ‘team.’” Find bonus content and fun facts about the dome at augsburg.edu/now. Augsburg community members work together to assemble the dome each fall. First installed in 1993, Augsburg’s original dome was one of the premier inflatable air structures in the Midwest. FALL–WINTER 2018 19 Undergraduate research gives students an edge BY GITA SITARAMIAH The summer before his third year at Augsburg, Fekireselassie Beyene ’16 was paid to research Earth’s magnetosphere. He worked in a lab on campus under the direction of a physics faculty member. And he discovered a passion for space physics. Beyene’s research, which was funded by Dean ’91 and Amy Sundquist his first summer and TRIO McNair Scholars for the second, helped him stand out in national scholarship competitions. The following year, he was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national program that provides financial support to undergraduates who show the promise of becoming leading scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Then, Beyene’s Augsburg advisors helped him successfully apply for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, providing him with more than $100,000 for graduate school. Now a Ph.D. student in space physics at UCLA, Beyene credits his Augsburg undergraduate research experience with getting him where he is today. “You don’t see the level of personal coaching at other schools like you do at Augsburg,” he said. “I really appreciate that about Augsburg.” Augsburg’s undergraduate research opportunities are paying off for students like Beyene, who compete alongside the nation’s top students to land high-profile fellowships, internships, and scholarships as well as selection to highly competitive graduate programs. In fact, Augsburg had a banner year in 2017–18, with a record number of students earning prestigious awards and fellowships. 20 AUGSBURG NOW Here are some highlights: • Augsburg had six Fulbright winners named this past year and has been listed five times in The Chronicle of Higher Education as a top producer of Fulbrights for master’s level institutions. The previous singleyear record for Augsburg was four. Since 2008, Augsburg’s Fulbright winners total 29. • An Augsburg student was one of just four Minnesota recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship last year. Out of 1,280 applicants nationwide, 211 were named. • Three Auggies were Critical Language Scholarship winners in the first year that Augsburg undergraduates pursued this fellowship. Only 10 percent of applicants nationwide receive this award. Two of the students were selected to study Swahili in Tanzania; the third, to study Mandarin in Taiwan. • Another two Auggies were Public Policy and International Affairs Program winners. Only 20 percent of applicants nationally are accepted into this program. One of the Augsburg winners studied at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. The other student spent seven weeks at University of California—Berkeley in a law-focused program. • For the first time ever, an Augsburg student won a Boren Award, which honors undergraduates studying language in areas underrepresented in study abroad programs. The Auggie, who studied Swahili at the University of Florida this past summer, is continuing to study the language and culture in Tanzania this semester. He will commit to one year of paid federal government service after graduation. Undergraduate research boosts the résumés of Auggies like Holly Kundel ’19, who looked for a rare dragonfly in Twin Cities area wetlands. Many of these accomplishments are the result of Augsburg’s decade-plus commitment to providing undergraduate research opportunities for students. Two programs are responsible for much of this success: the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity and the McNair Scholars program. URGO, now in its 14th year, offers an 11-week, on-campus, faculty-led undergraduate research experience with 50 students each summer. Students receive support throughout the research process from a faculty mentor, participate in weekly seminars, and engage in roundtable discussions with fellow student researchers to hone their communication skills. URGO also advises students about national fellowships, graduate school, medical school, and other health sciences. The McNair Scholars program is a federally funded program designed to prepare students from groups currently underrepresented in graduate school for doctoral studies to some of the most competitive institutions in the U.S. The program currently serves 26 students a year and includes 21 months of graduate school preparation workshops, travel to national research conferences, and hands-on scholarly research projects with faculty mentors. Through these programs, talented Augsburg students are earning prestigious national opportunities that they otherwise may not even have known about. “Many [of the students] who win awards and fellowships had never even heard the word ‘Fulbright’ before they were in this program,” said Dixie Shafer, URGO director. When students start their first summer research experience, Shafer said, they’re looking around wondering how they got selected. “You can tell they’re a little bit nervous,” she said. “By the end, when they’re giving oral presentations and submitting projects, they’re the experts in the room. Their level of confidence has grown.” Students agree that they gain key skills from research and writing in partnership with faculty members, presenting their work at conferences, and receiving hands-on guidance from advisors about how to translate those experiences into top fellowships, internships, scholarships, and graduate programs. And they often go on to other off-campus research experiences to expand their curricula vitae. Blair Stewig ’18, currently a Fulbright scholar in Poland, first did summertime research at Augsburg in a biophysics lab. She successfully applied for an Augsburg grant to do research while canoeing the Mississippi River during the 2015 River Semester experience, then did summer research with the Minnesota Lupus Foundation at the Mayo Clinic. The next summer, she conducted cancer research at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. FALL–WINTER 2018 21 three URGO advisors on her medical Currently, Stewig is conducting school applications. research on colorectal cancer at the “It was almost like they knew International Institute of Molecular more about my story than I did,” and Cell Biology in Poland and will Bagonza said. shadow physicians and volunteer at Shafer sees this type of faculty