AUGSBURG NOW
Augsburg Associates’ roots and
decades of service
A smartphone app aims to
de-escalate traffic stops
INSIDE
Photos: Augsburg then and now
SPRING–SUMMER 2021 | VOL. 83, NO. 2
Student-athletes advocate for
causes beyond the sports arena
Vice President, Operations
Rebecca Jo... Show more
AUGSBURG NOW
Augsburg Associates’ roots and
decades of service
A smartphone app aims to
de-escalate traffic stops
INSIDE
Photos: Augsburg then and now
SPRING–SUMMER 2021 | VOL. 83, NO. 2
Student-athletes advocate for
causes beyond the sports arena
Vice President, Operations
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
AUGSBURG NOW
Associate Vice President,
Marketing and Communication
Stephen Jendraszak
Spring–Summer 2021
Director of Marketing
Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On the “new normal”
Director of Public Relations
and Internal Communications
Gita Sitaramiah
Assistant Director of
Marketing Creative
Denielle Stepka ’11
Creative Associate
Hayley Selinski
As we enter a new phase of the COVID-19
pandemic and plan for our return to campus
for our 152nd academic year at Augsburg, I
am often asked what we have learned during
the past 16 months that will be part of a
“new normal” for our community.
Certainly there is much that we have
learned about the use of technology for
teaching and learning, and for doing our
administrative work—technology that will be
an abiding and effective tool for the ways we
work into the future. We also have learned
important lessons about public health and not
taking for granted our individual and common
well-being. And then there are lessons about
the fragility of our economic lives and the
need to be laser-focused on our mission as we
make decisions about revenue and expenses.
But perhaps the most important and
striking lesson we learned during the
pandemic is that all of the work we have done
the past few years to chart a strategic path
for Augsburg—work that culminated in the
creation in Fall 2019 of Augsburg150: The
Sesquicentennial Plan—provided us with a
framework for both navigating through these
unprecedented times and for pursuing a
sustainable future for our university. In other
words, our planning deliberations, grounded
in Augsburg’s mission to educate students to
be “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards,
critical thinkers, and responsible leaders,” got
it right as we named our highest aspirations
and our strategic priorities.
In particular, I am proud of the vision we
cast for our future, which says that “As a new
kind of urban, student-centered university,
we are educating Auggies as stewards of
an inclusive democracy, engaged in their
communities and uniquely equipped to
navigate the complex issues of our time.”
Consider the claims we make in this vision
statement: to embrace our urban setting, to
keep students at the center of our lives, to
pursue democratic engagement, and to equip
our students to take on the most complex
problems we all face. And we honored those
claims as we lived through the pandemic:
responding to the many needs of our students
and neighbors as we kept each other safe
and healthy; focusing on the flexibility our
students required as they pursued their
education primarily online; working together as
a community of faculty, staff, and students to
navigate an uncharted path; and leaning into
the incredibly complex issues raised by the
pandemic so that we might all learn from them.
As I begin my 16th year as Augsburg’s 10th
president, I am so proud of our community
and excited about the future we will create
together. It may not be normal, but it will
be grounded as always in our mission and
vision. Enjoy this issue of Augsburg Now with
its engaging stories that make my case for
Augsburg’s future.
Senior Marketing Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
John Weirick
Communication and
Social Media Specialist
Briana Alamilla ’17
Communications and
Social Media Consultant
Kate Norlander
Project Manager
Juli Kramer
Web Manager
Nick Huseby
Web and Email Coordinator
Jennifer Thiel
Advancement Communications
Specialist
Cara Johnson
Contributors
Kate H. Elliott
Lisa Renze-Rhodes
Stewart Van Cleve
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
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.
augsburg.edu/now
Around the quad
The Auggies who refuse to
‘keep politics off the field’
How Augsburg’s student-athletes use their training and
platform to advocate for causes beyond the sports arena
12
Senior Communications
Specialist for Principal Gifts
Amanda Symes ’09, ’15 MFA
ISSN 1058-1545
Faithfully yours,
02
06
The Scandinavian work ethic that inspired
the Augsburg Associates’ decades of service
Though the Augsburg Associates group has ended, the impact of
volunteer work over 37 years resonates
16
Can a smartphone app de-escalate traffic
stop encounters between drivers and police?
Auggie-created TurnSignl app provides an attorney on demand
so everyone gets home safely
20
Augsburg then and now
26
28
31
Auggies connect
A photo essay
Alumni class notes
In memoriam
Augsburg MBA alumni created an app to make
traffic stops safer. See the story on page 16.
On the cover: Augsburg University
celebrated graduates with an in-person
commencement ceremony Tuesday, June 8,
at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Read
more on page 2.
All photos are by Courtney Perry unless
otherwise indicated.
Send address corrections to
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
Send comments to
now@augsburg.edu.
URBAN
ARBORETUM
VISIT AUGSBURG’S
GRANT-FUNDED
PROJECTS
BENEFIT AUGSBURG AND
THE ENVIRONMENT
Grants help shape Augsburg’s
teaching and learning community
In late 2020, the Council of Independent
Colleges’ NetVUE program awarded a two-year,
$40,000 grant to Augsburg President Paul
Pribbenow. The grant will help the university
explore whether and how the academic, faith,
and moral commitments that have shaped
its identity inform and reflect its aspiration
to be anti-racist and inclusive. The project
will engage 12 members of the community—
students, faculty, and staff—who will write a
collection of essays that will be a blueprint for
AUGSBURG CELEBRATES GRADUATES
with virtual and in-person commencement ceremonies
On Monday, May 3, Augsburg University celebrated
commencement virtually with the release of a prerecorded
video ceremony. The event included remarks from several
presenters and personalized slides for graduates displaying
photos and messages that the students submitted. The
viewers posted comments to the videostream as they watched
the event, and students took to social media to share their
graduation posts using the hashtag #AuggieGrad.
On Tuesday, June 8, Augsburg held an in-person
commencement for the classes of 2020 and 2021 at
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Because the 2020
commencement ceremony was virtual in alignment with
public health guidelines designed to prevent the spread of
COVID-19, many graduates from the Class of 2020 opted to
participate in the 2021 in-person ceremony, where attendees
were asked to wear face masks and stay physically distanced
from guests of different households.
Visit YouTube.com/AugsburgU to find video recordings of Augsburg’s virtual
and in-person events.
2
AUGSBURG NOW
DID YOU KNOW?
The traditional undergraduate Class of 2021 is Augsburg’s most
diverse graduating class with 45.6% Indigenous students and students
of color, an increase of more than 20% over the past three years.
moving forward in these efforts.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s
Toxicity Reduction program awarded Michael
Wentzel, associate professor of chemistry, a
grant of nearly $15,000. The grant will be used
in a two-year project to develop green chemistry
as a unifying theme throughout Augsburg’s
chemistry curriculum. While a number of
green chemistry principles are woven into
the curriculum, this work will coalesce these
principles into a clear message across
multiple courses, including courses taken
by non-majors. Chemistry majors will end
their studies with a new capstone course on
green chemistry and toxicology.
In addition, David Hanson, assistant professor
of chemistry, is now in his third year of a
four-year project funded by a $384,080 grant
from the National Science Foundation (Award
Number 1761638). Hanson is studying the
formation and growth of new particles in the
atmosphere. The results of his experiments
are expected to lead to improved accuracy
in predicting the influence of new particle
formation on climate, health, and visibility.
A GREEN OASIS
IN THE CITY
See the Augsburg University campus transition
from summer to fall
With the widespread availability of vaccines and effective public health
measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many students, faculty members,
and staff are returning to on-campus activities with modified operations.
Augsburg invites you to visit our beautiful Minneapolis campus to experience
the diverse array of trees on a self-guided tour, complete with a map and
descriptive signs, or a guided tour.
The urban arboretum was made possible by generous donors and continues to
provide environmental benefits, educational opportunities, and aesthetic appeal
for Augsburg and the surrounding community.
• Find a list of trees and a self-guided walking tour map, covering
Augsburg’s campus and Murphy Square, at
augsburg.edu/arboretum.
• Want an in-person walking or golf cart tour of the
urban arboretum, Hagfors Center, or other campus
features? Contact Interim Vice President for
Advancement Amy Alkire at alkirea@augsburg.edu.
Board of Regents approves
PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW’S
CONTRACT through 2027
In its March meeting, the Augsburg University Board of Regents’
executive committee unanimously approved a multiyear contract
renewal for President Paul Pribbenow, who joined the university in
2006 as its 10th president.
“In an era when five- or six-year presidencies are common in
higher education, President Pribbenow’s long-term leadership of the
university has enabled Augsburg to achieve remarkable things,” said
Matt Entenza, chair of Augsburg’s Board of Regents. “The university
has become one of the most diverse private institutions in the Midwest
during his tenure and has welcomed record-breaking first-year classes in
the past two years. The university is fortunate to continue to have Paul’s
transformational leadership through 2027.”
Pribbenow is recognized as a leading
Learn more about Pribbenow’s
figure among the nation’s higher education
work and presidency at
augsburg.edu/president.
private institutions and is an engaging
teacher on ethics, philanthropy, and
American public life.
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
3
$
BUY
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Q:
SELL
Meme stocks, Robinhood, and what to know about the stock market today
In early 2021, stocks of the companies AMC, BlackBerry, and GameStop made
headlines—but not just for performing well. In a matter of days, some of these stock
values increased by up to 30 times their previous price before a smartphone app
called Robinhood restricted trading, angering some investors and propelling the
situation into greater media attention. What happened, and what could that mean for
people interested or invested in the stock market?
Augsburg University’s Associate Professor of Business Marc McIntosh brings his
financial expertise to help us understand some of these rapid changes and see the
big picture of today’s stock market.
COURTESY PHOTO
funds. There has been a democratization in stock
market investing. The bad news is that there
are now lots of ways to lose money in the stock
market if you or your financial advisor don’t have
a fundamental knowledge of accounting and
finance. Finally, the ugly part is that not only
are gains magnified in a short period of time but
losses are as well. If used wisely, Robinhood can
be a tremendous way to build wealth through
stock market investing.
What are reliable principles or tactics for
people just beginning to get involved in the
stock market?
A:
Many famous investors such as Warren
Buffett and John Bogle have argued
convincingly that it’s very difficult to pick
stocks that will outperform the overall market.
In fact, there are several academic studies
that prove that it’s almost impossible for the
average mutual fund manager to “beat” the
overall market. So, the sensible strategy is
to put long-term savings into a broad-based
market index fund. Many retirement plans have
fund options indexed to the S&P 500 or the
total stock market.
Q:
Q:
A:
What are “meme stocks,” and why have
they become notable lately?
A meme stock is any stock that’s seen
its price skyrocket due to excessive
trading volume from retail investors, mostly
fueled by people on social media (primarily
Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter). There are
a lot of reasons why meme stocks have
been so popular. It’s partly pandemicrelated, since some people had more time
to gamble and speculate and may have
extra money on hand due to government
stimulus payments. Also, social media
forums have made it a lot easier to follow
trends. In the case of GameStop, the price
had a tremendous run almost solely due to
Reddit posts.
4
AUGSBURG NOW
Q:
What can we learn from what happened
with AMC, BlackBerry, and GameStop
stocks? What does that tell us about the
stock market and how people are interacting
with it?
A:
It’s important to distinguish between
gambling and investing. The vast
majority of people buying these stocks
are gambling that their price will go up
based on rumors and social media posts,
which can be very dangerous. It’s really the
equivalent of going to the racetrack and
betting on horses or going to Las Vegas to
play the slot machines. Investors, however,
do much more research based on the
fundamental financials of the company
and assess the potential of the company
based on either their analysis or input from
What should Augsburg Now readers keep in
mind about the stock market today and in the
near future?
a trusted, professional financial advisor. In
other words, it’s OK to invest in a meme
stock, but make sure you’ve done your
due diligence on the company’s growth
prospects. For example, does GameStop
really have cutting edge technology, or is
its business model antiquated?
Q:
Are tools like the investing app
Robinhood (which offers no-fee stock
trading) just a trend or an indication of a
new direction for the world of investing?
A:
Robinhood is here to stay. The good
news is that the app is extremely userfriendly, and the average investor can now
make money in the stock market in ways
that, until recently, were only available to
institutions like pension funds and mutual
A:
First: On average, investing in the S&P
has delivered returns higher than 10%
since 1929. This dwarfs the returns you get
by putting money in a savings account or
investing in high-quality bonds. For the long
haul, it’s important to have this return to retire
comfortably. Second: The time people spend in
retirement is getting longer as life spans have
expanded due to health care improvements,
so people need a huge nest egg to live
comfortably—possibly into their 90s. Third:
Due to the magic of compounding and starting
earlier in one’s life, achieving this nest egg can
be relatively simple. If average 25-year-olds
invest $2,000 in the stock market a year (such
as in an index fund that achieves 10% average
returns), they could have more than $1 million
when they retire at age 65. Wow!
AROUND THE QUAD
AUGSBURG STUDENTS EARN
FULBRIGHT AWARDS
This year, three Augsburg students earned Fulbright awards, and
one has been named a Fulbright alternate candidate.
Citlaly Escobar ’21 and Ciashia Shiongyaj ’21 both won Fulbright
English Teaching Assistantships to Taiwan. Shamsa Ahmed ’21
won a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea.
Terrence Shambley ’21, an alternate Fulbright English Teaching
Assistant candidate, will teach English in Laos if additional funding
becomes available.
The Fulbright Program was created to increase mutual understanding
between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the program.
Augsburg to launch
CRITICAL RACE AND
ETHNICITY STUDIES
department, major
Augsburg University is developing a new Critical Race and Ethnicity
Studies Department.
The new department aligns with Augsburg’s mission and responds to
a proposal developed by a group of students, faculty, and staff that was
presented to the administration and approved by the faculty this year. A
group of students, led by Black women, made similar (as-yet unrealized)
demands after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
The department aims to meet the needs of today’s students with
culturally relevant courses and pedagogy that both centers and equips
them to think critically about their experience in the world. It will advance
the university’s public mission through connections with the community.
This year, the plan is to hire three new faculty in Pan-African, Latinx,
and Asian American studies. Once they’re hired, Augsburg will review next
steps, as well as how other departments can connect their own courses
and faculty to the new department.
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
5
PHOTO BY WARREN RYAN
THE AUGGIES WHO REFUSE TO
‘KEEP POLITICS OFF THE FIELD’
How Augsburg’s student-athletes use their platform
to advocate for causes beyond the sports arena
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
6
AUGSBURG NOW
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
7
PHOTO BY WARREN RYAN
Forward/midfielder
Olivia House ’20
IN 2016, FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
Olivia House ’20 kneeled during the national anthem before
one of her first Auggie soccer matches. She was alone—the
only Black person on the team, and the only person kneeling
on either side of the field. For four years, House continued
to kneel as a respectful gesture to highlight pervasive racial
injustice. Fans and opposing players ridiculed her, she
was the first on the bus after away games, and teammates
unintentionally bruised her with microaggressions: “You’d look
so pretty if you straightened your hair.” “So-and-so acts way
Blacker than you.” “I always forget you’re Black.”
“Even though I was vocal and open about what I stood for,
my teammates didn’t see even half of who I was. I left so
much of my identity at the door because there would be too
many questions, too many things I’d have to explain about
my identity and community,” said House, a designer and art
director for a creative agency in Chicago. “Having to code
switch from diverse classrooms and social advocacy groups to
being the lone Black person on the team was exhausting.”
Augsburg is among the most diverse private colleges in the
Midwest—with students of color making up the majority of
the last four incoming undergraduate first-year classes. On
campus, House said she found her vocation: “to demonstrate
the power of design to communicate stories and create a
platform for voices who haven’t been heard.” And yet, her
experience demonstrated more work is needed, even at
the most equity-minded of institutions, and particularly in
athletics, where 71% of student-athletes are white, according
to a 2020 Augsburg internal survey.
“Me simply stepping onto a soccer field as the only Black
player is political in and of itself, without me saying a single
word,” she said. “Had I ‘just played the game’ and ‘kept
politics off the field,’ I would have perpetuated the myth
that athletes’ sole purpose is to entertain. You can’t ask us
to put all of our lives on display except for our thoughts and
opinions. It doesn’t work like that.”
Since House’s first year, the women’s soccer team has
welcomed other student-athletes of color, and multiple soccer
players and coaches have begun kneeling during the national
anthem as matters of diversity and justice have remained
prominent in conversations both on campus and across the
United States.
Augsburg Women’s Soccer Head Coach Michael Navarre
watched House address a crowd on the quad in September
2020 as a speaker at Augsburg Bold, a series of presentations
for students to hear about important topics for the broader
community. After House detailed a summer of racial justice
protests and rubber bullets, of murals and oral history
projects, Navarre commended House as the spark that ignited
the team and inspired other student-athletes to take a stand.
“At the time, we felt as though we were supporting Olivia
and our other players of color, but it wasn’t until the killing
of George Floyd—just a few miles from Augsburg—that
we truly began the difficult work that needed to be done,”
said Navarre, who has led the women’s soccer team for 23
seasons. “That self-reflection and education illuminated how
much more we could have been for Olivia and others, and how
much more we are now because of her. Our team is driven to
be leaders for social justice advocacy and action.”
‘An age of athletic activism’
Days after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police,
Navarre asked the women’s soccer players to connect virtually
each week to discuss topics and resources shared on what
has become an 11-page document of articles, podcasts,
self-assessments, and videos to spur awareness, community
engagement, and education.
Midfielder Jenn Bobaric ’22 designed a Black Lives Matter
patch, and the team collaborated to design a warm-up shirt
that read “Auggies against injustice.” The team supported
several fundraisers and donation drives in honor of Floyd and
Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old biracial Black man who was
fatally shot by police during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center,
Minnesota. Molly Conners ’22 led a collection of personal
items and clothing for neighbors who frequent Augsburg’s
Health Commons locations, which are nursing-led drop-in
centers that offer resources and support.
Taylor Greathouse, women’s soccer volunteer assistant
coach and human resources assistant, said the team took to
social media as a way to educate and advocate for others.
“Instagram, in particular, was a way for our players and our
program to demonstrate our alliance to diversity, equity, and
inclusion,” Greathouse said. “For example, we have studentathletes personally impacted by the unrest in Myanmar
and Colombia, and we wanted our shirts, statements, and
discussions to address issues of injustice around the globe.
“I have learned more in the last two years about my own
privilege than I have in my lifetime. It’s not enough for
individuals to view diversity merely as racial diversity. We are
doing ourselves and our students a disservice if we do not first
educate ourselves about intersectionality,” Greathouse said,
referring to the study of intersecting identities and dimensions
of social relationships.
Across the Athletics Department, teams created T-shirts,
facilitated discussions, visited memorials, and engaged in
community activism. Augsburg Athletics partnered with
Augsburg Day Student Government to hold a town hall
featuring the voices of student-athletes of color and other
members of the Augsburg community. Chris Dixon, the
university’s first director of athletic diversity and inclusion,
facilitated this and other discussions and opportunities for
community engagement.
“When I arrived in 2019, I knew my position was an
important one, but little did I know just how vital it would
be to help our student-athletes, coaches, and staff process,
learn, grow, and begin to heal—together,” said Dixon, who
also serves as assistant coach for the men’s and women’s
track and field teams. “We are in an age of athletic activism,
and Augsburg is invested in this work to bring awareness and
take a stand. We empower our students, coaches, and staff to
have difficult conversations and use their status as leaders to
advance causes that matter.”
‘We can’t wait for the tide to shift’
To focus the department’s efforts and conversations, Augsburg
Athletics formed a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force in Fall
2020. The group of coaches and staff works closely with
university administration and student-athlete advisory groups.
Major initiatives include rewording of the national anthem
introduction, offering training sessions, and developing a
self-reported race survey of Augsburg student-athletes that
revealed 71% of student-athletes are white, 12% are Black,
8% are Latinx, 5% are multiracial, and 4% are Asian. Results
from a similar survey of coaches and staff are pending.
“We didn’t need surveys to point out that we lack diversity
in athletics, but we wanted to get a self-reported baseline
to assess how our students perceive themselves and the
department,” Dixon said. “This work is personal to me
as a Black father the same age as George Floyd when he
died. Athletics has always been a battleground for people
to advance causes. We reach audiences who might not be
exposed to these issues otherwise, both in the locker room
and in the stands.”
Dixon said that, although it’s difficult to turn inward
and recognize gaps, Auggies are eager to learn and adopt
best practices in recruiting and building inclusive team
cultures. “We celebrate diversity efforts at the national and
international levels of these sports, but we can’t wait for the
tide to shift. We are striving to be more present in diverse
neighborhoods and partner with programs that introduce
these sports to people with a range of backgrounds.”
In Fall 2020, the women’s hockey team gathered at
George Floyd Square, where 38th Street and Chicago
Avenue intersect in Minneapolis. The 24 student-athletes,
coaches, and staff walked around in silence as they took
in the flowers, pictures, and artwork that Michelle McAteer,
women’s hockey head coach, described as “a mix of pain,
sorrow, and inspiration.”
“Our players were shocked at the long lists of African
Americans killed by police, going back 20 years. We huddled
and listened to each other, and the athletes’ perspectives
were so powerful,” McAteer said.
The team also gathered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in
January. Alongside McAteer, Assistant Coach Ashley Holmes
shared information she learned during a diversity, equity, and
inclusion training.
“We recognized we are two white women, and it
was not easy or comfortable, but that is the
reason why we should be doing this,”
McAteer said. “We need to make
these types of discussions more
natural and ongoing. Avoiding
talk and action because it’s not
natural or easy is a big part of
the problem. We’re not trying
to lecture or convince but share
information we’ve learned in a
meaningful way.”
McAteer said players have begun
kneeling for the national anthem, sharing
information on social media, and educating
family members and friends. The team routinely partners with
the DinoMights, an organization that mentors Minneapolis
youth through hockey.
Women’s hockey forward Lilia Scheid ’22 said this year
changed her. “I’ve learned that I need to make my voice
heard in the community because making change takes
every single one of us,” she added. “I’ve learned what it
means to be ‘not racist’ versus ‘anti-racist.’ Staying silent
only hurts marginalized groups even more, so it’s important
to have these tough conversations and speak out against
10
AUGSBURG NOW
racial injustice.”
Women’s lacrosse has been equally engaged. Teammates
wore rainbow jerseys in support of a transgender player, who
helped lead a discussion about transgender issues and terms.
Augsburg Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Kathryn Knippenberg
said the team is working to be more than performative allies.
“If one of my athletes feels called to protest but doesn’t
have a ride, I will pick them up or find them a ride. If they
want to kneel or don’t want to kneel, they know they have my
support,” she said.
“Yes, we are here to win, but we are also here to equip
student-athletes with valuable life skills, to prepare them
for conversations and experiences they are facing and will
continue to face,” she said. “We want them to live out
Augsburg’s mission to be informed citizens, thoughtful
stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders who are
engaged in meaningful, transformative work.”
Allowing vs. actively supporting
All Augsburg teams agreed to adopt new wording to introduce
the national anthem before each contest: “Augsburg
University Athletics would like to recognize that the American
experience has not been the same for everyone under the
flag. As we continue the fight for equality and justice for all,
we now invite you to respectfully
express yourself for the playing of
our national anthem.”
“It’s not easy getting an
entire department and body of
student-athletes to agree on
wording, but it was an important
initiative of our Diversity and
Inclusion Task Force,” Dixon
said. “By having these words in
front of the national anthem, we
are acknowledging that we—as
a university—actively support
people in how they want to express themselves. There’s a
difference between this statement and simply ‘allowing’
people to kneel or whatever.”
Coaches and staff are expected to complete the Augsburg
Diversity and Inclusion certificate program, which requires 18
credits of specified training and encourages additional training
for advanced standing each year. In 2020, coaches and staff
completed the NCAA Division III’s LGBTQ OneTeam Program,
which stresses the importance of LGBTQ inclusion in college
athletics and provides an overview of common LGBTQ terms,
definitions, and concepts. The peer-driven educational
program, which Dixon facilitated, also shares best practices to
ensure all individuals may participate in an athletics climate
of respect and inclusion, regardless of gender expression,
gender identity, or sexual orientation.
“Social justice issues are incredibly important to us in
the Athletics Department, and when our student-athletes
are actively engaged in educating themselves about the
current and historical context of what is happening and they
are attempting to use their platform as student-athletes
to create awareness and positive change, I feel incredibly
proud of them,” said Kelly Anderson Diercks, who served as
associate athletic director and director of compliance until
July 2021. “Our student-athletes bring many identities and
intersectionalities to Augsburg and their respective teams. To
be the best we can be, we need to be able to show up fully
as our true selves. This means we need to have spaces to talk
about all those identities and intersectionalities and how the
events facing our world play out differently for us all.”
Recognition of these different identities and experiences
led to Dixon’s position; Augsburg hired him as part of a 2019
NCAA Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant, which
the university also received in 2012. In 2014 and 2021, the
department received the NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching
Grant, which also supports the
hiring and mentorship of ethnic
minorities and women in athletic
leadership positions.
Alicia Schuelke ’20 MAE, former
assistant coach for men’s track
and field, said 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 physical education teacher at Columbia Academy Middle
School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. “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.”
House said she is encouraged by the department’s work to
advance equity and inclusion. She appreciates the university’s
willingness to be vulnerable and invite her and other people
of color to share their experiences during this raw, unsettling
time. But, as any athlete knows, one must dedicate lots of
hours and effort to see results.
Augsburg Athletics is putting in the work.
“Yes, we are here to win, but we are
also here to equip student-athletes with
valuable life skills, to prepare them for
conversations and experiences they are
facing and will continue to face.”
—Kathryn Knippenberg
Kathryn Knippenberg (right) has served as head coach
of Augsburg University Women’s Lacrosse since 2014.
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
11
ARCHIVE PHOTOS
PROJECTS FUNDED OR SUPPORTED BY
AUGSBURG ASSOCIATES
•
Trash and Treasure Sales
•
Welcome party for the 2011 visit of Their Majesties
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway
•
Velkommen Jul buffets and boutique sales
•
Norwegian coffee at Taste of Augsburg
Homecoming events
•
Christensen Center’s welcome desk construction
•
Foss Center’s Green Room renovation
•
Christensen Center’s Augsburg Room and Marshall
Room renovations
•
Lindell Library’s special collections room creation
•
Hoversten Chapel’s Dobson pipe organ purchase
•
Christensen Scholars program funding
•
Various scholarships
Augsburg Associates fostered community connections and raised
funds to support the university’s work.
THESCANDINAVIAN WORK ETHIC
that inspired the Augsburg Associates’ decades of service
Though the Augsburg Associates group has ended,
the impact of volunteer work over 37 years resonates
Community volunteerism is so much a part of the fabric
of Norwegian life that they have a special name for it: dugnad.
Pronounced doog-nahd, it’s the tradition of neighbors
gathering for all kinds of communal pursuits—planting and
tending to a community garden, spending time chatting
with elders at a senior center, or painting a school building.
Dugnads are something everyone not only plans for, but looks
forward to.
12
AUGSBURG NOW
By Lisa Renze-Rhodes
Since the mid-1980s, Augsburg University has been home
to a team of women who drew on their Norwegian or broader
Scandinavian heritage to create their own dugnad. The group
became known as the Augsburg Associates and helped to raise
significant funds for their community.
Now, after 37 productive years of service, the Augsburg
Associates are disbanding. But their legacy will live on for
decades to come.
THE SOUNDS OF SERVICE
“The intent, when it started, was to help out on campus
where they needed help,” said Eunice Dietrich ’65. “The
original Associates were spouses of faculty members and
other women who had an ear to what was going on.”
Dietrich, a former Associates board chair who earned a
degree in home economics at Augsburg, said assistance
was needed across all facets of campus life. From stuffing
envelopes for alumni and donor mailings to setting up a
“nice meeting space” for the university’s Board of Regents
when they gathered, the Associates saw needs and then
filled those voids.
But it didn’t take long for the work to morph from
occasional events to addressing a situation requiring a
sound solution.
“The Associates came out of the Lutheran tradition
of ‘We’ll do anything for service,’” said Jerelyn Cobb ’63.
So in the 1980s, when an idea began to circulate about
bringing an organ to campus, the Associates orchestrated
a plan.
“In those days, people still didn’t have a lot of money,
but they could give us donations of goods,” Cobb said.
That’s how Trash and Treasure Sales began. Dishes,
linens, and other household items were packed into boxes
and readied for sale. Sporting goods and games were
brought in. And furs, jewelry, and even gowns from the
Dayton’s department store’s prestigious Oval Room were
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
13
President Paul Pribbenow (center) talks with King Harald V and Queen
Sonja of Norway during their visit to campus in 2011.
But before Their Majesties graced the campus, the
Associates had already begun making sure the heritage of the
school’s founders was celebrated and remembered.
Velkommen Jul, an annual celebration welcoming the
seasons of Advent and Christmas, took hold with attendees
donning thick, gorgeous Norwegian sweaters and sampling
delicious traditional foods including krumkake cookies. The
celebration has become a loved tradition in the Augsburg
community, even among students who don’t necessarily have
Scandinavian heritage.
Money raised at Velkommen Jul and through estate sales
and other efforts ultimately went to fund scholarships as well
as the Christensen Scholars, a cohort of students who explore
theology, faith, and vocation while engaging in communitybased learning experiences.
That, said Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow,
is a lasting legacy for the organization: “Over many years,
the Augsburg Associates have been faithful and generous
supporters of Augsburg. Through their tireless efforts, the
Associates have raised scholarship funds and have helped
countless students pursue an Augsburg education.
“The annual Velkommen Jul celebrations, graciously
hosted by the Associates, highlighted our Norwegian roots,
cleaned, pressed, and readied for a chance at a new life.
The items were enough to fill a semitrailer, then
eventually two.
“Every Wednesday night, I’d have people come over,
and we’d sort everything,” Cobb said. “All the dishes in
one box, all the clothes in another, the sporting goods in
another corner.”
Then when the date of the sale neared, items were
transferred from the trucks to the site of the sale.
“The football team would come, and for two blocks we
would line up next to each other and pass boxes into the
gymnasium.”
The first sale raised $600, Cobb recalled. The next year:
$4,000. Then $10,000, $15,000, and $28,000.
When everything was done and counted, the Trash and
Treasure Sales netted a quarter of a million dollars. And
Augsburg got its organ.
WELCOME KING, QUEEN,
AND CHRISTMAS
Norwegian words echoed off the walls of classrooms and
hallways when Augsburg was founded, so there was little
surprise, though great delight, when King Harald V and
Queen Sonja of Norway visited campus in 2011. The
Associates were there to mark the day with special care—
while wearing traditional Norwegian bunads, the proud
folk outfits worn by men, women, and children on such
occasions of cultural significance.
ARCHIVE PHOTOS
Augsburg Associates oversee food and drinks at Velkommen Jul in 1992.
DID YOU KNOW?
•
The Augsburg Associates have raised about
$400,000 through their group initiatives.
•
Members of the Augsburg Associates
and their spouses have given more than
$50 million to the university as a whole.
•
Within their 600-person membership, there
were 38 households that were members of
the Sven Oftedal Society, a group of some
of Augsburg’s most generous donors.
even as they welcomed new generations of diverse students,
faculty, and staff. Personally, I am deeply grateful for the
members of the Associates who have supported me and
my family over the past 15 years as we worked together to
advance Augsburg’s mission,” Pribbenow said.
Though the time of the Associates’ dugnad has come
to a close, some of the group’s members are continuing
their volunteerism with another group: Augsburg Women
Engaged. Since it was formed by a group of Auggie women
in 2009, AWE has strengthened connections in the Augsburg
community and encouraged philanthropy to keep the
university’s hands-on education accessible to a broad range
of students. These overlapping commitments shared by AWE
and the Augsburg Associates demonstrate the deep-seated
commitment to service that is so emblematic of Auggies of
all stripes.
For the women doing the work, the Associates were more
than a service organization—they were family.
“You give and you get, you feel good about what you’ve
done. You don’t start out for that reason, but oftentimes when
you’re volunteering, you get more out of it than what you
give,” Dietrich said. “These women were so dedicated and
did this work with such joy.”
Anne Frame (left), the late spouse of Augsburg’s ninth president, Bill Frame,
was also a member of the Augsburg Associates. Read more about Anne’s life
and work on page 32.
Augsburg Associates roll lefse, a traditional Norwegian potato flatbread, for Velkommen Jul in 2011.
14
AUGSBURG NOW
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
15
Can a smartphone app
DE-ESCALATE TRAFFIC
STOP ENCOUNTERS
between drivers and police?
BY GITA SITARAMIAH
Auggie-created TurnSignl app
provides an attorney on demand
so everyone gets home safely
Childhood friends and Augsburg University Master of Business Administration
alumni Andre Creighton ’19 MBA and Mychal Frelix ’19 MBA understand the
fear of driving while Black and being stopped by police.
They both grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and knew the family of Philando
Castile, a Black man who was fatally shot by an officer during a 2016 traffic
stop in nearby Falcon Heights.
“The interest in creating change started with Philando Castile. That was
the initial gut punch,” Creighton said. “Flash forward to George Floyd in
2020, and it was like ripping off a Band-Aid to a wound that hasn’t healed.
We decided we had to do something.”
Creighton, an accountant, and Frelix, who was in sales for Sony
Electronics, left their stable day jobs in 2020. They teamed up with attorney
Jazz Hampton, who is also an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School
of Law, and the three Black men launched a new company providing a
technology-based solution to de-escalate traffic stops by police.
Andre Creighton ’19 MBA (left) and Mychal Frelix ’19 MBA
to leave
18were motivated
AUGSBURG
NOWtheir stable jobs in 2020 to focus on
launching the TurnSignl app.
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
17
Timely launch
The motto says it all: “Drive with an
attorney by your side.”
TurnSignl provides real-time,
on-demand legal guidance from
attorneys to drivers, all while drivers’
smartphone cameras record the
interaction. The mission is to protect
drivers’ civil rights, de-escalate roadside
interactions with police, and ensure
both civilians and officers return home
safely at the end of the day.
As is true of many startups, the
three co-founders wear multiple hats.
Hampton serves as CEO and general
counsel. Creighton is the chief financial
officer and chief operating officer while
Frelix is the chief revenue officer and
chief technology officer.
When Daunte Wright was shot and
killed by a police officer during a traffic
stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota,
in April, that only accelerated their
pace to bring the app to market. “This
has been an issue plaguing Black and
brown communities,” Frelix said. “We’re
thankful to have the ability and skill sets
to get this off the ground.”
They introduced the TurnSignl app in
May after they were able to leverage the
public awareness of police stops ending
tragically to raise more than $1 million
to bring the app to market.
How TurnSignl works
Users open the app and immediately
get connected to an attorney vetted
by TurnSignl to guide them in order
to de-escalate the encounter. Service
launched in Minnesota and will be
expanding to 10 states by the end of
2021. The founders also have created a
foundation to provide service for those
unable to pay for the app, which is
available on the Apple and Google app
stores. They expect the foundation to
support 25% of the app’s user base.
While the app is intended for anyone,
there is increasing attention to how
Black drivers are treated by police.
Twin Cities NBC affiliate KARE 11
reported in May that new data shows
that the majority of drivers pulled over
this year by Minneapolis police for
minor equipment violations are Black:
Black drivers accounted for more than
half of those stops despite making up
only about 20% of the city’s residents,
according to city data.
In St. Paul, Black drivers were almost
four times more likely to be pulled over
by police than white drivers, according
to a Pioneer Press analysis of data
from 2016 to 2020. Asian, Latino, and
Native American drivers were stopped at
roughly the same rate as white drivers,
the Pioneer Press reported.
The TurnSignl founders say their
product is more than just an app. It’s
a signal for change. “There’s no better
opportunity to impact change than this
moment, now,” Creighton said.
Defense attorney Taylor J. Rahm
is one of the lawyers who has joined
TurnSignl to be on call for motorists.
“Anything we can do to make sure
these situations are safe and that no
one gets harmed is something I hope
any lawyer would want to get involved
with,” he said.
Sometimes, a motorist making sudden
movements is interpreted as cause
for alarm and can be construed by an
officer as the driver going for a weapon
or drugs, leading to potential conflict.
“With TurnSignl, you have a lawyer on
the phone to help individuals know their
rights but also importantly know how
to handle the situation so nothing goes
wrong,” Rahm said. “The benefit is that
the officer knows that there’s an attorney
on the phone telling the person, ‘This is
what you should do during the stop.’”
The TurnSignl app has the potential
to make traffic stops safer for police as
well as motorists, said Mylan Masson,
retired director of the Hennepin
Technical College law enforcement
program and a former Minneapolis Park
Police officer. “Every traffic stop can be
dangerous for police officers,” said the
police training expert. The TurnSignal
app “could give someone a calming
sense that, ‘I’m not here alone.’”
Business owner Phil Steger offers
the app as an employee benefit for
TurnSignl co-founders [L to R] Mychal Frelix ’19 MBA,
attorney Jazz Hampton, and Andre Creighton ’19 MBA
plan to expand the app’s services from Minnesota to
10 more states by the end of 2021.
his 14-person Brother Justus Whiskey
Company in Minneapolis, believing
TurnSignl’s attorneys can act as
mediators to keep a traffic stop from
escalating into danger.
“If you think you’ve been stopped
unlawfully, most people don’t know
that they still have to cooperate,” said
Steger, who was previously an attorney
for law firm Dorsey & Whitney. “You can
still be taken to jail.”
A TurnSignl attorney can advise in real
time: “Every defendant has the right,
if they think they have been stopped
unlawfully, to challenge the case in
court later,” he said.
Business project for
‘the times we’re in’
As the TurnSignl founders prepared to
launch the company, they turned to
Augsburg’s MBA program to assist them
in developing the business plan.
“A key part of the Augsburg MBA
experience is that we want students
to have practical experience and
apply critical thinking,” said George
Dierberger, associate business professor
and director of the MBA program.
Students in the MBA program grapple
with real-world challenges faced by local
businesses via a management consulting
project, which supported TurnSignl’s
launch. This is just one of the many
MBA program experiences in which
students collaborate on projects, case
studies, presentations, and simulations.
The TurnSignl project represents
Augsburg’s goals to be socially
conscious, said Mike Heifner ’21 MBA,
who worked on the pricing strategy of
the TurnSignl business plan. “This was
a good example of how capitalism could
bring social value to society,” he said.
Augsburg graduate student Stephanie
Oliver ’21 MBA hopes the TurnSignl app
will open new conversations and foster
a different way of thinking about how
police and civilians interact during
traffic stops.
“This project was my first choice
because of the times we’re in,” she said.
Oliver’s role in the MBA group was
to analyze the research and data
about traffic stops nationally by race.
What she found was a system with
inconsistent reporting about race and
traffic stops across states. What was
clear was that even after accounting for
those inconsistencies, the disparities
were apparent in stops involving people
of color.
One of the studies she reviewed was
the Stanford Open Policing Project,
which analyzed data from nearly
100 million traffic stops and found
significant racial disparities in policing
and, in some cases, evidence that bias
also played a role.
This didn’t surprise Oliver. Her
husband is Black and was frequently
pulled over when they first moved to
their Twin Cities suburb years ago. Once,
the police even questioned her then
5-year-old daughter about whether he
was actually her father.
“I ask why I’m being pulled over
when officers approach my vehicle,
and they get angry at me,” Oliver said.
“But I have a right to know why I’m
pulled over.”
She worries about her two young
Black sons but is optimistic that the
TurnSignl app can start to change the
dynamics during a police stop. “I know
when my daughter goes to Augsburg this
fall, I’m going to get this app for her.”
The TurnSignl app is available on
the Apple and Google app stores.
Data on drivers and
police traffic stops
Key findings from the national data research
Stephanie Oliver ’21 MBA gathered for the
TurnSignl business plan:
• On average, legal intervention death rates
for Black men were 4.7 times higher than
those of white men from 1979 to 1988, and
3.2 times higher from 1988 to 1997. (2002
American Journal of Public Health study)
• Black men are 3 times more likely than
other races to die from the use of police
force. Oliver said this was particularly
alarming as Black males make up only
about 6% of the total U.S. population.
(2016 Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s National Vital Statistics Data
2010–14)
• When driver race/ethnicity was visible,
Black drivers were nearly 20% more
likely to be the subject of a discretionary
traffic stop than were white drivers. (2014
San Diego State University research)
• Among males aged 10 years or older who
were killed by police use of force, the
mortality rate among non-Hispanic Black
and Hispanic individuals was 2.8 and
1.7 times higher, respectively, than that
among white individuals. (Racial/Ethnic
Disparities in the Use of Lethal Force by
U.S. Police 2010–14)
• Search rates for whites are significantly
lower, at around 18% of the traffic
stops, while search rates for Blacks and
Hispanics total about 82%. (Compiled from
Stanford Open Policing Project data for
Connecticut; Illinois; North Carolina; Rhode
Island; South Carolina; Texas; Washington;
and Wisconsin; and municipal police
departments in Nashville, Tennessee; New
Orleans; Philadelphia; Plano, Texas; San
Diego; and San Francisco)
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
19
ARCHIVE PHOTO
ThenNOW
&
AUGSBURG
A photo
essay
ARCHIVE PHOTO
BY JOHN WEIRICK AND
STEWART VAN CLEVE, DIGITAL ARCHIVES AND
RESEARCH SERVICES LIBRARIAN
Augsburg women’s basketball plays against the College of
Saint Benedict in Si Melby Hall, 2018.
or 152 years, Augsburg has both
changed and remained the same. Though
the Augsburg community looks much
different outwardly—campus layout and
buildings, student body demographics and
style of clothing, technology and teaching
methods—the Auggie spirit continues to
inspire faculty and staff to cultivate a vibrant
learning environment in which students can
engage in meaningful hands-on experiences.
Enjoy these glimpses into the Augsburg
of the past and the university of today.
An image of Augsburg’s campus and the Minneapolis skyline in 1967, stitched together
from three frames of an aerial camera shot in a promotional film.
Part of Augsburg’s campus—including Old Main, two residence halls, and the Norman
and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion—in 2018.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
PHOTO BY TOM ROSTER
Auggies shoot hoops in Old Main gymnasium,
circa 1945.
F
The Augsburg community poses in front of Old Main in 1931.
20
AUGSBURG NOW
The Class of 2023 gathers in front of Old Main in 2019. This fall, group photos are
planned for the Class of 2024 and the Class of 2025.
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
21
COURTESY PHOTO
ARCHIVE PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
ARCHIVE PHOTO
The camera club in 1957 included [L to R] Jerry Matison ’59,
Stan Quanbeck ’59, and James Nichols ’58.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
An Auggie wears virtual reality goggles in a new media class
in 2019.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
Students work in a television studio, possibly in the
basement of Memorial Hall (above, 1976), and at a
video shoot in Foss Center (right, 2019).
Georg Sverdrup and Sven Oftedal, who each served as
Augsburg’s president, speak at a gathering of students in the
first Old Main building (which was demolished to build Science
Hall and Sverdrup Hall), 1897.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
PHOTO BY DON STONER
A procession in a chapel service January 24, 2020.
Students attend a Pan-Afrikan Student Union cookout in Murphy Square (left, 1998) and an event in the park to
welcome students back to campus (below, 2019).
Augsburg women’s track and field student-athletes prepare for a race (left, 1985) and hit the track (right, 2021).
22
AUGSBURG NOW
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
23
AUGGIES CONNECT
AUGGIES CONNECT
ALUMNI BOARD
FRENCH HOUSE
The Augsburg University Alumni Board
is an opportunity for alumni from all
programs and class years to build
relationships with each other and the
university today. Members connect with
institutional leaders, faculty, students,
and staff to better understand and
support Augsburg’s mission. We are
excited to welcome the newest members
to the board!
Dave Stevens ’90
Navid Amini ’19 MBA
Willie Giller ’19
Arianna Antone-Ramirez ’20
Berlynn Bitengo ’21
Learn more about the alumni board.
augsburg.edu/alumni
In 1966, seven women moved into French
House, a Minneapolis building adjacent
to Augsburg’s campus that housed the
remaining incoming first-year women who
could not be accommodated in the residential
housing on campus. They called themselves
“the leftovers” and became fast friends who
still get together at least once a year.
The French House Friends traveled twice to
Washington, where Linda Larson ’70 lives, and
Larson has traveled annually to Minnesota,
where the other six women live. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, the group has gathered
monthly via Zoom videoconferencing, and
they are eager to gather in Minnesota this fall.
“Augsburg fostered quality friendships that
have remained with me today,” said Mary
(Loken) Veiseth ’70.
$
WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY
$
In 2020, Augsburg University’s Institutional Advancement
staff sponsored a series of virtual financial conversations
hosted by Augsburg alumni with expertise in constructing
a will and financial planning. The virtual events—called
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way—had such positive
engagement from alumni that the events were hosted again
this summer.
ON THE HORIZON VIRTUAL EVENTS
STRENGTHEN AUGSBURG COMMUNITY
Last year, On the Horizon virtual events with President Paul Pribbenow
engaged more than 500 Auggies and raised generous support for the
Student Emergency Fund, the President’s Strategic Fund, student
scholarships, and other key university efforts. This virtual event series
was created to keep the Augsburg community up to date with the
university’s ongoing work and adjustments during the pandemic. Five
more On the Horizon events in the series were hosted during Spring
2021 with specific groups, such as retired faculty, former regents and
regents emeriti, and current and former alumni board members.
Find video recordings of the events
at YouTube.com/AugsburgU.
COURTESY PHOTO
100
Pictured in 2018 [front, L to R]: Diane Lempke ’69, Mary
(Loken) Veiseth ’70, Linda (Radtke) Karkhoff ’70, Paulette
(Olson) Odegaard ’70. [Back, L to R]: Susan (Olson)
Williams ’70, Mary Ellen Buss ’70, Linda Larson ’70.
Want to learn more about making a will and financial plans?
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog and search for “Where There’s a Will.”
24
AUGSBURG NOW
NEW ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR AUGSBURG STUDENTS
As part of Augsburg’s ongoing Great Returns fundraising campaign,
the university set an ambitious goal of establishing 150 new endowed
scholarships. As of Spring 2021, the university had received 100 new
endowed scholarships! Augsburg is presenting water droplet sculptures
to the first 150 donors who establish new endowed scholarships. These
handmade sculptures represent the impact that donors make in the
Augsburg community. When a water droplet hits the surface of a pond,
the droplet causes a ripple that continues to expand.
COURTESY PHOTO
$
COURTESY PHOTOS
Pictured top to bottom:
•
•
•
•
•
A private Facebook group
FRIENDS
WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
JUST FOR
AUGGIES
Be a part of live virtual events, and interact
with alumni, faculty, staff, students, and
university leaders.
1.
Log on to Facebook.
2. Search for
“Auggie Connections.”
3.
Select “Join group.”
4. Answer membership
questions so we
know it’s you.
5. Create a post to
introduce yourself.
Join the Auggie Connections
private Facebook group.
facebook.com/groups/auggieconnections
To learn more about establishing
a scholarship, contact:
Amy Alkire
Interim Vice President for Advancement
612-330-1188 | alkirea@augsburg.edu
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
25
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
ANNA COX ’22
Augsburg Now staff asked the university’s Instagram followers for the resource they most
appreciated as a student. Here are a few of their responses, edited for length and clarity.
Student government! I
learned how to advocate
for myself and others.
TRIO/SSS and Multicultural
Student Services.
BRITTANY KIMBALL ’13
The CLASS office helped me
to be successful while [I was]
undergoing cancer treatment.
DESTYN LAND ’19
MARGARET ALBERS ’21
The openness and willingness
of professors to help students
along the way.
Residence Life. Shoutout to
the best supervisors ever,
Eric, Ryan, and Seth.
EVE TAFT ’18
Center for Wellness and
Counseling. I’d probably never
have gotten mental health
treatment otherwise.
Follow @augsburguniversity on Instagram.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
ARIANNA ANTONE-RAMIREZ ’20
NIKKI DARST ’15
The wonderful librarians!
The 1947 and 1948 MIAC championship
baseball teams were recognized at a Hall of
Fame banquet in 1985. Pictured are [front,
L to R]: Charles “Chuck” Bard ’50, Ken
Walsh ’48, Art Marben ’47, Roger Leak ’50,
Marvin Johnson ’49, Jennings Thompson ’51,
Jeroy Carlson ’48. [Back, L to R]: Edor
Nelson ’38 (coach), Ralph Pearson ’49,
Duane Lindgren ’48, Arnold Henjum ’49,
Robert Howells ’50, Bobb Miller ’48.
1974
SAVE THE DATE:
ALL-SCHOOL REUNION
Mark your calendar to join us for the All-School Reunion in Fall 2022.
Read more Class Notes online
and submit your alumni news.
26
AUGSBURG NOW
augsburg.edu/alumni
Charles “Chuck” Bard ’50 has always been a sports enthusiast. At
Augsburg, Bard played football and baseball, notably serving as
the second baseman on Augsburg’s 1947 and 1948 MIAC
championship teams. However, the sport that Bard loved
most—and the sport that brought him the most notoriety—
was one he never played: hockey.
Hockey wasn’t played widely when Bard was in school. By
the time he started college, Augsburg had a hockey team. However, Bard already played
football and baseball, and student-athletes were limited to participating in only two sports.
Bard attended as many Auggie hockey games as he could and enjoyed watching the
players out on the ice.
After graduating in 1950 with a degree in physical education and a minor in journalism,
Bard continued his passion for sports by co-founding the Decathlon Athletic Club in the
late 1960s. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, it was the first private athletic club in
Minnesota outside of downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul.
By 1978, Bard was still an avid hockey fan and a proud owner of Minnesota North Stars
hockey season tickets. But he noticed that hockey didn’t have an award to honor the best
collegiate players in the nation like other sports, so he decided his athletic club would
start a nationally recognized hockey award. After consulting with the Los Angeles athletic
club that started the John Wooden Award for outstanding collegiate basketball players,
Bard established the Hobey Baker Award, named after a hockey legend. In 1981, the first
Hobey Baker Award was given to Neal Broten. Broten played center for the University of
Minnesota and the “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic hockey team, which took gold at Lake
Placid, New York, in 1980.
Since that first award, the Hobey has honored 40 hockey players from around the
United States. The award is given to a player who best demonstrates “teamwork,
dedication, integrity, exceptional play, humility, and above all, character.”
In 2007, Bard visited Augsburg’s campus to recognize longtime men’s hockey coach,
Ed Saugestad ’59, who was a Hobey Baker Legends of Hockey honoree.
COURTESY PHOTO
1950
You chimed in:
Auggie launches national hockey award
Augsburg alumna and former regent joins University of
Minnesota’s Board of Regents
COURTESY PHOTO
AUGGIES CONNECT
Ruth Johnson ’74, MD, was elected to the University of Minnesota’s
Board of Regents 1st Congressional District seat. Johnson studied
chemistry and biology at Augsburg, where she earned a bachelor’s
degree with summa cum laude honors; graduated from what is now
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; and completed her residency at Mayo Graduate
School of Medicine. She served 16 years on Augsburg’s Board of Regents, was the chair of
academic and student affairs, co-chair of the campaign cabinet, co-founder of the science
advisory board, and vice chair of the regent’s committee. In 1996, Johnson was named a
distinguished alumna of Augsburg.
Read the full story on the aumni news blog: augsburg.edu/alumni/blog.
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
27
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
COURTESY PHOTO
1986
Tamra (Pederson) Pyrtle ’86
and her horse, Bravo.
28
AUGSBURG NOW
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
‘Underestimate me; that will be fun’
Tammera Diehm ’93 ranked as a leading attorney
Tamra (Pederson) Pyrtle ’86 excelled in school and in her career, yet she always made
time for the playfulness of science and math.
At Augsburg, Tamra pursued a chemistry degree. This was a significant challenge,
particularly for a student with a double minor in mathematics and German. But Tamra’s
persistent nature helped her earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, graduating with
honors in 1986.
“Obviously she was not afraid of a challenge. There is a saying of which she was
particularly fond: ‘Go ahead, underestimate me; that will be fun,’” said Brett Pyrtle,
Tamra’s husband.
Tamra’s exceptional knowledge wasn’t always reserved for schoolwork. One
night in 1983, she and her friends convinced members of the Augsburg football
team to carry a Volkswagen Beetle into the student center. Tamra was able to
direct the crew so they could do this without taking the doors off the entry. The
geometry of this feat was lost on the maintenance staff, who had to remove the
entrance doors to get the vehicle back out.
In her first professional job, Tamra was hired as a lab supervisor for BuckbeeMears St. Paul. She was the first college graduate to hold the position, and she
learned quickly how to balance her academic knowledge with practical skills
required to meet the fast-paced demands of metal-etching production. She also
learned how to stand up for herself in a plant where she was the only woman in
technical management.
After a few other positions handling instrumentation in a consulting lab, supervising
etched metal operations, providing quality assurance analysis, and teaching advanced
placement chemistry, Tamra joined Medtronic’s neuromodulation division as a senior
quality engineer. She was quickly promoted to principal quality engineer and developed a
reputation as the go-to resource for tough quality engineering and analytical challenges.
Despite her technical jobs, Tamra continued to pursue fun applications of science,
and she particularly loved how science and nature intersected. It was no surprise to her
family when she sold her collector car to buy a thoroughbred horse named Bravo. Tamra
learned as much as she could about veterinary care and medicine so that she could
regularly administer Bravo’s shots herself.
The communication between Bravo and Tamra was something special, said her
parents, Wayne and Lynette Pederson. Bravo perked up when he saw Tamra coming
and even recognized her vehicle. They had conversations and seemed to know what the
other was saying.
On December 13, 2018, Tamra passed away at the age of 55 after battling cancer for
more than two years. She left behind her husband of 24 years, Brett; her parents, Wayne
and Lynette; her brother, Carey Pederson ’88; and her sister, Kristin (Pederson) Merkel ’91.
“All three of our children are Augsburg graduates, and our family ties to Augsburg run
deep,” said Wayne. “Augsburg was a significant contributor to Tami’s success. We wish
for other students to have the opportunities Tami had, and what better place to provide
some assistance than at Tami’s alma mater.”
Wayne and Lynette, along with Brett, established the Tamra Lynn Pederson Pyrtle
Endowed Scholarship at Augsburg. This scholarship will be used to support students
interested in pursuing a major in chemistry and who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Tammera Diehm ’93 was recognized as a distinguished leader in her field by
Chambers USA, one of the world’s leading guides to the legal profession. Diehm’s
work encompasses numerous aspects of real estate transactions, including buying,
selling, leasing, development, and financing. She helps local and national clients of
varying sizes navigate the complexities that come with owning and occupying real
estate, such as zoning, land use, government approvals, and regulatory compliance.
Like a true Auggie, Diehm aims to unlock the full potential of her team through
motivational coaching and support.
“I want to give our firm members the ability to build their own careers, offering
flexibility and support while maintaining our firm’s core values and commitment to
client service,” Diehm said.
Accounting roles add up for Paula Diaz ’03, Northview Bank CEO
Paula Diaz ’03 has been named president and CEO of Northview Bank, which
has branches across Minnesota. After graduating from Augsburg with a degree in
accounting, Diaz has enjoyed a robust career in finance. Starting out as a public
accountant, she went on to become the finance director of Cummins NPower. She
has been at Northview Bank since 2014, where she was the CFO prior to stepping
into her new role.
“Paula is prepared to be the new leader for Northview Bank. Her experience,
knowledge, and people skills make her the logical choice,” said Ron Carlson, former
president of Northview Bank.
Trailblazing Auggie Abdulkadir Sharif ’20 continues geopolitical studies
at Georgetown
Abdulkadir Sharif ’20 studied political science and international relations at
Augsburg and became Augsburg’s first student to win the Pickering Foreign Affairs
Fellowship. He also received a Fulbright Scholarship, a Boren Scholarship to study
Swahili in Tanzania (which he accepted instead of a Critical Language Scholarship,
which he also won), and a Gilman Scholarship from the U.S. Department of
State to study in Namibia and South Africa. Sharif also participated in Princeton
University’s Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship. He planned to teach
English in Malaysia through the Fulbright program before travel plans were affected
by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was reassigned to the Netherlands. He is
pursuing a master’s degree in global politics and security with a full scholarship to
Georgetown University.
1993
2003
2020
Read more Class Notes online
and submit your alumni news.
augsburg.edu/alumni
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
IN MEMORIAM
Recently published Auggies
Augsburg alumni, faculty, and students have published
literature and earned the public’s attention during the past year.
•
Lowell “A.L. Shane” Ziemann ’60—“Alex, Hank & Hawk:
Cowboys, Gunmen & Road Agents: A Novel of the
American West”
•
David Nash ’06—“The Man in the Pines,” a novel
and soundtrack
•
Joshua Phillip Johnson ’17 MFA—“The Forever Sea,” a novel
•
Robby Steltz ’18 MFA—“Nellie,” a short play that earned
second place in the Virginia State One Acts competition
•
Khadijo “JoJo” Abdi ’19 MFA—One of the main authors that
participated in the first Somali Community Book Fair in
Burnsville, Minnesota
Remembering and
honoring Auggies
1950s
Below we recognize the
individuals whose notifications of
death Augsburg received between
January 1 and July 14, 2021.
Alfred M. Sannerud ’50, Ham
Lake, Minnesota, age 97, on
June 28.
1940s
•
Tracy Ross ’19 MFA—“James Dean and the Beautiful
Machine,” a book of poetry
Hazel (Soiseth) Durfee ’41, Tampa,
Florida, age 102, on March 10.
•
Kristine Joseph ’20 MFA—“Simply Because We Are Human,”
a memoir
Ebba A. (Johnson) Brooks ’42,
Duluth, Minnesota, age 101,
on January 12.
•
•
Cole W. Williams ’22 MFA—Poems published in “Intima: A
Journal of Narrative Medicine” and “Sh!t Men Say to Me: A
Poetry Anthology in Response to Toxic Masculinity”
Faculty member Anika Fajardo—“What if a Fish,” a novel that
won the Minnesota Book Award for Middle Grade Literature
• “Murphy Square 1975–2020: A Sesquicentennial Sampler
of Literature by Augsburg Students”—Professor Emeritus
Doug Green said, “More than 40 recent students from 2016
through 2019 served as co-editors, haggling over selections
drawn from the entire digital archive of Murphy Square
[Augsburg’s student-created literary and visual arts journal].
Megan Johnson ’19 designed the volume.”
Evelyn H. (Sonnack) Halverson ’43,
Edina, Minnesota, age 100, on
February 14.
Helen D. (Arnseth) Torvik ’44,
Moorhead, Minnesota, age 98,
on April 29.
Marilyn L. (Rykken) Michaelson ’47,
Coralville, Iowa, age 94, on
June 10.
Mildred A. (Thorsgard) Strand ’47,
Remer, Minnesota, age 95, on
March 28.
Marian J. (Halverson) Tilleson ’48,
Orfordville, Wisconsin, age 94,
on March 6.
Gloria V. (Swanson) Duoos ’49,
Cambridge, Minnesota, age 94,
on January 19.
Read more Class Notes online
and submit your alumni news.
Robert S. Duoos ’49, Cambridge,
Minnesota, age 97, on January 11.
Emmet T. Oein ’50, Alexandria,
Minnesota, age 93, on May 14.
Dorothy E. Twiton ’50, Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin, age 92, on April 27.
Robert L. Boxrud ’51, Hettinger,
North Dakota, age 92, on
March 18.
Valborg Huglen ’53, Newfolden,
Minnesota, age 96, on January 15.
Harland P. Danielson ’58, Cadott,
Wisconsin, age 89, on June 6.
John R. Lingen ’53, Brooklyn Park,
Minnesota, age 90, on April 28.
Richard L. Feig ’58, Minneapolis,
age 84, on February 1.
Vernon S. Stenoien ’53,
Woodstock, Illinois, age 89,
on March 4.
Bonita M. (Griep) Ram ’58,
Timberon, New Mexico, age 84,
on February 20.
Maryan A. (Knutson) Froland ’54,
Granite Falls, Minnesota, age 88,
on April 26.
Curtis M. Lake ’59, Waldport,
Oregon, age 90, on March 10.
Edward O. Nyhus ’54, Minneapolis,
age 88, on April 30.
Allard J. Christenson ’51,
Mahnomen, Minnesota, age 92,
on February 25.
Merton C. Phillips ’54, Salem,
Oregon, age 88, on January 28.
Merlin A. Johnson ’51, Grantsburg,
Wisconsin, age 90, on February 2.
Louis P. Rolf ’54, Faribault,
Minnesota, age 91, on March 22.
LaWayne N. Morseth ’51,
Minneapolis, age 93, on
January 10.
Jerome C. Trelstad ’54, Santa
Maria, California, age 89, on
April 24.
Donald C. Thorson ’51, Chippewa
Falls, Wisconsin, age 92, on
January 9.
Norma J. (Sorenson) Fretheim ’55,
Federal Way, Washington, age 87,
on April 30.
Marjorie A. (Haley) Eliason ’52,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 90, on
January 29.
James A. Johnson ’55, Sun City,
Arizona, age 88, on June 21.
Astrid (Braaten) Ongstad ’52,
Devils Lake, North Dakota,
age 91, on April 10.
James S. Hamre ’53, South
Pasadena, Florida, age 89,
on January 3.
Harriet R. (Bruder) Holtmeier ’53,
Waconia, Minnesota, age 91, on
May 29.
Rodney O.J. Erickson ’56,
Moorhead, Minnesota, age 86,
on March 16.
James W. Wennerlind ’59,
Minneapolis, age 89, on March 12.
1960s
Marlene L. Studlien ’60, New
Hope, Minnesota, age 82, on
June 17.
Darrell G. Wiese ’60, Northfield,
Minnesota, age 84, on January 9.
Dennis J. Johnson ’61, Minneapolis,
age 81, on March 26.
Bruce W. Abrahamson ’62, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 80, on April 28.
Donald E. Brynildson ’62, Garrison,
Missouri, age 85, on May 6.
Ingolf B. Kronstad ’62, Kirkland,
Washington, age 80, on
February 10.
Lucile M. (Kunkel) Matison ’56,
Glenwood, Minnesota, age 88,
on April 1.
Bonnie E. (Lassila) Curtin ’63,
Minneapolis, age 79, on January 3.
Thomas M. Warme ’57, Moneta,
Virginia, age 85, on March 17.
Gloria J. (Odegaard) Schlechter ’63,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
age 79, on January 13.
Elyce E. (Lundquist) Arvidson ’58,
Minneapolis, age 84, on April 1.
Robert F. Soli ’63, Coon Rapids,
Minnesota, age 83, on January 10.
augsburg.edu/alumni
30
AUGSBURG NOW
SPRING–SUMMER 2021
31
IN MEMORIAM
Charles M. Piper ’64, Northfield,
Minnesota, age 85, on March 27.
Charlotte M. (Nordmark) Sween ’71,
Plymouth, Minnesota, age 81, on
May 2.
Carolyn I. (Raymond) Vickers ’85,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 79, on
January 21.
William K. Ogren ’73, Minneapolis,
age 70, on March 10.
Stanley L. Hjermstad ’88, Sanford,
Florida, age 88, on January 23.
Dennis B. Reiman ’66, Farmington,
Minnesota, age 78, on April 19.
Derrell C. Wistrom ’74, Austin,
Texas, age 74, on February 22.
1990s
Steven L. Erickson ’67, Stanchfield,
Minnesota, age 76, on June 28.
Kathlyn H. (Faber) Norum ’75,
Alexandria, Minnesota, age 80,
on June 26.
Tamera K. (Fillips) Shreve ’90,
Chanhassen, Minnesota, age 54,
on June 21.
Richard G. Johnson ’76,
Minneapolis, age 72, on April 23.
Brenda K. Quade ’91, Rockford,
Illinois, age 53, on February 4.
1980s
Dawn C. Van Tassel ’95,
Minneapolis, age 46, on April 7.
Carol R. (Strand) Pattee ’66,
Silverton, Oregon, age 78, on
February 8.
Duane M. Ilstrup ’68, Rochester,
Minnesota, age 74, on February 9.
Suzann B. (Johnson) Nelson ’68,
Grand Rapids, Minnesota, age 74,
on March 14.
Judi E. (Romerein) Tsudo ’68,
Minneapolis, age 74, on March 18.
Erland J. Nord ’69, Elbow, Canada,
age 91, on January 5.
1970s
Ross L. Jacobson ’70, Janesville,
Wisconsin, age 72, on June 7.
Bonnie K. (Rosvold) Risius ’70,
Bricelyn, Minnesota, age 72, on
March 3.
Vivian M. (Shannon) Holman ’80,
Minneapolis, age 78, on
February 15.
Maureen T. (Conroy) Kurtz ’80,
Shell Lake, Wisconsin, age 63,
on July 6.
James M. Ruud ’80, Minneapolis,
age 78, on June 26.
Lorraine G. (Herman) Bergquist ’82,
Minneapolis, age 87, on March 4.
Darrell C. Wistrom ’99, Austin,
Texas, age 74, on February 22.
2000s
Christian H. Anderson ’01,
Shakopee, Minnesota, age 47,
on April 11.
Whitney J. Anderson ’09,
Minneapolis, age 34, on June 17.
2010s
Kevin P. Ehrman-Solberg ’15,
Minneapolis, age 33, on June 12.
Elizabeth (Quackenbush) Harper ’15,
New Orleans, age 39, on March 3.
Cole A. Linnell ’15, Rogers,
Minnesota, age 29, on March 14.
Faculty, staff, and friends
Department of Languages and
Cross-Cultural Studies Adjunct
Instructor James Frankki,
Minneapolis, age 59, on March 21.
Professor Emerita of Nursing
Beverly J. (Swenson) Nilsson,
Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 89,
on November 10.
Center for Global Education
and Experience Mexico Site
Staff Member Moisés Rios Bello,
Cuernavaca, Mexico, age 50, on
February 23.
Center for Global Education and
Experience Mexico Site Staff
Member Maria “Isabel” Sanchez
Hernandez, Cuernavaca, Mexico,
age 48, on February 21.
LONG-TERM STABILITY FOR
LIFE-CHANGING EDUCATION
SUSTAIN AUGSBURG’S MISSION THROUGH A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY
What is a charitable gift annuity?
A charitable gift annuity is a “split gift.” Part of your gift is used by Augsburg immediately to support our mission of
educating students, and part of the gift is set aside to be invested to support future fixed payments to you.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
Benefits of a charitable gift annuity:
Anne Frame, 84, passed away July 13, in Red Wing, Minnesota. She was the spouse
of Bill Frame, Augsburg’s ninth president who served from 1997 to 2006. They were
a part of Augsburg’s Sven Oftedal Society, a group of generous donors who have
arranged a deferred gift to the university to provide student scholarships.
Anne was involved in many parts of the Augsburg community, including as a
member of the Augsburg Associates (see story on page 12). She welcomed students,
faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to Augsburg House. She sang a folk song with
Bill during a 2004 Auggie Variety Show, engaged with students at Augsburg’s Late
Night Breakfast during finals week, and participated in a trip to China with Bill and
other Minnesota private college presidents to increase the number of undergraduate
student exchanges between the United States and China. Anne will be remembered
for her Auggie spirit of dedication, generosity, and service.
Submit address changes and nominations for
remembrances to alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
•
•
Added source of income—You will receive fixed annual
payments for your lifetime.
Long-term support to Augsburg—Unlike an immediate
income annuity, the remaining value of your annuity will
go to Augsburg instead of an insurance company after
you pass away.
“
•
•
Highly appreciated asset value—By donating assets
in-kind, you preserve the full fair market value of the
assets, rather than reduce it by selling it and paying
capital gains taxes.
Tax deductions—If you itemize deductions on your tax
return, savings from the federal income tax charitable
deduction of the gift portion reduce your gift’s net cost.
Ron and Linda Ott ’85 chose to give a charitable gift annuity to Augsburg.
I was always grateful for my time at Augsburg. A charitable gift annuity is a way for us to do something now that
ensures Augsburg has funding. It also provides tax advantages and a little income back to us each year. Augsburg
made the whole process very easy, even splitting our gift between a few different programs we want to support.
We want to work with you to create a gift that best fits your circumstances.
Contact us to learn more about supporting Augsburg students through a charitable gift annuity.
32
AUGSBURG NOW
”
—Linda Ott ’85
Amy Alkire, Interim Vice President for Advancement | 612-330-1188 | alkirea@augsburg.edu
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
New mural welcomes Auggies back to campus
A group of students from an Augsburg graphic systems class created a mural, “Divine Unity,”
in the tunnel between Old Main and Science Hall. The mural represents unity existing
among differences and unique individuals creating a space of community and happiness.
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
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What it takes to fight a pandemic
Confronting the Minnesota paradox
Student-athletes’ off-and-on sports seasons
Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist
WINTER 2020–21 | VOL. 83, NO. 1
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WHAT IT TAKES TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC:
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND
MUTUAL AID (PART 1)
From parking lots and phone calls to hospitals and research labs, Auggies
use a multifaceted approach to confront the global crisis of a lifetime
by Kate H. Elliott
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February 22, 2021
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One November afternoon, Natalie Jacobson,
coordinator of Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen, opened an
email from someone she didn’t recognize. It was short
and to the point: First-year Auggie Sam Kristensen ’24
explained that he had collected 17 bags of canned and
nonperishable food items from those who dared to enter
Sign up for Email Newsletter
his Halloween yard maze through a fog-lit skeleton shack
and animatronic troll swamp. The business major said he
was glad his ghoulish creativity could feed dozens of
Submit Your Alumni News
Augsburg students and residents in surrounding
Minneapolis neighborhoods.
“The email made my week,” Jacobson said. “We’ve been
CONNECT WITH US
consumed with coordinated relief e orts; Sam’s email
was a great reminder that everyone and anyone can
Natalie Jacobson joins Nick Keener ’20, Campus
Kitchen student leadership team member. (Courtesy
photo)
make a di erence.”
Kristensen is one of hundreds in the Augsburg
community who have come together in both planned and unplanned ways to support those in need during
the COVID-19 pandemic, which to date has infected an estimated 28 million and killed more than 500,000
Americans. From sta and students sewing and donating face masks to medical personnel advancing
policies and caring for patients, members of the Augsburg community are making a lasting impact on the
front lines of disease prevention and support. These are a few of the many stories of Auggies combating the
virus and its e ects with compassion, faith, and ingenuity.
Serving up hope
Jacobson manages donations like Kristensen’s o ering while working with a team of students and
volunteers to facilitate integrated food access programs to address hunger on and near campus. According
to the National Association of Student A airs Administrators in Higher Education, more than 38% of
students at four-year institutions are food insecure, and 15% are homeless.
Before the pandemic, Augsburg students accessed free food at the Campus Cupboard in the basement of
Science Hall. Students could stop in ve days a week to select a bag of fresh and non-perishable items, no
questions asked. The Campus Kitchen also made outreach e orts to support community gardens and
meals, rescue unsold produce at farmers markets, and educate the public about food as wellness.
Yamile Hernandez ’22 works in the Campus Cupboard. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
When the pandemic hit, Campus Kitchen turned up the heat. The team moved its refrigerators, freezers,
and shelves of food to a large conference room in Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship.
Campus Cupboard transitioned to an online order form, with student workers, like nance major Yamile
Hernandez ’22, delivering orders on campus or making contactless deliveries to students living in the Twin
Cities. The cupboard serves between 25 and 75 students each week.
“It’s rewarding to know we’re helping others, especially in such hard times, and we’re using up food that
would have gone to waste.”—Yamile Hernandez ’22
“Many people have found themselves without a job or having less work, which makes it di cult to keep up
with expenses,” said Hernandez. “Having access to healthy, free food helps alleviate a bit of that stress.”
Campus Kitchen intensi ed e orts to address health and
wellness disparities in neighborhoods surrounding
Augsburg. Because so many organizations and
community centers were already in partnership with
Augsburg, Jacobson said, they were quick to respond to
increased needs during the pandemic.
“We heard about an opportunity to apply for CARES Act
grant funding on a Tuesday, and the application was due
that Thursday. Campus Kitchen rallied together with the
Health Commons, West Bank Community Development
Corporation, and the People’s Center to pull an
application together, and we received $22,000, which we
spent in a week on nonperishable food items, personal
and household cleaning products, as well as food storage
equipment, including refrigerators and freezers. The
Campus Kitchen volunteers [L to R]: Hank Hietala,
Ellen Finn, and LaToya Taris-James (Courtesy photo)
grant will enable us to provide students and neighbors
with access to healthy foods on a regular basis and at an increased capacity.”
In March, the Sabo Center launched the Neighborhood Food Initiative in partnership with M Health
Fairview. The initiative brings together a variety of community partners to support collaborative
approaches that increase access to healthy food in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.
“Since the summer, we have distributed food weekly to the West Bank CDC and People’s Center,” Jacobson
said. “Many households in Cedar-Riverside now see this service as a key piece of meeting their basic food
needs.”
Drives of support
Augsburg parking lots have been preferred drop-o locations for food and supply drives. In June and again
in late September, Augsburg Women Engaged supported weeklong drives to support the Campus
Cupboard and ShareShop, which provides students with free or for-rent bedding, games, clothing,
kitchenware, appliances, and other home goods. The group collected 400 pounds of food and household
supplies, plus $5,405 for the Campus Kitchen.
On June 1, Steve Peacock, community relations director at the Sabo Center, and a cadre of masked
volunteers lined up in a parking lot near the edge of campus. The group collected donations from an
estimated 550 cars that drove through during a two-hour drive to collect a number of items, mostly
personal hygiene products and diapers, for the Brian Coyle Neighborhood Center nearby.
“We were absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of
support and donations,” Peacock said. “While we were
out there, collecting items, we saw athletic teams lined
up to collect supplies on the other side of the athletics
complex. It’s a testament to the innovative, communityfocused, and generous spirit of Augsburg.”
“Our mission to support students and be an anchor for
the community seems relevant and central to our lives
now more than ever.”—Steve Peacock
Augsburg has also encouraged donations to the Student
Emergency Fund, which was established last March to
support students with nancial hardships and provide
relief for basic needs, including food, rent, transportation,
and medication.
Auggies gather donations for the Twin Cities
community outside Augsburg’s Kennedy Center.
(Courtesy photo)
In the wake of George Floyd’s death in May, Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church in the Longfellow neighborhood of
Minneapolis has distributed food to hundreds of
neighbors each week. This summer, Augsburg Pastor
Justin Lind-Ayres showed up with more than 25 Auggie students, sta , and faculty, most of whom didn’t
know each other, to serve food. “This was just one microcosm of the work Auggies have and continue to do
across the Twin Cities,” Lind-Ayres said. “The student body inspires and teaches me what it means to be
‘informed citizens.’”
‘Auggies are resilient’
Lind-Ayres and the Campus Ministry team have worked to provide moments of hope and belonging
throughout the year. They shared prayers on their blog once a day from March to May and now post
prayers weekly as a way for Auggies to lift up concerns and hopes for people and situations. On Fridays, the
team has hosted 8 minutes and 46 seconds in chapel and on Zoom for “Silence, Prayer, and Pastoral
Presence” to remember George Floyd and others and to focus on the call for racial justice. The Muslim
Student Association, under the direction of Fardosa Hassan ’12, has provided opportunities for safe,
socially distanced Friday prayer.
In addition to leading reduced-capacity in-person worship in Hoversten Chapel, recorded worship, and
virtual discussions, Lind-Ayres and University Pastor Babette Chatman ’06 serve on the COVID-19
Response Team. This diverse group of sta members gathers up to ve times each week to review COVID19 cases on campus, engage in contact tracing, provide support for students in quarantine or isolation, and
gure out ways to keep the community safe.
“We spend a lot of time on the phone or texting with students o ering words of encouragement, answering
questions, and troubleshooting issues together as we manage the realities of COVID-19 on campus,” said
Lind-Ayres.
Assistant Athletic Director Melissa Lee ’04 serves on the COVID-19 Task Force. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
Melissa Lee ’04, assistant athletic director and softball head coach, serves on the COVID-19 Task Force. Lee
is one of several sta members responding to the helpline set up for Auggies to access the latest
information and resources. In the spring, she and others were answering helpline phone calls and emails in
shifts seven days a week. As tra c has decreased, phone calls go directly to voicemail. Team members
respond to messages and emails as soon as possible.
To parents, students, faculty, and sta , Lee said, “Continue to be gritty. Continue to be safe. We can and will
all get through this together. Auggies are resilient.”
Augsburg stories on COVID-19:
What it takes to ght a pandemic, part 2: Research and health care
Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist guides Auggies through the COVID-19 pandemic
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Campus Cupboard. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
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WHAT IT TAKES TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC:
RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE (PART 2)
From parking lots and phone calls to hospitals and research labs, Auggies
use a multifaceted approach to confront the global crisis of a lifetime
by Kate H. Elliott
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Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP sees resilience every day as executive
director of Augsburg’s Health Commons, which are drop-in health
centers led by the nursing program with a model focused on caring
for those in the community who are marginalized. Guests are not
required to show identi cation, and medical professionals don’t wear
scrubs or stethoscopes in order to increase relatability and public
trust in health care workers.
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Her focus at the Augsburg Central Health Commons is with
individuals who are experiencing homelessness or who are
marginally housed in Minneapolis, and the Health Commons in the
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Cedar-Riverside neighborhood provides care for residents, many of
whom are East African immigrants. As an assistant professor of
nursing, Clark teaches primarily in the graduate nursing program
Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP
(Courtesy photo)
through courses that emphasize social justice, health disparities, and
civic engagement.
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The Augsburg nursing program, Clark said, is unique because faculty and students are embedded in
the community. Other schools often see that work as “extra service” and send students to nonpro ts,
but Augsburg considers place-based work as central to the educational experience.
Hospitality and healing
“We help students serve and explore the world we live in,
and we’re with them when they do it,” Clark said. “They get
uncomfortable and lean into the biases they may have and
really get involved in a community to understand the
issues from the people who experience them.”
“You can’t come up with answers if you don’t know the
problems.”—Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP
When COVID-19 hit, the Health Commons at Central
Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis was one of the
Augsburg’s Health Commons received
donations from the community, including
27,200 bottles of water from UP Co ee
Roasters and a grassroots fundraising
campaign organized by Bethany Johnson ’19,
’23 DNP, whose family owns the business.
Johnson (left) delivered water to the Health
Commons with husband, David Chall
(middle), and daughter, Olivia Chall, in April
2020. (Courtesy photo)
only drop-in health centers that continued to stay open. At
the height of the pandemic, Clark said staying open meant
standing outside, passing out hygiene kits, and bringing
meals and supplies to encampments of unhoused people.
“Many of our students are adult learners seeking
bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Some of them
have dealt with furloughs or are at the bedsides of
patients, holding up the [touchscreen] tablet for family members to say goodbye, and adapting to
constant changes in health care environments. Then they have school in addition to their own
stressors at home, like juggling kids or responding to family members who say, ‘COVID isn’t real.’ These
students want to get involved and tackle the issues in their communities, and they are doing it! I get
chills talking about it.”
Ellen Kearney ’23 DNP is one of Clark’s students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice: Family Nurse
Practitioner program and also a registered nurse at a Twin Cities intensive care unit. Kearney admitted
that despite extensive safety measures, it was scary to be indoors at the Health Commons with
patients early in the pandemic. But the work—her passion—is critical, she added.
Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP (left) and President Paul Pribbenow at an Augsburg Bold event in the fall.
(Courtesy photo)
“Before COVID-19 we were able to serve between 50 and 100 people each Monday and Thursday,” said
Kearney. “Now we can only see 12 people each day we are open. But because our hours have not
changed, it has been nice to have a longer period alone with each guest if they chose to stay and talk.
I’ve been able to learn about one guest’s upcoming trip to her home country in Africa and her worries
about traveling, and I have been able to follow up with one older man while I do his foot care. It has
been hard to not open the doors fully, especially now that the weather is colder and knowing there are
so few public spaces open, though it is clear that we need to stay capped for everyone’s safety. While
the scale of the Commons is small, the impact is large.”
When Augsburg temporarily restricted students from working at the Commons, volunteers and
Augsburg alumni, like Emily Pierskalla ’20 DNP, stepped in to keep doors open. The most challenging
aspect of working as a registered nurse is ricocheting through stages of grief, which Pierskalla said is
emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. She avoids news about COVID-19 and social media
because it can trigger haunting memories.
“I have ashbacks of the faces of patients I’ve seen die while their loved ones cry watching through an
iPad or seeing my own co-workers struggling to breathe after getting sick,” said Pierskalla, who has
worked for eight years at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. “It has taken a lot of
therapy, self-care, and e ort to keep the burnout from causing me to become bitter and angry, or
worse, apathetic to the world and society.”
She has also worked as a nurse practitioner at CVS MinuteClinics, administering COVID-19 tests and
helping people understand their test results and quarantine recommendations—e orts that have
immediate practical e ects.
“When I’m at the Commons or out in the camps, I actually feel like I’m helping to create the world I
want to live in.”—Emily Pierskalla ’20 DNP
Ray Yip ’72 has extensive global health experience, including work in Qinghai, a sparsely populated Chinese
province. (Courtesy photo)
Advocates for change
Auggies are working across the globe to create policies and medical
solutions to realize that better world. Dr. Ray Yip ’72 is a global
health specialist serving as special advisor to the Gates Venture on
China Partnership Development. For the past 22 years, he has
assisted the Chinese government in improving its public health
system, with a focus on disease control and response capacity. When
COVID-19 began spreading in January, Yip was in Beijing.
“I was impressed with how aggressive the outbreak was in Wuhan,
and I predicted that China would be able to get it under control by
April. To my pleasant surprise, China achieved that seemingly
impossible task by mid-March.”
In February, he returned to his home in upstate New York, from
Ray Yip ’72 (Courtesy photo)
which he has advised several organizations about COVID-19-related
issues and provided a range of companies with updates about the
progress of vaccine development worldwide.
“This pandemic, which we knew would happen sooner or later, requires strong government
leadership as well as commitment and partnership with the private sectors for the solutions.”—Ray
Yip ’72
“More than 23 years with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told me the United States
had the know-how and capacity to contain this epidemic. After all, I was sent to China to help them to
build such capacity. My prediction was so o , I hate to admit it. We all su er dearly from the dire
consequence of horrible mismanagement, which largely has to do with leadership failure. It was
particularly painful to watch the CDC get sidelined, and public health measures became politicized.”
The heroes of the pandemic, Yip said: health care workers.
“Most people do not realize the risk and danger of those health care workers taking care of the COVID
patients, especially in the early phase when protective gear was in short supply. A disproportionate
number of them got infected and died. If I were my younger version, I would not hesitate to join them
in on the front lines. I am grateful for their service and sacri ce.”
Interview with Dr. Ray Yip '72
·
Augsburg University Alumni Association was Live Follow
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Dr. Paul Mueller ’84, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health
System’s Southwest Wisconsin region, oversees thousands of such
workers attending to patients in two hospitals and eight clinics. He
manages COVID-19 response through policy decisions and exploring
new treatments while treating the disease in his own patient panel.
“It is weighty from a psychological standpoint, as you try to be a
leader in such an ever-changing, high-stakes environment, knowing
the lives you impact,” said Mueller, who has served as an Augsburg
regent and as the campaign chair of Great Returns: Augsburg’s
Sesquicentennial Campaign. “But every day I walk the halls of our
hospitals and clinics and see the resilience and ingenuity of our sta
who have delivered on the promise of medicine. Nurses greet me
with a smile behind personal protective equipment. They are busy
Paul Mueller ’84 (Courtesy photo)
but feel called and up to this work. With a can-do attitude, we are
caring for patients in the darkest of times, administering novel
treatments, and preparing to safely roll out vaccines.
“We’re still in the thick of it. If you think of it like a marathon, we are at mile marker 19. But if we can
maintain resilience and hope, we will nish the race and be better for it.”—Paul Mueller ’84
“This pandemic has shown us that we all breathe the same air, and it is the one thing that is unifying
our entire planet. While the virus rages on killing people, we continue to see the brilliance of the human
spirit—beacons of hope and optimism, compassion and resilience, integrity and ingenuity.”
Caring for patients, fueling research
Brittany Kimball ’13 is a third-year resident at the
University of Minnesota in internal medicine and
pediatrics. The pandemic has taken its toll on her and
other residents, as expectations are in ux and
workloads are stressful and exhausting. Virtual visits are
di cult because of a lack of internet and personal
connectivity, Kimball said. Loneliness has infected the
hospitals. Last week, Kimball watched a nurse gently care
for a patient isolated from visitors, playing his favorite
music as he died.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly compounded
patients’ conditions. Children are missing well visits and
Brittany Kimball ’13: “Getting my rst COVID-19
vaccine at Masonic Children’s Hospital—which I
encourage everyone to do as soon as it
becomes available to them!” (Courtesy photo)
immunizations. Cancer patients require COVID-19 tests
prior to chemotherapy, sometimes missing a treatment
because they have the virus. Many of my primary care
patients with diabetes are wary of clinic visits, thus
making it harder to [measure doses of] their medications,” said Kimball, who earned a bachelor’s
degree in biology from Augsburg.
“Most troublesome, the pandemic has compounded inequities for already marginalized people. Some
of my patients don’t have internet, while others don’t have access to a regular phone. For some
patients, limited English pro ciency can make getting set up on a virtual platform more di cult.
Brittany Kimball ’13 (left) and her co-resident work at the Minneapolis Veterans A airs Health Care System.
(Courtesy photo)
“Patients dealing with addiction and trying to maintain sobriety have told me that their usual coping
mechanisms—like getting together with other people who are sober or participating in a faith
community—have become inaccessible. For patients living in poverty, balancing virtual school and
frontline jobs has been incredibly stressful and sometimes impossible. It’s often people living in
poverty that are doing frontline work that makes them more likely to be exposed to the virus, like
working in a restaurant, public transit, or in a store.”
“We need to gure out how to make telemedicine more equitable.”—Brittany Kimball ’13
Her dream has long been to be a doctor, so despite the challenges, she pushes on—driven to pursue a
fellowship in hematology-oncology. As a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, Kimball is particularly
interested in caring for adolescents and young adults with cancer and blood diseases. “As an 18-yearold in my rst semester at Augsburg, I was guring out dating while bald, chemo after classes, and
trying to study when my brain felt foggy and my body felt sick,” she added. “Sometimes I needed a bit
more guidance and support than a typical adult patient, but not in the same way that a much younger
child might. Teens and young adults don’t t neatly in the pediatric or adult-centered models of care,
and I hope I can make that better.”
Hamdi Adam ’18 is similarly driven to make a di erence. As a
doctoral student of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota,
Adam followed his bachelor’s in biology from Augsburg with a
master’s degree in public health at the University of Minnesota.
Adam studies cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurocognitive
disorders. He is focused on investigating the impact of COVID-19 on
chronic conditions, which can lead to higher risk of mortality,
especially among people with existing risk factors, like high blood
pressure and diabetes.
“At some point down the road, I’ll probably get the chance to utilize
COVID-19 data to assess the relationship between COVID status and
various chronic disease conditions in population-based research
studies and hopefully add valuable and timely information to the
Hamdi Adam ’18 (Courtesy photo)
base of existing literature,” said Adam, who—as a rst-generation
Oromo American—is interested in applying his research to address
health disparities a ecting people of color. “It feels good to know that your studies and work are for
the betterment of people. With research, sometimes you feel like your work is so detached from the
true health problems you are attempting to address, but I like to think that epidemiologic research
provides the basis for informing more direct actions, such as health policy development and e ective
community-based interventions.”
Another researcher, Will Matchett ’13, earned a
doctorate in virology and gene therapy from the Mayo
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He works as a
postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota, where
he will spend up to ve years acquiring training that will
allow him to run his own lab. Between April and August, his
research focused exclusively on developing a SARS-CoV-2
test to measure the speci c antibodies that block the virus
from entering cells. Since September, his focus has shifted
to testing a COVID-19 vaccine being developed at the
University of Minnesota.
Will Matchett ’13 used a plaque assay to
quantify the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus in a
sample at the University of Minnesota
biosafety lab in August 2020. (Courtesy photo)
Increasing and diversifying COVID-19 testing
Does all the medical terminology sound like a foreign language?
That’s how Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL described her rst few
weeks as the higher education operations lead for Minnesota’s
COVID-19 Testing Work Group. Since 2009, she has worked at
Augsburg, the last six of those years as director for the Sabo Center
for Democracy and Citizenship. But since June, the Sabo Center has
put her “on loan” to Minnesota’s State Emergency Operations Center
to work with a team of experts to launch Minnesota’s testing plan in
collaboration with colleges and universities. Subgroups are assigned
to areas such as long-term care, child care and schools, community
testing, hotspots, case investigation and contact tracing, research,
data, purchasing, and contracts.
Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL
(Photo by Courtney Perry)
“My work at Augsburg prepared me for this role in a variety of ways.
The role is necessarily collaborative and involves recognizing that
di erent people have di erent roles to play and respecting those
di erent perspectives and sets of expertise.”—Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL
“Civic engagement work is like that, too. I’ve also been thinking a lot about the Master of Arts in
Leadership program, which I completed in 2018. This work is like having a master class in leadership
and public health every day.”
In April, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced a “moonshot goal” of 20,000 tests per day in the state, at
a time when only about 2,000 tests were being performed daily, Eschenbacher said. The testing work
group increased capacity and made that moonshot goal by the end of June.
“Since then, we’ve been continuing to increase and diversify COVID testing, and make sure that the
people who most need it have access to it. During the week of Thanksgiving, our daily average for
testing across the state was more than 57,000,” she added. “Testing is an important tool in controlling
the spread of COVID-19, and making testing accessible regardless of income or location is an important
equity issue.”
Eschenbacher has spent her days planning and data-modeling as it relates to higher education,
consulting with speci c institutions in the wake of outbreaks, guiding higher education testing, and
organizing partnerships for case investigation and contact-tracing. She facilitates webinars and other
information pieces about saliva testing, serves as state incident commander for community testing
events, and helped coordinate mass testing of 18- to 35-year-olds prior to Thanksgiving. More recently,
she has served as incident commander for a community vaccination site.
“It feels like a cliché to say this, but it is an absolute honor to do this work. We talk a lot about vocation
at Augsburg, and I guess I would say that vocation can sneak up on you. I never would have dreamed
of doing the work I’ve done since June, but it feels like purpose.”
These are only a handful of the Auggies who are living out their passionate purpose to bring an end to
this crushing pandemic and, in the meantime, to soften the blow.
Augsburg stories on COVID-19:
What it takes to ght a pandemic, part 1: Community collaboration and mutual aid
Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist guides Auggies through the COVID-19 pandemic
Top Image: Augsburg’s coronavirus guidelines, including face coverings and physical distancing in
classrooms and public places, helped protect Auggies from COVID-19. Professor and Chemistry
Department Chair Joan Kunz instructs in the Hagfors Center. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
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CONFRONTING THE MINNESOTA PARADOX
Signi cant racial disparities exist in a state with a liberal reputation, but
some are seeking ways to close the gaps
by Gita Sitaramiah
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Robert Harper ’16 remembers the rst time he was called the nword.
His family had moved to Minnesota from the South Side of Chicago,
seeking a better life. Since then, he’s achieved that better life, earning
an undergraduate degree from Augsburg University and a master’s
degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of
Public A airs. He is now a supplier diversity director for the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
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“I think I’ve had a unique experience escaping poverty on the South
Side of Chicago and North Minneapolis, only to be confronted with
the daily decisions made by white people that only re-create those
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circumstances of oppression,” Harper said.
Robert Harper ’16 (Courtesy photo)
While he’s now a working professional in a state that prides itself on
being “Minnesota nice,” Harper never gets too comfortable, recalling that painful moment when he
was walking to middle school and a passing driver shouted the racial epithet at him. More recently, on
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a trip to northern Minnesota, Harper was told while visiting Gull Lake, ‘You don’t belong here,’ by a
white man.
“It’s moments like that when you’re trying to do better, ‘pull yourselves up by your bootstraps,’ that
society reminds you that there’s a glass ceiling for some,” Harper said.
“Some people constantly remind you that they decide how far you go, what rooms you enter, and in
the case of George Floyd, whether or not you live.”—Robert Harper ’16
Exposing the paradox
George Floyd’s murder three miles from Augsburg University put an international spotlight on not only
the experiences of Black people at the hands of the criminal justice system but also the reality of the
disturbing “Minnesota paradox.”
That’s how University of Minnesota Professor Samuel Myers
describes how Minnesota has such a high quality of life and a history
of progressive politicians but is one of the worst places to live for
Black people.
“Measured by racial gaps in unemployment rates, wage and salary
incomes, incarceration rates, arrest rates, home ownership rates,
mortgage lending rates, test scores, reported child maltreatment
rates, school disciplinary and suspension rates, and even drowning
rates, African Americans are worse o in Minnesota than they are in
virtually every other state in the nation,” Myers said.
The numbers illustrate the bleak story:
Samuel Myers (Courtesy photo)
Only 25.3% of Black households in Minnesota own homes
versus 76.9% of white households, according to census data, a
stark divide given that home ownership is considered the leading contributor to household wealth.
The median household income for Black households in the state is the lowest of any group at
$41,570, about half of what Asian and white households earn.
In the Twin Cities, African Americans represent 9% of the overall population, but are incarcerated
at 11 times the rate of whites who represent 76% of the population, the NAACP reported last year.
Only 21.7% of Black people hold bachelor’s degrees or higher versus nearly 40% overall.
Meanwhile, between 2010 and 2018, the fastest growing racial group in Minnesota was the Black
population, which grew by 36%, adding more than 96,500 people.
Many are immigrants but face the same backdrop of a state that hasn’t historically acknowledged that
discrimination plays a role in the Black story here, Myers said.
“When it comes to race in the Twin Cities, in Minnesota, there was this instinctive belief that we already
know what the problem is, that it’s not really a problem, and since it’s not a problem, we don’t need to
nd answers,” Myers said.
The COVID-19 pandemic compounded the inequities. The unemployment rate for Black Minnesotans
in the aftermath of pandemic shutdowns rose to 15.3% last July, up 9 percentage points from a year
earlier, versus 6.3% for white workers, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development reported. According to a Pew Research report published in December: “Among Black
Americans, 71% know someone who has been hospitalized or died because of COVID-19.”
Kevin Ehrman-Solberg ’15 (center right) and the Mapping Prejudice Project team found inequities in housing
documents throughout Minneapolis’ history. (Courtesy photo, 2017)
The path to today’s Minneapolis
High pro le police killings of Black men in this region—including George Floyd, Philando Castile, and
Jamar Clark—have heightened the protests and urgency for change. The viral video of Floyd’s murder
with his neck under the knee of a Minneapolis police o cer seemed to dawn a new era in the ght for
justice.
Protesters took to the streets for weeks around the globe. Gra ti images of Floyd sprang up
worldwide, even on a West Bank barrier in the Middle East. CEOs of Fortune 500 corporations in
Minnesota wrote an open letter of outrage. Athletes of all races took the knee before matches to show
their support for racial equity.
In the city of Minneapolis, at the center of the controversy, there was swift action against the o cers,
something unprecedented.
“Despite decades of police incidents that resulted in the deaths of
people of color, today’s actions by the mayor represent the rst time
in modern history that Minneapolis police o cers were red within
24 hours for unjustly murdering a citizen,” said Michael Lansing,
associate professor and chair of Augsburg’s history department, in a
May 26 series of tweets about the Minneapolis Police Department.
(Lansing’s comments on the history of uprisings and Minneapolis
police were also carried by The Washington Post and Mother Jones.)
Now, many are acknowledging the systems that are behind today’s
Minneapolis. Even the South Minneapolis street where George Floyd
was killed is in a historically Black working-class and middle-class
neighborhood created by housing segregation, Lansing said in his
tweet series.
Indeed, Mapping Prejudice Project, a team of community members,
Associate Professor Michael
Lansing (Photo by Stephen Ge re)
geographers, and historians based at the University of Minnesota,
have unearthed thousands of racial covenants in Minneapolis that reserved land for the exclusive use
of white people.
Those restrictions served as powerful obstacles for people of color seeking safe and a ordable
housing. Racial covenants, dovetailed with redlining and predatory lending practices, depressed
homeownership rates for Black residents. They also limited access to community resources like schools
and parks.
While contemporary white residents of Minneapolis like to think their city never had formal
segregation, those racial covenants did the work of Jim Crow in the Twin Cities, said Kevin EhrmanSolberg ’15, a co-founder of Mapping Prejudice.
“The reputation of Minneapolis is that it’s a liberal bastion, yet there’s a racist reality that people live
in.”—Kevin Ehrman-Solberg ’15
Professor William Green (Photo by Courtney Perry)
Looking forward with a pragmatic lens
While the period following George Floyd’s murder looked like a change moment, Augsburg University’s
M. Anita Gay Hawthorne Professor of Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies William Green worries that
the momentum started to diminish as the summer progressed. “The challenge that we face is to do the
hard work to de ne what change means, and second, how to get at the root of the problems that lead
to disparities in society.”
Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce President Jonathan Weinhagen
looks ahead to the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder
and to the question of how much progress has been made in raising
awareness about and working to eliminate the disparities
experienced by people of color.
“[Closing the racial divide] is not going to be resolved in a year. It’s
going to take more time, but it’s going to have to be far more rapid
than anything we’ve done to date.”—Jonathan Weinhagen
The implications of these disparities are wide-reaching, with
government o cials and the business community concerned that a
growing population that isn’t able to fully participate in or bene t
from the economy will threaten the vitality of the state as a whole.
Jonathan Weinhagen (Courtesy
photo)
“To have a large and growing part of our economy be marginalized is a huge disadvantage to all of us
because it takes a huge part of the population out,” said Susan Brower, Minnesota’s demographer.
The NAACP’s 48-page Twin Cities Economic Inclusion Plan issued in 2019 calls for a comprehensive,
multi-pronged policy agenda anchored by ve basic principles: economic sustainability, education,
health, public safety and criminal justice, and voter rights and political representation.
The role of education
Many are looking to young people to be the lasting change.
The nonpro t Generation Next in Minneapolis has emerged to support children from “cradle to
career,” envisioning a future in which “every child has the academic, social, and emotional skills to
thrive in a globally uent world.”
Alan Page, retired Minnesota Supreme Court justice, and Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal
Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, proposed in 2020 amending Minnesota’s constitution to give every child
a civil right to a quality public education. They de ne the current approach as a system that works well
for children from well-to-do families but fails children from low-income families.
“A quality education is without question the most powerful tool we have to break the cycle of poverty
and create a society in which everyone can fully participate,” Kashkari and Page wrote in the Star
Tribune. “It doesn’t just change one child’s life. It has the potential to improve the future for
generations to come and lead to a more productive, vibrant society for all of us.”
Meanwhile, Augsburg University is positioned to be a statewide leader in the turnaround, with years of
intentional work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. “I certainly feel that higher education is the clearest
path to a middle-class life or better,” Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow said.
Augsburg University's Hagfors Center. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
Augsburg’s e orts to address disparities and work
toward equity
After the murder of George Floyd only a few miles from campus, Augsburg University introduced in
June the Justice for George Floyd Initiatives to focus on working to heal the community, creating
leadership and structures that make tangible change, and ensuring accountability for the work of
undoing racist systems.
New e orts were introduced to combat systemic racism, including a critical race and ethnicity studies
department; diversity, equity, and inclusion training; and a requirement that all faculty and sta
complete antiracism training. Augsburg also canceled classes and suspended operations June 4 and 5
so students, faculty, and sta could have an opportunity to grieve.
“We acknowledge the pain, fear, and trauma faced by the Augsburg community—especially our
students, faculty, and sta of color—remain a lived reality every day,” Pribbenow said. “This work by
Augsburg will be persistent, resolute, courageous, and integrated into everything the university does.”
This ongoing work includes several components:
Augsburg named William Green, professor of history, the inaugural holder of the M. Anita Gay
Hawthorne professorship of critical race and ethnic studies.
The university is employing new accountability for inclusive, antiracist leadership across the
institution and reviewing Augsburg’s major academic and administrative policies and practices with
a special focus on undoing bias and discrimination and enhancing student success.
Augsburg created a scholarship in memory of George Floyd and established a fund that matched
donations from students, faculty, and sta for organizations doing important work, especially for
Black-owned businesses and nonpro t organizations.
Augsburg appointed the rst Chief Diversity O cer, Joanne K. Reeck, in 2016 and became home
in 2019 to The Forum on Workplace Inclusion, the nation’s largest workplace diversity, equity, and
inclusion conference.
These moves are an important continuation of Augsburg’s e orts to build and maintain an equitable
and inclusive campus that became a strategic focus in 2006, resulting in Augsburg welcoming its most
diverse incoming rst-year class ever in 2017. Students of color are now in the majority of traditional
undergraduates, making Augsburg one of the most diverse private colleges in the Midwest.
As Augsburg is learning in its own community, Minnesota’s multifaceted disparities require a
multifaceted approach that summons individual and collective willpower to align impact with intent.
Despite Harper’s success after graduating from Augsburg, he views the disparate outcomes as a call to
action, even forming his own economic development consulting rm, R.D.T.H Consulting, focused on
social impact in addition to his day job. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
Top Image: Minneapolis is a city with a liberal reputation, but racial disparities persist. (Photo by
Courtney Perry)
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STAY THE COURSE: OFF-AND-ON SPORTS
SEASONS PROVE AUGGIE STUDENTATHLETES’ RESILIENCE
After a pause on competitions due to COVID-19, Auggies are ready to get
back in the game
by Kate Norlander
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The COVID-19 pandemic put a major pause on 2020’s athletic competitions. The Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postponed the fall sports season. In January the league announced
plans for a modi ed winter season for basketball, hockey, indoor track and eld, and swimming and
diving (though it’s not o cially part of the MIAC, wrestling will follow the same guidelines). Auggies
can’t wait to get back in the game.
Many student-athletes have been practicing their sports since elementary school. During the past year,
the pandemic disrupted participation in activities that have been important to their lives. But
Augsburg’s Athletics sta and student-athletes have met this challenge with a commitment to the
health and safety of the community. This willingness to put safety rst means that student-athletes
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are now able to compete.
In order for student-athletes to participate in sports this year, the NCAA created rules designed to
promote safety. Augsburg Athletics also made sure that strong safety measures were in place, which
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has helped students feel a bit more at ease during an anxious time.
Devon Hannah ’21, a guard on the men’s basketball team, said,
“We have the freedom to decide whether or not we feel comfortable
with an activity. The Athletics Department is handling this well,
keeping us safe physically and mentally, too.”
Coaches play an important role in student-athletes’ lives, which
means they are often among the rst people to learn when a
student receives a positive COVID-19 test result. This means that
they are not only helping students develop skills in their sport; they
are also watching out for the safety of their team.
Devon Hannah ’21 (Courtesy
photo)
Corrina Evans ’21, a middle blocker on the women’s volleyball team,
said, “The coaches and trainers are sharing campus resources like
the Center for Wellness and Counseling. They have check-in times
when we can talk about anything, and they will call or text us: doing
contact tracing, helping us understand how to quarantine correctly
if we have to do that, and making sure we have everything we need.”
Changes to practice and
competition
Corrina Evans ’21 (Courtesy
photo)
Even with precautionary measures in place, there are times when
teams have to pause their practice, whether a teammate tested
positive for COVID-19 or a rising number of cases in Minnesota required universities to temporarily
close workout and sports facilities, which occurred in the fall and early winter.
Read more about Auggies ghting the pandemic.
When they’re able to practice, Augsburg’s student-athletes gather in pods that have gradually
increased in size as they were safely able to do so. While the smallest pods have allowed students to
practice their sports safely and to control the spread of the virus, they’ve also presented a challenge.
“It’s di cult to get to know each other and to gel as a team,” Hannah said.
“Practices are very di erent,” said Evans. “You can’t see people’s faces because of the masks. But we’ve
been able to move up into bigger pods, which gives us a more normal team chemistry and allows us to
have a full team practice and do some scrimmaging. The challenges are more mental than physical.”
In early January, the MIAC gave teams the go-ahead to compete again, although competitions are
limited and spectators are not allowed. (Augsburg has o ered free livestream viewing for all home
events and some road events.) Students in sports that present a higher risk for COVID-19 transmission
must get tested three times each week in order to practice and compete—measures well worth it for
eager players and coaches. “It’s exciting to be able to get back to playing and feel in the groove again,”
said Colleen Enrico ’14, assistant athletic director, volleyball assistant coach, and Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee advisor.
Melissa Lee ’04 (left), assistant athletic director and softball head coach, leads softball practice in Augsburg’s
dome in February 2021. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
Prioritizing mental health
Augsburg Athletics had already begun addressing the mental health of student-athletes before the
pandemic. In the summer of 2019, all coaches and sta took an eight-hour course in mental health rst
aid, which can provide support for student-athletes and coaches until they can speak with mental
health professionals.
Mark Wick, men’s hockey assistant coach, has recently taken on new, temporary duties at Augsburg
as he sets up a mental health advocacy program for Augsburg Athletics. “We need to know how to deal
with what is happening now, but in ve to 10 years, people still will be dealing with losing jobs or loved
ones,” Wick said. “Hopefully it won’t be as bad as it is now, but how we use this time can help prepare
us for growth.”
Augsburg University
@AugsburgU
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and
@AugsburgU Assistant Hockey Coach @coachwick23 will
hold a golf tournament to raise awareness, as this
subject is very personal to him. “It’s OK to reach out and
ask for help,” Wick told @WCCO.
Augsburg Assistant Hockey Coach Mark Wick's Push For Suicide Awa…
September is Suicide Awareness Month. And on Tuesday, Augsburg
University assistant hockey coach Mark Wick will hold a golf …
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Fostering the Auggie Experience
Enrico reported that in past years, student-athletes met with the entire team sta on a weekly basis,
but this year they are meeting with a di erent coach each week. This allows them to be more open and
build better relationships with their coaches. As in past years, coaches touch base with students about
their lives outside of their sport so that, for instance, if they are struggling with classes, the coach can
suggest resources for help. This year coaches are also making a point of paying attention to upcoming
events so that they can suggest activities that might help student-athletes better connect with their
fellow students.
It’s been a tough year for everyone, and that has been particularly true for rst-year students who
were unable to participate in many traditional activities at the end of their senior year in high school
and now have begun their college experience under di cult conditions. For that reason, Enrico said,
coaches have made a point of connecting third- and fourth-year students with rst-year and other
new students.
Augsburg Athletics
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Check out some photos from a recent Augsburg women's
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Di erent teams have di erent approaches to these connections. In volleyball, coaches have suggested
podcasts that each student can discuss with a di erent teammate each week. “We want them to get
outside of volleyball, so the podcasts might be on topics such as banking or racial diversity,” Enrico
said.
Fostering these connections—between teammates, between each student-athlete and coach, and
between student-athletes and the wider Augsburg community—is, perhaps, one of the most
important things coaches can do for their student-athletes this year. All of them help these students
feel a sense of community. In Enrico’s words, “the Auggie experience is community.”
Top image: The COVID-19 pandemic has required temporary closures and reopenings of workout
spaces, including Augsburg’s weight room, with students’ health in mind. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
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AUGSBURG’S IN-HOUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
GUIDES AUGGIES THROUGH THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC
On the Spot Q&A with Associate Professor Alicia Quella
by John Weirick
February 22, 2021
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Remember those days of uncertainty in March 2020, when we had
more questions than answers, and before most of us used terms like
“coronavirus” and “social distancing”?
The United States saw an increase in COVID-19 infections, and some
states—including Minnesota—applied stay-at-home orders to mitigate
the spread. Weeks before that in ection point, Augsburg University
administrators, faculty, and sta convened a COVID-19 task force.
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Not all educational institutions have an epidemiologist on sta , but
Augsburg is fortunate. One of the task force’s principal leaders is Alicia
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Quella, associate professor and director of Augsburg’s physician
assistant program. As an educator with a PhD in epidemiology and
experience in public health settings around the world, her expertise
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has proved invaluable for the university’s grasp of the evolving global
crisis and Augsburg’s response to maintain the health and safety of
community members.
Associate Professor Alicia Quella
(Photo by Courtney Perry)
Between elding student questions about the coronavirus, volunteering at COVID-19 testing sites, and
ensuring the Augsburg community can trace contacts and reduce transmission on campus, Quella shared
some perspectives on her work and where we go from here.
Q: How have you been involved in Augsburg’s outbreak planning
and COVID-19 response?
A: I serve on the pandemic task force, a university-wide team of people that assembled after it was
apparent that COVID-19 would signi cantly a ect institutions of higher education across the United States.
We collaborate regularly with epidemiologists from the Minnesota Department of Health to implement
public health guidelines for campuses. We started to meet daily to coordinate issues involving classrooms
and labs, athletics, residence halls, dining services, facilities, and global education. We started a COVID-19
Response Team, which comprises sta and faculty across campus who implement health protocols and
support students and personnel who have illness, have COVID-19, or have been exposed to it.
R.John
@raccajohn
Neither rain nor SNOW can keep @AugsburgU's Dr. Alicia
Quella from working the walk-up/drive-up COVID-19
testing location @PeoplesCenter Cedar Riverside Clinic
1:50 AM · Oct 21, 2020
3
See the latest COVID-19 information on Twitter
Q: What were your rst thoughts when you heard about COVID19 and considered its implications for the Augsburg community?
A: When news of a novel coronavirus was circulating in China, I was immediately concerned because I had
studied the epidemiology of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-1) during my doctoral work
through the University of Iowa Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases. In 2003, SARS quickly spread to 29
countries, so I knew that this would be a major issue in the United States.
Q: At this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, what are the most
important things for the public to understand and do?
A: To reach herd immunity [when a signi cant portion of a community is immune to a disease and thereby
makes spread unlikely] we all need to continue to ‘bubble’ and limit the number of close contacts, wear face
masks, socially distance, and get vaccinated.
I also encourage the students and my patients to be creative and nd ways to keep active and engaged—
start a new hobby, do something outdoors, and reach out to relatives and friends who may be isolated
right now.
Q: What do you see in the post-COVID-19 world?
A: Colleges and universities have seen a rapid di usion of innovation in how they are using technology to
deliver curriculum, participate in athletics, and maintain operations. This energy and innovation will have to
continue to promote widespread vaccine uptake. Vaccine hesitancy is an issue, especially in communities of
color that have been disproportionately a ected by COVID-19 because of structural racism. Augsburg will
need to make this a top priority moving forward.
Q: What’s a memorable moment of the past year that made an
impact on you?
A: As an epidemiologist and a physician assistant, I’ve had the opportunity to continue to see patients and
work with Augsburg students, sta , and faculty. I recently received the COVID-19 vaccine and have felt
humbled and honored to now be able to continue to work more safely in the community.
Top image: Associate Professor Alicia Quella’s experience as an epidemiologist has helped maintain the health and
safety of the Augsburg community. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
Read more Augsburg stories on COVID-19.
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NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW:
COME AND SEE!
by Paul C. Pribbenow
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February 22, 2021
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In the Christian church, the liturgical season before Lent is called
Epiphany, a time when we re ect on the good news that God has
broken into human history and that we are called to share that good
news with all of creation. There is a wonderful invitational character to
Epiphany, in which we ask each other and our neighbors to “Come and
see” all that God is doing in our midst.
In that spirit, this issue of Augsburg Now invites all of us to come
and see what the Augsburg community is doing in its 151st academic
year, in the midst of a global pandemic, to live out our mission. In
these pandemic times, Augsburg students, faculty, and sta have
brought great imagination, resilience, and courage to our work
together. I am so proud of what they have accomplished, and I invite
you to come and see …
Come and see the gift of the surprises we found in how we teach and
learn, how we keep our community and neighborhood safe and
President Paul Pribbenow (Photo by
Courtney Perry)
healthy, how we live out our most deeply held commitments and
values, and how we are open to new and innovative ways of living and working.
Paul Pribbenow
@paulpribbenow
I’m out and about, delivering yard signs to the
@AugsburgU Class of 2024! Here’s Vanessa - a proud
new Auggie. #augsburgbold #auggiepride
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4:13 PM · Jun 30, 2020
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Come and see how we answered the call to serve our neighbors even when we must navigate the
challenges of a virus, economic disruption, and racial reckoning. Our focus on supporting local businesses,
meeting the needs of those experiencing homelessness, ensuring that all of our students have the
resources they need to be successful, and nding ways to feed the hungry—all these illustrate how our
community embraces its commitments to our neighbors.
Come and see the promise of abundance in a time and world too often characterized by scarcity. We believe
deeply in what the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone proclaimed: “We all do better when we all do better.”
Our abiding commitments to equity and inclusion—and our aspiration to be an anti-racist university—lead
us to robust engagement with each other and with the wider community so that all will do better.
Augsburg University is a distinctive community, de ning in its life and work a vision for higher education in
the 21st century. I am deeply grateful for the support of alumni and friends, whose generosity and
engagement help us live into our vision to educate Auggies as stewards of an inclusive democracy. Come
and see.
Faithfully yours,
Paul C. Pribbenow, President
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AUGSBURG BOARD OF REGENTS WELCOMES
NEW AND REELECTED MEMBERS
by John Weirick
February 22, 2021
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The Augsburg University Board of Regents meeting in October 2020 included celebration of the
election of new and continuing regents.
James Hereford and Veena Iyer were elected to their rst four-year terms.
Nick Gangestad ’86, Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, Jill Nelson Thomas, and Noya
Woodrich ’92, ’94 MSW were elected to second four-year terms.
Pam Moksnes ’79 was elected to a third four-year term.
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Finally, Bishop Laurie Skow-Anderson and Bishop Ann Svennungsen were appointed to serve
three-year terms as ex o cio members of the board.
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Nick Gangestad ’86
James Hereford
Veena Iyer
Pam Moksnes ’79
Jill Nelson Thomas
Laurie Skow-Anderson
Ann Svennungsen
Marlene Whiterabbit
Helgemo
Noya Woodrich ’92, ’94
MSW
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AUGSBURG’S RECENT AWARDS, RANKINGS,
AND RECOGNITION
by Briana Alamilla '17
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February 22, 2021
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Each year, Augsburg University is recognized for its academic excellence, student-centered community, and
commitment to educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and
responsible leaders.
Augsburg’s recent awards and rankings include:
2020 Best Colleges by Money
Most Transformative Colleges
2020–21 Military Friendly® School by Military Friendly®
2020 Best of the Best LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities, Midwest region by Campus Pride
Top 30 in the Country
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2020 Best Colleges For Financial Aid by LendEDU
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79th in the United States
2nd in Minnesota
2020 Best Value Colleges and Universities in Minnesota by BestValueSchools.com
2021 Best Universities, Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report
3rd in Most Innovative Schools
4th in Campus Ethnic Diversity
7th in Undergraduate Teaching
14th in Best Colleges for Veterans
15th in Best Value
Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Augsburg University’s Department of Business Administration was recently accredited for the
undergraduate and Master of Business Administration programs.
View more of Augsburg’s awards and rankings.
Top image: Augsburg’s Hagfors Center. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
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PLAYWRIGHTS’ CENTER PARTNERS WITH
AUGSBURG TO OFFER COURSES WITH
LEADING PLAYWRIGHTS
by John Weirick
February 22, 2021
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The Playwrights’ Center and Augsburg University announced a new partnership to o er accredited courses
taught by the nation’s leading playwrights. Through online courses, students connect with peers and faculty
members from across the United States. The courses, o ered through Augsburg’s Center for Global
Education and Experience, are guided by Augsburg’s Theater Department in conjunction with the
Playwrights’ Center.
“With these courses, students will learn with and from writers at the top of their eld, seeing what it takes to
have pieces published and performed,” said Patrick Mulvihill, Augsburg’s assistant provost for global
education and experience, in an interview with Broadway World.
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Top image: An Augsburg student tours the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Ge re)
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30th NSF grant, continues space weather study
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PROFESSOR EMERITUS MARK
ENGEBRETSON RECEIVES 30TH NSF GRANT,
CONTINUES SPACE WEATHER STUDY
by John Weirick
February 22, 2021
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Mark Engebretson, Augsburg University professor emeritus of
physics, received a ve-year grant totaling $805,744 from the National
Science Foundation (Award Number 2013648).
This grant supports the continued operation and data analysis of the
Magnetometer Array for Cusp and Cleft Studies, which is used to study
near-Earth space weather, such as solar winds that may disrupt
communication and navigation systems. It represents the 30th
research study on which Engebretson has served as the principal
investigator through NSF funding.
Engebretson has led several research projects—including some with
Augsburg student-researchers—studying ionospheric and space
physics in collaboration with European and NASA satellite programs.
Nearly 100 Augsburg students have gained paid research experience
working on these research projects.
Professor Emeritus Mark
Engebretson (Photo by Stephen Ge re)
Engebretson has authored or coauthored more than 300 scholarly
research articles on topics related to space weather.
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Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Star
Tribune, and Minnesota Urban Debate League
cosponsor justice reform essay contest
Playwrights’ Center partners with Augsburg to
o er courses with leading playwrights
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MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES AND LYNX,
STAR TRIBUNE, AND MINNESOTA URBAN
DEBATE LEAGUE COSPONSOR JUSTICE
REFORM ESSAY CONTEST
by John Weirick
February 22, 2021
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In Fall 2020, Augsburg University’s Minnesota Urban Debate League joined the Star Tribune news company
and the Minnesota Lynx and Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball teams in cosponsoring a
youth essay contest focused on criminal justice reform.
Minnesota students ages 10 to 18 were invited to submit a written essay, video, or audio recording that
described local or national changes that could reduce racial injustice and inequities in the criminal justice
system. MNUDL determined the top 10 entries, which were judged by a panel of coaches from the
Timberwolves and Lynx and representatives from local organizations, including MN Rise and The
Minneapolis Foundation.
Editor’s note: Winning submissions were announced February 27 in the Star Tribune.
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Augsburg awarded $10,000 Minneapolis
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30th NSF grant, continues space weather study
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AUGSBURG AWARDED $10,000
MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION GRANT
by John Weirick
February 22, 2021
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In September 2020, the Minneapolis Foundation announced that it would award more than $500,000 in
grants to 40 organizations in the Twin Cities. Following the increased public dialogue about public safety
after the killing of George Floyd, the grants aim to reduce violence, address systemic inequities, and provide
community support.
The Minneapolis Foundation’s Fund for Safe Communities awarded $10,000 to Augsburg University to
elevate the voices of middle- and high-school students through debate on the topic of criminal justice
reform. Other grant recipients are organizations working to support art projects, mediation, mental health
services, civil rights education, and community healing while addressing police violence and public safety.
Top image: Demonstrators in Summer 2020 marched with a banner that was created as a part of Augsburg’s
One Day in May art campaign. (Photo by Leon Wang)
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Faculty members William Green and Timothy
Pippert assume new professorships
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AUGSBURG LAUNCHES THE CENTER FOR
INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
by Kate Norlander
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This fall, Augsburg University launched the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, which advances
education and support for Augsburg students and alumni in the disciplines of innovation,
entrepreneurship, and leadership.
The center’s focus is on the practice and psychology of innovation and entrepreneurship. Cory Erickson, an
instructor in Augsburg’s Master of Business Administration program, leads the center.
The center provides practical educational material for Augsburg students and alumni through a variety of
events and activities. These opportunities include:
a speaker series
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cooperative projects between student teams and local companies
support for students who are building organizations that impact social causes through innovation
and entrepreneurship
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support for student entrepreneurs
the creation of student teams drawn from the science and business departments to solve problems
for new startups
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student contests o ering awards and potential funding for new ventures
research and scholarship through a think tank
the promotion of internships for students in the for-pro t, nonpro t, and government sectors.
Top image: Instructor Cory Erickson leads the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. (Photo by Courtney
Perry)
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FACULTY MEMBERS WILLIAM GREEN AND
TIMOTHY PIPPERT ASSUME NEW
PROFESSORSHIPS
by John Weirick
February 22, 2021
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Professor of History William Green was named the inaugural M. Anita
Gay Hawthorne Professor of Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies, e ective
September 1, 2020. The position was created on the recommendation of a
working group of students, faculty, and sta who developed a vision for a
new academic department in critical race and ethnicity studies at
Augsburg University.
Related: Professor William Green comments on “Confronting the Minnesota
paradox”
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Professor of Sociology Timothy Pippert was named the inaugural holder
of the Joel Torstenson Endowed Professorship, e ective September 1,
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2020. This professorship is made possible through the generosity of Mark
Johnson ’75, who also supports the university’s Torstenson Scholars
program.
Top image: Professor Timothy Pippert teaches a sociology class in
Hagfors Center. (Photos by Courtney Perry)
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NSF GRANTS AUGSBURG $3 MILLION FOR
STEM STUDENTS
by Kate Norlander
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Augsburg University will receive $3,075,000 of a $5 million grant award from the National Science
Foundation to support the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students who are
pursuing bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (often referred to as
STEM).
The project will provide scholarships, internships, and research experiences for nearly 200 students over a
ve-year period beginning in the 2020–21 academic year at Augsburg, Century College, Minneapolis College,
and Normandale Community College. These institutions will work together to provide seamless pathways
for students to transfer from two-year to four-year STEM programs.
Scholarships of $7,500 to $10,000 will be awarded to students pursuing majors in biology, chemistry,
computer science, engineering, food science, mathematics, and physics. These students will be connected to
internships and research experiences through partner organizations SciTech, UpTurnships, and MnDRIVE,
as well as through Augsburg’s undergraduate research programs.
This is the third phase of a program initiated by Augsburg and funded by the NSF. Grants in the prior phases
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funded scholarships for 111 STEM students, 100% of whom graduated and went on to pursue careers or
continue their education in STEM elds.
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The project will be led by Rebekah Dupont, Augsburg’s director of STEM programs and associate professor
of mathematics, working in collaboration with principal investigators from the other participating
institutions.
Top image: Associate Professor Rebekah Dupont is director of STEM programs at Augsburg. (Courtesy
photo)
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AUGSBURG HOSTS BOLD NEW SPEAKER
SERIES
by Stephen Jendraszak
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Augsburg Bold is a series of initiatives designed to help Augsburg University students continue to
thrive during the pandemic and to enjoy the distinctive experience o ered at Augsburg.
As part of that work, during Fall 2020, the university quad was set up as a physically distanced outdoor
seminar room, enabling up to 60 attendees to take part in a series of remarkable presentations. All
presentations were also livestreamed via Zoom.
R.John
@raccajohn
Thank you, @GovTimWalz and @GwenWalz for
sharing your thoughts on servant leadership with
@AugsburgU today. #AugsburgBold
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5:15 PM · Oct 5, 2020
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Students had the opportunity to hear from several speakers:
Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP spoke about her work building relationships with those in our
community who are experiencing homelessness and helping to ensure that their basic needs for
food, shelter, and health care are met.
Olivia House ’20 discussed the summer of resistance by Black youth.
Jodi Harpstead, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, spoke about
what she’s learned through her work during the pandemic.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Gwen Walz discussed their experience in education and
leadership.
Watch recordings of selected speakers at augsburg.edu/bold.
‹
›
Augsburg Bold speakers included Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP, and Gov. Tim Walz and Gwen Walz.
Students, sta , and faculty attended the socially distanced events on Augsburg’s campus or watched
the livestream online. (Photos by Rebecca Slater)
Top image: Augsburg’s quad was decorated for the Augsburg Bold speaker series. (Photo by Courtney
Perry)
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Doctor of Nursing Practice
Master of Arts in Nursing
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FORUM ON WORKPLACE INCLUSION TO
HOST FIRST VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
by Stephen Jendraszak
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The Forum on Workplace Inclusion, based at Augsburg University, will host its 33rd annual conference as a
virtual event March 8–12, 2021.
Workplaces have struggled during the past year to navigate a digital, distanced work environment brought
on by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, social protests centered around racism and the unjust
deaths of Black people at the hands of police have also brought greater attention to overwhelming
disparities in economics, education, health care, housing, and public safety.
This year, the forum asks: What will it take to start a workplace revolution that moves us from talk to
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Learn more and register to attend at forumworkplaceinclusion.org.
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AUGSBURG HOMECOMING (AT A DISTANCE)
by Briana Alamilla '17
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Homecoming 2020 celebrations looked a little di erent than previous years. Though social gatherings were
restricted, the Augsburg Student Activities Council found creative ways to celebrate with a series of events
during the week of September 21—some virtual and some physically distanced:
Cider and canvas: Spread out in the quad, students created paintings in the style of artist Bob Ross.
Create your own PopSocket: Participants made their own Augsburg-branded phone grip accessories.
Drag and lip sync battle: Students competed by submitting videos of themselves lip-syncing to a song.
Movie night: The lm “Queen & Slim” was screened in the quad.
Homecoming royalty coronation ceremony: Homecoming court members were announced and
royalty were crowned.
Top image: Students participate in an outdoor event sponsored by the Augsburg Student Activities Council.
(Photo by Courtney Perry)
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Cedar-Riverside supply drives support
neighborhood
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CEDAR-RIVERSIDE SUPPLY DRIVES SUPPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD
by Briana Alamilla '17
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The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the damage some businesses experienced following the murder of
George Floyd, put a strain on Augsburg’s Twin Cities community as many local stores temporarily closed
and access to public transportation was reduced. In June and August, Augsburg University organized supply
drives in partnership with the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.
Drivers in more than 550 cars participated in the supply drives, and their donations were delivered to the
Brian Coyle Center through several dozen trips.
“This is our community; this is our neighborhood,” one volunteer said. “So when our neighbors are hurting,
we step forward and do what we can to help.”
Read more about Auggies’ e orts to support the community: “What it takes to ght a pandemic.”
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Augsburg’s supply drive was a success! Thank you to all
who donated and volunteered to help out our so loved
Cedar-Riverside community. It is in times like these
where we must all come together as the thoughtful
stewards that we are. #AuggiePride
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9:51 PM · Jun 1, 2020
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Top image: Auggies collected donations for the Twin Cities community in Summer 2020. (Photo by Joe Mann)
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Scholarship recipients
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AUGSBURG NAMES GEORGE FLOYD
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
by Briana Alamilla '17
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Augsburg University created the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship, which is designed to support
outstanding third- and fourth-year students who have a strong understanding of Black experiences
and U.S. history while showing leadership in advancing racial justice e orts. Each selected student
received a $5,000 scholarship.
Augsburg named the ve inaugural scholarship recipients:
Aisha Abdi ’21 is majoring in management information systems and marketing.
Quran Al-Hameed ’21 is majoring in psychology.
Mallory Ferguson ’21 is majoring in communication studies.
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Kaltun Hassan ’22 is majoring in computer science.
Nadirah McGill ’21 is majoring in music business.
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Aisha Abdi ’21, management
information systems and marketing
Quran Al-Hameed ’21, psychology
Kaltun Hassan ’22, computer science
Nadirah McGill ’21, music business
(Courtesy photo)
Mallory Ferguson ’21, communication
studies
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PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES ENGAGE WITH VIRTUAL CAMPUS
TOUR
Multimedia platform o ers a glimpse of Augsburg from afar
by Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA
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For the past year, Augsburg University’s virtual tour has
showcased the Minneapolis campus’ facilities and resources as it
has been challenging to conduct in-person visits due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. As a multimedia interactive map with
photos and videos, the virtual tour simulates an on-the-ground
campus experience. The virtual tour o ers a look at Augsburg’s
residence halls and athletic facilities, details about academic
buildings and green spaces, and a peek inside performance
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venues and practice rooms. The virtual tour launched in March
2020 to help out-of-state and international populations visualize
the campus.
From its launch in March,
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2020, through February 1,
Check out the virtual tour at augsburg.university-tour.com.
2021, the virtual tour has
had 32,421 visitors. The top
states visitors are from are
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Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois, Iowa, Texas, and
California.
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AUGSBURG TRIO/STUDENT SUPPORT
SERVICES EARNS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT
by Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA
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The U.S. Department of Education announced that Augsburg University was awarded a federal Student
Support Services ve-year grant of nearly $300,000 annually to help more students succeed in and graduate
from college. This is the fth TRIO/SSS grant awarded to Augsburg, which has hosted the project since 2001.
Each year, Augsburg TRIO/SSS serves about 160 undergraduate students.
The TRIO/SSS program is designed for students who are the rst in their families to attend post-secondary
education, students who are low income, or students with disabilities. The grant funds an array of services
including academic skill development, academic advising, tutoring, nancial aid advice, and nancial literacy.
“Augsburg TRIO/SSS has established a reputation for helping students navigate
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higher education to achieve their academic goals,” said Aly Olson, director of
Augsburg TRIO/SSS.
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“Students know their TRIO advisor is looking out for their best interests and
helps them through the tough decisions of college life. We are thrilled to be able
to continue this important work at Augsburg.” —Aly Olson
Aly Olson (Photo by Courtney
Perry)
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The federal government contributes about 70% of the funds needed to
support Augsburg’s TRIO/SSS project. The university contributes the remaining program funds.
Top image: Brooklyn Jones ’22, clinical psychology major and sociology minor, attends a Summer Bridge
class in 2019. (Photo by Bob Stack ’71)
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AUGSBURG RECEIVES GRANTS FOR EQUITY
IN EDUCATION AND REMOTE LEARNING
by Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA
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This fall, Augsburg University received $250,000 in grant funding from the State of Minnesota to address
equity in education and remote learning needs among students of color, Indigenous students, and those
who are disabled or low-income.
The funds came through two awards under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grant. One award
provided direct aid to teacher candidates who needed to pay unexpected costs posed by the pandemic
during their student teaching semester and coursework.
The second award was geared toward making hardware and software available to more students to
support them in their switch to online learning. This support included additional laptops for checkout,
noise-cancelling headphones, digital tablets for art and math courses, training resources for successful
online learning, new digital video resources in the library, and captioning of instructional videos to increase
accessibility. The GEER grant program was a redistribution of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act funds.
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Top image: A redistribution of federal CARES Act funds provided support for Augsburg students’ online
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learning. (Photo by Courtney Perry)
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IN MEMORIAM, WINTER 2020–21
Remembering and honoring Auggies
by Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA
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Below we recognize the alumni and friends whose noti cations of death were received between March 1,
2020, and January 1, 2021.
1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970| 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | Faculty
1940s
Fern L. (Hanson) Gudmestad ’41, Minneapolis, age 101, on June 3.
Wayne E. Peterson ’43, Palm City, Florida, age 99, on November 14.
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Thelma I. (Erickson) Mckenzie ’44, Hollandale, Wisconsin, age 96, on July 1.
Helen V. (Odden) Pederson ’45, Spooner, Wisconsin, age 96, on May 5.
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Doris K. (Larson) Walen ’45, Alamo, North Dakota, age 97, on October 3.
Martha E. Fosse Palmquist ’46, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 96, on November 22.
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Lowell O. Larson ’47, Claremont, California, age 95, on May 10.
Arnold J. Oie ’47, Glencoe, Minnesota, age 96, on August 1.
Margery A. (Manger) Torgerson ’47, Circle Pines, Minnesota, age 94, on March 30.
Esther P. (Bakken) Crosby ’48, Moorhead, Minnesota, age 95, on June 19.
John E. Hanson ’48, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 93, on October 1.
Jean A. (Tibke) Vane ’48, Visalia, California, age 93, on October 20.
John F. Anderson ’49, Minneapolis, age 96, on December 22.
June (Carlson) Gustafson ’49, Lincoln, Nebraska, age 92, on September 28.
1950s
Louis L. Ennen ’50, Dublin, Ohio, age 94, on July 7.
Lilian J. (Johnson) Ingersoll ’50, Lexington, South Carolina, age 96, on June 5.
Phillip A. Quanbeck ’50, Maple Grove, Minnesota, age 93, on December 1.
Mary L. (Johnson) Froiland ’50, Iron River, Wisconsin, age 91, on October 22.
Orville E. Meland ’51, River Falls, Wisconsin, age 93, on October 27.
Caroline J. (Borsheim) Melhus’ 51, Minneapolis, age 90, on May 31.
Arvid D. Dixen ’52, Minneapolis, age 89, on May 20.
Harold J. Hansen ’52, Normandy Park, Washington, age 90, on April 17.
Luther J. Larson ’52, Sparta, Wisconsin, age 89, on July 6.
Mildred A. Nelson ’52, Minneapolis, age 91, December 5.
Alvin H. Nygard ’52, Fargo, North Dakota, age 96, on July 31.
Yvonne M. (Bagley) Olson ’52, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 88, on March 16.
Orville L. Olson ’52, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 89, on June 6.
Ronald A. Berge ’53, West Fargo, North Dakota, age 88, on March 15.
Robert O. Bruder ’53, Minneapolis, age 91, on August 9.
Donald V. Dillon ’53, Minneapolis, age 89, on July 17.
Kent B. Quanbeck ’53, McVille, North Dakota, age 90, on April 6.
Gloria M. (Halverson) Boyum ’54, Kenyon, Minnesota, age 88, on December 19.
George W. Fisher ’54, Lexington, South Carolina, age 88, on May 11.
Wallace L. Hafstad ’54, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 88, on March 30.
Janis R. (Larson) Hanson ’54, Canby, Minnesota, age 92, on October 2.
Vivian (Waisanen) Ryden ’54, Northglenn, Colorado, age 87, on May 4.
Richard M. Hagestuen ’55, Bismarck, North Dakota, age 87, on October 28.
Robert M. Herman ’55, Minneapolis, age 86, on June 8.
Vicent Peterson ’55, Hutchinson, Minnesota, age 87, on November 11.
Richard H. Stensrud ’55, Mesa, Arizona, age 87, on August 25.
LeRoy E. Nevin ’56, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 86, on June 7.
R. Luther Olson ’56, Tucson, Arizona, age 84, on August 27.
Bruce W. Rorvig ’56, Kalispell, Montana, age 85, on August 18.
Duane J. Solem ’56, Edina, Minnesota, age 91, on May 2.
Elizabeth A. (Mortensen) Swanson ’56, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 86, on November 6.
Robert Jeska ’57, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, age 85, May 21.
Erwin J. Moe ’57, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 88, on April 28.
Robert C. Oslund ’57, Silver Bay, Minnesota, age 89, on December 4.
Ronald B. Welde ’57, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, age 86, on September 4.
Ardis H. (Lee) Zunich ’57, Miles City, Montana, age 82, on July 18.
Robert L. Bagley ’58, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, age 84, on November 23.
Bonnie (Sandvig) Erickson ’58, Canton, South Dakota, age 83, on May 9.
Alice M. (Lindell) Lindgren ’58, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 83, on September 11.
Marlene (Hegg) Ridens ’58, Montevideo, Minnesota, age 85, August 19.
Donald J. Hagestuen ’59, Aitkin, Minnesota, age 83, on October 29.
Arlene B. (Selander) Hill ’59, Allegan, Michigan, age 82, on September 11.
Rhoda M. (Monseth) Huglen ’59, Roseau, Minnesota, age 83, on August 19.
Heinrich Kopka ’59, Staples, Minnesota, age 85, on November 28.
Walter W. Lundeen ’59, Minneapolis, age 89, on December 20.
Richard G. Sletten ’59, North Oaks, Minnesota, age 82, on August 13.
Peggy K. (O’Neil) Swensen ’59, Fargo, North Dakota, age 82, on April 11.
Sharon K. (Grodt) West ’59, Chisago City, Minnesota, age 83, on March 16.
1960s
Gordon Grinely ’60, Eau Galle Township, Wisconsin, age 82, on June 25.
Marcia S. (Refsal) Sanders ’60, Chandler, Arizona, age 81, on October 13.
Kermit L. Valleen ’60, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 83, November 16.
Paula J. Bjorkley Carlson ’62, Madras, Oregon, age 80, on December 5.
Allan P. Tveite ’62, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 80, on November 18.
E. Nelvin Botten ’63, Stanwood, Washington, age 91, on September 16.
Bernard E. Debar ’63, Minneapolis, age 89, on May 11.
Helen A. (Anderson) Gildseth ’63, Duluth, Minnesota, age 78, on March 17.
Lois J. (Bailey) Parson ’63, Braham, Minnesota, age 80, August 19.
Clarice A. Sta
’63, Minneapolis, age 84, on April 9.
Patrick J. Sullivan ’63, Miltona, Minnesota, age 79, on June 26.
Lannette Y. (Haire) Reshetar ’64, Andover, Minnesota, age 77, on April 8.
Lesley K. (Schwarten) Schmid ’64, Blaine, Minnesota, age 78, on June 12.
Joyce M. (Nelson) Schrader ’64, Friendswood, Texas, age 77, on June 28.
Susan L. Kyllo ’65, Spring Park, Minnesota, age 78, on December 16.
Sharon (Tofte) Taeger ’65, Camrose, Canada, age 77, on April 4.
Sharon L. (Wagner) Johnson ’66, Atikokan, Canada, age 76, on November 29.
Sandra (Johnson) Kotval ’66, Spring Valley, Wisconsin, age 76, on October 15.
Irene (Seltvedt) Yost ’66, Dickinson, North Dakota, age 77, on July 21.
David E. Sylvester ’67, Cloquet, Minnesota, age 81, on October 29.
Ruthe M. (Tollefson) Enstad ’68, Prior Lake, Minnesota, age 75, on October 15.
Marvin J. Haara ’68, Hutchinson, Minnesota, age 76, on August 26.
Ellen M. (Larson) Johnston ’68, Mankato, Minnesota, age 73, on August 16.
Merrill D. Ronning ’68, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 75, on August 18.
John P. Weinard ’68, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 81, on December 12.
Douglas S. Anderson ’69, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 72, on April 10.
Mervin F. Larson ’69, Excelsior, Minnesota, age 73, on August 30.
1970s
Gloria J. (Wohlers Livingston) Hutchinson ’70, Falcon Heights, Minnesota, age 71, on July 1.
Kathy J. (Kropelin) Cracraft ’71, Minneapolis, age 70, on July 13.
Michael J. Hostetler ’71, Andover, Minnesota, age 71, on August 7.
Joann S. Bell ’72, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 70, on August 9.
Vicki C. (Linder) Lind ’72, Rosemount, Minnesota, age 70, on November 4.
Je rey P. Ross ’72, Sheburn, Minnesota, age 64, on April 26.
Jean L. (Bridges) Wachs ’73, Minneapolis, age 68, on June 4.
David W. Finson ’75, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 67, on June 17.
Douglas A. Fish ’75, Hastings, Minnesota, age 68, on November 24.
Lois B. Wattman ’76, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 66, on September 28.
Gregory J. Bannon ’77, Albertville, Minnesota, age 66, on August 15.
1980s
Sandra J. Holm-Cyr ’82, Rich eld, Minnesota, age 72, on April 15.
Arlene D. Hiles ’86, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 87, on September 11.
1990s
Richard A. Gillitzer ’91, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 53, on May 24.
Judith A. Francis ’92, Mound, Minnesota, age 80, on October 12.
John S. Austin ’93, Minneapolis, age 70, on December 1.
Debra J. Clark-Corley ’93, Gary, Indiana, age 65, on April 6.
Nancy C. Sallman ’93, Minneapolis, age 65, on September 14.
Violet E. (Schmitz) Rocek ’94, Minneapolis, age 85, on December 6.
Eileen J. (Bridgeman) Biernat ’98, New Brighton, Minnesota, age 74, on September 4.
2000s
Dylan E. Cook ’00, Christchurch, New Zealand, age 44, on September 7.
Kelly A. (Duncan) Norden ’00, Minneapolis, age 42, on October 3.
Philip R. Johnson ’04, Nisswa, Minnesota, age 56, on April 11.
Michael R. Kuhlmann ’04, Minneapolis, age 39, on August 11.
Christopher R. Hunnicutt ’08, Green Bay, Wisconsin, age 35, on March 27.
Barton M. Lund ’08, Stuart, Florida, age 56, on December 12.
2010s
Quinten P. Bissonette ’12, Spring Valley, Minnesota, age 43, on May 5.
Shane M. Potter ’15, Garrison, Minnesota, age 31, on December 13.
J. Parker Foley ’16, Duxbury, Massachusetts, age 27, on October 21.
Maricio M. Mata-Thelen ’17, Minneapolis, age 26, on October 31.
Kevin J. Baxter ’19, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 29, on November 2.
2020s
Abdirizak A. Abdullahi ’21, Minneapolis, age 21, on April 26.
Faculty
Augsburg University’s Center for Global Education and Experience Guatemala Site Director Fidel Xinico
Tum, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, age 60, on September 12.
Submit address changes and nominations for remembrances to alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
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Augsburg receives $50,000 grant for Travelers
EDGE®
Augsburg receives grants for equity in education
and remote learning
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AUGSBURG RECEIVES $50,000 GRANT FOR
TRAVELERS EDGE®
by John Weirick
February 18, 2021
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The Travelers Companies, Inc. gave a $50,000 grant to Augsburg University in September 2020 to
support Travelers EDGE. The program—which stands for Empowering Dreams for Graduation and
Employment—provides scholarships, internships, job shadowing, professional development
opportunities, and career advice. More than 100 Augsburg students have participated in the program
since 2007.
“There is much more to be gained from Travelers EDGE than solely professional development,” said
Ann A. Ulring, program manager at Augsburg’s Strommen Center for Meaningful Work. “By the time
scholars graduate, they are con dent, career-focused, and empowered to share who they are and
what they have to o er.”
EDGE scholar Samantha Lopez ’22, who completed a summer internship at Travelers, said, “Travelers
has opened so many doors for me. It was amazing to learn rsthand what goes on inside a corporation
and nd out I can do the work. Travelers provided me with the support, skills, and con dence I need to
pursue a business career.”
2020–21 Recipients
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Aaron Davis ’24, Business Management
Yer Her ’23, Marketing
Pa Houa Lee ’23, Marketing
Hamza Jamari ’22, Marketing
Duaa Katabay ’23, Business
Management
Curtis Love ’23, Marketing
Samantha Lopez ’22, Communication
Studies
PangDao Xiong ’24, Marketing
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Top image: Samantha Lopez ’22 is one of several Travelers EDGE scholars at Augsburg. (Photos by
Courtney Perry)
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In memoriam, Winter 2020–21
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GIVE TO THE MAX DAY RECAP AND
SUSTAINING AUGSBURG’S FUTURE
Thank you for supporting Augsburg during Give to the Max Day!
by Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA
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January 26, 2021
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This November, Augsburg had a record-breaking Give to the Max
Day in terms of donor participation and dollars raised. Here are the
highlights:
• $531,704 was raised across 41 projects, setting a new record.
• 1,898 total donors gave, the most we’ve ever seen.
• Gifts came from 41 states.
• 56% of our 41 projects (23 projects) were fully funded, and many others were very close to fully
funded.
• One couple gave to 17 projects.
This day continues to energize our students, faculty, and sta every
year, and we can’t wait to see what we can accomplish next year.
Watch this video from our students who would like to say a quick
thank you.
Make a di erence all year round
Each year, 20% of the annual gifts to the Augsburg Fund come during Give to the Max Day. But giving
to the Augsburg Fund matters all year round: We use these dollars to make a di erence for Auggies
right away through scholarships, instruction and academic support, student programs, and other
areas of the largest funding needs at Augsburg.
Gifts to the Augsburg Fund touch the life of every student, faculty member, and sta member. More
than 1,000 donors contribute to the fund each year, and you can join them.
Make a di erence today. Give to the Augsburg Fund.
Giving creates a ripple e ect for the future of
Augsburg
When a water droplet hits the surface of a pond, it causes a ripple much larger than the original drop.
This is how your gift a ects Augsburg.
Glass water droplet sculptures, created by Rhode Island artists, represent the expanding e ect that
donors provide for the Augsburg community. Learn more about these water droplets and how
endowed scholarships propel Augsburg’s work into the future.
Lisa Smith and Dave Smith
Sharon Mortrud ’64 (Courtesy
Dennis Meyer ’78 and Bev ’78
(Courtesy photo)
photo)
Meyer (Courtesy photo)
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21
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NOTES
FROM
PRESIDENT
PRIBBENOW
As we concludeour
yearlongcelebration
of Augsburg's150th
anniversary,
in the midst
of thesehistorictimes, I havebeenreflectingon someof
the mottosand slogansAugsburghasusedthroughoutits
history.Fromour foundingscripturalmotto-"And the Word
becamefleshand live... Show more
NOTES
FROM
PRESIDENT
PRIBBENOW
As we concludeour
yearlongcelebration
of Augsburg's150th
anniversary,
in the midst
of thesehistorictimes, I havebeenreflectingon someof
the mottosand slogansAugsburghasusedthroughoutits
history.Fromour foundingscripturalmotto-"And the Word
becamefleshand livedamongus" (John1: 14)-to the
familiar "Educationfor service,"to the morerecent"We
believewe arecalledto serveour neighbor,"to the iconic
phrasefirst usedas part of Augsburg's100th anniversary
and nowfeaturedon our universityseal,"Throughtruth to
freedom,"eachphrasepointsto abidingvaluesthat are at
the heartof the educationAugsburgoffersto its students.
I am particularlystruck by the claim madein that
centennialmotto,and I wonderwhat it might mean
to explorehow"Throughtruth to freedom"shapesour
teachingand learningcommunityin the midst of these
pandemictimes.
In a recentpresentation,Professorof ReligionMary
Lowe
offereda provocativechallengewhensheaskedus
what it might meanto educateour studentsfor freedom.
Whata counterculturalnotion! Educatedfor freedomfrom
ignorance,from oppression,from divisionand hatredand
violence.Educatedfor freedomto makethe worldmorefair
and just and healthy,to be goodneighbors,to take careof
creation.Educatedfor freedomfor the sakeof the world,for
the goodof others,for the promiseof wonderand creativity.
