BEFORE TODAY
BEYOND TOMORROW
FALL–WINTER 2019 | VOL. 82, NO. 1
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Associate Vice President and
Chief Marketing Officer
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On s... Show more
BEFORE TODAY
BEYOND TOMORROW
FALL–WINTER 2019 | VOL. 82, NO. 1
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Associate Vice President and
Chief Marketing Officer
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On seeing and being seen
We see you!
This summer, Assistant Professor Joaquin
Muñoz from our education department
greeted our incoming students with a
powerful message. He said that every one
of them deserved an adult who loved them
unconditionally. He then looked out at our
remarkable students and told them that he
loved them. He said, “I see you,” and “I will
do all I can to ensure that you are successful
at Augsburg and beyond.”
Joaquin was speaking to students of color
and indigenous students in particular, but
this is our promise to all our students: “We
see you” is at the center of Augsburg’s
commitment to meet students where they are
and walk alongside them as they pursue their
educational goals. What does it mean to say
that “we see you”? It means that your life
experience, your vocational journey, your path
to Augsburg is important to us and will be
taken seriously as we work together to ensure
your success.
It seems especially fitting as we launch our
150th anniversary—our sesquicentennial—
that we renew our promise to meet our
students where they are, to see them in all of
their astonishing and diverse life experiences,
and to accompany them as they pursue an
Augsburg education.
Our promise to see our students is evident
in all of our celebrations of our 150th
anniversary. For example, the remarkable
“Each, Together” art project—part of an
international initiative known as “Inside
Out”—is featured in this issue of Augsburg
Now (see page 16). More than 1,200
photographs are displayed on buildings
across campus: images of current students,
faculty, staff, and alumni alongside those of
historic figures like Bernhard Christensen ’22,
Augsburg’s fifth president, who looks at me
each day as I pull into my campus parking
spot! Every time I look at those photographs, I
think about how they reflect our commitment
to seeing each other, to recognizing that our
various journeys to Augsburg and beyond
are part of a remarkable narrative that has
unfolded over the past 150 years.
Since our founding in 1869 and through
the decades that followed, our institution has
grown and changed, yet our commitment to
our foundational promise has remained the
same. We see you, we love you, and together
we will fulfill our abiding promise that
Augsburg is “small to our students and
big for the world.”
Faithfully yours,
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Director of Marketing
Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Director of Public Relations
and Internal Communications
Gita Sitaramiah
sitarami@augsburg.edu
Assistant Director of
Marketing Creative
Denielle Stepka ’11
stepkad@augsburg.edu
Senior Creative Associate, Design
Elizabeth Kästner
kaestner@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
Contributors
Kate H. Elliott
Jen Nagorski ’08
Lisa Renze-Rhodes
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
Fall–Winter 2019
During Augsburg’s annual community
engagement and service event—now
known as City Engagement Day—first-year
students volunteer at Twin Cities-based
organizations at the start of the academic
year. On September 3, more than 650
students in Augsburg T-shirts worked
alongside faculty and staff. Some sites
included community gardens and a river
cleanup with the National Park Service.
The Class of 2023 is Augsburg’s largest ever.
See the back cover.
02 Around the quad
16 Face value
08
Annual report to donors
22
10
A September to remember
26 Auggies connect
12
Building on an early lead
15
Honoring Auggies
Balancing the books
28 Class notes
32 In memoriam
On the cover: Portraits of community
members—past and present—create a
tapestry of faces that celebrate, recognize,
and honor the individuals who have
contributed to Augsburg University during
the past 150 years. Read more on page 16.
All photos by Courtney Perry unless
otherwise indicated
Send address corrections to
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
Send comments to
now@augsburg.edu.
PHOTO BY REBECCA SLATER
AUGSBURG’S LARGEST CLASS KICKS OFF
ACADEMIC YEAR WITH VOLUNTEERING
PHOTOS BY SHAWN NIELSEN
AROUND
THE
QUAD
Augsburg launches
TRANSIT PASS FOR UNDERGRADUATES
Augsburg University now offers the Auggie Pass, a universal transit
pass that gives undergraduate students unlimited rides on buses
and light rail in a first-of-its-kind partnership between Metro Transit
and a Twin Cities university.
Augsburg’s student government approved increasing the green
fee by $5 to $20 per semester to pay for the Auggie Pass in order
to reduce students’ out-of-pocket costs while improving their
chances of accepting jobs and internships that involve a commute.
Day Student Government is officially responsible for overseeing the
green fee that supports sustainability efforts.
The Auggie Pass is valid throughout the school year and is paid
for from both the student green fee and university operating funds.
All traditional undergraduate students who pay the semester green
fee are eligible for the pass at no additional cost.
“As someone who uses the bus every day, it’s great not to have
that financial burden,” said Skye Ryge ’20, who advocated for the
pass. “It’s really economically advantageous to students who pay
for school, like me, to not have to choose between textbooks and
bus fare.”
2
AUGSBURG NOW
President Paul Pribbenow named
FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR
Augsburg University President Paul
Pribbenow was named an Outstanding
Fundraising Professional for his effective,
creative, and inspiring leadership.
The highest honor bestowed upon one of
its members, the award was presented by
the Association of Fundraising Professionals
at the International Fundraising Conference
in San Antonio this spring. “The impact
of Paul Pribbenow on the organizations
he has served is only exceeded by the
impact he has had on the entire fundraising
profession,” said AFP President and
CEO Mike Geiger. “It is fair to say that
fundraising—and how we look at ethics
and philanthropy—would look differently
without the contributions of Paul. His work
will serve as one of the cornerstones of the
profession for years to come.”
QUIZ:
OLDER OR
YOUNGER
THAN AUGSBURG?
VARSITY WOMEN’S WRESTLING TEAM
Augsburg announced earlier this year the addition of a varsity women’s
wrestling team.
This new team continues the pioneering tradition in women’s athletics
at Augsburg, which now has the only varsity women’s wrestling team in
Minnesota. In 1995, Augsburg became the first college in the Midwest
to sponsor a varsity women’s ice hockey team. Then, in 2014, Augsburg
became the first collegiate institution in Minnesota to sponsor a varsity
women’s lacrosse team.
The women’s wrestling team is competing this academic year under
head coach Max Mejia, who most recently served as women’s and
developmental coach at the Sunkist Kids Regional Training Center in
Tempe, Arizona.
Mejia, a 2015 graduate of Harvard University, has helped coach a
World Team Trials champion and another finalist; two senior national
team members; a U.S. Open champion, finalist, and placewinner; and
four Arizona high school state champions.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
The first recorded baseball
game occurs.
Abolitionists Frederick Douglass
and Harriet Tubman are born.
Leaders sign Norway’s constitution.
Abraham Lincoln serves as
president of the United States.
Victor Hugo publishes the novel
“Les Misérables.”
Pharmacist John Pemberton invents
Coca-Cola.
The first automobile with an
internal combustion engine is
invented.
Answers: 1. Older; 1846. 2. Older; 1818 and 1822.
3. Older; 1814. 4. Older; 1861–65. 5. Older; 1862.
6. Younger; 1886. 7. Older; 1807.
MINNESOTA’S ONLY
In honor of Augsburg’s founding in 1869,
the university is celebrating the past and
the present with sesquicentennial events
all year long. Think you know history?
Test your knowledge: Identify whether
each of the events below is older or
younger than Augsburg.
German scholars and artists join
RIVER SEMESTER
PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
Augsburg University’s third River Semester launched in August as part of
a prestigious German initiative to explore the Mississippi River.
“Mississippi. An Anthropocene River” is a German research project
involving many communities and initiatives along the river with a focus
on climate change. Joining Augsburg students are German travelers,
including artists, authors, journalists, and scholars from the Max Planck
Institute and the Goethe Institute.
This year’s River Semester voyagers departed from Lake Itasca in
northern Minnesota and, for 100 days, are paddling portions of the
Mississippi River to reach New Orleans. The students will earn 16 to
19 credits.
FALL–WINTER 2019
3
AROUND THE QUAD
NEW AUGSBURG
BOARD OF REGENTS MEMBERS
At its annual September meeting, the Augsburg Corporation
elected four new members to the Board of Regents and
re-elected three members.
Elected to their first term on the Augsburg Board of Regents:
•
Sylvia Bartley, senior global
director, Medtronic Foundation
•
Ellen Ewald, co-owner and
executive advisor at Tysvar LLC
and mobileAxept in Minneapolis
•
John O’Brien, president and chief
executive officer of Educause;
former president of North
Hennepin Community College in
Minneapolis
•
John Schwartz ’67, retired hospital
administrator at Advocate Trinity
Hospital in Chicago and former
general manager of SmithKline
Beecham Clinical Laboratories,
Schaumburg, Illinois
Sylvia Bartley
Upgraded training room
boosts athletes’ efficiency
Augsburg’s athletic training room has moved to a larger,
substantially upgraded space in Si Melby Hall.
In this new space, sports medicine support staff from on
and off campus—including team physicians, chiropractors,
physical therapists, and dietitians—can work collaboratively
with athletic trainers to better serve Augsburg’s more than
500 student-athletes from 22 varsity sports. Philanthropic
gifts paid for the upgrades, with student-athletes gaining the
benefit of more efficient scheduling.
“The ability to serve multiple teams at the same time in
the larger space, with state-of-the-art equipment, will be the
biggest advantage and benefit for the student-athlete,” said
Missy Strauch, Augsburg’s head athletic trainer.
Ellen Ewald
Augsburg hosts inaugural
HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
Elected to a third term:
•
Karen Durant ’81, retired vice
president and controller of
Tennant Company, Golden Valley,
Minnesota
•
Matt Entenza, attorney in private
practice in St. Paul, Minnesota,
and former Minnesota state
representative
•
Jeff Nodland ’77, retired president
and chief executive officer of KIK Custom Products
John O’Brien
The Human Rights Forum at Augsburg University welcomed
about 800 students, thought leaders, global changemakers,
and activists this fall. In partnership with the Human Rights
Foundation, which also produces the Oslo Freedom Forum,
the two-day event at Augsburg brought together participants
from a variety of institutions and locations around the world.
The first day explored human rights issues in authoritarian
regimes, and the second day focused on racial justice,
indigenous rights, and environmental sustainability.
John Schwartz ’67
See the full list of Board of Regents members
at augsburg.edu/about/leadership.
4
AUGSBURG NOW
2019 Media Sponsor
Learn more at augsburg.edu/humanrightsforum.
OREN GATEWAY CENTER
lobby renovation provides
aesthetic convenience
The Oren Gateway Center lobby and adjoining Nabo cafe were redesigned and
renovated during the summer, creating more inviting campus meeting spaces.
The Nabo security gate was relocated to allow access to the bookstore and seating
area beyond the cafe’s hours of operation. Key pieces of kitchen equipment also
were upgraded. This project was funded by A’viands, Augsburg’s food service
provider, as part of its most recent dining contract with the university.
Augsburg names inaugural
Augsburg welcomes
Sundquist Endowed
Professor of
Business Administration
This fall, Augsburg named Business Department Chair Jeanne Boeh the
Sundquist Endowed Professor of Business Administration.
The Sundquist professorship supports business administration,
Augsburg’s largest academic department with the most undergraduate
students on campus. Boeh, a professor of economics, has been teaching
at Augsburg since 1990 and often appears in media interviews and on
business panels using her talent for bringing complex business concepts
to life.
“Jeanne Boeh will lead Augsburg’s efforts to attract top business
faculty, thanks to this generous endowment,” said Augsburg
University President Paul Pribbenow. “She is known as a faculty
leader on campus and for her strong commitment to students as they
prepare for careers in business.”
This endowed professorship is named for alumnus Dean Sundquist ’81,
an Augsburg Board of Regents member and chairman and CEO of
Anoka, Minnesota-based Mate Precision Tooling. Sundquist and his
wife, Amy, have made several major investments in Augsburg.
The Forum on Workplace Inclusion has a new
home at Augsburg University. Previously based
at the University of St. Thomas, the forum is the
nation’s largest workplace diversity, equity, and
inclusion conference designed for national and
global audiences.
The forum has served as a convening hub for
those seeking to grow professional leadership and
effective skills in the field of diversity, equity, and
inclusion by engaging people, advancing ideas,
and igniting change.
“The Forum on Workplace Inclusion is excited to
begin a new chapter at Augsburg University,” said
Steve Humerickhouse, executive director of The
Forum. “We look forward to the amazing things we
can create with our new Auggie family.”
FALL–WINTER 2019
5
ARCHIVE PHOTO
From disease to remedy: How
nostalgia offers a psychological boost
A special vacation with family members you miss. That unforgettable meal at your
favorite restaurant with your favorite person. The album you used to listen to nonstop
during the ups and downs of high school. You’re happy you have those pleasant
memories, but you’re also sad they’re over. You are experiencing nostalgia.
Throwback TV shows, retro fashion, and reboots of toys, trinkets, and stories from decades ago have people wondering
if American culture is at its peak in terms of nostalgia—and how long it can last. Bridget Robinson-Riegler is a professor
of psychology at Augsburg University. Taking a moment between writing a cognitive psychology textbook, research, and
teaching and learning with her students, she explores what psychology can tell us about nostalgia’s appeal.
Q:
A:
What is nostalgia? How does it
relate to memory?
Nostalgia is a sentimental longing
for one’s past. The emotion is deeply
social and bittersweet but predominantly
positive. Nostalgic memories are
recollections of atypical life events (e.g.,
vacations) that involve close relationships
(e.g., family, friends) or events from
childhood. We view these experiences with
rose-colored glasses so negative aspects
are often not remembered. We miss those
experiences and yearn to relive them.
Q:
A:
Where did the idea of
nostalgia originate?
The word “nostalgia” is a compound
of two Greek words that essentially
mean a sad mood originating from a
desire to return to one’s native land. The
word was coined in the 17th century
by a medical student who was helping
Swiss mercenaries working in France.
He observed symptoms of sadness,
loss of appetite, insomnia, cardiac
6
AUGSBURG NOW
palpitation—things we would diagnose
as post-traumatic stress disorder today.
Much of the early interest in nostalgia
focused on how to stop these thoughts
because it was considered a disease
and the resulting symptoms prevented
individuals from performing at their
military best.
Q:
A:
How does nostalgia affect people
psychologically?
Nostalgic remembering is
most likely to occur in times of
loneliness, negative moods, or feelings of
meaninglessness. It is basically a coping
mechanism to deal with distress. Rather
than being the problem (the disease, as
it was conceptualized when the term was
first coined), it is the way we cope (more
like the remedy or cure). Even if we may
feel bad and disconnected in our current
life, we can “relive” a time when we felt
good and were not lonely. Reconstructing
memories and projecting ourselves into
the future are interdependent cognitive
processes that share a system in the brain.
So, when we think about a time when
we were socially connected and at our
“personal best,” these feelings stretch out
into our future, and we become hopeful
and consequently feel better.
Q:
A:
How is nostalgia active in
society today?
Given the state of the world—
climate change, ups and downs in
the economy, racist acts, problematic
government leadership—it is not surprising
that nostalgic thinking is common.
This type of societal distress can lead
to personal nostalgia and to collective
nostalgia in which people long for a time
when they viewed the world as a better
place, even if it wasn’t. So there is a
resurgence of old TV shows, vinyl records,
throwback uniforms for athletic teams,
retro clothes, and other products. We
seek comfort with familiar products from
childhood or from a time when the world
was viewed as “better” or “easier.”
Visit augsburg.edu/now to read more
about nostalgia.
COURTESY PHOTOS
2019–20 CONVOCATION SERIES
Augsburg University’s annual convocation series provides
dedicated time during the academic year to hear from
outstanding leaders and visionaries.
In October, this year’s series kicked off with the Bernhard
Munib Younan
M. Christensen Symposium featuring Munib Younan,
retired bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan
and the Holy Land and former president of the Lutheran
World Federation, and Hamdy El-Sawaf, founder and
psychotherapist at the Family Counseling Center and imam
of Masjid Al-Iman in
Hamdy El-Sawaf Minneapolis. Through
their presentations, each shared personal
experiences and religious perspectives
Join us January 20, 2020
on hope, reconciliation, and resiliency
for the Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation.
All convocation events are free and open to
in the midst of suffering and struggles
the public. Visit augsburg.edu/convo.
that often are intensified by religious
convictions and differences.
SAVE THE DATE:
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES PROGRAM
moves to new Minneapolis location
The physician assistant studies graduate program moved into a renovated, leased
space in the Riverside Park Plaza building.
The building’s location, at 701 25th Avenue South in Minneapolis, puts it
among the medical facilities of the University of Minnesota Medical Center
and the Masonic Children’s Hospital and just a short walk from the Augsburg
University campus. The program’s move in August came after four years at
Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The new space, which features an increased footprint for classroom and clinical
lab instruction, supports potential future departmental growth and allows the
program faculty, students, and staff to engage with Minneapolis campus activities.
“The curriculum was redesigned to be more case-based and hands-on, and this
new space will allow for a more creative and innovative learning environment,”
said Alicia Quella, the physician assistant studies program director and
department chair.
AROUND THE QUAD
AWARDS AND HONORS
Best Regional Universities by
U.S. News & World Report:
U.S. News & World Report again
named Augsburg one of the Best
Regional Universities in the Midwest in
2019. This year, Augsburg is No. 13,
which makes it the top Minnesota school
on the list. Augsburg is also ranked ninth
for undergraduate teaching, eighth in its
support for veterans, top in the state and
sixth overall for innovation, and fourth
in promoting social mobility. Rankings
are based on average first-year retention
rates, graduation rates, class sizes,
student-to-faculty ratios, and
other information.
Best in the Midwest by The Princeton
Review: The Princeton Review
again named Augsburg one of the Best
in the Midwest for academic excellence
this year.
25 LGBTQ Friendly Colleges: College
Consensus, a new college review
aggregator, recognized Augsburg in its
survey of 25 LGBTQ Friendly Colleges of
2019. College Consensus works to bring
attention to schools that other ranking
publishers overlook.
Top Schools for Indigenous Americans:
In 2019, the American Indian
Science and Engineering Society’s Winds
of Change magazine selected Augsburg
as one of the Top 200 Schools for
Indigenous American and Alaska Native
students pursuing degrees in science,
technology, engineering, and math.
Top Military Friendly School:
Augsburg was again named a
Military Friendly® School, a list compiled
through extensive research and a free,
data-driven survey of more than 10,000
Veterans Administration-approved
schools nationwide.
FALL–WINTER 2019
7
2018–19 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY
ANNUAL REPORT
TO DONORS
You are a part of a large
community of Augsburg donors.
We are so grateful for the
generosity of this community of
people who support our mission.
AUGSBURG BY THE NUMBERS
ACADEMICS
STUDENTS
16.2 average class size
13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
50+ undergraduate majors
10 graduate degrees
2,005
traditional undergraduate students
76%
of traditional undergraduate
first-year students live on campus
Data from 2018–19 academic year
27%
of Augsburg undergraduates
are first-generation college students
47%
of traditional undergraduates
are students of color
38
U.S. states represented by the
undergraduate student body
44
countries represented by the
undergraduate student body
97%
of traditional undergraduates
receive some form of financial aid
AUGSBURG DONORS ENSURE OPPORTUNITIES
Parents:
Hazen and Kathy Graves
• Hazen: Retired partner at Faegre Baker Daniels
law firm
• Kathy: Principal for communications and
planning firm Parenteau Graves
• Priority: Support higher education institutions
that serve students with physical disabilities
When Hazen and Kathy Graves toured Augsburg with
their son, Sam Graves ’16, they found that it offered
the unique assistance Sam needed as a young man
with cerebral palsy who uses a power wheelchair. “As
we learned more about the support Augsburg offers
to students with various kinds of challenges, we
came to understand that Augsburg had been doing
this for a long time,” said Hazen.
Sam graduated with a degree in psychology.
The idea of supporting Augsburg financially
occurred to both Hazen and Kathy independently,
and they decided to donate $50,000 to endow a
scholarship. “Access to higher education is a big
issue,” Hazen said, “and we’re just doing our
little part.”
Find more donor stories at
augsburg.edu/giving.
AVERAGE GIFT SIZE
$2,565
NUMBER OF DONORS LAST YEAR
9,966
Alumni:
Brian Anderson ’82 and
Leeann Rock ’81
• Brian: PhD in physics at the University of
Minnesota, taught at Augsburg, joined Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• Leeann: MD from the University of Minnesota,
pathologist at Frederick Memorial Hospital
• Priority: Expand students’ academic
opportunities and multidisciplinary efforts
Husband and wife Brian Anderson ’82 and
Leeann Rock ’81 are donating $50,000 to endow
the Raymond E. and Margaret J. Anderson
Scholarship in honor of Brian’s parents’ legacy, as
well as in honor of Brian’s brother, Augsburg Physics
Professor Emeritus Stuart Anderson ’78.
Brian’s father, the late Raymond E. Anderson,
joined Augsburg in 1949 as a speech and
communications professor. Brian’s mother, the late
Margaret J. Anderson, came to Augsburg in 1967
and became library director.
Endowing a scholarship is “a formal way of
maintaining our relationship with Augsburg while
ensuring more opportunities for students in the
future,” Brian said.
• Retired clinical psychologist who studied at
the State University of New York—Buffalo and
Michigan State University
• Priority: Equitable representation of women in
education and leadership, including in faculty
roles, administration, and political offices
Linda Giacomo was the first in her family to attend
college. She empathizes with immigrant struggles,
recalling impoverished grandparents who left
southern Italy to become naturalized U.S. citizens and
parents who could not afford their children’s college
tuition despite holding four jobs combined.
“Education is transformative in a way that gives
you so much power and choice. People should not
be denied that opportunity because they have no
money,” she said.
Noting that women earn 26% less than men but
carry two-thirds of the nation’s college debt, Giacomo
designated a $30,000 outright gift to the Augsburg
Women Engaged Scholarship as well as a generous
estate gift.
“To not be generous, to not share what you have
with those in need, is heartbreaking,” she said. “In
making these gifts to Augsburg, my heart is full.”
ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE
$48.1
May 31, 2019—$49,644,712
$40.5
$38.3
$32.4
$31.5
$28.2
$49.6
$43.9
$39.4
$34.6
$33.3
$29.8
$24.5
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
REVENUE BY SOURCE
EXPENSES BY SOURCE
39% Salaries and benefits
34% Financial aid
19% Operating expenses
3% Utilities and insurance
2% Debt services
2% Student compensation
1% Capital improvement
Friend:
Linda Giacomo
WHERE GIFTS ARE FROM
72.57% Individuals
14.70% Corporations
12.73% Foundations
79% Tuition
8% Room and board
6% Gifts and private
grants
3% Government grants
2% Endowment income
2% Other
GALA AT A GLANCE
• 1,000 Auggies attended the gala.
• Thanks to our generous guests, we raised a total of
$1.4 million in support of Augsburg’s mission.
• Paul Mueller ’84 and Nancy (Mackey) Mueller ’85
issued a challenge and pledged to match every gift
at the $1,000 level dollar for dollar up to $100,000.
1
A SEPTEMBER
TO REMEMBER
2
SESQUICENTENNIAL GALA
It wouldn’t be right to mark 150 years of Augsburg with a
small affair—so we threw a huge, once-in-a-lifetime party.
On Friday, September 27, Auggies of all kinds dressed up
and headed to Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel—The Depot in
downtown Minneapolis for the Sesquicentennial Gala, a night of
dinner, dancing, revisiting the university’s history, and rallying
support to propel Augsburg into the next 150 years.
10
AUGSBURG NOW
3
1) Gala attendees pose for a photo.
2) Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a guest speaker for the evening,
takes a selfie with Augsburg Day Student Government leaders
Arianna Antone-Ramirez ’20 and Lucia Davila ’20.
3) Provost Karen Kaivola and students dance to live music.
PHOTO BY LAUREN FALK
HOMECOMING 2019
Auggies continued the celebration Saturday, September 28,
with a full day of Homecoming festivities, including Taste
of Augsburg, a chapel service, the football game, and the
Augsburg Music Department Collage Concert. The classes
of 1969, 1979, and 2009 celebrated milestone reunions.
Donte Collins ’18 embraces
English Professor Doug Green.
“Auggie, you are called into the world.
Into your wonder. Your why. To wrestle
with reason. To spot the problem. And propose new
parts. To walk toward your fears. To find the heart.
We are Called. We are Auggies.”
—from “We Are Auggies,” a spoken-word piece
written and performed by Donte Collins ’18
PHOTO BY BOB STACKE '71
Campaign Chair Paul Mueller ’84 joins
President Paul Pribbenow on stage.
“Augsburg is astonishing. Which is really to say that
the people of Augsburg are astonishing—Brilliant.
Committed. Resilient. You might try to hide it or
downplay it, but it is undeniably, unequivocally,
tangibly bursting forth from everything you do. It has
been nearly 15 years since I first stepped on campus.
And, today, the world is noticing Augsburg, what it is,
and does, and stands for. Not just in the Twin Cities,
but nationally and internationally.”
—from President Paul Pribbenow’s gala remarks
FALL–WINTER 2019
11
BUILDING ON
AN EARLY LEAD
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
Athletics secures NCAA grant to fund first-of-its-kind position supporting culture of inclusion
Hop, step, and jump. Hop, step, and jump.
Training for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, Chris Dixon
could think of little else than the triple jump cadence.
Hop, step, and jump. Hop, step, and jump.
Then at practice, hop, step, and crack—followed by intense
pain, doctors, and confirmation that his Olympic dreams
shattered along with his ankle.
Dixon spent the next few years figuring out who he was off
the field—the place where athletic ability and subsequent
praise had become closely linked to his sense of identity. It was
a journey as difficult—if not more so—than his climb to peak
performance. During that dark, confusing time, he promised
himself: If I’m ever in a position to help others transition to life
after sports, I will.
Since July, Dixon has served as Augsburg University’s director
of athletic diversity and inclusion and assistant coach for the
men’s and women’s track and field teams. He is eager to return to
the field as a coach, and he has a game plan to use the new role
to promote a culture of inclusion. This job is personal, Dixon said.
“I was one of only a few African American kids in elementary
school. People would ask to touch my hair, and I felt different
until fifth grade, when I performed in front of my peers and
teachers at a district track meet,” he said. “For the first time, I
felt accepted and embraced, and from then on, my identity was
as an athlete. I loved it, don’t get me wrong, but it was difficult
to adjust once I left the arena.”
Dixon never had an African American teacher or coach other
than a friend’s dad who, after selling insurance all day,
volunteered for Dixon’s high school track and field team.
“I had amazing coaches and teachers, but I never saw
myself in those roles,” he said. These and other life
experiences inform his outlook on this new role
and emphasize the importance of his presence at
Augsburg, where he also teaches Introduction
to Kinesiology.
“I am meeting student-athletes and talking
with them about the challenges they face. I
am working to be a presence on campus—
to break down stereotypes for some and
to be a role model for others,” he said.
“Alongside student-athletes and our athletics
administration, I want to create or enhance
academic resources, life-skills development,
and networking opportunities.”
Personal connections and consistent,
centralized support are critical to the
success of underrepresented studentathletes, Dixon said. “Augsburg is already
ahead of the game. The student body is
diverse, and there are many resources across
campus that support inclusion. I plan to work
with and build on what’s already there.”
A plan—starting with breakfast
Student-athletes attend a networking event hosted by Chris Dixon.
12
AUGSBURG NOW
As the sun rose on the second Thursday in October,
Dixon greeted several tables of student-athletes seated
in The Commons in Christensen Center. The young men
of color connected with each other over breakfast before
hearing advice from Jareck Horton, district sales manager
at PDC IDenticard, and Augsburg Football Assistant Coach
Keanon Cooper. Dixon plans to invite successful men of color
from a range of professions to these monthly networking
socials, and he will hold similar events with other groups.
Alicia Schuelke ’20 MAE, graduate assistant coach for track
and field, said she and other students are thrilled with Dixon’s
enthusiasm and vision for the role.
“In a world where, many times, the odds are stacked
against us, leaders of color provide hope and strength,”
said Schuelke, a student in the Master of Arts in Education
program. “I came to Augsburg for the MAE program, but I was
pleasantly surprised to find how diverse the campus is, and it
is my absolute favorite part of my learning experience.
“If we can move the needle toward a more diverse group of
leaders that better represent our country’s demographics, then
students of color will begin to understand that the
sky’s the limit in terms of their own hopes,
dreams, and aspirations.”
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INCLUSION
and netwo
RSITY AND
—CHRIS
ECTOR
DIXON, DIR
E
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OF ATHLET
FALL–WINTER 2019
13
AUGGIES
Position the result of
NCAA diversity grant
Dixon’s position is largely made
possible through a two-year NCAA
Ethnic Minorities and Women’s
Internship Grant, which provides
financial assistance to member
institutions who create full-time,
entry-level administrative positions
for people who identify as an ethnic
minority and/or a woman, according
to federal guidelines. The grant also
supports professional development and
formalized mentoring.
Augsburg was one of only 20
institutions and conference offices
selected to receive the grant this cycle,
and it is the third award for Augsburg
in the past decade. The university first
secured the Ethnic Minorities and
Women’s Internship Grant during the
2012 to 2014 cycle to fund Jennifer
Jacobs’ role as assistant director
of NCAA compliance and assistant
volleyball coach. In 2014, Augsburg
received the NCAA’s Strategic Alliance
Matching Grant, which funds fulltime, mid- to senior-level athletics
administration positions during a fiveyear commitment. Jacobs’ role then
evolved into assistant athletic director
of external relations and diversity and
inclusion, in addition to her role as
assistant volleyball coach. She is
now head volleyball coach at
Augustana University.
