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Title: Augsburg Now Fall-Winter 2019:
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 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.” athletics r u o d n a s nt-athlete e d u t enhance s r e o id e s t g a n e r lo c “A ment, p , I want to n lo e io t v a e r d t is ills admin es, life-sk c r u o s e r academic unities.” t r o p p o g rkin INCLUSION and netwo RSITY AND —CHRIS ECTOR DIXON, DIR E IC DIV OF ATHLET FALL–WINTER 2019 13 AUGGIES Position the result of NCAA diversity grant Dixon’s position is largely made possible through a two-year NCAA Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant, which provides financial assistance to member institutions who create full-time, entry-level administrative positions for people who identify as an ethnic minority and/or a woman, according to federal guidelines. The grant also supports professional development and formalized mentoring. Augsburg was one of only 20 institutions and conference offices selected to receive the grant this cycle, and it is the third award for Augsburg in the past decade. The university first secured the Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant during the 2012 to 2014 cycle to fund Jennifer Jacobs’ role as assistant director of NCAA compliance and assistant volleyball coach. In 2014, Augsburg received the NCAA’s Strategic Alliance Matching Grant, which funds fulltime, mid- to senior-level athletics administration positions during a fiveyear commitment. Jacobs’ role then evolved into assistant athletic director of external relations and diversity and inclusion, in addition to her role as assistant volleyball coach. She is now head volleyball coach at Augustana University. Augsburg’s Associate Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks said the department is driven to advance diversity and inclusion. “Embracing and connecting students of all backgrounds and experiences is the right thing to do, but it is also smart,” she said. “More diverse teams are often stronger teams. They produce student-athletes who are better prepared to excel in play and in life.” Anderson Diercks is a product of the NCAA’s diversity grants, first as an intern for the Minnesota Intercollegiate 14 AUGSBURG NOW Athletic Conference and then as an assistant director. The experience, Anderson Diercks said, transformed how she operates as a leader in a maledominated profession. More than a decade has passed, but she remains in contact with the mentor assigned to her during the internship. “These are critical opportunities for women and minorities to enter into leadership positions with tremendous personal and professional resources designed to equip them with the tools and outlook to navigate difficult roles,” said Anderson Diercks, who formerly served as chair of the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship selection committee. “We are particularly excited about Coach Dixon’s position because, to our knowledge, it is the only role of its kind.” Augsburg is ‘ahead of the game’ Ali Spungen, associate director of Division III for the NCAA, said that about 130 positions have been awarded through diversity grants during the past five years—that’s more than $36 million in funds for positions and professional development. Augsburg, Spungen said, stands out as a leader in the division, which is well positioned to meet the needs of diverse populations. “Division III allows student-athletes to play the sports they love within departments also focused on their academics and social engagement,” said Spungen, also a past grant recipient. “These positions empower leaders like Coach Dixon to thrive, which inspires and encourages students. Augsburg clearly cares for its student-athletes and is willing to dedicate time and resources to ensure they are successful and well-rounded.” Dixon is ready and grateful to come full-circle—to be the coach and teacher he never had and to prepare others for the transitions he never saw coming. ARCHIVE PHOTOS IN MEMORIAM Merton Strommen ’42 and Gladys Strommen ’46 Merton Strommen ’42 and Gladys Strommen ’46 were a part of a family legacy at Augsburg that has spanned generations. The Strommens have widely shared their gifts and talents with the university, and their impact on the Augsburg community will be felt for many years to come. Mert Strommen died September 2. Youth ministry was the core of his life’s work—as campus pastor at Augsburg and founder of Search Institute, which has an international impact on youth work through research. Mert and his wife, Irene (Huglen) ’44, started the Youth and Family Institute at Augsburg and also created the David Strommen Endowed Fund for youth ministry. Mert also served on Augsburg’s Board of Regents, founded and directed the Augsburg Centennial Singers, and was awarded Fellow status by the American Psychological Association for his pioneering research in psychology and religion. Gladys Boxrud Strommen passed away May 26. Gladys and husband, Clair ’46, who passed away in 2001, have served and supported Augsburg in many significant ways over their lives and created a lasting legacy through their work and dedication. Gladys was a supportive partner to Clair in developing his career in business and leadership with Strommen & Associates and Lutheran Brotherhood, now known as Thrivent Financial. Gladys served on the Board of Regents, co-founded the Augsburg Associates, and hosted many alumni gatherings in her homes in Minnesota and Florida. Through a generous gift, the family established the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work in 2014 in recognition of their personal commitment to create meaning and purpose in work and life. “Clair and Gladys Strommen are forever woven into the fabric of Augsburg through their commitment to lives filled with purpose and meaning,” said Lee George, executive director of the Strommen Center. “Through the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work, Clair and Gladys’ legacy is realized in students who commit themselves to exploring their values, passions, and skills and understanding how they can be put to use in the world.” The Strommens also commissioned a sculpture in front of Christensen Center and have two endowed funds: a scholarship fund and a program fund for the Strommen Center. As President Paul Pribbenow said in his campus announcement of Gladys’ passing, “Her loss is a big one, but her legacy will continue to be felt by generations of Auggies to come.” FALL–WINTER 2019 15 Face Value BY LISA RENZE-RHODES Dakota and Ojibwe. Norwegian and Irish. Art installations celebrate individuals, expound on Augsburg’s history, and expand the boundaries of community. Somali and Ethiopian. On and around the land that today houses Augsburg University’s Minneapolis campus, they celebrated births and mourned deaths. They spoke languages of love and laughter, stress and sorrow. They built families, businesses, and dreams. They were here and many are gone, at once everywhere and nowhere because in the blistering pace and abundant distractions of the human ecosystem we all inhabit, it’s natural that we forget who came before us. But what if—even for a moment—we turned our attention to who we were and who we are right now? To who worships next to us, or walks by us in the grocery, or shares an apartment wall? “On This Spot” and “Each, Together” bring into focus the history of the campus and the surrounding neighborhood, and the people who are the Augsburg of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What would we discover if we intentionally took notice of who we are and where we’ve come from? This idea is at the core of new art and historical exhibits that cover collectively four city blocks on 12 of Augsburg’s building facades and 37 window panes around campus. As part of Augsburg’s sesquicentennial celebration, artists and designers at the university wanted to give the community a chance to reflect on their history and their people. So the works, dubbed respectively “On This Spot” and “Each, Together,” bring into focus the history of the campus and the surrounding neighborhood, and the people who are the Augsburg of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. FALL–WINTER 2019 17 ‘Humans at the center’ Photographers capture portraits at Augsburg events to use in “Each, Together.” “Each, Together,” the larger of the two projects, is a Group Action of the international “Inside Out: The People’s Art Project” initiative that launched in 2011 after a French street artist, known only as JR, won that year’s TED Prize. First awarded in 2005, the TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Prize has become synonymous with visionary thinking meant to spark change throughout the world. Winners of the award—including educators, artists, chefs, journalists, and even former President Bill Clinton—have used the $1 million prize to fuel specific community projects, like healthy food initiatives and educational innovations. The winning projects all have one thing in common: They are designed to make people engage in their communities. In the case of artist JR’s project, his vision was to create works that “shine a light on the unsung and give everyone the dignity they deserve.” And he hoped that beyond his capacity as one artist, people around the world would join in the celebration of others. To date, more than 260,000 people in 129 countries have participated in different versions of the project featuring faces displayed on billboards, buildings, sidewalks, and in digital collections. Augsburg is one of the latest communities to answer the call. “We saw that invitation, that there was a related, common ethos to what we have here at Augsburg, and that the project was similar to public works we’ve done here,” said Christopher Houltberg, Augsburg associate professor of art and design. “It’s really about putting humans at the center.” SOCIAL MEDIA Spotlight My former college roommate had eagle eyes today and found me! Responses edited for length and clarity. —ERICA HULS ’01 Hey, look who I found! #AugsburgFamous —SETH RUETER Look ma I made it!!!!! @AugsburgU wahooo!!!! #sesquicentennial —APRIL JOHNSON ’18 18 AUGSBURG NOW So a team that included a curator, nine photographers, and three designers—Houltberg, Maggie Royce ’15, and Indra Ramassamy ’18—worked for several months between Fall 2018 and Summer 2019. The photographers attended between 15 and 20 campus events, all working to capture as many faces as possible to best tell the Augsburg story. “The way we went about it was really organic,” Houltberg said. “We started going to events around campus in Fall 2018 and then in the springtime, trying to get to as many different ones as possible. There’s a really big holiday event called Advent Vespers, and a lot of alumni come to that.” All told, the group took more than 900 photos and gathered about 300 additional images of historic Auggies. “It’s very democratic; everyone is given the same amount of space,” Houltberg said. “From our president, Paul Pribbenow, to people who work on our janitorial staff, to our students, to our former mayor, R.T. Rybak. “As we were defining the parameters [of the ‘Each, Together’ project] it was a fun surprise for us to see who self-identified as part of Augsburg.” Bigger dose of Augsburg R.T. Rybak, current president of the Minneapolis Foundation, was the mayor of Minneapolis from 2002 to 2014. He said it would be impossible to think of the growth and development of the city without considering the role Augsburg has played in that history. “I’ve conservatively said 1,000 times in public speeches that the neighborhood where Augsburg is, is our Ellis Island. One wave after the other washes in and the next wave builds on top, and it’s something that no one wave could have created in isolation,” Rybak said. That’s most certainly the story of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood that surrounds Augsburg and the story of Minneapolis as a whole. “... I often think we just need a bigger dose of Augsburg. We need to realize that offering that ladder of opportunity to someone else makes all of us able to climb higher. We are better together.” —R.T. Rybak, former Minneapolis mayor “Augsburg is a shining example of the very best parts of Minneapolis’ history. The university represents opening doors to people with strange names like Johnson or Anderson or Rybak, and keeping those doors open for people with names that come from Africa, Asia, and places across the globe. “When I get down about what’s fracturing our deeply divided country and world today, I often think we just need a bigger dose of Augsburg. We need to realize that offering that ladder of opportunity to someone else makes all of us able to climb higher. We are better together.” Houltberg said the “together” ideal is at the heart of the exhibit. “As individuals we are showing up, and collectively we can do something greater than what we can do on our own,” he said. “I loved seeing the portraits blocked together, seeing people stop and take selfies. There are people who say, ‘I recognize who that is!’” Forward facing, historic reflections Kristin Anderson, a co-creator of these projects as well as a professor of art history and Augsburg archivist, said she’s only heard good things about the exhibit. “I have seen emails and tweets—sometimes emotional—with people responding to the wall as a whole, as well as to their individual images,” Anderson said. The community is responding to the historical revisit that “On This Spot” installations provide, too, she said. That exhibit features enormous panels that share Augsburg moments that photographers captured decades ago. The campus life of yesteryear includes images of young bobby soxer women from the 1940s in saddle shoes and flowing skirts in contrast with men wearing formal suits while tramping across a snowcovered campus. I’m so proud to be part of the @insideoutproject at @augsburguniversity in honor of the Sesquicentennial! —NIK LINDE ’15 FALL–WINTER 2019 19 “It has been a fun way to bring some old photographs to life and to show how the campus is layered on the site. Those ‘lost’ buildings displayed on the walls of the current buildings help to connect us to our past, reminding us of the imagination and commitment of our predecessors,” Anderson said. The two exhibits are being admired by community members who see the campus regularly and by those who keep up with Augsburg from a distance. Killa (Martinez Aleman) Marti ’08 came to Augsburg from her home in Honduras. Marti said she brought her own values with her when she enrolled, “but Augsburg put them to work. The Auggie community showed me that I wasn’t crazy to want a career with meaning.” “Those ‘lost’ buildings displayed on the walls of the current buildings help to connect us to our past, reminding us of the imagination and commitment of our predecessors.” —Kristin Anderson, university archivist For Marti, “Each, Together” perfectly sums up her experience at Augsburg. “My career is an intersection of what I love to do with the opportunity to serve,” said Marti, an attorney in Atlanta. “To think critically, to be socially and community-minded—all of the things I exercise in my life were supported and further developed at Augsburg.” Houltberg said it’s difficult not to consider the greater impact that art, especially a work like “Each, Together,” has. “Having a group of artists, designers, and photographers come together to make something this beautiful and to see it up and fully functioning is pretty great,” he said. “It has created a tangible thread between all of us, which transcends 150 years and all our history,” said Ramassamy, who worked with the team to design “Each, Together.” “We live in a visual world yet we can be unaware of each other,” she said. “This project is making us aware of one another, making us pay attention, making us curious about the person in the portrait above or to the left or right of us.” “I love watching people who are walking down the streets looking at the portraits,” Houltberg said. “There’s an element of surprise to it that’s really fantastic. Sometimes the tendency is to put people in big groups. But if you look at these portraits, look at the eyes, and look at the humans who are represented here, you see just how wide a spectrum of humans we are. Anytime we can show the humans and not the institution, we win.” “On This Spot” installations show how Augsburg’s landscape, architecture, and people have changed in the past 150 years. 20 AUGSBURG NOW BY THE NUMBERS Each, Together A crew works to install a portion of the 1,246 portraits that make up “Each, Together.” 302 HISTORICAL 143 STAFF 1,246 PORTRAITS 517 STUDENTS 103 ALUMNI 92 FACULTY 29 COMMUNITY MEMBERS installations 37 photographers 60 INCOMING FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS 3,475 1 2 building facade SQUARE FEET curator window panes 9 3 10 building facades 3 designers 12,710 SQUARE FEET 1 curator BY THE NUMBERS On This Spot designers Members of the university’s faculty and staff launched a number of special projects, including “Each, Together” and “On This Spot,” to commemorate Augsburg’s anniversary year. See other sesquicentennial projects at augsburg.edu/150. Catch a glimpse of the Augsburg of yesteryear, thanks to “On This Spot” displays on window panes around campus. FALL–WINTER 2019 21 Mary Taris ’04 is a graduate of Augsburg’s Adult Undergraduate program, which was ranked ninth in Best Colleges’ 50 Top Colleges for Older Students. g n i c n Bala s k o o b the 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 L L A G N CALLI S E I G AUG . LL A N A E M E W —AND 1970 1975 2004 N O I N U E R L O ALL-SCHO 020 R 26, 2 SEPTEMBE LIS MINNEAPO s at Follow update u/150. augsburg.ed opportunity e m ti fe li a -in Join this once ith to celebrate w every class, program, e e r g e d y r e ev e, every decad ity. urg commun b s g u A e th everyone in TURN THE PAGE to see the Class of 2023. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID PHOTO BY TOM ROSTER 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Twin Cities, MN 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.
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2019:
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 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.
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Title: Murphy Square 2019: Murphy Square Literary Magazine
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: ISSUE 44 2 019 MURPHY SQUARE LITERARY MAGAZINE AUGSBURG UNIVERSIT Y SQUARE Copyright © 2019 Do not copy or redistribute without permission. All rights reserved. Printed on 100% post-consumer waste Cover design and layout by Megan Johnson “Here we are, trapped in the amber of the momen...
Show more ISSUE 44 2 019 MURPHY SQUARE LITERARY MAGAZINE AUGSBURG UNIVERSIT Y SQUARE Copyright © 2019 Do not copy or redistribute without permission. All rights reserved. Printed on 100% post-consumer waste Cover design and layout by Megan Johnson “Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why.” - Kurt Vonnegut special thanks to Augsburg University Day Student Government Augsburg University English Department Augsburg University Art Department The Echo Bookmobile editoral board Gabriel Benson, Editor in Chief Sonja Mischke, Associate Editor Megan Johnson, Designer Doug Green, Faculty Advisor Lindsay Starck, Faculty Advisor art editors Rachel Brown Olivia Fitch Rachel Lindo Jen Meinhardt Rachel Thell poetry editors Rachel Brown Abigail Eck Jen Kochaver Yoko Kofuji Rachel Lindo Gabriela Lucía Ryan Moore Emilie Tomas prose editors Julia Charron Abigail Eck Jen Kochaver Rachel Lindo Gabriela Lucía Jen Meinhardt Jessica Mendoza Ryan Moore Morning 3 ON THE USS ALBATROSS by D.E. Green 5 ODE TO MANGOS by Saira Montes Moore 7 UNTITLED by Bridgette Boone 10 TEGUCIGALPA bY Sarah Degner Riveros 11 TEGUCIGALPA by Sarah Degner Riveros 13 16 22 ELAINE RAMSEYER, DAYAMPUR FARMS, CARBONDALE, IL by Grant Berg 23 PERPENDICULAR by Julia Charron 25 AFTER CHARLOTTESVILLE by John Weirick 29 I WILL GIVE BIRTH TO AN EGG by Rachel Lindo 29 CONFLUENCE by Clara Higgins 33 ROCK AND ROOT by John Weirick 34 DAVID by Daniella Clayton 35 HAIL MARY by Kalie Havener ROSA by Saira Montes Moore MANIAC! by Ava Fojtik 17 THREE HEADED SELF PORTRAIT by Ani Cassellius 19 SHE TASTED OF GRIEF by Abigail Eck Noon 42 DAZZLE by Ava Fojtik 57 STORY OF A BROKEN GIRL by 43 NOT A LOVE POEM BUT DEFINITELY Gabby Brooke SOMETHING by Terrence 63 BETWEEN BORDERS by Saira Shambley Jr. Montes Moore 47 BREEZE by John Weirick 65 FREEDOM AND TENSION by Ani Cassellius 49 STORMS AND HOUSES by Rachel Brown 67 GLENN ELEMENTARY, 2 PM by Allison 50 ALMOST EDIBLE by Ava Fojtik 51 REVENGE OF THE SOLENOPSIS by Rachel Lindo 53 POISONED SOIL by Kathryn Graham 55 RIVER KIDS, DAYEMPUR FARMS, CARBONDALE, IL by Grant Berg Uselman 75 UNTITLED by Bridgette Boone 77 TEOTIHUÁCAN, CIUDAD DE LOS DIOSES by Sarah Degner Riveros 80 TEOTIHUÁCAN by Sarah Degner Riveros 81 SOLITUDE by Jen Meinhardt 83 TAKE A DEEP BREATH by D.E. Green 84 FANTASY by Nou-Chee Chang 85 BIG MUDDY MIKE WASHING DOLLY, ST. LOUIS, MO by Grant Berg 87 I AM NOT DECEIVED by Rachel Brown 89 HOLDING ON by Saira Montes Moore night 95 NAKED IN THE NIGHTTIME by Anders Sateren 121 STRANGER by Jen Meinhardt 103 A WARM PLACE TO SLEEP by Jen Meinhardt 123 FRIENDLY by Kathryn Graham 105 IDENTITY CIRCLE IN 3 PARTS, ENDING 125 DAD by Jen Meinhardt WITH A TREK THROUGH THE ANTARCTIC 129 LIFE OF A DESIGNER by Nou-Chee DESERT by Terrence Shambley Jr. 109 MICKEY by Melissa Flores 111 LIES MY DRUG-DEALER TOLD ME by Michael Levine 115 WORRY by Daniella Clayton 118 THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS by Meredith Chang 131 I AM AN ALCHEMIST by Jen Meinhardt 131 A DATE WITH DEATH by Carson Hughes 141 LIGHTS IN THE DARK by Elizabeth Ihekoronye 143 PERCOLATING by Gabriela Lucía 145 AMERICAN ECSTASY by D.E. Green Carstens 119 THE STREETLIGHTER by Gabriela Lucía 147 BULLETS, CARDBOARD, AND SLOBBER by Carson Hughes 153 MY DAD WAS[N’T] AN UNCAUGHT SERIAL KILLER by Jen Meinhardt 155 STAGES OF SLEEP by Gabriela Lucía 157 SUMMER NIGHT HAIKU by Rachel Brown Morning 16 On the USS Albatross D. E . G R E E N This is our ship We will lose our way various as a city our fragile home intimate as a village each other and ourselves less like a nation more like a world But this is our ship with all the possibilities We do not have to drown of neighbor and friend nor to die of thirst on these ironic waters This is our ship We can traverse these seas together swift in the currents winds behind us but in frigid seas This is our ship and dark wintry North We do not need another it grinds through We will not get another excruciating ice Together we can reach our ports of call This is our ship This is our ship We will not get another If we cannot pull together our lips will dry and split our tongues crack and swell our ears blister shut 4 Ode to Mangos SA I RA M O NT E S M O O R E your skin so soft and gentle don’t call me jealous I remember every time but not everyone can appreciate I get to taste your warmth in sweet and caring are you the humid summer nights let me unwrap you all I wish is to with your sweetness dripping be with you all year long you leave me with color no matter the color of the leaves my face flush and sticky or the coldness of my apartment everyone around is envious it’s hard in your absence when I’m with you no song floats in the air how can you let others no other can replace caress you? what we will always have tell me, will you be with me tonight? 6 7 B R I D G ET T E BO O N E Untitled 8 Tegucigalpa SA RA H D E G N E R R I V E RO S Al no verte, te imagino. Although I don’t see you, I imagine you. “Entre las montañas” anuncia tu nombre. “Between mountains,” announces your name. Los gallos cantan tu amanecer, y te rondan The roosters sing your dawn, and trucks camiones sin mufle en tus calles. Without mufflers circle about your streets. The metal roofs frame out the pink houses Los techos de acero encuadran tus casas In the first light of day, their whiteness rositas en la primera luz del día, Blindingly brilliant in the sun. su blancura alumbrante en el sol. And between blocks made of cement, Y entre cuadras de cemento, I feel what lies rooted beneath. siento lo que radica abajo. You tread on the earth with your profound feet, Pisas la tierra con tus pies profundos. In your towns, I have seen the mud En tus pueblos he visto el lodo Of your entrails, the free breeze de tus entrañas, la brisa libre Of the hills crowned by your palm trees. del cerro que encabellan tus palmeras. Beneath all this civilization Por debajo de toda esta civilización, There you are, the lifeblood of the town, allí estás vos, la sangre del pueblo, The River Choluteca. el Río Choluteca. Teguzgalpa, te llamabas, Teguzgalpa, you were called back then, cuando todavía se veía When the reddish mud could still be glimpsed entre tus fundamentos el lodo rojizo. Amidst your foundations. Te rodeaban los cerros de plata, Silver hills surrounded you, coronados de cedro, caoba, y guayabo. Crowned with cedar, mahogany, and guava trees. Todavía se siente el aire de tu selva pluvial. Your rain forest can still be felt in the air. Tegucigalpa, although I don’t see you, I imagine you. Tegucigalpa, al no verte, te imagino. 10 11 SA RA H D E G N E R R I V E RO S Tegucigalpa 12 SA I RA M O NT E S M O O R E Rosa I n the mercado everything holds color. The yellow on the kitchen wall, pots where the frijoles cook for of sunflowers vibrates on the hand-painted toys. hours, and beautiful mugs. Now these mugs, the ones Dulces wrapped in red, yes it will be spicy. Anything dripped with glaze on the inside, are the best for a you could want lives in mercados. The fruits are fresh. chocolate caliente and pan dulce when the sun retires Vendors say, “Ovas, una caja por cuarto! Prueba!” You and the crickets chirp. listen to the vendor, usually a man with kind eyes and you take the grape (you always do). Its skin taut with with such love and care (like everything is here). The the promise of relief and you find yourself with a box salsa for the tacos is always spicier than the merchants of them. It is fine, it is only four dollars. The best smells live here, la comida is made confess. “Pica esa salsa verde?” “No, no pica,” but it is The pottery is handmade with cariño and sits always spicier than they let on. La gente drizzle that on white tablecloth. It drips with glaze that shines in salsa verde and noses soon run. The aguas frescas the sun. All kinds of pottery, small lizards that hang are swallowed down burning throats. Antojitos are 13 sold in abundance. There is nothing you can’t find in el asks, “Cual quieres mija?” She looks, with such focus mercado. Here in the mercado we find her, amid the that children rarely hold, at all the alebrijes. She ignores sellers of pottery and food, amid the mugs with color the ones that cost siete. She knows her dad will buy dripped on them and the salsa que no pica. one that’s siete but she also knows how money seems to disappear quickly and quietly. So many to choose She loves the mercado for these reasons. The from, animals and non animals, all colors that god has colors are her blanket, her relief in this heat. She is safe created sit on the alebrijes skin. here, among her people, among memories of what she once knew. Here people do not look at her when she speaks to her ama in the language her ancestors were thinks, which do I want? Which alebrije will sleep next forced to learn. Here she can wander around, look at to me and ama? Her dreams wake her, when the night the alebrijes that she so much loves, here she is safe. is silent and the air is stiff with knowledge. Which will be Cual quieres? That’s a good question, she able to protect me from nightmares of that night? The She and her papa are standing in the middle burden Rosa carries is much too heavy for a child. It of the mercado, between all vendors and colors. He’s manifests where she cannot escape, her sueños. a man whose hands are rough with labor and life filled with love. Eyes dark brown, with wrinkles that wink at you, and make you feel warm. It is Friday, the end of the from the night Rosa and her padres came. How dark quincena, when money seems plentiful. The mercado and cold it was, in the desert at night. Her ama gave is busy, everyone buying what they need and what her the last of their water. Rosa, the girl with braids and they don’t. Her papa wanted to surprise her with a new focus to what others cannot see, did not know hunger addition to her collection. So they stand in the heat of there but she knew pain (it was a different pain, one the midday, her eyes big, sweat on her forehead. that she could not see, a pain that nestled itself into It is hard for her to separate her nightmares her tummy). She knew how hungry her parents were. She stares at them in awe. Their heads She saw the light from her papa’s eyes become dull. bobble. Up, down, up, down. Left to right. Her dad asks, She saw how her ama was always careful never to be “Cuanto?” The man with skin loved by the sun replies, alone. The men who led the group were not good “Cinco, y estos—” he moves to his left and points at men, neither was the land forgiving. Do not complain, the more carefully painted alebrijes, “A siete.” Her papa her padres made her promise. She still has not broken 14 SAIRA MONTES MOORE | ROSA it. Rosa saw many things, pobrecita. one of the ugliest pig/not pig things that he had ever seen but Rosa sees what others cannot. She knows In her dreams, she walks the desert alone. There are no no one will take him, he’s a beautiful pig in his own sounds, just the thumping of her heart in her ears. Her right but will not sell. He’ll be there, on the tablecloth, feet, so tired. The landscape never ending. The earth heat beating down on him for months maybe, alone. feels dead, only the restless souls of those who did not Two lovely creatures, Rosa and the puerco will find make it are stuck here with her. They cry and hope that kinship instead of loneliness. He will keep her sueños she, a beautiful child, will make it out and grow like the away some nights, and that is enough. “Aye que feo, cactus flower in a desert. She is their cactus flower. si lo quieres?” Is she sure she wants this ugly pig? “Si!” Be careful of the snakes, the bad men told He laughs, what an ugly pig! She likes when he laughs her. In her dreams she is also careful of the snakes. She because she can see papa’s gold tooth. does not know what will happen if they bite her. There is no color, just the shadows playing tricks and objects wrapped up. It’s hot, they all know it. They look up on melting into others. “I do not want to die here,” are her occasion, hoping to see a cloud close by, hoping. None only thoughts. Like the cactus flower, maybe she will come. The girl feels the sun, how it seeks to touch spend her whole life here. Her (re)birth, her blooming, more than her exposed neck. She wishes this moment her death. She always wakes next to her ama and papa, won’t end. She’ll be okay with standing here, focused safe. The alebrijes, animal and non animal are there on the alebrijes, watching how their heads bobble too, on the windowsill. Her papa tells her que todo va with the absent wind. Standing with her papa, with the estar bien, we’ll never do it again. Who will protect her? They stand by the vendor while the pig gets vendor whose skin was loved by the sun and her new So many to choose from. Animal and non puerco wrapped in newspaper. animal. Rosa, her soul now many years old, finally decides, “Quiero este!” She points to the one in the middle. Her dad looks, and wonders for a minute, Que es eso? What is it? It looks like an animal. Rosa sees her dad’s confusion. “Es un puerco, papa.” A pig. A pig that does not look like a pig. It was honestly 15 Here, I will repeat again, she is safe. AVA FOJTIK Maniac! 16 ANI CASSELLIUS Three Headed Self Portrait 17 18 She Tasted of Grief ABIGAIL ECK I live among ghosts. I can feel them there, all the time. Listening, sitting in the rocking chair as I read poetry aloud to them, looking at me patiently as I take breaks to absorb sections, coming over to lean on my shoulder when I close my eyes. They are strangers and loved ones alike, peering in curiously as I tend to my plants and then vanishing, popping in if I mention a name that they are connected to, stopping to smell the mint and the incense and enjoying the fires I light for them on the coffee table. I am - not quite afraid, but I am buzzing, anxious. It is just under the surface, all the time - that pull of the connection, to the spirits that show up around me. In this, I have become more aware, that when I close my eyes, I can feel something within me - my spirit, my soul, the ants that creep along my veins They are trying to detach from my physical being, become moths to force their way out of my pores, and the only thing keeping me anchored is the cat lying on my hips, the only thing keeping me rooted her steady breathing to remind me of her living heart. In this, someone - perhaps, myself - has pried apart my ribs so that my heart and lungs are out in the open, panting, beating, desperately gulping in air and blood, and I am exposed and aware of everything I can feel the oil under my skin, pooling in my elbows and my left hip, circling around my spine and my throat and attempting to creep up up up to join with the dark something that sits in my mid-left-frontal Cortex And in all of this people tell you to conquer your biggest fear, but how the fuck are you supposed to conquer it when that fear is the death of a loved one? Nineteen, and, just like, that he is gone. No one is supposed to be fatherless at nineteen, at eighteen, at twelve - and yet this is all across the world, these griefs and sufferings. It was impossible for me to imagine a world without him, but now - it’s my reality, and it feels more like a dream 20 ABIGAIL ECK | SHE TASTED OF GRIEF And then, it is almost fascinating, how quickly a heart can be snuffed out of this world. They find a trapped mouse, still alive on its trap, slowly dying of starvation, dehydration, of the twisted position it is stuck in, and there are choruses of ewwww and oh my gosh! Gross! They discuss what to do with it - and it is going to die, no matter the conversation I listen to, no doubt about that. I can feel the mouse, though, and I am struck silent - I can feel her spirit seeping away, the quiet struggle and the unknown acceptance, my heart matching hers (it is a female, I know it, somehow), and I feel like collapsing in sorrow for another life(s) gone. I can’t stand it, now, the consistent death of people and animals, guns and bullets senselessly taking lives, human cruelty destroying more and more of the world every day. It is morning, and I am mourning again. All I want is to feel alive, in this dead world of spirits and the creeping fingers of death, always reaching, reaching. I am Itching for my body to bloom - bloom with ink, spiraling out of my skin in all the just-hidden places, to make physical my thoughts and aches and pains. At least this is something I can control, right? And, Among all of / the spirits /death / anger / sorrow / denial / grief / loss / ants / sympathy / flowers / writing / of / the / obituary / guns / money / signatures / the / ghost / in / the / passenger / seat / don’t / you / see / her / ? / the / hand / that / rests / on / my / shoulder / the / pictures / voicemails / almost / deleted / ink / skin / cigarettes / candles / cats / and / mice / fears / and / truths / - / - / . / . / . / / I / hold / my / fingers / to / my / throat / to / check / that / my / heart / is / still / beating / - / / and / all / is / - / / quiet / . / 21 G RANT BE RG Elaine Ramseyer, Dayampur Farms, Carbondale, IL 22 Perpendicular JULIA CHARRON Even in the quiet of the morning there are people on the sidewalks and cars on the streets. When did the World start to feel so empty, so cavernous? It’s impossible for me to decipher whether it was them or me that began to ignore the other. Perhaps, at a point of intersection we agreed to exist outside one another, and carried on- perpendicularly. The wind is the only direction I can find- although fickle and inconstant. I hear it whisper through the trees and I find more meaning in the leaves than in the voices of any person around. It is me and it is them and I am lonely. But I’d rather be completely empty than feel just short of whole. I can only wait and hope that the quiet emptiness pacifies my bleeding mind. 24 After Charlottesville JOHN WEIRICK “This isn’t America” shouts echo off buildings and blood-stained pavement. “Racism has no place here” confidently declared from states near and far connected long ago by railroads built by Chinese laborers over water and soil abducted from the only non-immigrants the land has known. “Society is equal now” say those whose families once owned other human beings. “Racism is still a problem” cry the families who lived by the law only to lose unarmed sons to bad apples that continue to fall from the diseased tree. “We will not be replaced” shout those whose forebears have never lacked opportunity only grace. “You can’t erase history” protesting removal as if the line vanished between remembering history and memorializing its demons. 26 42 JOHN WEIRICK | AFTER CHARLOTTESVILLE Voices pile up like dry grass and we all carry flames. When will we set down torches and talk through the night catching glimpses of each other’s ragged humanity? After we pause once naïve now ignorant refrains of “All lives matter” baptized well-meaning cliches and meager attempts if any of empathy. “Shut up about Charlottesville” he reminds himself for his prompt opining feels true until he steps beyond the echo chamber humbled yet welcomed to those night talks where he finds his place which today is to listen. And then what? 28 I Will Give Birth to an Egg RA C H E L L I N D O No matter how much time the traveler spends as she attempts to invent a wild contraption to give herself and her friend, a witch, time-and-space whiplash or how many times the witch summons a spell that won’t give them split ends, they always end up at a movie theatre. The time traveler sat down next to the witch at a bench outside, both an hour early to a movie they managed to be two hours late to. Thanks to the traveler’s mother who also bends space and time like pipe cleaners. Before the movie can even dance with British action movie stars, the mother calls. The traveler’s father once told his daughter, while he stood in the middle of their clustered time machine, Your mother is going to have a bird. Before the traveler answers the call, her hair a wild mass thanks to the flawed witch’s spell, she yells, I will give birth to an egg! The phone vibrates and cracks the witch’s last-minute incantation made to save their chances at seeing the film. While the mother sprouts a kuku bird over the kitchen floors that the traveler scrubbed clean that aren’t clean enough, the witch closes her eyes and prays for the traveler to smash her egg on the kitchen’s tile to fly. 30 C L A RA H I G G I N S Confluence 31 32 Rock and root, glistening slick from night’s refreshment. Away from rain-shy crowds JOHN WEIRICK Rock and Root left at the rolling hills. Higher in, peaceful fog, the cover of wistful solitude. The forest’s silence broken only by distant planes, brutish trains, and emergence of human voice, strained. In morning’s solace, nothing clearer. Steady footing a luxury, light and swift on narrow paths. Mountain’s peace, effort’s reward. DAN I E L L A C L AY TO N David 34 KALIE HAVENER Hail Mary A damp, crumpled yellow piece of notepad still clutching the yellow paper. Grandma Mary had paper was being passed around the stuffy written her dying wishes so openly and honestly, and hospice room among my aunts, uncles, and her tender words were just too much to handle right cousins. It was the middle of March, and unseasonably now. I read her words over and over, and before long I warm. I sat cross-legged on the sticky floor, out of walked back to the room, and no one commented on the way and quietly writing in the visitor’s journal that my absence. I was just in time to hear my aunt retelling the nurses claimed to read to my dying grandmother the story of how she discovered the yellow paper every night. The wrinkly sheet finally made it into my when she was cleaning Gram’s little back bedroom. In sweaty palms, and I immediately felt her words pull at a twisted sort of way I think we were all thankful she a soft spot inside me: Carry a rose down the aisle for was not conscious right now. The nurses told us each me, and I will carry you in my heart. time she woke up she asked them when she was going home. I don’t think any of us would have had the heart Growing up I always hid boyfriends, tattoos, to tell her she would never be returning to her cardinal piercings, and underage drinking from my family, red cottage on West Road. and yet here I was having a raw moment with them watching me. Feeling unhinged by my sudden onset of tears, I peeled myself off the ground and swiftly left, Catholic Church. It had been a month since I held 35 The tolling bells rang out above Saint Joseph’s that yellow paper with my Gram’s words, her final like wisps became brown barrel curls precariously thoughts recorded in shaky handwriting. The whole pinned up around her neck. She held a single rose. church was filled with clean white candles. There were white calla lilies that looked like tiny upside-down and those around me were laying sniffling heads wedding gowns, delicate yellow layered roses like the on shoulders and clutching the arms of loved ones. pages of an old Bible, and the belles of Ireland which Father Mark was wearing his vast robes of shiny gold were skinny finger-like stems with a knot of a flower and white that stretched across his giant frame along on each joint with a tiny white blossom inside. The with black loafers that prayed for mercy while they choir voices picked up where the bells left off, and I groaned in the silent church with each step he took. let out a deep breath as I walked forward and picked My cousin whispered something about how the Priest up a single rose and held it in my hand as I followed was crying, but I knew better. Father Mark’s massive Gram’s casket into the church. I smiled into the rose body was glistening with what could have only been and thought about the story she told me right before the Holy Spirit, and he dabbed his face not for tears— I graduated high school. but for sweat. He made his way to the podium and I closed my eyes, and the two of us were in began to speak. her sitting room, sun illuminating the crystal prisms that dangled delicately from her sparkling windows. back to school to support them when her husband of us was sitting in a squishy armchair. died of cancer in 1968.” “You know, Kalie-Illa, when I was graduating from Catholic school they had a ceremony too,” My grandparents met through letters in World War Two. Grandma had been writing to her beau at Gram said. “Sometimes being nervous is a good thing. the time, and at his insistence she wrote letters to his It means you really care about what is to come.” “Mary loved her family and friends and her faith. She went on to raise six kids on her own and went The heavy scent of flowery tea filled the air, and each I took a seat on the glossy wooden bench, friend who didn’t have a girl back home. Grandpa fell I was picturing her at eighteen. Her knobby in love with her through her letters, and when they hands that held coupons and bills before me were walked down the aisle she held white calla lilies. It is now covered in elbow-length white satin gloves. The because of this story that I believe in the power of heated blanket that covered her legs was replaced by writing and the power in my own words. a gown with a white tulle skirt. Gram’s silvery moon36 KALIE HAVENER | HAIL MARY fallen queen by her devoted disciples. Mom squeezed my arm and asked if I was okay. She was handing me a tissue but raised an eyebrow once she saw my dry face. I told her I was The fresh smell of the flowers inside the church was replaced by the earthy scent of wet pavement in fine. I honestly couldn’t bring myself to cry. Maybe the parking lot we had to cross in order to get to the Father Mark and his script of sympathy wasn’t doing muddy graveyard. It was drizzling over my curly red it for me. I felt as though I should cry… if I was going to hair, but I didn’t worry about it frizzing. The slick mud make a big emotional scene, this was the time where clung to my black velvet heels. My family members it would be most acceptable—even welcomed. And were weeping all around me as we made our way to yet here I was coming up empty in the emotions the open wound in the ground. So this is where Gram’s department. Soon it was over, and the choir began to body is going to lie from now on? I shifted my weight sing once more. from foot to foot in order to steady myself on the We were once again back at the entrance hall, uneven hollow ground. The ground groaned in protest with its candles burning brightly and flowers spread as if to say, “Hey! It’s not that bad here!” My Gram, the all over like an Irish garden. I looked at my family so light of my life, was going to be buried beneath this distraught and I felt out of place, but what else is crooked red headstone and sloshy wet grass. Father new? I touched the little green-looped ribbon with a Mark had sent his assistant out to say his blessings. blossom in the middle that I made into a pin. I stayed up all night making them for Gram, amid bottles of “So he was too fat to walk thirty feet!” I heard my uncle’s voice griping beneath his bushy beard. It alcohol and old Irish pub tunes she used to sing to me. had been Gram’s dying wish that Father Mark lead the I made enough so everyone could wear green in her funeral procession, and he couldn’t be bothered to honor. My little Irish grandma, who celebrated Saint bury her in the rain, apparently. Patrick’s Day religiously and always made sure we had enough shamrock-shaped cookies to last all spring, was buried wearing a soft green ribbon pinned over skinnier and dressed in street clothes led the Hail her heart. The pall bearers now had the casket once Mary: “Hail Mary full of grace! The Lord is with thee…” He more and were making their way up the aisle, and rushed through this, and said some quickly thought- we all fell silent. I moved out of the way and stood by of condolences and ushered us to come forward with myself, and I smiled. This was her final time making her our final goodbyes. My cousin lay spread-eagle over way through a church aisle, and she was carried like a the casket, and I looked down at the charm bracelet 37 The second-hand priest who was much hugging my wrist. life and death. Gram and I loved to speculate about the deeper meanings of dreams, and so she indulged Once again I was back in her warm cottage, me with this gem. steamy tea billowing out around us causing the whole room to look misty. Gram asked me to reach for a catalogue. It had fallen by the wayside from the in my childhood bedroom but I can’t find the light fortress that was her great brown leather rocking chair. switch.” Gram coughed painfully and her body lurched Her hands grabbed the catalogue from me, her skin as forward and she made to hide the blood that came up thin as crepe paper. in her lily white handkerchief. I winced. Gram carried on as if nothing happened. “Now, Kalie-Illa, I want you to pick out something from here, my treat!” “Well, Kalie-Illa, I keep dreaming that I am “It seems funny I wouldn’t be able to find the light switch in the home I grew up in. I don’t know what I knew money was tight, and I didn’t want to it means but I have had this dream every single night be the reason she didn’t have something she truly since I came here,” Gram told me. needed. Gram was so excited though, and in the end I settled on a silver charm bracelet with shamrocks and tiny silver keys. was rising, and the light spilled over everything like a Gram passed on Easter morning as the sun golden halo. When I woke up that morning, I saw that I continued to look down at the charm my light switch had been unexplainably turned on, and bracelet, on display in a very different atmosphere, I smiled, knowing she had finally finished her dream. and I wondered if Gram knew one day I would wear it to her funeral. I spun it around and it made a tinkling sound, as if it were laughing, and it drowned out the memories carrying me and keeping me safe. As long weeping around me. I couldn’t help but think about as I have the memories, I never really have to say what she told me before she passed. This was the last goodbye to her. I walked toward her casket, my long time we spoke, when she first entered the hospice lace shawl swishing in between the raindrops as I did and the pain wasn’t bad enough for them to increase so. I placed my hand on the smooth mahogany wood, her doses of morphine. the bracelet tinkling along as I reached for a single Though it was her funeral now, I felt the rose. I was squeezing her hand one last time. The burial The hospice walls were listening in on us. The was over, and we slowly drifted away. walls were saturated with the secrets uttered between 38 54 Noon 56 AVA FOJTIK Dazzle 42 Not a Love Poem but Definitely Something T E R R E N C E S H A M B L E Y J R. You look good in my sloppy camo sweater. I lent it hoping it would catch your aroma the only part of your ugly ass that isn’t bitter. Girl, if you don’t get yo ole talk so loud on the phone booming at your mom so steady while we in the library and students studying ole one word response ole Crimson Chin forehead ole too cool to show teeth in your pictures but when you do smile make me wanna get my life together Ole when I ask you what is this, you say What do you mean? and I say what is this you kill it all with a damn nigga I can’t just come sit next to you? Ole always wanna be in my space ole too strong to send a I miss you text ole fat nose bean neck peanut head ole seem too disinterested to send a come thru text ole cute belly gloss skin clout eyes 44 60 TERRENCE SHAMBLEY JR. | NOT A LOVE POEM BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING ole I don’t have an answer for you right now Ole why you assuming I was on that when I was just asking but you too slick to answer a goddamn question girl I barely know you but when we together I feel so settle I write poems after and air more than I should. 46 Breeze JOHN WEIRICK Sore. that kind of contribution? Did you ever think you would feel so sorely ready Well, for that summer breeze did you expect it to turn out that whipped up dust and grass clippings well after you spoke your mind the day you packed your books and trinkets at lunch and all the extra notepads and everyone was silent? with your name next to theirs There’s not enough vinaigrette to (too many notepads to just throw away), cover the wilted arugula and sour tomatoes, and you walked out the doors let alone your expired belonging. that used to unlock with your badge, But you are less concerned back when you had one? because you feel it again, that summer breeze, More. too hot to befriend— Bid adieu to any morsel where will it carry dry leaves of future memories you believed about when summer is gone? your contribution to the cause, like a volcanic island: heat, light, molten core spewing, relegated to slip down the rough mountainside into the ocean— 48 Storms don’t form they’re built like houses on gravel RA C H E L B RO W N Storms and Houses with bricks and white plaster cloistering the heavens. But houses aren’t homes they’re goods situated on beds of sand and engraved imprinted like pirate treasure lost in a sea of lifelong guarantees. Roses aren’t gifts they’re dust turning brown and crisp crushed by the weight of the sun in a vase in a house not a home. Roses are dust blowing in the storm that was built not formed. AVA FOJTIK Almost Edible 50 Revenge of the Solenopsis RA C H E L L I N D O Red ants stumbled past me and bit my pal Greg. Myself a survivor, I boasted. Greg told me I better harvest my luck during a luck famine. I panicked and threw off my shoes believing the red ants tore through the soles. My lungs were gnawed on. I forgot how to breathe and shook him, begging that he’d give me his lungs. He refused. I pushed his shoulders, like how an infant slapped his mother’s hand away when she airplane’d orange muck into his mouth. Our struggle needed an audience and Hermes arrived, but not for free. His golden eyes shifted to my great-grandmother’s necklaces, riches dangling around my neck. He stretched out a hand. I dove into the sea, my right hand over my left to become a sharp knife that could cut through choppy waters. I needed to make a bouquet out of deceased coral, believing there was a chance my lost humanity would scamper back and lock itself into my hands. 52 Poisoned Soil KAT H R Y N G RA H A M If you want to talk about painful love, because you’re so tired of caring let’s talk about a flower born into poisoned soil but it refuses to live or die about carefully measured cups of water about how some people call your flower about weeds that have grown with it a weed that have grown into it about how much you love this stupid little flower. strangling it with faulty love about how despite everything you’ve done If you want to talk about painful love, the flower is practically dead let’s talk about my sister about the room full of books on and the time I found blood in the bathtub gardening, weeding, soil, flowers, loving and a torn apart razor on the floor. about the frustration of suggestions try weeding water it just let it die about how sometimes you get angry and just pour every drop of water you have into its dry cracked ground or rip out every weed you see until the earth around it is ruined or spray it with herbicide to just kill it already or neglect it for weeks or months or years 54 55 G RANT BE RG River Kids, Dayempur Farms, Carbondale, IL 56 GABBY BROOKE Story of a Broken Girl T he first time I ruined my father’s life was unaware of the life of imperfection it would soon lead. long before I emerged from the womb. He This wasn’t revealed until later, though. At the time, and my mother had been arguing again, one my father took my mother’s words at face value and of the many that were destined to occur throughout decided he was done. the course of the unplanned pregnancy. The power struggle between the two came to an abrupt halt as street to the park by the house he lived in at the time. my mother said the one thing she knew could be used He looked around for a little while before finally finding to force my father to back down: “I lost the baby.” Later that day, my father wandered down the what he thought to be the perfect spot. The branches It wasn’t true, of course. The bundle of cells of the tree looked sturdy enough to support the rope growing and developing into the baby girl that would he had brought with him and any additional weight become me remained firmly attached to my mother’s that happened to be attached to it, so he tossed the uterine lining, perfectly healthy and completely piece of cotton over and tied a knot he knew wouldn’t 57 slip. He then proceeded to place his head through the birth a boy. My father therefore put more effort into loop this knot created, tightening the rope until he making his relationship with her work than he could stopped taking in air. muster for my mother. The desired effect wasn’t achieved, however. They made it through the first three years of Instead of being embraced by the darkness of death, my brother’s life before their relationship fell apart. It the rope snapped. Instead of the permanent crushing was within the first two years of this timeframe that I of his windpipe, he got a couple scrapes and bruises started to notice my father preferred his new son to me. from hitting the ground below. Instead of escaping for a better, less painful world, my father found himself eight years at this point, I knew I couldn’t do anything stuck suffering through the unjustness of this one. Having grown up under my father’s rule for fun until I mastered all my homework, both what my The first time I disappointed my father was on teacher assigned and what my father did. Because of the day I was born. The sound of my parents fighting this, I lay on the floor in the dining room of the woman’s filled the hospital room as they tried to establish a house finishing up the last couple of problems. It only name for me. Both parents were not far out of high took a few minutes, so I quickly put the packet back school and were unmarried. As such, my mother into my folder and shoved it in my backpack, climbing wanted me—not her first child but her first child by up off the floor as I did so. this man and her first daughter—to carry out the judgment that came with her last name. Much more wandered into the living room in hopes of watching traditional, my father thought I should share in the some TV. The sight meeting my eyes seemed normal fame that came with being so close to the heights. enough at the time: my baby brother, his mother, and Their words permeated through the air for quite some my father cuddling on the couch. Similar expressions time before they finally reached a conclusion. In the filled all three of their faces, a mixture of happiness end, my mother won. Done with everything required of me, I and contentment. I felt my mouth turn up in a smile The first time I noticed my father’s feelings as I looked at them. “Oh, what a happy little family,” I for me was when he was still dating the next woman said. They laughed, I walked over to the armchair in the to get pregnant. She, unlike my mother, managed to corner, and we sat watching cartoons together. 58 GABBY BROOKE | STORY OF A BROKEN GIRL Later that night, after my father and I had that I’m not good enough. Why did I get stuck with this returned to our own home, I found myself struggling failure of a daughter? to fall asleep. My eyes were drawn to the darkened periwinkle of my bedroom wall time and time again. hatred was a month before I went back to college. I Shadowy fingers skittered across the paint as the wind didn’t want to admit he only cared about the mold blew through the lilac bush outside the window, and I he kept shoving me into. I wanted to believe that he realized I hardly ever saw that look on my father’s face would back off enough to let me live my own life if it when we were alone. looked like I was starting to achieve some semblance of The day my best friend and I went into the success. One warm, sunny day in July, however, he threw counselor’s office at my high school to find out our his true feelings for me in my face like a vat of acid. results for the ACTs, I was ecstatic. I expected to get a score similar to hers, only a couple of points above His first text that day was something that I probably should have seen coming. For years I had the average. Instead, I somehow managed to get one taken the brunt of my father’s anger and frustration, of the highest scores in my class. Once the shock of so I should have been used to it. Still, the message seeing the handwritten number on the little slip of came as a surprise. I paused my conversation with paper wore off, I pulled out my phone and texted my my boyfriend and unlocked my phone to see what father. “I got a 31 on the ACTs!!!” The first time I acknowledged my father’s the message contained. I regretted it almost instantly. A few minutes later, I got a reply. “Who “After sunday your phone will be turned off,” the text did better?” The ecstasy I felt earlier faded into read, containing the numerous spelling and grammar nothingness as I stared down at my phone. errors that I had learned to ignore. “If you want to keep your number you will need to be back here tomorrow My first semester of PSEO, my GPA was a 3.62. with enough time for us to go to a sprint store to “Why didn’t you get all A’s?” transfer it into your name. You a grown. Time to start “Why aren’t you home to watch the pups?” taking financial responcability for yourself.” “Do you have a job yet?” Silence. A deadly stare, eyes screaming at me Reading the words off my phone screen, fury started to bubble up inside of me. I hadn’t done 59 anything to prompt this sort of reaction from my my anger into a full-on rolling boil intense enough father. In fact, I hardly ever did. Knowing that any sort to send the water of my sanity over the edge of of misstep could lead to this sort of reaction, though, the pot. As it came into contact with the burner, it I had made sure to tell him before I left that my completely evaporated. boyfriend worked at 4:00, so we couldn’t have stuck around like he asked. “He’s not going to pick me up icon next to my father’s name on the screen. My rage for another ten minutes, though,” I mentioned, trying continued to double in size with each subsequent dial to still be of help. When my father chose to ignore me tone until finally he picked up the call. “What?” he said and go inside the house, I figured he no longer wanted gruffly, sounding as angry as I felt. my assistance and that I was in the clear. Apparently, this wasn’t the case. I immediately hit the small telephone-shaped “I’m not waiting until tomorrow to talk about this. We are going to talk about this right now.” The fiery I stewed in the heat of the cherry-red Impala anger coursing through my veins caused my vision to but said nothing. He takes his frustrations out on you blur. Instead of a three-lane highway, all I saw was a sea all the time, I thought to myself. It always blows over of black. The pounding of the warriors desperately in a couple of days. I stared out the window at the wanting to draw blood blocked out every other sound trees whipping by, but I didn’t really notice them. filling the car. Every sound except my father’s breathing I focused instead on the pounding of my heart, on the other end of the line. calling out like a war tribe about to go into battle. Slowly but surely the screaming started to settle into a whisper, at which point I turned to continue after a few seconds of silence. “Do you really want to my conversation with my boyfriend. talk about this when I’m angry? Because you already know how this is going to turn out if we start talking Not even two minutes later, my phone pinged about this right now. It’ll go so much worse for you, again. “Will wil also discuss the terms of your rent and you know it.” With each word came a new wave tomorrow,” my father now wrote. “Payment will be due of hatred that stacked upon the one prior. When the on the 1st.” “Do you really want to do that?” he asked culmination of waves built itself into a tsunami he This statement sent the gentle bubbling of released it, directing all of that power at me. In one 60 76 GABBY BROOKE | STORY OF A BROKEN GIRL fell swoop, my father managed to not only crush the Dear Father, rebellion but drown all of the battle-crazed warriors I’m sorry I ruined your life so thoroughly. I’m sorry I failed marching out to meet him. The battlefield was empty to become the child you thought you deserved. I tried my save for a few raging questions. best to live up to your standards and be everything you What kind of father comes to hate his wanted me to be, but I couldn’t force myself into that own daughter? What kind of father can focus so mold. Maybe it would have been better for both of us if I intensely on creating the perfect daughter that he had been able to. Maybe you could have had a better life can completely ignore his breaking of her? What than the one you’re stuck with now. I’m sorry we’ll never kind of father can see the damage he causes and have the chance to know. Maybe your other child will do doesn’t care? a better job at pleasing you than I did. Not just for your sake, but for his. The hatred in my father’s voice and the words accompanying it finally broke me completely. I had If things still fail to go as desired, however, know that I done absolutely nothing wrong, and yet he still felt refuse to give up hope. You may have succeeded in it was necessary to tell me, “You fucked up your life breaking me once, but I survived. And I will continue to too many times and I am done dealing with it. You are survive, despite all that you put me through. You may an adult and it’s time for you to act like it. It’s time for tear me down time and time again, telling me about you to suffer the consequences of your actions.” The how I will never amount to anything in life, but that won’t fire fueling my anger gone, I felt nothing but sadness. ever stop me from trying. I will continue to persevere until Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes, and my I either gain the approval I so desperately want from you throat swelled to the point of almost entirely closing. or I die trying. Either outcome will have the same effect. I no longer wanted to tell my father his decision was Love, going to make it impossible for me to go to college. The Failure I didn’t want to confront him about the fact he was attempting to ruin my life in much the same way I had ruined his. At that moment in time, I no longer had a life to ruin. 62 Between Borders SA I RA M O NT E S M O O R E I was born but I can’t go back to where I was born. My brownness is stuck between borders. It is stuck between: whites mispronouncing Saira for they do not know how to caress my name on their tongues and a land I do not know. I ache. I exist between borders. I grow with the little water that’s in the desert. I heal and allow myself to grieve over what has been taken. I allow myself to grieve and remember I resist between borders. My skin is blessed, with the color of earth. I allow myself now to live, to love between borders. 