At Augsburg,the possibilityof this educationfor freedom
is groundedin claimsof truth. Aboveall, a theological
claim of the truth of the gospelof JesusChrist-stated so
powerfullyin that foundingscripturalmottofrom the first
chapterof John'sgospel-a truth that makesall things
possiblein our livesandwork in the world.At the same
time, it's the truth wefind in our commitmentto a liberal
arts education-to the belief in scientificknowledge,in
socialanalysis,in artistic expression,in culturalwisdom.
Andfinally, it's the truth we find in the livedexperiences
of
our studentsand the communitiesfrom whichthey come,
truths that residein rituals andtraditionsand practicesthat
invite us into worldsrich in knowledgeand wonder.
"Throughtruth to freedom"strikesme as a compelling
responseto this momentwhenwe find ourselvesliving
at the intersectionof three pandemics.TheCOVID-19
pandemichasdisruptedall aspectsof howwe live and
work,and it haspointedlyi11ustratedthe tensionbetween
public healthand economicwell-being.Followingin the
wakeof that pandemic,an economicpandemicthreatens
our socialfabric with massiveunemployment
and business
closuresworldwide.And, mostrecently,the racial inequities
exacerbated
by the senselessmurderof GeorgeFloydby
Minneapolispoliceofficers-along with countlessBlack,
Indigenous,and otherpeopleof colorwho'veexperienced
similar racismandviolence-havecreateda third pandemic
that threatensto tear our countryapart.Surelythis
unchartedintersectionof crisespresentsuniquechallenges
for all of us as citizens,tryingto imaginehowwe will
navigateto someas yet unknownfuture.
The questionwe will ask at Augsburg-a questionat
the heartof our academicmissionand our commitment
to socialjustice-is, "Whereis the truth in the midst of
thesepandemics?"
Whatis the truth aboutkeepingeachotherhealthy
in the face of a novelcoronavirus?
Whatis the truth in
an economythat, moreand more,deepensremarkable
inequities?Whatis the truth in centuriesof systemic
racismand oppression?
Andthe truths we will find, always
evolvingand emergingand transforming,will free us for the
workwe are calledto do as "informedcitizens,thoughtful
stewards,critical thinkers,and responsibleleaders"Augsburg'smission!
Let us go forwardtogetherinto the next 150 yearsof
Augsburg'slife recommittedto educationguidedby the
beliefthat throughtruth there is indeedfreedom.I can only
wonderwhatsucha counterculturalbeliefwill meanfor
storiesyet to be told.
Staystrong,safe,andwelI.
Faithfullyyours,
PAUL
C.PRIBBENOW,
PRESIDENT
AUGSBURG
NOW
Spring-Summer
2020
VicePresident
and
Chief
Operating
Officer
Rebecca
John'13MBA
Associate
VicePresident
and
Chief
Marketing
Officer
Stephen
Jendraszak
Director
ofMarketing
Laura
Swanson
Lindahl
'15MBA
Director
ofPublic
Relations
andInternal
Communications
GitaSitaramiah
Assistant
Director
of
Marketing,
Creative
Denielle
Stepka
'11
Marketing
Copywriter
John
Weirick
Communication
and
Social
Media
Specialist
Briana
Alamilla
'17
EDITOR'S
NOTE
Whenwe beganmakingthis magazinein early2020, the worldwas markedlydifferent
than the onewe inhabit today.AugsburgNowstaff delayedthe magazine'stimeline due
to the impactof the COVID-19 pandemicon the university'soperations.
Mostof the storiesand eventsdescribedhereinoccurredbeforeit becamenecessary
to shift to manyworkingfrom home,online gatherings,and other modifiedoperations
to slowthe spreadof the virus.
Becausewe wantedto sharetheseremarkablestoriesand Auggieaccomplishments
as soonas possible,our team decidedto releasethis issuein digital-onlyformat, a first
in the magazine'shistory.
-John Weirick,editor
Project
Manager
JuliKramer
Communications
and
Social
Media
Consultant
KateNorlander
Advancement
Communications
Specialist
KaiaChambers
Senior
Communications
Specialist
forPrincipal
Gifts
Amanda
Symes
'09,'15MFA
WebManager
JoeMann
Contributing
Writer
KateH.Elliott
Augsburg
Nowis published
by
Augsburg
University
2211Riverside
Avenue
Minneapolis,
MN55454
Opinions
expressed
inAugsburg
Now
donotnecessarily
reflect
official
university
policy.
ISSN
1058-1545
02 AROUND
THE
QUAD
AWOMEN'S
WRESTLING
10 HOWTOBUILD
PROGRAM
FROM
SCRATCH
18 MISTAKEN
IDENTITY
24 HONORING
AUGGIES
25 AUGGIES
CONNECT
28 CLASS
NOTES
32 INMEMORIAM
Onthecover:
Augsburg
commemorates
aneventin
itshistory
andreflects
onits
significance
fortoday.
See
page2 andpage8.
Allphotos
byCourtney
Perry
unless
otherwise
indicated
Send
address
corrections
to
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
Send
comments
to
now@augsburg.edu.
COMMENCEMENT
2020
On Friday, May 29, and Sunday, May 31, Augsburg University celebrated commencement virtually.
Taking precautions to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, Augsburg was among
numerous institutions nationally that hosted virtual celebrations to recognize graduating students. The
streamed online event opened with speeches from Provost KarenKaivolaand President PaulPribbenow.
Personalized slides for graduates included photos and messages that the students submitted.
Friends and family posted comments to the video stream as they watched the event. Students took
to social media to share their
graduation posts using the hashtag
#AuggieGrad.
Once it's again safe to host
large gatherings, Augsburg wi 11
plan an in-person ceremony
for the Class of 2020 that will
include many more familiar
commencement traditions.
ONE
DAY
INMAY
This year's commencement celebration featured a central theme, chosen in April, that connected
defining moments in Augsburg's history with its contemporary reality. Uplifting the university's
longstanding commitments to equity and inclusion, the theme "68/20: One Day in May" called
the university community to explore the actions and outcomes of events in 1968 to consider their
relevance for 2020.
Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Augsburg canceled classes on May 15,
1968, and hosted a series of workshops and lectures. Augsburg faculty and local Black community
members led conversations focused on racism, politics, power, education, and violence-significant
tensions in American life in 1968. This year, Augsburg presented honorary degrees during the virtual
commencement, recognizing two leaders of the historic One Day in May in 1968: the Hon. LaJune
ThomasLange'75 and MahmoudEl-Kati.
Augsburg owes a debt of gratitude to the leaders of One Day in May, an event that continues
to inform and inspire the university community to engage in efforts for equity and justice. Their
contributions to our society and to Augsburg resonated strongly in the virtual commencement
ceremonies, which took place just days after George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police.
Blackartists,alongwith Indigenous
andotherstudentsandcommunity
members
of color,ledanart campaign
to upliftOneDayin Mayduring
Augsburg
's sesquicentennial
celebration.
e
Hearaudiorecordings
fromtheeventin 1968,andseemoreOne
I Dayin Mayart, includinga bannerthat appeared
in TheNew
Yorker,
at augsburg.edu/now.
rt at
u s ur
Fac
ulty,
vvorkS
1
prese
nt
g.StgJl
SERIES
SPEAKERS
THE
ART
OFAUGSBURGCONVOCATION
The Augsburg University Convocation Series is an annual
As part of the university's yearlong celebration of its 150th
speaker series that includes long-standing endowed and
anniversary, KristinAnderson,
professor of art history and
special programs. Recent presenters included:
archivist, curated an exhibition of works by Augsburg art faculty
dating back to the origin of the department in the 1950s. The
exhibit included works by early department members, such as
HansBergand IvanDoseff,former longtime faculty members,
including NormHolenand PhilThompson,
and current faculty
members Stephen
Geffre,ChrisHoultberg,
DanIbarra,roberttom,
LyzWendland,and others.
1. DeAnna Cummings, chief executive officer of
Juxtaposition Arts, who shared a presentation at
the Horbal Lecture in November called "Putting
Creativity to Work 2025: Stronger Communities
Through Local Art and Design"
2. John S. Wright, professor emeritus of English
and African American and African Studies at the
University of Minnesota, who delivered "Where Do
,,1.··.f
,.
..
>
•
"
-~
We Go From Here: Chaos or Community" at the 32nd
annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation in January
3. Kwame Anthony Appiah, professor of philosophy and
law at New York University, who presented "Ethics,
Identity, and Cosmopolitanism"
at the Batalden
Seminar in Applied Ethics in March
Thefacultyartexhibitwasdisplayed
intheChristensen
Center
ArtGallery.
4
AUGSBURG
NOW
AROUND
THEQUAD
Hearst
Foundation
awards
Augsburg
I
Lto R:President
PaulPribbenow,
PeterHeegaard,
andMikeChristensen
$75,000
FOR
LEAD
FELLOWS
PROGRAM
URBAN
INVESTORS
FINDSNEWHOME
ATAUGSBURG
Last November,Augsburg University's Sabo Center for Democracyand
Citizenship and the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work welcomed
a new campus partner: Urban Investors. Formerly known as Urban
Adventure, this program helps bankers understand the challenges and
opportunities within cities through experiential learning opportunities.
The program also facilitates partnerships between public, private, and
LEAD Fellows, a program of Augsburg
University's Sabo Center for Democracyand
Citizenship, this winter received $75,000
from the Hearst Foundation, Inc. to support
students as they pursue in-depth, long-term,
community-based work at paid internships.
The program name stands for Leaders for
Equity, Action,
and Democracy.
nonprofit groups and promotes investment and community development
Students spend
that move families out of poverty, revitalize neighborhoods, improve
two to four
years engaged
schools, and build economic opportunity.
in public work
projects that
address social
/i: THE AUGSBURG
~iPODCAST:SEASON3
issues such
Augsburg
's LEAD
Fellows
program
is affiliatedwiththe
far-reaching
Bonner
Program
that aimsto transform
students,
communities,
andcampuses
throughservice.
as education,
homelessness,
racial justice,
and poverty
while also
The first two seasonsof the
participating in a peer learning cohort.
The LEAD Fellows program is unique in
Augsburg Podcastfeatured
that it offers students a pathway to generate
faculty and staff sharing stories
income while also making a difference and
growing as leaders. The program is cohort-
of their work with students. The
third season, launched in March,
based with a strong support framework that
takes a new approach and invites
helps students to develop connections with
students and a recent graduate
peers and mentors, build their sense of
MIDCO
to discuss their experiences
with internships and the ways
belonging, and hone their leadership skills.
The Hearst Foundation award will fund
in which Augsburg has helped
the pay students receive for their internships
support their personal and
educational goals.
and will enhance cohort activities, including
semiannual retreats and biweekly gatherings.
Listentothenewseason
at
•
I augsburg.edu/podcast
or
inyourpodcast
app.
Barclay
Bates'18
SPRING
SUMMfR
?020
5
AROUND
THEQUAD
HONORING
RetiringFaculty
Several faculty members are entering
retirement following years of dedicated
service to Augsburg University. Augsburg is
grateful for their commitment to advancing
the university's mission and supporting
TheDoctor
ofPsychology
inClinical
Psychology
degree
launches
to meetgrowing
demand
This past November, the university introduced its second doctoral
program: a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology. Augsburg's first,
the Doctor of Nursing Practice, began in 2010.
Augsburg worked with former Minnesota School of Professional
Psychology faculty and staff to provide continuity for students who were
student learning within and beyond the
classroom.
JOHN
CERRITO
AssistantProfessor
, Department
of Business-joined
Augsburgin 1983
MARGARET
FINDERS
Professor
, Department
of Education-joinedAugsburg
previously enrol led in the program housed at Argosy University. After
in 2014
the closure of Argosy in March 2019, Augsburg
earned accreditation to become Minnesota's only
MARK
FUEHRER
university offering an in-person PsyD program in
A
9'
clinical psychology.
Augsburg
is now
accepting
applications.
augsbu
rg.edu/psyd
Professor
, Department
of Philosophy-joined
Augsburgin 1971
Employment of Iicensed psychologists and
related occupations is projected to grow 13. 7% from 2016 to 2026 in
DAWN
KADERABEK
'18 DNP
the United States.
"We are pleased to offer this PsyD program as a way to meet the
in 2015
growing demand for mental health services statewide," said Monica
VIRGINIA
MCCARTHY
Devers,Augsburg University dean of professional studies.
Associate
Professor
, Department
of Nursing-joined
Augsburgin 2011
Instructor
, Department
of Nursing-joinedAugsburg
NANCY
RODENBORG
Augsburg
winsCampus
Compact
ImpactAward
Professor
, Department
of SocialWork-joined
Augsburgin 2000
Campus Compact, a network of universities across the United States
MICHAEL
SCHOCK
that are committed to public engagement in higher education, honored
Associate
Professor
, Department
of SocialWork-
Augsburg University as an inaugural
joinedAugsburgin 1993
recipient of the Richard Guarasci
Award for Institutional Transformation.
NANCY
STEBLAY
Augsburg was selected for its work
Professor
, Department
of Psychology-joined
Augsburg
in developing partnerships with
the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood
on page18.)
in 1988(Readaboutherresearch
MARTHA
STORTZ
and advancing environmental
BernhardM. Christensen
Professor
of Vocation
and
Religion-joinedAugsburgin 2010
sustainability, interfaith leadership,
and equity and racial justice .
6
AUGSBURG
NOW
•
Watchthevideousedto introduce
Augsburg
at
theawardceremony
at augsburg.edu/now.
MARK
TRANVIK
Professor
, Department
of Religion-joinedAugsburg
in 1995
At a specialchapelservice
duringtheJanuary2020
AugsburgUniversity
Board
of Regentsmeeting,Bishop
AnnSvennungsen
of the
Minneapolis
AreaSynodof the
Evangelical
LutheranChurch
in Americaofficiallyinstalled
BabetteChatman
'06, left,
as
andJustinLind-Ayres
Augsburg's
universitypastors.
Augsburg
community
launches
on-campus
lending
shop
to reduce
wasteandpromote
reuse
Augsburg's Environmental Stewardship
Committee and Campus Cupboard food
pantry collaborated in Fall 2019 to pilot a
President
PaulPribbenow
shares
Augsburg's
storyat ~ the
~r~~~::~i•i:~:::~~:
~~~:i~~~®
the
O
new resource: the Share Shop, which offers
a wide variety of items for free, short-
Augsburg story during a session
called, "Hospitality is Not
term checkout. The Share Shop currently
Enough: An Institutional Journey From Diversity to Inclusion and
Equity" at The Forum on Workplace Inclusion conference.
features board games, small appliances,
office supplies, sewing kits, sports
equipment, tools, and much more.
Augsburg, home of The Forum on Workplace Inclusion since
last summer, is "proud to partner with the forum to help expand
The Share Shop follows the same hours
of operation as Augsburg's Campus
diversity, equity, and inclusion skills, so our students can fully
participate and succeed in the workforce," Pribbenow said.
Cupboard and is located in the lowest
level of Science Hal I, adjacent to the
university's longstanding "free table,"
where Auggies place items they no longer
need and wish to offer to new owners.
For Fall 2020, the Campus Cupboard will
relocate to the Sabo Center for Democracy
and Citizenship in the lower level of
Anderson Residence Hall to accommodate
new operations during the COVID-19
pandemic. The Share Shop will remain
in Science Hall, and the two student-run
The 32nd annual, three-day conference attracted more than
1,500 people from around the world and across sectors.
TheStarTribunerecentlypublishedan
article featuringSteveHumerickhouse
,
executivedirectorof the forum, in which
he explainedthe importanceof creating
safe placesfor diffic uIt conversations
.
A
VI
Visit augsburg.edu/now
to
readthe article: "Howthe
TwinCities becameoneof the
largesthubsfor workplacediversityand
inclusion."
initiatives wi 11 continue to work together.
•
Visit augsburg.edu/green/shareshop
and
inside.augsburg.edu/foodshelf
to learnmore.
SPRINGSUMMrn
20?0
7
ONTHESPOT
How One Day in May in 1968 forced Augsburg to reevaluate
its posture and practices regarding racism and education
HanaDinkuserved as director of Augsburg University's Pan-Afri kan Center
from March 2019 to July 2020. Her most recent project at Augsburg, "One
Day in May," was featured on WCCO-TV this spring, prior to Augsburg's
virtual commencement
(see page 2). Between her work leading programs and
supporting students, she out Ii ned the importance of Augsburg's history and
present moment.
Q.
Whywas OneDayin May sucha pivotalmoment
• for the Augsburg
community
in 1968?
the story and understood the significance of One
Day in May, it took on a life of its own. Directors
A.
of International Student Services, LGBTQIA+
mission and values. In the wake of Dr. Martin
and the administration to build and promote a
Luther King Jr.'s assassination, higher education
sesquicentennial campaign about One Day in May.
One Day in May forced Augsburg to recognize
• all the ways it had failed to live up to its
Student Services, and Multicultural
Student
Services worked with faculty member LeonWang
institutions across the country saw a wave of
protests and a demand for structural change. One
Day in May was Augsburg's response to the moment.
The community speakers, Augsburg students, staff,
and faculty who participated shed light on systemic
white supremacy in the Augsburg community and
the nation. This public acknowledgment created a
What is onecomponent
of OneDayin Maythat
; is especiallyrelevantfor ourcurrentsocialand
politicalenvironment?
Q
A.
All aspects are relevant, but if I had to identify
• one particular component, it would be the
level of transparency and accountability that helped
demand to decolonize the curriculum at Augsburg.
move Augsburg in the right direction.
The Eurocentric core of the education system is
Q.
the clearest example of how our institutions are
Howdidthe reintroduction
of OneDayin May
• ariseand becomethe themeof this year's
commencement
ceremony?
A
When I started my job at Augsburg, one of my
; mentors, community elder MahmoudEl-Kati,
embedded in white supremacist ideology. This is
why we gathered this year to begin the creation of a
Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies department.
Q.
Whatdo youhopeis accomplished
throughthe
• reintroduction
of OneDayin May?
told me the real history of Black folks at Augsburg.
Elder Mahmoud was one of the community speakers
at One Day in May and spent years working closely
with the Pan-Afrikan Center. Very few people on
A
My goal for this campaign was to help Black
; students understand and appreciate the battles
fought by those who came before them. I want Black
campus knew about One Day in May and the
students and other marginalized students to know
contributions of Black students, staff, and faculty.
that we are a part of Augsburg history; we are not
After learning that Augsburg's sesquicentennial
guests at this institution. When the whole Augsburg
book, "Hold Fast to What is Good," didn't mention
community understands this, we will see the kind
it, I worked with other Augsburg leaders to make
of institutional changes that marginalized students,
One Day in May the theme for the university's
staff, and faculty have demanded for years.
2020 M LK Day celebration. As more people heard
AROUND
THEQUAD
newest
trip:
RickStevespartners
withAugsburg'sParticipateinCGEE's
Centerfor GlobalEducation
andExperience
Hunger
andHopeinGuatemala
non-essential
travelresumes,
travelers
Planaheadfortravelto Guatemala When
will getan insideglimpseof Guatemala
and
When well-known travel author, activist, and media personality Rick Steves went
to Central America to film segments for his new public television special, "Hunger
and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala," he called on Augsburg staff
to provide expert guidance and introductions to community leaders and regional
organizations committed to ending hunger and extreme poverty. That's because
Augsburg's Center for Global Education and Experience has a vast network in
Guatemala and has offered educational programming in the country since 1985.
visit manyof the sameplacesdepictedon
"RickStevesHungerandHope:Lessons
from
EthiopiaandGuatemala."
Fromthe charmingcolonialcityof Antigua,
to LakeAtitlanandits surrounding
volcanoes,
to the colorfultapestryof Mayanhistory,there
is an abundance
of thingsto do,see,andlearn.
One of the key people Steves spoke with during the production of his television
special was FidelXinico,director of Augsburg's CGEE Guatemala programming.
Xinico set up Steves' trip logistics from Guatemala and served as a cultural guide
and language translator. He is a trilingual Guatemalan citizen of the Kaqchikel
Maya ethnic group. SusanPeacock,a CGEE program coordinator based out of
Registration
openfor:
Tripl: April 11-18,2021
Trip2: June13-20,2021
Trip3: August8-15, 2021
Minneapolis, connected Steves and Xinico and helped shape the direction of the
television show. Augsburg is now planning a travel program for the general public
that will take participants to inspiring destinations in Guatemala.
Augsburgsenior
scholar published in
A
V
1
Visitgo.augsburg.edu/hope
to learnmoreandregister.
HarryBoyte,senior scholar of public work philosophy at Augsburg's Sabo
Center for Democracy and Citizenship, co-wrote an article that was
published in Time magazine. Boyte's piece offered an analysis of the 2020
United States presidential race and suggested that a compelling campaign
TIME
MAGAZINE
would appeal to Americans as engaged citizens rather than disgruntled
consumers: "Emphasize a citizenship
A
W
Finda link to the article
at augsburg.edu/now.
message for government to be a
partner, not a savior."
SPRING-SUMMER
2020
9
A WOMEN'S
WRESTLING
PROGRAM
FROM
SCRATCH
BYKATE
H.ELLIOTT
Augsburg
Athletics
continues
trailblazing
trendwithMinnesota's
onlycollegiate
women's
wrestling
team
"I already feel bad for my future children," joked Bel
Snyder'23. "They are going to have to hear the story of
Minnesota's only collegiate women's wrestling team over
and over again."
Snyder is one of 10 women wrestlers who made
history at Augsburg during the 2019-20
year-a
academic
quarter century after the university founded
the NCAA's first women's hockey team in the Midwest,
followed by Minnesota's first varsity women's lacrosse
team in 2014 . That pioneering spirit drew Snyder to
Augsburg, which received a Breaking Barriers Award in
February at Minnesota's National Girls and Women in
Sports Day event at the Minnesota History Center.
"I have never felt such close bonds or such support,"
added Snyder, who's an elementary education transfer
student. "I am going to bleed maroon and gray for the
rest of my Iife."
SPRING-SUMMER
2020 11
GREEN
BUT
GREAT
It's a youngteamwith sevenfirst-yearand three
transferstudentswho had neverwrestledfor an alIwomanteam until now.Therosterincludessomeof the
nation'stop competitors,includingEmilyShilson
'23,
who'sconsideredthe top womanrecruit in the country
by somewrestIing newsoutlets.The 19-year-oldfinance
studentqualifiedto wrestlefor a spot in the 2020
TokyoOlympicGames(whichhavebeenrescheduledfor
2021 becauseof the COVID-19 pandemic).
Howdid a buddingteamrecruitsuchchampions?
MeetWomen'sWrestlingHeadCoachMaxMejia,a
formerHarvardwrestlerwhobecamea women'sand
skills coachfor Arizona'sSunkistKidsWrestlingClub,
whichproduced55 Olympicmedalistsin both men'sand
women'swrestling.
"In wrestling,youcancontrolyourdestinymorethan
othersports.It's not aboutheightor speed.Champions
havementaltoughness,diIigencefor detaiI, anda
hungerto win," he said. "My goalis to producethe best
womenleadersin the world.Whentheygraduate,I want
themto understandhowthesetraits convertto success
in the realworld.And I wantthe employersto gobble
them up becausethey recognizewhatcomesfrom that
levelof leadership,dedication,andgrit," he said.
Mejiafocuseson process,knowingresultswill follow.
Heseeksto understandeachathletes'hopesand
motivationsso he can helpthem playto their strengths
for bothathleticsand careersuccess.
Mejiaempowers
eachwrestlerto set herowngoals:"I
knowI havethe disciplineto do anythingI put my mind
to, and I'll havea greatmindsetwhiledoingit," said
kinesiology
majorSavannah
Vold'22.
"He doesn'tseeus as weare but as we couldbe,"
saidVayle-rae
Baker'23, whoranksat the top of her
weightclass."Thenhe pushesus throughself-doubtor
whateveris holdingus back.I take morerisks,and I'm
seeingthe rewards."
Thosestrengthsareshowing.Withan overallrecordof
4-2, AuggieWomen's
Wrestlingrankedamongthe top
10 programs
in the NCAAasthe teamheadedintothe
inauguralCliff KeenNationalCollegiate
Women's
Wrestling
Championships
in earlyMarch.Augsburg
finishedin ninth
placeasa team,whileShiIsonclaimedthe nationaltitle to
closeout herinauguralcollegiateseason.
"My
goalistoproduce
t ebest
women
leaders
inthewofd."
12
AUGSBURG
NOW
NCAA
NAMES
WOMEN'S
WRESTLING
AN'EMERGING'
SPORT
In January,NCAADivision11 and
Division111 votedto addwomen's
wrestlingto its list of Emerging
Sports
for Women;in June,DivisionI voted
in agreement.
Thenextmilestone
for the wrestlingcommunitywill be
to reachat least40 NCAA-affiliated
varsitywomen'swrestIingteams, which
is requiredto achieveofficial NCAA
Championship
status.At present
, about
35 NCAAschoolssupportwomen's
wrestlingteams.
Augsburg
AthleticDirectorJeff
Swenson
'79 is optimistic."Wehaveno
doubtwomen
's wrestlingwill buildon
our reputationas a 'wrestlingschool,'
with our men'steamhavingsecuredits
13th nationaltitle in 2019.
"In 1995, Augsburgmadehistory
with the region'sfirst women'sice
hockeyteam,and nowyou're uniqueif
youdon't offerwomen'shockey.Then
in 2014, Augsburg
startedthe NCAA's
first varsitywomen'slacrosseteamin
Minnesota,
and now,herewearewith
women'swrestling,"hesaid."Augsburg
continuesto be a pioneerfor women's
athletics,andwe'reinvestedin the
successof women'swrestling."
Men'sWrestlingCo-Head
CoachJim
Moulsoff
is thriIledthat Augsburgis
creatingopportunities
for womento
wrestleat the collegiatelevel.Girls'
wrestlingis the fastestgrowinghigh
schoolsport,accordingto the U.S.
WrestlingFoundation,
yet Minnesota
andWisconsin
areamongthe 30 states
that haven'tmadegirls' wrestlingan
officialsport."
"Forthe past18 years,I havehelped
out at juniorfreestylesummertrainings,
and it's beenamazingto seethe growth
of women'swrestlingfromnogirls in
attendance
to hundredseachyear,"said
Moulsoff,the 2015 and2019 National
Wrestling
Coaches
Association
Division111
NationalCoachof the Year.
TEAM
OF'FIRSTS'
MENTORS
YOUNG
GIRLS
Members
of the women'swrestling
teamalsoaredrivento sharetheir
knowledge
andpavethe wayfor the
nextgenerationof womenwrestlers.
Everyoneof the student-athletes
has
liveda first-the first girl on a high
school'swrestlingteam,the first match
a competitorforfeitedbecausehe
"didn't wantto wrestlea girl," the first
time shesawwomen'swrestlingat the
Olympics(in 2004). Theyembracethe
strengthgainedfromthosemoments,
but it is ti mefor morewomento have
opportunities
to wrestle.
Nineyearsago,MinnesotaUSA
WrestIing beganhostingopengymsat
AugsburgeverySunday,andfourgirls
attendedthe first session.Earlierthis
year,about60 girls showedup every
week,evenwith weekendtournaments
pullingsomeaway.Bakersaidsheand
herteammates
consistentlyvolunteered
to coachand mentorthe girls,who
rangedfrom6 to 18 yearsold.
"I startedwrestlingwhenI was9,
and I wasthe onlygirl on that team
andthe onlygirl on my middleand
highschoolteams,"Bakersaid. "I
SPRING
SUMVER
7020 13
look forward to coaching and connecting with the girls each
week. My teammates and I want to show them they can do
this, and show them there will be teams for them when they
go to college."
ChadShilson'93, women's wrestling director and coach
for Minnesota USA Wrestling, said lifelong friendships seem
to emerge at every practice, as girls experience wrestling
with those who are similar in strength, weight, flexibility,
size, and goals. "They get to be the iron that sharpens other
iron," he said.
The result: some of the top women wrestlers in the country,
if not the world, have come out of the open gyms-"hungry
for the sport and everything it has to offer," added Shi Ison,
the father of top-ranked Augsburg wrestler, Emily Shi Ison.
Coach Mejia hopes to collaborate with USA Wrestling and
other organizations to offer even more camps and open gyms
(when it's safe and appropriate for public health regarding
the coronavirus) for the estimated 300 girls who are wrestling
at some level in the state. When they graduate from high
school, Mejia said, "I want them to have no doubt that
Augsburg is the place to be."
~i
ti,\
'WEKEEP
PLAYING.
WEPERSIST'
Word has gotten out. Alumni and friends of the university
AR "'1S
fjJ DEFENSE
SOAP
Augsburgplacedseventhin the NCAA
women'sdivisionat the Multi-Division
NationalDualMe
are tweeting their praises and sharing news coverage of the
historic team. Children's book author and public speaker,
ShellyBoyum-Breen
'97, said the university's investment in
women's wrestling is also an investment in girls and women
in general.
"I was fortunate to be at Augsburg when women's hockey
started, and I saw lives
changing before my eyes. I
know firsthand the impact that
continues to make on those
women's lives," said BoyumBreen, who taught physical
education and coached
women's basketball at Augsburg. "When we invest in women
and our diverse communities, we invest in what's possible.
We have to show it in action through media coverage. Kids
need to hear these stories-boys
and girls.
"Look at the decision-makers, the percentages of coaches,
the funding gaps, and the near media blackout of women's
professional and collegiate sports. And yet, we keep playing.
And people keep watching. Because of the support that
exists, we persist," said Boyum-Breen,
also established grants to pay sports
"When
weinvestin females who
fees and equipment costs that functioned
andourdiverse
communities,as barriers to participation for some
Minnesota girls.
weinvestin what's
possible." Augsburg women's hockey coaches
14
AUGSBURG
NOW
know better than most the kind of
investment and persistent leadership required to create and
sustain a vibrant women's athletics program.
"To be a leader-it's
scary," said founding Women's
2020
USMARINE
CORPS/NWCA
MUL Tl DIVISION
IATIONAL DUAL MEET
7'ff PLlfC=.
WOMENNCAA
et in Louisville,Kentucky,in January.
Hockey Head Coach Jill Pohtilla. "I've seen Augsburg, time and
time again, make bold moves based on what makes sense and
what is right," said Pohtilla, who was inducted into the Women's
Hockey Association of Minnesota Hall of Fame in 2006.
The women's wrestling program has made an immediate
impact in the Athletics Department and has increased
expectations for success, said Michelle McAteer,Augsburg's
women's hockey head coach.
"Coach Mejia was able to bring in a large and talented class
for the inaugural season, and it's clear how skilled, determined,
and committed these women are," she said. "They are
representing Augsburg and our Athletics Department with great
pride, and growing the profile of their sport at the same time.
"They are making history, living history," McAteer added. "It's
a special team doing very special
things." ■
Seepage16 for a brief historyof
women'sathleticsat Augsburg.
ABRIEF
HISTORY
OF
WOMEN'S
ATHL
16
AUGSBURG
NOW
TICS
ATAIJGSBIJRG
SPRINGSUMMER
2020 17
REAL PEOPLE IN
REAL CASES
computers with a software program
Eyewitness identification of criminal
perpetrators is a staple form of evidence
San Diego; and Tucson, Arizona.
in courts of law.
developed specifically for the field
"Think of eyewitness memory like
audio transcripts to examine the
855 I ineups in four cities: Austin, Texas;
association between witness comments
Charlotte-Mecklenburg,
and lineup selection, finding that an
North Carolina;
cities provided lineup photos and
eyewitness identification decisions,
instant identification
by an eyewitness
was less likely to produce an error than
when the witness was deliberative.
NatalieJohnson
'18, who's pursuing a
residue, or other physical evidence,"
investigator reports, and audiotapes of
master's degree in counseling psychology
Steblay said. "You don't want to
the verbal exchange between the I ineup
at the University of St. Thomas in St.
contaminate it."
administrator and eyewitness during
Paul, Minnesota, was one of the students
each lineup procedure. A startling
who listened to police audiotapes and
the top national experts in eyewitness
discovery emerged from a pattern of
coded them based on whether the
identification.
cases when lineup administrators, who
decision-making process was immediate
social psychologist who has conducted
were also the case detectives, knew who
or deliberative.
research on eyewitness memory, pol ice
the suspects were and behaved in a
procedures, and eyewitness evidence
leading fashion with the eyewitnesses.
Steblay, along with Wells, is among
As an experimental
for 30 years, she is often cal led upon
by defense attorneys to testify when
they believe a suspect is being wrongly
accused based on faulty identification.
Her abi I ity to speak with authority
on the subject has been reinforced
She and other students were startled
to realize that the police push for a
conviction could, in some cases, influence
LEARNING E'ROM
LINEUPS
Augsburg student researchers
by her research findings. Assisted by
collected data and assessed 190
Augsburg student researchers, Steblay
real lineups for fairness or bias. "It's
and Wells led studies that, for the first
powerfu I to bring students into research
how criminal cases are pursued.
"Doing the work on police lineups
made me realize how flawed our
system can be," she said. "It made me
realize our criminal justice has a long
way to go."
SeanAdams'17, who is currently a
legal assistant, said he was shocked by
time, sought to understand and predict
by saying, 'Here's the problem of
how poorly some of the lineups were
eyewitness identification errors using
wrongfu I convictions, and let's figure out
constructed.
actual I ineups.
how to solve them,"' Steblay said.
Before these studies, scientific
Psychology majors made up the
The tests were designed to include
fake witnesses, and these mock
psychology's understanding of
research team at Augsburg, adding
witnesses in Augsburg's laboratory
eyewitness identification accuracy was
laboratory skills to what they learned in
studies represented the worst possible
based almost exclusively on controlled
the classroom. Steblay and 27 student
scenario: a witness with no memory of
the offender. Mock witnesses shou Id
laboratory
researchers
studies that
conducted
not be able to pick the pol ice suspect
the first and
from a lineup at a rate higher than
second studies
chance. "The worst lineup I saw had
across multiple
such a leading description that the
simulate
eyewitness
experiences.
Steblay and
Wells were
awarded a
"It's powerful to bring students
into research by saying, 'Here's
the problem of wrongful
convictions, and let's figure out
how to solve them."'
National Science
20
The Augsburg students coded 102
experiment. Data was collected from
The field data collected in these
trace evidence, such as blood, gunshot
existed unti I th is study.
semesters.
[laboratory] witnesses picked the pol ice
Verbal
suspect 80% of the time," Adams said.
exchanges
"That shou Id have statistically
less than 20% of the time."
been
Lineups
Foundation grant to pursue a four-phase
between pol ice
lineup administrators and eyewitnesses
should be constructed so that the
study from 2014 to 2018. The research
to crimes were audio-recorded. There
suspect and the fillers (innocent people
followed up on their prior work, in which
police lineups were presented to real
had never been an analysis of recorded
added to the lineup) match the suspect
verbal comments from actual witnesses
description.
eyewitnesses by detectives using laptop
because such recordings had never
AUGSBURG
NOW
RELEVANT
RESEARCH
Along with stunning insights into eyewitness
identification,
these studies brought to light
more questions worth exploring. The research
resulted in 12 conference poster presentations
involving 23 students, and it fostered two
student honors projects and spinoff projects
that are ongoing.
"It was time-consuming,
important.
but it was
I think the student researchers
had a sense of the importance,"
Steblay said.
"It was really fun to work with them. Their
work enabled me to complete the project."
Augsburg student researchers saw the
subject material's importance for effective law
enforcement practices as well as its resonance
with people beyond their research group.
When AustinConery'17 began researching
how to predict eyewitness identification errors,
he discovered that his Augsburg University
research project was a hot topic with friends
and family.
"Every party or every family event, someone
would ask what was going on at school, and
I could talk about the research for hours
because it was so relevant," Conery said.
Besides a view into a major criminal justice
system issue, students said the research
opportunity gave them practical experience.
Conery said the research gave him the
confidence to read, understand, and apply
studies in his current job as a site director at a
children's mental health provider, PrairieCare.
"It was a great way to implement the
things I was learning in class," he said. "It
gave me the place to think critically
in a
control led environment."
As Adams considers his future work, he's
looking back to his time at Augsburg. "I've
been thinking of what I enjoyed in college,
and a lot of it was the work I did with Nancy,"
he said.
TURNING RESEARCHrlNDINGS
INTO PRACTICALPOLICIES
Steblay'sinfluencemaynot makeher a householdname,but her researchfindings
are beingput to practicaluse in a varietyof ways.
Minnesotajudgesviewa webinarmoduleshecreated,"EyewitnessScience:
Protectionand Evaluationof EyewitnessIdentificationEvidence,"as part of their
judicial e-learning program.Steblayalso pubIisheda chapterin the 2019 book,
"PsychologicalScienceand the Law."
Thefindingsof the researchby Steblay,Wells,and Augsburgstudent
researchers
are leadingto majorreformsnationally.The best practices
includecritical stipulations:that lineupsmust be double-blind,meaning
the administratingofficerdoesn'tknowwhothe suspectis, and that the
non-suspectfillers in the lineup must resemblethe suspectand match
the descriptionof the offenderthat wasprovidedby the eyewitness.
"Thereare hundredsof thousandsof policeofficerswho are using
theseeyewitnessidentificationprotocolsthat we didn't use20 years
ago,and they don't knowNancySteblay'sname,"said William Brooks,
a policechief in Norwood,Massachusetts.
Brookstravelsthe countrytraining policeon what he regardsas
groundbreaking
science-backed
best practicesfor lineups."I don't
think there'sbeenas wide of an impact in otherareasof investigation
as in howwe dealwith eyewitnessmemory,"he said.
In mid-May,MinnesotaGov.Tim Walzsignedbipartisanlegislation
that requiresuniformscience-backed
eyewitnessidentificationpractices
for all law enforcement,which goesinto effect in early2021.
Sti11, the eyewitnessidentificationbest practicesface resistance."Some
of it is individualpolicejurisdictionsjust not wantingto be told howto do
things," Steblaysaid in an interviewwith YahooNews."Sometimespolice
or prosecutorssaythey don't want rulesto be so rigid, becausethen if we just
violateoneof the rules,then that ruins our prosecutionor we can't catch the bad
guysor whatever.Sothey feel like it's underminingtheir ability to do the goodjob
that they shoulddo.
"I don't seeit that way," Steblaysaid. "I just think theseare not difficult
changes."Steblayviewsthe recommendedlineup reformsas a meansto strengthen
eyewitnessevidenceand reducethe likelihoodof a mistakenidentification.
The InnocenceProject,a nonprofitfoundedin 1992 to exoneratethe wrongly
convictedthroughDNAtesting, hasworkedto passlawsthroughoutthe countrythat
embracethe scientificallysupportedbest practicesadvancedby Steblayand Wells.
"Whenwe beganour work,a handfulof stateshadembracedbest practices.
Todaymorethan half of the statesin the countryhaveadoptedkeyeyewitness
identificationreforms,"said RebeccaBrown,the nonprofit's policydirector.
Steblayhopesmorepolice departmentswi11 enactthesereforms."Wehave
at leastpart of the answerto howpolicecan reducemistakenidentificationand
wrongfulconvictions."■
22
AUGSBURG
NOW
States where c:ore eyewitness reforms have been
implemented through legislation, c:ourt action, or
substantial voluntary c:omplianc:e:
California,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Georgia,
Louisiana,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Montana,
Nebraska,
Nevada,
New
Hampshire,
NewJersey,
NewMexico,
North
Carolina,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
Rhode
Island,
Texas,
Utah,Vermont,
West
Virginia
andWisconsin
viaInnocence
Project
SPRING-SUMMER
2020 23
The Gage tam i ly is part of a legacy
Skip and Barbara have supported many campus projects
that has supported valuable
throughout the years, including Anderson Plaza, the Gage Center
student services that are crucial to
for Student Success, the Gage Family Art Gallery, the James G.
Augsburg University's
identity and
community.
Lindell Library, and the Scandinavian Center, which cultivated
knowledge and interest in Scandinavian culture on campus for
Edwin"Skip"Gagepassed away
Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Skip and his wife, Barbara
CarlsonGage,have been integral to the Augsburg community
Piper LaBelle Award for their consistent support of young people
for many years. Al I four of their children attended Augsburg,
In his professional life, Skip built what came to be known as
15 years. In 2016, the Gage family was honored with the Toby
in recovery.
including alumni GeoffGage'89 and Rick Gage'96. Barbara
the Carlson Marketing Group. He served as chair and then chair
served on the Board of Regents, including four years as
emeritus of the lnnerCity Tennis Foundation and worked with
chair of the board and as co-chair of Augsburg's Access to
Barbara in many community efforts with the Banyan Community,
Excellence campaign.
Northside Achievement Zone, and Urban Ventures.
Skip and Barbara initiated the Center for Learning and
Skip's vision aligned with Augsburg's institutional
calling and
Accessible Student Services and contributed substantial time
reinforced the university's commitments to global perspectives,
and gifts to the StepUP ® Program. Skip believed the values
living faith, active citizenship, and meaningful work. Skip and
taught as part of the fabric of Augsburg's community have been
Barbara's gifts and leadership over the years have sustained
as important as the educational experience and the culture of
Augsburg's commitment to serve its students and neighbors.
family and service that is imparted to all of Augsburg's students.
Through the Gage family's leadership, CLASS was established.
"The Gage family has and continues to have a significant
impact on the Augsburg community," said DonnaMclean, former
In 1989, Skip and Barbara commissioned the first study that
Augsburg director of leadership gifts. "Thanks to the generosity
evaluated learning disability programs at the college level. They
of the Gage family, the lives of so many students have been
partnered with Augsburg faculty to build a learning disability
meaningfully enhanced through CLASS and other campus
endowment program, and Skip led the drive to raise $500,000
programs that provide impactful learning experiences." ■
in addition to $500,000
24
AUGSBURG
NOW
his family pledged.
THE
STAGE
Sesquicentennial
project
shares
story
through
song
The Augsburg University Department of Music had a unique opportunity to produce
Other
sesquicentennial
projects
and perform "Tienda," a new chamber opera by Augsburg Assistant Professor of Music
To commemorate Augsburg's 150th
ReinaldoMoyaand opera lyricist Caitlin Vincent, which premiered February 21 and 22.
anniversary, the university invited faculty
This production, presented as a part of Augsburg's sesquicentennial celebration, was
performed in Foss Center's Hoversten Chapel and included a cast of student singers,
and staff to apply for funding to support
unique projects that aligned with their
the Augsburg Choir, and the Augsburg Orchestra. The opera tells the story of Luis
interests and expertise while uplifting
Garzon, a Mexican musician who immigrated to Minneapolis in 1886 and opened a
Augsburg's mission, academic excellence,
small Mexican grocery store, or tienda, in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the 1920s. Garz6n's
and traditions. These projects showcased
store served as a community hub for new arrivals from Mexico, many of whom had
the university's history, its distinction in
fled the Mexican Revolution and found work toiling on the sugar beet farms of rural
the arts, and its high-quality scholarship.
Minnesota. "Tienda" explored the immigrant experience: what must be left behind-
Learn more about sesquicentennial
and what cannot be forgotten-on
.
projects at augsburg.edu/150
the journey to a new home.
STUDENT
EMERGENCY
FUND
A Student Emergency Fund was established in March to support Augsburg students
with financial relief as we al I grapple with the challenges of COVID-19. In these
disruptive times, many students are experiencing the loss of income and jobs
as segments of the economy shut down, struggles to provide for their families,
obstacles in returning home to out-of-state residences, and uncertainty about their
ability to finance their Augsburg education.
With this fund, students are able to request emergency funding for basic needs,
including food, rent, transportation,
funding for academic materials-such
Giveto the StudentEmergency
Fundat
augsburg.edu/giving
.
and wireless internet-to
and medication. They may also request
as books, supplies, laptop computer rentals,
ensure their education is not impacted by a lack of
attainable resources.
SPRINGSUMMfR
2020 25
AUGGIES
CONNECT
AUGGIES
IN
NATION'S
CAPITAL
BEGIN
SERIES
OFALUMNI
GATHERINGS
Last October, a group of Augsburg alumni gathered in Arlington, Virginia, for a
dinner and reception hosted by JeffPeterson'63. At the end of the gathering,
JessicaSpanswick'10 suggested the group should spend more time together.
AUGGIES
whatprogram
doyouwanttolift
upforGiveto theMaxDay2020?
Spanswick coordinated the group's next gathering for a social hour and trivia
in Washington, D.C., the following month. That's how the informal OMV-area (the
district,
Maryland, and Virginia) Augsburg alumni group was born. With help from
Augsburg's Institutional
Advancement team, they were able to invite even more
Auggies in the area to attend social hours, networking events, and dinners.
In February, Augsburg staff met with
Give to the Max Day 2019 was a huge
success for programs across campus!
$421,000 RAISED
1,656 DONORS
the group to discuss how to increase
alumni involvement across the country
Auggie passion is the fuel that drives
and support the university through Give
strong donations on Give to the Max
to the Max Day 2020.
Day, and that's why it's Augsburg's
Want to plan an alumni gathering in your
biggest fundraising
area when pandemic health precautions
allow? Email alumni@augsburg.edu
to
receive help reaching out to fellow Auggies.
day of the year.
It's exciting and inspiring to hear your
personal stories about Augsburg and
Auggiesmeetin the Washington,D.C.,area.
why you're passionate about supporting
a particular
project.
What do you want to I ift up at
Augsburg? Send in a 45- to 90-second
video of yourself sharing what you were
most passionate about at Augsburg,
and you might be featured in the next
Give to the Max Day campaign.
0
Sendin a video,volunteer,or hel~ lead
a projectin Novemberby contacting
ChrisBogen'09,campaigncoordinator,at
bogen@augsburg.edu
by September1, 2020.
Lto R: ChrisBogen'09, RobynHiestand
'98, KariArfstrom
'89,Jonathan
Chrastek
'10,Jessica
Spanswick
'10,KatiePendo'10, KaiaChambers
26
AUGSBURG
NOW
AUGGIES
CONNEC
LIFELONGAUGGIE
FRIENDSHIPS
Connections
that flourishedat
Augsburgspanacrossyearsand miles
[L to R]: DerekFrancis'08, BryanLudwig
'08, Greg
Hildebrandt
'08,andSamaSandy'08 broughttheir families
togetherfor an eveningof fun earlierthis year.Thegroup
members
tout themselvesas the "1107Family,"namedfor the
numberof the roomtheysharedin Mortensen
Residence
Hall.
TheFacebook
postfromtheir meetupshowshowa friendship
betweenfourAuggiesbecamea close-knitgroupof 17.
A groupof Auggieswhocelebratelife milestones
togethergatheredfor the
70th birthdayof SueGibbons
Casey'71 [front,center].She'ssurrounded
by[clockwise]Pam(Hermstad)
Santerre(attendedAugsburg1968-69),
Ginny(Dahlen)Baali'72, Kris(Parbst)Rohde'72, KathyQuick'72, Nancy
'72.
(Olson)Hrdlicka'72,and Linda(Engstrom)
Akenson
TheseAugsburgalumniand "5th FloorGirls"of UrnessTowerinitially reunitedafter
their graduationat mini-reunionsand holidays.In recentyears,theytooktrips to
destinationslike Boston;MyrtleBeach,SouthCarolina;andStillwater,Minnesota.
Picturedare[front, L to R]:Stacy(Waterman)
Newton'01, SaraThedinga
'01,
Merry-Ellen
(Krcil)Bryers'01, andAnn(Peterson)
Fisher'01. [Back,L to R]:Amy
Carlson'01, LauraWaldon'01, Emily(Brinkman)
Waldon'01,JaimeKingsley
Loso'01,and EricaHuls'01. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
SPRING-SUMMER
2020 27
ALUMNI
CLASS
NOTES
The MinnesotaIntercollegiate
AthleticConferencefeatured
EdorNelson'38 in the LegendaryLeaders
seriesreleasedon its websiteand social
media. Nelson, who passedawayin 2014,
wasan instructorfor the healthand physical
educationdepartmentfor 32 years, coached
Augsburg'sbaseballteam from 1946 to 1979,
and led the programto sevenMIACtitles. He
alsowasAugsburgfootball'sheadcoach, and
he helpedstartthe men'swrestlingprogram
and relaunchmen's hockey.
1938
LelandFairbanks
'53, MD, was
selectedas the Commissioned
OfficersAssociationRetireeof the Yearby
the United StatesPublic HealthService.
The award, which recognizesexcellence
in serviceand volunteeractivities, was
presentedduring a virtual meetingin June.
Fairbanks'career has includedwork focused
on family health, holisticcare, smoke-free
communities, and training other health
professiona
Is.
1953
of Fame in 1988 and created an athletic
lettering programfor female student-athletes
in 1989.
&
Augsburg
AthleticDirector
JeffSwenson
'79
,;;, shares
hisoptimism
aboutAugsburg's
new
women's
wrestling
program.
Seestoryonpage10.
& ChadShilson
'93comments
onAugsburg's
,;;, women's
wrestling
program,
inwhichhis
Emily
ShiIson'23,competes.
Seestoryon
daughter,
page10.
& ShellyBoyum-Breen
'97connects
thelaunch
,;;, ofAugsburg's
women's
wrestling
withtheneed
totell moresportsstories
thatinclude
females
and
diverse
communities.
Seestoryonpage10.
CanisiusCollegein Buffalo, New
York, hired MartinHlinka'99
as an assistantcoachfor its men's hockey
program. After his work as an assistant
coach with the SalzburgRed Bulls junior
program, Hlinka servedas a lead on-ice skills
instructorwith SynergyHockeyin St. Louis.
The MinnesotaIntercollegiate
Hlinka scored 125 points in 85 gamesfrom
Athletic Conferencefeatured
MarilynPearsonFlorian'76 in the Legendary 1995 to 1999 while on Augsburg'shockey
team, and he also playedfootball, earning
Leadersseries. PearsonFloriancoached
All-Americanstatusas a kicker. Hlinka
women's basketballand volleyballat
playedprofessionalhockeyfor 15 years in
Augsburgand also was the women'sathletic
director. During her tenure, Augsburgadded the American HockeyLeague, United Hockey
League, and Germany.
four MIACwomen'ssports, including cross
country, golf, ice hockey, and swimming
and diving. She also initiated the induction
NickRathmann
'03 completed
of women into Augsburg'sAthletic Hall
his final term on the Augsburg
1999
1976
2003
Alumni Boardof Directors. He has been on
the boardfor the past sevenyears, serving
in executiveleadershiprolesfor four years,
including a two-yearterm as board president.
Rathmannnow continuesvolunteeringhis
time by servingon the A-Club board.
JasonEdwards
'04 has been
teaching sixth grade science
and readingat DiscoveryMiddleSchoolin
Fargo, North Dakota, for 11 years. He also
coachesgirls crosscountryand track and
field at FargoDaviesHigh School.The USA
Trackand FieldAssociationchose him as
the Coachof the Yearfor Girls CrossCountry,
and he is the North Dakotarepresentative
for the "40 under 40" coachingawardfrom
Coachand Athletic Directormagazine. While
at Augsburg, he competedin crosscountry
and track and field, earningschool recordsin
the indoor600 meterdash and indoor4x400
meter relayteam.
2004
Andr~a(Ladda)Brown'05
receivedan awardfor
her accomplishmentswith the City of
Minneapolis'PoliceConductOversight
Commissionregardingthe body-worncamera
policy, which led to the discoveryof ketamine
abuse by paramedicsand policeofficers.
Her work also led to the creationof the MPD
dashboard, where race disparitiesstatistics
and officer misconducthave been made
public and searchable, and the co-responder
model-mental health professionals
accompanyingpolice officersrespondingto
2005
AUGGIE
SNAPSHOTS
28
AUGSBURG
NOW
ALUMNI
CLASS
NOTES
calls-which startedas a pilot programin
Minneapolisand is now used in NewYork,
Texas, and Utah. [Editor'snote:Theseevents
occurred prior to the murder of GeorgeFloyd
by Minneapolispolice.]
Artist AlisonPrice'08 was
featured in the Minnesota
Women'sPressregardingher new series
of art, "WitnessingWaves." Price, a child
of two immigrantparents, talked about
a stump alongthe MississippiRiverand
howthe river'swatersaided migrationto
the region.This pieceof nature influenced
Price'scollection, which startedduring her
time at Augsburg. "The seriesis imbuedwith
symbolism. DNAstrandsweavealongthe
riverbanksand through the rootsand ground,
reminding us of our interconnectedness
with all, reinforcingthe ideathat we are
fundamentallytied to each other and the
planet," Pricesaid.
2008
TannerWiseman
'15 and friends
from Lakeville, Minnesota, filmed
the series"DestinationFear," which aired on
the TravelChannellast fall. The showfollows
the group'scross-countryroad trip where
they stayedovernightin 10 haunted places.
The group beganmakingvideostogetherfor
YouTubein middle schooland high school,
and this show indulgestheir passionfor
exploringabandonedplaces.
2015
~
Legalassistant
SeanAdams
'17researched
~ eyewitness
identification
procedures
withan
Augsburg
facultymember.
Seestoryonpage18.
McCleave
, who outlinedthe organization's
effortsto highlightthe historyof Native
boardingschoolsand the impact they had on
Nativecommunities.
~
Austin
Conery
'17researched
thereliability
~ ofeyewitness
testimonies
andnowuseshis
experience
to understand
andapplystudiesin hisrole
at a mentalhealthprovider.
Seestoryonpage18.
2018
ChungEangLip'18 wrote
about his career path in the
public healthfield for ColumbiaUniversity's
MailmanSchoolof Public Healthstudent
voiceswebpage.He focused on the
importanceof kindnessand storytellingon
his journeyto becominga public health
professiona
I.
DianaPierce'16 MALnarratedand produced
a documentary, "CountryMusic: Made in
Minnesota," which aired on PioneerPBS
last September. The half-hourdocumentary
toucheson storiesabout artistsfrom the
Minnesotacommunitiesof Alexandriaand
Dovray; as well as the WE Festin Detroit
Lakes, Minnesota, and the FlameBar in
Minneapolis.The programfeaturesinterviews
with artistsfrom DetroitLakes, Minneapolis,
and Pipestone, Minnesota, plus otherfigures
who contributedto the developmentand
popularityof country music in the state.
~
Natalie
Johnson
'18contributed
to National
~ Science
Foundation-funded
research
that
evaluated
thereliability
of eyewitness
identification.
Seestoryonpage18.
GRADUATE
PROGRAMS
Christine
DiindiisiMcCleave
'13 MALis the
executivedirector of the NationalNative
American BoardingSchool HealingCoalition,
formed in 2012 , which seeksjustice and
healingfor NativeAmericanchildren and
their descendants. The organizationrecently
receiveda $10 million grant from the
KendedaFundthat will support a new 10year plan focused on education, advocacy,
and healing.MPR NewsinterviewedDiindiisi
~ SUBMIT
A
~ CLASS
NOTE
Tellusaboutthenewsinyourlifeyournewjob,move,
marriage,
and
milestones.
Visitaugsburg.edu/now
to submityourannouncements.
&
W
EricArlein'12 and Theresa(Bulger)
Arlien'14 welcomeda daughter,
Cora, last July.
Jenessa
(Payano)
Stark'07 graduated
from YaleUniversitywith her Masterof
•
Sciencein Nursingwith specialtiesas a
certified nurse midwifeand women'shealth
nurse practitioner. Tofulfill the health
professionalshortagearea serviceobligation
of her NationalHealthServiceCorps
scholarship, she is movingto NavajoNation
to work as a full-scope midwifeat a tribally
run Indian HealthServicehospitalin
Arizona.She will be accompaniedby her
husbandand children, includinga son,
Zaiel, whom the family welcomedin January.
Kristin(Daniels)
Overton
'09 and
husband, Jesse, welcomedthe birth of
•
twin boys, Mattisand Henry, lastSeptember.
Reginaldo
Haslett-Marroquin
'03
•
delivereda convocationaddressat
CarletonCollegein Northfield, Minnesota,
last October. He is a founding memberof the
NationalFairTradeFederation, startedthe
fair-tradePeaceCoffeeCompany, and is
presidentand CEOof Regenerative
AgricultureAlliance, a Minnesota-based
nonprofitorganizationthat worksto develop
regenerativefood supply chains and to
advocateagainstextractiveagriculture.
Haslett-Marroquinis alsothe author of "In
the Shadowof GreenMan," in which he tells
storiesfrom his upbringingin Guatemala
and shareshis visionfor regenerative
farming practices.
A
SylviaBull'10 (pictured on the right)
•
was ordainedas an Evangelical
LutheranChurch in America pastor in 2017
and has servedas associatepastor of Faith
LutheranChurch in Bismarck, North
Dakota, for three years.
SPRING
SUMMER
2020 29
ALUMNI
CLASS
NOTES
Augsburg University Men's Wrestling hosted an
alumni night in February, celebrating the national
championship anniversariesof the teams from 1970,
1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2010 before a wrestling
match against Concordia College-Moorhead . Photo
by Caleb Williams.
ChrisStedman'08 wrote
a new book that will be
published in October.
The book, "IRL: Finding
Realness, Meaning, and
Belongingin Our Digital
Lives," explores being
human in our increasingly
digital world and is
availablefor pre-order.
AugsburgUniversityMen's
Basketballhostedan alumni
reunion in Januarythat included
a pick-up game, lunch, watching
the men'steam take on Concordia
College-Moorhead, and a
social hour. Auggiesfrom several
generationsjoined in the festivities.
Auggiealumni leadthe men's
basketballprogramsat both
Augsburgand Concordia. Assistant
CoachCharlieScott'07, '15 MAL
and the Auggiesdefeatedthe
Cobbers, who were led by Head
CoachGrantHemmingsen
'07.
Adrienne
KucklerEldridge
'02
joined the staff of Augsburg's
ChristensenCenterfor Vocation.
She coordinatesthe theologyand
public leadershipundergraduate
program, is the program director
for the AugsburgYouth Theology
Institute, and is the director of the
Public Church Scholars program,
an accelerateddegree pathway
that allows students to complete
a Bachelor of Arts degree in
theologyand public leadership
and a Master of Divinity in
five years.The program is a
partnership betweenAugsburg
and LutheranSchool of Theology
at Chicagofor students who are
called to ministry and public
leadershipas an ordained pastor.
AUGGIE
SNAPSHOTS
JoeSeehusen
'00 married
Kathryn Tighe on a ranch
in Grand Lake, Colorado,
in September. The couple
resides in the Denverarea,
where they work in real
estate. Seehusenencourages
his Auggie friends to reach
out the next time they're in
Colorado.
30
AUGSBURG
NOW
ToriBahr'09, a medical doctor at
the complex care clinic of Gillette
Children's Hospital in St. Paul,
Minnesota, was presentedwith
Augsburg University's2019 First
DecadeAlumni Award in January.
Bahr previouslyworked at the
Universityof MinnesotaMedical
Center's InternaI Medicine-Pediatrics
Program, where she becamechief
resident. Bahr's new position at
Gillette Children's Hospital includes
treating patientswith medically
complex diseases, using advanced
technology, and championing
transition care.
BrentStolle'03 and Bethany
(Schneck)Stolle'05 welcomed
their second son, Isaac, in
February 2019. Isaacjoined his
three-year-old brother, Weston.
Bethany is the design research
lead for Blackboard, an education
technology company. Brent
works for Nvidia as a software
engineering manager. The family
lives in Kirkland, Washington.
DerrinLamker'97 was named Augsburg Universit
Footballhead coach in December. Lamker played
baseball, basketball, and football as an Auggie
student-athlete. During his football career, he wa<
the MinnesotaIntercollegiateAthletic Conference
MVPand led the Auggiesto a MIACtitle in 1997,
the same year he received KodakAll-American
Honors. Lamkerwas named the Northwest
Suburban ConferenceCoach of the Year in 2007,
2013, and 2014 during his tenure as head coach
of OsseoHigh School, where he coached for 11
years and won a class 6A state championship.
Beforetaking the head coach position at
Augsburg, Lamkeralso servedas offensive
coordinatorand head coach at Edina High
School. Augsburg University Footballhosted an
alumni gathering in Januaryto hear from Lamker
and to meet the incoming coaching staff, which
includes GregClough'86, defensivecoordinator,
and JackOsberg'62, volunteer coach. Alumni
who graduated between 1971 and 2019 attended
y
I
The City Pagespublication
featured the work of Jose
LuisVillasenor'99 and the
nonprofit organizationhe
founded, Tamalesy Bicicletas,
which existsto empower
youth, develop healthy Latinx
and immigrant communities,
promote sustainable
transportation, increase
accessto healthyfoods, and
improvethe environment.
The organization'scommunity
garden in south Minneapolis
providesspace to teach urban
farming and lay the groundwork
for sustainablelocal food.
/
In September, City Pages
featured DuaSaleh'18
for their work in poetry,
rapping, and singing.
Saleh released"N0r" in
2019, and "ROSETTA"
in 2020, EPsproduced
by Psymun, the St. Paul,
Minnesota, producer
whose connectionswith
mainstreamhip-hop
provide broader exposure
for Twin Cities performers.
As the recipient of the
Cedar Commissions
emerging musicians
program, Saleh performed
"Strings and Heart Beats,"
a project described as "an
immersiveAfrodiasporic
experience."
AlissaNollan'09 marriedJames Nystromin
St. Anthony, Minnesota, lastJuly.The wedding
party includedJennifer
Nollan'89, Whitney
(Holman)
Mead'10, and KatiePendo'10.
MarkMuhich'89 was
hired as managing
attorneyto supervise
public defender services
in Minnesota'sCarlton
and St. Louis counties.
Muhich is a Hibbing,
Minnesota, nativewho
has been a part-time
public defender at the
St. LouisCounty
Courthousein Virginia,
Minnesota. Muhich
previouslytaught politicaI
science and criminal
justice at Mesabi Range
Collegeand taught in the
law enforcement program
at VermilionCommunity
College.
MikePolis'10 welcomed
a second child, Sophia
June, in January.His
first child, LydiaMae,
lovesbeing an older
sibling. Polis is in his
secondyear of real
estateand is excitedfor
anotheryear of selling
and buying homes.
KelseyCrockett'06 and
wife, Stacey, welcomed
a child, MasonAvery
Crockett, into their family in
January. Kelseycontinued
his software management
work when the family moved
from Nashvilleto Dallasfor
Staceyto begin a doctoral
programat the Universityof
Texas-Southwestern.
In December, Michelle
Basham
'00 was elected
as the new presidentand
CEOof YWCAMinneapolis.
Bashampreviouslywas the
executivedirector at The
Bridgefor Youth, servedas
CEOof YWCADelaware, and
held leadershippositionsat
CommonBondCommunities,
FamilyWise
, and the
MinnesotaDepartmentof
Human Services.She also
co-foundedthe Nonprofit
EmergingLeadersAcademy.
P.C. Hillstrom'07, director of
educationaI equity at OsseoArea
Schools, received two statewide
honors this year: the Outstanding
Administrator of the Year award
from the Minnesota Indian
Education Association and the
Ron McKinley "All My Relations"
award from the Minnesota
Education Equity Partnership.
Hillstrom has worked for Osseo
Area Schools since 2015.
BrothersDaveKerkvliet'95 and TimKerkvliet
'01
were featured on the EducationMinnesotawebsite
when they introducedfour band studentsof Sebeka,
Minnesota-where Daveteaches-to the rock band
311 at a performanceat The Armory in Minneapolis.
Davehastaught band for 24 yearsand is a lifelong
musicianand fan of rock bands. He connected
those passionsand organizedthis meetingbetween
his studentsand lead singerand guitarist Nick
Hexumand drummer ChadSextonprior to 31 l's
performance.
SPRING
SUMMER
2020 31
ClarenceT. Hoversten
'41 ,
HerbertW. Chilstrom
'54, Green
Valley, Arizona, age 88, on
January 19.
M. KennethGjerde'61 ,
MarilynJ. Gisselquist
'73,
Fairfield, Montana, age 83,
on December 22.
Minneapolis, age 90, on
February 21.
DonaldJ. Dill '54, Eau Claire,
Wisconsin, age 86, on
December 15.
Ruth(Stenson)Kalpin'61,
Falls, South Dakota, age 95, on
January 27.
Alexandria, Minnesota, age 80,
on November 10.
Zee AnneA. (Zimmerman)
Reishus'73, Wood Lake,
DorothyC. (Quanbeck)
Johnson
'48,
BeverlyM. (Jorgensen)
Olander'55,
DonaldN. Myhres'61, Lee,
North Branch, Minnesota, age 92,
on February 18.
Rochester, Minnesota, age 86, on
November 18.
Illinois, age 95, on November 13.
HenryW. Roufs'49, San Diego,
WandaE. (Warnes)Olson'56,
RobertJ. llstrup'62, Minneapolis,
age 82, on September 25.
age 97, on October 10.
Lewiston, Minnesota, age 84, on
November 14.
EllenA. (Paulson)Keiter'64,
Minnesota, age 91, on January 29.
GlennC. Thorpe'56, Mendota
Charleston, Illinois, age 77, on
December 10.
RusselM. Smith'50,
Heights, Minnesota, age 85, on
February 8.
JeanneS. (Wanner)Morreim'66,
Lakeville, Minnesota, age 91,
on November 21.
RobertG.Jamieson
'57, Edina,
Cloquet, Minnesota, age 76, on
January 26.
Hendricks, Minnesota, age 101,
on November 6.
EileenM. Quanbeck
'46, Sioux
KermitF.Hoversten
'50, Austin,
PhyllisG. (Knudson)
Seim'58,
MarjorieK. (Danielson)
Johnson
'53,
Stillwater, Minnesota, age 83, on
January 24.
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 88, on
December 4.
JosephP. Nystuen'59, Cold
WilmerJ. Oudal'53, Eagle River,
Spring, Minnesota, age 82, on
November 10.
Alaska, age 88, on February 2.
MargaretA. (Lundahl)Ruesch'59,
32
AUGSBURG
NOW
WalterJ. Bradley'78, Davenport,
KatharineE. Skibbe'79,
Minneapolis, age 62, on
October 7.
IreneW. (Waslien)Stemmer'88,
Wayzata, Minnesota, age 93, on
November 8.
JaniceK. (Thompson)
Crockett'68,
age 91, on December 29.
Rochester, Minnesota, age 88,
on December 17.
DianeL.Loeffler'75, Minneapolis,
age 66, on November 16.
Iowa, age 63, on February 9.
Minnesota, age 86, on January 16.
Raymond
P.Strot'51, Minneapolis,
LeroyM. Petterson'53,
Minnesota, age 68, on
January 24.
Worthington, Minnesota, age 83,
on December 30.
Shakopee, Minnesota, age 73, on
January 15.
BruceA. Vassar'93, Edina,
age 57, on December 6.
ThomasL. Docken'69, Stacy,
LouJean
J. (Gulbransen)
Reid'94,
Minnesota, age 73, on
December 9.
Austin, Minnesota, age 73, on
January 20.
VirginiaK. (Golberg)Baynes'70,
Lee(Gilbert)Schotzko'04, Afton,
Portland, Oregon, age 71, on
September 14.
Minnesota, age 49, on October 1.
BenjaminM. Blair'14, Decorah,
Iowa, age 31, on January 26.
The "In memoriam" listings in this publication
include notifications received before March 1.
AuGSBURG
UNIVERSITY
®
DIGITAL-ONL
ISSUE
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Pieces
ofhistory
After the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and protests calling for justice in Minneapolis and around the nation,
MollyMontana'23 went to Lake Street to capture the work of local artists that emerged on walls and plywood boards covering the
windows of numerous businesses. "I wanted to tell the story of the pain and rage that people of color have felt," she said about
the images she captured for a photography class project. "I wanted to capture something meaningful, and these displays were
just that. They are a piece of history."
augsburg.edu/now
Show less
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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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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i
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n
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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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
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 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.
augsburg.edu/giving
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
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
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
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PJane
EIRICK
BY JOHN W
and introduce
her properly into the world,” said one of Jane Austen’s
characters, “and ten to one but she has the means of
settling well, without further expense to anybody.”
For a line published in 1814’s “Mansfield Park,” it
prophetically resonates in the life and work of Augsburg
alumna Devoney Looser ’89.
Looser earned a doctorate in English and women’s
studies, holds extensive credentials as a professor who
has served at leading universities, and has written and
contributed to dozens of books, scores of academic
journals, and even more book reviews. When national and
international publications need an expert on 18th-century
literature, British women writers, or Jane Austen, they want
Looser—if they can catch her before roller derby practice.
Looser grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. College
seemed like a distant dream, both because of the financial
barrier and the fact that she came from a family with no
college degree in sight. Her perspective changed when she
applied to Augsburg and earned a President’s Scholarship
for her academic merit.
“That made all the difference in terms of my ability to
go to college. Augsburg gave me an incredibly generous
opportunity with that scholarship,” Looser said.
PHOTOS BY DEANNA DENT,
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
FALL–WINTER 2018
11
Looser wasn’t outwardly
confident, but she caught
the eye of Cathie Nicholl, an
English professor who taught
at Augsburg for nearly 30 years
until her retirement in 1999.
Though Looser was somewhat
quiet, Nicholl said, “her written
work was always wonderful.
She’s really blossomed a lot
since then.”
Looser first became
enthralled with Jane Austen’s
writings through a literature
class with Nicholl, who has
maintained correspondence
with Looser through several
decades. “I had no idea at
the time how significant, how
important [that connection with
Nicholl] would turn out to be
to my life—to a path toward a
future in [literary] work.”
Douglas Green, a professor of
English who’s taught at Augsburg
since 1988, met Looser when
he first arrived at the university.
“She was exceptional. We
had a real conversation about
literature,” said Green, a
poet and scholar who teaches
Shakespeare, drama, and writing
as well as gender, sexuality, and
was very shy at 18, and to see
the same faces who could tell
me, ‘You can do this,’ made a
big difference in my believing
in myself.”
For a suburbanite, moving to
the heart of Minneapolis was
an education in itself. “Being
in an urban area, being able
to live among other students
was amazing,” Looser said.
“Augsburg’s student body was
very diverse. Being in class
alongside students from all over
the world was mind-blowing. It
made me reimagine my role in
women’s studies at institutions
including the University of
Missouri, Louisiana State
University, University of
Wisconsin—Whitewater, Indiana
State University, and the State
University of New York at Stony
Brook. She is described as a
thoughtful and wise mentor
who empathizes with firstgeneration college students.
Her ability to reflect on and
relate to the challenges others
face is something Looser shares
with the central figure of her
academic work: Jane Austen.
Did Austen predict roller derby?
women’s studies.
Though literature was central
in feeding Looser’s ravenous
appetite for knowledge, people
and experiences also offered
lessons beyond the classroom.
“There were lots of things at
Augsburg that brought me out
of my shell,” Looser said. “I
12
AUGSBURG NOW
the world, and what my world
could be, and how I was part of
their world.”
Engaging with a variety of
people and ideas has served
Looser well in her literary
pursuits and academic
experience alike. She has held
positions teaching English and
“Austen is one of the most
psychologically perceptive
observers in all of the history of
the novel,” said Jenny Davidson,
a novelist and professor of
English at Columbia University
who connected with Looser over
their shared professional interest
in 18th-century literature.
Known for romantic plots
steeped in English society,
including “Pride and Prejudice”
and “Sense and Sensibility,”
Austen’s writings have been
in print continuously for
nearly 200 years and retain
an unassailable foothold in
contemporary art and culture.
Who was Jane Austen, really—
and how did she become what
she represents now?
That’s the focus of Looser’s
latest book, “The Making of
Jane Austen,” which earned
high praise among literary peers.
It was named a Publishers
Weekly Best Summer Book for
nonfiction, featured in CNN
interviews, and reviewed in The
Economist, The New York Times,
and The Wall Street Journal.
Looser’s remarkable
scholarship has led to an
abundance of prestigious
opportunities, including a
fellowship from the National
Endowment for the Humanities
and a Guggenheim Foundation
Fellowship in support of one of
her current projects: a book about
unheralded British sister novelists
Jane and Anna Maria Porter.
Davidson offered a scholar’s
perspective: “The project on
the Porter sisters is a genuine
project of reclamation, of
rewriting an injustice of
literary history: these were
two extremely widely read and
well-regarded novelists whom
literary history has essentially
dumped in the trash.” Because
of Looser’s background,
Davidson believes, the firstgeneration college graduate
is attracted to the works of
underdogs and can convey
their stories empathetically and
authoritatively.
Perhaps her affinity for the
underdog is part of what drew
Looser to a lesser-known sport—
roller derby.
Nearly a decade ago, Looser
and her friend Katie Carr, a
special collections librarian
at the University of Missouri
where Looser was a professor
of English, reconnected over a
mutual sense that they needed
a change. Angela Rehbein,
one of Looser’s then-graduate
students who is now a professor
of English at West Liberty
University, joined them to skate
at a roller rink’s retro night,
where members of a local roller
derby team invited the three to
derby practice. It sounded fun,
so they accepted.
Roller derby is a sport in
which two teams of five players
in roller skates line up on a
track. The “jammer” on each
team tries to maneuver past
the “blockers” on the opposing
team, and it all happens in a
series of two-minute increments
called “jams.” Players force
opponents off the track or block
them with their shoulders,
chests, and hips. Because it’s
full-contact, they wear helmets,
mouthguards, knee pads, and
elbow pads.
It’s customary for derby players
to create personas based on
names that use a play on words.
Carr dubbed Looser “Stone
Cold Jane Austen,” a mashup
of Looser’s literary expertise
and professional wrestler Steve
Austin’s stage name.
Looser is now a faculty
advisor to the roller derby
team in addition to her work
as a professor of English at
Arizona State University. She
still remembers the coaches
who patiently taught her to
play derby, which perhaps
unexpectedly refreshed her
perspective on higher education.
“It’s humbling to start out as
a complete newbie, and being
laid flat and embarrassing
myself,” she said. “It put me
in headspace that made me
realize how students must feel
their first year of college, when
you didn’t know what you were
doing, and it was terrifying.”
People who know Looser
best—like Carr, Rehbein, and
her former doctoral student
Emily Friedman—point to
Looser’s knack for transforming
her interests into excellence.
“There’s this world-renowned
academic and also someone
who plays roller derby and
excels at it. She is an incredibly
generous friend and an amazing
wife and mother,” Carr said,
referring to Looser’s sons and
husband George Justice, a
fellow Austen scholar and
British literature professor at
Arizona State University.
“I learned a lot from Devoney’s
incredible work ethic and her
generosity toward her students
and toward other scholars,”
added Rehbein, who appreciates
Looser’s influence both in and
beyond the classroom.
The same is true for
Friedman, who has also worked
on Austen scholarship and now
serves as a professor of English
at Auburn University. Friedman
observed Looser’s simultaneous
commitment to hard work and
a rewarding life outside of
it, and how “she keeps them
dancing rather than in conflict
and fighting.”
Like Jane Austen and many
icons before her, Looser will
maneuver past any limitations in
her path.
“She’s the hardest worker I
know,” said Friedman. “I’m just
trying to skate in her tracks.”
Looser’s next book topic:
CARVING PATHS
for THE FUTURE
Theater professor Darcey Engen ’88 helps plan a
forward-looking 150th anniversary celebration
BY STEPHEN JENDRASZAK
D
arcey Engen, professor of theater
arts, has been on both sides of an
Augsburg education: student and professor.
As a leader on campus, she brings both
perspectives to bear.
Thinking from a student perspective, she
understands the intense obligations today’s
students face and, with her colleagues,
implemented a series of changes to
make it possible for students from all
backgrounds and enrolled in any major
to participate in Augsburg’s theatrical
productions despite family or work
commitments.
As a faculty member, Engen observed
that faculty in the arts sometimes struggled
to receive appropriate credit for their artistic
and scholarly work, so she advocated
for revisions to promotion and tenure
guidelines to address the issue.
Now, she’s been asked to call on those
twin perspectives in a new leadership
role: helping to guide the commemoration
of Augsburg’s sesquicentennial during
the 2019–20 academic year. In a recent
interview, Engen shared her views on
the university’s 150th anniversary, the
important contributions faculty will make
in commemorating the occasion, and
what makes Augsburg unique in American
higher education.
14
AUGSBURG NOW
SE
R
AT
I
ON
1869-2019
SQ
U IC
ENTEN N
CE
IAL
LE
B
“
One of the things I love about Augsburg is that we
are more like the real world than other colleges
and universities. The needs of the real world
around us are present in everything we do.”
You are a co-chair of the sesquicentennial committee.
What do you hope this milestone will do for Augsburg?
I hope that it gives us a moment in time to understand our past,
mark where we are now, and look forward. It’s an opportunity for
us to appreciate those who came before us, what we’re doing in
the present, and those who will inevitably follow after us.
What does this occasion mean to you as both an alumna
and a faculty member?
In our costume shop, there are boxes and boxes that say things
like “summer hats.” Those labels were handwritten by my
professor, Ailene Cole, the former chair of the theater department,
before she retired in her 80s. When I’m in the costume shop
and see her handwriting, I’m reminded of her and what she did
for me and all her students. That inspires me to do the same
for my students. As a former chair myself, now, I am part of a
legacy, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. I’m aware that all of
us, chairs and faculty, are so privileged to be able to create an
atmosphere where our students can thrive as artists. I keep
the past with me as I try to carve out paths for the future with
my students.
How are faculty members going to be involved in marking
this significant moment in the life of the institution?
I’m very grateful that we were able to make resources available for
faculty to create scholarly projects that reflect sesquicentennial
themes. The support opens the door for these scholarly projects,
whether they be permanent works or ephemeral experiences, to
be installed or occur during our yearlong celebration. They will
honor and mark the 150th anniversary and also give faculty the
opportunity to expand the good work they do, which is ultimately
to support our students.
I understand that the number of proposals for faculty
sesquicentennial projects exceeded your expectations.
What does that enthusiasm say to you?
It was amazing to get all the proposals for such thoughtful
projects. It goes to show you that we faculty members all have in
us, no matter how busy our days can sometimes be, a great love
for this institution.
What kinds of projects are faculty members working on,
and what are they trying to achieve?
There’s so much incredible work being done, but I’ll offer a few
examples to give you an idea of the scope of the effort.
Sonja Thompson, assistant professor of music, is working on
an original musical—with original music—about Augsburg,
embracing both the rocky and exceptional moments in our
history. Her team is interviewing as many people as possible and
conducting story circles where students, staff, alumni, and friends
can share their Augsburg experiences to inform the production.
Erik Steinmetz, assistant professor of computer science, is
building an app for exploring Augsburg’s campus now and at
various points in history via augmented or virtual reality. The
idea is that if you’re on campus, you can look around through
your phone and see what a particular part of campus looked
like at another time. And if you’re not here, you can virtually
explore those same environments. We’re hoping to create online
experiences that capture as much of the art and activity and
scholarship happening on campus that year as possible.
As Augsburg prepares to commemorate 150 years,
what stands out for you?
I’ve toured a lot of colleges; I’ve taught at two other universities.
One of the things I love about Augsburg is that we are more like
the real world than other colleges and universities. The needs of
the real world around us are present in everything we do.
Augsburg’s plans to celebrate the sesquicentennial are developing,
and updates will be posted at augsburg.edu/150.
FALL–WINTER 2018
15
Augsburg alumna
Katia Iverson ’12
orients newcomers to
the United States amid
mounting uncertainty
and narrowing policies
16
AUGSBURG NOW
The Augsburg Air Structure—and the rest of the Minneapolis campus—looked
practically otherworldly following a record-breaking April 2018 snowstorm.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE DOME
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
DOZENS OF BUSES
en route from 25
Minnesota school districts pause on 23rd Avenue
to unload hundreds of students in grades three
through six at the Augsburg University Air Structure
(aka the Augsburg Dome). The air lock opens, and
grinning youngsters wheel, walk, and run into the
360-by-216-by-63-foot inflatable bubble lined with
activities to exercise their cognitive, emotional, and
physical muscles.
Augsburg has held this one-day Sports
Extravaganza for nearly 20 Novembers. Do the
math: that’s more than 4,000 children, teachers,
and paraprofessionals who have visited campus,
and two decades of Auggies who have applied
their health, physical education, and exercise
science coursework to the field.
HPE instructor Carol Enke said the event
wouldn’t have started without the dome.
“Imagine funneling hundreds of kids with
mental and/or physical disabilities into Si Melby
Hall via untold batches of elevator trips,” she
said. “Without the air structure, this dual
community engagement and learning opportunity
would have never taken off.
“Every year, teachers tell us that students ask
about the event from the first day of classes,
and we see that excitement as kids meet others
and participate in activities they might have
assumed were inaccessible to them.”
FALL–WINTER 2018
17
AN EXPANSIVE
GATHERING PLACE
Sports Extravaganza is one of several community events
squeezed into the dome between softball and lacrosse
games and practices for baseball, track and field, golf,
soccer, and football. Physical education classes, intramural
activities, alumni events, and more also vie for the space,
which features four batting cages, a driving range net, and
four soccer goals.
About 35 campus and community groups schedule
the space each year, according to Greg Holker, the men’s
soccer head coach, who helps manage dome schedules as
part of his dual role as athletic facilities assistant manager.
Thousands of people use the dome for a total of about
3,000 hours during any given year.
“Regular users include our sports teams, HPE classes,
camps, the Minneapolis United Soccer Club, and other
prominent academies and associations,” he added.
“During Super Bowl LII this year, a large corporation
hosted a Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition, and
the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee filmed a
commercial in the space.”
Each November, more than 500 student-athletes join
coaches, staff, and administrators to erect the weather-proof
18
structure. It’s a Herculean effort that illustrates the
university’s cooperative, all-in attitude, according to
Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79. Come May, after 12-hour
weekdays and about 18-hour weekend days, the dome is put
away in about three hours, again by a campus-wide team.
Swenson said the dome has substantially increased
Augsburg’s workout space.
“Nobody appreciates the air structure more than our spring
sports,” Swenson said. “Access to a climate-controlled
regulation field in our backyard gets them in the game earlier
in the season without interruptions due to weather.”
The university also is able to offer physical education
classes, including golf and soccer, in the spring. Eric
Rolland ’97, men’s and women’s golf head coach, said
without the dome, spring offerings would be limited to
indoor activities like bowling. And while Rolland enjoys
throwing a strike as much as the best of them, the former
All-American golfer said he has enjoyed the ability to teach
golf throughout the year.
“It’s a lifelong sport that can enhance your career, given
that so many business meetings occur on the golf course,”
said Rolland, who has taught golf classes for the past five
years. “Students make lasting friendships, too, as the
dome transforms into a giant driving range where students
visit as they perfect their swings.”
AUGSBURG NOW
The Augsburg University women’s lacrosse team competed in the dome in Spring 2018.
THE DOME ‘SAVED
OUR SEASON’
Talk of spring takes Softball Head Coach Melissa Lee ’04
back to April, when the Twin Cities experienced its
snowiest and fourth-coldest April on record, according
to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which
reported 26.1 inches of the white stuff and an average
high of 47.4 degrees.
“It was the winter that would never end,” said Lee, who
is in her 15th season on Augsburg’s coaching staff. “Other
teams in our conference have to rent out dome space
or practice on hard gym floors incapable of mimicking
competition, so when the weather is bad, those players
may catch—or try to catch—their first deep pop fly of the
season during a game. We made the playoffs last year,
and I believe the dome contributed to that success.”
Then-senior-outfielder Katie Parker ’18 was among
the Augsburg softball players who spent the majority
of the 2018 season under the dome. Playing inside
requires adjustment, she said, with rules against catching
deflected balls (to avoid injuries), turf vs. dirt, and many
lights, rather than the sun’s sole beam. But the snowy
season didn’t faze the native of Lakeville, Minnesota.
“It’s our home turf, literally, so we practice in the space
long before our first game,” said Parker, who graduated
in May with a bachelor’s in elementary education with
a focus on special education. “I loved the sense of
community and cooperation as we worked side-by-side
with student-athletes on other teams to take down and set
up fence panels and goals, depending on the sport. Coach
Lee also worked hard and stayed up late to make sure
other area softball programs could access to the dome to
finish out their seasons.”
Will this year be a repeat of last season? The Farmers’
Almanac indicates ‘no,’ Coach Lee said, but the Minnesota
native jokes the state’s weather is as unpredictable as a
curve ball. What is not inconsistent, she added, is Auggies’
willingness to work together—snow or shine.
Assistant Baseball Coach Zach Bakko ’18 echoed Lee’s
appreciation for the dome’s ability to bring athletes across
Augsburg’s 21 sports together with each other, the campus,
and greater community. Bakko spent several seasons
fielding balls under the dome lights as an Auggie outfielder.
“Whether it be quarterback Quinn Frisell ’19 throwing
out routes to his agile receivers, golfer Brett Buckingham ’21
working on his swing, or soccer forward Ashley St. Aubin ’20
figuring out another way to score a hat trick, I’ve been
able to see athletes in other sports work to maximize
their potential,” said Bakko. Plus, “The space allows
our campus to give back to the community and make a
positive difference in the lives of young athletes [through
camps and clinics].”
“Having worked for athletics, I’ve met the real heroes of
the dome—athletics administrators, coaches, and all the
maintenance staff—managing scheduling, cleaning, and
every other task that arises,” he added. “That willingness
to come together and do what’s needed, regardless of
whether it’s in your job description, has expanded my
understanding of the word ‘team.’”
Find bonus content and
fun facts about the dome
at augsburg.edu/now.
Augsburg community members work together to assemble the
dome each fall. First installed in 1993, Augsburg’s original dome
was one of the premier inflatable air structures in the Midwest.
FALL–WINTER 2018
19
Undergraduate research
gives students an edge
BY GITA SITARAMIAH
The summer before his third year at Augsburg,
Fekireselassie Beyene ’16 was paid to research Earth’s
magnetosphere. He worked in a lab on campus under the
direction of a physics faculty member.
And he discovered a passion for space physics.
Beyene’s research, which was funded by Dean ’91
and Amy Sundquist his first summer and TRIO McNair
Scholars for the second, helped him stand out in national
scholarship competitions. The following year, he was
awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national
program that provides financial support to undergraduates
who show the promise of becoming leading scientists,
engineers, and mathematicians. Then, Beyene’s Augsburg
advisors helped him successfully apply for the National
Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program,
providing him with more than $100,000 for graduate school.
Now a Ph.D. student in space physics at UCLA, Beyene
credits his Augsburg undergraduate research experience
with getting him where he is today.
“You don’t see the level of personal coaching at other
schools like you do at Augsburg,” he said. “I really
appreciate that about Augsburg.”
Augsburg’s undergraduate research opportunities are
paying off for students like Beyene, who compete alongside
the nation’s top students to land high-profile fellowships,
internships, and scholarships as well as selection to highly
competitive graduate programs.
In fact, Augsburg had a banner year in 2017–18, with
a record number of students earning prestigious awards
and fellowships.
20
AUGSBURG NOW
Here are some highlights:
• Augsburg had six Fulbright winners named this past
year and has been listed five times in The Chronicle
of Higher Education as a top producer of Fulbrights
for master’s level institutions. The previous singleyear record for Augsburg was four. Since 2008,
Augsburg’s Fulbright winners total 29.
•
An Augsburg student was one of just four Minnesota
recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship last year. Out
of 1,280 applicants nationwide, 211 were named.
•
Three Auggies were Critical Language Scholarship
winners in the first year that Augsburg undergraduates
pursued this fellowship. Only 10 percent of applicants
nationwide receive this award. Two of the students
were selected to study Swahili in Tanzania; the third,
to study Mandarin in Taiwan.
•
Another two Auggies were Public Policy and
International Affairs Program winners. Only
20 percent of applicants nationally are accepted
into this program. One of the Augsburg winners
studied at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at
the University of Minnesota. The other student spent
seven weeks at University of California—Berkeley in
a law-focused program.
•
For the first time ever, an Augsburg student won a
Boren Award, which honors undergraduates studying
language in areas underrepresented in study abroad
programs. The Auggie, who studied Swahili at the
University of Florida this past summer, is continuing
to study the language and culture in Tanzania this
semester. He will commit to one year of paid federal
government service after graduation.
Undergraduate research boosts the résumés of Auggies
like Holly Kundel ’19, who looked for a rare dragonfly in
Twin Cities area wetlands.
Many of
these accomplishments
are the result of Augsburg’s
decade-plus commitment to
providing undergraduate research
opportunities for students.
Two programs are responsible
for much of this success: the Office
of Undergraduate Research and
Graduate Opportunity and the
McNair Scholars program.
URGO, now in its 14th year, offers
an 11-week, on-campus, faculty-led
undergraduate research experience with
50 students each summer. Students receive support
throughout the research process from a faculty mentor,
participate in weekly seminars, and engage in roundtable
discussions with fellow student researchers to hone their
communication skills. URGO also advises students about
national fellowships, graduate school, medical school, and
other health sciences.
The McNair Scholars program is a federally funded
program designed to prepare students from groups currently
underrepresented in graduate school for doctoral studies to
some of the most competitive institutions in the U.S. The
program currently serves 26 students a year and includes
21 months of graduate school preparation workshops, travel
to national research conferences, and hands-on scholarly
research projects with faculty mentors.
Through these programs,
talented Augsburg students
are earning prestigious national
opportunities that they otherwise
may not even have known about.
“Many [of the students] who win
awards and fellowships had never even
heard the word ‘Fulbright’ before they
were in this program,” said Dixie Shafer,
URGO director.
When students start their first summer
research experience, Shafer said, they’re
looking around wondering how they got selected.
“You can tell they’re a little bit nervous,”
she said. “By the end, when they’re giving oral
presentations and submitting projects, they’re the
experts in the room. Their level of confidence has grown.”
Students agree that they gain key skills from research
and writing in partnership with faculty members, presenting
their work at conferences, and receiving hands-on guidance
from advisors about how to translate those experiences into
top fellowships, internships, scholarships, and graduate
programs. And they often go on to other off-campus research
experiences to expand their curricula vitae.
Blair Stewig ’18, currently a Fulbright scholar in Poland,
first did summertime research at Augsburg in a biophysics
lab. She successfully applied for an Augsburg grant to do
research while canoeing the Mississippi River during the
2015 River Semester experience, then did summer research
with the Minnesota Lupus Foundation at the Mayo Clinic.
The next summer, she conducted cancer research at Baylor
College of Medicine in Houston.
FALL–WINTER 2018
21
three URGO advisors on her medical
Currently, Stewig is conducting
school applications.
research on colorectal cancer at the
“It was almost like they knew
International Institute of Molecular
more about my story than I did,”
and Cell Biology in Poland and will
Bagonza said.
shadow physicians and volunteer at
Shafer sees this type of faculty and
the Maria Skłodowska Curie Memorial
staff interaction with students as a
Cancer Centre.
key part of helping students evolve.
“Without my research experience
“Faculty and staff believe in students
and the support of staff and faculty
and then the students start believing
at Augsburg, I don’t think I would
in themselves,” she said.
have had the confidence to apply
for the larger competitive
research experiences,” said
Stewig, who plans to apply
for combined M.D./Ph.D.
programs in the future.
Similarly, two months into
her first year at Augsburg,
biology major Vision Bagonza ’17
regularly started visiting the
URGO office and mapping her
trajectory to medical school.
“They were with me every step
of the way,” she said.
In her first summer research
project, Bagonza worked
on genomics research with
Associate Professor and
Biology Department Chair
Matthew Beckman. “That
Fieldwork experience inspired Holly Kundel ’19 to apply for
was instrumental to my
doctoral programs in freshwater ecology.
understanding of what was
going on throughout the field,”
Fourth-year biology major Holly
she said.
Kundel ’19 chose Augsburg after
The following summer, she
meeting faculty on a campus tour and
researched biomedical ethics at Mayo
Clinic, and she spent her third summer learning that she would be able to do
research directly with them.
researching malaria at Johns Hopkins.
The summer after her first year,
These experiences set the stage for her
Kundel began her paid research on
participation in the Mayo Innovation
the rare Spatterdock Darner dragonfly
Scholars program, where she learned
in Twin Cities area wetlands. Kundel,
about the complexities of the FDA
who loves being outdoors during
approval process when bringing
Minnesota summers, was drawn to
innovation to market. Finally, Bagonza
the project after approaching Biology
was awarded a full scholarship to the
and Environmental Studies Assistant
Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of
Professor Emily Schilling and learning
Medicine after working closely with
22
AUGSBURG NOW
that the research entailed doing
fieldwork.
Since then, Kundel has received
other grants to support her research
with Schilling. “It’s nice to work with
a faculty member who knows exactly
what my strengths and weaknesses
are,” Kundel said.
This year, Kundel received a
Goldwater Scholarship, providing
tuition assistance for her fourth year at
Augsburg, and the associated
prestige is expected to set
her apart in her applications
for doctoral programs in
freshwater ecology. “I wouldn’t
be applying to the graduate
programs I am this fall if I
hadn’t done this research at
Augsburg,” Kundel said.
While many in the URGO
Summer Research Program are
science majors, other disciplines
are represented as well.
English literature major
Abigail Tetzlaff ’18 studied
patterns in language and
rhetorical uses in poetry and
prose. Currently a Fulbright
Fellow in Berlin, she is an
English teaching assistant
and plans to pursue a Ph.D.
in English literature to ultimately
become a university professor.
“Especially for undergraduates
studying within the humanities, it isn’t
very common to come out of college
with a research experience already
complete,” Tetzlaff said.
For Beyene, if not for the direct
support from faculty and his McNair
Scholars and URGO advisors, he
wouldn’t have considered himself
graduate school material. “Being at
UCLA now, I realize how fortunate I
was to have programs like McNair and
URGO,” he said.
AUGGIES CONNECT
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
+
COURTESY PHOTO
Dear alumni and friends,
As always, the fall season at Augsburg was full of
excitement. This past August, for only the second time,
our community sent a group of Auggies to explore the
Mississippi on a River Semester off-campus study
experience. Over the course of the semester, these
students will spend 100 days paddling down the
river while learning about history, politics, and the
environment, and having the adventure of a lifetime.
Then, as the calendar turned to September, the community welcomed returning
students to a new academic year and ushered in the first-year students who make
up the class of 2022.
At Homecoming in October, we honored an accomplished group of
Distinguished Alumni. We found inspiration in hearing their stories and
learning about their achievements, and we were reminded of the talent and
dedication that Augsburg alumni exhibit across a vast spectrum of vocations
and commitments. Augsburg alumni are, indeed, remarkable professionals and
amazing people.
This year, I’m especially excited to serve on the Augsburg Alumni Board as its
members strive to increase the ways in which they give to the university. I have
personally committed to giving 50 hours of my time to Augsburg. I plan to attend
events, mentor a student, and help reconnect the Auggies in my social network
with the university.
If, like me, you’re interested in making a difference in the lives of others in
our Augsburg community, you’ll find that there are many ways to connect with
Augsburg in support of students.
• Consider attending the Auggie Networking Event coming up in February.
This is an opportunity for alumni to help students practice valuable
interpersonal skills that will benefit them in their future job searches
and careers.
• Join us for the 2018–19 Auggie Take Out student mentoring program.
• Reconnect with Augsburg by volunteering with the Alumni Office or
the Alumni Board. We’re always looking for people to join our
leadership boards.
• Volunteer to usher at Advent Vespers or to serve in another capacity.
In all of the ways that Augsburg has shown up for you, it is now the time to
show up for Augsburg. You can find information about these and other volunteer
opportunities at augsburg.edu/alumni. I hope you will consider sharing your time
and talents with the university this year.
*
+
+
HOMECOMING 2018
Nearly 525 Auggies attended the Augsburg
University Homecoming celebration held
October 11–13. Alumni, students, and
community members gathered for a festive
weekend featuring more than two dozen events
that united the university’s remarkable legacy
with its contemporary identity.
If you are interested in serving on an
alumni reunion committee or volunteering
to help plan Homecoming 2019,
contact alumni@augsburg.edu.
Go Auggies!
NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
+ PHOTOS COURTESY OF REBECCA ZENEFSKI SLATER
* PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIDGET DONOVAN
FALL–WINTER 2018
23
A LIFETIME OF ACTIVISM:
Augsburg students of the ’60s reflect on the past 50 years
In 1964, folk singer Bob Dylan released his album and song
“The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which served as a call for
change to address the social injustices he saw in the world.
For the group of young students entering what was then
Augsburg College that same year, his words would prove prescient.
College is a transformational time for students, but for members of
the class of 1968, the impact was especially pronounced.
The Augsburg graduating class of 1968 witnessed the United
States live through some of the worst upheavals in the nation’s
history. In late 1963, President John F. Kennedy had been
assassinated. By 1968, assassinations also would claim civil rights
leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the late president’s brother,
Robert F. Kennedy, as well as political activist and leader Malcolm X.
At the same time, the country was becoming violently divided over
social issues, including civil rights and the increasingly unpopular
war in Vietnam, with ever-larger numbers of young people being
drafted and sent to southeast Asia to fight.
In response, Augsburg students began to march for peace and
civil rights and to take part in programs like Augsburg’s Listening
Witness, which brought them to live and work in impoverished and
racially segregated neighborhoods in Chicago and elsewhere.
It was fitting, then, that at this year’s Homecoming celebration,
1968 alumni celebrating their 50th reunion delivered an Auggie
Talk titled “The Baby Boomer Effect: How Four Years Affected 50.”
The five speakers—Michael Arndt ’68, Kim Gudmestad ’68,
Ted Johnson ’68, Augsburg Board of Regents member LaJune
Thomas Lange ’75, and Joey Sylvester ’68—said their time at
Augsburg shaped the course of their lives. They described how
education empowered them to pursue lifelong work in the areas
of diversity, justice, public leadership, and social activism.
“I think [those times] had a profound effect on many of us as
individuals, and it certainly had a profound effect on Augsburg,”
said Rev. Mark Hanson ’68, an alumnus who went on to serve
as a pastor and the third presiding bishop of the Evangelical
24
AUGSBURG NOW
Lutheran Church in America. “For me, Augsburg provided an
immersive experience so that those changing realities, those
cultural conflicts, and those strivings for racial justice and peace
in southeast Asia weren’t just topics that one was reading about or
subjects in a classroom. They became lived experiences.”
Hanson, who is now the executive director of Augsburg’s
Christensen Center for Vocation, said he’s seen the university
change as a result of activism originating in those pivotal mid-’60s
years. He points to increasing diversity in the current student
body—the result of an intentional commitment to inclusion,
equity, and intercultural competency.
Like Hanson, Myrna Sheie ’68, co-chair of the 1968 reunion
events, went on to work with the ELCA after graduation. She
reflected that she had entered college without much experience
with diverse cultures but saw both herself and Augsburg change
during her college years.
“When I started at Augsburg, I was both naïve and unaware
of the diversity we lacked,” she said. “Over the next four
years, my classmates and I were exposed to ideas, concepts,
and lifestyles—both inside and outside the classroom—that
challenged us intellectually, socially, and personally. I became
less naïve as my eyes and heart became more open.”
A laboratory for life
When Arndt, one of the Homecoming Auggie Talk presenters,
reflects on his college experience, his memories often connect the
time he spent on campus with dramatic life events that followed it.
Shortly after graduation, Arndt was drafted from his first
teaching job and sent to Vietnam as a member of the Army’s First
Cavalry division. He served in the jungle near the Cambodian
border and saw heavy military action that killed seven of his
friends. During that time, Arndt says he recited the Shakespeare
he’d learned during college to calm himself.
AUGGIES CONNECT
CELEBRATING A SEASON OF HOPE
ARCHIVE PHOTOS
39TH ANNUAL ADVENT VESPERS
Today, Arndt is chair and professor of Theatre Arts
and Dance at California Lutheran University and
the artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare
Company. He calls on his experiences as a veteran and
artistic professional to use theater to help treat fellow
veterans suffering the effects of post-traumatic
stress disorder.
“There was a time after I got out of the army when
I felt that the country was going to dissolve into civil
war,” he said. “There was such a divide and … a real
sense that we were going to end up in total chaos. In
talking with my college students today, there’s a sense
of that now. [But] I think one of the things we’re saying
is that those of us who felt that strongly in 1968 tried
to work to make a difference. And many of us did.”
Hanson concurs. “All that was taking place in the
Twin Cities, in the country, and in the world in those
four years became, for so many of us, not just objects
of study, but context in which we were being formed
for our future lives and vocations. And that’s still to
this day what is particularly unique about Augsburg—
it takes its context as the laboratory for life, not as
something from which we seek to flee.”
Augsburg’s Class of 1968 is working to raise $68,000 in
scholarship funds for future students. Learn more about
this initiative and their Auggie Talk at augsburg.edu/now.
For more than three decades, Augsburg University has ushered
in the Advent and Christmas seasons with Advent Vespers, a
magnificent experience of music and liturgy, focusing on the
theme of preparation and culminating in the joyful celebration of
the Incarnation. Advent Vespers is set in downtown Minneapolis
in the sanctuary of Central Lutheran Church, and this year Advent
Vespers services will occur November 29–December 1. To learn more
or request reservations, visit augsburg.edu/music/vespers.
VELKOMMEN JUL
Velkommen Jul is one of Augsburg’s most beloved traditions. It’s
an event that celebrates the university’s Norwegian heritage and
ushers in the Advent season.
Come join us Friday, November 30, at 10:30 a.m., in Hoversten
Chapel for a special chapel service—with Danish, Norwegian, and
Swedish carols, Scandinavian dancers, and the Gospel read in
Norwegian. Wear your Scandinavian sweater, if you have one; it’s a
tradition to take a group sweater photo!
Following chapel, the festivities continue in Christensen Center.
Shop in the boutique for unique gifts and homemade goodies,
and make sure to visit the buffet featuring lefse, krumkake, and
other treats. The buffet is complimentary, but donations are greatly
appreciated. All proceeds from the event support Augsburg
student scholarships.
FALL–WINTER 2018
25
COURTESY PHOTOS
AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY
1869-2019
SAVE THE YEAR
Join us in honoring the traditions of Augsburg’s rich history and
celebrating the remarkable progress we have made in educating
students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical
thinkers, and responsible leaders. A yearlong series of events
including a sesquicentennial gala will commemorate our deep
roots and recognize our present opportunities and future endeavors
as we become a new kind of urban university.
Subscribe to the sesquicentennial events digital calendar to
participate in these community celebrations. Visit augsburg.edu/150.
NOVEMBER
AUGGIES TRULY
GIVE TO THE MAX
Each year, Auggies around the world respond generously to
support the breadth of programs and experiences offered by
Augsburg University.
In total, over the past five years, Augsburg has raised more
than $1.5 million through Give to the Max Day efforts. And even if
you missed the opportunity to participate this year, you can find
information about our fundraising results and learn more about
additional ways to support the university at augsburg.edu/giving.
26
AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG SESQUICENTENNIAL
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Plan ahead to participate in exciting alumni trips commemorating
Augsburg’s sesquicentennial. Overseas trips are planned to
locations in Norway and Germany that are central in
Augsburg’s history.
In May 2020, Darcey Engen ’88, Augsburg University
professor of theater arts, and her husband, Luverne Seifert ’83,
head of undergraduate theater performance at the University of
Minnesota, will lead a tour exploring the rich and vibrant arts
and culture of Norway. The tour will include plays, concerts,
and historical landmarks as well as an opportunity to celebrate
Syttende Mai in Norway.
At the same time, a tour exploring Norway’s peace work,
government, and environmental agencies will be co-led by
Bettine Hoff Hermanson, Norway Hub managing director, and
Joe Underhill, associate professor of political science and
director of environmental studies. This trip also includes the
opportunity to celebrate Syttende Mai in Norway.
In July 2020, Rev. Sonja Hagander, Augsburg University
pastor and director of ministries, will lead a hike to the Nidaros
Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway—a pilgrimage made by
travelers for more than 1,000 years. Along the way, the group
will learn about history and culture, and experience firsthand
some of the most beautiful nature in the world.
Also in July 2020, Augsburg associate professors of religion
Lori Brandt Hale and Hans Wiersma—who led the 2016 alumni
tour for the anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation—will lead
a tour to Bavaria, Germany, with stops in Nuremberg, Salzberg,
and additional nearby locations. The tour also includes tickets
to the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play, which first
opened in 1634 and has been performed every 10 years since.
Contact Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and constituent relations, at
codek@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1178 if you are interested in learning more
about Augsburg’s travel opportunities.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1942
The French government
posthumously awarded Chester
Hendrickson ’42 the Jubilee of Liberty Medal
for his service and work in Normandy during
World War II.
1958
Grace
(Kemmer)
Sulerud ’58 received
a Spirit of Augsburg
Award at Homecoming
for her faithful service
to Augsburg across
her time as a student,
librarian, faculty
member, and alumna. After graduating from
Augsburg in 1958 with a degree in English,
she became a junior high English teacher
and an elementary librarian in U.S. Air Force
Department of Defense Schools in Germany,
Japan, and Libya. Sulerud earned master’s
degrees in library science and English, served
as the treasurer of the Augsburg Associates,
and continues to stay involved at university
events. She personifies Augsburg’s calling to
humbly serve in a variety of ways.
1968
David J.
Melby ’68,
Ph.D., received a
Distinguished Alumni
Award at Homecoming
and was recognized as a
psychologist, executive
leader, and advocate
who embodies faithful
service in true Auggie form. With a bachelor’s
degree in psychology from Augsburg and
master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling
psychology, he has worked as a CEO and has
served on the boards of organizations relating
to behavioral health care, health practices,
and housing. As a thoughtful steward and
responsible leader, his work has created
healthier, more fulfilling lives for many.
1971
The St. Michael-Albertville
(Minnesota) Coaches Association
Hall of Fame Committee selected Darrell
Skogan ’71 as a Hall of Fame inductee. This
fall marks Skogan’s 51st season as statistician
for the school district. He also has umpired,
run clocks, and coached girls’ basketball and
softball throughout his tenure with the district.
1972
John Sherman ’72 was honored
with two awards for his work
as a sports journalist. Sherman received
the Outstanding Media Award from the
Minnesota State High School League and the
Spinnaker Award from Minnetonka School
District. While at Augsburg, Sherman was
the editor for the school newspaper and
played baseball and soccer. Since graduating
46 years ago, he has served on the Sun
Newspaper staff in Edina, Minnesota.
Terry Lindstrom ’73 and Mark Johnson ’75
joined the Augsburg University Board of
Regents. See page 4.
Augsburg Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79
explains how the university’s dome gives
Auggies a competitive advantage. See page 16.
1982
Augsburg
Athletic
Hall of Fame inductee
Jeff Andrews ’82 was a
key defender on Auggie
men’s hockey teams
that won NAIA national
titles in both 1980–81
and 1981–82, while
winning MIAC titles and
reaching the NAIA tournament all four years
of his career. Andrews accumulated 29 goals
and 60 assists for 89 points in his college
career, and he earned All-MIAC honors in
1981–82 and All-MIAC Honorable Mention
honors in 1980–81.
Former basketball
star Brad Nelson ’82
was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. An All-MIAC
guard in 1981–82,
Nelson was a three-year
member of the Auggie
men’s basketball team,
averaging 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9
assists per game in his career. He averaged
20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists
per game on Augsburg’s MIAC runner-up
team in 1981–82, and averaged 7.8 points
on the Auggies’ MIAC title (later forfeited for
use of an ineligible player) and NAIA national
tournament team in 1980–81.
1984
Mayo Clinic Health System—
Franciscan Healthcare named
Dr. Paul Mueller ’84 the vice president of its
Southwest Wisconsin Region. As a regional
leader, Mueller will manage operations out
of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He completed
his undergraduate degree at Augsburg
and has spent the past nine years chairing
Mayo Clinic’s Division of General Internal
Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota.
Nancy Mueller ’85 joined the Augsburg
University Board of Regents. See page 4.
Darcey Engen ’88 employs perspectives
both as a student and as a faculty member
to plan Augsburg’s sesquicentennial celebrations.
See page 14.
1989
The U.S. Track and Field
and Cross Country Coaches
Association announced that Carolyn (Ross)
Isaak ’89 was inducted into the NCAA
Division III Track and Field Athlete Hall of
Fame in May. Isaak set several records as an
Augsburg athlete, including the 400-meter
hurdles record that stood until 2014. Isaak,
a five-time national champion and nine-time
All-American, is Augsburg’s first athlete ever
to be inducted into this Hall of Fame.
Literary scholar Devoney Looser ’89 was
awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2018
and will complete a biography of forgotten sister
novelists. See page 10.
Brynn Watson ’89
received a Distinguished
Alumni Award at
Homecoming. She is an
award-winning leader in
the aerospace industry for
her technical experience,
executive leadership, and
tireless advocacy of STEM
education for youth. She earned a mathematics
degree from Augsburg and a master’s degree in
applied mathematics before she gained several
director- and vice-president-level positions in
technology and engineering companies. She
now serves as vice president for the Future
Enterprise Program for Lockheed Martin.
Watson’s spirit and accomplishments mirror
the tenacity of Auggies around the world who
ascend to prestigious positions among today’s
leading companies.
1995
Wrestling
star Randy
Eastman ’95 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. Eastman
was a three-time
NCAA Division III
All-American in the
167-pound weight class, finishing second
nationally in the 1994–95 campaign, third
in 1993–94, and fifth in 1992–93. A transfer
from Mankato State, he was a member
of Augsburg teams that won the national
titles in both 1992–93 and 1994–95, while
FALL–WINTER 2018
27
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
finishing fourth in 1993–94. Eastman won
two MIAC titles and was a conference
runner-up in his Auggie career.
Augsburg Athletic
Hall of Fame inductee
Tom Layte ’95 was
a dominant wrestler
for the Auggies in
the mid-’90s. Layte
competed at Augsburg
in the 1994–95 season
after transferring from
Western New England College, and he made
the most of his Auggie campaign, going 44-4,
winning the NCAA Division III national title
at 150 pounds, and earning Outstanding
Wrestler honors at the national championships
as the Auggies won the team national
crown. He later served as an Augsburg
assistant coach and was head coach at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Augsburg volleyball star
Carolyn Tuohy ’95 was a
dominant player in the
mid-’90s, playing three
seasons as a middle
hitter, earning All-MIAC
honors in 1994, and
receiving All-MIAC
Honorable Mention
honors in 1992. Tuohy, who was inducted
into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame, was
a team co-captain in 1994 and finished her
career with 878 kills in 2,566 attack attempts.
She was voted the team’s MVP in 1992.
1997
Derrin
Lamker ’97
was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame in recognition
of his successes on
the football, basketball,
and baseball teams. A
quarterback in football,
Lamker led the Auggies to the 1997 MIAC title
and a spot in the NCAA Division III national
quarterfinals. He earned All-MIAC honors in
1996 and 1997. He was the conference MVP
in 1997, in addition to earning All-America
honors and finalist honors for the Gagliardi
Trophy (Division III Player of the Year).
Joe Lavin ’97 had an
outstanding pitching
career on the Augsburg
baseball team. An ace
during the mid-’90s,
Lavin earned All-MIAC
and All-Midwest Region
second-team honors
in 1995, while earning
conference Player of the Week honors multiple
times. He had a 1.42 ERA in conference play
with five complete games, a shutout, and 41
strikeouts against only 16 walks and 32 hits
in 1995, while winning three games on the
mound in 1994 and four in 1996.
Eric Rolland ’97, the Augsburg men’s and
women’s golf head coach, teaches students
a lifelong sport each spring in the campus dome.
See page 16.
2000
Jasha Johnston ’00 and Carrie
(McCabe) Johnston ’02 opened
their third restaurant, Mortimer’s, in the Whittier
neighborhood of Minneapolis. The new venue
features live music, an updated menu, and a
family-friendly atmosphere. In addition to their
new venture, the Johnstons own Nightingale
Restaurant and Tilt Pinball Bar.
2002
Three-sport
athlete
Brenda (Selander)
Mitshulis ’02 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. Mitshulis was
an All-MIAC honoree
in 2000 and All-MIAC
Honorable Mention honoree in 1999 in
soccer, where she finished her career with 15
goals and four assists for 34 career points.
She led the Auggies in scoring in three
seasons. In hockey, she was a member of the
1998–99 and 1999–2000 MIAC title squads
and the 2000 national runner-up team. She
also played two seasons of softball.
2003
Dual sport
athlete
Rachel Ekholm ’03
was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. One of the best
softball players in school
history, Ekholm earned
All-MIAC honors three
times, while earning NFCA All-Region honors
twice. As a pitcher, she won 39 career games
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
’70
’76
28
AUGSBURG NOW
’84
’90
’12
with a 2.45 ERA and 347 strikeouts. She
hit .389 and holds school records for home
runs, triples, RBI, and slugging percentage.
She also played in 60 career games in
basketball, averaging 9.1 points and 2.3
rebounds per game.
Softball Head Coach Melissa Lee ’04 said
the Augsburg air structure helped save the
team’s 2018 season. See page 16.
2006
This year,
Augsburg’s
Excellence in Coaching
Award recognized
Jim Gunderson ’06.
Gunderson is in his
fourth season as
football head coach at
the Academy of Holy
Angels in Richfield, Minnesota, after serving
for 14 years as an assistant coach. He has
also served as track and field head coach
since 2012. In football, his team won the
Minnesota Class AAAA state title in 2017,
with Gunderson being named the Minnesota
Football State Class AAAA Coach of the Year.
2008
graduating from Augsburg with a degree in
communication studies, he has devoted his
career to public leadership and making a
difference in his community. He ran for mayor
of Baltimore in 2016, becoming the youngest
person ever to run for the office. He also sits
on the boards of several Baltimore community
initiatives and is the co-founder of a nonprofit
fostering revitalization.
Brian Krohn ’08, Ph.D.,
received a First Decade
Award at Homecoming.
After earning a degree in
chemistry, researching
biofuel, and becoming
Augsburg’s first Rhodes
Scholar, Krohn founded
companies Mighty Axe
Hops and Magic Wizard Staff. He earned a
doctorate from the University of Minnesota as
an Environmental Protection Agency Fellow
and master’s degrees from the University of
Oxford in environmental change and science.
He was an Innovation Fellow at the U of M’s
Medical Devices Center and is CEO of Soundly,
an app-based therapy to reduce snoring—an
initiative funded by the National Institutes of
Health and the National Science Foundation.
Joshua
Harris ’08
received a First Decade
Award at Homecoming.
His life and work in the
past 10 years embodies
Augsburg’s pursuit of
social justice, equity,
and inclusion. Since
Nikki Rajala ’70 published “Treacherous
Waters,” her second novel in the
“Chronicles of an Unlikely Voyageur” series.
A career ESL teacher, Rajala retired from the
St. Cloud School District in 2004 and lives in
Rockville, Minnesota.
’70
Jeff Mueller ’76 was honored by Norway’s
King Harald V, who bestowed the rank of
Knight First Class in the Royal Norwegian Order
of Merit. Mueller, director of administration and
finance at Norway House, Minneapolis, is a past
president of the Norwegian American Chamber
of Commerce and currently serves on its board of
directors. He also has been active in the Syttende
’76
Killa Marti ’08, J.D.,
received a First Decade
Award at Homecoming
because she embodies
Augsburg’s values
through her thoughtful
stewardship, critical
thinking, and rigorous
pursuit of justice and equity. After graduating
from Augsburg with a major in international
relations and a minor in economics, Marti
earned a law degree so that she could serve
immigrant communities. She has worked
with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
and several law firms, has founded her
own law practice in the Atlanta area, and
has worked tirelessly for her law clients in
districts and cases where the decks were
stacked against them.
Former Augsburg cheerleader Cassandra
Roschen ’08 returned to Fairmont High School
to coach the cheerleading squad. Roschen, a
former Fairmont cheerleader, taught current
students sideline cheers and routines. She also
extended her service to include team building
and community outreach with the squad.
Chris Stedman ’08
received a First Decade
Award at Homecoming
for his robust intellectual
engagement as an
informed citizen and
critical thinker. A religion
major with minors in
English and social
welfare, he earned a master’s degree in religion
from Meadville Lombard Theological School at
the University of Chicago. He was the founding
executive director of the Humanist Center
of Minnesota, founded the Yale Humanist
Community, and was a humanist chaplain at
Harvard. Stedman is the author of “Faitheist:
How an Atheist Found Common Ground with
the Religious” (Beacon Press, 2012).
Mai Committee, the Norwegian Independence
Day celebration, the annual troop exchange
program with the Minnesota National Guard and
the Norwegian Home Guard, and Torske
Klubben. Mueller (right) is pictured with
Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Kåre R. Aas,
who presented the order of merit medal at
Norway House.
The HGA firm hired Mary Claire Olson
Potter ’84 as a health care business
developer and senior associate.
’84
’90
In June, former Augsburg football player
David Stevens ’90 hosted a Disability
Dream and Do Camp alongside the Binghamton
Rumble Ponies, an American minor league
baseball team based in Upstate New York. CBS
affiliate WBNG covered Stevens’ story and time
with the Rumble Ponies. Stevens, who led six
other athletic camps this summer, was the only
double amputee to play three seasons of football
for the Auggies. He later played for the St. Paul
Saints and tried out for the Minnesota Twins and
Dallas Cowboys.
Janelle (Christensen) Nelson ’12 welcomed
a daughter, Kennedy Elaine, in April.
Nelson majored in art history. Her grandfather
also attended Augsburg.
’12
FALL–WINTER 2018
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
2011
Laura (Schmidt) DuSchane ’11
and Seth Lienard ’11, ’16 MBA
opened a new business venture called Fretless
Marketing that provides social media and event
marketing services for small businesses. Their
company website is fretlessmarketing.com.
Ted Nielsen ’11 started a new job at Edward
Jones as a financial advisor. Nielsen assists
individuals and families with long-term
investing. Nielsen previously worked with
Thrivent and graduated from Augsburg with
a bachelor’s degree in English.
2012
Kimberly Simmonds ’12 was
promoted to a program assistant
with the City of Minneapolis. Simmonds
majored in history at Augsburg before receiving
her master’s in public administration in 2014.
2013
Alexandra Buffalohead ’13 started
a new role as manager of art and
cultural engagement with the Native American
Community Development Institute. Buffalohead
earned a bachelor’s degree in studio arts at
Augsburg. She has since served as a graphic
designer for the American Indian Cancer
Foundation and as a communications officer
for the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.
Tyler Heaps ’13 is a manager of analytics
and research at the United States Soccer
Federation. SportTechie, an online resource
devoted to covering topics at the intersection
of sports and technology, interviewed Heaps
regarding his work within the federation
tracking players and opponents using
innovative technologies. Heaps is working
to standardize analysis and support across
all soccer levels and teams to ensure the
federation can effectively track players
within the system.
The Chicago Tribune wrote about Dustin
Ritchea ’13, who returned to live and work
in his hometown of Chesterton, Indiana.
Ritchea serves as a promotions director for
Indiana Dunes Tourism and also works as an
actor, producer, songwriter, and writer.
2015
Nikki (Ludwig) Darst ’15 started
a new job with Black Line
Group as a research and development tax
manager. She graduated from Augsburg with
a degree in accounting management.
Fekireselassie Beyene ’16 participated in
undergraduate research that contributed to
success after graduation. See page 20.
2017
Jack Swift ’17 recently started
a new role with In The Groove
Music as a publishing assistant. As an
Augsburg student, Swift majored in
business administration with an emphasis
on music business.
Vision Bagonza ’17 conducted research
through the Office of Undergraduate
Research and Graduate Opportunity. See page 20.
2018
The NBC Nightly News featured
Neil King ’18 in a story about
his success at Augsburg in the StepUP®
Program. After graduating from Augsburg
and StepUP, King started a master’s degree
in integrated behavioral health at the
University of Minnesota.
The Twin Cities Arts Reader interviewed
Brid Henry ’16 regarding her work in the
Minneapolis theater scene. Henry has
performed in the Minnesota Fringe Festival
and has directed and co-produced the first
year of the Minneapolis branch of the Future Is
Female Festival. Henry chose to study theater
at Augsburg because the university’s program
was ranked among the top opportunities
outside of New York.
30
AUGSBURG NOW
Blair Stewig ’18 and Abigail Tetzlaff ’18
delved into student research with the
Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate
Opportunity. See page 20.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Matthew Halley ’97 MSW serves as executive
director for Cookie Cart, a nonprofit youth
program that equips young people with
employment and life skills. Halley was
interviewed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press
for an article highlighting the program’s
continuing success since its founding in
1988. Halley is focused on expanding the
program by adding more youth workers.
This spring, Education Minnesota named
Kelly (Sheehan) Holstine ’12 MAE the 2018
Teacher of the Year. An English teacher at
Tokata Learning Center, an alternative high
school in Shakopee, Holstine created a new
English curriculum and developed policies
that the school has implemented. Lavender
Magazine featured Holstine’s accolades and
focus on diversity in education. As Teacher
of the Year, Holstine is an ambassador for
86,000 teachers in Minnesota.
Chung Eang Lip ’18 started a new role as
a graduate school teaching assistant at
Columbia University in New York City. Lip
is working on a Master of Public Health
degree with a concentration in infectious
disease epidemiology.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
’16
St. Olaf College hired Gregory Mitchell ’18
as a wide receivers coach for the 2018
season. Mitchell was a receiver on the
Augsburg football team. He previously
coached receivers at Centennial High
School and Southwest High School.
Augsburg alumnus Scott Cooper ’13
returned to the university this August as
a full-time staff member serving as an alumni
engagement manager. Cooper started his
undergraduate degree at Martin Luther College
in New Ulm, Minnesota, before transferring to
Augsburg in 2011 where he completed a
bachelor’s degree in communication. Cooper
was a member of the Augsburg Choir and the
2012 and 2013 Auggie football teams. Prior to
’13
SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE
joining Augsburg’s Alumni and Constituent
Relations staff, Cooper served in Minneapolis
Public Schools’ high school special education
programs. In his free time, Cooper has enjoyed
public speaking engagements in which he has
discussed his experiences as an Auggie
football player.
’12
Rick Wolke ’12 and Ashley (Carney)
Wolke ’13 welcomed Aurora Jo Wolke on
AUGGIES HONORED
Orville “Joe” Hognander Jr.
received a Spirit of Augsburg
Award at Homecoming for
his thoughtful stewardship
and responsible leadership.
Although he was not a
student at Augsburg, he
is a noteworthy Auggie
through and through.
His grandfather was an Augsburg graduate
more than 100 years ago, his parents were
highly involved in the music program, and his
ties to alumni and faculty run deep. A retired
naval officer and private investor now living in
Edina, Minnesota, Hognander’s longstanding
involvement with Augsburg speaks to a family
history of commitment and engagement,
particularly in the continued support of
Augsburg’s Department of Music.
’16
’13
Professor Emeritus John
Holum, Ph.D., received a
Spirit of Augsburg Award
at Homecoming. A beloved
retired professor whose
legacy spans more than 30
years, Holum is a prolific
writer who has published
dozens of scientific
textbooks and peer-reviewed papers. He came to
Augsburg with a doctorate in organic chemistry
and taught chemistry until his retirement in
1993. Holum, who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota,
has demonstrated a lifelong passion for
academic excellence and support for students on
their educational journeys.
’12
’09
Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and
milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements.
’15
January 8. Rick and Ashley both majored in
business administration/economics.
Caitlin (Hozeny) Lienard ’09, ’17 MSW
and Seth Lienard ’11, ’16 MBA were
married on September 23, 2017, in Stillwater,
Minnesota. There were several Auggies in
attendance. Pictured are [front, L to R]: Seth
Lienard, Caitlin (Hozeny) Lienard, Morgan (Bray)
Thompson ’09, Amanda (Chmiel) Spence ’09
’09
[back, L to R]: Wade Wojick ’11, Ryan
Wilsey ’12, Erika Osterbur ’11, Aren Olsen ’11,
Luke Lienard ’16, Aaron Rosell, Stefan
Swanson, Sheridan Lienard, Lindsey Graff ’11,
and Ben Krouse-Gagne ’11.
Laura (Swanson) Lindahl ’15 MBA and
her husband, David, welcomed a son,
Lawson Robert, on April 26.
’15
’10
Jonathan Chrastek ’10 and Katie
Pendo ’10 were married on July 7 in
Leesburg, Virginia. Several Augsburg alumni
joined the couple as they celebrated their
wedding, which was officiated by Sylvia Bull ’10
and Emily Wiles ’10. Augsburg alumni Alissa
Nolan ’09, Nick Blixt ’10, and Cait Kortum ’10
were in the wedding party, and Kate Edelen ’11
was in attendance.
’10
FALL–WINTER 2018
31
IN MEMORIAM
Lydia C. (Mitlyng) Pokrass ’35,
Ashburn, Virginia, age 104,
on May 29.
Eunice C. (Knudson) Iverson ’42,
Richmond, Minnesota, age 97,
on September 9.
Joyce M. (Reitan) Knutsen ’43,
Fridley, Minnesota, age 93,
on May 30.
Richard J. Koplitz ’45, Minneapolis,
age 95, on June 15.
Lenore “Beth” B. (Buesing)
Opgrand ’45, Wilmington, North
Carolina, age 95, on May 25.
Adele L. (Anderson) Cupit ’46,
Walnut Creek, California, age 94,
on May 26.
Jack E. Jacobsen ’46, Minneapolis,
age 95, on January 11.
Duane J. Christensen ’53, Bemidji,
Minnesota, age 87, on May 7.
Clara A. (Hookom) Cobb ’54,
Willmar, Minnesota, age 85,
on May 26.
Daniel “Dan” E. Peterson ’66,
Clear Lake, Minnesota, age 75,
on March 4.
Niles R. Schulz ’66, Minneapolis,
age 74, on July 10.
James E. Leschensky ’67,
Minneapolis, age 73, on March 25.
John “Johnny” M. Burke ’94,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 54,
on March 20.
E. William “Bill” Anderson ’56,
Plymouth, Minnesota, age 84,
on May 16.
Judith A. (Anderson) Woods ’67,
Brainerd, Minnesota, age 73, on
March 7.
Rebecca E. Rehfeld ’95,
Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 62,
on February 19.
Lloyd C. Grinde ’56, Minneapolis,
age 92, on July 1.
Dolores “Dee” M. (Larson)
Fagerlie ’72, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 90, on
August 23.
Phyllis A. Lee ’96,
Frederick, Maryland, age 76,
on January 18.
Russell C. Lee ’56,
Albuquerque, New Mexico,
age 86, on August 17.
Roger K. Ose II ’56, Minnetonka,
Minnesota, age 84, on May 9.
Sidney D. Berg ’57, Minneapolis,
age 88, on May 29.
Kathleen E. Tinseth ’74,
Minneapolis, age 66, on
September 4.
John R. Burgeson ’75, Andover,
Minnesota, age 66, on May 19.
Leroy H. Conyers ’57, Marshall,
Minnesota, age 88, on June 13.
Margaret “Marie” (Salmonson)
Marx ’78, Scandia, Minnesota,
age 89, on September 7.
Arthur E. Marben ’47, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 95, on July 14.
Charles H. Erbstoesser ’58,
Little Falls, Minnesota, age 88,
on July 18.
Estelle M. (Uleberg) Swanson ’47,
Madelia, Minnesota, age 92, on
August 2.
Stephanie J. (Torgerson) Sipprell ’81,
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 59,
on May 5.
Harlan J. Jacobson ’59, Ashby,
Minnesota, age 81, on July 20.
Milan J. Sedio ’48, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 94, on May 18.
Joyce K. (Johnson) Rudi ’62,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 85,
on August 29.
Mary J. Andersen ’84,
Afton, Minnesota, age 61,
on March 10.
Richard J. Thorvig ’49, Minneapolis,
age 93, on August 4.
Lynn B. Lundin ’50, Pelican Rapids,
Minnesota, age 90, on May 29.
Verna M. (Haverly) Brue ’51,
Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 90,
on July 16.
Gloria A. (Metcalf) Kubnick ’63,
Rice Lake, Wisconsin, age 77,
on July 12.
Susan D. (Graff) Mills ’96, Fargo,
North Dakota, age 65, on July 3.
Scott W. Schuck ’97, Minneapolis,
age 63, on August 31.
John M. Welch ’07, Sudbury,
Massachusetts, age 34, on
June 30.
Marlene M. Taylor ’09, Plymouth,
Minnesota, age 31, on May 16.
Jennifer L. Lovering ’10, Bemidji,
Minnesota, age 29, on April 26.
Cheryl L. Miller ’10, Altoona,
Wisconsin, age 52, on August 9.
Jon “Ryan” R. Benson ’12,
Chanhassen, Minnesota, age 40,
on June 1.
Karlton “Karl” I. Bakke ’64,
Roseville, Minnesota, age 77,
on July 18.
Jon M. Leverentz ’92,
Hopkins, Minnesota, age 67,
on August 16.
Jacalyn “Jackie” S. (Ruschmann)
Pederson ’14, Danbury, Wisconsin,
age 65, on August 28.
Bruce E. Braaten ’64, Prior Lake,
Minnesota, age 76, on May 27.
Alisa J. (Norvold) Leonard ’93,
Northfield, Minnesota, age 48,
on July 8.
David “Alex” A. Jenny ’16, Kansas
City, Missouri, age 29, on May 27.
Charlotte K. (Jensen) Duty ’65,
St. Joseph, Missouri, age 75, on
March 24.
A. Richard Petersen ’51, Sioux
Falls, South Dakota, age 89, on
August 21.
Cengiz Gokcen ’66, St. Pete
Beach, Florida, age 74, on
August 5.
AUGSBURG NOW
Linda J. (Skay) Weinberg ’87,
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota,
age 69, on March 13.
Alice E. (Barden) Mapes ’96,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 56,
on August 24.
Eileen M. (Henkemeyer) Saldana ’91,
Minneapolis, age 82, on January 6.
Erika R. (Staub) Niemi ’51, Tucson,
Arizona, age 91, on April 16.
32
David R. Berken ’94, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 50, on May 19.
Duncan D. Flann ’55, Overland
Park, Kansas, age 85, on April 9.
Helen “Merle” M. (Houser)
Campbell ’47, Newberg, Oregon,
age 94, on June 27.
Donald L. Sween ’49, Lakeville,
Minnesota, age 93, on April 25.
Scott D. Syring ’93, Minneapolis,
age 48, on August 24.
Shirley A. Sopkiewicz ’93,
St. Paul, Minnesota, age 60,
on February 27.
John E. Sorlien ’93, St. Paul,
Minnesota, age 55, on July 19.
Cole R. McAdam ’17, Faribault,
Minnesota, age 23, on April 7.
The “In memoriam” listings in this
publication include notifications
received before September 15.
VISIT CAMPUS
ALUMNI
Whether you’re on campus often or haven’t
been back in years, there’s always something
new to see. Schedule a personal tour by
contacting the alumni office at 612-330-1329
or alumni@augsburg.edu.
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Augsburg could be right for you. Traditional
undergraduate students who are children or
spouses of Augsburg graduates or the siblings
of current Augsburg students are eligible for
a minimum scholarship of $16,000 per year.
Schedule a campus visit at augsburg.edu/visit.
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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
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.
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AUGSBURG NOW
Students had nearly two hours to take in their surroundings,
grab food, pose at the Auggie photo booth, and assemble
hygiene kits for the Augsburg Health Commons, which serves
unsheltered persons throughout Minneapolis. Many even had
time to read a proclamation, signed by Minnesota Gov. Mark
Dayton, naming September 5, 2017, Augsburg University Day.
A UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY
In the afternoon, more than 500 students, faculty, and staff gathered in small groups and dispersed
throughout Minneapolis to listen to, learn from, and volunteer with local partners and nonprofits with
ties to Augsburg. In total, the Class of 2021 donated nearly $35,000 in service work at more than 20
Twin Cities locations.
The entire string of events—from the convocation, to the celebration, to the service-learning
opportunities—demonstrated that Augsburg’s name change was much more than updated monument
signs (though they do look nice), letterhead, and websites. The name change was a collaborative effort
to share Augsburg’s story—the narrative of a place that’s deeply embedded in its community, that richly
lives out its traditions, and that points to a bolder vision of what a student-centered, urban university
can be … small to its students, and big for the world.
FALL - WINTER 2017
11
The fatherhood BONUS
a n d th e
PENALTY
motherhood
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
G r o un d b r e a k i n g r e s e a rch by alum na
M i c he l l e B u d i g ’ 9 3 s h eds light on wage
ga p b e t we e n f a t h e rs and m others
Michelle Budig’s story is deeply woven
into her pioneering research to expose
gender inequality and examine family
policies in the workforce.
The product of an outspoken dental
receptionist and a pious electrician—
who staked the yard with opposing
political signs—Budig learned from
a young age to question, wonder, and
voice her beliefs. In preschool, for
example, she insisted her class change
the lyrics of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to
remove “and with the girls be handy.”
But despite her early and strong
advocacy for girls’ rights, Budig still
believed that as an adult she would
have to choose between motherhood
and a meaningful career. Indeed, at 22,
she married her Augsburg sweetheart,
nurse practitioner Peter Landstrom ’91,
but then waited almost 20 years—until
12
AUGSBURG NOW
after she secured tenure as a sociology
professor—to adopt their daughter, Lucy.
Her beliefs about how things should be
were tempered by her understanding of
how things actually are.
It may be no surprise, then, that
Budig focused her scholarly research
on the impact of parenting across
gender—specifically the wage inequities
between fathers and mothers across the
pay scale. Her latest findings, currently
making rounds in The New York Times
and the like, assert that although the
gender pay gap is decreasing (women
now make about 76 cents for every
man’s dollar), wage inequalities among
parents who work are increasing.
Overall, fathers incur an average wage
increase of more than 6 percent with
each child, while women experience,
on average, a 4 percent decrease
in salary per child. Fatherhood,
ultimately, is considered a “valued
characteristic, signaling perhaps a
greater work commitment, stability, and
deservingness,” said Budig, Sociology
Department chair at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst. Mothers, on
the other hand, are often perceived as
“exhausted and distracted at work,”
rendering them less productive.
Beyond perception, other significant
contributors to the discrepancy include
that women often take time off to care
for children and bypass higher wages
for mom-friendly roles. “Kids are seen
as a privilege, not a right, so if you
want to have them, you must pay the
price,” Budig said, referencing a view
some hold.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SOLEM,
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
TY
Michelle Budig ’93 is an award-winning professor and author whose research interests
focus on gender, employment, labor markets, earnings, stratification, and family.
FALL - WINTER 2017
13
But it’s not as simple as “dads make
more, moms make less,” Budig said.
Using sophisticated statistical techniques
on a large sample of U.S. workers,
Budig found that parenting exacerbates
earnings inequalities within genders
depending on income.
The “fatherhood bonus,” as she calls
it, is highest for the most advantaged
men—married, white, college graduates
with professional jobs. Unmarried, black
men in non-professional occupations,
for instance, receive minimal—if
any—bonus. The motherhood penalty
is smallest among women who earn
above the 90th percentile of female
workers, with women at the very top of
the income distribution experiencing no
wage penalty. Low-to-average earning
women incur the greatest motherhood
penalty, Budig found.
“I always thought that women who
made the most would have the most to
lose, but that is certainly not the case,
and it makes complete sense when you
consider factors and stressors influencing
populations at the top and bottom of the
pay scale,” Budig said. “Fathers and
mothers earning lower wages often rely
on fragile networks of free child care, and
when a grandmother or friend is sick or
doesn’t show, those parents can’t make
it to work. Conversely, parents who can
afford it, secure reliable, consistent child
care operated by licensed professionals.”
Additionally, lower-earning men and
women statistically are more likely to
have children, Budig said, which leads to
higher penalties for those families.
Accessible child care among
policies to close the gap
Budig suggests two policy shifts to
reduce the gap: publicly funded,
high-quality child care for babies and
toddlers and nontransferable paid
leave for both mothers and fathers. The
“nontransferable” part is critical, Budig
reiterated, as “evidence suggests that
if fathers can transfer leave to a female
partner, they will.”
“Access for all to high-quality,
reliable, licensed child care options
would certainly even the playing field for
both parents and children,” Budig said.
“Think of all the stress it would alleviate
from low-income families relying on
less dependable child care. Businesses
would likely be more productive with
a more resilient, consistent workforce.
And children growing up in low-income
situations would benefit from the same
instruction and care as wealthier families,
giving those young ones a stronger start.”
This approach is not new. Many
Scandinavian countries, which support
publicly funded child care and offer
incentivized paternal leave, report smaller
It' s not as simple as
“dads make more, moms make less.”
Wider wage gaps among lower-earning
individuals are exacerbated by the fact
that people tend to marry within socioeconomic situations, Budig adds, so
low-earning couples take greater hits,
while highly paid duos keep climbing.
14
AUGSBURG NOW
or no parental pay gaps. In contrast,
countries with entrenched gender roles,
like Germany, where new mothers are
expected to take a year or more off work,
report the highest motherhood penalties.
“Workplace policies matter,” Budig
Budig’s 19-page curriculum vitae
details the more than $725,000 in
grants she’s received, including
some from the National Science
Foundation, and lists her articles
in professional journals, including
the American Sociological Review.
She regularly contributes to
national and international media
outlets, including The New York
Times, Money Magazine, and the
Washington Post.
said. “Most of my life, I had to choose
between being a mother and having a
meaningful career, and unless progressive
policies are adopted, the parental and
economic gaps will persist.”
The Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development ranked
the United States last in a study
the intergovernmental organization
conducted about the national paid
maternity leave policies of its member
countries. The average amount of
paid leave time for mothers among its
35-member countries was a little more
than one year, as of 2016.
Budig notes there is progress on the
state level, citing California’s paid family
leave, which allows family members to
take time off to care for a loved one or
to bond with a new child entering their
life (either by birth, adoption, or foster
care). Without a comprehensive federal
approach, however, Budig warns of the
implications of inconsistencies across
states.
“It’s encouraging to see states and
companies take action, but it leads to
inequities among states and industries,
which may only add to our country’s
increasing divide,” said Budig, who
has testified before Congress and the
United Nations about the implications
of her research. “More universal support
will reduce wage gaps, promote greater
equality, and better prepare our children to
be productive members of society.”
The culture is shifting as men
embrace female roles
But beyond evolutions in policy, Budig sees
hope in the young people she interacts with
as a professor and mentor. They expect
both parties—and want both partners—to
be involved in maintaining the household.
Single-paycheck families are difficult to
sustain, and popular books and blogs are
encouraging mothers to shed the mom guilt,
cast aside the superwoman expectations,
and go order a pizza for dinner.
“Believe me, I get it. Even with the
most supportive husband, who as a nurse,
experiences his own gender stereotypes,
I still slip into unrealistic expectations,”
said Budig, who earned a master’s and
doctorate in sociology from the University
of Arizona. “Our marriage is a constant
conversation, and splitting up the chores
by room works for us.”
A 2016 PayScale Gender Pay Gap Report
found that men still out-earn women in
every state in the union, but Vermont is
the closest to equality, with women earning
84.8 percent of what men earn overall, as
opposed to Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and
Wyoming where women earn from 71 to 73
percent of their male counterparts’ income.
The national average is 76 percent, per the
report, which does not factor in years of
experience, education, or job title. When
such national statistics were first calculated
in the 1970s, it was about 60 percent.
Mentors pushed her to live with a
‘heart for service’
Budig lost both her parents nearly two years
ago. She often wishes she could talk with
her mom about her latest research, knowing
her mom would get a kick out of hearing
about innovative solutions to promote
equality and increase access for women.
“My mom was wildly supportive of my
work, but I’ll never forget the first time
she read a major study I published about
the wage gap. I was driving, and she was
in the back seat. She looked up and said,
‘Michelle, everyone knows women earn less
than men. That’s what you’ve been working
on?’ Gee, thanks, mom,” Budig said. “I
think she would have appreciated this last
batch of research and what I’m focused on
next, which involves female entrepreneurs
and a study about the motherhood penalty
in Israel.”
Although there is no replacing a driveand-talk with mom, Budig is not short on
inspiring female mentors. At Augsburg,
where she majored in English and sociology,
Budig sought out educators to support her
journey. Sociology Professor Diane Pike
has taught Auggies for more than three
decades, and Budig certainly stands out.
“Michelle had a seriousness and
sophistication about intellectual ideas
and work that was exemplary, and being
a first-generation student, she never lost
sight of the privilege it is to pursue higher
education. She set the bar high for herself,
and we’ve been following her career ever
since,” said Pike, who specializes in
organizational analysis, sociological theory,
and research methods. “There is nothing
better than seeing one of your students
succeed at such a level. Michelle’s a
big deal in sociology, speaking at top
conferences and advocating for important
change. She has a rare ability to convey
complex data and theories to general
audiences, and we are very proud of her.”
Budig’s Auggie roots run deep, and both
she and Landstrom commit themselves
to its mission through caregiving and
advocating for change. Augsburg gave
them a way of looking at the world and
approaching life that will never leave them,
Budig said.
“The greatest takeaway from Augsburg
is our desire—the responsibility, really—
to give back and live with a heart for
service to others. Every day, we try to
live out that change in our personal and
professional lives.”
FALL - WINTER 2017
15
N
I
E
U
G
O
DIAL SOCIETIES
D
E
D
I
V
I
D
20
17
N
ob e
l Pe
a ce P
rize Forum
li s
o
p
nea
n
i
M
—
[Above] Representatives of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet are joined on stage
by Peace Scholars and other participants at the closing ceremony of the Forum.
[Left] During a break, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureates posed for photos in front of
a three-story mural featuring their images along with dozens of other past laureates.
N
obel Peace Prize laureates, world leaders, and
renowned peacemakers came together this fall as
Augsburg University hosted the 29th annual Nobel
Peace Prize Forum—Minneapolis. As an international
peace congress, the Forum united honored guests, students,
and community members in considering the globally
significant, multidimensional nature of peace by examining
topics that ranged from disarmament and human rights to
economic development and environmental sustainability.
This year’s Forum kicked off with several hundred attendees
filling Augsburg’s Si Melby Gymnasium to listen to the
incredible, true story of the 2015 Nobel Laureates—leaders
who inspired a sharply divided nation to find common ground
and, ultimately, form one of the world’s newest democracies.
During a conversation presented in both English and
Arabic, representatives of the Tunisian National Dialogue
16
AUGSBURG NOW
Quartet described an arduous and inspiring peacemaking
model in which members of business, labor, human
rights, and law disciplines crafted a sustaining democratic
constitution through peaceful dialogue.
Recognized collectively with the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize
for their contribution to building a pluralistic democracy
in Tunisia following the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, the
Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet is made up of leaders
from four key organizations in the north African nation’s
civil society. In the tense early moments of the Arab Spring
uprisings, the Quartet exercised its role as a mediator and
demonstrated the power of civil communication in sensitive
political circumstances. Perhaps no other Forum experience
better illustrated the event’s overarching theme: Dialogue in
Divided Societies.
Nobel Peace Prize Forum art festival
Augsburg University has served as the Nobel Peace
Prize Forum’s official host since 2012, but in recent
years, the event itself has taken place at several
conference venues across the Twin Cities. Bringing
the Forum back to Augsburg this fall gave global
peacebuilders the opportunity to experience the
unique, urban beauty of the University’s location and
to engage with a large-scale outdoor art exhibition on
display across campus.
In the spirit of fostering dialogue during the Nobel
Peace Prize Forum, artists from across the United
States collaborated on installations that highlighted
the layered and often overlapping complexity of finding
solutions to global issues. The art exhibition was
curated by Christopher Houltberg, assistant professor
of art and director of Augsburg’s Design & Agency
program, a student-run design studio experience
that teaches design thinking and problem-solving in
graphic design.
One of the most talked-about installations at
the Nobel Peace Prize Forum was a Hex House
constructed in Murphy Square. Designed by Architects
for Society, a nonprofit seeking to enhance the built
environment for disadvantaged communities, the Hex
House is a prototype for dignified, low-cost, flexible
housing that’s easy to deploy in emergency situations.
Given that the Forum dates fell just after Hurricanes
Harvey and Irma brought havoc and destruction to
the Caribbean, Texas, and Florida, the Hex House
was a timely opportunity to see how smart design can
address critical community needs.
Building peace in the greater Twin Cities,
around the world
Throughout the four days of the 2017 program,
attendees participated in dozens of breakout sessions
led by globally recognized leaders in the fields
of international development and peacemaking.
Participants had the opportunity to meet and hear
from national and world leaders—including Norwegian
Ambassador to the United States Kåre Aas, Tunisian
Ambassador to the United States H.E. Fayçal Gouia,
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and U.S. Rep. Keith
Ellison. Other often-recognized presenters at the event
included former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who
is seeking to end gun violence, and Barbara Bush,
who founded the Global Health Corps organization to
mobilize young leaders to support health equity.
The Nobel Peace Prize Forum also prompted
attendees to consider local peace-building needs,
convening conversations focused on present-day
issues in the Twin Cities. Students, community
members, and facilitators worked through difficult
discussions on respecting and honoring sacred spaces,
bridging political differences through civil dialogue,
and addressing cross-generational injustice. These
mediated conversations went beyond campus to places
that brought the topics to life. For example, part of
the dialogue on preserving Native American sites took
place in suburban Eagan at Pilot Knob, an area that
was an indigenous gathering place and sacred burial
ground for centuries.
“It’s entirely fitting that these important
conversations are happening at Augsburg University
as part of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum,” said the
Forum’s Program Director Joe Underhill, reflecting on
the entire event.
“A university is a place where civic dialogue
on difficult topics is not only allowed, but highly
encouraged,” said Underhill, an associate professor of
political science at Augsburg. “It is only through that
kind of dialogue that we are going to move toward any
mutual understanding on these issues.”
[Far left] Augsburg Design & Agency students created
numerous large-scale art installations to convey the theme,
Dialogue in Divided Societies.