Augsburg’s Associate Athletic
Director Kelly Anderson Diercks said
the department is driven to advance
diversity and inclusion. “Embracing
and connecting students of all
backgrounds and experiences is the
right thing to do, but it is also smart,”
she said. “More diverse teams are
often stronger teams. They produce
student-athletes who are better
prepared to excel in play and in life.”
Anderson Diercks is a product of
the NCAA’s diversity grants, first as an
intern for the Minnesota Intercollegiate
14
AUGSBURG NOW
Athletic Conference and then as an
assistant director. The experience,
Anderson Diercks said, transformed
how she operates as a leader in a maledominated profession. More than a
decade has passed, but she remains in
contact with the mentor assigned to her
during the internship.
“These are critical opportunities for
women and minorities to enter into
leadership positions with tremendous
personal and professional resources
designed to equip them with the tools
and outlook to navigate difficult roles,”
said Anderson Diercks, who formerly
served as chair of the NCAA Ethnic
Minority and Women’s Internship
selection committee. “We are
particularly excited about Coach Dixon’s
position because, to our knowledge, it is
the only role of its kind.”
Augsburg is ‘ahead of the game’
Ali Spungen, associate director of
Division III for the NCAA, said that
about 130 positions have been
awarded through diversity grants during
the past five years—that’s more than
$36 million in funds for positions and
professional development. Augsburg,
Spungen said, stands out as a leader in
the division, which is well positioned to
meet the needs of diverse populations.
“Division III allows student-athletes
to play the sports they love within
departments also focused on their
academics and social engagement,”
said Spungen, also a past grant
recipient. “These positions empower
leaders like Coach Dixon to thrive,
which inspires and encourages
students. Augsburg clearly cares for
its student-athletes and is willing to
dedicate time and resources to ensure
they are successful and well-rounded.”
Dixon is ready and grateful to come
full-circle—to be the coach and teacher
he never had and to prepare others for
the transitions he never saw coming.
ARCHIVE PHOTOS
IN MEMORIAM
Merton Strommen ’42 and
Gladys Strommen ’46
Merton Strommen ’42 and Gladys Strommen ’46 were a part of a
family legacy at Augsburg that has spanned generations. The
Strommens have widely shared their gifts and talents with the
university, and their impact on the Augsburg community will be
felt for many years to come.
Mert Strommen died September 2. Youth ministry was the core
of his life’s work—as campus pastor at Augsburg and founder of
Search Institute, which has an international impact on youth work
through research. Mert and his wife, Irene (Huglen) ’44, started the
Youth and Family Institute at Augsburg and also created the David
Strommen Endowed Fund for youth ministry. Mert also served on
Augsburg’s Board of Regents, founded and directed the Augsburg
Centennial Singers, and was awarded Fellow status by the
American Psychological Association for his pioneering research in
psychology and religion.
Gladys Boxrud Strommen passed away May 26. Gladys and
husband, Clair ’46, who passed away in 2001, have served and
supported Augsburg in many significant ways over their lives
and created a lasting legacy through their work and dedication.
Gladys was a supportive partner to Clair in developing his career
in business and leadership with Strommen & Associates and
Lutheran Brotherhood, now known as Thrivent Financial. Gladys
served on the Board of Regents, co-founded the Augsburg
Associates, and hosted many alumni gatherings in her homes in
Minnesota and Florida.
Through a generous gift, the family established the Clair
and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work in 2014 in
recognition of their personal commitment to create meaning and
purpose in work and life.
“Clair and Gladys Strommen are forever woven into the
fabric of Augsburg through their commitment to lives filled with
purpose and meaning,” said Lee George, executive director of the
Strommen Center. “Through the Strommen Center for Meaningful
Work, Clair and Gladys’ legacy is realized in students who commit
themselves to exploring their values, passions, and skills and
understanding how they can be put to use in the world.”
The Strommens also commissioned a sculpture in front of
Christensen Center and have two endowed funds: a scholarship
fund and a program fund for the Strommen Center.
As President Paul Pribbenow said in his campus announcement
of Gladys’ passing, “Her loss is a big one, but her legacy will
continue to be felt by generations of Auggies to come.”
FALL–WINTER 2019
15
Face Value
BY LISA RENZE-RHODES
Dakota and Ojibwe.
Norwegian and Irish.
Art installations celebrate
individuals, expound on
Augsburg’s history, and
expand the boundaries
of community.
Somali and Ethiopian.
On and around the land that today houses Augsburg University’s
Minneapolis campus, they celebrated births and mourned deaths.
They spoke languages of love and laughter, stress and sorrow. They
built families, businesses, and dreams.
They were here and many are gone, at once everywhere and
nowhere because in the blistering pace and abundant distractions
of the human ecosystem we all inhabit, it’s natural that we forget
who came before us.
But what if—even for a moment—we turned our attention to
who we were and who we are right now? To who worships next to
us, or walks by us in the grocery, or shares an apartment wall?
“On This Spot” and “Each, Together”
bring into focus the history of the campus
and the surrounding neighborhood, and
the people who are the Augsburg of
yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
What would we discover if we intentionally took notice of who
we are and where we’ve come from?
This idea is at the core of new art and historical exhibits that
cover collectively four city blocks on 12 of Augsburg’s building
facades and 37 window panes around campus. As part of
Augsburg’s sesquicentennial celebration, artists and designers at
the university wanted to give the community a chance to reflect on
their history and their people. So the works, dubbed respectively
“On This Spot” and “Each, Together,” bring into focus the history
of the campus and the surrounding neighborhood, and the people
who are the Augsburg of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
FALL–WINTER 2019
17
‘Humans at the center’
Photographers capture portraits at Augsburg events to use in
“Each, Together.”
“Each, Together,” the larger of the two projects, is a Group Action of
the international “Inside Out: The People’s Art Project” initiative that
launched in 2011 after a French street artist, known only as JR, won
that year’s TED Prize. First awarded in 2005, the TED (Technology,
Entertainment, and Design) Prize has become synonymous with
visionary thinking meant to spark change throughout the world.
Winners of the award—including educators, artists, chefs, journalists,
and even former President Bill Clinton—have used the $1 million
prize to fuel specific community projects, like healthy food initiatives
and educational innovations. The winning projects all have one
thing in common: They are designed to make people engage in
their communities.
In the case of artist JR’s project, his vision was to create works
that “shine a light on the unsung and give everyone the dignity they
deserve.” And he hoped that beyond his capacity as one artist, people
around the world would join in the celebration of others.
To date, more than 260,000 people in 129 countries have
participated in different versions of the project featuring faces
displayed on billboards, buildings, sidewalks, and in digital
collections. Augsburg is one of the latest communities to answer the call.
“We saw that invitation, that there was a related, common ethos to
what we have here at Augsburg, and that the project was similar to
public works we’ve done here,” said Christopher Houltberg, Augsburg
associate professor of art and design. “It’s really about putting
humans at the center.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
Spotlight
My former college roommate had
eagle eyes today and found me!
Responses edited for length and clarity.
—ERICA HULS ’01
Hey, look who I found! #AugsburgFamous
—SETH RUETER
Look ma I made it!!!!! @AugsburgU
wahooo!!!! #sesquicentennial
—APRIL JOHNSON ’18
18
AUGSBURG NOW
So a team that included a curator, nine photographers,
and three designers—Houltberg, Maggie Royce ’15, and
Indra Ramassamy ’18—worked for several months between
Fall 2018 and Summer 2019. The photographers attended
between 15 and 20 campus events, all working to capture as
many faces as possible to best tell the Augsburg story.
“The way we went about it was really organic,” Houltberg
said. “We started going to events around campus in Fall 2018
and then in the springtime, trying to get to as many different
ones as possible. There’s a really big holiday event called Advent
Vespers, and a lot of alumni come to that.”
All told, the group took more than 900 photos and gathered
about 300 additional images of historic Auggies.
“It’s very democratic; everyone is given the same amount of
space,” Houltberg said. “From our president, Paul Pribbenow, to
people who work on our janitorial staff, to our students, to our
former mayor, R.T. Rybak.
“As we were defining the parameters [of the ‘Each, Together’
project] it was a fun surprise for us to see who self-identified as
part of Augsburg.”
Bigger dose of Augsburg
R.T. Rybak, current president of the Minneapolis Foundation,
was the mayor of Minneapolis from 2002 to 2014. He said it
would be impossible to think of the growth and development of
the city without considering the role Augsburg has played in
that history.
“I’ve conservatively said 1,000 times in public speeches
that the neighborhood where Augsburg is, is our Ellis Island.
One wave after the other washes in and the next wave builds on
top, and it’s something that no one wave could have created in
isolation,” Rybak said.
That’s most certainly the story of the Cedar-Riverside
neighborhood that surrounds Augsburg and the story of
Minneapolis as a whole.
“... I often think we just need a bigger dose
of Augsburg. We need to realize that offering
that ladder of opportunity to someone else
makes all of us able to climb higher. We are
better together.”
—R.T. Rybak, former Minneapolis mayor
“Augsburg is a shining example of the very best parts of
Minneapolis’ history. The university represents opening doors to
people with strange names like Johnson or Anderson or Rybak,
and keeping those doors open for people with names that come
from Africa, Asia, and places across the globe.
“When I get down about what’s fracturing our deeply divided
country and world today, I often think we just need a bigger
dose of Augsburg. We need to realize that offering that ladder
of opportunity to someone else makes all of us able to climb
higher. We are better together.”
Houltberg said the “together” ideal is at the heart of the exhibit.
“As individuals we are showing up, and collectively we can do
something greater than what we can do on our own,” he said. “I
loved seeing the portraits blocked together, seeing people stop and
take selfies. There are people who say, ‘I recognize who that is!’”
Forward facing, historic reflections
Kristin Anderson, a co-creator of these projects as well as a
professor of art history and Augsburg archivist, said she’s only
heard good things about the exhibit.
“I have seen emails and tweets—sometimes emotional—with
people responding to the wall as a whole, as well as to their
individual images,” Anderson said.
The community is responding to the historical revisit that
“On This Spot” installations provide, too, she said.
That exhibit features enormous panels that share Augsburg
moments that photographers captured decades ago. The campus
life of yesteryear includes images of young bobby soxer women
from the 1940s in saddle shoes and flowing skirts in contrast
with men wearing formal suits while tramping across a snowcovered campus.
I’m so proud to be part of the @insideoutproject at
@augsburguniversity in honor of the Sesquicentennial!
—NIK LINDE ’15
FALL–WINTER 2019
19
“It has been a fun way to bring some old photographs to life
and to show how the campus is layered on the site. Those ‘lost’
buildings displayed on the walls of the current buildings help
to connect us to our past, reminding us of the imagination and
commitment of our predecessors,” Anderson said.
The two exhibits are being admired by community members
who see the campus regularly and by those who keep up with
Augsburg from a distance.
Killa (Martinez Aleman) Marti ’08 came to Augsburg from her
home in Honduras. Marti said she brought her own values with
her when she enrolled, “but Augsburg put them to work. The
Auggie community showed me that I wasn’t crazy to want a
career with meaning.”
“Those ‘lost’ buildings displayed on the walls
of the current buildings help to connect us to
our past, reminding us of the imagination and
commitment of our predecessors.”
—Kristin Anderson, university archivist
For Marti, “Each, Together” perfectly sums up her experience
at Augsburg.
“My career is an intersection of what I love to do with the
opportunity to serve,” said Marti, an attorney in Atlanta. “To
think critically, to be socially and community-minded—all of the
things I exercise in my life were supported and further developed
at Augsburg.”
Houltberg said it’s difficult not to consider the greater impact
that art, especially a work like “Each, Together,” has.
“Having a group of artists, designers, and photographers come
together to make something this beautiful and to see it up and
fully functioning is pretty great,” he said.
“It has created a tangible thread between all of us, which
transcends 150 years and all our history,” said Ramassamy, who
worked with the team to design “Each, Together.”
“We live in a visual world yet we can be unaware of each
other,” she said. “This project is making us aware of one
another, making us pay attention, making us curious about the
person in the portrait above or to the left or right of us.”
“I love watching people who are walking down the streets
looking at the portraits,” Houltberg said. “There’s an element of
surprise to it that’s really fantastic. Sometimes the tendency is
to put people in big groups. But if you look at these portraits, look
at the eyes, and look at the humans who are represented here, you
see just how wide a spectrum of humans we are. Anytime we can
show the humans and not the institution, we win.”
“On This Spot” installations show how Augsburg’s landscape, architecture, and people have changed in the past 150 years.
20
AUGSBURG NOW
BY THE NUMBERS
Each, Together
A crew works to install a portion of the 1,246 portraits
that make up “Each, Together.”
302
HISTORICAL
143
STAFF
1,246
PORTRAITS
517
STUDENTS
103
ALUMNI
92
FACULTY
29
COMMUNITY
MEMBERS
installations
37
photographers
60
INCOMING
FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS
3,475 1
2
building facade
SQUARE FEET curator
window
panes
9
3
10
building facades
3
designers
12,710
SQUARE FEET
1
curator
BY THE NUMBERS
On This Spot
designers
Members of the university’s faculty and staff launched a
number of special projects, including “Each, Together”
and “On This Spot,” to commemorate Augsburg’s
anniversary year.
See other sesquicentennial projects at augsburg.edu/150.
Catch a glimpse of the Augsburg of yesteryear, thanks to “On This Spot”
displays on window panes around campus.
FALL–WINTER 2019
21
Mary Taris ’04 is a graduate of Augsburg’s Adult
Undergraduate program, which was ranked ninth in
Best Colleges’ 50 Top Colleges for Older Students.
g
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c
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Bala
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LIOTT
BY KATE H. EL
Augsburg alumna starts a publishing
company, creates the diverse book list
she wished she had
Y
oung Mary Taris ’04 was so
thankful to be a girl. The Minneapolis
Public Housing Authority required children of
different genders to have separate bedrooms, so
while her brothers had to share a room, Taris had
her own. Through reading, her bedroom walls grew
into a mythical grove where she’d encounter a
prince or sit for tea with Frog and Toad.
“I escaped into books. Or maybe,” she said, “I
disappeared in them.” Books gave her the life she
longed for, but those beloved tales were someone
else’s story. She was 20 before she read a book with
black characters.
Now 55, the retired teacher is driven to change
that narrative. Last August, at the historic James
J. Hill Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, Taris stood in
front of family and friends to voice her dream, Strive
Publishing, into existence. The startup—based out
of her Twin Cities home—supports emerging authors
of picture books and young adult novels that are
culturally relevant, contemporary, and relatable to
kids of all shades, abilities, and experiences.
“Everyone has a story, and those stories build
bridges to connect us all,” said Taris, a graduate of
Augsburg University’s Adult Undergraduate program,
a flexible degree program that pairs on-campus
FALL–WINTER 2019
23
classes with online coursework
in a dozen undergraduate
majors. “Too often, authors
conform to narrow industry
standards driven by profit, but I
refuse.” At Strive, Taris and her
team work to create pathways
for writers and artists from all
backgrounds to write about
their own experiences and a
wider array of identities.
Publishing stories that
represent and connect
Strive Publishing has released
three titles by local African
American authors, and several
more books are in the works
with upcoming launch dates.
Taris’ efforts have been featured
nationally and celebrated
locally, with invitations to
conduct workshops at schools,
partner with established
publishing companies, and
co-sponsor the inaugural African
American Voices in Children’s
Literature Contest in partnership
with Free Spirit Publishing.
“Strive is more than a
company; it’s a mindset,” she
said. “I was a runaway teen
mom who finished high school
while striving to raise a son
and work for a better life.”
That determination led her to
enroll in Augsburg’s elementary
education program. Juggling
work and family, it took Taris
eight years to graduate,
but she walked across the
commencement stage and into
the classroom where she taught
a range of grades and subjects
(mostly English) for 15 years.
“I became the first person in
my family to earn a college
degree,” she said. “It had been
my dream since childhood.”
Augsburg left a mark on
Taris, as classes exposed her
to inequities in education and
literature. Taris reframed those
inequities as opportunities.
Now, years later, Barbara West,
director of student teacher
placement at Augsburg,
recalled Taris’ embrace of
story-filled, relevant learning.
While student-teaching, Taris
invited a Japanese friend to talk
with students who were reading
a novel about a Japanese girl
during World War II. On her
lunch hour, Taris met with
eighth-graders to advise on a
student-produced newsletter.
She sought to incorporate
diverse voices and stories into
the curriculum.
“Augsburg taught me to
consider the whole child and
to understand the classroom as
a life-giving space where you
can listen and let people tell
their stories,” she said. “As
a teacher, I struggled to find
diverse texts.”
Taris also struggled when
administrators brought speakers
and books that reinforced
cultural stereotypes and
limited experiences rather than
providing real cultural and
ethnic diversity. “I wish they
would have, instead, given kids
diverse books or brought in
local authors who looked like
the students.”
Celebrating voices that
defy stereotypes
Taris launched Strive in 2016
while teaching full time, but
three years later, she took early
retirement to dedicate herself
fully to the publishing company.
Taris remains an educator,
though, as a mentor to young
authors and as an advocate
for change. She challenges
communities, schools, and
publishing houses to invite new
titles that can find their way
onto more readers’ nightstands.
Ricardo Peters is among
Strive’s “founding authors,” as
Taris calls them, and he
says he is indebted to “Miss
Mary” for her guidance and
encouragement. Peters’ book—
the first in a fantasy series—
sold out within months. The
35-year-old stands out, Taris
said, because he is a black man
who loves and lives the arts like
few others.
“Plenty of black men are
deeply connected to their
artistic side, but society doesn’t
celebrate that expression,” Taris
added. “Our sons are not all
basketball and hip hop. Ricardo
defies that stereotype, and his
work will lead others to do the
same.”
Peters had been dreaming up
stories since he filled stapledtogether notebook paper
with “Transformers” stickers.
Publishing a book remained
his dream, but it wouldn’t have
happened without Taris.
“I had been working on
this series for nine years and
likely would have sat on it
forever,” said Peters, who
works as a reading instructor
at Kumon Math and Reading
Center of Maple Grove. “But
Mary presented me with this
opportunity, she believed in me,
and I am eternally grateful.”
Strive Publishing’s Book List
“Under a Cloven Sky” and
“A Wild Nature Embraced”
by Ricardo Peters
Books one and two in the
young adult fantasy series,
“The Scorched Heavens,” in
which the fate of two nations
rests on the city’s young
princess and her protector.
“Red’s Adventures: The Egg
Pie” by Donna Gingery
The hilarious first book in
a picture book series for
children, this story follows
the precocious Red, who
grows up in Alabama under
the watchful eye of her
grandmother.
“Story to Story: A Strive Short
“Isaiah’s Sunglasses”
Story Series,” Volume 1
by Linda Miller
This collaborative book
A short, rhythmic story for
project aims to celebrate and
children about family, hope,
empower emerging authors
acceptance, and learning
about different types of people. and illustrators.
“Who Can I Be?” by
Arielle Grant
Created by Strive’s founding
illustrator, this is a story of
a girl who sees her potential
through the example of women
in her community.
Representation in
literature on the rise
but has ‘a long way to go’
Mary Taris ’04 with two of her children, Jermaine Taris and LaToya Taris-James, who both work with
Strive Publishing.
Making stories more accessible
runs in the family
This sentiment is shared among the
authors who work with Taris. Her
children are equally inspired by her,
so much so that they joined the Strive
team. Her oldest son, Jermaine Taris,
is a book illustrator. Her 16-year-old
daughter, Grace Taris-Allen, serves
as “quality control,” happily reading
manuscripts; and her eldest daughter,
LaToya Taris-James, assists with
marketing and social media.
“My mom makes things happen,”
said Taris-James, a student leadership
program coordinator for Augsburg’s
Sabo Center for Democracy and
Citizenship. “She is resourceful and
passionate, with a unique way of
connecting with and inspiring others.
“When I was 12, she introduced
me to ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua
Achebe. It was the first piece of African
literature I had read on my own, and
it shaped my view of black people
across the African diaspora and helped
connect me with my heritage.”
Through Strive, her mother is
making those connections on a broader
scale, said Taris-James, who hasn’t
fallen far from the tree. Along with a
friend, Taris-James created a social
impact initiative known as Rooftop
(or RFTP) that uses storytelling to
engage communities in dialogue
around difficult, often polarizing,
issues. Mother and daughter are both
driven to make stories of all kinds more
accessible and communal.
“I felt called to create Strive, and to
be honest, it’s been difficult to wear so
many hats and break through,” Taris
said. “Where I have come to see the
greatest need is for a safe space for
all people to tell their stories, whether
they get published or not. I’m working
with PopUp Think Tank to gather ideas
for how Strive can make the greatest
impact, and it’s feeling more like a
social enterprise than trying to operate
as a traditional publishing house.
Whatever Strive looks like in a year—
or five years—I know it will be moving
the dial.”
The Cooperative Children’s Book Center
researched and compiled statistics about the
number of children’s books and young adult
literature published by and about people of color,
American Indians, and those of First Nations.
“Every year, we see amazing books by and
about people of color and first/native nations.
There just aren’t enough of them,” CCBC Director
Kathleen Horning reflected in the ongoing study’s
abstract. “The more books there are, especially
books created by authors and illustrators of color,
the more opportunities librarians, teachers,
parents, and other adults have of finding
outstanding books for young readers and listeners
that reflect dimensions of their lives and give a
broader understanding of who we are as a nation.”
1985
2,500
Children’s books published in the United States
0.72%
Children’s books written or illustrated
by black people
2018
3,312
Children’s books published in the United States
17.8%
By or about Asian Pacific people
17.5%
By or about black people
12.8%
By or about Latinx people
1.6%
By or about American Indians/First Nations
FALL–WINTER 2019
25
AUGGIES CONNECT
ARCHIVE PHOTO
Create inclusive and engaging
experiences for fellow Auggies
The Alumni Board is
the governing body of
the Augsburg Alumni
Association. The board
exists to guide the Office
of Alumni and Constituent
Relations in serving the
valued alumni, parents, and
friends who make up the Auggie community.
All alumni are welcome and encouraged to join the
Alumni Board. See the job description and apply at
augsburg.edu/alumni under “Leadership Boards,” or
contact Katie (Koch) Code ’01 at codek@augsburg.edu.
New video available: MARTIN SABO ’59
Video of an interview with late Congressman Martin Sabo,
whose rise to politics was supported by Augsburg University
students, will be available later this year at the Sabo Center
for Democracy and Citizenship website, augsburg.edu/sabo,
thanks to an Augsburg Sesquicentennial Project award that
paid for an updated video description and closed captioning.
One year after graduating from Augsburg, Sabo —then 22—
was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives.
During his tenure, he became the first member of the
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party to serve as Speaker
of the House, and he went on to the U.S. House of
Representatives, retiring in 2007. Sabo died in 2016.
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
Serve on Augsburg’s Alumni Board
Augsburg’s first
ALL-SCHOOL REUNION
Mark your calendar for the All-School Reunion
during Homecoming: September 26, 2020.
More than 150 enthusiastic Sesquicentennial Stewards have
committed to help plan Augsburg’s inaugural All-School
Reunion. Volunteers are the heart of this sesquicentennial
year of events, and this work is not only more fun but is
strengthened by their participation and input. Volunteers
assist with the All-School Reunion’s schedule, entertainment,
venues, and marketing.
Visit augsburg.edu/150.
26
AUGSBURG NOW
YOU CHIMED IN:
SESQUICENTENNIAL
FAVORITE
FACULTY
IN FOCUS
HERITAGE TRIPS
Augsburg Now staff asked the
university’s Facebook followers for
their most memorable professors.
Here are a few of their responses,
edited for length and clarity.
NORWAY ARTS AND CULTURE
May 8–18, 2020
$4,800
“Mary Lowe—I had a lot of memorable professors, most of them
dear to me, but she and I worked so closely together in my last years of
my degree that I cannot think of Augsburg without thinking of her. She
is a wonderful, insightful, funny mentor who held me accountable and
helped me reach heights I wouldn’t have dreamed of initially.”
—TIMOTHY PAUL BISHOP JR. ’18
GERMANY
July 15–26, 2020
$5,300
“Merilee Klemp ’75—So many lessons learned from her, both
music and life. It’s impossible to forget those in your life who have taught,
pushed, encouraged, and mentored as well as she does. She’s an incredible
human being with such a kind, wonderful soul. Thank you for everything!”
—JENNIFER SCHMITT ’04
Hosted by Religion Department
faculty Lori Brandt Hale and
Hans Wiersma
Oberammergau, Germany
COURTESY PHOTOS
“Oh, do I have to choose? Matthew Maruggi in the Religion
Department—he completely changed how I looked at religion, opened my
mind to new perspectives, and taught me the meaning of ‘vocation.’”
—GINA MARIE GAINOUS ’15
CAMPUS TOUR
Hosted by Theater Professor
Darcey Engen ’88 and
Luverne Seifert ’85
National Theater, Norway
“Kristin Anderson—I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without
her! She taught me how to think critically about the built environment, ask
the hard questions, and think about all of my research from the standpoint of
race, class, and gender. She’s one of the smartest women I’ve ever known.”
—KACIE LUCCHINI BUTCHER ’13
Take a limited-edition
In honor of Augsburg’s 150th
anniversary, three trips hosted
by expert faculty guides will
celebrate the university’s
heritage in Germany and Norway.
NIDAROS PILGRIMAGE
August 4–13, 2020
$3,300
Hosted by Vice President for Mission
and Identity Sonja Hagander
Nidaros Cathedral, Norway
Learn more at augsburg.edu/alumni/travel or contact
Katie (Koch) Code ’01 at codek@augsburg.edu.
Two walking tours are available on campus this year: “Augsburg Nooks and
Crannies” and “Augsburg Campus: Past and Present.” Led by Kristin Anderson,
university archivist, each tour lasts one hour and is limited to 20 people. The tours
move through indoor and outdoor spaces to learn about the evolution of the campus
from 1872 to the present. The Nooks and Crannies tour includes a visit to the old
chapel and gymnasium in Old Main, the Old Main attic, an Art Deco filling station,
and other little-known spots of interest.
Augsburg Campus: Past and Present
Augsburg Nooks and Crannies
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wednesday, April 8
Wednesday, April 22
Tuesday, May 5
Wednesday, April 15
Wednesday, April 29
Wednesday, May 6
Save your spot on a tour.
RSVP required: eventrsvp@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1104.
FALL–WINTER 2019
27
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1961
Jim Holden ’61 wrote a new
book called “Heron Thieves,
a Bat Out of Hell, and Other Flyfishing
Stories, Essays, and Poems.” Holden
has been a fly fisherman for more than
40 years, and the book highlights his
experiences on trout streams.
1965
Dwight Olson ’65 presented
President Paul Pribbenow a
copy of his book “Northern Lights: The
Beauty of the Forgotten Scandinavian
Enamel Artisans” for Augsburg’s
library in celebration of the university’s
sesquicentennial.
1969
Cheri (Kraskin) Best ’69,
Pam (Fredrickson) Gunderson ’69,
Sue Kelly ’69, Linda (Stewart) Miller ’69,
Margi Ness ’69, and Anna (Stivland)
Olsen ’69 celebrated the 50th anniversary of
their graduation from Augsburg with a trip to
Boulder, Colorado, in May.
1973
David Colacci ’73 and partner
Susan Ericksen, both classically
trained theater professionals, were featured
in a Star Tribune news story that detailed
their success as audiobook narrators. The
couple records their audiobook narrations in
their St. Louis Park, Minnesota, home. They
have each narrated more than 500 titles.
1978
This year,
Augsburg’s
Excellence In
Coaching Award
recognized Ken
Novak Jr. ’78.
Novak led high
school boys basketball teams at Blaine and
Hopkins to 17 state tournaments, the most
of any boys basketball coach in Minnesota
history. After winning three consecutive state
titles and seven in a 10-year span (2002–
11), Novak was named ESPN RISE National
Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the
Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association
Hall of Fame in 2013, and in 2019 he was
inducted into the second class of the
Minnesota High School Basketball Hall
of Fame.
28
AUGSBURG NOW
1987
Andrew Altenburg ’87 joined
KPMG in a senior associate
role in May 2019. He previously worked
as an events manager for The Bank of
Tokyo for three years. As a freelance event
planner, his clients included MNG, Louis
Vuitton, Colgate-Palmolive, and The Carlyle
Group. From 2005 to 2015, he produced
and emceed 470 bingo events, which
raised $250,000 for dozens of LGBTQIA+
organizations. He also is a wedding
officiant and cartoonist, posting his work
at jumpingforjoy.net. He lives with his
partner, Matthew, and their parrot, Lulu,
on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in New
York City.
Minasie
Theophilos ’87
received the
Distinguished
Athletic Service
Award in honor of
his decades-long
support of
Augsburg’s
student-athletes and coaches. A custodian
in Augsburg’s athletic facilities, Theophilos
has grown close to many people in Auggie
athletics including the men’s hockey team.
He came to Augsburg as a student in 1983
from Ethiopia and had not been able to
return to his home for more than 30 years.