and the Maria Skłodowska Curie Memorial staff interaction with students as a Cancer Centre. key part of helping students evolve. “Without my research experience “Faculty and staff believe in students and the support of staff and faculty and then the students start believing at Augsburg, I don’t think I would in themselves,” she said. have had the confidence to apply for the larger competitive research experiences,” said Stewig, who plans to apply for combined M.D./Ph.D. programs in the future. Similarly, two months into her first year at Augsburg, biology major Vision Bagonza ’17 regularly started visiting the URGO office and mapping her trajectory to medical school. “They were with me every step of the way,” she said. In her first summer research project, Bagonza worked on genomics research with Associate Professor and Biology Department Chair Matthew Beckman. “That Fieldwork experience inspired Holly Kundel ’19 to apply for was instrumental to my doctoral programs in freshwater ecology. understanding of what was going on throughout the field,” Fourth-year biology major Holly she said. Kundel ’19 chose Augsburg after The following summer, she meeting faculty on a campus tour and researched biomedical ethics at Mayo Clinic, and she spent her third summer learning that she would be able to do research directly with them. researching malaria at Johns Hopkins. The summer after her first year, These experiences set the stage for her Kundel began her paid research on participation in the Mayo Innovation the rare Spatterdock Darner dragonfly Scholars program, where she learned in Twin Cities area wetlands. Kundel, about the complexities of the FDA who loves being outdoors during approval process when bringing Minnesota summers, was drawn to innovation to market. Finally, Bagonza the project after approaching Biology was awarded a full scholarship to the and Environmental Studies Assistant Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Professor Emily Schilling and learning Medicine after working closely with 22 AUGSBURG NOW that the research entailed doing fieldwork. Since then, Kundel has received other grants to support her research with Schilling. “It’s nice to work with a faculty member who knows exactly what my strengths and weaknesses are,” Kundel said. This year, Kundel received a Goldwater Scholarship, providing tuition assistance for her fourth year at Augsburg, and the associated prestige is expected to set her apart in her applications for doctoral programs in freshwater ecology. “I wouldn’t be applying to the graduate programs I am this fall if I hadn’t done this research at Augsburg,” Kundel said. While many in the URGO Summer Research Program are science majors, other disciplines are represented as well. English literature major Abigail Tetzlaff ’18 studied patterns in language and rhetorical uses in poetry and prose. Currently a Fulbright Fellow in Berlin, she is an English teaching assistant and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in English literature to ultimately become a university professor. “Especially for undergraduates studying within the humanities, it isn’t very common to come out of college with a research experience already complete,” Tetzlaff said. For Beyene, if not for the direct support from faculty and his McNair Scholars and URGO advisors, he wouldn’t have considered himself graduate school material. “Being at UCLA now, I realize how fortunate I was to have programs like McNair and URGO,” he said. AUGGIES CONNECT FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT + COURTESY PHOTO Dear alumni and friends, As always, the fall season at Augsburg was full of excitement. This past August, for only the second time, our community sent a group of Auggies to explore the Mississippi on a River Semester off-campus study experience. Over the course of the semester, these students will spend 100 days paddling down the river while learning about history, politics, and the environment, and having the adventure of a lifetime. Then, as the calendar turned to September, the community welcomed returning students to a new academic year and ushered in the first-year students who make up the class of 2022. At Homecoming in October, we honored an accomplished group of Distinguished Alumni. We found inspiration in hearing their stories and learning about their achievements, and we were reminded of the talent and dedication that Augsburg alumni exhibit across a vast spectrum of vocations and commitments. Augsburg alumni are, indeed, remarkable professionals and amazing people. This year, I’m especially excited to serve on the Augsburg Alumni Board as its members strive to increase the ways in which they give to the university. I have personally committed to giving 50 hours of my time to Augsburg. I plan to attend events, mentor a student, and help reconnect the Auggies in my social network with the university. If, like me, you’re interested in making a difference in the lives of others in our Augsburg community, you’ll find that there are many ways to connect with Augsburg in support of students. • Consider attending the Auggie Networking Event coming up in February. This is an opportunity for alumni to help students practice valuable interpersonal skills that will benefit them in their future job searches and careers. • Join us for the 2018–19 Auggie Take Out student mentoring program. • Reconnect with Augsburg by volunteering with the Alumni Office or the Alumni Board. We’re always looking for people to join our leadership boards. • Volunteer to usher at Advent Vespers or to serve in another capacity. In all of the ways that Augsburg has shown up for you, it is now the time to show up for Augsburg. You can find information about these and other volunteer opportunities at augsburg.edu/alumni. I hope you will consider sharing your time and talents with the university this year. * + + HOMECOMING 2018 Nearly 525 Auggies attended the Augsburg University Homecoming celebration held October 11–13. Alumni, students, and community members gathered for a festive weekend featuring more than two dozen events that united the university’s remarkable legacy with its contemporary identity. If you are interested in serving on an alumni reunion committee or volunteering to help plan Homecoming 2019, contact alumni@augsburg.edu. Go Auggies! NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT + PHOTOS COURTESY OF REBECCA ZENEFSKI SLATER * PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIDGET DONOVAN FALL–WINTER 2018 23 A LIFETIME OF ACTIVISM: Augsburg students of the ’60s