[Near left] The Hex House, a low-cost, emergency housing
prototype, showcased how smart design can create humane
solutions during crises.
FALL - WINTER 2017
17
JOIN US FOR THE 30TH
[Above] Chief Arvol Looking Horse and Methodist Bishop Bruce Ough visit
the Red Rock, a boulder that is located at a United Methodist Church in
Newport, Minnesota, and considered sacred by the Dakota people. The 2017
Forum included site visits addressing local peace-building topics.
September 19–22, 2018
Augsburg University
[Left] Interactive art installations allowed Forum attendees to participate in
creating displays that reflected their own perspectives on peacemaking.
PRESENTED BY
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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
’76
26
AUGSBURG NOW
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1973
Terry
Lindstrom ’73
received a Distinguished
Alumni Award at
Homecoming. After
graduating from
Augsburg with degrees
in chemistry and
biology, Lindstrom
received his doctorate in biochemistry with a
pharmacology minor in 1977. He went on to
complete postdoctoral research at Michigan
State University from 1978 to 1979. During
his career, Lindstrom led research teams that
obtained patents for prescription medications
Evista and Cymbalta. In addition to Lindstrom’s
many scientific achievements, he and his
wife, Janet Lindstrom, have provided 16
full Undergraduate Research and Graduate
Opportunity summer scholarships for
Augsburg students during the past five years.
1974
Thomas Koplitz ’74 has been
elected to the Minnesota Baseball
Hall of Fame and was inducted at a September
ceremony held in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
1977
Augsburg
honored
Inez Bergquist ’77 with
a Distinguished Alumni
Award at Homecoming.
As the current president
of Waltman Associates,
Bergquist has more than
35 years experience in
fundraising and is an expert in the area of
nonprofit management. She served on the
Augsburg University Alumni Board for eight
years and on the Augsburg Parent Council for
four years. Bergquist authored several books
on families of wealth including the “Book of
Minnesota Family Trees.” She also is a Wells
Foundation board member.
1978
Phyllis Bartel ’78 published
“Scooter ‘n’ Oaks: A Cat Adoption
Story” in October 2016. As Bartel’s premier
work, this fictionalized tale teaches children
about the pet adoption process with
compassion and gentle humor and shares
similar themes with human adoption.
1979
Dave Boots ’79, who was inducted
into Augsburg’s Athletic Hall of
Fame in 2004, was named to the University
of South Dakota Vermillion’s Henry Heider
Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in October after
retiring in 2013 with the 14th most wins
in Division II men’s basketball history. He
led the Coyotes to 23 consecutive winning
seasons from 1989-2011, 10 NCAA Division II
tournaments, six NCC titles, and back-to-back
Elite Eight appearances in 1993 and 1994.
At the Division I level, Boots also won a Great
West Championship in 2010. Boots began his
coaching career at Anoka Ramsey Community
College and spent six years coaching at
Augsburg before arriving in Vermillion.
Sally (Hough) Daniels Herron ’79 is the new
parish and communications administrator for
Valley of Peace Lutheran Church in Golden
Valley, Minnesota.
SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE
Leah Abdella ’76 retired in 2016 from a 40-year
teaching career in the field of special education.
At Augsburg, Abdella earned a double major in music
and music therapy as one of the first three music therapy
majors. Abdella stays fulfilled in retirement through
volunteer work and flute performance at assisted living
residences, nursing homes, and churches. She also
stays active in ballet classes and yoga. She is a former
member of the Andahazy Ballet Company.
’76
Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and
constituent relations at Augsburg University, married
Chris Code in April during an intimate ceremony at the
Guthrie Theater—where the couple met while both on staff.
The wedding was officiated by Code’s father, the Rev. Jack
’01
’14
Former hockey and
football player Paul
Holmquist ’79 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. Holmquist
was a key member of
Augsburg teams that
dominated in the late
1970s, earning the National Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics national title in 1979
and qualifying for NAIA national tournament
play all of Holmquist’s four seasons. The
teams he competed with also won Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in
1978 and 1979. He was named a team MVP
in the 1978-79 season, the same time period
in which he earned All-MIAC Honorable
Mention honors.
1980
Paul Kilgore ’80 wrote a novel,
“The Broken Key,” that is
available through online and retail outlets.
1985
Brian Ammann ’85 has been
running the Minnesota School of
Basketball in Apple Valley and Golden Valley
for 12 years. He is the former head basketball
coach at Augsburg.
1987
Lee Ann (Burson) Hohenstein ’87
left a 20-year career in mortgage
banking to follow her dream and become a
staff writer for the Mille Lacs Messenger. She
also opened Restoration Books and Gifts in
Crosby, Minnesota.
Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and
milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements.
Koch, and was witnessed by sibling Jason Koch ’93 and
sister-in-law Heather Johnston ’92.
Allison (Cornell) Broughton ’05 and Matt
Broughton ’06 welcomed new baby Nicholas
James in June. Nicholas joins big brother Calvin, age 4.
’05
This August, Samantha Cantrall ’14 and Austin
Smith ’14 were married in Ellsworth, Wisconsin,
by Augsburg Professor of Computer Science Larry
Crockett. The couple met in Augsburg’s Urness Hall in
2010, and both graduated from the Honors Program in
2014. They have taken Samantha’s mother’s last name
as their wedded name and will be known as Samantha
and Austin Wolf.
’14
FALL - WINTER 2017
27
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1991
Kristin
Dragseth
Wiersma ’91 had an
outstanding volleyball
career at Augsburg, an
accomplishment that
earned her induction
into the Athletic Hall of
Fame. Wiersma played
three seasons of volleyball, earning All-MIAC
and Academic All-MIAC honors in 1990,
and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors
in 1989. She remains in the top 10 players
in school history in three career statistical
categories: kills per-set, attack percentage,
and digs per-set. A team co-captain in
1990, Wiersma also served as an assistant
coach at Augsburg in 1991.
1992
Athletic
Hall of
Fame inductee Juli
Gustafson ’92 played
two years of softball
at Augsburg earning
All-MIAC honors as
a shortstop in both
1991 and 1992, while
also earning National Fastpitch Coaching
Association All-West Region honors in
1991. Her .395 career batting average is
the third-best in school history. She also
ranks third in career slugging percentage
and sixth in career doubles. Gustafson was
a member of Auggie teams that went 47-22
in her two seasons.
Though he only
competed in one season
of wrestling at Augsburg,
Bret Sharp ’92 made
the most of it. He went
43-2-1 with 15 pins
and 95 takedowns,
won the MIAC title
at heavyweight, and
finished third at the NCAA Division III
national tournament in the 1991-92 season,
where he helped to clinch a second-place
national team finish for the Auggies. Sharp
was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. He competed his first three seasons
at Drake University in Iowa.
1993
Dr. Jason Koch ’93 was appointed
president of Southdale Pediatrics,
where he has worked for the past 16 years.
Wrestling star Gary
Thompson ’93 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. A four-year
competitor in wrestling,
Thompson completed
his Auggie career with a
91-40-1 record, finishing
fourth at the 1993 NCAA Division III national
championships and earning All-American
honors. He was a MIAC champion, a National
Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar AllAmerican, and a two-time Academic All-MIAC
honors student-athlete. Thompson was a
member of Augsburg squads that won the
NCAA national championship in 1993 and
finished second and third in other years.
1994
Chris Terrell ’94 was promoted
to vice president of finance for
Medtronic’s Cardiac and Vascular Group
Global Operations. Terrell joined Medtronic
in 2003 and most recently served as a
senior director of operations in finance,
where he drove finance strategies for nine
manufacturing locations.
1995
Dual sport
athlete
Marty Alger ’95 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. In football,
Alger set an Augsburg
program record for
career rushing yardage,
which stood until 2014. In 1992, he became
the first Auggie ever to rush for 1,000-plus
yards in a season. He earned All-MIAC
honors in football in both 1992 and 1993. As
an Auggie wrestler, he qualified for the 1993
NCAA Division III national tournament after
winning the MIAC title at 190 pounds.
1997
Augsburg
Athletic
Hall of Fame inductee
Eric Rolland ’97 was
a leader on some of
the most successful
men’s golf teams in
school history. He led
squads that won the
MIAC championship in 1995 and recorded
second-place finishes in 1994 and 1996,
while competing in three straight NCAA
Division III national tournaments. Rolland
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
Denielle (Johnson) Stepka ’11 and
Timothy Stepka were married July 15
in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Their ceremony
was officiated by Josh Corrigan ’11, and their
wedding party included Augsburg alumni
Katie (Christensen) Beadell ’11, Korri (Yule)
Corrigan ’11, Tim Lund ’12, Amy Jo Opsal ’12,
and Tyler Phillips ’12.
’11
28
AUGSBURG NOW
In July, Enrico Barrozo ’14 and Mara
(Breczinski) Barrozo ’14 were married
at Augsburg University’s Hoversten Chapel.
The ceremony was officiated by the Rev.
Mike Matson ’06. The newlyweds live in
Gainesville, Florida, where Enrico is pursuing
a Ph.D. in genetics and genomics at the
University of Florida, and Mara teaches
middle school science.
’14
Rebecca (Welle) Winters ’05 and Paul
Winters ’07 welcomed a daughter, Maisy
Beverly, in May. She joins siblings Max, who is
six years old, and Millie, who is three years old.
’05
Matt Tonsager ’09, co-owner of
Gullton Wood, and Melissa (Moberg)
Tonsager ’10 welcomed a daughter, Adalind
Kay Tonsager, in April.
’09
earned All-America honors in 1995, AllDistrict honors in 1997, and All-MIAC honors
in 1995 and 1996. Since 2014, he has
served as Augsburg’s men’s and women’s
golf head coach.
1999
Elizabeth
(Petrik)
Brown ’99 had an
outstanding goaltending
career on the Augsburg
women’s soccer team,
an accomplishment that
earned her induction
into the Athletic Hall
of Fame. Brown started all but one game of
her collegiate career, finishing with 34 career
victories, including a then-school-record 13
in 1995. She stands second in school history
in career shutouts, fourth in career wins,
and eighth in career win-loss percentage.
Her 1.69 career goals-against-average is
10th-best in school history.
Cheri Johnson ’99 wrote two book series
released this fall for young readers.
“Origins: Urban Legends” and “Origins:
Whodunnit” are high-interest, low-readinglevel books that target upper-elementary
and middle-school students. The books
will be distributed by Lerner. Johnson also
is working on a performance project in
Minneapolis called “Crocus Hill Ghost Story”
with the music ensemble Zeitgeist; her
sister, Julie Johnson ’98; and actor, director,
and filmmaker D.J. Mendel. “Crocus Hill
Ghost Story” tells a tale set in an evil house
in St. Paul.
’11
’14
’05
’09
’00
Devoney Looser ’89 published a new
’89 book, “The Making of Jane Austen,”
which was named in Publishers Weekly’s list
of Best Summer Books of 2017 (nonfiction).
This May, Lewis Nelson ’00 graduated
from the University of Virginia’s Darden
School of Business with a Master of Business
Administration degree. Nelson left a 15-year
military and government career and is
seeking the next challenge. Nelson resides in
Charlottesville, Virginia, with his three children.
’00
’89
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
2000
The Rev. Sara (Quigley) Brown ’00
has accepted a term-call as
the associate interim pastor at Saving Grace
Lutheran, Lutheran Congregations in Missions
for Christ, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She
will serve and work alongside its faithful
congregation and pastor, the Rev. David
Irgens, during a time of great transition
and growth. Brown will serve Saving Grace
Lutheran for one year until the congregation
places a call for a permanent associate pastor.
2001
James Shropshire ’01, former
assistant director of public safety
at Augsburg, is the new director of campus
safety at Grinnell College. At Augsburg,
Shropshire also served as a Title IX
adjudicator and investigator. Besides
revising diversity training, Shropshire’s
agenda for campus safety at Grinnell will
include updating the department’s software,
computers, and other equipment.
2002
Augsburg
Athletic Hall
of Fame inductee Chrissy
(Baune) Bloemendal ’02
was a 16-time AllMIAC selection in cross
country (three times)
and track and field
(13 times). The team’s
No. 1 runner her final three seasons in cross
country, Bloemendal finished sixth in the MIAC
championships in 2001 and 13th in 2000.
In track and field, she won the MIAC title and
qualified for the NCAA Division III outdoor
national championships in the 3,000-meter
steeplechase in 2002, finishing ninth nationally.
AUGGIE
SNAPSHOTS
30
AUGSBURG NOW
’15
Two years ago Heather Cmiel ’02 left 13
years of communications agency life behind
to go corporate. She now serves as global
marketing communications strategist within
3M Healthcare. Cmiel spends her free time
as president of Minnesota Public Relations
Society of America. She also leads a
contemporary worship band.
2003
Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin ’03
is the founder and director
of the Rural Enterprise Center, a program
of Main Street Project, a nonprofit
organization focused on rural development.
Haslett-Marroquin also serves on the
boards of the Northfield Area Foundation,
the Northfield Area United Way, and Fifth
Bridge, a nonprofit organization promoting
volunteerism.
2005
Ryan Bosshart ’05 is a vice
president of services at phData,
a global leader in big data consulting and
managed services. Most recently, Bosshart
was a principal sales engineer at Cloudera.
2006
Michelle Dirtzu ’06 is a new
marketing manager at Pacific
Trellis Fruit/Dulcinea Farms based in Los
Angeles, California. Dirtzu has 10 years of
experience in the grocery-retail-produce
business. Previously, she was a marketing
director for North Shore Living Herbs, in
marketing with Flagstone Foods, and in
brand management with Supervalu. Dirtzu
earned a Master of Business Administration
degree from Opus School of Business at
the University of St. Thomas in 2014.
Brenda Valentine ’06 welcomed her son,
Jackson James Valentine Rice, in April.
2007
A managing
partner of
business planning at
the American Public
Media Group, Danielle
Stellner ’07 received
a First Decade Award
at Homecoming.
After graduating
from Augsburg, Stellner went on to earn a
Master of Business Administration degree
from the Carlson School of Management at
the University of Minnesota in 2016. She
was recruited for the board of Isuroon and
Secretary, and she is the active co-chair of
the AWE Philanthropy Council at Augsburg.
In addition, Stellner serves the Friendship
Academy of the Arts as a board member and
expansion committee member.
2008
Tony Landecker ’08 serves
as a portfolio manager in the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development’s Minneapolis-St. Paul field
office and is responsible for assisting with
the management of local housing stock.
Landecker was named the Minnesota
Civil Servant of the Year by HUD’s Federal
Executive Board for helping others find
the comfort of a home in the aftermath of
a disaster. In 2016, he left his home and
family to spend time helping Baton Rouge
flood victims, leading a team that found
permanent housing for 130 families initially
placed in temporary shelters.
Rachel Shaheen ’15 and
Christopher Kopp ’15
were married in July. The bride
and groom were joined by fellow
Augsburg alumni [L to R]: Becky
Shaheen ’11, Patrick DuSchane ’13,
Laura Schmidt ’11, Jakob
Anderson ’12, Erika Osterbur ’11,
Aren Olson ’11, Lily Moloney ’15,
Mary Stickelmeyer ’74, Emily
Knudson ’15, Kate Gray ’15, Tyler
Dorn ’15, and Alisha Esselstein ’15.
’15
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Curtiss Schreiber ’08 is now an associate at
the law firm Donohue Brown Mathewson &
Smyth LLC in Chicago.
2011
Jennifer
Weber ’11
received a Spirit of
Augsburg Award at
Homecoming for
her dedication to
Minneapolis’ CedarRiverside community
and in recognition
for the projects she has initiated in the
Twin Cities area. Before graduating from
Augsburg with a triple major in emotional/
behavioral disabilities, learning disabilities,
and American Indian studies, Weber
created an American Indian resource
library for the Anoka-Hennepin Indian
Education Program. Weber has been
involved in many community projects and
is a crisis prevention and interventions
trainer at the Charter School Special Ed
Network. She is also a certified school
coach, teacher, and member of the Cedar
Riverside Community School Board.
2012
Katie Radford ’12, ’18 MBA
started a new position at
Fairview Health Services as a training
consultant. She helps facilitate individual
and team development sessions for
professional growth.
2014
Maren Daniels ’14 teaches
elementary visual art at Hiawatha
Academy Morris Park in Minneapolis.
2015
Awale Osman ’15 serves as a
community innovation associate
at the Bush Foundation. He has experienced
much change: coming to the U.S. from
war-torn Somalia and Kenyan refugee camps
to learning English as a third language and
graduating with high academic honors.
His work as a change agent has included
expanding after-school opportunities for
Somali youth; impressing upon Congress
the value of federal TRIO programming; and
activating safe spaces for women, people of
color, and queer students.
2016
Victoria Linstrom ’16, Andrew
Kleidon-Linstom ’16, Bridgette
Henry ’16, and student Mitch Ross ’18 formed
the Open Door Theater where Linstrom serves
as the executive director, Kleidon-Linstom is
the artistic director, Henry is the company
manager/dramaturg in residence, and Ross is
the marketing director.
Muna Mohamed ’16 received a scholarship
at the University of Minnesota to pursue
a Master of Science degree in behavioral
aspects of physical activity. At the university,
Mohamed conducts research on East African
mother-daughter physical activity.
2017
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton
appointed Eron Godi ’17 to the
Young Women’s Cabinet, part of the Young
Women’s Initiative of Minnesota that aims to
improve opportunity for women ages 12 to 24
by bringing together nonprofits, businesses,
government, philanthropic organizations, and
young women to create plans for building
equity. Godi was one of 25 women selected
statewide for a cabinet position.
Emily Gregg ’17, former Augsburg women’s
soccer defender, was named one of 174
nationwide recipients of a $7,500 NCAA
Postgraduate Scholarship honoring her
achievements as both a scholar and an
athlete. A biology major with a 3.72 GPA,
Gregg is the first Auggie to receive an NCAA
Postgraduate Scholarship since 2014. Gregg
will attend graduate school at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison. She hopes to someday
work as a wildlife/large animal veterinarian.
Anna Renner ’17 has been accepted to
the Clarkson University Master of Physician
Assistant Studies program in Potsdam,
New York.
Dua Saleh ’17 had one of her songs played
on “The Current” radio station. She performs
music and poetry at Twin Cities venues.
Riley Siddorn ’17 was among nearly 450
summer interns at NASA’s Goddard Space
Flight Center. Interns seek out new ways
to explore their career fields and engage
NASA’s international scientific community in
Goddard projects. Siddorn, who majored in
physics, held an internship in ionospheric
physics. The internships covered a wide
spectrum in science-related areas, from
planetary science to sounding rockets to
Earth science.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Doris Rubenstein ’93 MAL won the silver
Independent Book Publishers Association
Benjamin Franklin Award for her book, “The
Journey of a Dollar,” at the association’s 29th
annual award ceremony in Portland, Oregon.
Kathleen Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP; Joyce
Miller ’02, ’04 MAN, ’11 DNP; Katherine
Baumgartner ’04 MAN, ’11 DNP; and Cheryl
Leuning, former Nursing Department chair,
co-authored an article, “The Citizen Nurse: An
Educational Innovation for Change,” which was
published in the Journal of Nursing Education.
Jamie Heitzinger ’11 MPA earned a Certificate
of Added Qualifications by completing
specialty training from the National
Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants. She works at Queens Medical
Center in Honolulu.
Ryan Stopera ’11 MSW/MBA is a social worker
and social entrepreneur. He serves as a
program analyst for the Graves Foundation
and teaches in Augsburg’s Social Work
Department. Stopera enjoys building
community through art, cycling, and rock
climbing in his spare time.
Allison DeGroot ’15 MAL is the new head
women’s soccer coach at the University of
Wisconsin-Superior. The women’s soccer
program competes at the highest level in
the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference,
and DeGroot is looking forward to working
with players to help the program reach its
potential. DeGroot was an assistant coach at
Augsburg from 2012 until 2016.
Angela Mejdrich ’15 MAE is the new director
of administration at Spirit of the Lake
Community School in Duluth, Minnesota.
She provides lead support and oversight of
several administrative and business matters.
Mejdrich has more than 20 years of teaching
and administration experience, most
recently as vice principal of St. Michael’s
Lakeside School.
Thomas Hirsch ’16 MPA is a new physician
assistant at the Essentia Health–Hermantown
Clinic in Minnesota.
FALL - WINTER 2017
31
PHOTO BY CAROLINE YANG
IN MEMORIAM
Alfred W. Walck ’40, Urbandale,
Iowa, age 96, on April 27.
Addell L. (Halverson) Dahlen ’43,
Minneapolis, age 96, on June 2.
Carl G. Gilbertson ’43, Battle
Lake, Minnesota, age 96, on
April 14.
Arlene L. (Dunham) Sandberg ’43,
Madelia, Minnesota, age 95,
on May 12.
Muriel R. (Ruud) Frosch ’45,
Winona, Minnesota, age 94,
on July 26.
Lorene M. (McGinnis) Hansen ’49,
Clear Lake, Iowa, age 92,
on July 7.
Lorraine (Telander) Hendershot ’49,
Mora, Minnesota, age 89,
on March 29.
Phyllis (Erickson) Quanbeck ’49,
Salem, Oregon, age 89,
on June 28.
Donald P. Sateren ’49, Long
Beach, California, age 96,
on June 18.
Russell G. Solheim ’49, Racine,
Wisconsin, age 96, on July 8.
Marilyn L. (Larson) Forslund ’50,
Moline, Illinois, age 94,
on May 26.
Roger C. Mackey ’57, Saint
Paul, Minnesota, age 83,
on July 20.
David C. Siedlar ’71, Huaian
City, Jiangsu, China, age 68,
on March 19.
Norman O. Landvik ’50, Port
Angeles, Washington, age 89,
on April 6.
Warren L. Anderson ’59, Grand
Marais, Minnesota, age 84,
on March 16.
Bradley W. Shoff ’77,
Akeley, Minnesota, age 62,
on June 18.
Arnold R. Aasen ’51, Fridley,
Minnesota, age 88, on July 23.
Carrol A. Bakken ’59,
Rushford, Minnesota, age 82,
on March 18.
John A. Faeth ’89, Stillwater,
Minnesota, age 51, on April 3.
Elden O. Landvik ’51, Duluth,
Minnesota, age 92, on July 3.
James D. Slarks ’51, Saint Peter,
Minnesota, age 92, on June 27.
LeVon M. (Paulson) Dinter ’52,
Edina, Minnesota, age 86,
on March 18.
Mildred C. Hetager ’52,
Minneapolis, age 103,
on June 30.
Donald W. Siegel ’53,
Minneapolis, age 89,
on April 6.
Peter L. Hauser ’62, Lakeville,
Minnesota, age 76, on July 10.
Michael L. Kropp ’95, Albert
Lea, Minnesota, age 49, on
April 2.
Gerald W. Mortenson ’62,
Stone Lake, Wisconsin, age 79,
on March 31.
Charity Thunder ’99, Black
River Falls, Wisconsin, age 71,
on July 1.
Paul S. Monson ’63,
Coon Rapids, Minnesota,
age 76, on July 12.
Jacob R. Collins ’03,
Austin, Minnesota, age 36,
on August 25.
Gary W. Paulson ’63, Willmar,
Minnesota, age 75, on June 10.
Christopher G. Frame ’09,
Minneapolis, age 33,
on March 20.
Richard E. Kuehne ’64, Walker,
Minnesota, age 76, on August 7.
Elnora C. (Hanson) Beireis ’54,
Parkers Prairie, Minnesota,
age 84, on July 27.
Ronald A. Hanson ’65, Grand
Rapids, Minnesota, age 74,
on July 17.
Mary Ann E. (Fox) Domholdt ’56,
Mentor, Ohio, age 83, on
April 5.
Terence W. Rindal ’66,
Crystal Lake, Illinois, age 82,
on August 12.
Mark D. Lukitsch ’20,
Cottage Grove, Minnesota,
age 19, on August 5.
The “In memoriam” listings in this publication
include notifications received before September 15.
32
AUGSBURG NOW
JOIN US FOR THE
GRAND OPENING OF
THE NORMAN AND EVANGELINE
HAGFORS CENTER
FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2018
4–5 p.m. | Alumni and Community Open House
Hagfors Center, Augsburg University
700 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454
RSVP by January 8 at augsburg.edu/alumni/events.
Send questions to Hannah Walsh ’14, advancement
assistant, at walsh@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1098.
FALL - WINTER 2017
33
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Thousands of Auggies. One Augsburg.
Augsburg’s 2017 Homecoming celebration was held October 12–14, a festive weekend when alumni,
students, and community members took part in more than 35 events, including reunions for the
classes of 1967, 1977, 1992, and 2007. In all, more than 600 alumni from different generations
visited campus to show their Auggie pride and mark the first Homecoming as Augsburg University.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
Show less
AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG
UNIVERSITY
SPRING–SUMMER 2017 | VOL. 79, NO. 2
COMING SEPTEMBER 2017
PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On the power of both/and
I am writing these notes on c... Show more
AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG
UNIVERSITY
SPRING–SUMMER 2017 | VOL. 79, NO. 2
COMING SEPTEMBER 2017
PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On the power of both/and
I am writing these notes on commencement
weekend when we have just sent the final
graduates of Augsburg College into the world,
full of promise and aspiration—as has been the
case for almost 150 years. As you will read in
this issue of Augsburg Now, the change of our
name to Augsburg University will become official
in September, and we will welcome the incoming
class on Labor Day weekend. We are busy
preparing for this exciting new era for Augsburg!
For some, the name change may reflect
a break with Augsburg’s past. For others,
perhaps this is a welcome acceptance of the
need to embrace the future. For the Augsburg
community, however, the change is a remarkable
opportunity to re-present Augsburg to the
world—to tell a story that is about an abiding
mission and identity shaped by faith, and
academic and civic values, and at the same
time to point to innovative and urgently needed
responses to our dynamic environment. In
other words, this change is about the pivot
from “either/or” to “both/and.” This is about
embracing the best of past, present, and future.
This is about Augsburg University.
The almost 1,000 Auggies who commenced
into the world this spring reflect in their
achievements and aspirations the foundation for
embracing this change.
Across undergraduate and graduate programs,
the Class of 2017 achieved academic excellence
of the highest order, excellence that defines a
university: national and international honors for
scholarship and service; exemplary undergraduate
research that equips students for graduate
work and professional opportunities; innovative
community building that strengthens democratic
engagement; and a commitment to equity in
education that promises to change the world.
At the same time, our newest graduates
reflect the diversity that we expect in a
university—diversity of ethnicity, thinking, life
experience, identity, and ability—diversity not
for its own sake but for the promise of a more
robust, healthy, and just world. As I watched our
diverse graduates cross the stage, I could not
help but be filled with hope in our future leaders
who already have learned to navigate difference
in ways that unite rather than divide.
In a final way, these newest Augsburg
graduates offer a perhaps countercultural
lesson about what makes for a great university.
Though some imagine a university as big and
bureaucratic and faceless, Augsburg has a
vision to be a new kind of student-centered,
urban university—small to our students and
big for the world. The sense of community was
palpable in our commencement ceremonies as
graduates cheered each other and celebrated
the relationships they have forged at Augsburg,
lifelong relationships that engendered
achievement and success. And propelled by those
relationships, our graduates will indeed be “big
for the world,” as they live Augsburg’s mission as
“informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical
thinkers, and responsible leaders.”
Here’s to the power of “both/and” and the
promise of Augsburg University!
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
Director of Marketing
Communication
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
Communication Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Senior Creative Associate, Design
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Production Manager
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Jessica Mueller
muellerj@augsburg.edu
Contributing Writers
Kate H. Elliott
Jen Lowman Day
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
ISSN 1058-1545
Faithfully yours,
Send address corrections to:
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
Send comments to:
now@augsburg.edu
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
AUGSBURG NOW
Spring–Summer 2017
02 Around the quad
08
Preserving Norway’s
treasures
12
Augsburg University
name change
18
Winning the long game
24
Auggies connect
28
Class notes
33
In memoriam
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
On the cover
Augsburg College will become
Augsburg University effective
September 1. Learn more about
this historic transition on page 12.
An Auggie passes by the first art installation in the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center
for Science, Business, and Religion. This new academic building, which will open in January
2018, celebrates Augsburg’s commitment to learning at the intersection of disciplines.
Glass fritting on the lobby curtainwall depicts the pattern of Martin Luther’s handwritten
score of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” overlaid with the cell structure of elm wood.
“Knowing that light will pour through the tall glass of the Hagfors Center, and that
people will pass through the reflected shape of the notes of this stirring hymn, ties the
whole idea of the building together for me. Science, business, and religion, drawn together
in space, time, and rhythm of the ages,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, who,
with his wife, Abigail Crampton Pribbenow, sponsored the artwork.
AROUND THE QUAD
HONORING
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
Retiring Faculty
RALPH BUTKOWSKI
MAGDA PALECZNY-ZAPP
Assistant Professor, Department of
Biology—with the College
since 2001
Associate Professor, Department of
Business Administration—with the
College since 1986
CASS DALGLISH
NOEL PETIT
Professor, Department of English—
with the College since 1986
Professor, Department of
Computer Science—with the
College since 1984
PETER HENDRICKSON ’76
Associate Professor, Department of
Music—with the College since 1994
BOYD KOEHLER
Associate Professor, Library—with
the College since 1967
SANDRA OLMSTED ’69
Associate Professor, Department
of Chemistry—with the College
since 1978
DEBORAH REDMOND
Assistant Professor, Department of
Communication Studies—with the
College since 1981
STUART STOLLER
Professor, Department of Business
Administration—with the College
since 1986
TARA SWEENEY
Associate Professor, Department of
Art—with the College since 1990
Auggies advocate at
STATE CAPITOL
The Augsburg community
celebrated the Class of 2017 on
Saturday, April 29. In a morning
ceremony, 503 traditional
undergraduate students were
conferred their degrees. In the
afternoon, the school recognized
469 adult undergraduate, master’s,
and doctoral students—50 of
whom studied at Augsburg’s
Rochester site. [Pictured]: Fatimah
Kinaphone ’15, ’17 MBA receives
her master’s degree hood.
2
AUGSBURG NOW
PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
COMMENCEMENT
Augsburg College students recently visited the Minnesota State Capitol to
participate in advocacy events hosted by the Minnesota Private College
Council. First, in February, two of Augsburg’s TRIO McNair Scholars took
part in a Private College Scholars at the Capitol event that promoted the role
undergraduate research plays in students’ educational and professional
development. Then, in April, Auggies met with Minnesota representatives
and senators for Day at the Capitol.
These students advocated for
several programs, including
Minnesota State Grants, that help
undergraduates afford higher
education.
[L to R]: Professor of Sociology Diane Pike
advised McNair Scholar Devin Wiggs ’17, who
was invited to present his undergraduate
research project at Scholars at the Capitol.
AROUND THE QUAD
TICKETS ON SALE:
NOBEL PEACE
PRIZE FORUM
Visit nobelpeaceprizeforum.org to find ticket, presenter, and schedule information.
PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
COURTESY PHOTO
September 15-16
Each year, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum offers opportunities to learn from the world’s most
celebrated, innovative, and dedicated peacemakers. Hosted and presented by Augsburg, the
Forum invites attendees to turn abstract ideas into the skills our world needs for fostering
better relationships and for building peace. In September, international guests from leading
organizations will explore the theme “Dialogue in Divided Societies” and honor the work of
the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, for its decisive
contribution to building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia after the Jasmine Revolution of 2011.
Electronics lab is electrifying!! Building the circuits of
tomorrow, today. #MaroonMilestone @AugsburgCollege
FUEL FINISH
THERE IS, PERHAPS, NO GREATER CURE
FOR STRESS than taking a moment to
acknowledge the good. As Augsburg students soldiered through the last week
of classes this spring—turning in final papers and finishing projects—they
also made time to reflect on their achievements in 2016-17. Students posted,
tweeted, and shared #MaroonMilestones on social media, and soon a powerful
collective story came together. Whether it was winning athletic championships,
landing job interviews, or beating cancer, Auggies finished strong.
FOR THE
CELEBRATING
STUDENT
SUCCESS
FUEL
E
FOR TH
FINISH
For those who posted
#MaroonMilestones, Augsburg
partnered with its food service
provider, A’viands, to provide handdelivered treats and cheerful notes
that offered additional fuel for the end
of the term, though physics students
kept their beverages safely stationed
outside the lab (pictured above)!
Read about the scope of prestigious academic
achievements, awards, and honors earned by Auggies
during the 2016-17 year at augsburg.edu/now.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
3
PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
AROUND THE QUAD
After a morning practice, goaltender Jordyn Kaufer ’17 and members of the Augsburg men’s
hockey team presented Minasie Theophilos with a check for $5,000. In comments aired on
KARE 11 news, Kaufer told Theophilos the sum was, “A token to give you thanks for your
selflessness, your service, your care to the rink and the guys.”
Honoring
Luther’s legacy
To mark the 500th anniversary
of the Reformation, Augsburg is
hosting a series of events this fall.
Visit augsburg.edu/ccv/events
for dates and details.
4
AUGSBURG NOW
A SEASON OF REFORMATION CELEBRATIONS!
In September, Augsburg will welcome the fourth
presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, as an honored
speaker for the Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium.
To mark Augsburg College Heritage Day in October,
Associate Professor of Religion Mary Lowe will lead a
discussion on the revolutionary life of Martin Luther.
In November, award-winning musical group The
Rose Ensemble will present “Welcome the People: The
Musical Legacy of the Reformation.”
To kick off the holiday season in December, Augsburg
will host Advent Vespers with the theme “Welcome,
Noble Guest,” inspired by Martin Luther’s hymn “From
Heaven Above.”
AROUND THE QUAD
MINASIE THEOPHILOS has cared for Augsburg’s athletic facilities—most notably the ice arena—
during his more than 25 years of service on the College’s custodial staff. Theophilos and the men’s
hockey team developed a life-changing relationship that was shared by media outlets across the
United States and around the globe.
When members of the team learned that Theophilos’ mother had died in Ethiopia—a home
Theophilos hasn’t seen for nearly 35 years—and that Theophilos missed her funeral because he didn’t
have the money to visit, the team created a fundraiser. In less than 48 hours, the players and Auggies
worldwide raised thousands of dollars for
Theophilos to use to visit his family.
Today, Theophilos and his wife are planning a
trip to see his father and their families, thanks
to a special friendship with the Augsburg
athletes he has supported for decades.
PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
FRIENDSHIP ON ICE … AND OFF
right,’
ou raised ’em
‘y
of
y
or
g
te
ca
“In the
y team.”
Augsburg hocke
e
th
of
s
d
ki
e
we give you th
—Bob Collins,
Minnesota Public Radio News Cut
COURTESY PHOTO
Who’s on first? Auggies are! This spring, the Augsburg baseball team kicked
off its season at U.S. Bank Stadium, competing in four nonconference
doubleheaders. The new Minnesota Vikings venue is only a stone’s throw (or
a really strong pitch) from Augsburg’s campus.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
5
PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE
ON THE SPOT
IT’S SIMPLE MATH: Fewer people are entering the teaching profession, more are
leaving it, and many educators lack the qualifications required to teach Minnesota’s
increasingly diverse student body. These factors have prompted teacher preparation
programs—including those at Augsburg—to adapt in support of more inclusive,
flexible learning environments that accommodate a spectrum of needs and abilities.
As the director of education programs at Augsburg’s Rochester location, Kaycee Rogers is working alongside colleagues
and legislators to better support and retain teachers and to inspire a more diverse workforce. She is driven to ensure the
next generation of Minnesotans experience a meaningful education through hands-on, relevant learning.
Q:
How does educating, training, and
employing K-12 teachers with specialty
backgrounds improve our schools?
A:
The demographics of our student
population have changed given the
influx of new populations into our welcoming
state and education’s shift to incorporate
students with special needs into the general
classroom. Because of this, teachers with
specialty licenses are in demand, and these
positions are often tough to fill. Augsburg
is leading the charge to offer broader
licensures, which prepare teachers to
succeed in today’s classrooms and qualify
them for a wide range of teaching positions.
Exposure to more teaching strategies
and more specializations helps teacher
6
AUGSBURG NOW
candidates adapt and innovate so they can
offer students multiple access points for
understanding.
Q:
A:
What’s an example of an innovative
teaching strategy?
Students learn best when they’re
engaged in experiences that matter to
them. We’ve been incorporating real-world,
student-led experiences into the classroom,
and the results are impressive. Augsburg
teacher candidates, for instance, are helping
fourth- and fifth-graders write grants, speak
to community groups, navigate teamwork,
and participate in democracy. It’s been
amazing to watch our teachers transition
to more of a coaching role, while students
PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH
Education expert Kaycee Rogers describes how an inclusive,
agile K-12 model can help Minnesota classrooms make the grade
take the lead to apply classroom learning to
issues and situations of meaning to them.
Q:
A:
How do teachers recognize students’
home cultures and diverse experiences?
Although “English as a Second
Language” is a widely used term, we
say, “English learners,” because it’s more
accurate given that some students learn
English as a third or fourth language. We
also celebrate home culture and language
rather than asking students to check their
heritage at the door.
In special education, we try to be more
inclusive. It used to be that educators
relied on what was called a medical
model of diagnosis and treatment. Today,
AROUND THE QUAD
Outstanding
EDUCATORS
Share your ideas for
Each year, Augsburg recognizes
individuals who have made
exemplary contributions to creating
an engaging academic learning
environment. The 2017 recipients
of the Distinguished Contributions to
Teaching and Learning awards are:
AUGSBURG’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
1869-2019
Visit augsburg.edu/150 to
submit your suggestions.
Alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff are invited to
celebrate Augsburg’s 150th anniversary in 2019. What
aspect of your Augsburg experience would you like to
highlight during the sesquicentennial year? Were you
connected to a team, an organization, or a department
that made a difference? Would you like to see a reunion
for your favorite activity—whether it was campus
ministry, KAUG radio, student government, or a music
ensemble? Let us know how to best honor Augsburg’s
past, present, and future.
Teaching
Full-time faculty
Joyce Miller ’02, ’05 MAN, ’11 DNP,
assistant professor and Nursing
Department chair
Part-time faculty
Alyssa Hanson ’01, mathematics and
statistics instructor
Scholarship
William Green, professor of history
Service
Q:
A:
David Crowe, associate professor of
biology
How do we inspire a workforce that is
more reflective of diverse classrooms?
It’s well documented that students
retain more information and have a
positive view of education when they relate
to teachers. We want to reach out to people
who look like our students and come from
the same backgrounds, particularly those
already working as teacher aides or in other
supporting roles. Growing teachers from
within each community’s diverse population
will beget more teachers of color and inspire
some to remain in their community to make a
lasting difference.
Stella Hofrenning, associate professor
of economics
Dixie Shafer, director of
Undergraduate Research and
Graduate Opportunity
PHOTO BY BOB STACKE ’71
we recognize that our role isn’t as much
about changing someone as it is about
using an approach that welcomes learners
of different styles, that encourages support
networks to address, adapt to, and respond
to each young person. We seek to accept,
listen, and innovate as we help students
gain as much as possible to prepare them
for a fulfilling life.
Both approaches fall under an umbrella
of universal design that can be applied to
all students, regardless of ability. If our
goal is understanding, then we must create
multiple access points for students. We urge
teacher candidates to get to know students,
their families, and the community to
appreciate the backgrounds coming together
in each classroom.
[L to R]: Stella Hofrenning, Dixie Shafer,
William Green, Joyce Miller, David Crowe, and
Alyssa Hanson.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
7
PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI
8
AUGSBURG NOW
Juliane Derry ’00 works on an artifact from Norway’s national collection.
As an objects conservator, she studies and preserves historical materials.
BY LAURA SWANSON LINDAHL ’15 MBA
“As you can see, I’m not in my office,” says
Juliane Derry ’00 answering a video call and
gazing toward the cell phone resting in her
outstretched palm. “It’s kind of a little crisis.”
Behind her, a warehouse complex comes into
focus. It looks tidy—for the most part—but
there’s chaos emerging in what otherwise would
be a meticulously organized space.
Derry is standing in one of the storage
facilities for Norway’s Nasjonalmuseet, the
National Museum of Art, Architecture and
Design, and she is responding to an immediate,
all-hands-on-deck plea to mitigate an unnerving
discovery in the archive: water.
“Oxygen, light, and variations in
humidity are the things that cause
damage,” Derry said, hours later,
offering a primer on the fundamental
culprits in the degradation of
historical materials. As a conservator
for the national museum in Oslo,
she plays a multifaceted role in
the institution’s efforts to hold,
preserve, exhibit, and promote public
knowledge about Norway’s most
extensive collections.
Vestbanen – Downtown Oslo
Future home of the Nasjonalmuseet
Norway’s new national museum will open
in 2020. Juliane Derry ’00 is working to prepare
hundreds of objects for public display.
Oslo, Norway
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
9
PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI
During her career, Derry has
restored furniture, objects,
frames, and gilded surfaces.
10
AUGSBURG NOW
“There are so many different materials in our
collection that we have textile, paintings, paper,
and book conservators,” said Derry, who is an
objects conservator specializing in furniture,
frames, and gilded surfaces. She has studied
restoration on three continents and has become
an expert in both preserving national treasures
and making new creations shine. Derry is
someone who excels at finding connections
between seemingly disparate areas. Her
conservation work blends science with artistry,
research with intuition, and the practical with
the theoretical.
Derry’s personal life has been filled with
complementary relationships as well. She was
born in Norway, and she lived there until age 15
when she, her sister, and her American mother
moved from the tiny alpine town of Ål to the
densely populated Twin Cities lying on the edge
of Minnesota’s prairie. Later, as an Augsburg
student, she focused on women’s studies,
international relations, religion, and studio arts.
“I took classes based on what interested me,”
Derry said, shrugging her shoulders. “When
you get out into the real world and meet new
people you begin to realize that [some of them]
followed a very narrow path. I’m not looking
down on that in any way, but I appreciate the
fact that I was able to experience so many
different things.”
As her former faculty advisor, History
Professor and Director of General Education
Jacqueline deVries acknowledges that
Derry is the type of person who thrives in
interdisciplinary programs like women’s studies.
Now known as “gender, sexuality, and
women’s studies,” the major includes courses
in biology, English, history, political science,
sociology, and other disciplines. And it seems
Derry’s inclination toward diverse opportunities
only increases with time.
“Juliane’s path is fantastic. She totally
wandered,” said deVries, who now counts Derry
among her friends. “I think she’d laugh that I
said that, but along the way she discovered a
true passion.”
Derry’s career in restoration and conservation
began because misdirected mail literally came
across her desk. Shortly after graduating
from Augsburg, Derry worked as an assistant
to buyers at Dayton’s, Minneapolis’ storied
hometown department store chain. Even though
she didn’t support staff in the furniture division,
she received heaps of catalogs for that area.
Eventually, a thoughtful colleague noticed
her growing interest in woodworking and
encouraged her to pursue her calling. After
some networking and introspection, Derry
signed up for a wood finishing program at
a technical college—an experience that
ultimately led to her launching a small
business, obtaining an advanced degree,
and developing industry contacts around
the world.
One of those connections is Don
Williams, an author, educator, scholar,
and furniture conservator who retired after
serving the Smithsonian Institution for 29
years. Williams was a guest lecturer who
instructed Derry during her Minnesotabased finishing program, and he became
a mentor as she took her education and
career to new levels.
Williams has taught hundreds of
students, and he’s noticed that those who
succeed often have similar predispositions.
“How many people do you know who
are both scientists and artists?” he
asked. “That’s what we are. If you are not
consumed by creativity, this is going to be
a miserable path for you. People need not
only creativity but also curiosity.”
For Derry, an eagerness to experiment
and to learn has triggered some of her most
defining life events.
After working a handful of day jobs and
operating an independent business in the
U.S. for three years, Derry enrolled in an
immersive, full-time restoration program
near Florence, Italy. There she gained
studio experience and new skillsets,
including the ability to speak Italian through
a crash course lasting a single month. After
completing the restoration program, Derry
moved with her wife, Jody Scholz ’97, to
Norway. Derry was armed with a portfolio
of recent work and ambition to relaunch her
business in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
“I ended up making a CD full of pictures
of various restoration projects, and I made
the rounds in town,” she said. “I looked up
people in the yellow pages and then handed
out my pictures. In the beginning I worked
a little bit at a frame shop, and then I got a
job in a gallery where I restored frames.”
During the years since, Derry’s workload
has grown to match her expertise, and
sometimes her expertise has grown due to
Derry prepares an Oslo
city model from the
1930s for display in an
architectural exhibit.
PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI
the requirements of her work.
She earned a master’s degree at the
University of Oslo’s Institute of Archeology,
Conservation, and History by completing a
project-based thesis that examined shellac,
a sealant created using a resin secreted by
insects. For this project, Derry conducted
fieldwork in the rural Jharkhand region of
India where villagers harvest stick lac—the
key ingredient that becomes shellac and
its by-products—and she analyzed the
chemical characteristics of several samples
at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation
Institute where Williams served as her
internship sponsor.
“Investigative problem-solving” is one of
the aspects Derry said she most enjoys about
her field, and her liberal arts experience at
Augsburg informs the way she approaches her
assignments. She uses traditional techniques
and materials in her conservation projects
whenever possible, and her ability to think
critically is paramount.
While employed at a furniture restoration
company, she was tasked with repairing
beloved pieces used by the Oscarshall
Summer Palace, the Office of the Prime
Minister, and private clients. She also has
served Fortidsminneforeningen, a nonprofit
that preserves and protects monuments,
including 40 of the stave churches located
throughout Norway.
“Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is not
only a homily, it is an inexorable law of
the universe,” said Williams, describing
the vital role individuals like Derry play
in preserving cultural heritage for future
generations. “Everything is going back to
dust. As conservators, it is our job—to
the extent that is rational—to slow that
process down and concurrently enjoy and
extract the most utility from an artifact on
its path.”
Today Derry’s workdays primarily are
devoted to making internationally important
materials accessible to the general public.
At the national museum, she has completed
assignments that range from applying gold
leaf on the frames of masterworks to cleaning
a plaster-of-Paris city model measuring more
than 100 square feet. And still, her current
undertaking is the largest one yet.
The Norwegian government is building
a joint “all-arts” museum, which is slated
to open in Oslo in 2020. Intended to be a
dynamic arena for people to interact with
the visual arts, the space requires new
exhibits so curators and conservators are
working hand-in-hand to select and prepare
pieces for display. Derry is in the midst
of locating, evaluating, cataloguing, and
potentially repairing 400 pieces of furniture
for the museum.
It’s a process that requires passion and
persistence—two words that also perfectly
describe the manner in which Derry has
shaped her career. She’s prepared to
address new challenges if issues arise in a
workshop, at a laboratory bench, or during
the process of managing complex projects.
Even in a soggy situation at a storage
venue, Derry sees the annoyance of
rewrapping objects impacted by a minor
cooling system leak as an opportunity to
formulate a plan for the future should staff
ever need to address a true disaster.
“She can pursue something with
intelligence and diligence and still with a
smile on her face,” Williams said. “That’s
an unusual gift.”
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
11
AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY:
SMALL TO OUR STUDENTS
AND BIG FOR THE WORLD
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
O
n September 1, “Augsburg College” officially will become
“Augsburg University”—a change approved by both the Board
of Regents and the Augsburg Corporation.
For generations of Augsburg alumni and friends, it may seem like
the place always has been called “Augsburg College.” That’s been
the formal name of the school for the past 54 years.
Over the course of the school’s history, nearly 24,000 people
have completed degrees at Augsburg. With so many Auggie alumni
accustomed to thinking of Augsburg as a college, why change the name?
In short, the term “university” illustrates the breadth of Augsburg’s
current reality and goals for the future. And, “while our name is
changing,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, “the essence
of who we are is not.”
As the first seminary created by Norwegian Lutherans in America,
the name Augsburg—chosen by the school’s founders in 1869 to
honor the Augsburg Confession—always has defined the ethos of
this institution and its mission to support those called to service in
the world. Since its founding, Augsburg has been known by at least
four different names. The name has shifted as the school has grown,
but our commitment to an accessible, quality education has never
wavered. Likewise, our dedication to the Lutheran principles of
hospitality, service to the neighbor, and social justice is as steadfast
today as ever.
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AUGSBURG NOW
In announcing the name change, Pribbenow affirmed
that becoming Augsburg University “does not alter our
dedication to integrating the liberal arts and professional
studies or our commitment to being small to our students
and big for the world.”
Rather than moving Augsburg away from its roots,
the name change helps Augsburg remain both faithful
to its heritage and relevant to the educational needs of
students in the 21st century.
Ever evolving, always Augsburg: Growth
in graduate programs
From its early years, Augsburg stressed that a good
education is practical and focused on educating
ministerial candidates and theological students as well as
farmers, workers, and businesspeople.
So, it’s no surprise that Augsburg today offers
a number of professional master’s and doctoral
degrees — a mix of programs that makes Augsburg
already more like a university than a college. While there
is no fixed definition outlining the distinction between a
“college” and a “university,” offering post-baccalaureate
degrees commonly is associated with institutions named
as universities.
Augsburg’s first advanced degree program, the
Master of Arts in Leadership, launched 30 years
ago. Since then, 3,700 people have earned master’s
or doctoral degrees from Augsburg. This past fall,
Augsburg’s graduate enrollment reached a record
high — representing 28 percent of total enrollment — and
continued growth in Augsburg graduate programs is
anticipated in the coming years.
An international perspective
Today, Auggies live and work all over the world. In many
countries and cultures, the word “college” is associated
with a high school-level education. Alumni who work
in international settings have noted that they already
refer to their alma mater as “Augsburg University” in
order to avoid confusion. For the same reason, the name
change also will help Augsburg be more attractive as a
destination for international students, which represents a
potential growth area for Augsburg.
A view from the outside in
With nearly 150 years of history, it’s no surprise that
Augsburg is well known in the region—even among
people who haven’t (or haven’t yet) studied here. What
impact would a name change have on their perceptions
of Augsburg? We asked the following groups to share their
thoughts:
• high school students,
• parents of high school students,
• high school counselors,
• people considering getting an advanced degree, and
• people who didn’t finish an undergraduate degree
right after high school and are thinking about going
back to school to earn a bachelor’s.
These conversations generated several important
insights, but the core takeaway is that Augsburg’s reality,
reputation, and promise are aligned with the name change.
Our reality and reputation. Conversations with
members of the general community demonstrated
that people associate the word “university” with a
number of attributes that clearly apply to Augsburg.
Specifically, people view universities as having high
academic standards, a commitment to research, strong
international programs, and diverse student populations.
Augsburg has robust programs for scholarly research
and global study, and is recognized nationally for its
leadership in inclusion and equity. In many ways,
Augsburg already embodies much of what people expect
of a university.
The promise of a student-centered university. We also
learned from these conversations that Augsburg has a
strong reputation for direct student-faculty engagement.
We already know how important this is to our alumni,
students, faculty, and staff, but it was gratifying to hear
that members of the broader community also value
Augsburg as a student-centered organization.
This is something Augsburg needs to ensure does
not change. Augsburg University will not become an
institution marked by big campuses or large studentto-faculty ratios. Instead, as is articulated in our
Augsburg2019 strategic vision, Augsburg will be a new
kind of student-centered university, and just as we have
done for decades, Augsburg will remain committed to
educating students for lives of purpose in a vibrant,
engaged learning community.
Learn about the visual identity of Augsburg University
on the following pages.
Learn more about the Augsburg2019 strategic vision, the
name change, and the logo update at augsburg.edu/now.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
13
AUGSBURG NAME CHANGE HISTORY
1869
1872
1892
1942
AUGSBURG
SEMINARIUM
THE NORWEGIAN DANISH
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN
AUGSBURG SEMINARY
AUGSBURG
SEMINARY
AUGSBURG COLLEGE AND
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
EMBRACING OUR LEGACY
AND OUR FUTURE
When Samuel Gross ’03 was a student at Augsburg, he
designed the original Auggie eagle-head symbol as an
assignment for one of his graphic design courses. The design
was so good, Augsburg ended up buying the rights to the
image and has used the eagle symbol for campus life, student
organizations, and athletics for the past 15 years.
During that time, Gross became an award-winning designer
and creative director who founded his own graphic design
firm, 144design, with a specialty in developing logos for
clients. So, when Augsburg needed to update its logo as part
of the transition to the Augsburg University name, it was a
perfect opportunity to re-engage with Gross to envision and
design the next-generation Augsburg logo.
“Early on, our conversation about the logo confirmed that
this project should be an evolution of the Augsburg brand, not
a revolution,“ Gross said. “We wanted to preserve the strong
recognition that has been built for Augsburg over time.
“Our goal was to preserve and respect the historic nature
of Augsburg’s logo — especially since it already has strong
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AUGSBURG NOW
[Top Left]: The Augsburg “A”
shape is reimagined.
[Top Right]: Samuel Gross ’03
works on Augsburg University’s
visual identity in April 2017.
[Left]: Gross shows off
merchandise displaying
the first eagle-head symbol
shortly after he created it for
Augsburg in 2003.
energy and good familiarity — while at the same time creating
a treatment that also embraces the future,” he said.
The results, including the updated Augsburg logo, “A”
icon, and eagle-head symbol are shown on the next page.
Separately, the Augsburg seal — which is used on transcripts,
diplomas, and other official documents — was updated by
Augsburg staff Mark Chamberlain and Denielle Johnson ’11 and
is shown on pages 16-17.
1963
2017
AUGSBURG
COLLEGE
AUGSBURG
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE
Augsburg marks: honoring the legacy
Augsburg logo
Augsburg “A” icon
Eagle-head symbol
The Augsburg University logo is
designed to feel familiar to people who
are already acquainted with the College
logo, connecting the new design with
Augsburg’s legacy. In the new logo, the
word “Augsburg” is more bold than the
word “University.” This approach was
informed by research suggesting that
people’s strong associations are with
the name, “Augsburg,” whether or not it
is followed by “College” or “University.”
The font selected for “Augsburg”
conveys an established, academic feel,
while the font for “University” provides
a sleek, contemporary balance. The
contrast of the two words creates a
dynamic energy.
By strengthening the design of the
“A” icon — broadening its base
and making the vertical strokes
bolder — Augsburg will be able
to use the “A” icon as a standalone graphic element much more
frequently and effectively going
forward.
For example, current plans call
for the “A” icon to be installed on
the shorter ends of the sign on
top of Mortensen Hall. This is one
of the most visible signs in the
region and will be updated this
summer as part of the transition to
“Augsburg University.”
The eagle-head symbol is stronger
and bolder with this evolution.
Whereas the original design lost
detail and contrast when translated
to black-and-white treatments,
the updated design is much more
effective across a broader range
of uses.
Currently, designs using the
updated eagle-head symbol are
under development for an array of
installations—from the Si Melby
gym floor and the Edor Nelson
athletic field scoreboard to the
Christensen Center student lounge
and merchandise sold in the
Augsburg bookstore.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
15
AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY SEAL: HISTORY AND MEANING
Past seals
T
he seal conservation process began as
Augsburg College explored the steps
involved in changing its institutional
name to Augsburg University. The seal
enhances an original centennial
symbol design and aligns with the
institution’s current reality,
reputation, and promise.
THE AUGSBURG COLLEGE SEAL WAS
BASED ON A CENTENNIAL SYMBOL CREATED
BY PAUL KONSTERLIE ’50.
THE LION REPRESENTS AUGSBURG’S
NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE.
AUGSBURG’S CENTENNIAL SYMBOL,
CREATED BY KONSTERLIE.
THE LAMP OF LEARNING
DEPICTS SOUND SCHOLARSHIP.
THE FONT WAS INSPIRED
BY THE CENTENNIAL SYMBOL.
THE SEAL FOR AUGSBURG COLLEGE
AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
FEATURED MARTIN LUTHER.
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AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG WAS FOUNDED IN 1869
IN MARSHALL, WISCONSIN, AND
MOVED TO MINNEAPOLIS IN 1872.
THE CROSS DEPICTS THE SIGNIFICANT
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
CHURCH AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
THE SILHOUETTE OF THE
MINNEAPOLIS SKYLINE EMPHASIZES
AUGSBURG’S METROPOLITAN
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
THE DEEPLY THEOLOGICAL
STATEMENT, “THROUGH TRUTH
TO FREEDOM,” SUMMARIZES
THE BELIEF THAT THE TRUTH
SETS US FREE TO BE EDUCATED
AND TO SERVE.
THE EAGLE REPRESENTS
U.S. DEMOCRACY.
THE FOSHAY TOWER RETURNS TO THE CENTER OF THE
SEAL AS A NOD TO AUGSBURG’S CENTENNIAL SYMBOL.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
17
PHOTO BY DON STONER
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
[L to R]: At an Auggie Compass event, panelists Mike Gallagher ’12, Katie Jacobson ’11,
and Dan Brandt ’11 spoke to students about the journey from college to their careers.
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
[Left]: This fall, student-athletes engaged in
team-building exercises led by U.S. Marines.
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AUGSBURG NOW
[Above]: Student-athletes kicked off evening
workshops by dining together.
WINNING
THE LONG
GAME
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
Meaningful, relevant workshops
equip students to excel in the
classroom, competition, and
their careers
S
tudent-athletes file past tables,
stacking breadsticks on mounds of
pasta, but this crew isn’t carb-loading
for the next matchup. The nearly 550
students from Augsburg’s 19 sports teams
are preparing to tackle Auggie Compass—a
series of workshops and team-building
exercises designed to inspire personal and
professional success. After piloting the
program in 2014-15, Augsburg Athletics
recruited this year’s lineup of on- and
off-campus partners to engage each class
in issues relevant to each stage of their
undergraduate lives.
Associate Athletic Director Kelly
Anderson Diercks said the biannual
series starts a conversation with studentathletes, then builds upon those
themes each year as Auggies develop
the confidence, expertise, and support
networks they need to navigate known and
unknown challenges during college and
after graduation. For instance, first-year
students discussed study skills, time
management, and wellness, while seniors
learned about financial planning, living
their values, and networking techniques.
“When I moved into my first house,
I didn’t know furnaces had filters, and
that’s just one example of the many things
I should’ve known—but didn’t—before
graduation,” said Anderson Diercks, who
spearheaded the program. “We developed
Auggie Compass from the best aspects of
similar programs and from conversations
with our coaches, student-athletes, and
alumni. Our students seem more aware
of campus and community resources and
better prepared to excel in the real world.”
Panel of alumni shares lessons
from ‘professional lumps’
Among the spring event’s most popular
sessions was a student-athlete alumni panel,
“Not Where They Thought They’d Be,”
which—as the title suggests—invited alumni
to share lessons from their not-so-straight-orsmooth paths to personal and professional
fulfillment. Mike Gallagher ’12 was among
the four panelists asked “not to sugar coat”
their transitions to the workforce.
“My first paid job out of college lasted
21 months before I was laid off with 25
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
19
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
Auggie Compass workshops target needs and issues specific to the phases in student-athletes’ academic and personal journeys. Each session builds
upon the previous event, equipping Auggies with a deeper understanding of their values, career preparation, and wellness practices.
percent of the company’s workforce,
and that’s just one example of the
professional lumps we shared,” said
Gallagher, an academic advisor at
Walden University and the on-air host/
producer of Gopher Sports Update and
MIAC Weekly. “Our stories reinforced
that new graduates likely will have
to do things they don’t enjoy as they
work toward goals. But we encouraged
them to channel the persistence and
dedication they gained as athletes
toward new challenges and to say ‘yes’
to any opportunity to better themselves
or gain new skills.”
Gallagher, also a freelance sports
broadcaster and emcee, talked openly
about his path, which is a fairly common
one: going to college with hopes of
playing professional baseball, then
realizing he wasn’t any better than his
teammates. Then, struggling to find
balance within the fun, demanding
routine of workouts, competitions,
classes, and life until he walked across
the commencement stage and into a
9-to-5 job without the sport, the people,
and the routine he’d always known. “It
is, indeed, a huge wakeup call,” he said.
Women’s golfer Wendy Anderson ’17
was among the seniors who rotated
through the panel discussion. The double
major in music business and accounting
said she valued sessions about financial
planning and interviews, but the alumni
20
AUGSBURG NOW
panel resonated with her the most.
“I’m a type-A, perfectionist planner.
Hearing their stories reassured
me that I may not end up where I
thought I might, but because of these
types of sessions and my Augsburg
experience, I’ll survive and hopefully
have a fulfilling career,” she said. “I’m
glad I attended sessions about fiscal
responsibility, but workshops that
encouraged us to consider our values
and worth and to step outside our
comfort zones were the most rewarding.
Guidance from Auggie Compass
sessions paired with the entirety of our
experiences prepares us to achieve.”
Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 is
glad to hear student-athletes position
Auggie Compass within the greater
framework of their Augsburg education
and athletic experience. The lessons
and skills are interconnected, he said,
strengthening one another.
“Our athletes learn to win and lose
with class, to embrace leadership, and
to play their role—whatever that may
be—to achieve a shared goal,” said
Swenson, who has been a member
of the Augsburg community for more
than 30 years as a student, coach,
and administrator. “These are all great
lessons for life after sports, and Auggie
Compass builds upon what teams and
coaches are already instilling. At our
core, we are about community and
supporting these fine student-athletes
on their journey. Auggie Compass
prepares them to carry that legacy out
to the world.”
Building skills to navigate a
complex environment
Mike Matson ’07 knows all about
Augsburg’s core principles. They guided
him through his time as one of the
College’s top linebackers, then through
seminary, and now in his role as an
assistant director of leadership gifts at
the College. Matson said Augsburg’s
commitment to diversity, inclusion, and
community outfits students with empathy
and poise to respectfully engage in
meaningful conversations and authentic
relationships. He talked with juniors
about how to lead difficult conversations.
“We live in a complicated world
with complex people and issues, and
those who are able to have difficult
conversations in a respectful manner
advance progress and understanding,”
said Matson, who also serves in the
Navy Reserves and as chaplain for
the Minneapolis Police Department.
“Instead of talking at the students,
we challenged them to work through
case studies. I can’t say I was all that
surprised at how well they handled
themselves, but I was impressed
with how willing they were to share
PHOTO BY DON STONER
PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY
This spring, members of the junior class headed to the gym for basketball and bean bag competitions with Special Olympics
athletes, and in September, first-year students learned techniques to manage stress and practice mindfulness.
vulnerabilities, speak about biases,
and view situations through alternate
perspectives. It was amazing to watch
‘community’ happen.”
Unified tournament puts
principles to practice
Student-athletes didn’t only talk about
ideals, they practiced them. Juniors
headed to the Si Melby gymnasium to
compete alongside 40 Special Olympics
athletes in basketball and bean bag
toss competitions. Jennifer Jacobs, who
organized the volunteer effort, said the
tournament underscored Augsburg’s
commitment to service and inclusion.
“We added [the unified competition]
because civic engagement is one of the
college’s co-curricular learning outcomes,”
said Jacobs, then-assistant athletic director
and assistant volleyball coach. “We decided
to collaborate with Special Olympics
because of an NCAA Division III partnership
with the organization and because our
ongoing involvement with the area chapter
continually inspires our students.”
Student-athlete Cody Pirkl ’18 had never
interacted with Special Olympics athletes
before the Auggie Compass event this
spring. Initially, the baseball player had
not been excited about the obligation on
what otherwise would have been a free
night. But as he said goodbye to Special
Olympics teammates, the social work major
said it felt like parting with dear friends.
“We, as college athletes, become so
focused on our own goals and everyday
lives that we forget how rewarding it
is to give back to others,” Pirkl said.
“Our involvement with Special Olympics
shines Augsburg’s positive light on our
broader community, but it also gives us
meaningful perspective. Watching the
Special Olympics athletes’ pure love of
the game reminded me how lucky I am
and how much I love to play.”
Pirkl said he and his teammates took
a lot away from the mix of formats and
engaging activities. That active structure
was intentional, Anderson Diercks
explained, as presenters played to
student-athletes’ competitive nature.
“For years, we had brought wonderful,
inspiring speakers to campus once
or twice a year to talk with students
about hot topics or enduring life-aftercollege lessons,” Anderson Diercks said.
“Although these experts offered great
perspective and information, the format
was a challenge, and we were never
able to cover as many of the topics as
we would have liked. The new Auggie
Compass format allows us to engage each
class in specific topics to prepare them for
the next year and beyond. We can more
easily adjust based on student feedback,
and it’s a nice way to highlight our alumni
and campus experts as well as celebrate
community partnerships and resources.”
Celebrating mindfulness and
meditation
One such resource is Jermaine Nelson, a
meditation and mindfulness coach and
yoga instructor. The former athlete urged
students to seek mind-body connections
as they strive to be more present. He also
reminded them to give themselves grace
during transitions and various phases of life.
“It’s so easy for student-athletes to
continue to eat and sleep how they did
in college without the same level of
activity, and then they look up one day
and realize they are out of shape and out
of sync,” Nelson said. “It’s important
to anticipate, on the field and in life, so
that you avoid injury and prepare for the
next phase of your life.”
Nelson wasn’t expecting to, but looking
out at the dozens of student-athletes
reminded him of his nephew, and
Nelson got personal. His nephew was a
promising college recruit, with plans to
play in the NBA, but he broke down from
all the pressure.
“I wish he would have had a program like
this when he was in school,” Nelson said.
“Imagine all the heartache and recovery he
would have avoided had he been offered the
tools to cope and achieve without grinding
himself into the ground. I worked with
him, and he’s on a good path now, but it
took a while. If Auggies can practice these
techniques now, they’ll succeed.”
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
21
Nelson’s talk reinforced some of the themes presented by
Augsburg’s Center for Wellness and Counseling.
For example, counselor Jon Vaughan-Fier and Beth Carlson, the
center’s assistant director, co-facilitated “Becoming Resilient
to Stress,” which challenged student-athletes to assess what
drains them and to identify ways to recharge. In addition to
discussing the importance of sleep, nutrition, and meaningful
relationships—among other topics—students engaged in yoga,
mindful breathing, and relaxation strategies.
As a senior, Chuckie Smith ’17 took part in Auggie Compass workshops on financial
planning, job search strategies, living authentically, and a variety of other topics.
During the Compass program’s pilot year, the entire CWC
staff also presented on a range of topics related to wellbeing,
including body image, depression, healthy choices, and stress
management, which Vaughan-Fier said is critically important for
today’s overly busy student-athletes.
“To emphasize the connection to sports and improved
performance, we showed testimonials from Seattle Seahawks
quarterback Russel Wilson about his ‘one play at a time’ mindset
and New York Knicks President Phil Jackson’s philosophy of
‘one breath, one mind,’” Vaughan-Fier said. “We hope these
tools help student-athletes as they strive to incorporate self-care
practices into daily life.”
According to a 2015 health survey, the top stressors among
Augsburg students are: a death or serious illness of someone
close, conflicts with roommates, parental conflict, and the end of
a personal relationship. Director of the counseling center, Nancy
Guilbeault, said the opportunity to interact with student-athletes
about these and other topics is a proactive way to introduce the
center’s role and resources.
“Mental health and GPA are linked, and they affect your
performance,” she said. “We want to make sure these studentathletes are working on their physical, mental, and spiritual
health and wellbeing. These sessions provide an overview and
tips, but we also encourage them to follow up with one-on-one
or group support.”
22
AUGSBURG NOW
Financial stressors, professional
communications among top concerns
A key barrier to wellness, Guilbeault said, is stress related to
finances—a worry that plagues many students, particularly studentathletes who might not have the time to hold a job or internship.
To build upon the counseling center’s session, Auggie Compass
introduced a practical question-and-answer session with Tommy
Redae ’09 MBA, a treasury management sales consultant and vice
president of Middle Market Banking for Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.
“Talking with upper-class students, I focused on the importance
of budgeting and managing credit for a healthy financial future,”
Redae said. “I shared several of the many online tools and apps to
help them stick to a budget and monitor credit for suspicious or
fraudulent activities.”
Also in the category of practical and purposeful guidance, Auggie
Compass enlisted faculty mentors Carol Enke and Shana Watters to
offer best practices for professional communications. The pair broke
student-athletes into groups to review and assess emails students
sent professors, many of them lacking clarity, starting with an
informal “hey,” or displaying accusatory language.
“Research shows that people read emails more negatively than
intended, and therefore, communicating effectively in this medium
reduces ambiguity and negative perceptions,” Watters said. “The
students did a great job of improving the emails, and we hope
they will apply the guidance we shared to communicate with
professionals now and in the future.”
Program reinforces Augsburg’s mission,
commitment to students
The blend of practical knowledge and conceptual, creative
exploration reflects Augsburg’s care for and commitment to
student-athletes, and it supports community-building across teams
and among coaches, said Swenson. This year, the program added
a track for coaches that focused on situational leadership, social
media training, and a DiSC® behavioral assessment inventory.
“We’re not offering Auggie Compass to check off the ‘personal
development box,’” Swenson said. “The program was developed
by former collegiate players, thinking about what they wished
they would have known, so that our student-athletes can have
more tools to reach for as they strive for success.”
The creation and evolution of Auggie Compass embodies some
of the innovation, self-reflection, and grit the program aims
to instill. Anderson Diercks said organizers continue to have
conversations with student-athletes, alumni, and experts to align
sessions with players’ needs and to reflect the latest trends and
topics. As a former athlete turned furnace-filter-changing adult,
she knows greatness doesn’t come from perfection but from the
drive to keep playing until you get it right.
HOMECOMING
THOUSANDS OF AUGGIES.
ONE AUGSBURG.
Celebrate the first Augsburg University Homecoming
NEW NAME. SAME SCHOOL SPIRIT. Gather among friends to celebrate the memories
and milestones that define your Augsburg experience. Whether it’s to participate in
a reunion, see campus updates firsthand, or cheer on a favorite team, it’s time to
register for this year’s historic Homecoming—the first as Augsburg University.
Interested in organizing
your reunion?
October 13-14
Call the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations
at 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu.
Find accommodation information, the event schedule, and more at:
augsburg.edu/homecoming
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear alumni and friends,
s my second
year as Alumni
Board President
comes to a close, I
look back on the past
several months with
gratitude for what
the Alumni Board
has accomplished. We hope you have enjoyed
recent alumni events, both on campus and off.
At the start of my tenure, when I challenged
the Alumni Board to change, not a little, but
a lot, everyone stepped up to the plate and
went to work. Today the board maintains
more committees with fewer people on each,
operates with clearly defined goals for each
committee, and sustains a high level of
engagement. We’ve also partnered with staff
throughout the College to increase the board’s
effectiveness and relevance.
The Alumni Board continues to seek new
pathways to connect with students, whether
through mentoring, visiting classrooms, or
simply sharing tips on LinkedIn. Students
have said they enjoyed taking part in a
Homecoming lunch last fall where they had
the chance to share a table with distinguished
alumni who pursued similar fields of study.
We also held another successful Auggie
Networking Experience in February, and if you
couldn’t make it to campus, you’ll find some
tips for reluctant networkers on page 27.
In June, we transition board leadership. I’d
like to welcome Nick Rathmann ’03 as Alumni
Board President for the 2017-19 term. He
is full of energy, has a passion for Augsburg,
and is a dynamic leader with innovative ideas
to take the Alumni Board even further. He is
the athletic director at The Blake School, a
longtime supporter of Augsburg as a member
of the A-Club, and an all-around amazing
volunteer. The Alumni Board is in great hands
under his leadership.
I’d also like to recognize Greg Schnagl ’91,
who has led our Networking Committee for
the past two years. His passion for creating
meaningful connections between students and
alumni has helped make the Auggie Networking
Experience event bigger and better.
I recently moved away from the Twin Cities
for work, and I am so pleased to see alumni
events scheduled across the U.S. more often.
In the past two years, alumni gatherings
have occurred in Denver, Las Vegas, Raleigh,
Washington, D.C., and other cities. If you’re in
the Minneapolis area, we hope to see you at
some of this summer’s exciting alumni events!
JILL WATSON ’10 MBA, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
SUMMER
ALUMNI EVENTS
Minnesota United Soccer Night
June 21 | 7 p.m.
Republic
420 SE 23rd Ave., Minneapolis
Meet for an alumni reception at
Republic from 4:30–6:30 p.m.
before taking the light rail to
TCF Bank Stadium for a game.
7 People. 7 Passions. 7 Minutes.
July 7 | 7–9 p.m.
Sisyphus Brewing
712 Ontario Ave. W., Minneapolis
Hear idea-stirring talks from
seven passionate Auggies.
$10 covers your first beverage
and light appetizers.
Auggie Night at Canterbury Park
July 21 | 5:30–7 p.m.
1100 Canterbury Road,
Shakopee, MN
$5 reservation covers a buffet
meal, $5 of Canterbury Currency,
and reserved seating.
Happy Hour Squared
URBAN ARBORETUM
Join the Alumni Board to sponsor a tree
You can help transform Augsburg into an urban arboretum that serves as an educational
and community resource in harmony with the environment.
Join the Alumni Board’s effort to sponsor a tree in the urban arboretum planned for
Augsburg’s campus. The trees selected for this plan will surround the Hagfors Center
for Science, Business, and Religion and include species native to Minnesota. All gift
levels are welcome.
The total cost to sponsor a tree is $25,000, which includes long-term care and
maintenance. Help us reach this goal by December 2018! Visit augsburg.edu/giving for
more information or contact Amanda Scherer, assistant director of leadership gifts, at
scherera@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1720.
24
AUGSBURG NOW
September 5 | 5–7 p.m.
Brave New Workshop
824 Hennepin Ave.,
Minneapolis
Join alumnae business owners
Jenni Lilledahl ’87 and Jacquie
Berglund ’87 for a happy
hour with a purpose. Make
sandwiches for a good cause
and enjoy a FINNEGANS® as
part of Augsburg’s annual City
Service Day.
For more information and registration,
visit augsburg.edu/alumni.
COURTESY PHOTOS
AUGGIES CONNECT
[Top]: Travelers pose at Wat Chedi Luang Temple
in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
TRAVELING WITH
[Far Left–L to R]: Hans Wiersma and Lori
Brandt Hale, Department of Religion faculty
members and trip leaders, pose with Katie
(Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and
constituent relations.
AUGGIES
This winter, 15 Auggies traveled to
Thailand and Cambodia with Augsburg
College Professor of English Kathy Swanson
and her husband, Jack, as their hosts.
“The trip was beyond amazing,” said
traveler and Alumni Board President Jill
Watson ’10 MBA. “Our hosts, Jack and
Kathy Swanson, have a passion for the
people and culture of Thailand that was
contagious throughout the trip. They
were always willing to share insights,
recommend food (such as sticky rice and
mango at a floating market) and go out
of their way to help others and ensure
everyone was having a great trip.
“Memories that stand out include
the elephant camp in Chiang Mai, Thai
cooking school, Angkor Wat in Siem
Reap, Light for Kids orphanage, and the
food ... all the foods!
“Traveling with fellow Auggies meant I
[Near Right]: Travelers stand in front of the
Castle Church in Germany where Martin Luther
nailed the 95 Theses to the door.
had at least one thing in common with so
many people I had never met before. By
the end of the trip, I had developed new
friendships, and I will be keeping in touch.”
Celebrating Lutheran heritage in
Germany and the Czech Republic
Last fall, another group of Auggies
traveled to the land of Luther to mark
the 500th anniversary of the Protestant
Reformation. Religion Department
faculty members Hans Wiersma and Lori
Brandt Hale led a group of 30 Augsburg
alumni and friends on a multi-city tour
that included Dresden, Prague, and
Wittenberg—the long-time home of
Reformation catalyst Martin Luther.
One of the highlights for Augsburg
Alumni Director Katie (Koch) Code ’01 was
the opportunity to be in Wittenberg on
Reformation Day. The town marked the
occasion with a festival, and the Augsburg
group visited Castle Church where Luther
nailed his 95 Theses to the door.
“At worship that morning we sang, ‘A
Mighty Fortress is our God,’ which took
me back to my Augsburg days enrolled
in the Luther and the Reformers class
with Religion Professor Mark Tranvik,”
Code said.
Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Jean
Hopfensperger and photographer Jerry
Holt accompanied the group to chronicle
how Minnesotans observed the 500th
anniversary of the Reformation. In a story
published after the group’s return home,
Augsburg alumnae Carol Pfleiderer ’64 and
Kathleen Johnson ’72 described how the trip
itinerary offered participants opportunities
to build and reflect on their faith.
To view trip photos,
visit augsburg.edu/now.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
25
A GIFT FOR
AUGSBURG IN
ROCHESTER
Louise and Regent
Emeritus Leland
“Lee” Sundet will
help Augsburg’s
Rochester site grow thanks to a generous
$1.5 million gift. The Rochester location
attracts more than 350 working professionals
to undergraduate and graduate programs in
business, education, health care, and nursing.
As longtime supporters of Augsburg,
including the Weekend College and Youth and
Family Ministry programs, the Sundets have
used their frugality to benefit others and to
raise the profile of Augsburg. Several years ago,
in an effort to better communicate Augsburg’s
identity locally, Sundet helped form a marketing
committee and was instrumental in choosing a
new logo with a cross embedded in the “A.” He
remains steadfast in his commitment to religion
and religious freedom as essential to
education.
In his 88 years, Lee has never lost
sight of the basics: thrift, generosity,
and faith.
“I also believe in old-fashioned
discipline—‘don’t spend it till you’ve earned
it,’” he said.
Lee learned these principles early, growing
up in Spring Grove, Minnesota, where most
Norwegian-American community members
attended the big Lutheran church. “My father
died when I was six months old, and my mother
PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH
PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH
AUGGIES CONNECT
was quite ill so she had to sell everything she
had to pay the bills. She got $7.43 a month,
and of that, 74 cents went to the church,” said
Lee, who has embraced tithing ever since.
A retired industrialist and manufacturer,
Lee owned several companies, including
Century Manufacturing, Goodall
Manufacturing, Britt Manufacturing, and
Fountain Industries. His business acumen
earned him such honors as Minnesota’s Small
Business Man of the Year and the University
of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement
Award. The couple has sponsored a business
scholarship at Augsburg since 1992.
Overall, the Sundets are impressed by the
potential of Augsburg’s programs in Rochester
and by the work of another community anchor,
Mayo Clinic, which the couple believes shares
their values.
“Augsburg has come a long way, and I
would love to see it grow in Rochester.”
26
AUGSBURG NOW
“I have met people at Mayo who have gone
through the Augsburg program, and I’ve seen
what it’s done for them. It’s a wonderful thing,”
Lee said. “It wasn’t easy to get it started, but
it’s fun to look back on. Augsburg has come
a long way, and I would love to see it grow in
Rochester.”
tips for the reluctant networker
Augsburg College alumna Jenni Lilledahl ’87 was a featured speaker at the Auggie
Networking Experience in February. As co-owner of the sketch and improvisational comedy
theater Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, Lilledahl brought insight from the improv
world to the crowd of nearly 300 alumni and students meeting to exchange career advice.
No matter their personality or career, Lilledahl said, all people have anxiety about jumping into
new conversations or taking new career paths. Here she shares tips for individuals to jump-start
meaningful conversations and say “yes” to new experiences.
1.
We all get uncomfortable, yet we cannot let this
feeling control us. Instead, we must face our
fears and immerse ourselves in new experiences.
2.
Sometimes saying “yes” is easier than we think.
Don’t rattle off 20 excuses; jump in with an
open mind.
3.
PHOTOS BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
Stop yourself from using the word “but.”
Instead, use the reframing mindset of “yesand” to add something positive to each situation
you are in. Don’t use excuses to squash new ideas,
possibilities, or adventures. Rather, embrace them.
4.
Be intentional about your communication.
Don’t just be there. Be awake, aware, and
connected to the other people in the room.
5.
Have gratitude for the chance to develop
relationships, share ideas, and try new things.
People who create authentic connections with
others are often more successful than those who
possess only technical skills.
Augsburg alumni and students participated in short
improvisational exercises at the event.
with the Young Alumni Council
Auggies who have graduated from any Augsburg degree program
in the past 10 years are invited to join the Young Alumni Council
and help plan year-round activities for recent alumni. In the past,
the Young Alumni Council has organized a Twins game outing, a
financial planning talk and social hour at Summit Brewery, and an
afternoon of ice skating at The Depot in Minneapolis.
For Young Alumni Council Vice President Evan Decker ’12,
taking part in the group provides opportunities to practice valuable
life and business skills that he doesn’t necessarily hone in his day-
to-day work, such as planning meetings and events, communicating
with fellow alumni, speaking to groups, and networking. Serving the
council also is a way to stay engaged with the College.
“Some people feel there aren’t resources for them after
graduation, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Decker
said. “This group is here to help bridge that gap.”
To join the Young Alumni Council,
visit augsburg.edu/alumni.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
27
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1961
Last year, First
Lutheran Church in
Red Wing, Minnesota, recognized
Arlan Johnson ’61 for 50 years
of service to its choir as a singer
and director. While a student at
Augsburg, Johnson played in
the band for four years and sang
in the choir for two years. He
enjoyed tours with the band and
choir in the Pacific Northwest,
and in 1960 he participated in
an extended Alaskan band trip
to the Anchorage Music Festival.
After graduating from Augsburg,
he completed his education
requirements, student taught at
Braham (Minnesota) Area High
School with Herman Aune ’50,
and finished a second major in
biology. Johnson taught band
and vocal music in Stewart,
Minnesota, and elementary, junior
high, and middle school band in
Red Wing until his retirement. He
and his wife, Phyllis, continue to
live in Red Wing.
1967
5 0-Y E AR RE UNI ON
HOMECOMING 2017
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Sandra Olmsted ’69 retires after
serving Augsburg since 1978. See page 2.
1971
Darrell Skogen ’71
retired after teaching
for 46 years. He spent the
past 41 years at St. MichaelAlbertville High School in
Minnesota. Skogen is the
longest-tenured employee in the
history of the school district. He
taught classes such as AP World
History and AP U.S. History.
Skogen continues to instruct
part-time at the high school
and records stats for its football
program. He says that the
school’s Class 5A football state
championship victory in 2015
was the first in his 50 years
walking the sidelines.
1974
Dr. Subhashchandra
“Pat” Patel ’74 and
Annette (Hanson) Patel ’73
donated their dental clinics
in Clarkfield and Cottonwood,
Minnesota, to Open Door Health
Center of Mankato. Open Door will
run satellite dental clinics in the
towns. Pat retired in June 2016.
Associate Professor of Music
Peter Hendrickson ’76 retires
after teaching at Augsburg for more
than two decades. See page 2.
1977
40- YE A R R E U N I O N
HOMECOMING 2017
In August, Neil Paulson ’77 was
elected state committeeman for
the Republican Party in Orange
County, Florida.
for Advanced Science and
Technology.
1979
1990
Walter Ohrbom ’79
earned a doctorate
in chemistry from North Dakota
State University after graduating
from Augsburg. He retired from
BASF as a senior research
associate with more than 120
U.S. patents. Over the years,
he and his wife, Patricia, have
traveled around the world to
backpack, bike, canoe, and
scuba dive.
Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79
draws connections between
student athletes’ time on campus and
leadership roles after graduation. See
page 18.
1988
Kiel Christianson ’88
was promoted to
full professor in the Department
of Educational Psychology
at the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign, where he
conducts research on language
processing, reading, and
bilingualism. He is associate
chair of the department, as well
as leader of the Educational
Psychology Psycholinguistics
Lab and co-chair of the Illinois
Language and Literacy Initiative,
both in the Beckman Institute
In July, Karen Jean
Reed ’90, a music
therapy major, was honored
with the President’s Award at
the Southern California First
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Church Of God in Christ 50th
State Women’s Convention,
held in Palm Desert, California.
She also was nominated for
the 50 Women of Excellence
honor for her exemplary service
and outstanding achievement
in music and administrative
service in local, church,
district, regional, and state
positions. Reed has excelled in
music as a gospel saxophonist
and in women’s ministry. She
was recognized for exemplary
service by Barbara McCoo
Lewis, the assistant general
supervisor of the Church of God
in Christ International. Reed
serves as the assistant regional
missionary for the Santa
Barbara region and also works
with youth. Professionally, she
is a program director at the
Department of State HospitalsCoalinga, overseeing the
treatment of sexually violent
predators. She is the author of
“Music is the Master Key.”
AUGGIES NEAR AND FAR
[L to R]: Sociology Professor Tim Pippert and
Torstenson Scholars Ellen Sachs ’17, Emily
Campbell ’17, and Jen Kochaver ’19 meet with
Mark Johnson ’75 on campus. [Not pictured]:
Torstenson Scholar Mark Daniels ’17.
28
AUGSBURG NOW
Last fall, metro-urban studies alumnus Mark Johnson ’75 invited
Sociology Professor Tim Pippert to the remote country of Vanuatu
in the South Pacific. The pair distributed solar lights donated by
Johnson to villages on the island of Tanna, which in 2015 suffered
widespread destruction due to Hurricane Pam. For Pippert, the
trip was an adventure of a lifetime and an opportunity to observe
the relationships Johnson has developed with local people over the
course of several previous trips.
The connection between Johnson and Pippert was built, in part,
through their involvement with Augsburg’s Torstenson Community
Scholars program that supports undergraduate research. Since
2015, Johnson has funded research opportunities for Auggies engaged in the program, which
is named in memory of Professor Joel Torstenson ’38, a founder of Augsburg’s Department
of Sociology. This February, four Torstenson Scholars traveled with Pippert to North Dakota’s
Bakken oilfield region to assess how residents have been impacted by oil exploration.
From the Auggie Connections blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
1992
2 5-Y EA R RE UNI ON
HOMECOMING 2017
Scott Peterson ’92 has accepted
a call to be the pastor at
Lutheran Church in the Foothills
in La Cañada, California. After
living in Canada for more than
17 years, Peterson has returned
to the U.S. to continue ministry
within the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
1993
Chad Shilson ’93
is the Minnesota
women’s wrestling director for
USA Wrestling. He has completed
his 100th marathon and qualified
for his fourth Boston Marathon.
Marathon running has taken him
to 36 states, including 29 states
in the past two years. A dedicated
daily runner, Shilson has run at
least one mile per day for more
than six years.
1996
Stephanie Harms ’96
and Kristin (Young)
Miller ’91 are helping change the
nation’s response to vulnerable
individuals and families through
their work in the supportive
housing movement. Both
Auggies work at CSH, a national
nonprofit organization that
connects housing with services
for vulnerable populations. Based
in New York City, Miller leads a
successful CSH program that
assists communities throughout
New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania. Harms serves
as chief operating officer and
leads CSH’s communications,
administrative, talent, and
human resource efforts. CSH has
ended veteran homelessness in
several communities throughout
the U.S., created more than
100,000 homes for individuals
and families, and changed public
systems to address the root
conditions that create turmoil in
the lives of vulnerable individuals
and families.
’05
’03
1999
Peter Durow ’99 has
been commissioned
by the American Choral Directors
Association of Minnesota for the
2018 ACDA-MN State 4-5-6 Girls’
Honor Choir. ACDA-MN has been
committed to commissioning
new choral works for all-state
and honor choirs from Minnesota
composers each year since 1975.
Durow serves as visiting director
of choral activities at St. Cloud
State University.
’67
Juliane Derry ’00 blends
science with artistry and
research with intuition as a historic
materials conservator. See page 8.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
Andrea (Carlson) Conway ’05 and Riley
Conway ’05 welcomed a son, Soren Jon, in
December. Soren is the grandson of Jon Carlson ’79
and great-grandson of Jeroy Carlson ’48.
Golf Association and president of Women in the
Golf Industry. She also wrote an e-book titled,
“Hit It, Alice! A Woman’s Golf Guide to Everything
But the Swing.”
Barb (Walen) Hanson ’67 became
president of the Minnesota Golf
Association at its annual meeting in November.
She is the first woman to serve in this role. Since
retiring from her teaching career, Hanson has
been actively involved in the golf world, having
served as president of the Minnesota Women’s
Paul Putt ’03, ’15 MAE and his wife, Katie,
celebrated the birth of a son, Theodore
Howard, in October.
’05
’67
’03
Pete Pfeffer ’87, who holds a Doctor of
Chiropractic degree, and his daughter,
Maggie, served on a chiropractic and medical
’87
’87
mission team in Kimana, Kenya. The team
provided care and education to hundreds of
Maasai villagers living in bomas and orphanages
in an underserved area. Pete and his brother,
Mike Pfeffer ’92, jointly own and serve as
chiropractors for a HealthSource Chiropractic
and Progressive Rehabilitation Clinic in
Alexandria, Minnesota. In addition to private
practice, Pete has taken on a national role with
the HealthSource Corporation to provide training
in technique and rehabilitation procedures for
new franchises.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Mathematics and Statistics
Instructor Alyssa Hanson ’01
is honored with a Distinguished
Contributions to Teaching and
Learning award. See page 7.
2002
JCI Minnesota
(formerly Minnesota
Jaycees) selected Katie
Lindenfelser ’02, founder of
Crescent Cove, as one of the Ten
Outstanding Young Minnesotans
for 2016. The mission of
Crescent Cove is to offer care
and support to young people
with a shortened life expectancy
and their families. The vision
of Crescent Cove is to build
and operate the first residential
children’s hospice and respite
care home in the Midwest.
Started in 1950, the Ten
Outstanding Young Minnesotans
honor is Minnesota’s only
statewide recognition program
for outstanding young leaders
ages 18-40 who have devoted
themselves to improving their
communities. The program
acknowledges the efforts
and accomplishments of
young adults who contribute
to Minnesota through their
service, thought and influence,
community involvement, or
entrepreneurship.
2003
Reginaldo HaslettMarroquin ’03
published “In the Shadow
of Green Man.” The book,
published by Acres USA,
chronicles Haslett-Marroquin’s
upbringing in revolution-torn
Guatemala and how he built his
vision to develop a regenerative
farming model that uplifts
individuals and communities.
Throughout the book, he shares
the fable of the Green Man, a
tiny and wise Guatemalan folk
character whose stories teach
the importance of respecting
the natural world. HaslettMarroquin is chief strategy
officer for Main Street Project,
based in Northfield, Minnesota.
Haslett-Marroquin has
served as a consultant for the
United Nations Development
Program’s Bureau for Latin
America and as an advisor to
the World Council of Indigenous
People. He was a founding
member of the Fair Trade
Federation, and was Director
of the Fair Trade Program for
the Institute for Agriculture
and Trade Policy from 1995 to
1998. He also led the creation,
strategic positioning, startup,
and launch of Peace Coffee,
a Minnesota-based fair-trade
coffee company.
Samuel Gross ’03 designs new
university logo. See page 12.
2007
10-YEAR REUNION
HOMECOMING 2017
Mike Matson ’07 helps teach
student-athletes how to engage
in difficult conversations. See page 18.
Jenessa Payano Stark ’07 began
a Master of Science in Nursing
program at Yale University this
past fall. She is studying in Yale’s
Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health
Nurse Practitioner program. She
received a prestigious National
Health Service Corps Scholarship
that pays her tuition and fees,
and defrays her living expenses
for three years in exchange for
future service in an area with a
shortage of health professionals.
2011
Dan Skaarup ’11
and Casey (Ernst)
Skaarup ’11 welcomed a
daughter, Eowyn River, to the
world in December.
Laura Schmidt ’11 and Sarah
Witte ’12 launched a nonprofit,
spiritually based community
called Intertwine Northeast. The
group’s mission is to be “made
and moved by story, convinced
by compassion, always in
process, and about questions,
not answers.”
Mike Gallagher ’12 shares life
lessons with current students.
See page 18.
2014
Composer and
percussionist Zack
Baltich ’14 was featured in
the 2017 Cedar Commissions.
Baltich’s piece “ingress/passage”
used contact microphones
and uncommon performance
techniques on marimba, glass
bottles, and other found objects.
The Cedar Commissions
(formerly the 416 Commissions)
is a flagship program for
emerging artists made possible
with a grant from the Jerome
Foundation and has showcased
new work by more than 30
emerging composers and
musicians.
Catherine Colsrud ’14 was one
of 25 leaders who participated
in the eighth cohort of the
Native Nation Rebuilders
Program sponsored by the
Native Governance Center
and the Bush Foundation.
Representatives from 12 Native
nations from Minnesota, North
Dakota, and South Dakota were
selected for the Rebuilders
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
Kathleen (Watson) Bradbury ’12 and
Krissy Bradbury ’12 welcomed Peter
Gene to their family.
’12
Beckie Jackson ’10 received a
Fulbright Distinguished Award in
Teaching and is one of approximately 45
U.S. citizens traveling abroad through
the program in 2016-17. In January,
she headed to Botswana to spend five
months conducting educational research.
Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected
’10
30
AUGSBURG NOW
on the basis of academic and professional
achievement, as well as demonstrated
leadership potential. Jackson teaches at
Moose Lake High School in Moose Lake,
Minnesota.
Nick Rathmann ’03 and wife, Shannon,
welcomed a daughter, Finley Grace, in
November.
’03
’11
Several Augsburg College alumni serve
as tutors and coaches with Minnesota
Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps.
Tutors pledge one year of service in schools
to help children become proficient readers
by the end of third grade and proficient in
math by the end of eighth grade. [L to R]:
Charmaine Bell ’11, Kathleen Abel ’76,
Joaquin Vences ’16, Kacie Carlsted ’15,
Christine Fankhanel ’02, Amy Riebs ’18 MAE,
and Alicia (Oppelt) Musselman ’14.
’91
Nancy Palmer ’91 joined the
Minnesota Reading Corps September
Program as a leadership component of a
larger initiative to support tribes as they
strengthen their governing capabilities.
Colsrud serves the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
as the commissioner of administration, chief
of staff, and acting commissioner of natural
resources. Native Governance Center and
Bush Foundation Rebuilders convened for
four structured sessions during which they
developed action plans to share knowledge
with peers and their respective tribal
governments.
’12
’10
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Nursing Department Chair Joyce Miller ’02,
’05 MAN, ’11 DNP earns a Distinguished
Contributions to Teaching and Learning award. See
page 7.
Tommy Redae ’09 MBA helps Auggies prepare
for a healthy financial future. See page 18.
Rochelle Fischer ’14 MSW became a hospital
administrator at Anoka-Metro Regional
Treatment Center in January. For the past
four years, she has been an assistant
program director at the Minnesota Security
Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota, providing
day-to-day operational and administrative
leadership for persons with complex
behavioral health symptoms.
’03
’11
Dan Klein ’15 MBA and Kaitlin (Astleford)
Klein were married February 25 in
Hollywood, Florida.
Nicole (Egly) Olson ’15 MBA and Mark Olson
were married February 24 in Playa del
Carmen, Mexico.
Institute and tutors students in kindergarten
through third grade.
’91
Chris Stedman ’08, an interfaith
activist and author, is joining Augsburg
this spring as a fellow serving the Sabo
Center for Democracy and Citizenship where
he will facilitate and build new community
partnerships for non-religious and interfaith
civic engagement. Stedman also will consult
on the development of interfaith engagement
programs at Augsburg.
’08
’08
31
HEALING WATERS
’68
Jason Kusiak ’08 spends late winter
and early spring long-lining for cod and
haddock, and most of the year catching
lobster. Fishing in long-established seaports
near Gloucester, Massachusetts, gives
Kusiak an appreciation for the area’s rich
history and a healthy respect for those who
made a living fishing the Atlantic in earlier
times. “With fishing,” he said, “you can see
the direct result of your work ethic.”
Today Kusiak recognizes that his
entrepreneurial inclination was shaped by
Assistant Professor of Business John Cerrito
and former staff member Peggy Cerrito, and
that his drive for continual personal growth
was influenced by his involvement in StepUP®, the College’s residential collegiate
recovery community. While at Augsburg, Kusiak found that the College’s
commitment to building strong community connections and emphasis on
learning through experience resonated with him. He now seeks out opportunities
to interact with new people, to give back, and to offer hope to individuals and
families who struggle with substance abuse. He’s driven to invest in the future of
his business and his community.
’78
From the Auggie Connections blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
’83
[L to R]: This fall, Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee
Service President Linda Hartke met
with former U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and the Rev. Mark
Hanson ’68, former presiding bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, at the LIRS Walk of Courage
Award Gala. Albright and Hanson
were honored at the event for their
commitments to furthering equity for
all people.
’68
’71
Actor and performing arts
educator Luverne Seifert ’83 won
a $25,000 fellowship from the William
and Eva Fox Foundation. He is part of
a national cohort of artists supported
by the foundation, which underwrites
training and career development for
performers. The support will enable
Seifert to deeply explore his art and
travel to France and Switzerland. In the
past 25 years, he has acted at theaters
in the Twin Cities and across the U.S.
’83
’05
[L to R]: Margaret Marx ’78,
Margo Casey ’78, and Cathy
(Kaiser) Bloomquist ’78, all members
of the original second step Bachelor
of Science in Nursing program at
’78
’06
32
AUGSBURG NOW
Augsburg, continue their friendship
today. The women gathered in
Scandia, Minnesota, in September,
and they share this photo as
a reminder of the second step
program’s impact on the nursing
profession in Minnesota.
Bob Stacke ’71 received an
award from the Somali Museum
of Minnesota on the occasion of
the museum’s third anniversary last
October. Stacke has provided music
and photography services to the
museum since its inception.
’71
Janeece (Adams) Oatman ’05,
an Augsburg Alumni Board
member, and Jim Gross, associate
provost for academic innovation
and strategic initiatives, were part of
the Auggie team at the Rochester,
Minnesota, Tour de Cure in October.
’05
Missy (Gaulke) Wilson ’06 completed
her first Ragnar trail race and
’06 her third Ragnar overall race in
September. She ran 15.2 miles on the
Ragnar Trail Northwoods - WI in the
Ragnar relay.
Helen M. (Anderson) Johnson ’40,
Hallock, Minnesota, age 96, on
September 4.
Eleanor C. (Christenson) Kline ’44,
Minneapolis, age 93, on May 31.
Marvin W. Johnson ’45,
Rochester, Minnesota, age 93,
on November 28.
Olav Overold ’45, Cando, North
Dakota, age 103, on January 23.
Bonnie J. (Sorem) Anderson ’46,
Cedar Falls, Iowa, age 92, on
December 7.
Delpha M. (Randklev) Berg ’47,
Grand Forks, North Dakota, age
91, on September 12.
Ray E. Gerlinger ’49, Overland
Park, Minnesota, age 93, on
December 4.
Theodore C. Nystuen ’49, Altoona,
Wisconsin, age 94, on January 19.
Lorraine G. V. (Lundh) Qual ’49,
Lisbon, North Dakota, age 93, on
October 4.
Joan L. (Sears) Ryden ’49, Cedar
Hill, Texas, age 91, on October 18.
Phebe D. (Dale) Hanson ’50,
Minneapolis, age 88, on
December 16.
Evelyn I. (Shelstad) Kriesel ’50,
Alamo, Texas, age 88, on
September 21.
Rhonda M. (Hektner) Lybeck ’50,
Fargo, North Dakota, age 88, on
January 29.
Daniel Nelson ’50, Spicer,
Minnesota, age 90, on
February 14.
Melvin E. Vigen ’50, Irving, Texas,
age 88, on September 26.
Arvild T. Jacobson ’51, Sun City,
Arizona, age 93, on November 26.
Donald H. Olson ’51, Henderson,
Nevada, age 87, on December 19.
Robert “Bob” R. Hage ’52,
Hector, Minnesota, age 88, on
December 16.
William “Bill” J. Kuross ’52,
Hopkins, Minnesota, age 87, on
January 31.
Charlotte M. (Kleven) Rimmereid ’52,
St. Paul, age 86, on December 29.
Roger V. Anderson ’53, Ottawa,
Ontario, age 86, on February 11.
Joan J. (Johnson) Kuder ’53,
Williams Bay, Wisconsin, age 86,
on December 19.
Harry E. Olson ’53, Apopka,
Florida, age 84, on October 7.
Nola E. (Bengtson) Studer ’53,
Bemidji, Minnesota, age 85, on
September 5.
Donna R. (Osland) Gaines ’54,
Laguna Hills, California, age 84,
on September 17.
Ruth M. (Pousi) Ollila ’54,
Minneapolis, age 84, on
February 14.
Betty J. (Dyrud) Oudal ’54,
Rochester, Minnesota, age 85, on
December 31.
Arlene V. (Tollefson) Paulson ’54,
Lake Oswego, Oregon, age 89, on
September 20.
Gary R. Rust ’54, Burnsville,
Minnesota, age 85, on October 12.
Robert “Bob” E. Twiton ’54,
Brainerd, Minnesota, age 84, on
February 26.
Theodore “Ted” S. Berkas ’56,
Minneapolis, age 88, on
January 15.
Robert A. Fundingsland ’65,
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age
73, on September 19.
Sanford E. Egesdal ’56, Minneapolis,
age 82, on October 3.
Marie D. (Hafie) MacNally ’65,
Minneapolis, on November 7.
Robert A. Roos ’56, Robbinsdale,
Minnesota, age 86, on
September 3.
Dale H. Peterson ’69, Sapulpa,
Oklahoma, age 69, on
November 27.
Merlin J. White ’56, Fridley,
Minnesota, age 86, on
September 8.
Anita M. (Lindquist) King ’70,
Pella, Iowa, age 68, on
September 1.
Raymond Seaver ’57, Fergus
Falls, Minnesota, age 82, on
December 5.
Chuck S. Marsh ’73, Puyallup,
Washington, age 65, on
November 14.
Robert H. Gustafson ’59,
Cambridge, Minnesota, age 84,
on January 28.
Colleen M. (Brown) Olson ’74,
Shakopee, Minnesota, age 63, on
August 20.
John P. Martisen ’59, Minneapolis,
age 81, on August 30.
Sheila M. (Conway) Kortuem ’84,
St. Peter, Minnesota, age 76, on
August 26.
Lloyd H. Reichstadt ’59, Flagstaff,
Arizona, age 84, on November 21.
Paul C. Casperson ’60, Dallas,
Texas, age 77, on January 31.
Wayne R. Juntunen ’60, Esko,
Minnesota, age 83, on
December 5.
Karen O. (Egesdal) Trelstad ’61,
Red Wing, Minnesota, age 79, on
November 30.
Coralyn J. (Lunsted) Bryan ’62,
Minneapolis, age 77, on
October 25.
Joshua B. Lerman ’08, Louisville,
Kentucky, age 33, on
November 18.
Angel G. Rodriguez ’15,
Minneapolis, age 25, on January 3.
Tyler G. Kotewa ’17, Fairmont,
Minnesota, age 25, on
December 7.
Mark A. DiCastri ’18, Minneapolis,
age 29, on February 27.
Clair A. Johannsen ’62,
Hagerstown, Maryland, age 79,
on February 10.
Paul W. Anderson ’63, Moorhead,
Minnesota, age 77, on January 31.
Gaylen K. Heggen ’63, Cottage
Grove, Minnesota, age 75, on
October 26.
The “In memoriam” listings in this
publication include notifications
received before March 15.
SPRING–SUMMER 2017
33
PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
IN MEMORIAM
PHOTOS BY COURTNEY PERRY
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Steve Wozniak inspires Auggies to ‘Learn Different’
Apple, Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak engaged the Augsburg community in a conversation that emphasized the
importance of creativity, education, and innovation in an increasingly connected world. Wozniak launched Apple with
Steve Jobs in 1976, revolutionizing the personal computer industry. Wozniak’s visit took place this winter during
Scholarship Weekend, an opportunity for prospective students to compete for Fine Arts and Honors scholarships.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
Show less
Play with purpose
The space to learn
An ambitious approach
Homecoming 2016
FALL 2016 | VOL. 79, NO. 1
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On the gif... Show more
Play with purpose
The space to learn
An ambitious approach
Homecoming 2016
FALL 2016 | VOL. 79, NO. 1
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On the gifts who are our students
Last spring, a small group of Regents, faculty,
staff, and alumni were charged by the Board
of Regents with exploring long-term strategy
for Augsburg, especially in light of shifting
demographics, economic trends, and volatility
in higher education.
It was an inspiring process as we reflected
on how Augsburg would remain faithful to its
historic distinctions, while at the same time
being relevant to a changing world. Perhaps
the most compelling conclusion of the Futures
Group was that Augsburg would be its best
self in the years ahead as it remains radically
student-centered, meeting students where they
are and equipping them for lives of meaning
and purpose.
It is not a unique claim, this idea of being
student-centered, but it is understood in
diverse ways across higher education. For
some, the claim means that students are
customers or clients who deserve high-quality
service. For others, it means that students
are lumps of clay to be formed and shaped
with particular values. For still others, the
claim means that students are deeply engaged
in the governance of the college or in its
administrative decision-making.
At Augsburg, though, the claim of being
radically student-centered means something
very different. For our community, each student
is a gift, a gift to be received with gratitude
and humility, a gift that surprises and engages
us, a gift that changes us. Each summer, I
tell our incoming students that their gifts
of intellect and leadership and passion will
make Augsburg a more faithful and successful
college, even as we accompany them on their
educational journeys. And I mean it.
This issue of Augsburg Now illustrates
well how the gifts who are our students have
made all of us better. Read about alumna
Maya Santamaria ’94, an entrepreneur whose
Augsburg education has shaped her community
work in Minneapolis. Witness the stories of
our remarkable student-athletes, partnering
with Special Olympics Minnesota to show how
intellectual differences need not get in the
way of teamwork and sportsmanship. Hear the
stories of this year’s Distinguished Alumni and
Spirit of Augsburg awardees, whose lives are
testaments to how Augsburg’s mission is lived
out across the world and generations.
And perhaps most powerfully, learn about
how Gov. Mark Dayton declared August 29,
2016, as Augsburg College Equity Day in
Minnesota, recognizing Augsburg for its
commitment to diversity, inclusion, and justice.
As one staff member told me on that special
occasion, this work is “a love letter to our
students,” a recognition that our remarkably
diverse students, who come to us with their
many experiences and talents, are gifts that
have changed us forever and for the better.
What gifts we have been given for almost
150 years! They ground our vision to be “a
new kind of student-centered, urban university,
small to our students and big for the world.”
Faithfully yours,
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
Director of Marketing
Communication
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
Communication Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Creative Associate
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Production Manager
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Advancement Communication
Specialist
Jen Lowman Day
dayj@augsburg.edu
Contributing Writer
Kate H. Elliott
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
ISSN 1058-1545
Send address corrections to:
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Send comments to:
now@augsburg.edu.
AUGSBURG NOW
Fall 2016
PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
This fall, Augsburg College hosted the national Lilly Fellows Program
Conference. The event focused on the theme, “Reformed and Always
Reforming: Faith, Science, Art, and Culture,” and featured the Rev. Paul
Oman, founder of Drawn to the Word ministry, who painted an artistic
expression of the Reformation.
02 Around the quad
22
Homecoming 2016
08
Annual report to donors
24
Auggies connect
10
Play with purpose
27
Class notes
16
The space to learn
20
An ambitious approach
32
In memoriam
On the cover
Augsburg College students
show their school spirit at
the 2016 Homecoming pep
rally. Learn more about the
celebration on pages 22-23.
Photo by Caroline Yang.
Inset photo by Courtney Perry.
All photos by Stephen Geffre
unless otherwise indicated.
NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING SCALES HEIGHTS
The Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business,
and Religion is on track to open for classes in January 2018.
In the six months since the April 29 groundbreaking, McGough
Construction and its subcontractors have completed the concrete
work for the partial basement and most of the four floors of the north
wing, and the three floors of the west wing. As the cement work has
finished, the team has undertaken installation of electrical conduit,
plumbing, and framing for interior walls.
Weekly construction updates are available
at augsburg.edu/hagforscenter.
2
Augsburg Now
The Hagfors Center brings together the study
of global business, advanced science and
technology, and religious dialogue. It is home
to eight academic departments:
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
Religion
Structural rendering
of the Hagfors Center
courtesy of McGough
Construction
COLLEGE AWARDS 2016
President’s Interfaith and Community Service
Honor Roll—Finalist with Distinction:
Augsburg College was one of five finalists in
the United States named to the prestigious
President’s Higher Education Community
Service Honor Roll with Distinction in the
interfaith community service category. This
is the seventh year the College has earned
this recognition.
The AugSTEM Scholars Program, funded through a grant from the National Science
Foundation, supports students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and
math (STEM). The scholars participated in Zyzzogeton, a celebration of student research.
Best Regional Universities by U.S. News &
World Report: U.S. News & World Report
named Augsburg one of the best universities
in the Midwest. Rankings are based on
factors including average first-year retention
rates, graduation rates, class sizes, studentto-faculty ratios, acceptance rates, and more.
$1 MILLION GRANT PREPARES STUDENTS
for graduate school, meaningful work
The National Science Foundation awarded Augsburg College a highly
competitive $1 million grant for continued support of the AugSTEM
Scholars Program. Under the direction of Professor Rebekah Dupont,
the program will provide scholarships to as many as 80 academically
talented students with financial need who are pursuing studies in science,
technology, engineering, and math.
The four-year grant is part of NSF’s work to address the need for a highquality, diverse workforce. With a traditional undergraduate student body
that is more than 35 percent persons of color, Augsburg is well positioned
to support this goal. The program provides direct financial support, delivers
hands-on learning, offers research opportunities, and pairs each student
with a faculty mentor. Research shows this combination of hands-on
learning and close mentorship is highly effective in helping students leave
college ready for graduate school and the workplace.
Augsburg recognized for being studentcentered: The Wall Street Journal and Times
Higher Education ranked Augsburg No. 2 in
Minnesota for student engagement in the
learning process in their inaugural ranking
of U.S. colleges and universities. The
student engagement score is based largely
on results of a student survey that addressed
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.
Auggie earns “Most Promising
Young Poet” national honor
Donte Collins ’18 was named the “Most Promising
Young Poet” by the Academy of American Poets this
fall. His poem, “what the dead know by heart,” previously won Augsburg’s
John R. Mitchell Prize, which qualified him for the prestigious competition.
Collins is a theater major who is active in the local, regional, and national
spoken word and poetry scene. Collins told Minnesota Public Radio that
he plans to use the $1,000 prize from the award to self-publish his first
collection of poetry, a chapbook called “autopsies.”
PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
Editor’s Note: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under
Grants No. 1565060 and 1154096. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
National Science Foundation.
50 Best Disability Friendly Colleges and
Universities: College Choice ranked Augsburg
No. 13 of the 50 Best Disability Friendly
Colleges and Universities in 2016 for having
strong programming and solid support
services that meet the physical, social, and
academic requirements of students with
learning disabilities and special needs.
Best LGBT Friendly Colleges and Universities:
College Choice ranked Augsburg among
the 50 Best LGBT Friendly Colleges and
Universities in 2016 for having a strong and
proven history of creating quality programming
for the LGBT community and its allies.
Fall 2016
3
Augsburg partners with
MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO
to deliver Strommen Engagement Series
A new partnership with Minnesota Public Radio means the Augsburg
College Strommen Engagement Series is poised to spark dialogue on
some of the state’s pressing contemporary issues. The reimagined
Strommen Engagement Series was created in collaboration with MPR
as part of the “Conversations on the Creative Economy” program
hosted by Chris Farrell. He is a senior economics contributor at
Marketplace, American Public Media’s nationally syndicated public
radio business and personal finance program.
For the 2016-17 academic year, MPR and Augsburg will explore:
• Living in Recovery—Working in a Culture of Alcohol: A
discussion on the health cost to a business when employees
are chemically dependent and how professionals in recovery
are working to remove the stigma of addiction and the culture
of drinking in business.
• Global Food in a Farm-to-Table World: A discussion on how companies
are adapting to environmental and consumer demands to be more
sustainable and still grow food for 7 billion people.
• Worship in the Workplace: A discussion about the business advantages
of accommodating the faith traditions of employees and how leaders
navigate these situations.
• Banking on the Unbankable: A discussion on how financial institutions
create both a business product and a social good for people who
traditionally would not have access
Go to augsburg.edu/now
to financial tools.
for details.
Governor declares
‘AUGSBURG COLLEGE EQUITY DAY’
Gov. Mark Dayton declared Aug. 29, 2016,
“Augsburg College Equity Day” in recognition
of the College’s commitment to equity and
justice, and its efforts to close the opportunity
gap in Minnesota.
President Paul Pribbenow met with leaders of
the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial board to
discuss Minnesota’s educational achievement
gap among children and youth of diverse
backgrounds. The state has one of
the largest achievement gaps in the
nation, and Augsburg is working to
ensure all students of academic
ability have access to higher
education. The College’s pledge
to this work includes limited debt
pathways to graduation, setting aside
dedicated housing for homeless students,
increasing financial aid literacy, supporting
faculty in creating inclusive classrooms, and
increasing access to course materials.
The College was applauded for this
leadership through a compelling editorial,
“Augsburg College leads the call for campus
equity,” written and published by the Star
Tribune editorial board on Aug. 30.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
PHOTO BY BRIANA ALAMILLA ’17
NOW AND THEN:
AUGGIE HOMECOMING
[Left]: Current students play dodgeball in Si Melby gymnasium. [Right]: Jan (Koepcke)
Steller ’66, a member of this year’s 50th reunion class, snaps the football during a 1965
coed Homecoming matchup.
4
Augsburg Now
All good Homecoming celebrations need some
friendly competition, right? This year, Augsburg
College students got into the competitive spirit at
a dodgeball tournament that pitted Auggie against
Auggie in a battle testing speed, agility, and …
fashion sense. The event’s companion costume
contest proved to be a lighthearted update on a
long-time tradition. Coed sporting events have
been part of Augsburg Homecoming for decades,
and the outfits seem to get better with time.
See highlights from Homecoming on pages 22-23.
AROUND THE QUAD
SOOTHING
SOUNDS:
Auggies compose music
for pediatric patients
Music therapy major Tristan Gavin ’16 records a composition for use at the University of Minnesota
Masonic Children’s Hospital.
COURTESY PHOTOS
CONVOCATION SERIES 2016-17
Augsburg College’s annual convocation series offers the community
meaningful opportunities to engage with contemporary issues and
to hear from speakers who are renowned in their fields.
In September, the series kicked off with the Bernhard M.
Christensen Symposium featuring bestselling author, public
theologian, and social activist Jim Wallis and his presentation,
“The Bridge to a New America.” Wallis is president and founder of
Sojourners, a nonprofit, faith-based organization whose mission is
to put faith into action for social justice.
In November, the Center for Wellness and Counseling Convocation
welcomed Kristin Neff, an education psychologist and associate
professor of human development and culture at the University of
Texas at Austin. Her presentation was titled, “Self-Compassion:
How to be an Inner Ally Rather than an Inner Enemy.”
Augsburg College music therapy students
created original compositions to help
patients and families at the University of
Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital
get better sleep.
During the 2016 spring semester,
students in the Music Therapy Senior
Seminar course taught by Annie
Heiderscheit, director of the Master of
Music Therapy program, wrote lullabies
as part of a community partnership.
The music therapy students worked
with music business students and
their advisor, Augsburg Instructor
Dain Estes, to produce high-quality
recordings for use on the hospital’s
network of digital, interactive health
care features. Individuals can choose
to play the calming tunes using devices
in their hospital rooms. The Auggies’
compositions also are part of a pilot
study that is exploring whether listening
to music helps improve sleep quality in
patients and families who use it in the
pediatric intensive care unit.
SAVE THE DATE:
Join us on Monday, Jan. 16, for
the Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation.
All events are free, public, and held in the
Foss Center. For detailed information, go to
augsburg.edu/convo.
Fall 2016
5
BOARD OF REGENTS
Jeffrey Nodland ’77
Nicholas Gangestad ’86
WELCOMES NEW CHAIR
AND MEMBERS
Jeffrey Nodland ’77, president and chief executive officer of
KIK Custom Products, was elected chair of the Augsburg
College Board of Regents at its April 2016 meeting and
began his term July 1. Nodland will play a key leadership
role in Augsburg’s planning and fundraising initiatives.
In addition, the Augsburg Corporation, at its annual
September meeting, elected six new members to the Board
of Regents and re-elected three members.
Elected to their first term on the Augsburg Board of Regents:
Dr. Amit Ghosh
’12 MBA
Rev. Marlene
Whiterabbit Helgemo
Rachel Pringnitz ’02,
’07 MBA
•
Nicholas Gangestad ’86, senior vice president and chief
financial officer of 3M
•
Dr. Amit Ghosh ’12 MBA, a staff consultant, professor of
medicine, and medical director of internal practice at
Mayo Clinic
•
Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, an ordained
Lutheran pastor serving All Nations Indian Church of
the United Church of Christ and executive director of
the Council for American Indian Ministry of the UCC
•
Rachel Pringnitz ’02, ’07 MBA, operations
administrator for the Division of General Internal
Medicine at Mayo Clinic
•
Jill Nelson Thomas, philanthropist and board member
for multiple nonprofits, including Family & Children’s
Services of Oklahoma
•
Noya Woodrich ’92, ’94 MSW, former president and
chief executive officer of the Greater Minneapolis
Council of Churches
PHOTOS BY MARK CHAMBERLAIN
Elected to a second or third term:
Jill Nelson Thomas
Noya Woodrich ’92,
’94 MSW
6
Augsburg Now
•
Mark Eustis, an organizational leadership and
governance advisor for health systems
•
Alexander Gonzalez ’90, financial consultant at
Thrivent Financial
•
Pam Moksnes ’79, vice president for gift planning
services, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, through
the Lutheran Church Extension Fund
HOME SWEET
HOMEPAGE:
Augsburg launches
redesigned website
College and university websites are often
the first place students turn to for reliable
information when they research schools.
This fall, Augsburg unveiled a website
redesign offering prospective students a
fresh experience and encouraging them to
learn more about the College.
The new look took more than a year
to research, plan, design, and develop.
Now this work is on display on the site’s
top-level sections, which showcase how
Augsburg positively influences Auggies
from their first day in class to decades
after graduation.
Visit augsburg.edu to see
the new design.
AROUND THE QUAD
ON THE SPOT
A look at erratic weather and climate
change with John Zobitz
“Do we live in the tropics?”
In early fall, a Minneapolis Star Tribune article
asked this question. While readers surely
answered “no,” the story described the recent
soggy summer in which Midwestern Regional
Climate Center weather data showed the
Twin Cities got twice as much rain as usual
in August, contributing to the fourth-wettest
summer since records began in 1895.
Associate Professor John Zobitz studies math
and how it relates to climate. Scientists point
to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as
one of the culprits in global warming. Zobitz
uses mathematical modeling to conduct
environmental science research on several
topics, including carbon uptake.
For years, Zobitz has helped media make
sense of unusual weather across the country.
He commented on record-setting snowfall in
Buffalo, New York, following a November 2014
blast, as well as the return of wintry weather
during an April 2013 whiteout in Augsburg’s
own backyard. Here’s a glimpse into the world
of climate science—an area where the forecast
can have more to do with mathematical
formulas than tomorrow’s high temp.
Q:
How can mathematicians’ expertise
help environmental scientists and
climatologists?
A:
Mathematicians test and evaluate
hypotheses through mathematical
and computational models. We model and
benchmark future global temperatures
based on current scenarios, hopefully
providing an informed context for climate
policy decisions.
Q:
A:
Hasn’t the Earth always warmed and
cooled throughout history?
Yes, but what is alarming is both the
amount and the rate of the increase.
The global monthly temperature has been
warmer than average for 360 consecutive
months (that’s every month during the past
30 years). That persistent global pattern
underscores a shift in global temperature
beyond natural temperature cycles.
Q:
A:
Do unusually cold temperatures in an
area dispute global warming?
No. An important thing to remember
is that global temperature represents
an average across a global network of
monitoring stations. Climate change
will affect each area differently: some
areas might warm and some areas may
cool, but the overall trend of global
temperature is increasing.
Q:
A:
Do you think climate change is
inevitable?
A key concept in calculus is the
accumulation of smaller pieces to one
larger whole. If we want to reduce climate
change, small changes in our daily lives
such as driving less and reducing waste,
together, may accumulate to a large effect.
Q:
What does it mean to our future, as
human beings, if climate change
continues as it has in the past 30 years?
A:
We need to recognize that we live
in a rapidly changing world where
“normal weather” is the exception rather
than the rule. Adapting—and innovating—
in an environment of constant change will
become key for success.
Fall 2016
7
ALISON RANUM ’17
NAZIH SAFI ’17
Hometown: Minneapolis
Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Studying: Biology and Exercise Science
Studying: Mathematics and Management
Information Systems
Roy and Eleanor Krohn Scholarship
With thanks: “College is an expensive
investment, and without the donors
who have been so kind to help me
along the way, attending Augsburg
College would not be an option for me.
Thank you so much.”
8
Augsburg Now
Beverly Durkee Mathematics Scholarship
With thanks: “Thank you for your continuous
support of student learning. It feels good to
know that I go to a college where the alumni
really care about furthering their alma mater.”
REVENUE BY SOURCE
2015-16 AUGSBURG COLLEGE
67%
ANNUAL REPORT
TUITION
TO DONORS
19%
T
3%
PRIVATE GIFTS AND GRANTS
7%
o the people who understand that together we
can build and shape a campus, a community,
and the world for lifetimes to come, thank you.
To the people who are hard-working, inspired, and
trying to make a difference and impact the future
locally and internationally, thank you.
To the 4,965 individuals who gave $17,689,103 for
multiple programs, projects, and funds, thank you.
To the community who gave $1,551,262 to the
Augsburg Fund, thank you.
Thank you for making this community a place
where we are developing informed citizens,
thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and
responsible leaders.
Whether you were a student 50 or five years ago
or are a friend of Augsburg College, Auggies like you
are what keep an Augsburg education sustainable,
faithful, and relevant long into the future.
ROOM AND BOARD
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
4%
OTHER SOURCES
EXPENSES BY CATEGORY
41%
SALARIES AND BENEFITS
31%
FINANCIAL AID
13%
OPERATING EXPENSES*
7%
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
3%
Thank you.
3%
*Expenses in this category include:
facility repairs and maintenance,
information technology expenditures,
marketing expenditures, membership dues
and fees, outside consultants, supplies,
and travel and business meetings.
DEBT SERVICE
UTILITIES AND INSURANCE
2%
STUDENT SALARIES
ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE
$40.5
May 31, 2016—$39,412,669
MIKE SHAW ’17
Professor Jeanne Boeh and Mr. Bernhard
Fleming Economics Scholarship
$32.4
Augsburg College’s influence: “Augsburg has
pushed me to do my absolute best at school
and forced me to think how I can use the skills
I am developing to help my community.”
$28.2
$27.8
$39.4
$34.6
$33.3
$31.5
Hometown: Minneapolis
Studying: Business Administration and
Economics
$38.3
$29.8
$24.5
2006 2007 2008
2009 2010 2011
2012 2013
2014 2015 2016
As of May 31, 2016, Augsburg College had annual realized and unrealized
losses of 3.23 percent on the College endowment. The five-year average
annual return on the endowment is 3.52 percent, and the 10-year average
annual return is 3.49 percent. The College is committed to maintaining the
value of the principal to provide support to the College in perpetuity.
Special Olympics Minnesota
and Augsburg College team up
BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
10
Augsburg Now
All eyes are on a group of athletes in college
basketball jerseys. There are short ones, tall
ones, fast ones, and slow ones—some having
good days and others feeling off their game.
An athlete flies through the air, dunking a
ball. High-fives, cheers, and clapping echo
through the rafters. Moments later, voices rise.
“No, no, the other way,” shouts an
encouraging spectator trying to prompt an
athlete dribbling with authority toward the
wrong basket. A foul, some underhand throws,
and then a pause for a player with a medical
issue. Play resumes.
More commotion. Sneakers skid across the
gym floor as the spectrum of abilities and
disabilities blurs.
Then, the buzzer sounds, but the final score
isn’t the focus given the diversions of smiling,
sweaty faces and celebratory exchanges
among athletes.
The February game brought together
teams comprising athletes from Augsburg
College, Hamline University, and Special
Olympics Minnesota—the first in a series
of ongoing Unified Sports competitions that
pair individuals with and without intellectual
disabilities. Auggie participation reflects the
Augsburg Athletic Department’s broader effort—
spearheaded by its Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee—to engage student-athletes in
meaningful, life-changing community service.
And in this game, everyone wins: dozens
of student-athletes such as Sean Adams ’17
are building lasting bonds and gaining a
more sophisticated understanding of ability;
Minnesota’s more than 8,000 Special Olympics
athletes such as Alec Kelsey are gaining
confidence, training, and lifelong friends; and
PHOTOS BY MATT HIGGINS, MIAC
Augsburg alumni such as Steele Krause ’16, are
leading informed, engaged lives after graduation.
Krause said volunteerism through Augsburg
transformed his idea of service from “checking
a box” to a way of life.
“At Augsburg, my idea of service evolved
from logging hours to serving with purpose
and gaining a true understanding of each
organization,” said the former men’s basketball
player now living in Denver. “Last week, I
stopped by the Colorado Special Olympics
office to learn more about ways to get involved.”
Augsburg’s embrace of unified competition
in the past year has intensified personal
connections and impact, said Adams, a captain
of Augsburg’s men’s cross country and men’s
track and field teams.
“Out there on the court, it didn’t matter
whether someone had a disability or not; we
were all working toward a common goal and all
had strengths to contribute to the team,” he
said, reflecting on a Minnesota Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference Special Olympics D-III
Week Unified Basketball Tournament held in
April at Macalester College. “Playing alongside
others—next to their pure love for the game and
competition—reminds me why I love sports.”
The winner of each Augsburg-Hamline
Unified Rivalry competition—such as
the basketball game pictured—earns
the “Unified Hammer,” a trophy
similar to the ceremonial sledge
hammer passed since 2005 between
the schools each time their varsity
football teams square off.
Fall 2016
11
In February, a Special Olympics Minnesota athlete had the chance to skate the Minnesota Wild
flag to center ice during an Augsburg College men’s hockey game. The Minnesota Wild hosts
several events each year to celebrate “The State of Hockey,” and Augsburg facilitated this
unique partnership between SOMN and the professional sports team.
PHOTO BY KEVIN HEALY
Augsburg has partnered with Special Olympics since
2011, when NCAA Division III formally began supporting
the organization’s efforts to provide year-round training
and competition for more than 5.3 million children and
adults in 170 countries. But Augsburg upped its game
in 2016 by committing to pair with Special Olympics
Minnesota each month of the academic year. SOMN
named Augsburg a Champion School, one of only five
institutions in the state recognized for student leadership
and advocacy, campus involvement, and participation in
Unified Sports.
Michael Kane, vice president of SOMN’s area
programs and initiatives, said the organization is eager
to strengthen existing collaborations, including regional
bowling championships, hockey tournaments, and
the organization’s most popular fundraiser, the Polar
Plunge—during which Auggies, along with thousands of
Minnesotans, jump into icy lakes.
Augsburg’s passionate drive to advance
understanding, acceptance, and healthy living is
elevating SOMN’s reach and reputation, particularly
among the next generation.
“Augsburg College is a great example of an
institution striving to make inclusion a reality,” Kane
said. “Students and staff have fully embraced Special
12
Augsburg Now
Olympics Minnesota by volunteering at competitions and
planning to host a wide variety of events and activities.
Hundreds of Augsburg students have stood up to make
these events and activities possible.”
Guiding Augsburg’s increased involvement is the
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a group of about
50 student-athlete volunteers committed to enriching
the student experience through a range of relevant
service opportunities. Jane Becker is Augsburg’s head
volleyball coach and athletic community service
coordinator, and Jennifer Jacobs is an assistant athletic
director, assistant volleyball coach and advisor for
SAAC, overseeing the student-run organization with
representation from all of Augsburg’s 21 teams.
The pair talk at length about the importance of
student-athletes connecting with the community.
Augsburg student-athletes and teams host clinics and
open gyms for neighboring schools, help area churches
renovate, and build partnerships—like the Unified
Rivalry with Hamline—to foster lasting friendships and
healthy competition.
Becker and Jacobs lift up the committee’s work with
Special Olympics because it advances the lessons of
determination, teamwork, and heart that coaches promote on the court
and in the field. They hear of perceptions changed and career paths
adjusted because of these meaningful experiences.
“Our student-athletes are putting in long hours of competition, making
grades, and then giving themselves to others,” said Jacobs. “The amount
of time and energy our student-athletes dedicate to Special Olympics
and other volunteer opportunities is inspiring. They are committed to
making an impact, relationship building, and experiential learning.”
Rachel Frantz ’17, co-president of SAAC, said she and her peers are
energized by the heart and competitiveness of Special Olympics athletes.
She has friends such as Tom, who competes in speed walking and
swimming. Non-verbal, Tom communicates through sign and body language.
“His favorite gesture,” Frantz said, “is his signature hug that last
about three minutes.”
It’s hard to let go of those types of connections.
“Special Olympics athletes teach me how to come as I am and do my
best. They support one another and foster a positive environment where
each athlete can grow,” said the biology major, who has participated for
the past six years in Special Olympics events, including jumping in an
icy lake during the Polar Plunge, competing in a unified basketball game,
and volunteering at basketball, swimming, and track and field events,
which happen to be her favorite.
“The athletes are always congratulating all of their competitors,
regardless of their finish,” Frantz said. “I love cheering them on as they
achieve a new personal record or finish a difficult race.”
Beyond friendships and lasting memories within the community, these
experiences inspire bonds among Augsburg student-athletes as well as
the general student body, many of whom also serve Special Olympics.
Frantz, a competitor in lacrosse,
cross country, and track, who
likes snorkeling, rock climbing,
and choir, might not have gotten
to know Adams, who plays guitar
and acts in his roommate’s short
films. But, through SAAC, the two
have volunteered together, growing
closer with every project.
“It’s been a privilege to build
upon the good work of those who
led the committee before us,” said
Adams, who serves as co-chair of
SAAC’s volunteering committee.
“The evolution to unified
competitions and partnerships
AUGSBURG AS A
CHAMPION SCHOOL
Augsburg is one of only five Special Olympics Champion
Schools in Minnesota. The designation is granted to
institutions that excel in three areas: Unified Sports, student
leadership and advocacy, and campus involvement.
• Unified Sports: Augsburg student-athletes participate
alongside Special Olympics Minnesota athletes in
clinics and competitions. In partnership with Hamline
University, Auggies cofounded the first Unified Rivalry
in Minnesota. Special Olympics Minnesota created the
Unified Hammer trophy given to the winner of these
competitions throughout the year.
• Student Leadership and Advocacy: The more than
50 student-athlete leaders on Augsburg’s StudentAthlete Advisory Committee work with SOMN to activate
students, engage faculty, and promote communities of
acceptance.
• Campus Involvement: Augsburg student-athletes
have enthusiastically recruited students to create
teams for the Polar Plunge and other key SOMN events
held throughout the year. The campus also has held
Respect Campaigns, including Spread the Word to
End the Word, which discourages people from using
demeaning, offensive, or inaccurate terms.
“Our events are volunteer driven, and I’m just not sure
what we would do without Augsburg student-athletes
volunteering at every turn,” said Devin Kaasa, the
college partnership and competition manager for SOMN.
“Their work fosters respect and dignity for people with
intellectual disabilities and changes actions and attitudes
among their peers without intellectual disabilities.”
Members of the Augsburg football team
volunteer at the 2016 Fall Games organized
by Special Olympics Minnesota.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS MINNESOTA
with other colleges in the area is
expanding our reach and feels more
authentic and influential than cheering
from the sidelines.”
Friends across the river, Hamline’s
SAAC advisor and women’s volleyball
coach Becky Egan and senior softball
player Mary-Clare Couillard, said they,
too, have big hopes to grow from
several rivalry games to multiple
contests and volunteer efforts
throughout the year.
“Our campuses can have such a
positive impact for Special Olympics
athletes, and I hope to see us doing all
that we can to help out,” said Couillard,
who has interned with Special Olympics
since June.
Egan echoed her sentiments.
“Since our campuses are so close,
it is easy for our student-athletes
to travel and stay excited about
volunteering,” Egan said. “The more
inclusive we become with other schools
in our conference, the healthier the
competitions become across our other
sports, and it broadens connections
among all our student-athletes.”
PHOTO BY MATT HIGGINS, MIAC
14
Augsburg Now
passing year. During a January 2016
game against Saint Mary’s University,
the Augsburg College women’s hockey
Devin Kaasa, the college partnership
team recognized more than 100 Special
and competition manager for SOMN,
Olympics athletes in attendance with a
is the main contact for schools in the
ceremonial puck drop prior to the game.
MIAC as they build and strengthen their
Proceeds from puck purchases for a
relationship with the nonprofit. Kaasa,
halftime “Chuck-A-Puck” competition
whose brother has participated in Special benefitted SOMN. The following
Olympics for 20 years, said he has been
weekend, the hockey players volunteered
showcasing positive Augsburg-Hamline
at the Special Olympics Minnesota State
outcomes to promote similar interactions
Poly Hockey Tournament.
among the conference’s 13 schools.
In early March, Auggies raised more
“Our athletes look up to studentthan $1,000 for the 19th annual Polar
athletes because of
Plunge event at
their abilities and
Lake Calhoun in
“Augsburg College is a great
energy. To some,
Minneapolis. The
example of an institution striving 2016 plunge season
these college
to make inclusion a reality.”
students are like
raised more than
–Michael Kane
professionals, and
$3.9 million for
playing alongside
Special Olympics’
them is such a thrill,” Kaasa said. “I
athletic, health, and leadership
love Augsburg because they are always
programs for children and adults with
up for trying a new idea, and I can
intellectual disabilities.
always count on them to serve.”
Just this September, members of
Augsburg’s involvement with SOMN
the Augsburg football team helped out
has been diverse and expansive,
with SOMN’s Fall Games where athletes
growing in size and scope with each
competed in equestrian, softball, bocce,
and golf events.
Each month, the NCAA Division III
features a Special Olympics Spotlight
Poll, asking fans to vote on one of three
compelling stories highlighting efforts
at various institutions and conferences.
With 1,300 votes, the MIAC won
the July spotlight (and $500 toward
its next Special Olympics event) for
hosting the first-ever conference-wide
unified tournament.
Mark Kelsey’s son, Alec, was among
the 50 Special Olympics athletes who
competed alongside student-athletes from
Augsburg, Carleton, Hamline, Macalester,
St. Catherine, and St. Thomas in an eightteam, double-elimination tournament held
during the fifth annual NCAA Division III
Week in April.
At 6-foot-2, 25-year-old Alec loves
basketball, lives for the moment, and
never looks for an excuse to quit, even
after a seizure on the court.
“Special Olympics athletes represent
the best of what sports has to offer—no
fear, no nerves, no hate, all heart,” said
Kelsey, who started the West Metro
Warriors Special Olympics delegation in
the Twin Cities 10 years ago.
“Alec rarely gets through a game
without a seizure, but I cannot tell you
how excited and proud he and his fellow
athletes are to play with college studentathletes. We were particularly impressed
with Augsburg’s showing at the
tournament … while one team played,
the other team cheered with Special
Olympics athletes. It was magical, and
I can only hope those Auggies were so
moved in such a deep and positive way
that they become forever advocates for
inclusion and acceptance.”
As a recent graduate, Krause regularly
reflects on the intersection of athletic,
religious, and academic experiences he
enjoyed at Augsburg. His time learning
to live with purpose “sparked a craving
for personal and communal excellence”
and a desire to create a stable,
nourishing, and joyful environment for
his community.
“Being involved with SOMN was
humbling and gratifying … and being
able to use my knowledge and skills
within various sports is empowering,”
said Krause, a former SAAC copresident who works as an account
manager for Pacific Office Automation.
“I am extremely proud to be an Auggie,
and I will always refer myself as such.
Augsburg’s commitment to community
is astounding, and it keeps getting
better every year.”
At Augsburg, Krause said, he learned
that volunteering is as much about selfreflection after the experience as it is
about the outcome of the service. Only
then can people begin to understand
more about the world around them
and assess (and possibly adjust) their
attitudes and actions.
“I no longer just show up to volunteer
and then leave when the job is done,”
he said. “It sticks with me, urging me
to think about how my involvement and
experiences shape my life, and how I
can continue to make a difference.”
To learn more about Augsburg’s athletic teams and
service, including Auggie involvement with Special
Olympics, go to augsburg.edu/now.
[Far left]: The Augsburg-Hamline Unified Rivalry series began with
basketball games and has grown to include several activities. The
schools hosted a flag football game in October and will sponsor a
softball game this spring.
[Center photos]: Augsburg football players helped facilitate softball and
bocce ball activities at the 2016 Fall Games series organized by Special
Olympics Minnesota.
[Far right]: Athletes take a break from the action during a MIAC conferencewide unified basketball tournament held in April at Macalester College.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS MINNESOTA
Fall 2016
15
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AUGSBURG COLLEGE’S 2016 HOMECOMING
CELEBRATION was held Sept. 22-24—a festive
PHOTO BY JOHANNA KITZMAN ‘11
weekend when alumni, students, and families took
part in new events and beloved traditions. More
than 500 alumni from 64 different graduation
years attended celebrations, including reunions
for the classes of 1966, 1976, 1991, and 2006.
PHOTO BY
REBECCA ZENEFSKI
Ten Auggies were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame after being welcomed to the ceremony
by current student-athletes. During a Homecoming lunch with alumni award recipients, students
were invited to share in discussion with recipients of the First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and
Distinguished Alumni awards. In an evening ceremony, six alumni and two honorary Auggies
received awards and were recognized for their generous service to the world.
22
Augsburg Now
PHOTO BY JOHANNA KITZMAN ’11
PHOTOS BY COURTNEY PERRY
The Taste of Augsburg featured 38 booths—most
hosted by student groups—and offered games,
entertainment, and food, including the Augsburg
Chemistry Society’s liquid nitrogen ice cream.
Augsburg won the football game against Carleton
College, and alumni, families, and students stayed
after the game to enjoy s’mores at an Auggie Block
Party featuring the band Broken Spoke.
Bob Stacke ’71
This year, 30 Homecoming
events celebrated the best of
Augsburg, from an all-band
reunion to Auggie Talks led
by alumni, staff, and faculty
experts. The Centennial
Singers and an alumni band
led by Professor Emeritus
and Spirit of Augsburg Award
recipient Bob Stacke ’71
invigorated the chapel at
a worship service where
Associate College Pastor
Justin Lind-Ayres welcomed
all Auggies with a “Home
Calling” message.
Fall 2016
23
AUGGIES CONNECT
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear alumni and friends,
T
he Alumni Board has made exciting changes
to better serve Augsburg College graduates and
current students. We reorganized our board
committees, and we’re already seeing the fantastic engagement and work of
two new groups.
• The new Parent and Family Committee shares information about Augsburg
and its services with families. We’re thankful to the Parent and Family
Committee for helping students move into campus housing this fall.
Committee chair Howie Smith ’80 joined Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’11 MBA to
help with first-year student move-in day. Committee members Derek
Francis ’08 and Hannah Dietrich Swanson ’05 assisted with new student
orientation. The committee hosts two parent and family nights per year,
and the next event is March 2.
• Rick Bonlender ’78, Josh Krob ’08, ’15 MBA, Adriana Matzke ’13, and
Brad Randall ’13 on the new Adult Education Committee will focus
on the growing adult undergraduate and graduate studies alumni
communities. I attended Augsburg College as an MBA student from
2008 to 2010, and I’m inspired by this work.
Whether you remember your time at Augsburg as a cohort, a class,
or a team—as a grad student, traditional undergraduate, or adult
undergraduate—there is a place for all in the upcoming events at the
College. The MBA networking event on October 25 was a welcome chance to
see former cohort members for a mini-reunion and to get involved mentoring
a future Auggie MBA.
As a board, we strive to better serve the College, our fellow alumni, and—
perhaps most importantly—Augsburg’s current students.
We’re looking ahead to our next Alumni-Student Networking event
on February 8. Last year, we had 260 participants—a record-breaking
attendance that included students, alumni, and faculty. Thanks to all who
helped recruit attendees, facilitate introductions, and open doors for Auggies!
I look forward to our continued service and engagement with the Augsburg
community.
JILL WATSON ’10 MBA, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
24
Augsburg Now
For more information
about alumni events,
see augsburg.edu/now.
The StepUP® Program at Augsburg College
has had a successful year. As the largest
residential collegiate recovery program in the
United States, StepUP is regarded as the
gold standard for programs of its kind. Now in
its 20th year, StepUP empowers students to
champion lives of recovery, achieve academic
success, and thrive in a residential community
of accountability and support.
StepUP celebrated its annual gala October 29,
and the event focused on the theme of “hope.”
The gala is an opportunity to reduce the
stigma often associated with substance use
disorders by raising awareness—and honoring
the accomplishments and contributions—of
StepUP’s 100 students and 750 alumni.
At the gala, emcee Don Shelby, an Emmyaward-winning former news anchor and person
in recovery, welcomed supportive Auggies,
families, friends, and advocates for recovery.
Peter Hubbard ’10 spoke about his work with
StepUP alumni to create chances for StepUP
students to learn about life after graduation,
network, and explore concerns with those who
have followed a similar path.
The Barbara and Skip Gage family received
the Toby Piper LaBelle award in recognition of
their longstanding commitment to education
at Augsburg. The Gage’s dedicated support
of the CLASS program, Lindell Library, Gage
Family Art Gallery, and Gage Center for Student
Success furthers Augsburg’s ability to live out
its mission of serving the diverse needs, gifts,
and experiences of its students. In addition,
the contributions of The Hazelden Betty Ford
Foundation were recognized with the inaugural
Keystone Award for institutional support.
To continue the deep success of the StepUP Program, the
College has launched an endowment campaign for the
program. The campaign is nearly halfway to its goal of
raising $10 million by 2017. The endowment will allow
the College to increase enrollment in the program, to
maintain StepUP’s unparalleled community experience,
and retain StepUP’s exceptional counselors and staff.
Visit augsburg.edu/stepup to learn more.
AUGGIES CONNECT
GENEROSITY OF ALUMNI
fuels research, hands-on opportunities for Auggies
Two influential Augsburg College alumni,
Terry Lindstrom ’73 and Dean Sundquist ’81,
have found that giving back to their
alma mater is a way to inspire young
researchers to pursue their passions.
They have chosen to support the
Office of Undergraduate Research and
Graduate Opportunity, known as “URGO,”
which aligns students’ interests in STEM
fields (science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics), social sciences,
humanities, and the arts with research
by faculty. Each year, research by more
than 20 Augsburg students is funded by
the College for 10 weeks each summer.
Because of the committed support of
Lindstrom and Sundquist, 16 additional
scholars participate in URGO and receive
a stipend. This financial support is critical
to providing the hands-on, skills-based
training students need to successfully
apply to graduate school and to shape
meaningful careers.
“Fundamentals are absolutely
essential,” Lindstrom said, “but it was
the research experience that helped me
determine what I wanted to do.”
Lindstrom and his wife, Janet, plan to
fund URGO students for the next three
years, just as they have since 2013,
and will ensure the perpetuity of their
scholarships through their estate plan.
“Everyone deserves to find the career
that creates passion,” said Lindstrom,
who retired in 2010 as a distinguished
research fellow at Eli Lilly and Company in
Indianapolis, where he spent 31 years in
drug discovery and development.
Eager to find real-world applications to
benefit society, Lindstrom earned his PhD
in pharmacology and biochemistry at the
University of Minnesota after his Augsburg
graduation. He led the research teams
that resulted in a half-dozen patents for
life-changing pharmaceuticals, including
Evista for osteoporosis and Cymbalta,
used as an antidepressant and for bone
and muscle pain. He visited campus this
past summer to meet faculty and student
researchers—including four students he
sponsored directly: Josh Kuether ’18, Taylor
Mattice ’18, Adam Pancoast ’18, and Ellyn
Peters ’18.
Similarly, since 2006, Sundquist, a
member of the College’s Board of Regents,
and his wife, Amy, have sponsored research
by URGO students. Sundquist visited
campus this summer as well to meet with
the 12 students he sponsors and learn
His campus visit was a chance to see
the energy, enthusiasm, and excitement
in students as they researched projects
with their mentors, including Assistant
Professor Matt Beckman, Associate
Professor Vivian Feng, and Assistant
Professor Michael Wentzel.
“These URGO students are very smart
and very impressive. They go on from
Augsburg to graduate school and medical
school and business school with research
experience and the confidence to succeed
at the next level,” Sundquist said.
Ultimately, generosity of people like
Lindstrom and Sundquist has had a
transformational effect on thousands
[L to R]: Terry Lindstrom ’73 watches as chemistry student Taylor Mattice ’18 draws out a chemical reaction scheme from
her summer research project with Assistant Professor Michael Wentzel, her faculty mentor.
about their research. As chairman and CEO
of Mate Precision Tooling, a worldwide
leader in metal products and laser
technologies, he has a global perspective
and understanding of how scientific
improvements propel the economy.
of students. Alumni create learning
opportunities that prepare students to
solve real-world problems, develop lifelong
relationships with peers and faculty, and
deliver a uniquely Augsburg summer.
Fall 2016
25
Augsburg women inspired to fund
transformative mural in new academic building
For women who are driven to lead and participate, meeting
a fundraising goal for Augsburg College doesn’t mean your
work is done. It just means it’s time to engage in another
meaningful challenge to continue positively impacting the
lives of Augsburg students, faculty, staff, and the CedarRiverside neighborhood.
That’s just what Augsburg Women Engaged (AWE) is doing
through the leadership of Lisa Svac Hawks ’85, vice president
of external communications for UnitedHealthcare, who was
moved to make a lead gift to fund a mural planned for the
interdisciplinary Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for
Science, Business, and Religion.