In 2017, after the death of his mother, the
men’s hockey team raised more than
$7,500 to fund a trip for Theophilos to see
his family, who now live in Norway.
1993
Tanya Schwartz ’93 was named
the seventh police chief of
Burnsville and is the first woman to hold
the post. Schwartz has been with the police
department for 23 years, beginning as a
patrol sergeant and then serving as detective
sergeant and captain.
1994
Lori Higgins ’94, ’12 MAL
became president of Augsburg’s
Alumni Board. She currently serves on
several boards including the Minnesota
Amateur Sports Commission. She joined the
Alumni Board in 2016 because of her deep
connection to the university and support of
its mission.
1999
The first NCAA
Division III player
to be selected in
the first round of
the NBA Draft,
Devean George ’99
was inducted into
the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. George
led the Auggies to two Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
championships and berths in the NCAA
Division III national playoffs, earning
conference MVP honors both times. He
finished his college career with 2,258
career points and 868 career rebounds,
both second in school history, and a 23.5
points-per-game average, the best in school
history. George has played with three NBA
teams and works to develop affordable
housing in North Minneapolis.
Augsburg Athletic
Hall of Fame
inductee Scott
Hvistendahl ’99
was Augsburg
baseball’s starting
centerfielder as
well an AllAmerican wide
receiver on the football team. He was the
first player to break the NCAA career
receiving yardage record held by NFL
legend Jerry Rice, finishing his career with
285 receptions for 4,696 yards. He now
stands 14th in NCAA all-divisions history in
career receiving yardage. Hvistendahl was
named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference Player of the Year, twice earned
CoSIDA Academic All-America honors,
and won the Gagliardi Trophy for his
performance in academics, athletics,
and community service.
Qiuxia (Xia) Welch ’99 and Kevin Welch,
co-founders and owners of Boom Island
Brewing, hosted Augsburg’s first “beer
choir” in the spring. The couple started
their company in 2011 focusing on
Belgian-style beers, and they recently
relocated the business to a new space in
Minnetonka, Minnesota.
2002
Crescent Cove, a hospice
home for children founded
by Katie Lindenfelser ’02, was featured
in a New York Times story. Lindenfelser,
the executive director and an Augsburgtrained music therapist, opened the
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, care facility
in 2018. Crescent Cove offers respite
and hospice care to children and is the
only facility of its kind in the Midwest.
2003
Kristen Opalinski ’03
began a new professional
chapter as the manager for Ecumenical
and Inter-Religious Relations for
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. This role includes managing
communications, providing staffing for
EIR committees and events, extending
hospitality to ecumenical and interreligious partners at the Lutheran
Center in Chicago, and serving as the
ELCA representative at various EIR
meetings held both domestically and
internationally. This is a new position
designed to meet the needs of the everchanging ecumenical and inter-religious
landscape and the expansion of the
church’s ecumenical and inter-religious
commitments. Opalinski also serves as a
writer for Living Lutheran Magazine.
2004
Max Langaard ’04 was
featured on “Good
Morning America,” where he shared
his journey as a teacher and also
his time as a mentor and coach at a
nonprofit called Playworks in Oakland,
California. Playworks helps schools and
youth organizations create a place on
the playground for every child to feel
included, be active, and build valuable
social and emotional skills. Langaard
also received NBA Finals tickets from
the television show.
Adam Langer ’12 and wife, Alyssa,
welcomed their first child, Addison, in
November 2018.
Dual sport
athlete Kristen
Lideen ’04 was
inducted into
the Augsburg
Athletic Hall of
Fame. As
softball
shortstop,
Lideen was the lone Auggie to hit better
than .400 in their career (.444). Her 38
career doubles remain a school record,
while her 18 doubles and 89 total bases
in 2003 are both single-season school
records. In soccer, Lideen played as a
sweeper for an Auggie defense that
recorded a 1.04 goals-against-average in
her four seasons. Lideen earned
All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors
three times as a soccer athlete and
earned All-MIAC first-team honors four
times as a softball player.
2008
Greg May ’08 was hired
by the University of
Minnesota’s hockey program as the
new director of hockey operations.
May spent the previous three years as
the hockey head coach and associate
athletic director at the Blake School
in Minneapolis. While playing hockey
during his time at Augsburg, he was a
MIAC All-Conference honoree.
AUGGIE
SNAPSHOTS
Christina Olstad ’00, ’05 MSW began her new
role as dean of students at the University of
Wisconsin—Madison in July. Olstad previously
was the interim assistant vice president for
student affairs, housing, and residence life at
Towson University in Maryland. She has worked
in higher education administration for nearly
two decades, beginning with her time
at Augsburg.
2009
Caitlin (Hozeny) Lienard
’09, ’16 MSW passed her
Licensed Independent Clinical Social
Worker exam in April.
The late Donny Wichmann ’89—a three-time
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
champion, a national tournament All-American,
and a longtime assistant coach who was a part
of 10 NCAA Division III national championship
teams with the Auggies—was inducted into the
National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III
Hall of Fame in August.
Augsburg Men’s Wrestling Co-Head
Coach Tony Valek ’12, ’14 MAL and wife,
Kassi (Goranowski) Valek, welcomed a
son, Hudson Ricke, in June.
Denielle (Johnson) Stepka ’11 and Timothy
Stepka welcomed a daughter, Halle Jo Jean,
on September 30.
FALL–WINTER 2019
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Bobby Rose ’16 married fiancée, Amber, in Cottage
Grove, Minnesota, in May.
Mara (Breczinski) Barrozo ’14 and
Enrico Barrozo ’14 welcomed a
daughter, Ryna, in June.
Carlson Inc. announced the
appointment of Richard “Rick”
Gage ’96 as its non-executive
chair of the board in August.
Gage is the founder and
former CEO of YourMLSSearch.
com, a director of the World
Childhood Foundation, and
is on the board of the Carlson
Family Foundation, where
he has served for more than
20 years.
Tyler Heaps ’13, manager of
analytics and research for U.S.
Soccer, was on the staff of the
USA national women’s soccer
team that celebrated a World
Cup Championship victory in
July. Heaps, who helped play a
part in the team’s seven-game
win series to clinch the title,
said it was “one of the most
challenging and rewarding
experiences” of his life. Heaps’
work in data analysis and use
of video coverage enhances
skills on the field and helps
athletes better prepare for their
competition.
Read more of this story at
augsburg.edu/alumni/blog.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
Hayley (Thomas) Ball ’12 and Emerson
Ball ’14, ’19 MSW welcomed a
daughter, Zara, on March 13.
Jessica Barker ’97, Amy (Bowar) Mellinger ’97, Tara
(Cesaretti) McLeod ’97, Christa Winkelman ’97, and
Jane (Ruth) Zirbes ’97 gathered for their annual girls’
trip in Las Vegas. Since their days at Augsburg, they’ve
planned yearly trips and remained close friends.
30
AUGSBURG NOW
Two rural Osakis, Minnesota, churches—with roots dating
back to the early days in the state’s history—are thriving
with the help of their new intentional interim pastor John
Douglas Hopper ’68. Hopper, who lives in Delano, Minnesota,
and spends weekends at Salem and Sauk Valley Lutheran
churches. He began a one-year pastorate on October 21, 2018.
Stephanie Putzier ’16 MBA serves
Minnesota Women of Today at
the state level as the internal vice
president, a position in which she
oversees the organization’s internal
programming. Putzier received the
Programing Award of Excellence for
her commitment and efforts. She
has been an active member of the
organization since 2002.
Ross Murray ’00, ’09 MBA
received the Living Loehe
Award at Wartburg Seminary’s
commencement in May. The
award was given in recognition
of the 50th anniversary of the
Stonewall uprising, the 10th
anniversary of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America’s
steps toward inclusion for
LGBTQIA+-identified people, and
his calling as a deacon to engage
in LGBTQIA+ advocacy in the
church and the world. Murray is
the senior director of education
and training at GLAAD Media
Institute and is the founding
director of The Naming Project.
Read more of this story at
augsburg.edu/alumni/blog.
K. Marshall Williams Sr. ’78 received the Herschel
H. Hobbs Award for Distinguished Denominational
Service from Oklahoma Baptist University. Williams,
who has served as pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in
Philadelphia for more than 35 years, accepted the award
on June 10 during the Southern Baptist Convention’s
annual meeting in Birmingham, Alabama.
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.
Kristy Millering ’06 became
the new director of finance at
Winona Area Public Schools.
Millering began this role after
eight years in finance at Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota,
most recently as a senior internal
auditor. She also worked as an
accountant for McNeilus Truck
and Manufacturing and owned
her own dance studio.
Jason Oare ’05 and wife, Erin,
welcomed a daughter, Remedy
Faith, in April.
Amber (Stransky) Caswell ’07 and husband,
Tavid, welcomed a daughter, Olivia Sandra
Donna, in June.
Mary Christine Kane ’94
released her first book
of poems, “between
the stars where you
are lost.” Kane also
works in marketing and
volunteers for the arts and
animal rescue initiatives. Her poetry and nonfiction
works have appeared in journals and anthologies
including Bluestem; The Buffalo Anthology, Right
Here, Right Now; Ponder Review; and Sleet.
FALL–WINTER 2019
31
IN MEMORIAM
Gladys I. (Boxrud)
Strommen ’46, Edina,
Minnesota, age 93,
on May 27.
Gladys H. I. (Vigen)
Hallstrom ’56, Thief River
Falls, Minnesota, age
87, on March 27.
Omar N. Gjerness ’47,
Fergus Falls, Minnesota,
age 97, on July 19.
Sylva M. (Dahl) Kubicek ’56,
Lake Crystal, Minnesota,
age 83, on March 18.
Prudence V. (Hokanson)
Nystuen ’47, Lakeville,
Minnesota, age 93,
on July 3.
Mary J. (Christiansen)
Meyer ’56, Miami,
age 84, on April 7.
Barbara (Ekse) Carlson ’48,
Minneapolis, age 92,
on April 1.
Catherine A. (Mork)
Kordahl ’48, Fertile,
Minnesota, age 96,
on June 28.
Lorraine W. (Weltzin)
Peterson ’49, Hastings,
Minnesota, age 94,
on May 28.
Sheldon L. Torgerson ’49,
Minneapolis, age 92,
on May 26.
Gordon N. Berntson ’50,
Fargo, North Dakota,
age 93, on April 25.
Wayne H. Wickoren ’50,
Fargo, North Dakota,
age 92, on July 7.
Elizabeth A. Becken ’51,
Shoreview, Minnesota,
age 90, on June 3.
Harriet M. (Haller)
Brown ’52, Hastings,
Minnesota, age 89,
on May 11.
Evonne L. (Emerson)
Johnson ’52, Faribault,
Minnesota, age 88,
on March 9.
Duane L. Addison ’53,
Minneapolis, age 88,
on April 18.
Robert L. Lindquist ’53,
Worthington, Minnesota,
age 87, on April 28.
Arthur V. Rimmereid ’53,
St. Paul, Minnesota,
age 87, on June 24.
Jeannine L. (Torstenson)
Blanchard ’54, Fresno,
California, age 86,
on March 6.
Oliver K. Vick ’54,
Lancaster, Wisconsin,
age 88, on March 22.
32
AUGSBURG NOW
Marvin L. Dooley ’59,
Eagle Grove, Iowa,
age 95, on July 20.
Edean A. Berglund ’73,
Lacey, Washington,
age 67, on April 11.
Nancy J. (Thompson)
Peterson ’75, Minneapolis,
age 65, on May 27.
Bonnie M. Goetzke ’76,
Memphis, Tennessee,
age 65, on April 19.
Pamela S. Slette ’76,
Albert Lea, Minnesota,
age 65, on June 21.
James A. Hanson ’59,
Dodge Center, Minnesota,
age 88, on July 6.
Marcia G. (Thompson)
Turcotte ’78, Chanhassen,
Minnesota, age 97, on
July 19.
Donald E. Jorenby ’59,
Woodbury, Minnesota,
age 81, on March 19.
Michael J. Riley ’84,
Brainerd, Minnesota,
age 58, on July 25.
Bonnie J. (Martinson)
Storley ’59, Minneapolis,
age 81, on March 31.
Donald D. Wichmann ’89,
Minneapolis, age 53, on
July 16.
Arden S. Flaten ’60,
Hastings, Minnesota,
age 82, on May 4.
Thad D. Firchau ’92,
Mankato, Minnesota,
age 48, on March 23.
Marlin B. Aadland ’62,
Delta, British Columbia,
age 82, on May 30.
Marna R. Brown ’93,
Fergus Falls, Minnesota,
age 49, on March 28.
Jerome C. Barney ’62,
Fergus Falls, Minnesota,
age 81, on July 9.
Theresa D. (Holt)
Wimann ’94, Baraboo,
Wisconsin, age 60,
on May 7.
LeRoy E. Lee ’63, Solon
Springs, Wisconsin,
age 79, on March 25.
Gerald A. Carlson ’64,
Pine, Arizona, age 78,
on June 19.
Lennore A. (Bylund)
Bevis ’66, Minneapolis,
age 75, on July 28.
Verland E. Kruse ’66,
Stillwater, Minnesota,
age 83, on March 23.
Richard E. Andersen ’68,
Phoenix, age 73, on
June 2.
Russell K. Jones ’69,
Mercer, Maine, age 71,
on May 9.
Raymond J. Wesley ’69,
Maple Grove, Minnesota,
age 77, on July 27.
Daniel L. Knak ’72,
Hastings, Minnesota,
age 69, on July 19.
Mary S. (Wozniak)
Sergeant ’99, Kansas
City, Kansas, age 61,
on May 25.
Mauris N. De Silva ’00,
Jackson, New Jersey,
age 46, on July 31.
Robin A. Olsen ’01,
St. Paul, Minnesota,
age 48, on April 28.
Amanda J. Kelley ’09,
Ave Maria, Florida,
age 38, on May 25.
Patrick J. Inman ’11,
Rochester, Minnesota,
age 41, on July 9.
Matthew C. Blackburn ’15,
Plymouth, Minnesota,
age 36, on August 19.
The “In memoriam” listings
in this publication include
notifications received
before September 1.
ARCHIVE PHOTOS
Augsburg community – 1931
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every class,
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Permit No. 2031
Augsburg enrolls historic first-year class
A record-setting 636 undergraduate first-year students started at Augsburg University this fall. The Class of 2023 marks the
third year in a row in which a majority are students of color. All told, the university now has 2,159 students in the traditional
undergraduate program, which is also a record for Augsburg.
Show less
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.
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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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Auggie friendships
Learning across abilities
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SPRING–SUMMER 2019 | VOL. 81, NO. 2
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Spring–Summer 2019
Director of Mark... Show more
Auggie friendships
Learning across abilities
Sesquicentennial preview
The new age of artisans
SPRING–SUMMER 2019 | VOL. 81, NO. 2
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Spring–Summer 2019
Director of Marketing
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
Augsburg at 150
It is indeed remarkable for any of us today to
stand in the shadows of an institution that
has existed for 150 years. Institutions such
as Augsburg University—no matter their
meaningful legacy and inspiring mission—are
viewed with some skepticism by a citizenry
more and more committed to going it alone.
I am privileged to lead Augsburg on
the occasion of its 150th anniversary and
dedicated to ensuring that our academic
mission and democratic engagement remain
firm for the next 150 years. In that way, the
history of Augsburg is in service of going
forward together.
There are four themes that I believe are at the
heart of this university’s identity. The themes
are abundance, generosity, engagement, and
service. Throughout Augsburg’s 150 years, there
is ample evidence that the interplay of those
themes has helped to shape what Burton Clark
has called “the saga” of Augsburg. A saga is
more than a story or a parable. It is an unfolding
narrative anchored in mission, values, rituals,
and objects.
This issue of Augsburg Now offers us
a glimpse of the ways in which our saga
continues to unfold in rich and meaningful
ways. From the yearlong celebration of our
sesquicentennial, to urgent interfaith and
human rights initiatives, to new academic
programs, to the remarkable accomplishments
of the many alumni, faculty, and students
featured in these pages—we are reminded
again and again of how Augsburg is both
faithful to its historic values and relevant to
the needs of the world today.
Augsburg alumni David Cherwien ’79
and Gracia Grindal ’65 painted with music
and words this saga of faith, educational
aspirations, and public service in a hymn
commissioned for my inauguration in 2006.
The final stanza of the hymn proclaims:
Send, oh God your Holy Spirit,
Give us wisdom, love, and faith.
Faith enough to move a mountain,
Love that died to conquer death.
Wisdom crowned with healing leaves,
Truth made flesh to set us free.
Let your glory bear rich fruit,
Growing from your sturdy roots.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And so we join with the company of saints and
witnesses who have lived in the shadows of
our beloved Augsburg to renew our vow to hold
fast to all that is good.
Faithfully yours,
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
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.
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
ISSN 1058-1545
AUGSBURG HOSTS ANNUAL INTERFAITH GATHERING
This February, 130 young people from across Minnesota came together at Augsburg
University for the fifth annual Interfaith Youth Day of Service presented in partnership
with Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul. Augsburg students, staff, and faculty offered
programming assistance for the youth-designed initiative tailored to those in grades
6–12 and aligned with the United Nations’ observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week.
The event featured a keynote address, breakout workshops, musical performances, and
service projects before attendees concluded their day on campus with an Augsburg tour.
02 Around the quad
24 Auggie friendships
08
All in the family
27
Auggies connect
12
Learning across abilities
28
Class notes
15
A year of celebration
to honor 150
32
In memoriam
19
The new age of artisans
On the cover: Augsburg’s Hagfors Center
supplies an illuminating contrast to the
backdrop of downtown Minneapolis.
All photos by Courtney Perry unless
otherwise indicated
Send address corrections to:
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu
Send comments to:
now@augsburg.edu
AROUND THE QUAD
AROUND THE
QUAD
AUGGIE RESEARCH WOWS
AT THE ROTUNDA
Augsburg TRIO McNair Scholars Breanne
Sande-Martin ’18 and Andy Thao ’20 presented
their research during the 16th annual Private
College Scholars at the Capitol event this
January. As a member of the Minnesota
Private College Council, Augsburg was
invited to send Auggies to the event, which
recognizes the scholarship of students and
the efforts of their faculty advisors.
Psychology student Sande-Martin
presented her research on “The Impact
of Smartphone Notifications on
Proofreading Accuracy.” Biology
student Thao shared his
“Exploration of Local Field
Potentials and Spiking
Activity in a Genetic
Model of Schizophrenia.”
FOSTERING FUZZY FEELINGS
A new venue, a grand scale
Augsburg University will host this year’s commencement ceremony
May 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. This is the
first time Augsburg will use the multi-purpose facility that’s home to
the Minnesota Vikings as the site for commencement events.
In making this change, Augsburg is responding to consistent
concerns raised by graduating students regarding the limited number
of tickets available for their guests to attend on-campus ceremonies
which were held most recently in Si Melby Hall’s gymnasium. Augsburg
will use a portion of U.S. Bank Stadium, and the change in venue and
dramatic increase in total available seats will enable all
graduates, their families, their friends, and members of
the Augsburg community to celebrate together.
HONORING
Two faculty members are retiring this
spring following years of dedicated
service to Augsburg University. Augsburg
is grateful for their commitment to
advancing the university’s mission and
supporting student learning within and
beyond the classroom.
ROBERTA KAGIN
Professor, Department of Music—joined
Augsburg in 1974
DAVID CONRAD
HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
at Augsburg
THE AUGSBURG
PODCAST: SEASON 2
After a popular first season of the
Augsburg Podcast, season 2 kicked
off with President Paul Pribbenow,
Campus Pastor Rev. Sonja Hagander,
and Professor of English Doug Green
[pictured], among others. The podcasts
offer wide-ranging perspectives on the
university’s critical work of educating
students for the future.
Listen to the new season at
augsburg.edu/podcast or in
your podcast app.
AUGSBURG NOW
Announcing the
Retiring Faculty
Associate Professor, Department of Business
Administration—joined Augsburg in 2000
2
PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
COURTESY PHOTO
COMMENCEMENT 2019
At the Ed Saugestad Rink, pucks glide across the ice and stuffed
animals fly through the air.
In January, Augsburg students on the women’s hockey team and in the
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program collaborated
to host a teddy bear toss in which fans pitched plush toys onto the
ice during the first intermission in the Auggies’ home contest against
Gustavus Adolphus College.
The teddy bear toss concept originated in Canada in the early 1990s
and has grown in popularity through support from hockey teams at the
collegiate and professional levels. The 48 toys collected January 19
were donated to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, where each year
up to a dozen Augsburg physician assistant students complete clinical
placements as part of their studies. Fans also created greeting cards
with encouraging messages for hospital patients.
Building on a 30-year history with the
Nobel Peace Prize Forum and as part of the
university’s sesquicentennial celebration,
Augsburg is launching a new event this fall:
the Human Rights Forum at Augsburg.
The event will bring students, thought
leaders, global changemakers, and local
activists together to explore innovative
ways to take action in our ongoing pursuit
of racial justice, indigenous rights, and
environmental sustainability domestically
and globally.
The Human Rights Forum will be held
October 28-29 on Augsburg’s Minneapolis
campus and is open to the public. Tickets
will go on sale this summer.
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
3
AROUND THE QUAD
MEDIA COVERAGE
WORTH MENTIONING
THE GOLDEN NIGHT GLEAMS;
STUDENTS GROOVE
The Augsburg Student Activities
Council treated Auggies to a formal,
Roaring ’20s-inspired event that
added zest to campus following a
stretch of bitter cold winter weather.
A NEIGHBORLY GESTURE
Augsburg University students distributed jackets, blankets,
children’s toys, and meals to families in need at a homeless encampment
near Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis in November. “It’s basically in
[Augsburg’s] backyard, and helping the community is a really big thing for
me,” student Tyler Johnson ’22 told Fox 9 reporter Christina Palladino. This
day of service was the brainchild of Augsburg student Inam Al-Hammouri ’20,
and other students quickly joined.
“Cooking a hot lunch and serving it to hungry families out in the cold is
not something most college kids would do on a Saturday, but these youth
at Augsburg University are not just your average students,” the Fox 9
reporter said. “The students believe it is their responsibility to take action
and empower their generation to build bridges to those less fortunate.”
A NOTEWORTHY LINEUP
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder journalist Charles Hallman wrote
about this year’s Augsburg University women’s basketball team when
its starting lineup included five African-American students—a moment
believed to be a first in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
Augsburg University students Arianna Jones ’20, Camille McCoy ’20,
Tamara McLenore ’20, Camryn Speese ’20, and Kaezha Wubben ’20 made
history at the November 19 game against the University of Wisconsin—
Superior, the story said.
Go to augsburg.edu/news to learn
more about the university’s media buzz.
4
AUGSBURG NOW
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
The three-story mural “Emergence” adorns
the Hagfors Center’s west stairwell.
NEW PROGRAM LAUNCHES:
The Augsburg University Convocation Series is an annual
speaker series that includes long-standing endowed and
special programs. Recent presenters included:
• Terrance Kwame-Ross, associate professor in
the Department of Education at Augsburg, who
delivered “Our Conversation with Dr. King: Class
in Session” at the 31st annual Martin Luther
King Jr. Convocation in January.
• Jin Y. Park, professor of philosophy and religion
and founding director of the Asian Studies
Program at American University, who shared a
presentation at the Batalden Seminar in Applied
Ethics in March called “Ethical Imagination:
Buddhist-Postmodern Approaches.”
• Pamela Ronald, distinguished professor in the
Plant Pathology Department and the Genome
Center at University of California—Davis,
presented “Serving Up Science: Plant Genetics
and the Future of Food” for the General Leif J.
Sverdrup Visiting Scientist Lecture in April.
Augsburg University is accepting applications
for a new Master of Arts in Education program
that offers a non-licensure track for teachers
and educators looking to enhance their
skills within and beyond the classroom. This
program includes 30–31 credit hours and
can be completed in less than two years.
Students have the opportunity to choose from
two concentrations: Culture and Community,
which focuses on the tools educators need to
navigate complex systems and co-construct
curriculum with their students, and Community
Engaged Learning, which looks at the problems
students, schools, and communities face
when seeking meaningful change.
FOR CONVOCATION SERIES
AN ARTFUL COLLABORATION
The artwork in Augsburg’s Norman and Evangeline Hagfors
Center for Science, Business, and Religion always captivates eyes.
Recently, the collection also attracted the ears of Minnesota Public Radio
listeners. That’s because MPR highlighted the successful partnership
between Augsburg and Forecast Public Art, which helped guide the
university’s effort to commission original art for the campus’ newest
academic building. Now in its 40th year, Forecast Public Art is regarded
as one of the nation’s leading nonprofits committed to communityengaged design and placemaking. Augsburg benefitted from the
organization’s expertise as the university worked to acquire art to reflect
the diverse communities that make up the Augsburg student body and
to knit together the various academic disciplines housed in the Hagfors
Center. Today, the facility has more than 25 art pieces on its walls and six
works of art built into its structure.
AUGSBURG WELCOMES LEADING SCHOLARS
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION
Go to augsburg.edu/gpe to learn more
about the Master of Arts in Education.
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
5
AROUND THE QUAD
WOMEN’S ATHLETICS
ARCHIVE NEARS THE FINISH LINE
The James G. Lindell Library’s digitization lab team has been working with an
impressive collection of projector slides and photographs that document women’s
athletics at Augsburg from the time Title IX took effect in 1972 to the present.
With more than 7,000 images,
this archive will become one of
the largest online collections
of women’s athletic history in
the country when processing
is complete in Fall 2020. The
collection was started by Joyce
Pfaff ’65, retired Auggie coach,
instructor, and director of
women’s athletics who launched
several women’s teams and
The Augsburg women’s basketball team posing for a
served the university for 43 years. photo in the locker room, 1978.
Gwen Walz is still surprised
to be addressed as first lady.
“I sometimes walk right past people or don’t turn around when someone says it
because I just don’t hear it like I hear ‘Gwen,’” said Walz, whose husband, Tim,
became Minnesota’s governor in January.
While Walz may not be used to being called first lady, she’s jumping into the
role. She’s the first Minnesota first lady to have an office at the state Capitol
and plans to focus on education and corrections as policy issues. Walz also
recently joined Augsburg University as an independent contractor serving in two
roles: as special assistant to the president for strategic partnerships and as a fellow in the Sabo Center for Democracy and
Citizenship. Here is a glimpse into her connection to Augsburg and new life.
President Paul Pribbenow has described
you as a friend of Augsburg. How have
you worked with Augsburg in the past?
Q:
A:
A:
President Pribbenow and I met
in Rochester when Tim (then
U.S. representative for Minnesota’s 1st
congressional district) asked us to facilitate
a series of community-wide conversations
on education. Through this partnership,
I knew that I shared Augsburg’s deep
commitment to equity.
Q:
You are the first Minnesota first lady to
have an office at the state Capitol. Why
was that presence important to you?
A:
Tim and I work closely together. We do
our work differently at times, though,
so having our own spaces is important. I
also work with the staff very closely, so it is
more convenient for them if I have an office
near them. I am still learning how to best
use this space to do meaningful work and
build meaningful relationships.
6
AUGSBURG NOW
Your mother, Linnea Wacker ’60, is an
Auggie. What did she say when you told
her about coming to work at Augsburg?
She told me that I had better bring
my “A” game. My mom told me that
Augsburg is a very important place, and
I must make sure I am prepared to bring
focus and energy to the task. The mission
of Augsburg University is very important
to her, and she wants to make sure I help
advance it! My mother was a teacher and
first-generation college graduate. She
and my father, a long-time educator, are
committed to providing opportunities in
education for everyone.
Q:
You started your career as an
elementary school teacher. How does
your passion for teaching and learning suit
your roles at Augsburg and the Capitol?
A:
On the campaign trail, Tim and I
both used the phrase that teaching
was not just how we paid our bills; it’s
how we live our lives. I have never been
able to separate things in my life; I have a
pretty holistic approach to who I am and
what I bring to something. I have a lot to
learn from Augsburg and the people here.
All of that informs how I am thinking
about how I might best serve all of the
people of Minnesota.
Search or browse at
archives.augsburg.edu.
Insta Augsburg:
A few square snapshots showing
significant #AuggiePride.
Q:
What’s your favorite thing to do in your
free time now that you’ve moved to the
Twin Cities?
A:
Each Sunday evening, I invite my
three sisters and their families to
have dinner. Everyone who can come does,
and it is lovely to have a moment to pause
as one week ends and another begins—we
all sit a little longer at the table. We even
have dessert on Sunday evenings!
@riverside_innovation_hub
COURTESY PHOTOS
Q:
Use Augsburg’s digital archive to find every Echo
issue dating to the 1890s, as well as photographs,
yearbooks, oral histories, videos, speeches, and more.
Head under heels
Auggie image shines in anthology
“Illuminated,” a photo by Ava
Fojtik ’21, will appear in plain china
(plainchina.org), a national anthology
of undergraduate creative writing and
art based at Virginia Commonwealth
University. Fojtik’s artwork was first
published in the 2018 issue of
Murphy Square, Augsburg’s literary
and visual arts journal.
Fojtik pursues portrait photography
as a hobby while studying religion,
theater, and English literature at
Augsburg. She said she’s particularly
fond of “Illuminated” because the
image is expressive without showing
an individual’s face. The image
is part of a larger collection titled
“Pity Party” that focuses on the
themes of absurdity and things
being upside down.