64 65 ANI CASSELLIUS Freedom and Tension 66 ALLISON USELMAN Glenn Elementary, 2 PM I t was the second week of October, and the air outside was cool and the leaves on all the trees on When did Mrs. Carpenter say she was coming?” the lawn outside John H. Glenn Elementary were turning red and yellow and gold. Inside the school’s “When did you say the mother would be here? The secretary twisted the phone cord around her finger and looked once at little James Carpenter, main office, which was usually all but deserted at this sitting in the gray plastic chair just next to the teacher’s. time of the afternoon, the school’s secretary sat with “I told you, Ms. Heller. She didn’t say,” the secretary said. the phone cradled between her left shoulder and “And I can’t call her again, she’s probably left already.” ear, a pad of white paper on the desk in front of her. She didn’t bother to cover the mouth piece of the She was in the middle of writing down the name of phone as she spoke. a particularly uncooperative postal worker when the teacher sitting in the corner chair, just across from the desk, stood up and asked the question she had been and walked back over to the seat she had been sitting intermittently posing for the past twenty minutes. in but did not sit down. Instead, she crossed her arms 67 Ms. Heller, captain of room 307, let out a sigh and planted her loafer-clad feet firmly on the floor. already taken care of it.” “No, honey, I wasn’t talking to you,” the At the mention of the girl Alice, James had let secretary said into the phone and then rubbed at her out a groan and doubled over in his chair in a position temples as if the postal worker’s apparent confusion that might have been impressive due to the flexibility had the instant and singular ability to produce a required of the performer but under the circumstances headache in whoever happened to be on the receiving just looked sad. He sat with his forehead touching his end of it. knees and his arms wrapped under his legs for only a few seconds before Ms. Heller dropped her hand from “Well I don’t know what I’m going to do if her ear and spoke again, all sense of a kindly pretense she doesn’t get here soon,” Ms. Heller said. “I just leaving her voice. don’t know.” “Hang on a minute,” the secretary said into “What did you say? Did you say something?” she said. A muffled reply came from the region of the phone, and then, after pulling the receiver slightly James’ knees. “Sit up, please, so that I can hear you.” away from her mouth, she said to the teacher, “Why don’t you go back to your class? Why don’t you just go back to your class and leave him here with me?” said, ‘I didn’t say anything.’” Ms. Heller either didn’t hear the secretary or James sat up. “I didn’t say anything,” he said. “I “Oh, I’m sure,” Ms. Heller said, and began chose to ignore the suggestion. She uncrossed one twisting her earring again. Then, turning to the arm and lifted a hand up to her ear, twisting the back secretary as if James wasn’t there at all, she said, “Do of one of the little pearl earrings she was wearing back you know how many times we’ve been through this? and forth between her fingers. “I have a whole class of Do you know how many times in just this year? Seven.” students back in that room waiting for me, and that The secretary nodded. she said, her voice taking a tone of pity. “What am I “Or something around that number, I can’t supposed to do about that? What am I supposed to remember.” poor girl Alice still has pencil lead stuck in her hand,” tell her parents?” “It’s only October,” the secretary said “I don’t know,” the secretary said. “I told you, observationally. James, who was listening to all of what just go back to your room and see if they haven’t was being said, didn’t seem to mind so much what the 68 ALLISON USELMAN | GLENN ELEMENTARY, 2PM secretary said. He didn’t appear to be upset at the use while the secretary turned back to her pad of paper. of the phrase “only October” in relation to his seven visits to the office, didn’t seem to feel accused by said once the secretary was faced away from him. it. It was as if the secretary had asked if anyone else thought it was too warm in the office or if she had pointed to the fluorescent lights on the ceiling and said, “These sure don’t help my complexion any.” It was The secretary snorted. “Nothing right now,” shook his head no. “I’m going to go back to my classroom now,” “It means I’m waiting for the person on the other line to come back. Right now they’re doing and you can deal with him. I can’t wait around all day something else, and I gotta wait.” just for the mother to show up.” “Alright, alright. You do that,” the secretary James nodded the nod of a child that doesn’t quite understand but wants to give the illusion of said, and watched out of the corner of her eye as Ms. understanding, the same nod that could be found Heller turned on her heels and walked through the adopted into the behavior patterns by any number of doorway of the office. children at Glenn Elementary. Once she was sure the teacher was gone, the secretary turned to James, her hand covering the James waited for the secretary to turn away from him before posing his next question. mouthpiece of the phone, and said, “I told her to go “Ma’am?” back to her room a hundred times, didn’t I? I swear I told her to go about a hundred times since she came in here.” James watched the back of her head for a means?” She turned around to face James again. He Ms. Heller said. “I’m going to leave him here with you, she said. “I’m on hold, dear. You know what ‘on hold’ not say anything. “The post office,” she said. Abruptly, Ms. Heller reached out a hand and patted the desk twice. The secretary looked up but did moment and then spoke. “What’s it saying?” strictly an observation. “Who are you talking to on the phone?” James “Yes? What is it?” the secretary said. She didn’t turn around. James didn’t say anything. He squeezed his knees together and tapped his shoes lightly on the floor 69 “How many kids usually come here? I mean— how many kids usually end up here on a regular day?” never arrived in the first place?” she said, and that was when James stood up from his chair and pulled “You mean how many kids come to the office the door to the office open just wide enough for him like—like you do? Is that what you mean?” “Yeah,” James said. “Oh, I don’t know. Not too many.” “How many of them are weird? Are a lot of to slip through. Which he did without making a noise until the door slammed shut behind him and he broke into a run down the deserted hallway. quickly descending a flight of stairs, James hooked them weird kids?” James said and waited. Being a boy all too familiar with the perils of his index fingers through the two belt loops on the The secretary, as if only now understanding outermost sides of his pants and pulled as he ran just what it was James was getting at, turned around down the school’s front steps. Outside, in the October and arranged her face into a smile, tilting her head afternoon, the school grounds were empty. The only a bit to the left− that is, as far as she could without movement came from the rustling of the trees out the phone slipping out from her shoulder’s grip. She by the playground and the occasional bird flying over probably thought the motion looked kindly, maybe the athletic fields. Even the sky appeared still, the few even sympathetic, which it might have if it weren’t clouds slightly covering the sun hardly moving at all for the self-satisfied look in her eye, the look that so that the whole scene gave off the impression of suggested what she was about to say was going to a photograph. James stopped and looked at it all for make her feel better rather than the child she was a moment, his fingers still hooked around his belt supposedly comforting. “None of them are weird, loops, before he started down the pathway to the honey. None of them are weird at all,” she said and playground. About halfway down the path, he stopped then turned back to the papers on her desk. and veered off to the right so that instead of walking directly down to the play equipment, he was standing Evidently, the postal worker on the other in place just before the ground dropped off and was end of the line began speaking then, as the secretary held up by a concrete retaining wall. picked up her pencil and began writing something down. “Uh-huh,” she said into the phone, and then stopped. She set the pencil down and switched the tapped at the concrete with the toe of his shoe. Then, phone to her other ear. “So you’re telling me they as though there were nothing else he could do, he 70 He squinted out at the playground and ALLISON USELMAN | GLENN ELEMENTARY, 2PM lowered himself down onto the wall and sat. Although coat, and looked rather casual standing there in the the ground was soft, it was still cool on his skin. He grass with his hand in his pockets and his tie loosened dug the heels of his hands into the dirt and rubbed around his neck. He looked like the type of man whose at it until the friction warmed it and the dirt smeared desk probably contained at least one drawer with, if across his palms. He was occupied with the dirt for not a full-sized at least a travel-sized, bottle of aspirin. only a minute before he heard the distant creak of the “Is this seat taken?” Mr. Mitchell said and nodded to school’s front door and, soon after, the sound of dress the space beside James where the boy had wiped the shoes on pavement. dirt off his hands. He didn’t turn to look at who was coming. Instead, he pressed his open palms flat onto the top “No, it’s not taken,” James said. “But there’s dirt there.” of the wall on either side of him and rubbed the dirt away, leaving his palms slightly pink. Then, with great “There’s dirt everywhere,” Mr. Mitchell said, and lowered himself down onto the concrete. ceremony, he lay back in the grass and folded his hands across his stomach, his legs hanging down in front of him. He was positioned in such a way that if don’t you have a jacket on today?” someone happened to glance at the retaining wall “Where’s your jacket?” James asked. “Why “I didn’t feel like wearing one,” Mr. Mitchell said. of small legs from the knees down, three inches apart “Oh yeah?” James said. By now both his eyes and seemingly unweighted by an attachment to any were open but he was still lying flat on his back. from a distance, they would only be able to see a pair human form. nice a day for jackets. All this beautiful weather and all.” James was lying in this exact position, with his eyes closed, when the sound of the dress shoes on the pavement stopped, and a shadow crossed over where At this, James sat up. “You can still wear a jacket even if it’s nice out,” he said. Mr. Mitchell shrugged. No he lay. He opened one eye, his nose scrunching up on one spoke, there didn’t seem to be anything to say, one side with the movement, and looked up into the until James stared at the junior counselor long enough face of Junior Counselor Mitchell—or, as the children to wonder what was going on in his brain. at Glenn Elementary usually called him, Mr. Mitchell. “Yeah,” Mr. Mitchell said. “I thought it was too Mr. Mitchell was in his shirtsleeves, no sport 71 “What are you thinking about right now?” James said. I guess.” “What am I thinking about right now?” Mr. Mitchell repeated. He scratched at his head and then crossed his arms. “Ticonderoga pencils,” he said. James frowned at this but did not say anything. “Alright then, I guess I’m thinking about “Well you just asked me what I was thinking Mr. Mitchell let the question mull over in his down the front of his shirt. When he found the words he wanted, he spoke, although pensively as to give the illusion that he was finding the words as he went. began to walk along the edge of the concrete. loose and so he undid it altogether and just let it hang James jumped up suddenly from the wall and “I don’t want to talk about that,” he said. “Am I weird?” James said again. out his tie, but it kept feeling either too tight or too their hands.” brain for a bit. While he thought, he tried to straighten Ticonderoga pencils and little girls with them stuck in Mr. Mitchell shrugged. “That’s fine. That’s fine, “I’d say you’ve got about, oh, I don’t know, slightly more weirdness than your average third grader. About. If I had to guess.” about,” Mr. Mitchell said. “And that was it.” James nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I know. I just don’t want to talk about that.” “My mother always tells me I’m not. Well, my Mr. Mitchell watched as James teetered on mother and father I guess. And this morning, that lady told me I wasn’t.” the wall. “Would you sit down?” he said. “I don’t like you being that close to the edge.” “Lady. You mean the−?” “Sec-retary.” James pronounced the word in “It’s not that high,” James said. He kicked at a few leaves on the wall and spoke again. “Am I weird?” two, his expression serious as he did so. “Oh,” was all Mr. Mitchell could think to say. James twisted his face into what looked more “Why don’t you just sit down, huh? Why don’t you just sit down here?” Mr. Mitchell patted the concreate beside himself where James had been like an imitation of a sneer than an actual sneer, like he sitting just moments before. didn’t want to actually wear the expression but more “I don’t think I want to,” James said. so wanted to try it on for size. He bent down then and 72 ALLISON USELMAN | GLENN ELEMENTARY, 2PM picked up a leaf from the ground. It was red along the not looking and didn’t need to be to know what Mr. inside, near the stem, but the outside edges were a Mitchell was talking about. “He ran all the way in less bright yellow. He pinched the stem between his index than thirty seconds. I couldn’t believe it.” He shook his finger and thumb and spun it back and forth four times head for emphasis. before letting it drop to the ground. He watched it until it lay still. “I guess I’m pretty sorry about that girl Alice,” “In twenty-seven seconds,” James said, still digging the hole. he said then. “Her hand was just sitting there and all, on the table. I didn’t mean to do it, it just happened.” “I think it was twenty-eight.” “Sure,” Mr. Mitchell said. “I see.” “No,” James said, looking up now. “No, it was “It really did. I really don’t even know how it twenty-seven. I remember.” happened. I don’t.” delinquent, always in the principal’s office, always “Okay.” spending your lunches with the counselors−” “Really.” “Oh? And why should I believe you? A “Because I did it,” James said, not quite James crouched down in the grass and believing that Mr. Mitchell didn’t know this already wrapped his arms around his folded knees. The but still insisting on it nonetheless. “I ran all that way in grounds around the two were still, no movement in twenty-seven seconds. That was me.” the athletic fields or the playground. Only occasionally a wind came through and shook the trees, but even Mr. Mitchell wagged an I-should-have-known finger in the air and nodded his head theatrically. that didn’t last for long, and everything grew still again. “That’s right,” he said. “That’s right, it was you. It was.” Before long James began to occupy himself by digging a small hole in the ground with a twig he found lying by his shoe. just long enough for a bird to sound its call somewhere There was quiet between the two for a time by the athletic fields, the sound itself ringing hollow “You know,” Mr. Mitchell said, breaking the and thin throughout the school grounds, the way silence. “I once saw a kid run all the way from that bird calls in the fall often sound to those privy to hear field to that swing set right there.” He pointed as he them. Just after the far-off bird fell silent, the quiet spoke to illustrate what he meant, although James was between the two by the wall was broken. 73 started to scream and−” “I’m not a delinquent.” The assertion came softly from the space just beside the freshly dug hole in the ground, in the voice of someone trying to He broke off at the same moment that he dropped from his squat to fully sitting on the ground, convince themselves of a thought while not quite sure his knees folded in front of himself where he could about its truthfulness. On the wall, Mr. Mitchell shifted easily hug them to his chest. his weight so that he could get a better look at James, who had by now dropped the twig altogether and was again hugging his knees. With his right leg pulled up He breathed in as if he were going to say something onto the grass now and bent at the knee, Mr. Mitchell else but then stopped, apparently thinking better of raised his eyebrows at the boy and waited for him to it. James, too, took in a rather deep, although shaky, say something else. When he finally did speak, it was breath and then remained silent. He began to wipe at in the same small voice as before. his face with seemingly no specific intent. He might “Alright,” Mr. Mitchell said. “That’s alright.” have been wiping away tears or frantically feeling to “It wasn’t my fault, with the pencil. It wasn’t see if his eyes, nose, and mouth were still where he my fault.” left them, it was difficult to tell which. Whichever one “Oh?” Both parties were hardly speaking it was, though, the two sat there in the grass, holding above a whisper; if there had been even a slight wind, their respective positions for an impressive amount neither would have been able to hear one another. of time, until in the parking lot, a good fifty feet away from the retaining wall and just out of earshot, a car “Her hand was just sitting there on the table. pulled up and parked. It was just sitting there.” Mr. Mitchell was still; he was waiting for James to speak, not prompting the boy in the slightest. In fact, he looked almost accustomed to the act of silently waiting for the boy to speak, hardly moving at all for fear of disrupting him. “It looked soft, and I had the pencil in my hand.” James paused, starting to cry now. “And I don’t know what happened, I just know that girl Alice 74 75 B R I D G ET T E BO O N E Untitled 76 “For Carl Brandhorst” Teotihuácan, ciudad de los dioses SA RA H D E G N E R R I V E RO S La puerta de la ciudad del fuego y del agua The door of the city of fire and of water es la calzada de los muertos que guía Is the pathway of the dead who guide a través de un arco iris celeste. Through a celestial rainbow Pasa por el camino de las estrellas, That passes along the way of the stars orientada al norte astrológico Oriented with the astrological north a la entrada del paraíso Tlolcán. To the entrance of paradise, Tlolcán. Entre nopales y agaves, sobre las piedras Between prickly pear cactus and agave, sube el pirámide de la serpiente emplumada, The plumed serpent’s pyramid rises over the stones hecho de los restos de las esculturas caídas Built with the remains of fallen sculptures, de la cabeza del jaguar, un templo From the jaguar’s head, a hidden and discovered escondido y encontrado en las entrañas Temple in the womb of a volcanic mountain. de un monte volcánico. On these rocks depends the fertility of the earth. De estas piedras depende The gods keep watch; Cipactli, la fertilidad de la tierra. Scaled monster from the underworld, Guardan vigilia los dioses Cipactli, The caiman lizard and its duality, monstruo con escamas del inframundo, Tláloc, god of the water from the sky, the rain, el lagarto caimán, y su dualidad In feline form representing the morning. Tláloc, dios del agua del cielo, la lluvia en forma felina que representa la mañana. Further along the walk of dead, Rows of pilgrims wind along the profile Más allá en la calzada de la muerte, Of the sun pyramid. los peregrinos hormiguean en fila To the right of the stone road, they walk por el perfil de la pirámide del sol. Along the horizon that passes through worlds. A la derecha de la calzada, pisan The grey temple remembers when it wore 78 SARAH DEGNER RIVEROS | TEOTIHUÁCAN, CIUDAD DE LOS DIOSES el horizonte que traspasa mundos. Smooth stucco painted red, El templo gris recuerda cuando llevaba And when the gods were honored un estuco pulido pintado de rojo, In the form of a fetus buried inside the uterus of the earth. y cuando se honraban a los dioses, The death overcame them in asphyxia, plantando la semilla del cuerpo humano Their last breaths choking on the dust en forma de feto en el vientre de la tierra. In the womb of the volcanic earth. La muerte les sobrevino en asfixia, su últimos suspiros ahogados de polvo At the far end of the walk, the pyramid of the moon en las entrañas de la tierra volcánica. Rises up in light, reflecting the sun. The energy crisscrosses the stone steps Al fondo de la calzada, se levanta iluminada From side to side, zigzag. The angle detains la pirámide de la luna que refleja el sol. Human breath amidst the heights. La energía cruza las escaleras de piedra Raising the gaze to observe the mountains de lado a lado, diagonal. El ángulo detiene And pyramids from afar la respiración humana con la altura. Is to feel for a moment in time, looking down from heaven, Levantar la vista para observar de lejos Like a god of history, as the owner of the past, los montes y las pirámides abajo The present, and the future. The moon keeps watch es sentirse por un momento desde el cielo And remembers everything that has taken place, un dios de la historia, dueño del pasado, Illuminating prophesies with every cyclical turn in the del presente, y del futuro. La luna vigila years to come. y recuerda todo lo sucedido y profetiza cada giro del ciclo del porvenir. 79 SA RA H D E G N E R R I V E RO S Teotihuácan 80 81 JEN MEINHARDT Solitude 82 Take a Deep Breath D. E . G R E E N Even the air we breathe is processed, has to be now that the fires in the north and west have flung particulate matter across the continent. So we carry on, don our masks and our oxygen tanks before we sit down to play the harp or piano—no trumpets or trombones since we cannot inhale enough to blow, Gabriel, blow any more—and pretend life is good, still pretty good, as my friend Bob likes to say, just as the gauge on the tank veers toward empty and the lightning cracks and the floodgates open and we become curios and knick-knacks in nature’s wild parlor. NOU-CHEE CHANG Fantasy 84 G RANT BE RG Big Muddy Mike Washing Dolly, St. Louis, MO 85 86 I am not deceived RA C H E L B RO W N I am not deceived No I am not deceived I am not totally made of water even if I can’t get you now but like liquid I seep through the cloth when the ice caps melt that wraps around your wide shoulders there will be no more places and I warp your bones for you to slither the way rivers shape canyons and your high ground cutting will be under my waves. cutting eroding away until you’re brittle. I will not be deceived not again I have seen the way you snake inside of girl’s hearts flick them with your split pink tongue and lap away at the moisture there and while I am not water like liquid I will encircle you ophidian snakes can swim but only for so long. 88 Holding On SA I RA M O NT E S M O O R E mami does not speak sunflowers & white roses about the past of Mexico she died from the mistakes of my abuelo abuela’s favorite flowers in hushed voices I heard: sida. of crossing acquired immune deficiency syndrome, how did we cross? AIDS eso que no te importa it does not matter, what matters is that we are her daughters do not grieve her anymore here I do but here we have enough no la conozco. maybe one day I can stand on the soft earth, it’s not enough but the past won’t catch up if with sunflowers and white roses in my hand you forget and are gone her name etched in the gravestone maybe one day I’ll— my phone shelters notes of scattered words Mami lets slip from the life before me, some days all I smell is patchouli, my father loves the smell she gives me these gifts eres como el, inteligente with softness and in passing mami always compares me to him but at night when all is quiet I wonder memories barely clinging to reality memories that could mean nothing but how can you leave your niña? I hold with a clenched hand at night 90 106 SAIRA MONTES MOORE | HOLDING ON how do you sleep at night, when all is quiet and your daughter does not love you? el no es mi papa, no lo conozco I hold on to the past with love and coraje I sleep at night with memories in my phone with dreams of patchouli, sunflowers & white roses No los conozco maybe one day I’ll know them maybe it will not matter because I’m here 92 night 108 AN D E R S SAT E R E N Naked in the Nighttime I awoke in the fetal position, huddled under the miles per hour. I sat alone in a seat toward the front warm glow of a vending machine. As I sat up, of the bus, head propped against the window, feeling there was a nice, chilly sensation as my bare the vibrations as we thundered along the highway. butt cheeks pressed against the concrete floor. I sat For the last fifteen minutes, my attention had been there half-asleep, feeling the gentle rumble of the split between the pages of the book in my lap and the coin-operated soda dispenser against my back and passing landscapes to my right as it changed from tried to figure out what exactly was happening. In my flat farmland to a wall of towering pine trees. befuddled state, I didn’t fully realize the disturbing reality of my current predicament. I was lost, drew closer to our destination: Camp Wijamego. At disoriented, and entirely nude. A tangible excitement could be felt as we my high school, there is a tradition in which, once The bus traveled northward along Interstate a year, the band, choir, and orchestra kids pile onto 35 toward Duluth, Minnesota, doing just over 70 buses and go on a fun little retreat together to 95 someplace the teachers deem exciting enough. We that things would be okay, the lingering fear that my then spend a few days engaging in miscellaneous sleeping disorder would act up on this trip would not musical activities, participating in team-building leave the back of my mind. exercises, playing games, before performing in a final concert. I was a freshman, so I’d never been on the under the vending machine, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was, in trip, but from what I’d overheard, it can be pretty fact, not dreaming but rather living through the lame. I took it over the alternative: going to school absolute worst-case scenario for any high-school and doing homework. Back student: being caught naked at a school function. A low hum of high-school voices filled the Understandably, I began to panic, my heart beating bus, mostly originating from the back of the bus, out of my bare, hairless chest. Given that my wiener which was where the upperclassmen dwelled—the was fully exposed, I quickly scurried out of the open cream of the crop from Central High School. I sat and into the dark nook behind the vending machine. up front, listening, and could make out the voice of I must’ve looked like Gollum or some other type of Ryan Norman above the rest. We played on the tennis demented creature while nakedly sulking in that team together last year. Well, I was on the B-team, damp corner. There were so many questions being and he was on varsity. He was a junior, and I was in hurled in my direction, and I had no answers for any eighth grade so we never talked, but I’m pretty sure of them; it reminded me of math class. Am I still in he at least knows my face. Of course, he was also the lodge? Why am I naked? Where are my undies? the captain of both the hockey and soccer team, so I doubt I was even a blip on his radar. Okay, let’s pause for a second. While my current predicament may seem rather odd to most Anyway, we were all assigned random ordinary people, waking up in places other than roommates, and with my luck, Ryan and I were set to my bed has actually been somewhat of a common be roomies on this trip. I had not yet talked to him, but occurrence throughout my life. I believe the formal I could only imagine how disappointed he must’ve term for the bizarre sleep disorder that I suffer from is been to have to room with a freshman. That was not somnambulism; however, most people affectionately what was worrying me though. I had never been on refer to it as sleepwalking. Throughout my childhood a trip like this, and despite my mom’s assurances and into my early teens, I would occasionally wake 96 ANDERS SATEREN | NAKED IN THE NIGHTTIME up downstairs on the couch, on the comfy leather Ryan would be fast asleep on the other side of it. News chair in the living room, or in our creepy, dungeon- travels fast in high school, and if even a single soul like basement with the multitude of centipedes and were to find out about this, the entire school would spiders. One time, I even woke up in our front lawn, know in a matter of minutes. I don’t know Ryan, but cuddled up in the long grass. When I slept over at somehow I doubt he would keep this secret for me. friends’ houses, my parents would have to call ahead The sheer embarrassment would be more than my and warn that I might wander around their house or fragile teenage psyche could bear. Every ounce of raid their fridge in my sleep. It goes without saying my being wanted to cower in my safe haven behind that I wasn’t invited to many sleepovers. that vending machine until the end of time, but that would basically ensure my capture come morning Anyway, as I made my way through puberty, time. Eventually, I would have to leave my cove and these nighttime escapades became less frequent, journey out into the frightening world. and by high school, they had all but stopped. I was happy to have left my sleepwalking and bed-soaking days behind me. Fast-forward to the end of freshman formulate in my mind. I imagined that I was James year. At that point in time, my sleepwalking had Bond planning an elaborate infiltration of a Russian become so infrequent that I wasn’t overly worried embassy, except naked. My dossier made it clear that about staying in a lodge in Northern Minnesota for a avoiding detection would be absolutely imperative in few days. Oh, how wrong I was. order to complete the mission with my dignity intact. Slowly but surely, a loose plan began to It also read that in order to stand any chance of ever Okay, deep breath, dude. Pull yourself together. reaching my destination, I would need to figure out Let’s try to be rational about this. Obviously, I need to exactly where the hell I was. This meant that I would get back into my room and for reasons that need not be have to sneak around and find my bearings. I took stated, nobody can witness me doing this. The problem a deep breath, said a quick prayer under my breath, is that the doors in this lodge lock automatically and gestured a cross across my chest (I’m not Catholic, specific key cards are required to unlock them. I highly but I could use all the help I could get), and slithered doubt that my sleepwalking alter-ego was considerate out from behind the vending machine into the enough to grab one of them on his way out. Simply illuminated hallway. knocking on the door is out of the question because 97 With one hand permanently cupped over placed decorative plants. Similar to the Predator my genitals, I tiptoed through a long hallway. Staying scanning the jungles of Val Verde in search of its next as low to the ground as possible, I glided down the trophy-kill, I scanned the room for any signs of life. I long corridor, all the while keeping my bloodshot detected no movement and picked up no auditory eyes peeled for any clues regarding my current cues; everything was eerily quiet, a little too quiet whereabouts. Dorothy’s yellow brick road may if you ask me. Concluding that the coast was clear, have led her to Emerald City, but mine led me to I cracked the door a little bit more and prepared to a door marked “Lobby.” My situation was still quite make my big entrance; that’s when I saw him. dire, however. I was at the very least relieved that I was still in the hotel. There were no stairwells or overweight, middle-aged man with a rosy-red nose, a elevators leading out of the hallway. It seemed that shiny baton hanging off his utility belt, and powdered proceeding through the lobby was the only viable doughnut residue caked onto the large caterpillar- course of action. I stood in front of that door for a few like mustache rested upon his top lip. I’m surprised minutes and cursed this entire awful situation. What a stream of urine didn’t go shooting down my leg as had I done in a past life to deserve such dreadful I lunged backward through the lobby door and, with luck? There was a good chance that once I passed two hands, covered up my nuts like a greedy squirrel. through that door, I could very well become the first Dear baby Jesus, tell me that he didn’t see me, I thought documented case of non-consensual streaking. I to myself. Every second felt like a million lifetimes as was never cool enough to have been assigned a I waited for that door to come swinging open and nickname in the past, but now my fate as the “Camp for my cover to be blown, but that time never came. Wijamego Streaker” seemed all but sealed; social Eventually, the stress-induced heart palpitations died demise was inevitable. He was your prototypical security guard: an down and I gathered enough courage to peer into the With my naked body as my witness, it was lobby once again. The man (who I will affectionately time to make my move. Slowly, I edged the door refer to as Paul Blart from now on) was seated open, one creak at a time and peered through the motionlessly behind the front desk with his head slit into the well-lit lobby. The large room seemed tilted back slightly. The adrenaline pumping through all but uninhabited, aside from a few strategically my naked body must have heightened my senses 98 ANDERS SATEREN | NAKED IN THE NIGHTTIME because I swear that I could see his long mustache sleeping security guard, I got down on all fours and whiskers quivering in the hot wind escaping his stopped breathing entirely. There was no way that I nostrils. Paul was definitely fast asleep. was going to risk disturbing Paul’s beauty sleep. Like a Paul’s poor work habits were a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark, hellish nightmare. It was this stroke of good fortune that gave rise to a tricksy, devilish idea. Up to this point, I had no clue how I was planning on actually getting into the room little, naked mole-rat, I quietly crept along the ground, inching ever closer to the treasure awaiting me behind the desk. I was nervous, exhausted, and sweaty, but I had to endure. There was too much on the line to turn back now. once I arrived at my destination. Paul’s deep slumber provided me with the means of entering the room tentative crawling, I arrived at the side of Paul’s desk. undetected: a room key. On the shelf directly behind I couldn’t see him yet, but I could hear the deep, the dozing behemoth were a few small stacks of key reverberant rumble of his breath. I’m sure it also cards. If I could slip past Paul and grab one of the reeked of powdered doughnuts and cheap coffee. keys, I would practically be home free! This would As I peer around the edge of the desk, I found myself be an extremely delicate and potentially hazardous face-to-face with a pair of stained khakis. Now was not maneuver, but acquiring one of those fabled key the time to be distracted by Paul’s life habits; I needed cards would be necessary if there was any hope of to focus, retrieve the key card as quickly and quietly this infiltration ending in success. as possible, and put as much space between my As I slowly crept into the lobby, I felt like Bilbo Baggins entering Smaug’s lair for the very first time. I was fully exposed. If only I had a ring that could grant me the power of invisibility. Stealthily, I slithered across the large room, getting closer and closer to the front desk. The gravity and sheer ridiculousness of what I was about to attempt felt like the weight Hand. Knee. Hand. Knee. After ten feet of naked body and the crime scene as humanly possible. Without making a peep, I rounded the corner of the desk, made my way past the dirty khakis, and headed towards the prize. Almost there, almost there... Then out of nowhere, I heard a heavy grunt and cough echo out behind me. Every nerve in my body tensed up and I curled up into a tiny ball on the floor. of a thousand suns on my bony, teenage shoulders. With only around ten feet separating me from the Considering how startled I was, I’m surprised that a 99 In his deep slumber, Paul had stirred. little turd didn’t plop out of my bare bottom onto the around and began cautiously crawling away from carpeted floor. I lay there on the ground scrunched Paul, my unclothed booty raised with pride. into a ball, eyes plastered shut and completely in the nude. I didn’t move a muscle. I was so nervous that I in unnoticed. Compared to everything that I just wouldn’t be shocked if my heart had stopped beating endured, this would be a piece of cake! On the other entirely. After a few of the tensest moments of my life, hand, walking around the halls of a camp in the nude I opened my eyes and slowly looked behind me. Paul was no time to get cocky. When I eventually pass had shifted slightly, but he was still out cold. If I dared away, I guarantee that Lady Luck will track down my to make any noise, this is when I would’ve left out a gravestone herself and chisel in, “Pride goeth before massive sigh of relief. I had to put this minor speed the fall.” My room was on the fourth fl oor, and I guess bump behind me and continue on my quest, though. that it was too much to ask for me to walk up four God, what I would give to be back in my bed right now, flights of stairs because some irrational, stubborn wrapped in a warm blanket. No, stop! Now is not the time part of me decided that it would be a good idea to to fantasize! At this point, I was a mere foot from the take the elevator. Like a stupid lab rat, I was enticed key cards. They were so beautiful that I could’ve cried. by the cheese and foolishly entered the trap. Upon At that moment, I wanted one of those keys more entering the metal box of doom, I nonchalantly than anything in the world; it would be my ticket out tapped the button for the fourth floor and watched of this nightmare and back into reality. the heavy doors slowly screech shut. I had traversed the lobby, slipped past Paul—the fearsome, slumbering All I had to do was get to the room and slip dragon—and The elevator jerked up floor by floor as I leaned against the wall, eyes closed and head resting finally, I had arrived. The treasure was within reach. contentedly upon the cool metal. Things were going Despite the circumstances, I felt a very real sense well, considering the position I was in less than an of accomplishment. With a slight grin, I hooked my hour ago. At this point, I had gotten quite used to my arm up and grabbed a handful of key cards off of au naturel state, but even at four in the morning, I was the counter. There was no way I was going to risk fearful that the elevator would come to a halt and an the card not working, so I took a few backups, just in unsuspecting visitor would enter my naked, metal case. After retrieving the precious cargo, I shimmied tomb. Yet in a surprising turn of luck, I reached my 100 ANDERS SATEREN | NAKED IN THE NIGHTTIME floor without any hiccups or roadblocks. I was home room behind him. free at last! Yeehaw! I could hardly look at Ryan as I passed him, but Despite this, upon exiting the elevator, I I wasted no time getting into the room, immediately checked both ways to make sure the coast was slipping into my Pink Floyd boxers. He followed me clear. It was, thankfully. Yet again, as I made my way into the room. down the hallway, I found myself close to the ground, sneaking like a ninja in the night. But then, I saw it. “I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t fall back asleep. It took a while to notice you The promised land, Heaven, Valhalla, whatever you weren’t here.” want to call it; it was there: my room. Okay, just sneak in unnoticed and put all of these shenanigans behind you. Upon approaching the door, I let out a deep sigh, once more cursed my dreaded somnambulism, and “Yeah, I had some business to attend to.” That was all I could come up with. I was now perched on the side of the bed, looking down at the reached out for the door. But just then, with a creak, ground in shame. the doorknob began to turn from the inside. Again, as if on cue, the fear I had felt many times that night flooded my senses. I watched in horror as the circular “Apparently.” knob rotated ninty degrees, turning and turning, “With no clothes on?” Ryan eyed me down, looking for answers. I sighed. It would be easier just to explain. figure, gawking. It was Ryan, the senior, in his pajamas, “Well, this has happened before. Well, never looking down at me, eyes wide as saucers. It was quite like this but...yeah, I sleepwalk.” Ryan stood there clear he was trying to comprehend exactly what he for a moment, nodding, before going off on a tangent. before letting out a slight click and popping ajar. The door opened, and before me stood a was looking at and really struggling with it, looking at this skinny, pale, naked body in front of him. After a sleepwalked into my room and peed all over my few moments, he blinked as if coming to his senses. “You know, one time my little brother Pokémon cards, a whole binder full.” “Uh...come in,” he said, gesturing towards the 101 I looked up and Ryan was now smiling, telling his story. same way it had been all year, only a nod from Ryan as he looked up and saw me passing by. “And then he walked over to the other side of the room and peed on my Godzilla comics. Everything I had ever loved!” Now I was smiling. “Man, I tell ya, I was so mad I could’ve killed him. I screamed at him for hours the next day, How hard is it to make it to the toilet!” I was in no mood to laugh, but the conclusion of his story made me chuckle. Ryan let out a smile, now done reminiscing. “I would’ve been mad too,” I agreed. I awoke the next morning in my own bed, thankfully, yet still filled with the dread and embarrassment of the night prior. Ryan wasn’t in the room, and I assumed he was already down at the mess hall for breakfast. I slipped on my jeans, a hoodie, and my sneakers and went off to face my social reckoning. Upon arriving at the mess hall, I found Ryan and posse already gathered there at a table in the corner, no doubt waiting to get a peek at the freshman who was found wandering the grounds of Camp Wijamego in the nude. Yet as I walked past their table, there were no jeers, no taunts, no social ridicule. There was nothing from the seniors, the 102 JEN MEINHARDT A Warm Place to Sleep 103 104 Identity Circle in 3 Parts, Ending with a Trek through the Antarctic Desert T E R R E N C E S H A M B L E Y J R. The only glow radiated from a string of icicle lights laid semi circle in the center of the room. Our group gathered in a nervous halo around it, the lights candle dim hypnotic & spook. The leader of the halo, a little black girl turned self assured chair woman says take a step into the circle if you identify as African or black and we all step. Step into the circle if most of your friends are the same racial or ethnic background as you and we all step. Step into the circle if you ever felt like you don’t belong and we all step. Step into the circle if your authority figures look like you and no one steps. Step into the circle if you ever watched the fire die in a set of eyes that are brown as yours, whether in person or on video and we all step. Step into the circle if you routinely hear stormtroopers spit I feared for my life as an apology 106 TERRENCE SHAMBLEY JR. | IDENTITY CIRCLE IN 3 PARTS and we all step. Step if you ever felt unsafe walking the streets at night and we all step. we all step. we all step. My eyes are fixed on the icicle lights the whole time. As we step its glow is a swinging medallion a spoon tap to a coffee mug a calm hand up a puppet’s back and when the leader says take a step if one of your parents is an alcohol or drug user I’m the only one that steps enough for the both of them. Take a step if you a stutterer only I step. Take a step if you identify as queer only I step. only I step. only I step. Take a step if you identify as non-binary my feet twitch whole body jerk and stop like slammed brakes a myriad of irises pierce holes in my skin and my eyes are fixed on the icicle lights laid semi circle in the center of the halo the whole time. Its glow is a sneaky portal. A lone body landlocked like a peeling corpse gawked by a ring of crows. And as the lone body stands 107 idle there’s a snap in landscape a poof of halo a vanish of room and lights and emerges a plot of bald frozen snow repeating into the distance. The lone body steps. 123 109 MELISSA FLORES Mickey 110 Lies My Drug-Dealer Told Me MICHAEL LEVINE Television, as dramatized as it may be, can only teach you so much I thought I had it all figured out at eighteen, but rather the drug had me as its crutch. I tried it. I loved it. I used it more than anything in life, And the only thing that I carry with me today is the awarded t-shirt and much strife. Years went by and a decade removed, While looking back, I am the only one that noosed. When I went to buy drugs for the first time, No one told me that these drugs would become more important than a perfect rhyme. Not only lies my drug-dealer told me, but lies I told me So that I convinced myself that this is who I wanted to be. Once it set in that I made a mistake, I thought that I could undo it by a few more extra minutes to bake. Treatment centers, jails, and suicide attempts became more of who I am Than scholarships, marathons, and a full container of jam. I have been caught in a cyclone of cynicism meshed with regret, Even Eddie Vedder living my life would have missed that fret. 112 128 MICHAEL LEVINE | LIES MY DRUG-DEALER TOLD ME Retiring my drug catalog, Now the time has come where my fog Has begun to dissipate, And those lies I am beginning to hate. I know the direction in which I am starting to lead And thankfully I no longer have to worry about putting in a not-guilty plea. 114 115 DAN I E L L A C L AY TO N Worry 116 The Seven Deadly Sins MEREDITH CARSTENS Beware: Violet-armored horses trot with hubris Orange-tongued pigs leave fields fruitless Emerald-eyed dogs covet man’s glories Midnight blue cows graze warm bodies Crimson-stained bears break spears and quivers Yellow frogs desire more than the golden rivers Sapphire goats idle by celeste waves and will stay ‘til the end of days. They lurk in the shadows, A dark reflection which shows Our flawed mortal souls bare. 118 The Streetlighter GABRIELA LUCÍA Do I know you? I feel I should as a flame dances in your hand like sunset on your palm. Meandering down my calf, meeting the underskin of my knee. Every knot untwists, Bluedark slips between our fingers, and my body bends for you. The fire undying patterns my side and the warmth crawls like rainfall from the ground. Now your hands are laced around my waist, a binding I cannot escape. And every unsung lullaby seeps from my heart when you do let me go. 120 121 JEN MEINHARDT Stranger 122 Friendly KAT H R Y N G RA H A M There is a man like a ghost, who is taller than me like a monster, and broader than me behind me, and much, much older than me in the dark. and whom I know to be a bit too friendly. There is a man who took my safe place There is a man and poisoned it with terror, who sends spiders crawling under my skin, with dread of a surprise. brews witches’ potions in my stomach, grows vines up my throat, Because there is a man and shakes the earth around me. who is taller than me, and broader than me There is a man and much, much older than me, who never touched me, and whom I know to be never spoke a threat, a bit and yet there’s fear too that fills me up, friendly. that drains me. There is a man I avoided in memories and pushed aside like someone I never met, until he appeared again 124 Dad JEN MEINHARDT Aries is incompatible with Cancer, and he was Aries and yet the cancer got him. A fire sign standing on the beach where Cancer became a wave, a chitin tsunami rising dark across the horizon. Cancer sucked the shoreline of his future out, out, o u t, and then sent it crashing back in again. Cancer covered the Aries fire, dousing his flame and finding its way into the brain and with the lunar pull of the moon it tracked, down, down, down, pulled by gravity along the outer orbit of his spine, paralyzing lungs as Cancer flooded them even after the waters receded. Dry drowning, a doused fire sucks out oxygen 126 142 JEN MEINHARDT | DAD leaving no flow to the brain. Cancer laps at the banks where Aries stood and each wave that hits the ground strikes, eroding it in a crumbling chorus of Abide With Me Fast Falls the Evening Tide. 128 NOU-CHEE CHANG life of a designer 129 130 I Am an Alchemist JEN MEINHARDT I submerge my skin and transmute the water no forlorn contemplation, the past spirits away from clear to deep blue, a hue the shade along with the steam and I breathe, lungs of distant Neptune, and I expanding further then they have before. This is have been immersed in stars. the alchemy of life turning the lead of the everyday I stare, enraptured into golden, glittering sparkles. at the captured heavenly bodies, twisting and turning they glint around my heavenly body, reflecting the light of the lamp that makes my distant sun. Comprised of a stick of sandalwood incense, a flame in the cosmos burning down and pressing into every gap like the way a child might press her nose into her papa’s neck looking for cologne and after shave, safety and musk combined into one. Together smoke and steam are breathed in through my lungs and with another spell are expelled into the air where they circle the room in a translucent veil of lazy cosmic ghosts looking for their next haunting. Puckering my lips I blow a steady stream of magicked air and they dissipate before the power of my voiceless incantation. Banished remembrance, 132 CARSON HUGHES A Date With Death L ike everything else in his life, Ted had managed nebulous, pitch-dark cloak. Ted could only nervously to screw this date up. He knew he should have stare as a putrid brown rapidly devoured the crimson called in and made a reservation at L’arnaque petals of the half-dozen roses he had bought for her, Chère, the most luxurious, yet quaint French eatery in twisting and wrinkling their foliage into dried tendrils. town. Instead, Ted sat with his date Lady Death, Reaper It was becoming quite clear that the roses wouldn’t be of Souls, Mistress of the Damned, and Goddess of the up to the standards of Target’s return policy. Styx, at the local Olive Garden, waiting on another round of unlimited breadsticks. It certainly didn’t help Ted thought of what he could say. What does one say to the living embodiment of death itself, that his chosen topics of conversation, ranging from let alone a woman? Ted’s efforts to say something how surprisingly little traffic there was on the way witty, charming, or insightful were a futile practice. here to the ridiculously high prices of gas these days, He was simply not the type of person who could say didn’t seem to interest her at all. He could already feel witty, charming, or insightful things. On the contrary, the disappointment radiating from underneath her 133 most of what Ted had spoken throughout his life was that seemed to emerge over and over again no matter completely unnecessary. Ted’s words swam where the how many times Death popped the pus out of it. tributaries of cliché entered the river of small talk. His openers for any conversation were, “Some weather “I think I’m going to head to the washroom,” Death finally replied. we’re having,” and, “Did you catch the game last night?” which lacked any reverence for the type of weather or game being discussed. Prying an original sentence catching himself mid-blunder. from Ted’s lips was like trying to extract the last drop of toothpaste from a flattened tube. Whether it be “Wait, you go to the—” Ted asked before Death sighed. “This was a mistake.” This wasn’t the first time Ted felt his name tied to the word for a best man speech or for the eulogy at his father’s “mistake,” and he was confident it wouldn’t be the funeral, Ted could never be expected to summon up last time either. Mistakes defined Ted’s life before he anything greater than a “Merriam-Webster’s dictionary was even born. He was the unfortunate byproduct of defines fatherhood as…” four Coors Lights, three sunrise margaritas, the men’s “You know, these breadsticks are actually bathroom at a Chili’s in Gainesville, Georgia, and a pretty good,” Ted offered with a nervous chuckle. broken condom. After the inevitable shotgun wedding, “Not as good as how you look tonight, of course,” Ted was born feet-first in the breech position, resulting Ted stammered a few moments later with a line as in a cesarean scar his mother never forgave him for. smooth as extra-chunky peanut butter. The steam from his minestrone that had tickled his lightly Death gazed down upon the insignificant, cowering mortal. “I thought the man who could see whiskered upper lip withered away as Ted waited for Death would be a lot more interesting.” an acknowledgement from the ceaseless, encloaked void. What thoughts could be dancing in that shadowy ether? wrong foot,” Ted responded. “But you have to give me “Look, I think we may have gotten off on the a chance.” That motherfucker, Death thought. Not this shit again. Unfortunately for Death, it was this shit “I don’t have to do anything!” wailed Death. again. This mortal male habit of interpreting any and “R-right,” stammered Ted. “What I mean to say all kindness as insatiable lust was an annoying blemish 134 CARSON HUGHES | A DATE WITH DEATH is, I’m sorry the reservation fell through, but this is a here and a grandmother there, Death’s visits turned unique experience for the both of us. It would mean a from calamitous uncertainty to comforting certainty. lot to me if you stayed, just for a few minutes. I mean, Death’s arrivals were a routine reassurance that the what’s a few minutes to a timeless, eternal, and, may I world was operating how it was supposed to be, like say, quite beautiful being like yourself?” a rolled-up newspaper waiting at the doorstep every morning. Ted became so well-acquainted with Death’s If Death had eyes she would have rolled habits that he wasn’t the least bit surprised when he them. Unique this certainly wasn’t, though a State found his father choking on his own hunting rifle and Farm Assistant Manager professing his love in the his brains splattered across the attic of his parents’ confines of a faux Italian restaurant was new for home. her. The Ernest Hemingways, Cleopatras, and Kurt Cobains of the world had all tried to woo her and even they weren’t able to tie her down. Still, within the confessed. “And I know you’re probably just waiting to manatee-shaped man before her was a dangerous get out of here so you can collect more souls, but I think secret she needed to know. So Death responded it’s good to recognize that first impressions can often the only way she could. “Oh my god! You think I’m be deceiving. You probably know more than anybody pretty?” she expressed coyly. how misleading first impressions can be, right?” Ted couldn’t believe his luck. As they sat down, Ted breathed in Death’s familiar chill that was “Look, Death, I gotta say, I like you a lot,” Ted “Wow, you’re sooo clever!” Death cooed while tossing her head back as if she had hair to flip. more bittersweet than bitter. His longing looks into the obsidian void where her face should be would Ted blushed. “Well, State Farm doesn’t let just anyone be employee of the month five months have disgusted Ted when he was younger. Ted was in a row.” just six years old when he and Death first met. Sparky, the family basset hound, was crushed underneath Dad’s 1988 Dodge Ram after he returned home at 3 appreciation flattered Ted, though he couldn’t recall AM from the pub, forever staining its “MILF Hunter” telling a joke. bumper sticker. Like most children, Ted hated Death at their first encounter. However, after a few goldfish 135 Death giggled. “You’re so funny, Ted.” Her Ted spent the next 22 minutes and 46 seconds regaling Death with his most famous end waiting for everyone. I have always belonged with exploits, from the time he spotted a mouse by the you, I just never realized it until now.” copying machine and heroically alerted his coworker Fred Pawlenty so that he could catch it to the time his “I feel the same way,” Death responded. “I knew it ever since you roamed through all those expert couponing skills landed him 78 percent off of a different rooms at that hospital trying to find me. Tide detergent combo pack with a second pack free. Speaking of which, how were you able to find me? And All the while, Death responded with equally impressive please, be specific.” contributions to the conversation such as, “You look really good in that polo,” and, “You have such a great taste in dining.” cheery “How are you liking your meal, folks?” Ted became transfixed by the waitress’s blue eyes. Her “I feel so connected to you right now,” Ted blonde curls, round cheeks, and open smile made her professed. “Can I tell you something?” “Of course,” said Death. “If there’s one thing you should know about “Well you see—” He was interrupted by a appear like a golden retriever with two tennis balls in its mouth, wagging its tail in anticipation for another round of fetch. She wore a black button-0down shirt with a green button that greeted, “Hospitaliano!” me it’s that I have always felt off,” Ted admitted. “It’s like I’m not supposed to be here and I just got squeezed into the middle of everything. I’ve never got some reports of a manchild talking to himself, so been particularly important to anybody. I’m just an I decided to take over. How’s it going, Death? I didn’t assistant manager at the State Farm down the road. If expect to see you in a place like this.” I fell into a ditch tomorrow, someone would be there to take my place before you even got to me. Dad’s “I hope you folks don’t mind a new server. We “That’s interesting, Life,” Death retorted. “Because a place with plastic scenery is exactly where with you and Mom’s down in Florida getting Julian to I would expect to find you.” lather suntan oil all over her. Point is, life hasn’t been kind to me, and at a certain point a guy has to start asking himself ‘What has everything been for?’ I finally such a charmer. Speaking of charmers, I see you figured it out. You are the goal. You are the one at the brought a friend, and it looks like he’s one of mine. 136 Life giggled. “Oh, Death, you always were CARSON HUGHES | A DATE WITH DEATH What’s your name?” horseshit. What made you decide to go into that The bright glow that radiated off of life hospital and try to find me?” seemed to seep into every pore of Ted’s body. “T-t-t-tted Ted Butkus, ma’am.” “No, no,” Death exclaimed. “Skip all that “Well, my life was going nowhere, and I was looking for some finality and…” “Well aren’t you as cute as a deer in headlights,” cooed Life. “That cocksucker!” Death shouted. “Y-y-you think I’m c-c-cute?” “Excuse “Sure, in a sickly kind of way. If dying elephant me?” Ted replied. “Is there something wrong?” seal is your type,” Life growled. “You always did like the ones who were pale, bloated, and infested with pests, to kill themselves because they’re thinking ‘Hey, that didn’t you, Death?” Death chick is pretty cool. Black looks really slimming on her. It sure would be fun take a drive out with her “Shouldn’t you be out earning your minimum while we sing Ramones songs at the top of our lungs.’ wage by getting us our check?” hissed Death. “Life! It’s always Life. Nobody ever decides Nope, it’s because Life started to treat them like shit, “Of course, sweetie,” Life bubbled. “But I’ll give which she always does, by the way, and they think, ‘Oh, you two lovebirds plenty of time to catch up while I well Death isn’t so bad I guess. I can settle for her. She’s do it.” Ted turned around to watch her walk away and a pretty good number two and she’ll take anyone. Yep, didn’t even mind it one bit when Life jammed her heel she’s reliable like a goddamn newspaper!’” into his toes. Suddenly, Ted began to shiver as an icy aura began permeating throughout the room. sick, moist texture of living flesh. “You know…” started “Here’s a question,” Death growled. “I want Ted. “I could always take you out driving—” you to think carefully. Think hard. Actually use your feeble little mind for once to actually think. Why did “Oh stop it, you creep!” Death slapped his hand away, leaving a little bit of rot on his palms. “One you decide to come and profess your love to me?” Suddenly, Death’s pearly white hands felt the more comment like that and I swear to God, I’ll make “Well, it started with my childhood…” you immortal.” Ted jerked his hand away and nursed 137 too-hard-to-swallow ego of yours for twenty minutes the curious new bumps with his thumb. and you feel like you’re on top of the world. Welcome “I just don’t understand why people like to Life. That’s what she does, lifts you up to take you her more,” Death grumbled. “All Life does is toy with down when you have something she wants to take people. She turns every person into her own little from you.” game manipulating them from winning the state soccer tournament to fracturing their spines, getting married to the loves of their lives and finding out Life had a different plan, birthing their first children “Life’s a bitch,” Ted offered. “Please don’t patronize me,” Death responded. “The only reason I’m telling you any of this is because only for them to grow up to be disappointments. It’s there isn’t a singular person in the entire history of the wave after wave of happiness, shit, happiness, shit, world whose opinion I care about less than yours.” happiness, and do you know what comes next? Shit. I don’t play games. When you’re with me, you know how it is. There’s stability. If I want to hurt you, I always will. If Ted replied. “One time I almost got on Jeopardy. I I want to love you, I always will. I’ll never lay my lips on filled out the registration, took the test, auditioned, a man I hate or wrap my hands around the neck of a everything. They told me I qualified and was all set woman I love. The most influential book in the entire to go on the show, but they accidentally invited the world promises that being with me will be a paradise, wrong Ted Butkus. In the end, I just had to settle for an but still no takers.” autograph from Alex Trebek. So trust me, I know all the “Death, you know you’re the only one for me.” “I cannot believe this. Are you really so dense? “I’m serious. I know exactly what you mean.” crazy turns Life can put someone through.” “Look, I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s clear that even you, ordinary, mediocre, forgettable I don’t care about you. I never cared about you. I’m just you, would still prefer Life than settle for Death. I trying to get you to tell me how you can see me, how mean, look at where we are right now. If you wanted to you can sneak up on me. You think that bubbly ‘You’re find me, if you really wanted to find me, all you had to so smart and talented, Mr. Butkus’ is me? No, that’s do was take the rifle out of daddy’s mouth and put it in just my impression of Life, and you fell for it. That’s yours. Instead, you wandered around, looking for me, shallowness for you. All I had to do is raise that not- still clinging to her.” 138 154 CARSON HUGHES | A DATE WITH DEATH The conversation settled, and all was quiet. better when I saw you for real, in your real form.” The table became a bubble of silence in a room filled with the slurping of soup, the crunches of breadsticks, as though the void within the cloak was churning, and the whining of children. Ted stared at the noble, bubbling, stewing. Had this been another mistake? eternal figure of Death, hunched over, swirling a lone He knew he should have said nothing. Death slowly finger in her zuppa toscana. turned to meet Ted’s eyes. “Would you like to see my It was in that moment that the most unique face?” she whispered. thing happened to Ted. A thought. A simple little thought. Ted hadn’t experienced a thought in ages, Ted nodded. Death pulled her hood back. Ted’s flesh began to tingle. The hairs on his arms but here it was. The thought planted its roots into twitched and stood upright as goose bumps began the fertile, untouched landscape of Ted’s mind. The to rise. They expanded and grew bulbous and filled thought bloomed and grew larger and larger still, until with pus. The swelling spread until it looked as if the point Ted could no longer contain it, until the point tumors covered Ted’s entire body. They bubbled and Ted finally had something to say. Death was a corpse, still and silent. Ted felt swallowed his eyes and lips, turning his face into a mass “I’ll tell why I can see you. It’s Life. Or actually of red, wriggling bumps of flesh. His body ballooned the absence of life. Nobody knows, you Death, not as if it were being pumped full of helium. Within just really. You drift in and out of Life so infrequently. And one second, it was over. Ted exploded, pieces flying well, that’s what I do too. I spend so little time with Life across the restaurant, covering the ceiling, floors, and that I got stuck in the same plane as you. That’s why even customer’s entrees. Death wore a smile as she even though we’ve met so many times before, I didn’t laughed with delight. really see you until Dad died. When I climbed up that attic staircase, I didn’t feel frozen like all of those times before. You weren’t a thief in the night this time; you were a healer. You cured the house of being filled with demented wailing in the halls and fist-sized holes in the walls. You’re a miracle-worker that puts an end to age, disease, and mortal wounds. That made it all the 140 ELIZABETH IHEKORONYE Lights in the Dark 141 142 percolating GABRIELA LUCÍA Let it come creeping Let her sigh into your bones seep like rain or ocean into bedrock. Let it slosh against the sides Of your veins. Let her sing and fill up your spaces, your darkness with sound— cold, loud sound— Like rain on the ocean. Let her love you and she’ll love you until she doesn’t. 144 American Ecstasy D. E . G R E E N Jazz in my ears yeah I want all of you the east classic vocals west north and the south of you the American Songbook & want you to take all of me too I love like I love you go to my head you champagne you my dearest bubbles sparkling Burgundy brew my potato-potahto got that old feeling once again tomato-tomahto more than you know – pow! – I love you my all-I-do-is-dreamof-you-the-whole-daythrough beloved my delightful delicious delirious delectable deluxe de-lovely you must remember this when we two lovers woo when we still say I love you you are my oh-my-man-I-lovehim-so my all-through-the-night girl my anything-goes mate 146 CARSON HUGHES Bullets, Cardboard, and Slobber I hate dogs. I mean that and not in a “Oh, I’m not on a planet that has over 70 percent of its surface really a dog person” kind of way. I hate dogs with covered in the stuff. a gluttonous fire in my belly, the kind that inches through your blood and scrapes at your flesh and I can already hear a chorus of protests shouting, “But dogs are man’s best friend,” but the bone. And what’s not to hate about them? They’re a truth is, dogs are every man’s best friend. A dog’s bunch of freeloaders that will tear your socks apart love is unconditional in the worst possible way. You the moment you take your eyes off of them. A dog is one of the most poorly designed animals there is. They drop hair, saliva, dirt, fleas, just about anything you can think of, like a piece of macaroni art held together by a purple Elmer’s gluestick. Worse yet, some moron could club seals for a living and every dog on Earth would still love you. Even Hitler had a dog who loved him. That kind of love is just a feeble imitation of the real thing. I love yous shouldn’t be handed out like candy. Embraces and kisses are precious, and like all thought it would be a great idea for dogs to release a precious things, they have to be earned. pungent stench as soon as they’re exposed to water, 147 It turns out there is a limit to my anti-dog paper and a bright red bow. After hanging up the agenda; that’s why I found myself spending my phone, Mom led Dad to our living room as I ran in Saturday night 25 miles from home with a nearly dead loop-de-loops around our tree. flashlight and thorns in my legs trudging through the heart of the Montgomery Woods. Olaf is his name, a sing-song voice she used only for special occasions. massive, dark-furred hellbeast (Newfoundland) with I plopped down next to her and Dad on the couch, an empty-eyed smile and a white crescent moon on but my legs still ran right above the floor. “Now Max, his chest. He’s lousy, even for a dog, but Mom loves can you sit still and smile for me?” she sang. I happily him, so I guess it’s worth the scars. “Sweetie, over here,” Mom called in that obliged and stretched my mouth agape into a toothy The thing is, Olaf was never supposed to be almost-smile. The press photographers snapped our dog in the first place; he was a replacement. The our pictures, and Dad handed the box to me. “You first dog I had ever received was a golden retriever can open your present now, dear,” Mom cooed after named Freya. It was an exciting time for everyone. It receiving a thumbs-up from the lead photographer. was Christmas, and Mom had just won her first Senate I opened up the box to see two chestnut eyes and a campaign with a 5 percent margin of victory the sunny face peering up at me, sparkling in the flashes previous month. I remember lying on the floor with a of the cameras. “According to the breeders, her, her new package of markers in hand, drawing smiley faces name is Freya,” Dad slurred. I pressed her tightly into on Mom’s ankles while she babbled on the phone with my chest until she started pawing to get free. words that meant nothing to me as a seven-year-old. Suddenly, Dad burst through the front door looking Loosening my grip, I allowed Freya to leap free. I was delighted to see her turn in a circle and begin like he’d come from the North Pole. His red cap and scratching her ear with her back paw. I crawled down shoulders were covered in patches of snow, and his on the floor next to her and ran my fingers through beard was flipped upwards, veiling his nose and eyes. her fur. Mom bent over on the couch to get a better “Ho, ho, ho!” he bellowed with a voice that stank of a look. “Hello, Freya,” she gushed in a high-pitched voice. sourly sweet concoction of candy canes and vodka. I Freya turned from me and wagged her tail in response. squealed with glee as Dad lumbered forth, carrying a “Come on up here, Freya,” Mom encouraged. She box decorated with Christmas tree-themed wrapping clapped her hands on her knees and showed Freya 148 CARSON HUGHES | BULLETS, CARDBOARD, AND SLOBBER her famous smile. It was tender smile, the kind that After bringing the box to my bed, I held it tight to my radiated a soft glow and made your anxieties drip chest. I was kept awake by Freya’s whimpers and the away like a popsicle at the beach. It was the smile she scratching at the cardboard, but after a few minutes wore every time she had a picture to pose for, a voter the sounds ceased. to sit down with, and a kid to tuck in. It was the smile that made Dad, me, and now Freya fall in love with many parenting books on what to do if your kid her. Drunk under my mother’s enchantments, Freya accidentally kills his new puppy, so I guess Olaf was jumped into her lap and proceeded to cuddle with her as good a solution as any. But instead of becoming the rest of the evening. Enter Olaf, the replacement dog. There aren’t my childhood trauma band-aid, Olaf became my With the night over, the photographers worst nightmare. What they don’t tell you about gone, Dad passed out on the couch, and Mom on a Newfoundlands is that underneath all that fur is conference call in the study, I took the opportunity 200 pounds of pure canine muscle that will come to have Freya all to myself. I carried her into my room barreling at you every time you get home from school. and allowed her to lie by my pillow. A clattering noise Of course, it’s not enough for Olaf to incrementally shook me up from my sleep. Freya barked frantically. shatter my ribcage day by day. When that animal Holding my palm to her mouth, I tried to listen. Not a hammers me into the dirt, he has to come over and burglar, just another one of Mom and Dad’s shouting inspect me and press that massive tongue on my matches. After a while, everything was silent, and Freya face. Then comes the drool. This frothing, soggy, pasty stilled, until Mom’s voice rang through the house. secretion dribbling down from a mouth which spends “Freya!” The little golden retriever burst with energy most of its time eating unidentifiable substances but was held back my embrace. I felt a sharp pain in found in-between couch cushions, onto my already my finger from the sudden clenching of teeth into starstruck face. Olaf is more slug than dog, leaving a my skin. I whimpered and held Freya so tight that she trail of slime wherever he goes. whimpered too. Determined to keep her from leaving, I grabbed a shoebox out of my closet and pinned her in the box. I placed the lid on top and weighted it down However, none of that compares to his neediness. Personal space must not be something they teach in dog training. If I sit down for a moment, with a large textbook filled with pictures of dinosaurs. he comes trotting over and rests his head in my lap 149 like he deserves to be pet just for being there. If I’m But soon enough, I didn’t have to worry about that at the dinner table, he’s there right under my feet, happening anymore. not even begging for scraps. If I’m in bed, he’ll jump up and even when I push him off the mutt will still A bullet changed everything. Some deranged lunatic thought he was a holy prophet, and of all the lie down at my bedside. Even when Mom gets home seven billion people in the world, he decided that my from Washington and she gives him a smile and a Mom was the antichrist. I was in the middle of one of kiss on the head, he’ll just wag his tail in response and my drawing sessions when I got a call. A bullet lodged head over back to me. Them Mom will always say, “I in her neck. At the hospital. May never walk again. guess not everybody’s excited to see me,” and, “Max Possibly terminal. I don’t remember the trip there. I you should be spending more time studying and less can’t remember what the doctor said or how I even time with Olaf.” ended up in a room with my mother’s body, tubes As much trouble as Olaf was, he was at least good for protruding from her skin. Nothing we can do right now. keeping me preoccupied. I didn’t need an excuse That’s what he said. Or she. I just remember leaving anymore when Mom tried to bring me along to the hospital. ‘I’ll go back,” I thought. “I just can’t take fundraisers or dinners with her colleagues. Instead of waiting alone. I’ll get a book to read to her.” dodging questions like, “Have you thought any more about working at Senator Murray’s office?” and “You I forgot about the book as soon as I opened the front door. Pow! I felt Olaf’s head tackle right thinking about Princeton Tiger like your mother?” I into my stomach. He approached, ready to lick his could sit at home and draw. Nothing profound really, slobbering tongue all over me. “Enough!” I shouted. just comics. People consider it to be a low art, but That’s when I noticed it. Chunks of paper in between there’s something about them that speaks to me. It’s his teeth. I darted into the front room, and I could the one thing I do that Mom would never approve of. If barely breathe. There were bite marks on the dining she found the stacks and stacks of comics that I keep room table’s legs. Pillows and socks were shredded hidden under my bed, she would pin me to the wall all over the floor. A trail of slobber led directly to my with her eyes. Her voice wouldn’t be angry, or sad, or room. My comics, everything I had ever written kept even disappointed. With a cold utterance, she would in a shoebox under my bed, had been ripped apart. simply state, “You’re becoming just like your father.” There were pages where a clean bite had been taken 150 CARSON HUGHES | BULLETS, CARDBOARD, AND SLOBBER from them. Others laid finely shredded like confetti. laugh while tears stream down your face and you grab Some were no doubt in Olaf’s stomach, and other the leaves, the branches, and the dirt around you. pages, as I would soon find out, laid in a pool of vomit You toss everything wildly into the air because who on the kitchen floor. I didn’t cry. I didn’t yell. I smiled, cares anymore. And then you realize something is off. with the most intoxicating smile I could and said, There’s something wrong with the grass below you. “Come here boy!” We got in the car and drove straight So you run your fingers through the ground below to Montgomery Woods. you, and you realize it’s sticky. You stop because it’s familiar and you’re right to think it’s familiar because I don’t know why I went back for Olaf. Maybe it holy shit, Olaf, for once in your life your drool is useful was for Mom. Maybe it was out of guilt. I just remember for something! sitting in the hospital room with a notebook in hand, trying to recreate all the work I had done. It was useless; I couldn’t even pick up the pencil. I sat curled long, following the trail of slobber. Eventually, I made it over my bruised stomach running my fingernail over to a river’s edge. That’s when I saw two sparkling brown the cardboard backing of my notebook and listening eyes look at me from across the bank. “Olaf, come on, to the whine of the machines. Right then, something buddy!” I shouted. He didn’t move and as my eyes told me that I had to go back. adjusted to the darkness, I saw that his face was not I crawled on the ground for I don’t know how as dopey as it was before. “Olaf, come on!” I shouted. When you’re in the middle of the woods “Mom needs you!” Olaf started to turn around, and I searching for a dog that has ruined your life’s work dashed down the river bank and through the river. at 1:18 AM and you have no idea what’s happening to Splash! A pain seared through my foot, and water filled your mom in the hospital and your flashlight dies, do into my lungs. My body was soon swept up by the river, know what you think? You don’t pray for your mom, and my hands felt withered and torn as they scraped you don’t curse the God who made this world, you along the sediment at the bottom. I reached out for think, “My fucking flashlight is dead. My Fucking a large boulder in the middle of the river. Slick with Flashlight Is Dead!” Then the panic sets in and you blood and water, my hands couldn’t grab on and I was start realizing the dog is probably dead, either caught once again dragged by the current. Suddenly, a tug at by a bear trap or eaten by a bear, and your dumb ass my back stopped me in my place. I could feel myself has no way to get home. So you kick around. You 151 being pulled against the current and onto shore. Olaf stood above me, and licked and licked and licked, but this time I didn’t resist. I simply held Olaf close in my arms and for once I didn’t care that his wet fur smelled like shit. 152 My Dad Was[n’t] an Uncaught Serial Killer JEN MEINHARDT I once thought my dad was an uncaught serial killer stalking The gated California communities because once I was scrolling through some web pages and I saw a sketch that looked like him but like, younger? As young as I remember him when he died, swollen face, bald, and leaking pus from the cracked edges of his putrid dry skin. And maybe because I was young, And maybe because he was young? And maybe because the article said he smelled sick. And maybe it’s because I barely remember him but the time he stuck his salty fingers in my mouth and told me to suck that I’m inclined to be so mean as to believe he could be a serial killer. And maybe it’s even because in his first round of cancer as a young man doing IT work between Omaha, Nebreaska and along the west coast of California leaving his young wife alone With three kids in a trailer that I’m inclined to be so mean. Or it’s probably because he wasn’t really there, but neither was mom but the occasional Saturday where the social worker would drive us to see them. This is your parent, see, even though They don’t like? Parent? You? Anyways. It was a cold case and it wasn’t him because he died in 2000 at 34 and this happened In the 70s and the case was only concluded in 2018 when they caught the ex-cop who Was killing people in an unofficial capacity. Anyways, boy did I feel silly. Sorry, Dad. 154 GABRIELA LUCÍA stages of sleep T hough I don’t have a thing for bad boys, I do name into my skin. have a thing for mediocre ones with absent fathers and degrees in film, a subset of boy incessantly kicking me in the head. I can’t fall asleep which is arguably much worse. knowing he’s sleeping somewhere, undreaming, and I I keep picking his name into my skin. I can’t fall can’t stop having nightmares, even while my eyes are asleep because I keep picking his name into my skin. open and staring at the red 4:05, :06, :07, :15, :28. The red collects underneath my fingernails. I can’t fall asleep with 50 mg of Trazodone Though I was blessed with no acne on my Red 4:04 glows on my face, reminding me ass, I was also blessed with long, strong fingernails that I can’t fall asleep because I keep picking his for reopening closed wounds all over my body, over 155 and over again. Like I’m retreading my footsteps. A fretting, spitting, and affixing my fists but never flexing or nightly ritual. sticking the landing. Moon peers in through the slats of my blinds and paints a square of light on my legs. I look at moon, imagine liquifying her and pouring her over my Frosted Flakes. I imagine Tony the Tiger sitting at the foot of my bed, smoking a cigarette. I imagine having sex with Tony the Tiger. I regret this. I know I should have broken up with him (not Tony the Tiger) when I tried to spoon him one night near the end, and he pushed me out of bed, and while I hunched on the floor, I imagined for one brief, electric moment that I grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head clean off. Oh What is this? Oh I think I feel it coming now. Grease lick, steep slick, spilled liquid underneath and spreading, heading east or was it west, unsending every letter I’ve ever regretted sending, ending every era of dick-clit contact and that’s that. Instead of nibbling split ends, spending and sweating, flipping and 156 Summer Night Haiku RA C H E L B RO W N Shadows flit like moths outside my bedroom window; It’s too hot to sleep. 158 ISSUE 44 2 019 MURPHY SQUARE LITERARY MAGAZINE AUGSBURG UNIVERSIT Y
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Title: Augsburg Now Fall-Winter 2018: Remarkable Achievements
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: Literary scholar on skates Athletic facility spotlight Sesquicentennial co-chair Q&A Research and student success REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FALL–WINTER 2018 | VOL. 81, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director...
Show more Literary scholar on skates Athletic facility spotlight Sesquicentennial co-chair Q&A Research and student success REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FALL–WINTER 2018 | VOL. 81, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On “Yes, and … ” I teach the Honors Senior Seminar each spring, which is always a highlight of my year, and one of the class sessions introduces students to the history and practice of improvisation. I invite members of our theater faculty and local improv performers to come to class to help us understand why improv is so important to places like Chicago (think Second City) and Minneapolis (think Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop). Then the fun begins. The improv artists invite us to the front of the classroom where we are taught some basic improv skills. Embarrassment aside, these sessions are full of life lessons. My favorite exercise goes like this: one student makes a statement related to an assigned topic. Perhaps the topic is the weather, and the student proclaims, “Wow, is it hot.” The next student then answers, “Yes, and ... I’m sweating like a faucet.” The next student continues, “Yes, and ... my faucets often leak.” You get the point. No one is allowed to say “No” or even “Yes, but … ”—it’s always “Yes, and … .” That’s how improv works, and I believe that’s how Augsburg works when we are at our best. We live in a “No” and “Yes, but … ” world—a world of scarcity that keeps us from risking ourselves in relation to others. Improv teaches us the way of abundance, a way that finds we are better together. “Yes, and … ” builds upon the gifts of others to help us live healthier, more just and compassionate lives together. The anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson offers this helpful word: “Improvisation and new learning are not private processes; they are shared with others at every age. We are called to join in a dance whose steps must be learned along the way, so it is important to attend and respond.” This issue of Augsburg Now is full of stories of “Yes, and … ”—including highlights of our planning for next year’s sesquicentennial celebration, Augsburg’s 150th anniversary. What a grand celebration it will be, as we recall the abundance of our founding in 1869, the decades of educating students for lives of meaning and purpose, and the promise of Augsburg’s mission in the years ahead. Yes, and ... it will be good! Faithfully yours, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications Gita Sitaramiah sitarami@augsburg.edu Assistant Director of Marketing Management Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Elizabeth Kästner kaestner@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Denielle Stepka ’11 stepkad@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter John Weirick weirick@augsburg.edu Communication and Social Media Specialist Briana Alamilla ’17 alamilla@augsburg.edu Advancement Communications Specialist Kaia Chambers chamberk2@augsburg.edu Web Manager Joe Mann mannj@augsburg.edu Contributing Writers Katie (Koch) Code ’01 Kate H. Elliott Kelly O’Hara Dyer Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official university policy. ISSN 1058-1545 AUGSBURG NOW IN FOCUS: Fall–Winter 2018 Surprising sights worth a first (or second) glance 02 AROUND THE QUAD This fall, Philadelphia-based artist Margery Amdur created mixed media installations in Augsburg’s Christensen and Gage Family galleries. Amdur’s art emphasizes the creative process and incorporates unusual materials— including cosmetic sponges. The exhibition was presented as part of a collaboration among Augsburg, Bethel University, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and St. Catherine University in conjunction with the publication of the book “Creative Practices for Visual Artists.” 08 ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS 10 NO PLAIN JANE 14 CARVING PATHS FOR THE FUTURE 16 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE THE DOME 20 BANNER YEAR IN STUDENT SUCCESS 23 AUGGIES CONNECT 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 32 IN MEMORIAM On the cover: Undergraduate researcher and biology major Angelica Diaz-Juarez ’20 waters plants in Augsburg’s Hagfors Center grow room. Learn about Auggies’ research experiences on page 20. COURTESY PHOTOS Inset cover photo by Deanna Dent, Arizona State University All photos by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated Here’s a new take on the “spring thaw.” Virtually all summer and fall, the Augsburg Ice Arena was iceless, which allowed construction crews to complete facility improvements, including installing a more environmentally friendly refrigerant system and upgrading the ice sheet floors from sand to concrete bases. Augsburg’s two-rink facility opened in 1974 and is used extensively—not only by the university’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, but also by community groups, youth sports leagues, figure skating clubs, and recreational skaters. Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu THAT’S GROOVY. Augsburg students celebrate the start of the school year Have you ever seen a dance floor filled with people swaying to the sound of … silence? That’s what a silent disco looks like. But the amusement was anything but muted for those who took part in an Auggie Bash hosted by the Augsburg Student Activities Council this past September. Participants wore wireless headphones tuned in to one of several audio channels playing a variety of music styles. This unusual approach to parties encourages dancers to move and groove their own way and to let their uniqueness shine as brightly as their neon headwear. THE AUGSBURG PODCAST Listen to the podcast online at augsburg.edu/podcast or download episodes from iTunes. 2 AUGSBURG NOW Hear Augsburg University faculty and staff share stories of their work with students in their own words. Launched this fall, the Augsburg Podcast is a new, 18-episode series offering a variety of perspectives on the university’s most important work: educating students for the future. StepUP makes NATIONAL HEADLINES NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt put Augsburg University’s StepUP® Program in the spotlight this May by showcasing its success in helping students in recovery complete their college education. NBC’s Catie Beck interviewed Neil King ’18 about the support he received from StepUP as a full-time student at Augsburg. Beck also interviewed StepUP Progam Director Tamarah Gehlen. “We always say that no one should have to choose between recovery and a college education,” Gehlen said. King, who began using drugs at age 14, discovered the StepUP Program four months into his recovery. “I really learned to believe in myself and my skills and capabilities,” said King, who’s now pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota. UNIVERSITY AWARDS Top 200 Schools for Indigenous Americans: The American Indian Science and Engineering Society Winds of Change magazine selected Augsburg as one of the 2018 Top 200 Schools for Indigenous American and Alaska Native students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. THE PARADOX OF PEACE: The 30th Nobel Peace Prize Forum INAUGURAL PHOTO BY REBECCA ZENEFSKI SLATER The Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis marked its 30th anniversary in September. The forum, hosted and presented by Augsburg University, celebrated the achievements of the 2016 Nobel Laureate, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, and the 2017 Laureate, The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, represented by Executive Director Beatrice Fihn. The program explored the intertwining complexities and paradoxes of water, conflict, and peace. “The paradox of peace lies in the paradox of the human condition— that we are capable of great love and great cruelty, that we are always a mix of some amount of ability and vulnerability. To achieve peace, we often have to fight for it,” said Joe Underhill, Augsburg associate professor of political science and director of the forum. Schwartz Professor of Choral Leadership and Conducting This fall, Augsburg named Kristina Boerger the inaugural John N. Schwartz Professor of Choral Leadership and Conducting. Boerger leads a visionary program honoring Augsburg’s legacy of engaging both music majors and non-music majors across campus. “Kristina Boerger has collaborated with leading composers and artists in creatively advancing the field of choral study and performance,” said Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow. “Her work has garnered national recognition, and we’re excited to have her join Augsburg.” With a strong commitment to inclusion, access, and equity, Boerger brings to Augsburg a long and diverse professional practice of exploring music from varied cultures. She has worked in public school, collegiate, community, and professional settings. In addition to her achievements in commissioning and premiering new works, Boerger served as director of three choirs that earned critical acclaim from The New York Times. She holds degrees in music education and conducting from the University of Illinois. Best Regional Universities by U.S. News & World Report: U.S. News & World Report again named Augsburg one of the Best Universities in the Midwest, ranking the university No. 5 among the Minnesota schools on the list for undergraduate teaching, No. 10 on best value schools, and No. 14 for most innovative. Best in the Midwest by The Princeton Review: This year, The Princeton Review again named Augsburg one of the Best in the Midwest for academic excellence. Best Value in Minnesota: Best Value Schools ranked Augsburg No. 6 on a 2018 list of 20 Best Value Colleges or Universities in Minnesota. Rankings are based on graduation rate, net price, acceptance rate, and 20-year net return on investment. Top LGBTQ-friendly Colleges and Universities: Augsburg was named to Campus Pride’s list of the top 30 LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities in 2017 and 2018. Campus Pride is the leading national organization for creating safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. Augsburg delegation honors Mandela centenary An Augsburg University delegation that included administrators and Board of Regents members traveled to Namibia and South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s centenary celebration. While there, Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow visited the university’s Namibia operations and met with students. Here, he’s pictured in Cape Town with guide Shireen Narkedien. COURTESY PHOTO AROUND THE QUAD Augsburg adopts test-optional admissions policy NEW AUGSBURG BOARD OF REGENTS MEMBERS Matthew Entenza, senior advisor on energy and the economy to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, was elected chair of the Augsburg University Board of Regents at its October 6 meeting. In addition, the Augsburg Corporation, at its annual September meeting, elected three new members to the Board of Regents and re-elected six members. Elected to their first term on the Augsburg Board of Regents: • Mark Johnson ’75, retired city planner and former president of Sonju Motors in Two Harbors, Minnesota • Terry Lindstrom ’73, drug discovery consultant and former Eli Lilly distinguished research fellow in Indianapolis, Indiana • Nancy Mueller ’85, physics and chemistry teacher in Rochester, Minnesota Mark Johnson ’75 Elected to a second or third term: • Diane Jacobson, former director of the Book of Faith Initiative for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America • Terry Lindstrom ’73 for Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion Toby Piper LaBelle ’96, senior vice president of Northland Securities, a Minneapolis securities brokerage firm Nancy Mueller ’85 • LaJune Thomas Lange ’75, former co-vice chair of the Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Racial Bias in the Courts and of the Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Gender Fairness in the Courts • Dean Sundquist ’81, chairman and chief executive officer of Mate Precision Tooling in Anoka, Minnesota • David Tiede, former president and professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota See the full list of Board of Regents members at augsburg.edu/about/leadership. 4 AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG ACHIEVES LEED Gold Certification Dr. Steven Larson ’72, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Riverside Medical Clinic in Riverside, California • This past spring, the Augsburg faculty approved a pilot test-optional admissions policy, making submission of ACT or SAT test scores optional for fall 2019 first-year and transfer undergraduate student applicants, except in specific circumstances. “The test-optional admission policy aligns with Augsburg’s mission of intentional diversity and is expected to increase the university’s pool of completed applicants each year,” said Nate Gorr, assistant vice president for innovation. For a number of student populations, standardized test scores may not reflect an accurate indication of academic ability—including, for example, people without access to test preparation courses and tutors, those who can’t afford to retake the test, people with learning and physical differences, and English language learners. This policy change also aligns with Augsburg’s holistic admissions process, which looks at quantitative metrics and beyond. The application-review process allows Augsburg to maintain the university’s academic standards and ensure Augsburg admits students with the capacity to succeed. Augsburg University’s new signature interdisciplinary building—the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion—achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. In keeping with Augsburg’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the Hagfors Center was designed to incorporate elements that maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact, both in its construction and throughout its operational lifetime. LEED is one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide. HAGFORS CENTER RIVER SEMESTER 2018 A group of 15 Augsburg University students, two professors, and two guides departed August 24 in 24-foot voyageur canoes to spend the semester studying, researching, and living on the Mississippi River. The students and their guides are traveling nearly 1,000 miles, making stops to camp at several locations. The River Semester, led by Associate Professor of Political Science Joe Underhill, is a unique 100-day, hands-on, interdisciplinary program. Students earn 16 credits studying biology, environmental science, health and physical education, and political science. This is Augsburg’s second time conducting the program; the first was in 2015. Experiential education is a trademark of students’ Augsburg experiences. “We do this because we think this is the best way to learn both about the Mississippi River and about what’s going on out in the world,” Underhill said. Students return to the Twin Cities on December 1. COURTESY PHOTOS 2018–19 CONVOCATION SERIES In October, Augsburg’s annual convocation series kicked off with the Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium featuring author and educator Rahuldeep Gill and his presentation, “Who Are ‘We?’ A Sikh Perspective on Vocation, Justice, and Death.” Through his lectures and workshops, Gill works to build pluralism and crosscultural relations to inspire connected communities on campus, in the workplace, and in the marketplace. In November, the Center for Wellness and Counseling Convocation welcomed Gloria Burgess, pioneering scholar, author, and international inspirational speaker. Her presentation was titled “Greatness Lives in All of Us!” SAVE THE DATE: Join us Monday, January 21, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation. All convocation events are free, public, and held in the Foss Center. For more information, go to augsburg.edu/convo. FALL–WINTER 2018 5 A look at environmental privilege with social worker Christina Erickson Whether it’s popping up in social media news feeds or emerging in conversations held around the dinner table, the concept of “privilege” is rising in the public consciousness. “Privilege has become a serious area of inquiry in recent years,” said Augsburg Professor of Social Work Christina Erickson. “White privilege and male privilege have hit the spotlight, as have racial disparities in policing and the #MeToo movement highlighting harassment and sexual assault. Environmental privilege is a related phenomenon, and, while it seems to be an understudied area of privilege (and not the only one), it is still important, probably more than we realize.” Erickson teaches courses in environmental justice and social change, and she’s taking on the challenge of exploring environmental privilege in greater depth. She is the author of “Environmental Justice as Social Work Practice,” a textbook designed to bring an understanding of environmental privilege into social work curricula. Q: A: How do you describe environmental privilege? Environmental privilege is having access to a resource simply because of your social identity categories—race, age, gender, income, and geography. Studies have shown that if you have a higher income, you likely have more green space near your home, work, or school. Not to mention owning a cabin, attending summer camp, or even seeing people who look like you at our most beautiful natural spaces. If you use all the water you want for your daily self care and other activities without thinking about it, you have environmental privilege. Q: A: Is environmental justice similar to social justice and, if so, how? Environmental justice and social justice are intricately linked in ways that we have only begun to discover and name. For example, kids living in neighborhoods with poor air quality are missing school due to asthma more than 6 AUGSBURG NOW kids breathing clean air. If you can’t go to school, your chances for school success, which leads to adult success, are inhibited. Q: Can you describe environmental injustices and the disparities some groups face? A: In 1987, research found that waste facilities were most often near neighborhoods of people of color, many of them containing toxic waste. Even our own Minnesota nuclear power facility, located near Prairie Island Indian Community, is an example of how some people are forced to live closer to environmental burdens than others. Q: A: Why is it important to reflect on our own privilege, and how can we dismantle it? Dismantling privileges is one of the ways we create social change. When we think about creating shifts in society, we generally need to stop certain behaviors—such as racist hiring practices or sexual harassment—to integrate new behaviors to take the place of the old. Augsburg already has taken a stand on water—we encourage our entire campus community to refill water bottles from our own taps, which environmental studies students tested for safety. Q: How does your social work background align with your work in environmental justice? A: For most of my life I viewed myself as a social worker who was an environmentalist. It wasn’t until coming to Augsburg, collaborating on our interdisciplinary environmental studies major, working with my social work colleagues on privilege and oppression, and participating in our Environmental Stewardship Committee that I began to recognize myself, in an integrated way, as an environmental justice social worker. AROUND THE QUAD MINNESOTA URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE receives renewed support from three area foundations The Minnesota Urban Debate League, a program of Augsburg University, entered the 2018–19 school year with a full head of steam thanks to funding and partnership support from three Twin Cities grantmakers. • With a $25,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, MNUDL will launch a program centered on building financial literacy skills. Young women will learn financial concepts using the format of academic debate, which breaks down abstract concepts and makes them more relevant. Funds from this grant also will offer a cohort of women and gender-nonconforming students the opportunity to attend The Advocacy Unit, an advocacy skills training summer camp that takes place on Augsburg’s campus. • MNUDL will reach even more students in St. Paul Public Schools using a $40,000 grant from the St. Paul Foundation. MNUDL will add four middle school programs over the next two years. Funds also will make it possible for MNUDL to expand culturally specific debate programs for Spanish-speaking and Somali students. • A $40,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation will provide general operating support, helping MNUDL expand a variety of priorities, including increasing summer camp opportunities for middle and high school students. AUGGIE STYLE: Athletics apparel, then and now Forty years of serving American Indian students In October, Augsburg’s American Indian Student Services celebrated its 40th anniversary. The program has been a national model of success since 1978. Approximately 130 students representing more than 25 tribes are enrolled part time or full time in Augsburg’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Special invitees to the 40th anniversary reception included Bonnie Wallace, Augsburg regent emerita and the first director of the AISS program, as well as current Board of Regents members Eric Jolly, Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, and Noya Woodrich ’92, ’94 MSW. Today Augsburg University’s varsity athletes wear high-performance gear that aligns with their high-caliber capabilities. Many Auggie teams are sporting new uniform styles following Augsburg’s name change and a recent partnership with BIG Athletics to supply athletes with adidas apparel, uniforms, footwear, and accessories over the next five years. Here’s a glimpse at how current styles compare to those worn in years gone by. See other athletic uniforms at augsburg.edu/now. 1979 1930 1998 1975 ARCHIVE PHOTOS 2017–18 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS Thank you. Your giving supports current and future Auggies as they gain skills and knowledge to thrive in their careers, pursue advanced scholarship, and achieve in leadership roles after graduation. Learn more about opportunities to support an Augsburg education at augsburg.edu/giving. ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE May 31, 2018—$48,136,083 $40.5 $38.3 EXPENSES BY CATEGORY 38% 33% 19% 4% 3% 2% 1% Salaries and benefits Financial aid Operating expenses Debt services Utilities and insurance Student compensation Capital improvement $32.4 $28.2 $39.4 $29.8 $24.5 2007 2008 Fiscal year 2017–18 operating budget: $68,736,254 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 As of May 31, 2018, Augsburg University had annual realized and unrealized gains of 10.19 percent on the university endowment. The five-year average annual return on the endowment is 7.11 percent and the 10-year average annual return is 4.70 percent. Augsburg is committed to maintaining the value of the principal to provide support to the university in perpetuity. $123.6 PHYSICAL PLANT VALUE REVENUE BY SOURCE 76% 7% 7% 7% 3% Tuition Room and board Private gifts and grants Other sources Federal grants $48.1 $34.6 $33.3 $31.5 $43.9 $103.4 May 31, 2018—$123.6 million $73.9 $75.6 $73.8 $70.8 $68.7 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 $67.9 $65.5 $63.6 $65.5 $62.8 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 The quality and value of Augsburg’s physical plant is on the rise. The largest recent contributor is the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, which was completed in November 2017. Augsburg University is stronger and more vibrant than ever. Investments in priorities like scholarships, experiential learning, research, and faculty mentorship change the trajectories of students’ lives. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends who helped Augsburg raise $18,187,380 during fiscal year 2017–18. The philanthropy of more than 9,400 donors will help the university attract talented students and the dedicated faculty and staff who teach and guide them. THIS IS WHAT GRATEFUL AUGGIES LOOK LIKE THIS IS WHAT A PEACE SCHOLAR LOOKS LIKE Lex Dorfman ’18 Mabeth Saure Gyllstrom Scholarship, Helen (Mohn) Henderson Scholarship, Mary E. (Mimi) Johnson Scholarship, Hoversten Peace Scholarship Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota Studying: Religion, Spanish, and Leadership Lex Dorfman ’18 spent her summer in Norway studying alongside students from around the world. As one of two Peace Scholars selected at Augsburg this year and funded by the Hoversten Peace Scholarship and other donors, Dorfman’s time in Lillehammer and Oslo was part of a robust program designed to pair academic inquiry with real-world dialogue and to give students an introduction to the field of conflict studies. For Dorfman, the Peace Scholar program aligns with many of the topics she’s explored throughout her college experience. Also an Augsburg Interfaith Scholar, Dorfman called on her own multicultural background to found a Hillel organization on campus and to foster new opportunities to build connections between people from diverse backgrounds. “Augsburg has offered me a personal, hands-on education,” she said. “I have been able to create an organization on campus, interview Jewish leaders, and collaborate with a variety of students because of Augsburg’s engaging and small-but-powerful community.” THIS IS WHAT AN ALL-AMERICAN LOOKS LIKE Alex Wilson ’19 Arne and Jean Markland Scholarship Hometown: Oak Grove, Minnesota Studying: Biology Alex Wilson ’19 can put the title “All-American” next to his name in two different contexts. Competing in his first NCAA Division III National Championship tournament last March, the Auggie wrestler earned All-American honors with a fifth-place finish at 149 pounds. He also was among eight Augsburg wrestlers to earn the Division III Scholar All-America distinction from the National Wrestling Coaches Association based on student-athletes’ GPAs. Whether he’s facing an opponent on the mat or looking to ace an exam, Wilson has a drive to excel that will serve him well as he applies to competitive graduate programs and pursues his dream of becoming a physician assistant. For Wilson, Augsburg is a place where there’s harmony between athletic and academic achievements. “Augsburg has helped me develop as a student and as an athlete by giving me all of the resources I would ever need to be successful,” Wilson said. “Faculty support creates an atmosphere where it is possible to succeed in whatever you do.” THIS IS WHAT AN ENGAGED CITIZEN LOOKS LIKE Baoyia Kong ’19 Leola G. Anderson Scholarship, William and Anne Frame Scholarship, Adeline Marie (Rasmussen) Johnson Scholarship Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota Studying: Social Work and Psychology Baoyia Kong ’19 has the guts to just dive in. When she studied at Augsburg’s Center for Global Education and Experience site in Cuernavaca, Mexico, the social work major interned at a grade school, helping administrators infuse inclusive practices into the school’s operations and culture—and honing her Spanish skills along the way. Whether studying in Minneapolis or Mexico, Kong sees Augsburg as “a community with so many opportunities.” Kong has enhanced her academic experience by seeking out opportunities beyond the classroom, completing an additional internship with Hennepin County, volunteering at a medical clinic in Augsburg’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, playing intramural volleyball, and joining the Augsburg Asian Student Association and Hmong Women Together campus organizations. Kong said her Augsburg experience has shaped her as a leader because the university encourages students to be engaged in topics that align with their passions and creates “spaces for all to grow and flourish in their education.” FALL–WINTER 2018 9 O N N I A L PJane EIRICK BY JOHN W and introduce her properly into the world,” said one of Jane Austen’s characters, “and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody.” For a line published in 1814’s “Mansfield Park,” it prophetically resonates in the life and work of Augsburg alumna Devoney Looser ’89. Looser earned a doctorate in English and women’s studies, holds extensive credentials as a professor who has served at leading universities, and has written and contributed to dozens of books, scores of academic journals, and even more book reviews. When national and international publications need an expert on 18th-century literature, British women writers, or Jane Austen, they want Looser—if they can catch her before roller derby practice. Looser grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. College seemed like a distant dream, both because of the financial barrier and the fact that she came from a family with no college degree in sight. Her perspective changed when she applied to Augsburg and earned a President’s Scholarship for her academic merit. “That made all the difference in terms of my ability to go to college. Augsburg gave me an incredibly generous opportunity with that scholarship,” Looser said. PHOTOS BY DEANNA DENT, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FALL–WINTER 2018 11 Looser wasn’t outwardly confident, but she caught the eye of Cathie Nicholl, an English professor who taught at Augsburg for nearly 30 years until her retirement in 1999. Though Looser was somewhat quiet, Nicholl said, “her written work was always wonderful. She’s really blossomed a lot since then.” Looser first became enthralled with Jane Austen’s writings through a literature class with Nicholl, who has maintained correspondence with Looser through several decades. “I had no idea at the time how significant, how important [that connection with Nicholl] would turn out to be to my life—to a path toward a future in [literary] work.” Douglas Green, a professor of English who’s taught at Augsburg since 1988, met Looser when he first arrived at the university. “She was exceptional. We had a real conversation about literature,” said Green, a poet and scholar who teaches Shakespeare, drama, and writing as well as gender, sexuality, and was very shy at 18, and to see the same faces who could tell me, ‘You can do this,’ made a big difference in my believing in myself.” For a suburbanite, moving to the heart of Minneapolis was an education in itself. “Being in an urban area, being able to live among other students was amazing,” Looser said. “Augsburg’s student body was very diverse. Being in class alongside students from all over the world was mind-blowing. It made me reimagine my role in women’s studies at institutions including the University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, Indiana State University, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is described as a thoughtful and wise mentor who empathizes with firstgeneration college students. Her ability to reflect on and relate to the challenges others face is something Looser shares with the central figure of her academic work: Jane Austen. Did Austen predict roller derby? women’s studies. Though literature was central in feeding Looser’s ravenous appetite for knowledge, people and experiences also offered lessons beyond the classroom. “There were lots of things at Augsburg that brought me out of my shell,” Looser said. “I 12 AUGSBURG NOW the world, and what my world could be, and how I was part of their world.” Engaging with a variety of people and ideas has served Looser well in her literary pursuits and academic experience alike. She has held positions teaching English and “Austen is one of the most psychologically perceptive observers in all of the history of the novel,” said Jenny Davidson, a novelist and professor of English at Columbia University who connected with Looser over their shared professional interest in 18th-century literature. Known for romantic plots steeped in English society, including “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility,” Austen’s writings have been in print continuously for nearly 200 years and retain an unassailable foothold in contemporary art and culture. Who was Jane Austen, really— and how did she become what she represents now? That’s the focus of Looser’s latest book, “The Making of Jane Austen,” which earned high praise among literary peers. It was named a Publishers Weekly Best Summer Book for nonfiction, featured in CNN interviews, and reviewed in The Economist, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Looser’s remarkable scholarship has led to an abundance of prestigious opportunities, including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in support of one of her current projects: a book about unheralded British sister novelists Jane and Anna Maria Porter. Davidson offered a scholar’s perspective: “The project on the Porter sisters is a genuine project of reclamation, of rewriting an injustice of literary history: these were two extremely widely read and well-regarded novelists whom literary history has essentially dumped in the trash.” Because of Looser’s background, Davidson believes, the firstgeneration college graduate is attracted to the works of underdogs and can convey their stories empathetically and authoritatively. Perhaps her affinity for the underdog is part of what drew Looser to a lesser-known sport— roller derby. Nearly a decade ago, Looser and her friend Katie Carr, a special collections librarian at the University of Missouri where Looser was a professor of English, reconnected over a mutual sense that they needed a change. Angela Rehbein, one of Looser’s then-graduate students who is now a professor of English at West Liberty University, joined them to skate at a roller rink’s retro night, where members of a local roller derby team invited the three to derby practice. It sounded fun, so they accepted. Roller derby is a sport in which two teams of five players in roller skates line up on a track. The “jammer” on each team tries to maneuver past the “blockers” on the opposing team, and it all happens in a series of two-minute increments called “jams.” Players force opponents off the track or block them with their shoulders, chests, and hips. Because it’s full-contact, they wear helmets, mouthguards, knee pads, and elbow pads. It’s customary for derby players to create personas based on names that use a play on words. Carr dubbed Looser “Stone Cold Jane Austen,” a mashup of Looser’s literary expertise and professional wrestler Steve Austin’s stage name. Looser is now a faculty advisor to the roller derby team in addition to her work as a professor of English at Arizona State University. She still remembers the coaches who patiently taught her to play derby, which perhaps unexpectedly refreshed her perspective on higher education. “It’s humbling to start out as a complete newbie, and being laid flat and embarrassing myself,” she said. “It put me in headspace that made me realize how students must feel their first year of college, when you didn’t know what you were doing, and it was terrifying.” People who know Looser best—like Carr, Rehbein, and her former doctoral student Emily Friedman—point to Looser’s knack for transforming her interests into excellence. “There’s this world-renowned academic and also someone who plays roller derby and excels at it. She is an incredibly generous friend and an amazing wife and mother,” Carr said, referring to Looser’s sons and husband George Justice, a fellow Austen scholar and British literature professor at Arizona State University. “I learned a lot from Devoney’s incredible work ethic and her generosity toward her students and toward other scholars,” added Rehbein, who appreciates Looser’s influence both in and beyond the classroom. The same is true for Friedman, who has also worked on Austen scholarship and now serves as a professor of English at Auburn University. Friedman observed Looser’s simultaneous commitment to hard work and a rewarding life outside of it, and how “she keeps them dancing rather than in conflict and fighting.” Like Jane Austen and many icons before her, Looser will maneuver past any limitations in her path. “She’s the hardest worker I know,” said Friedman. “I’m just trying to skate in her tracks.” Looser’s next book topic: CARVING PATHS for THE FUTURE Theater professor Darcey Engen ’88 helps plan a forward-looking 150th anniversary celebration BY STEPHEN JENDRASZAK D arcey Engen, professor of theater arts, has been on both sides of an Augsburg education: student and professor. As a leader on campus, she brings both perspectives to bear. Thinking from a student perspective, she understands the intense obligations today’s students face and, with her colleagues, implemented a series of changes to make it possible for students from all backgrounds and enrolled in any major to participate in Augsburg’s theatrical productions despite family or work commitments. As a faculty member, Engen observed that faculty in the arts sometimes struggled to receive appropriate credit for their artistic and scholarly work, so she advocated for revisions to promotion and tenure guidelines to address the issue. Now, she’s been asked to call on those twin perspectives in a new leadership role: helping to guide the commemoration of Augsburg’s sesquicentennial during the 2019–20 academic year. In a recent interview, Engen shared her views on the university’s 150th anniversary, the important contributions faculty will make in commemorating the occasion, and what makes Augsburg unique in American higher education. 