“When I learned about the way Augsburg is bringing
these disciplines together under one roof, I knew this was
something distinctive and powerful,” said Hawks. “The
Hagfors Center will measurably contribute to shaping
greater leaders for tomorrow.”
The mural that AWE will fund, titled “Emergence,”
incorporates the image of monarch butterflies with
references to symbiosis, textile traditions, geometry, faith,
home, prayer, and identity. The $150,000 project will
express the College’s commitments to hospitality and
serving the neighbor, two core principles of the Lutheran
tradition in which the College is rooted. The large-scale
mural will adorn the staircase at the end of the west wing.
Making the lead gift for this powerful installation,
which will be created by muralist Greta McLain, came
naturally to Hawks.
“Art has a special way of helping us experience what
it means to come together in a new way. Art helps us
visualize new futures. It helps us connect to big concepts
and to engage emotionally with them so we can see
ourselves in big ideas,” Hawks said.
26
Augsburg Now
“As a group of women, we believe that art connects the
heart and head. By funding this mural as a permanent beacon
in the Hagfors Center, we invite everyone to connect our
heads and our hearts, so our hands can get to the good work.”
For McLain, the collaboration between space, artist,
community, and construction can take many forms. “We
all are asking: In what ways are we shaping the future
leaders we need to address the challenges
of the future?” she said.
AWE is undertaking this new
challenge and commitment to
the greater Augsburg College
community at the same
time it successfully closes
out another project for the
Hagfors Center. This group
of 70 women already raised
$130,000 to sponsor a
student study lounge in the
building.
The AWE-Inspired
Philanthropy Council
invites all Auggie women
to join them in sponsoring
“Emergence.” They
supported a Give to
the Max Day project to
raise funds for the work,
and are partnering with
Donna McLean and Martha Truax ’16 MAL in Institutional
Advancement to reach their goal of $150,000 in gifts and
pledges by December 31. Email mclean@augsburg.edu or
truaxm@augsburg.edu for more information.
To see work available for sponsorship in the Hagfors Center, including
21 pieces created by faculty, staff, alumni, and artists who have
exhibited previously in Augsburg galleries, visit augsburg.edu/now.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1960
The newest book by Lowell
“Zeke” Ziemann ’60 is “America’s
First Centennial and the Old West: 1876
A Year to Remember.” This book presents
prominent events in the Western Territories
during the United States’ centennial year.
Incidents of 1876 described in the book
include: the Little Bighorn conflict, Wild Bill
Hickok’s murder, the capture of Jesse James’
gang, and Bat Masterson’s first gunfight.
1968
The Rev. Mark Hanson ’68,
former presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
received the Walk of Faith Award from
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
on October 26 in recognition of his career
in service to the Lutheran community.
The ELCA is the nation’s largest Lutheran
denomination. Hanson was ordained in
1974 and has since served as a pastor for
three Minnesota congregations, as bishop
of the St. Paul Area Synod, and as the
president of the Lutheran World Federation
in Geneva. Hanson is an advocate for
migrants and refugees. He currently serves
as the executive director of the Christensen
Center for Vocation at Augsburg College.
Regent Emeritus Ron
Nelson ’68 was honored
with a Distinguished
Alumni Award at
Homecoming. He
retired from 3M after
33 years with the
company and spent 11
years as vice president
and controller. A captain for the baseball
and basketball teams at Augsburg, Nelson
was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame in 1991. He is one of the owners
of Thawzall, LLC, located in Alexandria,
Minnesota, and is a member of the board
of Oakdale-based Hearing Components,
Inc. Nelson lives in Mendota Heights,
Minnesota, and is an active member of
St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. His wife,
Mary Kay (Belgum) Nelson ’68, passed away
in July after a courageous 11-year battle
with leukemia. They were blessed in their
ALUMNI AND ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
AWARDEE PHOTOS BY JOHANNA KITZMAN ’11
marriage with a focus on faith and their
family, including daughters Kristy and Becky.
1971
Professor
Emeritus
and Retired Chair of the
Augsburg College Music
Department Robert
“Bob” Stacke ’71 was
honored with the Spirit
of Augsburg Award
at Homecoming. In
retirement, he pursues his passion for
photography and continues to be a guide
and mentor for music and arts alumni as
the leader of Bob’s Band, an ensemble
comprised primarily of Augsburg jazz band
alumni. Since 2001, he has volunteered at a
music camp in Haiti during his summers to
share the joy of music with children.
1972
Ray Yip ’72
received
the Distinguished
Alumni Award at
Homecoming. Yip is
an international public
health leader who has
had a significant impact
on global public health
in the areas of nutrition, maternal and child
health, HIV/AIDS, and tobacco control. He
has held positions with UNICEF, the Centers
for Disease Control, and the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation. Since 2015, he has
served as special advisor with a focus on
health and clean energy for bgC3, a thinktank and incubator founded by Bill Gates.
Yip lives in Beijing with his wife, Florence
Bannicq.
1983
Tim Schultz ’83 has been named
private client services market
leader for Arizona Bank & Trust, a division
of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. He most
recently served as regional wealth manager at
Johnson Bank and chief operating officer for
the western region of BMO Private Bank.
1987
Richard Bahr ’87 released
his book, “Amazed: Why the
Humanity of Jesus Matters,” in June. The
book provides a one-of-a-kind look at Jesus
through the lens of his humanity. Bahr and
his wife, Carla, operate the Threshold to
New Life ministry (threshold2newlife.org),
providing relief and restoration to homeless
persons. Bahr coordinates the volunteers
for a daily breakfast held at Minneapolis’
Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, which
serves more than 40,000 meals per year. His
blog can be found at richardbahr.com.
Amy Hyland Baretz ’87
had an outstanding
pitching career on the
Auggie softball team, an
accomplishment that
earned her induction into
the Augsburg Athletic
Hall of Fame. She set the
school record for career
victories, twice earned All-MIAC honors, and
was a member of an Auggie squad that won the
MIAC title and reached the NCAA Division III
national tournament in 1984. She also played
volleyball at Augsburg. Following graduation,
she became the owner of franchise businesses
in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
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.
Fall 2016
27
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1988
Lee RoperBatker ’88
received the
Distinguished Alumni
Award at Homecoming.
She is president and
CEO of the Women’s
Foundation of
Minnesota, and she
has spent her career working to further
gender equality, create equal opportunities,
and build pathways to economic security
for women and girls. Roper-Batker founded
and serves on the executive committee of
Prosperity Together, a nonpartisan coalition
of public women’s foundations that, at the
White House in November 2015, publicly
committed $100 million to improve the
economic security of low-income women
and their families in America.
1990
Matt Staehling ’90 is the new
city administrator for St. Cloud,
Minnesota. He has served the city for 20
years, most recently as the city attorney.
1992
Augsburg
volleyball
star Tina (Kubes)
Peterson ’92 was a
dominant player in the
early ’90s, securing AllMIAC honors, earning
a season MVP nod,
producing impressive
numbers as an outside hitter, and serving
as a multi-year captain. Peterson, who was
inducted in the Augsburg Athletic Hall of
Fame, also was a member of the Auggie
women’s basketball team. Following her
graduation, Peterson has used her health
and physical education degree as a teacher
and coach. She has coached volleyball and
track athletes in Minnesota’s New LondonSpicer school district.
Joel Tveite ’92 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame in recognition
of his successes on the
baseball, basketball, and
golf teams. Tveite was
an all-around talent for
Auggie baseball, pitching
and playing third base. On the mound, he set
school records with 28 complete games, 253
innings pitched, and 36 starts. He earned AllMIAC honors and was a team captain. Since
graduation, Tveite has worked in accounting
and management positions, and he has been
active in baseball and basketball leagues as a
player and coach.
for Entrepreneur of the Year at the TwinWest
Chamber of Commerce small business
awards luncheon. She was also a 2016
nominee for the Excellence in Leadership
Award at the I-94 West Chamber’s small
business awards breakfast. Candidates
were judged on business strategies, drive
for excellence, financial success, and
community involvement.
1993
Augsburg
Athletic
Hall of Fame inductee
Kevin Schiltz ’93 was
a dominant wrestler
for the Auggies in the
early ’90s who earned
three All-American
honors and qualified for
national tournament competition four times.
He was a MIAC champion in wrestling as well
as an offensive and defensive lineman for
Augsburg’s football team. Schiltz was a team
captain for both sports. Since graduation he
has worked in university athletics. Today he
serves Saint John’s University in Collegeville,
Minnesota, as a wrestling assistant coach and
department equipment manager.
Sharol Tyra ’92, professional certified coach,
certified professional co-active coach,
mentor, makeup artist, and president
of Life Illumination Coaching & Image
(lifeillumination.com), and a Lord of Life
Canticle Choir member was the 2016 finalist
Jodi (Divinski)
Walfoort ’93 received
recognition for her time
on the Auggie cross
country and track teams
when she was inducted
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
’08
’06
28
Augsburg Now
’09
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame.
Walfoort competed in her first athletic season
in 1991 at the age of 25 when the Auggies
re-started the cross country program. She
made the most of her two years as a runner,
earning All-Region honors twice, and she
was voted a two-time MVP. After Augsburg,
Walfoort became an IT professional and went
on to start a commercial real estate company.
1994
Athletic Hall
of Fame
inductee Bill Gabler ’94
transferred to Augsburg
and competed in
wrestling, football, and
baseball. As an Auggie
wrestler, he twice earned
All-American honors,
won a MIAC championship, and was on the
program’s first NCAA Division III national title
winning team. He later served as an Augsburg
assistant coach who helped guide the Auggies
to two NCAA national championships.
In football, Gabler was a starting middlelinebacker, and in baseball he was the starting
shortstop. He has enjoyed a career in sporting
goods, fundraising, and corporate promotions.
1996
Robert
Anderson ’96
was the first Auggie
football player to
earn All-American
honors, and the former
’11
defensive lineman was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame this fall.
Some of Anderson’s athletic achievements
at Augsburg include setting school records
for sacks, being named a MIAC conference
lineman of the year, and serving as a cocaptain. Following his graduation, Anderson
has worked as a sales director for the
software industry in locations including
Australia, Austria, China, Germany, New
Zealand, and Singapore.
Athletic Hall of Fame
inductee Bill Kriesel ’96
is one of the top
defensive backs in
Augsburg football history.
He set a single-season
school record for
interceptions, was named
a team MVP on defense,
earned All-MIAC first-team honors, and served
as a co-captain. Following his graduation,
Kriesel played professional football in Germany,
earned his MBA, and served on the Augsburg
football coaching staff, among other roles.
Since 2013, he has worked as a defensive
coordinator and defensive backs coach at
Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.
Jodi Markworth ’96 was hired as the new
principal at Cedar Ridge Elementary in Eden
Prairie, Minnesota. She had been principal
at Sheridan Hills Elementary in the Richfield
(Minnesota) School District.
Hernan Moncada ’06 is the new principal
at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion,
a K-6 elementary school in Eden Prairie,
Minnesota.
’06
Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA threw out the
ceremonial first pitch at the Twins baseball
game on August 6. The Augsburg nursing grad
and Alumni Board member was given the honor
for his community work including homeless
outreach and assistance with UnitedHealth
Group, his family’s commitment to quality
disabled living situations, and his work on the Tix
for Tots advisory board.
’08
Former men’s basketball
player Jim South ’96
was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. South was
a four-year starter for
the Auggies, and he
holds Augsburg’s career
record for field-goal
percentage. He earned All-MIAC honors in
basketball three times and also played on the
Augsburg baseball team for three seasons.
Following graduation, South worked for CocaCola before obtaining a law enforcement
degree. He also is an active volunteer who
serves as an assistant coach for a high school
basketball team.
1997
Derrin
Lamker ’97
received Augsburg’s
Excellence in Coaching
Award in recognition of
his impressive career.
After quarterbacking
Augsburg’s football team
to a MIAC championship
and several of its best seasons in school
history, Lamker moved into teaching and
coaching. He served as head coach at
Osseo (Minnesota) High School for 11
years, winning three Northwest Suburban
Conference titles, two section championships,
and a Minnesota Class 6A state title. This
season he became the offensive coordinator
Brian Gullick ’09 and Matt Tonsager ’09
are custom woodworkers of furniture,
games, and décor. Their business is Gullton
Wood, and the pair created a set of Augsburg
College bean bag boards used at Homecoming
in September.
’09
Amy (Satnik) Bachman ’11 and her
husband, Blair, welcomed a baby girl,
Mackenzie Peach, on March 3.
’11
Fall 2016
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
at Edina (Minnesota) High School, and he
also has coached basketball and baseball.
Dwayne Lowman ’00 has been
appointed to the inaugural
advisory board of Definitely Someday, a
nonpartisan firm that helps Minnesotans
prepare for a future run for political office.
Sweden, which was attended by Pope Francis.
Laudert says, “I am beyond thankful,
inspired, and thrilled at this opportunity. I
am incredibly grateful to the Metropolitan
New York Synod and my congregation for the
chance to do this. [I am] even more thankful
for our partnership in the gospel and the
ecumenical mission we share together.”
2004
2008
2000
Melissa “Mel” Lee ’04 has
taken the reins as interim head
softball coach during the 2017 Augsburg
College athletic season after serving as an
assistant with the program for the past 12
years. She will continue her duties as an
assistant athletic director and an instructor
in Augsburg’s health and physical education
program. In addition, as a member of the
National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Lee
is one of two 2016 recipients of the Mary
Nutter Scholarship. The educational grant
will fund Lee’s attendance at the 2016 NFCA
National Convention.
2006
Kyle
Loven ’06,
a Seattle-based
performance and visual
artist, was recognized
with the First Decade
Award at Homecoming.
His work combines
puppetry, projections,
objects, sound, and other art forms with the
human presence. Since moving to Seattle in
early 2009, Loven has created and toured
his original works. His shows have premiered
at venues such as the acclaimed Guthrie
Theater in Minneapolis and Seattle’s On the
Boards. Loven is the recipient of grants from
the Jim Henson Foundation and numerous
arts organizations based in Washington state.
2007
Wolfgang Laudert ’07 attended
the ELCA Grace Gathering this
summer and made a pilgrimage in October
to the Taizé community in France as the
result of receiving a leadership development
grant. His European trip ended on a journey
to the joint Lutheran-Catholic ecumenical
prayer service commemorating the 500th
anniversary of the Reformation in Lund,
30
Augsburg Now
Matthew Dunn ’08 received his
doctorate in sociology from the
University of California-Riverside in June. He
is married to Gabriela Oliva Dunn. They live
in Murrieta, California.
Sara Horishnyk ’08 earned a master’s degree
in arts and cultural management from Saint
Mary’s University of Minnesota and is now
working at Twin Cities Public Television.
2012
Angelica Erickson ’12 graduated
from Saint Mary’s University of
Minnesota with a master’s degree in arts and
cultural management. Her thesis was, “Every
Child is a Work of Art: Helping Children Heal
through the Arts after Multiple Traumatic
Experiences.”
Andrew Fox ’12 is the new manager of the
180-year-old Mendota, Minnesota, home
of Henry Hastings Sibley, Minnesota’s
first governor. Fox is the point person in
a partnership between the Minnesota
Historical Society and the Dakota County
Historical Society. The state will own and
preserve the Sibley site, while the county will
staff and operate the three restored houses
on the property. Fox studied medieval
history at Augsburg.
Kimberly Simmonds ’12, with the MonDak
Heritage Center in Sidney, Montana, coauthored the book, “Sidney,” in Arcadia
Publishing’s Images of America series.
2013
Anthony Gore ’13, Steven
Schwartz ’13, Ryan Bachman ’14,
and Shea Drenkow ’14, all members of the
Minneapolis-based band Porno Wolves,
recorded the live album “Young Moon Rising”
on a cold evening last winter. The friends
formed the rock ’n’ roll band in 2012.
2015
Riley Hunter ’15 has a new
position as assistant service desk
analyst in the IT department at Securian
Financial Group in downtown St. Paul.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Derek Nord ’04 MSW is the new director
of the Indiana Institute on Disability and
Community at Indiana University. Nord
previously was associate director of the
Research and Training Center on Community
Living, part of the University of Minnesota’s
Institute on Community Integration.
Dr. Amit Ghosh ’12 MBA placed third
in the 2016 District 6 Toastmasters
International spring convention held in April
in Minneapolis. Ghosh competed in the
international speech category. District 6 is
comprised of 290 clubs and 5,000 members.
It serves most of Minnesota and southern
Ontario, Canada.
Jeremiah Dagel ’15 MPA has joined the urgent
care department at the Essentia Health Saint
Mary’s Detroit Lakes (Minnesota) Clinic. As
part of the urgent care team, Dagel will treat
medical conditions that require immediate
attention but that are not life-threatening.
AUGGIES HONORED
Karim El-Hibri was
recognized with the
First Decade Award
at Homecoming. He
is a strategic advisor
and founding board
member of the El-Hibri
Foundation, which
focuses on peace
education and interfaith cooperation through
grants and awards that recognize leadership,
and programs that promote learning and
inclusion. He holds a BA in international
relations from the American University School
of International Service, and graduated from
the StepUP® Program at Augsburg. El-Hibri
lives in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
area with his wife, Carley, and two children, Roula
and Sami.
Norman and Evangeline Hagfors
received the Spirit of Augsburg
Award at Homecoming in
recognition of their leadership
in the campaign for the
Center of Science, Business,
and Religion. As community
leaders and longtime friends of
Augsburg, the Hagfors embody
Augsburg’s faithfulness to education grounded in
the Lutheran faith and relevant to the evolving needs
of our students and the world. Norman served as
an Augsburg College Regent from 1989-2001,
providing active participation during a critical stage
of the College’s growth. In October 2005, he was
re-elected to the Augsburg Board of Regents. A
chapel on the third floor of the new building will
be named for Evangeline’s father, the Rev. Elnar
Gundale ’33, who graduated from Augsburg College
and Augsburg Seminary and went on to serve as a
pastor in the Lutheran Free Church and ELCA.
Heidi Kammer-Hodge ’00 MSW joined Jackson
Recovery Centers in Sioux City, Iowa, as a
vice president and chief operating officer. KammerHodge’s position at Jackson comes after serving
at Resource in Minneapolis for the past 17 years,
where she held many leadership roles, most recently
as a vice president.
’07
’00
’00
’08
’14
On July 23, Brett Cease ’07 married Julia
Besser in Grand Portage, Minnesota. Auggies
in the wedding party included [L to R]: Micah
Erickson ’07, Chris Swanson ’07, Eriks Dunens ’06,
and Lava K.C. ’07.
’07
Brian Krohn ’08 and Kari Aanestad ’08
welcomed a baby girl, Seora Eileen Aanestad
Krohn, on May 11.
’08
Five Auggies received their white coats this
fall as part of the incoming University of
Minnesota Medical School class. Congratulations
to [L to R]: Anna Weitz ’14, David Bergstrand ’14,
Michelle Grafelman ’15, Mahad Minhas ’12, and
David Fowler ’14.
’14
’15
Laura (Swanson) Lindahl ’15 MBA and David
Lindahl were married May 21 in Dellwood,
Minnesota.
’15
31
In memoriam
Philip A. Horne ’40, San
Rafael, California, age
99, on August 7.
Paul S. Paulson ’49,
Spokane, Washington,
age 87, on June 12.
Robert D. Goodrich ’57,
Big Lake, Minnesota,
age 83, on April 22.
Ruth C. (Kveen)
Rydquist ’40, Fargo,
North Dakota, age 98,
on July 23.
Idelle S. (Nornes)
Bagne ’50, Detroit
Lakes, Minnesota,
age 89, on May 6.
Judith A. (Sather)
Suther ’57, Totowa,
New Jersey, age 80,
on May 18.
Lila A. (Israel) Erickson ’41,
Minneapolis, age 97,
on May 20.
Charlotte A. (Ellingson)
Ennen ’50, Dublin, Ohio,
age 88, on May 17.
Philip H. Johnson ’60,
Belleville, Wisconsin,
age 79, on June 20.
Morris E. Ulring ’42,
Minneapolis, age 95,
on February 5.
Kenneth A. Hengler ’50,
Eagan, Minnesota,
age 91, on May 19.
Ernest I. Knutson ’43,
Spooner, Wisconsin,
age 95, on May 21.
John T. Garland ’51,
Saint Paul, age 86,
on August 26.
Ronald H. Stanley ’60,
Balsam Lake,
Wisconsin, age 78,
on July 22.
Gloria (Burntvedt)
Nelson ’43, Minneapolis,
age 94, on June 21.
Olive L. (Nilsen) Zoller ’51,
Marine On Saint Croix,
Minnesota, age 87, on
July 30.
Kenneth A. Gilles ’44,
Scottsbluff, Nebraska,
age 94, on June 2.
Ralph W. Hofrenning ’45,
Fargo, North Dakota,
age 94, on May 31.
32
Rebecca “Becky” A.
(Skonnord) Johnson ’52,
Valley City, North
Dakota, age 86,
on April 26.
Lois M. (Black) Ahlbom ’47,
Saint Paul, age 91,
on May 9.
Mildred R. (Zustiak)
Baerg ’53, Anoka,
Minnesota, age 85,
on July 15.
Myrtle C. (Skurdal) Bar ’49,
Williston, North Dakota,
age 91, on August 19.
Edmund R. Youngquist ’53,
Northfield, Minnesota,
age 91, on May 30.
Augsburg Now
Phyllis E. (Ebrenz)
Wagner ’60,
Minneapolis, age 78,
on July 11.
Theodore “Ted” P.
Botten, Jr. ’61,
Rochester, Minnesota,
age 77, on June 29.
Jacob “Jack” A.
Mayala ’61, Kimball,
Minnesota, age 77, on
June 12.
John D. Heruth ’62,
Rochester, Minnesota,
age 75, on June 25.
David L. Faust ’63, Green
Isle, Minnesota, age
76, on May 30.
Elaine L. (Legaarden)
Swanson ’63, Maitland,
Florida, age 75, on
May 14.
Dolores A. (Sheppard)
Carrico ’74, Wyoming,
Minnesota, age 86, on
March 8.
Linda L. (Benson)
Pederson ’64, Frederic,
Wisconsin, age 75, on
June 23.
Audrey C. (Jorgensen)
Hanson ’77, Lewiston,
Idaho, age 90, on
March 21.
Gary M. Ellis ’65,
Hendricks, Minnesota,
age 74, on June 27.
Scott A. Hugstad-Vaa ’77,
Apple Valley, Minnesota,
age 60, on June 2.
Michael J. Marcy ’65,
Minnetonka, Minnesota,
age 73, on June 16.
Paula A. (Beckley)
Beckley-Gildner ’78,
White Bear Lake,
Minnesota, age 65,
on June 8.
Larry D. Cole ’66,
Minneapolis, age 73,
on May 18.
Mary Kay (Belgum)
Nelson ’68, Mendota
Heights, Minnesota,
age 69, on July 18.
Christine A. (Toedt)
Olson ’70, Delano,
Minnesota, age 67,
on June 6.
Donald F. Deming ’71,
Fort Mill, South
Carolina, age 69,
on June 14.
Lillian M. (Sedio)
Mattson ’71, Excelsior,
Minnesota, age 67,
on August 1.
Marian T. (Jauquet)
Finger ’83, Baraboo,
Wisconsin, age 89,
on April 5.
Scott E. Herceg ’00,
Minneapolis, age 44,
on August 12.
Cynthia L. (Cramer)
Reed ’11, Rochester,
Minnesota, age 59,
on August 18.
Assistant Professor of
Music Douglas Diamond,
Minneapolis, age 59,
on May 27.
The “In memoriam” listings in this publication
include notifications received before September 19.
IT PAYS TO BE AN AUGGIE
ALUMNI DISCOUNT
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Master of Arts in Nursing
Master of Arts in Education
Master of Arts in Leadership
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Master of Music Therapy
Master of Science in Physician
Assistant Studies
Master of Social Work
augsburg.edu/grad/discount
GRADUATE PROGRAM TUITION DISCOUNT FOR ALUMNI
Many of Augsburg College’s current graduate students
are alumni who earned their first degree at Augsburg
and returned to pursue further education. Become
a part of this growing group and take advantage of
our Alumni Tuition Discount—a savings of $80 per
credit! Auggie graduates who’ve earned a bachelor’s,
master’s, or doctoral degree from Augsburg qualify for
this alumni discount.
gradinfo@augsburg.edu | 612-330-1101
PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
Pedestrians take priority
This fall, Open Streets Minneapolis allowed community members to stroll, skate, and cycle on roads closed to cars near Augsburg’s
campus. Open Streets events held across the city throughout the summer promoted healthy living, local business, sustainable
transportation, and civic pride. As an anchor institution in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, Augsburg used the celebration to
further its commitment to place-based community building, organizing live music and a fashion show for attendees to enjoy.
Show less
Beyond the scoreboard
National champion to local hero
Leadership and conflict
CARVING WAY
THE
FORWARD
SUMMER 2016 | VOL. 78, NO. 3
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Summer 2016
Director of News a... Show more
Beyond the scoreboard
National champion to local hero
Leadership and conflict
CARVING WAY
THE
FORWARD
SUMMER 2016 | VOL. 78, NO. 3
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Summer 2016
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On thoughtful stewardship
Director of Marketing
Communication
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
Communication Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
Augsburg’s mission statement says that we
educate students to be “thoughtful stewards”
as well as “informed citizens, critical thinkers,
and responsible leaders.”
I imagine some may read “thoughtful
stewards” and think about church fundraising
campaigns or care for the environment, the
typical places we consider stewardship—and
both important causes!
At Augsburg, though, thoughtful
stewardship is a much more compelling
claim. It goes beyond simple acts of giving
or environmental care. It is a way of living,
an ethic that teaches us how to live in the
world. And it is at the heart of an Augsburg
education—from how we engage students with
the community to help them discern their gifts
and gain a holistic understanding of the needs
of our world (see page 16) to the deep listening
and conversation we embed in our classes, such
as in the Master of Arts in Leadership course
that was integrated with this year’s Nobel Peace
Prize Forum (see page 20).
Also in this issue of Augsburg Now, you will
read about the genuine privilege I had to deliver
a major address on stewardship to Cargill
employees worldwide.
In that address, I said: “… stewardship
involves a practice of standing up, speaking
up in a manner that reflects—and makes
clear—our values. The challenge for the good
steward—as a parent or manager or citizen—is
to pursue practices that help connect us with
the deeply held values and commitments that
characterize our personal and corporate lives.
“The truth is that many people do not think
about the reasons for their actions. They act,
and they expect others to accept their action
at face value. But good stewardship demands
reflection, then the courage to act based on our
convictions, and to do so overtly so that we are
publicly accountable for how our actions reflect
our values. Only in that link is there integrity in
human life.”
At Augsburg—as reflected in the stories
that follow in these pages—we educate
students to embrace their many gifts, to
understand the obligations they have to
steward those gifts, and to appreciate the
important work of taking a stand for the values
and commitments that honor the gifts and
contributions of each of us.
Thoughtful stewardship—a way of life
for all of us. I give thanks for a teaching and
learning community that is blessed with and
inspired by our remarkable legacy and mission.
I give thanks for the privilege of being a faithful
steward of all the gifts that make Augsburg
such a rare place.
Faithfully yours,
Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Creative Associate
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Christina Haller
haller@augsburg.edu
Production Manager
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Advancement Communication
Specialist
Jen Lowman Day
dayj@augsburg.edu
Contributor
Ryan Nichols ’16
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kailash Satyarthi brought energy and passion
to the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Forum sponsored by Augsburg College.
Following three days of dialogue on peacebuilding, he and his wife,
Sumedha Kailash, joined Forum attendees in a Bollywood-style dance
party for the conference’s finale.
02 Around the quad
20
Leadership and conflict
08
From national hampion to local hero
23
Auggies connect
14
Beyond the scoreboard
27 Class notes
16
The city: Course content and classroom
32 In memoriam
ISSN 1058-1545
Send address corrections to:
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
On the cover: Construction crews work on the footings for the main lobby of the Norman and
Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, an interdisciplinary building
that will open in 2018, anchoring the west side of the Augsburg College campus. See page 2.
Email: now@augsburg.edu
All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated.
FROM THE
GROUND
THIS BUG’S-EYE VIEW captures the April 2016 groundbreaking ceremony for Augsburg’s Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for
Science, Business, and Religion. The celebration included hundreds of Augsburg College alumni, students, donors, neighbors, and
faculty and staff members, as well as city and county officials. The new academic building is slated to open in January 2018.
2
Augsburg Now
Pictured [L to R]: Outgoing Augsburg College Board of Regents Chair Dr. Paul Mueller ’84, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Naming Gift
Donors Evangeline Hagfors and Norman Hagfors, Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow, National Fundraising Campaign Chair Michael Good ’71,
Augsburg College Provost Karen Kaivola, and 2015-16 Day Student Body President Duina Hernandez ’16.
Summer 2016
3
AROUND THE QUAD
$50,000 grant funds
RECYCLING PROGRAM EXPANSION
Student-faculty-staff collaboration improves campus sustainability
D
A
U
Q
E
H
T
D
N
U
O
AR
NEW RESIDENTS
HONORING
Retiring Faculty
SET MEMORIAL HALL
KATHY ACCURSO
ABUZZ
Instructor, Department of Education—
with the College since 2012
KATHERINE BAUMGARTNER
Assistant Professor, Department of
Nursing—with the College since 2005
Hives installed to bolster honey bee population
RONALD FEDIE
It has been decades since the last students moved out
of Memorial Hall; the dormitory was converted to
office space in the late 1960s. However, a new
group of inhabitants moved in this spring when
The Beez Kneez organization installed beehives on
the building’s rooftop as part of an urban apiary
partnership program. Augsburg joined the program
to further the College’s commitment to environmental
stewardship and to creating green spaces within the city.
Recently, honey bee populations have been decreasing
due to parasites and the misuse of pesticides. The on-campus hives
will help rebuild the local population and pollinate Augsburg’s plant
life. Those worried about getting stung can rest easy—honey bees are
not aggressive and will not sting unless threatened.
4
Augsburg Now
Professor Emeritus, Department of
Chemistry—with the College since 1996
FEKRI MEZIOU
Professor Emeritus, Department of
Business Administration—with the
College since 1987
VICKI OLSON
Professor Emerita, Department of
Education—with the College since 1987
CELEBRATING
STUDENT
Augsburg College can boost its efforts to divert organic and compostable
items from trash and other recycling thanks to a $50,000 recycling grant
from the Hennepin County Environment and Energy Department. The
funding will be used to purchase indoor and outdoor bins, rolling carts,
and signage to foster increased composting of organic material and the
proper disposal of mixed recyclables.
Go to augsburg.edu/green to learn about
Augsburg’s Environmental
Augsburg’s commitment to offering
facilities that are welcoming, sustainable,
Stewardship Committee, Facilities and
and designed for educational excellence.
Custodial staff, and the Augsburg Day
Student Government’s Environmental Action Committee collaborated to
submit the grant proposal.
“Thousands of people touch the campus in some way during the
course of one year,” said Amber Lewis ’17 MAE, an Environmental
Stewardship Fellow who supports on-campus sustainability initiatives.
“In addition to students, faculty, and staff, guests join our community
for graduation ceremonies, sporting events, performances, convocations,
summer camps, conferences, and workshops. This presents us with an
opportunity to share a clear message about the importance of recycling
in our community.”
SUCCESS
Read about the wide range of prestigious academic
achievements and awards earned by Auggies during
the 2015-16 year at augsburg.edu/now.
AUGSBURG EXHIBITION
SHINES in Guerrilla Girls
Twin Cities Takeover
World-renowned feminist art activists the Guerrilla
Girls recently “took over” Minneapolis and St. Paul
to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Augsburg
College was among more than two dozen arts and cultural institutions that
hosted exhibits and events highlighting gender and race inequalities and
promoting artistic expression.
The Guerrilla Girls, who wear gorilla masks and use the names of famous
female artists as pseudonyms, were on campus for the opening reception
of “Reconfiguring Casta,” a site-specific installation for the Christensen
Center Art Gallery. Combining prints and paintings, artist Maria Cristina
Tavera addressed the social concept of race and the issue of socio-racial
classifications. Tavera, known on campus as “Tina,” also serves as the director
of Augsburg’s McNair Scholars program, which seeks to increase graduate
degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.
Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow delivered
the keynote address for Cargill’s annual ethics week this
spring. Pribbenow is recognized as one of the nation’s
most engaging commentators and teachers on ethics,
philanthropy, and American public life. His talk, “Promises
to Keep: An Ethic of Stewardship,” reached Cargill
employees located in Minneapolis and around the world.
Summer 2016
5
AROUND THE QUAD
ON THE SPOT
What does it mean to matter? What does it look like to matter?
With the Black Lives Matter movement, questions of racial equity have ignited important—and difficult—
conversations in communities and courtrooms, on political campaign trails, and on college campuses.
Augsburg College Professor William “Bill” Green studies and writes about history and law. His most recent book,
“Degrees of Freedom: The Origins of Civil Rights in Minnesota, 1865–1912,” chronicles conditions for African American
Minnesotans and others in the half-century following the Civil War. Today, Minnesota and the nation are very different
than they were in the postbellum period that Green examined, but tightly woven threads unite contemporary events with
those occurring more than a century earlier.
COMMENCEMENT 2016
Students of color, award winners, and former KARE 11
anchor stand out at graduation
Augsburg College celebrated students completing degrees
in the traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate, and
graduate programs through commencement ceremonies
held April 30. The 2016 traditional undergraduate class is
the most diverse in the College’s history and comprised of
more than 42 percent students of color.
Commencement keynote speaker Michael Botticelli,
director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy, addressed ceremony attendees and
was awarded an honorary doctorate. Michael Good ’71
also was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of
his service to the College. Eleanor Barr ’16 earned the
Marina Christensen Justice Award, and Kim Chisholm ’16
received this year’s Richard Thoni Award, recognizing
exceptional contributions to their communities.
Teaching and learning
award winners
Augsburg recognizes individuals or
groups who have made exemplary
contributions to creating an
engaging academic learning
environment. The 2016 recipients
of the Distinguished Contributions to
Teaching and Learning awards are:
Teaching
Former KARE 11 News anchor Diana
Pierce ’16 MAL earned her Masters of
Arts in Leadership and participated in
commencement this spring.
“The program at Augsburg gave
me exactly what I wanted to add to my
skillset for a new adventure,” Pierce
said on KARE 11 in April.
Joe Underhill, associate professor of
political science
Research
Michael Lansing, associate professor
and History Department chair
Service
Dulce Monterrubio, director of Latin@
Student Services
6
Augsburg Now
Q:
What prompted your interest in
studying the history of African
Americans in Minnesota?
A:
In 1860, a slave woman was freed
in a Minneapolis courtroom. In the
aftermath, citizens in the communities of
St. Anthony and Minneapolis for days walked
the streets eyeing their neighbors, waiting for
the smallest provocation to spark violence.
We were on the verge of seeing our own
little civil war erupt in Minnesota over the
issue of slavery. Ultimately, Minnesotans’
attention was averted by news of the
Confederate bombardment of the federal
installation of Fort Sumter. Upon hearing the
news, Minnesota was the first state to send
volunteers into the Union Army. Seven years
later, it would be the first state to extend
voting rights to black men, pre-dating the
ratification of the 15th Amendment. I felt
compelled to understand this dynamic.
Q:
When Minnesota granted suffrage
to people who are black, what
implications did this have in citizens’ lives?
ELCA college conference
Students, faculty members, and staff from two dozen
colleges and universities affiliated with the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America came together this summer
as Augsburg hosted the annual Vocation of a Lutheran
College Conference. The event featured a partnership with
Interfaith Youth Core—an organization renowned for uniting
young people of different religious and moral traditions for
dialogue around shared values. IFYC Founder Eboo Patel [pictured speaking] discussed
the colleges’ role in preparing students for life in a religiously diverse world.
‘Degrees of Freedom’ in
Minnesota’s past and present
A:
[L to R]: Michael Lansing, Dulce Monterrubio,
and Joe Underhill.
In a practical sense, the implications
were non-existent. There simply
weren’t enough black voters in Minnesota
to influence political leaders or affect
public policy. Symbolically, however, during
a time of mounting economic dislocation
coupled with the spread of white supremacy,
it raised the bar, not just in terms of the
broader virtue of racial equality, but, more
fundamentally, stressing the need for true
leadership that called on ordinary people to
overcome their baser instincts and choose to
act with common decency.
Q:
And yet you’ve said that race is
“written between the lines” of early
Minnesota history, rather than spoken
about directly. What do you mean?
A:
The fact that the black population was
so small made it easy for historians
and opinion makers to draw rosy pictures
of racial exceptionalism without needing
to be checked by a more balanced reality.
Without the “significant other” whose
history was hidden in footnotes, it became
easy to believe what one wanted to believe.
But could it really be true that Dred Scott
was the only slave to live in Minnesota?
Could Frederick Douglass be the only
African American to be denied service
in a prestigious hotel in St. Paul, even
though the proprietor was a friend of his
and an officer in the Union Army? Could
the paucity of discrimination lawsuits in
the 19th century really mean there was no
discrimination in restaurants and taverns?
Q:
Today’s Black Lives Matter movement
involves participatory democracy—
participation by many and with more
diffuse leadership than the civil rights
movements of the 1960s. When you look
at the Black Lives Matter movement, what
strikes you, considering the lens through
which you write your books?
A:
In 1965 when the civil rights
movement pressed for voting rights,
the powerful symbolism of Martin Luther
King and Malcolm X joining forces placed
pressure on the President of the United
States to shepherd through Congress the
Voting Rights bill and sign it into law.
Federal protection of the right to vote
was a moral issue. But it was the union
of two leaders who embodied opposing
approaches to advancing civil rights that
heightened a sense of urgency to enact
the bill. The moral: As long as there are no
“inside”-“outside” forces simultaneously
working for the same clearly defined issue,
advocates on either side of the spectrum
can be marginalized and eventually
dismissed. I don’t see a rival force to Black
Lives Matter that is pushing for the same
ends but through different means. This
isn’t the fault of BLM, but the absence of
a “significant other” should be a concern
to them, nonetheless. History can only
provide suggestions on how or even
whether to proceed.
The Minnesota Book Awards honored Green with
the 2016 Hognander Minnesota History Award.
Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn more
about Green’s research.
Summer 2016
7
Devean George ’99 was the first NCAA Division III player ever selected in
the first round of the NBA Draft—and he played professionally for more
than a decade. Now retired from basketball, he’s gone back to his roots
to help revitalize the Minneapolis neighborhood where he grew up.
BY CHRISTINA HALLER
8
Augsburg Now
November 3, 1999. The Los Angeles Lakers are debuting in their brand new home,
the Staples Center, with an unveiling ceremony followed by a game against the
Vancouver Grizzlies. A crowd of 20,000 fans is packed inside, waiting for NBA stars
Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O’Neal to make opening remarks.
But instead, the Lakers players decide to encourage their newest rookie to
address the crowd. The lights go down, and all becomes still. In less than 30
seconds, it’s go time.
“No, guys, don’t make me do this! I don’t know what to do,” whispers a
22-year-old Devean George ’99. But his pleas were met with laughter.
“I just remember shaking in my boots. There are tens of thousands of people
here, and I’m going to be out at center court—all eyes on me,” recalls George. “So I
get out there, and it just clicked. It was easy.”
George credits his education in communication studies from Augsburg for
helping to prepare him for that life-changing moment, as well as all of his public
speaking engagements from that point forward.
“As an NBA player, you have a camera with that big, red light in front of your
face every day,” George said. “You have to know how to conduct yourself and
communicate effectively. And all those communication classes I took at Augsburg
come into play.”
After high school, George enrolled at Augsburg assuming he would play basketball
for the Auggies, earn a degree, and find a job in business. But his “hoop dreams”
became a reality pretty early on in his Augsburg career.
“When I recruited Devean, he was about
6'2" and 170 pounds,” said former Augsburg
basketball coach Brian Ammann ’85. “Fortunately
for Devean, he grew about five inches and put on
50 pounds by his sophomore year. And his hard
work paid off in big ways.”
George was the first NCAA Division III player
ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
He was the 23rd overall pick in 1999, chosen by
the Los Angeles Lakers—one of the most storied
franchises in NBA history.
George is now retired from the NBA after playing
11 seasons and becoming only the seventh player
in history to win a league championship in each of his first three seasons. He has since
found a successful career in real estate development and a passion for giving back.
George played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2006.
In 2006, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks and played in
Texas until 2009. He then joined the Golden State Warriors in
Oakland, California, in 2009 until his retirement in 2010.
George was raised by devoted, hardworking parents in the Willard-Hay neighborhood
of north Minneapolis and still calls the Twin Cities home — a place he loves for its
friendly people and four seasons. His current work focuses on helping to improve his
childhood community.
10
Augsburg Now
Summer 2016
11
After George joined the NBA, he started volunteering his time in schools and
after-school programs. He noticed many of the children he visited didn’t have
stable housing, which significantly affected their security and education.
“That’s when I decided helping kids and families would be the foundation of
what I do,” said George, who has two young sons. He founded Building Blocks,
a nonprofit organization committed to providing quality housing, community
development, and programming for youth and families.
“If you don’t have stable housing, you’re not going to care about schooling,
safety, or eating healthy. If we get those families into stable housing, then they
can focus on those other things,” George said.
George’s first affordable housing project opened this spring—The Commons at
Penn in north Minneapolis, an income-restricted, 47-unit workforce apartment
building that also includes an on-site health and wellness facility, an after-school
program, a fitness center, a toddler playground, and a grocery store.
Long-term, George would like to help create a more family-friendly community
in north Minneapolis—a community that provides greater amenities for its
residents. So far, The Commons at Penn has been a successful addition to the
neighborhood.
“[The] Commons at Penn achieves multiple city goals: creating new, highquality, affordable housing options [and] increased residential density along a
key commercial and transit corridor, and bringing in commercial activity and
services,” said Andrea Brennan, director of Housing Policy and Development for
the City of Minneapolis. “This project sets us on a promising course to continue
development at this important north Minneapolis node.”
George is planning phase two of The Commons at Penn, which will go up
right across the street from the existing mixed-use building. He also is developing
housing complexes in South Carolina and Louisiana, and has been contacted by
fellow professional athletes who would like to see a change in the neighborhoods
where they were raised.
In addition to literally helping build a solid foundation for families through stable
housing, George also helps build a strong foundation for young people through
mentorship programs like Read to Achieve.
“The kids think that [NBA players] are not human beings because we know
how to play basketball,” said George. “If I can tell a kid to go to school and not to
do drugs, and just because I can play basketball he’ll listen to me, I’m going to
try to use that to my advantage.”
George is also busy instilling the values of compassion and service in his own
two sons, ages 7 and 4. For starters, they learn to share by donating their toys to
kids who otherwise wouldn’t have any.
“They’re still young, but I started teaching my boys early on a way of giving
and understanding. I explain to them that this [lifestyle] isn’t normal; they’re in
a blessed situation,” George said. “I’ve been able to achieve a lot of things. But I
know I’ve had a lot of help along the way.”
12
Augsburg Now
WORKFORCE HOUSING offers reduced rent to people who are gainfully employed (and don’t qualify as low-income), yet still struggle to afford market-rate housing.
It’s explained by the Urban Land Institute as housing that is “affordable to families earning 60 to 100 percent of area median income.” Workforce housing commonly is
targeted for essential workers in a community, such as police officers, firefighters, teachers, social workers, and nurses.
Summer 2016
13
BY STEPHEN GEFFRE AND LAURA SWANSON LINDAHL ’15 MBA
THE CITY:
COURSE CONTENT
AND CLASSROOM
Each semester, painting and drawing classes typically occur in what originally was an Augsburg
College chapel. Old Main 100 is an inspiring place with 25-foot ceilings and soaring windows.
On-campus studios offer focused spaces for students to learn about visual art media, methods, and
creative expression. For 25 years, Associate Professor and Art Department Co‑Chair Tara Sweeney
has taught foundational drawing principles in Old Main with what she calls “as few spectators
and distractions as possible,” and in recent years she also has led short-term international travel
courses in which students develop the same skills without the support of a traditional studio.
This spring, Sweeney and her Minneapolis-based students traveled close to home as they
stepped beyond the boundaries of the campus studio, choosing to forgo a controlled setting to
embrace learning opportunities present in public areas that are as complex and challenging as they
are diverse.
“Instead of creating a still life with the same old props, I utilized the city as subject matter
and classroom,” Sweeney said. “Students were as actively engaged in creative placemaking as
they were in making drawings — effectively shaping the physical and social character of whatever
neighborhood, museum, coffee shop, or landmark we chose as a drawing site.”
A CORE CHALLENGE
In the article “The Power of Experiential Education,” nationally recognized education scholar and
professor Janet Eyler noted that a central challenge for liberal arts educators like Sweeney—and
indeed the entire Augsburg College faculty—is to “design learning environments and instruction
so that students will be able to use what they learn in appropriate new contexts.” That is, to
successfully “bridge classroom study and life in the world and to transform inert knowledge into
knowledge-in-use.”
In a drawing course, for instance, students develop technical skills while exploring individual
subject matter and creative expression. It is perhaps the latter of these elements that came into
clearer focus when Sweeney took her students out in the community.
The artists “made connections with strangers and learned things about themselves in the
process,” Sweeney said. They become comfortable creating art in the midst of daily life and
finished the course with “real skills and the right tools to continue drawing wherever they find
themselves and wherever inspiration finds them.”
JUST A GLIMPSE
At Augsburg, students across disciplines and degree programs benefit from faculty instruction that
integrates experiential learning opportunities with traditional instructional methods, thereby linking
course concepts with real-world applications. The pages that follow offer a glimpse at a small
sample of the faculty and students who use Minneapolis as their classroom.
16
Augsburg Now
Johanna Goggins ’16 works on a sketch
in the solarium at the American Swedish
Institute in Minneapolis.
Summer 2016
17
ARTS AND THE CITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ENV 120:
Students clad in safety gear and
earplugs to dampen the deafening
noise weave their way through a Eureka Recycling processing
plant. Environmental Science focuses on understanding and
resolving problems humans have created in the natural world.
The course includes hands-on learning opportunities that
make complex scientific concepts more approachable and
applicable for students.
“The city is the perfect place for these types of
experiences to happen—it’s all right at our fingertips: a
wastewater treatment plant, power plant, recycling center, and public transit,” said Assistant
Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Emily Schilling. “We can observe the detrimental
effects humans are having on the environment, and we also can see some of the ways we are trying
to mitigate that impact.”
MIS 375:
HON 230:
Students in Augsburg College’s Honors Program join
Minnesota Orchestra performers onstage following a symphony
event at Orchestra Hall. As an interdisciplinary course, “Arts and the Cities”
unites film, music, theater, and visual art — offering students the chance to peruse
Picassos, soak in Shakespeare, and mingle with musicians. Together, students and
teachers explore the role of the arts in a culturally dynamic urban setting.
“Students enjoy the experiential nature of this course,” said Associate Professor
of Music Merilee Klemp ’75. “They often comment that it presents them with
opportunities that they would not have on their own and deepens their understanding
of the role of the arts in their lives long after the course is over.”
18
Augsburg Now
E-COMMERCE
Students speak with
Abdirahman Mukhtar,
a youth program manager at Pillsbury
United Communities’ Brian Coyle Center.
Mukhtar oversees the Sisterhood Boutique,
a secondhand clothing store that serves
as a training ground for young women to
learn about entrepreneurship, business,
community partnerships, and sustainable
fashion. Through their discussions with
Mukhtar, the Auggies began to apply some
of their fundamental course concepts in a
real-world setting.
Summer 2016
19
2016 NOBEL PEACE
PRIZE FORUM
LEADERSHIP
& CONFLICT
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
2014 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kailash Satyarthi shared his vision for global compassion during the Nobel
Peace Prize Forum. More than 300 students, academics, activists, and thought leaders participated in three
days of discussion and presentations to advance peacebuilding.
O R G A NI ZI NG PA RT N E RS
20
Augsburg Now
MED IA SPO N SO R
GRADUATE STUDENTS STUDY
GLOBAL COMPASSION AT THE 2016
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM
Conflict is a pervasive characteristic of
human interaction.
This is the opening line of the summer
syllabus for Augsburg College’s Master of
Arts in Leadership course, “Navigating
Local & Global Conflict: Interfaith
Dimensions.” The statement underscores
how important it is for leaders to develop
the ability to navigate and inspire others
in the face of conflict and sets the stage
for the work of analyzing leadership in the
context of real-world situations.
By design, the course is integrated with
the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, for
which Augsburg is the host sponsor.
“The Nobel Peace Prize Forum is a
gem,” said history and leadership studies
professor Jacqueline deVries. It’s a oneof-a-kind event that allows students to
learn through direct engagement about
the contexts and complexities involved
in conflict. deVries, who also serves as
director for Augsburg’s general education
program, co-taught the course with Martha
Stortz, Bernhard M. Christensen Professor
of Religion and Vocation, and Tom Morgan,
professor of leadership studies.
Held annually in Minneapolis, the
Nobel Peace Prize Forum is one of only
three programs officially associated with
the Norwegian Nobel Institute. The Forum’s
mission is to inspire peacemaking by
focusing on the work of Nobel Peace Prize
laureates and by engaging students and the
wider community with national and global
leaders in the process of peacebuilding.
The Forum provided the students in
the graduate course with direct access to
leaders from businesses, nonprofits, and
government organizations whose work
involves navigating complex, real-world
challenges that range from food security
to civil unrest to poverty and climate
change. The students used examples
from the Forum, as well as from their
own lives, to analyze conflict involving
religious diversity in their communities,
examine contemporary issues in a historical
perspective, and develop a view on what
effective leadership looks like (or might
look like) in actual situations.
Students come to the Master’s of Arts
in Leadership program with experience
PEACEB U ILD IN G PARTN ER- SPONSORS
Summer 2016
21
AUGGIES CONNECT
Martin Olav Sabo ’59
leaves mark on
Augsburg College
community
in both for-profit and not-for-profit
organizations. In gathering during a
lunch break to share reflections about
what they were learning at the Forum,
the class observed that it is not possible
to be effective as a leader without
knowing what’s going on in the world.
The Forum, they said, was a prompt
for thinking about how a leader would
approach addressing challenging topics
and situations in their work.
Too often, people are so
wrapped up with their jobs and
family and school that they don’t
think about the difficulties others
are facing in the world. It’s not that
people don’t care about these topics, one
student said, but they often just don’t
pay attention to the issues on a daily
basis. Being at the Forum offered a level
of understanding that may not happen in
a classroom, the students said.
In fact, during the Forum the
students directly engaged with difficult
topics, and it required a conscious
choice to hear the tragic stories about
topics like child slavery and human
trafficking. This is where our general
population may be falling short, one
student observed—choosing to turn away
instead of understanding the reality of
these issues.
The Master of Arts in Leadership
program, however, equips individuals to
turn toward—rather than away from—
challenging issues in order to seek
solutions and inspire others toward a
common goal. The program is designed
to prepare leaders who are ethically and
morally responsible, who can see beyond
immediate concerns, and who are
sensitive to the complex problems that
organizations face. By using the Nobel
Peace Prize Forum as a classroom, these
students worked to understand both the
systems that contribute to conflict and
the systems that effective leaders can
use to address it.
“WE HAVE TO CHANGE
THE DEMAND”
Top [L to R]: Dean Jarrow ’16 MAL and
Dele Odiachi ’17 MAL
Bottom: [L to R]: Jacqueline deVries; Margaret
PowellMack ’17 MAL; Kevin Stirtz ’17 MAL; Subashini
Ambrose ’18 MAL; Tom Morgan; Eric Miamen ’04,
’14 MBA, ’16 MAL; David Nyssen ’16 MBA, ’17 MAL; Nobel
Laureate Kailash Satyarthi; Howie Smith ’80, ’19 MAL;
Satyarthi’s wife, Sumedha Kailash; MAL Director Alan
Tuchtenhagen; and Brad Beeskow ’17 MAL.
22
Augsburg Now
For example, some students thought
that business was potentially the most
powerful force for addressing the issues
discussed at the Forum; others argued
that the biggest changes will come
when consumers demand it, quoting
comments by Nobel Laureate Kailash
Satyarthi, who, in his opening remarks,
said, “We have to change the demand.”
Another student observed that
every person has a powerful “what’s in
it for me” filter and noted that, if we
don’t translate the message in a way
that addresses this filter, it will not
be effective. And, although the class
agreed, the students also recognized that
people are often motivated not just by
what benefits them directly, but also by
generosity and helping others—by what,
as one student phrased it, satisfies a
need of the heart.
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
Former U.S. Representative Martin Olav Sabo ’59, who passed away on March 13 at
age 78, was a lifelong public servant and renowned Augsburg College alumnus who
exemplified the progressive approach and personal integrity that were modeled in
his Lutheran upbringing and education.
The work he and his wife, Sylvia, devoted to guiding the Martin Olav Sabo
Center for Democracy and Citizenship, the Sabo Scholars program, and the annual
Sabo Symposium—all of which create opportunities for civic experiences and skillbuilding inside and outside the classroom—will leave a lasting legacy at Augsburg.
Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow said that Sabo’s “life-long
commitment to public service is an inspiration to all of us. The Sabo Center gives
Augsburg the ongoing opportunity to celebrate the life and work of our dear friend.”
One year after graduating from Augsburg College, Sabo—then 22—was elected
to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. During his tenure, he became
the first member of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor party to serve as Speaker of the
House—a post he held from 1973-78. He went on to serve for 28 years as a
member of the U.S. House of Representatives, retiring in 2007.
At the same time that Sabo served in Congress, he volunteered 12 years to
Augsburg College as a member of the Board of Regents. The College named Sabo
a Distinguished Alumnus and awarded him its first-ever honorary degree. Sabo was
distinguished in all he undertook and, in 2006, was appointed Commander of the
Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for outstanding work and dedication to NorwegianAmerican relations.
Congressman Sabo and Sylvia Sabo are parents of Auggies Karin Mantor ’86 and
Julie Sabo ’90.
Summer 2016
23
AUGGIES CONNECT
New to the Alumni Board
Five Auggies elected to serve three-year terms on the Augsburg College
Alumni Board will network with and mentor current Auggies, build community
with alumni, and provide a vital link between the College and graduates.
TRAVEL IN THAILAND AND CAMBODIA
JANUARY 3-15, 2017
To learn more, go to
augsburg.edu/alumni/travel.
Derek Francis ’08
School counselor, Minneapolis Public Schools
“Through the awesome community and volunteer opportunities at
Augsburg, I realized I was passionate about working with youth.
Augsburg’s value of service to the community transformed my life.”
Lori Higgins ’94, ’12 MAL
President, MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce
“I am eager to give back to the school that has given me so many
opportunities, such as political internships with [former U.S. Rep.] Martin
Sabo ’59 and MN Sen. Bill Luther, which began my career.”
MAKES LASTING IMPACT
With its Give to the Max Day gifts, the Biology Department funded new research
opportunities for two students: Oksana Burt ’17 and Davy DeKrey ’17 [pictured].
24
Augsburg Now
Business development, Gravie
“A continuing passion of mine is to grow our networking efforts, both for
employers and individuals as they connect with Auggie alumni.”
Online giving day supports students, faculty, programs
Auggies last fall made Augsburg College No. 1 in the annual Give to the
Max Day challenge. This year, Give to the Max Day is November 17, and
the College is calling on alumni to push Augsburg into the top spot for the
fourth year in a row.
In 2015, in just 24 hours, more than 1,000 Auggies—many of whom
were first-time donors—generously stepped up to give more than $240,000
to Augsburg. As a result, Augsburg ranked first among all participating
Minnesota colleges and universities, and earned a $10,000 bonus.
Alumni support on Give to the Max Day has a lasting impact and
supports new opportunities for students. Funds raised last year supported
the expansion of on-campus research; the purchase of a 3-D printer for
the mathematics and statistics department; production costs for Howling
Bird Press, the student-run book publishing project in the Master of
Fine Arts in Creative Writing program; and trips by athletic teams for
competition, education, and community service.
This November, alumni also can give to scholarships that honor the
legacy of music, research, and civil service at Augsburg. Gifts are being
sought to honor the work of Leland Sateren ’35, U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo ’59,
the StepUP® program, and the Office of Undergraduate Research and
Graduate Opportunity, which connects students with new and existing
research and scholarship on campus, across the United States, and
around the world.
Anyone can donate any amount on Give to the Max Day. Schedule
your gifts online at givemn.org beginning November 1.
Josh Krob ’08, ’15 MBA
Janeece Oatman ’05
Development director, American Diabetes Association
“I have a passion for committee-building, and I am interested in
networking opportunities, reconnecting with campus, and fellow Auggies.”
Brad Randall ’13
Mechanical maintenance planner, Xcel Energy
“As a graduate of Augsburg’s Adult Undergraduate program, I am
interested in mentoring Augsburg alumni in all fields.”
[L to R]: Lewis Istok ’18 and Abigale Enrici ’18 create a two-material print
using a 3-D printer purchased with Give to the Max Day funds.
Jordan Brandt ’17 throws a pitch on the baseball team’s 2016 spring break trip
to Arizona. The team raised more than $17,000 on Give to the Max Day 2015.
Back row [L to R]: Josh Krob ’08, ’15 MBA; Brad Randall ’13; Mary Prevost ’12 MBA; Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA;
Jay Howard ’03, Nick Rathmann ’03; Hanna Dietrich ’05; Rick Bonlender ’78; Patricia Jesperson ’95; Melissa
(Daudt) Hoepner ’92; Howie Smith ’80, ’19 MAL; Marie (Eddy) Odenbrett ’01; Greg Schnagl ’91. Front row
[L to R]: Adrienne (Kuchler) Eldridge ’02; Meg (Schmidt) Sawyer ’00; Adriana Matzke ’13; Janeece Oatman ’05;
Chau “Tina” Nguyen ’08; Jill Watson ’10 MBA. Not pictured: Derek Francis ’08; Lori Higgins ’94, ’12 MAL;
Nick Swanson ’09
Q&A
with tour guide and Professor
of English Kathy Swanson
Q:
A:
How many times have you traveled to
Thailand? What keeps bringing you back?
My husband and I lived in Thailand as Peace
Corps volunteers for two years and have
returned eight times since. We return because
we feel Thailand is our “second home.” We love
Thailand’s beauty—from the huge city of Bangkok to
the mountains of northern Thailand in Chiang Mai
to the small beach town where we lived. We also
have many dear friends, some former students and
colleagues, with whom we love to reconnect.
Q:
A:
Can you share with us a memory from a trip
you led with Augsburg students?
We have shared our love of Thailand with
Augsburg students during five trips and have so
many good memories. Former Auggies still share their
memories and pictures of the trips with us. Some
of these students became English language learner
teachers because of their experience teaching English
in our former school. I remember one student, for
example, who was hesitant about going so far away
from home and to such an unfamiliar place. She had
been my student in several classes and seemed to
trust me when I encouraged her, so she took the big
step. We are still in contact after many years and she
has written about her trip to Thailand as being “lifechanging.” She stepped out of her comfort zone and
experienced things she could have never imagined,
gaining confidence and self-awareness.
Q:
A:
Who should take this trip?
Anyone who values expanding a worldview,
learning about a new culture, and experiencing
beauty.
Summer 2016
25
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
AUGGIES CONNECT
Martin Sabo ’59 leaves a
lasting legacy. See page 23.
1960
Rev. Dennis Glad ’60
and Barbara Glad
of St. Francis, Minnesota, have
led nearly 1,000 volunteers on
mission trips to 14 Caribbean
islands, Costa Rica, and Belize
over the past 25 years. Working
on a volunteer construction team,
the Glads and their crew have
built schools, clinics, churches,
orphanages, and more. In April,
the couple received WCCO Radio’s
Good Neighbor Award, and they
are now in the station’s Good
Neighbor Hall of Fame. In 1999,
Rev. Glad retired after serving in
the United Methodist Church for
more than 40 years.
empowering dreams
Travelers EDGE® grant affords
students pathway to success
In March, Augsburg was awarded a
$115,000 grant to continue offering
Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for
Graduation and Employment), a program
that provides underrepresented students
with scholarships, paid internships,
and mentorship in an effort to break
down barriers and provide long-term
opportunity. The highly successful
program, now in its sixth year at
Augsburg, is poised to have 15 Travelers
EDGE scholars on campus this fall—its
largest cohort yet.
This prestigious program—open
to only 12 colleges in the United
States—has lifetime payoffs for
students, including the chance to find
challenging and rewarding careers in
the insurance and financial services
industry. To get there, each Travelers
EDGE scholar works with a career coach
and a professional mentor at Travelers
and participates in financial literacy
programming.
Marlene Ibsen, vice president of
community relations at Travelers, said
Augsburg was already doing great work
and made for a natural Travelers EDGE
partner.
“Everything and everyone we
encountered at Augsburg, including
President Pribbenow and throughout
the organization, made us think, ‘This
is a team of people who really get it and
would be outstanding additions to the
Travelers EDGE collaborative,’” said Ibsen.
Students in the program receive financial
26
Augsburg Now
scholarships and something that, in the
long run, pays even greater dividends—
networking contacts.
“Once they begin immersing
themselves in the professional
development workshops and start
to build relationships with Travelers
employees, students quickly learn
that the networking and professional
coaching they are getting will be of
significant use to them in the long
term,” said Janet Morales, Augsburg’s
director for the program.
So far, Augsburg has had 23
Travelers EDGE scholars participate in
the program and some have gone on to
accept full-time positions with Travelers.
Dustina Granlund ’14 is one of the
Travelers EDGE alumni who works at
Travelers. Granlund had two internships
at the company, including one in
Hartford, Connecticut. As an intern,
she helped develop new and more
efficient reporting systems that are still
in use today.
Granlund said her mentor helped
her understand how school applies
to the real world by encouraging her
to accept and take on challenges, to
network, and to push herself beyond
her comfort zone.
“My Travelers EDGE scholar
work taught me business etiquette,
interviewing techniques, and résumé
writing,” she said. “It helped connect
me with resources at Augsburg that I
didn’t really know about.”
Travelers EDGE connected Granlund
with staff in Augsburg’s Clair and Gladys
Strommen Center for Meaningful Work
who helped Granlund become more
comfortable seeking regular advice on
graduate school.
Morales sees that the value of the
program goes far beyond job experience.
“Travelers EDGE is confidence
building,” she said. “Our scholars
do not typically have any corporate
experience prior to becoming a part
of Travelers EDGE, nor do they have
family members with that experience,
so starting their professional journey
within insurance and financial services
can be intimidating. However, Travelers
EDGE gives the scholars opportunities
to learn and build their skills within a
safe space. The end result is that they
can imagine themselves with a career in
insurance and financial services, which
they couldn’t before.”
1964
Roger Johnson ’64
was presented with
the Donald Clark Memorial Award
at Minnesota Hockey’s annual
banquet in April. The award is
given to an individual who has
been dedicated to the grassroots
growth and development of youth
hockey in Minnesota. Johnson was
the head coach for boys’ hockey in
Fergus Falls, Minnesota, from 1965
until 1972 and then was varsity
assistant and junior varsity head
coach for the next 27 years until
1999. He is a substitute teacher
and a volunteer general manager
for the boys’ hockey team.
1969
Royce Helmbrecht ’69
graduated with a
degree in education. Today,
47 years later, he works as a
substitute teacher with students
who struggle to get through
school. He also teaches jail
inmates for the GED program.
fundraisers. Her leisure activities
include gardening, walking,
biking, and reading.
Michael Good ’71 celebrates
at groundbreaking ceremony.
See page 2.
jazzy food songs. Sullivan attended
Augsburg as a flute student, studied
broadcasting at Brown Institute,
and has worked in radio and as a
voice-over artist. After appearing at
venues that draw swing dancers,
she teamed up with Laurie to create
the duo Retro Swing Sister.
Three years ago at Valley of Peace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley,
Minnesota, three parishioners took on a Lenten art project to create a mosaic
for their church entry. Led by Barb (Durkee) Mikelson ’71, the committee
also included Emilie Moravec ’07 and Jon Daniels ’88. The design, primarily
Mikelson’s work, echoed the stained glass window design in the church’s
sanctuary created by the late August Molder, an Augsburg professor. Mikelson
served the past 12 years as director of her church’s early childhood education
center, All God’s Children Learning Center, and retired in January. The school’s
leadership is now in the able hands of another Auggie, Courtney GadboisBrumbaugh ’95.
From the Auggie Connections blog.
Read more at augsburg.edu/alumni/blog.
He says the Lord intervened in his
life and directed him to Augsburg,
and he feels blessed to have
followed the Lord’s direction.
1971
Mary (Soulen) Johnson ’71
is the new branch
assistant at Minnesota’s Aitkin
Public Library. She especially
enjoys working with children
at the library and at the Aitkin
Children’s Center. As a volunteer
at Wild and Free in Garrison,
Minnesota, she helps with
feeding animals and assists with
Merilee Klemp ’75 uses the
city of Minneapolis as her
classroom. See page 16.
1982
Maryann Sullivan ’82
and Rhonda Laurie
have been entertaining listening
audiences and swing dancers for
the past three years. In February,
the two performed “Swingin’ a
la Carte” as part of the Jazz@
St. Barney’s concert series at St.
Barnabas Lutheran Church in
Plymouth, Minnesota, reflecting
the singers’ love of cooking through
Scott Whirley ’82 and Henry
Gerten ’98 were inducted into
the National Wrestling Coaches
Association Division III Hall of
Fame in a ceremony in Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, prior to this year’s
NCAA Division III Wrestling
National Championships. Whirley
and Gerten are the ninth and 10th
Auggies to be inducted into the
NWCA Division III Hall of Fame.
Dr. Paul Mueller ’84 breaks ground
on Augsburg’s new, signature
academic building. See page 2.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
1967
In March, the Rev.
Terry J. Frovik ’67
and his wife, Pauline, were invited
by Archbishop Nemuel Babba
to participate in the installation
service for the Rev. Peter
Bartimawus, who was elected
Bishop of the Gongola Diocese of
the Lutheran Church of Christ in
Nigeria (LCCN). The service took
place in Bartimawus’ home village of Guyuk.
1992
Rosanne Newville Bump ’92 plans events, including
the St. Paul Winter Carnival as president and CEO
of the Saint Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation. She received
her MBA in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
She has stayed in touch with many of her Auggie classmates
over the years, and is pleased that both the St. Paul Winter
Carnival and the Cinco de Mayo organizations benefit from
the help of Augsburg interns as they plan events. She lives
with her husband of 28 years, Jeff Bump ’85, and their three
daughters (Madelyn, Ella, and Julia) in River Falls where she
served for nine years as CEO of the River Falls Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau.
Summer 2016
27
2000
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Brian Ammann ’85 reflects on one of
the standout athletes he coached.
See page 8.
1988
Building hope
In March, Bob Strommen ’74 volunteered for a
Habitat for Humanity project in Nicaragua. He
joined cousins Tim ’70 and Dawn (Hofstad) ’70
Strommen, and Judy (Knudson) Strommen ’77, and
was overwhelmed by the magnitude of poverty in
the small village where they worked. The trip was
Tim’s third visit to the same site.
Bob writes, “Prior to our venturing out,
we had an orientation led by our Nicaraguan
Habitat leader, Aleandra, who reported that there
was a need for more than 600,000 homes in
Nicaragua—either new builds or fixing up existing
homes in desperate need of repair. And we were
going to build one home. At the time I thought,
‘What difference will this make? How do you tackle
such an overwhelming need?’”
Upon meeting the eventual homeowner, her
daughter, and grandchildren, Bob soon learned
that their work in that one week would make a lifechanging impact for the family.
He’d considered the impact they would
make on the family of the house, but did not
comprehend the impact that the people and
volunteering would have on him, saying: “My goal
is not to be better than anyone else, but to be
better than I used to be.”
Jeff Judge ’88 successfully
defended his doctoral
dissertation at Minnesota State
University. His thesis was “Spirituality in
Higher Education: A Narrative Analysis of
its Use by Leaders for Decision-Making.”
Judge graduated from Augsburg with
bachelor’s degrees in music education
and Spanish, and received a master’s
in Spanish from Middlebury (Vermont)
College. He lives in Minnetonka,
Minnesota, with his wife, Jeannie, and
their three teenagers: Nico, Danny, and
Clare. He is the dean of the humanities
division at Normandale Community
College in Bloomington, Minnesota.
1989
Troy Bakker ’89 received a
doctorate of science degree
from Dakota State University in Madison,
South Dakota.
Stephen Hindle ’89 has been appointed
practice lead at the partner level for Aon
Hewitt’s assessment and leadership
practice for Asia, the Middle East, and
Africa. He also is the face of Aon Hewitt
in these markets. His responsibilities
include commercial management of all
assessment and leadership business
across 14 countries as well as all
operations, solution development, and
mergers and acquisitions activity in
these markets.
He is based in Singapore with his
wife of more than 21 years, Adean,
and their two daughters, Claudia and
Madeleine.
1996
As twin sisters, Kaja Foat ’96
and Zoe Foat ’96 have shared
a lot in life—a last name, a love of
color and nature, and a vision for a
more ethical world. In 2002, the sisters
followed their shared vision to create
FOAT. Their goal was to offer a refreshing,
eco-conscious alternative in women’s
fashion, starting with yoga apparel. Since
then, they’ve expanded their designs to
additional lines of one-of-a-kind garments
and wedding gowns, and their workspace
to studios in Minneapolis and Charleston,
South Carolina.
Devean George ’99 builds neighborhood
pride alongside community housing in
north Minneapolis. See page 8.
2000
Augsburg theater alumni
Stephanie Lein Walseth ’00,
Quinci Bachman ’15, and Jorge
Rodriguez ’15, and Professor Emerita
Martha Johnson participated in the
Full Circle Theater Company’s return
engagement of “Theater: A Sacred
Passage.” Lein Walseth and Johnson are
two writers of this original performance
piece, devised by the core artists of
Full Circle from their personal journeys
into theater. Their stories embody
the challenges and transformational
experiences they have had in becoming
theater artists and how their lives
and work reflect the changes in the
theater community during the past two
decades. The piece incorporates acting,
storytelling, choreography, and music.
Bachman was production coordinator,
stage manager, and sound designer.
Rodriguez served as set and technical
director and lighting designer. Johnson
was dramaturge and assistant director.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
1992
Heather Johnston ’92
(second from left) was
invited to speak at the annual
conference of the Municipal
Finance Directors of Israel in Eilat,
Israel. Johnston is president of
the Government Finance Officers
Association of the United States and
Canada. Johnston serves as the city
manager for Burnsville, Minnesota.
28
Augsburg Now
1999
[L to R]: J. Roxanne
Prichard, associate
professor of psychology and
neuroscience, and Jeanne “Birdie”
(Ramacher) Cunningham ’99,
associate director of health and
wellness, have created and
launched the Center for College
Sleep at the University
of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
2005
Jon Dahlin ’05
participated in track
and field at Augsburg, and he set
a national record in the hammer
throw that still stands. He went
on to compete nationally and
internationally in Highland games.
He competed in states including
California, Florida, and Texas, and
he also competed in Iceland. He
traveled to Gyor, Hungary, as part
of Team USA for the 2015 World
Highland Games Championship
where he squared off against 15
athletes from around the world.
He was pleased to record one
of his best performances ever
in caber (tossing a 175-pound
wooden beam), and finished in
seventh place. Dahlin lives in
Minnetonka, Minnesota, and works
as a software developer at Barr
Engineering, focusing primarily
on creating web applications. He
also is a sports photographer who
covers NFL games.
Jenni Fisher ’05 and Jade
Boettcher ’15 MAE were united
in marriage on January 20 in
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Boettcher received his Master of
Arts in Education from Augsburg
and is a special education teacher
at John Marshall High School
in Rochester, Minnesota. Fisher
received her bachelor’s from
Augsburg and is a clinic assistant
at Planned Parenthood
in Rochester.
Brandon Green ’05 is a new
managing partner at MG
Resources. Before joining the
company, Green spent nearly 18
years with Griffiths Corporation.
2007
James Lekatz ’07
wrote the music for
“The Snow Queen,” which was
presented at Stages Theatre in
Hopkins, Minnesota, in March.
This summer, Lekatz worked with
a group of students with autism
on a production of “The BFG” as
part of a program called CAST,
Creative Accepting Sensoryfriendly Theatre. He will be
assistant director on a production
called “Twinkle Twinkle,” as part
of Stages Theatre Company’s
theater for the very young, and he
will compose Stages’ next dance/
ballet piece, “The Velveteen
Rabbit,” to be performed next
spring.
2008
Andrew Webb ’08
volunteers his
time to assist local and global
communities as they recover from
natural disasters and tragedies.
He encourages others through
a letter-writing campaign and
invites groups, such as area
high schools, to join him in his
dedication to this mission.
Sara (Quigley) Brown ’00
received her chaplain badge
for the Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains
Ministry, a statewide nonprofit that serves
police and fire personnel. The program
follows a strict training that mirrors the
training of police officers.
Brown will return to the Twin Cities
in August to attend a clinical pastoral
education residency through which she
will receive certification to become a hospital chaplain.
2000
Ross Murray ’00,
’09 MBA, has
been issued a call from the
Metropolitan New York Synod in
New York City to be consecrated
as a diaconal minister and focus
on LGBT advocacy at GLAAD. He
and Richard Garnett ’07, ’09 MBA
were married in April.
2001
Sarah (Grans) Peterka ’01
married Erik Peterka
on December 12. Several Auggies
were at the celebration including:
Carrie Lind ’01, Skylar Hanson ’01,
Laura Hahn ’02, Erica ’01 and
Jason ’01 Bryan-Wegner, Ben
Hoogland ’00, Larye ’98 and
Melissa (Moyle) Pohlman ’00,
Lenise Butler ’01, and
Birgitte Simpson ’13.
2010
Jennifer (Mathwig)
Ortloff ’10 became joint
owner of the public accounting
firm of Peterson Juergensen
Hemerick & Co. in Hutchinson,
Minnesota, after five years with
the firm. Prior to becoming an
owner and before earning an
accounting degree at Augsburg,
she worked on the administrative
side of the company. Ortloff is a
native of Brownton, Minnesota,
and worked for the city of
Brownton while completing
her degree.
2005
When Claire Pettry ’05
moved to Ohio in the
fall of 2015, her Augsburg College
connection played a key role in
helping her form friendships in
her new locale. She met Chris
Ascher ’81 and wife, Susan, and
the three became fast friends
who completed a 5K run on
Thanksgiving.
2003
Megan and Jay
Howard ’03 welcomed
their son, Elias John, on April 28.
Lisa Svac Hawks ’85 sees Augsburg College as a “pillar of faith,” one of the reasons she chose the College
and why she continues to be involved. She served six years on the Alumni Board and is a founding
member of Augsburg Women Engaged.
Hawks is vice president, external communications, for United Healthcare Services. She is focused on
helping simplify the complicated health care landscape for the consumers so that they can live healthier
lives. In her spare time, Hawks enjoys gardening, cooking, and playing golf and other sports. She also
enjoys coaching her 10-year-old son Andrew’s baseball team, which she has done for the past three years.
From the Auggie Connections blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
2011
Patrick Siegel ’11 is
the proud owner of
Robusto & Briar cigar store and
lounge in Lakewood, Ohio. The
establishment is made for all
who appreciate a fine cigar and
conversation-worthy décor. He
got hooked on the cigar business
when, as a student at Augsburg,
he was hired by the Golden Leaf
shop, where he bought his cigars.
He and wife, Nicole, who grew
up in Rocky River, Ohio, decided
to settle in Lakewood. Robusto &
Briar specializes in hand-rolled
products that are kept in a 15-by30 foot humidor. The shop offers
about 400 types of cigars and
about 50 kinds of tobacco.
2012
The Minnesota
Women’s Press
published an article on Interfaith
Youth Connection, a program
for high school and college-age
youth that promotes interfaith
understanding and service. The
article includes comments from
Fardosa Hassan ’12, Muslim
student program associate at
Augsburg College and program
coordinator of Interfaith Youth
Connection. By holding regular
conversations and yearly service
events, the group seeks to give
youth “a way to be proud of
who they are in whatever faith
background they [believe],
while reducing prejudice and
misconception,” Hassan said.
“In the midst of what is going on
today, this is something we need.”
Patrick Sayler ’12 is the new
general manager of Co-op Natural
Foods in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota. Before returning to Sioux
Falls three years ago, he spent
16 years in the Minneapolis area
managing cafes and retail shops.
As the general manager of Co-op
Natural Foods, he will oversee an
established business that employs
approximately 20 people and does
more than $2 million a year. He
is completing work on a degree in
business management/marketing
and project management at the
University of Sioux Falls.
2014
Allison Zank ’14 has
been named a National
Science Foundation Graduate
Research Fellow for 2016-17.
Zank will receive a $34,000
annual stipend and $12,000 costof-education allowance to assist
her in achieving a research-based
graduate degree. An NSF GRFP
indicates to graduate schools that
a student is a top undergraduate
scientist in the nation. Zank
conducted summer research
on biofilms with Augsburg
Associate Professor Jennifer
Bankers-Fulbright as well as at the
University of Minnesota’s Dental
School. Zank also has spent time
conducting research in industry.
At Augsburg, she was named an
URGO Scholar, McNair Scholar,
AugSTEM Scholar, and Goldwater
Scholar. She plans to pursue
a master’s degree in clinical
microbiology at the University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse this fall.
GRADUATE
2015
Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP
presented at a breakout session
for Fairview Health Services’
Somali Cultural Health Day in
April. Her topic was “Critical
decision making and chronic
illness.” Clark connected her
previous bedside nursing
experience with her current
experience working with Somali
community members at the
Health Commons in the CedarRiverside neighborhood. Her
focus was to teach health care
providers to deliver culturally
congruent care to marginalized
populations. She concentrated
her efforts on reducing the role of
stereotypes and assumptions in
the patient-provider relationship.
Jordan Holm ’15
competed in the 2016
Olympic trials in the 85-kilogram
weight class for Greco-Roman
wrestling at Carver-Hawkeye
Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on
April 6. Holm was one of three
athletes automatically earning the
No. 1 ranking. He graduated from
Augsburg with a business degree
in marketing.
Duina Hernandez ’16 lets
dirt fly at an Augsburg
groundbreaking ceremony.
See page 2.
Evan Berg ’10 MBA was hired as
assistant vice president and loan
officer at the Janesville State Bank
in Janesville, Minnesota. He has a
bachelor’s degree in economics/
business administration from
Winona State University and an
MBA from Augsburg, as well as
eight years of experience in credit
analysis and lending with Farm
Credit and several banks.
AUGGIE CONNECTIONS:
a new, personalized
newsletter
Whether it be in the classroom, cheering on your favorite Auggie
team, or supporting the on-campus groups that mean the most to
you, Augsburg College emphasizes a direct, personal experience
for its students and alumni. In today’s world where information is
coming from all angles and at all times, personalized, meaningful
information is more important than ever.
The Alumni Association recognizes this and is taking a step
to provide more pertinent and timely information about what’s
happening at Augsburg. Beginning this summer, Augsburg is
offering a personalized e-newsletter that will be delivered on a
schedule of your choosing, in a format you want. No more monthly
Now@Augsburg emails. The Auggie Connections newsletter is
now in your hands.
Choose the topics you are most interested in: Auggie
athletics? Theater and music? Science? Want to hear it all? With
your new, improved Auggie Connections newsletter, you won’t
miss a thing.
The first personalized Auggie Connections newsletter
arrived in your email inbox in late June. If you haven’t yet set your
preferences, check your email for the message titled “Augsburg
College - delivered YOUR way,” to get started.
To update your contact information, email alumniupdate@
augsburg.edu.
2009
Benjamin Austin ’09
and Michelle
(Anderson) Austin ’11 were
married December 19 in St. Paul.
They met at Augsburg during her
sophomore year and his senior
year.
Schuyler (Dunhaupt)
Tilson ’10 graduated
from Mitchell Hamline School of Law
in St. Paul in January with a focus in
Indian law. She recently passed the
Minnesota bar and became a staff
attorney for the Ho-Chunk Nation
Trial Court. She holds undergraduate
degrees from Augsburg in history
and American Indian studies.
2012
Muneer Al-Hameed ’12
won the Dancing with the
Twin Cities Celebrities Charity Ball
in February. Augsburg alumna Carla
Beaurline ’91 was a judge this year
and a 2015 Dancing with the Twin
Cities celebrity dancer.
FRESH LOOK,
INCREASED
INTERACTION
Nic Thomley ’06 MBA was named to the
2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows and the
Aspen Global Leadership Network at the
Aspen Institute. This growing network unites
a worldwide community of entrepreneurial
leaders from business, government, and the
nonprofit sector who share a commitment
to enlightened leadership and to using their
creativity, energy, and resources to tackle
the foremost societal challenges of our time.
Thomley is an accomplished entrepreneur
in the human services industry and the
founder of companies that provide an array
of services to persons with disabilities and
senior citizens. Thomley is the founder and
30
Augsburg Now
CEO of Morning Star Financial Services and
the founder and chairman of Summit Fiscal
Agency and Pinnacle Services, Minneapolis.
Thomley was named a 2015 Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist and,
in 2006, was named to Inc. Magazine’s
“30 Under 30, America’s Coolest Young
Entrepreneurs” list and to the Minneapolis/
St. Paul Business Journal’s “40 Under 40”
list. In 2010, Thomley was presented with
Augsburg’s First Decade Award, which
honors graduates of the past 10 years who
have made significant progress in their
professional achievements and contributions
to the community.
Enjoy several new features on the Augsburg Now magazine’s
companion website. Thanks to a site upgrade, it’s possible to:
• Read articles on mobile devices with ease
• Share favorite stories and photos on social media
• View exclusive slideshows and videos
• Manage your magazine subscription and delivery method
• “Go green” by opting for digital content instead of print
• Submit class notes and share good news
SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE
Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move,
marriage, and births. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/connect to submit
your announcements.
Mike Polis ’10 has
started Backboard
Media, based in Northeast
Minneapolis. Check it out at
backboardgroup.com.
2010
augsburg.edu/now
Entrepreneurial leader recognized
2010
2013
Kuoth Wiel ’13 cofounded the NyaEden
Foundation, a nonprofit that aims
to provide basic survival necessities
to disadvantaged women and
children throughout Africa. She is an
actress, model, and humanitarian
whose debut film role was in “The
Good Lie,” a drama starring Reese
Witherspoon that tells the story of
a group of Sudanese refugees who
are offered shelter in the United
States. Wiel was born to a Sudanese mother and father in an Ethiopian
refugee camp following her parents’ escape from war-torn Sudan. As a
young adult, Wiel moved to Minneapolis to attend Augsburg and study
social psychology. Visit nyaedenfoundation.org to learn more about the
organization’s work to foster girls’ and women’s safety, empowerment,
independence, dignity, self-esteem, and self-respect.
Fall 2015
37
Summer 2016
31
In memoriam
Chester R. Heikkinen ’40,
Robbinsdale, Minnesota,
age 99, on November 24.
Helen (Quanbeck)
Nichols ’44, Monticello,
Minnesota, age 94, on
April 27.
Frederick “Fred” M. King ’71,
Onalaska, Wisconsin, age
73, on February 5.
Helen E. (Berg) Peterson ’46,
Minneapolis, age 92, on
November 23.
Martin O. Sabo ’59,
Minneapolis, age 78,
on March 13.
Kenneth J. Dahlberg ’80,
Colorado Springs,
Colorado, age 62,
on December 21.
Doris M. Rear-Hustad ’46,
Blanchardville, Wisconsin,
age 90, on March 18.
Gary A. Hoonsbeen ’60,
Crystal, Minnesota,
age 77, on March 7.
Brenda L. Fredrick ’82,
Strawberry Point, Iowa,
age 57, on April 23.
Loren M. Thorson ’46,
Green Valley, Arizona,
age 96, on March 8.
Robert N. Martin ’61,
Dracut, Massachusetts,
age 81, on March 22.
Janice C. Olson ’84,
Lakewood, Washington,
age 79, on January 19.
Robert “Bob” E. Lee ’47,
Hallettsville, Texas,
age 92, on March 3.
Norbert W. W. Mokros ’61,
Duluth, Minnesota,
age 77, on January 25.
Melissa A. Lawrence ’88,
Minneapolis, age 59,
on March 1.
Aagoth E. (Hanson)
Hansen ’48, Willmar,
Minnesota, age 89,
on January 4.
Sherman P. Coltvet ’62,
Rochester, Minnesota,
age 75, on January 30.
Marilyn J. (Cederstrom)
Teubert ’88, Waconia,
Minnesota, age 84,
on November 23.
Paul D. Hilton ’51,
Cumberland, Wisconsin,
age 86, on January 28.
Eugene M. Nelson ’51,
Colorado Springs,
Colorado, age 86,
on January 11.
Lillian K. (Ysteboe) Ose ’51,
Benson, Minnesota,
age 87, on January 5.
Leonard E. Dalberg ’52,
Solvang, California,
age 90, on April 21.
Randall “Randy” Fischer ’52,
Lynchburg, Virginia,
age 85, on February 5.
Robert C. Ingman ’54,
Minneapolis, age 85, on
September 3.
Charles “Bob” R.
Hudgins ’62, Burnsville,
Minnesota, age 75,
on December 12.
Charles W. King, Jr. ’62,
Sun City West, Arizona,
age 76, on December 17.
Philip O. Sidney ’63,
St. Paul, age 75,
on April 10.
Mary M. Lindgren ’64,
Minneapolis, age 74,
on March 15.
David A. Mallak ’65,
Austin, Texas, age 72,
on February 10.
Steven H. Steinke ’65,
Pequot Lakes, Minnesota,
age 68, on January 26.
Robert R. Benson ’67,
Preston, Minnesota,
age 70, on December 23.
Karl B. Lunder ’70, Red
Wing, Minnesota, age 69,
on March 12.
SAVE THE DATES:
SEPTEMBER 22-24
New events and schedule!
William “Bill” J. Schutt ’75,
Watertown, South Dakota,
age 74, on February 2.
Richard “Dick” L. Berg ’57,
Minneapolis, age 85,
on February 3.
Vera C. (Alberg)
Hafstad ’50, Owatonna,
Minnesota, age 86, on
March 11.
Augsburg Now
Dayne W. Sather ’55,
Maple Grove, Minnesota,
age 86, on January 25.
Joyce I. (Engstrom)
Spector ’70, Minneapolis,
age 68, on April 1.
Mary (Mortensen) Nelson ’45,
Minneapolis, age 92, on
January 22.
Arnold H. Skaar ’48,
Edina, Minnesota, age 91,
on February 2.
32
Dale W. Quanbeck ’54,
Grand Forks, North
Dakota, age 84,
on January 18.
Carol R. (Pasquarella)
Liedtke ’89, Shorewood,
Illinois, age 73,
on December 5.
Diane P. Ondrey ’94,
Minneapolis, age 80,
on February 19.
Jean W. (Thompson)
Rondeau ’94, Minneapolis,
age 77, on April 12.
Sandra K. Berg ’98, Inver
Grove Heights, Minnesota,
age 69, on January 26.
Conrad D. Meyer ’98,
Merida, Mexico, age 66,
on April 3.
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BE CAL
Barbara (Steinle)
Huckle ’00, Burnsville,
Minnesota, age 55,
on April 16.
Jason C. Magnon ’13,
Georgetown, Texas,
age 25, on January 15.
Go to augsburg.edu/homecoming to register and see the new events this year.
The “In memoriam” listings in this publication
include notifications received before May 10.
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Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
The Augsburg Choir joins Barry Manilow on stage
The exceptional talent and hard work of the Augsburg Choir was rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing backup
during Grammy-award winner Barry Manilow’s farewell tour. Members of the choir sang three of his hits in an encore at the
Xcel Energy Center: “I Write the Songs,” “Miracle,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”
Show less
Navigating uncharted waters
Playing it forward
An exploration of faith
HIGH-IMPACT
LEARNING
SPRING 2016 | VOL. 78, NO. 2
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weis... Show more
Navigating uncharted waters
Playing it forward
An exploration of faith
HIGH-IMPACT
LEARNING
SPRING 2016 | VOL. 78, NO. 2
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On serendipity in education
I vividly recall the moment in 1977 when a
conversation with a religion professor at Luther
College, my alma mater, offered me a way of
thinking about my vocational journey that has
changed my life. When I admitted my doubts
about following my dad’s path to the ministry, the
professor shared his own journey to divinity school
and the study of theology, the sort of study I had
begun to explore in his class. The rest is history,
as they say. I went on to study ethics and theology
in divinity school and to pursue my own calling
for leadership in higher education.
A moment of serendipity that changed
my life—unexpected, unplanned, and so very
meaningful—made possible by a teaching and
learning community and a teacher that created
the opportunity for such moments.
Such serendipity in education is a hallmark
of the educational experience at Augsburg. I’m
sure you have your own stories of the faculty
or staff member, maybe the fellow student, or
perhaps the community member who offered you
the insight, the experience, the counsel, or the
challenge that shaped your path.
This issue of Augsburg Now reminds us of
the people and experiences that continue to offer
Augsburg students the promise of serendipity in
their education. From award-winning teachers
and researchers like Phil Adamo of the History
Department and Henry Yoon of the Psychology
Department to inspiring guest speakers like
LeVar Burton (yes, the “Star Trek” and “Reading
Rainbow” star) and Dr. Donald Warne (an
American Indian medical doctor challenging
us to pay attention to public health issues on
reservations). From nationally recognized efforts
like our StepUP® program for students recovering
from addiction to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum
that inspires all of us to be peacemakers in
our communities. Serendipity in education
happens for all of us because of these people
and programs, and because of this College’s deep
commitment to such experiences.
One particular moment from last fall stands
out for me. Our groundbreaking River Semester
gave 12 students the educational experience of
a lifetime as they spent the entire semester on
the Mississippi River (see page 16). When I went
to St. Louis to meet with the River Semester
students and faculty halfway through the
semester, I heard tale after tale of serendipitous
experiences along the river. But then one student
took me aside and said that for Associate
Professor Joe Underhill, who organized the class,
this was the trip he had always dreamed about,
given his passion for the river. And, the student
continued, Joe could have done the trip with
his family or friends—surely an easier way to
spend nearly four months on the river? Instead,
the student said, he chose to do it with us, his
students. He chose to do it with his students.
That, my friends, is the “stuff” of serendipity
in education. Teachers who choose to create
the space for serendipity to happen—in the
classroom, in the cafeteria, on the playing
fields or performance stage, even on the Mighty
Mississippi. May it always be so.
Faithfully yours,
Director of Marketing
Communication
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
Communication Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
Laura Swanson ’15 MBA
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Creative Associate
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Christina Haller
haller@augsburg.edu
Production Manager
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Advancement Communication
Specialist
Jen Lowman Day
dayj@augsburg.edu
Contributor
Kate H. Elliott
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
ISSN 1058-1545
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Send address corrections to:
alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.
Email: now@augsburg.edu
AUGSBURG NOW
Spring 2016
02 Around the quad
08
Playing it forward
14
An exploration of faith
16
Navigating uncharted waters
24
Auggies connect
27
Class notes
32
In memoriam
On the cover: Auggies paddle past the Gateway Arch in
St. Louis as part of a semester-long journey following the
Mississippi River from St. Paul to New Orleans. See page 16.
Photo by Whitney Curtis.
Correction: In the Fall 2015 issue of Augsburg Now, the
story “From Riverside Ave. to Riverside, CA” omitted that
Matthew Dunn ’08 was among several recent Augsburg
College graduates to pursue an advanced degree at the
University of California-Riverside.
All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise
indicated.
Augsburg College students walk through Lindell Library—a building that will connect to the future
Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Learn more about the
Hagfors Center on page 3.
AROUND
THE
QUAD
IGNITING
PASSION, FINDING
HARMONY
Convocation Series
sparks conversation
2
Augsburg Now
The Augsburg College Convocation Series each year offers the community
a chance to hear from leaders and visionaries who spark important
discussion and educate about the challenges and opportunities of
today’s generation. The first event in 2016 was the Martin Luther King Jr.
Convocation in January, featuring Chuck D, leader and co-founder of the
legendary rap group Public Enemy, and his presentation, “Race, Rap, and
Reality: Supporting Our Youth in the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
as They Face the Unique Challenges of Today.”
The Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics in February
welcomed Dr. Donald Warne—professor and chair of the
Department of Public Health in the College of Health
Professions at North Dakota State University, and senior
policy advisor to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s
Health Board—whose presentation was “Traditional
Lakota Approaches to Health Disparities: Connecting
People and the Environment.”
The Koryne Horbal Lecture in March featured Nekima
Levy-Pounds, attorney, law professor, and president of the
Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP.
Courtesy Photos
Hip-hop pioneer and best-selling author
Chuck D addresses hundreds of attendees at the
2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation.
AROUND THE QUAD
Exterior rendering of the Hagfors Center
E
L
A
S
N
O
TICKETS
CONSTRUCTION STARTS
In May, Augsburg College will begin the construction of its newest and largest
academic building, the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science,
Business, and Religion. The interdisciplinary Hagfors Center embodies
Augsburg’s commitment to student learning, urban placemaking, and thoughtful
stewardship.
The building design features classrooms and labs that are configurable to
support experiential learning as well as other teaching and learning formats.
These spaces will be constructed on a modular framework that allows for
flexibility to meet the College’s long-term needs.
The building will anchor the west side of campus and welcome the
College’s neighborhood with an
“open arms” design facing the
adjacent residential community
and embracing the on-campus
community gardens. The
Hagfors Center also will be the
most environmentally friendly
building on campus, seeking a
LEED Silver certification for its
Mock-up offices
sustainable design.
As part of the building planning process, Augsburg constructed life-size
models of two proposed configurations for faculty and staff offices. The office
concepts were on display in Lindell Library so community members could
stop by to check out the look and feel of the spaces. Students (and even
some faculty members) made themselves at home in the offices by taking
time to study, check email, and read, all the while bringing new meaning to
the phrase, “open-door policy.”
Children’s rights advocate to
keynote peace-building event
Augsburg College will host the 28th
annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum
June 6–8, inviting global leaders and
the general public to explore pressing
peacemaking issues faced by people
across the globe.
This year’s forum will
honor and feature
a keynote address
by Kailash Satyarthi,
joint winner of the
2014 Nobel Peace
Prize. For decades,
Satyarthi has been
tireless in his
advocacy for child
rights, education,
and child labor reform in India. While
in Minneapolis, Satyarthi will join other
peace-building experts to explore human
rights and democracy, disarmament,
sustainability, and inclusivity.
Courtesy Photo
THIS SPRING
College moves forward on
new academic building
Get tickets and learn more at
nobelpeaceprizeforum.org.
The first classes will be held in the Hagfors Center in January 2018. Go to
augsburg.edu/hagforscenter to keep track of project developments.
Spring 2016
3
Historyapolis project wins
ALICE SMITH PRIZE
Twin Cities middle schoolers participate in a Somali debate
initiative led by the Minnesota Urban Debate League.
[Top to bottom]: Kirsten Delegard, who serves
as a scholar-in-residence in the Augsburg
College History Department, and Michael
Lansing, associate professor of history, were
presented the Alice Smith Prize for best public
history project completed in the
previous calendar year by the
Midwestern History Association.
The Historyapolis Project
was created when Delegard
realized that the citizens of
her hometown of Minneapolis
craved complex stories about
the city’s past that would help
them understand how it became
the wonderful and intricate
place that it is today.
Augsburg students are deeply involved
with the project, which aims to make the
city’s history accessible and helps instigate
community dialogue around challenging
aspects of local history. Visit historyapolis.com for
more information.
Signature urban debate program
REACHES MILESTONE
Augsburg College’s Minnesota Urban Debate League program provides
services, support, and materials to more than 750 students engaged in
competitive academic debate at 40 high schools and middle schools across
the Twin Cities metro area. This year marked the first time that the state
debate championship featured two teams from the Minnesota Urban Debate
League: St. Paul’s Highland Park and Minneapolis’ Washburn high schools.
Led by Executive Director Amy Cram Helwich and Faculty Adviser Robert
Groven, an Augsburg communication studies professor, the program helps
increase school engagement and connectedness, which boosts young
people’s confidence in their academic abilities. The program’s impact is
shown through a 100 percent on-time high school graduation rate and a
99 percent college acceptance rate for debaters. “No other out-of-school
program accomplishes such significant gains,” according to Groven.
4
Augsburg Now
Photo courtesy of Lisa Lynch
Minnesota Urban Debate League participants
dominate 2016 state championship
The Historyapolis Project invites Augsburg College
students and community members to conduct research
to help interpret the history of Minneapolis. [L to R]:
Citizen-researcher Rita Yeads and Anna Romskog ’15
view city planning photographs from the 1930s in the
Minneapolis City Archives at City Hall.
AROUND THE QUAD
Professor Phillip Adamo peers out of his office in Memorial Hall.
Phillip Adamo named 2015 Minnesota
Augsburg College was named No. 6
on Best Value Schools’ 2015 list
of 20 Best Value Colleges or
Universities in Minnesota.
eetable
Rankings are based on
graduation rate, net
price, acceptance rate,
#AuggieP
and 20-year net return on
investment.
e
rid
Augsburg College’s Phillip Adamo, professor of history and director of the
Honors Program, was named the 2015 Minnesota Professor of the Year by
the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council
for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Adamo was recognized for his accomplishment in a proclamation by
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges who declared November 19, 2015,
“Dr. Phillip C. Adamo Day in the City of Minneapolis.”
Adamo is the second Augsburg College faculty member to be honored by
Carnegie/CASE. In 2004, Professor Emeritus of Sociology Garry Hesser earned
the prestigious award.
Tw
PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR
Augsburg deemed a
‘best value’ college
Spring 2016
5
ON THE SPOT
Henry Yoon examines addiction risk
Augsburg College Associate Professor Henry Yoon oversees the biopsychology major and
leads the Augsburg Biopsychology Lab. One area of his research involves studying disorders
related to the inability to inhibit socially inappropriate or even illegal behaviors such as
the use of illicit substances that can lead to addiction. Yoon uses neurophysiological
techniques including EEG to capture and analyze the brain’s electrical activity to identify
telltale signs of biological or genetic risk for substance dependence.
Yoon works collaboratively with the StepUP® Program, Augsburg’s residential recovery
community, and the University of Minnesota’s Department of Psychology. Ultimately, Yoon’s
research may help refine the biological tools used in the diagnosis of substance addiction.
Q:
A:
What prompted your interest in studying
addiction?
Substance use disorders are both common
and costly—many of us have personal issues
with substance use or know someone who does,
including our family members. Plus, addiction
is often connected to other major psychiatric
disorders in systematic ways. It is important to
understand the core factors underlying addiction
for intervention and treatment purposes.
Q:
One of the brainwaves you focus on—
the P3—has been studied in relation
to childhood disruptive disorders such as
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
adolescent substance dependence, and adult
antisocial behaviors. What’s the link among
these areas?
A:
Collectively, these disorders reflect a
tendency toward behavioral disinhibition,
which may be expressed in various ways over
development through childhood, adolescence,
and adulthood. Evidence shows that this
tendency is highly heritable—in other words,
influenced by genes. The P3 brain measure is
significant because it may signify who is at risk
for these disorders. For instance, my colleagues
and I showed that P3 is itself highly heritable
and can be used to predict who will develop
these types of disorders over a 12-year span. So,
we reason that the P3 can serve as a red flag.
6
Augsburg Now
Q:
Despite recognition of the biological and
genetic nature of substance use disorders,
social stigmas persist. Could improved scientific
literacy play a role in reducing these stigmas?
A:
I think a cautionary tale from my field’s
history can help address this question.
In the 1940s-70s, the concept of the
“schizophrenogenic mother” was popular in
the psychiatric literature. This term implied
that mothers who interacted with their children
in a cold, rejecting, and aloof manner caused
schizophrenia in those children. Another
version of this, in relation to autism, was the
“refrigerator mother,” which carried a similar
implication.
Later scientific research rejected these
incorrect and harmful notions and instead
showed that such disorders largely involve
genetic/biological factors. The same trend
can be observed with regard to addiction. For
instance, it is now known that substance use
disorders are influenced by genetic background
to a degree comparable to other complex
medical conditions such as diabetes or coronary
heart disease. Of course environmental factors
are also important, but overall this shows that
combating addiction is not a matter of willpower
or flawed character.
Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn
more about Yoon’s research.
This colorful graph shows a representation of the P3 brainwave activity that Henry Yoon has been investigating in
relation to behavioral disinhibition. Abnormalities in the P3 wave have been shown to correlate with addictive behaviors.
AROUND THE QUAD
StepUP Gala
®
Research, study, and offer
your two cents
breaks fundraising record
In March 2015, Melissa Motl,
circulation coordinator in Augsburg’s
Lindell Library, started posing questions
to students on a whiteboard as a way
to gain more information about how
students use and view the library. She
asked questions like, “What can you
get at the library that you can’t get
anywhere else?” and “What would you
like to see the library do differently?” It
garnered such great feedback that she
decided to continue asking questions
as a fun and interesting way to find out
more about Auggies.
Each year, Augsburg College’s StepUP Program supports dozens of students as
they achieve academic success and sustain lives of recovery from substance
use disorders. Augsburg is home to the largest collegiate recovery community
in the United States, and its work receives generous support from numerous
corporations, foundations, individuals, and families.
The program received a noteworthy boost this year when its philanthropic
gala raised $419,000 from ticket
sales, sponsorships, and individual
gifts—a sum that nearly doubled
the amount raised the previous year.
Former WCCO TV anchor Don Shelby
was the master of ceremonies and
the featured keynote speech was
by Anne Thompson Heller ’08, a
StepUP alumna who has founded
[L to R]: Broadcaster Don Shelby joins
and championed recovery
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Augsburg
organizations at collegiate,
College President Paul Pribbenow
state, and national levels.
at the StepUP Gala.
Who ever came up
with this question
is EVIL!! You can’t
make me choose! :(
wars
“We have some really
creative and thoughtful
students here at Augsburg,
and I think that’s why we always
get great responses. Some are
thoughtful, and some are silly or witty,”
said Motl.
Who ever came up
this question
“Your lackwithof
is EVIL!! You can’t
make me
choose! :(
faith disturbs
me!”
-Darth Vader
wa
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Who ever came up
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Who ever came up
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One
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is EVIL!! You can’t
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-Darth Vader
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a
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s
Sports Extravaganza
rssets record,star
Amanda Koltes ’17 MAE works
with Sports Extravaganza participants.
wars
Star
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with this question
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“Your
is EVIL!! You can’
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At the 15th annual Sports Extravaganza, Augsburg College physical
with this question
education and exercise science students used knowledge gained in the
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classroom to deliver smiles to a record 307 grade-school and
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children with physical, cognitive, and learning disabilities. For the event,
-Darth Vader
Auggies created activity stations in the Augsburg athletics dome and assisted
children as they played.
The Star Tribune published several Sports Extravaganza photos and described participants’
enthusiasm as “Flying high without leaving the ground.” Visit augsburg.edu/now.
V
Spring 2016
7
PLAYING IT
FORWARD
AUGGIE COACHES CREATE
CYCLE OF GIVING BACK
BY CHRISTINA HALLER
Division III athletics is the sweet spot for
student-athletes—they compete on teams and
nurture deep, meaningful relationships with their
coaches and peers, and at the same time have
the freedom and time to explore other activities
and passions while having a strong focus on
academics. These reasons, among others—the
competition, camaraderie, discipline, and love
of the game—are why more than 500 Augsburg
students participate in varsity and intramural
sports every year.
The welcoming and supportive Augsburg
College Athletics Department has had a profound
impact on many student-athletes, which in
return has sparked a desire in many former
players to give back to youth as leaders, mentors,
and friends. Here is a glimpse into the lasting
influence of Auggie athletics on alumni through
the decades.
8
Augsburg Now
Whitney Restemayer ’10 is the first woman in the state of Minnesota to coach a team to a hockey
state title, the 2015 Minnesota State High School Girls’ Hockey Tournament Class A Championship.
I’ve always enjoyed working with kids,
teaching the game, and mentoring players
off the field. Being a student-athlete
at Augsburg taught me many valuable
lessons and allowed me to strengthen my
leadership skills. Many people from my
athletic upbringing have influenced the
way I teach young men about soccer and
life. I must admit, Auggie soccer coaches
Greg Holker, Jonathan Schaefer, and
Nate Hitch had a profound influence on me
during college.
The most gratifying thing about
coaching is seeing my boys grow into
young men and become contributing
members of the community. I was a kid
who was influenced in so many positive
ways by several people in my athletic path.
For me to have the opportunity to give back
a fraction of my time is the most gratifying
thing in the world.
VAN HONG ’11
Enterprise risk analytics consultant at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Minneapolis; youth soccer coach at Park
Valley United and co-founder of Spam F.C. College Scholarship Foundation in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
SUE (MEIER) ZIEGLER ’80
Physical education and health and
wellness teacher and head volleyball and
track coach at Lincoln Lutheran Middle/
Senior High School in Lincoln, Nebraska
Photos by Matt Ryerson
I was involved with basketball and track
as an Auggie. I would credit the whole
Augsburg Health–Physical Education
Department and coaches for supporting
me—people like longtime athletic
director and men’s basketball coach
Ernie Anderson ’37 were always looking
out for athletes’ best interests. I believe I
received a quality education in a Christian
environment, and feel blessed to be in a
similar situation now. I hope I have had an
impact on helping shape young people’s
lives through education and athletics, too.
Students teach me life lessons every
day. The impact that they have had on my
life has been invaluable—on relationships,
commitment, and learning. I love seeing
where my former students and athletes
go on in the next step of their lives—
from college to starting their families to
excelling in their careers.
Spring 2016
11
Everything I got from sports as a player—
the love of the game, the friendships, the
teamwork, the cohesion—sparked a desire
in me to coach. I started playing sports
at a young age and experienced coaches
who I really clicked with, and I knew that I
wanted to be able to give back to athletes
in the same way. I had a great experience
at Augsburg. Playing two sports, being a
health and physical education major, and
working within the Athletics Department
allowed me to meet many people who had a
great influence on my life.
I have been very lucky to achieve a lot
of success in my short coaching career.
Being able to be a part of something
so great on ice allowed me to also be a
part of something great off the ice. The
relationships that I have developed with
many of the girls I have coached is second
to none.
WHITNEY RESTEMAYER ’10
Physical education teacher at Challenger Elementary School
and assistant girls’ softball coach and head girls’ hockey
coach at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, Minnesota
JAMELL TIDWELL ’05
Assistant administrator, athletic
director, and middle school football
and track coach at Valley Middle
School of STEM, and high school
wrestling coach at Apple Valley High
School in Apple Valley, Minnesota
I feel like God put athletics in my
life to keep me out of trouble so that
I could get to where I am today. If I
didn’t have wrestling in my life, there’s
no way I’d currently be working toward
my doctorate. I didn’t have a dad
growing up, so when I was a studentathlete at Augsburg, Auggie wrestling
coaches Jeff Swenson ’79, Sam
Barber, and Donny Wichmann ’89
took me under their wings and taught
me how to be a student, how to be an
athlete, how to be a man, and how to
be successful.
I hope that by being a coach, I
can show kids that, through athletics
and working hard in school, you can
achieve anything. I always tell my
players, you have to be a student first
and an athlete second.
AN
EXPLORATION
OF FAITH
PRESTIGIOUS $467,000
GRANT FOSTERS STUDENTS’
ENGAGEMENT IN YOUTH
THEOLOGY INSTITUTE
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
“J
esus is in the generosity business,”
said Amber Kalina ’15 when she
quoted from Walter Brueggeman’s
theology of abundance at an Augsburg
College chapel service. “That means
being constantly alert to any mismatch
between the generosity of God and the
needs of people.”
Certainly, Augsburg was given a
great and generous gift this winter when
the College was awarded a prestigious
three-year Lilly Endowment Inc. grant
of $467,000 for the Youth Theology
Institute. This residential summer camp
program explores deep and meaningful
questions of faith and vocation through
classes, service work, and reflection.
The competitive grant ensures that this
program will continue the work of helping
young people discern their vocations.
Kalina’s homily was part of a visit
to her home state of Minnesota to
pursue the next step in her vocational
journey: Attending seminary to become
ordained as a minister in the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America.
The journey of this youth and
family ministry graduate, however,
started in the the summer of 2010
14
Augsburg Now
when she was a junior in high school
in Perham, Minnesota. It was then that
she attended Augsburg’s Youth Theology
Institute at the encouragement of her
youth pastor.
“I would grill my youth director
about everything. He had heard about
the Augsburg College Youth Theology
Institute, and he encouraged me to
attend because I just couldn’t stop
asking questions,” Kalina said. “At the
Institute, I was challenged and pushed
to think about and explain what I
actually think about faith.”
DIVERSE EXPERIENCES
IN A DIVERSE ZIP CODE
The 13-year-old Youth Theology
Institute engages young people in
grades 10-12 in deep theological
questions and vocational discernment
through community-based and
classroom learning, worship, reflection,
and solitude. The program, which has
touched more than 200 young people
since its inception, is an example of
how Augsburg College lives out its
vision to educate people for lives of
purpose across disciplines and beyond
the classroom.
“This grant supports Augsburg’s
continued commitment to intentional
diversity and to modeling what it means
to be a Lutheran college of the 21st
century, located in the heart of one of
the nation’s most diverse ZIP codes. It
equips young people with theological
and vocational skills and helps them
learn what it means to practice
their faith, with its commitments to
education, radical hospitality, and
serving your neighbor,” said Augsburg
College President Paul Pribbenow.
LEARN, PRAY, AND
PLAY TOGETHER
Since its inception in 2004, the Youth
Theology Institute—a program of
Augsburg’s Bernhard M. Christensen
Center for Vocation—has explored
themes germane not only to the College,
but also to current events.
Augsburg’s emphasis on
interdisciplinary learning shaped
the 2015 program, which explored
interfaith action, a deeply compelling
topic for participants and the College,
particularly given Augsburg’s setting
in the midst of a neighborhood with a
growing Muslim population.
The Lilly grant will allow the
Augsburg College Youth Theology
Institute to expand upon its history of
success while increasing programmatic
goals, including:
• Development of a cohort of youth
ministers from regional churches,
synods, and multicultural and
ethnic-specific congregations,
interested in enhancing vocational
discernment and theological
reflection among youth.
Photo by Mark Chamberlain
Amber Kalina ’15 serves Abundant Life Together,
a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. This Alt Year program in Toledo, Ohio,
provides young adults a chance to explore in
community subjects including vocation through
reflection, leadership, relationships, and service.
• Growth in the number of participants
from 20 in 2016 to 40 by
2019 while also strengthening
relationships with attendees, their
families, their pastors, and their
churches.
• The creation of a mentor program
to allow college-age students to
help high school students develop
practices and skills for theological
reflection.
• An increase in connections to the
four synods of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America
that form Augsburg’s governing
structure—Minneapolis, St. Paul,
Southeastern Minnesota, and
Northwest Wisconsin.
• Continuation of scholarships for
Youth Theology Institute alumni to
attend Augsburg College.
“We learn together,
pray together, play together,
explore the city together, and
discern God’s work in our
world together.”
− Jeremy Myers
Youth Theology Institute program director
and associate professor of religion
Participants in the program are
respectfully challenged in every activity
to dig deep into their perspectives and
biases to uncover their beliefs.
“We learn together, pray together,
play together, explore the city together,
and discern God’s work in our world
together,” said Associate Professor
of Religion Jeremy Myers, the Youth
Theology Institute program director.
For her part, Kalina hopes the grant
prompts others like her to find their paths.
“Young people are so eager to learn,”
Kalina said. “But if there is nothing at
home to welcome their questioning or to
guide them, it is difficult. Home church
congregations have to be involved.
Participation from our churches provides
a chance for all of us to show young
people that abundance exists in Christian
community and that abundance is meant
to be shared with everyone.”
Augsburg College will welcome the
2016 class of Youth Theology Institute
students to campus from June 19–24.
Participants from across the country will
explore meaningful questions related to
social and environmental justice, the role
of the congregation in these questions,
and how one can both love and be
frustrated by community.
To learn more, visit augsburg.edu/acyti.
Spring 2016
15
Navigating
uncharted waters
First-ever River Semester pushes
boundaries of experiential learning
By Kate H. Elliott
The River Semester was billed as an experiential learning
opportunity: engage in a full load of political, environmental,
and physical education courses—reinforced by a research
project—while canoeing down the Mississippi River from its
headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. But for the
12 Augsburg College students, two faculty members, teaching
assistant, and two guides who completed the first-of-its-kind
trek from August to December, it was so much more.
For it was on those waters that the crew learned to
appreciate the quiet, to be curious about the world around
them, and to seek knowledge. They learned to be prepared, to
make friendship a fine art, and most importantly to enjoy the
8
Augsburg Now
moment. And they didn’t just learn about the river so much
as become enamored of it, so much so that many of them feel
unsteady back on solid ground.
The Mississippi became their muse, teacher, personal
trainer, and confidante. They dreamt alongside its calming
waters and paddled through its more turbulent channels.
Soon, its problems became their problems: urban stormwater
runoff, the economic decay of river towns, and invasive flying
carp smacked them—literally—in the face. And so, what
started as an interesting, immersive experience has become a
sobering call to restore and protect one of the United States’
most iconic natural wonders.
Spring 2016
17
Ricky Taylor ’17, a film and graphic design major, captured the crew’s three-month journey and
many of the social, economic, political, and cultural forces gripping the river as he gathered
footage for a feature-length documentary. He plans to premiere “Learning to Listen: Our
Semester on the River” this summer.
“We learned by living, meeting the people, and witnessing the issues that illustrate the
complexities plaguing the river,” Taylor said. “We met Carl, a shrimper who once walked on
land that is now six feet beneath water, and we paddled past sediment that was filling in the
river’s largest lake (Lake Pepin near Red Wing, Minnesota). We read about levees being ‘big bad
wolves’ but then saw them protect families just trying to make their way through life. A portion
of Louisiana is being swallowed up by the ocean, a culture disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico,
largely due to agricultural practices that help feed our nation.
“Somewhere along the way, I slipped out of the boat and into the Big Muddy. Every day I
think about the river—about the paddling, the friends, the food, the learning—longing to be
back there. Mud runs through my veins, and the only word I can find to describe the experience
is ‘love,’ and that’s not a word I take lightly.”
A gripping odyssey
The trip had all the elements of any good adventure story:
There was a steadfast leader, Joe Underhill, who has been engaged in environmental politics
for 30 years and had been dreaming about this trip for almost as long; an epic journey paddling
nearly 700 miles in 24-foot handmade cedar-strip voyager canoes; and a compelling cast of
characters, including the student who’d never camped, the chipper morning person, and a
student about to drop out who found his calling en route. There were unexpected moments,
including an emergency appendectomy outside Mark Twain’s hometown, an open mic night
harmonizing with the locals of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and a visit to the Michael Brown
memorial in Ferguson, Missouri. And finally, there were lots of emotions—all of them, really.
Underhill knew the trip would be an odyssey in every sense of the word. The professor
of political science, environmental studies, and international relations had been planning
“
Mud runs
through my
veins
—Ricky Taylor ’17
and networking for 15 years to realize the River Semester. He tested the waters in 2001 by
organizing a three-day field trip from St. Cloud, Minnesota, to St. Paul. Five-day and 10-day
excursions followed before he proposed the semester experience in 2012.
“This is where Augsburg stands out from other institutions,” said Underhill, who has
organized interdisciplinary trips throughout the world. “Augsburg values experiential learning,
place-based pedagogy, and innovative approaches so much that it wasn’t a
matter of ‘if’ we can make this happen but ‘how.’ Yes, we had three years
of sorting out logistics, but the College continues to empower and support
faculty to engage in this type of work, and you only have to talk with one
of these students to grasp the impact.”
Once logistics were in place, Underhill’s years of contacts at
organizations such as the National Park Service rushed in to participate—
offering guest lectures, exclusive tours of historic sites, hot meals, and
lodging. Wilderness Inquiry, a Minneapolis-based outfitter that has
partnered with Augsburg for years, provided logistical expertise and
risk management planning as well as guides, food, and equipment. Erik
Ophaug, a Wilderness Inquiry program manager, said the outfitter is proud
to be at the forefront in creative endeavors that increase students’ access
to and connection with the natural world.
“This was the longest expedition we have run, in terms of number of days on the river, in
our 40-year history of supporting educational and expeditionary outdoor adventures,” Ophaug
said. “It was inspiring to watch these students truly soak up and process all of the little
moments that make up the culture, politics, ecosystem, and history of the Mississippi River
watershed.”
Guide Emily Knudson ’15 had paddled with Underhill on a 10-day canoe trip as part of a
River Politics course her senior year. When she learned the semester-long excursion wouldn’t
materialize until after she would graduate, the determined triple major in environmental
studies, English literature, and Spanish secured a job with Wilderness Inquiry in hopes of
gaining a staff position on the trip, which she did. Charged with almost every logistical task,
from planning mileage and booking campsites to grocery shopping and monitoring weather
conditions, Knudson also served as a supplemental instructor and intern for Augsburg. She
led study sessions and presented lectures in their outdoor classrooms (or the nearest city’s
laundromat or public library in bad weather).
“Educational experiences like this are important because they make you think so much
more deeply about the course content. Instead of memorizing facts about the lock and dam
system for a test, we were paddling through the pools the dams created, hearing stories from
locals, and camping on the islands built to replace those flooded out decades earlier. In a
couple years, I will forget almost everything I memorized, but I will never forget my learning in
action,” said Knudson.
Guitar
Headlamp
Rain gear
French press
Rubber boots
Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn
which items the River Semester
crew couldn’t live without.
Self-discovery on the riverbanks
Glen Gardner ’17 was considering taking a year off from school when he saw the River Semester
publicized in the cafeteria. He signed up, and somewhere along the pilgrimage, the Montana
native realized he wants to teach art. Gardner is back at Augsburg this semester, majoring in
studio art and art education.
“Having the time to unplug and reflect about my life helped me realize my passion for art
education. I have always been interested in the arts, but I hadn’t really thought about teaching
until I discovered that I loved spreading the feelings I find in art to other people as much as I
enjoy making art,” Gardner said. “I want to extend my knowledge and passion beyond myself
and use art to promote living in a way that is not wasteful to the world.”
Spring 2016
19
Hearing this, Underhill is proud. Provoking self-exploration
was not his motivation for organizing the trip, but the sense of
vocation students found down river is certainly the journey’s
most fulfilling outcome. Admittedly, he took a leap of faith
selecting the crew. He didn’t pick a team of students with
similar interests, backgrounds, maturity levels, and outdoor
experience. He picked a team that reflects Augsburg’s
commitment to nurturing a diverse community of resilient,
driven, and faith-filled citizens. As you can imagine, the initial
weeks included some whining and a few cold stares, but before
long, this dynamic group evolved into a harmonious tribe.
Forging lasting bonds
Taylor was nervous about the trip, not because of the physical
demands or the elements (he was an Eagle Scout and grew
up a “river kid” in north-central Wisconsin). As the crew’s
videographer and documentarian, Taylor was most concerned
about getting his new Nikon, Sony video camera, and
two GoPros wet. But even more so, he was terrified of the
quiet—for those moments when people would start sharing
information about their lives. He was finishing up his second
semester at Augsburg in the College’s StepUP® Program, the
nation’s largest residential collegiate recovery community.
Now sober for two years, Taylor said he burned bridges
between himself and others before he entered recovery.
“My peers on the River Semester were some of my first
friends in a long time. It was truly a fresh start,” he said.
“On the trip, I heard things that were strange to my ears:
‘Ricky, you’re a good person,’ ‘You’re kind,’ and ‘I’m amazed
by you.’ I always looked around, thinking, ‘Are you sure you’re
talking to me?’ It was the first time in years that I felt good,
felt worth, and felt confidence. People trusting and caring for
me is more precious to me than anything, and I developed
everlasting bonds with this crew.”
Brian Arvold ’80 witnessed that closeness when he
welcomed home his daughter, Hannah, who was one of
the first two students to sign up for the trip. When the
crew stepped off the train at a welcome home rally in midDecember, Arvold said, the students ran into their families’
arms, and then they all ran back—to each other.
8
Augsburg Now
“It was touching for all of us to see,” said Arvold, who
was waving a canoe paddle painted with “River Semester” as
the train slowed to a halt. “You may want a lot for your child,
but lifelong friendships are at the top of the list. Knowing that
these students will be there for each other through life’s ups
and downs is comforting.
“We’d talk to Hannah along the trip, and we could hear
her growing more socially and culturally aware, but we also
detected a real sense of confidence. Paddling that entire river
empowered our daughter as she was placed in settings where
she had to stand up for herself, push through, and create
solutions. Augsburg is truly on the forefront—a small college
doing great things. It’s neat to see them embrace learning
without four walls.”
Wading through analysis, navigating partnerships
Hannah Arvold ’18 was able to channel her professional
pursuits into a research project focused on nutrition and the
environmental impacts of farming. On the first leg of their
trip, she calculated the caloric intake and expenditure of her
peers, noting which foods provided the best sources of energy.
Near the end of their voyage, she recorded the agriculture
industry’s negative impacts on the river, including gasoline
and pesticides seeping into groundwater. “Caring about the
health of your body,” Arvold said, “is just as important as the
health of the land it is grown on.
“I created an ‘I the Mississippi’ bumper sticker and
gave it out to people along our trip for freewill donations,”
Arvold said. “We donated $500 of the money raised to
purchase science equipment for the International School of
Louisiana where we presented many of our research findings
to more than 160 fourth- and sixth-graders.”
Each student conducted a research project, and many
of them involved collaborations with external partners
throughout the United States. Noah Cameron ’17 worked with
Minnesota artist Monica Haller, known for the “Veterans Book
Project,” which captures interviews and data from dozens
of soldiers, refugees, and journalists affected by wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Cameron used a hydrophone to record
underwater noises while on the river and then paired them
with social and cultural recordings, which he plans to use for
future collaborations with Haller.
“It seems that intense, mindful listening is a difficult task
nowadays, and some people have no reason to listen. I was
given a reason, and I learned much about the nature of sound,
silence, noise, and listening,” the political science major said.
“My project acknowledges that the river has something to say,
which it certainly does. One thing the river told me was that
it is polarized; its waters are either filled with the sounds of
mechanical engineering or with quiet ecological or hydrologic
characteristics.
“Similarly to how I thoughtfully listen to the systems of
the river, I realized that we—as a society—should thoughtfully
listen, which is not the same as agreeing, to our government
and each other. I viewed the river like our government—this
massive, daunting entity that we seem to have little effect
on. However, as we moved down that river and as we took
classes about both the nature of the river and the nature of
democracy, we learned that we do affect that river, and we do
affect our government.”
Blair Stewig ’18 connected with the river on a molecular
level, studying how the concentrations of various chemicals
influence ecosystems. Throughout the trip, she collected water
quality data like that of the National Park Service’s “State of
the River Report.” She also collaborated with Reuben Heine,
a geology professor at Augustana College in Rock Island,
Illinois, to gather sonar data about subaqueous dunes, or
sediment bed forms at the bottom of the river.
“My main focus was on the accumulation of nitrates
in the Mississippi and its effect on the Gulf of Mexico. The
molecule, commonly found in fertilizers, seeps into the
river system from agricultural and urban runoff, feedlots,
sewage treatment plants, and more. This excess results in a
‘Dead Zone’ in the Northern Gulf of Mexico each late spring
and summer,” said Stewig, who is majoring in biology and
chemistry. “What does that mean? An influx of nutrients
results in an algae bloom. When these algae die, they sink
to the bottom of the ocean, where they are consumed by
bacteria, which depletes the area of oxygen. Some marine
life sense the lack of oxygen and leave, but others die as a
result. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Dead Zone costs the U.S. seafood and
tourism industry $82 million per year.”
Lark Weller, who collaborated with Stewig on behalf of
the National Park Service, said Stewig’s data will inform
brochures and fact sheets about excess nitrates in a river
system that provides water for upwards of 15 million people.
The research these students conducted is compelling, Weller
said, but their connection to the river is even more impressive.
“I suppose it’s possible to complete a college degree
without really ever understanding the broader context of the
world around you—but not for River Semester students. It
is clear the experience dramatically changed the lives of
every single student who accepted the challenge. They have
returned with a new and expansive sense of self, place, and
world,” said Weller.
Memories keep rollin’ along
The next leg of this journey: The documentary. Taylor
produced several short videos chronicling the trip, which are
at augsburg.edu/river, and he’s looking forward to sharing the
experience through his forthcoming feature-length film. For
now, the River Semester crew continues to process the issues
they know and to reflect upon their moments together: rows
of sleeping bags dotting the shore as they looked up at an
ebony sky studded with millions of heavenly diamonds; waking
at 3 a.m. to paddle from darkness to dawn; and swaying in
hammocks tied to the tall willow trees of remote river islands.
So, if you see members of this motley crew sleeping
outside, don’t judge. They’re just longing to be back on
the water, where they grew stronger and a bit wiser, having
realized that the issues gripping the Mississippi River are
as sophisticated as its ecosystems. That enlightenment has
influenced the way they now see the world, with varying
shades of compromise and understanding. They reenter their
lives with renewed purpose, fueled by an empowering sense
of community, the ability to adapt, and the ache for life’s next
adventure.
“
It feels good to say, ‘I know the Mississippi.’
But, of course, you don’t—what you know better
is yourself and the Mississippi has helped.
—River Semester student journal entry
From trickling headwaters to the
WIDE AND MIGHTY OCEAN
River Semester participants share memorable events along the river
Beginning in 2003, Augsburg College Associate Professor Joe Underhill began incorporating short Mississippi River
trips—three-, five-, and 10-day excursions—into his environmental politics curriculum. He first presented the idea
of a semester-long trip to College leadership in 2012, and then three years of logistical discussions and planning
followed. This past fall, Underhill and biology instructor Thorpe Halloran shoved off from St. Paul with 12 students, two
guides, and a teaching assistant. Here are a few highlights from their journey.
AUG. 28-30: Held an orientation at
the Mississippi River headwaters to
introduce courses, review canoeing and
water safety basics, and discuss topics
such as American Indians’ perspectives
on the environment and sustainability.
1
SEPT. 1: Chris Coleman, mayor of
St. Paul, joined nearly 100 Auggies,
family members, and high school students
at the launch of the nation’s first-ever
River Semester. Dozens of attendees
paddled in a flotilla of 24-foot voyageur
canoes to South St. Paul.
2
SEPT. 5-7: Studied the water
quality and impact of farming,
including increased sediment load on the
river. Sampled water alongside fisheries
biologists with the Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources.
3
“Without a current and with a brutal head wind,
paddling Lake Pepin was probably one of our
most challenging days.” —Lily Moloney ’15
SEPT. 12-17: Joined faculty and
students from Winona State
University for stream ecology labs and
discussion on the impact of the lock and
dam system.
4
OCT. 3: A rough paddle through the
pool above Lock and Dam No. 13,
one of the widest pools on the upper river.
The crew struggled through fierce winds
to avoid submerged tree stumps left over
5
from before the dam was built. One of the
canoes sustained a bad crack, which the
crew repaired at camp.
OCT. 7-10: Met with local farmers
and a nonprofit environmental
group that organizes river cleanups, tree
plantings, and other conservation efforts.
The crew also engaged a field lab with
Reuben Heine, geography professor at
Augustana College in Illinois.
6
OCT. 20-21: When the crew
paddled into author Mark Twain’s
hometown, Izzie Smith ’18 began to suffer
from stomach pain. By midnight, she had
been diagnosed with appendicitis, and
the next morning she had surgery. Two
weeks later, Smith rejoined the group in
Memphis. Even with all the excitement,
the team still engaged in a lively
discussion about Huck Finn and literary
figures born along the Mississippi.
7
OCT. 29: The last morning of their
journey on the upper river, the crew
woke up at 3 a.m. to paddle for a few
hours in the dark to catch the sun rise
over the river. They ended their sunrise
paddle on the Mississippi’s banks north
of St. Louis, from which vans shuttled
the crew past the Chain of Rocks, an
exposure of bedrock in the Cuivre River.
8
9
NOV. 2: As part of Underhill’s
course, Democracy in the American
Heartland, students traveled to the
Michael Brown Memorial—the site of the
August 2014 shooting death of a black
teenager by a white policeman, which
prompted national commentary on racial
discrimination and gun control. President
Paul Pribbenow joined the group for a
tour through the city and discussions with
residents.
“Standing at that memorial in the middle of
the road was a deeply unsettling experience—
there was no way it could or should have been
otherwise.” —President Paul Pribbenow
NOV. 16: The team paddled past
expansive sandbars and islands
full of wildlife at the confluence of the
Mississippi and Arkansas rivers. Waters in
this area can rise and fall as much as 70
feet and swirl around canoes.
10
NOV. 26: Thanksgiving in New
Orleans: The crew enjoyed an
abundance of fried turkey and comforting
side dishes at their hostel as they visited
with fellow travelers from more than a
dozen countries.
11
12
DEC. 11: Travel by train to Chicago.
“The train back to Chicago was spent
doing a lot of work on our finals, but it was also
a time to reflect on everything we experienced
on the trip.” —Blair Stewig ’18
1
ITASCA STATE
PARK, MN
HARRIET ISLAND, ST. PAUL
2
LAKE PEPIN
3
4
WINONA, MN
CLINTON, IA
HANNIBAL, MO
5
6
CHICAGO, IL
12
QUAD CITIES
7
LOUISIANA, MO
8
FERGUSON, MO
9
10
CHOCTAW ISLAND, TN
DEC. 14-15 The crew traveled by train from Chicago
to the Twin Cities and joined in a “good-bye” hug
upon arrival at Union Depot in St. Paul.
As part of the River Semester welcome back celebration,
Augsburg graphic design and typography students created an
interactive gallery exhibit chronicling the voyage. Learn more
at augsburg.edu/now.
NEW ORLEANS, LA
11
Spring 2016
23
AUGGIES CONNECT
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear alumni and friends,
JILL WATSON ’10 MBA, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
24
Augsburg Now
Courtesy Photo
T
oday’s Augsburg College students seek to make
a difference, and it’s been a privilege to interact
with them as they gather to meet alumni, discuss
vocation, and pick up targeted professional advice at
recent events. Last fall, the Clair and Gladys Strommen
Center for Meaningful Work hosted a Career and
Internship Fair and welcomed young Auggies who sought
to make connections with employers and internship hosts.
Shortly after the event, nearly two dozen Augsburg alumni returned to
campus to join panel discussions about their academic and career stories across
a range of disciplines and professions. These events were part of a five-week
major and career exploration series that provided nearly 175 students the
opportunity to explore a wide variety of degrees and occupations. This series was
made successful thanks, in part, to the Augsburg College alumni who served as
panelists. Thank you to all Auggies who shared your vocation and insight with
students!
Most recently, I was humbled by the talent, drive, and thoughtfulness I saw
all around me at the annual Alumni-Student Networking event in February, where
hundreds of alumni mingled with current students and faculty, received free
professional profile photos, and listened as alumni addressed the importance
of informational interviewing, mentoring, and using social media to connect.
Regardless of where we are in our professional lives, I think we all have something
to offer to or gain from such events.
Events like these make me proud to be an Auggie. If you shared your
experiences with students in the past year, you helped to inspire Auggie pride.
Whether you’re connecting with students, networking with graduates of all
class years, contributing to The Augsburg Fund
View videos that illustrate the
to support College initiatives, or planning a
impact of student internships
gift to fund an endowed scholarship, we are so
at augsburg.edu/now.
grateful.
As Augsburg moves into the future, alumni can help the College live out its
vision—to educate students for lives of purpose—across the disciplines, beyond
the classroom, and around the world.
You can engage your employer in identifying Auggies as candidates for
employment, internships, or mentorships by posting opportunities at your
company on the AugPost job board found at augsburg.edu/alumni.
I joined the alumni board because I wanted to see Auggies help other
Auggies and make a difference. Each time I attend an Augsburg event, I learn
more about what current students are up to, and I want to do everything I can to
help them succeed. Won’t you join me?
UNIQUELY AUGSBURG
TRAVEL IN THAILAND AND CAMBODIA
JANUARY 3-15, 2017
In January, English Professor Kathy
Swanson and her husband, Jack,
will lead an educational trip through
Thailand and Cambodia. After arriving
in Bangkok, travelers will tour the Grand
Palace, visit the temple at Wat Po (the
Reclining Buddha), shop for tropical
produce, and sample local cuisine
cooked on boats at a floating market.
From there they will continue to Chiang
Mai to ride elephants, perfect their
culinary skills with a cooking class, and
volunteer at an orphanage. The trip will
conclude in Siem Reap, Cambodia,
at Angkor Wat, the largest religious
monument in the world.
This thought-provoking tour has
been customized specifically for
Augsburg alumni, parents, and friends,
and there’s still time to learn more and
participate. Contact Katie Koch ’01,
director of Auggie Engagement, at
kochk@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1178
if you are interested in learning more
about Augsburg’s travel opportunities.
To learn more, go to
augsburg.edu/alumni/travel.
AUGGIES CONNECT
ALUMNA COMBINES
CREATIVITY AND CHEMISTRY
through career at 3M
Capstone dinner celebrates
SUCCESSFUL BUILDING CAMPAIGN
This winter, as part of the annual Advent Vespers festivities, Augsburg
College held a dinner to celebrate the successful completion of the
largest capital campaign in the institution’s history and to recognize
the generosity of all who made the Campaign for the Norman and
Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion
possible. More than 200 donors attended, including members of the
Board of Regents and many alumni supporters.
President Paul Pribbenow offered his sincere thanks to Norman
and Evangeline Hagfors and all donors to the new building. Chair of
the Board of Regents Dr. Paul Mueller ’84 shared his gratitude and
recognized the incredible leadership and commitment of Mike Good ’71
[pictured above], who served as national chair for the campaign that
exceeded its $50 million goal.
After becoming
involved with the 3M
STEP program as a
high school student,
Audrey Sherman ’97
[pictured] became
an inventor at age
20. Now a scientist
with 3M, Sherman is
credited with nearly
80 patents, some
created with other Augsburg alumni working at
the Minnesota-based company.
Sherman’s most recent patent is for a
versatile material with the potential to improve
cosmetics, insulation wrapping, and electronics.
Two of her favorite patents involve using
pressure-sensitive adhesives to transport light
and making a solvent-free duct tape. She also
helped discover a new solution for restickable
diaper tape. Sherman feels that her Augsburg
minor in art has been an important factor in
pursuing her inventions, enabling her to blend
creativity with her skills in chemistry. Today
she mentors St. Paul high school students
interested in science and gives talks to juniorhigh and middle-school students about careers
in science and technology.
Share your ideas for
AUGSBURG’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
years
Augsburg alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff are invited to help celebrate
the College’s 150th anniversary in 2019. What aspect of your Augsburg
history would you like to celebrate during the sesquicentennial year? Were you
connected to a team, a club, or a department that made a difference? Would
you like to see a reunion for your favorite activity—whether it was the Echo
newspaper staff, a sport, Lutheran Youth Encounter, the Augsburg Choir, or
theater? How best would you like to honor Augsburg’s past, present, and future?
Visit augsburg.edu/150 to submit your ideas and find monthly updates on
planning already underway for the sesquicentennial celebration.
Spring 2016
25
AUGGIES CONNECT
ALUMNI ASSIST
STUDENTS
on their path to
physician assistant
career
[L to R]: Augsburg College alumnus
Tom Towle ’14 MPA leads thenstudents Scott Harder ’15 MPA and
Christina Pekoske ’15 MPA through
the steps of starting an IV.
32
26
Augsburg Now
I
n the classroom and in the field, Augsburg
College alumni help today’s physician assistant
students gain a glimpse into the professional
world they’re preparing to enter. Through clinical
work and course instruction, alumni share their
experience in a high-demand field.
Augsburg’s Master of Science in Physician
Assistant Studies program was the first of its kind
in Minnesota and admitted its inaugural class in
1995. The full-time graduate program educates
generalist physician assistants oriented toward
service to underserved populations in rural and
urban settings.
The physician assistant (PA) concept has
evolved over time but continues to increase in
relevance. In alignment with health care industry
demand, the PA’s role continues to expand.
The Augsburg PA program’s long history
in Minnesota is advantageous, according to
Jenny Kluznik ’13 MPA, assistant professor of
physician assistant studies. PA students spend
approximately half of their graduate program in
a didactic—or classroom—phase. The latter half
of the program is spent in the community where
students complete clinical rotations that change
every five weeks. Augsburg’s PA alumni serve
as educators and lecturers for a course series in
clinical medicine and also serve as hosts for the
hands-on field work.
Meredith Wold ’07 MPA is a guest lecturer
for the program and an adjunct faculty member.
She works as a hospitalist PA with an internal
medicine team at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
As an undergraduate, Wold was focused almost
exclusively on medical school, but during her final
year in college she was struck by the teamwork she
witnessed between a doctor and a PA in surgery.
Now, after nearly a decade in her profession,
Wold values the team-based work of taking care
of hospitalized patients.
She weaves clinical episodes from her career
into her lectures, which serve to remind students
of the whole patient—not just the upcoming exam.
Melissa Oeding ’10 MPA, another guest
lecturer, agrees.
“As a recent graduate, I can relate to the
student experience, understand how students learn,
and provide real-world insight and advice regarding
what to expect as a practicing PA,” said Oeding,
who works at Minneapolis’ Hennepin County
Medical Center.
She’s stimulated by the chance to sit on the
other side of the lectern.
“It renews an excitement for my work and
career and reminds me just why I started out in the
program,” she said. “I feel extraordinarily blessed to
have been trained and trained well at Augsburg.”
Guest lecturer Olga Trouskova ’13 MPA sought
out Augsburg’s PA program in part because of its
emphasis on serving the underserved.
“I went into medicine to provide answers and
to heal,” Trouskova said. “Now I understand that
great medicine cannot happen without building
relationships and trust with my patients.”
She also is a hospitalist PA at Regions and,
during her weeks off, serves as a family practice
PA at Westside Community Health Services/La
Clinica, a community clinic.
Trouskova makes a point of including real
patient stories in her presentations to remind
students that PAs treat patients, not diseases.
For students, there’s no match for hearing these
types of lessons from alumni, according to Wold.
“It shows a level of alumni commitment
toward the program and the next generation
of Augsburg PAs,” she said. “Early on after
graduation I felt a duty, a professional
responsibility really, to give that back.”
And teaching is its own kind of gift,
according to Trouskova.
“By teaching others, I have learned as well,”
she said.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1960
Lowell “Zeke”
Ziemann ’60 continues
to write. His newest book,
“Gunslingers and Baseball,” is
a collection of Western historical
fiction, essays, and baseball
stories. It is available on Amazon.
1965
From his time at
Augsburg, Allen
Anderson ’65 fondly remembers his
music professor Leland Sateren ’35,
the Burgundy Singers, dorm life,
and choir tours. Today, Anderson is
still involved with choral music and
enjoys golf, woodworking, activities
in his community and at his church,
travel, and participation in Lutheran
Men in Mission. He and wife, Joyce,
have two children who graduated
from Augsburg. They travel to New
Zealand on occasion to visit their
son and his family.
Gary Blosberg ’65 says that his
current position is “reclined.”
He is retired after 26 years
as a finance manager at
General Electric and 23 years
in the U.S. Navy. He thanks
chemistry professor Courtland
Agre for sharing his wisdom
when he said: “You don’t need
to know everything; you just
need to know where to find the
answers.” Blosberg still sings
with the Centennial Singers, the
Masterworks Chorale, and other
groups. He is proud to be a father
and grandfather.
Connie (Ekeren) Cameron ’65
teaches at Honors Mentor
Connection, is on the Fringe
Festival Board, sings in the
St. Joan of Arc Choir, and is
involved in politics, travel, and
the League of Women Voters. Her
fondest memories of Augsburg
include the Kappa House girls,
professor Anne Pederson’s literature
wonderful teachers and role
models. Among Dietrich’s most
treasured Augsburg memories
are the excellent convocation
speakers and the great
friendships she made. Today, she
and husband, Franklin, enjoy
their grandsons, their involvement
at Central Lutheran Church, and
traveling. She also volunteers with
literature; and professor of history
Carl Chrislock ’37 for his effective
use of anecdote to enliven history.
Dyrud spends his time reading,
golfing, and traveling. He and
wife, Marilyn, have three children
who are all involved with theater,
and they enjoy seeing their
children’s work.
In October, Janis “Matty” Mathison ’69 was honored by the American
Planning Association’s Wisconsin Chapter as its Citizen of the Year for
her leadership in working with local residents and planners to promote
healthy living and active lifestyles in eastern Wisconsin’s Shawano
County. Last year was the third year of Bike the Barn Quilts, an area
bike tour that she spearheaded.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
classes, and her roommate of four
years Carol (Welch) Langness ’65.
Cameron thanks the team behind
the Christmas smorgasbords;
Ailene Cole, speech professor;
Orvald Haugsby, math professor;
Leland Sateren ’35, music
department head; and Phil
Quanbeck Sr. ’50. She and
husband, Bill, have three sons and
one grandchild.
Eunice (Bergman) Dietrich ’65
thanks home economics faculty
Ruth Segolson, Ruth Sonsteng,
and Katherine Peterson for being
daughter, Kari, at Dakota City,
the 1900s village in Farmington,
Minnesota. The Dietrichs also
have a son, Hans.
The faculty members who most
influenced David Dyrud ’65 as a
student were philosophy professor
Paul Sonnack ’42 for his intensity;
New Testament Greek and Latin
professor Mario Colacci for
his flamboyance; professor of
English Gerald Thorson ’43 for his
Hush Puppies (Dyrud’s favorite
shoes); professor of English Anne
Pederson, for her affection for
Mark Gjerde ’65 retired in 2004
from 3M. He enjoys traveling
with wife, Jan (Lunas) Gjerde ’68,
and spending time with their
grandchildren at a lake home. He
remembers Gerald “Jerry” Pryd ’66
and Paul Dahlen ’66, his friends
who died in a plane crash while
they were Augsburg students.
Gjerde was influenced by professor
of math George Soberg ’26 and
professor of philosophy Paul
Sonnack ’42. The Gjerdes lived in
Brussels from 1995-97 while Mark
worked for 3M. They have two sons
and four grandchildren.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
1960
This group of
alumni were friends
during college but had little
contact since graduating. They
were reunited at the 2015
Homecoming celebration and
barely scratched the surface
in terms of catching up. Now
retired, the five Auggies plan to
get together again soon.
[L to R]: The men and their previous careers: Arden Flaten ’60 (science teacher),
Myron Carlson ’60 (pastor), Don Gilberg ’60 (band teacher, piano tuner), Iver
Christopherson ’60 (high school principal), and Neuman Berger ’60 (attorney).
1974
The National Tile Contractors
Association recently honored Janet
(Durkee) Hohn ’74 with its Tile Person of the
Year award. Hohn was the third woman to
receive this honor in the six decades it has
been presented. For more than 20 years,
Hohn has operated a one-person, high-end
residential tile and stone installation company.
She has served as president of the Twin
Cities Local Tile Contractors Association, as
a board member and technical methods and
standards committee member for NTCA, and most recently as chairperson
of the NTCA training and education committee.
Spring
2014
2016
Fall 2014
17
27
37
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
One Augsburg College memory treasured by
Glenn Hamberg ’65 is the teaching style and
effectiveness of W. LaMarr Kopp in German
class. Other faculty members who influenced
Hamberg as a student were Mario Colacci from
the department of New Testament Greek and
Latin, Courtland Agre from chemistry, Gerald
Thorson ’43 from English, and Paul Sonnack ’42.
Hamberg’s present interests include crossword
puzzles, computers, movies, Jeopardy,
volunteering, travel, and spending time with
his grandchildren and wife, Sandra (Edstrom)
Hamberg ’66.
Jerry Hamlin ’65 works part time. He likes to
volunteer and to travel in his free time. He
treasures his memories of Augsburg basketball
games, the convocation with Nobel Prize winner
Linus Pauling, and feeling like every day was a
good day. He was most influenced by Donald
Gustafson and Carl Chrislock ’37 in history, and
Sheldon Fardig in education. Hamlin and wife,
Jari, have four children and 10 grandchildren.
James Harbo ’65 has a full-time dental
practice in New York. He enjoys visiting his
two grandchildren in Pennsylvania, doing
church work, reading theology, participating
in a book club, and aging well! He fondly
remembers his dorm friendships, baseball,
Augsburg Choir concerts, and soaking up the
culture of Minneapolis. The past 50 years have
heightened his appreciation of his years at
Augsburg where, he says, there was “much
goodness and inspiration.” Harbo and wife,
Amy, have three children.
Today you can find Peter Jacobson ’65
woodworking, volunteering, or traveling. He
and wife, Lynne, have two children and two
grandchildren. His fondest memories of
Augsburg include dorm life all four years,
Augsburg basketball, being a resident assistant,
and spending afternoons in the physics lab.
He was most influenced by physics professor
Theodore “Ted” Hanwick.
28
Julie (Gudmestad) Laudicina ’65 and husband,
Joe, love to travel and recently celebrated their
30th wedding anniversary with a cruise on
the Danube River. She also enjoys gardening,
reading, leading a book club, and living in
New York City. She has been a civil wedding
officiant for 10 years and has married more
than 300 couples from around the world. Some
For 12 years, David Raether ’78 wrote for TV comedy
sitcoms, including “Roseanne.” After building his career,
he took a break to focus on his family and found the job
market had changed completely when he attempted to
return to the field. After struggling and becoming homeless,
he says, he discovered that he was far more resourceful
and resilient than he had ever dreamed. Raether delivered
a TEDxAmherst talk and wrote a book about his experiences
titled, “Tell Me Something, She Said.”