reflect on the past 50 years In 1964, folk singer Bob Dylan released his album and song “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which served as a call for change to address the social injustices he saw in the world. For the group of young students entering what was then Augsburg College that same year, his words would prove prescient. College is a transformational time for students, but for members of the class of 1968, the impact was especially pronounced. The Augsburg graduating class of 1968 witnessed the United States live through some of the worst upheavals in the nation’s history. In late 1963, President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. By 1968, assassinations also would claim civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the late president’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy, as well as political activist and leader Malcolm X. At the same time, the country was becoming violently divided over social issues, including civil rights and the increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam, with ever-larger numbers of young people being drafted and sent to southeast Asia to fight. In response, Augsburg students began to march for peace and civil rights and to take part in programs like Augsburg’s Listening Witness, which brought them to live and work in impoverished and racially segregated neighborhoods in Chicago and elsewhere. It was fitting, then, that at this year’s Homecoming celebration, 1968 alumni celebrating their 50th reunion delivered an Auggie Talk titled “The Baby Boomer Effect: How Four Years Affected 50.” The five speakers—Michael Arndt ’68, Kim Gudmestad ’68, Ted Johnson ’68, Augsburg Board of Regents member LaJune Thomas Lange ’75, and Joey Sylvester ’68—said their time at Augsburg shaped the course of their lives. They described how education empowered them to pursue lifelong work in the areas of diversity, justice, public leadership, and social activism. “I think [those times] had a profound effect on many of us as individuals, and it certainly had a profound effect on Augsburg,” said Rev. Mark Hanson ’68, an alumnus who went on to serve as a pastor and the third presiding bishop of the Evangelical 24 AUGSBURG NOW Lutheran Church in America. “For me, Augsburg provided an immersive experience so that those changing realities, those cultural conflicts, and those strivings for racial justice and peace in southeast Asia weren’t just topics that one was reading about or subjects in a classroom. They became lived experiences.” Hanson, who is now the executive director of Augsburg’s Christensen Center for Vocation, said he’s seen the university change as a result of activism originating in those pivotal mid-’60s years. He points to increasing diversity in the current student body—the result of an intentional commitment to inclusion, equity, and intercultural competency. Like Hanson, Myrna Sheie ’68, co-chair of the 1968 reunion events, went on to work with the ELCA after graduation. She reflected that she had entered college without much experience with diverse cultures but saw both herself and Augsburg change during her college years. “When I started at Augsburg, I was both naïve and unaware of the diversity we lacked,” she said. “Over the next four years, my classmates and I were exposed to ideas, concepts, and lifestyles—both inside and outside the classroom—that challenged us intellectually, socially, and personally. I became less naïve as my eyes and heart became more open.” A laboratory for life When Arndt, one of the Homecoming Auggie Talk presenters, reflects on his college experience, his memories often connect the time he spent on campus with dramatic life events that followed it. Shortly after graduation, Arndt was drafted from his first teaching job and sent to Vietnam as a member of the Army’s First Cavalry division. He served in the jungle near the Cambodian border and saw heavy military action that killed seven of his friends. During that time, Arndt says he recited the Shakespeare he’d learned during college to calm himself. AUGGIES CONNECT CELEBRATING A SEASON OF HOPE ARCHIVE PHOTOS 39TH ANNUAL ADVENT VESPERS Today, Arndt is chair and professor of Theatre Arts and Dance at California Lutheran University and the artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company. He calls on his experiences as a veteran and artistic professional to use theater to help treat fellow veterans suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. “There was a time after I got out of the army when I felt that the country was going to dissolve into civil war,” he said. “There was such a divide and … a real sense that we were going to end up in total chaos. In talking with my college students today, there’s a sense of that now. [But] I think one of the things we’re saying is that those of us who felt that strongly in 1968 tried to work to make a difference. And many of us did.” Hanson concurs. “All that was taking place in the Twin Cities, in the country, and in the world in those four years became, for so many of us, not just objects of study, but context in which we were being formed for our future lives and vocations. And that’s still to this day what is particularly unique about Augsburg— it takes its context as the laboratory for life, not as something from which we seek to flee.” Augsburg’s Class of 1968 is working to raise $68,000 in scholarship funds for future students. Learn more about this initiative and their Auggie Talk at augsburg.edu/now. For more than three decades, Augsburg University has ushered in the Advent and Christmas seasons with Advent Vespers, a magnificent experience of music and liturgy, focusing on the theme of preparation and culminating in the joyful celebration of the Incarnation. Advent Vespers is set in downtown Minneapolis in the sanctuary of Central Lutheran Church, and this year Advent Vespers services will occur November 29–December 1. To learn more or request reservations, visit augsburg.edu/music/vespers. VELKOMMEN JUL Velkommen Jul is one of Augsburg’s most beloved traditions. It’s an event that celebrates the university’s Norwegian heritage and ushers in the Advent season. Come join us Friday, November 30, at 10:30 a.m., in Hoversten Chapel for a special chapel service—with Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish carols, Scandinavian dancers, and the Gospel read in Norwegian. Wear your Scandinavian sweater, if you have one; it’s a tradition to take a group sweater photo! Following chapel, the festivities continue in Christensen Center. Shop in