14 AUGSBURG NOW SE R AT I ON 1869-2019 SQ U IC ENTEN N CE IAL LE B “ One of the things I love about Augsburg is that we are more like the real world than other colleges and universities. The needs of the real world around us are present in everything we do.” You are a co-chair of the sesquicentennial committee. What do you hope this milestone will do for Augsburg? I hope that it gives us a moment in time to understand our past, mark where we are now, and look forward. It’s an opportunity for us to appreciate those who came before us, what we’re doing in the present, and those who will inevitably follow after us. What does this occasion mean to you as both an alumna and a faculty member? In our costume shop, there are boxes and boxes that say things like “summer hats.” Those labels were handwritten by my professor, Ailene Cole, the former chair of the theater department, before she retired in her 80s. When I’m in the costume shop and see her handwriting, I’m reminded of her and what she did for me and all her students. That inspires me to do the same for my students. As a former chair myself, now, I am part of a legacy, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. I’m aware that all of us, chairs and faculty, are so privileged to be able to create an atmosphere where our students can thrive as artists. I keep the past with me as I try to carve out paths for the future with my students. How are faculty members going to be involved in marking this significant moment in the life of the institution? I’m very grateful that we were able to make resources available for faculty to create scholarly projects that reflect sesquicentennial themes. The support opens the door for these scholarly projects, whether they be permanent works or ephemeral experiences, to be installed or occur during our yearlong celebration. They will honor and mark the 150th anniversary and also give faculty the opportunity to expand the good work they do, which is ultimately to support our students. I understand that the number of proposals for faculty sesquicentennial projects exceeded your expectations. What does that enthusiasm say to you? It was amazing to get all the proposals for such thoughtful projects. It goes to show you that we faculty members all have in us, no matter how busy our days can sometimes be, a great love for this institution. What kinds of projects are faculty members working on, and what are they trying to achieve? There’s so much incredible work being done, but I’ll offer a few examples to give you an idea of the scope of the effort. Sonja Thompson, assistant professor of music, is working on an original musical—with original music—about Augsburg, embracing both the rocky and exceptional moments in our history. Her team is interviewing as many people as possible and conducting story circles where students, staff, alumni, and friends can share their Augsburg experiences to inform the production. Erik Steinmetz, assistant professor of computer science, is building an app for exploring Augsburg’s campus now and at various points in history via augmented or virtual reality. The idea is that if you’re on campus, you can look around through your phone and see what a particular part of campus looked like at another time. And if you’re not here, you can virtually explore those same environments. We’re hoping to create online experiences that capture as much of the art and activity and scholarship happening on campus that year as possible. As Augsburg prepares to commemorate 150 years, what stands out for you? I’ve toured a lot of colleges; I’ve taught at two other universities. One of the things I love about Augsburg is that we are more like the real world than other colleges and universities. The needs of the real world around us are present in everything we do. Augsburg’s plans to celebrate the sesquicentennial are developing, and updates will be posted at augsburg.edu/150. FALL–WINTER 2018 15 Augsburg alumna Katia Iverson ’12 orients newcomers to the United States amid mounting uncertainty and narrowing policies 16 AUGSBURG NOW The Augsburg Air Structure—and the rest of the Minneapolis campus—looked practically otherworldly following a record-breaking April 2018 snowstorm. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE DOME THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE BY KATE H. ELLIOTT DOZENS OF BUSES en route from 25 Minnesota school districts pause on 23rd Avenue to unload hundreds of students in grades three through six at the Augsburg University Air Structure (aka the Augsburg Dome). The air lock opens, and grinning youngsters wheel, walk, and run into the 360-by-216-by-63-foot inflatable bubble lined with activities to exercise their cognitive, emotional, and physical muscles. Augsburg has held this one-day Sports Extravaganza for nearly 20 Novembers. Do the math: that’s more than 4,000 children, teachers, and paraprofessionals who have visited campus, and two decades of Auggies who have applied their health, physical education, and exercise science coursework to the field. HPE instructor Carol Enke said the event wouldn’t have started without the dome. “Imagine funneling hundreds of kids with mental and/or physical disabilities into Si Melby Hall via untold batches of elevator trips,” she said. “Without the air structure, this dual community engagement and learning opportunity would have never taken off. “Every year, teachers tell us that students ask about the event from the first day of classes, and we see that excitement as kids meet others and participate in activities they might have assumed were inaccessible to them.” FALL–WINTER 2018 17 AN EXPANSIVE GATHERING PLACE Sports Extravaganza is one of several community events squeezed into the dome between softball and lacrosse games and practices for baseball, track and field, golf, soccer, and football. Physical education classes, intramural activities, alumni events, and more also vie for the space, which features four batting cages, a driving range net, and four soccer goals. About 35 campus and community groups schedule the space each year, according to Greg Holker, the men’s soccer head coach, who helps manage dome schedules as part of his dual role as athletic facilities assistant manager. Thousands of people use the dome for a total of about 3,000 hours during any given year. “Regular users include our sports teams, HPE classes, camps, the Minneapolis United Soccer Club, and other prominent academies and associations,” he added. “During Super Bowl LII this year, a large corporation hosted a Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition, and the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee filmed a commercial in the space.” Each November, more than 500 student-athletes join coaches, staff, and administrators to erect the weather-proof 18 structure. It’s a Herculean effort that illustrates the university’s cooperative, all-in attitude, according to Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79. Come May, after 12-hour weekdays and about 18-hour weekend days, the dome is put away in about three hours, again by a campus-wide team. Swenson said the dome has substantially increased Augsburg’s workout space. “Nobody appreciates the air structure more than our spring sports,” Swenson said. “Access to a climate-controlled regulation field in our backyard gets them in the game earlier in the season without interruptions due to weather.” The university also is able to offer physical education classes, including golf and soccer, in the spring. Eric Rolland ’97, men’s and women’s golf head coach, said without the dome, spring offerings would be limited to indoor activities like bowling. And while Rolland enjoys throwing a strike as much as the best of them, the former All-American golfer said he has enjoyed the ability to teach golf throughout the year. “It’s a lifelong sport that can enhance your career, given that so many business meetings occur on the golf course,” said Rolland, who has taught golf classes for the past five years. “Students make lasting friendships, too, as the dome transforms into a giant driving range where students visit as they perfect their swings.” AUGSBURG NOW The Augsburg University women’s lacrosse team competed in the dome in Spring 2018. THE DOME ‘SAVED OUR SEASON’ Talk of spring takes Softball Head Coach Melissa Lee ’04 back to April, when the Twin Cities experienced its snowiest and fourth-coldest April on record, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which reported 26.1 inches of the white stuff and an average high of 47.4 degrees. “It was the winter that would never end,” said Lee, who is in her 15th season on Augsburg’s coaching staff. “Other teams in our conference have to rent out dome space or practice on hard gym floors incapable of mimicking competition, so when the weather is bad, those players may catch—or try to catch—their first deep pop fly of the season during a game. We made the playoffs last year, and I believe the dome contributed to that success.” Then-senior-outfielder Katie Parker ’18 was among the Augsburg softball players who spent the majority of the 2018 season under the dome. Playing inside requires adjustment, she said, with rules against catching deflected balls (to avoid injuries), turf vs. dirt, and many lights, rather than the sun’s sole beam. But the snowy season didn’t faze the native of Lakeville, Minnesota. “It’s our home turf, literally, so we practice in the space long before our first game,” said Parker, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s in elementary education with a focus on special education. “I loved the sense of community and cooperation as we worked side-by-side with student-athletes on other teams to take down and set up fence panels and goals, depending on the sport. Coach Lee also worked hard and stayed up late to make sure other area softball programs could access to the dome to finish out their seasons.” Will this year be a repeat of last season? The Farmers’ Almanac indicates ‘no,’ Coach Lee said, but the Minnesota native jokes the state’s weather is as unpredictable as a curve ball. What is not inconsistent, she added, is Auggies’ willingness to work together—snow or shine. Assistant Baseball Coach Zach Bakko ’18 echoed Lee’s appreciation for the dome’s ability to bring athletes across Augsburg’s 21 sports together with each other, the campus, and greater community. Bakko spent several seasons fielding balls under the dome lights as an Auggie outfielder. “Whether it be quarterback Quinn Frisell ’19 throwing out routes to his agile receivers, golfer Brett Buckingham ’21 working on his swing, or soccer forward Ashley St. Aubin ’20 figuring out another way to score a hat trick, I’ve been able to see athletes in other sports work to maximize their potential,” said Bakko. Plus, “The space allows our campus to give back to the community and make a positive difference in the lives of young athletes [through camps and clinics].” “Having worked for athletics, I’ve met the real heroes of the dome—athletics administrators, coaches, and all the maintenance staff—managing scheduling, cleaning, and every other task that arises,” he added. “That willingness to come together and do what’s needed, regardless of whether it’s in your job description, has expanded my understanding of the word ‘team.’” Find bonus content and fun facts about the dome at augsburg.edu/now. Augsburg community members work together to assemble the dome each fall. First installed in 1993, Augsburg’s original dome was one of the premier inflatable air structures in the Midwest. FALL–WINTER 2018 19 Undergraduate research gives students an edge BY GITA SITARAMIAH The summer before his third year at Augsburg, Fekireselassie Beyene ’16 was paid to research Earth’s magnetosphere. He worked in a lab on campus under the direction of a physics faculty member. And he discovered a passion for space physics. Beyene’s research, which was funded by Dean ’91 and Amy Sundquist his first summer and TRIO McNair Scholars for the second, helped him stand out in national scholarship competitions. The following year, he was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national program that provides financial support to undergraduates who show the promise of becoming leading scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Then, Beyene’s Augsburg advisors helped him successfully apply for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, providing him with more than $100,000 for graduate school. Now a Ph.D. student in space physics at UCLA, Beyene credits his Augsburg undergraduate research experience with getting him where he is today. “You don’t see the level of personal coaching at other schools like you do at Augsburg,” he said. “I really appreciate that about Augsburg.” Augsburg’s undergraduate research opportunities are paying off for students like Beyene, who compete alongside the nation’s top students to land high-profile fellowships, internships, and scholarships as well as selection to highly competitive graduate programs. In fact, Augsburg had a banner year in 2017–18, with a record number of students earning prestigious awards and fellowships. 20 AUGSBURG NOW Here are some highlights: • Augsburg had six Fulbright winners named this past year and has been listed five times in The Chronicle of Higher Education as a top producer of Fulbrights for master’s level institutions. The previous singleyear record for Augsburg was four. Since 2008, Augsburg’s Fulbright winners total 29. • An Augsburg student was one of just four Minnesota recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship last year. Out of 1,280 applicants nationwide, 211 were named. • Three Auggies were Critical Language Scholarship winners in the first year that Augsburg undergraduates pursued this fellowship. Only 10 percent of applicants nationwide receive this award. Two of the students were selected to study Swahili in Tanzania; the third, to study Mandarin in Taiwan. • Another two Auggies were Public Policy and International Affairs Program winners. Only 20 percent of applicants nationally are accepted into this program. One of the Augsburg winners studied at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. The other student spent seven weeks at University of California—Berkeley in a law-focused program. • For the first time ever, an Augsburg student won a Boren Award, which honors undergraduates studying language in areas underrepresented in study abroad programs. The Auggie, who studied Swahili at the University of Florida this past summer, is continuing to study the language and culture in Tanzania this semester. He will commit to one year of paid federal government service after graduation. Undergraduate research boosts the résumés of Auggies like Holly Kundel ’19, who looked for a rare dragonfly in Twin Cities area wetlands. Many of these accomplishments are the result of Augsburg’s decade-plus commitment to providing undergraduate research opportunities for students. Two programs are responsible for much of this success: the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity and the McNair Scholars program. URGO, now in its 14th year, offers an 11-week, on-campus, faculty-led undergraduate research experience with 50 students each summer. Students receive support throughout the research process from a faculty mentor, participate in weekly seminars, and engage in roundtable discussions with fellow student researchers to hone their communication skills. URGO also advises students about national fellowships, graduate school, medical school, and other health sciences. The McNair Scholars program is a federally funded program designed to prepare students from groups currently underrepresented in graduate school for doctoral studies to some of the most competitive institutions in the U.S. The program currently serves 26 students a year and includes 21 months of graduate school preparation workshops, travel to national research conferences, and hands-on scholarly research projects with faculty mentors. Through these programs, talented Augsburg students are earning prestigious national opportunities that they otherwise may not even have known about. “Many [of the students] who win awards and fellowships had never even heard the word ‘Fulbright’ before they were in this program,” said Dixie Shafer, URGO director. When students start their first summer research experience, Shafer said, they’re looking around wondering how they got selected. “You can tell they’re a little bit nervous,” she said. “By the end, when they’re giving oral presentations and submitting projects, they’re the experts in the room. Their level of confidence has grown.” Students agree that they gain key skills from research and writing in partnership with faculty members, presenting their work at conferences, and receiving hands-on guidance from advisors about how to translate those experiences into top fellowships, internships, scholarships, and graduate programs. And they often go on to other off-campus research experiences to expand their curricula vitae. Blair Stewig ’18, currently a Fulbright scholar in Poland, first did summertime research at Augsburg in a biophysics lab. She successfully applied for an Augsburg grant to do research while canoeing the Mississippi River during the 2015 River Semester experience, then did summer research with the Minnesota Lupus Foundation at the Mayo Clinic. The next summer, she conducted cancer research at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. FALL–WINTER 2018 21 three URGO advisors on her medical Currently, Stewig is conducting school applications. research on colorectal cancer at the “It was almost like they knew International Institute of Molecular more about my story than I did,” and Cell Biology in Poland and will Bagonza said. shadow physicians and volunteer at Shafer sees this type of faculty and the Maria Skłodowska Curie Memorial staff interaction with students as a Cancer Centre. key part of helping students evolve. “Without my research experience “Faculty and staff believe in students and the support of staff and faculty and then the students start believing at Augsburg, I don’t think I would in themselves,” she said. have had the confidence to apply for the larger competitive research experiences,” said Stewig, who plans to apply for combined M.D./Ph.D. programs in the future. Similarly, two months into her first year at Augsburg, biology major Vision Bagonza ’17 regularly started visiting the URGO office and mapping her trajectory to medical school. “They were with me every step of the way,” she said. In her first summer research project, Bagonza worked on genomics research with Associate Professor and Biology Department Chair Matthew Beckman. “That Fieldwork experience inspired Holly Kundel ’19 to apply for was instrumental to my doctoral programs in freshwater ecology. understanding of what was going on throughout the field,” Fourth-year biology major Holly she said. Kundel ’19 chose Augsburg after The following summer, she meeting faculty on a campus tour and researched biomedical ethics at Mayo Clinic, and she spent her third summer learning that she would be able to do research directly with them. researching malaria at Johns Hopkins. The summer after her first year, These experiences set the stage for her Kundel began her paid research on participation in the Mayo Innovation the rare Spatterdock Darner dragonfly Scholars program, where she learned in Twin Cities area wetlands. Kundel, about the complexities of the FDA who loves being outdoors during approval process when bringing Minnesota summers, was drawn to innovation to market. Finally, Bagonza the project after approaching Biology was awarded a full scholarship to the and Environmental Studies Assistant Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Professor Emily Schilling and learning Medicine after working closely with 22 AUGSBURG NOW that the research entailed doing fieldwork. Since then, Kundel has received other grants to support her research with Schilling. “It’s nice to work with a faculty member who knows exactly what my strengths and weaknesses are,” Kundel said. This year, Kundel received a Goldwater Scholarship, providing tuition assistance for her fourth year at Augsburg, and the associated prestige is expected to set her apart in her applications for doctoral programs in freshwater ecology. “I wouldn’t be applying to the graduate programs I am this fall if I hadn’t done this research at Augsburg,” Kundel said. While many in the URGO Summer Research Program are science majors, other disciplines are represented as well. English literature major Abigail Tetzlaff ’18 studied patterns in language and rhetorical uses in poetry and prose. Currently a Fulbright Fellow in Berlin, she is an English teaching assistant and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in English literature to ultimately become a university professor. “Especially for undergraduates studying within the humanities, it isn’t very common to come out of college with a research experience already complete,” Tetzlaff said. For Beyene, if not for the direct support from faculty and his McNair Scholars and URGO advisors, he wouldn’t have considered himself graduate school material. “Being at UCLA now, I realize how fortunate I was to have programs like McNair and URGO,” he said. AUGGIES CONNECT FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT + COURTESY PHOTO Dear alumni and friends, As always, the fall season at Augsburg was full of excitement. This past August, for only the second time, our community sent a group of Auggies to explore the Mississippi on a River Semester off-campus study experience. Over the course of the semester, these students will spend 100 days paddling down the river while learning about history, politics, and the environment, and having the adventure of a lifetime. Then, as the calendar turned to September, the community welcomed returning students to a new academic year and ushered in the first-year students who make up the class of 2022. At Homecoming in October, we honored an accomplished group of Distinguished Alumni. We found inspiration in hearing their stories and learning about their achievements, and we were reminded of the talent and dedication that Augsburg alumni exhibit across a vast spectrum of vocations and commitments. Augsburg alumni are, indeed, remarkable professionals and amazing people. This year, I’m especially excited to serve on the Augsburg Alumni Board as its members strive to increase the ways in which they give to the university. I have personally committed to giving 50 hours of my time to Augsburg. I plan to attend events, mentor a student, and help reconnect the Auggies in my social network with the university. If, like me, you’re interested in making a difference in the lives of others in our Augsburg community, you’ll find that there are many ways to connect with Augsburg in support of students. • Consider attending the Auggie Networking Event coming up in February. This is an opportunity for alumni to help students practice valuable interpersonal skills that will benefit them in their future job searches and careers. • Join us for the 2018–19 Auggie Take Out student mentoring program. • Reconnect with Augsburg by volunteering with the Alumni Office or the Alumni Board. We’re always looking for people to join our leadership boards. • Volunteer to usher at Advent Vespers or to serve in another capacity. In all of the ways that Augsburg has shown up for you, it is now the time to show up for Augsburg. You can find information about these and other volunteer opportunities at augsburg.edu/alumni. I hope you will consider sharing your time and talents with the university this year. * + + HOMECOMING 2018 Nearly 525 Auggies attended the Augsburg University Homecoming celebration held October 11–13. Alumni, students, and community members gathered for a festive weekend featuring more than two dozen events that united the university’s remarkable legacy with its contemporary identity. If you are interested in serving on an alumni reunion committee or volunteering to help plan Homecoming 2019, contact alumni@augsburg.edu. Go Auggies! NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT + PHOTOS COURTESY OF REBECCA ZENEFSKI SLATER * PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIDGET DONOVAN FALL–WINTER 2018 23 A LIFETIME OF ACTIVISM: Augsburg students of the ’60s reflect on the past 50 years In 1964, folk singer Bob Dylan released his album and song “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which served as a call for change to address the social injustices he saw in the world. For the group of young students entering what was then Augsburg College that same year, his words would prove prescient. College is a transformational time for students, but for members of the class of 1968, the impact was especially pronounced. The Augsburg graduating class of 1968 witnessed the United States live through some of the worst upheavals in the nation’s history. In late 1963, President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. By 1968, assassinations also would claim civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the late president’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy, as well as political activist and leader Malcolm X. At the same time, the country was becoming violently divided over social issues, including civil rights and the increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam, with ever-larger numbers of young people being drafted and sent to southeast Asia to fight. In response, Augsburg students began to march for peace and civil rights and to take part in programs like Augsburg’s Listening Witness, which brought them to live and work in impoverished and racially segregated neighborhoods in Chicago and elsewhere. It was fitting, then, that at this year’s Homecoming celebration, 1968 alumni celebrating their 50th reunion delivered an Auggie Talk titled “The Baby Boomer Effect: How Four Years Affected 50.” The five speakers—Michael Arndt ’68, Kim Gudmestad ’68, Ted Johnson ’68, Augsburg Board of Regents member LaJune Thomas Lange ’75, and Joey Sylvester ’68—said their time at Augsburg shaped the course of their lives. They described how education empowered them to pursue lifelong work in the areas of diversity, justice, public leadership, and social activism. “I think [those times] had a profound effect on many of us as individuals, and it certainly had a profound effect on Augsburg,” said Rev. Mark Hanson ’68, an alumnus who went on to serve as a pastor and the third presiding bishop of the Evangelical 24 AUGSBURG NOW Lutheran Church in America. “For me, Augsburg provided an immersive experience so that those changing realities, those cultural conflicts, and those strivings for racial justice and peace in southeast Asia weren’t just topics that one was reading about or subjects in a classroom. They became lived experiences.” Hanson, who is now the executive director of Augsburg’s Christensen Center for Vocation, said he’s seen the university change as a result of activism originating in those pivotal mid-’60s years. He points to increasing diversity in the current student body—the result of an intentional commitment to inclusion, equity, and intercultural competency. Like Hanson, Myrna Sheie ’68, co-chair of the 1968 reunion events, went on to work with the ELCA after graduation. She reflected that she had entered college without much experience with diverse cultures but saw both herself and Augsburg change during her college years. “When I started at Augsburg, I was both naïve and unaware of the diversity we lacked,” she said. “Over the next four years, my classmates and I were exposed to ideas, concepts, and lifestyles—both inside and outside the classroom—that challenged us intellectually, socially, and personally. I became less naïve as my eyes and heart became more open.” A laboratory for life When Arndt, one of the Homecoming Auggie Talk presenters, reflects on his college experience, his memories often connect the time he spent on campus with dramatic life events that followed it. Shortly after graduation, Arndt was drafted from his first teaching job and sent to Vietnam as a member of the Army’s First Cavalry division. He served in the jungle near the Cambodian border and saw heavy military action that killed seven of his friends. During that time, Arndt says he recited the Shakespeare he’d learned during college to calm himself. AUGGIES CONNECT CELEBRATING A SEASON OF HOPE ARCHIVE PHOTOS 39TH ANNUAL ADVENT VESPERS Today, Arndt is chair and professor of Theatre Arts and Dance at California Lutheran University and the artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company. He calls on his experiences as a veteran and artistic professional to use theater to help treat fellow veterans suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. “There was a time after I got out of the army when I felt that the country was going to dissolve into civil war,” he said. “There was such a divide and … a real sense that we were going to end up in total chaos. In talking with my college students today, there’s a sense of that now. [But] I think one of the things we’re saying is that those of us who felt that strongly in 1968 tried to work to make a difference. And many of us did.” Hanson concurs. “All that was taking place in the Twin Cities, in the country, and in the world in those four years became, for so many of us, not just objects of study, but context in which we were being formed for our future lives and vocations. And that’s still to this day what is particularly unique about Augsburg— it takes its context as the laboratory for life, not as something from which we seek to flee.” Augsburg’s Class of 1968 is working to raise $68,000 in scholarship funds for future students. Learn more about this initiative and their Auggie Talk at augsburg.edu/now. For more than three decades, Augsburg University has ushered in the Advent and Christmas seasons with Advent Vespers, a magnificent experience of music and liturgy, focusing on the theme of preparation and culminating in the joyful celebration of the Incarnation. Advent Vespers is set in downtown Minneapolis in the sanctuary of Central Lutheran Church, and this year Advent Vespers services will occur November 29–December 1. To learn more or request reservations, visit augsburg.edu/music/vespers. VELKOMMEN JUL Velkommen Jul is one of Augsburg’s most beloved traditions. It’s an event that celebrates the university’s Norwegian heritage and ushers in the Advent season. Come join us Friday, November 30, at 10:30 a.m., in Hoversten Chapel for a special chapel service—with Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish carols, Scandinavian dancers, and the Gospel read in Norwegian. Wear your Scandinavian sweater, if you have one; it’s a tradition to take a group sweater photo! Following chapel, the festivities continue in Christensen Center. Shop in the boutique for unique gifts and homemade goodies, and make sure to visit the buffet featuring lefse, krumkake, and other treats. The buffet is complimentary, but donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds from the event support Augsburg student scholarships. FALL–WINTER 2018 25 COURTESY PHOTOS AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY 1869-2019 SAVE THE YEAR Join us in honoring the traditions of Augsburg’s rich history and celebrating the remarkable progress we have made in educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. A yearlong series of events including a sesquicentennial gala will commemorate our deep roots and recognize our present opportunities and future endeavors as we become a new kind of urban university. Subscribe to the sesquicentennial events digital calendar to participate in these community celebrations. Visit augsburg.edu/150. NOVEMBER AUGGIES TRULY GIVE TO THE MAX Each year, Auggies around the world respond generously to support the breadth of programs and experiences offered by Augsburg University. In total, over the past five years, Augsburg has raised more than $1.5 million through Give to the Max Day efforts. And even if you missed the opportunity to participate this year, you can find information about our fundraising results and learn more about additional ways to support the university at augsburg.edu/giving. 26 AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG SESQUICENTENNIAL TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES Plan ahead to participate in exciting alumni trips commemorating Augsburg’s sesquicentennial. Overseas trips are planned to locations in Norway and Germany that are central in Augsburg’s history. In May 2020, Darcey Engen ’88, Augsburg University professor of theater arts, and her husband, Luverne Seifert ’83, head of undergraduate theater performance at the University of Minnesota, will lead a tour exploring the rich and vibrant arts and culture of Norway. The tour will include plays, concerts, and historical landmarks as well as an opportunity to celebrate Syttende Mai in Norway. At the same time, a tour exploring Norway’s peace work, government, and environmental agencies will be co-led by Bettine Hoff Hermanson, Norway Hub managing director, and Joe Underhill, associate professor of political science and director of environmental studies. This trip also includes the opportunity to celebrate Syttende Mai in Norway. In July 2020, Rev. Sonja Hagander, Augsburg University pastor and director of ministries, will lead a hike to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway—a pilgrimage made by travelers for more than 1,000 years. Along the way, the group will learn about history and culture, and experience firsthand some of the most beautiful nature in the world. Also in July 2020, Augsburg associate professors of religion Lori Brandt Hale and Hans Wiersma—who led the 2016 alumni tour for the anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation—will lead a tour to Bavaria, Germany, with stops in Nuremberg, Salzberg, and additional nearby locations. The tour also includes tickets to the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play, which first opened in 1634 and has been performed every 10 years since. Contact Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and constituent relations, at codek@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1178 if you are interested in learning more about Augsburg’s travel opportunities. ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1942 The French government posthumously awarded Chester Hendrickson ’42 the Jubilee of Liberty Medal for his service and work in Normandy during World War II. 1958 Grace (Kemmer) Sulerud ’58 received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming for her faithful service to Augsburg across her time as a student, librarian, faculty member, and alumna. After graduating from Augsburg in 1958 with a degree in English, she became a junior high English teacher and an elementary librarian in U.S. Air Force Department of Defense Schools in Germany, Japan, and Libya. Sulerud earned master’s degrees in library science and English, served as the treasurer of the Augsburg Associates, and continues to stay involved at university events. She personifies Augsburg’s calling to humbly serve in a variety of ways. 1968 David J. Melby ’68, Ph.D., received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming and was recognized as a psychologist, executive leader, and advocate who embodies faithful service in true Auggie form. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Augsburg and master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling psychology, he has worked as a CEO and has served on the boards of organizations relating to behavioral health care, health practices, and housing. As a thoughtful steward and responsible leader, his work has created healthier, more fulfilling lives for many. 1971 The St. Michael-Albertville (Minnesota) Coaches Association Hall of Fame Committee selected Darrell Skogan ’71 as a Hall of Fame inductee. This fall marks Skogan’s 51st season as statistician for the school district. He also has umpired, run clocks, and coached girls’ basketball and softball throughout his tenure with the district. 1972 John Sherman ’72 was honored with two awards for his work as a sports journalist. Sherman received the Outstanding Media Award from the Minnesota State High School League and the Spinnaker Award from Minnetonka School District. While at Augsburg, Sherman was the editor for the school newspaper and played baseball and soccer. Since graduating 46 years ago, he has served on the Sun Newspaper staff in Edina, Minnesota. Terry Lindstrom ’73 and Mark Johnson ’75 joined the Augsburg University Board of Regents. See page 4. Augsburg Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 explains how the university’s dome gives Auggies a competitive advantage. See page 16. 1982 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Andrews ’82 was a key defender on Auggie men’s hockey teams that won NAIA national titles in both 1980–81 and 1981–82, while winning MIAC titles and reaching the NAIA tournament all four years of his career. Andrews accumulated 29 goals and 60 assists for 89 points in his college career, and he earned All-MIAC honors in 1981–82 and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors in 1980–81. Former basketball star Brad Nelson ’82 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. An All-MIAC guard in 1981–82, Nelson was a three-year member of the Auggie men’s basketball team, averaging 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game in his career. He averaged 20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game on Augsburg’s MIAC runner-up team in 1981–82, and averaged 7.8 points on the Auggies’ MIAC title (later forfeited for use of an ineligible player) and NAIA national tournament team in 1980–81. 1984 Mayo Clinic Health System— Franciscan Healthcare named Dr. Paul Mueller ’84 the vice president of its Southwest Wisconsin Region. As a regional leader, Mueller will manage operations out of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He completed his undergraduate degree at Augsburg and has spent the past nine years chairing Mayo Clinic’s Division of General Internal Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. Nancy Mueller ’85 joined the Augsburg University Board of Regents. See page 4. Darcey Engen ’88 employs perspectives both as a student and as a faculty member to plan Augsburg’s sesquicentennial celebrations. See page 14. 1989 The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced that Carolyn (Ross) Isaak ’89 was inducted into the NCAA Division III Track and Field Athlete Hall of Fame in May. Isaak set several records as an Augsburg athlete, including the 400-meter hurdles record that stood until 2014. Isaak, a five-time national champion and nine-time All-American, is Augsburg’s first athlete ever to be inducted into this Hall of Fame. Literary scholar Devoney Looser ’89 was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2018 and will complete a biography of forgotten sister novelists. See page 10. Brynn Watson ’89 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. She is an award-winning leader in the aerospace industry for her technical experience, executive leadership, and tireless advocacy of STEM education for youth. She earned a mathematics degree from Augsburg and a master’s degree in applied mathematics before she gained several director- and vice-president-level positions in technology and engineering companies. She now serves as vice president for the Future Enterprise Program for Lockheed Martin. Watson’s spirit and accomplishments mirror the tenacity of Auggies around the world who ascend to prestigious positions among today’s leading companies. 1995 Wrestling star Randy Eastman ’95 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Eastman was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American in the 167-pound weight class, finishing second nationally in the 1994–95 campaign, third in 1993–94, and fifth in 1992–93. A transfer from Mankato State, he was a member of Augsburg teams that won the national titles in both 1992–93 and 1994–95, while FALL–WINTER 2018 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES finishing fourth in 1993–94. Eastman won two MIAC titles and was a conference runner-up in his Auggie career. Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Tom Layte ’95 was a dominant wrestler for the Auggies in the mid-’90s. Layte competed at Augsburg in the 1994–95 season after transferring from Western New England College, and he made the most of his Auggie campaign, going 44-4, winning the NCAA Division III national title at 150 pounds, and earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at the national championships as the Auggies won the team national crown. He later served as an Augsburg assistant coach and was head coach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Augsburg volleyball star Carolyn Tuohy ’95 was a dominant player in the mid-’90s, playing three seasons as a middle hitter, earning All-MIAC honors in 1994, and receiving All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors in 1992. Tuohy, who was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame, was a team co-captain in 1994 and finished her career with 878 kills in 2,566 attack attempts. She was voted the team’s MVP in 1992. 1997 Derrin Lamker ’97 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his successes on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. A quarterback in football, Lamker led the Auggies to the 1997 MIAC title and a spot in the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals. He earned All-MIAC honors in 1996 and 1997. He was the conference MVP in 1997, in addition to earning All-America honors and finalist honors for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III Player of the Year). Joe Lavin ’97 had an outstanding pitching career on the Augsburg baseball team. An ace during the mid-’90s, Lavin earned All-MIAC and All-Midwest Region second-team honors in 1995, while earning conference Player of the Week honors multiple times. He had a 1.42 ERA in conference play with five complete games, a shutout, and 41 strikeouts against only 16 walks and 32 hits in 1995, while winning three games on the mound in 1994 and four in 1996. Eric Rolland ’97, the Augsburg men’s and women’s golf head coach, teaches students a lifelong sport each spring in the campus dome. See page 16. 2000 Jasha Johnston ’00 and Carrie (McCabe) Johnston ’02 opened their third restaurant, Mortimer’s, in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis. The new venue features live music, an updated menu, and a family-friendly atmosphere. In addition to their new venture, the Johnstons own Nightingale Restaurant and Tilt Pinball Bar. 2002 Three-sport athlete Brenda (Selander) Mitshulis ’02 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Mitshulis was an All-MIAC honoree in 2000 and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honoree in 1999 in soccer, where she finished her career with 15 goals and four assists for 34 career points. She led the Auggies in scoring in three seasons. In hockey, she was a member of the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 MIAC title squads and the 2000 national runner-up team. She also played two seasons of softball. 2003 Dual sport athlete Rachel Ekholm ’03 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. One of the best softball players in school history, Ekholm earned All-MIAC honors three times, while earning NFCA All-Region honors twice. As a pitcher, she won 39 career games AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’70 ’76 28 AUGSBURG NOW ’84 ’90 ’12 with a 2.45 ERA and 347 strikeouts. She hit .389 and holds school records for home runs, triples, RBI, and slugging percentage. She also played in 60 career games in basketball, averaging 9.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Softball Head Coach Melissa Lee ’04 said the Augsburg air structure helped save the team’s 2018 season. See page 16. 2006 This year, Augsburg’s Excellence in Coaching Award recognized Jim Gunderson ’06. Gunderson is in his fourth season as football head coach at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota, after serving for 14 years as an assistant coach. He has also served as track and field head coach since 2012. In football, his team won the Minnesota Class AAAA state title in 2017, with Gunderson being named the Minnesota Football State Class AAAA Coach of the Year. 2008 graduating from Augsburg with a degree in communication studies, he has devoted his career to public leadership and making a difference in his community. He ran for mayor of Baltimore in 2016, becoming the youngest person ever to run for the office. He also sits on the boards of several Baltimore community initiatives and is the co-founder of a nonprofit fostering revitalization. Brian Krohn ’08, Ph.D., received a First Decade Award at Homecoming. After earning a degree in chemistry, researching biofuel, and becoming Augsburg’s first Rhodes Scholar, Krohn founded companies Mighty Axe Hops and Magic Wizard Staff. He earned a doctorate from the University of Minnesota as an Environmental Protection Agency Fellow and master’s degrees from the University of Oxford in environmental change and science. He was an Innovation Fellow at the U of M’s Medical Devices Center and is CEO of Soundly, an app-based therapy to reduce snoring—an initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Joshua Harris ’08 received a First Decade Award at Homecoming. His life and work in the past 10 years embodies Augsburg’s pursuit of social justice, equity, and inclusion. Since Nikki Rajala ’70 published “Treacherous Waters,” her second novel in the “Chronicles of an Unlikely Voyageur” series. A career ESL teacher, Rajala retired from the St. Cloud School District in 2004 and lives in Rockville, Minnesota. ’70 Jeff Mueller ’76 was honored by Norway’s King Harald V, who bestowed the rank of Knight First Class in the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. Mueller, director of administration and finance at Norway House, Minneapolis, is a past president of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on its board of directors. He also has been active in the Syttende ’76 Killa Marti ’08, J.D., received a First Decade Award at Homecoming because she embodies Augsburg’s values through her thoughtful stewardship, critical thinking, and rigorous pursuit of justice and equity. After graduating from Augsburg with a major in international relations and a minor in economics, Marti earned a law degree so that she could serve immigrant communities. She has worked with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and several law firms, has founded her own law practice in the Atlanta area, and has worked tirelessly for her law clients in districts and cases where the decks were stacked against them. Former Augsburg cheerleader Cassandra Roschen ’08 returned to Fairmont High School to coach the cheerleading squad. Roschen, a former Fairmont cheerleader, taught current students sideline cheers and routines. She also extended her service to include team building and community outreach with the squad. Chris Stedman ’08 received a First Decade Award at Homecoming for his robust intellectual engagement as an informed citizen and critical thinker. A religion major with minors in English and social welfare, he earned a master’s degree in religion from Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago. He was the founding executive director of the Humanist Center of Minnesota, founded the Yale Humanist Community, and was a humanist chaplain at Harvard. Stedman is the author of “Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious” (Beacon Press, 2012). Mai Committee, the Norwegian Independence Day celebration, the annual troop exchange program with the Minnesota National Guard and the Norwegian Home Guard, and Torske Klubben. Mueller (right) is pictured with Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Kåre R. Aas, who presented the order of merit medal at Norway House. The HGA firm hired Mary Claire Olson Potter ’84 as a health care business developer and senior associate. ’84 ’90 In June, former Augsburg football player David Stevens ’90 hosted a Disability Dream and Do Camp alongside the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, an American minor league baseball team based in Upstate New York. CBS affiliate WBNG covered Stevens’ story and time with the Rumble Ponies. Stevens, who led six other athletic camps this summer, was the only double amputee to play three seasons of football for the Auggies. He later played for the St. Paul Saints and tried out for the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys. Janelle (Christensen) Nelson ’12 welcomed a daughter, Kennedy Elaine, in April. Nelson majored in art history. Her grandfather also attended Augsburg. ’12 FALL–WINTER 2018 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 2011 Laura (Schmidt) DuSchane ’11 and Seth Lienard ’11, ’16 MBA opened a new business venture called Fretless Marketing that provides social media and event marketing services for small businesses. Their company website is fretlessmarketing.com. Ted Nielsen ’11 started a new job at Edward Jones as a financial advisor. Nielsen assists individuals and families with long-term investing. Nielsen previously worked with Thrivent and graduated from Augsburg with a bachelor’s degree in English. 2012 Kimberly Simmonds ’12 was promoted to a program assistant with the City of Minneapolis. Simmonds majored in history at Augsburg before receiving her master’s in public administration in 2014. 2013 Alexandra Buffalohead ’13 started a new role as manager of art and cultural engagement with the Native American Community Development Institute. Buffalohead earned a bachelor’s degree in studio arts at Augsburg. She has since served as a graphic designer for the American Indian Cancer Foundation and as a communications officer for the Indian Land Tenure Foundation. Tyler Heaps ’13 is a manager of analytics and research at the United States Soccer Federation. SportTechie, an online resource devoted to covering topics at the intersection of sports and technology, interviewed Heaps regarding his work within the federation tracking players and opponents using innovative technologies. Heaps is working to standardize analysis and support across all soccer levels and teams to ensure the federation can effectively track players within the system. The Chicago Tribune wrote about Dustin Ritchea ’13, who returned to live and work in his hometown of Chesterton, Indiana. Ritchea serves as a promotions director for Indiana Dunes Tourism and also works as an actor, producer, songwriter, and writer. 2015 Nikki (Ludwig) Darst ’15 started a new job with Black Line Group as a research and development tax manager. She graduated from Augsburg with a degree in accounting management. Fekireselassie Beyene ’16 participated in undergraduate research that contributed to success after graduation. See page 20. 2017 Jack Swift ’17 recently started a new role with In The Groove Music as a publishing assistant. As an Augsburg student, Swift majored in business administration with an emphasis on music business. Vision Bagonza ’17 conducted research through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity. See page 20. 2018 The NBC Nightly News featured Neil King ’18 in a story about his success at Augsburg in the StepUP® Program. After graduating from Augsburg and StepUP, King started a master’s degree in integrated behavioral health at the University of Minnesota. The Twin Cities Arts Reader interviewed Brid Henry ’16 regarding her work in the Minneapolis theater scene. Henry has performed in the Minnesota Fringe Festival and has directed and co-produced the first year of the Minneapolis branch of the Future Is Female Festival. Henry chose to study theater at Augsburg because the university’s program was ranked among the top opportunities outside of New York. 30 AUGSBURG NOW Blair Stewig ’18 and Abigail Tetzlaff ’18 delved into student research with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity. See page 20. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Matthew Halley ’97 MSW serves as executive director for Cookie Cart, a nonprofit youth program that equips young people with employment and life skills. Halley was interviewed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press for an article highlighting the program’s continuing success since its founding in 1988. Halley is focused on expanding the program by adding more youth workers. This spring, Education Minnesota named Kelly (Sheehan) Holstine ’12 MAE the 2018 Teacher of the Year. An English teacher at Tokata Learning Center, an alternative high school in Shakopee, Holstine created a new English curriculum and developed policies that the school has implemented. Lavender Magazine featured Holstine’s accolades and focus on diversity in education. As Teacher of the Year, Holstine is an ambassador for 86,000 teachers in Minnesota. Chung Eang Lip ’18 started a new role as a graduate school teaching assistant at Columbia University in New York City. Lip is working on a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in infectious disease epidemiology. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’16 St. Olaf College hired Gregory Mitchell ’18 as a wide receivers coach for the 2018 season. Mitchell was a receiver on the Augsburg football team. He previously coached receivers at Centennial High School and Southwest High School. Augsburg alumnus Scott Cooper ’13 returned to the university this August as a full-time staff member serving as an alumni engagement manager. Cooper started his undergraduate degree at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, before transferring to Augsburg in 2011 where he completed a bachelor’s degree in communication. Cooper was a member of the Augsburg Choir and the 2012 and 2013 Auggie football teams. Prior to ’13 SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE joining Augsburg’s Alumni and Constituent Relations staff, Cooper served in Minneapolis Public Schools’ high school special education programs. In his free time, Cooper has enjoyed public speaking engagements in which he has discussed his experiences as an Auggie football player. ’12 Rick Wolke ’12 and Ashley (Carney) Wolke ’13 welcomed Aurora Jo Wolke on AUGGIES HONORED Orville “Joe” Hognander Jr. received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming for his thoughtful stewardship and responsible leadership. Although he was not a student at Augsburg, he is a noteworthy Auggie through and through. His grandfather was an Augsburg graduate more than 100 years ago, his parents were highly involved in the music program, and his ties to alumni and faculty run deep. A retired naval officer and private investor now living in Edina, Minnesota, Hognander’s longstanding involvement with Augsburg speaks to a family history of commitment and engagement, particularly in the continued support of Augsburg’s Department of Music. ’16 ’13 Professor Emeritus John Holum, Ph.D., received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming. A beloved retired professor whose legacy spans more than 30 years, Holum is a prolific writer who has published dozens of scientific textbooks and peer-reviewed papers. He came to Augsburg with a doctorate in organic chemistry and taught chemistry until his retirement in 1993. Holum, who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, has demonstrated a lifelong passion for academic excellence and support for students on their educational journeys. ’12 ’09 Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements. ’15 January 8. Rick and Ashley both majored in business administration/economics. Caitlin (Hozeny) Lienard ’09, ’17 MSW and Seth Lienard ’11, ’16 MBA were married on September 23, 2017, in Stillwater, Minnesota. There were several Auggies in attendance. Pictured are [front, L to R]: Seth Lienard, Caitlin (Hozeny) Lienard, Morgan (Bray) Thompson ’09, Amanda (Chmiel) Spence ’09 ’09 [back, L to R]: Wade Wojick ’11, Ryan Wilsey ’12, Erika Osterbur ’11, Aren Olsen ’11, Luke Lienard ’16, Aaron Rosell, Stefan Swanson, Sheridan Lienard, Lindsey Graff ’11, and Ben Krouse-Gagne ’11. Laura (Swanson) Lindahl ’15 MBA and her husband, David, welcomed a son, Lawson Robert, on April 26. ’15 ’10 Jonathan Chrastek ’10 and Katie Pendo ’10 were married on July 7 in Leesburg, Virginia. Several Augsburg alumni joined the couple as they celebrated their wedding, which was officiated by Sylvia Bull ’10 and Emily Wiles ’10. Augsburg alumni Alissa Nolan ’09, Nick Blixt ’10, and Cait Kortum ’10 were in the wedding party, and Kate Edelen ’11 was in attendance. ’10 FALL–WINTER 2018 31 IN MEMORIAM Lydia C. (Mitlyng) Pokrass ’35, Ashburn, Virginia, age 104, on May 29. Eunice C. (Knudson) Iverson ’42, Richmond, Minnesota, age 97, on September 9. Joyce M. (Reitan) Knutsen ’43, Fridley, Minnesota, age 93, on May 30. Richard J. Koplitz ’45, Minneapolis, age 95, on June 15. Lenore “Beth” B. (Buesing) Opgrand ’45, Wilmington, North Carolina, age 95, on May 25. Adele L. (Anderson) Cupit ’46, Walnut Creek, California, age 94, on May 26. Jack E. Jacobsen ’46, Minneapolis, age 95, on January 11. Duane J. Christensen ’53, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 87, on May 7. Clara A. (Hookom) Cobb ’54, Willmar, Minnesota, age 85, on May 26. Daniel “Dan” E. Peterson ’66, Clear Lake, Minnesota, age 75, on March 4. Niles R. Schulz ’66, Minneapolis, age 74, on July 10. James E. Leschensky ’67, Minneapolis, age 73, on March 25. John “Johnny” M. Burke ’94, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 54, on March 20. E. William “Bill” Anderson ’56, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 84, on May 16. Judith A. (Anderson) Woods ’67, Brainerd, Minnesota, age 73, on March 7. Rebecca E. Rehfeld ’95, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 62, on February 19. Lloyd C. Grinde ’56, Minneapolis, age 92, on July 1. Dolores “Dee” M. (Larson) Fagerlie ’72, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 90, on August 23. Phyllis A. Lee ’96, Frederick, Maryland, age 76, on January 18. Russell C. Lee ’56, Albuquerque, New Mexico, age 86, on August 17. Roger K. Ose II ’56, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 84, on May 9. Sidney D. Berg ’57, Minneapolis, age 88, on May 29. Kathleen E. Tinseth ’74, Minneapolis, age 66, on September 4. John R. Burgeson ’75, Andover, Minnesota, age 66, on May 19. Leroy H. Conyers ’57, Marshall, Minnesota, age 88, on June 13. Margaret “Marie” (Salmonson) Marx ’78, Scandia, Minnesota, age 89, on September 7. Arthur E. Marben ’47, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 95, on July 14. Charles H. Erbstoesser ’58, Little Falls, Minnesota, age 88, on July 18. Estelle M. (Uleberg) Swanson ’47, Madelia, Minnesota, age 92, on August 2. Stephanie J. (Torgerson) Sipprell ’81, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 59, on May 5. Harlan J. Jacobson ’59, Ashby, Minnesota, age 81, on July 20. Milan J. Sedio ’48, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 94, on May 18. Joyce K. (Johnson) Rudi ’62, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 85, on August 29. Mary J. Andersen ’84, Afton, Minnesota, age 61, on March 10. Richard J. Thorvig ’49, Minneapolis, age 93, on August 4. Lynn B. Lundin ’50, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, age 90, on May 29. Verna M. (Haverly) Brue ’51, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 90, on July 16. Gloria A. (Metcalf) Kubnick ’63, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, age 77, on July 12. Susan D. (Graff) Mills ’96, Fargo, North Dakota, age 65, on July 3. Scott W. Schuck ’97, Minneapolis, age 63, on August 31. John M. Welch ’07, Sudbury, Massachusetts, age 34, on June 30. Marlene M. Taylor ’09, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 31, on May 16. Jennifer L. Lovering ’10, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 29, on April 26. Cheryl L. Miller ’10, Altoona, Wisconsin, age 52, on August 9. Jon “Ryan” R. Benson ’12, Chanhassen, Minnesota, age 40, on June 1. Karlton “Karl” I. Bakke ’64, Roseville, Minnesota, age 77, on July 18. Jon M. Leverentz ’92, Hopkins, Minnesota, age 67, on August 16. Jacalyn “Jackie” S. (Ruschmann) Pederson ’14, Danbury, Wisconsin, age 65, on August 28. Bruce E. Braaten ’64, Prior Lake, Minnesota, age 76, on May 27. Alisa J. (Norvold) Leonard ’93, Northfield, Minnesota, age 48, on July 8. David “Alex” A. Jenny ’16, Kansas City, Missouri, age 29, on May 27. Charlotte K. (Jensen) Duty ’65, St. Joseph, Missouri, age 75, on March 24. A. Richard Petersen ’51, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 89, on August 21. Cengiz Gokcen ’66, St. Pete Beach, Florida, age 74, on August 5. AUGSBURG NOW Linda J. (Skay) Weinberg ’87, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, age 69, on March 13. Alice E. (Barden) Mapes ’96, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 56, on August 24. Eileen M. (Henkemeyer) Saldana ’91, Minneapolis, age 82, on January 6. Erika R. (Staub) Niemi ’51, Tucson, Arizona, age 91, on April 16. 32 David R. Berken ’94, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 50, on May 19. Duncan D. Flann ’55, Overland Park, Kansas, age 85, on April 9. Helen “Merle” M. (Houser) Campbell ’47, Newberg, Oregon, age 94, on June 27. Donald L. Sween ’49, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 93, on April 25. Scott D. Syring ’93, Minneapolis, age 48, on August 24. Shirley A. Sopkiewicz ’93, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 60, on February 27. John E. Sorlien ’93, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 55, on July 19. Cole R. McAdam ’17, Faribault, Minnesota, age 23, on April 7. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before September 15. VISIT CAMPUS ALUMNI Whether you’re on campus often or haven’t been back in years, there’s always something new to see. Schedule a personal tour by contacting the alumni office at 612-330-1329 or alumni@augsburg.edu. PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS Augsburg could be right for you. Traditional undergraduate students who are children or spouses of Augsburg graduates or the siblings of current Augsburg students are eligible for a minimum scholarship of $16,000 per year. Schedule a campus visit at augsburg.edu/visit. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Augsburg’s press box, completed in 2008, was made possible by gifts from Oliver Dahl ’45, John ’36 and Christine Haalan, E. Milton “Milt” Kleven ’46, Glen Person ’47, President Paul C. Pribbenow, Dick “Pork Chop” Thompson ’61, and Gunner and Mary Wick. Augsburg press box name commemorates Campus Pastor Emeritus Dave Wold Augsburg University dedicated the press box at Edor Nelson Field in honor of the late Rev. Dave Wold during the Auggie football team’s home opener this fall. Augsburg’s campus pastor from 1983 to 2013, Wold died April 21 at age 72. In addition to his service to the Augsburg community as a faith leader, Wold was a constant presence in the Augsburg athletics community, serving as public address announcer for football, men’s basketball, and wrestling home competitions, along with events in many other sports. The breadth of Wold’s pastoral care supported generations of Auggies, and he is beloved by alumni and Augsburg community members around the world. PHOTOS BY KEVIN HEALY 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2018: Cultivating Connections
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: Strengthening community Inspired design The best is ahead Welcome to America CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS SPRING–SUMMER 2018 | VOL. 80, NO. 2 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Stephen Jendraszak j...