Recognize those limbs and laces? They
belong to Adam Ruff ’18.
The Augsburg greenhouse
@orchidhunter She’s beauty, she’s grace, she stinks
up the entire place. It’s the voodoo queen herself,
Amorphophallus konjac, serving sinister lewks and foul
odors to attract pollinators. #plantdiversity
@augsburgauggies
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
7
All in the
Family
I
t could have been worse. Their
parents could have made them
hold hands (or even smile). But
after each game during last year’s
Auggie football season, the parents
of the team’s four sets of siblings
lined the eight players up for a
Kodak moment.
“We loved the tradition, but
there was a bit of that ‘Come on,
mom’ feeling, especially when
they made us take a photo before
our last game,” said wide receiver
Nick Heenie ’19, whose not-so-little
brother, Frank Heenie ’23, protects
the Auggie line. “We were all so in
the zone that we look mean, but
that couldn’t be further from the
truth. It was such a special year and
an honor to play with brothers.”
Rounding up the octet was easy,
especially after home games, when
those same parents—led by the
Heenie family—prepared meals for
80 players and their families. Head
Football Coach Frank Haege said
the team traditionally shares food
and fellowship after one home game
each year, but the siblings’ parents
united the Auggie football family
in an unforgettable way during the
2018 season.
“It was such a joy to coach four
sets of siblings last year, particularly
8
AUGSBURG NOW
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
since I have twin boys, and I played
football with my brother,” said
Haege, whose 9-year-old son, AJ,
spends so much time with the team
that he maintains an Auggie locker.
“Our team always feels like family,
but we were especially close last
fall. It reinforced that Augsburg is
where students learn to be part of
something bigger than themselves.”
Coaching four sets of siblings at
one time was unprecedented for
Augsburg Athletics, but siblings are
not uncommon. Haege estimates he
has coached eight sets of siblings
during his 15-year tenure. In addition
to football, siblings have competed
on several teams recently: The Wilson
twins dominated the wrestling mat,
the Everett sisters commanded the
lacrosse field, and the O’Conner
brothers scored big on the ice.
Relatives on the
roster
The list of sibling alumni who have
played together at Augsburg could fill
a football roster, not to mention the
generations of families with Auggie
pride running through their veins.
An example: Athletic Director Jeff
Swenson ’79 wrestled and coached
for 25 years at Augsburg. His sister,
Marie (Swenson) Hechsel ’90, played
volleyball. Her son, Matt Hechsel ’15,
wrestled, and her daughter, Stephanie
Hechsel ’19, played volleyball.
Augsburg women’s ice hockey’s
Megan Johnson ’19 also is playing
out a family legacy. Her grandfather,
Bob “Badger” Johnson, attended
Augsburg for a year before
transferring to the University of
Wisconsin—Madison, where he
secured seven NCAA Men’s Ice
Hockey Championships. Her father,
Mark Johnson, was a member of
the fabled “Miracle on Ice” 1980
U.S. Olympic team and coach of the
2010 U.S. Olympic women’s silvermedal hockey squad.
Megan’s brother, Chris Johnson ’10,
’14 MAL, slapped the puck around
for Augsburg and later served as
men’s ice hockey assistant coach
for seven seasons. It was during that
time Megan picked Augsburg over
the University of Wisconsin, where
her grandfather, father, and two
other siblings played. Although the
colors of their jerseys differed, every
member of the Johnson family has
donned No. 10.
Women’s Ice Hockey Head Coach
Michelle McAteer said that although
Megan no longer has a sibling at
Augsburg, members of the team
Mustafa Adam ’18, left, and
his brother Shihab Adam ’22
“Augsburg—even beyond the field—is a tight-knit community, where everyone looks
out for one another. Teachers care about your education and are always willing to
provide you with extra academic support. At Augsburg, they truly care about you as an
individual, and they will do whatever they can to ensure that you succeed inside and
outside of the classroom.”
— Linebacker Mustafa Adam ’18, a three-time cancer survivor who studied business
and economics and plans to go to medical school
SPRING –SUMMER 2019
9
are like family. Third- and fourthyear student-athletes have begun
to mentor newcomers, calling
each other big and little sisters,
respectively.
on the football roster was “a dream
come true.” But he doesn’t have
one brother on the team. “I have
80,” said Mustafa, a two-time team
captain and nominee for Mayo
It was such a joy to
coach four sets of
siblings last year.”
“These mentor relationships
are lasting, and it’s an intentional
effort players established to support
each other on and off the ice,”
McAteer said. “As a two-time team
captain, Megan has been integral
in helping us foster that sense of
togetherness.”
Family legacies are
part of the game
To Haege and others, the influx
of legacy families and sibling
teammates is no coincidence.
Augsburg draws families, he said,
because the campus feels like a
family and students know they
will gain a solid education and
passionate sense of vocation. Older
siblings often make recruiting easy,
Haege said, by “talking up the
program naturally,” as they share
their good experiences with siblings.
Mustafa Adam ’18 said having his
younger brother, Shihab Adam ’22,
10
AUGSBURG NOW
Clinic’s 2018 Comeback Player
of the Year Award, which honors
college football players who have
returned to the field of play after
overcoming major life challenges.
Mustafa sat out his first year
at Augsburg when the cancer he
beat in high school returned just
prior to signing on at Augsburg. He
played the entire 2016 and 2017
seasons, but the disease returned
at the conclusion of his second
season, in which he finished second
in tackles (93) in the Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
He underwent chemotherapy
and had to have his right ear
amputated to prevent the cancer
from spreading. In Fall 2018, he
returned to the field and played in
all 10 games.
“I know it pained Shihab and
all my teammates to see me go
through this disease, but having a
little brother only further motivated
me to keep my head up and stand
strong throughout this whole
process,” said the linebacker
from Wisconsin. “Envisioning the
football field was truly the driving
force behind my will to fight. I
was willing to persevere through
anything to accomplish my dream
to play college ball, and my
willingness to fight inspired many
of my teammates to look inside
themselves to find their ‘why.’ Going
through this—together—has created
lifelong bonds and friendships.”
Siblings and
teammates keep
each other on track
Nick Heenie ’19 said growing close
to dozens of teammates from
different states, cultures, and
life experiences has broadened
players’ worldview. The football
team’s inclusive culture, Nick said,
has inspired him to explore and
appreciate Augsburg’s setting in one
of the most diverse neighborhoods
in the Twin Cities.
The Heenies room with brothers
linebacker Xavier Hanson ’23 and
defensive lineman Christopher
Hanson ’19. “So our moms always
know where to get ahold of us,”
Frank added. Wrestling twins Aaron
Wilson ’21 and Alex Wilson ’20 also
share a residence, not to mention
a major—biology. The two are
rarely apart.
“I started wrestling in
kindergarten. Alex started a year
later, and we both dreamed about
wrestling at Augsburg as kids,” said
Aaron, whose proudest moment
was being ranked nationally
alongside his brother. “We knew it
would make us the best versions
of ourselves on and off the mat.
Augsburg’s small class sizes have
allowed me to make meaningful
relationships with my professors
and pursue research of my own.”
Lacrosse player Delaney Everett ’18
is equally ambitious, with plans to
own an accounting firm. Having
sister, Demey Everett ’20, by her
side has pushed the midfielder to
achieve in competition and in the
classroom. Head Lacrosse Coach
Kathryn Knippenberg has had a
front row seat to the dynamic duo’s
inspiring support.
“The two are in sync on the field,
and their intuitive play challenges
the rest of the team to follow suit,”
said Knippenberg, who is in her
sixth season at Augsburg. “Their
majors are different—biology
and accounting—but Augsburg’s
impressive academic programs were
able to support both their interests.
Not many schools in the area offer
lacrosse along with such diverse
academic options.”
‘Here’s to
quadruplets in 2021’
The Kordah brothers are a few
years beyond graduation, and these
stories of campus life and sibling
bonds call up fond memories for
the former Augsburg soccer players.
Lekpea Kordah ’15 is raising two
kids while working as a high school
administrator and as a certified tax
professional. Barinedum Kordah ’17
works in health care administration
in the Twin Cities.
Adulthood keeps them from
kicking the ball around together,
but they do find time to talk about
the “good old days as Auggies,”
while they watch professional
soccer, Barinedum said. Campus,
he added, became home to them
after their nine-member family
migrated from Nigeria.
“I learned some of my greatest
lessons at Augsburg. On the field,
my brother taught me to never give
up and to work with intensity,”
said Barinedum, a defender who
majored in exercise science and
minored in psychology. “Coach
[Greg] Holker taught us to consider
details, which was tough because
I wanted to just get out there and
play. That study of each opponent
and the game itself helped us
outsmart our opponents and waste
less energy than if we were always
trying to beat them athletically.”
Haege knows the Kordah
brothers, as most coaches and
players do. That’s how it works
at Augsburg, he said. Players—
siblings or not—don’t only support
their team, they are among the
loudest fans at all Auggie contests.
Whether that sense of support
stems from family connections or
not, Haege doesn’t make that call.
He does, however, predict the trend
will continue. “Here’s to looking at
quadruplets in 2021,” he joked.
“The two are in sync ...”
—Head Lacrosse Coach Kathryn Knippenberg
Demey Everett ’20, left, and her sister Delaney Everett ’18
LEARNING
ACROSS
ABILITIES
The Center for Learning and
Accessible Student Services
champions students with a broad
range of disabilities on the path
to academic success.
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
Maura Gunter ’19
S
ince second grade, Maura Gunter ’19 relied on
accommodations for attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder and a word processing disorder. So when she
started college, Gunter knew the drill. But on her way
to class that fall semester, Gunter’s vision blurred and a
metallic taste coated her mouth. She lay in the snow for
four hours before paramedics arrived. When she woke,
doctors greeted the then 19-year-old with another
diagnosis: epilepsy.
As her peers at Colorado State University prepped for
finals, Gunter was pricked and scanned for two weeks.
Catch up, you can do this. Seizure. Someone stuffs a
wallet in her mouth. Doctors: “Episodes might pass or
might not. Try this medicine—no, this one.” Catch up, you
can do this. Seizure. Hospital stay, stares, and bruises.
“You need to find a way to complete assignments, Maura.”
Can I do this? Brain throbbing. More pills. Less sleep. No.
“When I started having seizures, I didn’t know [my
illness] was considered a disability. Support services at my
college at the time were fine but not personal. I didn’t have
an advisor to help me navigate my college education with
this invisible illness,” Gunter said. “So, nearly every time I
had a seizure, I had to medically withdraw.”
“I felt like such a failure—lost
and alone”
Without campus advocates and close teacher relationships,
Gunter turned to doctor-prescribed opioids for support and
became addicted. She found Augsburg University’s StepUP®
Program—a residential recovery support community—and
decided to transfer in 2015. Disability Specialist Anne Lynch
12
AUGSBURG NOW
was there to greet her, then walk the Georgia native through
her rights and responsibilities, documentation forms, exam
scheduling, and more. When Gunter made the dean’s list,
Lynch was the first person she called.
“Anne has been my rock,” said Gunter, who plans to
graduate in May with a degree in social work. “When
people cautioned me against seeking departmental honors
because they were worried ‘it’d be too much for me,’ Anne
pushed me. She lets me determine and define my own
limits. People don’t realize that it’s as equally stressful
and offensive to be coddled as it is to not be believed and
supported. Anne took the time to know me, to listen, and to
empower me with information and guidance.”
Sober since August 2014, Gunter thrived with newfound
campus advocates and with caring professors at Augsburg’s
tight-knit, affirming campus. Driving that advocacy
and service is the university’s Center for Learning and
Accessible Student Services, known as CLASS, where Lynch
has worked for 20 years.
The center’s influence is woven throughout every aspect of
Augsburg: CLASS informs administrative policies, advises on
housing accommodations, monitors updates to the physical
campus, and ensures students’ dietary requirements are met. They
offer professional development across campus, introduce assistive
technologies, and meet one-on-one with professors about universal
course design.
Disability specialists connect with parents, meet regularly with
students, and coordinate a range of accommodations—from exam
and tutor scheduling to notetakers and sign language interpreters.
The office serves those who need temporary accommodations,
including injured student-athletes, and engages in community
outreach and education. CLASS maintains a robust website with
links to programs, software, and apps for anyone to access.
When Lynch started in the late ’90s, she worked with about 30
students. Now, that number is 100.
“It’s been amazing to see Augsburg embrace diversity and
grow the reach and reputation of this critical office,” Lynch said.
“CLASS empowers the students we serve, but our work also
informs and inspires faculty, other students, and the communities
in which we live and work. It’s a gift to see employers, faculty,
parents, and even the students themselves shed misconceptions
about disabilities after working with our office.”
Lynch calls herself a partner. She spends her days partnering
intentionally with each student—to listen, to solve problems
alongside them, and to empower them to better understand
themselves and their abilities.
“‘Disability’ is not a bad word; it is tied to rights and
protections,” she said. “I love when students get to a place where
they can say, ‘Yes, I have a disability, but I am not a disability.’
Let’s move beyond the word and come up with solutions for making
sure all students have the same opportunities afforded to others.”
education and contribute their wisdom to solving the problems of
the world.”
A 2018 report from the American Collegiate Health Association
indicated that in the past year, three out of five college students
experienced “overwhelming anxiety,” and two out of five students
were “too depressed to function.” With increased stressors and
public services cutbacks, Carlson said, Augsburg has rallied to
strengthen safety nets.
“We strongly believe in helping students put together teams of
support so they can navigate college successfully. For students
with a mental health or other disability, CLASS is part of that
team,” Carlson said. “Augsburg is blessed with faculty who ‘get’
mental health issues and want to support their students and
advisees. Together, we help students feel connected on campus,
and that sense of connection can increase students’ likelihood
of success.”
CLASS Director Kathy McGillivray said this focus on “together” is
what distinguishes Augsburg and draws students to study and grow
alongside the support of CLASS’s comprehensive services.
“Our focus is on each individual student,” McGillivray said.
“But we are part of a larger mission to connect Augsburg students
to academic support, resources, and services that will help them
create and achieve their educational goals. Prospective students
see that seamless student support, all housed within the Gage
Center for Student Success.”
Within the Gage Center, CLASS includes the Groves
Accommodations Lab, which provides assistive technology and
testing accommodations for students with disabilities, and the
Groves Technology Center, which is a fully equipped computer
lab that is available to all students. Resources for students with
disabilities are offered within a suite of services for all.
“‘Disability’ is not a bad word”
Augsburg’s team approach weaves
a strong safety net
Although her focus is on students, Lynch said the office invests
a tremendous amount of time and energy in partnering with the
campus community to ensure Augsburg meets its commitment to
provide equal access to higher education and campus facilities.
Among CLASS’s greatest collaborations is with Augsburg’s Center
for Wellness and Counseling.
CWC Assistant Director Beth Carlson said that with the strong
connection between mental health and academic success, CWC
staff have found their work with CLASS invaluable in helping
students thrive. CLASS is distinct, Carlson said, in its deep
connections with students and collaborative, creative approaches
to overcoming complex situations.
“Many students who are academically capable might not be
able to graduate from Augsburg if they didn’t have the support
of CLASS. In the past, a student with a significant mental health
disability may not have been encouraged to go to college; now, our
campus is much richer and more diverse because we’re embracing
all of our students, supporting them as they gain a liberal arts
Matthew Glaven ’21 has built a team at Augsburg. The history major
serves on the board of Augsburg’s chapter of Women for Political
Change, manages the baseball team, and has traveled overseas
with fellow Auggies. CLASS is a major player on “Team Glaven,”
given that the Minnesota native is deaf/hard of hearing and has
cerebral palsy, which makes it difficult for him to write and speak.
“One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned at Augsburg is that you
need to have a team, no matter who you are, to get through life. As
your life goes through different stages, your team of personal and
professional supporters evolves with you,” said Glaven, who uses
ASL interpreters, a microphone for his hearing aids, notetakers,
and testing accommodations. “CLASS also taught me that
advocacy is key to getting what you need to make your life better.
If you don’t advocate for yourself, you won’t be as successful.”
That embrace of advocacy will serve him well as he plans to
enter public office. The Queen fan and BBC-listening cat lover
is driven to improve public health care, protect minorities, and
continue to fight climate change, among other initiatives.
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
13
The paw-fect solution
Matthew Glaven ’21
Faculty advocates
embrace universal design
Glaven gained that passion for policy
from instructors who were eager to make
lectures and content accessible—educators
like Rich Flint, assistant professor of
mathematics, who teaches core math
courses required of all students. In Spring
2009, Flint taught a pre-algebra course
of 24 students, 10 of whom had
documented disabilities.
“If I hadn’t known the CLASS staff
before that semester, I got to know them
all very well that spring,” Flint said. “We
now give all of our students a Math Anxiety
Bill of Rights, which includes statements
like, ‘I have the right to need extra help,’
and ‘I have the right to not understand.’
Many of us [math professors] include
statements about relaxation on our exams.
In fact, yesterday I proctored a Calculus 2
exam for a colleague that stated: ‘Relax.
You have done problems like this before.’
Without our work with CLASS, I don’t
know if we would be so attuned to using
straightforward strategies that benefit all
test takers.”
Professor of Mathematics Suzanne
Dorée said the department’s embrace of
universal design is a habit that emerged
from experience. Dorée has taught Auggies
for 30 years. When she started, parents
sometimes needed to attend classes to
assist their children. Now, because of the
resources and accommodations Augsburg
has to offer, students are able to enjoy
more independence, Dorée said.
“I love a good problem, and there’s
an element of creativity required in
adjusting my teaching style to reach all my
students. Over time you realize that the
new practices you adopt are good for all
students. For instance, I had a student who
was blind so I began narrating everything I
was doing on the board. It slowed me down
but I noticed that all my students were
processing the information better,” she
said. “The difference between a 50-minute
test and a 70-minute test’s ability to
assess student learning is not significant,
so I always write a 50-minute test for
my 70-minute classes. English learners,
students who didn’t get much sleep the
night before, and students with test
anxiety all appreciate the extra time to
check their work.”
That problem-solving can take many forms.
During Gunter’s freshman year, it barked and
was named Gus.
Gus was Gunter’s service dog. He was
trained to sense when Gunter might have a
seizure and assist her if and when she fell.
His vest detailed her diagnosis, which was
helpful since doctors previously missed her
medical ID bracelet three times, Gunter said,
while “Gus was tough to miss.”
“Was,” because Gunter hasn’t needed
a service dog since identifying the proper
blend of medicine, sleep, and support. The
24-year-old has been seizure-free for the
past year, and Gus has enjoyed the time off
to play with Gunter’s three other four-legged
pals: Nelson, Susan, and Shana. Each of her
pups, other than Gus, is a rescue with “some
special needs,” Gunter adds, proudly.
Health and stability, Gunter said, means
she can set her sights on the horizon—
toward research and graduate school.
Lars Christiansen, associate professor of
sociology, is collaborating with Gunter on
research about street equity, city planning,
and movement. This semester, Gunter is
focused on roadside memorial ghost bikes,
which are white-painted bikes placed near
streets not safe or accessible to cyclists.
She received travel funds to present her
findings at the Midwest Sociological
Society’s annual meeting in Chicago.
“Augsburg gave me the tools and space
to figure out my passion, understand my
responsibilities, and advocate for my
rights. A world that felt small years ago
now seems open and exciting.”
A year of
celebration
to honor
Augsburg’s leading approach to disability services didn’t just happen. Paired with staff expertise and an
inclusive campus culture, it took the vision and support of proud parents, alumni, and industry partners.
Auggie mom and Regent Emerita Barbara Gage, who served on Augsburg’s Board of Regents for 12 years,
led the charge to uplift Augsburg as a national leader in holistic student support services.
In the 1980s, Barbara and her husband, Skip Gage, along with the Carlson Family Foundation, donated and
raised funds to support the program that ultimately became CLASS. In 2011, the Gage Family Foundation
and the Carlson Family Foundation contributed $900,000 to create the Gage Center for Student Success.
This centralized, supportive learning space in the James G. Lindell Library provides resources for all
students—regardless of learning style, preference, or need. It houses the Office of Advising and Academic
Excellence, TRIO/Student Support Services, and CLASS.
A preview of Augsburg’s sesquicentennial plans:
September 27, 2019, to September 26, 2020
ARCHIVE PHOTOS
Sesquicentennial events calendar
From 1869
to today
Augsburg’s sesquicentennial
celebration will feature diverse
opportunities that uplift the
university’s founding principles,
honor its history, and look toward
its future.
Augsburg will:
• Showcase academic excellence
• Present historical elements
• Tell its institutional story
through art and design
• Host high-impact experiences
• Bring together thousands of
alumni and friends from all
generations
Augsburg’s community-wide events will include a gala, reunions, convocations, art shows,
concerts, book readings, theater performances, and lectures. Follow the sesquicentennial
calendar today for easy access to event details, possible weather-related changes, and parking
information. Here’s a glimpse at some of the signature events so you can start planning for this
historic year.
H O M E C O M I N G 2 0 19
September 23–28, 2019
New events along with traditional favorites make Homecoming one of the most
festive times on campus all year. The majority of this year’s events will occur
Saturday, September 28, and special reunions will honor the classes of 2009,
1979, and 1969.
S E S Q U I C E N T E N N I A L G A LA
September 27, 2019
Kick off Augsburg’s sesquicentennial at this once-in-a-lifetime event in
downtown Minneapolis. This gala will acknowledge Augsburg’s history of
pursuing the call to serve the community, and it will rally energetic support for
the next 150 years of Augsburg University.
I N A U G U R A L A LL- S C H O O L R E U N I O N
September 25–26, 2020
This all-inclusive gathering is for Auggies from every class, every degree
program, and every decade—Augsburg athletes, musicians, artists, scientists,
student leaders, and everyone in between. Learn how to coordinate a reunion
for a specific area of interest or identity by emailing Katie (Koch) Code ’01 at
codek@augsburg.edu.
Sesquicentennial book
Augsburg is publishing an institutional history book as part of its sesquicentennial celebration.
“Hold Fast to What is Good,” by History Professor Phillip Adamo, uses 10 objects from the
university archives to tell stories from Augsburg’s first 150 years. Signed, limited edition,
hardcover copies of this book are available for preorder until May 1, 2019.
SESQUICENTENNIAL
Register for Homecoming, purchase Sesquicentennial Gala tickets, learn
more about the All-School Reunion, and order your commemorative book at
augsburg.edu/150.
COURTESY PHOTOS
International travel
opportunities
BY JOHN WEIRICK
Augsburg will host four alumni trips to locations in Germany
and Norway that are central in the university’s history. Find
details for each trip at augsburg.edu/alumni under “Travel.”
NORWAY ARTS AND CULTURE
Tentative dates May 8–18, 2020
The tour will include theater productions, concerts,
and historical landmarks, and it will focus on the
rich and vibrant arts and culture of Norway. Explore
Norway alongside Augsburg Theater Program alumni,
co-leaders Darcey Engen ’88, Augsburg University
professor of theater, and her husband, Luverne
Seifert ’83, Minneapolis actor and instructor at the
University of Minnesota.
NORWAY NOW: EXPLORING
PEACEMAKING, THE ENVIRONMENT,
AND CLIMATE CHANGE
GERMANY AND AUSTRIA FEATURING
THE OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY
Tentative dates July 15–26, 2020
This tour will focus on Bavaria, with stops in
Nuremberg, Salzberg, and additional nearby locations.
The hottest ticket in Europe every 10 years is to attend
the centuries-old Oberammergau Passion Play. This
trip includes prime seats for this once-in-a-decade
experience. As members of the university’s Department
of Religion, associate professors Lori Brandt Hale and
Hans Wiersma have teamed up to share their expertise
and offer a uniquely Augsburg experience.
NIDAROS PILGRIMAGE IN NORWAY
Tentative dates May 9–19, 2020
Tentative dates in July 2020
This tour will explore Norway’s peace work,
government, and environmental agencies. This tour is
co-led by Bettine Hoff Hermanson, managing director of
the Human Rights Forum at Augsburg as well as the
Norway Hub, and Joe Underhill, associate professor of
political science, director of environmental studies,
and director of the Human Rights Forum.
Hike to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim,
Norway—a pilgrimage made by travelers for more than
1,000 years. Augsburg University Pastor and Director
of Ministries Rev. Sonja Hagander will lead the trek in
which adventurous Auggies will learn about history
and culture, and they will experience firsthand some
of the most beautiful natural sights in the world. This
trip is intended for experienced mountain hikers.
For more information, contact Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of Alumni
and Constituent Relations, at codek@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1178.
Matt Swenson ’91 displays artisan
creations on the Minnesota Art Truck.
During an economic downturn,
a resurgence of skill-savvy
craftspeople revived centuriesold traditions of making highquality goods in small quantities,
harnessing the power of modern
technology and local communities.
Americans plunged into the Great Recession.
A wave of new and seasoned workers alike struggled to navigate the economic
uncertainty of fewer jobs and growing debt in an ever-changing global landscape.
But while the economy grew stagnant, the creative efforts of workers did not.
An artisanal phenomenon gained momentum, which affects not only what people
buy and the jobs they seek, but also shifts consumer expectations around the
country. This is no new trend; it’s actually an old one.
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
19
FINNEGANS taproom in downtown Minneapolis
LAGER
IPA
BELGIAN
STOUT
GROWLER
PILSNER
CASCADE
PORTER
PALE ALE
BLOND
AMBER
PILSNER
WEISSBIE
MAIBOCK
HEFEWEIZ
DOPPELBO
SAISON
WITBIER
BERLINER
WEISSE
GROWLER
CASCADE
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FINNEGANS
The modern artisan movement—
craftspeople who focus on distinct,
skillfully made goods produced in
small quantities, often by hand—has
deep roots in the past, before the
relatively recent industrialization that
revolutionized the global market by
providing more affordable products to
more people.
“The United States has had mass
production of plentiful and relatively
cheap goods for at least a century,”
said Nancy Fischer, associate professor
and chair of sociology at Augsburg
University. “An appreciation for more
traditional forms of making things—of
craftsmanship—was a reaction to and
coexisted with mass production.”
Fischer, who has researched vintage
fashion and is writing a book on vintage
clothing consumers, said artisans in
the pre-industrial 1800s could make a
living running shops that sold everyday
items like furniture, candles, or shoes.
However, artisan endeavors today form
a niche market, often as side jobs for
extra cash and personal fulfilment more
than a stable income or employment
benefits. The focus is not just on a
product; the artisanal approach also
20
AUGSBURG NOW
focuses on the origin of the item, what
it’s made of, and how it’s made.
You’ve seen the items: artisanal
breads and cheeses, small-batch ice
cream, hand-crafted chocolate and hot
sauce. Many major metropolitan areas—
and a number of smaller communities
as well—boast independent coffee
roasters, artisanal pizzerias, and craft
butchers of locally raised livestock.
Custom jeans and hand-tailored
leatherworks are neighbors to yoga
instructors, artisanal pickle producers,
and specialty popcorn shops in
tiny storefronts. Even international
corporations and fast food franchises
attempt to pique consumer interest
using the terms “artisanal” and “handcrafted,” much like they appropriated
“gourmet” and “specialty.”
Artisans appear in three oftenintertwined variations: 1. maker artisans
who produce tangible products, 2.
personal service artisans who offer
curated experiences, and 3. knowledge
artisans who bring together people and
ideas to enhance social capital.
“Artisans can look a lot different
than what most would expect,” said
Brian Krohn ’08, co-founder of Mighty
Axe Hops, which supplies Minnesotagrown hops to craft brewers around
the state. After studying chemistry at
Augsburg and finishing graduate school,
he became a serial entrepreneur,
launching a company that uses 3D
printing to make flame-emitting
wizard staffs and founding Soundly, a
smartphone app designed to reduce
snoring. “A woodworker would normally
be considered an artisan, but I think
an experienced engineer who uses CAD
[computer-aided design] and a CNC
[computer numerical control] to mill
wood or aluminum can also be
an artisan.”
To seek a simple explanation for the
artisan economy’s proliferation would
be to ignore the multifaceted appeal of
such products and services, as well as
the diverse array of people who sell and
buy them.
Consumer boredom, dissatisfaction
with mass-produced options, and the
feeling of overall instability could play
a psychological role in the appeal of
artisan alternatives. “When you think
about the current state of economic
inequality, recessions, an affordable
housing shortage, multiple wars, everchanging technology, outsourcing of
jobs, and terrorism, we live in a pretty uncertain world,” said Bridget Robinson-Riegler,
cognitive psychologist and professor of psychology at Augsburg. “We value nostalgic
products because they make us feel more secure. The new wave of such products is
possibly indicative of a society in turmoil and people in angst searching for comfort.”
The search for comfort doesn’t stifle the curious desire for variety, though. “If it’s
beer, consumers are looking for something that is different, not formulaic,” Fischer
said. “With woodworking items, ceramics, or clothing, they are looking for something
that will last, as well as something that is unique.”
Jacquie Berglund ’87 found a unique angle in
a competitive market: craft beer with a cause.