the boutique for unique gifts and homemade goodies, and make sure to visit the buffet featuring lefse, krumkake, and other treats. The buffet is complimentary, but donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds from the event support Augsburg student scholarships. FALL–WINTER 2018 25 COURTESY PHOTOS AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY 1869-2019 SAVE THE YEAR Join us in honoring the traditions of Augsburg’s rich history and celebrating the remarkable progress we have made in educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. A yearlong series of events including a sesquicentennial gala will commemorate our deep roots and recognize our present opportunities and future endeavors as we become a new kind of urban university. Subscribe to the sesquicentennial events digital calendar to participate in these community celebrations. Visit augsburg.edu/150. NOVEMBER AUGGIES TRULY GIVE TO THE MAX Each year, Auggies around the world respond generously to support the breadth of programs and experiences offered by Augsburg University. In total, over the past five years, Augsburg has raised more than $1.5 million through Give to the Max Day efforts. And even if you missed the opportunity to participate this year, you can find information about our fundraising results and learn more about additional ways to support the university at augsburg.edu/giving. 26 AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG SESQUICENTENNIAL TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES Plan ahead to participate in exciting alumni trips commemorating Augsburg’s sesquicentennial. Overseas trips are planned to locations in Norway and Germany that are central in Augsburg’s history. In May 2020, Darcey Engen ’88, Augsburg University professor of theater arts, and her husband, Luverne Seifert ’83, head of undergraduate theater performance at the University of Minnesota, will lead a tour exploring the rich and vibrant arts and culture of Norway. The tour will include plays, concerts, and historical landmarks as well as an opportunity to celebrate Syttende Mai in Norway. At the same time, a tour exploring Norway’s peace work, government, and environmental agencies will be co-led by Bettine Hoff Hermanson, Norway Hub managing director, and Joe Underhill, associate professor of political science and director of environmental studies. This trip also includes the opportunity to celebrate Syttende Mai in Norway. In July 2020, Rev. Sonja Hagander, Augsburg University pastor and director of ministries, will lead a hike to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway—a pilgrimage made by travelers for more than 1,000 years. Along the way, the group will learn about history and culture, and experience firsthand some of the most beautiful nature in the world. Also in July 2020, Augsburg associate professors of religion Lori Brandt Hale and Hans Wiersma—who led the 2016 alumni tour for the anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation—will lead a tour to Bavaria, Germany, with stops in Nuremberg, Salzberg, and additional nearby locations. The tour also includes tickets to the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play, which first opened in 1634 and has been performed every 10 years since. Contact Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and constituent relations, at codek@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1178 if you are interested in learning more about Augsburg’s travel opportunities. ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1942 The French government posthumously awarded Chester Hendrickson ’42 the Jubilee of Liberty Medal for his service and work in Normandy during World War II. 1958 Grace (Kemmer) Sulerud ’58 received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming for her faithful service to Augsburg across her time as a student, librarian, faculty member, and alumna. After graduating from Augsburg in 1958 with a degree in English, she became a junior high English teacher and an elementary librarian in U.S. Air Force Department of Defense Schools in Germany, Japan, and Libya. Sulerud earned master’s degrees in library science and English, served as the treasurer of the Augsburg Associates, and continues to stay involved at university events. She personifies Augsburg’s calling to humbly serve in a variety of ways. 1968 David J. Melby ’68, Ph.D., received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming and was recognized as a psychologist, executive leader, and advocate who embodies faithful service in true Auggie form. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Augsburg and master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling psychology, he has worked as a CEO and has served on the boards of organizations relating to behavioral health care, health practices, and housing. As a thoughtful steward and responsible leader, his work has created healthier, more fulfilling lives for many. 1971 The St. Michael-Albertville (Minnesota) Coaches Association Hall of Fame Committee selected Darrell Skogan ’71 as a Hall of Fame inductee. This fall marks Skogan’s 51st season as statistician for the school district. He also has umpired, run clocks, and coached girls’ basketball and softball throughout his tenure with the district. 1972 John Sherman ’72 was honored with two awards for his work as a sports journalist. Sherman received the Outstanding Media Award from the Minnesota State High School League and the Spinnaker Award from Minnetonka School District. While at Augsburg, Sherman was the editor for the school newspaper and played baseball and soccer. Since graduating 46 years ago, he has served on the Sun Newspaper staff in Edina, Minnesota. Terry Lindstrom ’73 and Mark Johnson ’75 joined the Augsburg University Board of Regents. See page 4. Augsburg Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 explains how the university’s dome gives Auggies a competitive advantage. See page 16. 1982 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Andrews ’82 was a key defender on Auggie men’s hockey teams that won NAIA national titles in both 1980–81 and 1981–82, while winning MIAC titles and reaching the NAIA tournament all four years of his career. Andrews accumulated 29 goals and 60 assists for 89 points in his college career, and he earned All-MIAC honors in 1981–82 and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors in 1980–81. Former basketball star Brad Nelson ’82 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. An All-MIAC guard in 1981–82, Nelson was a three-year member of the Auggie men’s basketball team, averaging 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game in his career. He averaged 20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game on Augsburg’s MIAC runner-up team in 1981–82, and averaged 7.8 points on the Auggies’ MIAC title (later forfeited for use of an ineligible player) and NAIA national tournament team in 1980–81. 