Show more Strengthening community Inspired design The best is ahead Welcome to America CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS SPRING–SUMMER 2018 | VOL. 80, NO. 2 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On unexpected connections There are many ways in which higher education is a leap of faith. Students come to campus brimming with curiosity and promise. Faculty and staff meet them where they are and seek those connections that lead to genuine learning. And, if all works as intended, promises are kept, learning happens, and our mission to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders is advanced. Easy, right? Or maybe not, because more often than not, those promises, that learning, and our mission are embedded in the daily, mundane, and sometimes messy interactions and intersections that define our lives together. One of the cornerstones of our educational leap of faith is the importance of the unexpected conversations and experiences that transform our learning and our lives. These serendipitous moments are at the heart of every aspect of our work at Augsburg. Serendipity is built into our curriculum, which emphasizes experiences in which students face the unexpected—in the classroom, the laboratory, the neighborhood, and around the world—with the belief that they will be changed and equipped for their vocations. It’s in campus life, where our remarkably diverse students are challenged in their daily interactions with each other to imagine what a vibrant democracy looks like—the unexpected ways in which people of different backgrounds and faiths and perspectives learn to live together. And it’s also in the ways we are designing campus spaces and facilities, including the remarkable Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion— which is highlighted in this issue of Augsburg Now. Nearly half of Augsburg’s faculty now call the Hagfors Center home, and, day by day, they are interacting with each other, forging new and unexpected relationships that are leading to new courses, new research projects, new ways of connecting students and faculty to the neighborhood. Students are making themselves at home in the building, enjoying departmental neighborhood spaces as well as group study rooms. There is an energy in the building that is itself serendipitous—who knows what unexpected connections will be forged to keep our promises, expand learning, and advance our mission. What are your serendipitous moments at Augsburg? Send them to me at augpres@augsburg.edu, and we’ll share what we learn in a future issue of Augsburg Now. In the meantime, thank you for taking the leap of faith that defines an Augsburg education! Faithfully yours, Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications Gita Sitaramiah sitarami@augsburg.edu Associate Director of Internal Communication Katie Langston klangston002@luthersem.edu Assistant Director of Marketing Management Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Elizabeth Kästner kaestner@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Denielle Stepka ’11 stepkad@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter John Weirick weirick@augsburg.edu Communication and Social Media Specialist Briana Alamilla ’17 alamilla@augsburg.edu Advancement Communications Specialist Asha Sorenson sorenso3@augsburg.edu Web Manager Joe Mann mannj@augsburg.edu Contributing writer Kate H. Elliott Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official University policy. ISSN 1058-1545 AUGSBURG NOW Spring–Summer 2018 ART THAT SPEAKS TO YOU On the cover: An art installation in the skyway connecting Augsburg’s new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion with the James G. Lindell Library features dozens of unexpected word pairings that reflect a range of academic disciplines. The artist, Teri Kwant, also created inspirational wooden tabletops embossed with spiritual texts from a number of faiths and traditions to furnish casual study spaces [pictured] on the Hagfors Center’s first, second, and third floors. See story on page 10. 02 Around the quad 20 Welcome to America All photos by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated. 08 25 Auggies connect Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu 29 Class notes Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu 32 In memoriam Building bonds, strengthening community 10 Inspired design 18 The best is ahead AROUND THE QUAD Leah Phifer teaches Political Statistics and Methodology during Spring 2018. HONORING Augsburg instructor featured in Retiring Faculty TIME MAGAZINE The January 29 issue of Time magazine acknowledged the record-breaking number of women engaged in political campaigns this year and featured photos on its cover of nearly four dozen women running for office. With them was Leah Phifer, an Augsburg adjunct faculty member who teaches courses on politics, policy, immigration, and political methodology. Phifer, who at the time was running for the DemocraticFarmer-Labor nomination for the 8th district seat of the U.S. House of Representatives, was approached for the Time magazine cover story because of her involvement with VoteRunLead, an organization that provides candidate training to women of all parties for local and state level offices. Phifer has served Minnesotans through her work at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. Several faculty members retired following years of dedicated service to Augsburg University. Augsburg is grateful for their commitment to advancing the University’s mission within and beyond the classroom. JEANINE GREGOIRE Associate Professor, Department of Education— with the University since 1996 DONNA PATTERSON Assistant Professor, Department of Education— with the University since 2006 KATHRYN SWANSON Professor, Department of English—with the University since 1985 CELEBRATING 2 AUGSBURG NOW STUDENT SUCCESS Read about the scope of prestigious academic achievements, awards, and honors earned by Auggies during the 2017–18 year at augsburg.edu/now. Board of Regents HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP Augsburg’s Board of Regents was awarded the 2017 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership for efforts including initiating an inclusive, five-year strategic planning effort and leading the institution’s largest-ever capital campaign. The formal recognition came in April at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges National Conference on Trusteeship held in San Francisco. This year’s honorees were chosen from approximately 40 nominations nationwide. “Traditionally, governing boards have stayed out of the public eye except when something goes wrong,” said Richard Legon, president of the association’s board of directors. “But it is important that we honor the best of us and inspire good governance practices in others. These boards’ stories represent some of the sharpest and most innovative thinking in the sector.” Now in its third year, the award is named for higher education leader John W. Nason, recognizing his work as chair of the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council in helping more than 4,000 interned students continue their college studies across the U.S. during World War II. AUGSBURG RECEIVES FUNDING FOR RIVER SEMESTER Augsburg University received $30,000 from Pentair for the River Semester, a high-impact educational program that combines rigorous coursework with an immersive field experience. Sixteen students will travel in four large voyageur-style canoes and camp alongside the banks and on the islands of the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Memphis, Tennessee, from August to December 2018. All participants in this hands-on learning experience will earn 16 credits. PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE COMMENCEMENT 2018 Augsburg celebrates first commencement as a university. Augsburg University celebrated students completing degrees in the traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate, and graduate programs during commencement ceremonies held April 28. The morning ceremony recognized 441 undergraduate students, and the afternoon ceremony honored 497 adult undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students. The class of 2018 was the first class to graduate from Augsburg University. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 3 AROUND THE QUAD Pribbenow appointed to Governor’s Workforce Development Board AUGSBURG NAMED CHAMPION SCHOOL by Special Olympics Minnesota This fall, Augsburg was honored as Champion School of the Year by Special Olympics Minnesota. The award is given to a school or university that outperforms expectations in terms of student leadership, campus involvement, and unified sports—a program in which athletes with intellectual disabilities train and play sports together with partners without intellectual disabilities. According to Devin Kaasa, competition and training manager for Special Olympics Minnesota, Augsburg was selected for the many ways it supported the Special Olympics organization in 2016–17, including: • Participating in a unified rivalry with Hamline University, where the universities competed in flag football and unified basketball; • Engaging in significant volunteer activity, including at the Fall Games, where the Auggie football team filled volunteer spots in bocce and softball; • Holding a “Respect Campaign” and inviting Special Olympics Global Messenger Patrick Elmore to speak about his experience of school bullying; • Hosting “Special Olympics Week at Augsburg” in January 2017 with multiple activities and events; and • Taking the Polar Plunge at Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun) to raise funds. “Augsburg went above and beyond with its participation, and continues to exceed expectations with the program,” Kaasa said. 4 AUGSBURG NOW Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has appointed Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow to a three-year term on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. The board represents key leaders from business, education, labor, government, and communitybased organizations to advise the governor on Minnesota’s workforce system. “I’m proud to represent the state’s private higher education sector as a member of this board,” said Pribbenow, “and to have Augsburg engaged in an integrated effort linking government, employers, education, workforce centers, and employees to sustain a vibrant and equitable Minnesota economy.” The board, which meets quarterly, analyzes and recommends workforce development policies to the governor and the Minnesota legislature to ensure a globally competitive labor pool for the state. Augsburg continues to be top producer of U.S. Fulbright students In February, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs listed Augsburg University as one of the top U.S. colleges and universities in producing Fulbright students in 2017–18. Augsburg ranked No. 9 among 22 master’s institutions, the fifth time Augsburg was ranked on the list. The Fulbright program offers recent graduates and graduate students opportunities for research, study, and teaching in more than 140 countries. Since 2007, Augsburg University has had 28 Fulbright students selected for their academic merit and leadership potential. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH FLORES, © STAR TRIBUNE Interfaith TOUCHDOWN This winter, as the world’s attention focused on Minneapolis and U.S. Bank Stadium during Super Bowl LII, Augsburg also took a turn in the spotlight. Faith leaders from across the Twin Cities and a former Minnesota Vikings star gathered at Augsburg’s Edor Nelson Field to film a football-themed video organized by the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee. The purpose was to raise funds and awareness to end homelessness through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and to promote unity across faiths, races, and politics. Augs burg launches #LOVELOCALWATER initiative Augsburg University is phasing out the use of bottled water to demonstrate a commitment to consume local tap water readily available to everyone on campus. Augsburg’s Environmental Stewardship Committee launched a #LoveLocalWater initiative in May 2017. This new policy aims to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and supports the provision of water as a human right, not a commodity. Since February 1, bottled water purchases have no longer been reimbursed or available at most events. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about Augsburg’s green initiatives. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 5 ON THE SPOT Understanding the sharing economy with Jeanne Boeh When Super Bowl LII came to Minneapolis in February, an estimated 125,000 people descended on the Twin Cities for the big game. But where did they stay? How did they get around? Increasingly, consumers opted into the “sharing economy”—choosing services like Uber and Airbnb. So what exactly is the sharing economy? And how does it impact traditional industries, as well as the economy in general? Augsburg University Professor of Economics and Chair of Business Administration Jeanne Boeh weighs in on the increasing popularity of collaborative services. such as VRBO (lodging) and Turo (cars). Nonprofits are increasingly attempting to share services and equipment not to increase revenue but rather in an effort to reduce costs so that more of their budget can be used for their core mission. Q: How have new platforms influenced traditional industries like hospitality and transportation? A: Q: A: What is the sharing economy? The sharing economy allows individuals and groups to make money from underused assets like their cars or homes. Some economists speak of a new triple bottom line consisting not only of financial returns but also environmental and social benefits by connecting people and resources. The sharing economy also includes nonprofits sharing space or personnel with each other. Q: A: 6 Why are people drawn to participate in the sharing economy? Money is the primary motivating factor in many of the commercial enterprises AUGSBURG NOW Home sharing sites such as Airbnb or VRBO have had an additive effect. Uber and Lyft have served as a substitute for cabs, drastically reducing the volume of business for traditional taxis—I’ve heard by even as much as two-thirds in Los Angeles. Q: A: Are there drawbacks for providers and/ or consumers? Commercial sharing sites work well for those who are middle income or above, but people with lower incomes will have difficulty accessing most platforms without smartphones or technological prowess. Credit cards are often required by these services, also hampering the ability of lowincome consumers to access them. VRBO has attempted to minimize potential problems for both sides of a transaction by offering insurance options. For renters it serves to ensure that the rental will be available and as advertised. On the owner side, damage deposits are collected just as in a traditional rental. Consumers can also buy additional insurance at a low cost to cover any expensive accidental damage. The rapid increases in these markets make it clear that, overall, both providers and consumers are benefiting. Q: The Super Bowl was in Minneapolis in early February and there were widely publicized predictions of a huge uptick in sharing economy participants. Did we see that? A: Airbnb reported $3.7 million was spent on housing during the Super Bowl as a record-high 5,500 listings became available in the Twin Cities. The average last-minute rental was $286 per night. It helped the city because there were simply not enough hotel rooms available. Super Bowl visitors also spent hundreds of millions of dollars on food, shopping, and transportation. One must always be careful to not overemphasize the impact of such events on the underlying economy, especially in the long run. However, the homeowners and workers who earned extra money during the Super Bowl will continue to contribute to the local economy as they spend those earnings. Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn the future of the sharing economy. AROUND THE QUAD Treasures in the Distinguished Teaching and Learning Award winners science labs Augsburg’s new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion features 24 labs and 6,000 square feet of student-faculty research facilities. In the process of moving equipment from Science Hall into the Hagfors Center, Augsburg faculty members and students sorted through devices spanning a variety of applications and a range of eras. One of the oldest pieces of “lab equipment” still in use is a Waring blender from the 1950s. Although these gadgets were initially created as a kitchen tool, Matthew Beckman, associate professor of biology, said these blenders are used in student experiments to break up tissues and show that bacteria mate by exchanging genetic material. The newest lab device moved into the Biology Department was a NanoDrop spectrophotometer, which measures how much DNA or RNA a solution contains by calculating the amount of UV light it absorbs. Although initially purchased for genetics research, the device is broadly used by biologists and chemists at Augsburg. While it’s unlikely that faculty members or students have access to a spectrophotometer in their homes, Beckman said he does keep a Waring blender in his kitchen. As the saying goes, they don’t make ’em like they used to. Augsburg annually recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to creating an engaging academic environment. The 2018 recipients of the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards are: Teaching Dallas Liddle, Associate Professor, Department of English Elizabeth Klages, Instructor, Political Science Scholarship Mary Lowe, Associate Professor, Department of Religion Service Lois Bosch, Professor and MSW Program Director, Department of Social Work SAVE THE DATES: September 13–15 The Nobel Peace Prize Forum—Minneapolis will mark its 30th anniversary in September. Hosted and presented by Augsburg University, the Forum is a platform to educate and inspire a new generation of peacemakers through the exemplary work of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. This year’s program is created around the work of the 2016 Laureate, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, who was instrumental in bringing the South American nation’s 55-year civil war to an end, and the 2017 Laureate, The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, whose work drew attention to the consequences of nuclear weapons use and supported passage of the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty. [L to R]: Dallas Liddle, Mary Lowe, Lois Bosch, and Elizabeth Klages. Visit peace.augsburg.edu for ticket, schedule, and presenter information. COURTESY PHOTOS SPRING–SUMMER 2018 7 BY LAURA SWANSON LINDAHL ’15 MBA his year, John and Kristian Evans started their Thursday mornings off right … and left. At the 6 a.m. DinoMights practices in the Augsburg Ice Arena, young players sometimes put their hockey skates on the wrong feet or jerseys on backward, focusing more on catching up with teammates than on the logistics of assembling pictureperfect uniforms. As a volunteer coach, Kristian describes the weekly 10-minute rush to outfit 20 elementary schoolers for the ice as “pure chaos.” After he and his fellow coaches ensure that skate laces are cinched tightly against players’ tiny ankles and the kids are safely in their gear, these volunteers prepare for a new challenge: channeling the young athletes’ enthusiasm into a successful practice. “It’s crazy how much energy the players have in the morning,” Kristian said. “It’s never a problem to wake them up; it’s always me who’s the sleepy one.” Fortunately, the players’ spirited attitudes are contagious, according to the Auggie, 8 AUGSBURG NOW who is studying communication, marketing, and political science. “They act like a shot of caffeine,” he said. It’s helpful that DinoMights practices leave Kristian with a boost of energy. The thirdyear student was enrolled in a full course load at Augsburg this fall and used his time outside the classroom to intern at a U.S. senator’s office, serve as a sports editor for the Augsburg Echo student newspaper, do play-by-play announcing for Auggie soccer teams, and promote the Nobel Peace Prize Forum—Minneapolis as a student member of the Forum’s marketing team. Volunteering for DinoMights, Kristian said, was a way to carve out time in his schedule for one more thing he loves: hockey. DinoMights builds relationships with at-risk youth in South Minneapolis through hockey teams and training, tutoring and academic support, mentoring, and spiritual development opportunities. As one of approximately a dozen nonprofit organizations that lease athletic space at Augsburg each year—from the CedarRiverside Community School to the Minnesota Sports Federation broomball state tournament—DinoMights benefits from access to quality facilities that are otherwise scarce in the Twin Cities. A passion for hockey—and for Augsburg— runs in the Evans family. John, for instance, has been skating at the university for nearly 40 years. The Augsburg Athletic Hall of Famer played for Auggie men’s hockey teams that won four Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships in 1981 and 1982. While earning two national titles was a thrill, John now looks back on his college days and acknowledges that it’s the relationships he developed with teammates, classmates, and faculty members that truly influenced his life. “It’s [L to R]: Kristian Evans ’19 and John Evans ’82 Kristian Evans ’19 helps a member of the DinoMights Squirt team prepare for hockey practice. Players are 10 or 11 years old. the friendships you remember,” he said. Decades ago, John chose to attend Augsburg because he wanted to live and work in Minnesota’s urban core and was drawn to the school’s pioneering emphasis on experiential education. Today, as fathers and sons go, John and Kristian appear to be more alike than different. Both men played hockey in Norway; John signed a pro contract after Augsburg, and Kristian played there following high school. When Kristian was searching for a college after his junior hockey eligibility expired, at first he thought he’d go to school anywhere but Augsburg, wanting to venture farther afield than his dad and mom, Joan (Moline) Evans ’83. Kristian’s desire to take an entirely new path soon gave way to the revelation that Augsburg’s metropolitan location and commitment to community involvement were a perfect fit for him, as well. And, much like his father, Kristian values the power of Auggie friendships. In January 2017, he was diagnosed with cancer, underwent surgery to remove a tumor, and began chemotherapy treatments to rid his body of any remaining cancer cells. He continued to attend Augsburg full time and learned to lean on his roommates for support, whether he needed help shaving his head after he began to lose his hair or someone to accompany him to chemo appointments. “I have friends who’d walk with me in the middle of winter to the East Bank hospital where I received care and sit with me for three hours before they had class,” Kristian said. “You don’t get that with every group of people, and that fact is never lost on me.” With his cancer in remission, Kristian sees his role with DinoMights as a way to strengthen an important network for Twin Cities youth who face challenges ranging from navigating life as first-generation Americans to living in single-parent households. “It’s amazing to be part of a group that says, ‘We understand that you’re going through some tough stuff, and we will help you in whatever aspect of your life means the most—whether that be through athletics or through faith or through education,’” he said. “That’s why we build communities of support—so that when one of us falls, there are other people who are willing to step in.” For Auggies like John and Kristian who’ve come to embrace Augsburg’s commitments to vocational discernment and civic engagement, DinoMights is just one example of the power of transferring the University’s educational framework to a real-world application. “If you can make one corner of your community better, then you can say you’re doing your part,” Kristian said. “This is what Augsburg teaches when it comes to vocation.” SPRING–SUMMER 2018 9 The Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is the largest academic building on campus. It houses multiple academic disciplines, including biology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, economics, environmental science, mathematics and statistics, physics, psychology, and religion. Several of these departments previously occupied space in Science Hall, which is located across 21st Avenue. BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA “Augsburg sees science as a search for meaning, a collaboration with nature, and a quest for quantitative understanding.” This statement was captured in a 2007 “science credo” authored by Augsburg faculty in the sciences. The credo proclaimed that Augsburg’s science programs should: • Emphasize science in context, seeking out and developing intersections among departments and programs. • Underscore the purposeful practice of science as an essential ingredient to citizenship. • Use Augsburg’s urban setting to highlight the relevance of science in our call to serve our community. This visionary thinking sparked the imagination of faculty leadership across disciplines and led to a vision for a new building concept: a center for science, business, and religion that would not only replace Augsburg’s outdated science facilities, but would foster interdisciplinary collaboration and embody Augsburg’s commitment to its community. That vision came to life this past January with the grand opening of the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, a signature academic building that celebrates Augsburg’s historic roots, contemporary relevance, and promising future. The Hagfors Center was made possible by the generosity of more than 1,200 donors, whose names appear on a glass wall outside one of the ground-floor classrooms. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 11 The exterior colors of the Hagfors Center reflect Augsburg’s Norwegian heritage, connect the decades of architecture represented on campus, and espouse the vitality of Augsburg’s urban setting. The Hagfors Center design complements the colorful residences in the neighborhood surrounding Augsburg. From Old Main to Oren Gateway Center, Augsburg’s campus comprises architectural styles from various decades. PHOTOS COURTESY OF HGA ARCHITECTS The Hagfors Center front doors open onto a brand new roundabout at the west end of South 7th Street, with a direct view to the main entrance of the Foss Lobeck Miles Center and the atrium of Hoversten Chapel. Inside the building, the west wing extends from the lobby at a diagonal that runs parallel to Riverside Avenue. It connects with the north wing in an “open-arms” embrace of the community garden, where neighbors and members of the campus community grow food, build relationships, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. (See story, page 28.) 12 AUGSBURG NOW Community Garden Riv ers ide Ave nue Hagfors Center Foss Center New Green Space Science Hall The Quad Murphy Square Inspiration for the color accents comes from images of brightly colored homes and buildings in Bergen, Norway. Gundale Chapel is named for Elnar Gundale ’33, who emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1930 and studied at Augsburg College and Seminary. He was ordained in 1937 as a Lutheran Free Church pastor and served several parishes for nearly 60 years. He and his wife, Catherine, raised six children (four of whom attended Augsburg). Their daughter, Evangeline, and her husband, Norm, are the named benefactors of the Hagfors Center. The multicolor “Trans:Perspective,” the sculpture in the glass sculpture that Gundale Chapel, was created by artist hangs in the Gundale Bebe Keith and sponsored through the generosity of Augsburg Board of Regents Chapel incorporates Chair Jeffrey Nodland ’77 and Becky textile designs from (Bjella) Nodland ’79. contemporary and ancient cultures and religions. The sculpture also includes glass panels without patterns—suggesting the future of Augsburg yet to unfold—as well as smudges, blurring, and distress to imply imperfection in the world, past and present. From one specific location in the Gundale Chapel, the 3-D sculpture takes on the shape of a cross—a perspective not viewable from any other spot in the room. See a video at augsburg.edu/now. The Hagfors Center anchors the west side of campus, providing new green space that will connect with the quad after the removal of Science Hall and create an open east-to-west pedestrian flow through to Murphy Square. FALL - WINTER 2017 15 The Hagfors Center’s expanded labs provide space for realworld experiments that take longer than a traditional 4-hour lab period. Its grow rooms allow students to cultivate plants for lab courses using modern plant science methods. There are modern meeting rooms for presentations with local businesses and entrepreneurs, aquaria that provide a handson experience with marine aquatic creatures like algae and sponges, and a food lab where students study the physics, chemistry, and social impact of our food systems. There’s even a collaborative makerspace where students build rockets, explore 3-D printing, and more. 14 AUGSBURG NOW PHOTO BY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO BY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY For many years, several Augsburg science departments had dedicated learning and gathering spaces in Science Hall. Augsburg incorporated these “department homes” throughout the new building—providing interactive learning spaces for all science, business, and religion students and faculty. The building also boasts multiple casual learning spaces, which are popular among students of all majors. In fact, during finals week in December 2017—before the building was even officially open—students filled the whiteboard walls in these spaces with notes and equations as they studied together for semester finals. In the skyway that connects the Hagfors Center with the James G. Lindell Library, custom glass etchings bridge disparate disciplines, both figuratively and literally. The etchings, which also make the skyway glass bird-safe, feature unconventional word pairings, such as “define divinity” and “love density,” that are designed to make people think. The skyway was funded through the generosity of John R. Paulson and Norma L. Paulson, whose family also sponsored the skyway link from Sverdrup Hall to Lindell Library. Learn more about the art in the Hagfors Center at augsburg.edu/now. The Hagfors Center is designed to meet the standards for silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability. The building has two green roofs—one on a flexible, ground-floor learning space and one above the front entrance canopy. During construction, Augsburg exceeded its goal of awarding more than 10 percent of the project’s contracts to women- and minority-owned businesses. To ensure the building can adapt to evolving needs over the coming decades, each wing was built on a standard grid that allows walls to be reconfigured to create larger or smaller spaces as requirements change over time. The skyway glass art, “Both/And,” was created by artist Teri Kwant and sponsored through the generosity of Augsburg Board of Regents member Karolynn Lestrud ’68. The skyway art, “Both/And,” was created by artist Terri Kwant and sponsored through the generosity of Augsburg Board of Regents Member Karolynn Lestrud ’68. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 15 CE.COM FINANCE-COMMER E | $1.50 TAG PERIODICALS POS VOL. 131, NO. 14 2018 Project of the Year nter at A e C rs fo g a H e h T Building Blocks: —Design Build Institute of America-Upper Midwest Region “... Hagfors Center exceeds expectations.” —The Echo, January 19, 2018 “The Hagfors Center makes Augsburg more competitive.” —Neal St. Anthony, Star Tribune, March 3, 2018 “Augsburg is one of the most thoughtful, reflective partners that we’ve ever had.” —Bill Blanski, design principal, HGA Architects, Finance & Commerce, January 19, 2018 “We focused on our heritage … experiential learning, our diversity, and our call to serve. That resonated.” —Mike Good ’71, Augsburg regent emeritus and campaign chair for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion, Star Tribune, March 3, 2018 16 AUGSBURG NOW feet of classroo 139,000 square and Religion holds ess sin Bu ce, r for Scien y’s Hagfors Cente Augsburg Universitpolis. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz) helix. An elm tree ms embracing Ave. S. in Minnea reflective of ar communithe Cedar-Riverside uare feet sq ty — holds 139,000 staff offices of classrooms, labs, . It es and communal spac e than or m s ol’ ho serves the sc s. nt de 3,500 stu I BY FRANK JOSS and Name: The Norman er for nt Ce rs gfo Evangeline Ha and Religion Science, Business rsity at Augsburg Unive Ave. S., st 21 0 70 Address: lis po ea Minn gsburg. Website: www.au / er nt ce rs gfo edu/ha r 2017 Opened: Decembe on illi m 3 Cost: $7 chitects Architect: HGA Ar rs and Enginee ough Contractor: McG Construction tion: Property descrip lines cip dis Combining three th wi e llid co es that sometim rs Cengfo Ha e th r, he ot one an siness and ter for Science, Bu tractive at an s te ea cr Religion gsburg UniAu e th to y wa te ga 21st Avenue versity campus on South. ing — The V-shaped build Reprinted with perm middle garden of drop-off. 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Bi l ipa inc pr n sig de the school has ate commitme nds hold The Hagfors’ grou sculpture to p s, re tal featu several environmen ter pond, ing muraled s wa among them a gray installation on en on the a community gard replicates the ating area in back side and a se musical nota e a double the front shaped lik ission of Finance & Commerce ©2018 * * + * * * SUMMER 2017 + 0 21st nal spaces at 70 offices and commu oms, labs, staff ing holds Tenants: The build ents: rtm pa eight academic de e, the four-stosiness, chemistry, bu , gy olo Bi d commons physics, psycomputer science, g, classrooms religion. d chology, math, an rtains, and a tall The an elm topped Intriguing tidbits: critical ended triangle a is ing Hagfors build n ca s nt de tu ge’s master element in the colle inneapeligion or pray M by plan, designed .assoc., es. The lobby nd d.a lun os olis-based ce Hall ien sills built of elm Sc said Blanski. The it will m fro mpus trees. t ee str across from re in a tu fu e be demolished in th e green or marketing and m d ad move that will ons vice presispace, he said. t ou a John, points ed s made a passionThe architect enjoy ’s ge lle ent to art, from co e th th wi ing work is one of g ur painting (includsb ug leadership. “A An s). ell l, reflective stairw the most thoughtfu er had,” ev ’ve on the lobby glass partners that we e handwritten id. Blanski sa ation of Martin Lu FALL 2017 rtress is our ther’s “A Mighty Fo symbols th wi d God” — overlai ture. uc str ll ce ’s of the elm * WINTER 2018 e anchors the a circular oofs cover uilding. SPRING 2016 ity Augsburg Univers GROUNDBREAKING APRIL 2016 From groundbreaking to grand opening, construction of the Hagfors Center took 22 months, and was completed on time and under budget. FALL 2016 8 19, 201 Friday | January * PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEPHEN GEFFRE + PHOTOS COURTESY OF McGOUGH CONSTRUCTION GRAND OPENING JANUARY 2018 THE BEST IS AHEAD Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 plays a new role helping plan Augsburg’s 150th anniversary festivities BY GITA SITARAMIAH S ince arriving in 1975 as a first-year student, Jeff Swenson has built a storied legacy at Augsburg University. Swenson was a national wrestling champion as a student and joined the Augsburg coaching staff upon graduation. He then spent 25 seasons as one of the most successful amateur wrestling coaches in the U.S. As athletic 18 AUGSBURG NOW director since 2001, he has led the athletics program through a period of unprecedented growth and improvement. Now, Swenson is playing another key role at Augsburg as Sesquicentennial Steering Committee co-chair, shaping the anniversary festivities planned for the 2019-20 academic year. In a recent interview, Swenson shared his perspectives on the University’s 150th anniversary as well as the importance of academics and civic engagement for student-athletes and why he’s proud to be an Auggie. Despite all of the achievements for Augsburg and Swenson, he feels the best is still ahead. “I’ve never been more excited about Augsburg than I am today.” SE YOU ARE A CO-CHAIR OF THE SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. WHAT DO YOU HOPE THIS MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY WILL DO FOR AUGSBURG? It’s a great time to celebrate our rich history: 150 years, wow! That’s really something special. I’m hoping the sesquicentennial allows us to celebrate the past but also to look toward the next 150 years of Augsburg University. It’ll be a great time to bring people together: faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the institution. Selfishly, I’m looking forward to celebrating athletics’ place in the school’s history. In the past two decades, we were the first university in the state to start a women’s hockey team and a women’s lacrosse team. Last year, we made the playoffs in eight out of 10 sports—the most ever in school history. AUGSBURG ATHLETES ARE INTENTIONALLY CALLED STUDENTATHLETES. HOW DO YOU SUPPORT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT? They’re students first. Every one of our athletes gets a day off of training and games. Professors do understand the demands of students involved in athletics, and they work with the students to help them succeed. Ultimately, our goal is that all students graduate in four years. We want to recruit prospective students and tell them and their families that our students graduate in four years with high achievement in their courses. Our student-athletes’ cumulative GPA averages 3.23, and we’re proud of that. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS INCREASED COLLABORATION BETWEEN STUDENT-ATHLETES AND OTHER STUDENT GROUPS. WHAT’S BEHIND THAT, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE WILL DEVELOP FROM THIS PARTNERSHIP? It’s very intentional, and it’s one of my goals, along with President Paul Pribbenow. Our 2017–18 student body president BK (Bashiru Kormah) ’19 really pushed for it. BK is on the Augsburg men’s soccer team, and he organized a gathering at the president’s house of student-athletes and members of other student groups to talk about experiences and collaborative opportunities. Fostering an even more unified campus culture is hugely beneficial, and I think we’re doing that. We’re very involved with living out the University’s mission in the daily life of athletics. R AT I ON 1869-2019 SQ U IC ENTEN N CE IAL LE B AUGSBURG IS CALLED AS AN INSTITUTION TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR. WHAT’S THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN ATHLETICS? Community service can have a major lifelong positive impact on student-athletes. I will always remember one of my community service opportunities as an Augsburg student. I held a boy who had a severe cognitive disability. I bounced him on my knee, and my objective was to get him to smile. To this day, I remember that experience as much or more than any of the football games or wrestling matches I was in. The Augsburg athletics experience is really well-rounded. All of our student-athletes and coaches participate in at least one community service activity each year. Jane Becker, our head volleyball coach, is our director of athletic community service and engagement. Because of her efforts, we do many more community service activities than in the past. In the 2016–17 academic year our athletes finished with 4,652 community engagement hours and participated in the largest food drive on campus, collecting 410 pounds of food. We are on track to reach or exceed that amount for 2017–18. AS AUGSBURG PREPARES TO COMMEMORATE 150 YEARS, WHAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU? All the relationships stand out for me—from the time I was a student-athlete here and then throughout my career. I’ve seen 10 buildings constructed on campus, worked for four presidents, and held nine job titles, but it would all come down to the relationships more than anything else, including relationships with my coaches, students, faculty colleagues, and my teachers. HOW HAS AUGSBURG EVOLVED AS THE UNIVERSITY APPROACHES THE SESQUICENTENNIAL AND WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE AN AUGGIE? I love that Augsburg is student-centered. We’re at the forefront of society’s changes. We’re inclusive. We’re accepting. We’re innovative in our work. I think the focus in those areas has enabled us to stay ahead of our competition and is why students continue to choose Augsburg. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 19 WELCOME TO Augsburg alumna Katia Iverson ’12 orients newcomers to the United States amid mounting uncertainty and narrowing policies BY KATE H. ELLIOTT 20 Katia Iverson refuses to say “maybe.” She used to say it a lot, as a novice caseworker, unwilling to share disheartening news. But experience has vanquished the word from her vocabulary. “When a mother asks whether her kids qualify for assistance, and you respond with, ‘Well, maybe’ when you know the answer will become a ‘No,’ you give those families false hope,” she said. “It’s much better to be direct and clear: ‘Yes, we can help’ or ‘No, we can’t,’ and if we can’t, let’s not waste time and instead figure out a solution—together.” Iverson is part of a team of 15 “ex-maybe-ers,” who each year assist roughly 400 people—from world-class bodybuilders and doctors to farmers, models, and priests. She and her colleagues guide this cross-section of humanity through securing living arrangements, establishing benefits, landing jobs, and plotting out bus routes to school. Her clients couldn’t be more varied—some are single, while others have 13 children; some speak five languages, while others cannot read or write. But they all share the same status: refugee. Each fled their home country because of persecution based on race, religion, ethnicity, social group, or political opinion. They applied for refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which verified their claims. They applied for resettlement in the United States through a yearslong screening process before the U.S. Department of State invited them to pursue a direct path to citizenship. They arrived on planes, welcomed by strangers. “No one wants to be a refugee,” said Iverson, a team manager for the Minnesota Council of Churches’ Refugee Services. “Many have lived in terrible conditions and experienced unimaginable trauma. Nearly everyone dreams of returning to their homeland— to the family and friends who speak their language, observe their customs, and prepare familiar foods. “Being a refugee is their last option.” AUGSBURG NOW PHOTOS BY RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER, © STAR TRIBUNE Katia Iverson ’12 encourages a new arrival from a refugee family as he practices his English. SPRING–SUMMER 2018 21 he 90-day challenge Refugees resettling in the United States come through a state agency or one of nine voluntary agencies that have cooperative agreements with the State Department to provide reception and placement services. Minnesota Council of Churches’ Refugee Services has welcomed immigrants to Minnesota since 1985, and Iverson has done so on its behalf since 2013. “The clock is ticking from the time refugees walk off the plane. We have 90 days to help them start their lives in Minnesota,” said Iverson, who has welcomed hundreds of refugees to America’s shores. “The federal government provides slightly more than $900 per person to get each family started, but we rely on the support of faith communities, nonprofits, and individual volunteers to help these newcomers gain self-sufficiency.” Iverson is glad to work in one of the more welcoming U.S. states, with Minnesota having resettled more than 90,000 refugees since 1970. But increasingly critical rhetoric around refugees has made life on the front lines tough as the 28-year-old struggles with landlords hesitant to rent to “those people” and discrimination at new arrivals’ workplaces or schools. Increasing day-to-day challenges thicken amid confounding regulations and tightening policies. For the 2018 fiscal year, for instance, the federal government has capped refugee admissions nationwide at 45,000—the lowest in decades—and arrivals aren’t even on pace to reach half that number, 22 AUGSBURG NOW according to the United Nations. “There is fear and uncertainty, but for me, the toughest part of the job remains the short window of time I have with families,” Iverson said of her three-month timeline. “To make real progress, clients need to be open, but they have been telling their life story—almost on autopilot—for years, and trust doesn’t come easily for many of them, especially with strangers.” Building trust among the doubtful Ahmednor Farah has seen Iverson knock down walls of resistance. For four years, the native Somali worked alongside Iverson as a resettlement case manager and interpreter. Katia can flip a switch, he said, from boundless compassion—crying alongside a despairing client—to sober sincerity when she has to administer doses of reality. Clear boundaries within an expanse of empathy is the job. “Katia’s role is challenging, and only a person with her integrity can “Katia managed to learn Somali, as the majority of her clients were Somalis, and she pushes back at the systems working against these families to make sure they receive equitable and just support.” Her family has witnessed Iverson’s devotion. Younger brother, Luke Iverson ’15, roomed with Katia for several years. He comforted her when she would worry about “families not making it” and understood when Katia had to cancel plans in order to meet a new arrival or help negotiate with a landlord. “Sometimes Katia would leave the house at 11 p.m. to head to the airport, but she’d always be at work by 8:30 a.m. the next day, following up with those clients or others,” said Luke, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial in downtown Minneapolis. “Her life is unconventional, but it is the times of deep connection and joy that I believe feed her the most and remind her why she is doing this work in the midst of a climate that fights against her and these families.” It’s all worth it, Katia said. Minnesota has the highest number of refugees per capita nationwide, according to the U.S. Census and refugee-support agencies. With 2 percent of the nation’s population, Minnesota has 13 percent of its refugees. deliver the way she delivers,” said Farah, who now works as a human services representative for Hennepin County, where he said low-income families, including refugee arrivals, apply for food and cash benefits. “There is challenge and sadness in my job, but the positive far outweighs any negative. The resilience of these families is incredible. They are so present and bring with them long-held traditions—how to heal when we don’t Iverson helps refugee families through the steps of resettling in Minnesota, from renting a house to helping children acclimate to their new homes. have a doctor nearby or how to provide emotional healing to one another— that adds a richness to our world. They invite me into a deep foundation of wisdom, and that is a gift.” A heart for service, a passion for others Katia was meant for this work. From a young age, her parents drove their four children from the predominantly white suburbs of Minneapolis to engage in missions in the Phillips neighborhood and other low-income areas. This focus on service inspired Iverson to enroll at Augsburg University, nestled among some of the state’s most prominent refugee settlements. She was an international relations major until her introductory class focused on “the way nations and leaders interacted rather than the humans living in those nations,” Katia said. Mid-year, the then-first-year student headed to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, during which world leaders and peacemakers interact with students and community members. Waiting for a keynote to begin, Katia struck up a conversation about career options with fellow Auggies sitting near her. A voice popped into the conversation: “I’m Professor Frankie Shackleford, and I’m developing a new major: cross-cultural studies. You should consider it.” Katia spoke with the professor of Norwegian—and continued to talk for four years—about the influence language has on our world and the insight people gain when they imagine life through others’ perspectives. “I continue to rely on the lessons I learned at Augsburg as I consider the impact of my work and what I bring to each home,” said Katia, who went on to participate in the Forum’s Peace Scholars program and graduate magna cum laude. “I am constantly analyzing the energy I bring, the questions I ask, and the way I ask them. I strive to be respectful and curious, to dress appropriately for each culture, and to make clients laugh. “Laughter is universal to all people, and it is key to my work. Intercultural interactions provide constant opportunities to laugh when we say or do something a bit off,” she added. “But when both the client and I come with a generous spirit, the response is laughter rather than offense or anger.” Refining her skillset Katia is comfortable being uncomfortable, which she credits to those formative mission experiences that empowered her to become a peer mediator in elementary school and then the first white student on the Maple Grove Senior High School Diversity Council. She embraced new opportunities at Augsburg—traveling abroad SPRING–SUMMER 2018 23 and enrolling in the Bonner Leaders Program, now the LEAD Fellows Program. Her brother, Luke, joined Katia in the service-based, workstudy experience that empowers undergraduates to integrate civic engagement and leadership development into their studies. Katia said the experience honed her ability to adapt, problem-solve, and relate to others. Every year, more than 70 courses at Augsburg include an embedded servicelearning component. Students average 25 hours per semester in servicelearning experience directly connected to course objectives and learning goals. Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL, director for Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, said the Iversons’ experiences reflect the transferable skills and culturally relevant outcomes the program is designed to inspire. “Our LEAD Fellows are engaged in long-term, in-depth communitybased work, and these opportunities are funded, which opens the door for many students who are often unable to engage in service learning because they need to pay the bills,” said Eschenbacher, who guides the 35-40 fellows each year. “Community partners are confident in our students, and some have empowered undergraduates to develop programs like an eight-week nutrition education class for Somali mothers. This is real, impactful work.” Progress emerges from collaboration At Augsburg, the two eldest Iverson siblings shared a focus on those in need but it is a bond with younger sister, Natalie Iverson, that has emerged as of late. Natalie is a secondary ESL teacher at Hmong College Preparatory Academy, a K-12 charter school in St. Paul. As it turns out, several of Natalie’s students are from families Katia serves as a case manager. “It makes me realize how powerful it would be if all systems were in communication, where a teacher could talk to a family’s caseworker and vice versa. I update Katia about a student, and she communicates it with those families, making the families feel seen, welcomed, and supported,” said Natalie, who works with students 11-20 years old. “I can offer her my advice as an educator when she’s got families struggling with school, and she can offer me perspective when I am lesson planning.” Earlier this year, for example, Natalie mentioned to Katia that she was teaching English vocabulary about household problems families might need to communicate to their landlord. Katia offered Hmong, Karen, and Thai language resources related to tenants’ rights, then followed with an ageappropriate presentation she modified from one designed for parents. The sisters maintain that immigrants are the greatest gift our society never knew it needed, and that we should lean into their stories and customs, rather than fear the unfamiliar. Katia urges people to do what they can, from welcoming a new family to the neighborhood, teaching English, writing elected officials, or sponsoring a refugee family through church. The possibilities are endless, Katia said, and there is a way for everyone to welcome others to our nation and set them up to become successful citizens. It’s not work; it’s a calling Has this work changed Katia? Yes. “Although her life is busy, and she is always moving, there are so many still moments of intimate spirituality in her work,” Natalie said of her sister. “Her work allows her to see people in all stages of their lives, both in a literal sense, and in a vulnerable, human sense. And I don’t think anyone can stay the same because of that.” Ahmednor Farah and Iverson show a newly relocated refugee family how to ensure the gas burners on the stove are safely turned off. 24 AUGSBURG NOW AUGGIES CONNECT FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, COURTESY PHOTO T he Augsburg University Alumni Board supports the University’s mission by finding meaningful ways for our members to contribute their time, talent, and treasure. Members meet regularly to create and enhance events where Auggies can network, collaborate, and serve together. Our focus this year has been on connecting alumni with current students. At an annual networking event in February, attendees took part in mock interviews, had their headshot photos taken by a professional photographer, and met with other Auggies working in their industry. Most importantly, students and alumni shared their experiences and stories, often creating longterm connections. Another way the Alumni Board worked to foster connections between Augsburg students and graduates was through piloting a new program called Auggie Take Out. The program matches alumni participants with students who have an interest in their occupation. The alumni volunteers take the students out for informational interviews over coffee or lunch as a way to initiate a mentorship. I had the chance to participate and enjoyed connecting with a second-year student on the football team who is interested in sports medicine. I was impressed by the questions he asked me and the ways Augsburg is helping him plan for his future career. As you consider opportunities to remain engaged with the Augsburg community, I encourage you to join the Alumni Board at an event that’s part of the Auggies in the City series. Learn more about the event series on page 27, and mark your calendar for upcoming outings to see the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota United FC, and Minnesota Lynx. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/events for details and discounted tickets. I invite you to join the Alumni Board as we continue to advance the Augsburg mission through events and networking. We work hard, and we have just as much fun. HOMECOMING October 11–13, 2018 Interested in organizing your reunion? Call the office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu. augsburg.edu/homecoming Go Auggies! NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT SPRING–SUMMER 2018 25 Alumna’s homegrown art featured in Hagfors Center Having grown up in rural Wisconsin, Amy Rice ’93 had always anticipated a life of farming. From a young age, she had an appreciation for art and enjoyed depicting the beauty of nature in her sketches. “I made art my whole life, but never let myself dream or be so bold as to think I could do it as more than a hobby,” she said. When selling her produce at farmers markets, Rice would display sketches of her flowers and tomatoes, incorporating information about the plants into her sketches. She used the drawings as a backdrop for her produce stand to entice more customers. Soon, her art became popular at the market, and people started inquiring about purchasing her work. When Rice realized that she could earn more from her art than from her crops, she decided to turn her hobby into a profession. In 2015, when Augsburg University launched an Art and Identity campaign, an initiative to bring original artwork into the new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, Rice was already working on a long-term project to draw and write about every plant on her 40-acre northern Minnesota plot. Rice’s project connected science and religion by combining the documentation of plant life with the use of liturgical papers to form a type of collage. She also incorporated letterpress samples and her own Augsburg homework into the art pieces, making the project a perfect submission for the Art and Identity campaign. When potential sponsors were invited to view sketches of the art selected for the Hagfors Center, Stephen K. ’67 and 26 AUGSBURG NOW Sandra L. Batalden were immediately attracted to Rice’s “Six Minnesota Wildflowers to Meet and Know” sketches. “We immediately liked her work,” said Sandra, who shares with Rice an appreciation for the letterpress printing featured in the works. “Not only is she using original materials in her paintings, but the unusual botanical subject matter seems to fit perfectly in a building [that hosts] the life sciences. “In addition to botanical accuracy, Amy’s drawings transport us into an entirely new realm as leaves and flowers become frames for musical scores or other chosen texts woven into each piece. What a creative, beautiful expression for a university of the 21st century.” Rice’s artwork is displayed on the fourth floor of the Hagfors Center. Amy Rice ’93 is represented exclusively by the Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis. Each of the plants depicted is native to Minnesota, and five of the six grow in the St. Croix River Valley where Augsburg students do ecological research. The five are snow trillium (Trillium nivale), eared false foxglove (Agalinis auriculata), spatterdock (Nuphar variegatum), obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), and sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale). The sixth wildflower, the Minnesota dwarf trout lily (Erythronium propullans), grows in only three counties of Minnesota and nowhere else in the world. COURTESY PHOTO O T M R A F M FRO AUGGIES CONNECT hosted a discussion at the “Waitress” pre-performance pie buffet about the significance of the all-female production team. For Auggies with children, popular family-friendly events included an afternoon at the Minnesota Children’s Museum with an Augsburg party featuring Auggie Eagle, coloring books, bow tie making, and a photo booth. Another event attracting families was the interactive learning session at the Minnesota Zoo at which a zookeeper brought animals to the Augsburg reception—including a lizard, a porcupine, and a chinchilla— for children to see and touch. Additionally, Auggie families and friends have embraced Minnesota sports as part of the Auggies in the City series. In January, Auggies watched the Minnesota Wild take on the Ottawa Senators, and four attendees won a drawing to ride the Zamboni machine. A number of current Augsburg University men’s hockey players attended the event and mingled with former Augsburg hockey team members. Events this summer included a St. Paul Saints game and—still ahead—a Minnesota Twins game in July and a Minnesota United FC match in August. For more information or to buy tickets for upcoming events, go to augsburg.edu/alumni/events. COURTESY PHOTOS Beginning this past fall, alumni, parents, students, and friends have had the opportunity to attend a number of events in the new Auggies in the City series that offers discounted tickets and Augsburg-specific programs to popular Twin Cities activities. The series includes arts and cultural programming, family-oriented outings, and athletic events. “Auggies love to explore and appreciate the community in which we live. We have had families, couples, and Auggie friends enjoy a variety of activities, ranging from zoo and museum visits to sports events and theater performances,” said Katie Code ’01, Augsburg director of alumni and constituent relations. The theater events have been a sellout success and included tickets to the Tony Award-nominated musical “Waitress,” fan-favorite “A Christmas Carol,” and the family singalong extravaganza “Annie.” The events were complemented with unique, Augsburgspecific receptions or activities. For example, Darcey Engen ’88, associate professor and chair of Theater Arts, SPRING–SUMMER 2018 27 AUGGIES CONNECT GENEROSITY COURTESY PHOTO BLOSSOMS in Augsburg’s community garden COURTESY PHOTO This spring saw the unveiling of the Medtronic Community Garden at Augsburg University. Nestled in the center of the open-arms design of the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion and facing the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, the innovative garden supports food sustainability and the community’s need to grow, sell, and eat healthy food. The garden was designed by Oslund and Associates, award-winning landscapers who describe the reimagined community garden for Augsburg University as “a place on campus to celebrate the diversity of plants, people, and the community it serves.” The innovative style of the community garden attracted interest from Fortune 500 company Medtronic, which donated $100,000 to officially name it the Medtronic Community Garden. “The Medtronic Foundation focuses on expanding access to quality chronic disease care among underserved populations worldwide, as well as supporting health initiatives in communities where Medtronic employees live and give,” said Sylvia Bartley, global director of Medtronic Philanthropy. 28 AUGSBURG NOW Sylvia Bartley, global director of Medtronic Philanthropy [L], takes a moment during the Hagfors Center grand opening celebration to talk with Augsburg Chief Sustainability Officer Allyson Green about the Medtronic Community Garden, which is nestled between the two wings of the building. “We are proud to sponsor the transformation of the Augsburg University community garden in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, where access to healthy foods is scarce,” Bartley said. “Providing opportunities for communities to cultivate their own natural foods is one of the ways the Medtronic Foundation strives to improve the lives of communities around the world.” According to Allyson Green, chief sustainability officer and program coordinator of Augsburg University’s Campus Kitchen program, the redevelopment of the garden has been an opportunity to further Augsburg’s ongoing sustainability work. Promoting food security, reducing food waste, and feeding students through Campus Kitchen programs are just some of the benefits of the on-campus community garden. Another key feature Medtronic provided $100,000 to fund Augsburg’s community of the garden is the garden expansion that will improve accessibility, provide consistent design for additional space for increasing plot demand, and enhance the planter beds— sustainability through compost management and other initiatives. The community garden expansion reflects some of which are Augsburg’s commitment to stewardship of natural resources, raised to make the student leadership around issues of nutrition and wellness, garden accessible and development of public spaces that are both aesthetically to individuals with pleasing and environmentally sound. mobility constraints, while others are traditional, ground-level planters. These distinct planter beds create a physical language that make them recognizable as part of the community garden, which will eventually enable Augsburg to expand the gardens in small pockets to additional locations across campus. The redesign project also widened the pathways between planters and introduced a series of benches throughout the garden to create a welcoming environment for gardeners and nongardeners alike, transforming the west edge of campus into a public green space for Augsburg and its neighbors. ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1969 The chapel in Augsburg’s new Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is named for Elnar Gundal ’33. See page 13. Glen Peterson ’69 began teaching in Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1969 and taught for 40 years at Lakewood Community College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He spent many years coaching and was the director of the ski/ snowboard school at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, Minnesota. In retirement, he continues to help with instructor training. He and his wife, Kathy (Palmer) Peterson ’70, met at Augsburg, and daughter Jessica Peterson ’09 also attended Augsburg. 1943 Legendary high school coach and veteran Stan Nelson ’43 was honored in September by the Anoka, Minnesota, community. Following his World War II service, Nelson coached in Anoka for more than 30 years and won conference championships in ’55, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’72, and ’76, including 33 consecutive wins from ’62 to ’64. 1960 Retired ELCA pastor Rev. Byron Schmid ’60 received his Swiss citizenship and was honored when he returned to Switzerland in September for the 750th anniversary of Rubigen, his ancestral village. He has done extensive genealogical work to document his family history and lead family tours in both Switzerland and Norway. 1968 1976 In November, Larry Morgan ’76 was presented with the Lifetime Recognition Award by the Twin Cities Compensation Network for his work in compensation and human resources. Augsburg Board of Regents Chair Jeffrey Nodland ’77 and Becky (Bjella) Nodland ’79 sponsored a sculpture now on display in the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. See page 13. 5 0-Y EA R R E UNI ON HOMECOMING 2018 Board of Regents Member Karolynn Lestrud ’68 sponsored an art installation for Augsburg’s newest skyway. See page 15. 1978 40- YE AR R E U N I O N HOMECOMING 2018 John Karason ’78 was among 100 Macy’s employees chosen for a national choir to premiere “Home For Christmas” by composer Wesley Whatley during the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. The choir rode atop the new Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree, caroling from Central Park to Herald Square. Grammy-nominated conductor Judith Clurman led the choir, and Broadway director Stephen Nachamie oversaw production. Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 shares his perspective on Augsburg’s upcoming 150th anniversary. See page 18. 1982 Rev. Scott Snider ’82, priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, was named ecumenical and interreligious officer for the diocese in July 2017. Snider is also the pastor of three Illinois parishes in Pierron, Grantfork, and Pocahontas. John Evans ’82 finds a volunteer opportunity unites his Augsburg legacy and desire to serve. See page 8. 1987 Scott Anderson ’87 retired from the City of Bloomington (Minnesota) Public Works Department in September after 30 years of service. Anderson currently owns the Scott L. Anderson Agency, LLC, an independent insurance agency in Maple Grove, Minnesota. 1990 Alisa “Al” Holen ’90 received tenure at the University of Southern Indiana and is now an associate professor of art and design, ceramics. She also was selected as one of the featured artists in the 2018 American Pottery Festival at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. She and her father, Professor Emeritus Norman D. Holen, were honored to present their exhibition, “Nature/ Nurture,” at the Northern Clay Center this past October. 1993 2000 2 5 - Y E A R R EUNIO N HOMECOMING 2018 Guillaume Paek ’00 was named interim athletic director at Burnsville High School, Minnesota. He was previously the athletic director at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Brian Kuhl ’03, an associate at Mayer Brown law firm, and his wife, Jesca Kuhl, generously donate their money to build homes in Uganda. The couple met while Brian worked as a teacher in the Peace Corps. In addition to paying for two homes that house roughly 15 Ugandan children, the Kuhls also have paid for schooling for these children and more than a dozen others. ’03 ’03 Grant Hemmingsen ’07 is the new men’s basketball head coach at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Grant worked his first college coaching job with his brother, George Hemmingsen IV, at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro. Grant [at left] is shown with his father, George Hemmingsen III, before a Cobbers basketball game. ’07 ’07 SPRING–SUMMER 2018 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 2001 Trang Dinh ’01 was awarded the 2017 Excellence in Servicing Award from NorthMarq Capital. Dinh has 15 years’ experience as a portfolio analyst and asset manager, and is a respected, knowledgeable, and accomplished professional in her field. Mark Peterson ’01 recently concluded a successful season of coaching his son, Charlie, on his first- and second-grade soccer team. 2005 Allison (Cornell) Broughton ’05 and Matt Broughton ’06 welcomed new baby, Nicholas James, on June 10, 2017. Nicholas joins big brother Calvin, age four. Timothy “Tim” Stowe ’05 is the principal for Westwood Elementary School in Zimmerman, Minnesota. He previously served as principal and technology coordinator at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, Minnesota. 2008 10- YE A R R E U N I O N HOMECOMING 2018 Brian Krohn ’08 is launching a smartphone app called Soundly. Developed with funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, the app is designed to help people who snore through a voice-activated game that strengthens the muscles in the upper airway. Newly promoted high school guidance counselor Derrick Smith ’08 received the THRIVE Teacher of the Year award for his work with middle- and highschool students. He teaches math and social sciences to eighth, ninth, and 10th graders of diverse backgrounds at a nontraditional Christian school in Augusta, Georgia. 2009 Andrew “Andy” Kent ’09 has joined the University of Minnesota’s hockey program as the team’s AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Eloisa Echávez ’94, ’98 MAL, executive director of La Oportunidad, a social services organization in Minneapolis, was honored by the Minnesota Vikings in September as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. She received a $2,000 grant, which she donated to La Oportunidad. ’94 Margaret Johnson ’96 has committed to a year of service with Minnesota Math Corps. She will tutor students in Roseville, Minnesota, in eighth grade math. ’96 ’15 Alisha Esselstein ’15 and Tyler Dorn ’15 welcomed their son, Liam, on August 14. Kia Burton ’11 is Augsburg’s new alumni engagement program associate. Burton most recently worked at the MHC Culinary ’11 30 AUGSBURG NOW volunteer goalie coach. Kent has spent the last six seasons as the volunteer goaltending coach with the Gopher women’s program and will continue to work with both teams. He served as the goaltending coach for Finland’s Women’s National Team at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, and also served as the goaltending coach for the Augsburg men’s team from 2013 to 2017. 2010 In October, Joe Finstrom ’10 opened Lithium Mastering LLC, a mastering and music production studio in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Finstrom teaches at the Wirth Center for Performing Arts and plays cello in the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from Augsburg, Finstrom attended the Institute of Production and Recording, where he earned an associate degree in audio production and engineering. Katia Iverson ’12 and Luke Iverson ’15 describe the joys and challenges of helping new arrivals acclimate to life in the U.S. See page 20. 2013 Grant Niver ’13 founded Surrender Salmon in Minneapolis in 2016. Surrender Salmon specializes in distributing wild sockeye salmon from Alaska to Twin Cities restaurants, meal delivery services, and farmers markets. 2017 Katelyn “Katie” Davidson ’17 is the new sports and education reporter for the Pierce County Herald in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. While a student at Augsburg, Davidson worked at the League of Minnesota Cities in St. Paul, in the communications and public affairs department. She also worked part-time with Minnesota United FC professional soccer club in the public relations department. SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements. Group assisting the accountant and the sales team. Prior to that, she was a sales coordinator at the St. Paul Hotel, in St. Paul, Minnesota. As an Augsburg student, Burton was a member of the Pan-Afrikan Student Union, worked as a Summer Bridge program mentor for TRIO/ Student Support Services, and served as a residence advisor in Urness Tower. She was also an Auggie Guide and worked in the James G. Lindell Library for four years. their production department. Nelson-Hopkins received a 2017 Emmy Award for his part in producing a commercial advertisement for Padres membership. Mortensen Hall roommates [L to R]: Karen (Sougstad) Richard ’79, Laurie (Nelson) Orlow ’79, Sue (Johnson) Drakulic ’79, and Deanna (Stanger) Feldner ’79 reunited in September. Sue Nelson ’67 received the President’s Award from the U.S. Tennis Association in October. Nelson organizes the Iowa All Stars event, a one-day tournament designed for athletes who compete in the Special Olympics. ’79 ’14 Nial Nelson-Hopkins ’14 is currently employed by the San Diego Padres in As of this past September, Tom Koplitz ’74 [right] and Bill Nelson ’74 are both in the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. They were co-captains of the 1974 Augsburg baseball team. ’74 ’67 GRADUATE PROGRAMS Laura (Swanson) Lindahl ’15 MBA recently was promoted to assistant director of marketing management in Augsburg University’s marketing and communication division, which serves both Augsburg University and Luther Seminary. In her new role, she will continue to serve as editor of Augsburg Now. ’94 ’96 Heather (Smith) Pokrzywinski ’16 MPA was hired by Essentia Health in the Moorhead (Minnesota) Clinic as a physician assistant. Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL, director of the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, describes how Augsburg’s LEAD Fellows Program shapes students and alumni. See story, page 20. ’15 ’11 ’79 ’74 ’14 ’67 SPRING–SUMMER 2018 31 IN MEMORIAM Ruth C. (Gudim) Wold ’41, Mankato, Minnesota, age 100, on December 13. Hazel L. (Lanes) Angell ’42, Carmichael, California, age 97, on November 4. Sigfrid D. (Aadland) Lybeck ’42, Fostoria, Ohio, age 98, on January 10. Stanley R. Erickson ’51, Aitkin, Minnesota, age 90, on January 4. Hubert C. Hanson ’51, Lady Lake, Florida, age 92, on November 27. Harland A. Nelson ’51, Duluth, Minnesota, age 89, on January 31. Robert D. Larson ’56, Everett, Washington, age 87, on January 1. Harris W. Lee ’57, Edina, Minnesota, age 88, on December 27. James D. Plumedahl ’57, New Brighton, Minnesota, age 83, on September 8. Carl H. Woyke ’44, Minneapolis, age 95, on February 28. Marjorie L. (Lindberg) Sveen ’51, Naples, Florida, age 88, on February 5. Edryce Y. Johnson ’46, Fresno, California, age 92, on January 2. Evelyn I. (Breckey) Swenson ’51, Yakima, Washington, age 88, on October 9. Janet M. (Niederloh) Christeson ’58, Georgetown, Texas, age 81, on January 18. Borghild M. (Rholl) Gabrielson ’47, Sun City, Arizona, age 95, on December 13. Glen F. Gilbertson ’52, Edina, Minnesota, age 87, on October 17. Lois R. (Mackey) Davis ’58, Prairie Farm, Wisconsin, age 86, on January 4. Agnes V. (Valvik) Larson ’47, Rochester, Minnesota, age 94, on January 4. David J. Robinson ’52, Maple Grove, Minnesota, age 87, on July 24. Jerome F. Peterson ’58, Princeton, Minnesota, age 81, on January 25. Clifford V. Aaze ’48, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 89, on September 12. Alyce M. (Larson) Thureen ’52, International Falls, Minnesota, age 95, on December 18. Robert C. Westerlund ’58, Brainerd, Minnesota, age 83, on September 21. James W. Adair ’48, Florence, Montana, age 92, on September 11. Joyce D. (Jorgensen) Eckhoff ’53, Benson, Minnesota, age 86, on March 10. Janet L. (Andersen) Fredrick ’59, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, age 79, on October 9. Duane G. Lindgren ’48, Ponsford, Minnesota, age 93, on February 1. Kristian Frosig ’53, Lynnwood, Washington, age 89, on January 16. John D. Wilsey ’60, St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, age 79, on February 20. Margaret L. (Nelson Foss) Nokleberg ’48, Northfield, Minnesota, age 92, on January 1. Lester D. Grafstrom ’53, Salol, Minnesota, age 87, on January 16. Jean C. (Floren) Honken ’61, Harley, Iowa, age 80, on February 17. Sylvia J. (Kolden) Strong ’48, Olympia, Washington, age 94, on November 3. Elaine L. (Hamberg) Elness ’54, Duluth, Minnesota, age 86, on November 12. Ella S. (Warnes) Lerud ’62, The Dalles, Oregon, age 77, on January 16. Calvin E. Larson ’49, Rochester, Minnesota, age 93, on December 20. Paul R. Britton ’55, Corona, California, age 84, on November 17. Carol J. (Jeckell) Arkell ’63, Lamberton, Minnesota, age 77, on November 27. Dorothy L. (Solheim) Schalk ’49, Racine, Wisconsin, age 90, on February 13. Mavis J. (Johnson) Holland ’55, Hendricks, Minnesota, age 84, on February 17. Carolyn E. (Johnson) Johnson ’63, Fullerton, California, age 76, on November 7. Robert G. Eftedahl ’50, Appleton, Wisconsin, age 89, on September 28. Kenneth W. West ’55, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, age 85, on December 6. Barbara A. (Johnson) Miller ’65, Marinette, Wisconsin, age 74, on October 18. 32 AUGSBURG NOW Joyce G. Boyum ’58, Minneapolis, age 86, on December 9. Timothy J. Leaf ’69, Minneapolis, age 71, on December 2. Robert J. Radebach ’71, Eagan, Minnesota, age 81, on February 3. Marilyn K. Bush ’72, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 69, on October 3. Burton L. Haugen ’72, Walker, Minnesota, age 67, on February 1. James E. Carlson ’73, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 66, on April 18. Mary E. (Benesh) Lundstrom ’73, Lafayette, Indiana, age 66, on September 30. George S. Mathison ’75, Brooklyn, New York, age 64, on September 24. Mark R. Johnson ’76, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, age 64, on November 23. Jane L. (Palumbo) Aubuchon ’82, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 58, on February 3. Mark A. Fulfs ’89, New York Mills, Minnesota, age 55, on December 15. Timothy P. Krenz ’89, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 56, on December 31. Mayrlo D. (Grodnick) Kincade ’91, Farmington, Minnesota, age 50, on February 17. Teresa M. (White) Shanks ’92, Shakopee, Minnesota, age 47, on February 18. Marcus Spiro ’19, Redmond, Washington, age 22, on January 25. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before March 15. MEET YOUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE. Get your Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Leadership, or both via the MBA/MAL dual degree at Augsburg University. ALUMNI DISCOUNT: Complete your MBA or MAL studies for less. Augsburg alumni receive an $80 per credit discount. Learn more at augsburg.edu/grad. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031 Following creative whims Described by National Public Radio as “a singer, rapper, poet, author, speaker, and all-around mogul,” renowned recording artist Dessa visited Augsburg University this spring to engage students and community members in a conversation about making a life and a living in music. During her talk, Dessa emphasized that creativity, resourcefulness, and honest enthusiasm are essential components of a musician’s journey. “Indulging one’s imagination is part of the task of being an artist,” she said.