After graduating from Augsburg and studying
in Paris, she returned to Minneapolis and
co-founded FINNEGANS Brew Co., whose
profits are donated to alleviate hunger in the
markets that serve FINNEGANS beer. “When I
started my beer company, there were a handful
of breweries. There are now more than 150
in Minnesota. FINNEGANS needs to make
high-quality beer, differentiate our brand as a
FINNEGANS co-founder Jacquie Berglund ’87
social business with more than $1.3 million in
impact, and connect with our consumers and supporters.”
The craft beer boom is representative of the growing artisan movement in many
industries. Almost half of the 150 breweries in Minnesota have opened in the past
eight years, including Boom Island Brewing in Minneapolis, another brewery with
an Auggie connection. Qiuxia Welch ’99 studied music at Augsburg and became a
professional French horn performer and teacher. Today, she is Boom Island’s marketing
manager and runs the business with her husband, Kevin, its founder and head brewer.
“Most of Boom Island’s beers are brewed using traditional Belgian techniques,”
Welch said. “This requires expensive ingredients, no preservatives, years of experience,
and time. It’s difficult for the large breweries to do this.”
Craft beer sales have grown to nearly
13 percent market share, according to
the Brewers Association, which offers
“certified independent craft” labels for
breweries not owned by the handful of
multinational corporations that have
maintained dominant market share
following the repeal of Prohibition.
Because consumers pay more for
craft beer, these corporations seek
higher profits through consolidation,
buying craft breweries with national
reputations, and creating “craft”
sub-brands to mass produce.
“Mass production is not able to
work with the small, local suppliers
of ingredients like artisans can,” said
Berglund, whose FINNEGANS pale
ale features Krohn’s Minnesota-grown
Mighty Axe Hops. “We have made more
than 100 different beers in our taproom
in the past 11 months with five barrelaged brews—mass production is not
this nimble.”
Though craft beer brewing and buying
demographics skew toward Gen X and
Millennial white males, some signs point
to a more diverse artisan future. “More
women, and particularly women of color,
are playing important roles,” Welch said.
“They are opening breweries, making
great beers, and changing how we
market and drink craft beer.”
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
21
When you visit a Twin Cities craft brewery
or farmers market, you also might
see another kind of artisan: artist and
curator Matt Swenson ’91, founder of the
Minnesota Art Truck. Swenson displays
local artists’ work in the truck to connect
with people who don’t realize they can
purchase original art at prices comparable
to big-box stores while sustaining the
local art community. “I don’t see art as
just for the middle class or upper middle
class or the wealthy. Art really is for
everybody, and the more I get to interact
with people, the more they see that
themselves,” he said.
Before he started this “food truck
for the soul,” Swenson studied
communication and English at Augsburg
and worked in sales and marketing
management for 13 years. Today, he feels
lucky and grateful that his wife supported
his departure from corporate America in
search of creatively fulfilling work: “We
had to adjust how we live, but she knows
Minnesota Art Truck and
founder Matt Swenson ’91
22
AUGSBURG NOW
that it’s something I’m passionate about,
and I think it can be sustainable.”
Billy Mzenga ’13 is another Auggie
who left the corporate world, turning
his attention to graduate school and
a new entrepreneurial initiative. The
venture started when his wife, Megan,
fine-tuned recipes of homemade almond
butter, cashew butter, and peanut
butter. In 2017, the couple launched
these products into a small business:
NutMeg’s Nut Butters. The Mzengas now
live in Chicago and continue to develop
new recipes. They distribute NutMeg’s
products online and at farmers markets
and Chicago-area grocery stores.
Like FINNEGANS, NutMeg’s is a social
enterprise. NutMeg’s donates half of
its earnings to humanitarian nonprofits
in Kenya. Staying nimble and avoiding
stockholder pressures are key factors for
artisan entrepreneurs like the Mzengas.
“We are accountable to our customers
to make sure we are providing a good
product, and to the charities we partner
with, making sure we provide them with
financial resources,” Billy said.
Billy believes his Augsburg University
education equipped him to see how his
purpose intersects with causes bigger
than himself. “My experience there
opened my eyes to the issues facing the
world, Minnesota, and those who were on
the front lines as problem-solvers,” he said.
Berglund, whose social impact model
with FINNEGANS inspired the Mzengas,
can relate. “I got a strong sense of ‘We
are here to serve others’ by going to
Augsburg,” she said. “It shaped my world
perspective and the way I designed and
run my business.”
Augsburg’s communal support was
also obvious to Boom Island’s Welch
when she arrived in the United States
to study music. “I came from a very
warm place in China,” she said. “I
didn’t come to Minnesota prepared for
the winter. Professor Roberta Kagin from
the Department of Music sent out a
campus email asking for donations of
winter clothing. I don’t think I bought any
clothes for two years after that.”
Welch wants the same qualities of
Augsburg in her business today. “This
is a very caring community with an
appreciation for a well-balanced life.
I like to think Boom Island Brewing is
the same,” she said.
FOAT co-founders Zoë Foat Naselaris ’96, left, and Kaja Foat ’96
Boom Island Brewing’s
Qiuxia Welch ’99
What prevents the artisan niche from
drawing more consumers away from massproduced items? “The choice is between
a $40 hand-crafted wood cutting board
or a $7 one from Target,” Fischer said.
“That kind of price differential for most
Americans’ financial situation—which is
more heavily weighted for folks with fewer
resources—eliminates the choice, even if
they would prefer the $40 cutting board.”
The higher price doesn’t necessarily
mean artisan products are luxury items.
In fact, artisan entrepreneurs often
justify the higher cost of crafted goods
in pragmatic terms. With some massproduced products, Krohn is concerned
that consumers will end up spending
more money in the long run on subpar
items that wear out rather than a quality
item that lasts—“You get what you pay
for,” as the adage goes.
Augsburg alumni craft a variety of artisan goods and services.
From a sociological perspective, the
benefits of less expensive production
and more affordable mass-produced
goods come with the risk of exploitation
of workers and the environment in
the supply chain and manufacturing
processes. “Organizations and activists
have encouraged us for decades to
question the unsustainable model of
buying more cheap goods shipped
from overseas where the pay, working
conditions, and factory harms to
the environment are jaw-droppingly
horrible,” Fischer said.
The relationship between quality,
cost, and ethics is especially tangible
in fashion. Zoë Foat Naselaris ’96 and
twin sister Kaja Foat ’96 created FOAT,
an environmentally conscious women’s
fashion brand with a personal touch.
Based in their Charleston, South
Carolina, and northeast Minneapolis
studios, they design, cut, and sew
garments by hand rather than
outsource the work.
“We are not interested in massproducing our patterns and clothing
overseas because it is important to us
to produce our items ethically, locally,
and with a lot of care,” Naselaris said.
“When garments are mass-produced,
they are designed with one body type in
mind. Handmade garments are tweaked
and tucked, pushed and pulled into a
COURTESY PHOTOS
shape that is both comfortable
and complementary to the
customer’s body.”
Like FOAT, many artisans
extend their care for customers
and details to the overall industry
and consumer expectations that
NutMeg’s co-founders Billy Mzenga ’13, left, and Megan Mzenga
influence business practices.
“Most Americans are not
accustomed to paying attention
Artisans offer alternate products as
to, or even caring about, how their
well as an alternate story, a different
products are made,” Naselaris said.
way to engage with the American
“There has to be a change of mindset.”
tradition of consumerism. They invite
FOAT encourages people to buy fewer
others to see that more isn’t always
well-made garments that last longer
better, that making something beautiful
rather than many poorly made products
and enduring takes time. Many
that tend to fall apart more quickly.
consumers are rethinking their economic
Billy believes many consumers are
relationships in society: how they engage
ready for change: “People are speaking
with what they eat, what they buy, the
with their dollars and moving their
issues they care about, and ultimately,
business to more locally owned,
how they engage each other.
locally made products.”
“The craft-brew taproom has become
a vital part of the community like you
find in Old World Europe,” said Welch,
who co-leads Belgium brewery tours to
Will some consumers continue to
stay tethered to a historic beer tradition.
lack the financial resources to choose
“Our typical customer wants to connect
more artisanal options? Will others
with the people who make and serve
grow weary of paying more for local,
their beer. They want to know where
sustainable, quality products? Might
their food and drinks come from, how
this artisan movement form a robust
they are made, and who made them.
economy of the future? It doesn’t show
This is how we lived for centuries. Now
signs of slowing, perhaps because of
artisans are back.”
the connection between crafters and
those enjoying the craft.
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
23
Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor of Psychology
They became colleagues at Augsburg
roughly a decade ago.
BY COURTNEY PERRY AND LAURA SWANSON LINDAHL ’15 MBA
Community is an undeniable fixture of the Augsburg experience, and nothing makes a campus feel small like the familiar
faces of those who’ve become friends. Countless Auggies have forged lifelong connections—whether in an instant during
their first days on campus or over time through shared classes, interests, residence halls, occupations, and stories. Here’s
a taste of the many rich friendships that have grown at Augsburg and carried on across time and geography.
Robinson-Riegler: “We’re both cognitive
psychologists, so we have a mutual interest,
which was probably the initial thing that
brought us together. Then once we got to know
each other, we just realized how similar we are.”
Professor Bridget Robinson-Riegler, left, often stops into the office of Assistant Professor
Ben Denkinger to talk about everything from their shared field of study to baseball.
Major: Communication Arts/Literature
and Secondary Education
Denkinger: “We’re excited about the same
things in psychology, and maybe riled up about
the same things in politics and culture.”
Meeting in the James G. Lindell Library, Joaquin
Delgado-Ortiz, left, and Ann Sheely discuss
a project she’s working on for her residence hall.
Majors: Film and Communication Studies
They helped each other on move-in day
and became intramural soccer teammates.
Harris: “Anthony is one of the greatest
students I know in the area of academics
. . . my grandad always used to say, ‘If
you want to get good at something, then
surround yourself with people who are
already outstanding in that area.’ So I see
him in that. He inspires me.”
Villagrana: “Likewise, from day one,
Mallory has always been positive—the
energy he gives is positivity. Always
smiling, always talkative. He’s never
gloomy, you know? He brings this energy to
the room. I’m just glad I met Mallory this
year because I was pretty quiet and kept
to myself last year. He’s a transfer student,
and he’s older than me. He introduced
me to a lot of people, and I made a lot
of friends. His character has inspired me
to be more open and more social in this
environment at Augsburg.”
24
AUGSBURG NOW
Major: Psychology
Anthony Villagrana, left,
and Mallory Harris head
off to class.
Majors: Life Sciences and
Secondary Education
After being assigned to the
same lab group, they formed a
friendship and ended up laughing
their way through their final
presentation for their course.
Sheely: “One thing I’ve noticed about people at Augsburg is that
everybody is really open and accepting and willing to just be there to
help you. They’ll actually return your smiles, generally. So that’s been
really helpful for me—not being afraid to reach out to people even if
I don’t know them really well yet, and then friendships can grow.”
Camryn Masse, left, and Jen Meinhardt study together, as they
do at least twice a week, in Christensen Center.
Major: English (Creative Writing)
“That’s a cool pen.” One
seemingly simple statement
made in a 12:30 p.m. religion
class on the first day of the
semester sparked a friendship.
Meinhardt: “We both transferred
here from a different school—
from the same school, in fact—
but we didn’t know each other
there. It’s been fun because we
have the same perspective of
someplace different—of going
from a small community college
to this school. The city is kind
of different for us, and we
didn’t know anybody else. For
me, our friendship just gave me
something more concrete and
grounded at this school, which
helped me transition better.
And it’s given me somebody to
study with. She’s inspired me to
hit the gym; she’s inspired me to
work instead of goof off. She kind
of just keeps everything rolling.”
Enrollment Communications
and Event Specialist
AUGGIES CONNECT
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear alumni and friends,
COURTESY PHOTO
Major: Elementary Education
The 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.
This fall, we partnered with the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center
for Meaningful Work to co-host a mock interview event for current
students. We then brought Auggies together again this February at
our annual networking event. This year’s networking workshop offered
students the chance to practice their networking skills in a friendly
environment, and attendees heard from an impressive panel of alumni
who discussed how networking helped further their careers.
This spring, the Alumni Board has been busy working on events
like an Augsburg Beer Choir, A-Club Spring Happy Hour, and our first
All-School Reunion Stewards Meeting, which is coming up May 20.
Of course, the big event we’re gearing up for is Augsburg’s
sesquicentennial celebration. After we kick things off at the
Sesquicentennial Gala and Homecoming 2019, the Alumni
Board will focus on the ways it can support Augsburg at a number
of additional low- or no-cost events and new, family-friendly
opportunities. Augsburg’s sesquicentennial will truly be a year to
remember, and you can learn more on pages 15–18.
There are plenty of ways for alumni to give back to Augsburg as a
volunteer this year. Consider becoming a Sesquicentennial Steward,
joining the Alumni Board, or serving on one of our other leadership
boards. It’s been a pleasure to serve as board president for the past
two years. I’ve enjoyed working with current Alumni Board Vice
President Lori Higgins ’94, ’12 MAL, and I’m confident she will be a
terrific Alumni Board president going forward.
Assistant Director of Admissions
PICK THE
PATTERN
Denielle Stepka ’11, a senior
creative associate at Augsburg,
has created patterns for elegant
neckties, scarves, and—of
course—bow ties inspired
by art from around campus,
Augsburg’s “A” mark, and
university seal. Help decide
which designs should be put
into production.
Take a look at the options and “like” your favorites on the Augsburg Alumni
Association Facebook page: facebook.com/augsburgalumni.
HAGFORS CENTER
TRANSFORMS AUGGIE EXPERIENCE
It's been three years since Augsburg University broke ground
on the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion,
and 16 months since the facility opened for classes. These
fast facts from the building’s inaugural year illustrate its
remarkable impact and the new opportunities it affords
Augsburg students, faculty, staff, and community members.
FAST FACTS
Go Auggies!
Office space for
They first worked together at another
college but both found a home at Augsburg.
NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
of Augsburg’s
full-time faculty
Sotos: “Someone saw us playing
racquetball here together one day and
asked us if we were married. I said, ‘Well,
we’re not married, but I did marry him!’
because my wife and I officiated his and
his wife’s wedding.
It’s always good to have a familiarity
with how people work best and what
their strengths are, so it’s nice working
alongside a friend.”
40%
PARTICIPATE IN THE SESQUICENTENNIAL MUSICAL
Colleagues who once competed for the same job, Maggie Sotos, left, and Josh Owens, right, are now friends on
staff in Augsburg’s Admissions Department and opponents on the racquetball court during their lunch hour.
Among the many faculty-led projects in development to celebrate
Augsburg’s 150th anniversary is a new work of musical theater about
the university community, past and present, to be performed in Spring
2020. Members of the community are invited to take part in every step
of the process, from creating material to performing in the production.
Learn more at engage.augsburg.edu/sesquicentennialmusical.
29
THE HAGFORS CENTER HAS:
139,000
square feet of collaborative
learning areas with 32 open
study spaces
laboratories, four 30-seat classrooms,
and the largest classroom on campus,
which seats up to 100 people
If you are interested in learning more about projects in the Hagfors Center
or taking a tour, contact Heather Riddle at riddle@augsburg.edu.
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
27
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1960
Lowell “Zeke” Ziemann ’60
wrote a new book titled “A
Kaleidoscope of Baseball.” The publication
shares quotes, poetry, stories, odd facts,
and historical information related to baseball
as a national pastime. Ziemann previously
authored several books in the Old West
genre. He studied mathematics at Augsburg.
Jacquie Berglund ’87 discussed her craft beer
company’s social impact and collaborations with
local ingredients suppliers. See story on page 19.
1977
Zoë Foat Naselaris ’96 and twin sister Kaja
Foat ’96 create fashionable, ethically sourced,
one-of-a-kind women’s garments by hand. See story
on page 19.
The Augsburg men’s soccer
program celebrated its 50th
anniversary this fall with a lunch and
reception attended by more than 100
Auggies. The celebration brought together
Auggie soccer players from many decades
and was led by a host of Augsburg alumni
including Darcy Debing ’77, Gary Dahle ’79,
Mike Kennedy ’79, Don Potter ’79, Vinnie
Brooks ’07, Alex Hildebrandt ’10, and Van
Hong ’11.
Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 has deep
family ties at Augsburg. His sister, Marie
(Swenson) Hechsel ’90, played volleyball. Her son,
Matt Hechsel ’15, wrestled; and her daughter,
Stephanie Hechsel ’19, played volleyball. See story
on page 8.
1982
Augsburg alumni Deb Krueger
Knight ’82, Mike Cunningham ’10,
Janice Gladden ’12, and Cyrus Batheja ’08,
’11 MBA offered networking and career
advice as panelists at the 2019 Augsburg
Alumni and Student Networking Event.
Attendees gathered to practice networking
skills, discuss career paths, and get to know
other Auggies.
Matt Swenson ’91 took inspiration from the
food truck phenomenon and created a mobile
opportunity to buy local art. See story on page 19.
1999
Tammy Sinkfield-Morey ’99, ’13
MAN, ’17 DNP received the 2018
March of Dimes Distinguished Nurse of the
Year award. She is the first African-American
recipient of this top honor, which recognizes
experienced nurses’ community service and
professional and personal development.
Qiuxia Welch ’99 builds community around
Belgian beer made with traditional techniques
in Minneapolis. See story on page 19.
1998
Scott Erickson ’98 opened an
independent insurance agency,
State Insurance, in Otsego, Minnesota. The
business serves all of Minnesota.
2003
Linnea Benton ’03 moved to
Okinawa, Japan, with her
husband who serves in the U.S. Navy.
Her oldest child started kindergarten, and
Benton, who graduated from Augsburg with
a degree in English, volunteers in the school
library to stay active in her field.
2004
Darin Rowle ’04, ’15 MSW
accepted a manager role for the
Department of Human Services HIV Program.
Most recently, Rowle served JustUsHealth
(formerly known as the Minnesota AIDS
Project) as a director of prevention and
coordinated care/integrated services. Rowle
has more than 20 years of experience
working with HIV-related concerns and
helping people navigate complex social
service and medical systems.
of development at Fordham University
School of Law. She and her family reside in
Brooklyn, New York.
They’re Auggie hockey stars, and they’re
siblings. Meet Chris Johnson ’10, ’14 MAL and
Megan Johnson ’19 in the story beginning on page 8.
2008
2013
Ben Katz ’08 produced a podcast
mini-series for the New Yorker
and New York Public Radio that tells the
story of his wife investigating a family secret.
Serial entrepreneur Brian Krohn ’08
demonstrates the breadth of diverse artisan
endeavors in today’s economy. See story on page 19.
2005
MK Gibbs ’05 opened the Mary
Katherine School, which is
an early education center serving children
and parents through infant, toddler, and
preschool programs in Bloomington,
Minnesota.
2009
Lisa Peterson ’09 is taking on
additional leadership roles with
the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce
as she transitions from serving as its director
of tourism to her new position as chamber
president. Peterson studied marketing and
business administration at Augsburg.
2006
Ramsey County named Kari
Collins ’06 director of community
and economic development. Collins worked
as a community development manager with
the city of Roseville, Minnesota, since 2016.
She previously served as an assistant to
the city manager of Roseville and as zoning
administrator and board secretary for the city
of Milwaukee.
Evelyn Tsen ’09 and her husband, Alec,
welcomed a baby boy, Abraham Fenlason,
on January 18.
2010
The Litchfield Independent
Review reported that Brandon
Begnaud ’10 organized a Christmas cantata,
“The Glory of Christmas,” at Christ the King
Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, Minnesota,
where he serves as director of worship and
music. A graduate of Augsburg’s music
program, Begnaud recruited for, led, and
participated in the pre-Christmas cantata
that included a choir of 53 singers and 29
instrumentalists.
2007
Grant Hemmingsen ’07 and his
wife, Kari, welcomed a baby girl,
Quinn Joann, on January 26. Hemmingsen
is the men’s basketball head coach at
Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Molly (Shortall) Kaszuba ’07 and her
husband, Brian, welcomed a baby boy, Jack,
this winter. Kaszuba is an associate director
Augsburg biopsychology major
Alix Young ’13 taught psychology
for two years in China’s Guangdong province
following graduation and opened the
Brain and Psychophysiology Lab at United
International College. Now living in Houston,
Young is a coordinator of clinical studies at
MD Anderson Cancer Center.
2016
Former Auggie women’s
basketball player Abbey Luger ’16
teaches and coaches at Transfiguration School
in Oakdale, Minnesota.
2017
Kaylee E. Gueltzow ’17 is teaching
English in Germany through the
Fulbright Program. She lives in Greifswald
and is traveling throughout Europe.
2018
Ricki Larson ’18 is a fourth-grade
teacher in her first year serving
her home district.
Billy Mzenga ’13 and his wife, Megan, turned
their hand-crafted nut butters into a small
business that supports nonprofits in Kenya. See story
on page 19.
Brothers Mustafa Adam ’18 and Shihab Adam ’22
were among four sets of siblings on the 2018–19
Augsburg football roster. See story on page 8.
2015
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Awale “Wally” Osman ’15 and
Felecia Zahner ’15 served as
keynote presenters at Augsburg University’s
TRIO/SSS 50th Anniversary Celebration in
November. More than 130 of the program’s
students, supporters, and graduates
attended the event, which included a
reception and dinner.
Osman is also a new member of the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation’s Community Leadership
Network. He also serves as a community
innovation program associate at the Bush
Foundation and has received accolades
from the Center for National Leaders,
NAACP, TRIO, and the National Newman
Civic Fellowship.
Lekpea Kordah ’15 and Barinedum Kordah ’17
found that their brotherly bonds strengthened
their Augsburg experience. See story on page 8.
Carola Thorson ’07 MAL became the vice
president of enrollment management at
Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio,
in September. Thorson served in several
roles in Augsburg’s Admissions Department
from 2003 to 2013, and she most recently
was the executive director of admission
and scholarships at Concordia College in
Moorhead, Minnesota.
Physician assistant Sarah Pattison ’12 MSPAS
joined the internal medicine department at
Carris Health Clinic in Willmar, Minnesota,
where she also assists in urgent care. She
previously worked at High Point Family
Practice in North Carolina.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
Annika (Spargo) Eriksson ’09
and Carl Eriksson were married
November 17 in Stillwater, Minnesota.
’09
Taneasha Muonio ’18 joined
People’s Center Clinics and
Services as a substance abuse
program manager in May 2018. Just
a few weeks before being hired,
Muonio completed a case
management internship at the
People’s Center and earned her
bachelor’s degree at Augsburg with
a double major in biology and
psychology. In her full-time role,
’18
’09
’18
28
AUGSBURG NOW
’01
’05
’13
’87
Muonio serves 150 patients dealing
with substance abuse concerns and
works with doctors to integrate
patients’ medical and behavioral
health care.
On November 11, Jill
’01 Mintz-Hoydl ’01 married
Andrew Hoydl. Augsburg alumna Jeni
(Eckman) Linnenberg ’01 [pictured,
left] was in the wedding party. The
Mintz-Hoydl family resides in Denver.
’05
Erika Hiland ’05 welcomed
a baby girl in November.
Shannon (Connaughton)
Grindal ’13 and Erik Grindal ’13
welcomed a new baby who someday
could be fourth-generation Auggie.
’13
Richard Bahr ’87 released a
book about homelessness in
Twin Cities. “Those People: The True
Character of the Homeless” includes
anecdotes about people with whom
Bahr has worked and seeks to
counter stereotypes and dispel myths
about people experiencing
homelessness.
’87
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Tina (Anderson) Boe ’04
bought a home in Forest
Lake, Minnesota, and works
for Aveda as a distribution
supervisor. Her daughters
are 6 and 8 years old.
In September, longtime friends [L to R] Mary (Boraas)
Janotta ’73, Jill Steele ’72, Mary Lynn (Monson)
Ogelsbee ’72, Lennice “Sparky” (Nordaune) Keefe ’72,
and Julie (Hagberg) Swaggert ’73 traveled to upstate
New York. The Augsburg alumnae once lived together
in Chi House and have been traveling yearly since
their graduation. A highlight of their most recent trip
was visiting Niagara Falls.
Augsburg Assistant Volleyball
Coach Colleen (Ourada) Enrico ’14
and her husband, Zach Enrico ’12,
welcomed a son, George, on
May 23, 2018.
In December, Susie (Emmert)
Schatz ’09 MSW was named vice
president and chief advocacy
officer for St. Paul-based Lutheran
Social Service of Minnesota.
Schatz now oversees state and
national advocacy initiatives for the
organization. Schatz joined LSS nine
years ago as an advocacy manager,
and she has received numerous
accolades for her work, including
the LSS CEO Leadership Award.
Since 2011, Schatz has served as an
adjunct instructor at Augsburg.
This fall, Tina Nguyen ’08
and her fiancé helped
connect more than 250
people at Minneapolis’
Franklin-Hiawatha homeless
encampment with supplies
and blankets. Nguyen also
served on the Augsburg
University Alumni Board.
Allyson (Ruedy)
Dooley ’13 and Eric
Dooley ’13 welcomed
twin boys in February
named Jason Timothy
and Lucas Anthony.
Arianna Genis ’13 was
the campaign manager
for Jeremiah Ellison for
Minneapolis City Council.
Currently, she’s merging both
her creative and political
skills at Wellstone Action as
a deputy communications
director. Genis also creates
a podcast, “Latina Theory,”
to unite the voices of Latinx
people in Minnesota.
Kevin Butcher ’13 and Kacie
Lucchini ’13 were married on
August 18 at Surly Brewing’s
Beer Hall in Minneapolis.
Connor Krenik ’13 married
the couple, who celebrated
alongside family, friends, and
fellow Auggies. The newlyweds
live in south Minneapolis as they
both pursue graduate school at
the University of Minnesota.
This fall, Reginaldo HaslettMarroquin ’03 received a
lifetime Ashoka Fellowship
for social entrepreneurship. A
graduate of Augsburg’s business
administration and management
program, Haslett-Marroquin
is the principal architect of a
poultry-centered regenerative
agriculture model. As part of
his new role with the Ashoka
organization, Haslett-Marroquin
contributed to a commentary
on nonlinear farming that was
published in Forbes in October.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
Leah (Jacobson) Soland ’12 and
Cody Soland were married this
November in Owatonna, Minnesota.
Leah graduated from Augsburg with
a bachelor’s degree in social work.
30
AUGSBURG NOW
Alom (Martinez-Aleman)
Walters ’13 and
her husband, Seth,
welcomed a baby boy,
Søren James, in October.
Former head coaches [L to R]
John Grygelko and Jeff
Swenson ’79 were among
more than 200 attendees
at the Augsburg wrestling
program’s 70th anniversary
celebration held this February.
The reunion took place the
same evening as Augsburg’s
meet against rival Wartburg
College—a competition known
as the Battle of the Burgs.
Anna (Ferguson) Rendell ’05
released a new book titled
“Pumpkin Spice for Your
Soul: 25 Devotions for
Autumn.” This is her third
book featuring devotionals
for women and moms.
Greg Schnagl ’91 published
the book “Not My First
Classroom: A Guide to
Supporting Experienced
Teachers in New Roles.”
Schnagl earned a
bachelor’s degree in
business management at
Augsburg and also holds
master’s and doctoral
degrees in education. He
is the founder and owner
of TeacherCentricity, which
supports experienced
educators. Schnagl is
married to Molly (Fochtman)
Schnagl ’92.
Lauren Webber ’14 welcomed
a baby boy in November.
“MN Original,” an Emmy Awardwinning program produced by Twin
Cities PBS, featured Alison Price ’08
and her painting series “Witnessing
Waves” in an episode that aired in
November. The artwork was created
during her undergraduate years at
Augsburg and was inspired by the
trees of the Mississippi River gorge.
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.
Augsburg alumni [L to R] Dave Ogren ’91 MAL
and Eric Galler ’91 MAL visited Devils Tower,
Wyoming, this October and participated in the
KannonFall Charity Fun Rally.
Devoney Looser ’89 visited
Augsburg University in February
to discuss her new book, “The
Making of Jane Austen.” Looser,
who was featured in the Fall
2018 issue of Augsburg Now,
returned to campus for two
days to meet with faculty and
students. She is a professor at
Arizona State University.
SPRING–SUMMER 2019
31
Celebrate 150 years of Augsburg
and launch another 150 years
of Auggie legacies.
IN MEMORIAM
Gertrude E. (Larson) Franzen ’43,
Hastings, Nebraska, age 97, on
February 1.
Marlys A. (Backlund) Morland ’54,
Newberg, Oregon, age 88, on
November 19.
Thomas A. Steenberg ’58,
Missoula, Montana, age 83, on
October 20.
Milton L. Anderson ’44, Willmar,
Minnesota, age 96, on October 29.
Grace M. (Larson) Anderson ’55,
University Place, Washington, age
85, on September 22.
Paul H. Almquist ’59, Edina,
Minnesota, age 81, on
November 7.
Arnulf Maeland ’55, Royal Palm
Beach, Florida, age 85, on
February 7.
Harry C. Collin ’60, Gold Canyon,
Arizona, age 86, on December 21.
Lorna M. (Wilberg) Sanders ’47,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age
93, on November 20.
Jeroy C. Carlson ’48, Edina,
Minnesota, age 95, on
November 20.
James C. Record ’55, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 85, on May 20.
Lorraine “Lee” M. (Gimmestad)
Clyne ’48, Coldwater, Michigan,
age 92, on November 19.