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
of her memories of Augsburg include listening
to choir practice, freezing at football games,
enjoying her many friends, and participating
in student government and chapel. She
was most influenced by faculty members
Phil Quanbeck Sr. ’50, professor of religion;
Anne Pederson, professor of English; and
Philip Thompson, professor of art. She also
remembers Dean of Students Glen Johnson
and Dean of Women Fern Martinson. Laudicina
would most like to thank her parents, both
Augsburg alumni, for encouraging her to live
and learn with a strong set of values.
Sharon (Dittbenner) Klabunde ’65 plays in a
mountain dulcimer band, and loves to travel
and garden. She remembers chapel time from
her days at Augsburg and also living in a house
as a freshman where, she says, there were
three women to a room who shared one dinky
closet. She enjoyed working in the cafeteria.
Bette (Bodin) Leeney ’65 and husband, Jack,
love their home in Florida. They have a pool
and use it a lot. She likes to garden and to
welcome the family, mostly in the winter! Her
treasured memories of Augsburg focus on the
good values she learned and kept with her. She
remembers the assassination of President John
F. Kennedy and how difficult that was. She
admired Dean of Students Peter Armacost, who
supported her when her father passed away.
Her psychology and social work professors
inspired her to get her master’s degree in
social work. She and Marie (Bergh) Sandbo ’65
met freshman year and have remained friends
for 50 years. They share the same birthday.
Carol (Welch) Langness ’65 and husband, Gary,
spend every January to April in the East African
city of Iringa, Tanzania, along with their synod
partners in the Iringa Diocese. They have two
children and three grandchildren.
As a student, John Luoma ’65 was influenced
by Mario Colacci, professor of classical
languages; Carl Chrislock ’37, professor of
history; and William “Bill” Halverson ’51,
professor of religion. He treasures memories
Augsburg Now
of chapel, serving as student body president,
and Augsburg’s emphasis on vocation, service,
and faith active in love. Luoma is a minister of
education at Hope Lutheran, The Villages. He is
a Via de Cristo coordinator, a Diaconate teacher,
and likes to travel and bowl. He and wife, Gracia
(Nydahl) Luoma ’66, have two sons. Their oldest
son, Aaron, passed away in January 2015.
LeRoy Martinson ’65 retired in June 1998 after 33
years of teaching math and coaching skiing. Now
he stays active with tennis, volleyball, and five
grandchildren. He lives with wife, Micki, in Cross
Lake, Minnesota. His memories of Augsburg are
of his math teachers, his coaches, and student
teaching with Ms. Anderson. He was influenced
by professor of math George Soberg ’26,
professor of physical education Howard “Howie”
Pearson ’53, and Coach Edor Nelson ’38.
Martinson is a member of the Minnesota State
High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
Dan and Mary (Tildahl) Meyers ’65 met during
their freshman year at Augsburg. The couple
celebrated their 50th anniversary, Dan has
worked for AdvisorNet Financial for 50 years,
and it’s been 50 years since he graduated from
Augsburg. Dan remembers playing basketball
and baseball, and he was influenced most
by Ernie Anderson ’37 and Edor Nelson ’38.
He would thank Milt Kleven ’46, if he could,
for funding his scholarship. Dan keeps busy
with work, golf, reading, and basketball. Mary
enjoys walking, reading, caring for a grandson,
and traveling. She treasures the friendships
she made at Augsburg and meeting Dan
there. Carl Chrislock ’37 and her world history
class helped her realize she wasn’t a history
major. Mary says that Augsburg has been an
influence in their lives for 50 years. Whether
they return for athletic games, homecoming
or concerts, it always feels like coming home.
The Meyers have two children and three
grandchildren.
Larry Nelson ’65 thanks Theodore
“Ted” Hanwick, of the Physics
Department, for his challenging
and thorough classes. Nelson’s
Augsburg education provided a solid
foundation for his career in science
education. He enjoyed teaching
various areas of biology, in addition
to wilderness-based experiential
education. His fondest Augsburg
memories are of morning chapel,
convocations, studying in the library,
concerts, sporting events, and social
activities. Nelson says Augsburg
also prepared him for continued
spiritual growth. Today, he likes to
travel, read, garden, volunteer, do
house maintenance, and spend
time with his family. He and wife,
Marilyn, have two daughters and five
grandchildren.
Becky (Walhood) Nielsen ’65
remembers her good friends from
Miriam House. She and husband,
Steve Nielsen ’64, have three
daughters, 10 grandchildren,
and a great-grandchild. Their
granddaughter, Morgan Kenny ’17,
attends Augsburg.
Lois Peterson ’65 would thank Mimi
Kingsley, professor of Spanish,
for telling her that she had “a gift
for language.” Peterson is fluent
in Spanish, and she visited Mimi
in Chile prior to her death. Today,
Peterson enjoys traveling and
has been to Costa Rica, Mexico,
Norway, and Spain. She remembers
being in a class Bill Halverson ’51
taught in Old Main when the
news came of President John F.
Kennedy’s death, and watching the
Beatles for the first time while in
The Grill. She loves life in Denver,
where her children live nearby.
Leland Sateren ’35 most influenced
Sharon (Bjugstad) Ronning ’65, and
she has spent her life involved in
music. She sings in the Masterworks
Chorale, directs a church choir,
and teaches piano. Other activities
include knitting, spending time at
her cabin, and enjoying her four
children and eight grandchildren.
She met husband, Don Ronning ’66,
in the Augsburg Choir. Don passed
away in 2000.
Marie (Bergh) Sandbo ’65 and
husband, Hans Sandbo ’63, will
celebrate 50 years of marriage this
year. Marie likes to travel, spend
time with grandchildren, and serve
on the Heritage Committee at
church, all while continuing to run
a small business from home. Her
treasured memories of Augsburg
include the friendships made and
her studies in library science. Don
Gustafson, Martha Mattson ’28,
Ruth Aaskov ’53, Dick Husfloen ’60,
and Pat Parker are the faculty and
staff who most influenced Marie.
Two of the Sandbos’ three children
graduated from Augsburg.
1991
On October
13, 2015,
David Johnson ’91 was
promoted to Colonel in
the North Dakota Army
National Guard. He is a
senior Army chaplain for
the state. Johnson also is
an ELCA pastor serving
as a full-time chaplain for
the North Dakota Army
National Guard. He has
been serving in this call
for the past 12 years. Previous to this role, he served parishes in
central and eastern North Dakota.
Terry Simonson ’65 and wife,
Patricia, live in Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, where he serves as
a half-time chaplain at a residence
for seniors. Three generations
share their home, and his three
granddaughters are the joy of his
life. The memories of Augsburg
that he treasures are good times
spent with roommates and learning
Greek and Latin (his major). Erwin
Mickelberg ’54 was influential in
Simonson’s decision to attend
Augsburg. These days, he is
interested in quantum physics and
continues to explore the subject.
2006
Heather
(Nystrom)
Finholm ’06 and husband,
Jeffrey, announce the
adoption of their twin
sons, Joseph and
Matthew, born April 30,
2015, and adopted on
July 27, 2015.
2007
Lázaro G.
Payano Stark
was welcomed into this
world at home with the
help of his midwives on
April 3, 2015. He is the
son of Jenessa Payano
Stark ’07 and Geomar
Payano Stark. The
family resides in south
Minneapolis.
This fall, seven Auggies served on the varsity football coaching staff at Osseo (Minnesota)
High School and helped lead the team to its first Class 6A state championship. The group
of Augsburg alumni included Jack Osberg ’62, Derrin Lamker ’97, Mark Joseph ’01, Andy
Johnson ’04, Jordan Berg ’09, Royce Winford ’09, and David Tilton ’12.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
Spring
2014
Fall 2014
Spring
2016
17
37
29
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Win Stiefel ’65 taught school in Alaska and
now lives with wife, Gracia (Olson) Stiefel ’66, in
Glennallen, Alaska. He spent 10 years teaching
at a Bible college and 10 years in Russia
helping Evangelical churches. These days he
drives a school bus, enjoys 10 grandchildren
and a great grandchild, cuts firewood, and
volunteers at missions. He remembers
traveling with the wrestling team, canoeing on
the Mississippi River, and listening to the Basin
Streeters. If he could thank someone, it would
be the old man outside Cedar Ave. Mission
who asked him and others whether or not they
were saved.
Steve Strommen ’65 likes to spend his days
playing “Old Timer” softball, bird hunting,
appreciating winters in San Diego and
summers at a Minnesota cabin, performing
home renovations, and enjoying his family
and grandchildren. He has many memories
from athletics at Augsburg, including three
championship basketball teams and a
championship in baseball. The most influential
people during his time at Augsburg were Carl
Chrislock ’37 and coaches Ernie Anderson ’37
and Edor Nelson ’38. He and wife, Chynne,
have two children and five grandchildren.
Sharon (Topte) Taeger ’65 and David Taeger ’65
recently moved to Camrose—a city in
Alberta, Canada—after living for 19 years
in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Sharon likes
to read, paint, and socialize. David likes to
listen, watch, and marvel at the growth and
development of children, especially their four
grandchildren. He also enjoys reading and
being with friends. David received his M.Div.
from Northwestern Theological Seminary. He
was most influenced by Mario Collacci and
Carl Chrislock ’37 while at Augsburg. Sharon
and David have two children.
Virg Vagle ’65 would thank Ernie Anderson ’37,
Edor Nelson ’38, and Ed Saugestad ’59 for
being influential during his time at Augsburg.
Vagle enjoys golfing, traveling, and being with
his grandchildren. He and wife, Pat, have
seven children and 12 grandchildren.
Lyndy West ’65 fondly remembers playing in
the concert band and in the Basin Streeters, a
group that performed for Augsburg basketball
games. He entered Luther Seminary after
graduating from Augsburg and served
parishes in Los Angeles, inner-city Chicago,
and Minnesota. He officially retired in 2012.
He says the smartest thing he ever did was
to marry Diane Haas in 1969. They have four
children and four grandchildren. They like to
bike, travel, read, participate in music at their
church, and lead polka services. He thanks his
parents for encouraging him and his siblings to
attend Augsburg.
1967
John Schwartz ’67 is in his sixth
season with the acclaimed Apollo
Chorus of Chicago, which was formed in
1872. Schwartz serves as vice president of
its board. Auggie singers in the Chicago area
can audition to join this 130-member chorus.
Details can be found at Apollochorus.org.
1975
Glen Teske ’75 is enjoying the
adjustment to retirement after
working for 40 years in the IT department
at Hennepin County. Among his treasured
memories as a student at Augsburg are
business administration classes, tutoring
other students, and the friendships he made.
He also remembers playing four years of
basketball and winning the MIAC conference
title in 1975. He thanks professor of history
Khin Khin Jensen, adviser and professor of
business Keishiro Matsumoto, mentor Jeroy
Carlson ’48, and coaches Butch Raymond ’63
and Erv Inniger for their impact on his life.
1979
Laura (Rolfe) Matuska ’79 has
been selected as WeCAB’s
part-time community outreach fundraiser.
WeCAB provides door-to-door supplemental
transportation in the Westonka and eastern
Carver County service areas for people who
are unable to drive to medical appointments,
church, social events, the grocery store, or the
food shelf. Matuska has significant experience
working with seniors and clients, providing
case management to support transitions
through all levels of senior living. She has
launched volunteer programs, developed a
hospital-based domestic abuse intervention
program, and is a successful grant writer.
Matuska also has worked with many volunteers
in a variety of positions.
1980
The new Bill Simenson Quintet
recently debuted at The Nicollet.
Leader Bill Simenson ’80 (trumpet) has been
performing professionally in the Twin Cities
for nearly 30 years. After earning his degree
in music and political science at Augsburg,
he attended the University of Trondheim
in Norway where he studied music at the
graduate level. Catch the Bill Simenson
Orchestra, a larger ensemble, once a month at
Jazz Central in Minneapolis.
1981
Rob Hubbard ’81 tells the story of the
hilarity, irreverence, and imagination
of the Brave New Workshop in his new book,
“Brave New Workshop: Promiscuous Hostility
and Laughs in the Land of Loons.” The
book, from The History Press, celebrates the
marvelous, unexpected, and absurd history
of this one-of-a-kind comedy institution. The
owners of Brave New Workshop are John
Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl ’87.
1987
Tammy Jo Rider ’87 received a
2015 Leadership Award from the
2015
2013
Amanda Rowan ’13 and Jordan Lakanen ’14 married
August 8, 2015. Auggies in the wedding party included:
Eric Lakanen ’02, Stephanie Nelson ’13, Rachel Rixen ’13, and Ashley
(Carney) Wolke ’13.
30
Augsburg Now
Top row [L to R]:
Tyler Dorn ’15
and Alisha Esselstein ’15
were married on June 20,
2015, at Sugarland Barn
in Arena, Wisconsin. Many
Auggies participated in
and attended the wedding.
Bottom row [L to R]: Best
man Alex Obanor, Augsburg Department of Public Safety officer; Dustin
Parks ’16; Keisha Barnard ’16; bridesmaid Alia Thorpe ’15; bridesmaid Lily
Moloney ’15; maid of honor Rachel Shaheen ’15; ceremony musician Becky
Shaheen ’11; and officiant Rev. Mike Matson ’06.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
After graduation, Joshua Harris ’08 moved to Baltimore drawn to the service
opportunity of working with Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest inter-collegiate communityservice-oriented fraternity founded by African-Americans. Harris serves as managing
editor of APA’s journal, “The Sphinx.” He works with other community leaders
in Baltimore on many initiatives, including one to build a network of individuals,
businesses, and organizations that can provide internships, scholarships, and
mentorship opportunities for high school students. He returned to Minneapolis in
fall 2015 to speak on a panel at the Augsburg Young Alumni Council’s networking
event at Surly Brewing Co. Harris is running for mayor of Baltimore. Learn about his
campaign at harrisforbaltimore.com.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
Southeast Minnesota affiliate of the National
Alliance on Mental Illness.
1991
Bill Koschak ’91 was hired as the
chief financial officer at YA, which
is an industry market leader in delivering
omni-channel marketing promotions for the
nation’s most respected brands. Before joining
YA, Koschak was vice president of finance
and CFO for the convenience and foodservice
business at General Mills.
2000
Lewis Nelson ’00 joined the
University of Virginia’s Darden
School of Business MBA for Executives.
He blogs about the experience at
wanderingveteran.com.
2007
Barrozo is studying the development of
novel gene therapy treatments for human
diseases caused by persistent viral infections
and mutations of the genome. The goal of
his research is to develop safe and effective
strategies for treating these diseases. He also
has worked as a Post-Baccalaureate Research
Program Scholar at the University of Georgia.
2015
Hannah Frey ’15 has an
AmeriCorps position in the
Community Technology Empowerment
Project, which helps bridge the “digital
divide” for new immigrants and low-income
communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul. She
serves at Roseville (Minnesota) Library as a
digital literacy coordinator for adult technology
programming and outreach.
Kati (Tweeten) Bergey ’07 married
Brandon Bergey on October 18,
2014. Kati teaches sixth grade for MabelCanton Public Schools in Mabel, Minnesota.
Heidi Heller ’15 has accepted a job as a
historian and researcher with Hess Roise
Historical Consultants.
2012
GRADUATE
Lauren Grafelman ’12 graduated
with her MBA from Hamline
University in August 2015.
William “Billy” Hamilton ’12 graduated from
the University of Minnesota Law School
in May and received news that he passed
the Minnesota Bar Exam in July. He began
work as a public defender in training at the
Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office.
He has found his vocation!
2014
Enrico Barrozo ’14 is pursuing
a doctorate in genetics and
genomics at the University of Florida,
supported by the McKnight Doctoral, UF
Graduate School, and Top-Up fellowships.
Ava Beilke ’14 MBA formed her own social
media consulting business, Paragon Social
(paragonsocialco.com or @paragonsocialco on
Twitter), with the desire to help individuals and
small businesses excel in social media. Beilke
studied communications in undergrad and
pursued her MBA to round out her business
expertise. She now fuses her creative skills with
her business savvy to create the most effective
social media efforts.
Katie Koch ’01 is the new Director
of Auggie Engagement at Augsburg
College. Koch comes from a diverse
background of performing arts
management, having most recently
worked at The O’Shaughnessy
Auditorium at St. Catherine University
as an event and administrative
manager. Koch worked for nearly
five years at the Guthrie Theater as
an assistant to former director Joe
Dowling, where she supported the
Guthrie Board of Directors and highprofile visiting artists. During her time
at Augsburg, Koch was a member
of The Augsburg Choir, Augsburg
Concert Band, and Augsburg Jazz
and Gospel Praise. She served
as an admissions ambassador, a
student coordinator for new student
orientation in 1999 and 2000, and
wrote for the Augsburg Echo.
Spring 2016
31
In memoriam
Dwight E. Elving ’37, Mercer
Harvard E. Larson ’50,
Island, Washington, age 99, on
September 17.
Greeley, Colorado, age 86, on
September 14.
James K. Horn ’59, Lino Lakes,
Minnesota, age 83, on
November 26.
Isabella “Bella” (Frazier)
Sanders ’73, Park Rapids,
Evelyn B. (Wibeto) Stone ’41,
Alexandria, Minnesota, age 98, on
November 26.
Wesley N. Paulson ’51,
Eugene “Pete” S. Peterson ’59,
Gregory J. Semanko ’73,
Altoona, Wisconsin, age 88, on
December 2.
Jackson, Minnesota, age 78, on
October 17.
Dassel, Minnesota, age 64, on
September 16.
J. Maurice “Maury” Erickson ’42,
Vermillion, South Dakota, age 95,
on September 10.
Walter L. Dilley ’52,
Paynesville, Minnesota, age 88,
on October 14.
Peter M. Locke ’60, South St.
Paul, Minnesota, age 82, on
November 30.
Brent M. Amundson ’78, Colorado
Springs, Colorado, age 61, on
December 3.
Helen L. (Fevold) Nelson ’43,
Woodrow W. Wilson ’53,
Gayle J. Arvidson ’61, Newburgh,
Minneapolis, age 94, June 4.
Lincoln, Nebraska, age 97, on
September 11.
Indiana, age 84, on December 25.
David C. Eitrheim ’79,
Menomonie, Wisconsin, age 58,
on January 1.
Chester E. Hoversten ’44,
Northfield, Minnesota, age 93, on
November 16.
Joyce E. (Gronseth) Limburg ’44,
Erling B. Huglen ’54, Roseau,
Minnesota, age 83, on
December 19.
Harvey L. Jackson ’61, Park
River, North Dakota, age 78, on
September 28.
Morgan S. Grant ’82, Willmar,
Kelly M. Williams ’92, Edina,
Minnesota, age 45, on August 25.
River, North Dakota, age 51, on
October 13.
Apple Valley, Minnesota, age 93,
on October 10.
Allan J. Kohls ’54, Minneapolis,
age 87, on October 4.
John D. Sorenson ’62, Hickory,
North Carolina, age 75, on
November 2.
Elise H. (Hoplin) Anderson ’45,
Marvin S. Undseth ’54, Salem,
Lee E. Keller ’63, San
Edina, Minnesota, age 96, on
October 13.
Oregon, age 90, on October 12.
Bernardino, California, age 80, on
August 27.
Edgar A. Emerson ’46,
Minnesota, age 81, on
September 30.
Perham, Minnesota, age 90, on
December 3.
Guilford “Guy” L. Parsons ’47,
Minneapolis, age 94, on
September 17.
Ruth E. (Thompson) Larson ’48,
Clearbrook, Minnesota, age 92, on
December 26.
Rolf Heng ’55, Fergus Falls,
Elmer Karlstad ’55, Warroad,
Minnesota, age 91, on
November 14.
Alfred E. Kaupins ’57, Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, age 88, on
November 25.
Joyce (Hanson) Holbrook ’65,
Lincoln, California, age 72, on
December 27.
Edythe “Edie” (Berg) Johnson ’65,
Stillwater, Minnesota, age 72, on
October 1.
Marilyn J. Larson ’65, Estes Park,
Colorado, age 73, on November 3.
Lawrence “Larry” C. Pratt Jr. ’57,
Joyce A. (Schuchart) Hagerty ’66,
Minnesota, age 88, on October 16.
St. Anthony, Minnesota, age 81,
on July 12.
Oneida, Illinois, age 72, on
December 4.
Paul I. Roth ’49, White Bear
Eldri R. (Johanson) Salter ’57,
Lake, Minnesota, age 90, on
November 21.
Pocatello, Idaho, age 80, on
September 8.
Philip “Phil” A. Walen ’70,
Stillwater, Minnesota, age 67, on
September 9.
Arne Simengaard ’49,
Dennis F. Gibson ’59, Edina,
Russell “Jeff” J. Quanbeck ’71,
Fridley, Minnesota, age 88, on
November 28.
Minnesota, age 83, on
September 5.
Bloomington, Minnesota, age 67,
on December 1.
Allen J. Moe ’48, Dawson,
Minnesota, age 85, on October 1.
Minnesota, age 55, on August 28.
Thomas D. Orstad ’93, Park
Earl R. Kinley III ’94, Eagan,
Minnesota, age 55, on
December 18.
Christine L. (Quandt) Edinger ’99,
Madison, Wisconsin, age 49, on
December 19.
Judith A. (Gretz) Roy ’99,
Minneapolis, age 68, on
September 24.
Traci M. Singher ’12, ’15 MSW,
Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 44,
on December 1.
Dustyn B. Hessie ’13,
Minneapolis, age 27, on June 15.
Augsburg College Women’s
Basketball Head Coach William
“Bill” L. McKee, New Brighton,
Minnesota, age 62, on August 27.
The “In memoriam” listings in this publication
include notifications received before January 10.
32
Augsburg Now
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LeVar Burton encourages the next generation
Actor, director, writer, producer, and educator LeVar Burton—best known for his roles in “Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,”
and “Reading Rainbow”—inspired prospective students to make positive change in the world. Burton’s presentation took place
this winter during Scholarship Weekend, an annual event where prospective students compete for the President’s and Fine Arts
scholarships.
Show less
Sideline support
Beyond fjords and freeways
Boom or bust
Homecoming 2015
SCHOLARSHIP
IN ACTION
FALL 2015 | VOL. 78, NO. 1
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weis... Show more
Sideline support
Beyond fjords and freeways
Boom or bust
Homecoming 2015
SCHOLARSHIP
IN ACTION
FALL 2015 | VOL. 78, NO. 1
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
On being faculty-guided
In recent issues of Augsburg Now (apparently still
the name of this fine publication—see page 7!),
I’ve written about our Augsburg2019 vision to be
“a new kind of student-centered urban university,
small to our students and big for the world.”
I’ve also turned cultural myths on their heads,
arguing that colleges should be student-ready
and not the other way around.
As compelling as our vision is, the studentcentered and student-ready Augsburg still has at
its heart a distinguished and dedicated faculty
whose commitment to our students and their
education is as it always has been—unparalleled,
hard-working, and full of imagination and resolve.
In other words, as we aspire to be studentcentered, we will always be faculty-guided.
In all of my travels to visit alumni on behalf
of Augsburg, the conversation inevitably turns
to the faculty member who asked the right
question, introduced a new way of thinking,
became a mentor, stayed in touch, changed my
life. The values and commitments of the legends
of Augsburg’s faculty—Christensen, Chrislock,
Torstenson, Quanbeck, Peterson, Nelson, Colacci,
Sateren, Mitchell, Hesser, Shackelford, Gus,
Gabe—are now alive in the Augsburg faculty of
the 21st century.
And some of their stories are in the pages
that follow.
Stories of creative and groundbreaking
teaching, such as the work of Associate Professor
of Political Science Joe Underhill, whose 15-year
dream to spend a semester with students on the
Mississippi River is now a reality with this fall’s
“River Semester.” Imagine a dozen students,
two faculty members, and a river guide or two
traveling almost 1,800 miles from St. Paul to
New Orleans in canoes, engaging the biology and
politics of the Mississippi River over three and
a half months. Makes you want to go back to
college!
Stories of relevant and timely research, such
as the project undertaken by Associate Professor
of Sociology Tim Pippert to explore the impact
of the oil boom in North Dakota, seeking to
understand the various social implications for
the communities at the center of the dramatic
change. It’s the Gold Rush all over again, but
with 21st century challenges to the well-being of
individuals and communities.
Stories of faithful service, which has been
recognized by President Obama in naming
Augsburg one of five finalists (for the second year
in a row) for the President’s Award for Interfaith
Dialogue and Service. Our robust interfaith work
with students and our neighbors is led by faculty
members Martha Stortz and Matt Maruggi from
the Religion Department, along with College
Pastor Sonja Hagander and Distinguished Fellow
Mark Hanson ’68. And don’t miss the fun
interview with Nancy Fischer, associate professor
of sociology and urban studies, who ties her
research about secondhand clothes to serving the
needs of our neighbors.
For almost 150 years, it has been Augsburg’s
faculty who have guided our work as a college
and whose wisdom and experience have
equipped our students to change the world. May
it always be so.
Faithfully yours,
Director of Marketing
Communication
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
Communication Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
Laura Swanson ’15 MBA
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Creative Associate
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Christina Haller
haller@augsburg.edu
Production Manager
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Advancement Communication
Specialist
Jen Lowman Day
dayj@augsburg.edu
Contributor
Kate H. Elliott
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg
Now do not necessarily reflect
official College policy.
ISSN 1058-1545
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Send address corrections to:
langemo@augsburg.edu.
Email: now@augsburg.edu
AUGSBURG NOW
Fall 2015
02 Around the quad
08
Annual report to donors
10
Uncorking the mysteries of wine
13
Sideline support
18
Beyond fjords and freeways
20
Boom or bust
26
Homecoming 2015
28
Auggies connect
32
Class notes
40
In memoriam
26
Andrew Held ’05 celebrates his 10-year class reunion and totes his daughter, Mabel, through the
Taste of Augsburg at Homecoming 2015. Learn more about Homecoming events and honorees on
pages 26 and 32.
On the cover: A pump jack extracts oil from the Bakken
shale formation that lies miles below a field of grain outside
Williston, North Dakota. Learn about the state’s new oil
landscape: pages 20-25.
Correction: In the Summer 2015 issue of Augsburg Now,
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota mistakenly was
identified as a U.S. senator in the article “Making their
mark,” which described a research experience that drew a
student-faculty duo to East Africa and Capitol Hill.
All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise
indicated.
A scene from the River Semester
launch event held September 1.
AUGGIES MAKE A SPLASH
WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING
The first-ever Augsburg College River Semester—a three-and-a-half month
program in which a dozen students as well as faculty members will travel
almost 2,000 miles of the 2,350-mile Mississippi River from St. Paul to
New Orleans while studying the arts, humanities, and sciences—departed
from St. Paul’s Harriet Island on September 1. As part of the kickoff, the
River Semester class, created and led by Associate Professor of Political
Science Joe Underhill, was
joined by a group of nearly
“This is my ideal form of higher education.
100 community members
It’s experiential, engaged with the community,
who paddled in canoes
interdisciplinary, physical, and mental.”
from St. Paul to South St.
—Joe Underhill, lead River Semester professor
Paul. Many media outlets
Winona Daily News, September 15
covered the launch, and
Minnesota Gov. Mark
Dayton proclaimed September 1
Follow the crew on their journey at
augsburg.edu/river/blog.
“Augsburg College River Semester Day.”
2
Augsburg Now
AUGGIE PLAN
OFFERS PATHWAY
to four-year degree
This past spring, officials from
Augsburg College and Minneapolis
Community and Technical College
launched the Auggie Plan, an efficient
and affordable track to a four-year
degree for students whose academic
achievement at MCTC prepares them
for upper-level coursework at Augsburg.
This partnership was a natural fit for
the colleges as both are located in the
heart of Minneapolis, provide student
support services, value intentional
diversity, and are committed to
developing future leaders.
COLLEGE AWARDS 2015
Augsburg College is nationally recognized for its
commitment to intentional diversity in its life and
work. This year’s accolades include:
• The 2015 Higher Education Excellence in
Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity
magazine for the College’s commitment to
intentional diversity and student engagement
and activism.
Augsburg College physician assistant students gather outside their new
classrooms in Northwestern Hall at Luther Seminary.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
relocates to Luther Seminary campus
Augsburg College’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
program recently relocated to a leased space on the Luther Seminary
campus in St. Paul. The new location provides improved educational and
office space for the program and makes room on Augsburg’s main campus
for other groups whose current space doesn’t fully support their needs.
The agreement with Luther Seminary models the type of collaborative
partnership that Augsburg, as a new kind of urban university, seeks.
Augsburg’s signature PA program will have effective space to remain
competitive, and Luther Seminary will be able to better optimize the use
of its own facilities. In addition, since Luther Seminary primarily serves
graduate-level students, the Augsburg PA program aligns with the campus’s
commitment to graduate academic achievement and contributes to its
vibrant higher education experience.
• Placing No. 6 on the UCLA Higher Education
Research Institute’s 2015 Rankings of the Best
Christian Colleges and Universities published
based on academic reputation, financial aid
offerings, overall cost, and success of graduates
in the job market.
• The American Indian Science and Engineering
Society’s Winds of Change magazine’s Top 200
Schools for Native Americans—the second time
since 2013 Augsburg earned this recognition
for its American Indian support community and
graduation rates.
• Ranking No. 5 on College Magazine’s Most
Transgender-Friendly College list for working
to make campus welcoming for transgender
students and offering comfort, safety, and
freedom to all students.
• Recognition as one of five U.S. finalists for the
2015 President’s Higher Education Community
Service Honor Roll with Distinction in interfaith
and community service—the only institution
named a finalist in both 2014 and 2015.
• Being named a 2016 Military Friendly® School
for extraordinary work in providing transitioning
veterans the best possible experience in higher
education.
GRANT OF NEARLY $450,000 FUNDS INTERNSHIPS FOR 200 AUGGIES
An Augsburg College education plays an
integral role in preparing our world’s future
leaders to make meaningful contributions
to their communities, businesses,
governments, and families. At the same
time, Augsburg offers opportunities for
students to gain on-the-job and internship
experience so that they can focus on
their vocational exploration. The College’s
efforts in these areas garnered a boost
when the nonprofit Great Lakes Higher
Education Guaranty Corporation extended
for an additional three years the Career
Ready Internship grant first awarded to
Augsburg in 2014-15. In all, the College
will receive nearly $450,000 through the
new grant, which will be used to create
200 paid internships for low-income and
first-generation students interested in
the opportunities available at for-profit
corporations and nonprofit organizations.
Moreover, this grant supports the College’s
Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for
Meaningful Work—a highly visible anchor
of the College’s commitment to students’
experiential education and vocational
discernment.
Fall 2015
3
BOARD OF REGENTS
At its annual meeting in
September, the Augsburg
Corporation elected a new
member to the Board of
Regents and reelected
several board members.
Vicki Turnquist [pictured]
was elected to her first,
four-year term. She has
more than 30 years of banking experience and
serves on the Board of Directors of Citizens
Independent Bank in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Turnquist was the founder and CEO of Private
Bank Minnesota, which sold in June 2014.
Unhealthy trees are safely removed from campus.
EMBRACING GREEN HORIZONS
In late summer, two of the three remaining elm trees in Augsburg’s quad—
an alumni gift from more than 50 years ago—were removed because of
Dutch Elm disease. While it was sad to lose the trees, the College reserved
some of the wood to be transformed into pieces of art, partnering with Tom
Peter, a local certified arborist and woodturning artist.
The elms created wonderful character of space in the quad for decades
and have helped inspire a longer-term vision of the central campus as a
larger green space that, over time, will become an even more significant
component of campus life. The design for an expanded quad is one of the
principal ideas resulting from work done in 2011 to develop a campus
master plan and has inspired new thinking around a special campaign
effort to support the creation of an “urban arboretum”—a multi-functional
green space that deepens the student, faculty, staff, and community
experience through hands-on education, research, and recreation.
Courtesy Photo
welcomes new member
Regents elected to a second, four-year term
include:
• Karen (Miller) Durant ’81, vice president
and controller of Tennant Company;
• Matthew Entenza, an attorney in private
practice at the Entenza Law Firm; and
• Jeffrey Nodland ’77, president and CEO of
KIK Custom Products.
Those elected to third, four-year terms include:
• Andra Adolfson, business development
director for Adolfson & Peterson
Construction; and
• Rolf Jacobson, pastor, writer, speaker,
and professor of Old Testament at Luther
Seminary.
LEADING FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS SUPPORT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
A recent $1 million grant from the
Margaret A. Cargill Foundation has helped
the campaign to build the Norman and
Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science,
Business, and Religion to surpass its goal.
During the fundraising campaign,
several large philanthropic foundations
and corporations joined forces in support
4
Augsburg Now
of the Hagfors Center, including the Bush
Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, and the Eli Lilly and Company
Foundation. The campaign also received
support from 3M, Ameriprise Financial,
General Mills, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo.
“We are honored that the College’s
work to promote interdisciplinary studies
through the Hagfors Center received
generous funding from the Margaret
A. Cargill Foundation,” said Heather
Riddle, vice president for Institutional
Advancement. “The Hagfors Center will
support Augsburg in expanding research
opportunities and will help shape student
learning for 21st century realities.”
AROUND THE QUAD
This fall, the Student Lounge in the Christensen Center reopened
following a renovation designed to offer improved spaces
for student organization meetings, community events, study
sessions, and—of course—fun.
Courtesy Photos
CONVOCATION SERIES 2015-16
Now in its 25th year, the Convocation Series offers the Augsburg
community an opportunity to share in enlightening conversation
with outstanding leaders and visionaries.
In September, the series kicked off with the joint Bernhard M.
Christensen Symposium and Fine Arts and Humanities Convocation
featuring renowned author, Pulitzer Prize nominee, and PBS
NewsHour contributor Richard Rodriguez and his presentation
“Living Religion.” Rodriguez is recognized for writing about
provocative topics such as education, race, politics, the AIDS
epidemic, and religious violence.
In November, the Center for Wellness and Counseling Convocation
welcomed Antony Stately, director of the Behavioral Health
Program for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and his
presentation, “Running into the Storm: Renewal of the Spirit.”
SAVE THE DATE
Join us on Monday, January 18, for
the annual Martin Luther King Jr.
Convocation, and on Tuesday, February 16,
for the Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics
featuring Donald Warne, a member of the
Oglala Lakota Tribe and director of the
Master of Public Health Program at North
Dakota State University.
All events are free, public, and held in the
Foss Center. For detailed information, go
to augsburg.edu/convo.
Fall 2015
5
ON THE SPOT
Nancy Fischer discusses
“The Social Life of Secondhand Clothes”
Photos taken at Succotash
781 Raymond Ave., St. Paul
REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE.
For decades this adage has prescribed an
approach for improving individuals’ personal
impact on the environment, and today the once
underrated middle “R” is among the chicest ways
to go green.
Augsburg College Associate Professor
Nancy Fischer teaches courses in sociology;
environmental studies; urban studies; and
gender, sexuality, and women’s studies. Her
current project, “The Social Life of Secondhand
Clothes,” is a sociological analysis of the
secondhand and vintage clothing industry.
Fischer is exploring the emergence of secondhand
clothing as a trend in pop culture, the places and
urban spaces that sell these clothes, and the
many reasons people buy them. Here is a glimpse
into an area of the fashion world where some
looks are truly timeless.
Q:
What factors have contributed to the
emergence of vintage clothing as a
popular fashion trend?
A:
Wearing old, out-of-style clothing was
first a subcultural fashion statement—
think beatniks, hippies, and punks. It was
6
Augsburg Now
a rebellion against post-war consumerism,
an appreciation of craftsmanship, and ecoconsciousness (as a political statement
against a wasteful society). In the late
1960s—first in London, then in New York
City—fashionable youth started visiting thrift
stores, purchasing Edwardian coats and
Victorian petticoats, and vintage dressing
began to move into the mainstream.
The emergence of the vintage trend
accompanied a global expansion and
standardization of the international garment
industry. People who buy vintage usually buy
new clothing as well, but vintage shopping
provides a different experience; you never
know what you might find.
Q:
A:
How is purchasing secondhand
clothing advantageous for society?
Buying secondhand clothing generally
is a form of reuse and keeps clothing
out of landfills. Ideally, clothing should
never go into landfills. Torn and dirty
clothing can be reused as insulation and
as paper. But that doesn’t mean we should
buy clothes with abandon and then donate
them. Most secondhand clothing winds
up being shipped to developing countries
where in some cases it has undermined
traditional garment-making industries.
Vintage clothing—as a subset of
secondhand—is advantageous because it
tends to retain its value. Vintage clothes
also reveal our own industrial history.
We see those “Made in the USA” labels,
and sometimes more specifically “Made
in Minneapolis.” There’s value in that
historical glimpse at the past.
Q:
A:
What’s your favorite vintage piece
to wear?
I have a favorite for every season. For
winter in Minnesota, my favorite is
a 1950s plaid swing coat. It was made in
Dallas(!) from boiled wool, which is thick
and super warm. It’s custom-made, and I
always picture the Texan coat-maker taking
on this garment as a rare challenge.
Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn more about the
social life of secondhand clothing.
Nancy Fischer is collaborating with other
secondhand clothing lovers on a new book.
If you wear vintage and are interested in
discussing your role as a consumer as part
of her research, email fischern@augsburg.edu.
AROUND THE QUAD
AUGSBURG HOSTS FIRST-EVER
CAREER EXPLORATION SERIES
More than 25 companies and organizations
participated in an on-campus career and
internship fair.
Augsburg College this autumn hosted an on-campus
career and internship fair along with its first five-week
career exploration series. The students who attended
the fair met with organizations seeking individuals
trained in disciplines including accounting, biology,
chemistry, communications, computer science,
marketing, religion, and more.
The major and career exploration series,
organized by staff of the Clair and Gladys
Strommen Center for Meaningful Work and
Institutional Advancement, provided nearly
175 students opportunities to explore
majors and careers by disciplines.
The series included programming
on professional studies, fine arts
and humanities, natural and social
sciences, pre-health sciences, and the
needs of students still exploring several degree
programs. This series was made successful in part
due to nearly two dozen Augsburg College alumni
who served as panelists and who shared details about
their career paths since graduation.
SIGNS OF CHANGE
Excitement for the future Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business,
and Religion grew on campus after its construction site was marked. This multidisciplinary
building will house, among other departments, many of the programs currently residing in
Science Hall—a building that had its own site marker as pictured [below on right] during the
1947-48 academic year.
Archive Photo
AUGSBURG NOW
to remain name of
College magazine
This summer, members of the
Augsburg College community
were invited to consider whether
the College’s magazine name,
Augsburg Now, aligned with and
supported the publication’s
purpose and key roles. A
survey allowed people
to share feedback
on the magazine’s
existing name and
to consider whether
two options, Augsburg
Experience and Augsburg
Spirit, would be better.
The results from the
survey point us toward
retaining the name
Augsburg Now. There
clearly is an established resonance
with the current name, which
uplifts the publication’s ability to:
•
•
Foster inspiration and pride.
•
Bridge the Augsburg of today
with people’s past experiences.
•
Define and illustrate what it
means to be an “Auggie.”
•
Help the Augsburg community
learn how to talk about itself
and equip individuals to
advocate for the College.
Provide intellectual stimulation
and ongoing education.
We appreciate the opportunity
for conversation on the magazine
name and are grateful to all those
who took time to participate in
this process.
Fall 2015
7
2014-2015
AUGSBURG COLLEGE
ANNUAL REPORT
TO DONORS
G
enerous donors have come together to make this the
most successful fundraising year in Augsburg College
history. Driven largely by contributions to the campaign
for the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science,
Business, and Religion, alumni and friends gave $35,404,222
during fiscal year 2014-15.
This is the fourth year in a row in which donors have
contributed more than $10 million to the College and more
than doubled last year’s total of $14.6 million. In addition
Aybike Bakan ’11, ’15 MPA
Dahlberg and Peterson Family Scholarship
Hometown: Istanbul
Studying: Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Favorite thing about Augsburg: “I appreciate its focus on community service
and social justice. It also allowed me to grow as an open-minded individual and
encouraged me to seek meaning in the work that I want to do in the future.”
Joseph David “J.D.” Mechelke ’16
David Huglen Strommen Endowment, the Glen and Marilyn Person
Scholarship, and the Joel and Mary Ann Elftmann Scholarship
Hometown: Stillwater, Minnesota
Studying: Youth and Family Ministry
Augsburg College’s influence: “I have become vocation-centered, concerned
with social justice, and I am learning to connect faith to social issues.”
8
Augsburg Now
to providing crucial funding for the transformative Hagfors
Center, the philanthropy of more than 5,600 donors this year
helps Augsburg attract talented students and the dedicated
faculty and staff who teach and guide them. The gifts
provide financial aid, building maintenance and support,
and instructional and other resources that allow Augsburg
to educate informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical
thinkers, and responsible leaders.
REVENUE BY SOURCE
67% Tuition
11% Room and board
11% Private gifts and grants
4% Government grants
7% Other sources
EXPENSES BY CATEGORY
43% Salary and benefits
28% Financial aid
19% Operating expenses*
3% Debt service
3% Utilities and insurance
2% Capital improvements
2% Student salaries
*Expenses in this category include: facility repairs and maintenance, information
technology expenditures, marketing expenditures, membership dues and fees, outside
consultants, supplies, and travel and business meetings.
ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE
May 31, 2015—$40,463,556
$38.3
$34.6
$33.3
$32.4 $31.5
$28.2
$27.2 $27.8
$40.5
$29.8
$24.5
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
(IN MILLIONS)
Aisha Mohamed ’16
General Memorial Scholarship
Hometown: Minneapolis
Studying: Biology
Proudest academic achievement: “Being able to say
I’m a biology major and feeling at home in a lab.”
As of May 31, 2015, Augsburg had annual realized and
unrealized gains of 10.7 percent on the Augsburg College
endowment. The five-year average annual return on the
endowment is 7.12 percent, and the 10-year average
annual return is 4.47 percent. The College is committed to
maintaining the value of the principal in order to provide
support to the College in perpetuity.
Fall 2015
9
BY CHRISTINA HALLER
Jennifer Chou ’99 has never been afraid to ask deep and
probing questions—a quality that helped her to make
the most of her time at Augsburg, where students are
encouraged to explore their talents and learn through
hands-on experiences in order to find their callings. Her
thirst for inquiry, as well as her ambition, helped get her to
where she is today—a successful entrepreneur who made a
career out of her great interest in and passion for vino.
Craving knowledge
Chou’s curiosity sparked her fascination with wine. During
her childhood, she noticed her grandmother would always
serve wine at holidays. What does wine taste like? Why is
wine only for grownups? Why is wine enjoyed on special
occasions?
Chou’s enthusiasm grew into a passion. While an
Augsburg College student, she further explored her
interest by joining a monthly wine club where she
attended tasting events to learn more—from how to
identify main flavor and scent components to the basic
characteristics of all the varietal grapes to the histories of
the world’s best wine-producing regions.
Seizing key opportunities
As a communication studies major and business minor,
Chou found work as a financial advisor shortly after
graduation. While attending job-training courses in
Dallas, she made friends with a man in the hotel gym who
recommended a very specific wine to her. She bluntly told
him that she’d never heard of it, and asked if he was a
10
Augsburg Now
“sales guy” for the company.
Once again her inquisitiveness pulled through for her.
It just so happened that he, in fact, was the winemaker and
CEO of Napa Wine Company. Their friendship blossomed,
and his knowledge helped hers to grow. “So I always joke
that I got into the wine business by working out,” said Chou.
Soon after that serendipitous encounter, Children’s
Home Society, for whom Chou volunteered, asked if she
would request wine donations from distributors for their
annual winemakers dinner.
“I said, ‘Yeah, I’m fearless, I’m not afraid to ask!’”
Chou recalled. “So I went and asked four different
distributors for wine donations, and they said, ‘Wow, you
really know quite a bit about wine and seem to enjoy it.
Have you ever thought about selling it?’”
So Chou took a job selling wines for a distributor,
traveling to California, Oregon, France, Italy, and South
Africa to gain a deeper understanding of each supplier’s
wine so she could better sell it.
Learning over a glass of wine
Because of her extensive wine savvy, friends started asking
her for wine etiquette advice.
“I would get asked questions like, ‘How am I
supposed to hold a glass of wine, under the bowl or the
stem? Are you supposed to swirl the glass? In a restaurant,
why does the server present the bottle?’’’ said Chou. “This
was stuff my friends realized they needed to know in order
to stay relevant in the business world—hosting clients at a
restaurant or thanking someone with a bottle of wine.”
As a way to share her knowledge and enlighten others,
she founded The Savvy Grape, a business dedicated
to educating people about wine through fun, hands-on
experiences. To be an authority on the subject, Chou
became a Certified Wine Specialist. This certification
required rigorous examinations by the Society of Wine
Educators, testing Chou’s expertise and mastery of
viticulture and wine production.
Chou quickly found a niche with professional
organizations and was able to start out by connecting with
fellow Auggies who were also business owners. “Being an
Augsburg alumna helped because one thing I always find
is that Auggies like to help other Auggies!” said Chou.
For employers, such as finance and law firms, Chou
educates people about wine etiquette while providing a
fun and entertaining wine-tasting activity at events such
as member drives, holiday parties, employee development
conferences, and client appreciation events.
At these events, Chou teaches people “how to taste
wine like a professional,” offers tips on food and wine
pairings, and answers attendees’ questions about wine.
Fighting for what you believe in
In order for Chou to legally pour wine in a corporate
event space, she had to work hard lobbying to change
the law, making it legal for a licensed wine educator
like herself to hold wine education events in
commercial spaces.
With determination and grit, Chou hit the
pavement, reaching out to her local senators and
representatives to see who would be willing to
assist. She found Minnesota Sen. Dan Hall ’74
who helped her to navigate the system at the
Capitol and get the Wine Educator License
signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2012.
Making a living out of wine
Chou’s unquenchable curiosity for the
world, unstoppable work ethic, liberal arts
education, and strong Auggie connections
helped to make her dream of making a
living out of wine a reality.
Chou has authored Wine Savvy, a chapter in
the book, “Socially Smart & Savvy.” Below are
some of her favorite tips featured in the book.
Tips for the wine lover
Put red wines in the refrigerator 10-15
minutes before serving, and take white
wines out of the refrigerator 10-15 minutes
before serving. This will help your red wines
be less acidic and allow you to taste more
flavor in your whites.
Don’t know what to give as a hostess
gift? When in doubt, choose a
sparkling wine, or “bubbly,” as Chou likes
to call it. You can spend as little or as
much as your budget allows, and it’s festive
for most occasions.
Not sure which wine to order in
a restaurant? Ask the server for a
sample to see if you like it. A restaurant
would prefer that you like a wine and order
more rather than not like it and order water.
This works especially well if you are trying
to order a bottle for the table.
12
Augsburg Now
Student Sports Medicine Assistant
Kayla Fuechtmann ’16
Augsburg athletic trainers
collaborate across campus
and within the community to
achieve a holistic approach
to the safety and wellness of
student-athletes BY KATE H. ELLIOTT
T
he score was tied at 2-2 in the
fourth inning as a University of
Wisconsin-Stout slugger knocked a
foul ball down the right field line.
Auggie outfielder Brian Bambenek ’07
sailed through the air—glove extended.
The ball landed in the pocket, then
popped out as his body slammed into an
unprotected portion of fence at the Hubert
H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.
After minutes of darkness, the
then-senior’s eyes blinked opened to see
Augsburg College’s Head Athletic Trainer
Missy Strauch hovering over him. She
monitored numbness in his fingers and
toes, held his hand in the ambulance,
and called his parents, Nancy and Mike,
to report that their son had injured three
disks in his neck.
During the days and weeks that
followed, Strauch went well beyond her
job description to get Bambenek back in
action.
“I am forever in debt to Missy for
all she did for me,” said Bambenek,
who today is co-owner of the Great
Lakes Baseball Academy in Woodbury,
Minnesota. “She is an incredible trainer
who truly loves Augsburg College, and we
still find time to catch up a few times a
year. And her cutting-edge research in arm
care continues to influence my work with
athletes.”
These types of bonds with athletic
training staff are the norm at Augsburg.
During her 18-year tenure, Strauch
has built an expert, dynamic team
of professional trainers and student
assistants who collaborate across campus
and within the community to achieve
a holistic approach to the safety and
wellness of Augsburg’s more than 500
student-athletes.
It’s fast-paced, passionate work.
Strauch and her staff know players’
names. They generate daily injury reports
Fall 2015
13
Student Sports Medicine Assistants Jack Duffy ’16 (left) and Alison Ranum ’17 (right) aid Auggie
running back Michael Busch ’16.
and conduct pre- and post-season
screenings, and a member of the
medical staff travels with every team to
most away contests. Strauch demands
best practices and has championed
increased data collection and the
adoption of many advancements,
including the computerized concussion
evaluation system, IMPACT. She and
her staff connect with professors to
formulate accommodations for injured
student-athletes.
“At its core, our role is about
relationships—building trust with
coaches and student-athletes and
developing supportive partnerships
throughout campus and with
professionals in the community. We work
to become part of the team. Assistant
Mitch Deets, for instance, camped for a
week in northern Minnesota for a cross
country team training trip. Assistant
Athletic Trainer Kassi Nordmeyer will
be traveling to Boston with volleyball
this fall and then wrestling and softball
throughout the year,” said Strauch, who
works specifically with football, men’s
and women’s hockey, and baseball.
“We don’t have all the bells and
whistles of Division I schools, but I
14
Augsburg Now
would stack our program’s continuity
of care against any of them. And you
won’t find stronger bonds. I should show
you our stack of Christmas cards and
wedding invitations from former studentathletes. Those personal connections
make all the difference.”
Baseball head coach Keith Bateman
agrees.
“First-year and transfer studentathletes are often a little hesitant to
disclose an injury because they are
afraid of not playing. And coaches like
being in charge, so I would say many
athletic trainers run into walls with team
leadership. But not here, not with Missy.
She won’t let them or us get away with
that,” said Bateman, who is in his 13th
year at Augsburg. “She and her staff
become such a part of our teams that they
know when players are having a bad day
by the way they carry themselves. They
want student-athletes to play, to be tough,
but not to be stupid.”
A thoughtful evolution
Former head football coach Jack
Osberg ’62 worked closely with Strauch
for more than 10 years, watching the
sports medicine program grow from a
part-time enterprise to a comprehensive
team that features four certified athletic
trainers, one athletic training intern,
one physician assistant fellow, 11
student sports medicine assistants, two
physicians, one chiropractor, and two
physical therapists.
“As students at Augsburg in the
late ’50s and early ’60s, we didn’t have
athletic trainers. Coaches took care of
taping, injury rehab, and other training
situations. The technology, knowledge,
equipment, facilities, communication,
and pre-season conditioning available
to coaches and student-athletes now is
remarkable,” said Osberg, who served
as head coach for 14 years and as an
assistant coach from 2007-10. “I respect
Missy and her staff having observed their
mentoring of student assistants, poise
when handling serious injuries, and focus
on the latest training techniques.”
Women’s hockey player Claire
Cripps ’16 is one such student who
can testify to the program’s expert
attention and nurturing approach. Days
before midterms last year, the forward
sustained a concussion on the ice,
leaving her with headaches, dizziness,
sensitivity to light, and an inability to
focus for almost two weeks.
“Missy sent an email to the dean and
each of my professors explaining what
happened, which led to postponing my
exams until I had the ability to study and
focus again,” said the exercise science
major who plans to pursue a doctorate
of physical therapy. “There were no
issues with any of my professors, and
they all wished me well, which made me
really feel that sense of community that
convinced me to come to Augsburg after
my first visit to campus.”
Advancements in prevention
Although the most common injuries are
routine sprains and bruises, concussions
and other serious traumas are a growing
area of concern as student-athletes’
speed, size, and strength has increased.
But, Strauch says, the diagnosis,
treatment, and rehabilitation also
have improved. In collaboration with
Twin Cities Orthopedics, Augsburg’s
implementation of IMPACT (Immediate
Post-Concussion Assessment and
Cognitive Testing) establishes a baseline
for each student-athlete so that health
care professionals can quickly and
accurately measure changes and
potential damage in the aftermath
of a concussion. The team’s cuttingedge equipment and data collection,
paired with the College’s longstanding
relationships with area doctors, ensure
that concussions are addressed promptly
and thoroughly.
Dr. B.J. Anderson, who serves as
Augsburg’s director of general medicine,
said the College’s sports medicine
program offers a “gold standard” of
care, particularly when it comes to
addressing serious injuries.
“I’ve worked with athletic trainers
across the globe, and Augsburg’s team
is second to none,” said Anderson,
who is a primary care provider for the
University of Minnesota Boynton Health
Service. “The College’s neurocognitive
testing is state of the art, and the staff’s
relationship with me and other doctors
results in continuity of care. We get
them in early, address the problem, and
get them back in action.”
It’s collaboration and conversation
among Augsburg faculty and staff that
make all the difference in ensuring
student-athletes perform their best in
competition and in the classroom.
When Carol Enke, instructor for
Health, Physical Education and Exercise
Science, noticed that a typically
advanced student turned in puzzlingly
poor work, she reached out to her
colleagues.
“Earlier in the semester, I had used
the student-athlete’s work as an example
of excellence in class, so when she turned
in a below-average lab assignment, I
called Missy right away,” said Enke, who
served as Augsburg’s head softball coach
for 21 seasons. “I knew the student
had experienced a concussion weeks
prior because Missy called me after the
incident. [When] we realized that the
injury affected the student-athlete’s
ability to analyze ... the entire campus
community came together in support.
That’s what we do at Augsburg.”
And, while Augsburg Athletics
employs progressive protocols to safely
assess and treat injuries, the College
is equally focused on prevention. In
June, Ryan Rasmussen came on board as
Augsburg’s head strength and conditioning
coach and has since worked closely with
athletic trainers to keep student-athletes
in optimum condition. He is the first
collegiate strength and conditioning coach
certified in a novel restorative movement
approach called RESET. Rasmussen
says the system pinpoints and eliminates
compensation patterns, empowering
Augsburg student-athletes to return to
play faster and achieve better performance
through optimal movement.
“To reap the full benefits of physical
activity, we need flawless posture and
movement, and this restorative approach
helps us achieve just that,” Rasmussen
said. “Having a team of people who
are concerned with the health of our
athletes is hugely important. We recently
collaborated on rehab for a hockey player
with a torn ACL. She is returning to play
this year and was the top performing
woman among the five teams reviewed
during our conditioning test.”
Inspiring mindful studentathletes
Mental health and nutrition also are
pillars of wellness that the Athletics
staff is committed to addressing in a
collective, proactive manner. Sports
medicine professionals advise studentathletes about the latest in nutrition and
collaborate regularly with Augsburg’s
Center for Wellness and Counseling to
ensure student-athletes are aware of
the center’s resources and community
support. Center Director Nancy Guilbeault
said anxiety and stress are increasingly
present in student-athletes lives, but
Augsburg is committed to helping all
students have healthy, happy college days.
Head Athletic Trainer Missy Strauch assists offensive lineman Andrew Konieczny ’15 during Augsburg’s
Homecoming football game.
“This fall, we worked with Athletics to develop
four sessions for incoming student-athletes to address
alcohol consumption, mindfulness, body image, and
healthy relationships. Athletics, more than many, knows
the importance of working as a team to confront the
challenges our students face, so they are wonderful
partners,” said Guilbeault, who has worked at Augsburg
for 36 years. “Coaches and athletic training staff are
often the first to notice when a student-athlete might
need to talk with us, and they stick with them throughout
the process—often walking them over to the Center or
attending a session with them.”
Guilbeault says mental health is often tied with
injuries, as student-athletes feel stress associated with
“letting the team down” or experience mental health
issues because of certain physical traumas. Her team
of counselors and the Center’s collaboration with a
psychiatrist and community resources ensure students
receive optimum care.
“Our students receive up to 10 counseling sessions
each academic year, and if they need additional support
beyond that, we refer them to one of our community
partners and keep up with their care,” Guilbeault said.
“Mindfulness meditation techniques are particularly
important for student-athletes because the approach
encourages student-athletes to be aware of their bodies
and present moments, becoming more resilient to stress.”
13
12
Building on a strong foundation
Like any strong foundation, the sports medicine team’s
roster of professionals and holistic, collaborative
approach took years to build; but behind the staff hires,
the new technology, and personal bonds is Strauch—
driving herself and her staff to become more than just
“trainers who wrap ankles.” They are a passionate team
of professionals who will do whatever it takes—from
stirring the Crock-Pot at potlucks to calling professors—
to ensure student-athletes have the tools and support
they need to succeed and achieve their life goals.
“Our profession has changed dramatically in the past
decade. Many of my mentors were focused solely on the
injury, and we now take a much broader view, a much
more involved role,” Strauch said. “And the best part
about it is that we will continue to grow and continue to
adapt to the demands of the future.
“Augsburg is a community dedicated to finding new
and better ways to support our students in every aspect of
their lives. And Athletics is a family of student-athletes,
parents, coaches, and trainers—all striving to do better,
work harder, and represent the best of Augsburg. I love
this school. Go Auggies!”
16
Augsburg Now
TRAINING CENTER
BUSTLES WITH ENERGY
In this photo illustration, the Augsburg College training center is a
hive of activity. Student-athletes buzz in and out to get care before
and after practices and games while athletic training staff assess
injuries. After professional staff determine the appropriate care for
a student-athlete, the College’s student sports medicine assistants
implement treatment and get hands-on practice in their field of
study. The training center always is humming with action and
support meant to help Auggies do their best in competition and in
the classroom.
2
1
4
6
5
3
7
8
14
11
10
9
Assistant Athletic Director and
Assistant Softball Coach Melissa
Lee ’04 and Assistant Athletic Trainer
Mitchell Deets work at the electronic
record check-in station.
1
Assistant Athletic Trainer Kassi
Nordmeyer administers a
pre-practice ultrasound on Jessica
Lillquist ’16, a member of the volleyball
and basketball teams.
2
Courtney Lemke ’17, volleyball,
is treated with hot packs and
electric stimulation.
3
Head Athletic Trainer Missy Strauch
completes a knee evaluation on
soccer player Mohamed Sankoh ’16.
4
Jerrome Martin ’17 is treated
5 with a cold compress before
football practice.
Carter Denison ’17, Marta Anderson ’17,
and Ashley Waalen ’17.
8
Jorden Gannon ’18 gets postfootball practice hydrotherapy.
9
R.J. Cervenka ’16, a football player,
ices his shoulder after practice.
Kayla Fuechtmann ’16, a sports
medicine assistant and hockey
player, hauls a hydration cooler back
from practice.
Sports Medicine Assistant Beth
Zook ’17 tapes the ankle of
soccer player Ngochinyan Ollor ’15.
Soccer players receive
hydrotherapy. The players are,
from left, sports medicine assistant
Student Medicine Assistant Aden
Lehman ’17 tapes the ankle of
football player Mac Kittelson ’16.
6
7
10
Logan Hortop ’17, a sports
medicine assistant, tapes the
ankle of Sean Adams ’17, a member of
the cross country and track teams.
12
Sports Medicine Assistant
Kristopher Woods ’17 delivers
wound care to football player Tyler Sis ’16.
13
Silvia Cha ’19, member of the
cross country team, does ankle
rehabilitation.
14
11
Fall 2015
17
Caitlin Crowley ’16, left, and Associate Professor Phil Adamo
peruse documents in the archive area of Lindell Library.
Professors team with
students to research and
share College history
BY STEPHEN JENDRASZAK
I
f you’re interested in the history of
Augsburg College, you’re probably
familiar with “From Fjord to Freeway,”
a book published by long-time professor
of history Carl Chrislock ’37 in 1969.
The publication, which tells the story
of the first 100 years of the College, is
receiving renewed interest and attention
as we approach the institution’s
sesquicentennial in 2019.
But no history is complete.
Phil Adamo, associate professor of
history and director of the honors program,
is authoring a new book with students to
bring further aspects of the impact and
personality of the College to life.
18
Augsburg Now
The new book, to be published
during 2019, will include previously
untold stories from the early years of
the College. For example, the story
of Augsburg’s first president, August
Weenaas, and the sacrifices he made to
found Augsburg is told in “From Fjord
to Freeway.” But largely unremarked
upon is the story of Valborg Weenaas,
his wife, who followed him from Norway
to Marshall, Wisconsin. She eventually
housed 10-20 students in their home,
moved to Minneapolis when Augsburg
did the same, and passed away in the
Twin Cities at only 37.
Of course, the book also will
address the events of the 50 years
that have elapsed since the earlier
work’s publication, such as Augsburg’s
response to the 2007 collapse of the
Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis
and its aftermath. The College offered
its campus facilities to and worked
closely with the Red Cross, Minneapolis’
Emergency Preparedness Team, and the
Minneapolis Police Department to set
up the Family Assistance Center, a place
where family members of missing victims
gathered to receive news updates, talk
with grief counselors, and more.
Perhaps most importantly, this
new look at Augsburg’s past will strive
to address the history of ideas that
have shaped and been shaped by the
community.
“What I’m interested in, which
is not done very often, is a history of
ideas,” Adamo said. “Those ideas are
wide-ranging—from theological issues
early on to evolution, which was a
controversial subject in religious circles.
This was new stuff when the College was
founded.”
The book is a deeply collaborative
effort, giving students opportunities to
hone their skills in research and writing
while producing a work for publication
and being credited as contributors.
Students this past summer worked
in the College archives with Adamo
every weekday morning, and donated
a portion of their hours to cataloging
documents for the College archives.
Caitlin Crowley ’16, a transfer student
and history major, documented letters
from Augsburg’s fifth president,
Bernhard Christensen ’22, to Auggies
serving in World War II.
“He was the president of the
College; he must’ve had a million things
to do,” Crowley said. “And yet, there
are just folders and folders of personal
letters he wrote. [Soldiers] would
respond; he would write back. He would
tell them what was happening at the
College. It made me really like the guy.”
Crowley’s own family history, in
fact, is entwined with Augsburg’s.
Her mother, Deborah (Frederickson)
Crowley ’76, married her father on
campus in the building that bears
Christensen’s name. And her maternal
grandfather, Jerrol Frederickson ’43,
attended the College for two years
before joining the air force just before
Pearl Harbor. However, Crowley has yet
to find a letter from Christensen to her
grandfather.
This is the third summer Adamo
has worked with a group of student
researchers on the project. Students
in the first two summers each wrote
a single, extensive chapter, but this
summer’s group focused on a series of
shorter vignettes. Students explored
leaders including former College
presidents George Sverdrup, class of
1898, and Oscar Anderson ’38; Dean of
Women Gerda Mortensen; coaches and
athletes like Edor Nelson ’38 and Devean
George ’99; and events such as the
admission of women in the 1920s.
“It almost felt like being a
journalist,” Crowley said. “We were given
two topics a week. We also had to write
about what was happening outside the
College during the same time. It was
a great way to learn about this variety
of topics that I previously didn’t know
anything about.”
Each Friday, the students and
Adamo met to read their sections aloud
and critique one another’s work. “Phil
could be kind of brutal, which was
good,” Crowley said. “Even after just a
few weeks, all of us were getting to be
much better writers.”
In addition to Adamo and the
students working on the book, another
group of historians is making use
of tools Chrislock could only have
imagined in 1969—smartphone apps
and the Internet—to share the broader
history of Augsburg’s Cedar-Riverside
neighborhood. Jacqui deVries, professor
of history and director of general
education, and Kirsten Delegard, scholar
in residence in the history department
and creator of the Historyapolis Project
(historyapolis.com)—an endeavor
to share the first narrative history of
Minneapolis in more than 40 years—are
working with Anduin Wilhide, a doctoral
student at the University of Minnesota,
to develop a digital history tour of the
area. The project will provide both
a website and apps for iPhones and
Android devices.
The team is now seeking funding
to complete the digital upload
process and to engage students in the
researching and writing of additional
tours. The project initially was intended
to introduce new students to the
neighborhood and its rich history,
though, as it grew, it became clear that
it will now serve a broader audience.
The goal is to have the app available
as the incoming class arrives in fall
2016, offering a window into the past
just as new students join the Augsburg
community, ready to shape its future.
President Christensen writes to WWII soldiers
BY CAITLIN CROWLEY ’16
During World War II, Augsburg College
President Bernhard Christensen ’22
diligently wrote to students and
faculty stationed around the world to
keep them up-to-date on happenings
at home and on campus. Today in the
College library’s basement, hundreds
of letters between Christensen
and these Auggies are archived in
boxes. The correspondence tells
the story of the school during the
war. There are Christmas cards from
Army bases and training camps,
tales of life during war and life back
home, well wishes and letters of
recommendation for military positions
and promotions, and sympathy notes
to families grieving the loss of their
loved ones. Christensen was deeply
invested in corresponding with all
the men involved in the war, a job
that must have taken countless
hours of dictation and typing. He
included his personal thoughts in
most all of these letters. In a letter
to Arthur Molvik ’40, a student who
later died in the war, Christensen
wrote, “We can only hope that the
clouds of war will not hang over us
too long and that when peace does
return it will be built upon a more
secure basis than formerly. Only in
a faith of this kind, I believe, can
we have courage to carry on.”
Fall 2015
19
AUGSBURG COLLEGE SOCIOLOGIST
EXAMINES NORTH DAKOTA’S
NEW OIL LANDSCAPE
20
Augsburg Now
BY LAURA SWANSON ’15 MBA
I
n the summer of 2012, Tim Pippert
lifted a couple of duffel bags into the
back of his car and headed northwest
on Interstate 94, beginning an almost
700-mile journey that drew him out of
Minneapolis—beyond the steel and glass
towers, the hectic grid of side streets
and signs, and the flurry of Fortune 500
companies and all those who inhabit their
cubicles and corner offices.
Soon, the fields of western Minnesota
and eastern North Dakota lined Pippert’s
roadside. He rolled past patches of flax
and sunflowers, wheat, alfalfa, and canola
to a place where tilled acreage melted
into an even more expansive landscape
of ranches and natural prairie grasses.
For decades—make that centuries—any
description of western North Dakota
seemed amiss without mentioning this
place’s sheer vastness of space, the way
gently rolling hills and rugged badlands
disappear into broad horizons hugging big,
bluish-gray skies.
BUT NOW THE STORY WAS DIFFERENT.
THIS AREA WAS IN THE MIDST OF A
TRANSFORMATION.
Fall 2015
21
Pippert was headed to Williston—
the North Dakota city viewed as the
epicenter of the latest North American
oil boom. This isolated community was
among a handful of towns and small
cities dotting the map in four counties
that together emitted a nearly magnetic
pull for job seekers of all kinds.
It’s likely that the route Pippert
followed to Williston began in a
similar fashion as the path truck
drivers, frack hands, pipe fitters,
hair stylists, and people working
within numerous other industries
took to North Dakota. That’s because
Pippert’s curiosity with Williston was
piqued by news stories describing
the remarkable growth happening
in this once stagnant community.
What was unique about Pippert’s
desire to work in the Roughrider State,
though, was that he didn’t plan to
fill a position in the oil industry or to
hold a job supporting its employees
at all. Instead, he sought to study the
societal change underway in Williston
and its surrounding areas along with
individuals’ perceptions of it. Thus,
he became one of the first scholars to
explore what local residents perceive to
be the costs and benefits of the boom.
A NEW RESEARCH PHASE
As an associate professor in the
Augsburg College Department of
Sociology, Pippert blends teaching,
scholarship, and mentorship into his
work each year, with an emphasis on
each aspect varying in accordance
with the academic calendar cycle.
His interest in North Dakota’s
changing cultural and physical
22
Augsburg Now
landscape stemmed from in-class
discussions with his students. Pippert
asked his Introduction to Sociology
class to bring in newspaper clippings
related to current events as an
assignment so that, together, the
students could practice analyzing
information using a sociological
perspective. One article on North
Dakota oil came in, then another.
“That’s when things were in the
very early stages of the boom, and
there were sensational stories about
folks making money hand over fist
and people moving out there with
nowhere to live,” Pippert said. “I’m
from Nebraska, and there was only
one stoplight in my entire county. I’m
used to seeing all of these tiny towns
decline in population or be relatively
stable, certainly not growing. As a
sociologist, I was just fascinated by
what happens when a small town
explodes in population overnight.”
For years, North Dakotans
were concerned about their state’s
population decline, but the oil boom
in the late 2000s dramatically
changed the socioeconomic
landscape in the region.
In 2013, journalist Chip Brown
wrote a New York Times Magazine
article that said, “It’s hard to think
of what oil hasn’t done to life in
small communities of western North
Dakota, good and bad. It has minted
millionaires, paid off mortgages, created
businesses; it has raised rents, stressed
roads, vexed planners and overwhelmed
schools; it has polluted streams,
spoiled fields and boosted crime.”
This article is among thousands
penned since the start of the boom,
but Pippert’s research takes an
approach that’s different than the one
most popular news media follow.
Using a combination of quantitative
and qualitative research methods
over the course of his career, Pippert
has examined subject areas such
as the family ties of homelessness,
the transition to parenthood, and
the accuracy of photographic
representation of diversity within
university recruitment materials. As
the next phase of his research, Pippert
recognized that there’s certainly a story
related to the development in North
Dakota, but it’s not one that can—or
necessarily should—be summarized
in a 500-word, front-page exposé or
in a 2-minute piece on the 6 o’clock
news. Pippert is working to construct
a longer narrative that is grounded in
a sociological understanding of rapid
population growth, allowing for an
analysis of how the perceptions of local
residents change over time. Of course
history shows that people’s opinions
shift as the state of the oil industry
fluctuates, which it typically does.
NORTH DAKOTA HAS
BOOMED BEFORE
“North Dakota has had oil booms
before but never one so big, never one
that rivaled the land rush precipitated
more than a century ago by the
transcontinental railroads, never one
that so radically changed the subtext of
the Dakota frontier from the Bitter Past
That Was to the Better Future That May
Yet Be,” Brown wrote.
Since the beginning, the American
oil industry’s history in north central
states has followed a cyclical narrative
of starts and stops, booms and busts.
The subterranean shale that contains
the much talked-about oil covers
western North Dakota and northeastern
Montana, and stretches into two
Canadian provinces: Saskatchewan
and Manitoba. The Bakken shale was
discovered in the early 1950s and
named after Henry Bakken, a farmer
who leased his land in North Dakota
for an early well. At 14,700 square
miles, it is the largest continuous crude
oil accumulation in the United States.
The shale has been in development
since 1953 with periods of significant
growth punctuating its more than 50year timeline. For instance, in the late
1970s and early 1980s, activity picked
up in the upper Bakken when improved
extraction technology married political
and economic conditions that left the
U.S. thirsty for domestic production.
THE LATEST BOOM
In the late 2000s, innovative
engineering and technological
refinements also played key roles
in bringing about a new boom. The
key to unlocking more of the oftensegregated oil deposits in the Bakken
shale is horizontal drilling and hydraulic
fracturing, often called “fracking.”
North Dakota has been described as a
laboratory for coaxing oil from stingy
rocks. While petroleum geologists
have known for decades that layers of
the Bakken contain light, sulfur-free
oil, it has been much more puzzling
how to extract it economically.
Today, the Bakken contains some
of the longest horizontal wells in the
world. Drillers bore vertical shafts and
then lateral shafts that extend out as
far as three miles in order to harvest
otherwise unreachable oil. However,
horizontal drilling alone is often not
enough to lure Bakken oil from the
tightly clenched grasp that holds it
roughly two miles below the earth’s
surface. The majority of the shale
won’t yield its oil unless pressurized
water containing sand and various
chemicals is pumped down the well
to crack open hairline channels
within thin layers of oil-and gasbearing rock. This procedure has been
environmentally controversial given
that the chemicals used in fracking
have been known to be or suspected
of being carcinogenic or otherwise
poisonous. Geologists and engineers
continually fine-tune the assortment
of frack fluid recipes required in
varying geological conditions, and they
fracture wells in stages, sometimes
repeating the process dozens of
times at a single location. Waste
from this process must be carefully
handled and monitored to avoid
contaminating groundwater, polluting
surface areas, or injuring workers.
Since petroleum engineers began
combining fracking with directional
drilling, thousands of new wells have
been constructed—primarily in four
North Dakota counties bordering the
Missouri River: Dunn, McKenzie,
Mountrail, and Williams. And, from
2006 to 2013, production from the
Bakken formation increased roughly
150-fold, moving North Dakota
into second place among domestic
suppliers of oil, behind Texas and
ahead of Alaska. This substantial
growth in industry spurred a need for
more of nearly everything—laborers,
housing units, highways, railroads,
power lines, and even patience.
“I’ve never seen a more
hardworking place,” Pippert said.
“There are always things going on. I’m
not sure how exactly to articulate it,
but it’s like there’s always construction;
there’s always truck traffic;
there’s always activity on Sunday
afternoons. It just doesn’t stop.”
The change in Williston and
other boomtowns may not stop, but
it does slow. This year, slumping
crude oil prices have led to a decline
among communities affected by the
oil industry. Williston was the fastestgrowing small city in the U.S. from
2011 to 2013, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau. Yet, news outlets
recently have described harder times.
Bakken oil has always been expensive
to produce and ship to refineries. So,
when oil prices started to decrease
in autumn 2014, oil producers
tamped down their spending. This
meant fewer rigs actively drilling for
crude and less work for those who
service new wells. In extreme cases,
layoffs, reduced hours, and smaller
paychecks have led workers into
hard times and even out of town.
“Lots of things have changed since
2012,” admits Pippert. “Now I have
to write a potentially different story.”
It’s said that North Dakota’s last oil
boom, which occurred roughly 30 years
ago, collapsed so quickly when oil prices
crashed that people declared, “If you’re
the last person in Williston, make sure
you turn off the lights.” But what did this
flight mean for the people who continued
Fall 2015
23
ANALYZING AND WRITING
Pippert mets with Deanette Piesik, CEO of TrainND
living in that community? For Pippert, it’s
important for sociologists to analyze how
population shifts and the industrialization
of rural areas strain community ties
and impact the daily lives of long-term
residents. This summer, he took his fifth
and likely final trip to North Dakota to see
how the recent slowdown has influenced
life in Williston, to conduct follow-up
interviews, and to hear from additional
residents for the first time.
Pippert met with Deanette
Piesik, CEO of workforce development
organization TrainND, to discuss whether
she had witnessed any signs of an oil
industry downturn. TrainND serves as
a link between private industry and
Williston State College by facilitating
safety trainings and offering worker
certification programs. After the
conversation, Piesik said she appreciated
the way Pippert used open-ended
questions such as, “How’d that impact
you?” and “What do you see?” rather
than asking questions that would induce
a negative response.
“I guess I worry about how some of
the things I say will get cut short or be
portrayed the wrong way,” said Piesik,
whose concern applies to news coverage
ranging from national broadcasts to the
local press. “Now, I could have been the
type of person who was totally negative
and that’s what you would have gotten …
but I have faith that [Pippert is] writing a
good piece about this oil boom and how
it has changed this community. I think
that’s a positive piece to do.”
24
Augsburg Now
Over the course of three years, Pippert
conducted 87 interviews to gather data,
and he is entering the writing phase of his
research—a time when he will synthesize
all of this information. Naturally, analyzing
more than seven-dozen conversations will
be a challenging endeavor.
“There comes a point, probably
before that 87 number, where you
don’t learn anything new,” he said with
a laugh, “but it’s so interesting I just
wanted to keep going.”
Augsburg College sociology
students helped to spur Pippert’s
interest in the North Dakota oil boom,
and they continue to play a role as
this project develops. Students serve
as research assistants by transcribing
interviews and coding the information
they contain so that Pippert can
examine themes from year to year
and from discussion to discussion. He
plans to work with a research assistant
supported by the 2015 Torstenson
Community Scholars program, and he
has supervised Ashley Johnson ’16 as
she worked on an independent project
on sex trafficking in North Dakota as
part of her participation in the McNair
Scholars Program.
Overall, Pippert is positioned to
assess the dramatic and immediate
strain on infrastructure that North
Dakota communities endured during the
period of rapid growth occurring during
the boom’s first few years. He also will
look at longtime residents’ perceptions
of oil workers and of crime.
“There are certainly more crimes
taking place, but whether they are
proportional to the population increase
is difficult to tell,” Pippert said.
It is also complex to articulate how
residents felt about an influx of new
people in their communities.
“As a sociologist, I’m interested
in ‘insider’ versus ‘outsider’ framing,”
Pippert added. “There seems to be a
pretty strong sentiment among locals
that they were frustrated with oil field
workers. The saying was, ‘Go back
home—unless you plan on staying.’”
This phrase, Pippert noticed,
articulates that longtime residents
grew tired of people simply entering
their communities for work and then
leaving or sending their income to
families and homes in other areas of the
country. The locals would have preferred
for the newcomers to contribute to and
make a life in their communities well
into the future.
THE YEARS AHEAD
As time unfolds, the challenges and
opportunities presented in Williston may
begin to surface in other communities
that are in the midst of their own
dramatic population growth, and
Pippert’s research could serve as a study
for navigating complex situations.
The oil extraction technology
pioneered in North Dakota is expected
to have implications around the world,
but it’s not only communities near
oil deposits that may benefit from
this scholar’s perspective. Ultimately,
Pippert said, his story is about how
the identity of a small town changes
when significant industrial development
causes a population shift. It’s about
massive industry suddenly entering an
area—any area—to utilize its resources.
And when other communities follow
down a similar path as Williston, it’s
important for them to learn from the
road that North Dakota already has
traveled.
“It really is about a boom,” Pippert
said. “But the source of its spark doesn’t
really matter.”
A DARK
SIDE TO
A BOOM
scholarship
in action
A
s one of the first sociologists to
study the effects of the most
recent oil boom in North Dakota,
Tim Pippert has been sought out by
organizations looking to add context
to their coverage of the changes
occurring in the city of Williston and
its surrounding communities. Pippert
contributed to the Forum News
Service’s reporting series on human
trafficking and female exploitation,
and he appeared in the documentary
“BOOM,” which depicted human and sex
trafficking issues haunting communities.
The film tells the story of a recent
college graduate who moves to North
Dakota to get a job in the oil fields as
a trucker and who becomes aware of
criminal activity present in his new
surroundings. The nonprofit iEmpathize
created the documentary to raise
awareness about child exploitation
and to help industries ranging from
oil and gas to trucking and hospitality
better train employees to recognize and
respond to trafficking.
The film was screened in November
2014 at North Dakota’s first statewide
summit on human trafficking, which
Pippert attended as a featured panelist.
He discussed his research in front of
the U.S. attorney for North Dakota,
the state’s attorney general, local and
federal law enforcement agencies,
victims’ advocates, social service
providers, tribal officials, and others
who—he said—came together to ask,
“How big of a problem is this?” and
“What are we going to do about it?”
For Pippert, seeing his scholarship
have a life outside of an academic
setting has been personally rewarding
and publically valuable.
Brad Riley, founder and president
of iEmpathize, visited Augsburg College
in March with Anthony Baldassari, the
film’s protagonist and an engagement
ambassador for the organization’s Boom
Campaign, which assists communities
across the United States. The two men
joined Pippert in screening the film and
leading an on-campus discussion on the
issues it portrayed. Baldassari, Pippert,
and Riley also served as presenters at
Visit iEmpathize.org to learn
how this organization works to
educate boom communities
to recognize and respond to
human trafficking issues.
the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum,
of which Augsburg College is a host
sponsor.
Pippert’s role in the film helped
to “give a real, authentic, and clear
unpacking of what’s happening, why it’s
happening, and where it’s happening,”
Riley said.
The film was designed to be a
catalyst for conversation in communities
where human trafficking already had a
foothold or within groups that have an
ability to help curtail the offense. In
addition, “BOOM” is a teaching tool for
the curricula iEmpathize distributes to
law enforcement, schools, health care
institutions, and other organizations
located in areas that are at risk of
encountering their own human trafficking
issues.
“If we can predict where boom
towns might be in the future, we can
come in and help set up a little bit
of infrastructure on the front end,”
Baldassari said, which helps to give
people the opportunity to intervene in a
safe and practical way.
Fall 2015
25
26
Augsburg Now
BURSTING
WITH AUGGIE PRIDE
A fireworks display over Murphy Square lights up the night during
Homecoming weekend.
Nearly 600 Auggies representing more than six decades and from as far away as Norway attended
the 2015 Augsburg College Homecoming celebration. The class with the most attendees? Alumni
from 1965, marking their 50th reunion! If you’ve never had the chance to see the campus canopied in
fireworks, you should plan to attend Homecoming in 2016.
The 2015 Homecoming Alumni Award recipients and Athletic Hall of
Fame inductees are featured in Class Notes: pages 32-39. To view
videos recognizing the award recipients, go to augsburg.edu/now.
Fall 2015
27
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear alumni and friends,
W
elcome to the 2015-16
academic year! Thank you to
Chris Hallin ’88 for serving as
alumni board president last year. I’m
excited to become board president at
a time when our group continues to
evolve and increase its engagement
with alumni in the life of the College.
As the campus community looks forward to the
sesquicentennial of Augsburg in 2019, we all have the
opportunity to participate in the strategic vision set forth
by the Augsburg Board of Regents, which states: “In 2019,
Augsburg College will be a new kind of student-centered,
urban university, small to our students and big for the world.”
There is much work that we as alumni have done and can do
to support this vision.
Mark your calendars for the next Student and Alumni
Networking Event on February 9, which gives students
access to one-on-one discussions with alumni professionals
on campus. Alumni can also partner with the Clair and
Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work, as we did this
September for the first-ever Fall Career and Internship Fair, to
provide alumni and students with meaningful connections.
We also work to make annual traditions, such as
Homecoming and Advent Vespers, special for alumni of all
generations.
Throughout the coming year, your alumni board will hear
from Augsburg guest speakers about internships, research,
study abroad, and service work and learning that shape an
Augsburg education. As we listen, we will consider how alumni
can support the important work of the College. There are three
dimensions in the Augsburg2019 strategic plan (found at
augsburg.edu/augsburg2019) that are relevant to our work:
•
Dimension 1: Educating for lives of purpose—across the
disciplines, beyond the classroom, and around the world.
As alumni, we can help students outside the classroom
and in a manner that equips them to succeed through
mentoring, internships, and more.
•
Dimension 2: At the table with our neighbors and institutional
partners, shaping education to address the world’s needs. As
alumni, our workplaces and Auggie-owned businesses can
work with Augsburg to expand internship opportunities
that allow students to build their skills, discern their
vocations, and open doors to careers.
•
Dimension 3: Built for the future—a vital and sustainable
institution. Alumni can strengthen collaboration and
financial sustainability through our consistent financial
support and by sharing the good news about the College
among our professional and faith communities, and with
our friends and families.
As alumni, we have a direct impact on our College in small
and large ways. Our participation is key to the future viability
and sustainability of our college and of Auggies. I hope you
will join us.
JILL WATSON ’10 MBA
ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
UNIQUELY AUGSBURG TRAVEL
Augsburg College alumni, parents, families, and friends are invited to
join international tours led by faculty members whose distinction and
expertise add to one-of-a-kind
travel experiences. If you are
UPCOMING TOURS:
interested in participating in
Germany and the Czech Republic
travel opportunities or attending
Thailand and Cambodia
an information session, contact
Sally Daniels Herron ’79 at
To learn more, go to
augsburg.edu/alumni/travel.
herron@augsburg.edu or
612-330-1525.
28
Augsburg Now
NOVEMBER 12, 2015
Thanks for Giving to the Max!
Thank you to all those who supported
Augsburg College on Give to the Max Day.
Your gifts enable great opportunities for
students in academics, athletics, and
campus programs. See the wide variety of
projects supported by this annual day of
philanthropy at augsburg.edu/now.
AUGGIES CONNECT
FROM RIVERSIDE AVE.
TO RIVERSIDE, CA
A demand for Auggies
Augsburg is closing the distance between Riverside Avenue in
Minneapolis and Riverside, California, through the successful
partnership of Augsburg faculty, alumni, college programs—and,
of course—talented students.
The collaboration is proving so effective that faculty
mentors at the University of California-Riverside are calling for
more Auggies. When Dixie Shafer, director of Undergraduate
Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO), visited
doctoral candidate Tom Lopez ’11, she heard in no uncertain
terms from Lopez’s mentor and department of mechanical
engineering faculty member Lorenzo Mangolini:
“I want more of your students. I want more Augsburg
students. Your students know what they’re doing in the lab
from day one.”
Over the past six years, several Augsburg graduates have
landed at UC-Riverside with full funding to attend doctoral
programs. The students have a team of Auggie advocates
supporting them all the way. The team includes staff from
TRIO/McNair Scholars; URGO; STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics) Programs; and alumni who
have walked a similar path.
The Riverside pipeline
Augsburg sociology alumni Matthew Dunn ’08, Jenna Mead ’09,
and Zach Sommer ’10 were among the first Auggies to blaze a trail
to UC-Riverside. They were later joined by Lopez and doctoral
candidate Justin Gyllen ’11, a computer scientist and physicist
working on an educational technology project to help first-year
engineering students improve their note-taking.
Now those Auggies have been joined by two more alumni
from the physics and math departments: Gottlieb Uahengo ’13
and Amir Rose ’14.
Rose, one of five Augsburg McNair Scholars to attend
UC-Riverside, credits that program’s role in his success. The
McNair program is a two-year opportunity that helps prepare
low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students
for graduate school. Rose, whose current research is focused
on breeding sterile mosquitoes to eradicate populations of
disease-spreading mosquitoes, also credits Augsburg physics
professor David Murr ’92 for teaching him research skills and
independent thinking.
Even current Augsburg students gain research experience at
UC-Riverside. Last summer, chemistry student Oscar Martinez ’16
worked with Lopez and also traveled to Scripps Research
Institute in Florida.
Circle of Support
Now that these Auggies are studying and
researching in Riverside, Dr. Steve Larson ’72
says it’s his turn to help. Larson, a member of
the Augsburg Board of Regents, has been in
California since 1980.
Three years ago, Larson, chief executive officer
and board chair for Riverside Medical Clinic
and a generous supporter of the Norman
and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science,
Business, and Religion, found out that there
was not just one, but a group of Auggies in
Riverside, and he invited them to dinner at his
home. He has had them back every year, and
has been joined by Augsburg College President
Paul Pribbenow and Shafer.
“We all have something in common,”
Larson said of his dinners with the Augsburg
alumni and students. “Everyone appreciates
what happens at Augsburg College.”
There’s a circle of involvement with the
College, Larson explained, that begins as a
student, continues as alumni go out into the
world, and finally turns back to support student
success and the future of the College. “This is
my turn,” he said.
He is excited for how the Hagfors Center
will continue to inspire high-caliber students
and faculty to take their work to the next level.
“Keep those Auggies coming,” Larson said.
[Top to bottom]:
Augsburg College
Regent Steve Larson ’72
supports students like
Gottlieb Uahengo ’13 and
Oscar Martinez ’16—two
of the Auggies whose
academic pursuits have
led to the University of
California-Riverside.
Fall 2015
29
AUGGIES CONNECT
THOUGHTFUL GIVING
Less effort. More impact.
“Mr. Augsburg” has spent 44 years of his
life—so far—inspiring Auggies to invest
in the life of the College. Whether in his
role as a student, parent, grandparent,
or as alumni director and fundraiser for
Augsburg, Jeroy Carlson ’48 has inspired
Auggies through the decades to remain
connected to their alma mater.
The work, connections, and
inspiration fostered and forged by
Carlson led an anonymous donor to make
a generous $165,000 lead gift to name
a gathering space in the Norman and
Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science,
Business, and Religion in honor of
Carlson and his wife, Lorraine. Augsburg
College Regent Dennis Meyer ’78 and
Beverly (Ranum) Meyer ’78 also were
inspired by Carlson’s leadership and
dedication to the College and decided to
make a second gift. The couple’s most
recent contribution of $25,000 will go
to support the space named in honor of
the Carlsons.
During his long tenure with
Augsburg, Carlson helped countless
students get their careers off the ground.
“He never hesitated to pick up the phone
to make a connection,” said Dennis.
One of Carlson’s introductions
helped Bev make an important
professional connection to launch her
teaching career. “There were many
30
Augsburg Now
faculty and staff members at Augsburg
who provided career guidance and
direction, but Jeroy stands out for us,”
she said.
“I admire the connections Jeroy
developed with alumni and his ability
to make things happen,” Dennis said,
noting that Carlson raised millions for
the College. “When he called and asked
for something, people gave because
they had great respect for Jeroy, his
love of Augsburg, and the people who
contributed to its success.”
Donors are invited to make a gift
to the Jeroy and Lorraine Carlson
Atrium Lounge—a designated space
in the Hagfors Center where the
Augsburg community will gather, foster
relationships, and build community.
Great progress already has been
made for this $250,000 initiative, which
will end on December 31. There is just
$60,000 left to raise to name the space.
Please join fellow Auggies touched by
the Carlsons’ spirit of generosity and
belief in Augsburg. Send your gift,
marked “Jeroy Carlson Initiative,” to:
Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside
Avenue, CB 142, Minneapolis, MN
55454. For more information, contact
Kim Stone at stonek@augsburg.edu or
612-330-1173.
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
Jeroy and
Lorraine Carlson
Atrium Lounge
Make a difference at Augsburg—this and
every month—with Thoughtful Giving.
A Thoughtful Gift is a monthly
sustaining contribution, paid automatically
with a deduction from your checking
account, credit card, or debit card.
Your monthly gifts help provide a
steady, reliable income stream, allowing
Augsburg to focus more resources on
financial aid and student services.
Think about it—monthly donations
make it easy to budget—and it feels great
to know you are making a difference every
month of the year.
Visit augsburg.edu/giving to start your
monthly giving today.
If you have questions or want to
become a Thoughtful Giver through the
mail or by telephone, contact Margo
Abramson at abramson@augsburg.edu or
612-330-1557.
Thank you for keeping Augsburg strong
and thriving with your financial support.
I believe in Thoughtful Giving.
Sue and Larry Turner ’69 have made an
automatic monthly gift since 2013.
AUGGIES CONNECT
Buy a brick. Honor a legacy.
What started out as a group of first-year Auggies from
Washburn High School in Minneapolis commuting
to campus for classes led to friendships that have
transcended job relocations, marriages, losses of parents,
and births of grandchildren. Now those Auggies—dear
friends for nearly a half-century—are celebrating their
life-long relationships and Augsburg’s role in bringing
them together by buying a brick to support the College’s
new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science,
Business, and Religion.
In the late 1960s, after spending a year commuting
to college, the friends decided to live on campus.
Although they put their names in the housing lottery,
they came up empty. The group learned from facilities
staff that there was a house on campus that needed
some fixing up and that, if the group was willing to do
the work, they could move in.
The group cleaned, painted, and got the house ready
to live in. John Hjelmeland ’70 and Paul Mikelson ’70
moved into the house in the fall of 1967.
By winter break, more Auggies moved into the house:
John Harden ’69 and Phil Walen ’70 from Washburn High
and Terry Nygaard ’70 from Columbia Heights.
The five roommates spent the remainder of their
time at Augsburg in the house located where the Charles
S. Anderson Music Hall now stands. While the friends
all pursued different fields of study, their friendship
remained as strong then as it does now.
After graduation, Mikelson married and left for a
U.S. Army position in Germany, and Hjelmeland and
Walen moved out of state. During that time, the group
started to circulate a handwritten chain letter as a way to
stay in touch. Each of the friends lived in a different city,
and the group kept the letter in circulation for 10 years.
Eventually, all five Auggies returned to the Twin
Cities and began to meet for monthly lunches. This past
September, Walen passed away, but the remaining four
friends continue to meet regularly.
“Augsburg was the place where we cemented our
friendship and kept it going all these years,” Mikelson said.
While Walen was still alive, the five former
roommates together bought a brick to commemorate
their camaraderie and Augsburg’s place in it. The brick,
which will be displayed as part of the new Hagfors
Center, will be inscribed, simply, “2207 S. 7th St.”
Courtesy Photo
45 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP INSPIRES A BRICK
Top: Augsburg College alumni on their graduation day [L to R]: Phil Walen ’70, Paul
Mikelson ’70, John Hjelmeland ’70, John Harden ’69, and Terry Nygaard ’70.
Bottom: Four of the men continue to meet monthly for lunch.
THERE IS STILL TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
CAMPAIGN FOR THE HAGFORS CENTER!
Buy a brick to honor a family member,
a teacher, a friendship, or a relationship
that defines Augsburg for you. Augsburg
will inscribe a brick with your name or the
name of someone you’d like to honor. Each
brick will be incorporated into the building of the Hagfors
Center, creating a lasting legacy for the future of Augsburg.
Foundation Brick (40 characters, 3 lines) = $250
Legacy Brick (80 characters, 6 lines) = $500
augsburg.edu/csbr | 612-330-1085
Fall 2015
31
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1951
Einar Unseth ’51 marked his
90th birthday on June 29. After
farming with his father, Unseth served in the
occupation army in Japan. He then attended
Augsburg College and Luther Seminary. He
served as a missionary to Japan with the
American Lutheran Church (now ELCA), and
later pastored Lutheran churches in Iowa,
Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South
Dakota. Unseth and his wife, Luella, recently
moved to Lester Prairie, Minnesota. They
have six sons, 22 grandchildren, and seven
great-grandchildren.
1952
Dave Christensen ’52 and his
brother Duane Christensen ’53 meet
every morning to grab some coffee, buy copies
of the Bemidji Pioneer and the Minneapolis
Star Tribune, and catch up on the latest news.
This tradition began in 1990 when Dave moved
to Bemidji to retire. Dave taught school in
Atwater, Minnesota, for four years and served
in the U.S. Army before enrolling in Luther
Seminary in St. Paul. Before retirement, he was
a Lutheran minister at Adams, North Dakota;
Warren, Minnesota; and Pelican Rapids,
Minnesota.
After Duane graduated from Augsburg,
he served in the U.S. Army and then began
a career in education as a band and choir
teacher in Danube, Minnesota. He earned
his master’s and specialist degrees at the
University of Minnesota, and then worked as a
school principal in several Minnesota districts.
Duane moved to Bemidji, Minnesota, in 1969
and started the Bemidji Regional Interdistrict
Council, an agency that provided special
education services to 18 area school districts.
He headed the council for 18 years before
retiring. In 1990, the brothers built Maple
Ridge Golf Course south of Bemidji.
Harvey Peterson ’52,
a former member of
the Augsburg College
Board of Regents and a
member of the Athletics
Hall of Fame, received
a Distinguished Alumni
Award at Homecoming
2015. He was recognized
for his distinct level of dedication, leadership,
and achievement over the span of his career.
He and his wife, Joanne (Varner) Peterson ’52,
are longtime, faithful supporters of the College.
He was the CEO of CATCO, a truck parts
supply company founded in 1949 by his father,
Art Peterson. He has given unselfishly to his
business and industry peers and associates,
mentoring and advising many along the way.
1957
Grace (Forss)
Herr ’57
was recognized with a
Distinguished Alumni
Award at Augsburg’s
Homecoming in October,
which also hosted a
reunion for majors
in home economics.
Her award cited her entrepreneurial spirit,
great generosity in establishing numerous
scholarships, and longstanding commitment to
Habitat for Humanity and the Guadalupe Center
in Florida, where she lives with her husband,
Doug. This past spring, the couple received the
Spirit of Marco Island Award from a Rotary Club,
which honored them for embodying the spirit of
community through service.
1961
Karen (Erickson) McCullough ’61
walked Hadrian’s Wall Path, a nearly
80-mile trek, across northern England from
Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.
1964
Mike Walgren
’64 was
recognized with a Spirit
of Augsburg Award at
Homecoming in October.
He has been manager of
the Augsburg Centennial
Singers since 2001. With
his wife, Carla (Quanbeck)
Walgren ’64, he lives out his vocation of being
called to service. In his work with the Centennial
Singers, professionally, and with his church,
he puts his gifts and talents in service of the
greater good—doing the difficult work with
full engagement and without hesitation. He
was recognized in 2001 with an Outstanding
Professional Fundraiser of the Year award
by the Minnesota chapter of the Association
of Fundraising Professionals. He is an active
member of Westwood Lutheran Church in
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he sings
in the choir.
REUNION
1965
Augsburg
College
Regent Emeritus Dan
Anderson ’65 was
recognized with a
Distinguished Alumni
Award at Augsburg’s
Homecoming in October,
which also honored the
1965 men’s basketball championship team
on which he played. Anderson in 1977 was
inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of
Fame for his accomplishments on the court,
including leading the basketball team to three
conference championships, setting records for
career points (2,052 points), and being named
conference player of the year three times.
Anderson is chairman of AdvisorNet Financial
in Minneapolis. He has served on the board
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
1952
Glenn Thorpe ’60 hosted a celebration for his brother Gordon Thorpe ’52, ’55
to honor the 60th anniversary of Gordon’s graduation from Augsburg
Seminary and ordination at Trinity Lutheran Church, which was on June 12, 1955.
Gordon served in parishes for 41 years. At the celebration, Gordon was joined by his
classmates David Rokke ’52, Carl Vaagenes ’50, ’55, and Bill Halverson ’51. Also joining
them to celebrate were Augsburg seminarians Philip Quanbeck ’50, Allan Sortland ’53,
Morris Vaagenes ’54, Jim Almquist ’61, Paul Almquist ’62, and Thomas Moen ’62.
32
Augsburg Now
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
of directors for charitable organizations, has
worked locally for Habitat for Humanity, and is
active in his church community.
Marilyn (Nielsen) Anderson ’65 treasures her
memories of Augsburg band trips to the West
Coast and the Augsburg Cantorians’ trips. She
taught K-12 choir, band, music, and orchestra
for 17 years and has written and published 25
children’s books. She taught writing courses
for the Institute of Children’s Literature for 20
years. Anderson also has trained and showed
dressage horses at international levels. If she
could thank anyone at Augsburg, it would be
James Johnson, her piano teacher, and Anne
Pederson, who taught English.
MaryAnn (Holland) Berg ’65 has had a life
filled with music. She taught elementary
music and piano for 20 years, and directed a
championship barbershop chorus in Fargo,
North Dakota, that took her to international
competitions in London, Minneapolis,
Philadelphia, Seattle, and St. Louis. She
currently sings with the Fargo Moorhead Choral
Artists, a group she’s been with for 28 years.
Her fondest memories of Augsburg include
choir tours (especially the Norway tour in 1965)
and serving as a student secretary for Leland
Sateren ’35. She and husband, Arvid Berg ’65,
cherish the memory of the Augsburg Choir
singing at their wedding on November 21, 1964.
Arvid has no doubt that Sateren inspired
him to become a choral director and to strive
for the highest performance standards he could
achieve. Arvid’s fondest Augsburg memories
are of Augsburg band and choir tours, including
a five-week tour with the choir to Norway,
Denmark, and Germany. Arvid spent 30 years
as head of the music department at Oak Grove
Lutheran High School in Fargo. He also had a
25-year military career, the last 19 years with the
188th Army Band of Fargo. His current interests
include fishing, hunting, traveling, music, and
his church.
If she could, Adrienne (Strand) Buboltz ’65
would thank the Rev. Waldemar Anderson ’37 for
encouraging her and three of her classmates
from North Dakota’s Portland High School
to attend Augsburg. She fondly remembers
serving on the freshman social committee,
decorating Christmas trees, watching high
school classmate Dan Anderson ’65 play
basketball, and meeting her future husband,
Larry Buboltz ’65, at Augsburg. She especially
enjoyed being instructed by Chemistry
Professor Courtland Agre and Leif Hansen,
her German teacher. Adrienne graduated
from Moorhead State University in 1974 and
became a Certified Public Accountant. She
worked in public accounting, was a corporate
controller, and taught at a vocational school.
She opened an insurance brokerage in 1991
after receiving her insurance and brokerage
licenses, and she retired in 2005. Larry keeps
busy as chair of Detroit Lakes Community
and Cultural Center in Minnesota. He serves
on a committee to bring a bike trail to the
community. He became a city councilman
in 1976, and served until he was elected
mayor from 1988 to 2008. He likes to
Sharon (Kunze) Erickson ’65 says she took an
interest in a certain physics lab assistant and
eventually married him—Ken Erickson ’62, now
retired from the Augsburg physics department.
The couple lives in Cambridge, Minnesota,
where Sharon taught first grade for 29 years.
Sharon volunteers at their church and at the
Cambridge Hospital when she isn’t spending
time with family and friends.
Helen (Friederichs) Griller ’65 has lived in
and enjoyed Arizona for the past 28 years,
but she has so many special memories of
George Johnson ’65 spent more than three
years in Pakistan teaching science students
who ranged from the undergraduate to the
doctoral levels. He and his wife, Leslye, both
hold doctorate degrees in biochemistry,
and, with support from the Bradley Hills
Presbyterian congregation in Bethesda,
Maryland, worked with Forman Christian
College University in Lahore, Pakistan. The
Johnsons view this school as an oasis of
tolerance, and they served people who are
Muslim and Christian, rich and poor, male and female. The Johnsons’ time in Pakistan
convinced them how valuable it is for students and alumni to visit other countries to
experience life and cultures. Before this teaching opportunity, George had a robust career
in research science, often working in drug discovery and development.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
exercise, travel, play bridge, attend school
sporting activities, and is active in Kiwanis.
At Augsburg, Larry participated in the debate
team and later coached debate at Detroit
Lakes High School. He also taught history
there until 1968. He joined Rural Minnesota
Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. and
became chairman in 2005. His high school
band instructor, David Skaar ’55, initially
encouraged him to attend Augsburg.
One of the fondest memories Keith Dyrud ’65,
holds from his time at Augsburg is his work
publishing the campus newspaper, The Voice.
Faculty who most influenced Keith were Carl
Chrislock ’37 and Khin Khin Jensen, faculty in
the history and political science department,
and William Halverson ’51 and Paul Sonnack ’42,
faculty in the religion department. Today, Keith
enjoys writing history, construction, Norwegian
studies, and outdoor activities. He lives with
wife, Grace, in Lauderdale, Minnesota. They
have six children and nine grandchildren.
growing up in Minnesota that she still thinks
of it as home. Treasured memories from her
Augsburg experience include good friends,
the International Associated Women Students
trip to Oklahoma, sporting activities, Sno Days,
and Freshman Days. Her current interests
and activities include four grandchildren, book
clubs, reading, traveling, the Scottsdale Garden
Club, and activities at her church.
Carmen Herrick ’65 passed the Certified Public
Accountant exam in 1989 and then worked
in public accounting. In addition to obtaining
a bachelor’s from Western State College of
Colorado, she attended the University of
Oslo and Elverum Folkehøgskule in Norway,
which afforded her the opportunity to travel
throughout Scandinavia. Among her favorite
Augsburg memories are living with 11 other
girls in Kappa House, and her wonderful
business education teacher. Current interests
include learning Norwegian, playing bridge,
lap swimming, and Silver Sneakers exercise
classes. She has six grandchildren.
Fall 2015
33
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
REUNION
1965
Don Hoseth ’65 returned to
Augsburg in 1971 to earn his
elementary teaching degree and taught for
32 years in the Robbinsdale, Minnesota,
School District. He has been retired for the
past 12 years and keeps busy with his 12
grandchildren. He is grateful for the influence
of numerous professors as well as longtime
coaches Edor Nelson ’38 and Ed Saugestad ’59.
Jan (Mattson) Johnson ’65 and husband,
Tom, live in Alexandria, Minnesota, and enjoy
seeing their five grandchildren when they
visit the Twin Cities. The Johnsons lived in
the Philippines for one year and in Maine for
another while Tom was in the U.S. Air Force.
As a student, Jan worked in Augsburg’s
Admissions office for Donovan Lundeen, who
had visited her home prior to her decision to
attend Augsburg. She relishes memories of
singing under the direction of Leland Sateren ’35
in the Augsburg Choir, and feels privileged
to have traveled to Norway, Denmark, and
Germany with the choir for five weeks after
graduating. Jan’s current interests include
choir, golfing, quilting, reading, and travel.
For Charles McCaughan ’65, Professor
Emeritus of History Donald Gustafson was the
faculty member who most influenced him
as a student. McCaughan lives in Bagley,
Minnesota.
Dennis Morreim ’65 transferred to Augsburg
after three years at the University of Minnesota.
He remembers his advisor working to have all
of his credits accepted, and he went from being
a sophomore to a junior in one day. Morreim
met his wife, Jeanne (Wanner) Morreim ’66,
during orientation week. She was working in
The Grill. The couple has been married 50
years. Dennis earned his master’s degree in
divinity and a doctorate of ministry degree. He
served churches in Manitoba and Minnesota
for 38 years. During his time serving in Cloquet,
Minnesota, he went to Honduras 17 times and
helped to build eight schools in the Central
American country. He spends his time now
as a part-time chaplain at a local hospital and
nursing home in Cloquet. He also is chaplain of
the Minnesota State Senate.
Dwight Olson ’65 can still make a mean grilled
Spam sandwich and great Swedish pancakes,
but can’t lower his golf handicap. Olson lives
in San Diego with his wife of 50 years, Lois
(Monson) Olson ’68. He founded Data Securities
International and is listed in Wikipedia as the
“father of technology escrow.” He started
Gamma Phi Omega at Augsburg and says
that Phil Quanbeck, Sr. ’50, professor emeritus
of religion, was his most influential faculty
member. Dwight and Lois have two sons and
four grandchildren. He says that Lois agreed to
marry him the day before graduation so that his
family could afford to attend both events.
The Rev. Gary Olson ’65 and wife, Jean (Pfeifer)
Olson ’64, reside in Maplewood, Minnesota.
Gary spends his time in creative writing. He and
Jean attend many school events for their three
grandchildren. On occasion, he still preaches.
Gary’s memories from his time at Augsburg
include the day when he was walking to class
and walked past a sleeping male student
whose dorm mates put his bed, dresser, lamp,
and chair on the Quad lawn. Gary says that
Esther Olson, a theater and speech professor,
influenced him most as a student.
Pat (Steenson) Roback ’65 and her husband,
Jim Roback ’62, feel blessed to have chosen
Augsburg to get their teaching degrees and to
have been surrounded by students and staff
who got to know them and helped shape them
as they chose their future paths. The faculty
member who most influenced Pat was Martha
Mattson, an elementary education faculty
member. Pat recalls that, “She was an icon!
What a wealth of information she was, and
[she] knew so much about the world because
she traveled and lived in many faraway
places. She even had a few of us over to her
apartment once to teach us tatting. She was
very good at it, and we were not.” Pat thanks
all of the 1965 reunion committee members
for their dedication, ideas, time, and hard work
to make plans for Homecoming.
Larry Scholla ’65 and Muriel (Berg) Scholla ’67
live in Willmar, Minnesota, and winter in Naples,
Florida, where they enjoy the beaches of Marco
and Naples, as well as several biking trails.
They have five grandchildren. Larry volunteers
at Kandiyohi County Historical Society in
Willmar, and enjoys doing carpentry and general
maintenance. He treasures the memory of being
part of the football and baseball teams, and is
grateful for the influence of Ed Saugestad ’59,
who taught a kinesiology class.
Augsburg College alumni and a current student
jumped aboard “The Hoopla Train with Yard Master
Yip and his Polkastra” at multiple stops of the show’s
Minnesota-based summer tour, which included
performances in communities ranging from St. Cloud
to New Ulm. The Auggies sang, danced, and acted in
a Vaudeville-style production, using techniques honed
on the stages of Augsburg College.
Described as “Lawrence Welk meets Hee
Haw,” the production was produced by Sod House
Theater and spearheaded by actor and director
Darcey Engen ’88, chair of Augsburg’s Theater
Arts Department, and Luverne Seifert ’83, actor
and senior teaching specialist at the University of
Minnesota.
The original show featured “acts performed by
a touring cast with appearances by several Augsburg
alumni friends along the way,” according to Engen.
34
Augsburg Now
“We were thrilled to be performing with Auggies in
historic ballrooms and other venues across Minnesota
where live music and dancing originated and many of
our parents fell in love.”
Engen and Seifert secured four Augsburg theater
alumni and one current student to perform, including
Lisa (Pestka) Anderson ’86, David Deblieck ’88, Kari
(Eklund) Logan ’82, Deb Pearson ’83, and Riley
Parham ’18. Another Augsburg alumnus, Justin
Caron ’13, assisted with costumes.
For the alumni, participating in “The Hoopla
Train” offered an opportunity to reconnect with
longtime friends and to recall past Augsburg theater
experiences.
“Some of my happiest memories were made on
the stage at Augsburg,” said Logan. “It was wonderful
to be back together with some of the people who
played a role in making them.”
Photo credit: John Grones
Augsburg alumni collaborate on touring theater production
Darcey Engen ’88 and Luverne Seifert ’83
perform as Aunt Woo and Uncle Yahoo.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
The Rev. Clayton Skurdahl ’65 spent 40 years in
ministry, primarily in Colorado and Nebraska.
His current interests include jogging/walking,
gardening, traveling, and serving as a visitation
pastor. He treasures his memories of Augsburg
chapel times and says he was most influenced
by Mario Colacci, a faculty member in the
Department of New Testament Greek and
Latin. Skurdahl also would like to thank Joel
Torstenson, professor emeritus of sociology.
After David Swenson ’65 completed a
master’s degree in physics at the University
of Minnesota, he was hired by Honeywell
Aerospace where he went on to meet his
wife, Bonny. He spent seven years building
and operating a space simulation chamber
for testing radiometers that flew on satellites.
In 1974, he left engineering and moved to
Colorado where he partnered with Bonny’s
father to run a bicycle store, which they owned
for decades. Among his favorite memories at
Augsburg are influential professors, Concert
Band, the Basin Streeters Dixieland band,
basketball, tennis, physics experiments, and
times spent with good friends. He and Bonny
live in Longmont, Colorado, and David still
works part time in the bicycle shop he once
owned. In his spare time, he enjoys bicycling,
hiking, travel, and music.
Loren Wiger ’65 is in his fifth decade of
teaching science. Most of his years were
at Marshall Middle School in Marshall,
Minnesota. He currently teaches at Southwest
Minnesota State University, where he works
with teacher candidates and teaches science
methods courses. He has many treasured
memories from his time at Augsburg including
dorm life, where Dan “Big Dan” Anderson ’65
was the model student-athlete. Wiger says
he used the phone quite often to visit with
his future wife, Ruth, who was becoming a
registered nurse at Deaconess Hospital.
1968
The Rev. Mark Hanson ’68 this
fall served as Augsburg College’s
Special Assistant to the President for Mission
and Identity, helping facilitate on-campus
conversations regarding the ways in which
the College’s Lutheran Christian heritage
and identity remain relevant to its academic
mission and activities. This spring, Hanson will
become the executive director of the College’s
Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation,
working to ensure that the center fully
embraces its commitment to the theological
concept of vocation.
1972
Luther
Bakken ’72
was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic
Hall of Fame for his
accomplishments as a
thrower on the men’s
track and field team. His
50’ 9” outdoor shot put
throw from 1972 remains a school record.
Bakken also played football while at Augsburg.
1974
Accomplished
high school
wrestling coach Scot
Davis ’74 was inducted
into the Augsburg
Athletic Hall of Fame
this year in recognition
of his collegiate wrestling
career. He earned AllAmerican honors in 1973 for his sixth-place
finish at the NAIA National Championships,
among other accolades.
Family ties to Augsburg’s history abound for
Deborah (Fredrickson) Crawley ’76. See page 18.
1978
Augsburg
Athletic Hall
of Fame inductee Paul
Meissner ’78 is one of
the top players in the
history of Augsburg men’s
basketball. He is one of
only 18 players to score
more than 1,000 career
points and remains a top 5 rebounder with
more than 725 career rebounds. He also holds
the school record for games played, with 114.
Bonnie (Lamon) Moren ’78, wife of Jonathan
Moren ’78, retired in June after 37 years of
teaching developmental adapted physical
education to students with special needs in
Bloomington, Minnesota, Public Schools.
David Raether ’78 recently gave a TED Talk at
TEDxAmherst on the campus of the University
of Massachusetts Amherst. Raether’s talk was
based on his experience of homelessness after a
successful career as an award-winning television
comedy writer. The talk was derived from a
widely praised essay he wrote called “What It’s
Like to Fail” that was awarded Best Nonfiction
of 2013 by Longform.org and cited as one of the
best pieces of journalism in 2013 by The Atlantic
magazine. The essay also was featured in the
Times of London Sunday magazine. Raether lives
and works in Berkeley, California.
1982
As of July 1, Scott Ludford ’82 is
the senior pastor of Zion Lutheran
Church in Shawano, Wisconsin.
1987
Augsburg
women’s
basketball star Barb
Blomberg ’87 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame. She holds the
fifth-highest career points
total in program history
with 1,023 points. Blomberg served as team
captain in both basketball and volleyball.
Paul Rensted ’87 was appointed Charles
County, Maryland’s director of human
resources in August. Rensted has experience
in all aspects of human resources management
and conflict resolution and previously served
as the director of human resources for the
city of Annapolis. Rensted is certified with
the International Personnel Management
Association for Human Resources. His other
professional affiliations include the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights State Advisory
Committee; County Conflict Resolution Center
Board of Directors; Baltimore Community Center
Board of Directors; Public Interest Organization
Governing Board; and Advocates for Herring
Bay. He received his undergraduate degree in
international relations and East Asian studies,
and a master’s degree in political science from
the University of British Columbia.
1988
Brad
Anderson ’88
received Augsburg’s
Excellence in Coaching
Award in recognition of
his impressive career as
a high school football
coach. He won three
Minnesota State 5A
Championships and has been selected as class
5A “Coach of the Year” multiple times. He has
coached several players who have gone on to
NFL careers.
After serving for four years as the assistant
principal of Robbinsdale Armstrong High
School in Plymouth, Minnesota, Brenda
(Bauerly) Damiani ’88 joined Cambridge-Isanti
Fall 2015
35
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
High School in Cambridge, Minnesota, as
its new principal. She obtained a special
education emotional behavioral disability
license from the University of Minnesota
in Minneapolis and a master’s degree in
curriculum and instruction and multicultural
education from the University of St. Thomas
in St. Paul. Damiani continued her education,
earning a K-12 administrative license from
Hamline University in St. Paul. She is pursuing
a doctorate in educational leadership from
Bethel University in St. Paul.
After 24 years in the Pacific Northwest, Dan
Wright ’88 has moved back to Minneapolis with
his wife, Kristen Haglund, and their sons Johan
and Bjorn. Wright works from home as senior
applications engineer at Nike.
1992
In April 2015, Terri Burnor ’92
received her master’s degree in
divinity with a concentration in women’s studies
from United Theological Seminary of the Twin
Cities. In September, she began a 10-month
ministerial internship at First Unitarian
Universalist Church in Portland, Oregon.
Mike Pfeffer ’92 was
inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall
of Fame in recognition
of his outstanding career
as a lightweight wrestler.
In 1992, he earned both
MIAC Champion and AllAmerican honors and was
selected as Augsburg’s Men’s Honor Athlete.
He also was the captain of the 1992 team.
Sharol (Dascher) Tyra ’92, a professional certified
in Life Illumination Coaching and the 2015
President of the ICF Minnesota Charter Chapter
of the International Coach Federation, was a
semi-finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year by
the TwinWest (Plymouth, Minnesota) Chamber
of Commerce 2015 Small Business Awards.
Candidates were selected on the basis of a
number of factors, including their business
vision, community service, drive, and risk-taking.
1995
David Boie ’95 has been named athletic director at Richfield High School
in Richfield, Minnesota. Boie spent 18 years
teaching physics and chemistry at the school and
13 seasons as its head baseball coach.
Jeff Kaeppe ’95 received
recognition for his
Augsburg football career
with an induction into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall of
Fame. Kaeppe was a twotime team MVP and holds
the school record for the
longest reception, a 90yard catch against St. Olaf College in 1992.
Former men’s hockey
player Peter Rutili ’95
was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall of
Fame. Rutili earned MIAC
All-Conference honors in
1994 and 1995. He also
was selected twice as the
team MVP and received a
Rookie of the Year honor.
1998
Kerri
Kangas ’98
had an outstanding
pitching career on the
Auggie softball team, an
accomplishment that
earned her induction into
the Augsburg Athletic
Hall of Fame. She holds
career records for both games and innings
pitched. She remains in the top 5 for career
wins, strikeouts, shutouts, and fewest walks.
Retired alumna Terry Marquardt ’98 worked
as a temp in the Alumni, Family and
Constituent Relations department leading up
to Homecoming 2015. She retired from 3M in
2008 after 34 years of service. She and her
husband, Gary Donahue, divide their time
between homes in Minnesota and Arizona.
Jennifer Chou ’99 shares her love of wine on
page 10.
2000
Christopher McLeod ’00 has joined
Connexions Loyalty Travel Solutions
in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, as a technology
director.
The Rev. Sara Quigley Brown ’00 was ordained in 2008 and has switched denominational affiliation from the ELCA to Lutheran
Congregations in Mission for Christ, where she
is serving as ordained and open to a call. She
resides with her husband, Russell Brown, in
Anchorage, Alaska. She works as a chaplain
with the Alaska Police and Fire Ministries.
Interim Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, City Manager
Michael Sable ’00 is returning to Hennepin
County to work as the director of facility
services. Sable worked in the northern Twin
Cities suburb for six years and spent most of
his tenure as assistant city manager. In addition
to the 24-story Government Center downtown,
the facilities director oversees personnel
matters and operations at numerous facilities
countywide. Sable received an MBA from the
University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He and his
wife live in Minneapolis with their children.
2004
“Babylon the Great has Fallen,”
a book by Franchel Patton ’04,
was published in March 2014. In the story,
President Obama and newly elected President
Hillary Clinton meet God face-to-face in this
fast-paced, present-day depiction of Revelations
and current events.
Wubitu Ayana Sima ’89, ’15 MBA is the owner of Lady Elegant’s Tea Shoppe, a British tea room and
store in St. Paul’s St. Anthony Park neighborhood. Raised in western Ethiopia, Ayana Sima came
to the United States to study in the mid-1980s, along with her two young sons. Since graduating,
Ayana Sima has worked with the United Nations in Congo, Malawi, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe,
and for the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. Back in the U.S. again, something
was missing in her life without school, and she enrolled in Augsburg’s MBA program. Her
husband, Admasu Simeso, helps her manage the tea room.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
36
Augsburg Now
REUNION
2005
Since graduating from Augsburg, Andrea
(Ladda) Brown ’05 attended law school
at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and
graduated in 2009. She works as an assistant public
defender in Ramsey County and offices out of the
Second Judicial District. She was most influenced by
James Vela-McConnell, professor of sociology, and his
course titled Race, Class, and Gender. She says she
uses many of the basic principles from this class in
her daily arguments to the court. She would also like
to thank Garry Hesser, professor emeritus of sociology,
Diane Pike, professor of sociology, and Tim Pippert,
associate professor of sociology.
Denise Fossen ’05 remembers singing in Masterworks
Chorale and performing at Advent Vespers as two
cherished memories from her time at Augsburg. She is
most proud of receiving a master’s degree from Luther
Seminary in St. Paul and becoming a grandmother for
the first time. She would like to thank David Lapakko,
associate professor of communication studies, and
Peter Hendrickson ’76, associate professor of music,
for their influences on her during her time at Augsburg.
She’s also grateful for her classmates’ participation
in discussions before, during, and after class. Since
September 22, she has served as pastor at Christ
Lutheran in Hendricks, Minnesota.
Keme Hawkins ’05 was recognized
with a First Decade Award at
Augsburg’s Homecoming in
October. She is a freelance writer,
independent scholar, and yogi
living in Atlanta. She received her
master’s degree from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison and her
doctorate in English at Emory
University in Atlanta. Studying and practicing various
forms of divination and energy work continues to be
a lifelong mission for her. Hawkins has completed her
first screenplay, based on the lives of her parents; she is
pitching the writing to producers.
AUGGIE
SNAPSHOTS
2001
Erica Huls ’01 visited Minneapolis-St. Paul for a few days in
July and had a mini-reunion with some of her closest friends
and former classmates who live in Minnesota. Auggies included: Huls, Amy
Carlson ’02, Merry-Ellen (Krcil) Bryers ’01, Ann (Peterson) Fisher ’01, Jason
Bryan-Wegner ’01, Erica Bryan-Wegner ’01, and Katie Koch ’01.
2003
Kristen Opalinski ’03
traveled to Turkey
this summer on behalf of the
Philadelphia-based Peace Islands
Institute, a peacebuilding think
tank founded in the Turkish Islamic
tradition of Hizmet or “service.”
Opalinski provided media support
while conducting research on Sufism
and feminism in relation to the 21st
century Muslim world. After serving
the ELCA in South Africa for 4 1/2
years, she’s now in her final year of
studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. She hopes to
return to international peacemaking or social justice work.
Ishmael Israel ’05 is focused on community development.
Israel left his position as executive director of the Northside
Residents Redevelopment Council in April, and he now
leads the Umoja Community Development Corporation.
Those who influenced Sarah Lahr ’05 most at Augsburg
were Curt Paulsen, professor emeritus of social work;
her advisor Nancy Rodenborg, associate professor of
social work; and Michael Schock, associate professor of
social work. She also fondly remembers Merilee Klemp,
associate professor of music, and Registrar’s Office
staff members Wayne Kallestad and Linda and Toshimi
Smith, who offered a positive work-study experience.
She would most like to thank Paulsen for encouraging
her to continue with a difficult internship because
she still uses that experience to push herself through
difficult tasks to promote growth. Lahr works full time at
2005
In August, five Auggies were among a team of 12 who ran 200
miles in less than 30 hours as part of the Ragnar Relay Series from
Winona, Minnesota, to Minneapolis. Auggies included: Dan Vogel ’05, Clint
Agar ’05, Paul Sanft ’05, Riley Conway ’05, and Andrea (Carlson) Conway ’05.
Spring
Fall 2015
2014
2014
37
17
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
the Wilder Foundation Caregiver
Services Program as a care
coordinator and part time as a
social worker at United Hospital.
Lucas Olson-Patterson ’05 helped
to establish the Minneapolis
Future Academic Ballers
program in 2009 through the
Neighborhood Youth Academy, a
nonprofit organization that focuses
on fostering achievement parity for
underserved youth. The program
combines academics and athletics
through unique strategies to
arm student athletes with the
tools needed to succeed beyond
the basketball court. After an
outstanding career at Robbinsdale
Cooper High School in New Hope,
Minnesota, Olson-Patterson went
on to average 22 points per game
at Augsburg from 2003-05 and
was one of the top Division III
players in the country.
Faith (Durham) Perry ’05 says her
most treasured memories from her
Augsburg days are all the girls on
seventh floor in Urness and trips
to the bogs on Saturday mornings
with Bill Capman, associate
professor of biology. She was most
influenced by faculty members
Joan Kunz, associate professor of
chemistry, and Dale Pederson ’70,
associate professor of biology.
Perry received a master’s degree
in agricultural education and
a certificate in sustainable
community development. She
works at General Mills as a
sustainability analyst. She is
married with two boys: Henry, 5,
and Elliot, 3.
Anna (Ferguson) Rendell ’05
is most proud of having her
children, becoming a contributing
author at incourage.me, being a
mainstage speaker at the 2014
ELCA Extravaganza, and writing
her first book titled, “A moment
of Christmas: Daily devotions for
the timestrapped mom.” Her
treasured memories of Augsburg
include being a resident assistant
in Urness Hall her senior year,
late nights with housemates
in Anderson, FCA leadership
38
Augsburg Now
meetings, the Norway band tour,
working in the President’s Office
for several years, and performing
with the dance team at football
games held in the Metrodome.
Faculty members who influenced
Rendell most were Bob Stacke ’71,
professor emeritus of music, who
she said always had faith in her
and believed in her abilities and
gifts, and Mark Tranvik, professor
of religion, who poured himself
into his students, making sure
they were prepared for their real
life vocations.
Anna Warnes ’05 is a nurse
practitioner at Crete Area Medical
Center in Crete, Nebraska. Her
fondest memories from her time at
Augsburg include Advent Vespers,
working in Admissions, and—of
course—her lifelong friendships.
The faculty member who was
most influential to Warnes was
Kathy Swanson, professor of
English. She would like to thank
Bob Cowgill, associate professor
of English, for encouraging her
to be passionate in her work and
life. Warnes and husband, Nathan
Erickson, have two children:
Gustav, 5, and Knut, 2.
2006
Laya Theberge ’06 and
her husband, Shomari
O’Connor, welcomed a daughter,
Nefertiti, in August. She joins sister
Hatshepsut, 4, at home.
2011
The National Institute
of Health recently
published research conducted by
Amanda (Symmes) Mofsen ’11, a
former participant in Augsburg’s
McNair Scholars Program. Mofsen
joined the McNair program in
2010 and conducted research
under the mentorship of Ken
Winters, a psychiatry faculty
member at the University of
Minnesota. Mofsen’s work
examined the association between
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder and nicotine use among
adolescents and young adults.
Tom Wescott ’11 and his wife, Emily
(Nelson) Wescott ’12, recently
moved to Devils Lake, North
Dakota, where Tom was called
to serve Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church. Additionally, Tom and Nate
Luong ’11 wrote an article for Word
and World Theological Journal
titled, “Coaching as a Model for
Pastoral Leadership.”
2014
A research paper by
Augsburg College
Assistant Professor of Biology
Matt Beckman and alumni
Enrico Barrozo ’14 and David
Fowler ’14 has been accepted
for publication in Pharmacology,
Biochemistry and Behavior.
The paper is titled “Exposure
to D2-like Dopamine Receptor
Agonists Inhibits Swimming
in Daphnia Magna.” The
paper captured findings from
the research team’s work
during summer sessions and
academic year terms, which was
supported by Augsburg’s McNair
Scholars Program and Office of
Undergraduate Research and
Graduate Opportunity. This is
the first study that definitively
identified a neurotransmitter
receptor signaling pathway
involved in Daphnia swimming
and will help to establish Daphnia
as a model organism in which to
study movement disorders such
as Parkinson’s Disease. Today,
Barrozo is studying genetics
in a doctoral program at the
University of Florida, and Fowler
works as a medical scribe in the
Twin Cities while applying for
medical school admission.
Nakisha Davis ’14 has accepted
a position with UCare as a
transportation specialist. She
hopes to attend graduate school in
the next few years.
Chad Johnson ’14, a two-time
NCAA Division III national
champion wrestler during his
Augsburg career, placed second in
the 125-kilogram (275.5-pound)
weight class in the freestyle
division at the USA Wrestling 2015
ASICS UWW University Nationals,
held in June at the University of
Akron. Johnson competed for
the Minnesota Storm wrestling
club. As a collegiate wrestler
for the Auggies, Johnson was a
four-time All-American, winning
national titles in 2012 and 2013 at
heavyweight, while finishing third
in 2014 and seventh in 2011.
Johnson completed his first year
as an Augsburg assistant coach
in 2014-15, helping to guide
the Auggies to their record-12th
NCAA Division III team national
championship.
Lauren Windhorst ’14 is working
as a life enrichment assistant at
an assisted living facility in Eagan,
Minnesota.
2015
David Langemo ’15
would like to thank
Frankie Shackelford, professor
emerita of languages and crosscultural studies, for teaching
him to speak Norwegian and
Kevin Healy, former director
of advancement services and
prospect management, for
allowing him to take the class.
Langemo is very proud of this
accomplishment. He works as an
advancement systems specialist
in the Institutional Advancement
office at Augsburg. He and
husband, Drew Schmidt, enjoy
their pets Archie, Mali, Reggie,
Stuart, and Trudy.
GRADUATE
PROGRAMS
Tracy Keizer ’07 MPA is a physician
assistant at an inpatient psychiatric
intensive care unit at Regions
Hospital in St. Paul. She also
teaches Augsburg PA students
as a guest lecturer during their
didactic phase and as a preceptor
during their clinical phases. Having
emerged as a leader in the PA
profession in Minnesota, she has
testified at the State Capitol on a
bill to increase access to outpatient
mental health services. She was
honored with the Presidential
Award given by the Minnesota
Academy of Physician Assistants.
2005
In 1998, Doris Acton ’10 MAN moved
to Minnesota after completing a parish
nurse training program through Concordia
University. As a parish nurse, also known
as a faith community nurse, she works at
the 750-member Normandale Hylands
Methodist Church in Bloomington,
Minnesota. She has been a camp nurse on
mission trips, and her mission work in 2004
took her to Sierra Leone, where she later
helped start a clinic in collaboration with the
Africa Uplifted organization.
Casey Morris ’10 MPA is a board certified
physician assistant in an urgent care
center at Fairview Range Medical Center
in Hibbing, Minnesota. Growing up in Ely,
another city in Minnesota’s Iron Range,
Morris developed a lifelong passion for
the outdoors, particularly wilderness and
remote medicine. She is a wilderness first
responder and is certified by Advanced
Wilderness Life Support. She is excited to
now live closer to her hometown.
Michael Grewe ’12 MSW, Augsburg’s
director of LGBTQIA Support Services
and assistant director of Campus
Activities and Orientation, delivered
a presentation titled, “Supporting
Transgender Communities,” at a
National Association of Social Workers
Minnesota Chapter conference.
System-Northland in Barron, Wisconsin,
as a physician assistant. Homann
previously worked as a nuclear medicine
technologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota.
Terrence Keller ’15 MPA joined Lake
Region Healthcare in its urology
department. Keller has a bachelor’s
degree in athletic training and exercise
science from Minnesota State UniversityMoorhead. He previously worked for Lake
Region Healthcare as an athletic trainer
and held athletic trainer positions at
Augsburg College, Twin Cities Orthopedics,
and Sanford Health.
Graduate student editors Ashley
Cardona ’15 MFA; Kevin Matuseski ’16 MFA;
and Amanda Symes ’09, ’16 MFA helped
publish the first book by Augsburg College’s
Howling Bird Press. The press, housed in
Augsburg’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative
Writing program, chose Marci Vogel’s
manuscript, “At the Border of Wilshire
& Nobody,” as the winner of the 2015
Howling Bird Press poetry prize.
AUGGIES
HONORED
Dr. Amit Ghosh ’13 MBA, a Mayo Clinic
physician, submitted a research study
paper for publication with Augsburg
College co-authors and faculty members
Dave Conrad, associate professor of
business, and Marc Isaacson, assistant
professor of business. The paper,
“Employee Motivation Factors: A
Comparative Study of the Perceptions
between Physicians and Physician
Leaders,” was accepted for publication in
the International Journal of Leadership in
Public Services.
Professor Emeritus
of Physics Mark
Engebretson was
honored with a Spirit
of Augsburg Award
at Homecoming,
recognizing his
years as an active
teacher-scholar,
innovative courses, pioneering research
on Earth’s space environment, and
mentorship of nearly 100 undergraduate
research students.
Meghan Peyton ’14 MAL, who served as
interim head coach for the Augsburg
College men’s and women’s cross-country
teams in 2014, has assumed head
coaching duties on a permanent basis.
Peyton has been a part of the Augsburg
cross-country and track and field
coaching staffs since 2010, and she will
continue serving as an assistant coach for
the track and field teams.
Tom Witschen was
recognized with
a Distinguished
Athletic Service
Award at this year’s
Homecoming
for his nearly 20
years serving
as the “Voice of
the Auggies,” broadcasting Augsburg
baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and
volleyball over the air and online.
Karlie Homann ’15 MPA joined the family
medicine team at Mayo Clinic Health
Maureen
(Parker)
Marradino ’05 fondly
remembers participating
in the Augsburg Choir,
attending chapel
services, being a
resident assistant,
singing at a few
Auggies’ weddings,
touring Seattle with the
orchestra, performing at
her voice recital and the recitals of many close friends,
and celebrating graduation day. She would like to thank
the students and professors who walked through all the
tough courses with her. “We did this together, and it was
a pleasure getting to know all of you and building four
years of personal development with you. Your talents,
passions, and spirits filled me and helped me grow as
an individual and ultimately a working professional.
Thank you!” Marradino said. “Auggies: Don’t forget
where you’ve come from. Allow your past experiences
(including your Augsburg degree) to shape your future.
God bless you all.”
2010
Congratulations to Molly (Ehling) Conover ’10
and Ted Conover ’11 on their July wedding.
[L to R]: Hannah Ehling ’15, Becky Ehling, Ted, Molly,
Tim Ehling, and Abbey Ehling ’12.
2015
Taylor
Kuramoto ’15
has been selected to serve
as a Fulbright English
Teaching Assistant in South
Korea for the 2015-16
academic year. Fulbright
receives thousands of
applications each year, and
Kuramoto was selected
by both U.S. and South
Korean committees. In
her time outside of the
classroom, Kuramoto plans to create English talking
circles like those she participated in at the local Jane
Addams School for Democracy as an Augsburg College
Bonner Leader. She also hopes to use her experience as
an Auggie soccer player to connect with students and
peers who also enjoy the sport.
Spring
Fall 2015
2014
2014
39
17
37
In memoriam
Alice M. (Norby) Digre ’40, St.
Paul, age 98, on July 5.
Florence L. (Borstad) Hiepler ’42,
Camarillo, California, age 94,
on August 21.
LaVonne P. (Peterson) Volz ’44,
Blue Earth, Minnesota, age 93,
on August 14.
Clara L. (Gudim) Jacobson ’45,
Fairbury, Nebraska, age 92, on
August 12.
Marvin B. Johnson ’49, North
Branch, Minnesota, age 88, on
June 8.
Maynard H. Kragthorpe ’49,
Quilcene, Washington, age 92,
on April 26.
Donna M. (Tjornhom) Tverberg ’49,
Ottertail, Minnesota, age 88,
on July 20.
George Capetz ’50, Minneapolis,
age 91, on May 30.
Stephen L. Engelstad ’51,
St. Ansgar, Iowa, age 95,
on July 23.
Arden G. Wahlberg ’58, Mounds
View, Minnesota, age 80, on
June 18.
Ann L. (Holmberg) Wilson ’80,
Bronx, New York, age 57, on
August 4.
Daniel W. Pearson ’51,
Minneapolis, age 86, on
August 19.
Kermit L. Kvamme ’60, Fergus
Falls, Minnesota, age 77, on
August 16.
John C. Nichols ’82,
Minneapolis, age 55,
on April 28.
Morris “Moe” M. Johnson ’52,
St. Paul, age 86, on June 2.
Larry F. Torgerson ’60, O’Fallon,
Missouri, age 76, on June 2
Joyce K. Cleland ’86, Livingston,
Montana, age 65, on July 19.
Kenneth A. Kotval ’52, Morgan,
Minnesota, age 85, on August 4.
Russell A. Dudero ’61, Oakdale,
Minnesota, age 77, on
December 24, 2014.
Tammy L. Schmitt ’92,
Minneapolis, age 45, June 2.
Roger M. Nelson ’52, Albert
Lea, Minnesota, age 84, on
May 29.
LaVon F. (Moderow) Belanger ’53,
Elk River, Minnesota, age 84,
on May 22.
Donald J. Bennethum ’53,
Columbia Heights, Minnesota,
age 87, on May 22.
Robert W. Jakobitz ’53, Stewart,
Minnesota, age 83, on August 7.
Donald L. Hoplin ’50, Glenwood,
Minnesota, age 93, on August 4.
Corinne L. (Rethwill) Tiegs ’53,
Ortonville, Minnesota, age 83,
on June 6.
Roger “Bud” K. Leak ’50,
Excelsior, Minnesota, age 88,
on August 1.
Thomas “Tom” I. Benson ’56,
Bella Vista, Arkansas, age 81,
on May 16.
Gordon J. Oberg ’50, Bemidji,
Minnesota, age 89, on June 2.
J. Sherman Boraas ’56, Waconia,
Minnesota, age 86, on May 14.
Marion R. Roe ’50, Plymouth,
Minnesota, age 91, on July 13.
Joanne M. (Luttmann) Gulla ’57,
Portland, Oregon, age 79, on
June 19.
Helen E. (Green) Seline ’50,
Appleton, Wisconsin, age 87,
on August 28.
L. Dwayne Thorson ’50,
Smethport, Pennsylvania, age
91, on May 17.
40
Augsburg Now
Sara “Sally” A. Duhrkopf ’61,
Waterloo, Iowa, age 77, on
June 28.
Jeanette C. (Steiger) Nichols ’61,
Roscoe, Illinois, age 76, on
June 30.
Ronald G. Moritz ’63,
Estherville, Iowa, age 78, on
August 23.
Diane E. (Foshaug) Krogen ’65,
Sherwood Park, Alberta,
Canada, age 73, on May 10.
Lois M. Kalmoe ’70,
Minneapolis, age 85, on
May 30.
Robert “Bob” E. Kanne ’71, Lake
Elmo, Minnesota, age 67, on
October 4, 2014.
Carla M. (Beyer) Viseth ’71,
Fargo, North Dakota, age 64,
on June 9.
John S. Ryden ’57, Hopkins,
Minnesota, age 85, on August 1.
JoAnn (Berg) Bablitch ’73,
Minneapolis, age 65, on
May 25.
Janice Y. (Johnson) Joul ’58,
Jackson, Minnesota, age 79,
on June 29.
Geri (Mills) Bjork ’77, St. Paul,
age 60, on July 17.
Jennine “Jeni” O. (Hugo) Heid ’93,
Elk River, Minnesota, age 49,
on July 5.
Estellene A. (St. John) Zephier ’93,
Wagner, South Dakota, age 56,
on May 21.
Mary L. (Oliva) Asche ’95, Circle
Pines, Minnesota, age 61, on
August 3.
Linda “Lin” J. Faddler ’96,
Oakdale, Minnesota, age 65,
on July 18.
Nicholas “Nick” L. White ’09,
Stillwater, Minnesota, age 33,
on June 8.
Gregory A. Chubb ’10, Hopkins,
Minnesota, age 35, on June 30.
Louis C. Branca ’15 MFA,
Minneapolis, age 81, on
August 30.
Abdulkadir Farah ’16 MAE,
Minneapolis, age 58, on June 4.
The “In memoriam” listings
in this publication include
notifications received before
September 8.
Connie, Michelle ’15, Lauren ’12, and
Lyle Grafelman at Commencement 2015.
One More Reason to
PASS DOWN THE
AUGGIE TRADITION
Discounted Tuition with the Augsburg Legacy Scholarship
The Augsburg Legacy Scholarship recognizes traditional undergraduate students
who are children or spouses of Augsburg graduates, siblings of current Augsburg
students, and children or spouses of current Lutheran pastors. Legacy students
enrolling for the fall 2016 term receive a minimum award of $13,000 per year
upon admission to the College.
augsburg.edu/firstyear/scholarships
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
An extraordinary welcome for an unprecedented incoming class
Following tradition, the 2015-16 academic year kicked off with an Opening Convocation celebration where the Augsburg College
community greeted incoming students and introduced them to facets of their new Auggie identity. A record 478 first-year, traditional
undergraduate students arrived on campus this fall, and a talk by Associate Professor of Chemistry Joan Kunz highlighted “The five
essential elements of an Augsburg education” with both flair and flare. Kunz is the most recent recipient of the College’s Excellence
in Teaching award.
Show less
BUILDING
INSIDE
Faculty-student research duo
Auggie brews up a business
The changing face of Auggies
Commencement memories
FOR THE
FUTURE
SUMMER 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 3
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News an... Show more
BUILDING
INSIDE
Faculty-student research duo
Auggie brews up a business
The changing face of Auggies
Commencement memories
FOR THE
FUTURE
SUMMER 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 3
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
A college that is student ready
The 2014-15 academic year—the 146th in
Augsburg’s history—was a very good year for the
College. National honors for students. Awards
for faculty teaching, research, and advising. The
successful completion of the $50 million campaign
for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion,
and the early preparation work on the construction
site. Important conversations on and off campus
about interfaith living, race relations, demographic
trends, and diversity. Remarkable outreach
programs like the Minnesota Urban Debate League
and Campus Kitchen receiving major support
for their important work. A national wrestling
championship! And so much, much more.
Reflecting on these accomplishments, I am
so grateful for all our faculty and staff do for this
special college and its students.
But I also realize that these achievements
are made possible by an increasingly clear vision
of our future that says we will be “a new kind of
student-centered urban university, small to our
students and big for the world.” And the fruit of
our labors is made possible by our common efforts
to live into this vision and our shared commitment
to an Augsburg education that equips our students
for lives of meaning, purpose, and significance
in and for the world. That is what truly excites
me about Augsburg’s future—a persuasive vision
that proclaims our desire to be a college that is
student-ready!
What do I mean by student-ready? I mean that
we are turning 21st century higher education on
its head by not focusing on whether students are
“college-ready.” You’ve probably read and heard
that phrase many times. Demanding that students
are college-ready allows lots of smart people to
claim that the responsibility belongs elsewhere
when it comes to ensuring that students show up
on our campuses prepared by someone else for
what we think a higher education should look like.
If students aren’t able to read or speak English
as well as we would like, if their math skills are
lacking, if they don’t participate in class like we
once did, if they demand more of us because of
difficult personal circumstances or diverse learning
and leading styles, then they are not ready for
college. In other words, if they don’t learn and
behave like us, they are not college-ready.
So here comes Augsburg offering a different—
even countercultural—vision of what higher
education is all about today. And it is a vision
grounded in our faith and academic heritage. It is
a vision that claims we are called to be ready for
students with the diverse gifts and experiences they
bring to our campus, gifts and experiences that
demand changes in how we engage them, teach
them, and learn from them. It doesn’t mean that
we lower our standards—that is the too-easy retort
to our vision. It means that we define and claim
even higher standards of academic excellence
and achievement, of teaching and learning, of
civic engagement and community life—standards
shaped not by measures imposed from without, but
by a collaborative and democratic measure borne
of our shared experience and engagement.
And, come to find out, when you take the path
of being student-ready, when you quit measuring
by someone else’s standards, you begin to witness
to a way of being in the world as educated people
that others want to embrace. And students and
faculty win major recognition, your campaigns are
successful, and you are positioned to lead in the
21st century.
Wow, that is exciting and inspiring. I give
thanks every day for a community that embraces
this vision of a college that is student-ready and
student-centered. A college that is faithful and
relevant. Our college—Augsburg College!
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Director of Marketing
Communication
Stephen Jendraszak
jendra@augsburg.edu
Communication Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
Laura Swanson ’15 MBA
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Creative Associate
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Christina Haller
haller@augsburg.edu
Production Manager/Now Online
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Advancement Communication
Specialist
Jen Lowman Day
dayj@augsburg.edu
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
now@augsburg.edu
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
ISSN 1058-1545
Send address corrections to:
Advancement Services
CB 142
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
langemo@augsburg.edu
summer 2015
AUGSBURG NOW
Features
02
08
11
18
22
Ahead of the curve
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
Commencement memories
BY LAURA SWANSON ’15 MBA
Making their mark
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
Departments
inside
front
cover
Notes from President Pribbenow
02 Around the Quad
08 Celebrating student success
14
18
14 Auggie voices
20 It takes an Auggie
26 My Auggie experience
28 Alumni news
34 Alumni class notes
38 In memoriam
22
26
On the cover
A photo illustration depicts what the future Center for Science, Business, and Religion
will look like from Urness Tower; see pages 20-21. Photo illustration by Mark Chamberlain.
All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated.
Correction: In the Spring 2015 issue
of Augsburg Now, the names of donors
Richard Bonlender ’78 and Mary Ahern
were listed incorrectly in the article
“Torstenson legacy lives on through gifts,”
which described an initiative to name a
gathering space for Faculty Emeritus of
Sociology Joel Torstenson in the new Center
for Science, Business, and Religion.
AROUND THE QUAD
PUTTING MINNEAPOLIS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
This spring, hundreds of prospective Augsburg College students and their
families visited campus as part of “Destination: Augsburg,” an event
designed to offer a glimpse into on-campus life. The event also included
guided excursions to well-known attractions in the heart of Minneapolis
including Target Field, Nicollet Mall, and the State Theatre [above].
MINNESOTA URBAN
DEBATE LEAGUE
adds first-ever Somali Debate Initiative
The Minnesota Urban Debate League—a program of Augsburg College—sponsored
the first debate in the state among Somali youth. The Somali Debate Initiative serves
middle- and high-school students from Minneapolis and St. Paul. A community forum
featuring U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison followed the debate. MNUDL also hosted four Spanish
tournaments throughout the Twin Cities, which helps make debate more accessible to
Spanish-speaking communities.
In May, MNUDL hosted its third Mayor’s Challenge fundraiser. St. Paul Mayor
Chris Coleman; Donald Lewis, co-founder and shareholder of Nilan Johnson Lewis in
Minneapolis; and Barb Schmitt, senior director at Microsoft, served as judges. The
event raised $18,500 plus $3,000 in matching grants from the Pohlad Foundation.
2
Augsburg Now
Keynote speaker and debate judge Ilhan Omar
encourages Somali Debate Initiative guests to
pursue college degrees.
AROUND THE QUAD
A TEACHER’S INFLUENCE
NEVER ENDS
Each year, the Augsburg College faculty
recognizes select colleagues with Distinguished
Contributions to Teaching and Learning
awards—acknowledging those who have
demonstrated outstanding support for students
through teaching, advising, and mentoring.
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
Joan Kunz, professor of chemistry
Soup for You! Café Chef Judah Nataf seasons one of his signature recipes.