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Title: Augsburg Now Fall-Winter 2017: Auggies Make an Impact
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: An alumna’s cutting-edge research Augsburg University Day Women of influence Nobel Peace Prize Forum AUGGIES MAKE AN IMPACT FALL–WINTER 2017 | VOL. 80, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing...
Show more An alumna’s cutting-edge research Augsburg University Day Women of influence Nobel Peace Prize Forum AUGGIES MAKE AN IMPACT FALL–WINTER 2017 | VOL. 80, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu Assistant Director of Marketing Management NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On celebration Augsburg’s ninth president, Bill Frame, was fond of pointing out our “militant modesty,” the tendency to avoid touting our accomplishments for fear that we might be accused of boasting. Whether occasioned by our Lutheran faith tradition or Scandinavian roots (or some combination thereof), this modesty meant that often our good work as an institution was hidden under a bushel. Now, as someone steeped both in Lutheran and Scandinavian ways, I may have occasionally fallen victim to that same modesty, but perhaps I am being rehabilitated because there is just so much to celebrate at Augsburg these days! We can no longer hide our light, as this issue of Augsburg Now most clearly illustrates. Whether it is our name change to Augsburg University, officially celebrated in early September; the 29th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum in mid-September, attracting international attention for this remarkable gathering of Nobel laureates and other peacemakers; the progress on the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, our signature academic building to open for classes in early January 2018; or one of the myriad other signs of good work—like the renewal of our McNair Scholars program, preparing first generation and students of color for graduate and professional school—I just can’t deny the need to celebrate! So, here’s my point. I’m all for humility and modesty in pursuing the mission-based work we are called to do for our students and our community. The gifts we share as a community—our values and commitments, our faculty and staff, our alumni and partners, and our inspiring students—these truly are gifts to be stewarded responsibly, not exploited. But it is not boasting when we celebrate how those gifts come together and are deployed to achieve our distinctive calling in the world: to be small to our students and big for the world, to educate students as informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. In fact, I might argue that not celebrating what has been achieved means that we miss the opportunity to proclaim what God has done in our midst and how others are invited to join us in the work we are called to do. We live in a world marked by a sense of scarcity; Augsburg models what it means to model the way of abundance. We choose abundance, and we celebrate all that God has made possible at Augsburg University—surely a beacon of light and hope in the world. Faithfully yours, Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Denielle Stepka ’11 johnsod@augsburg.edu Web Manager Joe Mann mannj@augsburg.edu Communication and Social Media Specialist Briana Alamilla ’17 alamilla@augsburg.edu Advancement Communications Specialist Asha Sorenson sorenso3@augsburg.edu Contributing Writers Kate H. Elliott Jessica Mueller All photos by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated. augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official University policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu AUGSBURG NOW Fall–Winter 2017 The Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is located near the corner of 21st Avenue South and South 7th Street on Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus—a site strategically selected to further connect the University to the community. 02 Around the quad 19 Women of influence 08 Annual report to donors 22 Auggies connect 10 Augsburg University Day 26 Class notes 12 The fatherhood bonus and the motherhood penalty 32 In memoriam 16 Nobel Peace Prize Forum On the cover The Augsburg University quad featured vibrant autumn colors this October. Photo by Kevin Healy. Inset photo by John Solem, University of Massachusetts Amherst. that Augsburg University’s quad now boasts a splash of color. At more than 82 feet wide, the vinyl graphic installed on Science Hall’s eastern-facing facade is nearly impossible to miss. The design pairs an excerpt from Augsburg’s strategic vision statement with vibrant hues chosen to reﬂect the accent colors on the exterior of the new Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, which stands northwest of Science Hall and is blocked from view in the quad. One of the priorities outlined in Augsburg’s 2016 campus master plan is to extend the quad from the west edge of campus, through the existing campus core, and on to Murphy Square. This vision requires the demolition of Science Hall, which will be possible only after departments and program offices now housed in the facility relocate following the completion of the Hagfors Center. The timeline for this work is not yet determined, so, in the near term, those strolling through the heart of campus or navigating nearby streets will see Science Hall stand as an illustration of Augsburg’s vision to be “small to our students and big for the world.” 160 Y E A R S A G O Fifteen years before Augsburg moved in next door, Edward Murphy donated land for the first city park in Minneapolis— what is now Murphy Square. For years prior, the parcel had been used as a cow pasture. 1937 1857 LOOKING BACK: DECADES OF AUGSBURG HISTORY BEFORE AFTER ARCHIVE PHOTOS 8 0 Y E A RS A GO Augsburg elected an erudite and scholarly teacher, Bernhard Christensen ’22, ’25, to be president. He led the institution for nearly 25 years, during which time Augsburg made vigorous efforts to expand and enhance academic offerings. 1967 IT WOULD BE OVERLY MODEST to claim 5 0 Y E A RS A GO Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel played for more than 3,000 people in Si Melby Hall on Nov. 10, 1967. According to an Augsburg Echo review, the lengthiest applause was reserved for the song, “To Emily, Wherever I Might Find Her.” The same year saw the openings of Urness Hall and the Christensen Center, with the Marshall Room at the time serving as a faculty lounge to the resentment of the Echo’s editorial board. PHOTO BY MARK CHAMBERLAIN CURB APPEAL AROUND THE QUAD Where faith and public life meet 30 Y E A RS A GO Augsburg began offering its first graduate degree program, the Master of Arts in Leadership. Augsburg now offers nine post baccalaureate programs and set an enrollment record this fall with 1,035 master’s students. 2007 40 Y E A R S AG O Construction began on what is now the Charles S. Anderson Music Hall, which would open a year later, bringing the entire music department under one roof for the first time in 100 years. AN AUGGIE THROWBACK PHOTO BY REBECCA SLATER 1987 1977 The Rev. Mike Rusert [center] and members of Intertwine NE meet on a Sunday morning to plan a December 10 launch event designed as an inclusive experience for young adults interested in being part of an intentional spiritual community. PHOTOS BY DON STONER It is no secret that the gap between young adults and Christian congregations is widening. The good news, though, is that young people are not rejecting faith or religion; many are living out their faith through political activism, the arts, environmental stewardship, and interfaith engagement—places where public life and faith intersect. Bridging this gap will require congregations to adapt and innovate. To support this adaptive work, Augsburg’s Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation has launched a five-year project, called the Riverside Innovation Hub, with $1.5 million in funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc. In its first year, the Riverside Innovation Hub will work with an interdisciplinary research team of Augsburg faculty to study 12 local congregations that are effectively engaging young adults in their communities. Using the lessons learned from that research, the program will recruit and train a cohort of youth to serve as coaches, working alongside approximately 15 partner congregations committed to new ministry with young adults. “Partner congregations can then apply for two-year innovation grants to implement their programs in 2019 to 2021,” said Kristina Frugé, program manager for the Riverside Innovation Hub. At the end of that experience, all program participants will share their key learnings. Augsburg will publish the results and share the outcomes and insights through conferences and workshops. “Vocation is at the center of this project,” Frugé said. “For congregations, it’s about discerning their call in relationship with their young adult neighbors. For young adults, it’s about a connection with a Christian community who can accompany them in exploring how faith and public life intersect in ways that matter most to them.” Melissa Lee ’04, Augsburg’s head softball coach, threw out a ceremonial first pitch before an August Minnesota Twins game at Target Field as part of the team’s annual Lutheran Night festivities. Lee joined former St. Olaf pitcher the Rev. Charlie Ruud, with the pair dressed in costume as historical husband and wife duo Martin Luther and Katharina (von Bora) Luther in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the 1517 Protestant Reformation. Ruud previously served as a Campus Ministry intern at Augsburg. 1 0 Y E A RS A GO In 2007, Oren Gateway Center opened, connecting Riverside Avenue with the James G. Lindell Library, which opened a decade earlier. OGC will lose the distinction of being Augsburg’s newest building when the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is completed in late 2017. FALL - WINTER 2017 3 A N O T H ER F IV E YEARS OF SERVING SCHOLARS Every year, more than two dozen undergraduate students participate in Augsburg’s McNair Scholars Program, an intensive 21 months of graduate school preparation that opens doors to some of the most competitive institutions in the U.S. What’s more, these McNair Scholars are from populations who statistically are less likely to have the opportunity to pursue advanced research and doctoral degrees—firstgeneration college students with financial need and/or students from racial and ethnic populations who are underrepresented in Each year, Augsburg selects two graduate education. McNair Scholars to represent Now, with a five-year renewal of its grant, the University at the Minnesota Private College Scholars Showcase Augsburg’s McNair Scholars, a federal TRIO at the Minnesota State Capitol. program funded by the U.S. Department of Education, will be able to continue supporting these students’ pursuit of advanced degrees through at least 2022. The McNair Scholars Program was created by the U.S. Congress in honor of Ronald E. McNair, one of the first African American astronauts in the U.S. space program. Augsburg’s program provides graduate school preparation workshops, travel to a national research conference, hands-on scholarly research projects with faculty mentors, and more. Since 2007, according to “Tina” Maria Tavera, director of the McNair Scholars Program, Augsburg McNair Scholars alumni have completed or are currently pursuing more than 30 master’s degrees, 19 doctoral degrees, two medical school degrees, and two doctor of pharmacy degrees. With nearly $1.2 million of future funding, Augsburg is excited to see further program success. Augsburg awarded $475,000 to infuse sustainability in university life Augsburg University has new opportunities to live out its commitment to sustainability on campus, in the community, and among institutional partners thanks to nearly half a million dollars in new grant funding from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, a Minnesota-based foundation that believes colleges and universities can serve as models of operational sustainability for society at large. Using the grant award, Augsburg will facilitate student internships and other experiences at sustainability-focused organizations, strengthen and expand course offerings in Environmental Studies, fund student and faculty research, integrate In 2015, the Margaret sustainability and wellness A. Cargill Foundation contributed $1 million to across the academic the campaign to build the curriculum, and more. Hagfors Center for Science, “The next breakthrough Business, and Religion. in sustainability could come from a student majoring in communications, philosophy, or education,” said Allyson Green, Augsburg chief sustainability officer. “For all of us to live on this planet sustainably and equitably, we need all perspectives, experiences, types of knowledge, and skill sets to be part of the work.” Did you know? AN OC C A S IO N TO C E LE B R AT E Augsburg event series honors Reformation anniversary Augsburg held a series of events this fall marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. To kick off the series, Augsburg was honored to host ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton for two events: the Christensen Symposium, which focused on interfaith friendships, and a panel discussion with representatives of #DecolonizeLutheranism, a grassroots movement challenging long-held patterns of white power and privilege in the ELCA and stereotypes of what it means to be Lutheran. The series continued in October, in observance of Heritage Day, when Mary Lowe, associate professor of religion, invited community members to consider Martin Luther’s perspectives on bodies and creation. Lowe explained how—even today—Luther’s theology relates to complex issues. Lowe discussed themes related to climate change, gender and sexuality, abuse, and deforestation. In November, award-winning musical group The Rose Ensemble presented “Welcome the People: The Musical Legacy of the Reformation.” The ensemble creates musical performances and educational programs that connect audiences to compelling stories of human history, culture, and spirituality from around the world. The celebration ends with this year’s Advent Vespers, the theme of which is inspired by Luther’s hymn, “From Heaven Above.” Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about Augsburg’s Reformation event series and Advent Vespers. 4 AUGSBURG NOW AROUND THE QUAD MAKING HISTORY VISIBLE In the basement of Wilson Library at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a team of researchers is working to map the history of racial segregation in Minneapolis. The group is unearthing racial restrictions buried in Minneapolis property deeds to create the first comprehensive visualization of historical racial covenants for a U.S. city. The project, called Mapping Prejudice, started with Augsburg’s Historyapolis Project, which seeks to illuminate the history of Minneapolis and has traced the roots of the city’s present-day racial disparities through historical research. To date, Mapping Prejudice researchers have found around 5,000 property deeds containing language that historically restricted ownership of residential properties by race. Enforcing these restrictions has been illegal in Minnesota for more than 60 years, but the records provide insight into the racial segregation that persists in Minneapolis neighborhoods. “Minneapolis is known for its parks, high-quality schools, and progressive politics,” said Kirsten Delegard, director of the Historyapolis Project and Augsburg scholar-in-residence. “Yet we have the highest racial disparities in the country.” Delegard said racial covenants were once pervasive in many U.S. cities and were instrumental in remaking the racial landscape of Minneapolis, which had not always been segregated. As many as 10,000 or more Minneapolis property deeds may contain such racially restrictive language. One of those properties is the Augsburg House, a residence on West River Road in Minneapolis that the University purchased in 1998. “When I saw the information that the Mapping Prejudice team had compiled for south Minneapolis, I suspected that Augsburg House originally had a racially restricted deed,” said Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow. “Nearly every new development in south Minneapolis in the early 20th century carried those types of restrictions.” The property’s 1926 deed didn’t initially show up in the project’s electronic search process because the document was handwritten, but Delegard was able to locate the deed manually. The University has sought legal counsel regarding options for clarifying that Augsburg does not support discriminatory restrictions on the property. “At the same time, we want to ensure we maintain the historical record represented by the deed,” Pribbenow said, “so that we never lose track of the disgraceful manners in which covenants were used to segregate our communities and to inﬂict real harm on so many.” The Mapping Prejudice project is a massive undertaking, so the group strives to engage volunteers in the work. Many Augsburg students have become involved, including two history students who did semester-long internships last year helping build a digital map display and an entire history The Mapping Prejudice team includes Kevin Erhman-Solberg ’14 [left], a University of Minnesota graduate student in geographic information science; Penny Peterson [center], a veteran property records researcher; Kirsten Delegard [right], director of the Historyapolis Project and Augsburg scholar-in-residence; and Ryan Mattke [not pictured], a map and geospatial information librarian from the University of Minnesota. class that is working with the project throughout the fall semester this year. Several sociology classes got involved this past spring and summer, helping develop the program’s volunteer outreach strategy. Students from Pribbenow’s honors seminar also helped transcribe deeds this past spring, and a cohort of Augsburg first-year students engaged in the work as part of City Service Day at the beginning of the 2017 academic year. “We absolutely could not have developed the project without this kind of participation from both students and faculty,” said Delegard, who is continuing to seek funding that will allow the project to get even more students involved in all aspects of the work. Go to augsburg.edu/now to link to an interactive map illustrating the spread of racially restrictive deeds across Minneapolis during the first half of the 20th century and to learn more about getting involved in Mapping Prejudice research. FALL - WINTER 2017 5 AWARDS 2017 Top 25 LGBTQ-friendly Colleges & Universities: Augsburg was named to Campus Pride’s list of the top 25 LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities in 2017. Campus Pride is the leading national organization for creating safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. Top 50 nationally for contribution to the public good: Augsburg was the No. 2 institution in Minnesota named by Washington Monthly in its 2017 Master’s Universities rankings. The list rates schools based upon their contribution to the public good in three categories: social mobility, research, and service. Top 25 schools for service-learning: Augsburg has been named one of U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 Top 25 Colleges and Universities for Service Learning. The sole Minnesota school on this list, Augsburg requires volunteering in the community as an instructional strategy. Schools garnering recognition were nominated by fellow institutions, college and university presidents or deans, and chief academic officers. At its September meeting, the Augsburg Corporation elected four additional members to the Board of Regents and re-elected three currently serving members. In addition, in accordance with the bylaws for Augsburg University, two bishops were appointed as ex-officio board members this fall. Augsburg University welcomes these new regents and thanks them for their service. • Eric J. Jolly, president and chief executive officer of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. Jolly previously served on the Augsburg Board of Regents from 2008-2015. • Cynthia G. Jones ’81, senior level advisor for nuclear safety and analysis at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Jones previously served on the Augsburg Board from 2010-2012. • Dean Kennedy ’75, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Texakoma Oil & Gas Corporation. Kennedy previously served on the Augsburg Board from 2005-2013. • Karolynn Lestrud ’68, retired photography and publishing industry professional; former board member in historic preservation and performing arts organizations; and active volunteer in arts, education, and theater. COURTESY PHOTO Elected to a new four-year term in 2017: Eric J. Jolly COURTESY PHOTO Recognition for being student-centered: For the second year in a row, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranked Augsburg No. 2 in Minnesota for student engagement in the learning process in their ranking of U.S. colleges and universities. The student engagement score is based largely on results of a student survey that addresses how challenging classes are, whether they foster critical thinking and prompt students to make connections to the real world, and how much interaction the students have with faculty and other students. WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS Cynthia G. Jones ’81 COURTESY PHOTO Best Regional Universities: U.S. News & World Report again named Augsburg among the best universities in the Midwest. Rankings are based on factors including average firstyear retention rates, graduation rates, class sizes, student-to-faculty ratios, acceptance rates, and more. BOARD OF REGENTS Elected to a second four-year term: • Wayne Jorgenson ’71, senior vice president of wealth management at UBS Financial Services Inc. • Dennis Meyer ’78, chief marketing and business development officer at Robins Kaplan LLP • Pam Moksnes ’79, vice president for gift planning services, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, through the Lutheran Church Extension Fund Elected to a third four-year term: • Ann Ashton-Piper, president of the IT consulting firm The Bridgie Group Appointed as ex-officio members of the Board of Regents for a three-year term: • The Rev. Patricia J. Lull, bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod • The Rev. Steven H. Delzer, bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Dean Kennedy ’75 PHOTO BY CAROLINE YANG Augsburg University is consistently recognized for excellence. This year’s accolades include: Karolynn Lestrud ’68 S T C FA AROUND THE QUAD ON THE SPOT Communications expert describes history and peril of “fake news” WHILE THE TERM “FAKE NEWS” IS RELATIVELY NEW, the phenomenon, of course, is not. People throughout time have been motivated to share false information in ways that give it the appearance of legitimacy or to discredit accurate information in order to serve their own interests. Newer, digital media channels have made the tools to do so readily available and more effective, according to Jenny Hanson, assistant professor of communication studies, film, and new media. What’s more, social media sites tend to present users with information that confirms existing biases. In her classes, Hanson teaches students the media literacy skills necessary to be critical consumers of the news. Q: A: What is the history of “fake news” in media? Fake news has been around for centuries; it’s probably as old as humans’ ability to communicate. People seem to have a natural desire to tell tall tales. After all, spectacles draw crowds and outlandish stories trend. Fake news took off with the invention of the printing press in 1439, in part because stories were difficult to verify and mass distribution meant news could travel relatively quickly. A journalistic code of conduct toward objectivity and the practice of fact-checking did not yet exist. Stories about strange beasts, hideous crimes, and falsified scientific discoveries sold papers, and for advertising-supported publications, that was the goal. As journalism evolved and as newspapers came to rely on subscription models, impartiality and accuracy became guiding principles. In the 1980s, standards changed when cable TV made the 24/7 news cycle a reality. Next, the internet created alternate—and rapid— means of news distribution and increased access to content-creation tools among the general population. Today, new reasons for using fake news are emerging: to distract, to challenge existing knowledge, and to raise doubt about the validity of information, all in order to favor particular interests. In this way, calling something “fake news” and creating fake news both can be used to advance political, social, or personal interests in a way that functions more like propaganda. Calling something fake triggers a reaction in us to question and doubt, thereby decreasing our confidence in the information and opening us up to different possibilities. Q: A: What are the potential real-world implications? There are immense implications when news is inaccurate. Journalists understand that if they misreport, misquote, or just plain get the story wrong, there are often legal implications, damage to the outlet’s reputation, and harm to those wronged. When fake news is used as propaganda, it threatens the very legitimacy of news itself, inviting us to believe what is most aligned with our own ideologies rather than what actually is. The damage can be widespread, creating lasting impacts that go on to shape industry, policies, procedures, culture, artifacts of history, and society. Q: What can individuals do to protect themselves from falsities and to process news and information critically? A: There are many actions people can take to become savvy information consumers. The advice we tell students includes getting your news from a variety of sources, seeking connections on social media who have viewpoints differing from your own, and reading beyond the headline and before sharing information. In a critical reading, check the author’s credentials, watch out for emotional appeals or outrageous claims, look to see that sources are named and are experts in their fields, review the article date for context, and consider your own bias. Understand the source and their interests, and be sure websites are the official sites and not ones intended to mimic another’s appearance. Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn more about the line between falsehood and satire. FALL - WINTER 2017 7 2016-17 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT When you give to Augsburg, you aren’t just supporting a private university—you’re paving the way for students to make a living, make a life, and make a community. The impact of your generosity can be seen in the lives of thousands of students who are now embracing financial security, finding their vocation, and following their calling. TO DONORS ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE $40.5 $38.3 May 31, 2017—$43,878,362 $32.4 $28.2 $39.4 $34.6 $33.3 $31.5 $43.9 REVENUE BY SOURCE $29.8 75% 8% 7% $24.5 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 As of May 31, 2017, Augsburg University’s endowment had annual realized and unrealized gains of 12.19 percent. The five-year average annual return on the endowment is 8.21 percent, and the 10-year average annual return is 4.34 percent. The University is committed to maintaining the value of the principal to provide support to Augsburg in perpetuity. Your philanthropy is creating an Augsburg that will be SUSTAINABLE, 7% 3% EXPENSES BY CATEGORY 38% 33% 20% 4% 3% 2% 1% Salaries and Benefits Financial Aid Operating Expenses Debt Services Utilities and Insurance Student Compensation Capital Improvement FAITHFUL,and RELEVANT long into the future. Thanks to you and other committed friends, Augsburg is preparing students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to serve and lead in our communities, schools, places of worship, and businesses. During fiscal year 2016-17, more than 9,300 individual donors gave $17,216,961 through cash gifts, pledges, and planned gifts. Augsburg Fund supporters provided the University with more than $1.1 million in unrestricted, discretionary funds to improve the student experience. Tuition Room and Board Private Gifts and Grants Other Sources Federal Grants MAKE A LIVING When juggling the rigors of family life, owning three businesses, and coaching high school sports, starting a graduate program might not hit the top priority list for many people. But for Joe Tadros ’98, ’17 MBA, the benefits of pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree to further his career and build greater financial security for his family were worth the effort. “My graduate experience was an eye opener. It reminded me where I came from, and where I wanted to be in the future,” said Tadros. “My classmates had unique abilities and talents, and I learned so much from them.” Joe Tadros ’98, ’17 MBA Shika Addo Memorial Scholarship Tadros now serves as a guest lecturer for Augsburg finance classes, sharing life lessons with undergraduates. With his degree, and your gifts, he looks to the future with confidence, knowing that his kids will be well provided for and that his impact will extend beyond his career. MAKE A LIFE As a shy, small-town kid, Kevin Tran ’18 would never have believed it had someone told him that as a college student he would become a board member for three student organizations, travel abroad with the choir, work as an intern for US Bank, and volunteer in the community in his free time. Tran began to really come out of his shell by living his life through the Auggie experience. “When I came [to Augsburg], I didn’t know what to expect. In high school, I was just really all about my work. Augsburg exposed me to who I am supposed to be ... I became more independent, more knowledgeable, more vocal, and more myself.” Kevin Tran ’18 Leland and Louise Sundet Scholarship Because of you, Tran has found his calling and is planning to pursue his dream by working in marketing for the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. MAKE A COMMUNITY Singing, studying, social work, public policy, and reconstructing the criminal justice system. These are among the top priorities for Augsburg student Alexa Anderson ’19. Anderson may be a proud member of the Honors Program and Augsburg vocal ensembles, but the deeper she dives into her studies as a social work major, the more motivated she has become to change her community through restorative justice. Alexa Anderson ’19 Mabeth Saure Gyllstrom Scholarship Dorothy Lijsing Kleven President’s Scholarship in Choral Music “Augsburg has completely changed me as a person, specifically regarding how I view my role as a member of a community,” she said. “Before coming here, I didn’t understand how important being an active member of a community was. Through my classes, volunteering, internships, and living in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, I now believe that in order for a community to succeed, its members must act and live in a way that encourages understanding, acceptance, and unity.” A NEW DAY, A NEW KIND OF UNIVERSITY BY JESSICA MUELLER AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY DAY was a moment of celebration—a time to honor and appreciate the abiding principles on which Augsburg was founded and an opportunity to consider Augsburg’s commitment to shaping the world for generations to come. Augsburg marked the transition from college to university through a commemorative day full of fun and fellowship. And, although Augsburg College officially became Augsburg University on September 1, the campus threw its proverbial hat in the air a few days later—on September 5, the day Augsburg formally welcomed its most diverse incoming class in school history. OPENING CONVOCATION On September 5, Augsburg’s Class of 2021 rose early to participate in the grand finale of their welcome week: Opening Convocation. New students marched across campus, past rows of cheering faculty and staff, and toward Hoversten Chapel with pride (and maybe a few sheepish grins), to engage in a historic beginning for them and for their school: the commissioning of Augsburg University’s inaugural first-year class. This year’s event featured elements linked with Augsburg’s commitments to faith, diversity, and vocation: Lutheran hymns, interfaith blessings, and international flags representing the countries from which Augsburg students come. President Paul Pribbenow encouraged new Auggies to do justly, love mercy, walk humbly ... and follow him on Twitter. And that was just the beginning. A MOMENT TO REMEMBER Following Opening Convocation, the Class of 2021 processed from the chapel to the quad where they were met by stilt walkers, local musicians, Haitian and Somali dancers, and the smells of dishes as varied and diverse as the neighborhoods surrounding Augsburg’s metropolitan campus. More than 800 students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University convened to feast on sambusas, Mexican tacos, cotton candy, brats and sauerkraut, and, in some cases, all of the above. 10 AUGSBURG NOW Students had nearly two hours to take in their surroundings, grab food, pose at the Auggie photo booth, and assemble hygiene kits for the Augsburg Health Commons, which serves unsheltered persons throughout Minneapolis. Many even had time to read a proclamation, signed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, naming September 5, 2017, Augsburg University Day. A UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY In the afternoon, more than 500 students, faculty, and staff gathered in small groups and dispersed throughout Minneapolis to listen to, learn from, and volunteer with local partners and nonprofits with ties to Augsburg. In total, the Class of 2021 donated nearly $35,000 in service work at more than 20 Twin Cities locations. The entire string of events—from the convocation, to the celebration, to the service-learning opportunities—demonstrated that Augsburg’s name change was much more than updated monument signs (though they do look nice), letterhead, and websites. The name change was a collaborative effort to share Augsburg’s story—the narrative of a place that’s deeply embedded in its community, that richly lives out its traditions, and that points to a bolder vision of what a student-centered, urban university can be … small to its students, and big for the world. FALL - WINTER 2017 11 The fatherhood BONUS a n d th e PENALTY motherhood BY KATE H. ELLIOTT G r o un d b r e a k i n g r e s e a rch by alum na M i c he l l e B u d i g ’ 9 3 s h eds light on wage ga p b e t we e n f a t h e rs and m others Michelle Budig’s story is deeply woven into her pioneering research to expose gender inequality and examine family policies in the workforce. The product of an outspoken dental receptionist and a pious electrician— who staked the yard with opposing political signs—Budig learned from a young age to question, wonder, and voice her beliefs. In preschool, for example, she insisted her class change the lyrics of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to remove “and with the girls be handy.” But despite her early and strong advocacy for girls’ rights, Budig still believed that as an adult she would have to choose between motherhood and a meaningful career. Indeed, at 22, she married her Augsburg sweetheart, nurse practitioner Peter Landstrom ’91, but then waited almost 20 years—until 12 AUGSBURG NOW after she secured tenure as a sociology professor—to adopt their daughter, Lucy. Her beliefs about how things should be were tempered by her understanding of how things actually are. It may be no surprise, then, that Budig focused her scholarly research on the impact of parenting across gender—specifically the wage inequities between fathers and mothers across the pay scale. Her latest findings, currently making rounds in The New York Times and the like, assert that although the gender pay gap is decreasing (women now make about 76 cents for every man’s dollar), wage inequalities among parents who work are increasing. Overall, fathers incur an average wage increase of more than 6 percent with each child, while women experience, on average, a 4 percent decrease in salary per child. Fatherhood, ultimately, is considered a “valued characteristic, signaling perhaps a greater work commitment, stability, and deservingness,” said Budig, Sociology Department chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Mothers, on the other hand, are often perceived as “exhausted and distracted at work,” rendering them less productive. Beyond perception, other significant contributors to the discrepancy include that women often take time off to care for children and bypass higher wages for mom-friendly roles. “Kids are seen as a privilege, not a right, so if you want to have them, you must pay the price,” Budig said, referencing a view some hold. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SOLEM, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST TY Michelle Budig ’93 is an award-winning professor and author whose research interests focus on gender, employment, labor markets, earnings, stratification, and family. FALL - WINTER 2017 13 But it’s not as simple as “dads make more, moms make less,” Budig said. Using sophisticated statistical techniques on a large sample of U.S. workers, Budig found that parenting exacerbates earnings inequalities within genders depending on income. The “fatherhood bonus,” as she calls it, is highest for the most advantaged men—married, white, college graduates with professional jobs. Unmarried, black men in non-professional occupations, for instance, receive minimal—if any—bonus. The motherhood penalty is smallest among women who earn above the 90th percentile of female workers, with women at the very top of the income distribution experiencing no wage penalty. Low-to-average earning women incur the greatest motherhood penalty, Budig found. “I always thought that women who made the most would have the most to lose, but that is certainly not the case, and it makes complete sense when you consider factors and stressors influencing populations at the top and bottom of the pay scale,” Budig said. “Fathers and mothers earning lower wages often rely on fragile networks of free child care, and when a grandmother or friend is sick or doesn’t show, those parents can’t make it to work. Conversely, parents who can afford it, secure reliable, consistent child care operated by licensed professionals.” Additionally, lower-earning men and women statistically are more likely to have children, Budig said, which leads to higher penalties for those families. Accessible child care among policies to close the gap Budig suggests two policy shifts to reduce the gap: publicly funded, high-quality child care for babies and toddlers and nontransferable paid leave for both mothers and fathers. The “nontransferable” part is critical, Budig reiterated, as “evidence suggests that if fathers can transfer leave to a female partner, they will.” “Access for all to high-quality, reliable, licensed child care options would certainly even the playing field for both parents and children,” Budig said. “Think of all the stress it would alleviate from low-income families relying on less dependable child care. Businesses would likely be more productive with a more resilient, consistent workforce. And children growing up in low-income situations would benefit from the same instruction and care as wealthier families, giving those young ones a stronger start.” This approach is not new. Many Scandinavian countries, which support publicly funded child care and offer incentivized paternal leave, report smaller It' s not as simple as “dads make more, moms make less.” Wider wage gaps among lower-earning individuals are exacerbated by the fact that people tend to marry within socioeconomic situations, Budig adds, so low-earning couples take greater hits, while highly paid duos keep climbing. 14 AUGSBURG NOW or no parental pay gaps. In contrast, countries with entrenched gender roles, like Germany, where new mothers are expected to take a year or more off work, report the highest motherhood penalties. “Workplace policies matter,” Budig Budig’s 19-page curriculum vitae details the more than $725,000 in grants she’s received, including some from the National Science Foundation, and lists her articles in professional journals, including the American Sociological Review. She regularly contributes to national and international media outlets, including The New York Times, Money Magazine, and the Washington Post. said. “Most of my life, I had to choose between being a mother and having a meaningful career, and unless progressive policies are adopted, the parental and economic gaps will persist.” The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked the United States last in a study the intergovernmental organization conducted about the national paid maternity leave policies of its member countries. The average amount of paid leave time for mothers among its 35-member countries was a little more than one year, as of 2016. Budig notes there is progress on the state level, citing California’s paid family leave, which allows family members to take time off to care for a loved one or to bond with a new child entering their life (either by birth, adoption, or foster care). Without a comprehensive federal approach, however, Budig warns of the implications of inconsistencies across states. “It’s encouraging to see states and companies take action, but it leads to inequities among states and industries, which may only add to our country’s increasing divide,” said Budig, who has testified before Congress and the United Nations about the implications of her research. “More universal support will reduce wage gaps, promote greater equality, and better prepare our children to be productive members of society.” The culture is shifting as men embrace female roles But beyond evolutions in policy, Budig sees hope in the young people she interacts with as a professor and mentor. They expect both parties—and want both partners—to be involved in maintaining the household. Single-paycheck families are difficult to sustain, and popular books and blogs are encouraging mothers to shed the mom guilt, cast aside the superwoman expectations, and go order a pizza for dinner. “Believe me, I get it. Even with the most supportive husband, who as a nurse, experiences his own gender stereotypes, I still slip into unrealistic expectations,” said Budig, who earned a master’s and doctorate in sociology from the University of Arizona. “Our marriage is a constant conversation, and splitting up the chores by room works for us.” A 2016 PayScale Gender Pay Gap Report found that men still out-earn women in every state in the union, but Vermont is the closest to equality, with women earning 84.8 percent of what men earn overall, as opposed to Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Wyoming where women earn from 71 to 73 percent of their male counterparts’ income. The national average is 76 percent, per the report, which does not factor in years of experience, education, or job title. When such national statistics were first calculated in the 1970s, it was about 60 percent. Mentors pushed her to live with a ‘heart for service’ Budig lost both her parents nearly two years ago. She often wishes she could talk with her mom about her latest research, knowing her mom would get a kick out of hearing about innovative solutions to promote equality and increase access for women. “My mom was wildly supportive of my work, but I’ll never forget the first time she read a major study I published about the wage gap. I was driving, and she was in the back seat. She looked up and said, ‘Michelle, everyone knows women earn less than men. That’s what you’ve been working on?’ Gee, thanks, mom,” Budig said. “I think she would have appreciated this last batch of research and what I’m focused on next, which involves female entrepreneurs and a study about the motherhood penalty in Israel.” Although there is no replacing a driveand-talk with mom, Budig is not short on inspiring female mentors. At Augsburg, where she majored in English and sociology, Budig sought out educators to support her journey. Sociology Professor Diane Pike has taught Auggies for more than three decades, and Budig certainly stands out. “Michelle had a seriousness and sophistication about intellectual ideas and work that was exemplary, and being a first-generation student, she never lost sight of the privilege it is to pursue higher education. She set the bar high for herself, and we’ve been following her career ever since,” said Pike, who specializes in organizational analysis, sociological theory, and research methods. “There is nothing better than seeing one of your students succeed at such a level. Michelle’s a big deal in sociology, speaking at top conferences and advocating for important change. She has a rare ability to convey complex data and theories to general audiences, and we are very proud of her.” Budig’s Auggie roots run deep, and both she and Landstrom commit themselves to its mission through caregiving and advocating for change. Augsburg gave them a way of looking at the world and approaching life that will never leave them, Budig said. “The greatest takeaway from Augsburg is our desire—the responsibility, really— to give back and live with a heart for service to others. Every day, we try to live out that change in our personal and professional lives.” FALL - WINTER 2017 15 N I E U G O DIAL SOCIETIES D E D I V I D 20 17 N ob e l Pe a ce P rize Forum li s o p nea n i M — [Above] Representatives of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet are joined on stage by Peace Scholars and other participants at the closing ceremony of the Forum. [Left] During a break, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureates posed for photos in front of a three-story mural featuring their images along with dozens of other past laureates. N obel Peace Prize laureates, world leaders, and renowned peacemakers came together this fall as Augsburg University hosted the 29th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum—Minneapolis. As an international peace congress, the Forum united honored guests, students, and community members in considering the globally significant, multidimensional nature of peace by examining topics that ranged from disarmament and human rights to economic development and environmental sustainability. This year’s Forum kicked off with several hundred attendees filling Augsburg’s Si Melby Gymnasium to listen to the incredible, true story of the 2015 Nobel Laureates—leaders who inspired a sharply divided nation to find common ground and, ultimately, form one of the world’s newest democracies. During a conversation presented in both English and Arabic, representatives of the Tunisian National Dialogue 16 AUGSBURG NOW Quartet described an arduous and inspiring peacemaking model in which members of business, labor, human rights, and law disciplines crafted a sustaining democratic constitution through peaceful dialogue. Recognized collectively with the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for their contribution to building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia following the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet is made up of leaders from four key organizations in the north African nation’s civil society. In the tense early moments of the Arab Spring uprisings, the Quartet exercised its role as a mediator and demonstrated the power of civil communication in sensitive political circumstances. Perhaps no other Forum experience better illustrated the event’s overarching theme: Dialogue in Divided Societies. Nobel Peace Prize Forum art festival Augsburg University has served as the Nobel Peace Prize Forum’s official host since 2012, but in recent years, the event itself has taken place at several conference venues across the Twin Cities. Bringing the Forum back to Augsburg this fall gave global peacebuilders the opportunity to experience the unique, urban beauty of the University’s location and to engage with a large-scale outdoor art exhibition on display across campus. In the spirit of fostering dialogue during the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, artists from across the United States collaborated on installations that highlighted the layered and often overlapping complexity of finding solutions to global issues. The art exhibition was curated by Christopher Houltberg, assistant professor of art and director of Augsburg’s Design & Agency program, a student-run design studio experience that teaches design thinking and problem-solving in graphic design. One of the most talked-about installations at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum was a Hex House constructed in Murphy Square. Designed by Architects for Society, a nonprofit seeking to enhance the built environment for disadvantaged communities, the Hex House is a prototype for dignified, low-cost, flexible housing that’s easy to deploy in emergency situations. Given that the Forum dates fell just after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma brought havoc and destruction to the Caribbean, Texas, and Florida, the Hex House was a timely opportunity to see how smart design can address critical community needs. Building peace in the greater Twin Cities, around the world Throughout the four days of the 2017 program, attendees participated in dozens of breakout sessions led by globally recognized leaders in the fields of international development and peacemaking. Participants had the opportunity to meet and hear from national and world leaders—including Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Kåre Aas, Tunisian Ambassador to the United States H.E. Fayçal Gouia, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison. Other often-recognized presenters at the event included former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who is seeking to end gun violence, and Barbara Bush, who founded the Global Health Corps organization to mobilize young leaders to support health equity. The Nobel Peace Prize Forum also prompted attendees to consider local peace-building needs, convening conversations focused on present-day issues in the Twin Cities. Students, community members, and facilitators worked through difficult discussions on respecting and honoring sacred spaces, bridging political differences through civil dialogue, and addressing cross-generational injustice. These mediated conversations went beyond campus to places that brought the topics to life. For example, part of the dialogue on preserving Native American sites took place in suburban Eagan at Pilot Knob, an area that was an indigenous gathering place and sacred burial ground for centuries. “It’s entirely fitting that these important conversations are happening at Augsburg University as part of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum,” said the Forum’s Program Director Joe Underhill, reflecting on the entire event. “A university is a place where civic dialogue on difficult topics is not only allowed, but highly encouraged,” said Underhill, an associate professor of political science at Augsburg. “It is only through that kind of dialogue that we are going to move toward any mutual understanding on these issues.” [Far left] Augsburg Design & Agency students created numerous large-scale art installations to convey the theme, Dialogue in Divided Societies. [Near left] The Hex House, a low-cost, emergency housing prototype, showcased how smart design can create humane solutions during crises. FALL - WINTER 2017 17 JOIN US FOR THE 30TH [Above] Chief Arvol Looking Horse and Methodist Bishop Bruce Ough visit the Red Rock, a boulder that is located at a United Methodist Church in Newport, Minnesota, and considered sacred by the Dakota people. The 2017 Forum included site visits addressing local peace-building topics. September 19–22, 2018 Augsburg University [Left] Interactive art installations allowed Forum attendees to participate in creating displays that reflected their own perspectives on peacemaking. PRESENTED BY LEAD SPONSORS ® SPONSORS MEDIA SPONSORS 45 0 100 3 18 AUGSBURG NOW #93C33A 0 70 85 0 #F76 WOMENOF INFLUENCE BY KATE H. ELLIOTT Augsburg outscores national average of female coaches, supports inclusive culture across Athletics department “Only priests and participants’ fathers can be anywhere near the pool,” three St. Catherine’s nuns echoed in protest as Augsburg’s 1963 swim instructor, Malcolm “Mac” Gimse, led then-20-year-old Joyce Pfaff ’65 and three other physical education majors onto the pool deck. Gimse reluctantly exited the building, but as the Auggies lined up at water’s edge, “GO AUGSBURG” boomed from the stands. Pfaff looked up, and there was her instructor, wearing a big smile and a clerical collar. Call it obstinate or call it resolute, but Pfaff adopted that tenacity—and it helped her climb over, chisel away, and bust down a decade’s worth of walls in women’s athletics and coaching prior to the passage of Title IX, a federal law that allows women access to any federally funded educational program or activity. So, it comes as no surprise that Augsburg’s first women’s athletic director is “beyond proud” that a recent report ties Augsburg with Macalester College as the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s schools with the most female head coaches. Head Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Coach Meghan Peyton ’14 MAL leads a team practice. FALL - WINTER 2017 19 PHOTO BY CYNDI NIGHTENGALE, CYNBADMEDIA This distinction, out of the University of Minnesota’s Tucker Center for Research on Women and Girls in Sport, is particularly encouraging as national studies point to dramatic decreases in women coaching women’s sports. When Title IX was passed in 1972, women coached 90 percent of women’s collegiate athletic teams. Today, only about 40 percent of those teams are led by female coaches, according to the NCAA. Augsburg hits national average out of the park Pfaff coached at a time before women’s athletics were afforded official equipment or facilities. In fact, Pfaff helped build Augsburg’s first softball field. Today, she remains confident in Augsburg’s ability to advance equality. According to the Tucker Center, Augsburg leapt from having slightly more than 36 percent female head coaches in 2014 to nearly 73 percent in 2017. “Think of how far we’ve come,” Pfaff said. “Augsburg’s first volleyball coach, Mary Timm ’81, could ‘afford’ to coach for us because she had a full-time job as a day care supervisor, and she used vacation time to travel with the team. Today, Augsburg has more women’s teams (11) than 20 AUGSBURG NOW men’s (10), and the Athletic Department works hard to create an equitable, forward-thinking, and inclusive culture.” Augsburg Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 and Associate Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks appreciate the Tucker Center’s acknowledgement of Augsburg’s dedication to women’s athletics. University leaders are ever-vigilant in their efforts to support all coaches, staff, and student-athletes in achieving a well-balanced life. “Coaching demands all of you and more, with 365-day recruiting on top of practices, planning, and leading studentathletes in competition and out in their everyday lives,” said Swenson, who has worked at Augsburg for more than 36 years. “We are committed to work-life integration. The best coaches are fulfilled, healthy, and productive members at home and in the community— an approach to life we want to mirror for our student-athletes.” Anderson Diercks recruits coaches and advises studentathletes interested in transitioning from court to clipboard. She is keenly aware of the factors contributing to the diminishing number of female coaches across the U.S. and emphasizes that even if you’re in a position of success, there’s still room for improvement. It’s vital for all students to see women as role models in all professions, including athletics. —Kelly Anderson Diercks, associate athletic director “College athletic departments need to do a better job of recruiting and retaining women coaches through mentoring, professional development, and supportive cultures,” she said. “And it is critically important that this conversation is not just about women coaching women. It should be about women in coaching, which includes women coaching boys and men. It’s vital for all students to see women as role models in all professions, including athletics.” Popularity of women’s athletics contributes to decline in coaching equity The NCAA’s findings suggest that a major factor contributing to the decline of women coaching women is, ironically, tied to the boom of women’s athletics. With increased popularity came expanded staffs and higher salaries, attracting men—particularly longtime assistant coaches—to lead women’s teams. And while 60 percent of women’s teams are coached by men, according to the study, women guide only about 3 percent of men’s teams. Roughly 80 percent of collegiate athletic directors are men. Is a solution to ignore gender? “Absolutely not,” Anderson Diercks said. “Like any dimension of diversity, to ignore or deny a part of someone’s identity does not allow them to show up as their fullest and best self, and then we all miss out. There is richness in diversity, and women are an important part of that diversity, especially in the athletic arena.” A coaching job is demanding, with long hours, travel, and high expectations, but those pressures can be overcome, Swenson said. The more universities exemplify work-life balance, the more family-oriented student-athletes, regardless of gender, will be drawn to the profession, he added. Negative perceptions still cast a shadow Stigmas, misconceptions, and high stakes also contribute to the decline in women seeking and maintaining leadership roles in university athletics, according to the NCAA. Interviews with female coaches across the U.S. drew out comments about increasing demands, assumptions about female coaches’ sexuality, and perceived gender bias. Augsburg Women’s Hockey Head Coach Michelle McAteer said if she could squash an assumption curbing female coaches, it would be the belief that “all women are catty and emotional.” “Since women hold fewer leadership positions in all realms— from athletics and business to politics—we are put under a microscope and our actions are generalized,” she said. “Women in leadership need to become the norm and not the exception in order to combat these myths so we can get onto the business of empowering those we lead (and winning games).” And she would know. McAteer, who led the Augsburg women’s hockey team to its highest MIAC finish since the ’90s, played for female coaches throughout her high school and college years. These models of “strength, resolve, and compassion” gave her confidence and an awareness of her role now, as a coach, to model those values for the next generation, she said. “It’s a responsibility I care deeply about.” For Pfaff, this and other reflections from today’s women coaches signal that the legacy she and others fought to instill is [L to R]: Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Kathryn Knippenberg and Graduate Fellow Taylor Tvedt ’19 MAL greet a prospective student. holding strong. Sure, there always is yet another contest to win, she said, but what’s the fun in not having a fight? The best part, for Pfaff, is knowing that Augsburg is on the right side of the field—maybe even the infield she helped grade for Augsburg’s first softball diamond. FALL - WINTER 2017 21 AUGGIES CONNECT AUGSBURG WOMEN ENGAGED: COURTESY PHOTO Dear alumni and friends, It’s an exciting time for Augsburg University, and the Alumni Board aims to infuse positive energy from Augsburg’s big events this fall in our year-long agenda. The board’s objective is to advance Augsburg’s mission by making the most of the time, talents, and treasure found in our alumni group. Each year, the Alumni Board plans events where Auggies can network, collaborate, and serve together. The 2017 Summer Series was an example of this work. Auggies attended a Minnesota United soccer game, took part in Auggie Night at Canterbury Park, and listened to Augsburg community members give presentations on a range of topics at the 7 People 7 Passions 7 Minutes event at Sisyphus Brewing. Alumni Board members also hosted Happy Hour Squared at Brave New Workshop, which featured a twist on a traditional social hour— attendees enjoyed beverages while making 1,500 sandwiches for unsheltered people in the Twin Cities. It is fun watching the talents of fellow Auggies come to life at our social events, and our upcoming calendar is available online: augsburg.edu/alumnievents. Using your time and talents to make connections with current students is simply one of the best ways to stay connected with Augsburg, so stay tuned for details about the upcoming 2018 Auggie Networking Experience on February 6. Auggies also can join the Alumni Board’s effort to sponsor a tree in the Urban Arboretum planned for Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus. The trees selected for the first phase of this plan will surround the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion and include species native to Minnesota. All gift levels are welcome. As the Alumni Board continues to advance the mission of the University through events and networking, we invite you to join us. We work hard, and we make sure we don’t forget to have fun, as well. MOVING IN A NEW DIRECTION The Augsburg Women Engaged Philanthropy Council has grown in the past year. Augsburg alumnae formed AWE in 2009 to unite women with shared interests and passions through events, mentorship, and philanthropy. Today, AWE inspires women to connect, learn, and give. AWE highlights: Connect—Members gathered at Homecoming for a painting party to prepare pieces of a mural titled “Emergence” that will be installed in the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Learn—AWE hosted a discussion following the 2016 Center for Wellness and Counseling Convocation and a pre-concert reception at the annual Woman Voice: Voice of Hope choral performance. Give—Members raised more than $100,000 for the “Emergence” mural and are engaged in planning to raise an additional $1 million for scholarships. AWE’s participation has nearly doubled during the past year and includes Augsburg women from all generations, degree programs, and career fields. COURTESY PHOTO FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Go Auggies! NICK RATHMANN ’03, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT AWE Philanthropy Council members [L to R]: Debby (Fredrickson) Crowley ’76, Danielle Stellner ’07, Joni Marti ’05 MAL, Lori Moline ’82, Martha Truax ’16 MAL, Shelby (Gimse) Andress ’56, Lisa Zeller ’81, ’89 MAL, Cheryl Jensen ’86, Donna McLean, and Kris (Peterson) Pearson ’78. Not pictured: Rachel (Olson) Engebretson ’98, Dr. Lisa Latham ’83, Diana Pierce ’16 MAL, and Cindy (Winberg) Sisson ’83. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about joining AWE. 22 AUGSBURG NOW AUGGIES CONNECT Celebrate STEPUP ® PROGRAM MARKS 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS COURTESY PHOTO A Heidi Bausch ’07 ugsburg University’s StepUP Program is in its 20th year of empowering students in recovery to achieve academic success. StepUP held its annual gala October 28. The gala was an evening of inspiration and fellowship in which emcee Don Shelby, an Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist and person in recovery, welcomed nearly 500 Auggies, families, friends, and advocates for recovery. Each year, the StepUP Gala is organized by a committee of volunteers with support from Augsburg staff. The 2017 committee co-chairs were Gina Gage and Cindy Piper. Two of the evening’s highlights were the keynote address by alumna Heidi Bausch ’07 and the presentation of the Toby Piper Labelle Award to the James and Sally Dowdle and Pat and Jeanne Dwyer families. Bausch is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her graduation from Augsburg, where she studied psychology and philosophy, was an active member in the StepUP community, and worked for the Center for Wellness and Counseling. Today Bausch lives out a passion for serving the recovery community. She is pursuing a doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of St. Thomas. Her clinical practice included an internship at The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s residential program for young people and work at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview inpatient unit for youth facing chemical and mental health difficulties. Bausch also works with the Minnesota Psychology Association to promote legislation aimed at improving behavioral health care quality. This year, Bausch partnered with her StepUP Program roommate, Samantha Yerks ’06, to launch Singularity Behavioral Systems & Technology, a business that develops clinical software products for the mental health field. Go to augsburg.edu/stepup to learn more about the StepUP Program and its fundraising gala. FALL - WINTER 2017 23 introduces high school students to health science careers When University alumni and community members step up to help make an Augsburg program succeed, everybody wins. Since 2008, Augsburg University has hosted Metro Scrubs summer camps that offer high school students a glimpse into health science careers. Through workshops and hands-on activities, students gain insight into career paths that range from veterinary medicine and public health to physical therapy and nursing. The success of the weeklong program— formerly known as Urban Scrubs— hinges on faculty involvement and volunteer engagement through which working professionals teach workshops and mini-courses. This year, an Augsburg alumna and the parent of two Auggie alumni stepped in to offer their expertise—and to learn a thing or two from their pupils. Jenny Kelley ’85 pursued a nursing degree after completing her Augsburg education and now serves as a nurse and asthma educator at the Hennepin County Medical Center in COURTESY PHOTO METRO SCRUBS PROGRAM Nearly six dozen students participated in Augsburg’s Metro Scrubs Camp this summer. One of nine such programs for Minnesota high school students, Metro Scrubs is a collaborative effort of Augsburg University, HealthForce Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and St. Catherine University. Minneapolis. Kelley initiated a Metro Scrubs class by asking students to inhale and exhale through a narrow cocktail straw, an exercise that highlighted how difficult it is for someone with asthma to breathe. Kelley noticed that her students were from a diverse array of backgrounds, but previous knowledge of asthma was something that unified the group. “I felt I was having an impact on students from many different cultures and different communities,” Kelley said. “Yet, everyone knows somebody with asthma, so this education is helpful in ensuring people use their inhalers the right way.” One out of 12 people in the U.S. is diagnosed with asthma. For Kelley, leading a Metro Scrubs course was a way to teach young people about the medical condition and to spur interest in careers that could help tackle this pressing health care need. For Dr. Robert “Bob” Florence, a primary care internist at Allina in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, teaching Metro Scrubs students was an opportunity to reconnect with the basics. Florence knows Augsburg well through his children, Jeffrey Florence ’02 and Beth Florence ’08, and he noted that teaching high school students was a reminder about the importance of clear doctor-patient communication. “I show the students what it’s like to do an office call with a patient, explaining the types of interactions I have with patients, along with the best and worst ways to handle certain scenarios,” Florence said. “I began teaching the class because the students hadn’t been exposed to primary care in the other Metro Scrubs sessions, and I wanted to teach them what they could and should expect.” While it can be difficult to fit extra opportunities into a physician’s hectic schedule, Florence said leading Metro Scrubs classes has been worthwhile. “It has helped me to be a better physician and taught students interested in medical careers valuable lessons,” he said. Visit augsburg.edu/now to learn more about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities with Metro Scrubs Camp. 24 AUGSBURG NOW AUGGIES CONNECT GIFT EXPANDS MARINE AQUARIUM FACILITY for study of biological diversity When the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion opens for classes in January 2018, the new building will feature a state-of-the-art marine aquarium facility thanks to the generosity of donor Fritz Grimm, who made a substantial gift to fund the project. Twenty years ago, Associate Professor of Biology William “Bill” Capman created a large multi-tank coral reef aquarium system on campus to inspire interest in biological diversity, to serve as a teaching and research tool, and to provide living specimens for lab demonstrations. In the years since, the aquaria have been integral to Capman’s teaching, making interaction with marine life a unique aspect of Augsburg’s biology laboratory experience, exposing students to biodiversity they would not see elsewhere, and promoting careful stewardship of the world’s ecosystems. Capman has been passionate about aquatic life since his childhood. He and Grimm, as fellow members of the Twin Cities Marine Aquarium Society, have known each other for years. Grimm is the former proprietor of a store selling items for keeping coral, fish, and other sea life, and has assisted Capman in past efforts to care for Augsburg’s aquaria. For Grimm, sponsoring Augsburg’s marine environments is a way to support quality work already underway and build on it for the future. Grimm’s gift is enabling Augsburg to significantly expand its marine facilities to include a 350 gallon coral reef aquarium and six additional 60-90 gallon tanks housing additional diverse organisms, along with a research lab for studying coral biology and captive breeding of coral reef fish. “We rely on places like this to inspire people,” Grimm said of Augsburg’s marine aquarium expansion. “How should people know they need to care about seahorses and coral without ever seeing them?” Grimm is concerned by the known degradation of natural environments, pointing to the fact that a significant portion of the world’s coral are becoming more susceptible to disease and are dying due to increases in water temperature and pollution. “If anyone is going to inspire the future generation to do something about it, it will be Bill,” Grimm said. During a presentation to the Minnesota Aquarium Society, Bill Capman demonstrates how he creates artificial reef structures for new aquaria. COURTESY PHOTOS FALL - WINTER 2017 25 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1950 Carl Vaagenes ’50, a retired pastor, helped to translate the mission articles of Georg Sverdrup. Vaagenes was inspired to translate Sverdrup’s sermons for future generations and did this as a member of The Georg Sverdrup Society. In 1898, Georg Sverdrup and Sven Oftedal, co-founders of Augsburg Seminary and College, published their sermons at the founding of the Lutheran Free Church but without their names. In “Aand og Liv” (“Spirit and Life”), they reveal their mind and heart for the church and for Augsburg. 