Jeanette I. (Olson) Locke ’57,
Lakeland, Minnesota, age 83, on
February 10.
Llewellyn “Llew” (Rustad)
Smith ’48, Twentynine Palms,
California, age 90, in August.
John H. Olson ’57, Richfield,
Minnesota, age 88, on October 31.
Jean (Christenson) Sverdrup ’49,
Edina, Minnesota, age 91, on
September 12.
Einar D. Unseth ’51, Lester Prairie,
Minnesota, age 93, on January 2.
Harvey M. Peterson ’52,
Minneapolis, age 91, on
December 10.
Joan E. (Carlberg) Nordenstrom ’53,
Cambridge, Minnesota, age 87,
on September 8.
Lowell H. Kleven ’54, Golden
Valley, Minnesota, age 86, on
October 11.
32
AUGSBURG NOW
Gudwren “Goodie” L. (Ellingson)
Belkholm ’58, Ogilvie, Minnesota,
age 86, on January 20.
Kenneth J. Belkholm ’58, Ogilvie,
Minnesota, age 90, on January 28.
Roger R. Brandt ’58, Sonoma,
California, age 82, on January 8.
Mabeth L. (Saure) Gyllstrom ’58,
Minneapolis, age 82, on
September 22.
Betty J. (Johnson) Hass ’58, Rio
Rancho, New Mexico, age 82, on
November 4.
Carl L. Hellzen ’58, Litchfield,
Minnesota, age 83, on January 24.
Gerald “Jerry” E. Hendricks ’60,
Watertown, Minnesota, age 81,
on December 10.
Edward J. Olson ’60, Mauston,
Wisconsin, age 86, on January 3.
David G. Torgerson ’60, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 84, on April 9.
Russell D. Osterberg ’63,
Alexandria, Minnesota, age 82,
on October 1.
Jeffrey H. Barbour ’70, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 71, on January 27.
Mary K. Ratzlaff ’74,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 66,
on September 26.
Elin K. Ohlsson ’77, Edina,
Minnesota, age 63, on June 19.
Francine B. Chakolis ’78,
Minneapolis, age 73, on
January 15.
Carol L. (Watson) Saunders ’79,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 72, on
November 1.
Bonnie R. (Lindgren) Reeb ’81,
Willmar, Minnesota, age 60, on
October 3.
Jeffrey C. Yue ’81, Wayzata,
Minnesota, age 59, on January 10.
Henry F. Groth ’64, Sioux Falls,
South Dakota, age 77, on
August 31.
Bob S. Dayton ’90, Maplewood,
Minnesota, age 52, on
November 26.
Diane K. (Rife) Notch ’64,
Northfield, Minnesota, age 77, on
November 28.
Julie A. Tanner Fischer ’92,
Minneapolis, age 48, on
January 19.
Dwight J. O’Bert ’66, Minneapolis,
age 74, on February 4.
George “Bruce” B. Sorrells ’07,
Minneapolis, age 60, January 11.
Lois A. (Barnaal) Ryan ’67, Lilburn,
Georgia, age 73, on January 7.
Frances E. Cleveland ’10,
Minneapolis, age 48, on
November 18.
Linda D. (Letnes) Lewis ’69,
Hastings, Minnesota, age 71, on
January 3.
+
The “In memoriam” listings in this publication
include notifications received before March 1.
Attract future leaders and eliminate barriers so more students
can thrive at Augsburg and explore their vocations.
Give any amount to the Sesquicentennial Scholarship
to support students in financial need.
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PAID
PHOTO BY DON STONER
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
Auggies win 13th national wrestling title
In March, the Augsburg University wrestling team claimed its 13th NCAA Division III
national championship, winning all four of its individual national title bouts. Seven
Auggies earned All-American honors in the finals of the national tournament.
Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn
more about the university’s
national tournament win.
Show less
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
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N
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DIAL SOCIETIES
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ob e
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a ce P
rize Forum
li s
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—
[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
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SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSORS
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AUGSBURG NOW
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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
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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
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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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MURP
HYSQ
UARE
ISSUE 43 | 2018
VisualArt
&Literary
Magazine
MURPHY SQUARE
with special thanks to
cary waterman, faculty advisor emeritus
augsburg university student government
augsburg university english department
augsburg university art department
bookmobile
the echo
2
ISSUE 43
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MURP
HYSQ
UARE
ISSUE 43 | 2018
VisualArt
&Literary
Magazine
MURPHY SQUARE
with special thanks to
cary waterman, faculty advisor emeritus
augsburg university student government
augsburg university english department
augsburg university art department
bookmobile
the echo
2
ISSUE 43
editorial board
ABIGAIL TETZLAFF, editor-in-chief
GABRIEL BENSON, editor-in-chief
MEGAN JOHNSON, layout editor
DOUG GREEN, faculty advisor
3
MURPHY SQUARE
art editors
CASSIE DONG
OLIVIA FITCH
KRISTEN HOLMBERG
SONJA MISCHKE
MADELEINE OSWOOD
4
ISSUE 43
poetry editors
JENNIFER KOCHAVER
SONJA MISCHKE
RYAN MOORE
ASHLEY MURRAY
EVE TAFT
5
MURPHY SQUARE
prose editors
NINA BERGLIN
JULIA CHARRON
DEREK HEUER
SOPHIA KEEFE
JENNIFER KOCHAVER
RYAN MOORE
6
ISSUE 43
artwork
ALLISON USELMAN dixon street
CAMERON YANG capital hill balance
STEPHANIE FREY celebration #12
STEPHANIE FREY celebration #17
GABRIEL BERGSTROM beach day
AVA FOJTIK flower boy
AVA FOJTIK illuminated
AVA FOJTIK cat’s cradle
AVA FOJTIK pit party
ALLISON USELMAN elizabeth, 1972
MADELEINE OSWOOD untitled
ASH M. KAUN a stable relationship
CAMERON YANG prayer
ALLISON USELMAN forest
STEPHANIE FREY celebration #1
MADELEINE OSWOOD special agent dale cooper
ABIGAIL TETZLAFF basilica
MADELEINE OSWOOD untitled
MADELEINE OSWOOD untitled
STEPHANIE FREY celebration #5
CAM YANG she-wolf
GABRIEL BERGSTROM flower girl flower girl
MADELEINE OSWOOD untitled
ABIGAIL TETZLAFF light rail
GABRIEL BERGSTROM the spin
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poetry
22 MATT PECKMAN constitution
23 RACHEL BROWN the country road that takes you home
25 D. E. GREEN a palpable hit
34 KELTON HOLSEN a closed library (an elegy to terry pratchett)
36 MARISA MOSQUEDA loneliness
42 MATT PECKHAM the icon
49 RACHEL BROWN old hands
51 HALLE CHAMBERS metal rings
53 SAM penitence
55 D. E. GREEN green and orange: a pantoum
57 ALICE LIDDELL CHESHIRE WOLFF firebird
59 L. B. DOGOOD 12 west
61 ASHLEY MURRAY miikawaadendan (think it beautiful)
73 L. B. DOGOOD 52 hz
74 ALICE LIDDELL CHESHIRE WOLFF roadkill
77 ALEXIS KIMSEY the eyes are the window to the soul
81 RACHEL BROWN galaxies
83 EVE TAFT sonas
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ISSUE 43
prose
AMANDA YATCKOSKE rules
AMANDA YATCHOSKE fear
ASH M. KAUN 3:21
KELTON HOLSEN died 2016
ALLISON USELMAN tomatoes
SOPHIE KEEFE ode to leonardo
JACQUELINE DOCKA rhapsody on laurel
ALLISON USELMAN the wreck
DEREK L. H. infinite
GABRIEL BENSON the bridges
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85
MURPHY SQUARE
rules
AMANDA YATCKOSKE
I t i s no t t hat ha rd. I t is ju s t wo r ds. W e ta ug
ht y o u t h is. Y ou j u st ne e d t o me m or ize t he
w o rds. Re m em be r t h e so und AT. A t, b a t, c
a t, s a t.
B ut, w h er e I s AT o n th e al p h ab et ?
I s n ’t t h at tw o s ou n ds? Wh a t ar e t he ru l e s?
I b ef o re E e xc ept a f te r C e x c ep t f o
r a ll o f t h e e x c ep t io n. Y ou m us t a lw a ys s
top a t a s top li gh t. E x ce p t w hen t he l ig h t is
gr e e n. H ow m an y w a y s i s t he re t o sp e ll l o
ngA?
A. R a in. E igh t. S ur v e y. At e. Ve in. P
r a y. B r e a k.
Y o u k n o w E ng li sh r ul e s? S u re. W
h ich o n e s r ig h t?
b. B r a in.
c. P ra
d. B re ig h n.
e. P re y.
f. Br ein.
g. Pra y.
h. B re an.
i. All. So, shut it.nostra, per inceptos himenae
a. B ra n e.
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ISSUE 43
dixon street
ALLISON USELMAN
relief print
11
MURPHY SQUARE
fear
AMANDA YATCHOSKE
Ordering fast food because the text keeps getting
smaller.
Getting lost because white letters don’t
make since on green.
The teacher saying, “Why don’t you read?”
The what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you look when I say,
“No.” Saying, “Yes,” and then my brain betrays me.
The jolt of correcting impatience as I attempted to
decipher.
Knowing that it has four legs, a tail, plays
fetch, and has sweat glands in its paws, but not that
the word is dog.
The double circles on the letter g. The
letter bdqp.
The explanation between right and left,
“your left hand makes a L.” I put a L to my forehead,
“Is this right?”
The phrase, “Read this,” followed by two
seconds of a blurry cellphone screen.
Being asked to read what is on the projector
in class.
Beaing correkted on a spelling mistaik.
The rased ibrow when I proove that it was English
that was the mistaek, not me.
Being given a book because I am a writer.
The list of authors that I should know because I am
a writer. “You are an author, so you started written
at an early age.” “My best advice to give to you as a
writer is read.”
Teachers’ saying, “In the really world, they
don’t give special accommodations.”
Running into my elementary teacher who
said, “There’s no such thing as dyslexia.”
Being given five minutes to reading five
pages. Only reading half a page. Everyone else is
done at three minutes.
Able to repeat our entire conversation
back to you word for word, but still get an upturned
nosed because I can’t remember the nonsense word
that is your name.
Asking a classmate to look at my writing.
Their only response: “Spelling mistakes.”
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ISSUE 43
3:21 p.m.
ASH M. KAUN
It’s four minutes past 3:02 p.m., and he still hasn’t
rounded the corner. Jaime always has a sauntering
stride that brings him swooping around the corner
of Elton Street onto Jefferson around 3:02 p.m.
every Tuesday on his way to this café. Jaime and his
usual pair of red chucks are refusing to step onto
the chalked concrete that details this very corner.
Or maybe it’s not refusal. Maybe it’s just a delay.
Something is probably holding him at home. His
mother is making him take out the trash as we speak
and that can be the explanation behind Jaime’s
absence. Or, maybe it’s fear. I knew talking to him
was a bad idea. I knew I would say something stupid.
Last Friday, when he was tucked away in the
back room of Molly’s Tea Bar, I felt the inclination
in my heart. My chest urged me to stand up, take the
nine steps toward his table, sit down, and open my
mouth. The only problem was his eyes. Those eyes
liked to wander over everything. They darted to the
shop’s windows every time some stranger walked by,
but only to assess the person for a second and then
dart back to his book. His eyes never attempted to
crawl all over my body like that. I’ve found that my
focus almost never seemed to leave his body.
I hit my leg on the way up from my booth,
cursing under my breath. My leg muscles quivered
slightly as I walked up to the table and sat down.
Jaime’s face raised, and I could finally feel his
almond eyes searching every pore of my exposed
skin. His shoulders were hunched over, hiding most
of his thick neck from my view. I would pay any
amount of money to caress that gorgeous neck. The
breath that moved his lungs in and out of his chest
was calm, unlike the unsteady deep breaths of mine.
“Hi. I know this is weird, but I just wanted
to compliment your tattoo,” I said.
He shifted, set his book down, and cleared
his throat. “Thank you. It’s hardly anything, but
thank you.”
“It’s a cupcake, right? What’s it for?”
“My grandmother used to bake the most
delicious cupcakes and muffins and—”
“A delicious tattoo for a delicious person.”
Jaime had let out a breathy laugh, and
asked where I went to school. When I told him I
didn’t go to school, he offered to get me a tea. I
mentioned my mother was expecting me at home.
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MURPHY SQUARE
I lied. My mother died when I was twelve years
old. He took my number with, what I thought to
be, hardly any intention to use it. Little did I know,
9:03 a.m. on Tuesday morning, I would feel a buzz
on my asscheek with a deep voice ringing through
my phone’s speaker asking to get coffee with me.
And now, I’m waiting like the idiot I
am. I know he isn’t staying at the gym this long.
His routine is exactly 48 minutes every Tuesday,
Thursday, and Saturday, and it ends promptly
around 2:35 p.m. each day. The time in between
the gym and the library is probably for a shower and
a quick slice of pizza or toast. It never takes him
longer than twenty minutes before he walks out the
front door, locks the iron gate, and makes his way
past the Weltons’, the Hannigans’, and the Jensens’.
It’s 3:08 p.m.. I look up from the newspaper
in my hand and glance, again, at the rusted sign
presenting the names Elton and Jefferson. Nothing.
I return the newspaper to its natural fold and scoot
the chair back with a push. The loud screech almost
made me jump as much as looking up and seeing
Jaime. He locks eyes with mine, and he smiles. His
perfectly sized hand reaches into the air and waves
at me. Blood surges into my cheeks. Jaime strolls
across the tar and stops two feet from where I’m
standing. I sit back down, and he proceeds to take
the seat across from me.
The bright sun could never compare to the
amount of heat radiating from my body. I can’t tell
if I’m nervous or excited. Probably excited.
“So what’s the plan?” he asks
.
“Going back to my place to watch my
favorite movie?” I say.
“Is it a good movie?”
“You need to have a rare and particular
taste for this movie, but it’s short and painless. I
promise.”
“Alright. Sounds like a plan.”
The corners of my mouth rise. His face
mirrors mine. Jaime hooks his arm with my arm,
and I lead him the opposite way from which he
came. I check my watch. 3:11 p.m. It’s a ten-minute
walk to my place. It’s difficult to settle the little
child jumping around inside my brain. It’s taking
every ounce of control I contain not to shove my
hand into my bag at this exact moment and pull
out the needle. That green serum is just begging to
be injected somewhere. Maybe his beautiful neck.
The zip ties will not be far behind, as they yearn for
the tension of his muscles against their industrial
strength. Jaime has no idea the taste I acquired
long ago, and he could never appreciate the simply
genius idea of adding one cup of blood to a batch of
cupcakes.
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ISSUE 43
capitol hill balance
CAMERON YANG
digital photograph
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MURPHY SQUARE
died 2016
KELTON HOLSEN
Engman Prize winner
In 2016, my grandparents’ dog died. He was an old
dog, covered with warts, and they had to put him
down due to his misery. Some time later, their other
dog died, presumably of grief.
In 2016, Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin
died. He was getting his mail when his car rolled
down his driveway and crushed him against his
security fence. The coroners say he most likely died
within a minute or so.
In 2016, Josef Stalin had been dead for 64
years. During his reign, roughly 100 million people
died, largely due to stupidity. Historians consider
Stalin to be guilty of roughly one million murders.
Stalin might or might not have said the
following: “The death of one man is a tragedy. The
death of millions is a statistic.”
In 2016, I graduated from high school.
In 2016, the singer, musician, and celebrity
known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince
(full legal name: Prince Rogers Nelson), died in an
elevator after overdosing on the opioid fentanyl.
After his death, five books were written about him,
his ashes were put on display in a custom glass urn
in Paisley Park, and on the one-year anniversary of
his death, a four-day tribute was put on in his honor.
My former high school robotics captain
shared an article on Facebook describing three
women that were caught with luggage containing
three million dollars’ worth of heroin and opium. He
wrote: “Good. Don’t waste your life on a worthless
drug.”
Later in 2016, he committed suicide.
One million, seven hundred thousand
people died of tuberculosis. One million people
died of HIV or AIDS. Four hundred and twenty-nine
thousand died of malaria. Most of those people lived
in Africa.
Carrie Fisher died of sleep apnea, four
days after a near-fatal heart attack that turned out to
be fatal after all. One day later, her mother, Debbie
Reynolds, died as well. Fisher later appeared in
the movie Rogue One, much younger, through the
magic of CGI.
In 2016, most of us thought that Donald
Trump’s campaign would die before the end of the
primaries. Many of us thought Donald Trump’s
campaign would die before the end of the election.
In 2016, some of us thought democracy had died.
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We might have been right.
In 2016, I marched with a few hundred
(or was it thousand) of my close friends, who I
hardly knew, through the neighborhoods of CedarRiverside and Seward. A little bird told my parents
that I had marched in the protest. The only thing
they cared about was whether I had been on the
highway (I hadn’t).
In 2016, three thousand, eight hundred
refugees drowned while trying to cross the
Mediterranean Sea, fleeing war and human rights
violations back home. Their odds were still likely
better than in Syria, where the death toll from the
civil war had reached three hundred and twenty
thousand.
In 2016, six hundred and fifty-two children
died in Syria. Two hundred and fifty-two of them
died near a school.
In 2016, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, died unexpectedly at his
ranch. The absence of Antonin Scalia proved more
politically powerful than the presence of Antonin
Scalia, as politicians fought and lobbied over who
would get to fill his empty chair. During that time,
his empty chair cast many a vote. A popular slogan
at the time among the ironic internet sort: “Antonin
Scalia. Pro-life, died anyways.”
By the end of 2016, most of us had noticed
how many great people had died throughout the
year. Antonin Scalia was not included in many of
those conversations.
Nine hundred and sixty three people were
shot by police officers in the United States. Many
of them were African-American. Many of them
were mentally ill. In protest, activists marched on
highways. Many of them were arrested. Many of
them were criticized, threatened, and degraded for
making people late to work.
In 2016, several thousand (hundred?) of
my close friends made people late to work.
In 2016, David Bowie died. I don’t
remember how. It was after his death that I got to
know his music. This is because my dad put a David
Bowie CD in the car.
In 2016, I went to college. I started
growing out my hair and becoming a socialist. I met
a lot of people who had faith in the system. That
died in 2016 too.
In 2016, Fidel Castro died. It was said that
he had outlived his greatest enemy: America.
Fidel Castro’s country, Cuba, is still the
subject of a US embargo. It also is the country
that recently developed a vaccine for lung cancer.
The Lung Cancer Foundation estimated that one
hundred fifty-eight thousand and eighty people in
the US would die of lung cancer in 2016.
In 2016, six hundred thirty-three thousand,
eight hundred forty-two people died of heart disease
in the United States. The Mayo Clinic says that heart
disease is often “caused by correctable problems,
such as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, being
overweight and smoking”.
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MURPHY SQUARE
In 2016, the fast food industry made
$206.3 billion dollars.
Alan Rickman, Harry Potter’s Snape, died
of pancreatic cancer. He had kept it a secret from
all but his closest friends. His good friend Sir Ian
McKellan had this to say: “I so wish he’d played
King Lear and a few other classical challenges but
that’s to be greedy. He leaves a multitude of fans and
friends, grateful and bereft.”
In 2016, I got into an argument with my
cousin on Facebook over a post that talked about
how the gun and the Bible, which ostensibly started
this country, were the things “liberals” wanted
to take away. This was before I learned the other
meaning of “liberal.” My tongue-in-cheek response
that “guns don’t found countries, Founding Fathers
found countries” turned into a useless slog of an
argument. My aunt ended up intervening to ask us
to debate on-topic.
Over thirty-eight thousand people were fatally shot
and killed in the United States. The Onion once
again ran their headline: “‘No Way To Prevent This,’
Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens.”
In 2016, thirty-nine people died because
they jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge
is the site of the most suicides by fall in the United
States.
One man, Ken Baldwin, had survived
jumping off the bridge in 1985 and was still alive
in 2016. He related his thought process on the way
down in an interview: “I instantly realized that
everything in my life that I’d thought was unfixable
was totally fixable—except for having just jumped.”
In 2016, nobody was killed by a clown.
However, were you to ask people what the scariest
thing happening was, many would tell you that it
was the phenomenon of “scary clown” sightings
across the country.
In 2016, one such sighting happened at
Augsburg. It was later determined that the figure in
the “photographic evidence” was just a maintenance
worker standing in a shadow.
According to Business Insider, nine
hundred and fifty-one people died of “contact with
powered lawnmower.” One thousand, one hundred
thirty nine people died of “fall[s] involving iceskates, skis, roller-skates or skateboards.” Ten
thousand, two hundred and six died of “accidental
suffocation and strangulation in bed.” Another ten
thousand, three hundred eighty-six died of “fall[s]
involving bed.”
In 2016, the bedloft company left their
screwdriver in my room after coming by with some
extra screws for the bed’s assembly. My dad warned
me to periodically make sure all the bolts were tight
so the bed didn’t collapse under me while I slept.
The bed also featured a metal guardrail to prevent a
fall. Due to these two things, I did not join those ten
thousand, three hundred eighty-six.
In 2016, American astronaut John Glenn
died of unknown causes at 95 years old. He was
remembered for being the first American to orbit
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the earth, as well as his work in the US Senate.
In 2016, the world had seven billion, six
hundred million people living in it. By December
of 2016, fifty eight million, six hundred eighty
thousand people had died, with about twentyone people dying every ten seconds. They died
of violence, of disease, of hunger, of preventable
causes, of cancer, of accidents, of old age, of
nothing at all. About one hundred and forty million
new people were born in 2016, ready to embark on
a new life’s journey.
Kurt Vonnegut had this to say to babies:
“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the
summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet
and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a
hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know
of, babies— ”God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.”
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celebration #12
STEPHANIE FREY
found images and gouache paint
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ISSUE 43
celebration #17
STEPHANIE FREY
found images and gouache paint
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A progressive discussion on equality,
government, bodily functions, UFOs
constitution
MATT PECKMAN
and who to call for
a good time is enumerated
Engman Prize winner
and signed on bathroom stall walls
by delegates opposing orders
from management: a decree taped
to the door typed Thank You
For Not Vandalizing
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I hope they wind their way
to the silhouettes of mountains
faded like clouds of blue smoke
against easy skies.
I hope the chartreuse pines older than time
tower like brothers and shade your tired eyes.
the country roads that take
you home
RACHEL BROWN
Engman Prize winner
For Gary
Inspired by “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
I hope, for once, the traek is easy.
You won’t need a pack this time,
that 50 pounds on your shoulders
to lug uphill the whole way.
No, just the clothes on your back are good.
I hope that the ancient rivers that have sung
since before anyone ever listened,
guide your steps across slick gray stones
and you look down to see
the scales of darting fish
flashing like memories against a sun
that never sinks.
I hope a warm breeze passes by on your way
carrying the thick scent of pine sap
to lay heavy on your tongue,
and I hope it tastes like home.
And when you rest your aching feet at the summit
I know the clouds will wrap around you
the way the red fox wraps her tail around her tiny
kits,
the way an old friend gently squeezes your shoulder
when he tells you how good it is to see you again,
because it’s been so long.
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beach day
GABRIEL BERGSTROM
35mm film camera
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ISSUE 43
Nicked it—the deer
in early autumn darkness
on a long drive home. Damage
minor: Dented hood. Fear
sprayed along the driver’s side
of the white Focus.
Your relief at my safety
trumped the deer’s fate—
no longer second fiddle
to squirrels and red-throated
blackbirds that swoop at the car
between late-summer cornfields.
That deer—the white rump
in the light moving too slowly
even as I brake, veer toward
the ditch. The deer dies
or I do. Kill or be killed.
It hits me: This world
we live—and die—in.
I see it now: the fact
of nature, our nature,
visible—a Confederate
monument in a town
square, Mount Rushmore
on sacred ground.
It’s always been
this way—sudden death
looming on a highway
in unaccustomed
autumn dark,
so near home
and you.
a palpable hit
D. E. GREEN
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MURPHY SQUARE
tomatoes
ALLISON USELMAN
Harry Cosgrove used to throw tomatoes out of his 5th
story apartment in The Village. He told me that he
did it because The Gaslight always made him take
home the uneaten tomatoes at the end of the night,
and he didn’t like to just throw food in the garbage,
but I never believed him. He always seemed to have
altogether too much fun speedballing the tomatoes
down to the sidewalk, especially late on Friday nights
when the club wouldn’t let him play.
He would call on Friday nights at least once
a month, and my roommate would throw up her
hands and groan and say, “Honestly, he has nothing
better to do?” But I always kind of liked the tomatoes.
Harry liked to spend his paychecks on gin and
wine, so there was a good chance that throwing the
tomatoes would turn into a game after a few hours.
Last Friday he called around eleven and
told me that the club had given him more tomatoes
than he could handle on his own and asked me to
come over. I took a single look at my roommate, who
sat on the cramped balcony in her bathrobe and night
cream, and told him that I would be over soon. She
didn’t ask where I was going when I knocked on the
glass to tell her goodbye, and she only rolled her eyes
and shifted in her chair.
The walk to Harry’s place was never all that
bad in the summer. The air would be cool enough
that you would have to wear a jacket, but never as
icy or biting as it was in the winter. During those
months I tried to take a taxi over, if only to save my
toes rather than my wallet. But no matter what the
season, no matter what the weather, a jacket was
always necessary in that 5th story apartment in The
Village.
Harry’s place was constantly drafty and
there was nothing that he could do about it, or so he
claimed. Knowing Harry, though, I always assumed
that he forgot to shut a window somewhere and just
didn’t want to admit to it. He was forgetful sometimes,
especially around the anniversary of his sister’s death.
The night that he called me, we sat in the kitchen,
both of us with a blanket around our shoulders trying
to keep warm even though it was late May. I was on
the kitchen counter, right next to the sink and the
empty cardboard box with the red sun painted on
the side that had once been filled with almost rotten
tomatoes. Harry stood by the table, leaning back on
the top, his palms flat against the water-stained wood.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about Suzanne.
It’s been three years since she died, you know.”
His hair was growing long and was starting
to curl. When he looked down at his sock feet, his
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hair bunched up at the top of his head and flopped
down in front of his face. His eyes seemed to not only
have sunken farther down than usual on his face, but
so had his cheek bones. Looking at them make me
want to poke his face, if only to made sure that all the
bones were still there.
I slid off of the counter and walked over to
the kitchen table. I had nothing to say, so I leaned
back on to the table with Harry and kicked off my
shoes, so we would match. He didn’t seem to notice
that I was even there next to him, though; he just
continued to look at his own feet, his blanket sagging
off of his shoulders and pooling at his elbows like
a shawl. I half expected him to look up and start
talking to the empty space next to the sink and the
abandoned cardboard box, not even noticing that I
was no longer there.
“Do you think she’s happy?”
“I sure hope so.”
I straightened his collar and brushed a
piece of lint off of his sleeve.
“Thank you.” He sounded tired. “That was
bothering me, but I was afraid that if I tried to fix it I
would fall over.”
I glanced down at his hands and noticed
that they were not just resting on the table, but rather
gripping the edge of it. His knuckles had turned
white, and his knees were shaking.
“Do you want to sit down? You don’t look so
good.”
I hadn’t meant for it to sound like an insult,
but at that moment I thought I saw the insides of his
eyebrows curl up into a whimper. He was too sensitive
sometimes.
“I feel fine. I really do, I just wish I had
more tomatoes, you know?”
Yes, I told him. Yes, I think that everyone
wishes they had more tomatoes, if only because that
meant they had everything else. I don’t think he heard
the last part of what I said. The confirmation that he
was not the only one in search of more tomatoes was
enough. Still, his hands gripped the edge of the table,
and so I reached out and pried them off. I didn’t like
the way that they looked, drained of all blood.
“Come on, why don’t you sit down.”
Harry moved his head up and down in a way
that might have been mistaken for a nod by someone
who didn’t know him well enough to know that that
was just the way he breathed; his head wobbling back
and forth as his lungs compressed and decompressed.
Sometimes I wanted to tap the back of his
head, just to see how long it would wobble back and
forth. I even had a stopwatch that I could have used.
Harry had given it to me, and was originally meant to
be used as a way for me to monitor the length of his
act when he played at The Gaslight. I usually forgot to
start it, which didn’t really matter because by the end
of the night Harry would be too busy fighting with
the club’s owner, to get his fair share of the basket, to
care about how long his gig had lasted.
I walked over to the bookshelf, that never
had any books on it, but that was instead the home
of a fine Victrola record player, the only thing Harry
valued more than his guitar. I lifted the needle up and
moved it over the top of the 45 that was already in
place on the turntable. The table started to spin, and
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MURPHY SQUARE
a song with a tinny sounding guitar filled the room.
A woman began singing in French, her voice low and
the words slurred.
“Harry, you can’t listen to this type of music
when you feel this terrible. It’ll just make it worse.”
He only shrugged and made his way over to
the couch. The cushions pulled him in as if they had
been waiting for him a very long time. I hated to see
him so low, but I knew that there was nothing I could
say to make it better. The first year after Suzanne
died, someone had made the mistake of telling
him that her death was all part of God’s plan and
everything would one day make sense to him. Harry
had taken his drink and thrown it at the man, and
since then he has been banned from ever drinking
at The Gaslight. He’s only allowed to play there once
a month now. So I knew that saying anything at all
would equate to me telling Harry to take a flying leap
out of his apartment window, along with his almost
rotten tomatoes. I pulled the 45 off the turntable and
slid it back into its sleeve.