SOUP FOR THE HEART
and soul of Augsburg’s neighbors
Alumnus launches community meal program
Kunz is recognized for her commitment to
Augsburg’s students, embodying the College’s
mission to educate students to be informed
citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers,
and responsible leaders. Since 1987, Kunz has
worked toward creating and sustaining a vibrant
learning community in the sciences.
EXCELLENCE IN ADVISING AND MENTORING
oto
Courtesy Ph
Susan O’Connor and Donna Patterson, assistant
Five days a week, Minneapolis community members convene at Bethany
professors of education
Lutheran Church to dine on gourmet fare prepared as part of the Soup
for You! Café—a program the Star Tribune
O’Connor and Patterson are recognized
recognized for its ability to redefine
for their work to incorporate Public
“Our model is mutuality, and
community outreach.
Achievement into the special education
what better way is there to
Augsburg College alumnus, Chaplain
teacher training program in the College’s
show mutuality than to gather Department of Education. The Public
to Student Athletes, and Linebacker Coach
the Rev. Mike Matson ’06 is the pastor at
at the same table together?”
Achievement model changes lives for
Bethany Lutheran and the driver behind this
students in special education by giving
—The Rev. Mike Matson ’06
community meal. Supported by volunteers
Star Tribune, April 5
them a voice to act as citizens in a
and one talented chef, Soup for You! Café is
democratic society.
a chance for people of all backgrounds to come together in an environment
that focuses on dignity. In the Star Tribune article “Church program
offers hot soup, warm welcome,” Matson underscored that the program is
designed to bring together people from the many faiths
and cultures of the Seward neighborhood.
Augsburg College students, faculty, and staff find varied—and
valuable—ways to lend their time and talents to support the Soup
for You! Café. Auggie Jens Pinther ’15 contributed an article about
the program to the June edition of The Lutheran magazine. The
story, available at thelutheran.org, included photos by Augsburg
photographer Stephen Geffre.
The 2015 Distinguished Contributions recipients [L to R]:
Donna Patterson, Susan O’Connor, and Joan Kunz.
Summer 2015
3
(RE)NAME THE MAGAZINE?
From Augsburg’s
CAMPUS KITCHEN
to the community table
Unique program expands its reach
The Campus Kitchen program at Augsburg College works
to make healthy food accessible to all people living in and
near the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis. The
program also provides opportunities for service learning,
leadership development, and genuine engagement between
the College and the community.
Based in the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship,
Campus Kitchen is a student-driven organization that
addresses hunger locally and globally. Corporate partners
support Campus Kitchen’s efforts, providing a solid
foundation for Auggies’ stellar work.
2014-15 academic year highlights:
7
Augsburg student leaders took home a “Going Beyond The
Meal” award from the 2015 Food Waste and Hunger Summit
in Athens, Georgia. The honor recognized Campus Kitchen’s
exceptional education and outreach efforts.
34
13,036
What do you think?
Last summer, Augsburg College participated in a national
higher education magazine survey developed by the Council for
Advancement and Support of Education. This survey allowed
more than 600 people to share feedback on the ways Augsburg’s
magazine helps them stay connected with the College.
Based on the survey results, we worked to develop a clearer
picture of the roles the magazine plays and found that the
Augsburg College magazine serves to:
• Foster inspiration and pride.
• Provide intellectual stimulation and ongoing education.
• Bridge the Augsburg of today with people’s past experiences.
• Define and illustrate what it means to be an “Auggie.”
• Help the Augsburg community learn how to talk about itself
and equip individuals to advocate for the College.
Given the importance of these commitments, there was a desire to
have the magazine name align with and support the publication’s
purpose. After an exploration of dozens of name options, Augsburg
Spirit and Augsburg Experience stood out. It also was evident that
the name Augsburg Now remains appropriate.
To determine which of these three names is best, you’re invited
to share your opinion on the name of the magazine by voting online
for Augsburg Now, Augsburg Experience, or Augsburg Spirit.
Go to augsburg.edu/now to share your input
to help guide our naming decision.
student volunteers engaged in Campus
Kitchen activities per month on average.
pounds of unserved, edible food were recovered from
A’viands campus dining and the Mill City Farmers Market
and thereby diverted from the waste stream.
11,210
total meals prepared using recovered, gleaned, and
homemade food served to youths, adults, and seniors in need
in the Cedar-Riverside, Seward, and Phillips neighborhoods.
KEY CORPORATE PARTNERS’
YEARS OF GRANT SUPPORT
LAND O’LAKES
TARGET
A’VIANDS
GENERAL MILLS
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL
=1 year
Plus, a new grant from The Campus Kitchens Project and AARP has
enabled Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen program to provide a weekly
lunch for more than a dozen additional seniors living near campus.
augsburg.edu/campuskitchen
KNOW?
DID YOU
General Mills has invested more than $125,000 in
the Augsburg College Campus Kitchen program.
Renovations are underway on a number of spaces
on the Augsburg campus in Minneapolis, including
the Sateren Auditorium in the Anderson Music Hall.
The space will return to service this fall.
ACCLAIMED ARTIST CREATES
painting for Hoversten Chapel
This spring, Augsburg’s Campus Ministry welcomed the Rev. Paul
Oman—a professional watercolorist whose artistic work draws
inspiration from his experiences, travels, and Lutheran faith—to
take part in a three-day worship event on campus. Oman created
a large-scale painting of Jesus during Daily Chapel services as
on-campus worshipers took part in music, prayer, spoken word,
and Scripture.
Oman’s visual ministry, known as “Drawn to the Word,”
offered the Augsburg community the opportunity to engage
in conversation and reflection on race, radical hospitality,
reformation, faith, and the Lutheran tradition that continues to
shape the College’s identity. The painting is on display in the
Hoversten Chapel in Foss Center.
The Rev. Paul Oman paints “Jesus Withdraws to Pray” during Daily Chapel time.
Summer 2015
5
Photo by Mark Chamberlain
AROUND THE QUAD
AROUND THE QUAD
While traveling to or from campus, some Auggies have near-perfect views of the construction underway on the new Minnesota
Vikings football stadium. This vantage point is near the intersection of Cedar and Riverside avenues in Minneapolis.
ON THE SPOT
Kristin Anderson
In the discipline of art history it’s common to discuss the visual
representation of saints and sinners, kings and queens, and maybe even
a Viking or two. At Augsburg College, Kristin Anderson teaches courses on
the history of art and architecture, and she’s prepared to talk about works
ranging from the Mona Lisa to the Metrodome—may it rest in peace.
Anderson’s current writing and research are focused on sports
architecture, and she is co-authoring a book on the history of athletic
facilities in the Twin Cities. As the St. Paul Saints baseball club settles into
its new CHS Field in Lowertown and the Minnesota Vikings football team
awaits the completion of a new stadium in Augsburg’s own backyard, here
is Anderson’s take on the region’s shifting sports scene.
6
Augsburg Now
Q:
During the past decade new sports
venues including TCF Bank Stadium,
Target Field, and CHS Field have opened
their doors in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
What factors have spurred so much
change in such a brief period of time?
A:
Quite simply, we have moved out
of an era of multipurpose stadiums.
They were popular in the 1960s and
1970s, and we got one of the last ones—
the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome—
in 1982. Sport-specific facilities like
baseball parks and football stadiums have
become the standard, and that drives
all kinds of new construction. And, of
course, when one team gets a new space,
everyone else gets in line. ...
MAKING SPACE
FOR A
AROUND THE QUAD
NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING
On May 1, the campaign for the Center for Science,
Business, and Religion surpassed its $50 million
fundraising goal. To make room for the construction of
this new academic building, the College razed two existing
houses on campus. One of the structures was occupied
by the Admissions Office from 1970-2003 before
that department moved to a more student-accessible
location in Christensen Center. The house also was home for a time to the Center
for Counseling and Health Promotion (now called the Center for Wellness and
Counseling), which has relocated to the first floor of Anderson Residence Hall. A
second house, formerly called Delta House, was first used for student housing. It
was later home to various Admissions staff, then the Sabo Center for Democracy
and Citizenship, which has moved to the Oren Gateway Center. Before these two
buildings were removed, an event was held to honor the work and experiences
of staff and residents who once occupied the spaces. There were 30 people in
attendance, some even traveling from as far as North Dakota and New York.
A house on 21st Avenue South is razed.
Former and current staff members reminisce over a collage
of names written within one of Augsburg’s former houses.
Learn more about the next steps for the CSBR on page 20.
Q:
Q:
Q:
A:
A:
A:
Today’s sports venues offer
amenities that extend far beyond
a wooden bleacher seat and a bag of
popcorn sold at the concession stand.
What does this mean for stadium
architecture and game attendees?
Every new sports facility offers more
than its predecessor, and fans seem
to expect this improvement. The rising
expectations are not new: fan amenities
have been part of the discussion since
the 1860s. Like us, people from that
time period talked about food selection,
legroom, and comfort at the games.
Attending to the fan experience can add
cost to a project, but it is an investment
worth making. Just think about the
many amazing differences between the
Metrodome experience and the Target
Field experience.
What effect does an indoor stadium
(like the new Vikings stadium) versus
an outdoor stadium (like TCF) have on
attendance, especially in Minnesota’s
climate?
We have an amazing range of weather,
from glorious to horrible—and we
don’t always agree on which is which.
This raises the stakes on decisions about
stadium design. Rather than choosing
“indoor” or “outdoor,” many contemporary
facilities combine aspects of each. The new
Vikings stadium will have a glass roof and
enormous windows, bridging the indoors
and outdoors in space, light, air, and views.
Target Field is an outdoor ballpark, but it is
designed with sheltered areas, heat lamps,
and other climate-mitigating features.
Baseball is said to be America’s
pastime. How does new stadium
architecture show that the sport can remain
relevant—and sustainable—into the future?
While most contemporary ballparks pay
homage to the history and tradition of
baseball, they also employ an amazing array
of cutting-edge technologies. One of the
most exciting recent developments is the
emphasis on environmental sustainability.
Target Field has two LEED Silver
certifications, and other sports facilities like
the Xcel Energy Center and CHS Field have
also engaged in significant sustainability
efforts, including rainwater recycling
systems and sophisticated trash-sorting and
recycling programs.
Kristin Anderson is a professor of art
history and the Augsburg College archivist.
Summer 2015
7
CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS
$7,500 GOLDWATER
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Fikre Beyene ’16 and Lyle Nyberg ’16
15 STEM researchers
80+
off-campus
Auggies presented at Zyzzogeton
Research Festival on campus
Taylor Kuramoto ’15
FULBRIGHT TEACHING
ASSISTANT in South Korea
3
ROSSING PHYSICS
SCHOLARS
One of 104 to present at
Fikre Beyene ’16, Andris Bibelnieks ’16*,
and Cain Valtierrez ’16
*Also Goldwater Honorable Mention
NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION GRADUATE
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
Honorable Mention, Alex Sorum ’13
2015 WINCHELL
UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Aisha Mohamed ’16
Awale Osman ’15
2
2015 NEWMAN
CIVIC FELLOW
KEMPER SCHOLARS
Mitchell Ross ’18 and Rebecca Schroeder ’18
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
David Gersten ’16 and Amal Warsame ’16
8
Augsburg Now
EDDIE PHILLIPS SCHOLARSHIP
FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN
Malick Ceesay ’17
For more information about
these awards and recipients,
go to augsburg.edu/now.
Summer 2015
9
12
HONORING
retiring faculty
“
I love the accessibility Augsburg students have to faculty and staff,
especially when we meet students in passing in the quad or elsewhere
when conversations become more candid, genuine, and authentic.”
— Gregory Krueger, Assistant Professor of Education
PAULINE ABRAHAM
Assistant Professor and Director of BSN
Program, Nursing, Rochester
Joined the College — 2005
KATHRYN SCHWALBE
Faculty Emerita
Professor of Business Administration
Joined the College — 1991
FRANKIE SHACKELFORD
Faculty Emerita, Professor of Languages
and Cross-Cultural Studies
Joined the College — 1990
MARTHA JOHNSON
Faculty Emerita
Professor of Theater Arts
Joined the College — 1997
BEVERLY STRATTON
Faculty Emerita
Professor of Religion
Joined the College — 1986
AMIN KADER
Associate Professor of Business
Administration
Joined the College — 1974
ELIZABETH ANKENY
Faculty Emerita
Associate Professor of Education
Joined the College — 2008
GREGORY KRUEGER
Assistant Professor of Education
Joined the College — 2000
STEVEN LAFAVE
GRACE DYRUD
Faculty Emerita
Professor of Psychology
Joined the College — 1962
Faculty Emeritus
Professor of Business Administration
Joined the College — 1991
DAVID VENNE
Assistant Professor of Physics
Joined the College — 1990
STEVEN NERHEIM
Medical Director Instructor of Physician
Assistant Studies Program
Joined the College — 2005
10
Augsburg Now
To read about what these faculty members
love about Augsburg and teaching, go to
augsburg.edu/now.
AHEAD
of the
curve
Augsburg leads in shaping higher education for
Minnesota’s increasingly diverse population
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
F
or more than five years, Augsburg College has undertaken
“Employers are going to have a much greater interest
important efforts to intentionally diversify the traditional
in bringing populations who previously may have been
undergraduate student profile. This work is not only a
marginalized into productive work,” Brower said. “We don’t
prudent move in terms of growing enrollment, but it is also
have the capacity, going forward, to leave anyone behind.”
proving to be an important factor in sustaining the region’s
For Augsburg, this demographic reality is significant
economic health.
because about 25 percent of college-bound Minnesota high
This spring, more than 200 Augsburg College faculty
school graduates express interest in Augsburg by applying,
and staff met with Minnesota State
inquiring, or visiting campus. In order
Demographer Susan Brower to
to successfully enroll and retain these
“We don’t have the
discuss the “shape and scale” of the
students, Augsburg needs to be intentional
capacity,
going
forward,
demographic trends in the state that
about meeting the educational needs of
will influence its vitality in the coming
this diversifying population.
to leave anyone behind.”
decades. Two significant trends detailed
Augsburg already has an important
—Susan Brower
by Brower were the increasing diversity
advantage in this area because, with
Minnesota State Demographer
and aging of the state’s population –
nearly 33 percent students of color in
trends that heighten the importance of
the traditional undergraduate program,
education now and into the future.
the College is one of the most diverse higher education
Education will grow in importance because the relative
institutions in the state. This is attractive to students of both
size of our workforce affects economic production and the
minority and majority populations because it offers them the
strength of our region. As older adults retire in the next 20
opportunity to learn and work with many different types of
years and the workforce shrinks in proportion to the overall
people, which is increasingly important given that the pace of
population, Minnesota will need the skills and talents of the
demographic change will accelerate dramatically in the next
entire working-age population.
15 years.
Summer 2015
11
1
Demographic Trend #1: Growing diversity.
If you went to college or lived in the Twin Cities before
the 1990s, your experience with the diversity of the area’s
population was different from today’s scenario.
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
Total Twin Cities population
2,000,000
The Twin Cities experienced accelerated growth
among populations of color from 1990 to 2010.
During that time, people of color represented more
than 80 percent of the overall population growth.
1,500,000
Before 1980, fewer than 6 percent of the
Twin Cities population were people of color,
numbering only 25,000 to 115,000 people in
the total population of 1.5 million to 2 million.
1,000,000
500,000
10%
5%
2
15%
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
What’s driving the growth in diversity?
• Younger populations are more diverse.
Approximately 25 percent of Minnesota residents
younger than age 35 are people of color, whereas
populations older than 65 years are predominantly
white. So, as the entire population ages, overall
diversity grows. **Sources: 2, 3
2
• The number of foreign-born residents in
Minnesota is growing. Minnesota, today, is home to
nearly 400,000 foreign-born residents—a level not
seen since the 1930s. By contrast, from 1960 through
the 1990s, just more than 100,000 foreign-born
people lived in the state. **Source: 4
Demographic Trend #2: Our aging population.
• Minnesota’s foreign-born population is
increasingly diverse. In 1950, 80 percent of the
foreign-born population in Minnesota was from
Europe. Today, most foreign-born residents are from
Mexico, Somalia, India, and Laos. **Source: 4
335
Minnesota—and other regions of the United States—are
experiencing an unprecedented aging of our populations.
285
How dramatic is the change?
Change in Minnesota population
age 65+ (in thousands)
Minnesota will add more than 620,000 older adults (age
65+) between 2010 and 2030. By contrast, during the
60 years from 1950 to 2010, the population of older
adults grew by just 416,000. **Source: 1
12
85
55
1950s
Augsburg Now
1960s
71
1970s
97
91
67
1980s
47
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
2030s
66
56
2040s
2050s
A commitment to diversity and inclusion
Today, the Twin Cities population is estimated at
3 million residents, with nearly 800,000—about
26 percent—people of color. This number is
expected to reach 30 percent in the next 10 years.*
30%
25%
20%
2010
2020
2030
*Other areas of the United States are experiencing similar diversity growth.
The U.S. population in 2010 was 36 percent people of color. **Sources: 2, 3
The size of the labor force is expected to stagnate in the coming
decades while the 65+ population will double. As a result, the
ratio of adults ages 18 to 64 relative to adults 65 and older will
go from nearly 5 to 1 in 2010 to less than 2.5 to 1 in the next 25
years. That means there will be fewer working-age people in
the population as a whole. That’s an important consideration
because payroll taxes are critical for funding programs like Social
Security and Medicare that the growing population of retired and
elderly adults will increasingly draw upon. **Sources: 2, 3
To learn more about the range of programs Augsburg offers
to support diversity and inclusion, go to augsburg.edu/now.
2010
2040
One million adults age 65+
In 2015, Augsburg graduated its most diverse traditional
undergraduate class in history, with more than 30 percent
of graduates from underrepresented populations. In fact,
every incoming first-year class since 2009 has included 30
to 40 percent students of color.
Augsburg also has identified faculty and staff diversity
as a priority initiative in its Augsburg2019 strategic plan.
As a first step, the College highlighted its commitment to
intercultural competence, diversity, and inclusion in all job
postings this past spring. An early result is that six of the
College’s 10 new tenure-track faculty are from non-majority
populations.
Augsburg also has named Joanne Reeck, director
of Campus Activities and Orientation, as chief diversity
officer. Reeck launched an intercultural competence
program that involved more than 100 members of the
campus community this spring and will expand to include a
certificate program in the fall. These programs complement
the diversity and inclusion workshops offered each May by
the College’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
Augsburg’s work in intentional diversity has garnered
attention from corporations and community organizations
alike. For example, Wells Fargo recently donated $100,000
to Augsburg’s Center for Science, Business, and Religion
specifically because of Augsburg’s proven work in educating
underrepresented populations. Augsburg also recognizes
that diversity extends well beyond ethnicity and provides
award-winning programs for students who represent a
diversity of ages, national origins, faith traditions, gender
identities, and learning and physical differences.
“Of course, there is still much more we need to
do,” Reeck said. “But we are committed to diversity
and inclusion because it creates a richer educational
environment and prepares our students to lead, innovate,
and serve in a diverse and globally connected world.”
This work not only supports future graduates’ individual
success, it creates a diverse and well-educated generation
that’s critical to our collective future prosperity.
One million adults age 18-64
**Sources: 1. Minnesota State Demographic Center and U.S. Census
Bureau. 2. Minnesota State Demographic Center and U.S. Census
Bureau, Decennial Census and Population. 3. Estimates as presented
by Minnesota Compass, mncompass.org. 4. IPUMS version of U.S.
Census Bureau’s 2010-2012 American Community Survey. Tabulated
by the Minnesota State Demographic Center.
Summer 2015
13
Auggie Matt McGinn ’13
finds innovative ways to
serve an old favorite
BY CHRISTINA HALLER
Matt McGinn ’13 has accomplished more
in his 27 years than most. He overcame
alcohol dependence to graduate from
Augsburg College and its StepUP ® program
and then went on to become a successful
entrepreneur in the coffee industry.
And when it comes to coffee, he does
it all.
McGinn roasts his own beans. He uses
recovery working to earn his bachelor’s
degree in social work.
“Augsburg helped me to become a
leader,” McGinn said. “I showed people
you can go from not being capable of
holding a job and passing out in class,
to working two internships, being a
resident assistant, and succeeding in
five classes.”
Though he later decided not to pursue
a career in social work, he practices skills
gained while at Augsburg to help himself
succeed every day—including business savvy,
budgeting, dedication, confidence, detail
orientation, leadership, and follow-through.
them to cold brew coffee. He bottles it.
Tapping an underserved market
Distributes it. And, he co-owns and runs a
McGinn has been working in the
coffee industry since he was a barista in
high school. Once he got to Augsburg,
he climbed his way up to manager at a
struggling coffee shop and was able to revive
it by crafting new drink recipes, learning a
range of brewing techniques, improving food
and drink menus, training staff, and creating
more efficient labor schedules.
coffee shop where he serves his cold brewed
coffee on tap—an innovation that very few
shops offer, especially in the Twin Cities.
A transfer student from the University
of Massachusetts, McGinn applied to
Augsburg and StepUP early on in his
sobriety. He went from drinking hard liquor
every day for six years, to a student in
14
Augsburg Now
“People were complimenting my work,
and the owner gave me free reign to do
what I wanted,” McGinn said. “I thought—
I’m really good at this. What are my ideas?
What do I want to do? Well, I make really
good cold brew. People love my cold brew.
And I was like, ‘Why am I not doing this for
myself?’”
So he did.
McGinn now co-owns and runs artisan
coffee shop Quixotic Coffee in St. Paul.
His branded coffee, Blackeye Roasting
Co., comes in three varieties on tap—a
signature blend called “Blackeye Brew;”
a nitro blend called “Left Hook;” and
currently under production, a nitro
Guinness, which is similar in texture and
flavor to a creamy stout.
Currently, you can find Blackeye Brew
bottled and sold at select local retailers, but
soon it’ll be distributed nationally. Blackeye
Brew coffee is also kegged and served in
many area restaurants, on college campuses,
and even in Twin Cities workplaces.
AUGGIE VOICES
Summer 2015
15
AUGGIE VOICES
Watch McGinn discover
his passion for coffee at
augsburg.edu/now.
16
Augsburg Now
Wake up and smell the coffee.
Q: You serve a nitro blend at Quixotic. What is that?
A: Nitro cold brew is coffee infused with pure nitrogen. It’s stored in a keg
and served on draft for a cascading, foamy, and velvety ice-cold drink.
Q: What’s the difference between iced coffee and cold brewed?
A: Iced coffee is just hot coffee that’s been brewed with twice as much
ground coffee, then poured over ice. Cold brewed coffee is ground coffee
that’s been steeped in cold water overnight.
Q: So does cold brew have a different taste?
A: Yes. When you brew coffee hot you get a lot of acidity due to the chemical
reaction. When you brew it cold, you don’t get the acidity. In fact, there’s
67-93 percent less acidity in cold brewed coffee—and two times the caffeine.
Q: So you roast your own beans. Is the origin of coffee beans important?
A: Absolutely. Most of our coffee beans are from Africa and Central America.
The coffees we select from Africa are bright and floral and have more
character. The coffees we get from Central America have chocolaty notes.
We blend the two for a perfect balance, so they’re not too tangy or fruity.
StepUP® at a glance
StepUP at Augsburg College is a
residential collegiate recovery program
focusing on helping students sustain
their recovery, achieve academic
success, and thrive in a community of
accountability and support.
• More than 700 students
served since 1997
• 93 percent average
abstinence rate
• 100 students served annually
• 3.2 average GPA
Learn more at
augsburg.edu/stepup
Summer 2015
17
Augsburg College held back-to-back Commencement ceremonies
May 2-3. The College welcomed nearly 4,000 people to campus who celebrated the
achievements of the Class of 2015, gathered as family and friends, and participated
in Augsburg’s unique approach to the centuries-old tradition of graduation.
COMMENCEMENT
MEMORIES
BY LAURA SWANSON ’15 MBA
A
s one of life’s “big days” alongside events like
a wedding or the birth of a child, it’s
common for a commencement to be a
memorable experience that people can recall for
years—and even decades—afterward. Yet, of the
thousands of attendees at this year’s ceremonies,
it is unlikely that any two people will retain
exactly the same event details in the same way.
Why is that? Naturally, it’s due to the fact
that each person’s process of making and
recalling memories is complex. Augsburg College
professor and cognitive psychologist Bridget
Robinson-Riegler helped illuminate how and why
people remember the standout days in their lives
in accurate—and inaccurate—ways.
Bridget Robinson-Riegler
Augsburg professor and
cognitive psychologist
What makes a commencement day memorable?
Uniqueness.
Emotion.
Cognitive psychologists have found
that the most distinctive life events also
are the most likely to be remembered.
For many people, participating in a
commencement ceremony is the type
of occasion that only happens a few
times over the course of their lives, such
as when they complete high school,
college, a graduate program, or attend
a graduation event for a child or loved
one. The event as a whole is unique and
so are particular elements of the day.
For instance, contemporary Augsburg
graduates process to the commencement
ceremonies by walking down 7 ½ Street,
which is lined with faculty members
applauding the graduates’ achievements.
This type of event is so unique that the
experience likely will form a memory
that persists over time, according to
Robinson-Riegler.
Just as distinctive events are more
likely to be remembered, occasions that
are laden with emotion also make their
mark. The two parts of the brain that serve
in memory-making include the amygdala,
which is responsible for the emotion of
a memory, and the hippocampus, which
is responsible for creating the coherent
story of a memory. People are likely to
remember many of the feelings they
experienced on a commencement day
because it’s a time of high emotion and
maybe even some stress.
While graduation is not stressful
in a traumatic sense, there’s a lot of
excitement associated with the event,
which accentuates the activation of the
amygdala. Then, because the amygdala
is functioning at a relatively high level, a
person remembers much of the emotion
of a commencement.
18
Augsburg Now
“Ten or 20 years into the future, you
remember some of the day’s details—
some of the big things about it—but
it may be easier to remember how you
felt,” Robinson-Riegler said.
Timing.
When an event occurs also affects a
person’s ability to remember it. For many
traditional undergraduates, graduation
falls at a time in life known as the
“reminiscence bump,” the period that
spans approximately from age 10 to age
30 when things are most remembered.
“As we age, things become more
routine, so what stands out are things
that are distinctive in your life,”
Robinson-Riegler said. “The things that
you talked about, that you spent a lot of
time rehearsing or explaining—the events
like graduations and weddings—those are
things that are better remembered.”
What affects the
accuracy of memory?
Despite the memorability of unique
and emotional moments, the accuracy of
our memories is not always reliable. One
of the reasons memories change over
time is that people come into contact
with new situations that shape their
recollection of the past.
“None of us really should trust our
memories as much as most of us do; the
gist of our memories is often accurate, but
the details of exactly what happened are
often inaccurate,” Robinson-Riegler said.
Graduation is an interesting event
to recall because there’s not a lot of
“cross-contamination” of memory
from the event happening repeatedly,
but there are disturbances in memory
caused by outside influences.
For instance, people have what’s
known as “schematic knowledge” about
what graduations entail. Due to popular
culture, a person who has never attended
a graduation may be able to explain
what happens at the celebration because
the event typically follows a formulaic
structure that includes listening to
speeches, watching graduates walk
across a stage, and so on. In addition,
people’s memories about past events can
become skewed by the individuals they
interact with later and the discussions
that follow. Graduations might spur
conversations with friends and family
that help a person “fill in the gaps”
where their own memories have faded,
according to Robinson-Riegler.
“Think about how easy it would
be for someone to infuse a memory
from what someone else said about
graduation, and suddenly it becomes
your memory so you have no idea what
the reality is,” she said.
In addition to pulling outside
comments into your memory pool,
commencement recollections can be
influenced by the photos and other
artifacts from the day that a person
comes across later.
“If you see pictures of the
graduation ceremony, those things
get into your head, so to speak, as
you reconstruct your memory based
on several different components,”
Robinson-Riegler said.
Ultimately, when Auggies of all ages
think back on their commencement
experiences, those memories are shaped
by myriad factors, but it’s the outcome
of the education that persists over
time and can be counted upon for the
remainder of their lives.
And, while college memories may
fade and change over time, they still
serve several purposes—one of the best
being to make us smile.
Summer 2015
19
Augsburg College hits $50 million campaign goal
for new, signature academic building
Augsburg College has successfully surpassed the $50 million
mark in its capital campaign for a unique, interdisciplinary
academic building that brings together science, business, and
religion. The campaign—the largest in the College’s history—
met its goal a year in advance of the original schedule.
With the campaign fundraising milestone achieved,
the Augsburg College Board of Regents approved
moving forward with the next stage of architectural
and construction design for what will be the College’s
state-of-the-art, signature academic building. Once that
design work is completed, the Board will set a timeline for
groundbreaking and construction.
The College already has begun the planning and
preparation necessary to make the new building a reality.
Examples of this collaborative effort include the following:
•
A Board-designated project leadership team is selecting
an architect who will work with the College to verify that
the building meets the needs of academic programs in
order to create detailed interior and exterior drawings.
•
Augsburg readied the future site of the building by
razing two existing houses on 21st Avenue South.
(See page 7.)
•
Faculty members are using grant funds to design new,
interdisciplinary courses and to revise existing classes
to better integrate the science, business, and religion
subject areas.
Anderson
Residence Hall
Urness Tower
Luther Hall
N
Mortensen Hall
Old Main
Christensen Center
Sverdrup Hall
Memorial Hall
Lindell Library
20
Augsburg Now
Find campaign news and building
updates at augsburg.edu/CSBR.
IT TAKES AN AUGGIE
Graphics by
Mark Chamberlain
Summer 2015
21
“Individuals matter in stopping the spread of disease
because disease has no boundaries ... I have made
it a personal goal to advocate for the development
of generic medications for infectious diseases that
unfairly affect the developing world.”
—Anika Clark ’14
22
Augsburg Now
Unique research experience draws
faculty-student duo to East Africa
and Capitol Hill
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
ho gets pooped on by chimpanzees, zig-zags through a
mountainous forest to elude elephants, and has been
recognized by members of the U.S. Congress for her
impressive research?
The first undergraduate student from the United States ever invited
to study the world’s largest known community of chimpanzees and
to gather research data to build a foundation for understanding how
human diseases—including Ebola—can be transmitted to and move
through the animals.
By gathering data to model how disease spreads through the nearly
200 chimps in the Ngogo community in Kibale National Park in Uganda,
Anika Clark ’14 may be able to help identify and develop vaccination
plans to protect this and other groups of chimpanzees from being
devastated by transmissible human diseases for which the chimps have
no resistance.
Clark, a biology major, spent four weeks in Africa doing field research
under the direction of Kevin Potts, a biology instructor at Augsburg
and one of the nation’s leading primatology experts. His studies on
chimpanzee conservation, food, habitat, and foraging behaviors are
featured in some of the world’s most prestigious primatology journals.
Potts earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Yale University
and studied under the Yale faculty who founded the Ngogo Chimpanzee
Project in Kibale National Park. It’s through his decades-long study
of chimpanzees, in which he’s watched some members of the animal
group go from juveniles to adult leaders, and his deep professional and
personal relationships with the project’s founders that he was able to
invite Clark to conduct research on this unique group of chimpanzees.
Summer 2015
23
Undergraduate research—an opportunity for hands-on practice of skills helpful to
science majors and necessary to succeed in graduate school—is an important part of
an Augsburg College education and is evidence of how the College lives out its vision
of educating for lives of purpose. Clark was among nearly 100 Augsburg students who
conducted summer research in 2014, spending many hours in the lab and in the field to solve
complex problems.
Fieldwork is grueling.
“You have to be physically and mentally alert at all times,” Clark said of the work she
did in Uganda. “Elephants can be in the forest. You have to move away from them quickly
… once I zig-zagged down a mountain ravine to get away.”
The work also can be very, very dirty. Even gross.
“Once, a chimpanzee in the canopy pooped on me and my field notebook,” Clark said.
But she wasn’t deterred.
Potts acknowledged the physical demands of fieldwork. He said it’s not uncommon
for researchers—including graduate-level researchers—to burn out after a few weeks,
especially in places as rugged as Ngogo. Clark was up and in the field by 7 a.m., walking
for miles and as many as 10 hours per day in the forest to find where chimps were feeding
so she could gather her data.
Clark’s research is unique because she is creating a baseline for understanding how
infectious diseases spread in the largest group of chimpanzees on Earth. While some other
researchers are trying to understand dispersal of illness among chimpanzee troupes of
about 65 individual animals, nobody else is seeking to explain how disease moves through
Ngogo’s population of nearly 200 individuals.
“Chimpanzees are strange among mammal species,” Potts said. “Unlike most other
mammals, chimps that make up one social group rarely are together all at the same time.
Instead, on a day-to-day basis, small foraging parties go out to look for food, and members
of groups can change daily.”
This means that unlocking how an infectious disease spreads is complex because
chimps don’t interact consistently with the same community members day after day.
Unraveling this mystery may allow people to protect chimps from transmissible human
diseases for which the animals have no immunity. An Ebola vaccine for chimpanzees is in
development and could feasibly be used on wild chimps in the near future. But vaccinating
all the chimps would be prohibitively expensive and logistically impossible.
24
Augsburg Now
“If we can identify a few individuals who are disproportionately gregarious and,
therefore, more likely to spread a disease to others, we can target them for vaccines and
stop an outbreak,” Potts said.
Uganda’s forests may depend upon this understanding, too, since chimps are prolific
distributors of seeds from the tree fruits that they eat and thereby ensure reforestation
and new growth.
Clark’s grit in the field and outstanding achievements in the classroom have garnered
attention in the nation’s capital. Last spring, she was selected to present at Posters on
the Hill in Washington, D.C.
This annual event highlights outstanding undergraduate research and was a chance
for 60 selected students from more than 800 applicants to meet with policymakers and
lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Keith Ellison of Minnesota.
“Anika’s work stood up exceptionally well against top-tier student researchers
from across the nation, and I hope she sees how talented she is,” Potts said. “This
was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present scientific results directly to those who
implement policy based upon science.”
Clark is applying her resolve to working as a medical scribe at three different hospitals. At
one of the hospitals, Clark serves as lead scribe, a leadership role that includes responsibility
for recruiting other top pre-health students to work as scribes. Clark’s determination to excel
is further readying her for the challenge of applying to medical schools, her next step toward
fulfilling her goal of one day working for Doctors Without Borders.
Through Doctors Without Borders, an internationally renowned humanitarian
organization that provides assistance to countries overwhelmed by armed conflict,
epidemics, natural disasters, and malnutrition, Clark will have the opportunity to use
her talents and gifts to alleviate some of the world’s greatest global health problems.
The organization also is recognized for its dedication to serving people who experience
neglect and discrimination from local health systems.
“Individuals matter in stopping the spread of disease because disease has no
boundaries. The world is connected through trade, aviation, and immigration,” Clark
said. “I have made it a personal goal to advocate for the development of generic
medications for infectious diseases that unfairly affect the developing world. An
infectious disease in one part of the world must be considered a global threat.”
As Clark turns her sights toward medical school and a future serving as an
international doctor of medicine, other Auggies will head into the lab and field with
faculty to unravel problems and seek solutions to better our shared world.
While Auggies have worked to protect chimpanzees from infectious diseases in Uganda’s Kibale National Park,
these animals also face constant threats from poaching. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about chimps
and how you can help in their conservation.
The field journal of Anika Clark ’14 carries
the mark of a chimpanzee encounter.
Clark trekked many miles through
sometimes muddy forests in these shoes.
A solar sun shower was the closest to a
hot shower Clark got while in Uganda.
Biology instructor Kevin Potts uses
his own codes and shorthand to track
information on chimpanzees.
Summer 2015
25
BY CHRISTINA HALLER
Augsburg student travels 900 miles in
search of answers
The last thing studio arts major Indra Ramassamy ’17
thought she’d get out of her course, Women and Art,
was a life-changing trip and lasting friendship with an
established artist. But it just so happened that Augsburg’s
commitment to experiential education fostered a
memorable experience for Ramassamy and cultivated
skills that will prove useful throughout her life.
Ramassamy, an international student from Paris,
was assigned to choose an object from Augsburg’s permanent collection of art and complete a research project
resulting in a final paper, a speech, an installation, and
a curatorial file.
Ramassamy was drawn
“Augsburg expects us to discover
to a print by Nilda Getty
things. We are encouraged to make
called “Psychic,” one work
deep connections with people, to find
in a five-piece series titled,
new ways to problem-solve, to make a
“Life Series.”
difference.”
“What drew me to this
—Indra Ramassamy ’17
print was a sort of ‘motion’
around a white circular
shape—to me, it represented the moon,” Ramassamy
said. “We can see six female figures around the shape,
but there is a possibility that these female figures
might actually be one person at different moments.”
A little persistence goes a long way
In researching the piece, Ramassamy found that
biographical information about the artist was limited.
She was, however, able to locate and contact an art
gallery where Getty had once exhibited. The art gallery
contacted Getty about Ramassamy’s inquiry, and within
a week, they were speaking regularly on the phone for
Ramassamy’s project. A few weeks later, Getty and her
son, Leslie, contacted Ramassamy and invited her to
Colorado, offering to fly her out so she could complete
her assignment.
Ramassamy gladly accepted. “It was about a
lot more than the paper,” she said. “Through phone
conversations and an exchange of emails, I had already
made a connection with Nilda and was beyond excited
to meet her.”
Leaving a lasting legacy
A few weeks later, Ramassamy was on a flight from
Minneapolis to Fort Collins, Colorado, for a 48-hour
stay. While there, Ramassamy toured Getty’s studio,
met Getty’s family, learned how to use metalsmithing
tools, and studied Getty’s artwork—from silk prints
to photographs, metalwork to jewelry. She also
visited Colorado State University where Getty taught
metalsmithing in the Art Department.
When Ramassamy asked Getty about “Psychic,”
Getty said the white circle represented both the world
and the universe. But the artist also explained that it
doesn’t matter what she thinks of the piece. What is
important to Getty is the viewer’s experience with the
art and the relationship formed with it.
Ramassamy was inspired by Getty’s work, by her
outlook on art and life, and by her warmth and spirit.
“One of the sweetest things was when Nilda told me
her ‘greatest works of art are her children’—and she
also asked me a lot about my own mom,” Ramassamy
said. “I believe Nilda’s legacy will be what her children
go out into the world and achieve.”
An Augsburg education is shaped by its
global settings
Ramassamy is grateful to Augsburg for the whole
experience. “There’s a culture at Augsburg to go
the full extent—do as much as you can,” she said.
“Augsburg expects us to discover things. We are
encouraged to make deep connections with people, to
find new ways to problem-solve, to make a difference.”
And that’s exactly what Ramassamy did.
26
Augsburg Now
MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE
FUN FACTS ABOUT
AUGSBURG’S PERMANENT
COLLECTION OF ART
MOST FAMOUS?
Andy Warhol’s “Liz”
LARGEST?
Henry Lande’s minimalist
sculpture, 24 Elements, stands
outside between Urness Tower and
Christensen Center at 33 feet tall.
BEST-TRAVELED?
A photograph of Gerda Mortensen
vanished from Mortensen Hall
(more than once) and reappeared at
St. Olaf College.
MOST GENEROUS DONORS?
Don and Dagny Padilla, avid art
collectors, who gave dozens of
pieces to Augsburg’s permanent
collection of art, including Nilda
Getty’s “Psychic.”
AVAILABLE IN TWO SIZES?
Jakob Fjelde’s life-size marble bust
of Augsburg’s third president, Sven
Oftedal, and Fjelde’s small-scale
plaster copy, a recent gift from
Melinda and Jim Kohrt.
Summer 2015
27
ALUMNI NEWS
INTRODUCING
NEW ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS
Six Auggies―successful in business, mentorship, leadership,
and advocacy for the College recently were elected to threeyear terms on the Augsburg College Alumni Board.
New members:
Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA
Mary Prevost ’12 MBA
National corporate director,
UnitedHealth Group
Owner, MJP Strategic
Communications
Hannah Dietrich ’05
Howie Smith ’80
Principal planning analyst, Hennepin
County Department of Community
Corrections and Rehabilitation
Manager, talent development,
Ameriprise Financial Services
Jay Howard ’03
Take a moment to read a
few of the reasons why these
new representatives are excited
to be part of the Alumni Board.
Go to augsburg.edu/now for more
information.
Director of global sales, Innovative
Computer Software
Chau “Tina” Nguyen ’08
Project analyst, U.S. Bank
28
Augsburg Now
ALUMNI BOARD
Back Row [L to R]: Adrienne (Kuchler)
Eldridge ’02, Sarah Grans ’01, Howie
Smith ’80, Jay Howard ’03, Rick Bonlender ’78,
Greg Schnagl ’91, Nick Swanson ’09, Patricia
Jesperson ’95
Front Row [L to R]: Marie (Eddy) Odenbrett ’01,
Hannah Dietrich ’05, Jill Watson ’10 MBA,
Meg (Schmidt) Sawyer ’00, Melissa (Daudt)
Hoepner ’92, Chris Hallin ’88, Adriana
Matzke ’13, Rachel (Olson) Engebretson ’98,
Chau “Tina” Nguyen ’08, Mary Prevost ’12 MBA
Not Pictured: Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA;
Sharon Mercill ’09; Jordan Moore ’12 MBA;
Brent Peroutka ’02; Nick Rathmann ’03;
Tracy (Anderson) Severson ’95
If you have ideas for alumni
involvement, email the Alumni Board
at alumni@augsburg.edu.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
RECEPTION AND CEREMONY
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Honor the 2015 Athletic
Hall of Fame inductees.
HOMECOMING
2015
OCTOBER 8-10
REUNION CLASSES
Silver Auggies and
60th Reunion—1955
50th Reunion—1965
40th Reunion—1975
25th Reunion—1990
10th Reunion—2005
For Homecoming this year, let’s come together and revel in our
Augsburg connections with great events all weekend long. Alumni,
families, and friends are all invited to this celebration of our shared
Augsburg experience.
Registering for Homecoming is easier than ever with an allaccess pass. One $40 pass admits you to all events. Register to
guarantee your spot. The price increases to $50 after September 8.
Go to augsburg.edu/homecoming to register.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
HOMECOMING CONVOCATION AND
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Recognize the First Decade, Spirit
of Augsburg, and Distinguished
Alumni award recipients.
HOMECOMING AND REUNION
CELEBRATION LUNCHEON
12 p.m.
Celebrate this year’s distinguished
award recipients and the newest
inductees into the 50-Year Club
from the class of 1965.
AUGGIE HOURS
6 to 8:15 p.m.
Join the all-class Auggie happy hour.
HOMECOMING FIREWORKS
8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
Join Homecoming co-chairs Jacquie Berglund ’87
and Devean George ’99 for Augsburg alumni’s
favorite weekend of the year.
“Connecting with folks you
haven’t seen in such a
long time is just
heartwarming.”
Jacquie Berglund ’87,
2014 Spirit of Augsburg
award recipient
HOMECOMING AND REUNION
BREAKFAST
8 to 9:20 a.m.
HOMECOMING CHAPEL
10 a.m.
TASTE OF AUGSBURG
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Family fun takes over Murphy Square
park with carnival-style booths, great
food, student groups, and games.
HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME VS.
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS
1 p.m.
AUGGIE BLOCK PARTY
3:30 to 6 p.m.
Enjoy live music, s’mores, and a
post-game social hour.
ALUMNI NEWS
THE YOUNG
ALUMNI COUNCIL
The mission of the Young Alumni Council is to provide opportunities to
engage young alumni through planning and hosting networking, fundraising,
and volunteering events and programs.
In May, Auggies joined the Rev. Mike Matson ’06 and his congregation
during an annual rummage sale at Bethany Lutheran Church in the Seward
neighborhood of Minneapolis. This summer the Young Alumni Council hosted
a sold-out gathering at a St. Paul Saints game in June and an evening at
Canterbury Park in July, bringing more than 600 Auggies together.
If you’ve graduated within the past 10 years and are interested in joining
this growing group of active alumni, contact Katie Radford ’12, volunteer and
alumni engagement manager, at radford@augsburg.edu.
FINAL EVENT OF THE SEASON
Summer Series: On Tap
Monday, August 10
5:30 to 8 p.m. | Surly Brewery
Build your Auggie network and learn how fellow
alumni are fulfilling their vocations today.
Appetizers and two drink tickets provided.
Tickets: $10
To register, call 612-330-1085 or visit
augsburg.edu/alumnievents.
To learn more about the Young Alumni
Council members, go to augsburg.edu/now.
Courtesy Photo
Buy a brick. Honor a friendship.
“We came together to buy a brick in honor of the strong
friendships we formed at Augsburg and the memories we
continue to make among our families.” –Brittany Jakubiec ’96
There is still time to participate in the campaign for the Center
for Science, Business, and Religion! Buy a brick as a tribute to
the bonds that helped to create your Augsburg story.
30
•
Augsburg will inscribe a brick with your name, the name
of someone you’d like to honor, or a special message.
•
Each brick will be displayed in the CSBR, creating a
lasting legacy for the future of
the College.
•
Augsburg alumnae from the class of 1996 support the
Center for Science, Business, and Religion.
You will receive official
recognition of your
participation in this program.
•
Front Row [L to R]: Brittany (Lynch) Jakubiec, Jennifer (Cummings)
Ackland, Wendy Laine, Brooke (Manisto) Reseland.
Back Row [L to R]: Connie (Arndt) Clausen, Stephanie Harms,
Jodi Monson, Natasha (Solberg) Sheeley.
The first 500 to buy a brick will
receive a VIP invitation to the CSBR dedication.
Foundation Brick (40 characters, 3 lines) = $250
Legacy Brick (80 characters, 6 lines) = $500
Augsburg Now
augsburg.edu/csbr | 612-330-1085
ALUMNI NEWS
A mix of current students, alumni, and former
faculty serve as the backup band for one of the
Midnimo artists. Somali-British musician Aar
Maanta (far right) practices with musicians
[L to R]: Kyle Burbey ’15, Steve Herzog ’06,
Andy Peterson ’05, and Ben Somers.
BEHIND THE MUSIC
Auggie backup band’s role helps bridge cultures and generations
Augsburg College students, alumni, and
faculty have helped bring a cuttingedge musical partnership to life by
performing alongside the rising voices of
the Somali music scene and even some
“super stars.”
Midnimo was awarded one of six $200,000
grants from the highly competitive Building
Bridges: Campus Community Engagement
program by the Association of Performing
Arts Presenters funded by the Doris Duke
Charitable Foundation and the Doris Duke
Foundation for Islamic Art.
Midnimo, the Somali word for
“unity,” is a two-year partnership
between Augsburg and the Cedar
Cultural Center to bring Somali artists to
Minnesota for educational residencies
and concerts. This unique opportunity
is supported by a prestigious
$200,000 grant award and a number
of Auggies—including Faculty
Emeritus Bob Stacke ’71—whose crosscultural relationship building and love
for performance set the stage for a truly
intergenerational, intercultural musical
immersion.
At concerts held through Midnimo,
artists ranging from the pop collective
North American Super Stars to SomaliBritish singer-songwriter Aar Maanta
played alongside backup ensembles
comprised of a mix of Auggie students,
alumni, and former faculty whose own
musical gifts and talents helped make
Midnimo a critically acclaimed program.
For many of the Auggies, participating
in Midnimo has offered the opportunity
to join a partnership that’s the first of its
kind in the nation and to do what they
love best: play.
Bob Stacke ’71, retired associate professor
of music, is known and respected for his crosscultural percussion performances. Stacke’s deep
musical connections were critical in forging
the partnership between the College, the Cedar
Cultural Center, and visiting artists.
Steve Herzog ’06 [pictured, right] was
selected by Bob Stacke ’71 to write and arrange
the music for Midnimo visiting artists. Herzog
often has needed to transcribe and arrange
music in less than a week. Through this work,
Herzog has been inspired to develop a program
for engaging Somali youth in the advancement
of Somali music. He’s also pursuing a master’s
degree in education at Augsburg.
See a clip of the band performing with
Aar Maanta at augsburg.edu/now.
Summer 2015
31
ALUMNI NEWS
AUGGIES FIND LEADERSHIP IN
inneapolis shoppers can
find a little Auggie Pride in
an unexpected location—a
secondhand clothing store that is an
active illustration of Augsburg College’s
mission, which includes collaborating
with others to serve the Cedar-Riverside
neighborhood and providing students
with hands-on learning opportunities.
Sisterhood Boutique (2200
Riverside Ave., Minneapolis) has been
a training ground for young, Cedar-
the idea of opening a clothing store.
Richardson, who in high school
founded a secondhand clothing store
through Youth Express, an after-school
program in St. Paul, used her retail
experience and business management
training to help the women get started.
First, she collaborated with a youth social
entrepreneur coordinator, a store founder,
and other interested young women to
develop a paid internship program for the
boutique. The program provides young
Augsburg College alumnae Yasameen Sajady ’11 and Stella Richardson ’15 serve the Sisterhood Boutique.
Riverside neighborhood women in
entrepreneurship, business, community
partnerships, and sustainable fashion
since its opening in February 2014.
Since then, 60 women ages 14 to 23
have participated as staff and interns,
and two Auggies—Stella Richardson ’15
and Yasameen Sajady ’11—have played
roles on the store’s leadership team.
Two years ago, East African women
in the Youth Social Entrepreneur
Program at the Brian Coyle Center, a
neighborhood resource and community
center, began envisioning a way to
empower young women in the area. The
women worked with Richardson, then an
intern at Brian Coyle Center, to explore
32
Augsburg Now
East African women with professional
development, peer-to-peer mentoring,
and classroom training, followed by three
months of employment in the store.
The founders of the boutique also
collaborated with Augsburg’s Director
of Community Engagement Mary Laurel
True, who has been integral to the
store’s success.
Community engagement for Auggies
happens both on and off campus—and
when True learned about the vision for
a women’s entrepreneurial project in
the neighborhood, she ensured that
Augsburg joined with other community
groups to make the innovative business
venture a reality. True serves as the
Augsburg liaison to the program, is a
mentor for the staff and interns, and
has been on the Sisterhood’s Advisory
Committee since the beginning.
Seizing the opportunity for realworld training, classes on campus got
into the act. A group of Augsburg MBA
students created a business plan for the
store through a management consulting
class project. Christopher Houltberg,
assistant professor of art, led Sisterhood
interns in a branding exercise and
assisted with the design of a boutique
logo; classes taught by Marc Isaacson,
assistant professor of business, provided
website recommendations; and, through
clothing drives, Residence Life collected
thousands of pounds of clothing to
donate to the startup.
Today, Augsburg alumna Sajady
manages the Sisterhood Boutique.
Sajady, a business marketing major, was
hired last November through Pillsbury
United Communities to lead Brian
Coyle’s Youth Entrepreneur Program.
Under her leadership as the operations
coordinator, the Sisterhood Boutique
has exceeded its social media and
community engagement goals.
The program is supported by
Fairview Health Services, an institution
that, like Augsburg, is committed
to its role as a community partner.
Fairview donated a vacant retail
space to the Brian Coyle Center for
workforce development. Additional
donors and community partners
include the Foundation of Minnesota,
Sundance Family Foundation, Marbrook
Foundation, and Women Investing in the
Next Generation (WINGs) Fund of the
Greater Twin Cities United Way.
ALUMNI NEWS
CULTURAL TRAVEL
Courtesy Photos
WITH AUGGIES
A
ugsburg organizes international tours for the College’s alumni, parents,
families, and friends. Each customized trip is led by Augsburg faculty members
whose distinction and expertise adds to a uniquely Augsburg experience.
Celebrating Lutheran heritage in Germany and the Czech Republic
Mark Tranvik and Hans Wiersma, Religion Department faculty members, host this
journey through Germany and the city of Prague October 27-November 6, 2016,
celebrating Lutheran heritage in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
Cultural immersion in Thailand and Cambodia
English Professor Kathy Swanson, who is fluent in Thai, will lead this exploration
through Thailand and Cambodia January 3-15, 2017. This voyage takes travelers to the
Grand Palace, Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha), and floating markets. It continues
to Chiang Mai for elephant rides, an authentic cooking class, and volunteer work at
a local orphanage. The journey concludes in Siem Reap at Angkor Wat, the largest
religious monument in the world.
If you are interested in traveling with fellow alumni, contact Sally Daniels Herron ’79
at herron@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1525.
To learn about Augsburg cultural travel
opportunities, go to augsburg.edu/alumni/travel.
Summer 2015
33
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1963
After serving as pastor of Faith
Lutheran Church in Vista,
California, since 1969, the Rev. Beryl
Droegemueller retired in April. Over the
course of his 45 years of shepherding the
congregation, membership grew from 125 to
more than 1,000. During those four decades,
the church opened preschool, elementary
school, middle school, and extended daycare
programs. Droegemueller trained 37 pastoral
interns through the church’s vicarage program
and, in the early 1970s, worked with church
members to develop a new mission church,
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran in Oceanside,
California. He led Faith Lutheran through
the construction of the sanctuary, a parish
hall, an early childhood center, and offices.
Together with members of the congregation,
Droegemueller was instrumental in building
a multi-level care retirement facility, now
Rancho Vista retirement community, which
was dedicated in 1981. When he talks about
the projects and productivity, he points to
his “very dedicated, creative, and hardworking members” and his staff. Along with
his doctor of ministry degree, he earned a
law degree, which he said was helpful in the
many building projects. He assisted area
churches with numerous legal challenges and
served as circuit counselor and chairman of
the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran
Church Missouri Synod board of directors. The
Minnesota native entered Concordia Lutheran
Seminary after a year of working for a bank
and following graduation from Augsburg with a
double major in history and English.
Jean (Bagley) Humphrey married her husband,
Roger, one week after graduation. Nancy
(Bloomfield) Bottemiller and Ruth (Sather)
Sorenson were her bridesmaids. The
Humphreys moved to the Boston/Cambridge
area where they lived in married student
housing at the Massachusetts Institute of
As a public relations expert, Kari (Eklund) Logan ’82 assists
clients in raising awareness about topics that range from
education to urban forestry and from financial services to the
arts. At CEL Public Relations, Logan leads a media relations
team and couples her talents in writing and networking to
serve her clients.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
Technology and had their two children. After
five years, they moved to California where
Roger’s first job was with Chevron Oil. They
lived in California for 38 years. Nine Bagley
children attended Augsburg including Robert
Bagley ’58, who went on to Luther Seminary,
and Yvonne (Bagley) Olson ’52, who lived with
Gerda Mortensen and married Orville Olson ’52.
1967
Jerilyn (Bjugstad) Wibbens is the
choral director of the NW Nordic
Ladies Chorus of Everett, Washington. The
group recently performed with other Nordic
choruses in a Seattle-area celebration of
Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. They sang
“Finlandia” with the Seattle Symphony.
In May, Robert and Sandra (Syverts) ’68 Benson
were grand marshals for Trout Days in Preston,
Minnesota. The Bensons remain active in this
community where Bob served as a county
judge. Bob (now retired) is a certified firearms
instructor and a retired fireman. Sandra is the
founder of the Preston Farmers Market.
1970
Ray Hanson is working for
Goldbelt Raven as an assistant
program manager for chemical forensics
at the Department of Homeland Security’s
Homeland Security Advanced Research
Projects Agency. His role supports the
Chemical and Biological Defense Directorate
in Washington, D.C., which is developing
forensic methods for detecting signatures for
chemical threat agents.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
1982
Diane (Peterson)
Kachel is now a clinical
research manager for Metro
Urology, the largest urology private
practice network in Minnesota. In
this newly created position within
the organization’s management
team, she is responsible for
managing all aspects of the
research program in addition
to developing new research
opportunities and scalable research
infrastructure across multiple
clinical sites and patient conditions.
34
Augsburg Now
2008
Jay Matchett ’08, ’13 MAL was
named director of Our Neighbors’
Place, a social service agency, in River
Falls, Wisconsin. The social service agency
includes a day center, shelter for families,
community closet, classes, and a successful
backpack program. He cites Tim Pippert,
associate professor of sociology, and Andy
Aoki, professor of political science, as strong
influences during his time at Augsburg.
Matchett believes he truly has found his path
to vocation. He would like to establish a partnership with Augsburg’s social
work program so that Our Neighbors’ Place may serve as an internship
site for current students.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1972
After more than 40 years of regional
sales management and marketing
for two Fortune 500 companies, James
Piepenburg has retired and lives in the Phoenix
metro area with his wife, Lucy. He has two
great daughters, Krista and Jaime, along with
son-in-law, Chris, and 12-year-old grandson,
Nicolas. Currently, Piepenburg is doing parttime art consultation with Thomas Kinkade Art
Gallery of Arizona.
music therapy and has done additional study
at Colorado’s Center for Biomedical Research
in Music.
1988
Kiel Christianson is associate chair
of the Department of Educational
Psychology at the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign. He is an associate professor
of educational psychology, psychology, and
linguistics, and he directs the EdPsych
Curt Rice ’84 has been chosen to lead Norway’s largest
university college, taking charge of Oslo and Akershus University
College of Applied Sciences as rector on August 1. Rice received
his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Augsburg. His
wife, Tove Dahl ’84, is a professor at the University of Tromsø,
Norway, and is the dean of Concordia Language Villages’
Norwegian camp, Skogfjorden.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
John Sherman, sports editor of Sun
Newspapers, has been inducted into the
Minnesota State Football Coaches Hall of
Fame. Sherman said he was truly honored to
join the ranks of Stan Nelson ’43, Dave Nelson,
Sid Hartman, Bronko Nagurski, and Ray
Christensen in the Hall of Fame.
Psycholinguistics Lab at the Beckman Institute
of Advanced Science and Technology. In his
spare time, he is a senior writer for the Golf
Channel websites, where he writes about golf,
golf travel, golf courses, and golf equipment.
He lives in Mahomet, Illinois, with his wife, Jen,
and their two children.
1978
1989
Steve Hoffmeyer is interim general
counsel and executive director
of the new Minnesota Public Employment
Relations Board. He also teaches business law
classes at the University of Phoenix campus in
Minnesota and arbitrates labor cases outside
of the state.
1979
Phil Madsen and wife, Diane, moved
into the fitness business, opening
their first Anytime Fitness franchise gym in July
2014 in Port Orange, Florida. A second gym will
follow in nearby New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Phil says, “This is a wonderful opportunity.
The franchise business model is sound, we
interact with members in truly personal and lifechanging ways, and we get to improve our own
health and fitness like never before.”
1982
Sandra (Walter) Holten, a music
therapist who specializes in caring
for people with Parkinson’s, was featured on
Minnesota Public Radio in March for her work
with Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Golden
Valley, Minnesota. She has a bachelor’s in
Leah (Parker) Maves graduated
from Luther Seminary in May
2014 with a master’s in children, youth, and
family ministry. She received her first call on
December 22 to the Tomorrow River Lutheran
Parish in Amherst and Nelsonville, Wisconsin.
She was commissioned and installed on
February 11 by Bishop Gerald Mansholt.
1991
Stephanie (Grochow) Trump has
been elected to serve as the
choral vice president of the Minnesota Music
Educators’ Association.
1992
Todd Lange was honored with
the Albert Lea (Minnesota) Area
Schools’ 2015 Teacher of the Year award. He
teaches high school English.
Sharol (Dascher) Tyra is a professional certified
coach and mentor for leadership development
at Life Illumination Coaching. Tyra has been a
mentor to Augsburg students since 2011. She
will serve as president of the Minnesota charter
chapter of the International Coach Federation,
and she represented ICF Minnesota at four
global leadership forums.
1998
Raylene Dale (Navara) Streed
has been appointed executive
director of the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank at the
University of Minnesota. Streed has served in
other leadership positions, including as interim
executive director and technical director. Streed
graduated from Augsburg with a bachelor’s
degree in biology.
1999
Scott Hvistendahl manages the
event department at the University
of Northwestern-St. Paul, where he is a member
of the football coaching staff. He enjoys being
involved with football and having a chance to
work with fellow coaches in developing players in
a Christian environment as well as helping them
to grow as men on and off the field. Hvistendahl
and his wife, Alisha, have two children: Macey
and Jordan. The couple met through an
Augsburg staff member who knew Scott from
football and Alisha through athletic training.
Jenna (Bracken) Held ’05 is following in the footsteps of
her mother, Jane (Catlin) Bracken ’71, by serving as a
teacher and pursuing her love of working with children.
Last year, after having taught fourth and fifth grade for
eight years, Jenna switched to first grade at Lincoln
Center in South St. Paul, Minnesota. She enjoys working
in the community where she lives. She met her husband,
Andrew Held ’05, at Augsburg and started to date him
after doing homework together for Calculus II. They
welcomed their third child in June.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
Summer
Spring
2014
2015
Fall 2014
17
35
37
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Josh Krob ’08, ’15 MBA was granted a prestigious “Twin Cities
Finest” award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in recognition
of his extensive community volunteer efforts and professional
growth. A believer in the value of lifelong learning, Krob earned
his MBA at Augsburg seeking to expand his understanding of
how to be an effective leader.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
2001
Maggie Tatton was among those
named “40 Under 40” honorees
by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
This honor includes young business and
community leaders from throughout the
Twin Cities. Tatton is partner at Lindquist &
Vennum, P.L.L.P.
2002
Brent Peroutka was featured in
the Faribault (Minnesota) Daily
News as a “40 Under 40” honoree for his
community achievements and career in
finance. A financial advisor at Comprehensive
Wealth Solutions. Peroutka holds a business
administration/finance degree from Augsburg.
The best part of his day is helping his clients
achieve their goals, he says. “We can make a
difference each and every day, whether it’s at
home, at work, or in the community.”
with the Minnesota Department of Human
Services to help improve the lives of those
with disabilities.
2012
Lauren Grafelman is the 2015
Business Administration Scholar
Award recipient at Hamline University. This
award is given to the university’s top MBA
student based on academic performance and
leadership within the program. Grafelman was
honored with this award at a graduation and
recognition reception in May.
2013
Mike Lanski is in a long-term
position with U.S. Bank. He
also has started his second season with the
Minnesota Twins, working as an usher, and he
is in his 10th year with the Minnesota Wild in
the same capacity.
Madalyn Johnson is employed as a promotions
assistant at 1500 ESPN Radio at Hubbard
Broadcasting.
Matt McGinn ’13 talks coffee on page 14.
2014
Janelle Holte was accepted into the
U.S. Peace Corps and departed for
Jamaica in March to serve as an agriculture
extension volunteer. During the first three
months of her service, Holte lived with a host
family in Jamaica to learn the local language
and integrate into the local culture. Holte will
work with her community to identify resources
and agriculture projects that can be developed
and implemented to generate income. She
also will facilitate training in farm management
and work with schools to enhance and expand
environmental education.
Anika Clark ’14 discussed the research
she conducted in Africa with lawmakers on
Capitol Hill. See page 22.
2015
Ben Menzies graduated in May
and is about to begin a master’s
program at the University of Minnesota in
integrated behavioral health. He and Shira
Bilinkoff are looking forward to their wedding
in fall 2016.
2008
Justin Reese has been named
head football coach for Fridley
(Minnesota) High School. A native of Houston,
Texas, Reese earned a bachelor’s degree in
physical education at Augsburg and went on to
earn a master’s degree in sports management
from the University of Minnesota. His vision
for the Fridley football program is to inspire
academic and athletic excellence in students
by challenging them to achieve the highest
level of personal development.
2010
Michael Polis was nominated for
the “32 Under 32” awards. This
honor was created in partnership with the
Advertising Federation to recognize the top
young Minnesota marketing and advertising
professionals.
2011
Samantha Drost was appointed to
the State Quality Council for a twoyear term. The council works in partnership
36
Augsburg Now
Meghan (Armstrong) Peyton ’14 MAL is the head men’s
and women’s cross country coach and assistant track
coach at Augsburg College. Augsburg, she says, has
opened her eyes in many ways. Her time at the College
has shown her the joy of serving others and becoming
a more thoughtful steward and responsible leader. She
wants to continue to make a difference in the lives
of future Auggie alumni. Peyton and her high school
sweetheart, Cole, were married in 2010 and live in
Richfield, Minnesota, with their pets. In 2008, she joined
Team USA Minnesota, a post-collegiate distance training
center that encourages holistic development. In 2013,
she won the U.S. 20K Championship. You can “track”
her successes and find her personal best records at meghanpeyton.com.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL has taken a position with the
University of Minnesota as lead of the Creative Services
team in University Relations, the central marketing
office. She works closely with the university’s brand.
Anna Coskran ’09 MBA has been named a principal of
NTH, a Twin Cities real estate and project management
firm where she has worked since 1998. With more than
15 years of real estate experience, she has worked with
a diverse array of clients including The Minneapolis
Foundation, the Star Tribune, and Xcel Energy.
AUGGIE
SNAPSHOTS
2001
Hilary English
Crook and her
husband, Jacob Seljan,
welcomed Lovisa Emily
Seljan on March 30. Both
Lovisa and big brother,
Britton, are sporting their
Augsburg gear!
Chris Wolf ’09 MAN was named chief nursing officer of a
medical element of the Minnesota Air National Guard.
Jordan Moore ’12 MBA and his wife, Jen, became
parents on March 27 with the birth of their daughter,
Carla Jo.
Jim Miles ’14 MBA
recently published
“Hero,” a middle grade
novel. In addition to
writing as a lifelong
passion, “Hero” is the
result of Miles’ MBA
program. He came to
Augsburg to learn how
to give artistic projects
the business legs they
needed to walk and
thrive. He named one
of his supporting
characters after Magda
Paleczny-Zapp,
associate professor of
business. Magda Corbett originally was conceived as a
minor character, but she quickly became a rather
significant part of the story, which Miles considers the
result of the influence of the name. For more information
on “Hero,” go to coltonsilver.com.
Submit a Class Note
Please tell us about the news in your
life—your new job, move, marriage, and
births. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/connect
to submit your announcements.
2007
Sarah (Gilbert)
Clay and
her husband, Ryan,
welcomed Oscar Leo Clay
on March 19.
2010
Matt and
Sarah (Thiry)
Solberg celebrated their
marriage on August 8,
2014. Auggies in the
wedding party included
maid of honor Hannah
Thiry ’17, Emily Wiles,
and Dan Thewis.
2012
Courtney
Gamrath and
J.P. Perpich were married
on August 15, 2014.
Summer 2015
37
In memoriam
Ingeborg C. Garborg ’38, Grand
Marais, Minnesota, age 94,
on January 20.
Euna G. Nelson ’50,
Evansville, Minnesota, age 86,
on March 18.
James S. Carlson ’55,
Richfield, Minnesota, age 88,
on October 12.
Darwin G. Thorbeck ’60,
Charleston, South Carolina,
age 76, on January 26.
Bernice A. (Westman) Giguere ’39,
Columbia Heights, Minnesota,
age 97, on April 26.
Kerman J. Benson ’51, Victoria,
Minnesota, age 85, on
January 13.
Lyle I. Hunter ’55, Cathedral
City, California, age 85, on
September 27.
James F. Redeske ’61, Golden
Valley, Minnesota, age 75,
on February 16.
Karl I. Krohn ’41, Memphis,
Tennessee, age 95, on
February 7.
John “Al” A. Johnson ’51,
Maplewood, Minnesota, age
88, on January 7.
Eileen M. (Wirkkunen)
Thompson ’55, Astoria, Oregon,
age 81, on January 23.
Kay L. (Hanenburg) Madson ’62,
Minneapolis, age 74,
on January 21.
Thelma (Sydnes) Monson ’41,
San Diego, age 95, on April 27.
Raymond V. Trochmann ’51,
Ulen, Minnesota, age 93,
on March 29.
Laurayne R. (Helgerson)
Solberg ’56, Stoughton,
Wisconsin, age 91, on
October 20.
Paul R. Engwall ’64, Lakeville,
Minnesota, age 75, on May 14.
Philip “Phil” W. Rowberg, Sr. ’41,
Chico, California, age 95, on
March 24.
Marion M. (Myrvik) Buska ’46,
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age
90, on January 18.
Willard “Bud” W. Glade ’49,
Dows, Iowa, age 94, on
March 1.
Georgette F. (Lanes) Ario ’50,
Minneapolis, age 86, on
January 17.
Irving R. Burling ’50, Sioux
Falls, South Dakota, age 87,
on April 16.
Bernice A. (Larson) Howell ’50,
Beltsville, Maryland, age 89,
on January 30.
38
Augsburg Now
Elmer H. Hanson ’52, Elk
Mound, Wisconsin, age 90,
on February 24.
Karl D. Puterbaugh ’52,
Eagan, Minnesota, age 86,
on March 22.
Dennis H. Erickson ’58,
Rochester, Minnesota, age 85,
on March 10.
Lorents J. Flak ’58, Santa Rosa,
California, age 83, on March 8.
Berton R. Hushagen ’53, Fergus
Falls, Minnesota, age 87, on
February 16.
Jon W. Matala ’58, Carver,
Minnesota, age 78, on
March 15.
Harold E. Peterson ’53, Bella
Vista, Arkansas, age 89, on
April 1.
Ronald “Ron” J. Stave ’58,
Minneapolis, age 83, on
March 7.
Gloria M. (Parizek) Thorpe ’53,
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, age 84,
on May 5.
Nancy Bauman ’59, Rochester,
Minnesota, age 78, on April 10.
Lloyd A. Nelson ’54, Willmar,
Minnesota, age 91, on
January 27.
James “Jim” A. Noble ’60, Grand
Blanc, Michigan, age 76, on
January 25.
Wayne E. Myrvik ’64, Fergus
Falls, Minnesota, age 72,
on February 7.
Gary E. Utoft ’64, Owatonna,
Minnesota, age 72, on
February 23.
Kathryn “Kathy” A. (Lundby)
Young ’64, Williamsburg,
Virginia, age 72, on March 9.
Lowell H. Asplund ’65,
Butterfield, Minnesota, age 73,
on February 6.
Anita M. (Gransee)
Christopherson ’65, Belle
Plaine, Minnesota, age 71,
on April 28.
Neil C. Sideen ’65, Howard
Lake, Minnesota, age 71,
on March 6.
Send us your news and photos
Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and
births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300 ppi
or a 1 MB file.)
For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral
notice, or program from a memorial service.
Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to:
Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave.,
Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also
submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni/connect.
______________________________________________________
Full name
______________________________________________________
Maiden name
______________________________________________________
Class year or last year attended
______________________________________________________
Street address
______________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP code
Karen L. (Torkelson) Leverentz ’66,
Stillwater, Minnesota,
age 70, on February 7.
Magdalen A. (Ardolf) Miller ’75,
Silver Lake, Minnesota, age 91,
on January 20.
Richard “Rick” A. Niles ’67,
Minnetonka, Minnesota,
age 69, on March 6.
Robert “Bob” A. Roberge ’77,
Rochester, Minnesota, age 60,
on March 7.
Mary M. (Dolan) Peterson ’67,
Parkers Prairie, Minnesota,
age 69, on March 25.
Eunice C. (Holmes) Johnson ’80,
White Bear Lake, Minnesota,
age 84, on February 28.
Russell E. Ilstrup ’68, Buffalo,
Minnesota, age 70, on March 21.
Lori L. (Johnson) Rosenkvist ’81,
St. Paul, age 55, on March 25.
Ronald A. Nilsson ’68, Wheaton,
Illinois, age 69, on January 9.
Timothy J. Beck ’83, St. Paul,
age 53, on March 30.
Nancy E. Stevens ’68, Plymouth,
Minnesota, age 68, on
December 29.
Jeffrey T. Miller ’94, Plymouth,
Minnesota, age 52, on
January 29.
Ronald L. Danckwart ’72, Lake
City, Minnesota, age 64, on
February 25.
Alfred “Al” A. Drears ’11, St.
Paul, age 51, on March 24.
James E. Ericksen ’72, Edina,
Minnesota, age 68, on
January 27.
Max D. Bassinson ’17,
Minneapolis, age 23, on
March 7.
Alan C. Kelsey ’73, St. Paul,
age 63, on January 19.
Professor Emeritus Jerry
Gerasimo, Menomonie,
Wisconsin, age 84, on April 4.
Ronald “Ron” A. Hart ’75, Coon
Rapids, Minnesota, age 62,
on March 9.
Longtime staff member
Irene Steenson, Eden Prairie,
Minnesota, age 102, on April 18.
Is this a new address? q Yes q No
______________________________________________________
Home telephone
______________________________________________________
Email
Okay to publish your email address? q Yes q No
______________________________________________________
Employer
______________________________________________________
Position
______________________________________________________
Work telephone
Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No
If yes, class year___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable)
Your news:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg.
The “In memoriam” listings in this
publication include notifications
received before May 20.
Summer 2015
39
In memoriam
Courtesy Photo
JAMES E. ERICKSEN ’72
James E. Ericksen ’72, whose life was marked by his commitment to
faith and passion for the arts, passed away in January at age 68, leaving
Augsburg an unexpected and extraordinary bequest of more than $5 million.
To honor his legacy, the majority of Ericksen’s gift will be designated to
the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Part of this gift will honor
Ericksen’s faith and be directed to Christ Auditorium, the 80-seat classroom
at the heart of the new building. In tribute to his love of music, a renovation
to Sateren Auditorium and its lobby also will be named for Ericksen.
His gift was one of the largest estate gifts in
Augsburg’s history.
“We wish so much that we could have thanked him
during his lifetime,” said Heather Riddle, vice president
of Institutional Advancement.
Ericksen graduated from Minnehaha Academy in
Minneapolis in 1964 and enrolled at Augsburg College
that fall. While still a student, he enlisted in the
U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. Ericksen
returned to Augsburg College after his service, finished
his business administration degree with an emphasis in
accounting, and graduated with the 139-member class
of 1972.
A history minor, Ericksen later told Augsburg staff that Carl Chrislock,
remembered as one of Minnesota’s preeminent U.S. historians and
a professor emeritus of history at the College, was one of Ericksen’s
favorites. He returned to Augsburg College several times over the years to
attend concerts, particularly those for which his piano instructors served
as accompanists.
A loyal public servant
The entrance
to the Sateren
Auditorium lobby.
40
Augsburg Now
After starting his career at Polaris, Ericksen worked as an auditor for the
State of Minnesota Department of Revenue for 31 years before retiring in
2009. Along the way, he invested wisely and lived carefully.
“Nobody knew much about him, including his family,” said his
cousin, Robert Quick. But they knew he loved history, travel, and classical
music—especially symphonies.
In mid-life, Ericksen began piano lessons at MacPhail Center for Music,
where he studied with Victoria and Dan Sabo for many years. Friend and
piano instructor Janet Holdorf described Ericksen as “so sincere and ardent
in his appreciation of music making.” He didn’t consider himself much of
a musician, but he enjoyed learning and playing. His home was equipped
with a large sound system and filled with carefully cared-for albums, many
of them the symphonies he loved so much.
Ericksen traveled often, venturing to France, Italy, Norway, Sweden,
the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. He took long driving trips, eventually
visiting nearly all 50 of the United States and taking time to explore each
destination’s history. When he was at home in the Twin Cities, he attended
Bible study at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
In his will, Ericksen remembered many family members, friends, and
organizations dear to him.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Master of Arts in Nursing
Master of Arts in Education
Master of Arts in Leadership
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Master of Music Therapy
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Social Work
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW ALUMNI
AND FAMILY DISCOUNTS
FOR GRADUATE DEGREES
augsburg.edu/grad/discount
GRADUATE PROGRAM TUITION
DISCOUNT FOR ALUMNI
Many of Augsburg’s current graduate students are alumni
who earned their first degree at Augsburg and returned
to pursue further education. Become a part of this
growing group and take advantage of our Alumni Tuition
Discount—a savings of $80 per credit! Auggie graduates
who’ve earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree
from Augsburg qualify for this alumni discount.
Additionally, parents or spouses of alumni and current
students are eligible to receive the Family Grant
of $80 per credit on graduate programs.
gradinfo@augsburg.edu | 612-330-1101
* This alumni discount also applies to Augsburg graduates who are currently
Summer
2015Fall 2015.
25
enrolled in a graduate program at Augsburg
effective
Photo illustration by Stephen Geffre. Photos courtesy of D3sports.com and NCAA.
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
Auggies win 12th national wrestling title
The Augsburg College wrestling team claimed its record 12th NCAA Division III national championship, winning two individual national
crowns and earning six All-Americans in the finals of the national tournament. Heavyweight Donny Longendyke ’17 [pictured, left] joined
125-pound back-to-back national champion Mike Fuenffinger ’15 [pictured, right] in earning top individual honors. Augsburg also swept
the awards presented by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about
the College’s national tournament win.
Show less
SPRING 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 2
Everyday work advice for Auggies
Magazine survey results
A tale of two Auggies
Nobel Peace Prize Forum
AUGSBURG COLLEGE RECEIVES
$10 MILLION CASH GIFT
to name Center for Science, Business, and Religion
This winter, Augsburg College was
honored with a $10 mil... Show more
SPRING 2015 | VOL. 77, NO. 2
Everyday work advice for Auggies
Magazine survey results
A tale of two Auggies
Nobel Peace Prize Forum
AUGSBURG COLLEGE RECEIVES
$10 MILLION CASH GIFT
to name Center for Science, Business, and Religion
This winter, Augsburg College was
honored with a $10 million philanthropic
gift that will support a new signature
academic building housing the College’s
science, business, and religion
programs. Visit augsburg.edu/csbr to
learn about the celebration to announce
the building’s name and the capital
campaign’s progress toward its
IN THIS ISSUE
$50 million fundraising goal.
Features
On the cover
2 Magazine survey results | COMPILED BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
10 Everyday work advice for Auggies | BY STEPHANIE WEISS
16 A tale of two Auggies | BY STEPHANIE WEISS
24 Nobel Peace Prize Forum | BY STEPHEN GEFFRE AND LAURA SWANSON
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former
U.S. President Jimmy Carter addressed
middle school and high school students
during a Youth Forum event in Augsburg’s
Si Melby Hall as part of the 2015 Nobel
Peace Prize Forum, held March 6-8 in
Departments
Minneapolis. Carter spoke in front of
4 Around the Quad | 13 It takes an Auggie
exhibition about past Nobel Peace Prize
Augsburg student artwork created for an
14 My Auggie experience | 20 Auggie voices
winners that opened at the American
22 Auggies on the court | 27 Alumni news
Swedish Institute in February. Learn more
31 Alumni class notes | 36 In memoriam
All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated.
on pages 8 and 24.
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
Abundance at Augsburg
2015 is off to a remarkable start at Augsburg!
The announcement on the facing page
about the $10 million gift to name the Center
for Science, Business, and Religion certainly
ranks as our most exciting news. The momentum
to break ground on this signature academic
building is now palpable on campus and beyond
as we imagine its transformational impact on our
community for generations to come.
And this issue of Augsburg Now is full of
many other examples of the good news of this
academic year. News of national recognition for
community engagement and interfaith initiatives.
News of special events featuring Bill Nye the
Science Guy (a fellow bow tie lover!) and Nobel
Peace Prize Laureates U.S. President Jimmy
Carter and The Organisation for the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons. News of more than 100
Augsburg students and faculty from five academic
departments collaborating to create an interactive
exhibit to engage people in the topic of peace.
News of student and faculty achievements on
and off campus. News of generous alumni and
friends supporting the mission-based work of
the Augsburg community—including more than
1,300 donors who, for the second year in a row,
helped Augsburg surpass every other Minnesota
college or university in fundraising on Give to the
Max Day. And much, much more to celebrate.
For me, all of this good news points to a core
value at the heart of Augsburg’s identity and
character—we are a community of abundance in
a world of scarcity.
What do I mean by abundance? It is a way
of life that calls our community to live and work
together with a focus on our common wisdom,
experience, and aspirations. It is an ethic that
challenges us to believe that we can do more and
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
Communication Copywriter
and Editorial Coordinator
Laura Swanson
swansonl@augsburg.edu
better together than on our own. It is a vision
that says we are small to our students and big for
the world.
As I near the end of my ninth year as
Augsburg’s 10th president, I am more and more
struck by the abundance of our lives together, the
many ways in which the students, faculty, staff,
alumni, and friends of our community aspire to
embody a way of life that links faith, learning,
and service to the neighbor.
I also am struck by the abundance of our place,
the remarkable work of Augsburg as an institution
and community in this neighborhood, city, and
world, and our firm resolve to send our students
out into the world as educated and faithful
citizens, to be good stewards of our environment,
and to embrace hospitality and generosity for our
fellow humans.
Finally, I am struck by the abundance of the
promise we make each and every day to each
other as we dedicate ourselves to collaboration,
to doing things differently, and to working
together to meet the needs of students and
neighbors. Where others say there is not enough,
we say there is more than plenty if we believe and
bring resolve, courage, and imagination to our
efforts to educate, to feed the hungry, to clothe
the poor, and to meet the needs of strangers.
What a deep privilege it is to be a partner
in this work of abundance at Augsburg College.
Thanks to all of you for your abiding support and
passion for this good and faithful work.
Creative Associate
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Christina Haller
haller@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Production Manager
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Advancement Communication
Specialist
Jen Lowman Day
dayj@augsburg.edu
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
ISSN 1058-1545
Yours in Augsburg,
Send address corrections to:
Advancement Services
CB 142
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
langemo@augsburg.edu
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Email: now@augsburg.edu
600
Took the survey
TURNING
A NEW PAGE
35-49
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RESULTS:
34 & under
Who took the survey
COMPILED BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
More than 600 people responded to the
Augsburg survey, with 541 completing the
entire questionnaire.
Augsburg Now magazine survey: What you told us
NATIONAL
This past summer, Augsburg College participated in a national higher
education magazine survey developed by the Council for Advancement
and Support of Education. This survey has been used by more than
350 college and university magazines across the United States,
allowing Augsburg to compare its results with national benchmarks.
AUGSBURG
30 percent of the Augsburg Now survey respondents
were 65 years of age or older, nearly 10 percentage
points above the national response rate.
Top ways the magazine helps keep Auggies connected*
Augsburg’s results
National results
Auggies are connected
87%
80% 53%
As a reminder of your
college experience
46% 46%
Keeping you in touch with
your graduating class
39%
Encouraging financial support for
the College and current students
Survey respondents confirmed that
Augsburg Now strengthens their
connection with the College. In fact,
80 percent of respondents older than
age 35 agreed with this notion, and
70 percent of respondents under age
35 agreed as well.
SO, WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?
Readership, connection, and format
Topics of interest
The magazine will build on its strengths in order
to maintain high readership levels and the strong
connection that the magazine helps Auggies feel with
the College. Augsburg will continue publishing the
magazine in both print and online versions, but those
who prefer a digital format are encouraged to let us
know their preference for receiving notifications instead
of printed editions.
The topics of greatest interest across all age groups align well with the
College’s Augsburg2019 strategic vision, which states that, in 2019,
Augsburg will be a new kind of student-centered, urban university that is small
to our students and big for the world. Stories about student achievements,
alumni in their professions, and campus facilities and growth illustrate our
commitment to educating for lives of purpose, being “at the table” with
our partners and neighbors, and building a vital and sustainable institution.
In addition to those topics, the magazine will continue to include events,
speakers, obituaries, and class notes given that these topics garnered strong
response rates, especially among readers over 35 years of age.
See augsburg.edu/Augsburg2019 for information about the strategic plan.
Go to augsburg.edu/now for more information about
changing your Augsburg Now delivery format.
2
Augsburg Now
ended
event
ade a
nation
64%
h These categories were ranked substantially higher than the national averages.
prefer print
Agreement with these statements among people age 35 years or older was 10 or more percentage points higher than for respondents under age 35.
*
12%
prefer
online
Magazine
readership
23%
Ages represented:
65+
50 to 64
35 to 49
34 and under
11 percent of Augsburg’s respondents were under
age 35, which is only half of the percentage in
that age category nationally.
Attended
an event
Recommended
Top actions
taken as a
Augsburg
Recommended
result of reading
Augsburg Now
Augsburg
Augsburg’s results
National results
Made a
donation
Recommended
Augsburg
Most respondents indicated that Augsburg Now was the No. 1
way they get information about the College, and 82 percent said
they read all orprefer
mostboth
of each issue.
Most respondents said they prefer to read the printed
version of Augsburg Now, although some favor digital formats.
It is exciting to learn that 1/3 of
respondents
indicated that the magazine
Made a
donation
prompted them to recommend Augsburg
to others. One of the primary objectives of
the magazine is to equip Auggies to act as
advocates of the College, so this result was
of particular significance in measuring the
impact of the magazine.
Renaming the magazine
Although the name of the magazine was not specifically addressed
in the survey questions, the time has come to rethink the name of
the publication. “Augsburg Now” served well for decades, but in an
age of digital communication, a publication that comes out three
times per year cannot reasonably include information about what’s
happening at the moment.
As a result, the plan is to announce a new name for the magazine
in the summer 2015 issue and officially change the masthead in
the fall. Look in the summer issue for more information about these
future plans for the Augsburg College magazine!
82%
read all or most of
64% prefer print 13% prefer online 23% prefer both
Topics of interest
When asked what topics readers preferred to see in the magazine,
the following categories rose to the top.
1. Cultural events and performances
68.1% *
2. Alumni in their professions
67.5%
3. Class notes
67.4% * h
4. Institutional history and traditions
66.5% * h
5. Obituaries
65.8% * h
6. Campus facilities and growth
62.5%
7. Student achievements
61.2% h
8. Visiting speakers
60.3% * h
Subscribe to NOW@Augsburg
For the past few years, Augsburg’s alumni relations staff
has published a monthly email newsletter and blog called
“NOW@Augsburg,” which features stories about Augsburg
alumni, upcoming events, fundraising milestones, and College
accolades. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog for past newsletter
content, or email langemo@augsburg.edu to sign up for the
monthly email newsletter if you are not already receiving it.
Spring 2015
3
Jamar Esaw ’05 directs members of Triad:4Christ, a gospel choral
ensemble, during the 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation.
MANY VOICES,
BOLD VISIONS
2014-15 Convocation Series
sparks critical thinking,
meaningful conversation
The Augsburg College Convocation Series each year offers the community a chance
to hear from outstanding leaders and visionaries who ignite important conversations
and contribute to making the world a safer place for future generations.
The first event held during the spring semester was the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Convocation in January, featuring collaboration among on-campus student groups
and ARTS-Us, a St. Paul-based arts education organization; Dare 2 Be Real, a
Twin Cities-based interracial student leadership program; and Triad:4Christ, a
renowned gospel choir led by Jamar Esaw ’05.
The Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics in February welcomed
Rami Nashashibi, executive director of the Inner-City Muslim
Action Network and a visiting professor at the Chicago Theological
Seminary. Nashashibi spoke on “The Sociology of Seerah:
Reclaiming Prophetic Tradition for Our Time and Place.”
The Koryne Horbal Lecture in March featured Janell Hobson,
associate professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
at the University at Albany. Hobson’s presentation was titled
“Historical Consciousness and Black Feminist Imagination.”
4
Augsburg Now
AROUND THE QUAD
FROM SCREEN TO SCRIPT:
Auggies win big at film festival
Augsburg students were recognized for
their excellent work at the fourth annual
Student Film Festival hosted by the
Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities.
Delegates from Wells Fargo’s Diversity Council Leadership Team visit with Augsburg student leaders, faculty, and staff.
WELLS FARGO MAKES $100,000
GIFT
to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion
In recognition of Augsburg College’s leadership in closing the higher education
disparity gap for students of color in Minnesota, Wells Fargo made a $100,000
gift to the campaign to build the Center for Science, Business, and Religion.
Wells Fargo joined several other corporations—including 3M and General Mills—
in supporting the CSBR.
Dave Kvamme, CEO of Wells Fargo Minnesota,
in a statement expressed admiration for Augsburg’s
commitment to partnering with college access programs
Wells Fargo also supports a
to help recruit, support, and retain first-generation and
scholarship program through
low-income students.
the Minnesota Private College
“We support Augsburg College’s commitment to
Fund. The fund, started in 1976,
provide opportunities for a college education for those
provides scholarships at each of
students who may face life challenges to attain it,”
the 17 Minnesota Private Colleges,
Kvamme said. “We know our donation will help Augsburg
including Augsburg.
be successful in developing Minnesota’s future business
and community leaders.”
DID YOU KNOW?
U.S. BANK SUPPORTS STUDENT VETERANS
and Center for Science, Business, and Religion with
$125,000 gift
Augsburg College and U.S. Bank celebrated the
opening of the new U.S. Bank Veterans’ Lounge
on campus with a dedication ceremony this fall. U.S. Bank recently pledged
$125,000 toward the building of the Center for Science, Business, and Religion at
Augsburg, and the College recognized the contribution to the campaign by granting
naming rights to the Veterans’ Lounge.
The renovated space, located in Oren Gateway Center, honors the contributions
student veterans have made to their country. U.S. Bank and Augsburg College are
nationally recognized as top supporters of veterans and military families. Augsburg
was named a 2015 Military Friendly® School for its ongoing efforts to provide
transitioning veterans the best possible experience in higher education.
• Thomas VandenDolder ’15 won
Best Experimental Film for
“Oblivious.”
• Rebecca Schroeder ’18 won the
Best Music Video award for
“We Are The Art.”
This year’s ACTC festival included
a new screenplay contest. Students
who have participated in courses in
the Augsburg Master of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing program took home
top awards in all three categories.
• Michelle Herrin ’15 MFA won the
Overall Excellence award for
“Side Effects.”
• Amanda Symes ’15 MFA received
an Honorable Mention, FeatureLength Narrative for “Celia.”
• Mark Woodley ’14 received the
Best Short Screenplay award for
“Missing.”
The festival included work submitted
by students from Augsburg College,
Hamline University, and the University
of St. Thomas. More than 100 people
attended the film festival screenings
this year, and all films were created
during the 2013-14 academic year.
Spring 2015
5
Augsburg earns dual national
COMMUNITY SERVICE HONORS
Augsburg was the only Minnesota college or
university named a finalist on the Corporation for
National and Community Service’s 2014 Interfaith
Community Service Honor Roll as well as on the
Corporation’s General Community Service Honor Roll
with Distinction.
Augsburg is one of only four colleges out
of hundreds of applicants nationwide to be
named a finalist in the interfaith category, an
honor recognizing institutions
that support exemplary
community service
programs, promote greater
interfaith cooperation,
and raise the visibility
of effective practices
in campus-community
partnerships.
Augsburg receives
Carnegie Foundation’s Community
ENGAGEMENT CLASSIFICATION
Augsburg College has earned its second
Community Engagement Classification from
the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching. Institutions are recognized based on
evidence of their collaboration with the larger
community, which:
• enriches scholarship, research, and creative
activity;
• enhances curriculum, teaching, and learning;
• prepares educated, engaged citizens;
• strengthens democratic values and civic
responsibility;
• addresses critical societal issues; and
• contributes to the public good.
Augsburg was one of only eight
Minnesota colleges or universities
recognized in 2015. The College
previously received the Community
Engagement Classification in 2008.
6
Augsburg Now
Bush Foundation grant supports
DIVERSITY IN TEACHING
Augsburg College’s Department of Education was awarded a $150,000
grant from the Bush Foundation through its Teacher Effectiveness
Initiative. The award will be used to fund a project that builds the
College’s capacity to recruit and support students of color as they work
toward a degree in teaching. Augsburg was one of only five higher
education institutions selected to receive this one-time award.
Augsburg’s Department of Education Chair and Associate
Professor Margaret Finders will lead the project in partnership
with Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Community and
Technical College, and St. Paul Public Schools. This team will
create a coordinated, sustainable infrastructure that will
recruit high-quality teacher candidates and reduce attrition.
This infrastructure will help the partner institutions engage
in proactive recruitment of teacher candidates of color
from multiple entry points, improve experiences for teacher
candidates of color, and foster smooth transitions into teaching.
AROUND THE QUAD
This winter, AUGSBURG COLLEGE PRESIDENT PAUL C. PRIBBENOW joined other private college leaders in testifying before the Minnesota State Senate Higher
Education Committee. Pribbenow thanked senators for their support and discussed the ways in which Augsburg works to best educate the state’s future leaders.
DAY AT THE CAPITOL
During the 2013-14 academic year, more than 34 percent of all Augsburg undergraduates—1,054
students—received Minnesota State Grants totaling more than $3.4 million. This February, Augsburg
College students and members of the larger Twin Cities community met at the Capitol with their
respective representatives and advocated for the Minnesota State Grant program.
Augsburg’s StepUP® program, the EAST (East African Student to Teacher) program,
Student Financial Services, Multicultural Students Services, and Athletics partnered to
recruit and train students before the event. The students’ agenda included a policy and
lobbying briefing with comments from House and Senate members representing Augsburg
and a breakfast with alumni legislators followed by a meeting with representatives.
Spring 2015
7
AROUND THE QUAD
128 AUGGIES
exhibit at the
American Swedish Institute
Led by Assistant Professor of Art Christopher
Houltberg, 128 students and six Augsburg
faculty members contributed to a collaborative exhibition, Shaping Peace, at the
American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.
The project is a collaboration involving the
disciplines of art and design, English, music,
political science, and religion.
Shaping Peace, a visual exploration of
the past 128 Nobel Peace Prize laureates,
is on display from February 28 through
May 24 and aims to broaden the awareness
of the Nobel Peace Prize. The interactive
installation encourages viewers to actively
participate in exploring the history of
the prize by contributing their own ideas
surrounding the concept of peace.
AUGSBURG YEARBOOKS
AVAILABLE ONLINE SOON
The Augsburg College student yearbook, the
Augsburgian, is being digitized for
online viewing. Issues are
being scanned from
newest to oldest,
and all editions
dating back to the
early 1900s will be
available online
soon. Check for your
yearbook at
augsburg.edu/now.
8
Augsburg Now
Archival Photo
PRESIDENTIAL SCULPTURES undergo restoration
public monuments, sculpted busts of Augsburg College Presidents Sven Oftedal
and Georg Sverdrup. For many years, the sculptures were housed in the College’s
original Main building and Old Main before being relocated to the Marshall
Room in Christensen Center. As time passed, the sculptures had become dirty,
scratched, and damaged. In fact, the bust of Sven Oftedal had even fallen off its
pedestal, which resulted in a broken nose.
In 2014, the sculptures were properly restored for the first time in 125
years. They are now on display in all their glory in Lindell Library. All of this work
has been supported by the Nydahl Family fund, which was created in 2006 to
celebrate the history of Augsburg and the Lutheran Free Church on campus.
THE CENTER FOR
COUNSELING AND HEALTH PROMOTION
gets new name and location
The Center for Counseling and Health Promotion recently became the
Center for Wellness and Counseling to better capture the mission of the
department, which is to support students to “stay healthy in body, mind, and
relationships.” The services of the center—
to offer free counseling, low-cost medical
services at a neighborhood clinic, and selfhelp information—will remain the same.
The name change comes at the same time
the center moves from a house on the corner
of 7th Street and 21st Avenue, to a remodeled
first floor of Augsburg’s Anderson Residence
Hall. The new location will allow students easier
access as well as add a dedicated relaxation
space. The house that the center staff once
occupied will be razed this spring as part of the
preparation of the area where the new Center for
Science, Business, and Religion will be built.
explores reputation management
During spring semester, Augsburg
College invited leaders with experience
in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors
of the Twin Cities business community
to share their expertise as part of the
annual Clair and Gladys Strommen
Executive Speaker Series.
In February, Lynn Casey,
CEO at PadillaCRT,
spoke on building and
protecting reputations
in real time. Casey also
discussed her work at
the Minneapolis-based headquarters
of PadillaCRT—the largest employeeowned agency in the United States.
Courtesy Photo
FROM 1888 TO 1890, Jacob Fjelde, a Norwegian portraitist and creator of
SPEAKER SERIES
The College welcomes
MayKao Hang, president
and CEO of the
Amherst H. Wilder
Foundation, in April.
Hang leads the
foundation as it works to live out its
mission to promote the social welfare
of persons resident or located in the
greater St. Paul metropolitan area.
Courtesy Photo
ABOVE: Augsburg’s historic presidents sculptures were first
housed in the College’s original Main building. RIGHT: The
sculptures are transported to a professional restorer.
Courtesy Photo
STROMMEN EXECUTIVE
“When we’re talking about building and
protecting reputations, high standards,
good character, and good operating
principles up-and-down [an organization]
are really essential ingredients.”
–Lynn Casey
Spring 2015
9
Meet Dave Conrad
Dave Conrad has honed his knowledge through decades of work as an
independent business consultant, his experience in sales and marketing
for public and private companies in a range of industries, and his
positions in higher education. He’s author of “Ask Dave,” a column for the
Rochester Post-Bulletin. His first book, which shares the same name as
his column, is available for purchase at the Augsburg College bookstore.
Ask Dave
EVERYDAY
WORK ADVICE
FOR
E
I
G
G
U
A
Y
R
E
V
E
Business professor Dave Conrad shares workplace guidance
with 100,000 readers through weekly newspaper column
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
T
he majority of American workers report being unhappy
in their jobs. One of the biggest factors for this
dissatisfaction is poor workplace communication, according
to The Conference Board’s annual survey of 5,000 U.S.
households. Other top factors that contribute to workplace
dissatisfaction include issues related to compensation,
recognition, and career development.
None of this is surprising to Dave Conrad, assistant director
of the Augsburg College Master of Business Administration
program at Rochester and associate professor in Rochester and
Minneapolis. Each week for the past eight years, Conrad has
shared straightforward business and workplace guidance with
100,000 readers of his column, “Dear Dave,” published in the
Rochester Post-Bulletin since 2006.
Conrad said that while he fields plenty of questions on
workplace communication issues, he also responds to
queries on everything from conflicts among coworkers to
issues of company culture, managing change, and problem
solving. There’s probably no question that has been left
unasked of Conrad. And his advice is so popular that he
published a book based upon his column and has another
one in the works.
Conrad dispenses usable guidance that blends
management processes with leadership thinking so that
readers can gain insight into the worlds of their coworkers.
“My readers tend to be everyday, hard-working staff
employees or mid-level managers who need everyday advice,”
he said.
Spring 2015
11
Clear counseling cleans up
clumsy communication
Conrad doesn’t really need to be told
by a national survey that communication
problems vex employees at all levels.
He knows it because, time and again,
he receives questions from readers
struggling to give voice to their opinions
or to share information about the
direction an organization is heading.
“People are bursting at the seams
with ideas, input, and feedback, but
there often is no one listening,” he said.
When one reader in 2013 asked
Conrad why it seems that managers don’t
interact with employees—not even to ask
how the employees are coping—Conrad
delivered his trademark guidance, mixing
simple steps with insight:
“Organizations thrive on
communication and dialogue. It is
crucial that managers simply interact
with employees ... and ask if they can
help the employees in any way,” Conrad
wrote. “Managers should pass along
information about the company that will
help employees understand the mission,
vision, goals, and objectives pertaining
to where the company is heading.”
Conrad said that the reason this
type of communication is critical
is because it creates what he
calls “we-ness,” a shared purpose
among employees that can inspire
everyone to work toward shared goals.
Conrad also offers practical
guidance for how managers should
communicate with employees:
share honestly, strive to promote
dialogue, ensure every voice is heard,
and welcome ideas and input without
chastising the messenger.
When a manager asked Conrad
how to more effectively guide change
after learning that her employees
felt she didn’t connect well with
those employees who most needed
information, Conrad first shared insight
on the organizational need to develop
12
Augsburg Now
“Keep things fresh,
engaging, and
constructive—dare
I say ‘positive.’”
Read Dave Conrad’s weekly column in the local
business section found at postbulletin.com.
a change-management communication
plan. The creation of such a plan is
an important step in ensuring that the
manager delivers the right information
to the right people at the right time.
He followed up with the types of
information to include in the plan so
all his readers could understand steps
toward shaping and managing change.
“Communication gaps and
weaknesses must be discovered,
and a systematic means of providing
instructions, information, and
feedback must be created and
implemented,” he responded via
the 2014 column. “To get and keep
people on board: Explain the ‘why’ of
the change. Clearly communicate the
vision, mission, and the objectives of
the change management initiative.
Have and articulate ideal outcomes.
Get people interacting and sharing
ideas and perspectives.”
Insight for Auggies
Conrad’s approach was no different
when we asked him what insight he has
for Augsburg College alumni just starting
out in the work world and those who
want to grow their careers.
Conrad said that it’s likely Auggies
who are beginning their careers will
need to perform unglamorous — and
possibly, humbling — work for a while.
But that’s normal.
“I love the saying: If you do what
you love, you will never work a day the
rest of your life,” Conrad said. “The
problem is, when you’re just out of
college, it’s easy to get confused about
what you can do in the workplace, or
even what you want to do.”
Just as Auggies are sorting through
what they might want to do, employers
will be watching. Conrad encourages
Auggies to stay positive, maintain
enthusiasm, and take on tasks they
never thought they would have to
perform. Early in their careers, he said,
Auggies should show off their work ethic
no matter the task assigned.
Conrad’s tips for young employees
include taking on the assignments
nobody wants, asking managers for
feedback on their work, and seeking
guidance for how to earn promotions.
“Not only is this a way to
demonstrate drive and ethic, but
it also offers a way to practice the
communication skills that make a
workplace more rewarding,” he said.
For Auggies further along in their
career, Conrad offers similarly upbeat
advice.
“Keep things fresh, engaging, and
constructive—dare I say ‘positive,’”
he said. “Volunteer for small and big
projects, mentor budding managers,
be there for people in need, learn new
things, and do anything that shows
care about the productivity and wellbeing of the organization, others, and
especially yourself.”
Employers are attracted to employees
who understand the importance of their
work on their team, department, and
organization. Through the reflective
practices and hands-on learning built
into an Augsburg College education,
Auggies leave campus knowing how
their work makes a difference in the
world, and they are ready to lead in
organizations ranging from nonprofits to
Fortune 500 businesses. And, they are
ready to do it well.
IT TAKES AN AUGGIE
IMPACT
Augsburg’s day of record-breaking
fundraising supports new opportunities
More than 1,300 donors gave Augsburg College more than
$430,000 on Give to the Max Day 2014. For the second year
in a row, Augsburg surpassed every other Minnesota college
or university in this annual online fundraising event. The
achievement reflects the work of alumni, faculty, and staff
who championed nearly three dozen unique projects.
A new drone copter for
student filmmakers.
IN THE CLASSROOM
$1,605 was raised to help students purchase essential — but
sometimes pricey — textbooks for class.
The College launched its first student-run publishing organization,
Howling Bird, which is part of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative
Writing program.
The Communication Studies Department purchased a drone camera
that takes student filmmakers’ work to new heights. (above right)
ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH
Biology students will benefit from the
opportunity to fund additional DNA
sequencing critical to their research.
Faculty in the Department of History will
further their research on topics ranging
from the deathbed conversions of medieval
knights to Minnesota after the Civil War to
women’s medicine in the Victorian era.
LEARN ABOUT THE
OTHER PROJECTS
AUGGIES ON THE MOVE
The Augsburg College women’s hockey team
traveled to four European countries, playing
games against international opponents, and
touring historic and cultural sites.
Gifts from Give to
the Max Day helped
to fund student
learning and success
through 34 projects.
Find the full list at
augsburg.edu/now.
Spring 2015
13
AUGGIES HAVE
AND
FOOD COOKING
DOWN TO A SCIENCE
Unique course makes science
approachable for all students
Ceviche is a South and Central American favorite that’s also
been popularized in the United States. It’s a bright and flavorful
seafood dish that’s not raw, but it’s not exactly cooked either. In
fact, it’s never exposed to heat.
Although it’s not cooked in the traditional sense, the raw
fish in ceviche goes through a chemical process that rearranges
or “denatures” its proteins, much like what happens when meat
or other protein is cooked with heat. The acid in citrus juice
cures the raw fish, which makes it safer to eat.
This is just one of the fascinating processes students learn
in one of Augsburg College’s popular physics courses: The
Science of Food and Cooking, taught by Associate Professor
Ben Stottrup.
Among other concepts, students in the course learn the
fundamental physics and chemistry of materials science through
hands-on preparation, like the phase change that occurs when
spinning cotton candy and the Maillard reaction caused by
searing a steak. They are taught the mechanical properties of
ricotta cheese and the states of matter in a root beer float.
And the students love experimenting with various cuisine.
SPECIAL THANKS to chefs Erick
*
Harcey of Victory 44, Landon Schoenefeld of
Haute Dish, and Karyn Tomlinson of Borough for
lending their expertise to the course.
14
Augsburg Now
“My biggest takeaway from this class is that science is,
in fact, present in everything in our daily lives,” said Cynthia
Del Villar ’15, business administration and economics major.
“Even eating is a daily reminder that food undergoes its own
scientific transformation through cooking or even combining
certain ingredients, like oil and vinegar.”
Del Villar took much away from the class—from learning how
to prevent freezer burn to emulsifying a mayonnaise to gaining
an understanding of heat transfer through a molten chocolate
cake. But she also made a personal contribution to the course—
her Mexican family’s traditional shrimp ceviche recipe for
experimentation in the lab. (See recipe on the next page.)
Restaurant reviews, cook-offs, and potlucks
But it’s not just the food that gets students engaged—Stottrup
also introduces competition and community involvement. For
example, while baking cupcakes, some groups are allowed the
use of measuring devices while others are not. Or some use
measurements based upon volume versus weight. This, of
course, determines the outcome of each recipe.
At the end of each lab,
guest judges from
“
This is a traditional family recipe
from my parents’ home state of
Nayarit, on Mexico’s west coast.
- Cynthia Del Villar ’15
MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE
SHRIMP CEVICHE FOR A CROWD
Serves 20
INGREDIENTS:
• 4 pounds headless shrimp
• 10 medium limes
• 10 medium tomatoes
• 4 large cucumbers
• 1 purple onion
• 8 small green serrano chili peppers
• 2 tablespoons salt
• Tortilla chips
PREPARATION:
1.
Cleanse shrimp in water, peel completely, and
chop into half-inch pieces. Place in large bowl
and set aside.
2.
In a blender, combine lime juice and serrano chili
peppers and blend until smooth. Pour over shrimp.
3.
Add 2 tablespoons of salt to mixture and stir.
various departments on campus decide whose dish was most
successful. The competition and participation of the wider
campus community “creates an educational, memorable, and
interactive experience,” Stottrup said.
Members of the greater Twin Cities restaurant scene
also play an important role in the class. One requirement of
the course is that students dine at one of three well-known
Minneapolis restaurants and then write a restaurant review
describing the materials science on their plate. Afterward, one
chef from each restaurant comes to campus to participate in a
panel discussion on the creativity and lifestyle of being a chef.*
Community members participate in these panel
discussions each term, which range from local cooks revealing
the process of handcrafting the perfect scoop of
natural, organic ice cream to urban
planners explaining
4.
Cut onion into thin slices and add to shrimp. Allow
mixture to sit for 20 minutes.
5.
In the meantime, dice tomatoes and cucumbers
into small cubes and add to shrimp.
6.
Mix all ingredients well and salt to taste.
7.
Serve with chips or tostadas.
sustainable food systems to entrepreneurs from the craft beer
industry talking about the chemistry of brewing.
To wrap up the semester, the class participates in a
“Minnesota potluck,” where each student makes a dish to
share and describes the science behind it to their peers.
These engaging, communal activities make science “fun
and accessible to all students, not just science majors,”
Stottrup said. He hopes the class helps students gain a new
appreciation for science, as well as “for growing, preparing,
cooking, and simply enjoying food.”
BY CHRISTINA HALLER
Spring 2015
15
A TALE OF TWO
AUGGIES
ST. PAUL
COLLEGE EXPERIENCES SHAPE WORK
BY ALUMNI IN THE MINNESOTA
CAPITAL AND ON THE NORTH SHORE
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
As a young man growing up on Minnesota’s far western prairies
during the 1960s, Allan Torstenson ’75 felt the lure of big cities
tugging at him when he was deciding where to go to college.
He considered leaving his hometown of Dawson, Minn., for
campuses on the coasts in Berkeley, Calif., or New York City,
but it was the beehive of activity in Minneapolis and near the
Augsburg College campus that drew him in.
16
Augsburg Now
“I was watching the anti-war movement unfold on
television. People in a counter culture were fighting
construction of HUD-planned communities, including Cedar
Square West,” he said. “It was all happening on the West Bank
of Minneapolis. I wanted to be there to watch it.”
At the same time that Torstenson was responding to the pull
of Augsburg and all that its location in the heart of Minneapolis
offered students, Mark Johnson ’75 found himself similarly
drawn to Augsburg from his hometown of Two Harbors, Minn.,
on the scenic north shores of Lake Superior.
When the two young men arrived at Augsburg, they began to
explore life in the city. They were among the first to enroll in what
was a brand new interdisciplinary major, metro urban studies.
Allan Torstenson ’75
St. Paul city planner
Mark Johnson ’75
Two Harbors city planner, retired
Courtesy Photos
TWO
HARBORS
This new program would prove to build a solid foundation
for the careers of both men, equipping them to navigate
constantly changing landscapes in their careers. Torstenson’s
Augsburg College education provided the skills and knowledge
to begin work as an intern in 1981 for the City of St. Paul—
where he continues to work today as principal city planner with
responsibility for planning and zoning.
Johnson’s education allowed him to successfully return to
Two Harbors where he took a detour from city planning for more
than 20 years to run the family business before becoming the
city planner from 1999 until his retirement in 2001.
Industry changes reshape Minnesota cities
Two Harbors is the birthplace of Minnesota Mining and
Manufacturing (3M) and was long shaped by the railroad
and an ore shipping port. St. Paul is the state capital and
has been home to breweries such as Hamm’s and Schmidt’s,
manufacturing such as Whirlpool and the Ford Assembly Plant,
and more.
When the dominant industries in the cities served by
Torstenson and Johnson inevitably shifted over time, the two
planners needed to interpret what those changes meant for their
communities.
Spring 2015
17
Courtesy Photo
In Two Harbors, the changes meant an opportunity to
reclaim what once were private railroad beds and begin
converting rails to trails. It also meant the opportunity to create
greater public access to the waterfront.
In St. Paul, Torstenson was faced with answering questions
about how to respond to a changing economy that has resulted
in the shuttering of multiple large businesses.
“Our big building and manufacturing companies—Ford in
Highland Park, Whirlpool on the East Side, [and] the breweries
are all gone,” Torstenson said. “Our challenge was to begin to
address the economic, structural, and job training issues left in
the wake of these closings.”
One of the problems faced by Torstenson is that the
underpinnings of earlier city planning—as it was practiced
in the United States after World War II—wasn’t flexible or
resilient, two concepts now at the forefront of civic design.
From the 1950s through the early 1980s, city planning
primarily relied upon a single-use approach that identified
different areas—or zones—for different uses. Single-family
housing was clustered in one area, and apartments and
condominiums in another area. Businesses were situated
somewhere else, and industrial areas were planned in yet another
spot. This type of planning, possible largely because of the
automobile, created what we now understand to be an expensive
form of spread-out development often called “sprawl.”
This type of segregated development can make responding
to changing markets and demands difficult.
“Cities need to think about the social and market needs of
the people who live there,” Torstenson said. “Cities also need
to be resilient in their design so that they can be sustainable
while evolving to meet changing needs.”
The more compact, high-density design used in Oslo,
Norway, after World War II (and studied by both Torstenson
and Johnson during their undergraduate study-abroad trip to
Scandinavia in 1973) now is shaping the work Torstenson
does for St. Paul. Multi-use design allows buildings to be
placed closer together and to be used in multiple ways all at
18
Augsburg Now
once. Business and light industry can be placed at street level
with housing above. It means residents of a building have a
greater likelihood of being able to walk to work and shop close
to home. In addition, these environments typically include
sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transit—whether in the form
of light rail, trains, or streetcars.
“Many people want to live and work in a close, compact
area,” Torstenson said. “Mixed-use and shared-use planning
can create ways for us to change to meet the demands of a new
and creative, diverse, and collaborative economy.”
Today, Torstenson continues to work to shape a city code
that will guide
“The question always has been:
higher-density
development and How can we manage change for
redevelopment
the good of all?” –Mark Johnson
that also fosters
efficient, flexible, and mixed-form uses with multi-modal
transportation corridors—all things that are sought-after by
the Millennial Generation as well as today’s teenagers who are
putting off learning to drive in favor of public transit.
While Torstenson was working in St. Paul, Johnson was
grappling in Two Harbors with a community that at first didn’t
have a history of proactive engagement, which meant that
change had the potential to be seen as negative and foster
greater outcry.
“The question always has been: How can we manage
change for the good of all?” Johnson said. “There are always
unintended consequences of change. At the core, we have to
respect the values of the community we work with, and we have
to reflect those qualities in the work.”
Community-classroom connection
MAKES REAL-WORLD IMPACT
Shawn Thompson Photography
Two Harbors railroad depot near Lake Superior
For instance, when Two Harbors in the 1990s began
the work of creating greater public access to the waterfront
by converting old railroad beds to trails, the community
wasn’t happy.
“It seems that, in a smaller community, there can be a
lot of pushback on any type of change,” Johnson said. “North
Shore people are tough, independent. It’s just innate. We’ve
spent our lives battling Lake Superior.”
But civic engagement is one tool that local governments
such as cities and counties, no matter their location, can
use to help learn about and understand the desires of a
community.
“Community involvement is important,” Johnson said.
“My job was a chance to encourage people to reach out
beyond themselves and to seek ways to be a bridge builder of
relationships.”
Although Johnson retired from city work more than a
decade ago, he remains involved in Two Harbors through
a community fund that he helped establish and that is
used to support new projects in response to emerging and
changing needs.
Johnson said that his days as an Augsburg student
continue to influence him today and have played a role in
creating a rewarding path for someone who has been driven
to serve.
“I never saw my work at the family business or as
city planner as separate paths,” he said. “My work as an
employer, as a city planner, and as someone with an interest
in community service gave me ways to make Two Harbors a
better place.”
Community engagement is an essential part of
city planning, but how that takes shape beyond
town hall meetings and open forums varies.
City planners meet with community
members, government entities, and local and
federal agencies to gather perspective, priorities,
and input from groups before projects are
undertaken. But getting community participation
that represents the diversity of viewpoints and
priorities of any community is challenging.
The Friendly Streets Initiative in St. Paul is
an emerging model of community engagement
that aims to identify the shared needs and wants
of people directly impacted by proposed change.
It’s a model being forged by Lars Christiansen,
lead organizer of FSI and associate professor of
Augsburg’s interdisciplinary metro-urban studies
program. Christiansen, who also is chair of the
Augsburg College Sociology Department, is known
DARIUS GRAY ’15
for his teaching and scholarship focused on urban
resilience and sustainability, and public engagement.
Because of this community-classroom connection, metro-urban
studies majors such as Darius Gray ’15 have augmented classroom
experiences with hands-on learning.
“We engage [people] to give input on how they want their street to be
designed,” said Gray, who has worked as an FSI intern for the past three
years. “Basically we throw block parties and ask questions like: What if
this was on your street? How would you feel?”
FSI staff facilitates community organizing, gathers and examines
information, and helps citizens understand how local government operates.
“The model of engagement used by the Friendly Streets Initiative
invites in those who feel left out of planning processes or who believe their
input is sought for projects that are already a fait accompli,” Christiansen
said in his article, “The Friendly Streets Initiative: Bringing Community
Voices into the Planning Process.”
Christiansen writes that this groundbreaking work has unearthed
lessons for successful community engagement, including bringing
multiple voices into the mix before formal planning is underway; creating
community engagement events that are fun, family-friendly, and easy
to access; helping neighbors navigate formal city processes; and using
multiple methods to garner input.
Through their work in the classroom and out in the community, a new
generation of Augsburg College students is prepared to leave its mark on
American cities and to steward the world’s resources well into the future.
Learn more about the Friendly Streets Initiative and model used at
friendlystreetsinitiative.org.
Spring 2015
19
USING MUSIC’S POWER
TO SOOTHE AND INSPIRE
COMPILED BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
In addition to regularly composing music for Twin
Cities companies including Theater Latté Da, Stages
Theater Company, and Wonderlust, Aaron Gabriel ’99
serves as resident composer for Interact Theater.
Interact is a radically inclusive theater company
that creates new musical theater for performers with
and without disabilities, and Gabriel is committed to ensuring that
each production is shaped by and for the performers. This winter,
he took his expertise on the road—spending a month in Chiang Mai
collaborating with Interact Thailand and the children it serves.
“We’ve created many new scenes and many new songs for
The Love Show—a show about all the different ways we find love
in life … We decided to write The Love Show because one of our
performances falls on Valentine’s Day (a very popular holiday in
Thailand). The songs and stories will all deal with different kinds
of love: romantic love, love of friends and family, love of singing,
love of disabilities, love of food.”
Thematically, the show resonates with nearly all audiences,
but the cast and crew greatly anticipate one special attendee.
In July, the children will perform an excerpt of the show for
Her Majesty the Princess of Thailand, who will be visiting the
hospital that houses Interact Thailand for its grand opening, “so
it’s important,” Gabriel said, “that the songs and scenes really
showcase the stories and talents of these unique performers.”
Comments are from Gabriel’s blog chronicling his work with the Rajanagarindra Institute
of Child Development in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the hospital that houses Interact Thailand.
aarongabrielcomposer.com
20
Augsburg Now
Photo courtesy of amyandersonphotography.com
AUGGIE VOICES
#MLKConvocation @AugsburgCollege. Lovely!
Thank you @JamarEsaw for fillin’ my spirit.
And … wow, #AmaniWard is only 15! Lordy.
-Tweeted by community member Noreen Bulmann
after the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation
MUSIC MOVES US.
It makes us
smile, dance, cry,
remember. Like Augsburg alumnus Jamar Esaw ’05, whose
choral ensemble, Triad:4Christ, performed at the College this
past Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Auggies are sharing their
musical gifts with their communities and the world.
Conie Borchardt ’98 founded Grace Notes hospice
choir, a group that sings to people in hospice care
at Twin Cities nursing homes, and co-created the
Arts Responding to Foreclosure (ARF) project,
which, she says, creates a community for people
experiencing foreclosure—turning an isolating
experience into a supportive one.
Music, Borchardt says, transforms us and changes us from
the inside out. She has witnessed music’s power to unite and
soothe—both performers and audiences—during times of financial
challenge and even in a person’s final hours.
“We have been blessed with so many meaningful moments
… We sang for a gentleman who seemed at peace, though his
breathing was labored. We sang to him about journeys. Later
we would find out that he completed his earthly journey about
24-hours later.
“And then there are the stories we could tell you about
other second-hand listeners! … Some non-hospice residents
spontaneously decide to join our band of singers on rounds to the
amusement of the nursing staff. Oh, and the staff smiles we see.
Some are coy and some are gratefully enlightened for the service
we provide. It is like watching the sunrise change your mood!”
“There are times in life when I am absolutely
certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that
music, singing, movement, and dancing are
how we heal ourselves,” said Nicole Warner ’01,
an Augsburg College alumna whose major in
music performance prepared her for life as an
independent artist and professional ensemble singer.
In 2011, Warner had the opportunity to sing the Mozart
Requiem in a United We Stand concert marking the 10-year
anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Opportunities like
this one remind Warner why the joy she feels while singing
is only a small part of the performance’s real impact. It’s the
audience, she says, who are truly benefiting.
“Most of the time, I think of the beauty of the people sitting
in front of me, and I wonder at their ability to take in the music,
to restore their souls, to be filled by and to fill up with the
music,” she explained. “Time gets lost, and we all get lost in the
music together.”
Comments are from the 2011 “To Sing is to Heal” blog post regarding Warner’s
participation in the 2011 United We Stand concert. nicolewarner.com/blog
Photo courtesy of Karen Nichols Photography, knicholsphoto.com
Quotations are from the Points of Light Music blog written by Borchardt.
pointsoflightmusic.blogspot.com
Photo courtesy of Intermedia Arts
To learn more about Auggies at the intersection of
career and composition, go to augsburg.edu/now.
Spring 2015
21
PA S S I N G O N A
Augsburg College volleyball finds success
on 40th anniversary of historic season
This fall, the Augsburg College women’s volleyball team qualified for the NCAA
Division III National Tournament for the second straight year, an achievement that
marked its reemergence as a regional powerhouse.
Recent team successes—which include back-to-back co-conference
championship seasons and several All-American honors—hearken back to the
achievements of Augsburg’s earliest volleyball teams.
THE FIRST FEW YEARS
Archival Photos
Augsburg launched its varsity volleyball program in 1972 when students
Nancy Soli Mollner ’75, Marilyn Pearson Florian ’76, and Cindy Schendel ’76
walked into the office of Athletic Director Joyce Anderson Pfaff ’65 to ask about
joining Augsburg’s volleyball team. Anderson Pfaff didn’t have the heart to tell
The Augsburg College women’s volleyball team during the 1974-75 season.
22
Augsburg Now
Photos b
y John N
icholso
n
AUGGIES ON THE COURT
The Augsburg College women’s volleyball team
earned Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference regular-season co-champion honors
during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
the passionate students that there was no team at the time, so
she created one on the spot.
Augsburg’s first volleyball players proved their sport was to
become a staple in Auggie athletics, and in 1973 the College
hired star coach Mary Timm. The next year, the volleyball team
earned a perfect 8-0 record at home.
While there were 14 women on the roster during the 1974
season, six Auggies played nearly every minute of the regular
season and did, in fact, play every minute of the postseason.
The Auggies completed the regular season with a 15-4 record,
which earned them a spot in the Minnesota Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics for Women State Tournament, where
teams competed against one another regardless of their
schools’ sizes or types. After beating Concordia-St. Paul,
Bemidji State, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the
Auggies faced the No. 1 seeded University of Minnesota in the
finals. Soli—a setter and team captain—dislocated her thumb
in the first game, but adrenaline allowed her to continue to
play, ensuring that the Auggies could maintain the offensive
strategy they had in place all season.
Augsburg didn’t win the tournament, but its secondplace finish secured a bid to participate in the Association for
Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Region 6 Tournament at the
University of Nebraska. However, there was one more obstacle
to overcome: the team was ineligible to participate because of
an issue with its AIAW membership.
Anderson Pfaff was determined to remedy the issue, so
she and Soli filed a complaint with the District of Minnesota
fourth court. After the Auggies successfully argued their case,
United States District Judge Miles Lord allowed Augsburg
to participate in the regional tournament, but his ruling was
made just one day before the tournament was set to begin.
When they got the news, the Auggie crew jumped in vans and
drove all night, arriving in Lincoln, Neb., at 3 a.m. only to find
that there was no place to stay due to a Nebraska-Oklahoma
football game that weekend.
At the regional competition, the underdog Auggies ended
up playing 10 matches in only three days and earned a
fourth-place finish—the best finish for an Auggie volleyball
team until its NCAA tournament appearances in 1982,
2013, and 2014.
TODAY’S PLAYERS
Augsburg College volleyball alumnae from across the past
four decades continue to support the talented students
who take to the court in Si Melby gymnasium each fall.
Alumnae involvement ranges from cheering in the stands to
encouraging the young women as they venture out into their
careers and callings after college.
Current Head Coach Jane Becker, a two-time MIAC and
Region Coach of the Year, sees firsthand the ways that those
from the College’s past help uplift its future.
“Being a part of rebuilding the Auggie volleyball program
has truly been a remarkable experience,” Becker said. “I am
so blessed to work with such a talented group of studentathletes and to be so supported by an amazing group of
Auggie alumnae.”
BY KELLY ANDERSON DIERCKS
Spring 2015
23
U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, spoke to a
sold-out crowd at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. He discussed the need to
protect the rights of women and girls, setting the stage for further discussion on
the last day of the Forum, which was International Women’s Day.
NOBEL PURSUITS
BY STEPHEN GEFFRE AND LAURA SWANSON
2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum
This spring, the 27th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum embraced
a new, interactive approach in fulfilling its charge to inspire
peacemaking.
Even before opening its doors to audiences from March 6-8
at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Minneapolis, the Nobel Peace Prize
Forum encouraged Augsburg College community members—
and citizens across the globe—to share the ways they promote
peace in their daily lives.
In 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum was founded by
five Norwegian-American colleges under the auspices of the
Norwegian Nobel Institute to inspire peacemaking by exploring
the work of Nobel Laureates and international peace builders.
According to Gina Torry, executive director of the Nobel Peace
Prize Forum, the event also has the power to change the
dialogue around peace by uplifting the important roles all people
play in fostering a more just, amiable, and nonviolent world.
Using a common theme, #peaceitforward, individuals
spanning generations and continents shared in social media how
their actions positively shape the present and the future.
The “#peaceitforward [campaign] was not just about the
prevention of conflict but the promulgation of good,” Torry said.
The campaign uplifted “the idea that you can be an ordinary
person and still do something extraordinary, which is a powerful
message that the Laureates send.”
This year’s Forum concentrated on the work of 2013 Nobel
Laureate The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
and also featured former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the 2002
Nobel Laureate who presented, “A Call to Action: Women, Religion,
Violence, and Power.”
The Forum welcomed more than 1,000 attendees, known
as delegates, during its three days and invited these individuals
to join in the important work of peacemaking—a task that aligns
with Augsburg’s own identity and role in educating students to
be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and
responsible leaders.
View #peaceitforward images, read comments, see
additional event photos, watch featured presentations,
or learn more about the Forum at augsburg.edu/now.
24
Augsburg Now
INSPIRING PEACE
1 Former Prime Minister of Norway Gro
Harlem Brundtland [at left] stops to chat with
Nobel Peace Prize Forum delegates after her
speech on human rights and democracy.
1
2 Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü [at right],
a representative of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate The Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons, speaks with Minnesota Public
Radio host Tom Crann about demilitarization and
the destruction of chemical weapons.
4
3 An ensemble of Native American women
sings on International Women’s Day to honor and
raise awareness of those Native American women
who are victims of violence.
4 The closing presenter at the Forum,
Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, co-founder of the
International Civil Society Action Network, calls
for greater participation by women in global
conflict management and peace building.
2
Arvol Looking Horse, who is the 19th Generation
Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and a
spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota
nations, offers closing comments on the second
day of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum.
Rev. Mark Hanson ’68, Imam Muhammad Ashafa, and Pastor James Movel Wuye
[L to R] share a laugh during their panel discussion at the Forum. Ashafa and Wuye
are featured in a 2006 film, “The Imam and the Pastor,” which is a story about
forgiveness and grass roots peace initiatives.
Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow [at right] participates in the
dearworld.me portrait project by having words of peace written on his arms. Robert X.
Fogarty, founder of dearworld.me, brought his internationally renowned project to the
Forum to help participants share their messages of hope and peace.
HOST SPONSOR
LEAD ACADEMIC PARTNERS
DIALOGUE SPONSORS
PEACE BUILDERS
DELEGATE SPONSORS
THANK YOU SPONSORS
ALUMNI NEWS
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear alumni and friends,
I
was connected to Augsburg
as a student working in the
admissions office, as a resident
assistant, and even after college.
But there’s something that comes
with age, time, and distance that
really makes me appreciate the
Augsburg that I continue to be
involved with today. When I began
to connect with fellow Auggies and
eventually the Alumni Board, my connections to the College
were enriched, and they continue to grow.
Augsburg has grown, too. It’s exciting to see the ways
in which the College has become larger—not only with new
buildings and faculty, but through an energetic and engaged
commitment to the city and the community—in both programs
and leadership. Augsburg is thriving, and this growth makes
me so proud to call myself an Auggie.
In honor of Augsburg’s sesquicentennial in 2019, the
College is embracing a vision for its future that is both bold
and rooted in values that are uniquely Augsburg.
Focusing on where the College wants to be in 2019, the
Augsburg Board of Regents and President Paul C. Pribbenow
engaged the College community in creating a strategic vision
statement that includes three aspirational dimensions: the
College will educate for lives of purpose, be at the table with
our neighbors and partners, and be built for the future.
I believe my education at Augsburg prepared me for the
future. When I see what’s happening at Augsburg today—
and what’s planned—I know the College’s future is bright.
Augsburg today is a place that calls many to the table to
participate in the life of the College.
The time I first heard about the Center for Science,
Business, and Religion, I may have wondered how all these
disciplines would work together in the same space. I have
come to know that this building represents the future,
and its interdisciplinary emphasis is deeply Augsburg. It
is a demonstration of the College’s vision to work with its
community, to embrace the world, and to prepare its students
for the future.
Today’s students know Augsburg as a place where faith,
service, and learning intersect. It is a College we can be proud
of, and I know I want to help build an Augsburg that continues
to generate pride and equip graduates for the world in which
we live. The outstanding scholarship and research being done
by our faculty and students deserve to take place in a facility
whose quality and capability match their exceptional work. I
want to be a part of preparing for that future.
The interdisciplinary emphasis of the CSBR will match the
world that today’s graduates enter and will truly demonstrate
Augsburg is a sustainable and vital force for educating
future generations. As you’ll see on the inside of the back
cover of this magazine, we can all be part of building that
future for Augsburg by buying a brick that will be a part of
this important new building. Won’t you join me in helping
Augsburg build for the future?
Sincerely,
CHRIS HALLIN ’88, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
HOMECOMING 2015
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
OCTOBER 5–10
augsburg.edu/homecoming
OCTOBER
Spring 2015
27
ALUMNI NEWS
IN FEBRUARY, Augsburg
wrestling alumni celebrated the
championship teams from 1975, 1985,
1995, and 2005 in the College’s
Kennedy Center with a Reunion of the 5s.
Teams from these class years exhibited
exemplary accomplishments both on
and off the mat, and their successes
represent four of Augsburg wrestling’s
record 32 MIAC Championship teams
and two of the College’s record 11 NCAA
DIII National Championship teams.
Former teammates and wrestling
alumni from all classes gathered to hear
coaches and managers Jim Moulsoff and
Tony Valek ’12, and Athletic Director Jeff
Swenson ’79 share memories and laughs
about the incredible talents from these
four wrestling classes. The crowd of
wrestling legends, families, friends, and
current Auggies cheered at the Battle of
the ’Burgs competition as Augsburg took
on longstanding rival, Wartburg College,
on the elevated stage. Despite a packed
house of enthusiastic supporters,
Wartburg took the victory.
The two teams battled for the newly
created Swens-Millboy Championship
Belt. The belt is named in honor of
Augsburg’s Jeff Swenson (nickname:
Swens) and Wartburg’s Jim Miller
Mike Fuenffinger ’15 opened this
year’s Battle of the ’Burgs match.
28
Augsburg Now
(nickname: Millboy), the head coaches
who led these teams to power. Both men
won 10 national team championships
as head coaches and now, retired from
coaching, are active in supporting their
winning wrestling programs.
The belt will travel with the previous
year’s winner to the duel each year and
will be engraved with the score and the
winning team. Scores from previous
years were engraved to mark the historic
nature of this rivalry.
As Auggies, we are proud to
celebrate the history, legacy, stories, and
success of four generations of Augsburg
College wrestling. Future Auggies can
become a part of the action with our
29th year of summer wrestling camps.
Augsburg wrestling coaching staff and
athletes supervise these camps, which
serve a variety of ages. Learn more at
augsburgwrestling.com.
ALUMNI NEWS
TORSTENSON LEGACY
lives on through gifts
Augsburg alumni shaped and inspired by Professor Emeritus
Joel Torstenson, known as the College’s “father of sociology,”
have contributed more than $180,000 to the Center for
Science, Business, and Religion to honor the legacy of the
man who greatly influenced their Auggie experience.
Torstenson, who died in 2007 at age 94, was well known
for his advocacy for civil rights and social services. His
decades-long legacy is being extended and honored through
generous gifts to name a hall for him in the new CSBR.
One alumnus central to the effort to honor Torstenson is
the Rev. Herb Chilstrom ’54, the ELCA’s first presiding bishop.
Chilstrom, who grew up in Litchfield, Minn., said being a
student in Torstenson’s class opened his eyes to justice issues
and pulled him from his comfort zone.
Then, as today, the College’s location in the city was an
asset to its faculty and students. Torstenson’s impassioned
teaching and perspective on civil rights inspired Chilstrom
years later to fight for the rights of gay and lesbian people.
“Dr. Torstenson impacted me not only during my student
years but throughout the rest of my life,” Chilstrom said.
“He taught that if you are a Christian, you need to face the
problems of the world and be out on the front lines, even if it
makes you unpopular.”
Torstenson challenged students to confront the world’s
problems by engaging directly with individuals. It seems only
fitting, then, that Augsburg’s proposed CSBR pay tribute to
Torstenson’s influence on generations of people, including the
Chilstroms and another family with deep roots in the College:
U.S. Rep. Martin Olav ’59 and Sylvia Sabo.
“Clearly, people like Joel have an impact on what you
think and who you are,” said Rep. Sabo, who spent 46 years
serving his state and country as an elected official.
Rep. Sabo’s Augsburg connection never waned. He
served on the Board of Regents from 1973 to 1984, and
daughters—Julie ’90, a former state senator, and Karin ’86—
are also Auggies.
The Sabos share enthusiasm that the CSBR will be a great
addition to campus.
“The facilities need to keep up with the quality of the
faculty,” Rep. Sabo said. Combining three disciplines in one
facility, the Sabos believe, is a unique and positive step for
the College, which has long embraced interdisciplinary and
experiential education.
The Sabos also marvel at the lifelong friendships that
evolved from Martin’s undergraduate experience, and the
couple remains close to Torstenson’s widow, Fran.
“I’m always amazed at Augsburg,” Sylvia Sabo said. “I
think so much good comes out of it, and Martin had such a
great four years there. I think its size and location give it a
specialness that a lot of colleges don’t have.”
CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION
JOEL AND FRANCES TORSTENSON CORRIDOR
This space will be provided through the generosity of
Norman ’59 and Delores Berg
Richard ’78 and Linda Bonlender
Herbert W. ’54 and E. Corinne
Chilstrom
Joel ’61 and Yvonne “Bonnie” ’62
Egertson
Harold Hansen ’52
Garry Hesser and Nancy Homans
Lowell O. Larson ’47
Steven ’64 and Rebecca ’65 Nielsen
Martin ’59 and Sylvia Lee Sabo
Allan Torstenson ’75 and Frances
Homans
Beth Torstenson ’66
Gale ’59 and Barbara Torstenson
Linnea Torstenson
Lyndon Torstenson ’78
Robert ’65 and Sylvia ’66 Torstenson
Herb and Corinne Chilstrom pledged $30,000 to kick off
the Torstenson corridor initiative.
“Giving is a lot of fun,” Rev. Chilstrom said. “We have
been blessed, and we like to share our blessings. Giving to the
CSBR means I can say ‘thank you’ to Dr. Torstenson for the
major impact he had on my life, and maybe, by example, we
can encourage others to do likewise.”
If you are interested in donating to the CSBR or honoring
Torstenson with a gift, contact Doug Scott at 612-330-1575 or
scottd@augsburg.edu.
Spring 2015
29
ALUMNI NEWS
AUGGIES CONNECT
on campus and throughout their careers
Building connections, facilitating networking opportunities, and
supporting students and graduates keeps the Alumni Board and Alumni
Relations engaged with inspiring Auggies year-round.
Thanks to those who attended the annual Alumni Board-sponsored
Auggie Networking Event, a reception that welcomed nearly 150 alumni and
more than 100 current students for an evening of networking, conversation,
career pointers, and speakers who shared their stories of finding success
after graduation. Among the speakers were Tina Nguyen ’08, small business
project analyst for U.S. Bank, and Greg Schnagl ’91, former educator and
founder, TeacherCentricity.
The event was a partnership with the Clair and Gladys Strommen
Center for Meaningful Work, which assists students in discovering their
vocation; offers career and internship tips; and helps students with
interviewing skills, resume building, and networking.
The Strommen Center also seeks to help companies recruit more
Auggies. One company with a strong connection to Augsburg alumni is
3M. In January, Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow joined
more than 100 Augsburg graduates now working at 3M for an alumni
event coordinated by Alumni Board member Holly Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA.
In addition to celebrating the amazing presence of Auggies in
the Maplewood, Minn.-based company, the event honored Nicholas
Gangestad ’86, who last summer was appointed senior vice president and
chief financial officer at 3M.
3M also is a major donor to the Center for Science, Business, and
Religion and a strong recruiting partner, hosting internships for Augsburg
students and hiring Augsburg graduates.
If you are interested in hosting an alumni gathering at your workplace, contact
Sara Schlipp-Riedel ’06, director of Alumni Relations, at 612-330-1178 or
schlipp@augsburg.edu.
More than 200 Augsburg College students and alumni attended the 2015
Auggie Networking Event.
New Volunteer and Alumni
Engagement Manager
Katie Radford ’12 joined the Augsburg Alumni and
Family Relations team in January as the new volunteer
and alumni engagement manager. In this role, she hopes
to continue to provide meaningful opportunities for
students, alumni, and friends to connect, give back, and
thrive together as Auggies.
Radford previously worked at Greater Twin Cities
United Way, helping plan and execute corporate United
Way campaigns dedicated to community outreach,
volunteerism, and community giving. She is excited to
be back at Augsburg to continue those initiatives in the
College’s community. If you are interested in volunteering,
mentoring, or serving in a volunteer leadership role, email
her at radford@augsburg.edu.
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE
All over campus and in corporate communities, Auggies
are connecting and sharing their insight and expertise.
There are many ways to support current students and
recent graduates as they move between classroom and
career. No matter your position—whether you’re navigating
a career change or looking to bring more Auggies into your
workplace—Augsburg programs can help.
As alumni, you are invited to share your career
expertise, interests, and life experience with Augsburg
students. One way to do this is through the mentorship
program Augsburg Builds Connections. Learn how to
get started in this program by contacting Katie Radford,
volunteer and alumni engagement manager,
at volunteer@augsburg.edu.
To learn more about helping Auggies succeed or to
take advantage of career planning services and graduate
school information, contact the Clair and Gladys
Strommen Center for Meaningful Work at 612-330-1148
or careers@augsburg.edu.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1951
John Garland lives in
St. Paul and has fond
memories of his time as sports
editor for the Echo, including the
rare time he covered a meeting of
the Augsburg Women’s Club. He
recently shared a couple of his
columns with Augsburg Now. In
his final column, he handed the
reins to Richie Howells ’52 and
paid tribute to fellow writers.
1953
Edmund Youngquist
first remembers being
drawn to Augsburg in 1945.
Augsburg’s choir put on a concert
at Calvary Lutheran Church in
Mora, Minn., and soloist Evelyn
(Amundson) Sonnack Halverson
’43 became a never-to-beforgotten memory. “At Augsburg,”
he writes, “I roomed in Memorial
Hall with Jerry Elness ’54 and
Wally Hanson ’54. An occasional
visit to our suite was from blond,
blue-eyed Herb Chilstrom ’54.”
After graduation, Youngquist
graduated from Luther Seminary
in St. Paul and was ordained in
1958. His daughter, Margaret
“Grit” Youngquist ’79, went on
to become a president of the
American Lutheran Church Luther
League. His cousin, Beverly
Gustafson, is married to Professor
Emeritus of History Donald “Gus”
Gustafson.
1956
Richard Thorud, who
lives in Bloomington,
Minn., with his wife, Darlene,
was recently named Toro’s most
prolific inventor for its first 100
years. He has 80 Toro patents
and worked for Toro for 34 years
before retiring in 2000 as a senior
principal research engineer. He
was inducted into the Minnesota
Inventors Hall of Fame in 2011
and was named a Distinguished
Alumnus at Augsburg in 2009.
1957
of the Ashford University Faculty
Senate, the governing body for
250+ full-time instructors and
more than 2,000 adjunct faculty.
1974
Kenneth D. Holmen
was named president
and CEO for CentraCare Health.
Holmen, who is a medical
doctor and has served as vice
president of physician strategies
and business development for
HealthPartners, took leadership of
CentraCare in January.
Stanley Baker was
recognized as the
Counselor Educator of the Year
by the North Carolina School
Counselor Association at its
annual conference in November.
He is employed as a professor
of counselor education at North
Carolina State University.
In the summer of 2014, Stan Nelson ’43 won a
gold medal at the Minnesota Senior Olympics,
shooting a 47 in the golf competition. In
July 2015, he will compete in the 95-99 age
group at the National Senior State Games
held in Bloomington, Minn.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
1967
Dennis Miller and his
wife, Christine, spent
the fall semester on sabbatical
at the University of Gothenburg
in Sweden. They are faculty
members at Cornell University in
Ithaca, N.Y.
1972
Rob Engelson is
completing 34 years
of full-time college/university
teaching and department chairing,
including the past 20 years at
Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.
He recently rose to become chair
Jerry Gerasimo used to take
us karate guys to at the Cedar
Theatre on the weekends. It was
lots of fun marching around inside
and outside the Student Center,
playing my bagpipes during
Augsburg College Day. I just want
to say,” he added, “that Boyd
Koehler was the very best boss a
guy could ever have. He was an
uncle, big brother, therapist, and
encourager to me, and [he] had
a wonderful dry sense of humor.
God bless you, Boyd.”
Mark S. Johnson ’75 and Allan
Torstenson ’75 shape cities and
build communities. See page 16.
1977
David Charles Friedman
has fond memories of
his stays in Urness and Mortensen
towers and the delightful people
he met during that time. He writes
that he fondly remembers “the
samurai movies that anthropology
instructor and fellow karate-ka
Neil Pauluk was a U.S. Infantry
Army officer and later used the
GI Bill to become a trial lawyer.
He legally changed the spelling of
his last name in 1978 to Paulson,
for the convenience of others,
and still goes by either last name.
He set up a scholarship in his
parents’ name at Augsburg and
started a nonprofit organization,
HelpTheVets.org. He writes that his
Augsburg education paid off.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
1967
Sue Nelson was given
the title of Community
Hero for her 10+ years of service
to the John Deere Classic. She
has worked tirelessly to support
other organizations, including the
National Education Association,
Missouri Valley – U.S. Tennis
Association, and Special Olympics.
She also has gone to Yale
University and the University of
North Carolina as Team Iowa tennis
coach for the World Games.
1970
The newly released book, “Waters Like the
Sky,” is a short adventure tale of a young
voyageur and is authored by the late Agnes Peloquin
Rajala and her daughter, Nikki Rajala (pictured),
who are direct descendants of voyageurs, explorers,
and fur traders. After Agnes passed away in October
2013, Nikki carried the legacy of the book forward,
determined to share this historical adventure with
readers. The story is steeped in the history of the
French-Canadian voyageur journeys in the early
1800s in North America. To learn more about the
book, visit nikkirajala.com. Nikki is available for
interviews and presentations at schools, meetings,
and other events.
Spring 2015
31
Pauluk runs into Ron Robinson, also in
Orlando, Fla., from time to time. “God
has blessed me more than I can imagine.
Good friends, good family, and good times.
I ran marathons in each of the 50 states in
2010 to 2012. I am director of the Orlando
Marathon each year. Look me up if you
come to Orlando, The City Beautiful!”
1978
Arvella E. Edwards had a
children’s book, “Town of
Never Never,” published in May by Xlibris,
ISBN #978-1-4931-1486-3. She is so
excited and proud.
Paula (Winchester) Palermo has moved to St.
Charles Parish, La., and continues her work
with the St. Charles Parish School System.
Donadee (Melby) Peterson and husband,
Tim ’76, will celebrate 20 years in business
in 2015. Donadee is the president of their
family company, SDG Computing, Inc.
Tim, a graduate of Luther Seminary and
an ordained pastor of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, served
two parishes full time until 1995 when
he turned bi-vocational and started the
1979
Karla (Wiese) Miller was
honored with the 2014
Minnesota Choral Director of the Year
award. She is in her 21st year as fulltime music instructor/director of choral
activities at North Hennepin Community
College in Brooklyn Park, Minn. At
Augsburg, she received a bachelor’s
degree in piano performance with a vocal
music (K-12) certification.
1980
John Edwin Carlson is a lead
chaplain at Redeemer Health
and Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis,
which provides senior housing and health
care in the spirit of Christ’s love.
1981
Carla (Isachsen) Kukkonen is
working at Allina hospice as a
medical social worker.
1989
Steven Torgerud is an assistant
professor of life sciences
at Palmer College of Chiropractic in
Davenport, Iowa, where he teaches
neuroanatomy and biomechanics courses.
His students have selected him “Teacher
of the Year” three of the past four years.
Justin Grammens ’96 presented “The Science of My Life and
Career After Augsburg” in an AugSTEM seminar. He provided
insight into current technology trends and advice on what
employers are seeking from graduates in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics fields. Grammens is a software
architect and has been a business owner for the majority of his
career. He is an engineering co-founder at Code42 Software
where he is protecting the world’s data with high-performance
hardware and easy-to-use software solutions. He enjoys family
movie nights with his wife and two children.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
family business. He has since served as
a part-time and fill-in pastor as well as
chaplain in the Minnesota National Guard.
He retired from the National Guard in
2012 after 28 years of service. Tim and
Donadee have spent one or two months
each year for the last three years in
Drammen, Norway, where Tim has worked
as a computer consultant for Conexus, a
company that reports on all aspects of the
Norwegian educational system. Their son,
Nathan, also works for the business from
Concord, Calif.
32
Augsburg Now
Courtesy of Kelly Browne
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1990
Peter Morlock began serving a
new call as pastor of Bethany
Lutheran Church and Lost Island Lutheran
Church in western Iowa in February 2014.
1991
In September, Bill Koschak
was appointed a vice president
of the global internal audit division at
General Mills. In this role, he will provide
leadership and guidance to the global
internal audit team and support the audit
committee in executing its charter.
1981
Bev Benson was elected to the
judgeship for the 4th Judicial District
of Hennepin County, Minn., in November.