1952 Millie Nelson ’52 received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming in recognition for her dedication to Augsburg University. Before retiring, Nelson worked at Augsburg for decades. In her role as Christensen Center manager, she guided student assistants who described her as professional, competent, knowledgeable, and kind. These former students acknowledged that Nelson embodied the spirit of Augsburg. 1957 Stan Baker ’57 received the Ella Stephens Barrett Award for excellence in professional leadership and counseling from the North Carolina Counseling Association during its annual conference in February in Durham, North Carolina. 1964 Garrett “Gary” Waldner ’64 and his wife, Nancy, celebrated their 50th anniversary in October. They have three sons and four grandchildren. Waldner is active in the real estate appraisal field, specializing in litigation valuations. 1966 After graduating from Augsburg, Ron Blake ’66 went on to Luther Seminary and has pastored several churches before retiring in 2009 as a pastor with dual membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ. Blake and his wife remain active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood, Washington. They have two children and four grandsons. 1968 Bruce Benson ’68 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. Benson served as campus pastor at St. Olaf College for 30 years and has been a board member at church camps in Minnesota, Montana, and Ohio. He graduated cum laude from Augsburg with a Bachelor of Arts in English, earned his Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in 1972, and further earned a degree in Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School in 1980. Benson hosts a radio program called, “Sing for Joy,” which is broadcast on 140 radio stations in the United States, carried by cable networks, and broadcast in 40 countries in and near Africa. 1970 Mark Francis ’70 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming and was recognized for his leadership in the Arizona school system. After graduating from Augsburg with a music degree, Francis founded the Arizona School for the Arts in 1995. ASA became one of the top charter schools in the state. Today, Francis is a deputy associate superintendent within the Arizona Department of Education. He is an active member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, which he has served in a number of capacities, including as congregational president, treasurer, and music leader. In June, Ray Hanson ’70 retired and moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one day later. He completed his career with Goldbelt Raven, where he provided scientific and technical assistance to the chemical forensics program at the Department of Homeland Security. 1972 In May, Rob Engelson ’72 received the Distinguished Service Award from Ashford University at its commencement ceremony in San Diego. The award acknowledged 21 years as a faculty member and five years as a member of the Faculty Senate. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’01 ’05 ’76 26 AUGSBURG NOW ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1973 Terry Lindstrom ’73 received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. After graduating from Augsburg with degrees in chemistry and biology, Lindstrom received his doctorate in biochemistry with a pharmacology minor in 1977. He went on to complete postdoctoral research at Michigan State University from 1978 to 1979. During his career, Lindstrom led research teams that obtained patents for prescription medications Evista and Cymbalta. In addition to Lindstrom’s many scientific achievements, he and his wife, Janet Lindstrom, have provided 16 full Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity summer scholarships for Augsburg students during the past five years. 1974 Thomas Koplitz ’74 has been elected to the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame and was inducted at a September ceremony held in St. Cloud, Minnesota. 1977 Augsburg honored Inez Bergquist ’77 with a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming. As the current president of Waltman Associates, Bergquist has more than 35 years experience in fundraising and is an expert in the area of nonprofit management. She served on the Augsburg University Alumni Board for eight years and on the Augsburg Parent Council for four years. Bergquist authored several books on families of wealth including the “Book of Minnesota Family Trees.” She also is a Wells Foundation board member. 1978 Phyllis Bartel ’78 published “Scooter ‘n’ Oaks: A Cat Adoption Story” in October 2016. As Bartel’s premier work, this fictionalized tale teaches children about the pet adoption process with compassion and gentle humor and shares similar themes with human adoption. 1979 Dave Boots ’79, who was inducted into Augsburg’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, was named to the University of South Dakota Vermillion’s Henry Heider Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in October after retiring in 2013 with the 14th most wins in Division II men’s basketball history. He led the Coyotes to 23 consecutive winning seasons from 1989-2011, 10 NCAA Division II tournaments, six NCC titles, and back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 1993 and 1994. At the Division I level, Boots also won a Great West Championship in 2010. Boots began his coaching career at Anoka Ramsey Community College and spent six years coaching at Augsburg before arriving in Vermillion. Sally (Hough) Daniels Herron ’79 is the new parish and communications administrator for Valley of Peace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota. SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE Leah Abdella ’76 retired in 2016 from a 40-year teaching career in the field of special education. At Augsburg, Abdella earned a double major in music and music therapy as one of the first three music therapy majors. Abdella stays fulfilled in retirement through volunteer work and flute performance at assisted living residences, nursing homes, and churches. She also stays active in ballet classes and yoga. She is a former member of the Andahazy Ballet Company. ’76 Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and constituent relations at Augsburg University, married Chris Code in April during an intimate ceremony at the Guthrie Theater—where the couple met while both on staff. The wedding was officiated by Code’s father, the Rev. Jack ’01 ’14 Former hockey and football player Paul Holmquist ’79 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Holmquist was a key member of Augsburg teams that dominated in the late 1970s, earning the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national title in 1979 and qualifying for NAIA national tournament play all of Holmquist’s four seasons. The teams he competed with also won Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in 1978 and 1979. He was named a team MVP in the 1978-79 season, the same time period in which he earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors. 1980 Paul Kilgore ’80 wrote a novel, “The Broken Key,” that is available through online and retail outlets. 1985 Brian Ammann ’85 has been running the Minnesota School of Basketball in Apple Valley and Golden Valley for 12 years. He is the former head basketball coach at Augsburg. 1987 Lee Ann (Burson) Hohenstein ’87 left a 20-year career in mortgage banking to follow her dream and become a staff writer for the Mille Lacs Messenger. She also opened Restoration Books and Gifts in Crosby, Minnesota. Tell us about the news in your life—your new job, move, marriage, and milestones. Visit augsburg.edu/now to submit your announcements. Koch, and was witnessed by sibling Jason Koch ’93 and sister-in-law Heather Johnston ’92. Allison (Cornell) Broughton ’05 and Matt Broughton ’06 welcomed new baby Nicholas James in June. Nicholas joins big brother Calvin, age 4. ’05 This August, Samantha Cantrall ’14 and Austin Smith ’14 were married in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, by Augsburg Professor of Computer Science Larry Crockett. The couple met in Augsburg’s Urness Hall in 2010, and both graduated from the Honors Program in 2014. They have taken Samantha’s mother’s last name as their wedded name and will be known as Samantha and Austin Wolf. ’14 FALL - WINTER 2017 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1991 Kristin Dragseth Wiersma ’91 had an outstanding volleyball career at Augsburg, an accomplishment that earned her induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Wiersma played three seasons of volleyball, earning All-MIAC and Academic All-MIAC honors in 1990, and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors in 1989. She remains in the top 10 players in school history in three career statistical categories: kills per-set, attack percentage, and digs per-set. A team co-captain in 1990, Wiersma also served as an assistant coach at Augsburg in 1991. 1992 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Juli Gustafson ’92 played two years of softball at Augsburg earning All-MIAC honors as a shortstop in both 1991 and 1992, while also earning National Fastpitch Coaching Association All-West Region honors in 1991. Her .395 career batting average is the third-best in school history. She also ranks third in career slugging percentage and sixth in career doubles. Gustafson was a member of Auggie teams that went 47-22 in her two seasons. Though he only competed in one season of wrestling at Augsburg, Bret Sharp ’92 made the most of it. He went 43-2-1 with 15 pins and 95 takedowns, won the MIAC title at heavyweight, and finished third at the NCAA Division III national tournament in the 1991-92 season, where he helped to clinch a second-place national team finish for the Auggies. Sharp was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. He competed his first three seasons at Drake University in Iowa. 1993 Dr. Jason Koch ’93 was appointed president of Southdale Pediatrics, where he has worked for the past 16 years. Wrestling star Gary Thompson ’93 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. A four-year competitor in wrestling, Thompson completed his Auggie career with a 91-40-1 record, finishing fourth at the 1993 NCAA Division III national championships and earning All-American honors. He was a MIAC champion, a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar AllAmerican, and a two-time Academic All-MIAC honors student-athlete. Thompson was a member of Augsburg squads that won the NCAA national championship in 1993 and finished second and third in other years. 1994 Chris Terrell ’94 was promoted to vice president of finance for Medtronic’s Cardiac and Vascular Group Global Operations. Terrell joined Medtronic in 2003 and most recently served as a senior director of operations in finance, where he drove finance strategies for nine manufacturing locations. 1995 Dual sport athlete Marty Alger ’95 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. In football, Alger set an Augsburg program record for career rushing yardage, which stood until 2014. In 1992, he became the first Auggie ever to rush for 1,000-plus yards in a season. He earned All-MIAC honors in football in both 1992 and 1993. As an Auggie wrestler, he qualified for the 1993 NCAA Division III national tournament after winning the MIAC title at 190 pounds. 1997 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Eric Rolland ’97 was a leader on some of the most successful men’s golf teams in school history. He led squads that won the MIAC championship in 1995 and recorded second-place finishes in 1994 and 1996, while competing in three straight NCAA Division III national tournaments. Rolland AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Denielle (Johnson) Stepka ’11 and Timothy Stepka were married July 15 in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Their ceremony was officiated by Josh Corrigan ’11, and their wedding party included Augsburg alumni Katie (Christensen) Beadell ’11, Korri (Yule) Corrigan ’11, Tim Lund ’12, Amy Jo Opsal ’12, and Tyler Phillips ’12. ’11 28 AUGSBURG NOW In July, Enrico Barrozo ’14 and Mara (Breczinski) Barrozo ’14 were married at Augsburg University’s Hoversten Chapel. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Mike Matson ’06. The newlyweds live in Gainesville, Florida, where Enrico is pursuing a Ph.D. in genetics and genomics at the University of Florida, and Mara teaches middle school science. ’14 Rebecca (Welle) Winters ’05 and Paul Winters ’07 welcomed a daughter, Maisy Beverly, in May. She joins siblings Max, who is six years old, and Millie, who is three years old. ’05 Matt Tonsager ’09, co-owner of Gullton Wood, and Melissa (Moberg) Tonsager ’10 welcomed a daughter, Adalind Kay Tonsager, in April. ’09 earned All-America honors in 1995, AllDistrict honors in 1997, and All-MIAC honors in 1995 and 1996. Since 2014, he has served as Augsburg’s men’s and women’s golf head coach. 1999 Elizabeth (Petrik) Brown ’99 had an outstanding goaltending career on the Augsburg women’s soccer team, an accomplishment that earned her induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Brown started all but one game of her collegiate career, finishing with 34 career victories, including a then-school-record 13 in 1995. She stands second in school history in career shutouts, fourth in career wins, and eighth in career win-loss percentage. Her 1.69 career goals-against-average is 10th-best in school history. Cheri Johnson ’99 wrote two book series released this fall for young readers. “Origins: Urban Legends” and “Origins: Whodunnit” are high-interest, low-readinglevel books that target upper-elementary and middle-school students. The books will be distributed by Lerner. Johnson also is working on a performance project in Minneapolis called “Crocus Hill Ghost Story” with the music ensemble Zeitgeist; her sister, Julie Johnson ’98; and actor, director, and filmmaker D.J. Mendel. “Crocus Hill Ghost Story” tells a tale set in an evil house in St. Paul. ’11 ’14 ’05 ’09 ’00 Devoney Looser ’89 published a new ’89 book, “The Making of Jane Austen,” which was named in Publishers Weekly’s list of Best Summer Books of 2017 (nonfiction). This May, Lewis Nelson ’00 graduated from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business with a Master of Business Administration degree. Nelson left a 15-year military and government career and is seeking the next challenge. Nelson resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his three children. ’00 ’89 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 2000 The Rev. Sara (Quigley) Brown ’00 has accepted a term-call as the associate interim pastor at Saving Grace Lutheran, Lutheran Congregations in Missions for Christ, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She will serve and work alongside its faithful congregation and pastor, the Rev. David Irgens, during a time of great transition and growth. Brown will serve Saving Grace Lutheran for one year until the congregation places a call for a permanent associate pastor. 2001 James Shropshire ’01, former assistant director of public safety at Augsburg, is the new director of campus safety at Grinnell College. At Augsburg, Shropshire also served as a Title IX adjudicator and investigator. Besides revising diversity training, Shropshire’s agenda for campus safety at Grinnell will include updating the department’s software, computers, and other equipment. 2002 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Chrissy (Baune) Bloemendal ’02 was a 16-time AllMIAC selection in cross country (three times) and track and field (13 times). The team’s No. 1 runner her final three seasons in cross country, Bloemendal finished sixth in the MIAC championships in 2001 and 13th in 2000. In track and field, she won the MIAC title and qualified for the NCAA Division III outdoor national championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2002, finishing ninth nationally. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 30 AUGSBURG NOW ’15 Two years ago Heather Cmiel ’02 left 13 years of communications agency life behind to go corporate. She now serves as global marketing communications strategist within 3M Healthcare. Cmiel spends her free time as president of Minnesota Public Relations Society of America. She also leads a contemporary worship band. 2003 Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin ’03 is the founder and director of the Rural Enterprise Center, a program of Main Street Project, a nonprofit organization focused on rural development. Haslett-Marroquin also serves on the boards of the Northfield Area Foundation, the Northfield Area United Way, and Fifth Bridge, a nonprofit organization promoting volunteerism. 2005 Ryan Bosshart ’05 is a vice president of services at phData, a global leader in big data consulting and managed services. Most recently, Bosshart was a principal sales engineer at Cloudera. 2006 Michelle Dirtzu ’06 is a new marketing manager at Pacific Trellis Fruit/Dulcinea Farms based in Los Angeles, California. Dirtzu has 10 years of experience in the grocery-retail-produce business. Previously, she was a marketing director for North Shore Living Herbs, in marketing with Flagstone Foods, and in brand management with Supervalu. Dirtzu earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Opus School of Business at the University of St. Thomas in 2014. Brenda Valentine ’06 welcomed her son, Jackson James Valentine Rice, in April. 2007 A managing partner of business planning at the American Public Media Group, Danielle Stellner ’07 received a First Decade Award at Homecoming. After graduating from Augsburg, Stellner went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in 2016. She was recruited for the board of Isuroon and Secretary, and she is the active co-chair of the AWE Philanthropy Council at Augsburg. In addition, Stellner serves the Friendship Academy of the Arts as a board member and expansion committee member. 2008 Tony Landecker ’08 serves as a portfolio manager in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Minneapolis-St. Paul field office and is responsible for assisting with the management of local housing stock. Landecker was named the Minnesota Civil Servant of the Year by HUD’s Federal Executive Board for helping others find the comfort of a home in the aftermath of a disaster. In 2016, he left his home and family to spend time helping Baton Rouge flood victims, leading a team that found permanent housing for 130 families initially placed in temporary shelters. Rachel Shaheen ’15 and Christopher Kopp ’15 were married in July. The bride and groom were joined by fellow Augsburg alumni [L to R]: Becky Shaheen ’11, Patrick DuSchane ’13, Laura Schmidt ’11, Jakob Anderson ’12, Erika Osterbur ’11, Aren Olson ’11, Lily Moloney ’15, Mary Stickelmeyer ’74, Emily Knudson ’15, Kate Gray ’15, Tyler Dorn ’15, and Alisha Esselstein ’15. ’15 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Curtiss Schreiber ’08 is now an associate at the law firm Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC in Chicago. 2011 Jennifer Weber ’11 received a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming for her dedication to Minneapolis’ CedarRiverside community and in recognition for the projects she has initiated in the Twin Cities area. Before graduating from Augsburg with a triple major in emotional/ behavioral disabilities, learning disabilities, and American Indian studies, Weber created an American Indian resource library for the Anoka-Hennepin Indian Education Program. Weber has been involved in many community projects and is a crisis prevention and interventions trainer at the Charter School Special Ed Network. She is also a certified school coach, teacher, and member of the Cedar Riverside Community School Board. 2012 Katie Radford ’12, ’18 MBA started a new position at Fairview Health Services as a training consultant. She helps facilitate individual and team development sessions for professional growth. 2014 Maren Daniels ’14 teaches elementary visual art at Hiawatha Academy Morris Park in Minneapolis. 2015 Awale Osman ’15 serves as a community innovation associate at the Bush Foundation. He has experienced much change: coming to the U.S. from war-torn Somalia and Kenyan refugee camps to learning English as a third language and graduating with high academic honors. His work as a change agent has included expanding after-school opportunities for Somali youth; impressing upon Congress the value of federal TRIO programming; and activating safe spaces for women, people of color, and queer students. 2016 Victoria Linstrom ’16, Andrew Kleidon-Linstom ’16, Bridgette Henry ’16, and student Mitch Ross ’18 formed the Open Door Theater where Linstrom serves as the executive director, Kleidon-Linstom is the artistic director, Henry is the company manager/dramaturg in residence, and Ross is the marketing director. Muna Mohamed ’16 received a scholarship at the University of Minnesota to pursue a Master of Science degree in behavioral aspects of physical activity. At the university, Mohamed conducts research on East African mother-daughter physical activity. 2017 Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Eron Godi ’17 to the Young Women’s Cabinet, part of the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota that aims to improve opportunity for women ages 12 to 24 by bringing together nonprofits, businesses, government, philanthropic organizations, and young women to create plans for building equity. Godi was one of 25 women selected statewide for a cabinet position. Emily Gregg ’17, former Augsburg women’s soccer defender, was named one of 174 nationwide recipients of a $7,500 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship honoring her achievements as both a scholar and an athlete. A biology major with a 3.72 GPA, Gregg is the first Auggie to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2014. Gregg will attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She hopes to someday work as a wildlife/large animal veterinarian. Anna Renner ’17 has been accepted to the Clarkson University Master of Physician Assistant Studies program in Potsdam, New York. Dua Saleh ’17 had one of her songs played on “The Current” radio station. She performs music and poetry at Twin Cities venues. Riley Siddorn ’17 was among nearly 450 summer interns at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Interns seek out new ways to explore their career fields and engage NASA’s international scientific community in Goddard projects. Siddorn, who majored in physics, held an internship in ionospheric physics. The internships covered a wide spectrum in science-related areas, from planetary science to sounding rockets to Earth science. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Doris Rubenstein ’93 MAL won the silver Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Award for her book, “The Journey of a Dollar,” at the association’s 29th annual award ceremony in Portland, Oregon. Kathleen Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP; Joyce Miller ’02, ’04 MAN, ’11 DNP; Katherine Baumgartner ’04 MAN, ’11 DNP; and Cheryl Leuning, former Nursing Department chair, co-authored an article, “The Citizen Nurse: An Educational Innovation for Change,” which was published in the Journal of Nursing Education. Jamie Heitzinger ’11 MPA earned a Certificate of Added Qualifications by completing specialty training from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She works at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. Ryan Stopera ’11 MSW/MBA is a social worker and social entrepreneur. He serves as a program analyst for the Graves Foundation and teaches in Augsburg’s Social Work Department. Stopera enjoys building community through art, cycling, and rock climbing in his spare time. Allison DeGroot ’15 MAL is the new head women’s soccer coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The women’s soccer program competes at the highest level in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, and DeGroot is looking forward to working with players to help the program reach its potential. DeGroot was an assistant coach at Augsburg from 2012 until 2016. Angela Mejdrich ’15 MAE is the new director of administration at Spirit of the Lake Community School in Duluth, Minnesota. She provides lead support and oversight of several administrative and business matters. Mejdrich has more than 20 years of teaching and administration experience, most recently as vice principal of St. Michael’s Lakeside School. Thomas Hirsch ’16 MPA is a new physician assistant at the Essentia Health–Hermantown Clinic in Minnesota. FALL - WINTER 2017 31 PHOTO BY CAROLINE YANG IN MEMORIAM Alfred W. Walck ’40, Urbandale, Iowa, age 96, on April 27. Addell L. (Halverson) Dahlen ’43, Minneapolis, age 96, on June 2. Carl G. Gilbertson ’43, Battle Lake, Minnesota, age 96, on April 14. Arlene L. (Dunham) Sandberg ’43, Madelia, Minnesota, age 95, on May 12. Muriel R. (Ruud) Frosch ’45, Winona, Minnesota, age 94, on July 26. Lorene M. (McGinnis) Hansen ’49, Clear Lake, Iowa, age 92, on July 7. Lorraine (Telander) Hendershot ’49, Mora, Minnesota, age 89, on March 29. Phyllis (Erickson) Quanbeck ’49, Salem, Oregon, age 89, on June 28. Donald P. Sateren ’49, Long Beach, California, age 96, on June 18. Russell G. Solheim ’49, Racine, Wisconsin, age 96, on July 8. Marilyn L. (Larson) Forslund ’50, Moline, Illinois, age 94, on May 26. Roger C. Mackey ’57, Saint Paul, Minnesota, age 83, on July 20. David C. Siedlar ’71, Huaian City, Jiangsu, China, age 68, on March 19. Norman O. Landvik ’50, Port Angeles, Washington, age 89, on April 6. Warren L. Anderson ’59, Grand Marais, Minnesota, age 84, on March 16. Bradley W. Shoff ’77, Akeley, Minnesota, age 62, on June 18. Arnold R. Aasen ’51, Fridley, Minnesota, age 88, on July 23. Carrol A. Bakken ’59, Rushford, Minnesota, age 82, on March 18. John A. Faeth ’89, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 51, on April 3. Elden O. Landvik ’51, Duluth, Minnesota, age 92, on July 3. James D. Slarks ’51, Saint Peter, Minnesota, age 92, on June 27. LeVon M. (Paulson) Dinter ’52, Edina, Minnesota, age 86, on March 18. Mildred C. Hetager ’52, Minneapolis, age 103, on June 30. Donald W. Siegel ’53, Minneapolis, age 89, on April 6. Peter L. Hauser ’62, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 76, on July 10. Michael L. Kropp ’95, Albert Lea, Minnesota, age 49, on April 2. Gerald W. Mortenson ’62, Stone Lake, Wisconsin, age 79, on March 31. Charity Thunder ’99, Black River Falls, Wisconsin, age 71, on July 1. Paul S. Monson ’63, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, age 76, on July 12. Jacob R. Collins ’03, Austin, Minnesota, age 36, on August 25. Gary W. Paulson ’63, Willmar, Minnesota, age 75, on June 10. Christopher G. Frame ’09, Minneapolis, age 33, on March 20. Richard E. Kuehne ’64, Walker, Minnesota, age 76, on August 7. Elnora C. (Hanson) Beireis ’54, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, age 84, on July 27. Ronald A. Hanson ’65, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, age 74, on July 17. Mary Ann E. (Fox) Domholdt ’56, Mentor, Ohio, age 83, on April 5. Terence W. Rindal ’66, Crystal Lake, Illinois, age 82, on August 12. Mark D. Lukitsch ’20, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, age 19, on August 5. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before September 15. 32 AUGSBURG NOW JOIN US FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NORMAN AND EVANGELINE HAGFORS CENTER FOR SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND RELIGION SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2018 4–5 p.m. | Alumni and Community Open House Hagfors Center, Augsburg University 700 21st Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454 RSVP by January 8 at augsburg.edu/alumni/events. Send questions to Hannah Walsh ’14, advancement assistant, at walsh@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1098. FALL - WINTER 2017 33 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Thousands of Auggies. One Augsburg. Augsburg’s 2017 Homecoming celebration was held October 12–14, a festive weekend when alumni, students, and community members took part in more than 35 events, including reunions for the classes of 1967, 1977, 1992, and 2007. In all, more than 600 alumni from different generations visited campus to show their Auggie pride and mark the first Homecoming as Augsburg University. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2017: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2017
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY SPRING–SUMMER 2017 | VOL. 79, NO. 2 COMING SEPTEMBER 2017 PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On the power of both/and I am writing these notes on c...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY SPRING–SUMMER 2017 | VOL. 79, NO. 2 COMING SEPTEMBER 2017 PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On the power of both/and I am writing these notes on commencement weekend when we have just sent the final graduates of Augsburg College into the world, full of promise and aspiration—as has been the case for almost 150 years. As you will read in this issue of Augsburg Now, the change of our name to Augsburg University will become official in September, and we will welcome the incoming class on Labor Day weekend. We are busy preparing for this exciting new era for Augsburg! For some, the name change may reflect a break with Augsburg’s past. For others, perhaps this is a welcome acceptance of the need to embrace the future. For the Augsburg community, however, the change is a remarkable opportunity to re-present Augsburg to the world—to tell a story that is about an abiding mission and identity shaped by faith, and academic and civic values, and at the same time to point to innovative and urgently needed responses to our dynamic environment. In other words, this change is about the pivot from “either/or” to “both/and.” This is about embracing the best of past, present, and future. This is about Augsburg University. The almost 1,000 Auggies who commenced into the world this spring reflect in their achievements and aspirations the foundation for embracing this change. Across undergraduate and graduate programs, the Class of 2017 achieved academic excellence of the highest order, excellence that defines a university: national and international honors for scholarship and service; exemplary undergraduate research that equips students for graduate work and professional opportunities; innovative community building that strengthens democratic engagement; and a commitment to equity in education that promises to change the world. At the same time, our newest graduates reflect the diversity that we expect in a university—diversity of ethnicity, thinking, life experience, identity, and ability—diversity not for its own sake but for the promise of a more robust, healthy, and just world. As I watched our diverse graduates cross the stage, I could not help but be filled with hope in our future leaders who already have learned to navigate difference in ways that unite rather than divide. In a final way, these newest Augsburg graduates offer a perhaps countercultural lesson about what makes for a great university. Though some imagine a university as big and bureaucratic and faceless, Augsburg has a vision to be a new kind of student-centered, urban university—small to our students and big for the world. The sense of community was palpable in our commencement ceremonies as graduates cheered each other and celebrated the relationships they have forged at Augsburg, lifelong relationships that engendered achievement and success. And propelled by those relationships, our graduates will indeed be “big for the world,” as they live Augsburg’s mission as “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.” Here’s to the power of “both/and” and the promise of Augsburg University! Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu Director of Marketing Communication Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu Communication Copywriter and Editorial Coordinator Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Senior Creative Associate, Design Denielle Johnson ’11 johnsod@augsburg.edu Production Manager Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter Jessica Mueller muellerj@augsburg.edu Contributing Writers Kate H. Elliott Jen Lowman Day augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Faithfully yours, Send address corrections to: alumniupdate@augsburg.edu. Send comments to: now@augsburg.edu PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT AUGSBURG NOW Spring–Summer 2017 02 Around the quad 08 Preserving Norway’s treasures 12 Augsburg University name change 18 Winning the long game 24 Auggies connect 28 Class notes 33 In memoriam PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY On the cover Augsburg College will become Augsburg University effective September 1. Learn more about this historic transition on page 12. An Auggie passes by the first art installation in the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. This new academic building, which will open in January 2018, celebrates Augsburg’s commitment to learning at the intersection of disciplines. Glass fritting on the lobby curtainwall depicts the pattern of Martin Luther’s handwritten score of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” overlaid with the cell structure of elm wood. “Knowing that light will pour through the tall glass of the Hagfors Center, and that people will pass through the reflected shape of the notes of this stirring hymn, ties the whole idea of the building together for me. Science, business, and religion, drawn together in space, time, and rhythm of the ages,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, who, with his wife, Abigail Crampton Pribbenow, sponsored the artwork. AROUND THE QUAD HONORING PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY Retiring Faculty RALPH BUTKOWSKI MAGDA PALECZNY-ZAPP Assistant Professor, Department of Biology—with the College since 2001 Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration—with the College since 1986 CASS DALGLISH NOEL PETIT Professor, Department of English— with the College since 1986 Professor, Department of Computer Science—with the College since 1984 PETER HENDRICKSON ’76 Associate Professor, Department of Music—with the College since 1994 BOYD KOEHLER Associate Professor, Library—with the College since 1967 SANDRA OLMSTED ’69 Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry—with the College since 1978 DEBORAH REDMOND Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies—with the College since 1981 STUART STOLLER Professor, Department of Business Administration—with the College since 1986 TARA SWEENEY Associate Professor, Department of Art—with the College since 1990 Auggies advocate at STATE CAPITOL The Augsburg community celebrated the Class of 2017 on Saturday, April 29. In a morning ceremony, 503 traditional undergraduate students were conferred their degrees. In the afternoon, the school recognized 469 adult undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students—50 of whom studied at Augsburg’s Rochester site. [Pictured]: Fatimah Kinaphone ’15, ’17 MBA receives her master’s degree hood. 2 AUGSBURG NOW PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE COMMENCEMENT Augsburg College students recently visited the Minnesota State Capitol to participate in advocacy events hosted by the Minnesota Private College Council. First, in February, two of Augsburg’s TRIO McNair Scholars took part in a Private College Scholars at the Capitol event that promoted the role undergraduate research plays in students’ educational and professional development. Then, in April, Auggies met with Minnesota representatives and senators for Day at the Capitol. These students advocated for several programs, including Minnesota State Grants, that help undergraduates afford higher education. [L to R]: Professor of Sociology Diane Pike advised McNair Scholar Devin Wiggs ’17, who was invited to present his undergraduate research project at Scholars at the Capitol. AROUND THE QUAD TICKETS ON SALE: NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM Visit nobelpeaceprizeforum.org to find ticket, presenter, and schedule information. PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 COURTESY PHOTO September 15-16 Each year, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum offers opportunities to learn from the world’s most celebrated, innovative, and dedicated peacemakers. Hosted and presented by Augsburg, the Forum invites attendees to turn abstract ideas into the skills our world needs for fostering better relationships and for building peace. In September, international guests from leading organizations will explore the theme “Dialogue in Divided Societies” and honor the work of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, for its decisive contribution to building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia after the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. Electronics lab is electrifying!! Building the circuits of tomorrow, today. #MaroonMilestone @AugsburgCollege FUEL FINISH THERE IS, PERHAPS, NO GREATER CURE FOR STRESS than taking a moment to acknowledge the good. As Augsburg students soldiered through the last week of classes this spring—turning in final papers and finishing projects—they also made time to reflect on their achievements in 2016-17. Students posted, tweeted, and shared #MaroonMilestones on social media, and soon a powerful collective story came together. Whether it was winning athletic championships, landing job interviews, or beating cancer, Auggies finished strong. FOR THE CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS FUEL E FOR TH FINISH For those who posted #MaroonMilestones, Augsburg partnered with its food service provider, A’viands, to provide handdelivered treats and cheerful notes that offered additional fuel for the end of the term, though physics students kept their beverages safely stationed outside the lab (pictured above)! Read about the scope of prestigious academic achievements, awards, and honors earned by Auggies during the 2016-17 year at augsburg.edu/now. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 3 PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 AROUND THE QUAD After a morning practice, goaltender Jordyn Kaufer ’17 and members of the Augsburg men’s hockey team presented Minasie Theophilos with a check for $5,000. In comments aired on KARE 11 news, Kaufer told Theophilos the sum was, “A token to give you thanks for your selflessness, your service, your care to the rink and the guys.” Honoring Luther’s legacy To mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Augsburg is hosting a series of events this fall. Visit augsburg.edu/ccv/events for dates and details. 4 AUGSBURG NOW A SEASON OF REFORMATION CELEBRATIONS! In September, Augsburg will welcome the fourth presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, as an honored speaker for the Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium. To mark Augsburg College Heritage Day in October, Associate Professor of Religion Mary Lowe will lead a discussion on the revolutionary life of Martin Luther. In November, award-winning musical group The Rose Ensemble will present “Welcome the People: The Musical Legacy of the Reformation.” To kick off the holiday season in December, Augsburg will host Advent Vespers with the theme “Welcome, Noble Guest,” inspired by Martin Luther’s hymn “From Heaven Above.” AROUND THE QUAD MINASIE THEOPHILOS has cared for Augsburg’s athletic facilities—most notably the ice arena— during his more than 25 years of service on the College’s custodial staff. Theophilos and the men’s hockey team developed a life-changing relationship that was shared by media outlets across the United States and around the globe. When members of the team learned that Theophilos’ mother had died in Ethiopia—a home Theophilos hasn’t seen for nearly 35 years—and that Theophilos missed her funeral because he didn’t have the money to visit, the team created a fundraiser. In less than 48 hours, the players and Auggies worldwide raised thousands of dollars for Theophilos to use to visit his family. Today, Theophilos and his wife are planning a trip to see his father and their families, thanks to a special friendship with the Augsburg athletes he has supported for decades. PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 FRIENDSHIP ON ICE … AND OFF right,’ ou raised ’em ‘y of y or g te ca “In the y team.” Augsburg hocke e th of s d ki e we give you th —Bob Collins, Minnesota Public Radio News Cut COURTESY PHOTO Who’s on first? Auggies are! This spring, the Augsburg baseball team kicked off its season at U.S. Bank Stadium, competing in four nonconference doubleheaders. The new Minnesota Vikings venue is only a stone’s throw (or a really strong pitch) from Augsburg’s campus. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 5 PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFRE ON THE SPOT IT’S SIMPLE MATH: Fewer people are entering the teaching profession, more are leaving it, and many educators lack the qualifications required to teach Minnesota’s increasingly diverse student body. These factors have prompted teacher preparation programs—including those at Augsburg—to adapt in support of more inclusive, flexible learning environments that accommodate a spectrum of needs and abilities. As the director of education programs at Augsburg’s Rochester location, Kaycee Rogers is working alongside colleagues and legislators to better support and retain teachers and to inspire a more diverse workforce. She is driven to ensure the next generation of Minnesotans experience a meaningful education through hands-on, relevant learning. Q: How does educating, training, and employing K-12 teachers with specialty backgrounds improve our schools? A: The demographics of our student population have changed given the influx of new populations into our welcoming state and education’s shift to incorporate students with special needs into the general classroom. Because of this, teachers with specialty licenses are in demand, and these positions are often tough to fill. Augsburg is leading the charge to offer broader licensures, which prepare teachers to succeed in today’s classrooms and qualify them for a wide range of teaching positions. Exposure to more teaching strategies and more specializations helps teacher 6 AUGSBURG NOW candidates adapt and innovate so they can offer students multiple access points for understanding. Q: A: What’s an example of an innovative teaching strategy? Students learn best when they’re engaged in experiences that matter to them. We’ve been incorporating real-world, student-led experiences into the classroom, and the results are impressive. Augsburg teacher candidates, for instance, are helping fourth- and fifth-graders write grants, speak to community groups, navigate teamwork, and participate in democracy. It’s been amazing to watch our teachers transition to more of a coaching role, while students PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH Education expert Kaycee Rogers describes how an inclusive, agile K-12 model can help Minnesota classrooms make the grade take the lead to apply classroom learning to issues and situations of meaning to them. Q: A: How do teachers recognize students’ home cultures and diverse experiences? Although “English as a Second Language” is a widely used term, we say, “English learners,” because it’s more accurate given that some students learn English as a third or fourth language. We also celebrate home culture and language rather than asking students to check their heritage at the door. In special education, we try to be more inclusive. It used to be that educators relied on what was called a medical model of diagnosis and treatment. Today, AROUND THE QUAD Outstanding EDUCATORS Share your ideas for Each year, Augsburg recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to creating an engaging academic learning environment. The 2017 recipients of the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards are: AUGSBURG’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 1869-2019 Visit augsburg.edu/150 to submit your suggestions. Alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff are invited to celebrate Augsburg’s 150th anniversary in 2019. What aspect of your Augsburg experience would you like to highlight during the sesquicentennial year? Were you connected to a team, an organization, or a department that made a difference? Would you like to see a reunion for your favorite activity—whether it was campus ministry, KAUG radio, student government, or a music ensemble? Let us know how to best honor Augsburg’s past, present, and future. Teaching Full-time faculty Joyce Miller ’02, ’05 MAN, ’11 DNP, assistant professor and Nursing Department chair Part-time faculty Alyssa Hanson ’01, mathematics and statistics instructor Scholarship William Green, professor of history Service Q: A: David Crowe, associate professor of biology How do we inspire a workforce that is more reflective of diverse classrooms? It’s well documented that students retain more information and have a positive view of education when they relate to teachers. We want to reach out to people who look like our students and come from the same backgrounds, particularly those already working as teacher aides or in other supporting roles. Growing teachers from within each community’s diverse population will beget more teachers of color and inspire some to remain in their community to make a lasting difference. Stella Hofrenning, associate professor of economics Dixie Shafer, director of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity PHOTO BY BOB STACKE ’71 we recognize that our role isn’t as much about changing someone as it is about using an approach that welcomes learners of different styles, that encourages support networks to address, adapt to, and respond to each young person. We seek to accept, listen, and innovate as we help students gain as much as possible to prepare them for a fulfilling life. Both approaches fall under an umbrella of universal design that can be applied to all students, regardless of ability. If our goal is understanding, then we must create multiple access points for students. We urge teacher candidates to get to know students, their families, and the community to appreciate the backgrounds coming together in each classroom. [L to R]: Stella Hofrenning, Dixie Shafer, William Green, Joyce Miller, David Crowe, and Alyssa Hanson. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 7 PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI 8 AUGSBURG NOW Juliane Derry ’00 works on an artifact from Norway’s national collection. As an objects conservator, she studies and preserves historical materials. BY LAURA SWANSON LINDAHL ’15 MBA “As you can see, I’m not in my office,” says Juliane Derry ’00 answering a video call and gazing toward the cell phone resting in her outstretched palm. “It’s kind of a little crisis.” Behind her, a warehouse complex comes into focus. It looks tidy—for the most part—but there’s chaos emerging in what otherwise would be a meticulously organized space. Derry is standing in one of the storage facilities for Norway’s Nasjonalmuseet, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, and she is responding to an immediate, all-hands-on-deck plea to mitigate an unnerving discovery in the archive: water. “Oxygen, light, and variations in humidity are the things that cause damage,” Derry said, hours later, offering a primer on the fundamental culprits in the degradation of historical materials. As a conservator for the national museum in Oslo, she plays a multifaceted role in the institution’s efforts to hold, preserve, exhibit, and promote public knowledge about Norway’s most extensive collections. Vestbanen – Downtown Oslo Future home of the Nasjonalmuseet Norway’s new national museum will open in 2020. Juliane Derry ’00 is working to prepare hundreds of objects for public display. Oslo, Norway SPRING–SUMMER 2017 9 PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI During her career, Derry has restored furniture, objects, frames, and gilded surfaces. 10 AUGSBURG NOW “There are so many different materials in our collection that we have textile, paintings, paper, and book conservators,” said Derry, who is an objects conservator specializing in furniture, frames, and gilded surfaces. She has studied restoration on three continents and has become an expert in both preserving national treasures and making new creations shine. Derry is someone who excels at finding connections between seemingly disparate areas. Her conservation work blends science with artistry, research with intuition, and the practical with the theoretical. Derry’s personal life has been filled with complementary relationships as well. She was born in Norway, and she lived there until age 15 when she, her sister, and her American mother moved from the tiny alpine town of Ål to the densely populated Twin Cities lying on the edge of Minnesota’s prairie. Later, as an Augsburg student, she focused on women’s studies, international relations, religion, and studio arts. “I took classes based on what interested me,” Derry said, shrugging her shoulders. “When you get out into the real world and meet new people you begin to realize that [some of them] followed a very narrow path. I’m not looking down on that in any way, but I appreciate the fact that I was able to experience so many different things.” As her former faculty advisor, History Professor and Director of General Education Jacqueline deVries acknowledges that Derry is the type of person who thrives in interdisciplinary programs like women’s studies. Now known as “gender, sexuality, and women’s studies,” the major includes courses in biology, English, history, political science, sociology, and other disciplines. And it seems Derry’s inclination toward diverse opportunities only increases with time. “Juliane’s path is fantastic. She totally wandered,” said deVries, who now counts Derry among her friends. “I think she’d laugh that I said that, but along the way she discovered a true passion.” Derry’s career in restoration and conservation began because misdirected mail literally came across her desk. Shortly after graduating from Augsburg, Derry worked as an assistant to buyers at Dayton’s, Minneapolis’ storied hometown department store chain. Even though she didn’t support staff in the furniture division, she received heaps of catalogs for that area. Eventually, a thoughtful colleague noticed her growing interest in woodworking and encouraged her to pursue her calling. After some networking and introspection, Derry signed up for a wood finishing program at a technical college—an experience that ultimately led to her launching a small business, obtaining an advanced degree, and developing industry contacts around the world. One of those connections is Don Williams, an author, educator, scholar, and furniture conservator who retired after serving the Smithsonian Institution for 29 years. Williams was a guest lecturer who instructed Derry during her Minnesotabased finishing program, and he became a mentor as she took her education and career to new levels. Williams has taught hundreds of students, and he’s noticed that those who succeed often have similar predispositions. “How many people do you know who are both scientists and artists?” he asked. “That’s what we are. If you are not consumed by creativity, this is going to be a miserable path for you. People need not only creativity but also curiosity.” For Derry, an eagerness to experiment and to learn has triggered some of her most defining life events. After working a handful of day jobs and operating an independent business in the U.S. for three years, Derry enrolled in an immersive, full-time restoration program near Florence, Italy. There she gained studio experience and new skillsets, including the ability to speak Italian through a crash course lasting a single month. After completing the restoration program, Derry moved with her wife, Jody Scholz ’97, to Norway. Derry was armed with a portfolio of recent work and ambition to relaunch her business in the Land of the Midnight Sun. “I ended up making a CD full of pictures of various restoration projects, and I made the rounds in town,” she said. “I looked up people in the yellow pages and then handed out my pictures. In the beginning I worked a little bit at a frame shop, and then I got a job in a gallery where I restored frames.” During the years since, Derry’s workload has grown to match her expertise, and sometimes her expertise has grown due to Derry prepares an Oslo city model from the 1930s for display in an architectural exhibit. PHOTO BY ANNAR BJØRGLI the requirements of her work. She earned a master’s degree at the University of Oslo’s Institute of Archeology, Conservation, and History by completing a project-based thesis that examined shellac, a sealant created using a resin secreted by insects. For this project, Derry conducted fieldwork in the rural Jharkhand region of India where villagers harvest stick lac—the key ingredient that becomes shellac and its by-products—and she analyzed the chemical characteristics of several samples at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute where Williams served as her internship sponsor. “Investigative problem-solving” is one of the aspects Derry said she most enjoys about her field, and her liberal arts experience at Augsburg informs the way she approaches her assignments. She uses traditional techniques and materials in her conservation projects whenever possible, and her ability to think critically is paramount. While employed at a furniture restoration company, she was tasked with repairing beloved pieces used by the Oscarshall Summer Palace, the Office of the Prime Minister, and private clients. She also has served Fortidsminneforeningen, a nonprofit that preserves and protects monuments, including 40 of the stave churches located throughout Norway. “Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is not only a homily, it is an inexorable law of the universe,” said Williams, describing the vital role individuals like Derry play in preserving cultural heritage for future generations. “Everything is going back to dust. As conservators, it is our job—to the extent that is rational—to slow that process down and concurrently enjoy and extract the most utility from an artifact on its path.” Today Derry’s workdays primarily are devoted to making internationally important materials accessible to the general public. At the national museum, she has completed assignments that range from applying gold leaf on the frames of masterworks to cleaning a plaster-of-Paris city model measuring more than 100 square feet. And still, her current undertaking is the largest one yet. The Norwegian government is building a joint “all-arts” museum, which is slated to open in Oslo in 2020. Intended to be a dynamic arena for people to interact with the visual arts, the space requires new exhibits so curators and conservators are working hand-in-hand to select and prepare pieces for display. Derry is in the midst of locating, evaluating, cataloguing, and potentially repairing 400 pieces of furniture for the museum. It’s a process that requires passion and persistence—two words that also perfectly describe the manner in which Derry has shaped her career. She’s prepared to address new challenges if issues arise in a workshop, at a laboratory bench, or during the process of managing complex projects. Even in a soggy situation at a storage venue, Derry sees the annoyance of rewrapping objects impacted by a minor cooling system leak as an opportunity to formulate a plan for the future should staff ever need to address a true disaster. “She can pursue something with intelligence and diligence and still with a smile on her face,” Williams said. “That’s an unusual gift.” SPRING–SUMMER 2017 11 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY: SMALL TO OUR STUDENTS AND BIG FOR THE WORLD BY REBECCA JOHN ’13 MBA O n September 1, “Augsburg College” officially will become “Augsburg University”—a change approved by both the Board of Regents and the Augsburg Corporation. For generations of Augsburg alumni and friends, it may seem like the place always has been called “Augsburg College.” That’s been the formal name of the school for the past 54 years. Over the course of the school’s history, nearly 24,000 people have completed degrees at Augsburg. With so many Auggie alumni accustomed to thinking of Augsburg as a college, why change the name? In short, the term “university” illustrates the breadth of Augsburg’s current reality and goals for the future. And, “while our name is changing,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, “the essence of who we are is not.” As the first seminary created by Norwegian Lutherans in America, the name Augsburg—chosen by the school’s founders in 1869 to honor the Augsburg Confession—always has defined the ethos of this institution and its mission to support those called to service in the world. Since its founding, Augsburg has been known by at least four different names. The name has shifted as the school has grown, but our commitment to an accessible, quality education has never wavered. Likewise, our dedication to the Lutheran principles of hospitality, service to the neighbor, and social justice is as steadfast today as ever. 12 AUGSBURG NOW In announcing the name change, Pribbenow affirmed that becoming Augsburg University “does not alter our dedication to integrating the liberal arts and professional studies or our commitment to being small to our students and big for the world.” Rather than moving Augsburg away from its roots, the name change helps Augsburg remain both faithful to its heritage and relevant to the educational needs of students in the 21st century. Ever evolving, always Augsburg: Growth in graduate programs From its early years, Augsburg stressed that a good education is practical and focused on educating ministerial candidates and theological students as well as farmers, workers, and businesspeople. So, it’s no surprise that Augsburg today offers a number of professional master’s and doctoral degrees — a mix of programs that makes Augsburg already more like a university than a college. While there is no fixed definition outlining the distinction between a “college” and a “university,” offering post-baccalaureate degrees commonly is associated with institutions named as universities. Augsburg’s first advanced degree program, the Master of Arts in Leadership, launched 30 years ago. Since then, 3,700 people have earned master’s or doctoral degrees from Augsburg. This past fall, Augsburg’s graduate enrollment reached a record high — representing 28 percent of total enrollment — and continued growth in Augsburg graduate programs is anticipated in the coming years. An international perspective Today, Auggies live and work all over the world. In many countries and cultures, the word “college” is associated with a high school-level education. Alumni who work in international settings have noted that they already refer to their alma mater as “Augsburg University” in order to avoid confusion. For the same reason, the name change also will help Augsburg be more attractive as a destination for international students, which represents a potential growth area for Augsburg. A view from the outside in With nearly 150 years of history, it’s no surprise that Augsburg is well known in the region—even among people who haven’t (or haven’t yet) studied here. What impact would a name change have on their perceptions of Augsburg? We asked the following groups to share their thoughts: • high school students, • parents of high school students, • high school counselors, • people considering getting an advanced degree, and • people who didn’t finish an undergraduate degree right after high school and are thinking about going back to school to earn a bachelor’s. These conversations generated several important insights, but the core takeaway is that Augsburg’s reality, reputation, and promise are aligned with the name change. Our reality and reputation. Conversations with members of the general community demonstrated that people associate the word “university” with a number of attributes that clearly apply to Augsburg. Specifically, people view universities as having high academic standards, a commitment to research, strong international programs, and diverse student populations. Augsburg has robust programs for scholarly research and global study, and is recognized nationally for its leadership in inclusion and equity. In many ways, Augsburg already embodies much of what people expect of a university. The promise of a student-centered university. We also learned from these conversations that Augsburg has a strong reputation for direct student-faculty engagement. We already know how important this is to our alumni, students, faculty, and staff, but it was gratifying to hear that members of the broader community also value Augsburg as a student-centered organization. This is something Augsburg needs to ensure does not change. Augsburg University will not become an institution marked by big campuses or large studentto-faculty ratios. Instead, as is articulated in our Augsburg2019 strategic vision, Augsburg will be a new kind of student-centered university, and just as we have done for decades, Augsburg will remain committed to educating students for lives of purpose in a vibrant, engaged learning community. Learn about the visual identity of Augsburg University on the following pages. Learn more about the Augsburg2019 strategic vision, the name change, and the logo update at augsburg.edu/now. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 13 AUGSBURG NAME CHANGE HISTORY 1869 1872 1892 1942 AUGSBURG SEMINARIUM THE NORWEGIAN DANISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN AUGSBURG SEMINARY AUGSBURG SEMINARY AUGSBURG COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY EMBRACING OUR LEGACY AND OUR FUTURE When Samuel Gross ’03 was a student at Augsburg, he designed the original Auggie eagle-head symbol as an assignment for one of his graphic design courses. The design was so good, Augsburg ended up buying the rights to the image and has used the eagle symbol for campus life, student organizations, and athletics for the past 15 years. During that time, Gross became an award-winning designer and creative director who founded his own graphic design firm, 144design, with a specialty in developing logos for clients. So, when Augsburg needed to update its logo as part of the transition to the Augsburg University name, it was a perfect opportunity to re-engage with Gross to envision and design the next-generation Augsburg logo. “Early on, our conversation about the logo confirmed that this project should be an evolution of the Augsburg brand, not a revolution,“ Gross said. “We wanted to preserve the strong recognition that has been built for Augsburg over time. “Our goal was to preserve and respect the historic nature of Augsburg’s logo — especially since it already has strong 14 AUGSBURG NOW [Top Left]: The Augsburg “A” shape is reimagined. [Top Right]: Samuel Gross ’03 works on Augsburg University’s visual identity in April 2017. [Left]: Gross shows off merchandise displaying the first eagle-head symbol shortly after he created it for Augsburg in 2003. energy and good familiarity — while at the same time creating a treatment that also embraces the future,” he said. The results, including the updated Augsburg logo, “A” icon, and eagle-head symbol are shown on the next page. Separately, the Augsburg seal — which is used on transcripts, diplomas, and other official documents — was updated by Augsburg staff Mark Chamberlain and Denielle Johnson ’11 and is shown on pages 16-17. 