“Is there a window open somewhere?” I
shuddered and pulled the blanket tighter around my
shoulders. Harry wasn’t responsive, he only slightly
moved his eyes to look up at me and search for the
music that had stopped so suddenly. I thought about
putting something else on, but after glancing through
his melancholy record collection I thought better of
it. There was no use feeding into his sullen mood.
The only thing I could do then, was sit
down on the couch next to him and wait for it to pass.
Because it did. It always passed in the end, and the
next weekend he would be playing at The Gaslight,
telling jokes to the crowd between songs and basking
in the floodlights.
...
“I don’t know why I even bother to wear
this thing.” Harry hooks his fingers around the knot
of his tie and loosens it. “It’s not like anyone here
cares how I look.”
He moves his arm in a sweeping motion,
gesturing to the café and the ragged groups of people
sitting at the tables. I watch as Harry sits up and
reaches for the pack of cigarettes on the coffee table.
He shakes out a single cigarette and places it between
his teeth. He sighs and pulls his hair back out of his
face, exposing his forehead, which is covered in a thin
layer of sweat. He shrugs and turns to face the dimly
lit stage, the unlit cigarette wobbling in his mouth.
The woman on the stage wears a chunky green
sweater and a pair of blue jeans, and Harry taps his
foot along to the beat of the song that she sings. All
the tables near the stage are full, and the faces of the
people sitting at them are washed in the glow of the
floodlights.
The woman leans into the microphone as
she sings, her hands moving quickly up and down the
frets of her guitar.
“She’s pretty good, huh?”
I shrug and throw a pack of matches over
to Harry. He catches them midair. “She looks a little
like Suzanne, don’t you think?” I immediately regret
saying anything, but it’s too late now.
“Yeah I guess she does.” Harry brushes off
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ISSUE 43
my comment, and doesn’t look at me while he speaks.
Instead he watches the woman on the stage sing.
“If I’m gonna have to split the basket, it
might as well be with someone who has some talent.”
He puts the unlit cigarette back into his mouth,
letting it perch between his teeth, resting on his
bottom lip. He shifts in his seat, readjusting his jeans,
and bobs his head along to the rhythmic strumming
of the green sweater-clad woman. I imagine that there
is a blanket on his shoulders again, sliding down to
his elbows and almost falling off as he bobs to the
music, but the air is too thick for blankets. There are
no windows here. Harry’s eyes jump from customer
to customer in the front of the club, and I can tell
he is assessing the crowd, attempting to get a grip
on what kind of music they want to hear tonight. My
stomach rumbles audibly, and he turns back to me
and laughs.
“You want something to eat? Why don’t you
eat while I play, and then we can see what Jean is
doing later?” I ask him who Jean is, and he motions
to the woman on the stage. I just nod, and I walk over
to the bar. When I look back at Harry, I notice that he
has finally lit his cigarette.
“Chicken sandwich,” I say, telling the
bartender my order, and turn to face the stage again.
The woman in the green sweater dips her head down
as the crowd claps, and the expression on her face is
passive as she exits the stage and passes Harry, who is
waiting at the steps.
“You want everything on it? Tomatoes too?”
I turn around to look at the man behind the bar. He
is raising his eyebrows at me, and for some reason
that I can’t explain, I don’t have an answer for him. I
glance back at the stage that Harry now occupies. He
is settling into his seat on the stool, hunched over his
guitar. But unlike the woman in the sweater, I can
see that below the curly hair that covers the top of his
face like a mop, he is smiling.
“No. No tomatoes.” The man behind the
bar writes my response on a small blue pad of paper
and nods. He walks away quietly, leaving me alone
to listen to the soft guitar sounds coming from the
stage, and my own beating heart.
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MURPHY SQUARE
flower boy
AVA FOJTIK
digital photograph
30
ISSUE 43
illuminated
AVA FOJTIK
digital photograph
31
MURPHY SQUARE
32
ISSUE 43
cat’s cradle
AVA FOJTIK
digital photograph
pity party
AVA FOJTIK
digital photograph
33
MURPHY SQUARE
the library is closed now, and
dark
looking through its endless aisles
stretching nearly into infinity
one can barely make out where a great ape,
majestic, would swing between the
shelves
a closed library
KELTON HOLSEN
Engman Prize winner
(an elegy for terry pratchett)
once, this place was full of life,
and people came and went and words came and went
and the shelves really did stretch out to
infinity
but now i turn the corner
and encounter for the first time
a blank wall
the books are sparser here, tamer
less skittering metaphors, and the satire has less
bite
(when you get old they take away your teeth
or you forget them)
my hands brush the spines
slowly,
as the pages begin to unbind themselves, to settle
upon the floor;
a sea of lilac blossoms in the month of may.
i tuck one behind my ear; how do they rise up.
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ISSUE 43
elizabeth, 1972
ALLISON USELMAN
charcoal and pencil
35
MURPHY SQUARE
Loneliness
Eats away at you until
there is nothing left but
Loneliness
loneliness
MARISA MOSQUEDA
36
ISSUE 43
ode to leonardo
SOPHIE KEEFE
There are some conversations that can only be held
late at night. During car rides through streets that
are so familiar you can navigate them with your eyes
closed, the rise and fall of the landscape and bumps
in the asphalt marking the strip mall with the Dollar
Tree and Chinese take-out chain, or the winding
parkway that loops around the lakes in a lazy curlicue.
When a dark, velvety blanket covers the world and
softens its edges. Something about the darkness
makes the apprehensions that live somewhere deep
within that twisted knot of uncertainty in the pit
of your stomach a bit easier to bring out through
your skin and into the open air. Or, at least into the
confined air of a moving vehicle. When my brother
is home from college for the summer, we go on these
car rides a lot. Everyone else in the house has settled
down to sleep, and for some reason our restlessness
seems synchronized. He’ll walk into my room, or I’ll
wander into his and within minutes the two of us are
padding across the back deck towards the garage,
a cool breeze gently diluting the day’s humidity.
Maybe these conversations also need to be had with
someone whose familiarity surpasses the surface
level knowledge of a childhood neighborhood. An
individual who knows your strengths and secrets and
holds them to be as sacred as their own. Sometimes,
I feel bad for people who don’t have a twin. The
entire time I’ve been on this earth (granted that time
has been relatively short), there’s existed someone
whose been figuring out life at exactly the same
pace. Someone to compare notes with, so to speak.
That isn’t to say the two of us are alike. Beyond
our profiles and shape of our noses, we’re about as
different as two people can be. He knows every word
to the musical Wicked’s soundtrack not by choice,
but because when we were ten I sang it around the
house every day for a year. When we were in sixth
grade, he forced me to play the board game Risk with
him, and halfway through I stormed out in tears,
frustrated that the tactics were too complicated for
me to understand, but he mastered immediately. In
another dimension, if we hadn’t shared a womb, who
knows if we even would have been friends? That’s
something I think about a lot; the universe granting
me a companion, tied by blood. Indirectly, he’s
always teaching me something about what it means
to be human. A reminder that even when it feels like
life is a series of benchmarks that we all check off
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MURPHY SQUARE
until we eventually die; the spaces between those
benchmarks are filled with complexities. Triumphs
and mistakes, rash decisions and arguments, family
picnics, meals, jokes, lovers, tears, and joys that are
all unique to you; tailored by your personality, your
likes and dislikes, your heritage, your home. I share
most of the essentials with Leo. The smaller stuff is
perfectly, and beautifully his. I’m just the lucky one
who gets to go on the late-night car rides.
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ISSUE 43
rhapsody on laurel
JACQUELINE DOCKA
Engman Prize winner
Laurel. Lauraceae. Laurus nobilis. Symbols of
victory. A symbol of status. Who’s the victor here?
Apollo’s pursuit, transfigured to a tree. Trapped
within an organic being, living on Laurel while
pursuing baccalaureate.
Lived near a church once. Never thought
she’d mind the bells. They say the building used to
house the nuns and priests. Condemned now. She
drives past and parks in the garage. Bong, bong,
bong. The bells sound in the background ringing
clearly. She thinks of the time she spent there and
how unhappy they were.
Hearing people screaming in the street.
The thrum of the city. A string pulled taut. Twang,
someone being shot. Ring ring ring goes the phone.
A tinny voice says, what’s your emergency. She’s
afraid there’s someone dying in their street. No cops
come. She bought them pepper spray the day after
the first night. Wondered if it would be enough,
hoped it would be enough.
The bells, the constantly ringingbooonnngg, booonnngg, booonnngg. Amazing she
could hear them over the traffic of the city. She could
be miles from home and still hear the clanging. Fear,
fear, constant fear. Waking up in the middle of the
night, heart pounding, wondering if someone’s gotten
into the apartment. Grabbing a metal nightstand
ready to bludgeon someone. No one there. Lay back
down. Try to sleep.
Someone wrote Hell in spray paint outside
the building. Trying to tell the world what this building
was—as if the residents weren’t aware. A home for
nuns and priests. Where only the condemned live
now. Home is where the heart is. Heart of the city.
Sacred heart, binded heart, wounded heart. Blood,
too much, blood. Don’t know if they survived that
night.
Show me someone who says they got no
baggage, I’ll show you somebody who’s got no story,
nothing gory means no glory, but baby please don’t
bore me.
Time creates distance. She still wakes up
feeling itchy. Thought it was a weird rash. Allergic to
something? They come out of the walls at night. Big
fat things feast on your blood. Caught them, put them
in a jar to show inspectors. They explain, she could
have gotten them anywhere. She wonders are they in
his pocket?
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MURPHY SQUARE
They coped. Started a Death Count for
all the mice they killed—53. Shower turns off in
the middle. Covered with soap and no water. Kayla
rinsing her hair with the cold water from the fridge.
Happier now? Than then?
Moments of happiness even then. Photos
taken. Snap, click, shutter. Kayla standing in front
of the window holding Honey. Her favorite photo of
them. Hearing bands play at the Block Party coming
through their windows. Cuddling together on the
couch with every blanket they owned because the
heater randomly turned off. No working stove for
nine months, so much ramen, whistling locomotive
radiators when they did work. No, focusing on the
good there. So close to school, so close to work, so
close to everything. Their only option.
Perfect time to escape. She didn’t sleep
anyways. Kayla into movies and shows. Her into
books. All the reading she did in that house. Lying
awake reading. Hyper-vigilance. Might as well be
productive. Coming home to their door kicked in.
Had to go inside, every sense telling her to run. No
one there, they’d left. Cops only took two hours to
show. At least they showed. Trusted man helped nail
the door back together.
Oh girl, this boat is sinking, there’s no sea
left for me, and how the sky gets heavy, when you are
underneath it! Oh. I want to sail away from here. And
god, He came down, and said nothing.
As much as they could they lived at the
library, at school, at work. Spent as little time in
their home as possible. Running up and down those
breathless stairs. Them walking down Hennepin.
Whoooooshhh. A burst of wind. There goes the 4, 6,
12, on and on and on. They made it to air conditioned/
heated safety. Much nicer here. So quiet, no screams,
bathrooms that work.
Someone at the window of her car.
Booonnngg, booonnngg, taptaptap, booonnngg,
booonnngg.
-Are you okay?
-I’m fine, yes, fine. Thank you she says.
Back to the present, still staring at the building.
Everything is boarded up. Wonder if undesirables still
board there behind the boards. Looking at the top
floor, less boards, a sheet flutters behind a window. A
roof better shelter than the street.
In the end, they had to leave so much
behind. Pieces of their lives thrown away like trash. Her
grandmother’s rocking chair. Everything else in bags for
two years. Effugium, paululum effugiunt, fugit.
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ISSUE 43
untitled
MADELEINE OSWOOD
pencil
41
MURPHY SQUARE
I consider myself
an environmentalist So
when the black bear
knocked I motioned
him in to the couch
tossed him a beer
In a Transatlantic accent
the leaded TV spoke charged
young names I asked him
his thoughts on mass
incarceration. He glugged
his beer An outside child
screamed over sidewalk
chalk I asked the bear
how to fix the school
system He growled facing D.C.
My stomach stormed
campaign rallies I stood
Have you come to figurehead a proletariat upheaval
of the bourgeois
class, who are profiteering off the land of bear and
human family alike?
The bear tilted to its side, pressing
his head into the couch arm.
I shouted What do you mean!
…in all this The bear shrugged
the icon
MATT PECKMAN
Engman Prize winner
42
ISSUE 43
a stable relationship
ASH M. KAUN
digital photograph
43
MURPHY SQUARE
the wreck
ALLISON USELMAN
Mick woke up drenched in sweat. His eyes were
squeezed shut, and he was afraid. Afraid that when
he opened them it would hurt, and afraid of what
he would see. He lay there for a moment in his bed
before he reached up and covered the top half of his
face with his hands. He then slowly opened his eyes.
He was wrong to be afraid; it didn’t hurt
and there was nothing to see. He rolled to his side
and looked to see his wife, Margo, sleeping. She was
facing away from his and he could not see her face.
Her left arm was draped casually over the side of the
bed, and all of a sudden Mick was overcome with the
urge to pull her arm back, to tuck it against her and
hide it under the covers. He leaned back against his
pillow and refrained, too afraid that he would wake
her. Instead he reached his hand delicately toward
her face. He brushed her cheek with his thumb,
hardly touching her skin at all, and felt how smooth
and dry it was. As he leaned back and touched his
hands to his own face, he noticed the dampness of his
skin. His hands shook as he removed them, scared of
the heat coming out of his own body.
I must have dreamt something, he thought,
something awful.
He got out of bed and moved to the
bathroom where he gingerly shut the door and
turned on the light only after it was closed. The bulb
above his head buzzed, struggling to light up the
small room. It would take a few minutes, but soon it
would be bright as the sun, and it would hurt to look
at. Mick pulled the faucet handle up halfway, and
dipped his hands under the cool running water. He
washed his face and dried it, laying the towel on the
countertop.
He was just about to leave with hopes of
returning to bed when he caught his own eye in
the mirror. For a moment he was unrecognizable.
His eyes were so cold. His hair was growing long,
longer than usual, and already curls were beginning
to form. His face looked worn and rough, like it had
been out in the sun a long time, but it was his mouth
that looked the strangest. His lips were parted and he
could see into his mouth, if only slightly. His teeth sat
just behind his lips, white and small. He had always
had straight teeth, not one out of place, but there
were three tiny gaps between his front teeth that were
only visible when he laughed a real honest laugh.
Most people didn’t notice, but Margo did. She would
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ISSUE 43
sit with her legs crossed and her finger on his lip,
rubbing it back and forth ever so gently. And then
she would sigh. She would study his mouth and sigh.
He never could tell what the sigh meant, only that she
did it and probably didn’t even notice.
He ran his hand over his mouth, as if
wiping away a nonexistent stray piece of food. The
light bulb in the bathroom was burning, harsh
against the encompassing night outside, just before
he shut it off and walked back to the bedroom. He
couldn’t bring himself to lay down on the bed again,
the silk sheets were slippery and he hated them. He
hated the way he always felt as if he were going to
slip out of bed and fall to the floor, leaving him with
no choice but to remain there until morning when
Margo arose for work. So there he stood, hands at
his sides in the doorway. He took a look around the
room, scanning; the green comforter on the floor;
the water glasses cluttering his nightstand; the blue
gray haze that seemed to cover the room all the time,
even in daylight. His eyes fell onto Margo sleeping,
her arm was still draped over the side of the bed.
Mick shivered once before he turned on his heels and
walked out to the kitchen.
Outside the sky was still dark and the only
light that shone was from the neighbor’s garage
door. He could always see the light through the front
window, and it bothered him. The curtains weren’t
thick enough to hide the light completely, and they
instead turned it into a dull yellow glow. It made
him nervous the way that the light shone all night
long, with no real purpose. Sometimes he looked at
it and was filled with the deepest sense of loneliness,
a feeling he would never admit to anyone. Oh, I don’t
know, he imagined himself saying when asked about
it, it’s just, who would think to leave that light on all
night? Who are they leaving it on for? He walked past
the light and sat down at the table in the kitchen.
He blinked, and for that fraction of a second when
his eyes were closed, he remembered. He didn’t let
himself think of it often, but sometimes on nights
when he couldn’t sleep, he would allow the memory
to come to him. If only in hopes that sleep might
come.
It was almost a year ago, the end of summer,
and everything was hot. The air, the ground, the
inside of your throat. The air was thick and hot and
humid, and all too common for the end of August. It
was hard to breathe sometimes. He remembered that
he could barely get himself to breathe in the thick,
thick air.
It happened when he was driving home
along the highway, and he was all alone. For what
seemed like an eternity, there was a stretch of
road completely desolate, save for Mick’s own car.
Everything was melting into everything else, and the
heat wavered like ponds of water in front of him on
the road. It was hard for him to see clearly, and he
remembered rubbing at his eyes in hopes of focusing
them, but it was no use. The heat was just too much,
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MURPHY SQUARE
and so he gave in and let them wander from one
melted tree to another as he drove.
He remembered the feeling of heaviness
that filled his limbs as he crossed through the back
roads of the town. It took most of his energy to
straighten out the wheel as it shifted and moved with
the bumps of the road. Margo never liked for him
to drive when he was tired, but she never offered to
drive him to or from work. He would have refused
if she had anyway, the desolate road calmed him.
Sometimes he liked to believe he was the only human
being left on the planet, and that there was nowhere
to go and nothing to do. It did not matter if he came
home immediately after punching out at work, or
if he meandered around the country side, looking
at old farm houses and pastures of cows that never
seemed to move. He felt finite, and it sobered him to
think of how disconnected he was to the rest of the
universe. It was only the thought of Margo that could
force him to turn right at the corner of Fair Oaks and
Maple, drive the truck all the way home, and park it
in the driveway.
But along with the heavy weight of reality,
he remembered feeling the instant moment of
lightness when he saw the man lying on the side of
the road. He couldn’t tell how old he was; he couldn’t
even see his face. But he could see his body and his
car and he could see that there was no one around
for miles and miles. He felt as if he were made of air,
as if he had become nothing. He didn’t exist in that
moment; in that summer heat he wasn’t real. There
he sat, in his car, clutching the steering wheel. He
held it so tightly that eventually his nails cut into his
palms. He blinked once at the pain and felt heavy
again.
He had not wanted to get out of the car,
even after he pulled over to the side of the road. He
did not want to open that car door and let in the air
of death and injury and pain. He did open the door
though, and walked across the road. Under his feet,
he could hear shards of glass crunching under all his
weight, under the pressure of his work boots. The
boy lying in the ditch was still, his limbs all calmly
in their places. He would have looked like he was
sleeping except for his right arm. It was stretched out
so that it was touching the edge of the pavement, his
fingers grasping at asphalt, and it was because of the
innocence of his position on the ground that Mick
decided he could not be more than seventeen years
old. His head was turned away from the main road,
resting in the grass and dirt of the highway ditch.
The corn fields behind him seemed to stretch off into
infinity, as if to say, this is where you are and this
is what has happened. The boy’s clothing was dirty
and frayed at the knees, a piece of material from his
shirt was torn away, nowhere to be seen. Shards of
glass from a car’s front window lay scattered in the
grass; they anointed the surrounding area with light,
refracted floating beams.
Mick had felt a small shard jab into his knee
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ISSUE 43
as he knelt down. He remembered coming home that
night and the shard coming loose from where it had
become lodged on the knee of his pants, and Margo
picking it up off the floor asking, “What is this?”
He had snatched it away from her and pocketed it,
shaking his head and casting his eyes downward. He
told her he didn’t know, and that it was probably from
one of the cars down at the garage, “You know how
much of a mess that place is.”
Suddenly he was overcome with a wave of
panic as he realized he was the only one there. He
scanned the deserted stretch of highway, desperate to
see another living soul, but all he saw was the battered
shell of what once was a car and the blindingly
reflective glass scattered in the grass. No one else was
there to see what he was seeing and he felt completely
alone. He would have stayed frozen in his panic if
not for the boy turning his head slightly and uttering
the words “Mister, would you help me?” His cheeks
were still slightly padded with baby fat and his eyes
were soft. Round and naive. Even his shoes looked
like the shoes of a youth, the laces thick and easy to
tie. The afternoon sun washed gold over the scene,
and it made the boy beautiful.
It hurt to look at him, and Mick had to
turn away. He did not want to look at the young boy’s
glowing face; it hurt his eyes to look at him lying in
the grass with such a gruesome backdrop of a scene
behind him.
Mick stood up and walked back to his truck,
he felt as if his knees were made of jelly and his feet
of lead. Each step was a struggle between balance
and movement. He fumbled his hands around
underneath the steering wheel for a minute as he
struggled to find the ignition. When he finally got it
started, the truck sputtered as he keeled away from
the highway shoulder. If he had looked behind him,
or even glanced in the rear view mirror, he would
have seen the cloud of dust that had formed, like a
bomb, behind him.
He drove back into town in a trance to call
for an ambulance from a pay phone. He remembered
how cold the phone was against his skin, and how
the cord repeatedly hit his arm as he hit the switchhook over and over, not sure if he had hit it ten times
or not. When he thought back to this moment he
couldn’t even recall the sound of his own voice when
he asked for the operator, though he must have said
something as he remembered the voice of a woman
speaking to him through the receiver, asking him
where she should send the ambulance. Once he had
finished with the phone he steadied himself on the
booth’s walls. The receiver hung down off of the
hook, its cord almost reaching clear down to the floor,
and Mick just watched as it bobbed there.
When he stood up straight and left the
booth, he glanced back at where he had leaned
against it. There was a mark of condensation on the
glass, and as he lifted up his hands to look at them,
he noticed for the first time how sweaty they were.
Trying not to think about it, he walked back to the
truck and drove back the way he had come. Mick was
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there when the ambulance came and took the boy
away. He came upon the scene as he was on his way
home again. He slowed down and pulled to the side
of the road, just a few feet away from where he had
parked only a half hour ago. He saw the boy close his
eyes as they pushed him into the back of the vehicle.
He imagined that being the last time that he closed
his eyes, and imagined that he was the last person to
look at them, the soft naive eyes of a child.
Mick had no way of knowing what happened
to the boy afterward, but he did know that the whole
time he was driving he was thinking about the boy’s
fingers. There they had been, just splayed against
the road. The nails slightly dirty, the tips clawing at
the pavement. He imagined what would happen if
someone had driven by and run them over, crushing
them, leaving nothing but a red stain.
across the carpeting, from the curtain hanging on the
window.
When he reached the bedroom door he
stood there leaning against the frame. Margo was
sound asleep, and everything was still. He could
make out the shape of her legs underneath the
blanket; they were curled like a baby’s, and her arm
was tucked up to her chin, squishing her cheek a bit.
Her other arm was still carelessly flung over the side
of the bed. Mick’s heart jumped a little at the sight of
it, and he was sure he would wake her with his jumpy
heart. She didn’t stir a bit as he slid back into his
spot on the bed, his pillow slightly damp under his
head. She didn’t even stir as he reached and pulled
her arm back towards her body, and tucked it in with
the covers.
Now, he sat up from his hunched position
on the kitchen chair. His legs had red marks from
where his elbows rested, and he felt a pain in his neck
as he straightened himself. But he also felt relief. The
tense, shaky feeling he had awoken with was now
gone, almost no trace left behind. He stood up and
shuffled back through the living room, passing the
front window and the light that never seemed to quit
burning. The street looked lonely in the darkened
night, the street lamp was not lit, and the only light
continued to come from the garage across the street.
Mick averted his eyes as he passed by the window, but
on the floor he could still see beams of light, refracted
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ISSUE 43
The potted green plant
on the steps
that lead to my front door
had sunk into itself
slumped as if a grieved
old woman
having seen
too much.
old hands
RACHEL BROWN
Engman Prize winner
Its leaves
squeezed
together
into blotchy purple fists
collapsed
fell
scratched softly
against the dry concrete.
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MURPHY SQUARE
prayer
CAMERON YANG
digital photograph
50
ISSUE 43
The metal rings wrapped around their clenched
hands
And they gave each other a promise of eternity.
They stared at one another, playing chicken as to who
would look away first,
A passion too potent to be done justice with language
alone
Sparking and exploding almost unstably in their eyes,
Like a fork in the microwave.
metal rings
HALLE CHAMBERS
Engman Prize honorable mention
A flipper’s house, soon to be their home,
Fragrantly fresh with the fumes from cleaning
chemicals.
A flower plot out front with the potential to be a
prizewinner.
Crickets and cicadas serenading them with a late
summer love song.
The porch light flickering along with its celestial
siblings
As the bridegroom bore his newlywed better half
through the doorframe.
They started their lives together as couples their age
do:
With lazy kisses across the kitchen island at Sunday
morning breakfast,
And shaking bedsprings and screaming on late Friday
nights,
And the air noise congested with the never-ending,
“I Love You”s
But as all such sugar sweet things do,
It melted with heat and time.
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MURPHY SQUARE
They started their fights together as couples their age
do:
With passive aggressive subtleties across the kitchen
island at Sunday morning breakfast,
And shaking walls and screaming on late Friday
nights,
And the air tense and silent with the never spoken,
“I Hate You”s
But as all such souring bitter things do,
It only fermented further with time.
They tramped through the neglected front yard
foliage, its aroma
Easily overpowered by the spoiled stench spewing
from the now deserted dwelling.
The celestial spotlights couldn’t be seen
Past the scarlet and cerulean strobe lights.
The droning ditch crickets and summer cicadas
Were drowned out by the blaring sirens
And the shrieking
From the swearing ex-sweethearts,
Who only went silent when they were crammed into
the cruiser,
Squashed into the sticky back bench seats,
Each separated from the other offender and the
officers
By a solid, yet see-through safety screen.
She wanted to go to therapy,
But he didn’t.
He wanted to divorce,
But she didn’t.
They thought a baby would fix the rift,
But it didn’t.
The cops came one night, called on a noise complaint
To the house, not a home at all, in shambles.
Baby screeching in the bassinet,
Starving in a soiled diaper.
Parents screeching in the bedroom,
Too preoccupied with themselves to notice.
They stared at one another, playing chicken as to who
would look away first,
A passion too potent to be done justice with language
alone
Sparking and exploding almost unstably in their eyes,
Like a fork in the microwave.
And they hated each other for a promise of eternity,
The metal rings wrapped around their clenched
hands.
It ended in a newspaper tragedy:
Baby taken by foster care
To find its first stable home.
Parents arrested for disturbing the peace and child
neglect,
Neither caring enough to think past the loathing
burning like acid through their brains,
Still cussing and fussing all the way to the squad car.
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ISSUE 43
penitence
SAM
Lust
I lie on the floor and pound my head
Against all the shame I find in my bed
Greed
I got a little bit, then a little bit more
Nothing will stop this material whore
Pride
Pride can be a hard pill to swallow
If not you’ll be left empty and hollow
Envy
What you have will soon be mine
Killing with kindness takes a little time
Gluttony
You can see it is evident
All you want is decadent
53
Wrath
Bright red boiling blood
Intensely like a familiar flood
Sloth
I am entitled, I’ll show you how
Just not right now
MURPHY SQUARE
forest
ALLISON USELMAN
copper plate etching
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ISSUE 43
In the green light of this summer afternoon
the orange demon seems so far away.
The breeze raises and ruffles the leaves.
There’s the distant beep of a truck backing up.
green and orange:
a pantoum
D. E. GREEN
The orange demon seems so far away,
though I know he’s lurking in the living room.
The distant beeping of a truck backing up—
it makes me wish that accidents would happen
to the evil lurking in our minds and living rooms,
occupying all our screens and our consciousness.
It makes me wish that accidents would happen
to the one crafting all the plans to do us in.
Forget the myriad screens and false consciousness.
Feel the breeze raising and ruffling the leaves.
Forget the orange demon crafting plans to do us in.
Absorb the green light of this summer afternoon.
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celebration #1
STEPHANIE FREY
found images and gouache paint
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ISSUE 43
You are ember-hot, reflecting wishes and
A pictured anomaly, protecting visions and
A single moment, mental kisses and
You’re set on course, the steering wheel is locked and
I’m flagging you down by the ditch’s water
and
There’s something pretty about the laughter and
Your wings are red and slowly fading and
I know that hope is overrated and
A memory is not a painting and
When shooting stars burn in the sky
It paints a picture of us both
And if there’s anything I know
It’s that this is not the end
firebird
ALICE LIDDELL CHESHIRE WOLFF
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special agent dale cooper
MADELEINE OSWOOD
digital painting
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ISSUE 43
stretched out for days, you’re a yellow brick road
a mirage-like shimmer, for dreamers bestowed
on towards the upwards and outwards unknown
drawn to your allure we always will go
12 west
L. B. DOGOOD
with you, i’m always a few steps behind,
full of adventure, with nothing but time
turning your corners, we’ll start to unwind
and where we end up is always inside
we’ve been in swamps (water pumped over feet)
we’ve found small bones (broken down and petite)
we’ve tripped galactic (fear of cosmic defeat)
and we’ve explored houses (then, rapid retreat)
we’ve climbed up bridges (the worst path, the best)
we’ve discovered artifacts (deep in my chest)
we’ve scaled mountains (high up where birds nest)
and we’ve walked on water (messiah’s old test)
and then in the end when we’re left with our tale,
some photos, a heartbeat and dirt under nail
i’ll still speak these words because you never fail
for you, 12 west, are a life changing trail
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basilica
ABIGAIL TETZLAFF
35mm film camera
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ISSUE 43
miikawaadendan
(think it beautiful)
ASHLEY MURRAY
Engman Prize honorable mention
Deep green, mitig is swaying around niin
Inwewin I want gikendan. bizindan.