Augsburg alumni supporting her campaign
included former roommate Leeann Rock ’81,
Brian Anderson ’81, Kristine Johnson ’81, Kristin
Lehmann ’08, Peggy Larkin ’09, and Benson’s
son, first-year student Robb Benson-Ernst ’18
(pictured), as well as Gaynelle (Webb) Buckland
’81, Fred Buckland ’81, Molly (Olson) Blomgren
’81, and Jim Blomgren ’81. Benson thanks her
Auggie supporters, including Martin O. ’59 and
Sylvia Sabo and professors Milda Hedblom,
Norma Noonan, and Janelle Bussert.
1993
Heidi
Staloch
is now vice president
and senior corporate
counsel, managing U.S.
Bank’s legal channel
for default accounts
nationwide. Heidi is an
active alumni volunteer,
serving as a member of
AWE–Augsburg Women
Engaged.
2010
John Ideen
has been
named executive chef
at Covenant Village
of Golden Valley,
a continuing care
retirement community
in Golden Valley, Minn.
In his new position,
Ideen will manage dayto-day food operations
for the 344-resident community, including casual
and formal dining in the residential and assisted
living, memory support, and health care settings.
He is responsible for managing and training a
kitchen staff of 65; creating innovative, healthful
menus; and managing the community’s catering
services.
AUGGIE
SNAPSHOTS
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
1992
Terri Burnor is interning at the
Minnesota Religious Coalition for
Reproductive Choice.
2005
Charles “Rusty” Brace graduated
from Luther Seminary in May
2014. He is looking for a call somewhere in the
Twin Cities area.
Conie Borchardt ’98 transforms lives with
song. See page 20.
Bryan Ludwig ’08 is a head coach and general counsel for
the PHD Baseball Club, LLC, which was created in 2009 by
another Auggie, Brian Bambenek ’07, and two of his friends.
The idea behind PHD—which stands for pitching, hitting,
and defense—is for the coaches to share the love of baseball
with and return value to participating athletes, training young
men and giving them the tools they need to succeed on and
off the field. Learn more at phdbaseball.us.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
Aaron Gabriel ’99 creates new musical theater
for performers with disabilities. See page 20.
2000
In May 2014, Ann Staton received
a master’s of English in technical
communication from Minnesota State
University Mankato. She accepted a oneyear visiting instructor appointment to teach
technical communication during the 201415 academic year at Montana Tech of the
University of Montana in Butte.
Debbie Heard, a tax managing director for
KPMG’s San Francisco office, was honored
with Silicon Valley’s 40 Under 40 award.
2001
Sarah Grans is a new director of
confirmation and youth ministry
at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in
Shoreview, Minn.
Michael Reed has taken a new position with
Robbinsdale (Minn.) Area Schools as a district
behavior coordinator and focuses on reducing
racial disproportionality in suspension rates.
Nicole Warner ’01 gets lost in the music.
See page 20.
2002
Christy Blake completed a
master’s of urban planning from
Virginia Tech’s Alexandria campus in 2007.
She has been working in local government
and economic development. She resides in
Winchester, Va., in the Shenandoah Valley.
Mark and Jessica (Bjurquist) ’06 Matzek
announce the birth of their daughter, Natalie
Violet, who arrived February 9, 2014.
Dan Vogel started a new position as an inside
sales/marketing specialist at the technical and
outdoor apparel company, Storm Creek, based
in Hastings, Minn. He’s excited to pair his
passion for the outdoors and an active lifestyle
with a new, exciting professional career at this
up-and-coming organization.
Jamar Esaw ’05 inspires members of
Triad:4Christ. See page 4.
2006
Tyra (Jensen) Taylor is completing
her graduate-level internship. She
is working with elementary students needing
mental health services. She plans to graduate
in May 2015.
2007
Brett Cease began a doctoral
program in public policy and
political economy with an emphasis in
sustainable development at the University of
Texas-Dallas.
Andrew L. Johnson is a manager of franchise
recruiting and engagement at Ameriprise
Financial Services, Inc., in Cleveland.
Molly Shortall recently became engaged to
Brian Kaszuba of Brooklyn, N.Y. She is a
senior annual giving officer at Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center and also serves as one
of the primary musicians for the Diocese of
Brooklyn and Queens.
2009
Amber Davis is working as
a moderator at the Zürich
International Film Festival.
Stephanie (Holman) Hubbard works as a music
therapist for St. Paul Public Schools. She is
attending St. Mary of the Woods College for a
master’s in music therapy.
2010
Sylvia Bull is studying at Princeton
Theological Seminary in Princeton,
N.J., for Master of Divinity and Master of
Arts in Christian education degrees. Her
anticipated graduation date is May 2015. She
is a candidate for ordination in the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America.
Gabriella Hamerlinck is a doctoral candidate
in ecology at the University of Iowa. She is an
alumna of Augsburg’s biology and mathematics
departments, as well as the McNair Scholars
and North Star STEM programs. In addition
to Hamerlinck’s academic successes at
Augsburg, she was a two-sport athlete who
participated in soccer and track.
Sara Kaiser ’08, a social worker for Rice County, Minn., has seen
first-hand the need for daily support for single moms. In addition
to helping families, she convinced the mayor of Northfield, Minn.,
to designate a month for “Teen Dating Violence Prevention and
Awareness,” and she has worked in collaboration to create a
young moms’ support group. She interned at the Northfield
Women’s Center and worked at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. She
has found her life’s calling and is pursuing a master’s of social
work from the University of Southern California.
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
Spring
2014
2015
Fall 2014
17
33
37
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Michael Hamm has accepted a position
with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office in
Minnesota. He has been an officer with the
Department of Public Safety at Augsburg for
the past several years, and he will move to oncall status with DPS.
Grant Rostad is employed with Best Buy for
Business as an account manager. He also is a
licensed certified public accountant.
2011
Kate Edelen is a legislative associate
on climate and conflict for the
Friends Committee on National Legislation in
Washington, D.C. Edelen submitted a letter on
climate change to the editor of The New York
Times, which was published in October.
2012
Joseph Fahnhorst was promoted
to vice president of a payments
application at the Federal Reserve Bank of
Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Fed, with one
branch in Helena, Mont., serves six states in
the Ninth Federal Reserve District: Minnesota,
Montana, North and South Dakota, 26 counties
in northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan.
2013
Since graduating, Alex Bennett has
gotten married and had a beautiful
baby, Layla. He graduated with a degree in
music business and has accepted a position
at Mystic Lake Casino in the entertainment
department.
Kayla Johnson is in medical school at the
University of Minnesota Duluth.
Rachel Rixen graduated from the American
University of Paris with a master’s in cultural
translation.
2014
Janelle Holte has a new job as a
marketing and communications
coordinator at the University of Minnesota.
After a summer internship with Dart Transit,
which is owned and operated by Don ’53 and
Bev ’55 Oren, Mike Schumacher landed a
position as a fleet leader with Transit America.
Anne Skriba is happy to share the news that she
is employed at Bemidji State University as an
assistant women’s basketball coach.
Lani (Langanki) Hollenbeck ’77, ’11 MAN is a staff nurse in an
infant care center at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
in St. Paul. She was named 2014 Nurse of the Year by March
of Dimes Minnesota, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics, and
Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine. “We do not get to rock babies all
day long,” she said of her care team. “We’re very like-minded in
focusing on the developmental needs of infants.”
From the NOW@Augsburg blog.
Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more.
Katia Iverson celebrated two years at
Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee
Services in February 2015. She recently was
promoted to a case manager position.
Kim (Saukkola) Simmonds is an executive
director at the MonDak Heritage Center in
Sidney, Mont., and is completing a master’s
degree in public and nonprofit administration
at Metropolitan State University.
34
Augsburg Now
Through bridge program funding for research
and extra assistance, Enrico Barrozo is
preparing for a doctoral program at the
University of Georgia.
Maya Sutton has accepted a special education
teaching position for the 2014-15 school
year at Fraser Academy, a charter school in
Minneapolis.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Rebecca (Johnson) Koelln ’76, ’91 MAL
has been named director of leadership
development and senior consultant for
Learning Sciences International. LSI is a
learning and performance management
company focused on continuous improvement
at all levels of the system.
Tom Driscoll ’07 MBA was featured in the
Minneapolis Star Tribune as one of the
construction industry’s “Movers and Shakers”
due to his work as partner and vice president
of business development at the Minneapolis
office of Big-D Construction.
Chris Wolf ’09 MAN recently became a nurse
manager for Ask Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Physician Assistant Kelly Kleven ’10 MPA
joined the hospitalist department at Essentia
Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth,
Minn. Kleven is certified by the National
Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants.
Lori (Langager) Higgins ’94, ’12 MAL was
appointed to the Minnesota Amateur Sports
Commission by Gov. Mark Dayton. Since 2010,
she has been the president of the MetroNorth
Chamber of Commerce, which is the fourthlargest chamber in the Twin Cities metro area.
She lives in Blaine, Minn., with her husband
and two children.
In September, Carmen (Crockett) Williams ’12
MBA accepted a position as director of business
development at Mediaspace Solutions in
Hopkins, Minn. Carmen and her husband, John
(who works in mortgages and finance), recently
purchased a home in Burnsville, Minn.
Christine Dawson ’13 MSW was featured on
the cover of the Regions Hospital Foundation
newsletter for her outstanding work with the
HeroCare Program for veterans at Regions
Hospital. Dawson, who is herself a veteran,
coordinates services and advocates for patients
in Regions Hospital’s mental health programs.
ARE YOU AN AUGGIE IN PUBLIC SERVICE?
Whether you are serving as an elected, appointed, or volunteer official, we would
love to hear from you! Submit a Class Note, and we’ll enter you into a raffle to win
an Augsburg College swag bag to display your Auggie pride at work.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
1998
Kaydee Kirk
and Peter
Spuit welcomed Paul
Johann Spuit, who was
born May 27, 2014, and
joins 3-year-old sister,
Miriam.
2005
Ellen (Kvitek)
Saj and her
husband, Nathan, welcomed
their second child, Hazel
Christine, at home on April
26, 2014.
Send us your news and photos
Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and
births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300 ppi
or a 1 MB file.)
For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral
notice, or program from a memorial service.
Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to:
Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave.,
Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also
submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni/connect.
______________________________________________________
Full name
______________________________________________________
Maiden name
______________________________________________________
Class year or last year attended
______________________________________________________
Street address
______________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP code
Is this a new address? q Yes q No
______________________________________________________
Home telephone
______________________________________________________
Email
2011
Korri (Yule)
Corrigan married
Joshua Corrigan on December
13 in Hoversten Chapel at
Augsburg College.
Okay to publish your email address? q Yes q No
______________________________________________________
Employer
______________________________________________________
Position
______________________________________________________
Work telephone
Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No
If yes, class year___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable)
2011
Jessica (Hilk)
Kociemba and
Joel Kociemba celebrated their
marriage with Auggies Amy
Opsal ’12, Katie (Christensen)
Beadell ’11, Laura (Harms) Faruq
’09, Katelyn Berens ’14, Amanda
Rueb ’09, Jamila Lee ’13, Korri
(Yule) Corrigan ’11, Colleen
Ourada ’14, Julie Jenkins ’09,
Denielle Johnson ’11, Amanda Unze, and Morgan Baumgarten ’14.
Your news:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg.
Spring 2014
Spring 2015
17
35
In memoriam
Nellie I. (Thorud) Blake ’38,
Barron, Wis., age 98, on
October 16.
Edward M. Alberg ’50,
Minnetonka, Minn., age 87, on
September 22.
Albert S. Olson ’40, Amery, Wis.,
age 97, on November 7.
Delphine J. (Jensen) Bakke ’50,
Hendricks, Minn., age 85, on
November 30.
Maynard Bahre ’41, San
Francisco, Calif., age 97, on
January 14, 2014.
Mark C. Thorpe ’56, Kirkwood,
Mo., age 80, on October 30.
Birgit E. Birkeland ’58,
Minneapolis, age 87, on
October 23.
Elizabeth V. Koenig ’72,
Minneapolis, age 91, on
December 2.
Julia C. Blixrud ’76, Lawrence,
Kan., age 59, on October 29.
Sylvia A. (Moe) Overlund ’59,
Portland, Ore., age 90, on
October 26.
Dennis C. Callahan ’82, Grand
Rapids, Minn., age 55, on
December 22.
Louise A. (Heydenreich) Swenson
’60, Princeton, Minn., age 89,
on October 7.
Wendy J. (Miller) Johnson ’90,
Sanford, N.C., age 58, on
August 22.
Gail W. Castor ’61, Redwood
Falls, Minn., age 83, on
September 16.
Eric H. Peterson ’91,
Minneapolis, age 45, on
November 19.
George O. Johnson ’61, Pequot
Lakes, Minn., age 77, on
December 4.
Kathleen M. (McCullough) Zander
’91, ’04 MAN, Minneapolis, age
54, on October 2.
Robert M. Sletta ’51, Dayton,
N.J., age 86, on September 27.
Richard “Dick” “Pork Chops” M.
Thompson ’61, Long Lake, Minn.,
age 74, on September 11.
Sarah (Christiansen) Schuck ’95,
Hager City, Wis., age 64, on
November 29.
Dayel M. Olson ’44, Storden,
Minn., age 87, on October 11.
Warren C. Nelson ’52, Buffalo,
Minn., age 86, on July 7.
Richard L. Strand ’66, Mayville,
N.D., age 70, on December 1.
Peter A. Lokkesmoe ’47, Elgin,
Ill., age 90, on March 20.
Elwood Nestvold ’52, Houston,
Texas, age 81, on January 11,
2014.
Dale L. Strom ’66, Venice, Fla.,
age 71, on October 24.
Sandra “Sandy” S. (Hawley)
Hamann ’00, Fredericksburg,
Iowa, age 58, on October 23.
Mildred I. (Krinke) Sandel ’42,
North Mankato, Minn., age 94,
on September 9.
John R. Bergeron ’43, Detroit
Lakes, Minn., age 93, on
October 12.
Floyd J. G. Rodmyre ’43, Eden
Prairie, Minn., age 92, on
September 17.
Verona A. (Woyke) Blasing ’44,
Mankato, Minn., age 89, on
October 7.
Christine M. (Westman) Behrend
’48, Manistique, Mich., age 88,
on October 29.
Rona B. (Quanbeck) Emerson
’48, Kenyon, Minn., age 90, on
November 1.
Anna M. (Strand) Olson ’49,
Amery, Wis., age 88, on
September 10.
36
Augsburg Now
LaVerne “Lu” A. (Gothe)
Engelstad ’50, Moorhead,
Minn., age 86, on October 16.
Sylvia R. (Kleven) Hanson ’50,
Big Lake, Minn., age 86, on
November 7.
Ann B. (Spencer) Zaudtke ’50,
Meadows Place, Texas, age 86,
on October 5.
Luella (Neumann) Hanson ’51,
Phoenix, Ariz., age 90, on
August 15.
Orville B. Walters ’52,
Minnetonka, Minn., age 89, on
November 29.
Marlys P. (Stock) Giese ’53,
Morris, Minn., age 83, on
September 15.
Wayne G. Steinbrecker ’55,
Princeton, Minn., age 82, on
November 2.
Paul W. Frank ’69, Brooklyn
Park, Minn., age 66, on
September 18.
Jeffrey T. Kosse ’70,
Minneapolis, age 67, on
September 16.
Arnold “Bud” M. Rader ’71,
Minneapolis, age 69, on
December 23.
Nancy J. Mohs ’08, Lakeville,
Minn., age 46, on October 30.
Professor Emeritus Henry
Follingstad, Arden Hills, Minn.,
age 92, on October 1.
The “In memoriam” listings in this
publication include notifications
received before January 10.
THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE,
BUSINESS, AND RELIGION
HELP BUILD A SOLID
FOUNDATION FOR
FUTURE AUGGIES
Read about the $10 million gift to name
the new building on the inside front cover.
Briana Alamilla ’17
Marketing major
Buy a Brick. Build a Legacy.
A
ugsburg College invites you to join your fellow alumni and participate
in the Buy a Brick, Build a Legacy program. When you buy a brick, you
are doing your part to help make Augsburg’s newest academic building, the
Center for Science, Business, and Religion, a reality.
The CSBR will replace the existing 60-year-old Science Hall and
bring together academic disciplines that reflect our commitment to
interdisciplinary education and academic excellence.
WITH YOUR DONATION:
• Augsburg will inscribe a brick with your name or the name
of someone you’d like to honor.
• Each brick will be incorporated into the building of the CSBR,
creating a lasting legacy for the future of Augsburg.
• You will receive official recognition of your participation.
Foundation Brick
(40 characters, 3 lines) = $250
Legacy Brick
(80 characters, 6 lines) = $500
Your support will help educate and inspire
students for generations to come.
START BUILDING TODAY
augsburg.edu/csbr
For more information, call 612-330-1085.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 2031
Bill Nye wows audience at Augsburg College
Bill Nye “The Science Guy” captivated 1,800 guests at a sold-out, on-campus presentation during Augsburg’s Scholarship Weekend,
a time when high school seniors visit the College to vie for highly competitive scholarships. During his address, “How Science Can
Save the World,” Nye spoke about planetary science, climate change, environmental awareness, and more. Nye took a “selfie” with
the delighted crowd, which included 650 high school students from 12 states.
Show less
The Class of 2014 reflects
Grants gain ground
Spotlight on research
Faithful and relevant
AN
EDUCATION
ACTIVE
SUMMER 2014 | VOL. 76, NO. 3
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of Marketing
Communication
Kat... Show more
The Class of 2014 reflects
Grants gain ground
Spotlight on research
Faithful and relevant
AN
EDUCATION
ACTIVE
SUMMER 2014 | VOL. 76, NO. 3
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of Marketing
Communication
Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL
rumpza@augsburg.edu
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
An alternative narrative of higher education
Our colleague, Harry Boyte, who heads Augsburg’s
Center for Democracy and Citizenship, recently
argued in The Huffington Post that America
needs an alternative narrative of higher education, one that focuses not on meritocratic
excellence, but on “cooperative excellence...[the]
principle that a mix of people from highly varied
backgrounds can achieve remarkable intellectual,
social, political, and spiritual growth if they have
the right encouragements, resources, challenges,
and calls to public purpose.” And, as Harry
further points out, we have the makings of this
alternative story of higher education in institutions like Augsburg, with its rich heritage of faith,
learning, and service.
And so we do, as this issue of Augsburg Now
so compellingly illustrates. You hear it in the
stories our recent graduates tell about what they
love about Augsburg—its people, its location, its
diversity, its commitment to service and justice, its
educational experience like no other. You hear it in
the tributes to retiring faculty members like Donald
“Gus” Gustafson and athletic legends like Edor
Nelson ’38 and Ed Saugestad ’59—even as you
read the accomplishments of this year’s distinguished teachers and scholars, future legends. You
hear it in accounts of innovative theater programming, bringing together students from Augsburg
and the University of Minnesota to perform a
groundbreaking production of Peer Gynt at the
university’s arboretum. You hear it in the voices
of students and alumni sharing their vocational
journeys, shaped in this remarkable community.
The power of the Augsburg story is that it is
not new—it is what I call “the saga of Augsburg”
(see my recent essay, “Lessons on Vocation and
Location: The Saga of Augsburg College as Urban
Settlement” at augsburg.edu/president/presentations), a story that is grounded in our rich history
as a college dedicated to the Lutheran Christian
faith, to the power of a liberal arts education, to
vocational discernment, and to our urban setting.
And it is a story more relevant than ever, as it
counters the ways in which higher education is
viewed as a commodity to be purchased, a ticket
simply to a successful career, a stepping stone
instead of a firm foundation.
Our society needs an alternative story about
higher education in order to recover its soul.
Augsburg offers such a story in both its history and
its aspirations as a 21st century “student-centered
urban university, small to our students and big for
the world.” And now we need to recruit a corps of
storytellers—good folks like you—who know this
story well and are willing to stand with us to share
it with the world. In our tradition, that is called
evangelism. Will you join us?
Integrated Communication
Specialist/Augsburg Now
Project Manager
Laura Swanson
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Creative Associate
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Christina Haller
haller@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Production Manager/Now Online
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Assistant Vice President
for Advancement
Kim Stone
stonek@augsburg.edu
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
ISSN 1058-1545
Faithfully yours,
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Send address corrections to:
Advancement Services
CB 142
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
langemo@augsburg.edu
Email: now@augsburg.edu
summer 2014
AUGSBURG NOW
Features
12
9
16
23
12
16
24
29
Faithful and relevant
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
We love Augsburg
EDITED BY LAURA SWANSON
What is it?
BY LAURA SWANSON
Grants gain ground
COMPILED BY STEPHANIE WEISS
Departments
inside
front
cover
Notes from President Pribbenow
02 Around the Quad
09 My Auggie experience
15 Auggie athletics
23 Auggie voices
30 Alumni news
35 Alumni class notes
15
24
38 In memoriam
40 It takes an Auggie
On the cover
Each summer, Augsburg College students complete on-campus research activities across a
wide range of academic disciplines. Learn about Auggies’ recent projects on page 24.
Correction: The Spring 2014 issue of Augsburg Now included an archival photo of Science Hall as part of the My Auggie
experience story. The caption accompanying the image should have noted that the building, in its early years, housed the
home economics department in addition to the offices, laboratories, and rooms named.
All photos and archival photo compilations by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated.
AROUND THE QUAD
Excellence in
teaching and learning
Choir performs
throughout Ireland
The 2014 Distinguished Contributions recipients [L to R]:
Shana Watters, Phil Adamo, and Stacy Freiheit.
Each year, the Augsburg College faculty recognizes select colleagues with
the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards—acknowledging those who have demonstrated outstanding support for students through
teaching, advising, and mentoring.
The 2014 recipients include:
The Augsburg Choir delivered their annual
Bon Voyage Performance May 2, then traveled to Ireland for an international tour. The
group performed in Cork, Dublin, Limerick,
and Newbridge; they also took time to visit
the Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, and the
Cliffs of Moher on Ireland’s rugged western
coast. To read more about their trip, visit
the students’ blog at engage.augsburg.edu/
augsburgchoir.
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING: Stacy Freiheit, associate professor of psychology
“As a professor, [Stacy] ensures that she engages students in the material
that she is teaching and makes it personal…She is very creative and open,
and implements a multitude of methods to help students learn—from videos,
to interviews, to live demonstrations.” —Amineh Safi ’14, psychology and
political science major
Day at the Capitol
EXCELLENCE IN SCHOLARSHIP: Phil Adamo, associate professor of history and
director of the Medieval Studies Program
“[Phil] has an ability to fold students into his scholarship, providing them
with rich and meaningful experiences that develop them as young scholars.”
—Dixie Shafer, director of Augsburg’s Office of Undergraduate Research and
Graduate Opportunity
EXCELLENCE IN ADVISING AND MENTORING: Shana Watters, associate professor
of computer science
“[Shana] really shines. She is interesting; she is supportive; she has high
expectations; she is fun. She takes her responsibility to her students very
seriously, but never takes herself too seriously. As a result, she has been a
remarkable mentor to many students, even those who have not chosen to
pursue computer science.” —Carrie Shidla, Augsburg program manager and
assistant director of academic advising
2
Augsburg Now
Brid Henry ’16 meets Minnesota State Sen. Charles Wiger
during the Day at the Capitol event.
This spring, Augsburg Day at the Capitol gave
students a voice in the important debate surrounding the Minnesota State Grant program.
Augsburg students met with lawmakers and
wrote letters advocating continued support for
this important financial aid.
City and state officials judge
‘The Great Economic Debate’
Courtesy of University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital
at
[L to R]: Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Minnesota Department of
Commerce Commissioner Michael Rothman, and Minneapolis Mayor
Betsy Hodges.
MASTER OF MUSIC THERAPY
Augsburg’s music therapy program has provided students with a
holistic approach to health care through music medicine since
1974. To build on that tradition, Augsburg is launching a music
therapy graduate program in the Twin Cities beginning this fall.
The Master of Music Therapy (MMT) program will engage students in
life-changing experiences and experiential learning, and foster a
holistic view of the use of music in health, healing, and well-being.
For more information about the MMT, visit augsburg.edu/mmt.
The Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL)—a program
of Augsburg College—in May hosted its second Mayor’s
Challenge. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Minnesota
Department of Commerce Commissioner Michael Rothman,
and Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges served as judges
for a student debate resolving that the North American
Free Trade Agreement has been beneficial for the
economy of Mexico and the United States, specifically
Minnesota. This spring, MNUDL also hosted its first
Spanish Debate Invitational, a Spanish tournament for
Twin Cities middle and high school students, as a way
to make forensics available to more students and to
help extend the reach of the positive work of MNUDL.
Courtesy photo
STROMMEN SPEAKERS SERIES
This April, the Strommen Executive Speakers Series, which
brings local business leaders to campus to share insight and
expertise, featured Jon Campbell, executive vice president of
Wells Fargo. With 36 years of banking experience at Wells
Fargo, Campbell presented “Finding Vocation in Corporate
Philanthropy,” touching on his career path, which has been
characterized by a strong emphasis on community service.
CONNECT. NETWORK. LEAD.
Summer 2014
3
AROUND THE QUAD
Honoring our retired faculty
WILLIAM ARDEN
DONALD “GUS” GUSTAFSON
Assistant Professor, Business
Administration
Professor, History
Joined the College – 2005
Education – bachelor’s, Gustavus
Adolphus College; master’s and
PhD, University of Wisconsin
Education – bachelor’s, New
York University; master’s,
Northeastern University (Boston);
MBA, Boston University
“One of my most memorable
experiences as a teacher was my first time in a classroom.
I taught a graduate marketing course (at another institution)
and walked out of class the first night saying, ‘I haven’t had
this much fun in a job in a long time!’”
Joined the College – 1961
Gustafson thrives most on
the sheer delight of teaching—
students from his classes usually
remember Rasputin, Alsace-Lorraine, and Che Guevara.
GRETCHEN IRVINE
Assistant Professor, Education
RUTH ENESTVEDT
Joined the College – 1993
Assistant Professor, Nursing
Education – bachelor’s, College
of St. Teresa; master’s, University
of Wisconsin-River Falls; PhD,
University of Minnesota
Joined the College – 1999
Education – bachelor’s, St.
Olaf College; master’s and PhD,
University of Minnesota
“We assume that people are
experts in their own lives. We
provide useful, relevant service
that respects what the person brings to the situation.”
MARK ENGEBRETSON
Professor, Physics
Joined the College – 1976
Education – bachelor’s, Luther
College; Master of Divinity,
Luther Theological Seminary;
master’s and PhD, University of
Minnesota
One of the most important
features of Engebretson’s work is sharing it with his
students. His research grants from NASA and the
National Science Foundation have supported dozens of
undergraduate student research opportunities that educate
and motivate science students.
4
Augsburg Now
“I believe in using the
community as a research tool
and bringing the community into the classroom through
resource speakers. Respect for the unique characteristic of
each student is essential.”
JEFFREY JOHNSON
Associate Professor, Physics
Joined the College – 1985
Education – bachelor’s, master’s,
MBA, and PhD, University of
Minnesota
Johnson likes to teach
quantum physics and astronomy,
which, he says, “allows me
to give my students an appreciation of the wonder and
weirdness of our universe.”
ASHOK KAPOOR
Associate Professor, Business
Administration
Joined the College – 1998
Education – bachelor’s and master’s,
University of Delhi; master’s and
MBA, University of Minnesota; PhD,
Temple University
“Augsburg is different from
other institutions in that we have a vocational aspect to our
education, which fits in with my thinking. I tell my students
that they can do whatever they want, as long as they excel.
They will then be happy in life.”
DAWN LUDWIG
Director and Assistant Professor,
Physician Assistant Studies Program
Joined the College – 1995
Education – bachelor’s, University
of Colorado-Denver; master’s
and PA Certificate, University of
Colorado Health Science Center;
PhD, Capella University
One of the guiding principles in Ludwig’s approach to
teaching is to help students maintain a focus on service to
others, and to always be aware of how one good deed can
bless another person’s life.
ROBERT STACKE ’71
Associate Professor and
Department Chair, Music
Joined the College – 1990
Education – bachelor’s, Augsburg
College; master’s, University of
St. Thomas; PhD, University of
Minnesota
“I am very proud of the
number of students who have a chance to be involved in
Augsburg’s music program. One of the benefits of attending a
liberal arts college is having the opportunity to perform even
if you are not a music major.”
Faculty Recognition Luncheon
This spring, Augsburg celebrated
the careers and contributions of
retiring faculty members at the
Faculty Recognition Luncheon. The
event included a program and a
display of recent scholarship and
teaching materials.
CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS
Scholarships and fellowships
Augsburg students earned a range of prestigious accolades
during spring semester, including the following:
BARRY GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP
Eric Bowman ’15, a biology and
chemistry major and McNair
Scholar, received an honorable
mention in the Barry Goldwater
Scholarship competition.
The Goldwater Foundation
provides $7,500 undergraduate
scholarships to students who
plan to pursue a research career
in a STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and mathmatics)
field, and the scholarship is the
premier undergraduate award
of its type in these fields. Bowman was one of only eight
Minnesotans to receive an honorable mention this year.
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Benjamin
A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants
for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial
means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, careeroriented internships abroad. Since 2008, 36 Auggies
have been awarded a total of $150,000 from the Gilman
International Scholarship.
This spring, sociology and psychology major Pa-Loo Lor ’14
studied at Augsburg’s exchange partner, Hong Kong Baptist
University. This summer, GaoSheng Yang ’14 studied and
interned in Shanghai. She is an international relations major
with a minor in management information systems. And this
fall, biology major Fowsia Elmi ’15, international business and
finance major Smeret Hailom ’15, and sociology major Ayan
Khayro ’15 will study in Turkey; and music major Elizabeth
Fontaine ’16 will study in Indonesia.
HAWKINSON AWARD
The Hawkinson Foundation for Peace & Justice has awarded
Ibrahim Al-Hajiby ’14 the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation
Scholarship. This scholarship was created by the Foundation
to encourage students who have already demonstrated a
6
Augsburg Now
commitment to peace and justice to strive for peace and
justice both in their educational pursuits and in their personal
and professional lives.
KEMPER SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Najma Warsame ’17, a communication studies student, was
named the College’s fourth Kemper Scholar. Students in this
prestigious program, which is funded by the James S. Kemper
Foundation, receive academic scholarships and stipends to
cover the costs of two summer internships in major nonprofit
and for-profit organizations. Augsburg is one of only 16
U.S. liberal arts colleges with the Kemper Scholars Program
distinction.
NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOWS AWARD
Vincent Henry ’15 was named a Newman Civic Fellow for
2014. The Newman Civic Fellow Award is a Campus Compact
distinction recognizing students who—through service,
research, and advocacy—work to identify the root causes of
social issues and effective mechanisms for creating lasting
change.
PHILLIPS SCHOLARSHIP
Each year, the Minnesota Private
College Council awards six
scholarships from the Jay and
Rose Phillips Family Foundation
of Minnesota to students
who attend its 17 member
institutions. This year, two of the
six were awarded to Augsburg
students Sagal Ali ’16 and Muna
Mohamed ’15. Ali will work on a
project that addresses the high
risk of obesity and the rise of
diabetes among Somali women,
while Mohamed’s project will focus on engaging Muslim
women in sports while honoring their religious and cultural
beliefs.
2014 PRESIDENTS’ CIVIC ENGAGEMENT STEWARD AWARD
The Augsburg student group Students for Racial Justice
won the Presidents’ Civic Engagement Steward Award at
the Minnesota Campus Compact Summit that took place
this spring. This award recognizes those who have advanced
their campus’s distinctive civic mission by forming strong
partnerships, supporting civic engagement, and working to
institutionalize a culture and practice of engagement.
Student research awards and
achievements
ROSSING PHYSICS SCHOLARS
STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN
ZYZZOGETON 2014
Two Augsburg College students have been named Rossing
Physics Scholars for 2014-15. Juan Tigre ’16 and Fikre
Beyene ’16 will receive $10,000 and $7,000, respectively.
The Rossing Fund for Physics Education Endowment in
the ELCA Foundation was established in 2005 for physics
majors at the 27 ELCA colleges.
TRAVELERS EDGE SCHOLARS AND TRAVELERS INTERNSHIPS
Stella Richardson Hohn ’15 and Lee Thao ’15 are interning
in St. Paul and Hartford, Conn., respectively, as part of the
Travelers Insurance Empowering Dreams for Graduation
and Employment (EDGE) program. This program focuses on
college recruitment and retention of low-income and firstgeneration students, and enhances awareness of careers in the
insurance and financial industries. In Minnesota, the focus
specifically is on students graduating from both the St. Paul
and Minneapolis public school districts.
Five additional Auggies—Lorreal Edwards ’16, Liban
Elmi ’16, Lyton Guallpa-Naula ’16, Angela Hernandez ’16, and
Seng Vue ’16—also will complete internships at Travelers
Insurance in St. Paul. This group will participate in professional
and leadership development workshops supported by the
Kemper Foundation to prepare for their internship opportunity.
VANN FELLOWSHIP
Michelle Grafelman ’15, an
Augsburg Presidential Scholar,
was awarded the $5,000 Vann
Fellowship in Biomedical Ethics at
Mayo Clinic. As a summer fellow,
she is working with physician and
research mentors within Mayo’s
Program in Professionalism and
Ethics to examine issues such as
end-of-life care, genetic therapies,
and patient consent, among others.
Zyzzogeton is an opportunity to
hear about the exciting scholarship
happening on campus. This year,
more than 80 students presented
their research and creative activity
to the Augsburg community in
the annual spring poster session,
which is sponsored by the Office
of Undergraduate Research and
Graduate Opportunity (URGO),
the McNair Scholars program, and
the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
program.
SUMMER 2014 OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS
This summer, several Auggie researchers will be building their
skills to support graduate school admissions and careers in
the sciences.
• Elly Bier ’14—physics; National Institute of Standards and
Technology
• Weih Borh ’16—chemistry; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(LSAMP Summer Research Program)
• Chris DeVet ’15—chemistry; CIMA Labs pharmaceuticals
• Becca Freese ’16—biology and mathematics; University of
Minnesota (Summer Institute in Biostatistics)
• Kirubel Frew ’14—chemistry; working with Armon Sharei and
Katarina Blagovic at Harvard University and Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, respectively
• Cedith Giddings ’15—biology; University of Minnesota
(CHE-CTSI Advanced Research Program and Undergraduate
Research Program)
• Michelle Grafelman ’15—biology; Mayo Clinic (Vann
Fellowship in Bioethics)
Summer 2014
7
CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS
• Daniel Hildebrandt ’15—biology and chemistry; Mayo Clinic
(Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
• Taylor Kuramoto ’15—mathematics; University of Tennessee,
Knoxville (National Institute for Mathematical and
Biological Synthesis)
•
Oscar Martinez ’16—
chemistry; Scripps Research
Institute in Jupiter, Fla.
(Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellows Program)
• Bethany Marlette ’14—biology;
Mayo Clinic
•
Yemi Melka ’15—chemistry and
international relations; Friends
Committee on National
Legislation in Washington, D.C.
• Lily Moloney ’15—chemistry;
Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. (Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellows Program)
• Promise Okeke ’15—biology; Harvard Stem Cell Institute of
the Harvard Medical School
• Andrew Roehl ’15—chemistry; Colorado State University
(Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates)
• Ben Swanson ’15—chemistry; Northwestern University
(Materials Research Science & Engineering Center)
• Sadie Tetrick ’16—physics; Dartmouth College Physics
Department
8
Augsburg Now
POSTERS ON THE HILL
Each spring,
the Council on
Undergraduate
Research hosts its
annual undergraduate
poster session,
Posters on the Hill, in
Washington, D.C. At
the event, students
meet members of
Congress, funding agencies, and foundations, and have the
opportunity to advocate for undergraduate research programs.
Summa cum laude English graduate Margo Ensz ’13
was among the top 10 percent of applicants selected to
present and received an honorable mention for her URGO
summer research project, “Analyzing the Persistence of a
Sense of Place Among Young Adults in the Technology-Rich,
A-Contextual 21st Century,” advised by Colin Irvine, Augsburg
College associate professor of English.
SCHOLARS AT THE CAPITOL
During spring semester, Augsburg
TRIO McNair Scholars Amineh
Safi ’14 and David Fowler ’14
participated in the 11th annual
Private College Scholars at the
Capitol event. Each private
college in Minnesota annually
selects two students to attend the
event and present their research.
Safi’s research topic, “Racializing
Islam: Newspaper Portrayal of
Crime Involving Muslims and
Islam,” is a descriptive content
analysis examining how crimes
involving Muslims are portrayed
in the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Fowler’s
research focused on methods for studying heart development
and function in the model organism Daphnia magna.
MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE
PEASANTS
AND TROLLS,
COLLABORATIONS
AND CHALLENGES
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
▲ Nearly 1,000 theatergoers visited the
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for
Peer Gynt’s three-day run. The character
of Peer Gynt was played by University of
Minnesota student Joe Kellen.
I
▲ Peer Gynt visits the troll kingdom in an attempt to marry the troll princess.
Imagine it’s spring and you are at a site
USA Today named as among the nation’s
10 greatest places in America to smell
the flowers. You start to meander along
a footpath that will lead you through a
natural habitat of trees and ferns to rolling
prairie and lowlands, all while birds sing
after a long winter.
As you round the corner from the
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s
visitor center, you come across a small
homesteader’s cabin. It’s nestled among
the trees. A group of people, dressed as
peasants from the 1800s, bicker with one
another. You’ve just walked smack into the
middle of the set of Peer Gynt, a play by
Henrik Ibsen, being performed by students
from Augsburg College and the University
of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
The site-specific performance—a
production shaped by the unique place in
which it is performed and that relies upon
existing landscapes and features to serve
as the stage and sets—was the first time
the two schools collaborated and probably
the first site-specific production of this
▲ [Top of page] An audience watches an opening scene from Peer Gynt, a production by Augsburg College and the
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s historic Berens Cabin serves as the
backdrop for dialogue between the Peer Gynt character and his mother, seated on the wheelbarrow.
Summer 2014
9
said. “We thought the universe might
like them to meet. We wanted to see
new alliances formed and to create more
opportunities for artistic intersections
because theater and artists are best
served when more and more connections
can be made.”
The staging of this classic
Norwegian tale at a Minnesota landmark
also was a testament to the academic
excellence driven by Augsburg faculty
and alumni who create multifaceted
student-learning experiences.
“Faculty know that in order to
develop students’ abilities to think
critically and to solve problems—
essential 21st-century skills—we
need to expose them to hands-on
opportunities to work together,
to interact with people who think
differently from themselves, and to
provide time to reflect upon and voice
what they learn,” Engen said.
STUDENTS CO-CREATE SCRIPT
That multi-layered complexity drew
students to the story. Boo Segersin ’15,
an Augsburg theater major pursuing
A children’s playground serves as the set for a scene in Peer Gynt.
Existing landscape features are used to stage site-specific theater.
▲
scale for Twin Cities’ theatergoers.
“This adaptation demanded new
partnerships between schools and with
many theater artists—puppeteers,
movement specialists, musicians, [and]
fight choreographers. We pummeled
students with new experiences and
gave the audience a spectacular
performance,” said Darcey Engen
’88, associate professor and chair of
Augsburg’s Theater Arts program.
Collaborating with the University
of Minnesota allowed Engen and her
counterpart, Luverne Seifert ’83, to
assemble the large cast required by
the play: about 40 student actors in
all. And the complexity of the script
meant students would build new skills
in collaboration, forge friendships,
and nurture the beginnings of new
professional networking relationships
in the tightly connected world of Twin
Cities theater.
“It seemed odd to Darcey and me
that each night there were groups of
students creating all of this amazing
artistic energy, and they were only three
blocks away from one another,” Seifert
minors in musical theater and
Norwegian, said she was drawn in by the
density of Peer Gynt.
“I read the play over winter break
and wondered how we could do it. It’s
on mountains. It’s in mountains. There
are trolls. Just the landscapes were a
challenge in themselves,” Segersin said.
The students worked with Sarah
Myers, Augsburg College assistant
professor of theater arts, to adapt the
script and halve the length of the play.
“I was nervous to work on the script,
but one of the best parts was working—
as a full cast—with Sarah to cut things
down,” Segersin said. “We found the
‘red thread,’ the core storyline that runs
through the script, and, with that, found
our way.”
That thread allowed the students
to take the play from the three-hour
adaptation by famed Minnesota poet
Robert Bly to a compact 90 minutes
that was accessible to newcomers of all
ages but that remained engaging and
challenging for seasoned theatergoers.
It’s quite a feat when one considers that
Ibsen’s original was a hefty seven hours.
Boo Segersin ’15 (top) played the role of Solveig, a young woman who leaves her
family and insists upon living with Peer Gynt in his hand-hewn cabin. The role of
Peer Gynt’s mother, Åse, was played by Nikki Whittaker ’17 (bottom).
▲
10
Augsburg Now
▲ Nearly 40 performers were involved in the Peer Gynt wedding scene.
▲
Students worked with professional master puppeteers to build and coordinate
the movement of a giant raven puppet with a nearly 20-foot wingspan.
NAVIGATING CULTURE, CAST,
WEATHER, AND LANDSCAPE
Wrestling with the script of the play—a
story of loss due to procrastination and
avoidance followed by redemption late in
life—was just one of the challenges faced
by students. They also had to identify
features in the arboretum’s landscape that
could serve as sets, deliver their lines in
open-air scenes with acoustics affected
by the landscape and ambient noises not
usually present in a theater, and learn
original music, all while getting to know
the culture and student performers from
another school.
Then there were the logistics for
which no planning can be done.
“Because of the variables involved,
site-specific theater provides attendees
the chance to see what is a once-in-alifetime performance and to leave having
been an active traveler in the play,” Engen
said. “For performers, there’s a textured
chaos that you can’t plan for and that
forces you to think fast and improvise
within boundaries. It leaves you exhausted
and exhilarated at the end.”
Being faced with those challenges
was just what Engen and Seifert wanted
for students. The two worked closely
to co-direct students in this first-ever
collaboration between the schools.
“Students learned to perform to
the moment at hand,” Engen said.
“Sometimes that meant changing the
energy and volume of lines to overcome
wind or a noisy attendee. Other times
it meant staying in character but
improvising when a young child persisted
in trying to break into the scene.”
Segersin said that it was a rewarding
experience to work with peers from the
University of Minnesota and to perform for
the nearly 1,000 attendees who visited
the arboretum for the production.
“This beautiful thing happened: We
became a team,” Segersin said. “And
now, sometimes, when I sleep, I dream
about them.”
BUILDING PROFESSIONAL
NETWORKS
The relationships and networks, though,
extend beyond just the student peers
at the two institutions. Engen used the
production to help students connect with
other theater professionals.
“Students built experience in creative
problem-solving with some of the Twin
Cities’ foremost theater professionals,
including master puppeteers, musicians,
and movement professionals,” Engen
said. “It was a chance for students to
explore the many ways to work in theater
and to challenge themselves to meld
these disciplines.”
Seifert added that making
connections with artists across disciplines
and fields is critical for the future of
theater and the artists.
“These students now can reach out
to one another to collaborate on future
projects,” he said. “This model allowed
us to give students an understanding of
how major companies in regional theater
increasingly are combining resources to
produce shows.”
That goal wasn’t lost on Segersin, who
was invited to work as a summer intern
with Sod House Theater, a production
company founded by Engen and Seifert.
“We’re still working out what it
means. But I will have the chance to work
with the performance of Peer Gynt at sites
around the state, to meet professional
Twin Cities’ actors and local actors, and to
network,” Segersin said.
Summer 2014
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give
experience perspectives
equipped
work
explore
practice
live
care
beneficial
center
seek
explore
beliefs
understand
evolving
seen passions
citizen
boldly
beneficial
tell
important
seen
strengths
hear
world
human
articulate
calling
love
meaning
foundations
competence
A
scholars
expanding
welcoming
give
diverse
respectfully
society
propelled God
meaning
leadership
seek
desire
gifts
inquiry
views
true
moral
diversity
H
skill
human
callAugsburg Now
10
faithful
strengths
shared
center
T
articulate
path
beliefs
appreciation
discussion
conversation
nurturing
relationships
opportunity
citizen
learn
Lutheran explore
expand
value
connect religion reflection
life
I
growing journey
traditions
interfaith responsive
asking
answers
life
service
skill
profound
rise
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work true
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effective
gifts
challenging
path
F
answers
integrity
views
Christensen
connect
passions
&
Relevant
Faithful
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
experience
theology
service
vocation
reflect
Pictured [top to bottom]: Whitney Pratt ’11, Cody Tresselt-Warren ’09, and Jessica Spanswick ’10
Photo by Thomas Kosa
ith careers in accounting, education,
Grappling with vocation
military service, and pastoral ministry,
One of the aspects that Auggies in the Christensen Scholars
and Interfaith Scholars programs valued most about the
experience was the dedicated time to learn and to grapple
together with difficult topics and questions.
“Having that regular, dedicated time for discussion
helped us to better articulate our gifts, strengths, and
passions,” said Emily Wiles ’10, a youth and family ministry
major who this spring earned a Master of Divinity from Luther
Seminary. “We pushed each other to articulate our positions,
which helped me really connect with what I think and who
I am,” she said. As a result, “things that I might have
otherwise taken for granted, I came to ‘own’ as my gifts.” In
having to express and explain your perspectives, Wiles said,
“you really get to know yourself better.”
Also beneficial, according to several alumni, was the
opportunity to reflect on the full meaning of vocation. “My
generation is going to have 15 different jobs or careers in
our lifetimes,” said Cody Tresselt-Warren ’09, who majored
in accounting and religion at Augsburg and today is a tax
accountant at Wells Fargo & Company.
“You think, when you’re in college, that once you
graduate and get a job, you’re set,” he said. But there are
so many other important layers—from family obligations to
the needs of the wider world—that, “you have to interpret
your calling from a number of perspectives. It’s a dynamic,
evolving journey.”
Sylvia Bull ’10 agreed, noting that, especially in the
U.S.—a generally career-oriented culture—it is important
to expand the view of vocation beyond just a job or career.
Bull, an international relations and religion double major who
this spring completed her third year at Princeton Theological
Seminary in Princeton, N.J., sees faith as serving an
important role in considerations about vocation. We need to
“open our eyes of faith to see all of the things that we do in
our lives as part of God’s call,” she said.
six recent Augsburg alumni are finding
that their undergraduate experiences studying vocation and
interfaith leadership are paying off well beyond their
college years.
These Auggies participated in the Christensen Scholars
and Interfaith Scholars programs at Augsburg—programs that
provide scholarships for students to take upper-level religion
courses that thrust them deep into topics of faith, religious
diversity, service, theology, and vocation.
Meeting on weeknight evenings throughout the academic
year, students engaged with these topics—and each other—
through focused discussion, inquiry, service-learning, and
reflection. The number of scholarships available each year is
limited, so getting into the program is a competitive process,
involving writing an essay and obtaining a recommendation
from an Augsburg College faculty or staff member. Students
accepted to the programs earn four religion credits and a
$2,000 scholarship for the year. But, according to some of the
early alumni from the programs, the value of the experience
extends well beyond course credit and financial support.
Pictured [left to right]: Peter Weston Miller ’10, Emily Wiles ’10, and Sylvia Bull ’10
Summer 2014
13
And “even if faith is not explicitly part of the
conversation,” said Jessica Spanswick ’10, who today works
as director of career services at Globe University, “it is a
profound, shared human desire to seek and find meaning in
our lives.”
fully effective.” To function as a citizen in today’s world,
“you have to understand how people think and the beliefs on
which they base their social and moral codes.”
Welcoming difficult conversations
In the end, these Auggies agreed that the programs’ greatest
value was that they equipped participants to ask challenging
life questions—seemingly simple (but, actually, not-sosimple) questions like, “Where have you come from—and
where are you going?” and “How do you know you’re on the
right path?”
Consistently, all of these alumni said it was the
questions—not the answers—that were most meaningful
to them. In fact, they have each continued the practice of
asking and reflecting on difficult questions and they shared
some of the questions they regularly encounter in their lives
today:
Asking tough questions
Alumni from these programs also shared an appreciation
for how their experiences helped them develop the listening
and interpersonal skills to learn from and understand others.
“We learned to step boldly and respectfully into difficult
conversations,” said Peter Weston Miller ’10, “meeting
people where they were at, where God had uniquely called
them to be.”
Weston Miller, an English major who also completed his
Master’s of Divinity at Luther Seminary this past spring, said
these conversations taught the participants how to “build
relationships based on human integrity and dignity, not just
[based on] topics” that they agreed upon.
“We learned to know ourselves better through the eyes of
others, despite different backgrounds, political leanings, and
socio-economic statuses,” he said.
In particular, alumni from the programs valued the
opportunity to interact and work with people who bring
different faith perspectives. “Speaking with people from
many different faith backgrounds helped me learn to listen to
and understand others’ views and beliefs,” said Spanswick,
who majored in international relations at Augsburg and
recently completed her MBA at Globe University. In her
current work, Spanswick meets people from many different
cultures, and she noted that their cultural practices often
differ because of faith traditions.
Whitney Pratt ’11, who majored in economics at
Augsburg and serves as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air
Force, agreed that interfaith competency is an important life
skill. “Religion is such an important facet of our lives,” she
said. “Most of our political struggles center around topics
that stem from the moral foundations” that different groups
of people use to guide their behaviors and interactions in
society.
“You can try to build intercultural competence, but
without understanding religion,” Pratt said, “you won’t be
• “Am I questioning my current path because I don’t like it
[today] or because it’s really not my calling?”
• “How do I remain true to my Lutheran beliefs and still
operate in an ecumenically diverse organization?”
• “How will what I want to say affect this other person?”
• “If this current path is not my calling, what’s the best step
to take to explore what is right?”
“As our lives and our world change,” Weston Miller said,
“we need to keep asking these questions in order to keep
ourselves expanding, growing, nurturing, and propelled
forward in God’s calling for all of us.”
Continually asking these questions and searching for
meaning helps us to see the world not just as it is, Wiles
added, but as it could be.
reflection
• And, the question that Martin Luther is famous for: “What
does this mean?”
learn
care
journey
leadership
life welcoming
pathdiverse
call
world appreciation
respectfully discussion citizen
moral calling competence
14
Augsburg Now
skill passions opportunity
work answers
FROM GAME TIME TO LIFETIME
Influence of Auggie icons shapes alumni and today’s campus
August 18 marks the 100th birthday of legendary Augsburg
College coach Edor Nelson ’38.
Nelson is one of the elite Augsburg coaches who profoundly
impacted the College’s athletic programs and whose influence
echoed in the lives of student-athletes beyond their competitions
on athletic fields, rinks, and courts.
At Augsburg, the legacies of renowned coaching staff
and faculty live on in the facilities that carry their names, are
exhibited in their own philanthropy, and can be seen in the
generosity they inspire in others.
Bruce Nelson ’71, son of Edor Nelson, said coaches such
as his father grew up in an era in which sacrifice for the greater
good was common, and coaches played larger roles in the lives of
student-athletes than simply running drills.
“These coaches taught student-athletes about commitment
and that a team is bigger than the individuals,” said Bruce, who
lives out what he learned—in part—by serving as president of the
Augsburg A-Club, a service organization of former and current
Auggie student-athletes and friends of the College.
Bruce knows from first-hand experience that student-athletes
see, understand, and appreciate the ways their mentors continue
to influence their lives as they move on to new opportunities.
“Very few athletes, when they’re older, talk about wins and
losses. They talk about camaraderie, support, and struggles,”
Bruce said. “They remember that my dad helped them get jobs
out of college—that the support didn’t stop after graduation.”
Nelson is one of a group of long-tenured coaches who are
pillars in the Auggie community. Others include:
•
Ernie Anderson ’37–Coach of Augsburg’s men’s basketball
team from 1947-1970, Anderson also was athletic director
for 33 years from 1947-1980. His tenure inspired the Ernie
Anderson Court in Si Melby Hall.
•
Marilyn Pearson Florian ’76–Coach of Augsburg’s women’s
volleyball team from 1981-1998, she also was the women’s
athletic director from 1988-2007. She increased the number
of women’s sports and of female student-athletes.
AUGGIE ATHLETICS
•
Edor Nelson ’38–An Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame member,
Nelson coached football from 1947-1969 and baseball from
1946-1979. Augburg’s outdoor athletic field bears his name.
•
Lavonne Johnson Peterson ’50–“Mrs. Pete” led the ‘Auggiettes’
basketball team in 13 unbeaten seasons from the 1950s to
the 1970s and was an instructor until 1980. Augsburg named
the health and physical education center in her honor.
•
Joyce Anderson Pfaff ’65–A pioneer in women’s athletics and
in the establishment of varsity women’s sports, Pfaff was
Augsburg’s first women’s athletic director, serving from 19721998. She also taught for 43 years.
•
Ed Saugestad ’59–Coach of the men’s hockey team from
1958-1996, Saugestad’s championship teams claimed three
NAIA national and six MIAC state titles. One of Augsburg’s
hockey rinks is named in honor of Saugestad, who passed
away in March.
•
Jeff Swenson ’79–Wrestling team coach for 25 years,
Swenson has served the past 10 years as athletic director.
Auggies brought home 10 national wrestling titles under his
leadership, and the wrestling wall of fame bears his name.
Today the commitment of these coaches continues to be honored
through philanthropic initiatives by alumni whom they inspired.
Corky Hall ’71, Augsburg’s first men’s hockey All-American,
is challenging fellow student-athletes-turned-Augsburg-alumni
to raise funds for a named space in the Center for Science,
Business, and Religion (CSBR) to honor Saugestad. (Read more
about Saugestad’s legacy on page 33.)
Mark Rabbe ’53, one of Edor Nelson’s baseball players, is
funding a faculty office in the CSBR to honor the coach. And
additional challenges are underway to honor the centennial of
Edor Nelson’s birth.
These Augsburg alumni—and many others who have stepped
up to join a philanthropic challenge—demonstrate that alumni
athletes recognize the role coaches played in positively shaping
their lives and are willing to seize the opportunity to make a
positive impact on the Auggies of tomorrow.
Summer 2014
15
WE
LOVE
AUGSBURG
THE CLASS OF 2014 SHARES MEMORIES, STORIES,
AND TAKEAWAYS FROM THEIR TIME AS STUDENTS
EDITED BY LAURA SWANSON
This spring, hundreds of new alumni celebrated their graduation at Augsburg College
Commencement ceremonies. While these events often are treated as a conclusion—the
grand finale at the end of years of study and hard work—it’s important to remember that
commencement, in its very definition, marks a beginning or start.
As Augsburg’s newest graduates prepared to launch into new challenges and opportunities with an Augsburg degree in hand, we began to wonder, “What was it about this
campus…this curriculum…this College that they came to appreciate during their time
as students?”
So, we asked.
And the Class of 2014 answered.
This list, in no particular order, includes a brief sample of the things Auggies love about
Augsburg. While it cannot represent all of the College’s valued traits, it does help depict
just how unique the institution is. Our students, our alumni, our location, our heritage,
and our mission help influence this place, just as the College—in turn—shapes many of
these entities. Let’s take a look at why there’s so much to love about Augsburg College
and why it’s such a privilege that WE ARE CALLED AUGGIES.
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Augsburg Now
2
1
The mission
AUGSBURG COLLEGE
EDUCATES STUDENTS TO BE
INFORMED CITIZENS,
THOUGHTFUL STEWARDS,
CRITICAL THINKERS, AND
RESPONSIBLE LEADERS.
Working to be
“Green by 2019”
“I love [Augsburg’s] effort to make
the world a better place through
means such as eliminating the
It says it all, doesn’t it?
“I love Augsburg’s commitment to being an institution that prepares
students for life beyond academics.” —KIMBERLY CLUB ’14
carbon footprint.”
—MITCHELL FUCHS ’14 MSW
Intentional diversity
“I appreciate Augsburg’s dedication
not only to being a diverse community but also to giving students the
opportunity to fully acknowledge this
through various assignments and
campus activities.”
—SIERRA BARGER ’14
That small-college feel
4
“Augsburg is big enough to
fit your needs, and small
enough that you’ll be noticed.”
Summer 2014
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The faculty
Professors, teachers, faculty members, instructors, mentors, and
friends. The Class of 2014 used many names to describe the people
at the head of the classroom and the backbone of their education.
And, not surprisingly, these people were the most-cited aspect to
love about Augsburg.
“The faculty are top notch and some of the most caring and
conscientious people I have ever met.” —HOLLY HANSON ’14 MAN
“Professors are understanding and accommodating of nontraditional students’ individual circumstances.”
—MAYA SUTTON ’14 MAE
“I love the close-knit community between students and professors.”
—ANDREW DENT ’14
Life in the city
Augsburg is the only college of the ELCA located in
the heart of a large urban area, and students use
the Twin Cities as a metropolitan classroom where
they can engage with College neighbors, community
partners, and companies large and small.
6
7
“I love Augsburg because of its strong commitment
to its mission and its dedication to being a College
of the city. I have never been anywhere that has a
clearer sense of its identity or that has tried harder to
be a ‘good neighbor.’” —MARTHA TRUAX ’14 MAL,
DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING
Athletics
Augsburg teammates develop bonds akin to a “second family.” From
hockey to swimming and from basketball to lacrosse, approximately
450 students participate in varsity athletics at the College each year.
It’s a good thing maroon is always in style.
“The bond that was built over the years of workouts, practices, games,
wins, losses, and just hanging out was one of the biggest benefits to
me throughout my college career.” —GARY MARISCAL ’14
8
18
Augsburg Now
The dress code
Okay, okay. Wearing Norwegian sweaters to Velkommen Jul and
bowties with formalwear isn’t actually required. But, it’s fun!
Experiential education
Augsburg was the first Minnesota college or
university to receive the Presidential Award for
Community Service. Each fall, incoming first-year
and transfer students participate in City Service
Day—a day on which the students volunteer at
organizations matched to their degree programs
and learn in the neighborhoods that surround
Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus. Undergraduate
students begin their experiential education on
Day 1, and it’s a priority that extends throughout
each of Augsburg’s degree programs.
9
“I learned how to be a ‘citizen professional,’ and
work collaboratively with others to solve problems.”
—JUDY SCHLAEFER ’14 DNP
Global learning
opportunities
Cohorts
Augsburg undergraduate and
graduate students take courses
around the world. Whether studying business in Germany, nursing
in Namibia, or psychology in Slovenia, Auggies find that learning
and living in a foreign culture
catalyze academic, intercultural,
and personal leadership skills and
Some of Augsburg’s programs follow a cohort
model that allows students to travel together
from course to course, fostering strong relationships between classmates and outlining a clear
path toward a degree.
“The cohort model for the MBA program allows
for great camaraderie!” —AVA BEILKE ’14 MBA
responsible global citizenship.
12
Dining together in Rochester
“Meals for the Rochester students kept [our]
energy up for long evening classes.”
—HEIDI OCHTRUP-DEKEYREL ’14
Small class sizes
13
Augsburg’s undergraduate classes average 13
to 17 students, which allows Auggies to learn
from—and with—their professors and classmates.
Summer 2014
19
Nearby restaurants
When it comes to dining out, the CedarRiverside neighborhood has something for
everyone.
15
“I love that I can get a gyro, chicken curry,
or Chicago-style hot dog all within a couple
blocks of my dorm.”
—SAMANTHA CANTRALL ’14
Tracy’s (just across I-94 on Franklin
Avenue) serves up the “Augsburger,” which
features two beef patties, sharp cheddar
cheese, barbecue sauce, bacon, lettuce,
tomato, mayo, and a side of school spirit.
Yum, yum.
“Tracy’s is amazing and within walking
distance!” —EMMA WINEGAR ’14
Auggie Days
Leading up to the start of the fall semester, this on-campus orientation for
incoming first-year students is so memorable that people think of it as a
highlight of their Augsburg experience—even four years later. Part of the
fun includes a Neighborhood Challenge relay in Murphy Square.
The campus
Not every school is so lucky as to have a
7 ½ Street on campus.
“I love that you can walk anywhere on
campus in less than 10 minutes.”
16
—MOLLIE KING ’14
Peers (of course)
“The people—friendly, genuine, and approachable.”
—DENISE HERRERA ’14 MAL,
SENIOR ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR
“I love the ability to build life-long relationships
with people from many different backgrounds and
from many different places around the world.”
—MATTHEW SCHIRBER ’14
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Augsburg Now
StepUP®
Augsburg’s StepUP Program helps students champion lives of recovery, achieve
academic success, and thrive in a community of accountability and support.
StepUP annually serves more than 100
students and is the largest residential
collegiate recovery program in the U.S.
18
The skyline
19
The Minneapolis campus has an
eagle-eye view of downtown that’s
perfectly fitting for the Auggie
mascot. (We’ll let you know how
things are coming on the new
Vikings stadium).
“There’s a stellar view of the
city from the top of Mortensen.”
—JOE VOKRACKA ’14
On-campus art galleries, pop-up exhibits…
The staff
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…guest speakers, music ensemble performances, and research festivals.
It isn’t an exaggeration to say that there’s always something happening at Augsburg. Each spring, Zyzzogeton celebrates the creativity and
scholarship of undergraduate students. It’s fun to say—and to attend. The
College also hosts scholars and professionals at the leading edge in students’ academic disciplines and showcases artwork by visiting artists and
Auggies. The exhibition spaces around
campus transform multiple times each
year in order to present an array of
innovative and inspirational pieces.
Zyz·zo·ge·ton
“I love the changing art exhibits.” —WHITNEY WORLEY ’14 MPA
You name it; they do it. In many ways, Augsburg locations are like
small cities unto themselves where students eat, sleep, shop, socialize, learn, and live. Augsburg staff members foster an exceptional
student experience at locations in Minnesota and around the world.
“I love the super helpful and nice financial aid advisers, and the wellorganized Registrar’s Office staff.” —HOLLY REDDY ’14
The changing seasons
Winter sometimes can last a tad too long, but
Minnesota’s seasons certainly add variety to
Augsburg’s academic calendar. Each year the
Quad features fall colors, spring blooms, summer
picnics, and winter snow angels, which means
the weather outside helps to emphasize the timeliness of the College’s in-house traditions.
Summer 2014
21
Nearby sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes
Home of the Greenway and the Chain of Lakes, Minneapolis has
92 miles of on-street bikeways and 85 miles of off-street paths,
not to mention an abundance of pedestrian-only zones.
“I love running and walking on the River Road.”
—LAUREN RICE ’14
24
A snapshot of graduation
The graduating class of 2014 added more than
750 Auggies—from our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs—to the College’s
alumni ranks.
Commencement ceremonies held May 3-4
featured the theme “Thoughtful Stewards,”
which was inspired by the College’s mission
statement and reflected the Augsburg communi-
Arts and culture
Minneapolis has world-class museums, a vibrant dance
scene, and more theater seats per capita than any U.S.
city outside New York. It’s no wonder Minneapolis was
named one of America’s most creative cities, and it’s no
surprise that Auggies take advantage of the visual and
performing arts in their midst.
“I love seeing new work at the Playwright Center just
down the road.” —HANNAH YOUNGQUIST ’14
22
Augsburg Now
ty’s passion for social justice and sustainability.
To see additional photos or watch Commencement
ceremony videos, go to augsburg.edu/now.
25
Its influence
“Augsburg changed how I think.”
—PETER MOORE ’14 MAL
Philosophy
The
AUGGIE VOICES
BEHIND A CAREER
She’s a lawyer, a seasoned business operations
executive, a mother of two, a biotech entrepreneur,
and a restaurant owner. She’s also a philosophy and
political science double major, and an Auggie.
In the years since she graduated from Augsburg
College, Naomi Williamson ’78 has charted a career
path that has taken her into multiple, disparate
industries and types of organizations.
“I like the challenge,” Williamson said. Each new
opportunity introduces “a new orbit of people and a
different knowledge area.”
Indeed: After completing her bachelor’s degree,
Williamson went on to earn a law degree at the
University of Minnesota Law School and worked as
a litigator at Larkin Hoffman, one of Minnesota’s
largest full-service law firms. From there, she joined
Honeywell, where she spent 15 years in contracts,
marketing, sales, process quality, and supply chain
management. After that, she helped a medical
pathologist with a successful biotech start-up, and,
then, in 2007, she started a restaurant with her
husband, Roger Kubicki, and veteran restaurant
owner Michael Kutscheid—while also working on
the side as an aircraft manufacturing contracts and
negotiations consultant.
Williamson’s appetite for digging into a challenge
and seeking new knowledge was evident even before
she launched her professional career, however. She
fell in love with philosophy, she said, after trying to
make sense of the writings of Immanuel Kant.
“It took me four hours to read 40 pages” she
said. “I didn’t fully understand it, but I thought that
if I did, I might be able to find the answers I was
looking for.”
This willingness to do the hard work to make
sense of things is so consistently woven into
Williamson’s educational and career choices that it
appears to be more of an internal drive, a calling,
than a choice.
“I just can’t get myself on easy street,” she
joked. “I’m always doing something to make sure that
my next step is just as hard as the last one.”
Naomi Williamson ’78 is co-owner of Sanctuary, a
restaurant in Minneapolis’ Mill City district. Of all her
career experiences, Williamson said that the restaurant
business is “far and away the most difficult.”
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
Summer 2014
23
What is it
Scenes from undergraduate students’
ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH
BY LAURA SWANSON
Each summer, undergraduate students at Augsburg College work directly
with faculty mentors to complete individually designed research projects
and creative activities. Auggies seeking to enhance their education gain
rich, hands-on experience by participating in research opportunities
sponsored by the College, funded through grants and private gifts, or
offered through federal programs.
Students from all disciplines can participate in summer research.
This year, their topics included designing a tool to sample motor vehicle
pollution; examining immigrants’ influence in community organizations
and politics; cloning and characterization of Daphnia magna, a water flea;
and analyzing the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on Minneapolis
youth, among many others.
During the research process, students often use specialized materials
and technologies, investigate complex and specific concepts, and explore
existing scholarship and literature.
Can you match each summer research image with its academic discipline?
History
2
Photo by Bill Capman
CAN YOU IDENTIFY
THESE ITEMS?
Exercise Science
English
5
24
Augsburg Now
Social Work
Leading
IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
ONE KEY WAY Augsburg College delivers on its commitment to experiential education is through
undergraduate research projects in which Auggies employ their talents and passions. On campus,
these projects are funded through several sources, including Augsburg’s Office of Undergraduate
Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO), National Science Foundation and corporate grants,
private donations, and the McNair Scholars program—a federal TRIO program funded by the U.S.
Department of Education and designed to increase graduate degree attainment by students who are
first-generation, low-income, and/or members of groups underrepresented in graduate education.
3
Chemistry
Physics
Political Science
Women’s Studies
Courtesy image
1
Economics
4
Biopsychology
Computer Science
Biology
Mathematics
6
ANSWERS
Summer 2014
25
Q: What is it?
A: A column that contains a catalyst and through which a stream of reactants move.
Reactants are substances that undergo change during a chemical reaction, and “flow
chemistry” is a process that gets its name from the movement of these materials.
Chemistry
ALAN MEDINA-GONZALEZ ’16
Major: Chemistry, Minors: Biology and Mathematics
Research mentors: Z. Vivian Feng, associate professor of chemistry; and Michael
Wentzel, assistant professor of chemistry
Alan Medina-Gonzalez ’16 chose to participate in summer research because it granted
him the opportunity to spend more time in the lab optimizing a chemical reaction, which
is a fun—albeit time-consuming—puzzle he enjoys solving. “I wanted to see what it was
like to work on a project all day long versus only going into the lab four hours per week as
part of a class,” he said.
Medina-Gonzalez’s research involved setting up chemical reactions using flow
chemistry—a process that helps make reactions more “green” by allowing chemists to
lessen waste generation and to improve energy efficiency and safety. His research goal
included producing a variety of molecules, including acetaminophen—the primary active
ingredient in Tylenol and other medicines—to demonstrate the uses of flow chemistry in
the pharmaceutical industry.
Q: What is it?
A: A foam roller, a tool that breaks up fibrous
tissue in order to increase muscle elasticity
and circulation flow.
Exercise
Science
CAN YOU GUESS?
26
Augsburg Now
BRIANA FELTON ’14
Major: Exercise Science, Minor: Psychology
Research mentors: David Barrett, assistant
professor of health, physical education, and
exercise science; and Tony Clapp, associate
professor of health, physical education, and
exercise science
Briana Felton ’14 chose a summer research project that will help to prepare her for the dream
of attending graduate school to study physical therapy. Felton is a member of the Augsburg
women’s soccer team, and she loves sports and fitness. Athletes commonly use a foam roller
on their muscles for self-myofascial release—a process that applies pressure to trigger points
within muscle tissue and is thought to cause the tissue to relax and become more flexible.
Although the use of foam rollers has become a common practice in therapy and fitness
centers, few peer-reviewed studies have examined its effectiveness. For Felton’s research
project, she conducted a study in which middle-aged adult males participated in an exercise
program utilizing foam rollers. Felton then assessed the study participants’ balance and
functional movement patterns using industry-standard tests to see whether their scores
improved over the course of the study. Higher scores have been shown to correlate with a
person’s decreased risk of injury.
To read a brief overview of Felton’s research findings,
go to augsburg.edu/now.
Biopsychology
Q: What is it?
A: An electroencephalogram (EEG) recording cap, which is used to capture the brain’s
electrical activity while at rest or engaged in mental activity.
BRAD MARCY ’15
Major: Biopsychology, Minor: Chemistry
Research mentor: Henry Yoon, assistant professor
of psychology
Research conducted on substance use disorders often extends to either the biological or
the behavioral aspects of addiction. This summer, Brad Marcy ’15 took on the challenge of
combining both of these aspects into a single study incorporating behavioral information—
in this case, a person’s age of first alcoholic drink (AFD)—and biological data, which was
derived from brain patterns collected through EEG scans.
Marcy and other Augsburg psychology students gathered data by working with student
volunteers, including those in the College’s StepUP® program, which serves students who
are in recovery from addiction. Marcy’s research project involved processing and analyzing
participants’ EEG data in order to identify telltale signs of being at biological or genetic
risk for dependence in these brainwave patterns. He then examined whether an association
exists between this biological information and AFD. By evaluating these variables, Marcy
can later assess their usefulness in refining the diagnosis of substance misuse.
Q: What is it?
A: The examination of journal articles, images, and academic texts—illustrated here—
are key aspects of student researchers’ literature review process. A literature review
discusses published information in a particular subject area.
AWALE OSMAN ’15
Major: Communication Studies, Minor: Women’s Studies
Research mentor: Adriane Brown, assistant professor of women’s studies
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” said Awale Osman ’15, a McNair research scholar
whose project almost perfectly aligned with his desired career path. Osman began his
undergraduate education at a community college before transferring to Augsburg, and
his research project involved examining the establishment and evolution of women’s
studies, the emergence of gender and masculinity studies, and current dialogue
regarding the field. This work allowed him to combine his interests in communications
and women’s studies into a project that enhanced his academic skills.
Osman would like to return to a community college one day—this time as a
professor instead of as a student. Osman chose his research topic in order to establish
a foundation in the research he hopes will be incorporated in a future doctoral program
that will, eventually, lead to a teaching role in higher education. “I realize I have to be
grounded to be successful in my track,” he said. “So, I’m going for it.”
Women’s Studies
MORE ANSWERS
Summer 2014
27
Biology
Photo by Bill Capman
Q: What is it?
A: The parasitic plant dodder (Cuscuta
pentagona) attached to a host plant from which it
acquires all its water and nutrients.
LUCY BUKOWSKI ’16
Major: Biology, Minor: Environmental Studies
Research mentor: Bill Capman, associate
professor of biology
Courtesy image
Augsburg College students have studied the interactions between dodder and its host
plants since 2008, and this summer Lucy Bukowski ’16 worked on an experiment testing
the hypothesis that a decline in the health of the host plant triggers the dodder to flower.
Bukowski’s project benefitted from the help of a plant pathologist at the University of
Minnesota-Twin Cities who offered greenhouse space, thus providing a larger growing
area and better growing conditions for Bukowski’s research.
Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn more
about the dodder project.
Q: What is it?
A: The Bengali pronoun “Ētā,” which is similar to the English pronoun “it.”
PRITI BHOWMIK ’15 AND BRAM OOSTERLEE ’16
Majors: Computer Science
Research mentor: Shana Watters, associate professor of computer science
Computer
Science
As international students, Priti Bhowmik ’15 and Bram Oosterlee ’16 were attracted
to research linked with the official languages of their home countries. In 2011,
Bhowmik left Bangladesh to attend Augsburg, and she seized the opportunity to use
her background in the Bengali language in combination with her computer science
major. Her research project fell in the field of computational linguistics—a branch
of linguistics in which computer science techniques are applied to the analysis
of language and speech. She explored whether the pronoun “Ētā” has the same
cognitive status as the English pronoun “it.” That is, whether a Bengali speaker, in
determining what Ētā refers to in a sentence, uses his or her short-term memory in
the same manner that an English speaker does when determining what the word “it”
refers to.
Oosterlee, a student from the Netherlands, performed a similar study by
examining the cognitive status of the Dutch pronoun “het.” Bhowmik and Oosterlee’s
work ultimately will contribute to developing systems that enhance how computers
extract information, summarize text, and translate language. One example of the
usefulness of these processes is that they increase the likelihood of returning
accurate content descriptions when doctors use digital medical reference materials
to find information that pertains specifically to a disorder.
28
Augsburg Now
GRANTS GAIN GROUND
Funding enhances the Augsburg experience
How can you better predict the weather on Earth—or in space?
Why do elementary students learn the way they do? And what
makes one person attracted to another?
Augsburg faculty and students are committed to asking
difficult questions and seeking equally complex answers. Each
year, the College’s faculty, staff, and students apply for—and
receive—prestigious grant awards to fund research, continued
scholarship, and academic travel opportunities.
There’s tough competition among grant-seeking institutions,
but Augsburg continues to gain ground and to obtain funding
for new projects. That’s because when Auggies recognize
an opportunity to improve teaching, advance scholarship, or
enhance the student experience, they ask another great question:
WHY NOT?
Participation grows across campus. More and more departments
and groups are seeking grants as a way to enhance students’
educational experience, to build the hands-on problem-solving
skills employers and graduate schools demand, and to propel
Augsburg’s research scholarship to the next level. This past
year, 13 academic departments and groups—up from just seven
departments the previous year—submitted grant proposals,
including:
1. Biology
8. Nursing
2. Chemistry
9. Physics
3. Education
10. Psychology
4. History
11. Social Work
5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration
12. Sociology
6. Mathematics
13. STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics)
7. Management Information
Systems
Here’s a brief overview of Augsburg’s recent grant
achievements:
Augsburg ranks as top-tier NSF grant recipient. Augsburg College
was ranked the top private college in Minnesota for the total
dollar amount awarded by the National Science Foundation in
2012. With three grants totaling just more than $1 million, the
College ranked third among all Minnesota institutions—behind
only the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of
Minnesota-Duluth.
Faculty steer student involvement. Tremendous faculty dedication
is part of the mix, too. More than 50 faculty and staff members
are the driving force behind the College’s 38 active grants.
These teachers coach and guide 324 students in rigorous
research related to climate change, human health, understanding
addiction, and more.
COMPILED BY STEPHANIE WEISS
GRANTS BY THE NUMBERS
Augsburg received 18 new grant awards in
2013-14—up from just seven two years earlier
At the time this publication went to print, Augsburg had 14 grant
proposals still pending, representing a total of $3.2 million
NEW
GRANTS
2012-13
2013-14
17
GRANT
PROPOSALS
24
7
$1.6 MILLION
18 NEW
GRANTS
In 2013-14, Augsburg submitted 24 grant proposals—
up from 17 the prior year
1%
The BREAKDOWN of grants*
by sponsor type
PRIVATE
GRANTS
10%
STATE
GRANTS
89
%
FEDERAL
GRANTS
GRANT
PROPOSALS
*Does not include grants secured by Corporate and Foundation Relations
Summer 2014
29
ALUMNI NEWS
ways to get
involved
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
A-Club
I
Dear alumni and friends,
have served as a member of the Augsburg College Alumni
Board for more than six years, and I am looking forward
to taking on the role of president. During my time on the
Alumni Board, I have seen an increase in the level of our
alumni engagement with the College, and I am inspired by the
alumni who were generous on Give to the Max Day; the alumni who volunteered by planning reunions or mentoring current
students; and the alumni who have invested in Augsburg’s top
priority—the campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion.
Like many of you, I care deeply about this College. Augsburg is one of the most
diverse private colleges in Minnesota, serving more than 2,700 undergraduate students
and 838 graduate students participating in nine advanced degree programs. Augsburg is
committed to its Lutheran heritage with an eye on the 21st century.
At this year’s Commencement, we welcomed hundreds of new members to our
Alumni Association. As alumni, we are a product of Augsburg College and benefit from
its local and national reputation. Alumni play a vital role in the rich history, present success, and future vision of the College.
I invite you to join me and fellow Auggies who are making a difference in the life of
the College.
Sincerely,
CHRIS HALLIN ’88, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Photo by Mark Chamberlain
ALUMNI BOARD
Front Row [L to R]: Chris Hallin ’88, Marie
Odenbrett ’01, Jill Watson ’10 MBA, Sharon
Engelland ’87, Melissa Hoepner ’92, Patricia
Jesperson ’94, Adriana Matzke ’13; Back Row
[L to R]: Brent Peroutka ’02, Adrienne Kuchler
Eldridge ’02, Meg Schmidt Sawyer ’00, Sarah
Grans ’01, Nick Rathmann ’02, Tracy Severson
’95, Rick Bonlender ’78; Not Pictured: Rachel
Engebretson ’98, Frank Grazzini ’96, Holly
Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA, Michael Loney ’03,
Sharon Mercill ’09, Jerry Polland ’92, Greg
Schnagl ’91, Nick Slack ’02, Nick Swanson ’09
The Augsburg College Alumni Board is pleased to welcome new members.
ADRIENNE KUCHLER ELDRIDGE ’02 graduated from Augsburg with a major
in youth and family ministry and a minor in sociology. As a student, she was
involved in Campus Ministry and Residence Life, served as an orientation leader,
and studied abroad. Today Eldridge works at River’s Edge Academy charter school.
This fall, she will begin a graduate program at St. Catherine University, where she
plans to study ethics and leadership.
“I chose Augsburg for my college education as an undergrad student because
of the Youth and Family Ministry program and [the College’s] solid Lutheran values.
My experiences at Augsburg were always hands-on, service-oriented, and growth-filled.”
30
Augsburg Now
All new Alumni Board member
photos by Mark Chamberlain.
The A-Club is an organization of
former and current Augsburg College
athletes—as well as friends of the
College—committed to providing
student-athletes with the opportunity
to have a quality athletic experience.
A-Club members participate in events,
service projects, and fundraising
initiatives that support Auggie athletic
teams, the athletic department, and
the mission of the College.
Alumni Board
The Alumni Board is the governing
body of the Alumni Association.
Together with the Office of Alumni
and Constituent Relations, the
Alumni Board provides resources and
opportunities to engage alumni with
the College and each other through
consistent communication, inclusive
programming, and intentional
relationship building.
Auggie in Residence
The Auggie in Residence program is
a way for alumni and friends of the
College to share their professional
expertise and vocation. This flexible
program allows the community to
connect with current students, faculty,
and staff members through a variety of
opportunities that range from speaking
to a class to having lunch with a
student organization.
Augsburg Builds Connections (ABC)
The ABC mentoring program is
designed to enable alumni and parent
professionals to provide information,
encouragement, and support to
students. This flexible volunteer
program allows mentors to connect
with students via email, phone, or
face-to-face meetings and assist them
in navigating their career paths and
achieving their professional goals.
Augsburg College Associates
MELISSA HOEPNER ’92 attended Augsburg from 1988 to 1990 before transferring
to California Lutheran University where, in 1992, she graduated with a major in
psychology and a minor in art. Today, Hoepner is a human resources consultant.
As an alumna, she has remained involved by serving as a mentor for current
students. She has also served as a member of the church council at Peace
Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minn., and is a programming volunteer with the
Twin Cities Human Resources Association.
PATRICIA JESPERSON ’94 graduated from Augsburg’s Weekend College with a
major in business administration and minor in marketing. She serves as the
area vice president for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Jesperson’s career in business
has been distinguished by her extensive volunteer experiences in the areas of
program development and diversity.
“While I see Augsburg as innovative and inclusive in its approach to
education, I also see this as a time for significant change and opportunity in
private, four-year educational programs—a time that drives the need to think
beyond the box in light of competition from MOOCs [Massive Open Online Courses], for-profit colleges,
technical programs, the economy, etc. It’s an exciting time to be part of a team invested in Augsburg’s
long-term success.”
ADRIANA MATZKE ’13 graduated from Augsburg’s Weekend College with a degree
in business management. She serves as the director of financial assistance and
admissions coordinator for The Blake School. Matzke served a year on the parish
council at her church, and on Blake’s original diversity committee. She and her
husband served as presenters with World Wide Marriage Encounter.
“I am confident that serving on the Alumni Board will be a positive way
for me to give back to the community and to stay connected to a school that
I felt so a part of for the last few years. I am a strong advocate for the [adult
undergraduate] program and would love to help find ways to support other students.”
NICK RATHMANN ’02 graduated from Augsburg with a degree in education. As
a student, he played on the baseball and basketball teams and worked in the
athletics office. His experience as a student prepared him for his career serving
as the director of athletics and PK-12 physical education department chair for
The Blake School. Rathmann volunteers for his church, and serves on The Blake
Road Collaborative.
“Serving on the Alumni Board will give me an incredible opportunity to give
back to a school that has given me so much. Augsburg was a transformational
experience for me, and anything I can do to help others have that same type of experience is important
to me.”
MEG SCHMIDT SAWYER ’00 graduated from Augsburg with a major in business
administration and a minor in information systems. As a student, she played
hockey, softball, and golf. She was involved in Campus Ministry, a contributor for
The Echo, a Regents and Community Service Scholar, and part of the studentathlete mentor program. Today she is the chief communications officer for Youth
Encounter. She has served on the A-Club Board, and was inducted into the
Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame for women’s hockey in 2012.
“I had a life-changing experience at Augsburg College and welcome the
opportunity to give back to the College that made me who I am today.”
GREG SCHNAGL ’91 graduated from Augsburg with a major in management and minors in economics
and management information systems. As a student, he played football and hockey. He is the founder
and editor of TeacherCentricity.com. Schnagl is pursuing an advanced degree in educational leadership
at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He taught elementary and middle school for the past twenty
years, both nationally and internationally. His most recent position was in the Centennial School District
where he also served as a coach and board member for Centennial Youth Hockey Association.
“I am looking to deepen my commitment to Augsburg by engaging in a leadership role designed to
facilitate the financial and personal participation of alumni and promote the benefits of an Augsburg
education to future students.”
The Augsburg College Associates
is a service auxiliary of volunteers
whose mission includes fundraising
for special projects and scholarships.
The Associates’ commitment to the
College is evident in the group’s
ongoing support of fundraising events
including estate sales, Velkommen
Jul, and the Scandinavian boutique.
Funds raised each year support special
projects and scholarships.
Augsburg Women Engaged (AWE)
AWE is a catalyst for tapping the
potential for women to connect, learn,
and give. AWE members believe all
women have knowledge, experience,
and resources to share. Therefore,
Augsburg alumnae are invited to make
meaningful connections with and for
women by participating with an AWE
Action Team.
Campus Kitchen
The Campus Kitchen program at
Augsburg College makes healthy food
accessible to people in and around the
Cedar-Riverside neighborhood while
also providing opportunities for service
learning, leadership development, and
engagement between the College and
community. Campus Kitchen serves
2,000 meals a month at community
centers, provides about 80 community
garden spaces on campus, hosts two
farmers markets, and offers educational
programming to the community.
College Liaisons
Augsburg College Liaisons are alumni,
parents, and friends of the College
from across the U.S. and around
the world who serve as an extension
of the College by connecting with
prospective students at college fairs.
Dozens of fairs are held each year—in
high schools, churches, hotels, and
conference centers. College Liaisons
help to describe the Augsburg
experience to interested students and
their families.
Summer 2014
31
Augsburg Centennial Singers
honor Al Reesnes ’58
The Augsburg Centennial Singers, men of
faith sharing that faith through songs of
praise, honored Al Reesnes ’58 by performing a
special concert in mid-May at House of Prayer
Centennial Singers [L to R]: Paul Christensen ’59,
Mert Strommen ’42, and Al Reesnes ’58
Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
Reesnes served as director of the group for 11 years and will move from his
leadership position to a vocalist role with the ensemble. Paul Christensen ’59 succeeded Reesnes as director of the Singers. Christensen is the third director for the
group, which was established in 1993 under the direction of Mert Strommen ’42.
The chorus originally was formed by former Augsburg quartet members who came
together to sing for the College’s Homecoming celebration. The group traveled to
Norway in 1994 to mark the centennial of the first Augsburg College gospel quartet,
and toured again in Norway in 2001.
Courtesy Photo
A 500-year anniversary
celebration in Germany, October 2016
On October 31, 2017 Lutherans
worldwide will mark the 500th
anniversary of when Martin Luther
posted the 95 Theses on the church
doors in Wittenberg, Germany. Augsburg
College is rooted in the faith and values
of the Lutheran church and is offering
alumni and friends of the College the
opportunity to learn about this heritage.
For travelers interested in discovering
more about the Germany of Luther
and the Reformation, October 2016
is a great opportunity to make the
pilgrimage! Join Hans Wiersma and
Mark Tranvik, Augsburg College religion
faculty members and Reformation
32
Augsburg Now
historians, for an enriching experience
in the Land of Luther.
The tour itinerary includes stops in
the German cities of Berlin, Dresden,
Eisenach, Erfurt, and Leipzig and in
Prague, Czech Republic. This is an
opportunity to explore the connections
among people, cultures, and historical
events while examining the Reformation
as an ongoing influence in the 21st
century.
To receive updates about this
alumni tour as plans are finalized, email
alumni@augsburg.edu, or call
612-330-1085 to be included on a
mailing list.
Photo by Ben Krouse-Gagne ’11
ALUMNI NEWS
ways to get
involved
Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL)
Alumni Board
The MAL Alumni Board engages MAL
students and alumni in advancing
the Center for Leadership Studies at
Augsburg College.
Parent and Family Council
The Parent and Family Council
includes parents and families of
current Augsburg students, and helps
Augsburg families stay up to date on
campus events and feel connected
with students and the College.
Scholastic Connections
Scholastic Connections is a
scholarship and mentorship program
for high-achieving undergraduate
students of color at Augsburg
College. The program is designed to
assist students in completing their
undergraduate degrees. Through
career planning and development
support, it prepares them to be
engaged, successful citizens of the
world upon graduation.
StepUP® Advisory Board
StepUP is a program for men and
women pursuing a college education
while in recovery from addiction. The
StepUP Advisory Board increases
philanthropic support for, and visibility
of, the program’s endowment.
Young Alumni Council
This volunteer group is comprised of
alumni who have graduated within
the previous 10 years. The Young
Alumni Council’s mission is to
provide dynamic and engaging social
and educational opportunities for
alumni. Members serve as an advisory
council to the Office of Alumni and
Constituent Relations.
To participate, email
alumni@augsburg.edu.
AUGSBURG ALUMNI HONOR
Archive p
hotos
ED SAUGESTAD ’59
THROUGH FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE
Ed Saugestad ’59 is “plain and simply, a legend,” according to
Jeff Swenson ’79, Augsburg College athletic director. Saugestad
led the Auggie men’s hockey team to 503 victories and three
national championships. He was football coach and athletic
director. The ice arena’s main rink carries his name.
But the legacy of “Big Man,” who died in March of
pancreatic cancer after serving Augsburg for 39 years and
retiring in 1996, goes far beyond athletics. As a soft-spoken
teacher, mentor, and source of courage and inspiration, he
made a difference. If Corky Hall ’71 is any indication, he also
instilled generosity and gratitude.
“He is the person who kindled the fire in me, and I think
he did that for many, many people,” Hall said. He and his wife,
Lori, led the charge to name Saugestad Hall in the Center for
Science, Business, and Religion (CSBR) with their $25,000
pledge—a first step toward the $150,000 naming goal and
a tribute to the CSBR as a visual symbol of strength and
connection.
When we build the CSBR, “[Augsburg’s] facilities will grow
to match the quality of our faculty,” said Hall. “Coach had a
huge effect on all of us.”
A gifted athlete who became both hockey and football
captain, Hall had few academic expectations when he entered
Augsburg. His parents hadn’t finished high school, no one in
his family had attended college, and homework was a foreign
concept. Yet, one day, he managed to ace a test in Saugestad’s
tough physiology class.
“Ed was the first person to tell me that I was smart,”
he recalled. “He set me on a path I wouldn’t have found
otherwise.” That path led him to a career that included starting,
with classmate Bill Urseth ’71, one of the nation’s leading
promotional marketing agencies, U.S. Communications, U.S.
Restaurants, and U.S. Studios; launching a brand consultancy,
Hall Batko; and founding Stellus Consulting, which helps
corporate leaders envision and brand their companies.
It also led him to realize that great mentoring builds strong
bridges—between athletics and academics, between teachers
and students, and between gratitude and giving back.
“Augsburg needs great facilities for athletes to develop
their academic side,” he said. “Ed made the bridge for me
between athletics and academics, and if I hadn’t gotten strong
academics at Augsburg, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
I want to give a gift that says ‘thank you’ to Ed for making such a
difference in my life.”
Hall has found that his fellow
Augsburg alumni have similar gratitude for
Saugestad’s commitment and are willing to
echo his “thank you.”
“Corky is so respected by the Augsburg
community that, when he steps forward, he sets
a tone with his leadership. That’s the momentum
we need,” said Keith Stout, Augsburg College
director of principal gifts. “He wants everyone
involved, participating at any level. If they’re grateful for their
time with Ed, it’s their chance to honor his legacy.”
By May, the initiative had raised $105,000.
“He deserves it,” Hall said. “Ed did so much to make our
lives better. Now it’s our turn.”
Get Social
Find Augsburg Alumni across a variety of social media channels.
“Like” the Augsburg College Alumni Association on
Facebook for fun contests, trivia, photos, news, and more.
facebook.com/AugsburgAlumni
Tag @Augsburg_Alumni in your tweets, and the College
may help share your news. Or, simply follow
@Augsburg_Alumni on Twitter to learn about upcoming
events and read College updates.
twitter.com/augsburg_alumni
Make connections with fellow Auggies and join
discussions about careers and networking through the
Augsburg College Alumni group on LinkedIn.
goo.gl/UJ9BkO
Check out the “Auggies through the ages” board on
Pinterest for a slice of College history.
pinterest.com/augsburgcollege
Visit Augsburg’s YouTube channel for a video archive of
alumni lectures, events, and more.
youtube.com/augsburgcollege
No matter where you are in the world, you can join the Augsburg
College social media conversation!
Summer
Spring 2014
2014
17
33
ALUMNI NEWS
HOMECOMING 2014
SEPTEMBER 22-27
IS BACK!
Save the date for Give to the Max Day 2014.
On Thursday, November 13, Augsburg College
once again will participate in Give to the Max
Day, a one-day online giving event in which
donors around the world support their favorite
Minnesota nonprofits.
Give to the Max Day is also a competition,
and last year Augsburg raised more money
than any other Minnesota college or
university. A total of 837 donors gave more
than $313,000 to Augsburg in just 24
hours. Augsburg also placed fourth among all
nonprofits overall. Many alumni, parents, and
friends took to social media throughout the
day to share Augsburg’s rankings and to keep
tabs on the College’s progress.
Augsburg faculty, staff, and students
from across campus are preparing for
another successful Give to the Max Day by
setting up their own fundraising projects
and encouraging donors to support Augsburg
causes close to their hearts—such as
volleyball, student research funding, the
StepUP® program, and more. There is no limit
to the number of projects donors can give
to. In fact, many Augsburg donors gave to
multiple projects last year.
Watch for updates about Give to the Max Day in
the coming months.
For more information, contact Martha Truax at
612-330-1652 or truaxm@augsburg.edu.
34
Augsburg Now
Homecoming 2014 is a great time to come home to Augsburg. Alumni,
families, and friends—get ready for a fun-filled week of celebration. New
events along with old favorites make this one of the best times to visit
campus. Go to augsburg.edu/homecoming to find additional information
and to register.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Friday, September 26
Saturday, September 27
Homecoming Convocation with
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Taste of Augsburg
Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center,
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Recognizing the First Decade, Spirit
of Augsburg, and Distinguished
Alumni Award winners.
Faculty and Faculty Emeriti
Meet and Greet
Old Main, 4 p.m.
Reconnect with faculty from
your time at Augsburg College
and take the opportunity to meet
current faculty from a variety of
departments.
Auggie Hours
Old Main, 6 to 8:15 p.m.
Back by popular demand, this
homecoming social hour is being
brought to campus.
Homecoming Weekend Fireworks
Murphy Square, 8:15 p.m.
All are invited to kick-off
homecoming weekend with a full
fireworks display.
Murphy Square, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This event includes carnival-style
booths operated by student groups,
alumni, and local restaurants, as
well as games, inflatable bounce
houses, and fun for the entire
family.
Homecoming Football Game vs.
Gustavus Adolphus College
Edor Nelson Field, 1 p.m.
Cheer on the Auggie football team
as they take on the Gustavus
Gusties.
Auggie Block Party
Parking Lot K, 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Immediately following the football
game, enjoy live music, s’mores,
and more.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
77
70
Ray Hanson is working
for TASC, Inc. Hanson
is a scientist working on
countermeasures for multi-drugresistant bacteria.
72
Kathleen Edmond joined the
law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi LLP as counsel with
the business litigation group in
Minneapolis. She most recently
served as chief ethics officer at
Best Buy. Edmond serves as an
advisory board member for the
University of St. Thomas Law
School where she provides curriculum guidance for the master’s
degree in organizational ethics
and compliance. She is also an
executive fellow at the Center for
Ethical Business Cultures at the
University of St. Thomas.
Sonja (Daniels) Zapchenk has served Eaglecrest, a Presbyterian
Homes community in Roseville, Minn., for 20 years and is now
recreation and volunteer director. She is also the intergenerational
coordinator, which provides the special opportunity to lead
activities for senior residents and the toddlers and preschoolers
who attend a childcare center in the same facility.
74
William “Bill” Axness is the
2014 Minnesota Society
of Health-System Pharmacists
(MSHP) Hallie Bruce Memorial
Lecture Award recipient. The
award is presented to an individual of high moral character, good
citizenship, and high professional
ideals who has made significant
contributions to the profession of
pharmacy in Minnesota. Axness
is a pharmacy manager at Allina
Hospice and Palliative Care.
79
Rev. David Halaas was
installed as pastor of St.
Mark Lutheran Church in Sioux
City, Iowa.
87
Jenni Lilledahl co-founded
the new Twin Cities location
of Gilda’s Club after losing her
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
69
Janis “Matty” Mathison had a banner
year in 2013. She organized Walk to
School programs at several schools, served
on the Board of Shawano Pathways (a
Shawano, Wis., group promoting safer and
better pedestrian and cyclist opportunities),
raised $20,000 in matching grant funds for
sister, Teri Svare, to cancer. Gilda’s
Club serves cancer patients and
those who love them. Named after
Saturday Night Live comedian
Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian
cancer, this new clubhouse is
a place where cancer patients
and their families and friends
can de-stress in the mind-body
studio, take a nutrition class in the
kitchen, and meet with others for
emotional and social support. Not
only is Gilda’s Club an oasis for
those touched by cancer, it offers
all of its services free of charge.
62
Shawano Pathways, and led the effort to host
a supported bike tour of Shawano County
called Bike the Barn Quilts. Wisconsin Public
Television came to Shawano to interview her
about the bike tour, which in its first year drew
180 participants and 50 volunteers. Mathison
also organized a large fundraiser for a former
student who was battling brain cancer. These
and many other community contributions
earned Mathison the “Distinguished Citizen
of the Year” award for Shawano County. This
year, she is planning the second Bike the Barn
Quilts ride, organizing a Let’s Get Moving!
campaign, and finalizing maps for Park to
Park walking and biking routes in the city of
Shawano. She also was among the inaugural
inductees into the new Wisconsin Volleyball
Coaches Hall of Fame.
89
Sue Hakes has been
selected as a 2014 Bush
Fellow. The Bush Foundation
is committed to supporting and
developing leaders who are better
equipped and better networked to
effectively lead change. The work
of the fellowship is to blend opportunities for personal development
with efforts to effectively engage
with others.
In January, Luther Seminary honored Pastor Ron
Nelson with the 2014 Faithfulness in Ministry
Cross Award, which recognizes seminary alumni
who have demonstrated exemplary ministries
as a symbol of the multitudes of graduates who
serve faithfully wherever they are called.
90
Jennifer Carlson moved back to
Washington, D.C., in fall 2011. In
December 2013, she accepted a position
with Evolent Health as director of technical
project management for data warehouse client
implementations. She was in Italy for 10 days
this past October.
Summer 2014
35
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
89
Brynn (Mundahl) Watson was honored by Lockheed Martin with a 2013 Full Spectrum
Leadership NOVA Award. The company grants the NOVA Award to select employees who
have made outstanding contributions to customers, business, and strategic goals. In a
workforce of more than 115,000, only 58 awards were granted in 2013.
in income. As part of his award,
Thrivent Financial will donate
$5,000 in his name to VEAP, and
he will be recognized at a national
conference in front of his peers.
89
Devoney Looser has taken
a position as professor of
English at Arizona State University.
She and her husband, George
Justice, are Jane Austen scholars
and were featured in a chapter of
Deborah Yaffe’s book, Among the
Janeites: A Journey Through the
World of Jane Austen Fandom.
90
Alex Gonzalez, a member of
the Augsburg College Board
of Regents, received the 2013
Thrivent Financial “Volunteer of
the Year” award for work in his
community. Gonzalez is one of three
financial representatives recognized
for community involvement and
generosity out of the more than
2,400 Thrivent Financial representatives nationwide.
Gonzalez works with Volunteers
Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), an
organization with service programs
that help alleviate the financial
stress that low-income individuals
and families face as the result of
unexpected expenses or lapses
Beth (Josephson) Cronk
completed the master of
library and information science
degree through the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee in December.
She is the Meeker County librarian
for Pioneerland Library System.
01
Carrie (Lind) Cabe earned a
master of arts degree with a
community education administration emphasis from the University
of St. Thomas in 2013. She is
the community resources and
adult involvement coordinator for
Edina Public Schools Community
Education.
08
Sara Horishnyk is enrolled
in the arts and cultural
management graduate program at
St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.
06
Maureen Parker Marrandino
with her husband, Martin
Marrandino, and son, Cyrus,
welcomed daughter Penelope
Carol on January 11.
06
Sara Schlipp-Riedel and
Aaron Riedel ’07 welcomed
daughter Charlotte Elizabeth on
New Year’s Eve 2013.
10
In April, Roxanne (Johnson)
Nelson accepted a new job
as a rebate assistant at Donaldson
Company in the engine aftermarket
rebate program.
68
Augsburg Now
Maja Lisa FritzHuspen was
married May 25, 2013, to
Don Roupe. Auggies from the
Class of 2004 attending included
Adam Nugent, Carolina (Chiesa)
Nugent, and Jennifer (Holm)
Schmitt. FritzHuspen is selfemployed as an opera singer and
voice teacher.
93
In February, a Rotary Club in Loveland, Colo., honored Earl Sethre with
its Citizen of the Year Award. The award recognizes a non-Rotarian in the
community who lives out the four-way test, which asks the
questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it
build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to
all concerned? Sethre stood out to the selection committee
because of his charitable work and the number of groups
he serves.
36
04
09
Abby Ferjak married Becca
Seely on September 1
at Yale Divinity School in New
Haven, Conn. Attendants included
Bethany Hellerich, Stephanie
(Holman) Hubbard, and Kayla
Skarbakka, Augsburg College
alumnae from the Class of 2009.
12
Alison (Witt) Ellertson married Cory Ellertson ’11 in
June 2013. Four Auggies pictured
at the wedding are [L to R]: Ashley
Kappes ’11, Alison, Cory, and
Brittany Rueb ’11.
AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Beth Franklin was featured in
a Star Tribune article in which
she described how her studies
led her to a “dream job” as a
Certified Public Accountant at
a firm serving writers, artists,
and musicians. At Augsburg,
Franklin had a double major in
music business and accounting.
The article quoted her as
saying, “I thought I’d work in
international business or for
Sony in New York. The first day
of class, the professor said,
‘Accounting is the most fun
you could have with a pencil.’ I
took my first test and aced it. I
decided, ‘I like this.’”
09
06
While at Augsburg, Kasey Yoder started
coaching youth hockey and has seen his
hard work pay off. During 2013-14, his first
year at Orono (Minn.) High School, he took
his team to the state hockey tournament. He also
was selected Section 2A Coach of the Year. Yoder
says one of the most exciting challenges in coaching
high school hockey is keeping the kids focused,
especially with everything else they have going on
in their lives. Yoder works to help young people find
balance while still being committed to success at
the arena.
WE ARE CALLED.
AUGGIES.
Andrew Kent served as goalie coach for the
Finland women’s hockey team during the
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. A
goalie for the Augsburg men’s hockey team
from 2005 to 2009, Kent turned his love of
hockey into a profession and serves as a
director of goaltender development for MEGA
Goaltending, a Twin Cities-based development
center for hockey goalies. He also has served
as a volunteer goalie coach for the University
of Minnesota’s women’s hockey
team for the past four seasons,
which led to his role on the
Finland coaching staff for the
Olympics.
09
14
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
While studying elementary education at Augsburg, Josh Thelemann
founded a nonprofit organization that
takes at-risk kids off the streets and
provides programs that give them a
fair shot. He named it SOS (Saving
Our Schools).
RESOURCE promoted Heidi
Kammer ’00 MSW from director
of its center for recovery services
to vice president of chemical and
mental health. She is regarded
highly by her peers and has
a passionate commitment to
RESOURCE’s mission of reducing
the disparities experienced by
the people they serve. Once
functioning as two separate
divisions, RESOURCE’s chemical
and mental health programs are in
the process of being integrated.
Susie Schatz ’09 MSW was
named director of advocacy
and volunteer services for St.
Paul-based Lutheran Social
Service of Minnesota, the state’s
oldest and largest human service
organization. In the new position,
she oversees advocacy efforts
to improve services and public
policies for people served by
the statewide organization. She
also oversees volunteer efforts
across Minnesota that advance
the mission of Lutheran Social
Service.
John Cerrito wrote the article “It’s Not
About Getting a Job, It’s About Finding a
Vocation,” for College News. In the story, he
described how internship opportunities at a
Twin Cities radio station helped him discover
and develop an enjoyable career before he
completed his degree.
11
Summer 2014
37
In memoriam
JOHN AND NORMA PAULSON
The Atrium-Link, funded in part by the Paulson family, is adorned with
a Dala horse, a nod to John’s pride in his Swedish heritage. The link is
named in memory of John’s parents, Rose E. and Johnny E. Paulson, and is
dedicated by John R. Paulson, Sr., and his children, John Reid Paulson, Mary
Jo (Paulson) Peterson ’80, Deborah Stansbury, Laurie (Paulson) Dahl ’76,
and Lisa Paulson ’80.
This summer, scenes of remembrance and honor unfolded on the the Center for Science, Business, and Religion—a capital project
John’s daughter Lisa said is fitting given her family’s numerous
beaches of Normandy as World War II veterans and their loved
career ties to the health, science, and business fields.
ones marked the 70th anniversary of D-Day—the battle recogAugsburg College President Emeritus William Frame recalls
nized as the largest sea invasion in history. The occasion was
that John and Norma were passionate about their family and
reminiscent of commemorations attended years ago by John and
friends, their hobbies and interests, and their call to better the
Norma Paulson, caring parents of Augsburg alumni and generous
world. “They were a sight from the 1930s—John driving Norma
benefactors of Augsburg College. John returned to France several
in a Packard touring car up to Augsburg House, stamping down
times as a D-Day +1 survivor. Norma joined him as a passionate
to applause…more of his panache than of his great car,” Frame
steward of history. And, together, they formed a couple who—
said. “That’s the way they ‘drove up’ to the dedication of the
when abroad—could unite people across countries and—when at
Link” and their gifts to the College.
home in Minnesota—could connect a congregation, campus, or
Throughout their lives, John
community.
and Norma connected the past to
John, who passed away June
the present and future. Whether
7, 2012—68 years to the day
Norma was funding fieldtrips for
after D-Day +1—and Norma,
grade school students from her
who passed away March 5, are
hometown of Redwood Falls,
remembered for their commitMinn. to visit the Minnesota
ted involvement in Twin Cities
Historical Society in St. Paul or
organizations ranging from Rotary
John was contributing to an organ
to Shriners, and from the Classic
fund that allowed young musiCar Club of America to the Purple
cians to practice, the Paulsons
Heart Association. The Paulsons
ensured future generations could
were successful in their careers—
At the 60th anniversary commemoration of D-Day,
engage with varying aspects of
John as a builder and Norma as a
Norma and John met and talked with actor Tom Hanks.
history.
banker—and made deeply meaningAugsburg College Pastor Emeritus David Wold recalls the
ful philanthropic gifts throughout their lives.
Paulsons as “people of tremendous faith and commitment.”
While neither John nor Norma attended Augsburg, three of
“I learned so much from John in my days at Calvary Lutheran
John’s children and a son-in-law are alumni of the College—Mary
Church and in my years at Augsburg College,” Wold said. “I
Jo (Paulson) Peterson ’80, Laurie (Paulson) Dahl ’76, David Dahl ’75,
learned about patriotism…about work ethic, about family,
and Lisa Paulson ’80. The couple’s lifetime gifts to Augsburg
about resiliency through tragedy, about benevolence, and about
exceed $2 million. In 2001, the Paulson family provided major
Packards.”
funding to complete the Atrium-Link that connects Lindell
And, Wold says he learned about the Paulsons’ “commitment
Library via skyway to an atrium between Memorial and Sverdrup
to the young and the old and to those in between.”
halls and, in 2006, they were early donors to the campaign for
38
Augsburg Now
In memoriam
Ruth A. (Guldseth) Kallevig ’43,
New Hope, Minn., age 92, on
January 29.
Cora A. (Rishovd) Steen ’44,
Phoenix, Ariz., age 93, on
January 26.
Tenner C. Thompson II ’45,
Alexandria, Minn., age 89, on
December 23.
Willis H. Johnson ’47, Willmar,
Minn., age 88, on November 1.
Carroll N. Anderson ’48, Madison,
Wis., age 89, on April 6.
Sylvia G. (Sateren) Elness ’48,
Turlock, Calif., age 87, on
December 1.
Carl N. Germundson ’48, New
Brighton, Minn., age 92, on
February 24.
Gloria (Gregguson) Johnson ’48,
Golden Valley, Minn., age 87,
on April 23.
Richard “Dick” V. Lucas ’50,
Jordan, Minn., age 87, on
January 18.
Ida Marie (Eggen) Benson ’51,
Wanamingo, Minn., age 83, on
December 24.
Wayne E. Sampson ’51,
Stillwater, Minn., age 84, on
February 22.
Bernice E. Broberg ’52, Dunseith,
N.Dak., age 83, on February 13.
Glenn E. Sieth ’52, Appleton,
Wis., age 84, on January 31.
Professor Emeritus Erwin D.
Mickelberg ’54, Bloomington,
Minn., age 87, on May 3.
Helen (Halvorson) Hjermstad ’55,
Jacksonville, Fla., age 80, on
March 17.
Ruth L. (Loland) Jarvis ’56,
Greenacres, Wash., age 79, on
March 30.
Arthur N. Johnson ’58, Crystal,
Minn., age 82, on December 1.
Gary E. Turner ’58, Hemmet,
Calif., age 78, on April 13.
Marcus W. Johnson ’59,
Moundsview, Minn., age 76, on
November 27.
Ock “Peggy” H. (Kim) Moss ’59,
Longwood, Fla., age 78, on
January 11.
Professor Emeritus Edwin J.
Saugestad ’59, Minneapolis, age
77, on March 20.
Audrey M. (Halvorson) Hovland ’61,
Alexandria, Minn., age 76, on
February 25.
Jeanette “Jeanie” L. (Robinson)
Thorpe ’62, Kandiyohi, Minn.,
age 73, on February 27.
Judy (Thompson) Eiler ’65,
Minneapolis, age 70, on
January 25.
John A. Fundingsland ’69, Eden
Prairie, Minn., age 67, on
November 26.
Stephen E. Smestad ’70, St. Clair,
Minn., age 65, on February 2.
Lavonne “Vonnie” L. Pearson ’73,
St. Paul, age 63, on April 19.
Kevin L. Boettcher ’84, Eagan,
Minn., age 52, on March 23.
Send us your news and photos
Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and
births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300 dpi
or a 1MB file.)
For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral
notice, or program from a memorial service.
Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to:
Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave.,
Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also
submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni.
______________________________________________________
Full name
______________________________________________________
Maiden name
______________________________________________________
Class year or last year attended
______________________________________________________
Street address
______________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP code
Is this a new address? q Yes q No
______________________________________________________
Home telephone
______________________________________________________
Email
Okay to publish your email address? q Yes q No
______________________________________________________
Employer
Richard T. Olson ’86,
Minneapolis, age 55, on
December 9.
______________________________________________________
Position
Sean A. Danforth ’91, Monticello,
Minn., age 45, on February 1.
______________________________________________________
Work telephone
Susan G. (Strawn) Strawn-Whitney
’94, Excelsior, Minn., age 48,
on April 27.
Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No
Melinda R. Longfors ’02, Maple
Grove, Minn., age 34, on
January 28.
______________________________________________________
Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable)
Rae S. Ormsby ’03, Pine Island,
Minn., age 68, on February 14.
Professor Emerita Beverly C.
Durkee, Edina, Minn., age 83,
on March 31.
If yes, class year___________________________________________
Your news:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg.
Wayne C. Johnson ’58,
Minneapolis, age 83, on
March 10.
Summer 2014
39
IT TAKES AN AUGGIE
AN AUGSBURG LEGACY
LARRY AND CHERYL ’89 CROCKETT
Whether they are traveling five states
by motorcycle from Minnesota to
Tennessee, he’s teaching across
two of Augsburg College’s academic
departments, or she’s pursuing an
undergraduate degree while raising
toddlers, there’s one thing Larry and
Cheryl ’89 Crockett know well: How
to cross boundaries to arrive at a
destination that expands their horizons
and inspires others.
40
Augsburg Now
The Crocketts have a shared love
for exploring the richness that exists at
the intersections of seemingly different
frontiers. For more than 30 years, Larry
has served as an Augsburg professor of
religion and computer science. During
that time, Cheryl has experienced—
both as a student and as an Augsburg
volunteer—the rich conversations that
cross disciplines at the College.
That’s why the Crocketts decided
to make a $50,000 estate gift to the
Augsburg College campaign for the
Center for Science, Business, and
Religion (CSBR).
Both Larry and Cheryl recognize that
students in today’s world must engage in
discussions and solve complex problems
in a multinational world where science,
business, and religion intersect. And,
they’re helping to pollinate those
conversations by supporting the CSBR:
Augsburg’s boundary-breaking academic
building.
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
To read more about Larry and Cheryl or to learn about the Center
for Science, Business, and Religion, go to augsburg.edu/now.
GET IT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW
Get the print edition of Augsburg Now, and more,
on your Apple or Android tablet.
Current and previous digital issues of Augsburg Now are moving out of Apple Newsstand and into a new standalone app called “Augsburg Gallery,” available on your Apple or Android tablet and offering readers even more
dynamic content. This digital experience allows you to interact with the content in a whole new way.
The new Augsburg Gallery app includes the latest issue of Augsburg Now and a special publication called
President’s Messages 2012-14. To find this new app on your tablet, search for “Augsburg Gallery” (include the
quotation marks in your search) on the Apple App Store or Google Play. For more information, go to augsburg.
edu/now/tablet.
These tablet versions are available.
AUGGIE HAS AN
APP FOR THAT!
Augsburg Gallery app
The current issue is available in
the new Augsburg Gallery app.
Photo by Tom Roster
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Auggies go green!
Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow was one of several Auggies to take an inaugural ride on
the Metro Transit Green Line during its grand opening June 14. The Green Line runs from downtown
St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis and is the second Light Rail Transit (LRT) line to pass through
Cedar-Riverside—the only neighborhood in the Twin Cities with access to both LRT lines.
The addition of the Green Line expands student access to jobs, internships, and experiential education
opportunities; enhances safety in the neighborhood; and contributes to a vital urban environment for
all who live and work in the area.
Show less
Finding meaning in work
Auggies on the job
The future of history
CSBR gains momentum
Auggies on the soccer field
WE ARE CALLED
TO INSPIRE
PEACE
SPRING 2014 | VOL. 76, NO. 2
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Dire... Show more
Finding meaning in work
Auggies on the job
The future of history
CSBR gains momentum
Auggies on the soccer field
WE ARE CALLED
TO INSPIRE
PEACE
SPRING 2014 | VOL. 76, NO. 2
INSIDE
AUGSBURG NOW
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of Marketing
Communication
Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL
rumpza@augsburg.edu
NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
Reflective practice
As I write, I am on my way back to Minneapolis
after spending meaningful time at our Center for
Global Education campus in Cuernavaca, Mexico,
and my mind and heart are full with what I
learned and experienced alongside our students.
For more than 30 years, students who travel
to our campus in Mexico have been offered
remarkable experiences engaging local residents
in their various realities. In my short stay, I saw
this work on the ground as I was able to visit
local host families who share their homes with
our students for several weeks; an indigenous
village, where our students face the realities
of poverty and personal struggle; and a clothing assembly plant, made possible by the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), creating opportunities for economic progress and at
the same time challenging our sense of economic
well-being for workers.
This is education “off the main road,”
which I first described in 2011 (see augsburg.
edu/now/archives/summer-2011), an education
that promotes what Massachusetts Institute
of Technology professor Donald Schön called
“reflective practice,” the dynamic relationship
between learning and experience that is at the
heart of Augsburg’s academic mission.
This vision of education challenges us to
see that our various experiences are inextricably
linked with our reflection and learning. When
we see poverty, what questions do we ask, what
do we feel, what will we do? When we experience injustice, what are the causes and what
options are available for our response? When we
are jarred out of our normal perspectives, what
will we see and do? This integrated link between
experience and learning defines reflective
practice.
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
Creative Associate
This issue of Augsburg Now illustrates in
myriad ways how this commitment to reflective
practice is at the heart of an Augsburg education.
The interviews with alumni in “Finding
meaning in work” advise students to be able to
reflect upon and explain their choices (in college
activities, academic major, and career moves) as
they equip themselves for the workplace.
The story on Augsburg’s women’s soccer
team tells how the student-athletes chose to go
to Nicaragua to combine community engagement
and learning with their soccer games. They partnered with the Center for Global Education (perhaps the first Auggie team to do so), and had the
full “off the main road” educational experience.
And on and on. In the stories that follow, we
celebrate our relationships with the Mdewakanton
Sioux community, with some of the leading business people in the Twin Cities, with our Somali
neighbors in Cedar-Riverside, and even with His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who came to
campus as part of the 26th annual Nobel Peace
Prize Forum. These stories powerfully illustrate
Augsburg’s diversity, hospitality, and embrace of
“the other”—all of which point to a college community dedicated to equipping our students for
lives of meaning and purpose in the world.
Reflection and practice—small to our
students and big for the world. Our vision for
Augsburg in the 21st century. We welcome your
support and engagement in the important work
before us.
Denielle Johnson ’11
johnsod@augsburg.edu
Integrated Communication
Specialist
Laura Swanson
swansonl@augsburg.edu
Marketing Copywriter
Christina Haller
haller@augsburg.edu
Photographer
Stephen Geffre
geffre@augsburg.edu
Production Manager/Now Online
Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
Assistant Vice President
of Advancement
Kim Stone
stonek@augsburg.edu
Graphic Design
Jen Nagorski ’08
augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect official
College policy.
Faithfully yours,
ISSN 1058-1545
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Send address corrections to:
Advancement Services, CB 142
Augsburg College
2211 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
langemo@augsburg.edu
Email: now@augsburg.edu
Hennepin County Library Special Collections
Archive photo
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24
11
21
spring 2014
AUGSBURG NOW
Features
07
11
21
32
Finding meaning in work
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
The future of history
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
2014 Nobel Peace Prize Forum
BY LAURA SWANSON
Losar: Celebration of
Tibetan New Year
Departments
inside
front
cover
Notes from President Pribbenow
02 Around the Quad
16 My Auggie experience
18 It takes an Auggie
19 Auggie voices
24 Auggies on the field
26 Alumni news
16
On the cover
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama blessed Augsburg College student Tenzin Yeshi
Paichang ’16 during a keynote event at this year’s Nobel Peace Prize Forum (NPPF),
held March 1 and 7-9 in Minneapolis. When he was two years old, Paichang was
cast as the Dalai Lama in Martin Scorsese’s movie, Kundun. At the NPPF, Paichang
added a new role to his résumé—that of the Dalai Lama’s student attaché.
Read more about the NPPF on page 21.
All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated.
19
29 Alumni class notes
31 In memoriam
Designed by Laura Humes
AROUND THE QUAD
AUGSBURG IS A TOP PRODUCER
OF U.S. FULBRIGHT STUDENTS
This past fall, the U.S. Department of State recognized Augsburg College
for being among the top colleges and universities for producing Fulbright
students. The College, ranked No. 11 among master’s institutions, has had
17 Fulbright students since 2007. The Chronicle of Higher Education also
recognized the College in 2010-11 for being a top producer of Fulbrights.
Augsburg earns perfect score
Two Auggies were recognized for outstanding work as filmmakers at the 2013 Student
Film Festival hosted in November by the
Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities
(ACTC) at the Main Theatre in Minneapolis.
•
Chessdogs, an experimental film by Nial
Nelson-Hopkins ’14, won the award for
Best Experiential Film. Watch the film at
chessdogs.com.
•
Black Sun, Red Sky by J.C. Calubayan ’14
won the Best Dramatic Narrative award.
See the film at vimeo.com/71923072.
on Campus Pride Index
Augsburg College recently scored a
perfect 5 out of 5 stars on Campus Pride’s
LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index. This
tool assesses colleges and universities
across the United States on a number
of variables, including policy inclusion,
housing, campus safety, counseling,
support and institutional commitment,
academic life, student life, and recruitment and retention. Campuses that
receive the highest score are considered
“leader(s) for LGBT-inclusive policies,
programs, and practices.”
More than 150 people attended the
film fest screenings. The Student Film
Festival celebrates ACTC students’ digital
storytelling.
More than 160 students from throughout the Twin
Cities’ metro area participated in Augsburg’s third
Native American Youth Day held in January. The students
from grades 6-12 learned how post-secondary education
can influence their futures, got a feel for what college
is like, and were able to interact with current American
Indian college students.
2
Augsburg Now
Courtesy photo
Native American YOUTH DAY
Shakopee Mdewakanton scholarship
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC)
recently contributed $250,000 to increase endowed scholarships for American Indian students at Augsburg College.
This grant funding will be added to the existing SMSC
endowment fund, which was established in the mid-1990s.
The scholarship is utilized to recruit and retain talented
American Indian students who are enrolled or are eligible
for enrollment in a federally recognized tribe or are identified as American Indian by the Indian Education Act.
Bonnie Wallace
“On behalf of all those involved with our request to the
SMSC, we are absolutely thrilled and extremely appreciative of this most generous
gift. The SMSC, once again, serves as a shining example of its ongoing commitment
in the area of ‘cradle to career’ educational opportunities in our native communities, and in our case, [of providing] scholarship support to American Indian students
seeking degree completion at Augsburg College,” said Bonnie Wallace, enrolled
member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and member of the
Augsburg Board of Regents.
IME Becas scholarships
from Mexican consulate
Augsburg College was one of seven
Minnesota colleges and universities to
receive a grant from Consul Alberto Fierro
Garza, Consulate of Mexico in St. Paul. Garza
presented grants from the Instituto de los
Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME—Institute for
Mexicans Abroad) Fellowship Program to colleges and universities in Minnesota to benefit
Mexican or Mexican-American students. The
presentation took place during a ceremony
hosted by Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities (MnSCU) following the October
meeting of the Board of Trustees. A total of
$55,000 in scholarships was presented at
the ceremony, placing Minnesota among the
top states nationally for the amount received
from this competitive grant. The colleges
and universities will match the awards for a
total impact of $110,000.
THE CEDAR, AUGSBURG RECEIVE GRANT
A grant awarded to The Cedar Cultural Center and Augsburg
College will support a program to build cross-cultural
awareness, knowledge, and understanding of Somali culture through
music. One of only six grants of its type in the nation, the $200,000 award
was made as part of the highly competitive Building Bridges: Campus
Community Engagement grant by the Association of Performing Arts
Presenters funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Doris
Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.
The grant will be used to launch a two-year project titled Midnimo: Music
for Unity, Campus, and Community. Through Midnimo, the Somali word
for “unity,” Augsburg students, Cedar-Riverside residents, and the general public will engage in a series of educational and experiential events
focused on Somali music.
Spring 2014
3
AROUND THE QUAD
SPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA
SABO CENTER
for Citizenship and
2013
Learning
The November Martin Olav Sabo Symposium focused on creating
policy change and featured three panelists who spoke about
their experience working on climate change, the Minnesota
Dream Act, and marriage equality.
Speakers included Kate Knuth, Boreas Leadership Program
Coordinator at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on
the Environment and a citizen member of the Minnesota
Environmental Quality Board; Juventino Meza ’11, a founding member of NAVIGATE, a network of immigrant youth and
allies seeking to widen the path to higher education for young
people; and Sen. Scott Dibble, a third-term state senator.
Sports Extravaganza was founded in 1999 and continues to be an annual College tradition because of the
benefits it provides for Twin Cities area children, and
Augsburg health and physical education (HPE) and
exercise science students.
In mid-November, more than 200 Minnesota students
in grades 3-6 took part in the event, in which participants played adapted games and completed physical
education activities. The event is an opportunity for
Augsburg students to problem solve, use encouraging
messages and motivation techniques, and increase
their adeptness at instructing children with disibilities.
Kate Knuth
Juventino Meza ’11
Sen. Scott Dibble
STROMMEN SPEAKERS SERIES
The Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Speakers Series at Augsburg
College, which brings local business leaders to campus to share insights
and expertise, kicked off in November with John Taft, CEO at RBC Wealth
Management, and his presentation on “Stewardship: Lessons Learned
from the Lost Culture of Wall Street.” He made a compelling argument
that Wall Street leaders and institutions experienced a failure to fulfill
their stewardship responsibilities by putting their own interests before the
interests of the constituencies they serve.
John Taft
The series continued in February with Dave St. Peter, president of the Minnesota Twins. St. Peter,
who joined the Twins in 1990 and was named president in 2002, talked about the baseball
industry in his presentation, “The Business of Baseball.” St. Peter oversees the Twins’ day-to-day
operations, strategic planning, and interaction with Major League Baseball.
4
Augsburg Now
Dave St. Peter
CONVOCATION SERIES 2013-14
HEAD COACH
DENNIS
BARKER
RETIRES
First held in 1990, the Augsburg College Convocation
Series is an annual speaker series that incorporates longstanding endowed and special programs. This winter, the
26th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation honored one
of the United States’ visionary civil rights leaders with song.
T. Mychael Rambo and Brian Grandison hosted the event,
“Music for Martin.”
In February, the Batalden Seminar
in Applied Ethics featured Sister
Peggy O’Neill, president and director of Centro Arte para la Paz in
Suchitoto, El Salvador. Her presentation was titled, “Awakening
to the Reality of a Crucified World:
Discovering What It Means to Be
Human.”
Augsburg College men’s and women’s track and field
and cross-country head coach Dennis Barker resigned
his coaching positions after the fall season. Barker had
served as coach for both sports for the past 20 seasons.
Barker coached 59 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (MIAC) event champions and 147 All-MIAC
and 126 All-MIAC Honorable Mention honorees, and
his teams earned several U.S. Track and Field and
Cross Country Coaches Association Team Academic
Awards, among others.
Photo by Caleb Williams
The Sverdrup Visiting Scientist
Lecture in April featured Bonnie
L. Bassler, professor in molecular
biology at Princeton University,
whose presentations included
“Tiny Conspiracies: Cell-to-Cell
Communication in Bacteria” and
“Manipulating Quorum Sensing to
Control Bacterial Pathogenicity.”
The annual Sverdrup Visiting
Scientist Lecture series brings renowned scientists to campus to share their expertise with the Augsburg community,
the College’s aspiring scientists, and members of the larger
scientific community.
To find out more about the Augsburg Convocation series,
go to augsburg.edu/convo.
Spring 2014
5
AROUND THE QUAD
BOOK PROCEEDS to benefit Augsburg College
Book describes Augsburg professor’s
heritage as Norwegian immigrant
Profits from lost manuscript
designated for CSBR
Author Phillip Formo’s new
book, Papa: A Life Remembered,
describes the experiences of his
grandfather, Andreas Helland, a
Norwegian immigrant and a longtime Augsburg College professor.
In the book, Formo shares memories and insights about Helland’s
teaching and commitment to the
Church. Proceeds from the sale
of the book will go to an Augsburg student
scholarship in Helland’s memory.
The family of Erwin Mickelberg
is donating all profits from
his lost manuscript, It’s About
the Ripples, to the Center
for Science, Business, and
Religion. The book breaks down
1 Corinthians 13, line by line,
giving meaning and scope to
the well-loved passage.
A NEW PATH
TO DEGREE
COMPLETION
New bachelor’s
degree program for
working professionals
augsburg.edu/pro
Augsburg is rolling out a new, evening bachelor’s degree program for working professionals beginning
fall 2014. It will be offered in a flexible, hybrid-learning format, combining traditional weeknight
classes with convenient online components on an alternating, every-other-week schedule.
The new degree program format is designed to help working professionals complete their major in as
little as two to three years. With small classes of working professionals, students will be able to learn
from and with professors and classmates.
The program includes degrees in high demand among working adults—including business, communications studies, education, nursing, and psychology. More information about available majors,
tuition, and financial aid is available at augsburg.edu/pro.
6
Augsburg Now
Finding
MEANING
In Work
BY STEPHANIE WEISS
The value of a college education is greater
than it’s been in nearly 50 years. This is
the key finding of a 2014 Pew Research
Center study, which showed a wider earnings gap between college-educated and
less educated people ages 25-32 compared with those in the same age bracket
in previous generations dating back to
1965. The report, “The Rising Cost of Not
Going to College,” found that individuals
ages 25-32 who hold a bachelor’s degree
and work full time make $17,500 per year
more than working adults in that age range
who have only a high school diploma. This
disparity, the report states, “has never
been greater in the modern era.”
But life after college is about more
than just getting a job to earn a paycheck.
And that’s where Pew’s research provides
even further evidence of the value of a
college education: According to the study,
recent college graduates are more satisfied
with their jobs and are more likely than
those with a high school degree or less to
see themselves on a career path, rather
than simply working at a job to make ends
meet.
So what can Augsburg families do to
make the most of college and to ensure
that the investment in education pays off
over time and helps pave the way from
early jobs to a rewarding career?
On the next page, you’ll meet four
alumni who work in human resources
management and with whom we spoke
about finding meaning in work. The group
provided tips and insight into how Auggies
can improve job search outcomes, intentionally build their careers, and seek ways
to use their gifts and talents in a meaningful manner in the world. See their advice
on pages 9 and 10.
AUGGIE NETWORKING EVENT
[L to R]: Rick Bonlender ‘78, of the
Augsburg Alumni Board, talks with Michelle
Grafelman ‘14 and Donny Hunter ‘03 at an
Auggie networking event.
7
MEET THE EXPERTS
LARRY MORGAN ’76
President, Orion HR Group, LLC
Studied: communication/mass communication and
political science, minor in psychology; also holds a
master’s of arts in industrial relations from the University
of Minnesota
What makes work rewarding: “Helping clients solve
human resource-related challenges such as hiring and
dealing with difficult employees; designing compensation
programs; and getting thanked by top executives for
resolving problems.”
Augsburg College Regent
LISA NOVOTNY ’80
Vice President, Human Resources,
General Mills Inc.
Studied: social work and Spanish; also holds master’s
of arts in industrial relations from the University of
Minnesota
What I learned from a liberal arts education: “The liberal
arts taught me to think beyond what was in front of
me. It helped me find linkages to other coursework and
the world, and to other systems. Grad school taught
me about my discipline. Augsburg taught me to think
of all the factors that impact someone and the role of
the organization as something that can play a role in
impacting the person.”
MARCIA WRIGHT ’89
PAUL RENSTED ’87
Director of Human Resources, City
of Annapolis, Md.
Studied: international relations and East Asian studies,
minor in history
What I learned from a liberal arts education: “The liberal
arts will make you well-rounded by allowing you to have
a major focus area and to build around that. A liberal
arts education teaches people how to think, write,
communicate effectively, and relate to others. These are
critical skills to succeed in the work world. They also are
critical to succeed in life.”
8
Augsburg Now
Global Human Resources
Consultant and Human Resources
Manager, Toshiba Global
Commerce Solutions, Inc.
Studied: psychology and business administration; also
holds a master’s of arts in industrial relations from the
University of Minnesota
What makes work rewarding: “I get excited about making
a difference—whether by driving business results or
creating a positive experience for an employee. I enjoy
creating programs and a work environment that optimizes
our human capital.”
FINDING MEANING IN WORK
These four human resources professionals stressed that the starting point for Auggies is to take advantage of the rich
opportunities that Augsburg College has to offer. Getting involved in student activity groups, attending networking and career
events, having an internship, and more, will give Auggies a jumpstart on the skills, experience, and networks needed to land a
job and grow a career. The group stressed the need for Auggies to:
DO AT LEAST ONE INTERNSHIP
Students should seek at least one hands-on learning
opportunity while at Augsburg. Larry Morgan said that
internships offer a way to practice what you are learning in the
classroom and to identify skills that interest you and at which
you excel. Internships are a way to explore where your gifts
intersect with the needs of the world.
BE MINDFUL OF ALL THE WAYS YOU COMMUNICATE
Be aware of the many manners in which you communicate.
“At least 40 percent of employers check social media during
the background check,” Morgan said. “Many people are
screened out based upon inappropriate social media [posts],
and many also are screened out based upon inappropriate
email addresses and voice mail messages.” But not all uses
of communication tools need to cause anxiety. Morgan said
that for people who are seeking jobs in the visual arts, such
as in graphic design, creating an online website and portfolio
to showcase work is a good way to raise your profile and
professional reputation.
PARTICIPATE WITH A PURPOSE
Join student organizations, community groups, and professional organizations. Being involved provides opportunities to
build leadership skills and a network of peers. Marcia Wright
said these groups also provide students the chance to develop
a reputation for doing excellent work and for showing a willingness to embrace challenges. It’s important to know what
you hope to get out of a group, she said, and to be able to tell
potential employers about the influence you made and results
you drove.
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
While getting involved in student groups and professional
organizations is an important component of building a face-toface network, it’s also important to take advantage of campus
networking events. Morgan said these events offer an easy
way to take advantage of the interest that alumni have in
students and in staying connected to the College. Face-to-face
networking also can be a starting point for building an online
network on LinkedIn.
CUSTOMIZE COVER LETTERS AND RÉSUMÉS,
RESEARCH COMPANIES
Human resources professionals spend only 15 to 30 seconds
scanning a résumé for an initial screening. Morgan said to
help ensure your résumé is sorted into the “closer look”
pile, it’s critical that your résumé be spotless, that it share
achievements via metrics—it should “show how you made a
difference, not tell them your qualifications.”
“Show how you made a difference, not tell
– LARRY MORGAN
them your qualifications.”
Cover letters and résumés should be tailored to each job and
should highlight the areas in your skills and experience that
dovetail with the job for which you are applying.
MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY JOB YOU HOLD
It’s not uncommon at some point to hold a position that is
not ideal. However, as Paul Rensted pointed out, all jobs offer
opportunities. “Always strive to learn everything you can in
any job you hold,” he said. “Work toward self-learning and
skill growth because you get to take those skills with you. Do
the same with relationships because you never know where
your next job will be or who will help you get there.”
STRATEGICALLY NAVIGATE FROM ONE JOB TO THE NEXT
“By moving around in one company or strategically moving to
different companies, you can start to focus on building your
depth of expertise and interpersonal and technical skills,”
Wright said. “Be sure to ask yourself before you start a job
what it is that you want to get from it.”
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CAREER
“We all spend a lot of time at work. We need to try to enjoy
that time—or change it if we don’t,” Rensted said.
Spring 2014
9
FINDING MEANING IN WORK
Augsburg College Regent Lisa Novotny agreed with
her colleagues and added another level of insight into how
Auggies can create meaning in work. She said that Auggies
not only need to be taking advantage of the city as an
extension of the classroom and more, they also should be able
to articulate choices and decisions to potential employers.
“If students don’t pay attention to where they are putting
their energy, they will not be prepared to explain or represent
what they did,” Novotny said. “We [hiring managers and HR
professionals] don’t necessarily want to hear that a student
never deviated from a path or that they never looked back. We
want to hear why and how students made their choices and
decisions.”
“If students don’t pay attention to where they are
putting their energy, they will not be prepared to
explain or represent what they did.” – LISA NOVOTNY
Early in their work lives, Auggies should be prepared to
explain to potential employers why they took courses beyond
their major or minor, how they spent their summers, what
types of internships they sought, and what fuels their passion,
she said. This type of deep questioning helps employers learn
how a person thinks and whether they will be a good fit at an
organization.
In her work for one of the largest food companies in the
world, Novotny said she asks probing questions to determine
whether people are curious, authentic, and able to explain
how they may have served as a leader even when they weren’t
in obvious positions of leadership.
But not every employer will ask deep questions or ask
for thoughtful explanations, and that, itself, could serve as a
warning sign to job candidates.
“Organizations that don’t poke and prod, but that look
10
Augsburg Now
only for certain coursework and a specific major, may be
looking just to fill a job rather than help someone build a
career of meaning and differentiating contributions,” she said.
Novotny also stressed the importance of reflection after a
person has landed a job. “You need to pause and ask yourself
why you are doing something, what you are learning, what you
are contributing to the organization and the world. But you
also have to ask what it—the work—is doing for you and how
it is changing you.”
This diligence will help signal whether and when it is time
to seek change.
“Pay attention to your energy level and when and why
and how it is high at work. Do the same when it is low. Ask
yourself what is behind that,” Novotny said.
While being intentional is critical to building toward
and finding meaningful work, it’s not always the case that a
vocation, or call, is apparent right away.
“Sometimes meaning doesn’t come until we are ‘doing,’”
Novotny said.
“We need to learn what we don’t know and let some stuff
be uncovered over time. Be patient while you uncover what
leaves you high and low, but don’t be passive. Passive is really
close to indifferent. Indifferent is close to apathy. Apathy is a
hair’s breadth from disengaged. It’s hard to come back from
disengaged,” she said.
In the end, Novotny said, “you will find meaningful work
and make meaningful contributions when what you are really
good at lines up with where your skills are, what you are
passionate about, and what the organization needs. Careers
are 40 years or longer for a reason. They are just like life, they
are a journey.”
The Historyapolis Project
The Future of History
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
When professional historian Kirsten Delegard published her book in 2012—her first publication where
she was the sole author—she sold 300 copies. “And
that includes sales to my parents, in-laws, and large
extended family,” she said.
After nearly a decade of research, writing, and editing, her total proceeds were $96. Of course Delegard,
who currently serves as a scholar-in-residence in the
Augsburg College History Department, asserts that she
hadn’t done the work of publishing the book to make
money.
“I published it to share my ideas—to tell a story
about the past that few people knew.”
Delegard’s book, Battling Miss Bolsheviki, describes
the emergence of conservative women political activists in the United States after women won the right to
vote in 1920. It was published by one of the leading university presses in the United States and was
reviewed favorably by the largest professional journals
in Delegard’s field. “It addresses an important and even
provocative topic,” Delegard said, “something that
should be interesting to lots of people—particularly
in a state that includes political figures like Michele
Bachmann.
“But only a few people will ever pick up this book,”
she said. And, so, it is not likely to “shift popular
understandings of politically conservative women or
women’s politics.”
It was this lack of impact—not the lack of monetary
reward—that caused Delegard to become disillusioned
with the conventional approach to scholarly publishing in her profession. Our system squanders precious
cultural resources, she said, by encouraging “our most
highly trained interpreters [of history] to write things
that no one reads.”
History that does work in the world
Instead, Delegard wanted to write history in ways that
challenge people to rethink their perceptions and that
give them new context to help them make sense of the
world.
She said she felt drawn to respond to the words
American Historical Association president Carl Becker
used in his 1931 annual address. Becker called on
scholars to do “history that does work in the world, the
history that influences the course of history,” instead of
the history “that lies inert in unread books.”
The question Delegard then faced was: How?
Photo from the Library of Congress
Spring 2014
11
“How do humanities scholars reach the people who
want to hear their insights? How do they speak to broader
publics?” she asked.
Delegard responded to these questions by upending academic conventions and launching a history
project that is digital first and “old media” second.
The Historyapolis Project, as she has named it, focuses
on producing a comprehensive history of the city of
Minneapolis that adheres to high-quality scholarly standards and, at the same time, is accessible to the broadest
possible audience.
Bringing the story of a city to life
Today, the Historyapolis Project is a multi-platform,
historic storytelling endeavor, spanning Facebook and
Twitter as well as the newly launched Historyapolis.com
website. Delegard also has developed a research plan for
the project as well as an outline for a narrative history of
Minneapolis, which will be published by the University of
Minnesota Press.
A year before launching the Historyapolis Project,
Delegard, a third-generation Minneapolis native, met with
a wide range of community stakeholders. She spoke with
representatives from museums, higher education institutions, historical archives, and policymaking and arts
organizations about the need for a “usable” history of the
city. “In all of these places, I heard the same thing—that
the citizens of our state are hungry for complex stories
about the past, for narratives that will help them understand how Minneapolis became the wonderful, complex,
and contradictory place that it is today.”
The last overview of Minneapolis’ history was written in 1940, Delegard said. That project, Minneapolis:
The Story of a City, was a 94-page volume compiled
by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Education and
the then-Minneapolis Board of Education. Since then,
many aspects of the city’s history have been covered in
various publications, she said, but “in the largest city in
our state, we do not have a central clearinghouse where
people can go to find a full story of our past.”
12
10
Augsburg Now
Engaging Minneapolis
So, the Historyapolis Project was launched—first on
Facebook—in April 2013. Delegard’s decision to undertake this work using digital tools was definitely a step
outside the comfort zone of a self-proclaimed “digital
convert” (as opposed to a “digital native”). But, Delegard
explained, “by making [my work] available to anyone on
the internet, I could reach a broader community and find
the audience I was seeking—an audience interested in
serious and accessible historical work that would bridge
the gap between the academic domain and the larger
world.”
Today, Delegard posts on the Historyapolis Facebook
page five days a week. Each post has an image accompanied by roughly 300 words that explain the significance
of the image. “I try to challenge pre-conceived ideas
about the city’s past. I present primary sources that are
meant to engage readers and to catalyze conversations
about difficult episodes” in Minneapolis’ history.
One of the most widely read and shared Historyapolis
posts was on January 1 this year, when Delegard posted
an archival image and brief history of the building at
512-516 Cedar Avenue, which was destroyed in a tragic
New Year’s Day explosion and fire that killed three
people, and injured and displaced many others. (See a
reproduction of the post on page 14.)
Other examples of Historyapolis topics that have
generated audience response and interaction range from
a 1954 burning of a trolley car to celebrate the end of
the city’s streetcar operations to a post about the beginning of desegregation in the Minneapolis schools in 1971
to various historic maps, which Delegard posts on “Map
Mondays.”
Because of the social nature of platforms like
Facebook, Delegard’s readers not only can provide feedback about the posts that interest them, they also often
share additional historical information about the topic
and even engage with each other in dialogue or debate on
various subjects.
It’s the interactive aspect of digital media that
Delegard finds most valuable. “It took me almost 18
months to get the reviews when I was publishing Battling
Miss Bolsheviki,” she said. “On the Historyapolis
Facebook page, I get instant and thoughtful feedback
from a diverse range of readers. Almost every day these
citizen researchers teach me something I didn’t know
about the city. They direct me to new sources. They
inspire me with their suggestions for new work and their
enthusiasm for the material.”
As evidence of that enthusiasm, the Historyapolis
audience has grown steadily during the past year, reaching a weekly audience of nearly 3,000 by the end of
February—“almost ten times as many as the total sales of
my book,” Delegard noted.
Historyapolis at Augsburg College
The project also is gaining attention and support
beyond its immediate online readership. In January, the
Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) awarded an $82,000
Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage grant to the History
Department at Augsburg College for the Historyapolis
Project—the first time that an academic department of
history has received funding from the Arts and Cultural
Heritage program for such a project. The grant supports
engaging students in the research process and, according
to an MHS news release, creates a “central hub for the
interpretation of Minneapolis history and an innovative
model for urban collegiate history departments.”
“The awarding of this grant establishes Augsburg
as a center for the study of Minneapolis’ past, one in
which the broader public will play a powerful role,” said
Michael Lansing, associate professor and chair of the
Augsburg History Department. It builds on the History
Department’s long-term commitment to the public work
of history and to expanding its role in the discipline
of “public history”—a discipline that comprises the
many and diverse ways in which history is applied to
real-world issues. According to the National Council on
Public History, public history is practiced by “historical consultants, museum professionals, government
historians, archivists, oral historians, cultural resource
managers, curators, film and media producers, historical
interpreters, historic preservationists, policy advisers,
local historians, and community activists, among many,
many other job descriptions.”
As part of its commitment to history education at
every level, the Augsburg History Department has, for
years, hosted Minnesota History Day, which is one of
12 National History Day venues and provides more than
30,000 Minnesota social studies students in grades 6-12
with the chance to be actual historians. Augsburg is also
home to the ACTC Museum Fellows Program, a semesterlong course taught by MHS historians and available to
students from any of the five Associated Colleges of the
Twin Cities (ACTC) institutions.
Bringing the Historyapolis Project to Augsburg,
Lansing said, extends this commitment into the digital
arena, incorporating tools and skills that are increasingly
critical for the practice of public history. The first year of
the project at Augsburg is focused on research and, this
spring, Delegard has engaged several Augsburg students,
funded through April by the MHS grant, in conducting
research that will lay the foundation for specific digital
projects in the future—including projects that may serve
as the foundation for future grant applications, Lansing
said.
“This transformational research project creates an
incredible immersion experience for students,” Lansing
said. Plus, it supports both the Augsburg College History
Department and the people of Minnesota by creating a
collaborative, “public work that brings the practice of history into the world.”
Delegard agrees. “The Historyapolis Project focuses
on the history of Minneapolis, but the practices and
collaboration it represents are as much about the role
of higher education in shaping our shared future as it is
about our historical roots.”
Editor’s note: Portions of the background about the
Historyapolis Project were derived from a presentation
delivered in November by historian Kirsten Delegard to
Augsburg students in The History Workshop course.
Spring 2014
13
The Historyapolis Project
Minnesota Historical Society
Historyapolis.com
Featured on these pages are reprints of three posts
from the Historyapolis Project. To read about, discuss, and engage with the history of Minneapolis,
go to Historyapolis.com and click to the blog or to
the project’s Facebook and Twitter sites.
R.I.P., 514 Cedar Avenue
Posted January 1, 2014
Tragic news from the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, where
514 Cedar Avenue exploded this morning. At least 13
people were injured in the blaze; as of this writing, three
people have not been found in the icy ruins. The building’s first floor contained a small grocery that catered to
the tastes of the immigrant neighborhood. Upstairs were
inexpensive apartments that provided basic housing for new
African immigrants.
When Peter Nordberg constructed this building in
1886, he designed it to house two stores on the first floor
and “twenty room flats” above. At this time, this section
of Cedar Avenue was known as “Snusgatan” and was the
commercial center for new Scandinavian immigrants. The
traditional gateway for newcomers to the city, the neighborhood began to transform once immigration slowed to a
trickle during the Great Depression.
In 1968, the struggling Cedar-Riverside neighborhood
provided the perfect location for a new commercial endeavor
envisioned by two [University of Minnesota] students. Ron
Korsh and Dan Foley started the Electric Fetus music store
at 521 Cedar Avenue in 1968, hoping to sell the psychedelic rock music they heard coming out of San Francisco.
Korsh quickly became bored with the store and sold his
share to Keith Covart, who is credit[ed] with making the
business a long-lasting success.
These counterculture entrepreneurs kept their store in
14
Augsburg Now
the news. In 1969, police confiscated a poster from the
store that depicted a nude couple resembling President
Richard Nixon and his wife. Notoriety (and low record
prices) helped the store to grow, forcing it to seek larger
quarters across the street. In October 1969, it moved into
514 Cedar Avenue, the building destroyed in this morning’s
blaze.
In 1970, Covart was arrested after the store displayed a
United States flag with a peace symbol superimposed in the
spot usually reserved for the 50 white stars. In 1972, the
store held a “naked sale,” offering free records and pipes
to nude patrons. After fifty people showed up to claim their
free merchandise, the store lost its lease on Cedar Avenue.
With the influx of Somali immigrants, Cedar-Riverside
has once again become a first stop for new arrivals to the
city. And the building at 512-516 Cedar had reverted to its
original purpose. The tiny apartments and ethnic businesses
destroyed this morning would have seemed very familiar
to Peter Nordberg, the nineteenth-century entrepreneur
who recognized the economic potential of a new immigrant
community.