1984 Mayo Clinic Health System— Franciscan Healthcare named Dr. Paul Mueller ’84 the vice president of its Southwest Wisconsin Region. As a regional leader, Mueller will manage operations out of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He completed his undergraduate degree at Augsburg and has spent the past nine years chairing Mayo Clinic’s Division of General Internal Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. Nancy Mueller ’85 joined the Augsburg University Board of Regents. See page 4. Darcey Engen ’88 employs perspectives both as a student and as a faculty member to plan Augsburg’s sesquicentennial celebrations. See page 14. 1989 The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced that Carolyn (Ross) Isaak ’89 was inducted into the NCAA Division III Track and Field Athlete Hall of Fame in May. Isaak set several records as an Augsburg athlete, including the 400-meter hurdles record that stood until 2014. Isaak, a five-time national champion and nine-time All-American, is Augsburg’s first athlete ever to be inducted into this Hall of Fame. Literary scholar Devoney Looser ’89 was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2018 and will complete a biography of forgotten sister novelists. See page 10. Brynn Watson ’89 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. She is an award-winning leader in the aerospace industry for her technical experience, executive leadership, and tireless advocacy of STEM education for youth. She earned a mathematics degree from Augsburg and a master’s degree in applied mathematics before she gained several director- and vice-president-level positions in technology and engineering companies. She now serves as vice president for the Future Enterprise Program for Lockheed Martin. Watson’s spirit and accomplishments mirror the tenacity of Auggies around the world who ascend to prestigious positions among today’s leading companies. 1995 Wrestling star Randy Eastman ’95 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Eastman was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American in the 167-pound weight class, finishing second nationally in the 1994–95 campaign, third in 1993–94, and fifth in 1992–93. A transfer from Mankato State, he was a member of Augsburg teams that won the national titles in both 1992–93 and 1994–95, while FALL–WINTER 2018 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES finishing fourth in 1993–94. Eastman won two MIAC titles and was a conference runner-up in his Auggie career. Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Tom Layte ’95 was a dominant wrestler for the Auggies in the mid-’90s. Layte competed at Augsburg in the 1994–95 season after transferring from Western New England College, and he made the most of his Auggie campaign, going 44-4, winning the NCAA Division III national title at 150 pounds, and earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at the national championships as the Auggies won the team national crown. He later served as an Augsburg assistant coach and was head coach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Augsburg volleyball star Carolyn Tuohy ’95 was a dominant player in the mid-’90s, playing three seasons as a middle hitter, earning All-MIAC honors in 1994, and receiving All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors in 1992. Tuohy, who was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame, was a team co-captain in 1994 and finished her career with 878 kills in 2,566 attack attempts. She was voted the team’s MVP in 1992. 1997 Derrin Lamker ’97 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his successes on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. A quarterback in football, Lamker led the Auggies to the 1997 MIAC title and a spot in the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals. He earned All-MIAC honors in 1996 and 1997. He was the conference MVP in 1997, in addition to earning All-America honors and finalist honors for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III Player of the Year). Joe Lavin ’97 had an outstanding pitching career on the Augsburg baseball team. An ace during the mid-’90s, Lavin earned All-MIAC and All-Midwest Region second-team honors in 1995, while earning conference Player of the Week honors multiple times. He had a 1.42 ERA in conference play with five complete games, a shutout, and 41 strikeouts against only 16 walks and 32 hits in 1995, while winning three games on the mound in 1994 and four in 1996. Eric Rolland ’97, the Augsburg men’s and women’s golf head coach, teaches students a lifelong sport each spring in the campus dome. See page 16. 2000 Jasha Johnston ’00 and Carrie (McCabe) Johnston ’02 opened their third restaurant, Mortimer’s, in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis. The new venue features live music, an updated menu, and a family-friendly atmosphere. In addition to their new venture, the Johnstons own Nightingale Restaurant and Tilt Pinball Bar. 2002 Three-sport athlete Brenda (Selander) Mitshulis ’02 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Mitshulis was an All-MIAC honoree in 2000 and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honoree in 1999 in soccer, where she finished her career with 15 goals and four assists for 34 career points. She led the Auggies in scoring in three seasons. In hockey, she was a member of the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 MIAC title squads and the 2000 national runner-up team. She also played two seasons of softball. 2003 Dual sport athlete Rachel Ekholm ’03 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. One of the best softball players in school history, Ekholm earned All-MIAC honors three times, while earning NFCA All-Region honors twice. As a pitcher, she won 39 career games AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’70 ’76 28 AUGSBURG NOW ’84 ’90 ’12 with a 2.45 ERA and 347 strikeouts. She hit .389 and holds school records for home runs, triples, RBI, and slugging percentage. She also played in 60 career games in basketball, averaging 9.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Softball Head Coach Melissa Lee ’04 said the Augsburg air structure helped save the team’s 2018 season. See page 16. 