Nisidotan. Understand who is speaking.
A voice, baswewe off canyon walls.
Vibrating the air around me.
engulfed in the jiibay
(a tree)/(me)
(a language)/(know it)/(listen to it)
(understand it)
(it echoes)
(spirit/ghost)
Know what they know.
Feel what they feel.
Speak how they speak
Miikawaadendan
(Think it Beautiful)
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untitled
MADELEINE OSWOOD
pencil
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ISSUE 43
untitled
MADELEINE OSWOOD
pencil
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MURPHY SQUARE
infinite
DEREK L.H.
Tomorrow is my last day. I wish I could fall asleep, but
my heart can’t stop pounding. However, my analytics
tell me that this is a common phenomenon for people
undergoing the digitization procedure…Eesh. It’s
hard to believe that I’m already getting used to saying
stuff that way.
Digitization, or the Infinity procedure as
some people refer to it, has become more common
over the last ten years or so. A few years before the
Infinity procedure existed, there was a discovery
that there wasn’t an afterlife. No heaven, no hell,
no God, just nothing. I wasn’t raised religious, so I
wasn’t personally impacted that much, but this was a
huge deal to a lot of people at the time. Most religious
people were in total denial, and many disregarded the
science behind the discovery merely on the grounds
of their religious beliefs. So, since there wasn’t an
afterlife, humanity decided to make its own. That’s
when the Infinity procedures became a thing.
People became digitized before their deaths — they
became AIs that both represented the life they lived
as a person, as well as functioning as an AI to serve
society in a way that they couldn’t as a human.
I’ve done some research on what it’s like to become an
AI, and it seems lovely. It’s painless, and you instantly
become more knowledgeable about so much. You
gain access to way more information than a human
could cram into their brain. Becoming an AI seems
like becoming perfection to me. I can’t wait to become
one. Originally, they only digitized people that had
terminal illnesses. Cancer and stuff like that. After
a few years, though, they had made it so that more
and more medical conditions could allow a person to
become digitized. And then mandatory digitization
replaced the death penalty the year after. And then
just about any adult could sign up to undergo the
procedure. It makes sense if you think about it. After
you transition into an AI, sure, your human body’s
dead, but you’re still a member of society — just in a
different way. Well, it makes enough sense to me, and
that’s all that really matters.
I’ve been staring at the ceiling of my
bedroom for a while now, hoping to the non-existent
heavens that my heart will slow and I can actually
fucking think about something else. I’ve just been
lying atop my bed, snuggling in the warm, hand-knit
blankets I made when I was a kid, staring at space for
I don’t know how long. Well. Actually, I do. Twenty-
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ISSUE 43
nine minutes and seven point two seconds, but who’s
counting, really?
I turn my head to the table across from
my bed. My phone lit up, as it usually does once it’s
fully charged. There’s some other notifications on it.
While I was able to assess what it was before even
getting up, I think the old me, however much of the
human me was left, still wanted to check it. Besides,
it’s not like I’ll have many more chances to check a
personal device like this, so a fallacy in my logic via
emotional override is excusable in this instance. Gah.
There I go again.
I quickly walk over to my phone. The
notifications on it read:
“Charge complete.”
“Missed Call: Mom (20), Dad (11), Andrea (6)…
“23 New Messages: Andrea, Dad, Mom, Lea…”
Perhaps in a momentary splurge of
unnecessary emotionality, I unlocked the phone and
looked at the newest message. It was from Andrea,
reading “Why the fuck are you doing this?? Call
me, Mom, or someone NOW, Ellie! You know you
shouldn’t do this.”
What emotional language. It’s quite elementary in its
efficiency and effectivity in persuasion. Andrea was
never an eloquent individual, so perhaps I should
use lower parameters for expectations on persuasion
for her, specifically. However, this message is simply
ineffective and clearly should have undergone
significant revision.
…And there I go, once more. My head’s
starting to ache. I should sit down. Anyway. These
changes in my thought and speech patterns used to
only happen one or two times a day if I got lucky, and
now it just happens without me thinking about it.
But yeah, Andrea was never good at voicing
how she felt. In many ways, she was the model
older sister when growing up. Got good grades, was
crazy pretty, athletic, had tons of friends, lived a
satisfactory, if unremarkable, life. I certainly looked
up to her when I was a kid, but everyone in my family
knew she was poor at being logical about things. She
always let emotions be the deciding factor on just
about every decision she made, big or small. I was still
in high school when she dropped out of college. She
was living in an apartment with her boyfriend at the
time. They were both cheating on each other. When
they both found out the other was cheating, they got
into a big fight. She didn’t get hit or anything like
that, as far as I know. Though, they ended up saying
hurtful things to each other. Again, as far as I know.
Andrea didn’t really know what to do with
herself afterward. This was her first breakup, so I guess
she didn’t really know how to cope. Well, yeah. Clearly,
she didn’t. She started drinking, had one-night stands
pretty regularly for a while and experimented with
taking different kinds of drugs. Which kinds, I don’t
know. And really, I don’t care. Yeah, I understand
some may consider it to be a blasphemous position
for a younger sister to take, but…I just thought it was
dumb. She did anything that could help make her feel
better. Eventually, she dropped out of college, moved
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MURPHY SQUARE
back in with my parents, and went into rehab a few
weeks after. Even though that was all a few years ago,
she’s still considered emotionally unstable. Having
so much of your life get fucked up because of how
you feel sounds…so tragic to me. So many people go
about their lives, trying to make themselves feel good
through whatever means, even if it ends up hurting
other people. I don’t know, something about that
really sickens me. My sister and people like her sicken
me. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve decided to get
digitized. I don’t want to be a slave of emotion. I don’t
want to be like my sister.
Emotions are just an obstacle for people,
as far as I can tell. Ever since I had started taking
Infinticilia two months ago,—that’s the drug that
preps my brain for becoming an AI—this became
only clearer. I had noticed more and more that many
people were objectively poor at communicating how
they felt to others. My family was specifically belowaverage at it. Their phone calls and messages to
me over the last two months have all been poorly
constructed, only using rather melodramatic and/or
anecdotal rationales in arguments as to why I should
terminate both my use of Infinticilia and my Infinity
procedure. Perhaps more intelligently constructed
and presented rationales could have influenced my
decision. But alas, it is too late for them now. They
had their chance to persuade me to stay alive as a
person, and they failed to do so.
After sitting for a while, I grabbed my
phone and set it back onto the table. My headache
had only gotten worse. Fuck. I had gotten used to
the migraines, the most common side-effect of the
Infinticilia, over the last few months, but I haven’t
gotten any in a few weeks now. I certainly didn’t want
to deal with a migraine tomorrow. Best to deal with it
tonight.
I walked into the bathroom across the hall.
Perhaps walking was an ill-calculated decision. I
quickly took one of the few supplements left for this
kind of instance. It will make me somewhat revert
back to my more human self to alleviate the migraine.
After a while, I should go back to being fully prepared
to make the transition tomorrow morning.
I could feel my thoughts beginning to revert
back to those that were common for my previous self.
I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to get some fresh air.
I quickly slid open the door in my kitchen, out onto
the porch of my apartment.
It was certainly a November night in Also.
The brisk, cool wind stroked my warm skin as I
stepped outside. Also is a small town in upstate New
York that I moved to about a year ago now. The town
has a population of only a few hundred people. Living
in Also was the closest I ever got to enjoying where I
was in life. I grew up in Buffalo, where my parents
and Andrea still live, and I hated every second of
living there. When you see hundreds of people on a
daily basis, you’re bound to come across people that
you can’t fucking stand. I guess I was always that kid.
The one who didn’t want to be part of anything. The
one that quietly judged everyone else.
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I’ve always assumed that people think
of me as an uninteresting person. I have no tragic
backstory that would make anyone sympathize with
me. Nothing very significant has happened in my
twenty-six years of life that would make people get
attached to me, and that’s fine. Not everyone is meant
to be interesting, and I just happen to be one of those
people. Life has just always sort of happened around
me. I was never bullied or harassed or anything. Just
ignored. And in this day and age, no one really cares
if you’re ignored. And again, that’s fine. To me, it
just…got tiring after a while.
I remember the night I decided to undergo
the Infinity procedure. It was three months ago. I was
stopping by my parents’ house to grab some mail that
was still getting delivered to their house for whatever
reason, and they invited me to dinner. I really didn’t
want to stay, but Dad made lasagna, and I’d have felt
bad if I turned down his cooking. He’d have taken it
personally if I had.
He is a music instructor, and the only real
interesting parts of his life were his anecdotes about
the students of his private lesson classes. Well, at least
they would be interesting if he ever shut up about
them.
“So I was giving a lesson this afternoon
with a student I’ve had for a few years now, right” he
started, “And he starts telling me about how he’s not
going to take lessons anymore because he plans on
doing that digitization thing. How sad is that? I can’t
believe so many people throw away their life like that.
I always thought he was better than that, too.”
We were all sitting around the dinner table,
eating slightly undercooked lasagna as he said this. I
stopped eating for a moment. “Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
I asked. “I mean, did he tell you about why he was
doing it?”
Dad exhaled loudly, glaring at me before he
said anything. “Uh, well, no, he didn’t. It’s just the
concept of someone turning themselves into an AI
that’s so sad to me. I mean, people just end their lives
to do it, and—”
“Technically, your life doesn’t really end
when you get digitized,” I said. “Your life just becomes
different. Instead of being a person only capable of
finite things, being an AI gives you the ability to do
an infinite number of things. Isn’t that right?”
“Well, I don’t know what happens to people
after they undergo the procedure. I know they
supposedly become sources of information and get
programmed into databases and all that. But what if
that’s bullshit? What if that’s just a lie?”
“What if it’s just the surface? What if there’s
so much more to being an AI?”
Mom butted into the conversation. At least,
she tried to. “Ellie, James, can we please save this
discussion for later—”
“Ellie, it, uh, sounds to me like you’re
defending people who become AI…”
“Well…it’s starting to make more sense to
me is all…”
The tinkling of silverware hitting dinner
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plates was the only sound for a moment. “Well, if you
ask me, the people that get digitized are just quitters.
People that are too scared to deal with reality.”
Mom started to ask, “James, don’t you think—”
“Think what?” He yelled. “That I’m being too
harsh or some shit? Why doesn’t anyone here try to
understand where I’m coming from?”
“I-I-I-I’m sorry, James,” Mom anxiously
stuttered. “Uh, anyone want more lasagna?”
No one answered. The tinkles of silverware
turned into clanks.
I had grown tired of the topic of digitization
that night. The rest of dinner was quiet and awkward.
As I drove back to my apartment later that night, I
found myself so frustrated. Dad was doing that thing
I hate where he keeps interrupting Mom from getting
her word in. And he always thinks his opinion is
more valid than others, and gets all defensive when
people disagree with him. Dad is too rigid, and Mom
is too delicate. She has always been too polite for her
own good. She tries so hard to be so respectful to
everyone’s feelings that she keeps a lot of things to
herself.
It was moments like then that made me glad
that I had moved out of that house long ago. Mom,
Dad, and Andrea were all people that managed their
feelings in a way that always frustrated me. They
always brought their emotions into conversations
where they weren’t needed. I eventually just got sick
of it all.
That’s the thing: emotions—they just cripple
you. They cripple and destroy you like hot coffee
seeping through paper. Emotions impact how you
decide on things, or how you interact with others,
or even who you interact with. They take control of
you and become you. That night, I realized that I no
longer wanted to live a life where emotions hijacked
everything. I just wanted to be free of it all. And that
was when I realized that the only way to be free of
emotions once and for all was to undergo the Infinity
procedure.
Looking up at the night sky reminds me
of how small this life was. People are so tiny if you
think about it. After I enter my new life as an AI,
maybe I’ll serve a bigger role. Or maybe I won’t. All
I know is that I’m ready to begin my new life as an
AI tomorrow. The late autumn wind made my skin
hollow, so I walked back inside my apartment, sliding
the door shut.
The migraine had mostly faded at this
point. I could feel the supplement starting to wear
off. My appointment was in the morning, and I was
still anxious about it. Even to the end, I guess I’m
still no exception to being controlled by emotions
sometimes. Despite the anxiety and nervousness, I
tried to get some sleep.
I opened my eyes, and looked at the alarm
beside my bed. 8:00 A.M. Satisfactory. I stood up and
quickly calculated what I needed to do before heading
out. It would be unnecessary to prepare myself
aesthetically, given the circumstances. Therefore, I
deduced a quick checklist of necessary requirements
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before retiring from my apartment.
This checklist mainly consisted of
preparing the apartment to be in near-mint condition.
Naturally, I had set up many things in relation to
the procedure in advance. Among them included
writing a will to allocate all my existing assets after
I become digitized. The agent that I corresponded
with to prepare for the procedure assisted me with
the logistics of digitization. Everything was set. All
that awaited was heading out to the hospital to check
in and undergo the procedure. However, as I began
preparing to leave, I heard knocks at the front door. I
opened it.
It was Mom, Dad, and Andrea. Their eyes
glimmered of desperation. They appeared to be
teeming with toxic emotion, typical as ever of them.
They exemplified signs of looking distressed due to
the wrinkles on their faces.
Andrea stepped forward, tears coming from
her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re doing this! What the
hell is wrong with you?”
Dad also stepped towards me. “Ellie, you
can’t do this. I…I can’t let you go.”
I scoffed. “Your concern is understandable
given the circumstances, but I’m afraid that your
attempt at preserving my human self will end
unsatisfactorily for you. My decision is set in stone.
It’s been two months. If you were capable of coercing
me out of undergoing the Infinity procedure, you
would already have succeeded in doing so.”
Silence for a moment. Andrea still had tears
in her eyes. “Who…who are you? Whoever you are,
you’re not my sister anymore.”
Andrea’s use of melodramatic language
was as ineffective as ever. “Andrea, Mom, Dad…I’m
becoming digitized. This life is no longer optimal for
me. It really never has been optimal.”
Mom, who had been notably quiet and
reserved, finally spoke up. “Is that you saying that?
Or the drugs that they put you on?”
“It’s likely both, Mom,” I said. “This is what
I want. I’ll still live. Just…in a different way than you.
It’s always been like that, if you think about it.”
Their eyes of emotion remained lucid. They
appeared frustrated, disappointed, maybe even in
denial. But their refusal of my resolve was practically
insulting.
Andrea looked down to her small feet. “Can
we at least…go with you?”
...
The Digitization Department was
surprisingly small at the hospital I went to. At least,
it surprised me the first time I went. Digitization
was becoming more and more common every year.
Most hospitals and even some clinics offer Infinity
procedures. Regardless, everything was set and
ready to begin at 10:30 A.M. It was clear that my
family didn’t want to be there. Their emotional eyes
remained ever-present on their faces.
We were all sitting in a waiting room
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MURPHY SQUARE
designated for people undergoing the Infinity
procedure. There were two other families in there
with us. I couldn’t hear their words, but the tones
of their voices were also full of emotion. It’s quite
inadequate that the experience of having emotions
isn’t a unique one. Ultimately, how anyone feels right
now has been felt by someone somewhere sometime
before. I’ve heard of people finding beauty in that—
that it’s amazing how we can find other people that
have felt the same as we have. But beauty is just an
emotional construct. Beauty doesn’t actually exist.
People just convince themselves that it does. It’s just
another example of emotions blinding people.
However, while thinking upon this subject,
my mind briefly reverted to memories between
Andrea and myself. Growing up, Andrea would often
talk to me about societal perceptions of beauty. She
was always fascinated by that kind of stuff—history,
how people relate to each other, all that junk. She
talked about it with me for hours so many times when
we were growing up. She loved talking about anything
that had to do with how people treated each other
throughout history. Dad would never shy at jumping
into the conversations between Andrea and I, always
adding theories, facts, and statistics that may or may
not have been relevant to what we were talking about.
Mom would always listen in on our conversations
and ask questions, always fascinated by what we were
discussing. I’m really going to miss them.
...
I mean. Um. It’s 10:30. I should go.
Dr. Carlisle, the doctor that I had talked
before about the Infinity procedure walked into the
waiting room. “Elizabeth Hensley…are you ready?”
I stand up and nod. Dr. Carlisle continued.
“I’m sorry, we can’t have family go into the
Digitization Room. I’ll…give you a second to make
your goodbyes. Come on in once you’re ready.” She
stood by the door. I turned around to face my family.
They all looked at me quietly. Unlike before,
their eyes weren’t filled with emotion. They were…
empty. Hopeless. I didn’t really know what to say to
them. I turned towards the door, facing away from
them.
“Um…thanks for coming. It…means a lot.”
Without looking back, I walked towards the door.
...
There it is. The Infinity: the machine
that digitizes people into AI. It looked like an MRI
scanner. The room was entirely white and lifeless. No
one except myself and Dr. Carlisle were in the room.
The next few moments were a blur. I got
into the Infinity. This is what the last two months
have been leading up to. It almost didn’t feel real.
Like I was dreaming. Like all of this was fantasy. But
I laid there, on the machine that would digitize my
body, birthing me into my new life as an AI.
Soon enough, the machine began moving
into the Infinity very slowly. Maybe only a few
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centimeters per second. But this was it. I had seen
everything and everyone I would ever see outside of
this room for the last time. It…didn’t really hit me
until then. The memories I had with everyone…with
my family… All of those memories were moments
from evaporating. They would be gone forever. Or
maybe I’d still remember them after I became an AI,
or…I don’t know.
I…I just don’t know. I wanted so hard to
be free of emotion. It’s why I wanted to go through
with this. And yet, I find myself leaving this world
feeling unlike how I’ve ever felt before. I was filled
with emotion. Filled with fear. Most of my body was
now inside the Infinity. Seconds of life as I knew it
were left.
Was this a mistake? Was this a good idea
after all? Am I doing this for the right reasons? What
are the right reasons? What are the wrong reasons?
What have I done? What have I done? What have I
done?
The last of my body entered into the
Infinity, at last. Tears began trickling down my face.
For the first time in I don’t know how long, I cried.
I cried.
The machine made a loud noise and my
legs began to feel weightless. Everything began to feel
weightless. The last sound I would make as a human
was a laugh. A laugh at the thought of me leaving my
human life just as I entered it: crying, powerless, and
teeming with emotion.
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celebration #5
STEPHANIE FREY
found images and gouache paint
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words like radiation
ringing out, observed by those
not worth speaking to;
52 hz
L. B. DOGOOD
i wish
you
could hear me
smooth like the ocean
ridges of mollusks and sand
for your skin
for your skin,
they’ll never understand why
we rot away into filaments
they call it fur and a mystery
but only we know that we’re fibrous
creatures made of sinew and bones
but you can’t
even
hear
me
even you,
ones with bodies bigger than earth
lives longer than time
sing too low
sing too low for
a connection,
i hear you calling out and i can’t understand
why my words don’t reach you,
‘is there anybody like me?
is there anybody like me?
is there anybody like me?’
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When I’m driving on the highway, the destination
doesn’t matter, I’m usually in the passenger seat
because piloting tons of crashing metal makes my
throat close up, so I can look out the window as we
drive and watch the road going by, and
roadkill
ALICE LIDDELL CHESHIRE WOLFF
Sometimes I see the dead animals, birds or raccoons
or squirrels or sometimes deer, and sometimes their
bodies are intact and they’re lying off to the side and
I think why don’t they just get back up? They look
perfectly fine to me, but their eyes are being eaten by
ants and it’s only from a distance that they look more
alive than I feel, but other times
They’re crushed and smeared into the pavement by
endless tires, fur and feathers and life turned into a
bright red stain, a gore bouquet that seems scattered
everywhere, and I wonder how all that meat fit inside
their fragile little bodies, running and jumping and
sniffing their way through life until they’re pulverized
by people on their way to work, and
It makes my stomach churn but I always look as the
car drives past and if I were walking I might stop
and study the remains for any clues, wondering who
they were and why this happened, wondering what it
felt like, can they still feel, their nervous system still
ticking out information across their bodies, spread
like jam on concrete, or maybe their spirits still
linger, breathing in the exhaust fumes as they howl
silently as a warning to stay away, and
They enter my dreams, messiahs covered with flies,
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fearless crows poking stigmata into their stomachs,
looking at me with lustful eyes and directing me into
the forest, where there are no cars and humans are
just a memory and the evergreens loom all around
like a silent jury surrounded by tears and
The wave drowns animals and trees alike, until all is
washed away and the ground is meat, and the meat
is concrete, and the remnants of the living are baked
into a gray shell that stretches on for miles and miles
and miles and I’m back in the car, we’ve arrived, and
I look over my shoulder as I step out onto the stone
floor of the city, wondering where my body ends and
the roadside bodies begin.
I walk down a path and mice scuttle out of the woods
with legs like spinning wheels, crawling up my boots
and under my shirt, surrounding me with the mass
of their bodies like a second skin before pulling back,
a wave of life breaking against me and churning out
whispers into the forest, letting the world know that I
do not belong here, and the woods
Part before me, and looking through the tree line I see
animals gathered on the shore of a lake, a parade of
silent stares, eyes glinting in the bloody horizon glare,
rabbits emptied from their warrens and raccoons
crawled back from city suburbs, opossums with nail
teeth and fawns without mothers, a bear grown stick
thin and desperate from too many winters, its bones
strained to the breaking point as it opens its mouth to
show a gummed expanse of night, and as it stretches
out a rasping tongue into the rippling air
I see the lake rise up in a tidal wave, becoming the
sky as it crests, drowning the world with shadow, and
in the fading light I see it is not water, it is an ocean
of meat that plunges down, crushing and mauling the
forest and I can feel my body as it is pulled apart,
popped like an old balloon, and as my guts slide down
and mix with the soil my soul remains, and I am
aware, I watch as
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she-wolf
CAMERON YANG
digital photograph
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You have his eyes.
All your life you have never been yourself, never been
your own.
You are your father’s eyes in your mother’s face, and
your name
is a cinderblock they chained around your ankles and
called a gift.
The day you are told what he did, you will not react
at all.
You will sit in your chair and listen to your sister,
a supportive stone statue,
and when it hits you seven months later, when it
sinks in and becomes real, you will be useless for four
days.
You will stand in the bathroom before class
and look in the mirror and wonder if they can see it
in your eyes.
Your father’s eyes.
You wonder if it’s obvious you have the eyes of a killer.
You’ve known for months but it wasn’t real until right
now,
Looking in this mirror and thinking about how
nothing is quite the same once you know your father
is a killer.
The finding out is easier than the knowing.
The finding out is ice water down your back. A shock.
The knowing is heavy, and once you pick it up, you
always have to carry it
with you everywhere.
You will never be able to put it down.
Know this because you have to, but know something
else as well.
Carrying this with you is going to feel like there is a
coffin
the eyes are the window to
the soul
ALEXIS KIMSEY
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strapped to your back, like there is a scarlet letter
pinned to your chest with a blade sharpened by
inheritance, like
you never understood sin until your sister
tied your father’s around your neck and
you’re never going to want to tell anyone.
You’ll look at your friends and feel it almost bursting
out
of your mouth,
How are you today,
My father is a killer, I’m a murderer’s daughter,
it’s so heavy, it’s pulling me down, take it away,
please, please, G-d, someone, help me.
You’ll almost say it over and over but you won’t want
to.
You won’t want to tell them, not now not ever they
can never know.
When you tell them anyway, it will feel like pulling
a piece
of that coffin down from your aching shoulders and
nailing it between theirs.
When you do this, remember that they told you that
you could.
Remember how they handed you the hammer.
Remember when you turned around and offered
them your spine,
the spaces where they’ve taken parts of your coffin
from you
making room for the pieces of theirs that they’re too
tired to carry alone.
Remember that we all have coffins. That we are all a
cemetery,
but we do not have to let that
bury us.
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flower girl flower girl
GABRIEL BERGSTROM
35mm film photograph
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untitled
MADELEINE OSWOOD
digital painting
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I stepped in a puddle today
after a rain that had lasted
for probably 4 days and 4 nights.
I felt it
the water
sucking my toes and soaking
my white socks brown
swallowing me slowly
like a snake stretching wide his jaw
with that little extra bone he has
so he can fit a city rat
twice the size of his head
down his slick
pink throat.
I thought about him
about a snake big enough to eat
yappy yorkie dogs and deer fawns
until the water lapped at my armpits
and licked my eyelids closed
and the world dissolved
in wet-like blues and greens.
Galaxies swirled like ribbons
silky between my finger crevices
as if rainforest and ocean
curled up and melted together
the way two spilled cans of paint
sometimes do.
galaxies
RACHEL BROWN
Engman Prize winner
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light rail
ABIGAIL TETZLAFF
digital photograph
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happiness is the light between the trees in autumn
travelling miles upon miles through space
to make mosaics on the forest floor
and caress faces one last time before winter
sonas
EVE TAFT
touching all things, light ignores broken bones
wends its way through thunderstorms
finds ships on the tousled sea
insensitive, it dries tears early and blinds
happiness is the light between the trees in autumn
golden warm, more steadfast than summer
more compassionate than winter
happiness steals in through branches
gently, gently, gently
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the spin
GABRIEL BERGSTROM
35mm film photograph
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the bridges
GABRIEL BENSON
I’ve been driving for two hours, making my regular
trek from one home to the other. My back is sweaty as
it often gets on these long drives. In an attempt to aid
this, I sit slightly forward and turn the air conditioner
on full blast. This effect leaves my fingers icy, but the
sun still beats down on my thighs, my own personal
greenhouse. By now, I really need to pee, and the
empty coffee cup from this morning is beginning
to look more and more tempting as a release for my
bladder.
The ride from Willmar to Minneapolis on
Highway 12 has only a few landmarks peppered in
that I find to be worth noting on the drive. Once I
left one home, I knew I was destined to nomadism
for the following two hours. Like a turtle, I would
own only what I carried with me in the silver Pontiac
Bonneville. My suitcase, backpack, and a box of
books all pile in the backseat.
In Montrose, Minnesota, I pass the small
side-of-the-road memorial to my old dear friend killed
on his motorcycle in 2014, killed by a car that hit
him head-on. It’s a knee-high cross, a picture of him
placed in the center. It never gets easier to look at this
cross, but it does get harder to see. It can be hidden in
the winter by snow, and it was once carried away by a
well-meaning plow.
But I know there are no spirits here.
On these roves from Home A to Home B,
Minnesota Public Radio is my companion. Today, it’s
an in-depth story on the music history of Simon &
Garfunkel, a duo I know little about—a couple songs,
something about herbs and the fair, perhaps. The
piece itself is intermittently sprinkled with their
songs and interviews with musicians and other
members of the industry. As I enter Minneapolis,
the skyline on the horizon, “Bridge Over Troubled
Water” comes on. It’s familiar to me, like a song from
an old movie.
When you’re down and out / When you’re on the
street / When evening falls so hard / I will comfort
you.
As usual, I follow the traffic into the
underground I-94 tunnel. What was once bright
sunlight is transformed, and I am plunged into
darkness, the white rays replaced by the ambered
lightbulbs that line up above me. When entering, the
tunnel seems endless, stretching ahead indefinitely
before me.
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MURPHY SQUARE
Now, there is a strict ritual for these tunnels,
and I have been practicing since I was a child, just
like my mother taught me.
light. Are the cars in front of me, behind me, beside
me, fixed in the same trance?
they shine
When darkness comes / And pain is all around
As I run down the grocery list of my wishes,
my lungs start to ache. The sunlight begins to peek in
front of the many cars ahead of me. The last wish in
my head is always the same, vague, but it is perhaps
the most important.
Please have all of this be okay, I pray.
The floodlights of the day’s sun rush back
into the vehicle. I exhale, my lungs receiving sweet
air, my hand falls back down onto the steering wheel,
and the radio plays as usual. The song is almost done.
I will ease your mind.
As my eyes adjust to the new light, I suck
my breath in, the air that stops coming into my lungs
matches the now crackling radio waves that barely
filter through the speakers. One hand on the steering
wheel, the other hand flopped up to lay my palm flat
against the carpeted roof of the car. Several yards into
the tunnel, the radio has been reduced to static, only
a word or two from any number of radio stations is
translatable.
It’s in these moments—dark tunnel, amber
light, breath held, hand on roof—that I truly pray. I
grew up believing that these tunnels held a mystical
property, that it was here where wishes could be
granted, prayers answered. With air tight in my
lungs, these messages to someone are thought loudly
in my mind, for if they were spoken, my pact of not
breathing would be broken, creating the possibility
of these requests not being listened to, not being
transmitted to whomever receives them.
And it does, almost always.
I smile at the stretch of city before me, and
I feel a sense of relief. Whether or not this all ends up
okay, it’s out of my hands now.
But inside, I think it will be.
Sail on
I pray, thanking the tunnel for my safe
drive. For the sun. For things going well.
I pray, asking the tunnel for good health for
myself and those I love.
Row by row, I pass amber light after amber
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ISSUE 43 | 2018
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