Photo from the Minnesota Historical Society. And material for this post is taken from the excellent history of the
Electric Fetus, [“A History of the Electric Fetus”], written by
Penny A. Petersen and Charlene K. Roise in July 2006.
School Desegregation in Minneapolis
Hennepin County Library Special Collections
In November 1970, the Minneapolis Public Schools announced a
modest proposal meant to begin the desegregation of its schools.
Aimed at undermining the effects of residential segregation in
the city, it recognized that neighborhood schools were stratified
by race. In the scheme announced by the School Board, two
elementary schools would be paired. The all-white Hale School
would trade students with nearby Field School, which was almost
entirely African American. Children in the youngest grades would
attend Hale; grades four through six would go to Field.
The proposal was poorly received by a vocal minority, which
coalesced behind Mayor Charlie Stenvig, a former police detective. Stenvig ran for mayor in 1969 as an independent, on a
platform of law and order. Anxieties about the urban disturbances
on the North Side dissipated quickly after Stenvig took office.
They were completely eclipsed by rising concerns about the racial
integration of the school system. District officials knew that if
they could not come up with a workable integration plan, they
would soon find themselves under a court order to begin widespread busing. A determined group of parents sought to block
these efforts, calling on officials to defy any legal orders.
By 1970, anxious parents were voicing their opposition in
marathon meetings; one meeting stretched twelve hours long,
breaking up at 5 a.m. after everyone had spoken for three minutes. Concerned citizens were not content to express their opinions in public forums. School board member Harry Davis—the
only African American on the board—had to keep his phone off
the hook to prevent a constant barrage of threatening phone calls.
Minnesota Historical Society
Posted November 13, 2013
Despite the popular opposition, Minneapolis moved forward
with its plan to combine Hale and Field in the fall of 1971. The
paired schools attracted a committed group of parents, who
worked to build an integrated school community that could be a
model for the rest of the city.
This photo shows Monica Lash (left) and Molly Johnson (right)
on their first day on the bus in 1971. The image comes from
Dave Kenney, who curates the MN70s tumblr, and the Minnesota
Historical Society.
Minneapolis Streetcars
Posted June 19, 2013
The city has decided to invest millions to build new streetcar
lines. Which [begs] the question, what happened to our old
streetcar system? It met its demise in June of 1954 when this
sinister-looking photo was taken. This image records the celebration organized by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company [TCRT]
when it declared streetcars to be relics of the past. On this early
summer day, the company actually burned streetcars—like the
one in the background-—to demonstrate its commitment to
progress and innovation. The men in this photo were celebrating
the purchase of 525 buses, which had been financed with liberal terms from General Motors. This allowed them to discard the
streetcars and dispose of assets necessary to maintain the rail
network. This image shows TCRT treasurer James Towey handing
a check (from NSP for the company’s Main Steam Station) to
company president Fred Ossanna, who was later investigated for
shady business dealings and political bribes.
Spring 2014
15
MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE
THEHeart OF MINNEAPOLIS
Archive photo
BY STEPHEN GEFFRE AND LAURA SWANSON
with thanks to Augsburg Archivist and
History Professor Kristin Anderson
Since 1872,
Augsburg—and many
Auggies—have called
Minneapolis home. The history of the College
is interwoven tightly with that of Mill City
and its vibrant Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.
These archival images portray the College’s
ever-changing campus and illustrate its
connection to the broader municipality. Take
a close look. And take a moment to recall
your own Augsburg history.
Archive photo
›
The group photograph shows the Augsburg Seminary
community in February 1918. At that time, Augsburg
Seminary had three areas of focus—a theological
school, a college, and a preparatory department.
›
Built during the 1948-49 academic year, Augsburg’s Science Hall in its early years served
several functions, including as the campus entrance; the home of student publications,
administrative offices, and the economics department; and—naturally—the site of lecture rooms
and science laboratories, as seen here.
16
Augsburg Now
›
In 1967, the construction of Augsburg College’s Christensen Center and Urness Tower buildings coincided
with Interstate 94 development occurring at the campus periphery. The freeway changed the College’s
southern border, creating a finite boundary between its Cedar-Riverside home and the Seward neighborhood,
although pedestrian bridges were in place prior to freeway completion.
Archive photo
‹ In 1872, Augsburg established its campus next to Murphy Square—Minneapolis’ oldest public park—and this 1905 photograph by Sweet Studio shows children at play. The
image is in the Minnesota Historical Society’s collection and was enlarged for display in
Murphy’s, a dining establishment formerly located in the Christensen Center.
Archive photo
On October 8, 1972, Augsburg held groundbreaking and site dedication ceremonies for
a new student apartment tower that later
was named Mortensen Hall after Gerda
Mortensen, long-time Dean of Women at
the College. In addition to housing Auggies,
the tower initially was intended to serve
students from St. Mary’s Junior College and
the Fairview Hospital nursing program, as
well as St. Olaf College nursing students
who trained in Minneapolis hospitals. ›
[L to R]: Oscar A. Anderson, Augsburg
College president; Sr. Mary Madonna
Ashton, executive vice-president of St.
Mary’s Hospital; Sr. Anne Joachim Moore,
president of St. Mary’s Junior College;
Suzann Olson ’73, Augsburg student body
president; Leonard F. Ramberg, chairman
of Augsburg’s Board of Regents; Kent
S. Knutson, president of the American
Lutheran Church; and Carl Platou, chief
administrator of Fairview Hospital.
Spring 2014
Archive photo
17
IT TAKES AN AUGGIE
THE TEMPERATURE’S
RISING
As we expectantly watch outdoor temperatures climb this
spring, the Augsburg community has seen the mercury
rise on another attention-drawing gauge. The fundraising
thermometer for the campaign for the Center for Science,
Business, and Religion (CSBR) has surpassed its halfway
mark, reaching nearly $27 million* thanks to donors who
continue to demonstrate support for the largest building
project in the College’s history.
An outgrowth of the campaign’s continued success
is that we’ve heard new stories about why Augsburg
College means so much to so many. Augsburg is a place
where faculty members connect with students, helping
them to troubleshoot assignments and to work through
life’s tough decisions. Augsburg is a place where coaches
inspire teamwork, sparking an enduring dedication to
collaboration and a passion for cooperation. Augsburg
is a place where alumni are proud to call themselves
Auggies, supporting current students and recent
graduates who will carry the legacy forward. And,
Augsburg is a place where people flourish, meeting some
of their dearest friends and making some of their fondest
memories. Here are a few such stories.
Class of ’52 couple gives $250,000 to sponsor
physics laboratory
Harvey ’52 and Joanne Peterson ’52 believe the CSBR
demonstrates how Augsburg prepares students for the
future with energy and vitality. Combined, these Auggie
sweethearts were involved in activities ranging from
athletics to the Augsburg Choir, and beyond their student
years, they have maintained deep ties to the College.
Bill Anderson ’56 sponsors new biology laboratory
Bill Anderson ’56 found a creative way to make a big
difference with his support for the CSBR. Currently
president of the Minnesota Federation of Stamp Clubs,
he is a lifelong collector who gives Augsburg valuable
18
Augsburg Now
stamps each year and has named the College as a major
beneficiary of his estate. Anderson taught high school
biology for 34 years, and he said he enjoys seeing
Augsburg’s plans for the CSBR move forward.
Marilyn ’61 and Tom Breckenridge sponsor two
faculty offices for CSBR
Rev. Marilyn Saure Breckenridge ’61 is Augsburg’s first
female graduate to be ordained as a Lutheran pastor.
She and her husband, Tom, initially planned to sponsor
one office in the Religion Department in gratitude for
Marilyn’s undergraduate education and her Distinguished
Alumna Award, but—as their excitement about the
CSBR project grew—they sponsored an additional
office located in the Business Department to reflect an
important aspect of Tom’s ministry.
Roommates from ’45 sponsor adjacent
rooms in CSBR
Beth (Buesing) Opgrand ’45 and her college roommate,
Genevieve (Larson) Hendrickson ’45, reconnected after
50 years and both decided to give a naming gift for a
faculty office in the CSBR. It seems only fitting that
these faculty offices sit side by side.
Oliver Dahl ’45 sponsors faculty office in CSBR
Oliver Dahl ’45 has had an 80-year relationship
with Augsburg College. From age 10 to 15, he went
to campus to practice basketball while on a Trinity
Lutheran Church youth team in Minneapolis. Dahl
enrolled at Augsburg in 1941, and in 1942, served as
the College’s first wrestling coach before leaving to join
the U.S. Army during World War II. Dahl has named
Augsburg’s athletics program and the CSBR project the
major beneficiaries of his estate, and he says, “I’ve been
thinking about Augsburg College all of my life.”
LAURA SWANSON
These stories—and many others—are available in an
extended format on the CSBR campaign blog.
To read more, visit augsburg.edu/now.
*Figure represents fundraising total as of February 28.
AUGGIE VOICES
JOB
ON THE
Young alumni
value networks formed and opportunities
available at Augsburg College
As excitement and anticipation grow regarding the campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion, Augsburg’s
newest alumni can articulate why studying at a college that emphasizes thinking across disciplines and beyond convention
proved beneficial in their education and invaluable when launching their professional careers.
BY LAURA SWANSON
TRENT ANDERSON ’12
Studied: accounting, business administration, and economics
Current role: Certified Public Accountant and Assurance Associate,
CliftonLarsonAllen
People have the wrong idea about accountants, according to
Trent Anderson ’12. “It’s not really as math-intensive as you’d
think,” he said. Sure, Anderson admits that part of his job entails
adding or multiplying large groups of numbers, but he also
stresses that teamwork and client relations are equally important—and, for him, energizing—aspects of his career. Anderson
chose to attend Augsburg because the College offered him the
opportunity to exercise his passion for teamwork as a student
athlete. During his undergraduate experience, Anderson found
that he and his baseball teammates developed friendships with
bonds as strong as family and a network with the potential to
influence their careers. It was an Augsburg alumnus and former
baseball player employed by CliftonLarsonAllen who introduced
Anderson to what turned out to be his first employer—and one of
the top 10 accountancy firms in the United States. Both Auggies
benefited from the College’s small-school experience, Anderson
explained, where it is possible to develop meaningful relationships with professors, fellow students, and Twin Cities professionals. “It’s an interesting mix,” he said. “Augsburg is about
more than mastering one subject. It’s about being a well-rounded
student, a well-rounded individual. Now that is something I value
to this day.”
To watch Trent Anderson discuss his start at
CliftonLarsonAllen, go to augsburg.edu/now.
Spring 2014
19
ANGELA BONFIGLIO ’13
Studied: sociology, youth and family ministry
Current role: Director of Youth Programs, Redeemer Center for Life and Redeemer Lutheran Church
During her second year at Augsburg, Angela Bonfiglio ’13 sought the opportunity to become involved in Minneapolis’ community
partnership work, and the College’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning was able to connect her with an organization matching
her interests and her studies. By the next fall, Bonfiglio was an afterschool program coordinator at Redeemer Center for Life, a
nonprofit seeking to meet the housing, employment, and youth development needs of Harrison and North Minneapolis neighborhood
residents. Her work—funded through a Batalden Scholarship at Augsburg—turned out to be a near-perfect fit, and she continued to
lead the program during her senior year. A few months prior to completing her degree, Redeemer’s executive director offered Bonfiglio
a full-time position following graduation. She accepted the offer, recognizing that she could use the knowledge and skills she’d gained
during college in her future position. “I loved youth ministry classes, and sociology challenged me in a new way,” she said. Today she
couples her sociological research experience with her background in youth programming to guide the “big picture” for the nonprofit’s
youth activities. “The work is completely interdisciplinary,” she said. “I can ‘plug into’ contexts for both sociology and youth ministry,
and that’s because of Augsburg.”
ALEX SORUM ’13
To watch Alex Sorum discuss the URGO project he
completed with Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright, associate
professor of biology, in Augsburg’s summer research
video series, go to augsburg.edu/now.
Studied: biology, chemistry
Current role: Postbaccalaureate Cancer Research Training Award Fellow, National Cancer Institute
Daily tasks vary widely for Alex Sorum ’13, a research fellow in one of the National
Cancer Institute’s chemical biology laboratories. Some days he tests enzyme activity,
and other days he synthesizes compounds. Synthesis, it seems, is a common theme
between his college experiences and his life since graduation. As a double major, Sorum
was quick to take part in every opportunity available to him, oftentimes combining his
interests. “I always knew I wanted to go into research,” he said. “The biggest benefit
for me was that Augsburg professors use a hands-on approach in their teaching.”
Sorum satisfied his appetite for research through on- and off-campus opportunities that
allowed him to gain valuable experience and strengthen his relationships with faculty
mentors. It was Michael Wentzel, assistant professor of chemistry, who helped introduce
Sorum to the National Cancer Institute, and other faculty members’ thoughtful letters
of recommendation that allowed him to secure the prestigious position. The National
Cancer Institute was “looking for someone with the ability to perform in this research
position,” he recalls. “With my past experience, I had the ability to both think critically
and to problem-solve. Now that’s key.”
20
Augsburg Now
1
2
3
4
BY LAURA SWANSON
The 26th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum—an event that celebrates the importance, consequence, and controversy of the
Nobel Peace Prize—was held March 1 and 7-9 in three Minneapolis locations, including Augsburg College.
With “Crossing Boundaries to Create Common Ground” as
its theme, the 2014 Forum brought Nobel Peace Prize winners,
civic leaders, and scholars together with students and other citizens to contemplate questions of peace and conflict. Now in its
third year of permanent residency in the Twin Cities, the Forum
welcomed more than 5,700 ticket holders who explored topics
ranging from science to law and from music to global affairs and
business.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the 1989 Nobel Peace
Prize laureate, delivered the Forum’s opening address at Faith
and Peace Day. Leymah Gbowee—a 2011 Nobel Peace Prize
winner and Liberian peace activist—spoke at Global Day, and Dr.
Deane Marchbein represented Doctors Without Borders/Médecins
Sans Frontières (MSF)—the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize laureate—
on Science and Health Day. Representatives from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the 2013 Nobel
Peace Prize winner, also led a breakout session.
In addition to engaging attendees in speeches, book signings, networking events, and more, the 2014 Forum premiered a
partnership with social networking service Google+ that enabled
online attendees to live-stream events, submit questions to keynote speakers, and participate in thought-provoking dialogue—all
from their unique locations around the globe.
“The opportunity to host the Nobel Peace Prize Forum offers
our students, alumni, and international community inspiring
examples of those people who strive to make peace and to make
a difference in our world,” said Augsburg College President Paul
Pribbenow. “At the heart of Augsburg’s mission are our commitments to educating informed global citizens and to embracing
the links between faith and learning.”
Spring 2014
21
6
5
PEACE ON THE STREET
BRAD ST. AUBIN ’15
The Dalai Lama is looked at as a paragon of peacemaking,
but his address helped reinforce that he is also human.
When doing peace work, we want solutions, but his ability
to say, ‘I don’t know,’ gave a nod to the fact that even our
revered leaders don’t have all the answers.
The 2014 Forum was an event that united the Augsburg
community, and Auggies participated both as guests
and as volunteers.
One Auggie who worked at the Nobel Peace Prize
Forum was Banna Kidane ’15. A Sabo Scholar studying
computer science, Kidane was an intern for the Nobel
Peace Prize Forum and acknowledged the rarity of his
chance to serve.
“Being an intern with the NPPF is a once-in-alifetime opportunity that I’m happy I didn’t pass up,”
Kidane said.
It is through making memories, sparking ideas, and
spurring action that the Forum lives out its mission to
inspire peacemaking. A few Auggies shared reflections,
takeaways, and highlights from their NPPF experiences:
HUMAN
KIM BESTLER ’10, Augsburg program assistant and tutor
coordinator, TRiO/Student Support Services
It’s a privilege that Augsburg gets to host an international
event that so tightly corresponds with our College mission.
MISSION
PEACE
LOVE
UNAFRAID
COMPASSION
COMMUNITY
CHARMAYNE SLETTEN, AUGSBURG PARENT
The presentations inspired peacemaking that starts
with love and compassion by each individual.
PAUL BATALDEN ’63
I realize I can’t personally control the emerging,
complex world. I, too, have no other choice but to
control what I pay attention to, what words I use,
what relationships I maintain, and what community
I foster. Through these recognitions, choices, and
actions, I can exert my influence and do my part
for peace and a better world.
INFLUENCE
22
Augsburg Now
SHELBY ANDRESS ’56
Augsburg is unafraid to enter a complicated world,
guide its entire community in ways of peace and
noble action, and use its spheres of influence.
LIZZIE FONTAINE ’16
The NPPF brings together a whole community.
That’s a huge gift for Augsburg.
BRAM OOSTERLEE ’16
My favorite part of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum is
the connections you make with the speakers and
the audience. The speakers open up discussions
that are not held often enough, and the audience is
excited and encouraged to take action.
CONNECTIONS
7
8
9
ABOUT THE PHOTOS
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM SPONSORS
PAGE 21:
The Forum is housed and coordinated by Augsburg College in
partnership with the University of Minnesota Humphrey School
of Public Affairs and the School of Public Health. It was founded
in 1989 through a unique partnership between the Norwegian
Nobel Institute and five Norwegian Lutheran colleges—Augsburg,
Augustana (Sioux Falls, S.Dak.), Concordia (Moorhead, Minn.),
Luther (Decorah, Iowa) and St. Olaf (Northfield, Minn.).
1 His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the 1989 Nobel
Peace Prize laureate
2 Dr. Deane Marchbein, American president of Doctors
Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, the 1999
Nobel Peace Prize laureate
3 Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace activist and 2011
Nobel Peace Prize laureate
LAW AND BUSINESS DAY SPONSOR
4 Jay Nordlinger, senior editor of National Review;
Stephen Young, global executive director of the Caux
Round Table; and Geir Lundestad, director of the
Norwegian Nobel Institute
MAJOR EVENT SPONSORS
PAGE 22:
5 Singer/songwriter Mason Jennings
6 Arjia Rinpoche, director of the Tibetan Mongolian
Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Ind.
Page 23:
7 Burroughs Community School students performing
at the Nobel Peace Prize Youth Festival
8 Dr. Maureen Reed, executive director of the
Nobel Peace Prize Forum
9 A Peace Quilt Labyrinth exhibited at Oren
Gateway Center
To view additional photos, watch laureate
addresses and keynote presentations, or learn
more about the Forum, go to augsburg.edu/now.
EVENT SPONSORS
Barbara Forster and Mary Tjosvold, Smaby Family Foundation,
U.S. Embassy-Oslo, and Winds of Peace Foundation
FESTIVAL PRODUCTION PARTNER
Spring 2014
23
AUGGIES ON THE FIELD
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
COMPETITION,
& CULTURAL LEARNING
Photos courtesy of Augsburg’s Women’s Soccer Team
It’s easy to say that students at Augsburg
College are interested in the world around
them and that they strive to make a
difference by serving their neighbors. It
shows a deeper commitment to living
out the College’s mission to be engaged
citizens when a group of student-athletes
chooses to take a winter break trip to
Nicaragua instead of a destination beach
vacation in Costa Rica.
This winter, the women’s soccer
team showed just what it means to be
an Auggie when the group of student
athletes voted to go to Nicaragua for a trip
comprised of community engagement,
reflective service work, and soccer. When
the student-athletes combined their desire
for such a trip with the rich programming
that comes from partnering with the
College’s 30-year-old, award-winning
24
Augsburg Now
Center for Global Education (CGE), the
team landed an experience that pushed
their boundaries and understanding of the
world.
“The players genuinely have hungry
hearts and open minds,” said Mike
Navarre, head coach of the women’s
soccer team. “They voted to have an
immersion experience, and I am proud
that they feel they have a responsibility to
make the world better.”
By collaborating with CGE, the
women’s soccer team became the first
of the Auggie teams to participate in a
winter break trip that met the College’s
“Augsburg Experience” requirement,
a distinctive feature of an Augsburg
education that links classroom theory
with off-campus learning through
activities including internships, practica,
service-learning courses, study abroad,
special and individualized off-campus
immersion experiences, and more.
“Our CGE program has deep
relationships and a permanent presence
in Nicaragua, as well as other locations
in the world. We have established mutual
trust with our international partners,
so students who go abroad engage in
meaningful ways with the communities
that they visit,” said Leah Spinosa de
Vega, director of Augsburg Abroad and
International Programs.
“The result is that we deliver a
customized experience that aligns
students’ talents and interests with the
wants and needs of the community. The
programs also challenge students to
see that the community also serves the
students—that both groups experience
a mutual gain from the engagement and
that there is reciprocity of giving.”
For the Auggie women’s soccer team,
CGE designed a program that included
service at a preschool and soccer clinic,
competition against Nicaragua’s national
women’s soccer team, and cultural
learning activities.
The student-athletes spent about
a third of their time serving two
organizations, Nica HOPE (nicahope.
org) and Casa Alianza (casa-alianza.
org). The team painted the preschool
operated by Nica HOPE, an organization
that evolved to serve the needs of people
who live around and near the site of the
now-closed Managua City trash dump and
who depended upon foraging in the dump
for income and survival.
For the second service project,
student-athletes conducted a soccer
training clinic with Casa Alianza—an
organization that serves young people who
are homeless, or may have been trafficked
or exploited.
“We were humbled by the
challenges of the kids at Casa
Alianza and grateful to share in
their love of soccer.” -MIKE NAVARRE
The clinic prepared the Casa Alianza
youth soccer team to represent Nicaragua
in the international Street Child World
Cup (streetchildworldcup.org), a soccer
tournament that is held in late March in
Brazil with the goal of raising international
awareness of issues of homeless youths.
“We were humbled by the challenges
of the kids at Casa Alianza and grateful
to share in their love of soccer,” Navarre
said.
The Auggie team also had the
opportunity to compete in a series of three
games against the Nicaragua women’s
national football (soccer) team. While the
Nicaraguan team won two games, the
Auggies tied in the third game. All the
games received coverage in Nicaraguan
newspapers, an added bonus because it
raises awareness of the value and impact
of women’s sports.
“Our players work hard and respond
well to raised expectations on and off the
field,” Navarre said. “We showcase who
we are by how we play soccer. It’s our
medium. It has proven to be a significant
medium through which our players can
grow individually and collectively.”
The team also visited a coffee growing
cooperative, La Reina Agroecotourism
Project, in the small, rural community
of Matagalpa. The visit was a chance to
learn about the cooperative, which has
55 members of whom 22 are women,
about the impact of coffee and ecotourism
on the national economy, and about the
culture and typical lifestyle in Nicaragua.
All the experiences—working to
improve the Nica HOPE preschool,
working on soccer techniques with
homeless youths through Casa Alianza,
visiting the coffee cooperative, and even
the bits of free time—not only help
students build a greater understanding of
the world we share, but also help them
prepare for the work world.
“Employers today are looking for
employees with intercultural skills,” said
Spinosa de Vega. “Augsburg and CGE
programs require that participants take
time to reflect upon their experience.
Reflection is fundamental to driving
intercultural skills development. This
process undertaken by the team—to
engage and reflect—will help bolster their
success in their professional and personal
lives.”
To make the trip possible, studentathletes conducted soccer camps and
clinics, fundraisers, and an online auction.
In all, they raised about $20,000.
Team co-captain Alekzandra “Ali”
Miller ’14, a business management
major responsible for the online auction,
said she knew the value and impact that
playing soccer and studying abroad can
have. During high school, Miller played
soccer in Sweden and Denmark, and
earlier in her college career, she spent a
semester studying in Spain. Miller wanted
her teammates to have an experience like
the ones she had, but also knew finances
would be a challenge for some of her
teammates.
The trip was highly rewarding to all
the participants and Navarre and Spinosa
de Vega are hopeful that the success of
the trip will spur other athletics teams
to explore how to mix sport, community
engagement, and reflective service for the
type of meaningful learning experience
for which Augsburg College is nationally
known.
“It’s hard to say how much of an
impact we were able to make in just eight
days,” Miller said. “But I can say for
certain that our team was impacted for
the better. These types of experiences are
the kind of catalysts that give a direction
to people’s lives, that spark a new type
of gratitude, and that change the way we
think about and live our lives.”
“This trip confirmed for me and the
players that we have an obligation to make
ourselves and the world a little better,”
Navarre said. “In doing so, we also make
our own lives better. We don’t need to be
overwhelmed by the enormity or gravity
of the world’s problems. We can embrace
the world to make meaningful connections
and improvements.”
STEPHANIE WEISS
Spring 2014
25
ALUMNI NEWS
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
t
Dear alumni and friends,
used as a resource by alumni and students, and it features
posts specifically for Auggies from local and national employers. The next time you or your employer are hiring, consider
employing a fellow Auggie.
We have already seen what can happen when Auggies
work together—we accomplish great things. I would like to set
another goal. Currently, approximately 1,000 alumni are posting jobs on AUGPOST. I would like that to increase to 5,000
alumni submitting internship, job, and volunteer opportunities. Imagine the influence we can have on current Augsburg
students and their future opportunities. Learn more at
augsburg.edu/strommen.
Sincerely,
Courtesy photo
his fall, I reached out to you, my fellow Auggies, to ask
that you support our alma mater on Give to the Max Day
by donating to more than 25 different Augsburg fundraising projects. I am grateful to the 837 donors who
helped us raise $313,639 in one day and achieve our
goals of coming in first place among colleges and
universities and fourth place among all Minnesota
nonprofits! This proves that when Auggies pull
together, we can accomplish any goal!
I am often asked, “How, in addition to supporting Augsburg with gifts, can I help the College and the
current students?” Here’s an answer: draw upon your
experience, expertise, and networks to help students who
are looking for jobs and internships.
Our students are bright, ardent, and ambitious. They
represent our best hope for the future. Their most immediate
challenge in moving on to life after Augsburg is aligning their
liberal arts degree with a career path that will be personally
rewarding and provide them with financial independence.
I encourage all Augsburg alumni and parents to post internship, job, or volunteer opportunities—for free—on AUGPOST
through Augsburg’s Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for
Meaningful Work. AUGPOST is an online job posting board
TRACY (ANDERSON) SEVERSON ’95
ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Join the women of Augsburg for
CONVERSATION, LAUGHTER, AND INSPIRATION
The leaders of AWE (Augsburg Women Engaged) and the Augsburg Associates
are teaming up to host an interactive alumnae event in which women discuss
issues prevalent in contemporary culture, including their reflection on the question, “Am I measuring up?” At this inspirational event for Auggie women of all
ages, attendees will engage in conversation on what it means to be daughters,
mothers, grandmothers, women in public leadership and business, and involved
community members. Join us for brunch and hear insightful remarks from
author, speaker, and TV host Joan Steffend, as well as from an alumnae panel.
The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 17. The cost is
$25, which includes the meal. RSVP at augsburg.edu/alumnievents. For more
information, call 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu.
26
Augsburg Now
170 ALUMNI
JOIN THE CHALLENGE
Courtesy photo
as class leaders
Celebrating Lutheran heritage
and the Reformation
In the past year, Wayne Jorgenson ’71 and Chris Ascher ’81 have
made a concerted effort to seek the financial support of Augsburg’s
entire alumni community through the campaign for the Center
for Science, Business, and Religion. The Class Challenge goal they
set—for each Augsburg class to contribute a total of $1 million
toward this effort—has generated great momentum that has carried
forward into 2014. So far, the classes of 1952, 1965, and 1971 have
each exceeded their $1 million goal.
Their passion is catching on. As the momentum builds for this
essential and visionary project, Jorgenson and Ascher have been
joined by more than 170 alumni from across the years, each of
whom has made an individual campaign commitment and encouraged classmates to join them in contributing to the campaign.
Currently, every class from 1942 to 2014 has at least one
classmate who has contributed to the campaign. Since the challenge began, there has been a 53 percent increase in the number
of alumni donors supporting the CSBR.
For 2014, Jorgenson and Ascher set a goal of 40 or more
people from each graduating class to become financial supporters
of the campaign. The highest class participation award (so far) goes
to the Class of 1972 with 27 donors. Which class wants to exceed
their goal?
“Each additional classmate who joins with their support for this
wonderful project will find the satisfaction of adding their generosity
to the cause,” said Jorgenson. “The goal is ambitious, and we truly
need a lot of you to say, ‘Yes, I believe, and I will help.’ The size of
all contributions will vary, as they should, based on each person’s
situation and ability to give. Please know that, for each gift, we are
truly grateful.”
Visit the CSBR blog (augsburg.edu/csbr) for the latest progress
on the campaign and alumni participation in the Class Challenge.
Augsburg College is designing a custom travel program
for October 2016 that will celebrate the Reformation
and the upcoming 500th anniversary of when Martin
Luther in 1517 nailed the 95 Theses to the church
doors in Wittenberg, Germany. A highlight of the trip
itinerary will be a visit to Wittenberg over October
31—a time when the town annually celebrates Reformation Day with a parade, medieval fair, special
church service, and evening concert. In addition
to visiting Wittenberg, the itinerary includes stops
in the German cities of Berlin, Dresden, Eisenach,
Erfurt, Leipzig, and Prague, Czech Republic.
Led by Augsburg Department of Religion faculty
members Mark Tranvik and Hans Wiersma, program
participants will explore the lives and ministries of
Martin and Katie Luther and the legacies of influential Lutheran musicians Johann Sebastian Bach
and Paul Gerhardt. They will learn about Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, a 20th century German theologian and
martyr, and Jan Hus, a church reformer of 15th century Prague—100 years before Luther. Participants
also will hear about the church’s role in the Peaceful
Revolution that brought down the Berlin Wall and
remember the sobering days of WWII at the Buchenwald concentration camp. This travel program is
an opportunity to explore the connections between
people, cultures, and historical events while examining the Reformation as an ongoing influence in the
21st century.
To receive updates about this alumni tour as
plans are finalized, email alumni@augsburg.edu, or call
612-330-1085 to be included on a mailing list.
Spring 2014
27
homecoming
ALUMNI NEWS
CELEBRATE YOUR REUNION
SAVE THE DATE FOR
HOMECOMING
2014
SEPTEMBER 22-27
Join Augsburg alumni and friends for Homecoming 2014
Whether or not you are celebrating a
class reunion this year, new events
accompanied by traditional favorites
make Homecoming Week one of the
best times of year to come back to visit
campus. Reconnect with alumni and
favorite faculty members, and experience
the Augsburg of 2014.
The week will include reunion
events, networking and educational
opportunities, and fun for the entire
family. The Homecoming Convocation
on September 26 will kick off the weekend at a morning celebration where the
College will bestow the First Decade,
Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished
Alumni awards, and recognize members
of the class of 1964 celebrating their
50-year reunion.
This year’s Taste of Augsburg
28
26
Augsburg Now
pregame festival on September 27 will
include excitement for all ages, with
fair-style booths operated by student,
parent, and alumni groups. Following
the picnic, cheer on the Auggies at the
Homecoming Football Game as they
take on St. Olaf College.
The Auggie Block Party is back by
popular demand! Following the football
game, gather in the parking lot to the
north of Si Melby Hall to enjoy food,
entertainment, and camaraderie. The
activities don’t end there! Homecoming weekend truly has something for
everyone. For more information and a
complete schedule, visit augsburg.edu/
homecoming.
[
REUNION CLASSES
60th Reunion
1954
50th Reunion
1964
40th Reunion
1974
25th Reunion
1989
10th Reunion
2004
If you would like to help make your reunion a success, call the Office of Alumni
and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu.
]
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
50
John Shelstad was inducted
into the Minnesota Livestock
Breeders Hall of Fame at the
University of Minnesota.
62
Ron C. Nelson received the
Faithfulness in Ministry
Cross Award from Luther Seminary
in January. The honor was given in
the category of “25 years or more”
of faithful ministry.
66
Grace (Estenson) Fladeboe
retired after 30 years of work
as a family and consumer science teacher, and she continues
employment with her husband
and children for Fladeboe
Auctions.
67
Marlys (Ruona) Thomsen
and her husband, Tom,
have enjoyed traveling in their
RV since his retirement. They
have especially enjoyed the
Susquehanna River and mountains in Pennsylvania; Florida; the
southeastern United States; the
Pacific Coast (Southern California
to the Olympic Peninsula); the
vineyards of Washington, Oregon,
and California; the gorgeous sights
of Alaska; and the Texas coast.
At home, they are working on a
backyard garden and are active in
their church, Grace Lutheran of
Apple Valley, and Sons of Norway.
74
Scot Davis became the
winningest wrestling coach
in U.S. high school history when
his Eden Prairie, Minn., team beat
Columbia Heights, Minn., 58-17 on
December 12. Davis, who is in his
36th season as a high school head
coach, is the first high school wrestling coach in the nation to surpass
the 1,000 dual meet wins mark.
77
Randy “Goggles” Nelson was
inducted into the Minnesota
State High School Golf Coaches
Association Hall of Fame in June.
His teams have earned three state
titles, two second-place finishes,
and one third-place finish. He has
had an individual champion and
numerous other state participants in 21 years of coaching at
the Academy of Holy Angels in
Richfield, Minn.
Jodi and Rick Pelishek have
advocated for the rights of people
with disabilities for many years.
They began a statewide disabilities coalition in North Dakota and
later, Rick was hired by Disability
Rights Wisconsin (DRW), the state’s
protection and advocacy system,
to work on a rural transportation
project in Northwest Wisconsin
and to begin the development of a
Northwest Wisconsin DRW office.
He and Jodi received a national
award for their efforts on behalf of
the Rice Lake (Wis.) DRW. Rick
currently is retired and shares these
thoughts with his fellow Auggies:
“Your education is to help you
pursue your passion and to follow
your dreams. Wealth or poverty may
follow, but in the end you will find
more joy and inner peace by following your heart.”
David B. Wattman and John
Karason ’78 were married at
Bethany Lutheran Church in
Minneapolis on November 9.
Officiating were Susan Masters
of Bethany Lutheran Church
and Justin Lind-Ayers, Augsburg
College associate pastor.
99
83
Ryan Adrian-Hendrick Rivard
and his wife, Kristin, had a
baby girl, Maeve Wren Rivard, on
July 8.
Debra Hannu was selected
as 2013-14 Minnesota
Art Educator of the Year and
also Minnesota Middle School
Art Educator of the Year by Art
Educators of Minnesota, the state’s
only professional organization for
visual and media arts educators.
She is in her 25th year at the
Duluth Public Schools, teaching
63
Carol (Erickson) Zwernik retired in the summer of 2013 after serving for 45 years at Calvary Lutheran in Golden Valley, Minn. She
was director of pre-kindergarten for 30 years, a teacher for 12 years,
and director of children’s choirs for 25 years. She was awarded the
Vetter Educational Service Award in 2011 from the Evangelical Lutheran
Education Association and named Director of the Year in 2006 by the
ELCA. She is spending time with her husband, Don, at their lake home
and traveling. Future plans include spending time with her two sons and
six grandchildren, and writing a collection of stories about her family.
87
and serving as a curriculum coach
for visual and media arts. For the
past several years, she has served
on the Visual Arts Writing Team
for the National Coalition for Core
Arts Standards. The new national
standards were released in March.
Hannu and her husband, Patrick
Thomson, have a small community supported agriculture (CSA)
operation called Uncle Herman’s
Farm. They spend their summers
growing food and raising honeybees, and currently help feed
15 Duluth, Minn., families. Their
goal is to develop a model of a
small enterprise fashioned around
sustainability and creativity.
Andrew Altenburg works for the Bank of Tokyo as an associate
events manager. During the past nine years, he has produced
and emceed 450 installments of his weekly fundraising event, The Will
Clark Show. Recently, he was honored for his fundraising by the Gay/
Lesbian Anti Violence Project (2012), acknowledged by United for the
Ride (2013), and knighted by New York’s Imperial Court (2013). He
continues to officiate mainly—but not exclusively—same-sex weddings.
Jump for joy with him at jumpingforjoy.net.
Jennifer Grimm recently performed in Theater Latté Da’s
Steerage Song and in Words By…
at the Park Square Theatre.
06
Sara Schlipp-Riedel was promoted
to Alumni Relations Program
Director at Augsburg College in
2013.
ie
augPg
SHOTS
SNA
99
Mark Joseph and his wife,
Danielle, welcomed their
second child, a daughter, on April
30, 2013. Her name is Emily
Renee Joseph and she joins big
sister Ella (age 3) at home.
Spring 2014
29
auggie SNAPSHOTS
Send us your news and photos
Tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and
births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least 300
dpi or a 1MB file.)
For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary,
funeral notice, or program from a memorial service.
Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to:
Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside
Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can
also submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni.
_________________________________________________
Full name
01
Hilary English Crook and
her husband, Jacob Seljan,
welcomed Britton Samuel Seljan
on September 26.
04
Dayle VanderLeest and
Karley Kielty ’06 welcomed
their son, Jack, on September 30.
_________________________________________________
Maiden name
_________________________________________________
Class year or last year attended
_________________________________________________
Street address
_________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP code
Is this a new address? q Yes q No
_________________________________________________
Home telephone
05
Laree (Lother) Schouweiler
opened Reefuel, the first
indoor cycling and yoga studio in
Decorah, Iowa.
06
Belinda (Painschab)
Estrem and Andrew Estrem
welcomed Allison Jo Estrem on
March 24, 2013.
_________________________________________________
Email
Okay to publish your email address? q Yes q No
_________________________________________________
Employer
_________________________________________________
Position
_________________________________________________
Work telephone
Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No
If yes, class year_____________________________________
_________________________________________________
Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable)
07
Carolyn (Mollner) Mason married Justin Mason on September 1 at
Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, Minn. Bridesmaids included
Augsburg alumnae from 2007, Beth Chalstrom, Sarah Pahl, and Jenn
Oliver. Carolyn is the daughter of Joe ’75 and Nancy Mollner ’75, and
granddaughter of John Soli ’54.
Your news:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg.
30
Augsburg Now
In memoriam
Thora O. (Torvick) Anderson ’39,
Fergus Falls, Minn., age 98, on
January 12.
Edith A. (Sorem) Gudim ’52,
Mayville, N.Dak., age 82, on
October 11.
Eleanor R. (Ortonstone) Gustafson ’40,
Brainerd, Minn., age 95, on
January 17.
Marvin L. Hagen ’53, St. Paul, age
84, on November 29.
Arlene (Olson) Borgendale ’44,
Chandler, Ariz., age 92, on
September 16.
James D. Bartsch ’45, Charleston,
W.Va., age 92, on December 24.
Orrin O. Agrimson ’46, Vancouver,
Wash., age 90, on September 2.
Glen M. Springer ’46, Barron, Wis.,
age 90, on October 30.
Carol J. (Ysteboe) Lindsay ’47,
Dilworth, Minn., age 86, on
January 4.
Shirley J. (Vance) Menzel ’48,
Spearfish, S.Dak., age 91, on
October 20.
Nathalie M. (Anderson) Peterson ’48,
Bloomington, Minn., age 87, on
September 1.
Ruby A. (Johnson) Sharp ’53,
Minneapolis, age 83, on January 5.
Audrey E. (Knudson) Boettcher ’54,
Suamico, Wis., age 81, on
November 2.
Gerald D. Baxter ’56, Bellevue,
Neb., age 79, on October 24.
Peggy-Joyce (Sorenson) Grable ’57,
College Place, Wash., age 78, on
November 9.
Norman R. Matson ’57, Evanston,
Ill., age 78, on January 12.
Albert N. Kemmer ’59, Eagan,
Minn., age 75, on November 6.
Helen J. Bergan ’61, Las Cruces,
N.Mex., age 76, on September 6.
Stephen A. Nelson ’69, Edina,
Minn., age 67, on September 5.
Debra K. (Chase) Anderson ’77,
Onamia, Minn., age 59, on
December 19.
Peder J. Wilcox ’49, Bloomington,
Minn., age 87, on December 10.
Philip S. Johnson ’79, Ashland,
Wis., age 58, on October 4.
Roy A. Bogen ’50, Bloomington,
Minn., age 86, on December 26.
Thomas S. McCleery ’87, Eden
Prairie, Minn., age 49, on July 4.
Robert E. Paulson ’50, Crystal,
Minn., age 86, on December 2.
Matthew E. Smith ’02, Minneapolis,
age 51, on April 9, 2013.
Robert “Bob” V. Ryan ’50, East
Helena, Mont., age 85, on
December 18.
Laura A. Peterson ’04, St. Cloud,
Minn., age 31, on December 31.
Virginia “Ginny” L. (Thompson)
Smith ’50, Hendricks, Minn., age
85, on January 1.
Clarice E. (Glamm) Madsen ’51,
Kasson, Minn., age 85, on
October 31.
Celia J. (Hanson) Burk ’52, Fargo,
N.Dak., age 86, on September 24.
Adjunct Psychology Faculty Member Megan Shroat
Linda K. Johnson ’70, Sarasota,
Fla., age 64, on September 15.
William “Bun” W. Fischer ’49, Barrett,
Minn., age 92, on October 21.
Gretchen M. Myers ’05, Waconia,
Minn., age 37, on January 14.
Associate Professor of Social
Work Annette Gerten, Inver Grove
Heights, Minn., age 52, on
December 31.
Adjunct Psychology Faculty Member
Megan Shroat, Minneapolis, age
38, on February 6.
The “In Memoriam” alumni listings in this publication include
notifications received before January 31.
Annette Gerten, 52, a passionate and valued member of
the social work faculty and the
Augsburg community, passed
away in late December from
an aggressive cancer. Her time
with us and our students was a
blessing we will long remember and greatly miss.
Her colleagues in the Social Work Department
said Gerten was an innovative teacher, a tireless
collaborator, and an incurable knitter. She dedicated her whole heart to her students and to her
colleagues, serving as a Fellow with the Center
for Teaching and Learning, on the Committee for
Tenure and Promotion, as assessment director for
the social work program, and as field placement
coordinator for undergraduate social work students.
“As she did with yarn so beautifully and creatively, she wove
us all together more tightly centered on the important work of
serving others...What a good mother, social worker, educator,
and human being! May we carry on in her hopes and dreams as
her spirit lives in our hearts.”
–Anthony Bibus, professor emeritus, Social Work Department
Courtesy photo
Ruth C. (Anderson) Blanshan ’44,
Green Bay, Wis., age 91, on
October 29.
Courtesy photo
Associate Professor of Social Work Annette Gerten
Megan Shroat, 38, a long-time
adjunct faculty member in the
Psychology Department, passed
away in February. An accomplished academician as well as
a gifted teacher, she was deeply
connected and committed to
the fabric and mission of Augsburg.
She also was a strong advocate of Augsburg’s
StepUP® program for students in recovery and shared
the College’s commitment to making higher education accessible to diverse groups of students. She was
willing to listen to her students, their opinions, and
even their struggles, but was also not afraid to challenge them to dig deeper and achieve more.
“I have had students tell me that Megan was the reason
[they] chose to major in psychology and pursue a profession
dedicated to improving the lives of others. Her example, her
presence, her genuine love for students and their growth had
this impact. She taught not simply to impart knowledge but to
change lives.”
–Scott Washburn, assistant director, StepUP
Spring 2014
31
LOSAR
Tibetan New Year Celebration
AUGSBURG WAS THE SITE OF A HISTORIC EVENT
March 2 when it hosted the Tibetan American
Foundation of Minnesota’s Losar celebration in Si Melby
Hall. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama presided over
this Tibetan New Year ceremony—the first time he
observed the holiday in the western hemisphere.
Sitting on the floor and filling the bleachers, more
than 2,500 guests packed Augsburg’s gymnasium,
which had been transformed (literally) overnight from the
site of a wrestling tournament to an ornately decorated
space. After the ceremony and the departure of attending
dignitaries—including Augsburg College President Paul
Pribbenow and Abigail Pribbenow, Minneapolis Mayor
Betsy Hodges, and U.S. representatives Keith Ellison
and Betty McCollum—guests continued the festivities
with traditional music, dancing, and food—rice, jerky,
deep-fried pastries, dumplings, butter tea, and more.
Dozens of Augsburg staff, students, and volunteers
worked the event, demonstrating how Augsburg lives out
its commitment to hospitality.
LAURA SWANSON
32
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Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Tibetan New Year
Three Auggies, all sisters, participated in the historic Tibetan New Year celebration held at Augsburg
College in March. [L to R]: Tenzin Dolsel ’16, a master of social work student; Dechen Dolma ’16, who
is pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree; and Kalsang Chodon ’15, a master of business
administration student. Chodon served as a volunteer for the event, working in one of the VIP reception
rooms for the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. See page 32 for more about the celebration
or scan the QR code to see event photos.
Show less
inside
AUGSBURG NOW
What the world wants is a good job
Augsburg College Homecoming 2013
Keeping track of Auggies
Augsburg 2019: A strategic vision
CELEBRATING
auggie
PRIDE!
FALL 2013 | VOL. 76, NO. 1
Auggie class challenge
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
NOTES
NOTES F... Show more
inside
AUGSBURG NOW
What the world wants is a good job
Augsburg College Homecoming 2013
Keeping track of Auggies
Augsburg 2019: A strategic vision
CELEBRATING
auggie
PRIDE!
FALL 2013 | VOL. 76, NO. 1
Auggie class challenge
Vice President of Marketing
and Communication
NOTES
NOTES FROM
FROM PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW
PRIBBENOW
“Big
“Big for
for the
the world…”
world…”
In this issue of
In this issue of
Augsburg Now, you
Augsburg Now, you
will find a summary of
will find a summary of
Augsburg 2019,
Augsburg 2019,
a strategic framework
a strategic framework
developed over the
developed over the
past several months
past several months
with the involvewith the involvement of Regents,
ment of Regents,
faculty, staff, and
faculty, staff, and
students. Focused on
students. Focused
Augsburg’s 150th anniversary in 2019, the plan sets
on Augsburg’s 150th
out an ambitious vision, which claims that in 2019,
anniversary in 2019, the plan sets out an ambitious
“Augsburg will be a new kind of student-centered, urban
vision, which claims that in 2019, “Augsburg will be a
university—small to our students and big for the world.”
new kind of student-centered, urban university—small to
I hope you find in this vision statement a glimpse
our students and big for the world.”
of the Augsburg we all know and love—and that we all
I hope you find in this vision statement a glimpse
want to support and help strengthen for the future.
of the Augsburg we all know and love—and that we all
The Augsburg that we all know is a college where
want to support and help strengthen for the future.
students are central to our daily lives; where personal
The Augsburg that we all know is a college where
relationships and a sense of community combine to
students are central to our daily lives; where personal
provide rare opportunities to learn and serve; and
relationships and a sense of community combine to
where academic, civic, and faith commitments are
provide rare opportunities to learn and serve; and
explored and strengthened. A college that is small to
where academic, civic, and faith commitments are
our students.
explored and strengthened. A college that is small to
At the same time, we are a college that makes
our students.
a remarkable impact on the world—as a community
At the same time, we are a college that makes
and through our thousands of graduates pursuing
a remarkable impact on the world—as a community
their vocations in various settings around the globe.
and through our thousands of graduates pursuing
A college that is big for the world.
their vocations in various settings around the globe.
When reviewing the editorial plan for this issue
A college that is big for the world.
of Augsburg Now, I was struck with how this vision
When reviewing the editorial plan for this issue
of “big for the world” is evident in so many different
of Augsburg Now, I was struck with how this vision
ways. And at the risk of violating what my predecesof “big for the world” is evident in so many different
sor, President Bill Frame, called Augsburg’s “militant
ways. And at the risk of violating what my predecesmodesty,” allow me to brag a bit about this very
sor, President Bill Frame, called Augsburg’s “militant
special college…
modesty,” allow me to brag a bit about this very
s !BOUTONEOFTHELARGESTlRST
YEARCLASSESIN
special
college…
Augsburg’s history this fall—more than 460 first• About one of the largest first-year classes in
year students—and the effect they already are
Augsburg’s history this fall—more than 460 firsthaving on campus with their spirit and activism.
year students—and the effect they already are
s having
!BOUTTHEFACTTHATOURSCIENCEFACULTYHAVEGENERon campus with their spirit and activism.
ated unprecedented funding from the National
• About the fact that our science faculty have generScience Foundation and other federal agencies,
ated unprecedented funding from the National
ranking Augsburg third in the state among all higher
Science Foundation and other federal agencies,
ranking Augsburg third in the state among all higher
Rebecca John ’13 MBA
rjohn@augsburg.edu
Director of Marketing
Communication
Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL
rumpza@augsburg.edu
education institutions, behind only the University
education institutions, behind only the University
of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of
of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of
Minnesota-Duluth.
Minnesota-Duluth.
s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWEWERENAMEDTHISPASTFALLAS
• About the fact that we were named this past fall as
one of the top 25 colleges in the country for service
one of the top 25 colleges in the country for service
learning programs, exemplifying how our commitlearning programs, exemplifying how our commitment to education for service is imbedded in the
ment to education for service is imbedded in the
curriculum and recognized by others as a highcurriculum and recognized by others as a highimpact way of learning.
impact way of learning.
s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWEAREPARTNERINGWITHMORE
• About the fact that we are partnering with more
than a dozen colleges and health care institutions
than a dozen colleges and health care institutions
in the Twin Cities to combine our human and fiscal
in the Twin Cities to combine our human and fiscal
resources in support of neighborhoods along the
resources in support of neighborhoods along the
new Central Corridor Light Rail Line between downnew Central Corridor Light Rail Line between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul.
town Minneapolis and St. Paul.
s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWERAISEDMORETHANMILLION
• About the fact that we raised more than $19 million
in gifts and pledges during the 2012-13 academic
in gifts and pledges during the 2012-13 academic
year from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and
year from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and
foundations—another record year in fundraising for
foundations—another record year in fundraising for
Augsburg, our third record year in a row—and that
Augsburg, our third record year in a row—and that
WEHAVENOWRAISEDMORETHANMILLIONFORTHE
we have now raised more than $25 million for the
planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion.
planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion.
s !BOUTTHEFACTTHATWECONTINUETODEVELOPINNOVA• About the fact that we continue to develop innovative academic programs, including our new Master
tive academic programs, including our new Master
of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which was launched
of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which was launched
this past summer with a first cohort of 16 students,
this past summer with a first cohort of 16 students,
and a partnership with the Minneapolis Community
and a partnership with the Minneapolis Community
and Technical College to offer the first fast-track
and Technical College to offer the first fast-track
RN/Bachelor of Science in Nursing professional
RN/Bachelor of Science in Nursing professional
program in Minnesota between a two-year public
program in Minnesota between a two-year public
institution and a four-year private college.
institution and a four-year private college.
And I could go on. There’s more in the pages
And I could go on. There’s more in the pages
that follow and even more in the daily life of the
that follow and even more in the daily life of the
Augsburg community. Come and visit, as Minnesota
Augsburg community. Come and visit, as Minnesota
State Senator Terri Bonoff, chair of the Senate
State Senator Terri Bonoff, chair of the Senate
Higher Education Committee, did recently, and see
Higher Education Committee, did recently, and see
for yourself what she described this way: “This is a
for yourself what she described this way: “This is a
special college—one where being small to students
special college—one where being small to students
and big for the world is really true.” I couldn’t have
and big for the world is really true.” I couldn’t have
said it better.
said it better.
Faithfully yours,
Faithfully yours,
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT
Director of News and
Media Services
Stephanie Weiss
weisss@augsburg.edu
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Jen Nagorski ’08
nagorski@augsburg.edu
Integrated Communication
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Stephen Geffre
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Mark Chamberlain
chamberm@augsburg.edu
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augsburg.edu
Augsburg Now is published by
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Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now
do not necessarily reflect
reflect official
official
College policy.
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Email: now@augsburg.edu
fall 2013
AUGSBURG NOW
16
Courtesy photo
12
Features
20
18
02
09
14
18
20
Augsburg 2019
What the whole world wants
is a good job
Augsburg College annual report
Mixing teamwork into the
courseload
Homecoming 2013
Departments
inside
front
cover
4
Notes from President Pribbenow
Around the Quad
12 Auggie voices
16 Auggies on the court
19 My Auggie experience
23 It takes an Auggie
2
On the cover
Edor Nelson Field, home to Auggie football, softball, lacrosse, and soccer,
was resurfaced with more durable and safe FieldTurf Revolution this summer. The field is named for Edor Nelson ’38, longtime Auggie athletics coach
and World War II veteran. Read about other Auggie veterans on page 12.
All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated.
19
24 Keeping track of Auggies
31 In memoriam
AUGSBURG
2019
A STRATEGIC VISION
In January 2013, the Augsburg College Board of Regents
launched a strategic planning initiative that involved conversation and input from across the campus community. The outcome
of that work is a strategic vision statement that looks out to
2019, Augsburg’s sesquicentennial year:
In 2019, Augsburg College will be
a new kind of student-centered,
urban university that is
small to our students and big for the world.
“Small to our students” reflects the relationships, community,
and personal attention that are hallmarks of the educational
experience at Augsburg. “Big for the world” acknowledges the
significant impact we know our students—and alumni—do and
will make in the world.
The strategic plan is grounded in Augsburg’s mission statement,
which was updated in 2010. The plan is organized into three
categories, or dimensions, each with three goals. Detail about
each of the strategic planning dimensions is provided on the
next page. The strategic vision will anchor the College’s institutional initiatives and priorities throughout the next five years,
reflecting the values and commitments stated in our mission:
AUGSBURG EDUCATES STUDENTS TO BE
INFORMED CITIZENS,
THOUGHTFUL STEWARDS,
CRITICAL THINKERS,
AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERS.
THE AUGSBURG EXPERIENCE IS SUPPORTED BY AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY
THAT IS COMMITTED TO INTENTIONAL DIVERSITY IN ITS LIFE AND WORK.
AN AUGSBURG EDUCATION IS DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE IN THE LIBERAL ARTS
AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, GUIDED BY THE FAITH AND VALUES OF THE
LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND SHAPED BY ITS URBAN AND GLOBAL SETTINGS.
2
Augsburg Now
DIMENSION 1
DIMENSION 2
DIMENSION 3
EDUCATING FOR LIVES
OF PURPOSE
AT THE TABLE
BUILT FOR THE FUTURE
The first dimension articulates OUR ACADEMIC
The second dimension focuses on OUR
The third dimension is about how OUR
DISTINCTION: Augsburg educates students for
REPUTATION AND IDENTITY: Augsburg is “at
INSTITUTION WILL THRIVE NOW AND IN THE
lives of purpose. The goals in this category
the table” with our neighbors and institutional
FUTURE. The goals in this category call on
challenge us to:
partners in shaping education to address the
Augsburg to be:
world’s needs. The goals here call on us to:
• rigorously integrate the liberal arts and the
professional studies;
• a welcoming, sustainable campus,
• prepare an intentional mix of diverse learners for a complex, interconnected world;
• use high-impact teaching and learning
practices, enriched by our core com-
• provide experiential opportunities that
mitments of faith and spiritual inquiry,
enable students to discover their gifts,
vocational discernment, civic engagement,
discern their vocations, and open doors to
and global understanding; and
careers; and
anchored in our community and designed
for educational excellence;
• organized for collaboration, efficiency,
and effectiveness; and
• committed to maintaining a sound and
sustainable financial footing.
• provide each student with pathways for
success to graduation and beyond.
• publicly advance the core commitments
that enrich our learning environment—
faith and spiritual inquiry, vocational
discernment, civic engagement, and global
understanding.
Fall 2013
3
AROUND THE QUAD
COLLEGE AWARDS
Top 25 schools for service learning
U.S. News & World Report designated Augsburg College
as one of the top 25 colleges and universities in the
nation for its dedication to service learning. Schools
named to the list were nominated by college presidents,
chief academic officers, and deans from more than
1,500 higher education institutions. Augsburg was the
only Minnesota school named to the list.
Best Regional Universities by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report named Augsburg one of the
Best Universities in the Midwest. Rankings are based
on several factors, including average first-year retention rates, graduation rates, class sizes, student-faculty
ratios, acceptance rates, and more.
“Best in the Midwest” by Princeton Review
Augsburg College is one of 155 colleges that The
Princeton Review has named “Best in the Midwest” for
academic excellence.
Named Top 200 school by Winds of Change
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Winds of Change magazine has selected Augsburg as
one of the Top 200 Schools in 2013 for Native American
and Alaska Native students pursuing degrees in science,
technology, engineering, and math.
Recognized nationally for contribution to the public good
Augsburg College was the No. 2 institution in Minnesota
named by Washington Monthly in its 2013 Master’s
Universities Rankings. The list rates schools based upon
their contribution to the public good in three categories:
social mobility, research, and service.
Named a High ROI College by Affordable Colleges Online
Augsburg College was named a top college for return on
investment (ROI) in Minnesota for having high-earning
graduates in comparison to tuition and fees. The ranking,
by Affordable Colleges Online, is the result of a partnership among the National Center for Education Statistics,
Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System, the
Carnegie Foundation, and PayScale.com.
4
Augsburg Now
BOARD OF REGENTS
WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
At its annual meeting in September, the Augsburg
Corporation elected two new members to the Board of
Regents and re-elected five others.
Wayne Jorgenson ’71
Dennis Meyer ’78
Elected to their first term on the Augsburg Board of Regents:
•
Wayne Jorgenson ’71 serves as senior vice president
of wealth management with UBS Financial Services,
Inc. and brings decades of financial planning and
investment management experience to the Board.
•
Dennis Meyer ’78 has extensive experience in strategic
marketing and global business development. He has
held executive positions in several industries, most
recently in architecture and building engineering with
AECOM Ellerbe Becket, as well as in communications,
printing and imaging, and supply chain management.
Elected to a second or third term:
•
Ann Ashton-Piper, president of The Bridge Group
•
Norman Hagfors, president (retired), Norsen, Inc.
•
Jodi Harpstead, chair of the Augsburg Board of
Regents and chief executive officer, Lutheran Social
Service of Minnesota
•
Dr. Paul Mueller ’84, physician and chair of general
internal medicine, Mayo Clinic
•
Lisa Novotny ’80, vice president human resources,
International, General Mills
Mike Good ’71 and Jennifer Martin were named Regents
Emeriti at the May meeting of the Augsburg Board of
Regents. Each had served three four-year terms on the
board. Marie McNeff also was named Regent Emerita by
the Board at that meeting. McNeff, who passed away
in September, was elected to the Board in 2005 and
served as a Regent for the College until her retirement
from the Board earlier in 2013.
Augsburg science faculty
awarded more than $695,000 in grants
Augsburg College science
faculty continue to be awarded grants from the National
Science Foundation (NSF) for
research. During 2012, the
College was ranked third in
Minnesota for the total dollar
amount awarded to a school,
behind only the University of
Minnesota, Twin Cities and
the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In addition, science faculty members recently were awarded an additional $695,087
in grants. These grants include:
MARK ENGEBRETSON, professor of physics, was awarded a
three-year, $185,940 grant for continued study and probing of
Earth’s space environment, known as the magnetosphere. The
project will help society better understand the relationship
between Earth’s magnetosphere and its interaction with the
solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field. The project, which builds upon a long-standing relationship with the
University of New Hampshire and that also makes data available to space physics researchers throughout the world, will
study ultra-low-frequency waves on Svalbard, Norway, which
is the only place in the northern hemisphere where the Aurora
Borealis (Northern Lights) can be observed for longtime periods in darkness at noon. The grant, Federal Award ID Number
AGS-1202267, brings to more than $2 million the awards
earned by Engebretson since mid-2008. Funds will support
the continued operation of four search coil magnetometers
and the analysis of the data gathered.
DAVID HANSON, assistant professor of chemistry, was awarded in
excess of $386,000 for a three-year project that ultimately will
help increase understanding of the sources of particulate matter that are harmful to human health. Hanson will test models
for what is called nucleation rates that can be incorporated
into global climate models. Nucleation is a process that drives
the formation of new particles in the atmosphere. Hanson’s
team will look specifically at nucleation in sulfuric acid, water,
and amines. The funds from Federal Award ID Number
AGS-1338706 also will support work by eight students in
Hanson’s lab.
David Hanson, assistant professor of chemistry, will use National Science
Foundation funding to advance atmospheric chemistry research and support
Augsburg students working in his lab.
ANN IMPULITTI, assistant professor of biology, received an NSF
grant for nearly $123,000 to investigate the physiology and
productivity of economically important plants infected by
parasitic, mutualistic, and commensal fungi. Research will
focus on soybean due to its high economic value and the
diverse uses of soybean products. The funds from Federal
Award ID Number 1337582, along with an additional award
of more than $52,000 that Impulitti received from the LiCor
Environmental Education Fund, will be used to purchase a
suite of instruments for plant ecophysiology research. The
instruments will support interdisciplinary research in the
plant biological sciences, mathematics, and environmental
sciences, and also support collaboration between Augsburg
College and the University of Minnesota. The instrumentation will enhance research experiences for undergraduates
and will improve student instruction and discovery-based
labs in plant biology, environmental science, and mathematics. Co-principal investigators on the grant include John
Zobitz, Augsburg associate professor of mathematics, and
Dean Malvick, associate professor of plant pathology at the
University of Minnesota.
Editor’s Note: Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this material are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
National Science Foundation.
Fall 2013
5
AROUND THE QUAD
AUGSBURG HONORS PRESIDENT EMERITUS
CHARLES S. ANDERSON
Augsburg College renamed its music building the Charles S.
Anderson Music Hall to honor the legacy of the College’s eighth
president, who passed away June 14. Anderson oversaw significant growth in the College’s enrollment, program offerings,
commitment to its Lutheran heritage, and student diversity.
He was a constant advocate for Augsburg and helped to
establish the College’s public presence in the Twin Cities.
During his 17-year tenure, Augsburg launched the Weekend
and Evening College (WEC) program, established the Center
for Global Education, and introduced the StepUP® program
for young people in recovery and the CLASS office for differently abled students.
“Charles Anderson’s influence on the Augsburg community is deep and long-lived,” said Augsburg College President
Paul C. Pribbenow. “The priorities Anderson outlined and
championed during his tenure continue to shape how we live
out our institutional mission and celebrate life and learning in
the city each day.”
Anderson Music Hall occupies a central location on
campus and houses an array of music programs that welcome
students of diverse musical interests. More than 100 students each year pursue traditional liberal arts music studies as well as degrees in music business, music education,
[L to R]: Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow with Charles S. Anderson’s
family: daughter Kristin Anderson, Augsburg College professor of art history
and archivist; wife Catherine Anderson, an active Augsburg Associates
member; and son, Eric Anderson.
music performance, and music therapy. More than 350 music
majors and non-music majors alike participate in the College’s
numerous vocal, concert band, symphony orchestra, and jazz
ensembles.
Anderson’s legacy also includes the College’s beautiful
annual Advent Vespers—celebrating the Advent season with a
service of traditional and contemporary hymns, anthems, and
carols. The celebration is one of the largest seasonal events in
the Twin Cities, with 300 participants, including choral and
instrumental performers, readers, a full liturgical party, and
more than 10,000 worshipers annually.
Each year, two Augsburg music students receive the prestigious Orville and Gertrude Hognander Music Scholarship.
Initiated during Anderson’s tenure, Orville and Gertrude
(Lund) Hognander, both 1936 Augsburg graduates, established the Hognander Scholarships in 1998 to provide up to
full tuition for students with exceptional music performance
and academic achievement.
Students present AT BERKELEY
In front of Dwinelle Hall on the University of California, Berkeley campus:
Front row [L to R]: McNair Scholars Program Assistant Director Brian Greening, Mahelet Maru ’14, McNair Scholars Program Administrative Assistant Lara
Crombie, Amineh Safi ’14, Sawiya Hassan ’14; middle row [L to R]: Magaly OrtizAucapipa ’14, Enrico Barrozo ’14; back row [L to R]: Raesean Sneed ’15, David
Fowler ’14, Dereck Dasrath ’14, and Amir Rose ’14
6
Augsburg Now
Last summer, nine researchers from Augsburg College
traveled to California for one of the largest national gatherings of McNair Scholars. The Auggies presented findings
from their summer research at the University of California,
Berkeley for the 21st Annual Ronald E. McNair California
Scholars Research Symposium, which boasts more than 300
student attendees. Augsburg students spent an average
of 400 hours exploring their research topics, developing theses, collecting and reviewing data, and preparing
formal paper presentations. Scholars were paired with a
faculty mentor in their discipline to gain extensive skills
and knowledge, learn research methods, and practice writing and public speaking. The students represented a wide
range of disciplines including biology, philosophy, physics,
and sociology.
CONVOCATION SERIES 2013-14
First held in 1990, the Augsburg
College Convocation Series is
an annual speaker series that
incorporates long-standing
endowed and special programs.
This fall, the series kicked off
with the Bernhard M. Christensen
Symposium featuring Krista Tippett,
host and producer of the public
radio show, On Being. Tippett
shared thoughts from her book, Einstein’s God: Revisiting
Science and Religion in a New Century.
During the Center for Counseling
and Health Promotion Convocation
in October, Sian Beilock, an expert
on performance and cognitive science, revealed the brain science
behind “choking under pressure”
in a lecture based on her book,
Choke—What the Secrets of the
Brain Reveal About Getting it
Right When You Have To.
GIVE FROM YOUR HEART
GIVE TO THE
MAX
GiveMN, an online resource that helps Minnesotans
donate to the state’s nonprofit community, hosted its
annual Give to the Max Day on November 14. Auggies
created more than 20 fundraising projects to help raise
money for an Augsburg cause that they are passionate
about. Contributions from Give to the Max Day help:
• Faculty develop creative course offerings that
encourage Augsburg students to think beyond the
classroom.
• Augsburg graduates prepare for their next chapter.
• Keep Augsburg affordable—thanks to the generosity of donors, more than 94 percent of Augsburg day
undergraduate students receive financial aid through
grants and scholarships.
The Humanities and Fine Arts Convocation in mid-November
featured the Rose Ensemble’s performance of Portraits of
Peru, 1785 Exotic Folksongs and Dances from Trujillo,
inspired by a collection of watercolor paintings compiled by
the local bishop for Spanish King Carlos IV, imaginatively
depicting the plants, animals, people, and archaeological
monuments of this diverse region in northern Peru.
The next event, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, is
scheduled for January 20 and will celebrate the life and
legacy of this important civil rights leader. Convocations are
free and open to the public.
• Encourage a tradition of vocation and faith, going
back to Augsburg’s roots as a Lutheran seminary.
• Make healthy food accessible to all people in and
around the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and provide
for basic needs, service learning, leadership development, and genuine engagement between the College
and the community through Campus Kitchen.
Check out the final results from the challenge online at
givemn.org/auggiesgive.
Fall 2013
7
AROUND THE QUAD
Innovative partnership
allows students to earn
BACHELOR’S IN NURSING
IN ONLY THREE YEARS
A new partnership between Augsburg College and Minneapolis
Community and Technical College (MCTC) gives students the
opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
in only three years. The program, the first fast-track BSN
professional program in Minnesota between a two-year public
institution and a four-year private college, allows the schools
to respond to the changing needs of health care professionals
and local communities.
“Augsburg has long been committed to offering high-quality
bachelor’s and master’s programs in nursing,” said Augsburg
College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “We are excited to
partner with MCTC given our shared commitment to educating
diverse student populations.”
The partnership leverages unique relationships and
strengths in each program. Students will study for two years
Minn. Senate Higher Education
Committee visits campus
Photo by Laura Swanson
To view additional photos from the event or watch a video in
which Sen. Bonoff discusses Augsburg’s unique emphasis on
service learning, go to augsburg.edu/now.
8
Augsburg Now
at MCTC and then transfer to Augsburg for the third year.
During their study at Augsburg, students will experience
first-hand community health nursing in diverse settings including
at the Augsburg Health Commons in downtown Minneapolis
and at Dar Ul-Quba in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. In
addition, third-year students in the program will be offered
BSN practicum opportunities locally or abroad in Namibia or
Nicaragua. Prior to their time at Augsburg, students will study
in new, state-of-the-art classrooms and labs at MCTC.
State, local, and education officials attended an opening
ceremony at MCTC to announce the partnership. Those in attendance included Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, Hennepin County
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, and leaders from Augsburg,
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and MCTC.
Dozens of Augsburg College students, faculty, and staff took part in
a September town hall meeting with Minnesota Rep. Phyllis Kahn and
Sens. Terri Bonoff, Greg Clausen ’69, and Kari Dziedzic. The legislators
visited Augsburg as part of a statewide “listening tour” effort launched
by Bonoff, chair of the Minnesota State Senate Higher Education and
Workforce Development Committee.
The legislators were enthusiastic to learn more about private colleges in Minnesota and invited Auggies to consider ways to improve the
state’s higher education system. The Augsburg students discussed with
the legislators a number of issues, including transfer credits, financial
aid options, career preparation, and on- and off-campus service learning
experiences. One of the key themes the legislators stressed during the
meeting was the important role colleges and universities play in educating the nation’s future leadership and workforce.
“Education is the engine that runs our Minnesota economy,” Clausen said,
addressing the Augsburg crowd. “We need to invest in you, and you need to
invest in your education.” Clausen is part of an Augsburg legacy family—his
wife, Roberta ’69, and son, Steven ’96, also attended the College.
“What the whole world wants
IS A GOOD JOB.”*
BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA
Today, higher education has come under question—
is the debt worth it, are students graduating at sufficient rates, are we educating enough of our population, are students actually learning what they need?
In this environment, the value of higher education increasingly is being
defined—by parents and prospective students alike—as “getting a good
job.” In fact, this is the No. 1 reason cited by U.S. respondents in the 2012
Gallup/Lumina poll for pursuing education beyond high school. And the second
reason? To earn more money.
“When college students and their parents think about the value
of higher education, they typically think about it too narrowly,”
said Brandon Busteed, executive director of Gallup Education.
“People tend to get caught up with things—like potential
income or getting a job with a ‘blue chip’ company—that don’t
matter” when it comes to predicting career success and satisfaction, Busteed said. “Focusing on those things is not the best
way to think about a great job and a great life.”
“WELLBEING” AS A MEASURE OF CAREER SUCCESS
What factors do predict career success? According to Gallup,
it’s being able to respond affirmatively to statements like the
following:
•
•
•
•
“I like what I do each day.”
“I do what I do best every day.”
“My supervisor cares about my development.”
“I have a best friend at work.”
Agreeing with statements like these indicates that a person
is engaged in interesting and meaningful activities at work,
is using his or her strengths to achieve goals, is motivated by
the team leader, and is supported by colleagues who share a
common purpose. Those characteristics, according to Gallup’s
“wellbeing” research, correlate more with top performance than
income or title or working for a prestigious organization.
Gallup has been studying wellbeing, on a global basis,
since the 1930s.
“Wellbeing is not ‘wellness,’” Busteed said. “It is a multidimensional measure of how people rate their lives.”
In the past several decades, Gallup’s study of people in
more than 150 countries has revealed five universal, interconnected elements that shape our lives: career wellbeing, social
wellbeing, financial wellbeing, physical wellbeing, and community wellbeing.
“We didn’t invent these categories,” Busteed said. “The
factors that correlate with wellbeing are what we found from the
data collected over time and across populations.” Of those five
*Source: Gallup World Poll, 2010
Fall 2013
9
Opportunities to learn and grow
Progress in last six months
How do
we grow?
10
Augsburg Now
What do I get?
ic
Bas s
d
Nee
The career wellbeing issue is connected with low worker
engagement, Busteed said. According to Gallup’s 2012 “State
of the American Workplace” report, only 30 percent of full-time
U.S. workers are engaged and inspired at work. Fifty percent
are not engaged, the report states—“they’re just kind of present, but not inspired by their work or their managers.” The
remaining 20 percent of all full-time U.S. workers are actively
disengaged in their jobs.
One significant driver of high or low engagement is a person’s manager, Busteed said. People looking for a “good job”
focus so much on income and landing a position at a “good”
company, but finding a good manager is vastly more important
than working for a well-known company, he explained.
Another factor causing low worker engagement is whether
a person is using her or his strengths every day. “Not just once
in a while, not once every week or so, but every day,” Busteed
said. Among college graduates, he said, the lack of opportunity
to use one’s strengths at work every day points to career misalignment—either getting a degree in a field in which one isn’t
What do I give?
.
WELLBEING AND WORKPLACE ENGAGEMENT
In c
interconnected elements of wellbeing, career wellbeing is the
most important, Busteed said.
“Our careers are a fundamental piece of how we define
ourselves,” Busteed said. “Plus, work is where you spend the
majority of your waking hours,” so it is going to have a major
impact on your life evaluation—not to mention your social,
financial, and physical wellbeing.
Gallup’s research shows that those who have high career
wellbeing are 4.5 times more likely to be “thriving”—versus
merely surviving or, worse, suffering—in life. However, just 31
percent of the U.S. population has very high career wellbeing.
p,
llu
ual
Ga
ivid
Ind ibution
tr
Con
Materials and equipment to do the job
I know what is expected of me at work
ce:
Someone encourages my development
Supervisor/someone at work cares
Recognition in the last seven days
Do what I do best every day
ur
So
Do I belong?
ork
mw
Tea
I have a best friend at work
Coworkers committed to quality
Mission/purpose of company
At work, my opinions seem to count
wth
Gro
What does a
‘GOOD JOB’
look like?
able to get a job or pursuing a field because of others’ expectations instead of based on one’s own strengths.
“The onus is certainly on the individual [student], but it is
also on the college and mentors to make sure that students are
asking themselves” what they are truly good at, what engages
and excites them, Busteed said.
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT SUPPORT CAREER SUCCESS
In addition to studying workplace dynamics that correspond
with career wellbeing, Gallup also has identified specific college
experiences that correlate with subsequent career success. In
its research, Gallup has found two educational experiences
that are twice as likely as other factors to predict high work
performance:
1) Working on a long-term project that took several classes to
complete, and
2) Using what was learned in class to develop solutions to
real-world problems.
In short, Busteed said, “what works in school is ‘real work.’”
“Real work”—including problem-solving and experiential
education opportunities—helps prepare students for success
after graduation, but Gallup also has done extensive research
on the factors that predict success during college. Here,
Busteed said, Gallup has found that “hope” is statistically a
stronger predictor of educational outcomes than test scores or
grade-point averages. (In fact, according to the work of Gallup
Senior Scientist Shane Lopez, hope is the leading indicator of
success in relationships, academics, career, and business—as
well as of a healthier, happier life.)
HOPE: AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN COLLEGE SUCCESS
“Hope is a strategy,” Busteed said. However, it is not just wishful thinking, he explained. Instead, it refers to one’s ideas and
energy for the future and includes the following three elements:
1) Attainable goals,
2) The ability to see multiple pathways to achieve those goals,
and
3) Agency—i.e., a belief that you can achieve your goals.
Measures of hope, engagement, and wellbeing account for
one-third of the variance of student success in college, Busteed
reported. And, although college success is also driven by other
things—such as academic preparation and content knowledge—those things are being measured fairly consistently and
systematically through cognitive measures, such as tests.
“But no one is paying attention to measuring the noncognitive factors that account for a whopping one-third of
student success,” Busteed said. “We need better balance and
alignment around how we track and promote student success
[in college].”
The same is true for college outcomes, where job placement percentages and average salaries tell only part of the
story. “What’s the ultimate outcome of an education?” Busteed
asked. “To have a better life,” he said. We need to pay attention
to how we measure that.
Augsburg and Career Wellbeing
MATCHING YOUR GIFTS TO THE NEEDS
OF THE WORLD
According to Gallup, career wellbeing requires
that people understand what they are truly good
at and pursue career opportunities that allow
them to use their strengths every day.
Augsburg calls this vocational discernment.
“Augsburg is about forming and shaping
students to lead lives of meaning and purpose,”
said Mark Tranvik, professor of religion and
director of Augsburg’s Bernhard Christensen
Center for Vocation. “At Augsburg, we encourage
students to move beyond self-enhancement and
think about their lives within a wider horizon. We
want them to ask questions like, ‘What am I good
at?’ and ‘How can my gifts best be used to make a
difference in the world?’
“For many at the College,” Tranvik said,
“faith plays an important role in how those questions are answered.” The exploration of one’s
gifts is rooted deeply in the Lutheran theological
tradition of vocation, and it is a critical part of the
educational journey at Augsburg—for students of
all faith and spiritual backgrounds, Tranvik said.
FINDING THE RIGHT WORKPLACE
ENVIRONMENT
Another important part of the self-discovery
journey is determining what types of work environments might suit you best, said Keith Munson,
director of the Clair and Gladys Strommen
Center for Meaningful Work. “You can get a job
doing something you love, but if that job is not
in the right place—the right work environment
or culture—you won’t be able to sustain your
motivation for the job very long,” he said.
In other words, you need to pay attention to
where and how your gifts will be used.
A good way to learn about work environments is through informational interviews,
Munson said. “Networking, of course, ensures
that people learn more about you than can be
picked up from your résumé, but that’s not
the only reason to network,” he said. It is as
important “for you to actually find out if a given
company or department is a good place for you
to work.”
Determining whether a given work
environment is a fit, however, requires that
you understand what kind of work cultures and
relationships are best for you. This involves
self-reflection and, usually, some amount of
coaching. But many students—and many adults
in job transitions, for that matter—skip that
step and just focus on securing a job.
EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF A
“GOOD JOB”
Munson said he understands why students (and
their parents) think it’s important to get a “good
job” after college. “For many students, following
their passion without worrying or thinking about
their income is not a realistic option,” he said.
“I always tell these students that it’s okay for
them to think about the realities of their career
choices. You can be practical about those matters and still pay attention to the other piece”—
the search for work and work environments that
suits you—as well.
“You’re looking for a job anyway,” Munson
tells students. “Why not also try to find something
that you are going to like to do?” In fact, Munson
said, by actively seeking work environments that
suit them, students tend to be more effective in
the job search process. “When you are looking
for something—and someplace—that’s interesting to you, you are likely to be more motivated in the job search,” he said. You’ll do more
background preparation, seek more informational
interviews, and ask more purposeful questions.
In the end, Munson said, students shouldn’t
think that they need to choose between following
their hearts and getting a “good job.” You can—
and should—do both.
Fall 2013
11
AUGGIE VOICES
Launching a new mission
Augsburg College celebrated 56 Master of Social Work graduation candidates at the June 2013 Commencement, and it’s
quite possible that Christine Dawson ’13 MSW was the only
graduate who began her professional career as a mechanic.
Shortly after high school, Dawson joined the United States
Marine Corps where she spent three decades and worked in two
distinct military occupations.
While Dawson met her goals of traveling the world and
doing something “most women didn’t do” at the time, she felt
called to serve the Marine Corps troops—rather than Marine
Corps vehicles—and began a new assignment as a licensed
alcohol and drug counselor. This role turned out to be a perfect
fit because of her ability to help “people go on to live their best
life and achieve their goals,” she said.
Dawson completed a 17-year tenure with the Marine Corps
and served an additional 13 years in the Army National Guard
where she continued work as a mental health specialist. When
she approached military retirement, she returned to school to
earn a graduate degree at Augsburg College, which offered her
the opportunity to advance in her civilian career and integrate
her military experience into a challenging professional role.
Augsburg, she found, was a place that understood her desire to
live a purpose-driven lifestyle and to embed meaningful service
within her career.
Military and veterans support
CHRISTINE DAWSON ’13 MSW
12
Augsburg Now
Many of Augsburg’s students with military experience enroll in
an undergraduate or graduate degree program to build upon the
education and training that were part of their military service.
For other students, Augsburg is a way to prepare for a civilian
career that’s unlike any past duties.
Some students who have served in the armed forces are eligible for state and federal financial aid assistance to help pay
for college. At Augsburg, more than 100 students with military
experience are working one-on-one with the College’s Student
Financial Services and Registrar’s offices to successfully claim
their education benefits and get individualized help navigating
complex eligibility rules.
Augsburg College also directly supports these students by
hosting an on-campus space for them to meet and by employing a Student Veteran Liaison who mentors peers and works to
connect students with College resources.
A.J. ANDERSON ’15
“We’re seeing more nontraditional-age students in
our undergrad population and some of those people
have been around the world and have served our
country,” said Lori York, assistant registrar and
Veterans Affairs certifying official. “A veteran’s sense
of ‘a call to serve’ totally meshes with Augsburg, and
we want to make sure they can make the most of their
education here.”
From call to campus
During four years of Marine Corps service, A.J.
Anderson ’15, Augsburg’s student veteran liaison,
led an amphibious assault team as the crew chief for
vehicles that he likens to those that carried troops
onto Normandy beaches during World War II. At age
25, Anderson had reconsidered his decision to attend
a large public university and left school to become a
Marine.
“I felt that joining the military was my calling for a
little bit,” he said. “Other people backpack in Europe
or just take a break. I went to war.”
Anderson served around the globe and later joined
the Marine Corps Reserve military police unit at Fort
Snelling in St. Paul before he began thinking about
his long-term career.
He said his military experiences didn’t translate
into a civilian profession, but—through his service—
solidified his aspirations. He resumed his education
and in 2012 transferred to Augsburg with a plan to
serve his country in a new way.
“I’m devoting my life to helping veterans,” he
said. “I didn’t know I wanted to do social work until I got out
of the military, so coming to Augsburg and working toward
that goal is a big part of my life.”
And, Anderson is getting a jumpstart on this career
through his student involvement.
“We know that peer mentors and peer leaders play an
important role in students’ achievement,” said Ann Garvey,
vice president of Student Affairs. “For example, student
athletes serve on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and
Orientation Leaders welcome our new Auggies to campus. Our
Student Veteran Liaison does outreach with a different group,
but the premise is the same.”
For Anderson, helping other veterans succeed at Augsburg
College couldn’t be a better fit.
“I want to give other students the tools I’ve been working with,” he said, “and make sure they have the support I’ve
experienced.”
From assisting veterans on campus to one day serving
them as a clinical social worker, Anderson’s Augsburg education has prepared him for a meaningful career that aligns with
his passions. And Dawson, who has been working with
veterans for decades, shows that this path is clearly a worthwhile one.
LAURA SWANSON
Fall 2013
13
Augsburg College
2012-2013
ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Augsburg College realized another record year of fundraising in 2012-2013, with
$19,367,258 received from more than 4,500 donors.
This philanthropy helps Augsburg to attract gifted, engaged
students and the talented faculty and staff who teach and guide
them. Your gifts provide financial aid, building and maintenance
support, and instructional and other resources that help
Augsburg provide a quality education to more than 3,500
undergraduate and graduate students at our Minneapolis and
Rochester, Minn., campuses—students like Zach Baltich, Jenna
Leahy, and Hector Camarena.
Zach Baltich ’14 is studying music performance. Originally from Ely, Minn., Baltich received the
Sampson and Carlson scholarships.
The Sateren and Gyllstrom scholarships were awarded to Jenna Leahy ’15, a music education
major. Leahy is from New Richmond, Wis.
14
Augsburg Now
Hector Camarena ’16, a physics major from Fridley, Minn., received the
Grindal and Gjerde scholarships.
2012-2013 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
REVENUE BY SOURCE
Tuition
72%
Room and board
12%
Private gifts and grants
9%
Government grants
4%
Other sources
3%
EXPENSES BY CATEGORY
Salary and benefits
45%
Financial aid
26%
Operating expenses*
17%
Debt service
3%
Equipment and capital improvements
4%
Utilities and insurance
3%
Student salaries
2%
*Expenses in this category include: facility repairs and maintenance, information technology expenditures, marketing expenditures, membership dues
and fees, outside consultants, supplies, and travel and business meetings.
$25.4
$34.6
$33.3
$32.4 $31.5
$27.2 $27.8
ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE
$29.8
$28.2
May 31, 2013
$34,552,615
$24.5
In the year ending May 31, 2013, the value
of the endowment increased by 16.04
percent. Our five-year average annual return
on the endowment is 2.24 percent and
the ten-year average annual return is 4.22
percent. We are committed to maintaining
the value of the principal and to providing
support to the College in perpetuity.
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
(IN MILLIONS)
Please visit augsburg.edu/giving/report for our 2013 Honor Roll of Donors.
Fall 2013
15
[L to R]: Assistant Men’s Basketball
Coach Charlie Scott ’08 and Head
Men’s Basketball Coach Aaron Griess
AUGGIES ON THE COURT
[L to R]: Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Charile Scott ’08 and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Aaron Griess
Communication. Accountability. Service.
Nine years ago, Aaron Griess moved from
Pacific to the middle of
the middle of the Pacific
the United States to become the Augsburg
College men’s basketball coach. It was a
path back to his Midwest roots and to a
culture that values college athletics.
“Living in paradise has its obvious
advantages, but athletics just isn’t part
of the culture in the same way it is in
the Midwest,” said Griess about serving as coach at Chaminade University in
Honolulu. “Here, lots of families go to
games together, many kids grow up in
organized sports.”
Griess found in Augsburg not only
a school that values the student-athlete
experience, but also one whose mission
refl
ects his own vision for coaching and
reflects
leadership.
“Coaching gives me a chance to instill
important principles of life in the athletes
I work with,” he said. “I want to provide
these students tools that will help them
succeed beyond the court.
“My vision of success in coaching is
fairly unique in this profession,” said the
head men’s basketball coach. “I want
16
Augsburg Now
to build a sustainable program of fi
rstfirstclass leaders who don’t complain about
challenges, and who solve problems. A
team that consistently wins. A program
that helps graduates land good jobs, and
helps them understand the value of giving
back.”
Augsburg College Athletic Director
Jeff Swenson said the program epitomizes
what Augsburg College strives for throughout its teams.
“Coach Griess and his staff exemplify
what we want to see in all our sports—student athletes who display great athleticism
and who work hard to achieve in the classroom and in the community,” Swenson
said. “Griess’ program has helped studentathletes become leaders on and off the
court during their time at Augsburg—leaders who stay connected and who give back
when they graduate.”
Griess also requires that players take
seriously their academics. “We communicate throughout each semester about their
academic progress. We expect our studentathletes to know exactly where they stand
in their progress toward graduation,”
Griess said. “They need to learn to be able
to talk about progress or struggles, and to
be able to communicate that with us, their
professors, and families.”
Mentoring and service work also are
components used by Griess. Juniors and
seniors help younger players understand
the culture and values of the team. The
team currently is part of an Adopt-a-Road
program and is exploring the start of a
reading program with a neighborhood
school.
The impact of Griess’ effort is visible
in the players’ grades, the team’s standing,
and the players’ actions after graduation.
“Coach Griess’ guys are known for
their work ethic. We never have to worry
about his student-athletes meeting eligibility standards,” said Kelly AndersonDiercks, associate athletic director and
compliance director.
During his nine seasons with the
Auggies, the team’s overall winning percentage steadily has climbed to .750. The
team, which is a member of the Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC),
has made it to conference playoffs four
times, twice reaching the semifinals.
semifinals.
In 2012-13, the team earned a spot in
the championship game. In the past five
five
seasons, the Auggies have won 65 percent
of their games—the second-highest men’s
basketball winning percentage in the MIAC
for that time period. Griess’ work earned
him MIAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the
Year honors during the 2009-10 season.
Assistant coach comes full circle
The impact of Griess’ vision also can be
seen in the growing number of players
who contribute to the team and College
after they graduate. One of the best
examples of this can be seen in Charlie
Scott ’08, who now serves as Griess’
assistant coach.
Scott, who hails from Ely, Minn.,
was recruited as a fi
first-year
rst-year student
to Augsburg by former Coach Brian
Ammann. Scott picked Augsburg because
of its urban location, which he said
allowed him to make campus as small
or as large as he wanted. He played for
Ammann for two years and for Griess for
two years.
Griess and Scott both acknowledge that at the time Griess arrived at
Augsburg, just as Scott finished
finished his
second year as an Auggie, Scott wasn’t yet
the leader he later grew to be.
“When we met, Charlie wasn’t ready
to be a team leader. He didn’t completely
believe in himself because he hadn’t put
in the necessary work. I talked to him
about whether he wanted to be a leader,”
Griess said. “I wanted him to take himself
seriously, and to use the tools he had. I
knew the players would follow him, but he
had to become our team’s hardest worker.”
Scott said he was ready, and he was
in the weight room and gym every day the
summer before his fourth year of college.
He also talked to Griess every day, picking
his brain for advice on how he could help
the team and reach his potential.
“Coach sparked the drive and
determination in me,” Scott said. “When
Coach shared his vision for how he wanted
the team to be, I wanted to be part of
that. I wanted to help the team accomplish its mission to be nationally known
and respected as a first-class
first-class program and
to cultivate student-athletes who understand the values of hard work, perseverance, honesty, integrity, and teamwork.”
Scott was so committed to the success of the team that he wanted to stay
involved even after his four years of eligibility expired. He served as a volunteer
coach during the fifth
fifth year of college that
it took him to finish
finish his double major in
finance
finance and business management.
After graduation, Scott continued
to volunteer while working full time in
financial
financial services. He gradually became a
part-time coach. Then, when the opportunity to apply for the position of full-time,
assistant coach opened up, Scott chased
it. He was one of more than 100 applicants who wanted to work with Griess at
Augsburg.
“I look for leadership qualities in my
assistant coaches, no matter whether they
are volunteers, fellows, or paid coaches.
They have to be willing to learn and work,”
Griess said. “Charlie is the guy who jumps
in and works as hard as anyone. He leads.
He digs in.”
Developing strong relationships with
prospective families is one thing Scott is
looking forward to as he works to fulfill
fulfill his
recruiting responsibilities.
“I have a huge passion for Augsburg,
for basketball, for working with Coach
Griess,” Scott said. “I’m excited to meet
prospective athletes and their families,
helping them learn about Augsburg
and our program, and decide whether
Augsburg is the right place for them as it
was—and is—for me.”
While Scott exemplifies
exemplifies a studentathlete turned servant-leader, he’s just one
of Coach Griess’ players who is finding
finding a
way to give back to a program and school
that means much to them.
Some players give back by volunteering as Scott did. Others serve as a
resource to students to help ready them
for the working world, and some have
hired qualified
qualified alumni to work at their
companies, knowing they are hiring people
with shared ethics and determination to
succeed—qualities honed on and off the
basketball court at Augsburg. Others give
back in the form of gifts to the College.
Today, the two coaches are continuing to build a special program founded
on communication, accountability, and
service. They know that the program will
support student-athletes in their studies
and when they look for their first
first jobs.
They also know that new recruits are coming to a college that will help them not
only develop as an athlete, but also as a
whole person.
STEPHANIE WEISS
Fall 2013
17
Courtesy photo
A promising experiment in organic chemistry:
MIXING TEAMWORK INTO THE COURSE LOAD
Capitalizing on an opportunity to recreate Augsburg College’s advanced organic
chemistry class, assistant professor of
chemistry, Michael Wentzel, has developed a highly attractive approach to a
complicated subject matter. He forces his
students to work together.
“Originally, I wanted to make it so
everybody understood how to write a
reasonable organic mechanism,” said
Wentzel. “But after taking a step back, my
major goals became communications, and
group work, and teaching students how to
work together and how to communicate
better as scientists.”
Each week Wentzel breaks his students up into teams of four. The groups
are then given a simple assignment:
prepare to send a randomly selected group
representative to a guest lecture at the
University of Minnesota.
After the lecture, each group is
required to put together a presentation on what they feel is the essence of
the subject matter. “Every person got
a chance to be the point person for his
or her group,” said Wentzel, in reference to his first class. “I wanted to see
people work together. To force them to be
uncomfortable.”
Inside the lab, Wentzel’s unique
approach to teaching ensues. He delegates
his workload by directing his students’
questions to other students. He assigns
18
Augsburg Now
As for the class itself, Wentzel’s
methods are driving enrollment. “You can
imagine how many people are excited to
take organic chemistry, let alone advanced
organic chemistry,” joked Wentzel. “I
think the most students to ever take
the course at one time was maybe five
students before I got it,” he said. “And
now we have [another] 20 or at least 15
people for next year. It’s been exciting.”
individual students specific pieces of lab
equipment, has them write out instructions for that equipment, and then dubs
them the go-to person for that instrument’s
technical support moving forward.
The results of this interactive style
of teaching are compelling. “The biggest
thing I’ve seen is the students are confident in talking about science,” he said.
Using the confidence learned in his
class, some of Wentzel’s former students
have landed internships and entry into
competitive graduate degree programs following graduation from Augsburg. Wentzel
is clearly proud. “We had a Goldwater
Scholarship winner and an honorable
mention [this year]. These were kids that
were in [my] classes,” he said.
Editor’s Note: An integrated course design
grant from Augsburg College’s Center for
Teaching and Learning funded peer-review
sessions and other opportunities allowing
Wentzel to revise the advanced organic
chemistry class.
Reprinted with permission. Article by
Phil Meagher for JoVE, the Journal of
Visualized Experiments. JoVE is a peerreviewed journal dedicated to publishing
methods and research in a visual format.
MY AUGGIE EXPERIENCE
Augsburg shifts student’s dream into high gear
Trevor Rodriguez-Sotelo ’13 was the kid who was fascinated
by anything with a steering wheel and motor. From a young
age, instead of playing with Matchbox cars or Tonka trucks, he
would tinker with real engines in his uncles’ garages.
Later, when Rodriguez-Sotelo enrolled at Augsburg
College, he had a clear vision of his dream: to work as an
engineer designing automobile—specifically BMW—engines.
He knew entering this highly specialized field was going to be
a challenge, but he soon learned that Augsburg faculty and
staff were eager to help him achieve his dream.
During his first semester at the College, Rodriguez-Sotelo
took Calculus Workshop, an elective course designed by
Rebekah Dupont, the coordinator of an Augsburg program
that seeks to increase the number of minority students who
complete degrees in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
Rodriguez-Sotelo said Dupont helped prepare him for
success in college-level mathematics courses, supporting him
inside and outside the classroom. She recognized RodriguezSotelo’s remarkable abilities and suggested that he take them
to the next level through undergraduate research on campus,
which he went on to conduct with Benjamin Stottrup, associate professor of physics.
“Trevor came with a dream, and he had to slog through
my biophysics lab to get to that dream,” said Stottrup, who
for two years advised Rodriguez-Sotelo in the use of scientific
instruments to measure resistance to flow in biomaterials.
Rodriguez-Sotelo said he knew this research wasn’t linked
perfectly to his automotive engineering interest, but would
give him priceless experience.
Part of Rodriguez-Sotelo’s on-campus research was made
possible through Augsburg’s McNair Scholars Program, a federal grant-funded graduate school preparatory program to help
ready underrepresented students for doctoral study.
“Stottrup stressed writing skills even though we’re in the
sciences,” Rodriguez-Sotelo said. “This helps you become
more articulate and allows you to present yourself better—
those skills are applicable in my future.”
Rodriguez-Sotelo’s work on campus bolstered his offcampus research applications and opened the door to a prestigious summer automotive engineering position at Oakland
University outside of Detroit, Mich.
In addition to conducting research on and off campus,
Rodriguez-Sotelo was a member of the men’s track team,
was president of Augsburg Latin American Students and of
As Trevor Rodriguez-Sotelo ’13 crossed the stage at Augsburg’s May
Commencement, he celebrated a successful undergraduate experience that accelerated his ability to achieve his dream of becoming
an automotive engineer.
Augsburg’s Society of Physics Students chapter, mentored
first-year STEM students, and more.
“I had the opportunity to do all the academic, cultural and
social activities I liked,” he said. “I was able to do everything
because of personal and academic support from faculty and staff.
I followed their advice, and they put me on the right path.”
Rodriguez-Sotelo graduated last May, and in August took
a step closer to achieving his goals by beginning a master’s degree program at the renowned Clemson University
International Center for Automotive Research. He earned a
competitive BMW fellowship, which will help fund his graduate
studies and allow him to intern at BMW Manufacturing Co. next
summer. He credits earning this award to his “whole body of
work” at Augsburg.
“The beautiful thing about Augsburg is that faculty and
staff pay attention to their students…they care what kind of
person I am and where I go after Augsburg,” he said. “Since
I was a little kid, I knew this was where I wanted to be, and
now I’m here—an automotive engineer.”
LAURA SWANSON
Fall 2013
19
IT’S NOT YOUR
AVERAGE WEEK.
IT’S HOMECOMING.
20
Augsburg Now
Homecoming brings alumni, friends back to campus
Homecoming 2013 reunited former classmates, friends, roommates, and professors, and invigorated the Auggie spirit in everyone in attendance.
Traditional celebrations ensued, including the Homecoming
Convocation with Distinguished Alumni Awards; the Taste of
Augsburg event in Murphy Square featuring food, carnival-style
booths, and bounce houses; and lively athletic events including an
alumni baseball game and dugout dedication ceremony, as well as
volleyball, soccer, and football games.
The week also boasted the Eye-Opener Breakfast featuring Augsburg alumnus Dr. Paul Mueller ’84; reunion brunches;
campus tours; an Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony to
honor 2013 inductees; an Auggie Author book reading with Cheri
Johnson ’99; a panel discussion about the Center for Science,
Business, and Religion; and the Augsburg Associates luncheon
with a presentation by Jacqueline deVries, Augsburg professor of
history and director of general education.
The merriment came to a close at the Auggie Block Party with
live music and s’mores.
Homecoming is just one of many ways for Augsburg alumni to
stay connected to the College. If you are interested in serving on
your reunion committee or volunteering to help plan next year’s
events, contact alumni@augsburg.edu. For more information, visit
augsburg.edu/alumni.
AUGGIES AREN’T ORDINARY.
NEITHER IS THEIR HOMECOMING.
Fall 2013
21
ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS
First Decade Award
Honors an Auggie who graduated during
the past 10 years who has exemplified
the mission of the College while achieving significant progress in his or her
professional achievements and contributions in the community.
Alexa Halford ’03
Halford, who graduated from Augsburg
with a bachelor of arts
in physics and mathematics, currently is
a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher in
physics at Dartmouth College.
After graduating from Augsburg, she
earned a master’s degree in astronomy
and planetary sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder and a doctorate
in physics at the University of Newcastle. Shortly afterward, she won a highly
competitive Visiting Young Scientist
fellowship from Dartmouth College.
“Augsburg is small, but that’s what makes
it so special. I have people here in my
corner, and you will, too.”
director from 1993-2001.
“I’ve had the wonder of studying music for
many years…it’s for Him we sing, to tell
the wonders of His love.”
Alan Rice
Rice, an Olympic athlete and coach, is one
of the most respected
and honored men in
U.S. Greco-Roman
wrestling. He also is a member of the
U.S. Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is a
long-time friend and supporter of the
College, and responsible for the worldclass Alan and Gloria Rice Wrestling
Center in Kennedy Center.
“I’ve been so privileged to be so involved
in Augsburg. Thank you for allowing me to
participate. Thank you, Augsburg.”
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Honors alumni in recognition of a significant achievement in their vocation,
for outstanding contribution to church
and community, and for leading a life
that exemplifies the ideals and mission
of the College.
Spirit of Augsburg Award
Honors alumni and friends of the College who have given of their service to
substantially impact the well-being of
Augsburg’s mission and programs.
Alfred Reesnes ’58
Reesnes is dedicated
to using his love of
music to serve the
College. For 33 years,
he taught high school
music and developed choirs noted for
high-quality performance and literature.
He was a charter member of the Augsburg
Centennial Singers and assistant
22
Augsburg Now
H. Theodore Grindal ’76
Grindal is former
chair of the Augsburg
Board of Regents
and a partner in the
law firm of Lockridge
Grindal Nauen PLLP. He repeatedly has
been recognized as one of Minnesota’s
top lobbyists.
“I’ve tried to follow five principles throughout my life: God, family, friends, work, and
service. Remember who you are. Be true
to yourself, be authentic, let that be your
guidepost.”
HOMECOMING
2013
Clayton McNeff ’91
McNeff is vice
president of research
at SarTec, Ever Cat
Fuels LLC, Mcgyan
Biodiesel LLC, and
other family businesses. He is known as
the co-creator of the patented Mcgyan
process, which uses non-food sources to
create biodiesel.
“I dedicate this award to my mother,
Marie Olive McNeff, and I urge you to use
your gifts to help those around you. Work
together to pay it back and pay it forward.”
Roselyn Nordaune ’77
Nordaune is founder
of the law firm,
Nordaune & Friesen
PLLC, and is known
for her work in family law. She is a former member of the
Augsburg Board of Regents and dedicated to engaging Augsburg alumnae in the
philanthropic priorities of the College.
“I pledge you: I’m not done yet. I pledge
to Augsburg my work, my resources, my
service.”
IT TAKES AN AUGGIE
Class Challenge spurs friendly competition
among Auggies to build new academic building
Alumni from throughout the decades have responded to a
charge presented by Augsburg College Regent Wayne
Jorgenson ’71 and former Alumni Board President Christopher
Ascher ’81. The two men established alumni Class Challenges
to create a friendly philanthropic-giving competition between
their respective classes, and to invite all alumni to give back to
the College to help build the Center for Science, Business, and
Religion (CSBR).
“Early gifts from alumni and friends of the College made
it possible for each of us to experience a great Augsburg
education,” Ascher said. “We are convinced. Now is our time to
make the investment and help open doors for others.”
“No other campus we know has created such an exciting intersection of disciplines—science, business, and
religion—to serve students and forge a pathway to a better
future for all of us,” Jorgenson said.
Many classes already are involved in Class Challenges,
and some have surpassed their goal of donating $1 million to
the campaign. As of October 15, 42 classes had contributed
more than $25,000 (see chart below).
The Class Challenges, combined with a recent gift of $10
million from a member of the class of 1965, bring the CSBR fund
to more than $25 million. The overall goal for the campaign is
$50 million.
To see the status of all Class Challenges—and to learn more
about the CSBR—visit blogs.augsburg.edu/alumni. To join an
existing Class Challenge or to start a new Class Challenge, contact Kim Stone at 612-330-1173 or stonek@augsburg.edu.
Surpassed the
$1 million challenge
Contributed between
$250,000-$499,999
Contributed between
$50,000-$99,999
Contributed between
$25,000-$49,999
1962
1965
1945
1956
1963
1968
1971
1972
1977
1950
1953
1955
1959
1961
1962
1964
1966
1974
1982
1991
1994
1946
1951
1954
1960
1969
1970
1973
1978
1986
1987
1998
2002
2014
Contributed between
$500,000-$999,999
1981
1984
1985
Contributed between
$100,000-$249,999
1957
1967
1975
1979
1980
1962 1977 1968
1972 1956 1965
1971 1984
1981
1963 1985
1945
Fall 2013
23
ALUMNI NEWS
Dear alumni and friends,
t
hank you to those of you who participated in the
alumni survey that was conducted earlier this
fall. We received a tremendous response: More
than 4,000 alumni records have been updated, and
the Alumni Board is able to more effectively connect
with alumni with whom we had lost touch.
We’ve included many of the alumni updates from
the survey in a special “Keeping Track of Auggies”
Class Notes section on pages 24 to 30 of this issue
of Augsburg Now. You can also discover information
about your fellow Auggies in the recently relaunched
Auggie Maroon Pages online. To open the door to this
network, go to augsburg.edu/alumni and click “Auggie
Maroon Pages.” This will take you to an overview page
for the Auggie Maroon Pages, where you can click the
“Sign In or Sign Up” button and log in or register as a
new user.
In reading all the wonderful notes sent in
response to the survey, it is obvious to me that an
Augsburg education has made a huge difference in
the lives of our alumni!
healthy and active at ages 89 and
86, respectively.
Reprinted with permission
from Duluth News Tribune
FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Joseph T. Seto received a
Congressional Gold Medal in 2011
in Washington, D.C., for Military
Intelligence, Service Veteran WWII.
Ebba (Johnson) Brooks
recently was presented the
Swedish Council of America’s
Award of Merit. She was acknowledged in the Duluth News Tribune
with an article and photo (above).
Brooks is pictured in the center of
the image.
42
Evelyn H. Sonnack Halverson
married Dr. Bill Halverson on
July 14, 2013. They honeymooned
in Norway and England, and currently reside in Edina, Minn.
43
Mary Lou Nelson received
a scholarship to Syracuse
but got married instead. She is 90
years old, and a 50-year member
of AAUW and LWV.
45
Jack E. Jacobsen was
ordained as an Auxiliary
Bishop in 2010 by the Ordaining
Council of the Minnesota Graduate
School of Theology.
46
Courtesy photo
Sincerely,
TRACY (ANDERSON) SEVERSON ’95
ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
Peter A. Lokkesmoe retired
after 36 years with the Boy
Scouts of America. Immediately
after college, he served in the U.S.
Navy.
47
Eugene Hasselquist was
ordained in 1951 at Holy
Communion Lutheran Church in
Racine, Wis. He retired in 1987
from St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Red Wing, Minn.
48
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Beatrice M. Walker moved to
Otterbein North Shore, a senior
continuing care facility. She and
her husband, Tom, celebrated
their 63rd wedding anniversary
September 10.
49
24
Augsburg Now
J. Forrest Anderson and
his wife are blessed to be
Arne Simengaard is blessed with
a loving family of five daughters,
11 grandchildren, and two great
grandchildren.
Carol V. Larson, at age 85,
was thankful to walk up the
203 steps of Florida’s Ponce De
Leon Lighthouse. She and her husband have four sons: Gary Larson
’72, James Larson ’73, Daniel
Larson ’77, and Fred Larson ’81.
50
Norman F. Nideng retired from his
service in the U.S. Navy Chaplain
Corps.
James E. Christopherson
served since 1954 as a
Lutheran pastor, primarily in South
Dakota. He and his wife have
three grown children: John, Mary,
and Tom.
51
Lillian K. Ose trained and worked
as a medical laboratory technologist at Minneapolis General
Hospital from 1951-57 when she
married her husband, Kenneth.
She worked at various hospitals
and/or clinics in Minnesota until
her retirement in 1994.
Arvid D. Dixe published a
book titled Come, Meet
the Church, which included a
foreword written by Minnesota
journalist Jim Klobuchar.
52
Charlotte M. Rimmereid served
for three years as a teacher in
North Branch, Minn., where she
directed two choirs and taught
music, geometry, and algebra for
grades 1-12.
Dorothy Christopherson
recently retired from serving 11 years as director of the
women’s choir for First Lutheran
53
KEEPING TRACK OF AUGGIES
Church of Sioux Falls, S.Dak. She
also has directed choirs for children, youth, adults, and handbell
ensembles.
Minnesota. Their sons, Dan, Dave,
and Brad, all work for Dart Transit.
Daughter, Angie, is very busy at
home with her three sons.
59
Reidun H. Newquist had several music therapy students
from Augsburg observe at Michael
Dowling School.
Lawrence E. Gallagher and his
wife, Barbara, celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary in
August.
Gloria M. Thorpe and her husband, Gordon, celebrated their
60th wedding anniversary on
August 23.
Ellayne V. Velde-Conyers retired
in 2011 but continues to write a
weekly column in the Marshall
Independent newspaper. She hosts
a public access television program
in Marshall, Minn., once per week,
and was elected to the Marshall
City Council in November 2012.
60
Lois A. Agrimson’s son Erick
Agrimson ’98 welcomed son,
Anders David Agrimson, on June
22, 2012.
James N. Holden recently received
the Distinguished Service Award
from the Northfield (Minn.) High
School Booster Club for support of
the tennis program.
Helen Witt is very thankful for her
two years spent at Augsburg while
earning her nursing education at
Deacon’s Hospital from 1949-52,
also being included in the class of
1953 at Augsburg College. Both
the school and the hospital were a
major influence in her life.
Woodrow W. Wilson’s niece, Catha
Jones, attended Augsburg and
graduated in 1970. After graduation she was diagnosed with
cancer and passed away. In 1975,
her parents, Kenneth and Carmen
Jones, endowed the Catha Jones
Scholarship, which has supported
21 students who share Catha’s
interest in elementary education
and music.
Herbert W. Chilstrom and his
wife, Corinne, recently wrote
Every Morning New—a book of
devotional readings for every day
of the year.
54
George W. Fisher and his wife,
Mary, began their 18th year
singing with the Lexington County
(S.C.) Choral Society. George has
played violin for 17 years and
recently began learning clarinet.
James W. Anderson taught
music for 40 years and was
a real estate agent for 27 years.
Four of his children also graduated from Augsburg College.
55
Dorothy Devick worked for three
years as a school teacher, then
worked with her husband at their
business.
Beverly J. Oren and her husband
have 12 grandchildren. All of their
children have children of their
own and live close to them in
E. William Anderson taught
at Bagley High School and
Mound-Westonka High School.
He has visited more than 100
countries.
56
Robert R. Lockwood was inducted
into the Augsburg College Hall
of Fame in 1994. He taught and
coached for 42 years in Golden
Valley and Hopkins (Minn.)
District 270. At 82, he continues
to spend his time swimming, skiing, biking, and golfing.
Mark C. Thorpe retired from a
lifetime of aircraft design work at
McDonnell Aircraft, McDonnell
Douglas, and Boeing in St. Louis.
Oscar E. Olson taught for
many years, including as
a substitute for Willmar (Minn.)
Public Schools. He partially retired
to Bozeman, Mont., where he
substitute taught for several years
before moving to Billings, Mont.
57
Dennis E. Barnaal and his
wife, Doris, in 2011 traveled
to Norway and the Barnaal Farm/
Mountain Hotel with their children
and children’s families. While
in the Luther College Physics
Department, he conducted three
research sabbatical leaves in
Norway, including one with Keith
Anderson ’54.
58
Harland P. Danielson continues
crop farming in Wisconsin. He
and his wife have 10 children,
23 grandchildren, and four
great-grandchildren.
Luther A. Anderson is a founding
board member of the Lake Region
Writers Network, and serves
as the managing editor of Lake
Region Review, an annual regional
literary magazine.
Carol A. Casperson’s granddaughter, Harley Ann Fulton, was born
on September 1 to parents Laura
Casperson and Scott Fulton.
Karen (Erickson) McCullogh in
2012 walked the pilgrimage route,
Camino Frances, from St. Jean
Pied de Port, France, to Santiago
de Compostela, Spain.
Philip Q. Bauman was
blessed with three greatgranddaughters in 2013.
62
Arden Flaten with his wife, Alice,
celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary in September.
Dennis E. Glad continues to cocoordinate work teams for the
United National Church to the
Caribbean and Central America.
Glad will lead work teams with the
Caribbean Mission Cruise in 2014.
Gordon L. Syverson retired in 2008
but continues to lead worship services. He welcomed grandchildren
in 2011 and again in 2013.
Lowell “Zeke” Zieman was honored by Marshall (Minn.) High
School in April and inducted into
the school’s Hall of Honor.
Kenneth L. Akerman and his
wife, Marilyn A. Akerman ’62,
celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary in 2012.
61
Larry B. Cowl practiced law for
more than 30 years prior to his
retirement in 2005. He continues to work part time as a legal
consultant.
James E. DeMars has been married to Susan for 52 years, and
they have six grandchildren.
Roger and Judy Lerstad Hill ’62
reunited with Gretchen Carlson at
the Miss Minnesota/Miss America
Sisters Reunion Gala held at the
Radisson Blu in Bloomington,
Minn., in June. Hill was Augsburg’s
first Miss Minnesota in 1962, and
Carlson was Miss Minnesota in 1987
and Miss America in 1988. Hill was
the first Alumni Director for the Miss
Minnesota Pageant from 1964-78.
Glenn D. Peterson retired
in 1997 after 35 years as a
teacher of choral music in Rush
City, Minn., and Duluth, Minn. In
2001, he founded Garden Street
Landscape.
63
David D. Proctor was ordained into
the Lutheran ministry in 1963. He
served congregations in Ohio and
Michigan before his retirement in
2000.
Andrew M. Berg and wife,
Jean, are retired near
Willmar, Minn. They have visited
64
Fall 2013
25
all 50 states, Norway numerous times, and many European
countries.
Roger G. Johnson, a Minnetonka,
Minn., native, was awarded
Fergus Falls (Minn.) High
School’s Hall of Fame award for
Distinguished Service.
Arla P. Landon retired in 1985.
Jean S. Olson retired in 2011
following 23 years of service as
an employee of the Minnesota
Historical Society.
her husband have done a lot of
traveling around Colorado and the
U.S., plus trips to Norway, China,
Mexico, Costa Rica, and Hawaii.
third grandchild, Bridget Erin
Causby, on July 3. Their other
grandchildren are Charles Lawton
Ogburn, IV and Selah Eliot Ogburn.
Adeline R. Sarkela is involved in
volunteer ministry with church
music and children.
Jan Pedersen Schiff was honored
and inducted into the Marin
Women’s Hall of Fame for her
community service as the founder
and artistic director of Singers
Marin. For the past 26 years,
Pedersen Schiff has created
structured programs to develop
vocal skills that support musical
development.
When Harold J. Bagley
graduated in 1966, he was
the last (youngest) of several children of Rev. Emil G. Bagley ’49 to
attend Augsburg College. He also
was the first lawyer from a family
of ministers, teachers, and social
workers.
66
Carolyn E. Anderson celebrated 50 years of marriage
with her husband, Don Anderson
’66, in September.
67
Larry G. Buboltz and his wife,
Adrienne, recently celebrated 50
years of marriage. Larry served as
the Director of Rural Minnesota
CED, Inc. He was a member of
the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) City
Council from 1976-1988, and
elected mayor from 1988-2008.
Bruce L. Hansen is a retired
English teacher from
Minneapolis Public Schools, and
now serves as a lay minister for
his local church.
Myrna J. Sheie retired in 2011
after more than 30 years working in the Twin Cities, Minn.,
and Chicago for the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) and the American
Lutheran Church (ALC).
Susan E. Ferguson earned her
masters of theology in 2004 from
Trinity Lutheran Seminary in
Columbus, Ohio.
Diane J. Tiedeman is retired from
Bloomington (Minn.) Public
Schools where she taught secondthrough fourth-grade students.
Kay E. Jenness and her husband,
Dave, moved from New Mexico to
Washington to be closer to their
family.
Karen M. Alm recently retired
after 31 years teaching elementary education in the Forest
Lake (Minn.) School District.
69
Dennis D. Miller and his wife,
Christine, are members of the faculty at Cornell University in Ithaca,
N.Y. Miller serves as the chair of
the Department of Food Science.
Richard E. Cummings has been
active in civic and service organizations, including the Stillwater
(Minn.) City Council and, since
1983, Rotary International for
which he is proud of his 30 years
of perfect attendance.
65
Dennis D. Gray celebrated 50 years
of marriage to Marilyn Rokke Gray
on July 13. They have three sons
and eight grandchildren.
Carmen D. Herrick studied
Norwegian at the University of Oslo
International Summer School from
2008 to 2010. In 2011-2012, she
attended Elverum Folkehogskole in
Elverum, Norway.
Marie D. McNally retired from her
work as an English teacher. Her
husband, Tom, continues employment as chief operating officer of
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in
Plymouth, Minn.
Diane S. Ristrom sang in a special
choral concert in October with
hundreds of alumni to celebrate
the 100th birthday of Augsburg’s
Leland B. Sateren ’35.
Marlys Tron, retired, stays involved
in her community through church
activities and as chair of a polio
support group.
Richard E. Sandeen retired from
teaching and coaching in Edina,
Minn.
Jerome Schaubach was inducted
into Minnesota Cross Country
Coaches Hall of Fame in 2013.
Margaret P. Albright and her
husband have two daughters. One is a kindergarten teacher
in Bemidji, Minn., and the other
works for Mayo Clinic in the Legal
Department.
70
James Fischer was inducted into
the Augsburg Athletic Hall of
Fame and received the Excellence
in Coaching award.
Ric Hovda retired last June from
San Diego State University, where
he served as dean of the College
of Education for six years. Prior
to his work at SDSU, Hovda was
dean of the College of Education
at the University of Memphis.
Susan M. Pursch was awarded the
ELCA’s Tom Hunstad Award for
Excellence in Youth and Family
Ministry in 2007. She currently
works as a development officer at
The Cancer Support Community
of Philadelphia, Penn.
Mary J. Loken Veiseth retired last
July following 24 years of work
at Apple Valley (Minn.) Medical
Clinic.
68
Lois J. Peterson enjoys living in
Colorado, spending time with
her grown children, friends, and
family, and spoiling her six-yearold granddaughter. She and
Paul A. Andell retired from
his call of 39 years as senior
pastor of St. James Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Philadelphia,
Penn.
Mim Jacobson and Marian Korth
were married in September in
Augsburg’s Harbo Meditation
Chapel.
Charles A. Niles and Bonnie
(Board) Niles ’71, welcomed their
Glen J. Peterson has been
employed for 27 years as the
Augsburg Now
Patricia A. Piepenburg was
inducted into Augsburg’s Athletic
Hall of Fame in 2011.
Bonnie K. Risius retired during
2010.
Jane M. Norman is a business coowner of Kultur Hus, a Norwegian
heritage shop in Sunburg, Minn.
26
director of the Hyland Snow
Sports Academy in Bloomington,
Minn.
Jane C. Bracken retired in
2012 from Cannon Falls
(Minn.) Area Schools after teaching
first grade for 41 years. She continues to work as an organist and
pianist at St. Ansgar’s Lutheran
Church in Cannon Falls, Minn.
71
KEEPING TRACK OF AUGGIES
Wayne D. Jorgenson has long
enjoyed Civil War re-enacting
and studying the Civil War. He
recently published a book on the
First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,
titled Every Man Did His Duty.
Janice K. Thompson retired in
2012 after 35 years of teaching.
She enjoys traveling with her
family, and she is the Pine Island,
Minn., WCCO Weather Watcher.
Darrell L. Skogen is in his 43rd
year of teaching, with a goal of
continuing until his 50th anniversary. He recently retired from 47
years of charting statistics for high
school and college games, and
from maintaining statistics for St.
Michael-Albertville (Minn.) High
School football.
Clarence D. Anderson is a
retired Air Force Bandsman
stationed mostly in Northern
California.
72
Robert A. Engelson’s son, Matthew,
graduated from Luther College
with a degree in music education
this past May.
Kristin P. Parbst Rohde retired in
June.
Scott J. Brown is a customer
service specialist at Walser
Honda in Burnsville, Minn.
73
Joyce L. Casey retired after
39 years of teaching elementary grades in the St. MichaelAlbertville (Minn.) School District.
Mark A. Ladwig is retired and
enjoying his grandchildren, running, playing viola, genealogy, and
learning German.
Beth C. Walen retired in
January after more than
33 years of service as a flight
attendant.
74
Debra D. Johnson has worked
as a pediatrician and clinical
geneticist for HealthPartners since
75
1985 and is the mother of two
daughters.
Patti (Edwards) Kramlinger
was honored with the Claire
E. Faust Public Service Award
from Minnesota State University,
Mankato, Minn. The award is presented to faculty or staff members
in recognition of their years of
dedicated service to the university,
the Mankato community, the state
of Minnesota, and the United
States.
Clifford G. McCann’s three
children, Kevin, Meredith, and
Allison, are married and he has
three grandchildren.
Heidi (Leaf) Haagenson
recently was named vice
president of Academic and
Student Affairs at Anoka Technical
College.
77
Ruth A. Underdahl-Peirce welcomed her first grandson, Cyrus
Steven Richard, born to her
daughter, Beth Underdahl-Peirce,
on August 9 in Bloomington,
Ind. Son, Jon Underdahl-Peirce,
served in the Peace Corps in
Burkina Faso, Africa, and now
works for the U.S. Department of
Labor in Washington, D.C.
Roberta Aitchison Olson
gets together with five of her
former classmates and roommates
on a regular basis, and cherishes
lifelong friendships and professional support. They call themselves “chez nous” and started
out by forming an intentional living
community based on social justice
principles: Megan Webster Stemper
’78, physical therapist; Jackie
Goheen ’78, gardening business
owner; Grit Youngquist ’79, health
educator, adjunct professor at
the University of Minnesota; Patty
Frazier, psychology professor at the
University of Minnesota; and Jane
Bjorndal McAdams ’78, pharmaceutical compensation director.
78
Marion G. Hinz is an “empty
nester” with her only child
now in college in Chicago.
79
David L. Norgard was
appointed a teaching
faculty member in the Graduate
Management program at Antioch
University Los Angeles.
80
Roxanne K. Williams is in her 34th
year of teaching physical education and credits Lavonne “Ma
Pete/Mrs. Pete” Peterson for her
skills in the classroom.
Jennie Clark-Anderson is
the executive director for
the Living at Home of the Park
Rapids (Minn.) Area, which
helps seniors remain in the home
of their choice. She performs
with the Northern Light Opera
Company and the Park Rapids
Area Community Band.
81
Kyle A. Anderson’s daughter, Kaitlyn, married Peter
Langston, Jr. on July 14 in
Delwood, Minn. Both Kaitlyn and
Peter are graduates of Bethel
University.
84
Janet B. Bolm welcomed her
grandson, Brody, on November
13, 2012.
Brent J. Crego co-founded
Comfort Love Care Assisted Living
Operations. Crego helps nonprofit
organizations care for their elder
members while generating income.
Charles K. Evans retired as a correctional police officer in 2013.
Kathi A. Osmonson has a new
job with the State Fire Marshal
Division as the youth firesetting prevention and intervention
specialist.
Kirsten M. Schwappach is a fulltime proofreader at Medical Arts
Press. She began her career as
an assistant librarian at the Blake
Upper School and a reference
librarian at Hamline University.
Liz Sheahan recently became
the director of transformational
gifts with Society of St. Andrew,
a national nonprofit focused on
getting fresh produce to hungry
Americans.
Jodi L. Holden is enrolled at
Saint Mary’s University pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and psychology, and she
expects to graduate in May 2014.
Holden works as a career counseling graduate intern in the career
and internship services center of
the University of Minnesota. She
holds an MBA in international
management from the University
of Dallas.
88
82
Lynda C. Ott has worked at Seward
Montessori School for seven years,
and many Augsburg students
have volunteered in her fourthand fifth-grade classrooms. Ott
and her husband, Peter, have two
grown sons.
Diane Wells received the 2012
Lifeworks Advocate of the Year
award.
Matthew Butler in 2013 was
promoted to Lt. Colonel.
Jacqueline E. Forrester is working
to establish a nonprofit in her
home country of Jamaica. The
organization will provide food,
clothing, and other services to
children.
Dan Wright and his wife, Kristen
Haglund, celebrated the birth of
their second son, Bjorn Arthur.
Their first son, Johan Rowen, is
now 8 years old. Dan is a senior
applications engineer at Nike,
Inc. and Kristen is a naturopathic
physician.
Michele L. Boyer and her
wife, Melissa Conway, have
two kids, Evan (age 10) and Rita
(age 9)—both adopted from
Nepal. They came home in 2003
and 2006.
89
Fall 2013
27
Michelle C. Goldberger is the
program director of COR Retreat,
a nonprofit spiritual retreat for
food addicts. She is mother to five
children ranging in age from 10
to 24.
Marilee A. Mowry completed three
degrees through Augsburg College
and recently retired from teaching
music and kindergarten in St.
Paul Public Schools. She continues to teach piano and woodwinds
in her home.
Julie A. Edstrom accepted a
new position in enrollment
management at the University of
Great Falls in Great Falls, Mont.
Her son, Cameron, began his first
year at Augsburg in August.
90
Joel B. Bue has an
18-month-old daughter and
another baby due in February
2014.
91
Stephanie A. Trump is serving as
adjunct professor of music at
the University of NorthwesternSt. Paul, and she directs the
Women’s Chorale.
Madelyn D. Browne earned a
Green Belt certificate at the
University of St. Thomas in 2012.
92
Terri A. Burnor is a student at
United Theological Seminary of
the Twin Cities, and she will intern
with two Unitarian Universalist
congregations.
Sharol Tyra, a professional certified coach at Life Illumination
Coaching, was elected president
of the Board of Directors, effective in 2014, for ICF Minnesota,
a chartered chapter of the
International Coach Federation.
Marilyn J. Vick-Kalar is a working
artist.
She recently was crowned Mrs.
Arizona International 2013 and
competed in the Mrs. International
competition in July. Throughout
her reign as Mrs. Arizona
International, McCune continues
to support Adopt a Senior Citizen
programs as her platfom and raise
awareness for the nation’s growing
senior citizen population.
Lisa M. Zahn recently opened her
own business as a Co-active Life
Coach.
Michael P. Schmidt married
Steven A. (Bartkowicz) Schmidt in
Decorah, Iowa, on April 6.
Kristin A. Lehne is a physical therapist and works at
Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. in
Mankato, Minn.
97
93
Summerei-Dawn Hamille is
creating an original ballet to
“Thumbelina.”
94
Beryl J. Deskin is semiretired and employed parttime as a business writer and
facilitator.
95
Jennifer S. Kvidt welcomed son,
Ethan, on February 13, 2012.
Michelle Boyum Breen and
Trenda Boyum-Breen legally
were wed on August 1.
Shari Hornseth welcomed
daughter, Claire, on February
19. She joins big brother, Andrew.
Shari is a social work MSHO manager with HealthEast. The family
lives in Farmington, Minn.
99
Lillian
Lillian Jane
Jane Moore
Moore was
was born
born
January
January 23
23 to
to proud
proud parents
parents Anne
Anne
(Osberg)
(Osberg) Moore
Moore and
and Scott
Scott Moore,
Moore,
and
and prouder
prouder grandparents
grandparents Jack
Jack
Osberg
Osberg ’62
’62 and
and Nina
Nina Osberg.
Osberg.
Kat
Kat Wolfe
Wolfe and
and her
her husband
husband
opened
opened aa talent
talent agency,
agency, Wolfe
Wolfe
Talent,
Talent, which
which serves
serves the
the Twin
Twin
Cities.
Cities.
Robert P. Wasik retired from
corporate life in 2012 and
opened his own business in White
Bear Lake, Minn.
96
Holly (Kolander) McCune, a
Minnesota Vikings cheerleader
for five years, recently was
interviewed by the NFL Alumni
Organization for its “Where are
they now?” series. McCune lives
in Scottsdale, Ariz., with her
husband and twin daughters.
Ryan R. Ball welcomed
his son, Owen Ball, on
February 20.
01
Jesse (Lipelt) Moen and Jason
Moen ’98 welcomed daughter,
Ada, on May 15.
Emily
Emily E.
E. Larsen
Larsen Scaglia
Scaglia and
and
her
husband
recently
her husband recently welwelcomed
comed their
their son,
son, Logan
Logan Thomas,
Thomas,
born
on
February
born on February 10.
10.
02
Jacob
Jacob M.
M. Wegscheider
Wegscheider welcomed
welcomed
aa daughter,
daughter, Whitney
Whitney Nichole,
Nichole, on
on
June
June 6.
6. She
She joins
joins brother,
brother, Henry
Henry
Tate,
Tate, born
born April
April 6,
6, 2011.
2011.
Brian
Brian L.
L. Kuhl
Kuhl graduated
graduated
summa
summa cum
cum laude
laude from
from
the
the University
University of
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Law
Law
School,
School, fifinishing
nishing in
in the
the top
top 1
1
percent
percent of
of his
his graduating
graduating class.
class.
He
He is
is an
an associate
associate attorney
attorney at
at
Mayer
Mayer Brown’s
Brown’s Chicago
Chicago offi
office,
ce, aa
proud
proud husband,
husband, and
and aa father
father of
of aa
fifive-year-old
ve-year-old son
son and
and 10-month10-monthold
old daughter.
daughter.
03
Carl Grulke ’07 and Bart
Rall ’05 graduated from
Concordia Seminary in
St. Louis, Mo. Grulke will
serve as associate pastor
at Christ Lutheran Church
in Lincoln, Nebr., and
Rall will serve as pastor
at Bethlehem Lutheran
Church in Monterey, Calif.
28
Augsburg Now
Mac Gordon and Nicki
Gordon welcomed their
daughter, Vivian, on May 16. She
joins big brother, Foster.
00
Michael G. Hargadine completed
his 18th year working for the St.
Paul Public School system.
Matt
Matt Christensen
Christensen and
and his
his wife
wife
Katie
Katie Lindenfelser
Lindenfelser ’02
’02 welcomed
welcomed
their
their baby
baby boy,
boy, Daniel
Daniel Gordon
Gordon
Christensen,
on
Christensen, on January
January 16,
16,
2012.
2012. They
They are
are working
working to
to build
build
KEEPING TRACK OF AUGGIES
a children’s hospice and respite
care home for kids with life-limiting conditions and their families,
the first in the Midwest.
Kari A. Badali and partner,
Jodi, welcomed their first
son, Oliver Joseph Badali-Winters,
November 29, 2011.
04
Deanne M. McDonald performed
as Rosalind in “As You Like It” in
Chicago’s Hamlin Park with her
theater company, The Traveling
Players.
Colleen R. Peterson welcomed son,
Cole Lee Peterson, on August 5.
Lauren Wood relocated to San
Francisco, Calif., after accepting
a position as an associate at the
law firm, Glynn & Finley LLP. Her
practice focuses on commercial
litigation.
Dallas Worth, and her husband,
Jarod Worth, welcomed their son,
Kainen David Worth, on June 15.
Jennifer L. Galvin-Anderson
published her memoir about
overcoming cancer and traumatic
brain injury, Crawl Walk Run, and
welcomed son, Evan Craig, in 2012.
05
Bethany Stolle recently graduated
from an interaction design and
social entrepreneurship program
at the Austin Center for Design.
She won the Intel-sponsored
Student Design Challenge at the
Interaction Design Association’s
annual international conference.
Her concept was playful technology to support communication
and connection for nonverbal
people on the Autism Spectrum.
Perry D. Mathison’s son,
Alex, attended St. Thomas
University and graduated in
May of 2013 with a major in
neuroscience.
06
David L. Nash is planning to
pursue a fellowship and career
in pediatric ophthalmology and
strabismus. Sara Nash ’06 is a
senior marketing coordinator for
HDR Engineering. The couple
is expecting their first child in
February.
Jennifer L. Annett married
Douglas Annett on May 18,
2008. Their son, Julian, was born
on October 7, 2010.
07
Lenette M. Baron is married to
Jason with three daughters, ages
8, 5, and 3; another baby due in
November.
Therese M. Maas completed her
master’s degree and graduated
as adult-nurse practitioner from
the College of St. Catherine. She
is completing her doctorate of
nursing practice degree at the
University of Minnesota.
Brooke H. Brown welcomed
Morgan Elizabeth to her family in November 2012.
08
Chad Greenwaldt and his wife welcomed their third child, Nikolas
Nielsen Greenwaldt, on April 10.
Kevin M. Haglund graduated from
the doctor of physical therapy
program at A.T. Still University and
began a physical therapist position
at Spooner Physical Therapy in
Fountain Hills, Ariz.
Jessica H. Snider is teaching
English as a Second Language
(ESL) in Guanajuato, Mexico. Prior
to teaching in Mexico, Snider
taught in Istanbul, Turkey.
Webster L. Ford teaches
through the Minnesota Math
Corps, and he is the sports director of a small-market radio station.
09
Shonna L. Fulford began a senior
admissions counselor position at
Augsburg College in the Office of
Undergraduate Admissions.
Cody Lewis Oaks graduated from
Luther Seminary with a master’s
degree in systematic theology. He
and his wife, Melody, recently welcomed their first son, Theodore.
Jenni Pickford is completing her
master’s in philosophy at Northern
Illinois University. She and her
husband, Thomas R. Anderson,
Jr., live in DeKalb, Ill.
Ryan Sorensen and Kristi Castelic
’09 were married in Green Bay,
Wis., on August 3. Ryan is the St.
Francis High School boys’ varsity
head coach and Augsburg men’s
soccer assistant coach. Kristi
is employed at DCM Services
in Richfield, Minn. The couple
resides in Maple Grove, Minn.
Brett T. Thompson works fulltime as a customer service team
member at Whole Foods Market in
Minnetonka, Minn.
Whitney P. Holman recently
graduated from St. Cloud
State University with a master’s
in communication sciences and
disorders. Holman received the
Mary E. Weise Clinical Excellence
Award and Plural Publishing
Master’s Research Award for her
work on Parkinson’s disease and
pre-motor brain potentials, which
was presented at the American
Speech-Language and Hearing
Association Conference.
10
Stephanie A. Hubbard married
William (Will) Hubbard on May 4.
Stephanie started a master of arts
in music therapy program at Saint
Mary of the Woods College in July.
Roxanne L. Nelson is a loan document specialist at Wells Fargo.
She and her husband, Miles
Nelson, live in Bloomington,
Minn. Augsburg librarian Mike
Bloomberg was the officiant at
their wedding, which included
several other Auggies: mother
of the bride, Teresa Lynch ’95;
maid of honor/sister of the bride,
Charlotte Johnson ’15; and father
of the bride, Bruce Johnson ’68.
Kirsten (Bar) Wells married Garth
Wells on July 27 in Evergreen,
Colo. Kirsten is a music therapist
at Mountain Vista Retirement
Community, and Garth is a helicopter pilot for Flight for Life. The
couple resides in Evergreen, Colo.
Jaclyn D. Willis became a certified
trainer for Proloquo2Go assistive
software, a communication program that helps those with speech
impairments and with challenges
in communicating with others.
Jennifer L. Avery is a freelance muralist. She recently
completed her first project for
CND’s Nuts N Bolts, a machine
shop in South St. Paul, Minn.
11
Fall 2013
29
Seth Lienard was named in the
July/August SpecialEvents.com
list of “25 Young Pros to Watch”
for the admirable work he is doing
and for his belief in the ongoing
power of special events.
School in Rockford, Minn., and
Brett is a team lead in the Margins
Department at the Royal Bank of
Canada in Minneapolis. They live
in Maple Grove, Minn.
Ali Rapp finished her master’s
in communication studies at the
University of Minnesota, and
began a position as product marketing specialist at Nintendo of
America in Redmond, Wash.
Angela L. Lee and husband,
Adam, in August welcomed their
son, Alexander Michael Lee.
Andrew J. Witte’s undergraduate
research is being reviewed for the
Journal of Geophysical Research.
Meghan A. Novak has a new
job as executive team leader
of hardlines at Target Corporation.
She is engaged to marry Ryan
Bachman ’13 in 2014.
13
John W. Truax welcomed son,
Parker Wayne Truax, on July 14.
Jessica and Stephen Westby
welcomed daughter, Olivia Grace
Westby, born November 23, 2012.
Brett Quick and Jenna (Forbrook)
Quick ’10 were married on
December 1, 2012, at Incarnation
Lutheran Church in Shoreview,
Minn. Auggies in the wedding
party were Steven Quick ’06 (best
man), Ashley (Hovey) Holten ’10
(bridesmaid), Seth Lienard ’11
(usher), and Kendra (Christiansen)
Oxendale ’11 (photographer).
Jenna is a kindergarten teacher at
Rockford Elementary Arts Magnet
Kristin G. Bunge lived in
Costa Rica earlier this year,
teaching English through English
Volunteers for Change.
12
Brittany A. Juntunen and Scott
Hemann ’12 moved to Oklahoma
City, Okla., where Juntunen teaches fifth grade as a special education corps member with Teach for
America. She was accepted into
Johns Hopkins Graduate School of
Education.
100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
A special choral concert in honor of Leland
B. Sateren ’35, on what would have been his
100th birthday, took place on October 13
at Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina,
Minn. Sateren taught at Augsburg from
1946 through 1979, during which time he
also served as chair of the Music Department. Sateren was also a renowned composer, having composed hundreds of choral
works. More than 180 Augsburg choir alumni,
spanning four decades and coming from all
over the U.S., participated in the concert,
which was directed by several of Sateren’s
former students, many of whom now serve
as choral directors across the country.
30
Augsburg Now
Mary Simonson Clark ’07 MSW
recently received the David and
Nancy Olson “Leadership for a
Missional Church Award” at the
Minneapolis Area Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America Assembly.
Sandra J. Laski ’07 MSW was
awarded Veteran’s Administration
national recognition for work on
LGBT issues.
Rachel Loftus ’10 MAE teaches
math at Kennedy High School in
Bloomington, Minn.
Kirsten Spreck ’10 MAL recently
accepted a new role at Thrivent
Financial as vice president of talent management.
Hector R. Matascastillo ’10 MSW
began a private practice and
recently developed a batterer
intervention program for veterans.
He received the Returning
Veteran’s Resiliency in Response
to Trauma award and the Veteran’s
Voices award from the Humanities
Center in Minnesota.
Julie A. Lundberg ’12 MAN works
in an enhanced critical care unit
(E-ICU). She is the founder of the
patient family advisory council,
One World, which is dedicated to
understanding health and wellness needs.
Photo credit: Johanna Kitzman ’11, johannakitzmanphotog.wix.com/jkphoto
Leland B. Sateren’s
Graduate programs
Christopher Annand ’09 MBA was
named the global ethics and
compliance program director for
Cargill, Inc. and is responsible for
representing and administering
Cargill’s Code of Conduct.
In memoriam
Roy A. Johnson ’41, Fargo,
N.Dak., age 94, on May 14.
Sylvia (Sevig) Rovenko ’41,
Minot, N.Dak., age 93, on
February 21.
Franklin John Skolos ’56,
Bloomington, Minn., age 83, on
January 30.
Virgil Robert Gehring ’57, Eagan,
Minn., age 82, on June 16.
Muriel M. (Melhus) Rufsvold ’42,
Lisbon, N.Dak., age 93, on
May 11.
Sylvia P. (Ostergaard) Dixen ’62,
Circle Pines, Minn., age 74, on
January 17.
LaVille Caroline (Henjum) Larson
’44, Bozeman, Mont., age 89,
on June 7.
Robert “Bob” W. Tyson ’65,
Murphysboro, Ill., age 69, on
July 5.
Mildred E. (Serstock) Boxrud ’45,
Minneapolis, age 90, on June 1.
Victoria Mae Koelling ’66, Fertile,
Minn., age 68, on July 10.
Edna Marion (Carlson) Johnson
’45, Yuma, Ariz., age 90, on
July 24.
Dale E. Sturzenegger ’66,
Olympia, Wash., on June 2.
Send us your news and photos
Tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and
births. Don’t forget to send photos! (Digital photos must be at least
300 dpi or a 1MB file.)
For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary,
funeral notice, or program from a memorial service.
Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to:
Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside
Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can
also submit news at augsburg.edu/alumni.
_________________________________________________
Full name
_________________________________________________
Maiden name
Suzanne Marie (Lundeen)
Matthews ’69, Minneapolis, age
66, on July 31.
_________________________________________________
Class year or last year attended
George M. Sverdrup ’46, Edina,
Minn., age 88, on September 20.
Christine E. (Hansen) Scott ’70,
Glasgow, Ky., age 64, on
July 24.
_________________________________________________
Street address
Ruth G. (Pederson) Cashman ’47,
Margaretville, N.Y., age 88, on
July 13.
Brian Christian Nielsen ’74,
Cold Spring, Minn., age 60, on
January 3.
Theodore “Ted” LeRoy Anderson
’48, Iowa City, Iowa, age 89, on
April 26.
Mary Jean (Clapp) Overend ’74,
Grand Rapids, Minn., age 85,
on July 21.
_________________________________________________
Home telephone
Calvin Bryan Hanson ’48,
Bellingham, Wash., age 87, on
May 10.
Susan Heidi (Thorkelson) Ryan
’74, Ivanhoe, Minn., age 61, on
July 6.
_________________________________________________
Email
Ravonna Deon (Nelson) Lassle
’48, Sioux Falls, S.Dak., age 86,
on June 30.
Doris Winnifred (Larson) Sunde
’74, Maryville, Tenn., age 86, on
January 4.
Barbara A. (Schindler) Berg ’49,
Janesville, Wis., age 85, on
May 31.
Joseph Rafael Becquer ’85,
Naples, Fla., age 50, on
April 20.
Erling M. Helland ’49, Olmsted
Falls, Ohio, age 87, on April 12.
Kathleen George Tobin ’87,
Minneapolis, age 90, on July 12.
Marilynn Avenell (Halvorson)
Parker ’50, Trempealeau, Wis.,
age 86, on June 2.
Keith Emmet Hanrahan ’89,
Minneapolis, age 53, on May 27.
Wedel Daniel Nilsen ’45, Cape
Girardeau, Mo., age 90, on
July 5.
Joann (Wicklund) Welinski ’50,
Northfield, Minn., age 85, on
July 19.
Harold Roy Schafer ’51, Windsor
Heights, Iowa, age 91, on
August 15.
Eleanor Marian (Landsverk)
Gargrave ’52, Northfield, Minn.,
age 82, on July 24.
Jerome “Jerry” M. Engseth ’53,
Elm Grove, Wis., age 82, on
August 4.
Richard “Dick” John Larson ’54,
Litchfield, Minn., age 80, on
June 1.
26
Ray Stanley Ganyo ’91, Grand
Forks, N.Dak., age 52, on
July 27.
_________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP code
Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Okay to publish your email address? ❑ Yes ❑ No
_________________________________________________
Employer
_________________________________________________
Position
_________________________________________________
Work telephone
Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No
If yes, class year_____________________________________
Jill Marie (Sculthorp) Stich ’96,
Hudson, Wis., age 43, on
May 20.
_________________________________________________
Spouse’s name (include maiden name, if applicable)
Ann Kristin Johnson ’00, St. Paul,
age 49, on July 21.
Your news:
_________________________________________________
Leslie Kathlene Lynch ’04,
Savage, Minn., age 54, on
March 22.
_________________________________________________
Settar M. Altiok ’09, Plymouth,
Minn., age 43, on February 11.
_________________________________________________
❑ I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg.
Regent Emerita Marie Olive
McNeff, Anoka, Minn., age 76,
on August 23.
Fall 2013
31
IN MEMORIAM
Lifelong teacher.
Pilot.
Regent.
Dean of Academic Affairs.
Mom.
Entrepreneur.
Cook.
These are only a handful of words and titles that describe
Marie Olive McNeff, a dedicated leader in the Augsburg
College community for nearly 40 years, who passed away
August 23 at her home following a yearlong battle with cancer.
McNeff’s commitment to the College crossed all departments, but started in 1968 when she was a member of the
Education Department. McNeff taught for 27 years in the
College’s elementary education, adult undergraduate, and
Master of Arts in Leadership programs.
“Marie’s willingness to think ‘large’ and beyond traditional
bounds and take calculated risks serves as a model for all of
us in the Education Department,” said Vicki Olson, director of
the Master of Arts in Education program, in a 2001 nomination of McNeff for the Spirit of Augsburg Award.
“Always we have been challenged by Marie’s ‘reach for
the stars’ attitude,” Olson said. “She pushed, prodded, and
encouraged us to think large. Sometimes we could, often we
couldn’t. As I grow older, I find that those stars don’t seem
as far away, and that is largely due to the conditioning and
practice that Marie has led me through.”
In 1995, McNeff was appointed vice president of academic affairs and dean of the College. She left this position in
1999 to spend her last year prior to retirement as Augsburg’s
academic master planner, creating a blueprint to implement
the academic provisions of Augsburg 2004, a College vision
document. She was elected to the Board of Regents in 2005
and served in that position until her retirement.
“I became Marie’s student when I arrived at Augsburg
and slowly realized that this remarkable woman did indeed
have the heart of a teacher. She did strive each and every
day to create opportunities for learning—learning that was
grounded in community, learning that was lifelong, learning
that changed lives,” said Augsburg College President Paul C.
Pribbenow in his eulogy for McNeff.
32
26
Augsburg Now
Archive photo
Marie Olive McNeff
“I was invited into her extended classroom, where she
taught me about Augsburg and its deeply held values—about
community and shared leadership and walking the talk. She
taught me about ways in which a small business such as
SarTec can partner with a college like Augsburg to serve our
mutual needs and aspirations. She taught me to dream big
and then give away what you find. She taught me courage and
resilience.”
McNeff’s reach extended into many areas outside of Augsburg, most notably in her commitment to McNeff family businesses where she served in varied roles, including as assistant
to the president at SarTec Corporation, president of McNeff
Research Consultants, and member of the Board of Directors
of Ever Cat Fuels.
It was in her role with SarTec that McNeff’s commitment
to mentoring, leadership, and hospitality was again made
evident. Every day McNeff prepared lunch for employees of
the company. Staff and family would gather in fellowship and
community just upstairs from the offices.
McNeff was a graduate of Genoa High School in Genoa,
Nebr., and earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees
in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was
a member of the Anoka United Methodist Church and held a
private pilot’s license.
As an educator, leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist,
McNeff was deeply committed to the vision for the Center for
Science, Business, and Religion, and the McNeff family is a
great benefactor of the College.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother,
LeRoy Rockey. She is survived by her sister, Marece; her husband, Larry; her son, Clayton ’91, and daughter-in-law, Denise;
and three grandchildren: Charles, Alexander, and Bridget.
Memorials may be directed to the Augsburg College Center
for Science, Business, and Religion (augsburg.edu/giving).
An Augsburg Legacy:
Dr. Paul and LaVonne Batalden ’63
Since their graduation in 1963, Paul and LaVonne Batalden
have seen Augsburg grow and change, and—at the same
time—have appreciated the ways in which the College
upholds its founding traditions. The Bataldens attend several
Augsburg events each year, and—as the holiday season
approaches—recognize that the upcoming Advent Vespers
services and on-campus Velkommen Jul celebration play an
integral part in many Auggies’ annual traditions.
We hope you are able to take part in these treasured
Augsburg celebrations. And, whatever your plans,
we wish you a blessed holiday season.
To learn more about Velkommen Jul and
Advent Vespers, go to augsburg.edu/now.
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Charles S. Anderson Music Hall
This fall, Augsburg renamed its music building the Charles S. Anderson Music Hall to honor the legacy
of the College’s eighth president (see story, page 6). To watch a stop-motion video of the building sign
installation, go to augsburg.edu/now or scan the QR code.
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