2006 This year, Augsburg’s Excellence in Coaching Award recognized Jim Gunderson ’06. Gunderson is in his fourth season as football head coach at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota, after serving for 14 years as an assistant coach. He has also served as track and field head coach since 2012. In football, his team won the Minnesota Class AAAA state title in 2017, with Gunderson being named the Minnesota Football State Class AAAA Coach of the Year. 2008 graduating from Augsburg with a degree in communication studies, he has devoted his career to public leadership and making a difference in his community. He ran for mayor of Baltimore in 2016, becoming the youngest person ever to run for the office. He also sits on the boards of several Baltimore community initiatives and is the co-founder of a nonprofit fostering revitalization. Brian Krohn ’08, Ph.D., received a First Decade Award at Homecoming. After earning a degree in chemistry, researching biofuel, and becoming Augsburg’s first Rhodes Scholar, Krohn founded companies Mighty Axe Hops and Magic Wizard Staff. He earned a doctorate from the University of Minnesota as an Environmental Protection Agency Fellow and master’s degrees from the University of Oxford in environmental change and science. He was an Innovation Fellow at the U of M’s Medical Devices Center and is CEO of Soundly, an app-based therapy to reduce snoring—an initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Joshua Harris ’08 received a First Decade Award at Homecoming. His life and work in the past 10 years embodies Augsburg’s pursuit of social justice, equity, and inclusion. Since Nikki Rajala ’70 published “Treacherous Waters,” her second novel in the “Chronicles of an Unlikely Voyageur” series. A career ESL teacher, Rajala retired from the St. Cloud School District in 2004 and lives in Rockville, Minnesota. ’70 Jeff Mueller ’76 was honored by Norway’s King Harald V, who bestowed the rank of Knight First Class in the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. Mueller, director of administration and finance at Norway House, Minneapolis, is a past president of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on its board of directors. He also has been active in the Syttende ’76 Killa Marti ’08, J.D., received a First Decade Award at Homecoming because she embodies Augsburg’s values through her thoughtful stewardship, critical thinking, and rigorous pursuit of justice and equity. After graduating from Augsburg with a major in international relations and a minor in economics, Marti earned a law degree so that she could serve immigrant communities. She has worked with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and several law firms, has founded her own law practice in the Atlanta area, and has worked tirelessly for her law clients in districts and cases where the decks were stacked against them. Former Augsburg cheerleader Cassandra Roschen ’08 returned to Fairmont High School to coach the cheerleading squad. Roschen, a former Fairmont cheerleader, taught current students sideline cheers and routines. She also extended her service to include team building and community outreach with the squad. Chris Stedman ’08 received a First Decade Award at Homecoming for his robust intellectual engagement as an informed citizen and critical thinker. A religion major with minors in English and social welfare, he earned a master’s degree in religion from Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago. He was the founding executive director of the Humanist Center of Minnesota, founded the Yale Humanist Community, and was a humanist chaplain at Harvard. Stedman is the author of “Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious” (Beacon Press, 2012). Mai Committee, the Norwegian Independence Day celebration, the annual troop exchange program with the Minnesota National Guard and the Norwegian Home Guard, and Torske Klubben. Mueller (right) is pictured with Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Kåre R. Aas, who presented the order of merit medal at Norway House. The HGA firm hired Mary Claire Olson Potter ’84 as a health care business developer and senior associate. ’84 ’90 In June, former Augsburg football player David Stevens ’90 hosted a Disability Dream and Do Camp alongside the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, an American minor league baseball team based in Upstate New York. CBS affiliate WBNG covered Stevens’ story and time with the Rumble Ponies. Stevens, who led six other athletic camps this summer, was the only double amputee to play three seasons of football for the Auggies. He later played for the St. Paul Saints and tried out for the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys. Janelle (Christensen) Nelson ’12 welcomed a daughter, Kennedy Elaine, in April. Nelson majored in art history. Her grandfather also attended Augsburg. ’12 FALL–WINTER 2018 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 2011 Laura (Schmidt) DuSchane ’11 and Seth Lienard ’11, ’16 MBA opened a new business venture called Fretless Marketing that provides social media and event marketing services for small businesses. Their company website is fretlessmarketing.com. Ted Nielsen ’11 started a new job at Edward Jones as a financial advisor. Nielsen assists individuals and families with long-term investing. Nielsen previously worked with Thrivent and graduated from Augsburg with a bachelor’s degree in English. 2012 Kimberly Simmonds ’12 was promoted to a program assistant with the City of Minneapolis. Simmonds majored in history at Augsburg before receiving her master’s in public administration in 2014. 2013 Alexandra Buffalohead ’13 started a new role as manager of art and cultural engagement with the Native American Community Development Institute. Buffalohead earned a bachelor’s degree in studio arts at Augsburg. She has since served as a graphic designer for the American Indian Cancer Foundation and as a communications officer for the Indian Land Tenure Foundation. Tyler Heaps ’13 is a manager of analytics and research at the United States Soccer Federation. SportTechie, an online resource devoted to covering topics at the intersection of sports and technology, interviewed Heaps regarding his work within the federation tracking players and opponents using innovative technologies. Heaps is working to standardize analysis and support across all soccer levels and teams to ensure the federation can effectively track players within the system. The Chicago Tribune wrote about Dustin Ritchea ’13, who returned to live and work in his hometown of Chesterton, Indiana. Ritchea serves as a promotions director for Indiana Dunes Tourism and also works as an actor, producer, songwriter, and writer. 