1963 2017 AUGSBURG COLLEGE AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Augsburg marks: honoring the legacy Augsburg logo Augsburg “A” icon Eagle-head symbol The Augsburg University logo is designed to feel familiar to people who are already acquainted with the College logo, connecting the new design with Augsburg’s legacy. In the new logo, the word “Augsburg” is more bold than the word “University.” This approach was informed by research suggesting that people’s strong associations are with the name, “Augsburg,” whether or not it is followed by “College” or “University.” The font selected for “Augsburg” conveys an established, academic feel, while the font for “University” provides a sleek, contemporary balance. The contrast of the two words creates a dynamic energy. By strengthening the design of the “A” icon — broadening its base and making the vertical strokes bolder — Augsburg will be able to use the “A” icon as a standalone graphic element much more frequently and effectively going forward. For example, current plans call for the “A” icon to be installed on the shorter ends of the sign on top of Mortensen Hall. This is one of the most visible signs in the region and will be updated this summer as part of the transition to “Augsburg University.” The eagle-head symbol is stronger and bolder with this evolution. Whereas the original design lost detail and contrast when translated to black-and-white treatments, the updated design is much more effective across a broader range of uses. Currently, designs using the updated eagle-head symbol are under development for an array of installations—from the Si Melby gym floor and the Edor Nelson athletic field scoreboard to the Christensen Center student lounge and merchandise sold in the Augsburg bookstore. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 15 AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY SEAL: HISTORY AND MEANING Past seals T he seal conservation process began as Augsburg College explored the steps involved in changing its institutional name to Augsburg University. The seal enhances an original centennial symbol design and aligns with the institution’s current reality, reputation, and promise. THE AUGSBURG COLLEGE SEAL WAS BASED ON A CENTENNIAL SYMBOL CREATED BY PAUL KONSTERLIE ’50. THE LION REPRESENTS AUGSBURG’S NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE. AUGSBURG’S CENTENNIAL SYMBOL, CREATED BY KONSTERLIE. THE LAMP OF LEARNING DEPICTS SOUND SCHOLARSHIP. THE FONT WAS INSPIRED BY THE CENTENNIAL SYMBOL. THE SEAL FOR AUGSBURG COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FEATURED MARTIN LUTHER. 16 AUGSBURG NOW AUGSBURG WAS FOUNDED IN 1869 IN MARSHALL, WISCONSIN, AND MOVED TO MINNEAPOLIS IN 1872. THE CROSS DEPICTS THE SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THE SILHOUETTE OF THE MINNEAPOLIS SKYLINE EMPHASIZES AUGSBURG’S METROPOLITAN RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE DEEPLY THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT, “THROUGH TRUTH TO FREEDOM,” SUMMARIZES THE BELIEF THAT THE TRUTH SETS US FREE TO BE EDUCATED AND TO SERVE. THE EAGLE REPRESENTS U.S. DEMOCRACY. THE FOSHAY TOWER RETURNS TO THE CENTER OF THE SEAL AS A NOD TO AUGSBURG’S CENTENNIAL SYMBOL. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 17 PHOTO BY DON STONER PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY [L to R]: At an Auggie Compass event, panelists Mike Gallagher ’12, Katie Jacobson ’11, and Dan Brandt ’11 spoke to students about the journey from college to their careers. PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY [Left]: This fall, student-athletes engaged in team-building exercises led by U.S. Marines. 18 AUGSBURG NOW [Above]: Student-athletes kicked off evening workshops by dining together. WINNING THE LONG GAME BY KATE H. ELLIOTT Meaningful, relevant workshops equip students to excel in the classroom, competition, and their careers S tudent-athletes file past tables, stacking breadsticks on mounds of pasta, but this crew isn’t carb-loading for the next matchup. The nearly 550 students from Augsburg’s 19 sports teams are preparing to tackle Auggie Compass—a series of workshops and team-building exercises designed to inspire personal and professional success. After piloting the program in 2014-15, Augsburg Athletics recruited this year’s lineup of on- and off-campus partners to engage each class in issues relevant to each stage of their undergraduate lives. Associate Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks said the biannual series starts a conversation with studentathletes, then builds upon those themes each year as Auggies develop the confidence, expertise, and support networks they need to navigate known and unknown challenges during college and after graduation. For instance, first-year students discussed study skills, time management, and wellness, while seniors learned about financial planning, living their values, and networking techniques. “When I moved into my first house, I didn’t know furnaces had filters, and that’s just one example of the many things I should’ve known—but didn’t—before graduation,” said Anderson Diercks, who spearheaded the program. “We developed Auggie Compass from the best aspects of similar programs and from conversations with our coaches, student-athletes, and alumni. Our students seem more aware of campus and community resources and better prepared to excel in the real world.” Panel of alumni shares lessons from ‘professional lumps’ Among the spring event’s most popular sessions was a student-athlete alumni panel, “Not Where They Thought They’d Be,” which—as the title suggests—invited alumni to share lessons from their not-so-straight-orsmooth paths to personal and professional fulfillment. Mike Gallagher ’12 was among the four panelists asked “not to sugar coat” their transitions to the workforce. “My first paid job out of college lasted 21 months before I was laid off with 25 SPRING–SUMMER 2017 19 PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY Auggie Compass workshops target needs and issues specific to the phases in student-athletes’ academic and personal journeys. Each session builds upon the previous event, equipping Auggies with a deeper understanding of their values, career preparation, and wellness practices. percent of the company’s workforce, and that’s just one example of the professional lumps we shared,” said Gallagher, an academic advisor at Walden University and the on-air host/ producer of Gopher Sports Update and MIAC Weekly. “Our stories reinforced that new graduates likely will have to do things they don’t enjoy as they work toward goals. But we encouraged them to channel the persistence and dedication they gained as athletes toward new challenges and to say ‘yes’ to any opportunity to better themselves or gain new skills.” Gallagher, also a freelance sports broadcaster and emcee, talked openly about his path, which is a fairly common one: going to college with hopes of playing professional baseball, then realizing he wasn’t any better than his teammates. Then, struggling to find balance within the fun, demanding routine of workouts, competitions, classes, and life until he walked across the commencement stage and into a 9-to-5 job without the sport, the people, and the routine he’d always known. “It is, indeed, a huge wakeup call,” he said. Women’s golfer Wendy Anderson ’17 was among the seniors who rotated through the panel discussion. The double major in music business and accounting said she valued sessions about financial planning and interviews, but the alumni 20 AUGSBURG NOW panel resonated with her the most. “I’m a type-A, perfectionist planner. Hearing their stories reassured me that I may not end up where I thought I might, but because of these types of sessions and my Augsburg experience, I’ll survive and hopefully have a fulfilling career,” she said. “I’m glad I attended sessions about fiscal responsibility, but workshops that encouraged us to consider our values and worth and to step outside our comfort zones were the most rewarding. Guidance from Auggie Compass sessions paired with the entirety of our experiences prepares us to achieve.” Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 is glad to hear student-athletes position Auggie Compass within the greater framework of their Augsburg education and athletic experience. The lessons and skills are interconnected, he said, strengthening one another. “Our athletes learn to win and lose with class, to embrace leadership, and to play their role—whatever that may be—to achieve a shared goal,” said Swenson, who has been a member of the Augsburg community for more than 30 years as a student, coach, and administrator. “These are all great lessons for life after sports, and Auggie Compass builds upon what teams and coaches are already instilling. At our core, we are about community and supporting these fine student-athletes on their journey. Auggie Compass prepares them to carry that legacy out to the world.” Building skills to navigate a complex environment Mike Matson ’07 knows all about Augsburg’s core principles. They guided him through his time as one of the College’s top linebackers, then through seminary, and now in his role as an assistant director of leadership gifts at the College. Matson said Augsburg’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community outfits students with empathy and poise to respectfully engage in meaningful conversations and authentic relationships. He talked with juniors about how to lead difficult conversations. “We live in a complicated world with complex people and issues, and those who are able to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner advance progress and understanding,” said Matson, who also serves in the Navy Reserves and as chaplain for the Minneapolis Police Department. “Instead of talking at the students, we challenged them to work through case studies. I can’t say I was all that surprised at how well they handled themselves, but I was impressed with how willing they were to share PHOTO BY DON STONER PHOTO BY COURTNEY PERRY This spring, members of the junior class headed to the gym for basketball and bean bag competitions with Special Olympics athletes, and in September, first-year students learned techniques to manage stress and practice mindfulness. vulnerabilities, speak about biases, and view situations through alternate perspectives. It was amazing to watch ‘community’ happen.” Unified tournament puts principles to practice Student-athletes didn’t only talk about ideals, they practiced them. Juniors headed to the Si Melby gymnasium to compete alongside 40 Special Olympics athletes in basketball and bean bag toss competitions. Jennifer Jacobs, who organized the volunteer effort, said the tournament underscored Augsburg’s commitment to service and inclusion. “We added [the unified competition] because civic engagement is one of the college’s co-curricular learning outcomes,” said Jacobs, then-assistant athletic director and assistant volleyball coach. “We decided to collaborate with Special Olympics because of an NCAA Division III partnership with the organization and because our ongoing involvement with the area chapter continually inspires our students.” Student-athlete Cody Pirkl ’18 had never interacted with Special Olympics athletes before the Auggie Compass event this spring. Initially, the baseball player had not been excited about the obligation on what otherwise would have been a free night. But as he said goodbye to Special Olympics teammates, the social work major said it felt like parting with dear friends. “We, as college athletes, become so focused on our own goals and everyday lives that we forget how rewarding it is to give back to others,” Pirkl said. “Our involvement with Special Olympics shines Augsburg’s positive light on our broader community, but it also gives us meaningful perspective. Watching the Special Olympics athletes’ pure love of the game reminded me how lucky I am and how much I love to play.” Pirkl said he and his teammates took a lot away from the mix of formats and engaging activities. That active structure was intentional, Anderson Diercks explained, as presenters played to student-athletes’ competitive nature. “For years, we had brought wonderful, inspiring speakers to campus once or twice a year to talk with students about hot topics or enduring life-aftercollege lessons,” Anderson Diercks said. “Although these experts offered great perspective and information, the format was a challenge, and we were never able to cover as many of the topics as we would have liked. The new Auggie Compass format allows us to engage each class in specific topics to prepare them for the next year and beyond. We can more easily adjust based on student feedback, and it’s a nice way to highlight our alumni and campus experts as well as celebrate community partnerships and resources.” Celebrating mindfulness and meditation One such resource is Jermaine Nelson, a meditation and mindfulness coach and yoga instructor. The former athlete urged students to seek mind-body connections as they strive to be more present. He also reminded them to give themselves grace during transitions and various phases of life. “It’s so easy for student-athletes to continue to eat and sleep how they did in college without the same level of activity, and then they look up one day and realize they are out of shape and out of sync,” Nelson said. “It’s important to anticipate, on the field and in life, so that you avoid injury and prepare for the next phase of your life.” Nelson wasn’t expecting to, but looking out at the dozens of student-athletes reminded him of his nephew, and Nelson got personal. His nephew was a promising college recruit, with plans to play in the NBA, but he broke down from all the pressure. “I wish he would have had a program like this when he was in school,” Nelson said. “Imagine all the heartache and recovery he would have avoided had he been offered the tools to cope and achieve without grinding himself into the ground. I worked with him, and he’s on a good path now, but it took a while. If Auggies can practice these techniques now, they’ll succeed.” SPRING–SUMMER 2017 21 Nelson’s talk reinforced some of the themes presented by Augsburg’s Center for Wellness and Counseling. For example, counselor Jon Vaughan-Fier and Beth Carlson, the center’s assistant director, co-facilitated “Becoming Resilient to Stress,” which challenged student-athletes to assess what drains them and to identify ways to recharge. In addition to discussing the importance of sleep, nutrition, and meaningful relationships—among other topics—students engaged in yoga, mindful breathing, and relaxation strategies. As a senior, Chuckie Smith ’17 took part in Auggie Compass workshops on financial planning, job search strategies, living authentically, and a variety of other topics. During the Compass program’s pilot year, the entire CWC staff also presented on a range of topics related to wellbeing, including body image, depression, healthy choices, and stress management, which Vaughan-Fier said is critically important for today’s overly busy student-athletes. “To emphasize the connection to sports and improved performance, we showed testimonials from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russel Wilson about his ‘one play at a time’ mindset and New York Knicks President Phil Jackson’s philosophy of ‘one breath, one mind,’” Vaughan-Fier said. “We hope these tools help student-athletes as they strive to incorporate self-care practices into daily life.” According to a 2015 health survey, the top stressors among Augsburg students are: a death or serious illness of someone close, conflicts with roommates, parental conflict, and the end of a personal relationship. Director of the counseling center, Nancy Guilbeault, said the opportunity to interact with student-athletes about these and other topics is a proactive way to introduce the center’s role and resources. “Mental health and GPA are linked, and they affect your performance,” she said. “We want to make sure these studentathletes are working on their physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellbeing. These sessions provide an overview and tips, but we also encourage them to follow up with one-on-one or group support.” 22 AUGSBURG NOW Financial stressors, professional communications among top concerns A key barrier to wellness, Guilbeault said, is stress related to finances—a worry that plagues many students, particularly studentathletes who might not have the time to hold a job or internship. To build upon the counseling center’s session, Auggie Compass introduced a practical question-and-answer session with Tommy Redae ’09 MBA, a treasury management sales consultant and vice president of Middle Market Banking for Wells Fargo in Minneapolis. “Talking with upper-class students, I focused on the importance of budgeting and managing credit for a healthy financial future,” Redae said. “I shared several of the many online tools and apps to help them stick to a budget and monitor credit for suspicious or fraudulent activities.” Also in the category of practical and purposeful guidance, Auggie Compass enlisted faculty mentors Carol Enke and Shana Watters to offer best practices for professional communications. The pair broke student-athletes into groups to review and assess emails students sent professors, many of them lacking clarity, starting with an informal “hey,” or displaying accusatory language. “Research shows that people read emails more negatively than intended, and therefore, communicating effectively in this medium reduces ambiguity and negative perceptions,” Watters said. “The students did a great job of improving the emails, and we hope they will apply the guidance we shared to communicate with professionals now and in the future.” Program reinforces Augsburg’s mission, commitment to students The blend of practical knowledge and conceptual, creative exploration reflects Augsburg’s care for and commitment to student-athletes, and it supports community-building across teams and among coaches, said Swenson. This year, the program added a track for coaches that focused on situational leadership, social media training, and a DiSC® behavioral assessment inventory. “We’re not offering Auggie Compass to check off the ‘personal development box,’” Swenson said. “The program was developed by former collegiate players, thinking about what they wished they would have known, so that our student-athletes can have more tools to reach for as they strive for success.” The creation and evolution of Auggie Compass embodies some of the innovation, self-reflection, and grit the program aims to instill. Anderson Diercks said organizers continue to have conversations with student-athletes, alumni, and experts to align sessions with players’ needs and to reflect the latest trends and topics. As a former athlete turned furnace-filter-changing adult, she knows greatness doesn’t come from perfection but from the drive to keep playing until you get it right. HOMECOMING THOUSANDS OF AUGGIES. ONE AUGSBURG. Celebrate the first Augsburg University Homecoming NEW NAME. SAME SCHOOL SPIRIT. Gather among friends to celebrate the memories and milestones that define your Augsburg experience. Whether it’s to participate in a reunion, see campus updates firsthand, or cheer on a favorite team, it’s time to register for this year’s historic Homecoming—the first as Augsburg University. Interested in organizing your reunion? October 13-14 Call the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or email alumni@augsburg.edu. Find accommodation information, the event schedule, and more at: augsburg.edu/homecoming FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, s my second year as Alumni Board President comes to a close, I look back on the past several months with gratitude for what the Alumni Board has accomplished. We hope you have enjoyed recent alumni events, both on campus and off. At the start of my tenure, when I challenged the Alumni Board to change, not a little, but a lot, everyone stepped up to the plate and went to work. Today the board maintains more committees with fewer people on each, operates with clearly defined goals for each committee, and sustains a high level of engagement. We’ve also partnered with staff throughout the College to increase the board’s effectiveness and relevance. The Alumni Board continues to seek new pathways to connect with students, whether through mentoring, visiting classrooms, or simply sharing tips on LinkedIn. Students have said they enjoyed taking part in a Homecoming lunch last fall where they had the chance to share a table with distinguished alumni who pursued similar fields of study. We also held another successful Auggie Networking Experience in February, and if you couldn’t make it to campus, you’ll find some tips for reluctant networkers on page 27. In June, we transition board leadership. I’d like to welcome Nick Rathmann ’03 as Alumni Board President for the 2017-19 term. He is full of energy, has a passion for Augsburg, and is a dynamic leader with innovative ideas to take the Alumni Board even further. He is the athletic director at The Blake School, a longtime supporter of Augsburg as a member of the A-Club, and an all-around amazing volunteer. The Alumni Board is in great hands under his leadership. I’d also like to recognize Greg Schnagl ’91, who has led our Networking Committee for the past two years. His passion for creating meaningful connections between students and alumni has helped make the Auggie Networking Experience event bigger and better. I recently moved away from the Twin Cities for work, and I am so pleased to see alumni events scheduled across the U.S. more often. In the past two years, alumni gatherings have occurred in Denver, Las Vegas, Raleigh, Washington, D.C., and other cities. If you’re in the Minneapolis area, we hope to see you at some of this summer’s exciting alumni events! JILL WATSON ’10 MBA, ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT SUMMER ALUMNI EVENTS Minnesota United Soccer Night June 21 | 7 p.m. Republic 420 SE 23rd Ave., Minneapolis Meet for an alumni reception at Republic from 4:30–6:30 p.m. before taking the light rail to TCF Bank Stadium for a game. 7 People. 7 Passions. 7 Minutes. July 7 | 7–9 p.m. Sisyphus Brewing 712 Ontario Ave. W., Minneapolis Hear idea-stirring talks from seven passionate Auggies. $10 covers your first beverage and light appetizers. Auggie Night at Canterbury Park July 21 | 5:30–7 p.m. 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, MN $5 reservation covers a buffet meal, $5 of Canterbury Currency, and reserved seating. Happy Hour Squared URBAN ARBORETUM Join the Alumni Board to sponsor a tree You can help transform Augsburg into an urban arboretum that serves as an educational and community resource in harmony with the environment. Join the Alumni Board’s effort to sponsor a tree in the urban arboretum planned for Augsburg’s campus. The trees selected for this plan will surround the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion and include species native to Minnesota. All gift levels are welcome. The total cost to sponsor a tree is $25,000, which includes long-term care and maintenance. Help us reach this goal by December 2018! Visit augsburg.edu/giving for more information or contact Amanda Scherer, assistant director of leadership gifts, at scherera@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1720. 24 AUGSBURG NOW September 5 | 5–7 p.m. Brave New Workshop 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis Join alumnae business owners Jenni Lilledahl ’87 and Jacquie Berglund ’87 for a happy hour with a purpose. Make sandwiches for a good cause and enjoy a FINNEGANS® as part of Augsburg’s annual City Service Day. For more information and registration, visit augsburg.edu/alumni. COURTESY PHOTOS AUGGIES CONNECT [Top]: Travelers pose at Wat Chedi Luang Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. TRAVELING WITH [Far Left–L to R]: Hans Wiersma and Lori Brandt Hale, Department of Religion faculty members and trip leaders, pose with Katie (Koch) Code ’01, director of alumni and constituent relations. AUGGIES This winter, 15 Auggies traveled to Thailand and Cambodia with Augsburg College Professor of English Kathy Swanson and her husband, Jack, as their hosts. “The trip was beyond amazing,” said traveler and Alumni Board President Jill Watson ’10 MBA. “Our hosts, Jack and Kathy Swanson, have a passion for the people and culture of Thailand that was contagious throughout the trip. They were always willing to share insights, recommend food (such as sticky rice and mango at a floating market) and go out of their way to help others and ensure everyone was having a great trip. “Memories that stand out include the elephant camp in Chiang Mai, Thai cooking school, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Light for Kids orphanage, and the food ... all the foods! “Traveling with fellow Auggies meant I [Near Right]: Travelers stand in front of the Castle Church in Germany where Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door. had at least one thing in common with so many people I had never met before. By the end of the trip, I had developed new friendships, and I will be keeping in touch.” Celebrating Lutheran heritage in Germany and the Czech Republic Last fall, another group of Auggies traveled to the land of Luther to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Religion Department faculty members Hans Wiersma and Lori Brandt Hale led a group of 30 Augsburg alumni and friends on a multi-city tour that included Dresden, Prague, and Wittenberg—the long-time home of Reformation catalyst Martin Luther. One of the highlights for Augsburg Alumni Director Katie (Koch) Code ’01 was the opportunity to be in Wittenberg on Reformation Day. The town marked the occasion with a festival, and the Augsburg group visited Castle Church where Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door. “At worship that morning we sang, ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God,’ which took me back to my Augsburg days enrolled in the Luther and the Reformers class with Religion Professor Mark Tranvik,” Code said. Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Jean Hopfensperger and photographer Jerry Holt accompanied the group to chronicle how Minnesotans observed the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In a story published after the group’s return home, Augsburg alumnae Carol Pfleiderer ’64 and Kathleen Johnson ’72 described how the trip itinerary offered participants opportunities to build and reflect on their faith. To view trip photos, visit augsburg.edu/now. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 25 A GIFT FOR AUGSBURG IN ROCHESTER Louise and Regent Emeritus Leland “Lee” Sundet will help Augsburg’s Rochester site grow thanks to a generous $1.5 million gift. The Rochester location attracts more than 350 working professionals to undergraduate and graduate programs in business, education, health care, and nursing. As longtime supporters of Augsburg, including the Weekend College and Youth and Family Ministry programs, the Sundets have used their frugality to benefit others and to raise the profile of Augsburg. Several years ago, in an effort to better communicate Augsburg’s identity locally, Sundet helped form a marketing committee and was instrumental in choosing a new logo with a cross embedded in the “A.” He remains steadfast in his commitment to religion and religious freedom as essential to education. In his 88 years, Lee has never lost sight of the basics: thrift, generosity, and faith. “I also believe in old-fashioned discipline—‘don’t spend it till you’ve earned it,’” he said. Lee learned these principles early, growing up in Spring Grove, Minnesota, where most Norwegian-American community members attended the big Lutheran church. “My father died when I was six months old, and my mother PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH PHOTO BY BRENDAN BUSH AUGGIES CONNECT was quite ill so she had to sell everything she had to pay the bills. She got $7.43 a month, and of that, 74 cents went to the church,” said Lee, who has embraced tithing ever since. A retired industrialist and manufacturer, Lee owned several companies, including Century Manufacturing, Goodall Manufacturing, Britt Manufacturing, and Fountain Industries. His business acumen earned him such honors as Minnesota’s Small Business Man of the Year and the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award. The couple has sponsored a business scholarship at Augsburg since 1992. Overall, the Sundets are impressed by the potential of Augsburg’s programs in Rochester and by the work of another community anchor, Mayo Clinic, which the couple believes shares their values. “Augsburg has come a long way, and I would love to see it grow in Rochester.” 26 AUGSBURG NOW “I have met people at Mayo who have gone through the Augsburg program, and I’ve seen what it’s done for them. It’s a wonderful thing,” Lee said. “It wasn’t easy to get it started, but it’s fun to look back on. Augsburg has come a long way, and I would love to see it grow in Rochester.” tips for the reluctant networker Augsburg College alumna Jenni Lilledahl ’87 was a featured speaker at the Auggie Networking Experience in February. As co-owner of the sketch and improvisational comedy theater Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, Lilledahl brought insight from the improv world to the crowd of nearly 300 alumni and students meeting to exchange career advice. No matter their personality or career, Lilledahl said, all people have anxiety about jumping into new conversations or taking new career paths. Here she shares tips for individuals to jump-start meaningful conversations and say “yes” to new experiences. 1. We all get uncomfortable, yet we cannot let this feeling control us. Instead, we must face our fears and immerse ourselves in new experiences. 2. Sometimes saying “yes” is easier than we think. Don’t rattle off 20 excuses; jump in with an open mind. 3. PHOTOS BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 Stop yourself from using the word “but.” Instead, use the reframing mindset of “yesand” to add something positive to each situation you are in. Don’t use excuses to squash new ideas, possibilities, or adventures. Rather, embrace them. 4. Be intentional about your communication. Don’t just be there. Be awake, aware, and connected to the other people in the room. 5. Have gratitude for the chance to develop relationships, share ideas, and try new things. People who create authentic connections with others are often more successful than those who possess only technical skills. Augsburg alumni and students participated in short improvisational exercises at the event. with the Young Alumni Council Auggies who have graduated from any Augsburg degree program in the past 10 years are invited to join the Young Alumni Council and help plan year-round activities for recent alumni. In the past, the Young Alumni Council has organized a Twins game outing, a financial planning talk and social hour at Summit Brewery, and an afternoon of ice skating at The Depot in Minneapolis. For Young Alumni Council Vice President Evan Decker ’12, taking part in the group provides opportunities to practice valuable life and business skills that he doesn’t necessarily hone in his day- to-day work, such as planning meetings and events, communicating with fellow alumni, speaking to groups, and networking. Serving the council also is a way to stay engaged with the College. “Some people feel there aren’t resources for them after graduation, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Decker said. “This group is here to help bridge that gap.” To join the Young Alumni Council, visit augsburg.edu/alumni. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1961 Last year, First Lutheran Church in Red Wing, Minnesota, recognized Arlan Johnson ’61 for 50 years of service to its choir as a singer and director. While a student at Augsburg, Johnson played in the band for four years and sang in the choir for two years. He enjoyed tours with the band and choir in the Pacific Northwest, and in 1960 he participated in an extended Alaskan band trip to the Anchorage Music Festival. After graduating from Augsburg, he completed his education requirements, student taught at Braham (Minnesota) Area High School with Herman Aune ’50, and finished a second major in biology. Johnson taught band and vocal music in Stewart, Minnesota, and elementary, junior high, and middle school band in Red Wing until his retirement. He and his wife, Phyllis, continue to live in Red Wing. 1967 5 0-Y E AR RE UNI ON HOMECOMING 2017 Associate Professor of Chemistry Sandra Olmsted ’69 retires after serving Augsburg since 1978. See page 2. 1971 Darrell Skogen ’71 retired after teaching for 46 years. He spent the past 41 years at St. MichaelAlbertville High School in Minnesota. Skogen is the longest-tenured employee in the history of the school district. He taught classes such as AP World History and AP U.S. History. Skogen continues to instruct part-time at the high school and records stats for its football program. He says that the school’s Class 5A football state championship victory in 2015 was the first in his 50 years walking the sidelines. 1974 Dr. Subhashchandra “Pat” Patel ’74 and Annette (Hanson) Patel ’73 donated their dental clinics in Clarkfield and Cottonwood, Minnesota, to Open Door Health Center of Mankato. Open Door will run satellite dental clinics in the towns. Pat retired in June 2016. Associate Professor of Music Peter Hendrickson ’76 retires after teaching at Augsburg for more than two decades. See page 2. 1977 40- YE A R R E U N I O N HOMECOMING 2017 In August, Neil Paulson ’77 was elected state committeeman for the Republican Party in Orange County, Florida. for Advanced Science and Technology. 1979 1990 Walter Ohrbom ’79 earned a doctorate in chemistry from North Dakota State University after graduating from Augsburg. He retired from BASF as a senior research associate with more than 120 U.S. patents. Over the years, he and his wife, Patricia, have traveled around the world to backpack, bike, canoe, and scuba dive. Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 draws connections between student athletes’ time on campus and leadership roles after graduation. See page 18. 1988 Kiel Christianson ’88 was promoted to full professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he conducts research on language processing, reading, and bilingualism. He is associate chair of the department, as well as leader of the Educational Psychology Psycholinguistics Lab and co-chair of the Illinois Language and Literacy Initiative, both in the Beckman Institute In July, Karen Jean Reed ’90, a music therapy major, was honored with the President’s Award at the Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church Of God in Christ 50th State Women’s Convention, held in Palm Desert, California. She also was nominated for the 50 Women of Excellence honor for her exemplary service and outstanding achievement in music and administrative service in local, church, district, regional, and state positions. Reed has excelled in music as a gospel saxophonist and in women’s ministry. She was recognized for exemplary service by Barbara McCoo Lewis, the assistant general supervisor of the Church of God in Christ International. Reed serves as the assistant regional missionary for the Santa Barbara region and also works with youth. Professionally, she is a program director at the Department of State HospitalsCoalinga, overseeing the treatment of sexually violent predators. She is the author of “Music is the Master Key.” AUGGIES NEAR AND FAR [L to R]: Sociology Professor Tim Pippert and Torstenson Scholars Ellen Sachs ’17, Emily Campbell ’17, and Jen Kochaver ’19 meet with Mark Johnson ’75 on campus. [Not pictured]: Torstenson Scholar Mark Daniels ’17. 28 AUGSBURG NOW Last fall, metro-urban studies alumnus Mark Johnson ’75 invited Sociology Professor Tim Pippert to the remote country of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. The pair distributed solar lights donated by Johnson to villages on the island of Tanna, which in 2015 suffered widespread destruction due to Hurricane Pam. For Pippert, the trip was an adventure of a lifetime and an opportunity to observe the relationships Johnson has developed with local people over the course of several previous trips. The connection between Johnson and Pippert was built, in part, through their involvement with Augsburg’s Torstenson Community Scholars program that supports undergraduate research. Since 2015, Johnson has funded research opportunities for Auggies engaged in the program, which is named in memory of Professor Joel Torstenson ’38, a founder of Augsburg’s Department of Sociology. This February, four Torstenson Scholars traveled with Pippert to North Dakota’s Bakken oilfield region to assess how residents have been impacted by oil exploration. From the Auggie Connections blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. 1992 2 5-Y EA R RE UNI ON HOMECOMING 2017 Scott Peterson ’92 has accepted a call to be the pastor at Lutheran Church in the Foothills in La Cañada, California. After living in Canada for more than 17 years, Peterson has returned to the U.S. to continue ministry within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 1993 Chad Shilson ’93 is the Minnesota women’s wrestling director for USA Wrestling. He has completed his 100th marathon and qualified for his fourth Boston Marathon. Marathon running has taken him to 36 states, including 29 states in the past two years. A dedicated daily runner, Shilson has run at least one mile per day for more than six years. 1996 Stephanie Harms ’96 and Kristin (Young) Miller ’91 are helping change the nation’s response to vulnerable individuals and families through their work in the supportive housing movement. Both Auggies work at CSH, a national nonprofit organization that connects housing with services for vulnerable populations. Based in New York City, Miller leads a successful CSH program that assists communities throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Harms serves as chief operating officer and leads CSH’s communications, administrative, talent, and human resource efforts. CSH has ended veteran homelessness in several communities throughout the U.S., created more than 100,000 homes for individuals and families, and changed public systems to address the root conditions that create turmoil in the lives of vulnerable individuals and families. ’05 ’03 1999 Peter Durow ’99 has been commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota for the 2018 ACDA-MN State 4-5-6 Girls’ Honor Choir. ACDA-MN has been committed to commissioning new choral works for all-state and honor choirs from Minnesota composers each year since 1975. Durow serves as visiting director of choral activities at St. Cloud State University. ’67 Juliane Derry ’00 blends science with artistry and research with intuition as a historic materials conservator. See page 8. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Andrea (Carlson) Conway ’05 and Riley Conway ’05 welcomed a son, Soren Jon, in December. Soren is the grandson of Jon Carlson ’79 and great-grandson of Jeroy Carlson ’48. Golf Association and president of Women in the Golf Industry. She also wrote an e-book titled, “Hit It, Alice! A Woman’s Golf Guide to Everything But the Swing.” Barb (Walen) Hanson ’67 became president of the Minnesota Golf Association at its annual meeting in November. She is the first woman to serve in this role. Since retiring from her teaching career, Hanson has been actively involved in the golf world, having served as president of the Minnesota Women’s Paul Putt ’03, ’15 MAE and his wife, Katie, celebrated the birth of a son, Theodore Howard, in October. ’05 ’67 ’03 Pete Pfeffer ’87, who holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and his daughter, Maggie, served on a chiropractic and medical ’87 ’87 mission team in Kimana, Kenya. The team provided care and education to hundreds of Maasai villagers living in bomas and orphanages in an underserved area. Pete and his brother, Mike Pfeffer ’92, jointly own and serve as chiropractors for a HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehabilitation Clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota. In addition to private practice, Pete has taken on a national role with the HealthSource Corporation to provide training in technique and rehabilitation procedures for new franchises. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Mathematics and Statistics Instructor Alyssa Hanson ’01 is honored with a Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning award. See page 7. 2002 JCI Minnesota (formerly Minnesota Jaycees) selected Katie Lindenfelser ’02, founder of Crescent Cove, as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans for 2016. The mission of Crescent Cove is to offer care and support to young people with a shortened life expectancy and their families. The vision of Crescent Cove is to build and operate the first residential children’s hospice and respite care home in the Midwest. Started in 1950, the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans honor is Minnesota’s only statewide recognition program for outstanding young leaders ages 18-40 who have devoted themselves to improving their communities. The program acknowledges the efforts and accomplishments of young adults who contribute to Minnesota through their service, thought and influence, community involvement, or entrepreneurship. 2003 Reginaldo HaslettMarroquin ’03 published “In the Shadow of Green Man.” The book, published by Acres USA, chronicles Haslett-Marroquin’s upbringing in revolution-torn Guatemala and how he built his vision to develop a regenerative farming model that uplifts individuals and communities. Throughout the book, he shares the fable of the Green Man, a tiny and wise Guatemalan folk character whose stories teach the importance of respecting the natural world. HaslettMarroquin is chief strategy officer for Main Street Project, based in Northfield, Minnesota. Haslett-Marroquin has served as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program’s Bureau for Latin America and as an advisor to the World Council of Indigenous People. He was a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation, and was Director of the Fair Trade Program for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy from 1995 to 1998. He also led the creation, strategic positioning, startup, and launch of Peace Coffee, a Minnesota-based fair-trade coffee company. Samuel Gross ’03 designs new university logo. See page 12. 2007 10-YEAR REUNION HOMECOMING 2017 Mike Matson ’07 helps teach student-athletes how to engage in difficult conversations. See page 18. Jenessa Payano Stark ’07 began a Master of Science in Nursing program at Yale University this past fall. She is studying in Yale’s Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. She received a prestigious National Health Service Corps Scholarship that pays her tuition and fees, and defrays her living expenses for three years in exchange for future service in an area with a shortage of health professionals. 2011 Dan Skaarup ’11 and Casey (Ernst) Skaarup ’11 welcomed a daughter, Eowyn River, to the world in December. Laura Schmidt ’11 and Sarah Witte ’12 launched a nonprofit, spiritually based community called Intertwine Northeast. The group’s mission is to be “made and moved by story, convinced by compassion, always in process, and about questions, not answers.” Mike Gallagher ’12 shares life lessons with current students. See page 18. 2014 Composer and percussionist Zack Baltich ’14 was featured in the 2017 Cedar Commissions. Baltich’s piece “ingress/passage” used contact microphones and uncommon performance techniques on marimba, glass bottles, and other found objects. The Cedar Commissions (formerly the 416 Commissions) is a flagship program for emerging artists made possible with a grant from the Jerome Foundation and has showcased new work by more than 30 emerging composers and musicians. Catherine Colsrud ’14 was one of 25 leaders who participated in the eighth cohort of the Native Nation Rebuilders Program sponsored by the Native Governance Center and the Bush Foundation. Representatives from 12 Native nations from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota were selected for the Rebuilders AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS Kathleen (Watson) Bradbury ’12 and Krissy Bradbury ’12 welcomed Peter Gene to their family. ’12 Beckie Jackson ’10 received a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching and is one of approximately 45 U.S. citizens traveling abroad through the program in 2016-17. In January, she headed to Botswana to spend five months conducting educational research. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected ’10 30 AUGSBURG NOW on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential. Jackson teaches at Moose Lake High School in Moose Lake, Minnesota. Nick Rathmann ’03 and wife, Shannon, welcomed a daughter, Finley Grace, in November. ’03 ’11 Several Augsburg College alumni serve as tutors and coaches with Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps. Tutors pledge one year of service in schools to help children become proficient readers by the end of third grade and proficient in math by the end of eighth grade. [L to R]: Charmaine Bell ’11, Kathleen Abel ’76, Joaquin Vences ’16, Kacie Carlsted ’15, Christine Fankhanel ’02, Amy Riebs ’18 MAE, and Alicia (Oppelt) Musselman ’14. ’91 Nancy Palmer ’91 joined the Minnesota Reading Corps September Program as a leadership component of a larger initiative to support tribes as they strengthen their governing capabilities. Colsrud serves the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe as the commissioner of administration, chief of staff, and acting commissioner of natural resources. Native Governance Center and Bush Foundation Rebuilders convened for four structured sessions during which they developed action plans to share knowledge with peers and their respective tribal governments. ’12 ’10 GRADUATE PROGRAMS Nursing Department Chair Joyce Miller ’02, ’05 MAN, ’11 DNP earns a Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning award. See page 7. Tommy Redae ’09 MBA helps Auggies prepare for a healthy financial future. See page 18. Rochelle Fischer ’14 MSW became a hospital administrator at Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center in January. For the past four years, she has been an assistant program director at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota, providing day-to-day operational and administrative leadership for persons with complex behavioral health symptoms. ’03 ’11 Dan Klein ’15 MBA and Kaitlin (Astleford) Klein were married February 25 in Hollywood, Florida. Nicole (Egly) Olson ’15 MBA and Mark Olson were married February 24 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Institute and tutors students in kindergarten through third grade. ’91 Chris Stedman ’08, an interfaith activist and author, is joining Augsburg this spring as a fellow serving the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship where he will facilitate and build new community partnerships for non-religious and interfaith civic engagement. Stedman also will consult on the development of interfaith engagement programs at Augsburg. ’08 ’08 31 HEALING WATERS ’68 Jason Kusiak ’08 spends late winter and early spring long-lining for cod and haddock, and most of the year catching lobster. Fishing in long-established seaports near Gloucester, Massachusetts, gives Kusiak an appreciation for the area’s rich history and a healthy respect for those who made a living fishing the Atlantic in earlier times. “With fishing,” he said, “you can see the direct result of your work ethic.” Today Kusiak recognizes that his entrepreneurial inclination was shaped by Assistant Professor of Business John Cerrito and former staff member Peggy Cerrito, and that his drive for continual personal growth was influenced by his involvement in StepUP®, the College’s residential collegiate recovery community. While at Augsburg, Kusiak found that the College’s commitment to building strong community connections and emphasis on learning through experience resonated with him. He now seeks out opportunities to interact with new people, to give back, and to offer hope to individuals and families who struggle with substance abuse. He’s driven to invest in the future of his business and his community. ’78 From the Auggie Connections blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS ’83 [L to R]: This fall, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service President Linda Hartke met with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the Rev. Mark Hanson ’68, former presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, at the LIRS Walk of Courage Award Gala. Albright and Hanson were honored at the event for their commitments to furthering equity for all people. ’68 ’71 Actor and performing arts educator Luverne Seifert ’83 won a $25,000 fellowship from the William and Eva Fox Foundation. He is part of a national cohort of artists supported by the foundation, which underwrites training and career development for performers. The support will enable Seifert to deeply explore his art and travel to France and Switzerland. In the past 25 years, he has acted at theaters in the Twin Cities and across the U.S. ’83 ’05 [L to R]: Margaret Marx ’78, Margo Casey ’78, and Cathy (Kaiser) Bloomquist ’78, all members of the original second step Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at ’78 ’06 32 AUGSBURG NOW Augsburg, continue their friendship today. The women gathered in Scandia, Minnesota, in September, and they share this photo as a reminder of the second step program’s impact on the nursing profession in Minnesota. Bob Stacke ’71 received an award from the Somali Museum of Minnesota on the occasion of the museum’s third anniversary last October. Stacke has provided music and photography services to the museum since its inception. ’71 Janeece (Adams) Oatman ’05, an Augsburg Alumni Board member, and Jim Gross, associate provost for academic innovation and strategic initiatives, were part of the Auggie team at the Rochester, Minnesota, Tour de Cure in October. ’05 Missy (Gaulke) Wilson ’06 completed her first Ragnar trail race and ’06 her third Ragnar overall race in September. She ran 15.2 miles on the Ragnar Trail Northwoods - WI in the Ragnar relay. Helen M. (Anderson) Johnson ’40, Hallock, Minnesota, age 96, on September 4. Eleanor C. (Christenson) Kline ’44, Minneapolis, age 93, on May 31. Marvin W. Johnson ’45, Rochester, Minnesota, age 93, on November 28. Olav Overold ’45, Cando, North Dakota, age 103, on January 23. Bonnie J. (Sorem) Anderson ’46, Cedar Falls, Iowa, age 92, on December 7. Delpha M. (Randklev) Berg ’47, Grand Forks, North Dakota, age 91, on September 12. Ray E. Gerlinger ’49, Overland Park, Minnesota, age 93, on December 4. Theodore C. Nystuen ’49, Altoona, Wisconsin, age 94, on January 19. Lorraine G. V. (Lundh) Qual ’49, Lisbon, North Dakota, age 93, on October 4. Joan L. (Sears) Ryden ’49, Cedar Hill, Texas, age 91, on October 18. Phebe D. (Dale) Hanson ’50, Minneapolis, age 88, on December 16. Evelyn I. (Shelstad) Kriesel ’50, Alamo, Texas, age 88, on September 21. Rhonda M. (Hektner) Lybeck ’50, Fargo, North Dakota, age 88, on January 29. Daniel Nelson ’50, Spicer, Minnesota, age 90, on February 14. Melvin E. Vigen ’50, Irving, Texas, age 88, on September 26. Arvild T. Jacobson ’51, Sun City, Arizona, age 93, on November 26. Donald H. Olson ’51, Henderson, Nevada, age 87, on December 19. Robert “Bob” R. Hage ’52, Hector, Minnesota, age 88, on December 16. William “Bill” J. Kuross ’52, Hopkins, Minnesota, age 87, on January 31. Charlotte M. (Kleven) Rimmereid ’52, St. Paul, age 86, on December 29. Roger V. Anderson ’53, Ottawa, Ontario, age 86, on February 11. Joan J. (Johnson) Kuder ’53, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, age 86, on December 19. Harry E. Olson ’53, Apopka, Florida, age 84, on October 7. Nola E. (Bengtson) Studer ’53, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 85, on September 5. Donna R. (Osland) Gaines ’54, Laguna Hills, California, age 84, on September 17. Ruth M. (Pousi) Ollila ’54, Minneapolis, age 84, on February 14. Betty J. (Dyrud) Oudal ’54, Rochester, Minnesota, age 85, on December 31. Arlene V. (Tollefson) Paulson ’54, Lake Oswego, Oregon, age 89, on September 20. Gary R. Rust ’54, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 85, on October 12. Robert “Bob” E. Twiton ’54, Brainerd, Minnesota, age 84, on February 26. Theodore “Ted” S. Berkas ’56, Minneapolis, age 88, on January 15. Robert A. Fundingsland ’65, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age 73, on September 19. Sanford E. Egesdal ’56, Minneapolis, age 82, on October 3. Marie D. (Hafie) MacNally ’65, Minneapolis, on November 7. Robert A. Roos ’56, Robbinsdale, Minnesota, age 86, on September 3. Dale H. Peterson ’69, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, age 69, on November 27. Merlin J. White ’56, Fridley, Minnesota, age 86, on September 8. Anita M. (Lindquist) King ’70, Pella, Iowa, age 68, on September 1. Raymond Seaver ’57, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 82, on December 5. Chuck S. Marsh ’73, Puyallup, Washington, age 65, on November 14. Robert H. Gustafson ’59, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 84, on January 28. Colleen M. (Brown) Olson ’74, Shakopee, Minnesota, age 63, on August 20. John P. Martisen ’59, Minneapolis, age 81, on August 30. Sheila M. (Conway) Kortuem ’84, St. Peter, Minnesota, age 76, on August 26. Lloyd H. Reichstadt ’59, Flagstaff, Arizona, age 84, on November 21. Paul C. Casperson ’60, Dallas, Texas, age 77, on January 31. Wayne R. Juntunen ’60, Esko, Minnesota, age 83, on December 5. Karen O. (Egesdal) Trelstad ’61, Red Wing, Minnesota, age 79, on November 30. Coralyn J. (Lunsted) Bryan ’62, Minneapolis, age 77, on October 25. Joshua B. Lerman ’08, Louisville, Kentucky, age 33, on November 18. Angel G. Rodriguez ’15, Minneapolis, age 25, on January 3. Tyler G. Kotewa ’17, Fairmont, Minnesota, age 25, on December 7. Mark A. DiCastri ’18, Minneapolis, age 29, on February 27. Clair A. Johannsen ’62, Hagerstown, Maryland, age 79, on February 10. Paul W. Anderson ’63, Moorhead, Minnesota, age 77, on January 31. Gaylen K. Heggen ’63, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, age 75, on October 26. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before March 15. SPRING–SUMMER 2017 33 PHOTO BY RICKY TAYLOR ’17 IN MEMORIAM PHOTOS BY COURTNEY PERRY 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Steve Wozniak inspires Auggies to ‘Learn Different’ Apple, Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak engaged the Augsburg community in a conversation that emphasized the importance of creativity, education, and innovation in an increasingly connected world. Wozniak launched Apple with Steve Jobs in 1976, revolutionizing the personal computer industry. Wozniak’s visit took place this winter during Scholarship Weekend, an opportunity for prospective students to compete for Fine Arts and Honors scholarships. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031
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Title: Augsburg Now Fall 2016: United in Community
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 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 S. E I G G U A . BE D U O R P D. BE E L L A C E B 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.
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Title: Augsburg Now Summer 2016: Carving the Way Forward
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 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. . S E I G G U A E B . D U O PR E B . D E L 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. 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID 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).”
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring 2016: High-Impact Learning
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 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 wars SPIRITSH Star Trek Voyager! make me choose! :( wars both Who ever came up with this question is EVIL!! You can’t forever! make me choose! :( rever! foELEVATES Who ever came up with this question Who ever came so upfar One of Motl’sYou favorite questions is EVIL!! can’t with this question has been,me “Star Wars or:(Star Trek?” make choose! is EVIL!! You can’t “Your lack of faith disturbs me!” -Darth Vader r a t s Sports Extravaganza rssets record,star Amanda Koltes ’17 MAE works with Sports Extravaganza participants. wars Star Trek Voyager! Who ever came up with this question "Yourlack lackofof “Your is EVIL!! You can’ “Your me lack faith " of faith disturbs me!” ars disturbs w make me choose! faith disturbs me!” -Darth Vader -Darth Vader -Darth Vader P H P both b s tarrs swtaarrs Star Trek both Voyager! wa s tarrs wa forever! Star s ta Trek wa Voyager! fore both H P “Your faith -Darth H wars H P forever! forever! Whoever came up At the 15th annual Sports Extravaganza, Augsburg College physical with this question education and exercise science students used knowledge gained in the is of EVIL!! You can’t “Your lack rs wa classroom to deliver smiles to a record 307 grade-school and middle-school makeme!” me choose! :( faith disturbs 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 EXPERIENCE AUGSBURG NOW ONLINE Fresh look, more interaction Enjoy several new features on the Augsburg Now magazine’s companion website. Thanks to a site upgrade, it’s possible to: • Manage your magazine subscription and delivery method • Read articles on mobile devices with ease • Share favorite stories and photos on social media • View exclusive slideshows and videos • “Go green” by opting for digital content instead of print • Submit class notes and share good news AUGSBURG.EDU/NOW 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031 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.
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Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 060
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: while lying on the ground,but he worked his way to his feet and began his pathetic attempt to ﬂee the scene. We were completely dumbfounded. \Ve all groaned with disappointment as we watched him limp away to the backyard. He did not make it far with a collapsed lung, but he made it farther than...
Show morewhile lying on the ground,but he worked his way to his feet and began his pathetic attempt to ﬂee the scene. We were completely dumbfounded. \Ve all groaned with disappointment as we watched him limp away to the backyard. He did not make it far with a collapsed lung, but he made it farther than we thought was possible. David didn’t need to break a walking stride, let alone a sweat, to catch up to Nemo. The two appeared from the side of the house, and we led him to the paramedics. Nemo immediately began defending his pride, or his stupidity, or something to the paramedics. “I don’t need to go in the ambulance. If you guys could just check out my arm here that would be great. My arm really hurts.“ \Vhen the para- medics asked him when his birthday was, he said, “That’s not the point." After looking at each other confused and annoyed, the paramedics walked around to Nemo’s back and began leading him toward the right side of the ambulance. As they walked away, we heard Nemo ask if the ambulance ride was going to cost a lot of money. Both of the paramedics snorted and laughed. We all stayed outside and watched as the ambulance drove off and wondered how Nemo was going to tell his parents that he fell off of a roof, and we worried that they would either make him move back home or that they would come live with us to make sure nothing like this ever happened again. \Ve also wondered if Nemo would change his ways after ﬁnally being confronted by the fragility of life, but we knew he would continue to seek his small excitement at even the biggest cost. \Vhen we visited him in the head trauma section of the hospital the next day, he smiled and laughed when the four of us 58 walked through the door. After asking him what happened, he glowed when he said, “The doctors said that if 1 would have landed any other way that I would haw died!" Som- ber and still shaken, all we could say was, “We‘re just happy you‘re alive, man.“
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Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 117
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: 115

Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 087
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: be nice." It was a Saturday afternoon, October. The sky was sharp and blue. Remy andJim were walking together past the Hines County roller rink, to the movie theater. They weren't holding hands, but two blocks past, the rink shrinking behind them, she bumped his ﬁst with her own as if on accident...
Show morebe nice." It was a Saturday afternoon, October. The sky was sharp and blue. Remy andJim were walking together past the Hines County roller rink, to the movie theater. They weren't holding hands, but two blocks past, the rink shrinking behind them, she bumped his ﬁst with her own as if on accident. He glanced at her sideways, smiled, and linked his pin— ky with hers, answering the question she didn’t ask, 85
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Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 024
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: his porch the next morning, they looked like they were visiting with their long lost father. \Vith all ofJackal’s rowdy past adventures, they very well might have been. “What do I know about God?”Jackal had invited them to sit in his ‘ofﬁce’, a massive liquor cabinet disguised as a living room. ...
Show morehis porch the next morning, they looked like they were visiting with their long lost father. \Vith all ofJackal’s rowdy past adventures, they very well might have been. “What do I know about God?”Jackal had invited them to sit in his ‘ofﬁce’, a massive liquor cabinet disguised as a living room. “Well, as far as I know, God isn’t a person like you or me. He’s more like an idea or a feeling. Some people tell me he‘s like pure, unlimited energy, like a bright light that can do anything. Other people say he’s a bit more concrete. From what I gather, he‘s more like an alterego that people use like a funhouse mirror to make themselves feel bigger and better than they really are. That help you out any?” After an uncomfortably long silence, Rex spoke up. “I don’t understand anything you just said, Jackal.” The others echoed conﬁrmations. “Yeah, you lost me, man.” “No clue,Jackal.” “Alright, let’s try again,”Jackal chuckled to himself. “Say, what’s this all about anyway? You trying to get with some church gals, or what?” “Ah, it ain’t like that,” Rex answered. “We found out that God‘s been looking to kill us. \Ve just want to get to him ﬁrst." Jackal took a moment to read their faces and look for some sign that they were teasing him. They were cold serious, and scared. He furrowed his brows for a while. They were watching him intently and he began to recognize a certain desperation in their eyes. Sometimes any answer is the right an- swer. He sat forward, rested his elbow on his knee, and spun them the tale they needed to hear. 22 “1 ever tell you boys about touring with Ozzy through Paraguay back in ‘79?” He hadn‘t. They listened with unﬂinching attention. u\Vell, Ozzy was always worrying about God too, back then at least. He would tell me how everywhere he went everyone was telling him how God was gonna get him and how he should try to make nice with God and shit. But, that was never Ozzy’s style, to back down like that. Anyway, we were in Paraguay and, really nice folks down there ifyou ever get the chance, and Ozzy had this terrible dream the night before the gig. Kept him up sweatin‘ and the whole works. He dreamt that God ﬁnally caught up with him and, well, all the nasty stuﬂ'that follows. He was in ﬁt, talkin‘ about calling olfthe whole show and heading home for good, that he'd had enough. Well, Lemmy and his boys were with us down there and Lemmy wasn‘t going nowhere. So, he asked around and found out that the locals there had this wooden statue that they worshipped and that this statue was God. Now Lemmy, being the practical type, offered to smash up the statue, but the locals wouldn't go for that. So, he convinced them that he wouldn't smash it up ifthey would let us keep it locked up in a chest in the tour bus. That way Ozzy didn’t have to worry about God chasing him down, and we could get on with the show. So that’sjust what we did." i Rex and the others exhaled for what seemed like the ﬁrst time since the previous night. Axel was still a bit hesitant. “WaiLJackal? What happened to God after the tour?” he asked. “Shoot, what am I thinking? Right. Ozzy, of course, didn’t want to keep the damned thing and Lemmy sure as hell wasn't gonna keep it neither.
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Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 061
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: PORCALEIN GODDESS Aaron Boger You are my pomclain gtx‘ldess. Now I stand up, I'm so glad to come home to you: turn around, and ﬂush; beautiful and smooth; I didn‘t men have to wipe urine OH the seat! cool to the touch, but bringing such warmth up and out of me to form a sunny pool. My fair,...
Show morePORCALEIN GODDESS Aaron Boger You are my pomclain gtx‘ldess. Now I stand up, I'm so glad to come home to you: turn around, and ﬂush; beautiful and smooth; I didn‘t men have to wipe urine OH the seat! cool to the touch, but bringing such warmth up and out of me to form a sunny pool. My fair, perfectly formed deity: a statue tojoy, caring for me in my times of need, comforting me when 1 get the “utge”. My eyes delight in your sight, my body can release. Sitting in your soft lap, I feel more open than ewr, able to sing, hum or whistle how I will. 59
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Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 123
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: SFW’INU Srcphamr an Ink and (‘opu Mmkm

Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 134
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: I7Nl‘FRN ATII THF .‘\R( ~H Hannah Sthmlr lhguul I’humgmph)

Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 139
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: NEW YORK Malena Larsen Flashing broadway signs and lights from towers Like sunshine Shined on your skin. Changing pictures ﬂashed on your check: As they raised from your smile. The city is so bright and busy 1 mean; the city was so bright and so busy. \Ve got pushed through the Cunt-m into pizza...
Show moreNEW YORK Malena Larsen Flashing broadway signs and lights from towers Like sunshine Shined on your skin. Changing pictures ﬂashed on your check: As they raised from your smile. The city is so bright and busy 1 mean; the city was so bright and so busy. \Ve got pushed through the Cunt-m into pizza companies and coffee shops with tiny espre$o mugx “bmen dragged themsehes through the street on wedges and high heels Towering above In We were young We were young and in the city. The stars hid and slept under blankets The towers smoked like people And we watched all of it. We could stand there forever I wear, we stood there former. 137
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Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 017
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: &PLEASE.; lazmin Crittenden “Can you see me?“ She pR’SSCS her lips, her hand, her body to the mirror. The ice cold minor. “Please saw me!” She saw Pounding on the glas so that her reﬂecﬁon rippled. “Save me,” She cried—tracing her ﬁngers on the but she still had no answer. Their ice cold eyes...
Show more&PLEASE.; lazmin Crittenden “Can you see me?“ She pR’SSCS her lips, her hand, her body to the mirror. The ice cold minor. “Please saw me!” She saw Pounding on the glas so that her reﬂecﬁon rippled. “Save me,” She cried—tracing her ﬁngers on the but she still had no answer. Their ice cold eyes from on anotheﬁ as a tear sneaked their cheek. I love )ou, She begged. Only to fall to her knees 15
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Title: Murphy Square 2016, Page 108
Collection: Literary Journals
Search Result: 106