2015 Nikki (Ludwig) Darst ’15 started a new job with Black Line Group as a research and development tax manager. She graduated from Augsburg with a degree in accounting management. Fekireselassie Beyene ’16 participated in undergraduate research that contributed to success after graduation. See page 20. 2017 Jack Swift ’17 recently started a new role with In The Groove Music as a publishing assistant. As an Augsburg student, Swift majored in business administration with an emphasis on music business. Vision Bagonza ’17 conducted research through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity. See page 20. 2018 The NBC Nightly News featured Neil King ’18 in a story about his success at Augsburg in the StepUP® Program. After graduating from Augsburg and StepUP, King started a master’s degree in integrated behavioral health at the University of Minnesota. The Twin Cities Arts Reader interviewed Brid Henry ’16 regarding her work in the Minneapolis theater scene. Henry has performed in the Minnesota Fringe Festival and has directed and co-produced the first year of the Minneapolis branch of the Future Is Female Festival. Henry chose to study theater at Augsburg because the university’s program was ranked among the top opportunities outside of New York. 30 AUGSBURG NOW Blair Stewig ’18 and Abigail Tetzlaff ’18 delved into student research with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity. See page 20. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Matthew Halley ’97 MSW serves as executive director for Cookie Cart, a nonprofit youth program that equips young people with employment and life skills. Halley was interviewed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press for an article highlighting the program’s continuing success since its founding in 1988. Halley is focused on expanding the program by adding more youth workers. This spring, Education Minnesota named Kelly (Sheehan) Holstine ’12 MAE the 2018 Teacher of the Year. An English teacher at Tokata Learning Center, an alternative high school in Shakopee, Holstine created a new English curriculum and developed policies that the school has implemented. Lavender Magazine featured Holstine’s accolades and focus on diversity in education. As Teacher of the Year, Holstine is an ambassador for 86,000 teachers in Minnesota. Chung Eang Lip ’18 started a new role as a graduate school teaching assistant at Columbia University in New York City. Lip is working on a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in infectious disease epidemiology. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’16 St. Olaf College hired Gregory Mitchell ’18 as a wide receivers coach for the 2018 season. Mitchell was a receiver on the Augsburg football team. He previously coached receivers at Centennial High School and Southwest High School. Augsburg alumnus Scott Cooper ’13 returned to the university this August as a full-time staff member serving as an alumni engagement manager. Cooper started his undergraduate degree at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, before transferring to Augsburg in 2011 where he completed a bachelor’s degree in communication. Cooper was a member of the Augsburg Choir and the 2012 and 2013 Auggie football teams. Prior to ’13 SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE joining Augsburg’s Alumni and Constituent Relations staff, Cooper served in Minneapolis Public Schools’ high school special education programs. In his free time, Cooper has enjoyed public speaking engagements in which he has discussed his experiences as an Auggie football player. ’12 Rick Wolke ’12 and Ashley (Carney) Wolke ’13 welcomed Aurora Jo Wolke on AUGGIES HONORED Orville “Joe” Hognander Jr. received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming for his thoughtful stewardship and responsible leadership. Although he was not a student at Augsburg, he is a noteworthy Auggie through and through. His grandfather was an Augsburg graduate more than 100 years ago, his parents were highly involved in the music program, and his ties to alumni and faculty run deep. A retired naval officer and private investor now living in Edina, Minnesota, Hognander’s longstanding involvement with Augsburg speaks to a family history of commitment and engagement, particularly in the continued support of Augsburg’s Department of Music. ’16 ’13 Professor Emeritus John Holum, Ph.D., received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming. A beloved retired professor whose legacy spans more than 30 years, Holum is a prolific writer who has published dozens of scientific textbooks and peer-reviewed papers. He came to Augsburg with a doctorate in organic chemistry and taught chemistry until his retirement in 1993. Holum, who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, has demonstrated a lifelong passion for academic excellence and support for students on their educational journeys. ’12 ’09 Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements. ’15 January 8. Rick and Ashley both majored in business administration/economics. Caitlin (Hozeny) Lienard ’09, ’17 MSW and Seth Lienard ’11, ’16 MBA were married on September 23, 2017, in Stillwater, Minnesota. There were several Auggies in attendance. Pictured are [front, L to R]: Seth Lienard, Caitlin (Hozeny) Lienard, Morgan (Bray) Thompson ’09, Amanda (Chmiel) Spence ’09 ’09 [back, L to R]: Wade Wojick ’11, Ryan Wilsey ’12, Erika Osterbur ’11, Aren Olsen ’11, Luke Lienard ’16, Aaron Rosell, Stefan Swanson, Sheridan Lienard, Lindsey Graff ’11, and Ben Krouse-Gagne ’11. Laura (Swanson) Lindahl ’15 MBA and her husband, David, welcomed a son, Lawson Robert, on April 26. ’15 ’10 Jonathan Chrastek ’10 and Katie Pendo ’10 were married on July 7 in Leesburg, Virginia. Several Augsburg alumni joined the couple as they celebrated their wedding, which was officiated by Sylvia Bull ’10 and Emily Wiles ’10. Augsburg alumni Alissa Nolan ’09, Nick Blixt ’10, and Cait Kortum ’10 were in the wedding party, and Kate Edelen ’11 was in attendance. ’10 FALL–WINTER 2018 31 IN MEMORIAM Lydia C. (Mitlyng) Pokrass ’35, Ashburn, Virginia, age 104, on May 29. Eunice C. (Knudson) Iverson ’42, Richmond, Minnesota, age 97, on September 9. Joyce M. (Reitan) Knutsen ’43, Fridley, Minnesota, age 93, on May 30. Richard J. Koplitz ’45, Minneapolis, age 95, on June 15. Lenore “Beth” B. (Buesing) Opgrand ’45, Wilmington, North Carolina, age 95, on May 25. Adele L. (Anderson) Cupit ’46, Walnut Creek, California, age 94, on May 26. Jack E. Jacobsen ’46, Minneapolis, age 95, on January 11. Duane J. Christensen ’53, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 87, on May 7. Clara A. (Hookom) Cobb ’54, Willmar, Minnesota, age 85, on May 26. Daniel “Dan” E. Peterson ’66, Clear Lake, Minnesota, age 75, on March 4. Niles R. Schulz ’66, Minneapolis, age 74, on July 10. James E. Leschensky ’67, Minneapolis, age 73, on March 25. John “Johnny” M. Burke ’94, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 54, on March 20. E. William “Bill” Anderson ’56, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 84, on May 16. Judith A. (Anderson) Woods ’67, Brainerd, Minnesota, age 73, on March 7. Rebecca E. Rehfeld ’95, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 62, on February 19. Lloyd C. Grinde ’56, Minneapolis, age 92, on July 1. Dolores “Dee” M. (Larson) Fagerlie ’72, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 90, on August 23. Phyllis A. Lee ’96, Frederick, Maryland, age 76, on January 18. Russell C. Lee ’56, Albuquerque, New Mexico, age 86, on August 17. Roger K. Ose II ’56, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 84, on May 9. Sidney D. Berg ’57, Minneapolis, age 88, on May 29. Kathleen E. Tinseth ’74, Minneapolis, age 66, on September 4. John R. Burgeson ’75, Andover, Minnesota, age 66, on May 19. Leroy H. Conyers ’57, Marshall, Minnesota, age 88, on June 13. Margaret “Marie” (Salmonson) Marx ’78, Scandia, Minnesota, age 89, on September 7. Arthur E. Marben ’47, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 95, on July 14. Charles H. Erbstoesser ’58, Little Falls, Minnesota, age 88, on July 18. Estelle M. (Uleberg) Swanson ’47, Madelia, Minnesota, age 92, on August 2. Stephanie J. (Torgerson) Sipprell ’81, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 59, on May 5. Harlan J. Jacobson ’59, Ashby, Minnesota, age 81, on July 20. Milan J. Sedio ’48, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 94, on May 18. Joyce K. (Johnson) Rudi ’62, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 85, on August 29. Mary J. Andersen ’84, Afton, Minnesota, age 61, on March 10. Richard J. Thorvig ’49, Minneapolis, age 93, on August 4. Lynn B. Lundin ’50, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, age 90, on May 29. Verna M. (Haverly) Brue ’51, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 90, on July 16. Gloria A. (Metcalf) Kubnick ’63, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, age 77, on July 12. Susan D. (Graff) Mills ’96, Fargo, North Dakota, age 65, on July 3. Scott W. Schuck ’97, Minneapolis, age 63, on August 31. John M. Welch ’07, Sudbury, Massachusetts, age 34, on June 30. Marlene M. Taylor ’09, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 31, on May 16. Jennifer L. Lovering ’10, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 29, on April 26. Cheryl L. Miller ’10, Altoona, Wisconsin, age 52, on August 9. Jon “Ryan” R. Benson ’12, Chanhassen, Minnesota, age 40, on June 1. Karlton “Karl” I. Bakke ’64, Roseville, Minnesota, age 77, on July 18. Jon M. Leverentz ’92, Hopkins, Minnesota, age 67, on August 16. Jacalyn “Jackie” S. (Ruschmann) Pederson ’14, Danbury, Wisconsin, age 65, on August 28. Bruce E. Braaten ’64, Prior Lake, Minnesota, age 76, on May 27. Alisa J. (Norvold) Leonard ’93, Northfield, Minnesota, age 48, on July 8. David “Alex” A. Jenny ’16, Kansas City, Missouri, age 29, on May 27. Charlotte K. (Jensen) Duty ’65, St. Joseph, Missouri, age 75, on March 24. A. Richard Petersen ’51, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 89, on August 21. Cengiz Gokcen ’66, St. Pete Beach, Florida, age 74, on August 5. AUGSBURG NOW Linda J. (Skay) Weinberg ’87, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, age 69, on March 13. Alice E. (Barden) Mapes ’96, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 56, on August 24. Eileen M. (Henkemeyer) Saldana ’91, Minneapolis, age 82, on January 6. Erika R. (Staub) Niemi ’51, Tucson, Arizona, age 91, on April 16. 32 David R. Berken ’94, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 50, on May 19. Duncan D. Flann ’55, Overland Park, Kansas, age 85, on April 9. Helen “Merle” M. (Houser) Campbell ’47, Newberg, Oregon, age 94, on June 27. Donald L. Sween ’49, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 93, on April 25. Scott D. Syring ’93, Minneapolis, age 48, on August 24. Shirley A. Sopkiewicz ’93, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 60, on February 27. John E. Sorlien ’93, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 55, on July 19. Cole R. McAdam ’17, Faribault, Minnesota, age 23, on April 7. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before September 15. VISIT CAMPUS ALUMNI Whether you’re on campus often or haven’t been back in years, there’s always something new to see. Schedule a personal tour by contacting the alumni office at 612-330-1329 or alumni@augsburg.edu. PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS Augsburg could be right for you. Traditional undergraduate students who are children or spouses of Augsburg graduates or the siblings of current Augsburg students are eligible for a minimum scholarship of $16,000 per year. Schedule a campus visit at augsburg.edu/visit. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Augsburg’s press box, completed in 2008, was made possible by gifts from Oliver Dahl ’45, John ’36 and Christine Haalan, E. Milton “Milt” Kleven ’46, Glen Person ’47, President Paul C. Pribbenow, Dick “Pork Chop” Thompson ’61, and Gunner and Mary Wick. Augsburg press box name commemorates Campus Pastor Emeritus Dave Wold Augsburg University dedicated the press box at Edor Nelson Field in honor of the late Rev. Dave Wold during the Auggie football team’s home opener this fall. Augsburg’s campus pastor from 1983 to 2013, Wold died April 21 at age 72. In addition to his service to the Augsburg community as a faith leader, Wold was a constant presence in the Augsburg athletics community, serving as public address announcer for football, men’s basketball, and wrestling home competitions, along with events in many other sports. The breadth of Wold’s pastoral care supported generations of Auggies, and he is beloved by alumni and Augsburg community members around the world. PHOTOS BY KEVIN HEALY 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031
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