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Title: Augsburg Now Winter 2023
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW: ON 'LEANING IN' by Paul C. Pribbenow March 15, 2023 Share this: [ f • Around the Quad. President's Letter Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] ...
Show more Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW: ON 'LEANING IN' by Paul C. Pribbenow March 15, 2023 Share this: [ f • Around the Quad. President's Letter Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i GREAT RETURNS AD Email ] One of the great misperceptions of American higher ed ucation is that colleges and universities are detached from the · real world," ivory towers not concerned about the communities and neighborhoods t hat surround t heir campuses. I am not here to defend all of higher education- though there is p lenty of evidence to rebut that misperception. Instead, I want to declare that for Augsburg University, there has never been a question of our commitment to what we ca ll "leaning in" to the pressing and complex issues of our neighborhood, our country, and indeed the world. It's a commitment articulated in our Augsburg1 SO strategic vision. which states: "As a new k ind of urban, student-centered DF university. w e are educating Auggies as stewards of an inclusive democracy, engaged in their commun ities and uniquely equ ipped to navigate the complex issues of our time." Leaning in so that our students are educated and equipped for the world that so needs their intellects, their passions, and their skills. Sur ely this issue of Augsburg Now powerfu lly demonst rates an array of ways in which this commitment to "leaning in" is lived President Paul Pribbenow (Photo by Courtney Perry) Sign up for Email Newsletter out by our student s. faculty. staff, alumni. and allies. From Associate Professor Katie Cla rk '10 MAN, '14 DNP and alumna Emily Bastia n '07 MSW, and t heir groundbrea king w or k serving those exger iencing homelessness; to our new data science major with its strong focus on equity and Submit Your Alumni News social j ustice; to the contr ibutions of our colleague, Minnesota First Lady Gwen Wa lz, helping us to prepare more teachers of color for our public schools; to t he resea rch of Assistant Professo r Kao Nou Moua, shedding light on t he CONNECT WITH US experiences of Hmong entrepreneurs. And t he list could go on and on with the da ily ways in which the Augsburg community- in its curriculum. community engagement and public advocacy- is working to be good neighbors, to uncover and address systemic injustices. and to support a more robust democracy. El I] In 2019, as part of Augsburg's 150th anniversary celebrations, Auggie alumnus and poet ext raordina ire Donte Collins '18 penned a powerfu l ode to their alma mater, entitled ·we Are Auggies," which concludes with these lines: "When shored, when sharpened. Guided. Here o system of roots. Strong. Striving. A system of roots weaving o new world. Auggie, you ore called into the world. Into your wonder. Your why. To wrestle with reason. To spot the problem. And propose new ports. To walk toward your fears. To find the heart. We ore Called. We ore Auggies." May we all continue to lean in, to make our world more j ust fair. and compassionate, to find the heart. I know we will. because we are called Auggies! Faithfu lly yours, Paul C. Pribbenow, PhD Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] Winter 2022-23 < PREVIOUS POST Au~ burg alumna lands tOP. role at MPR News YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsbu rg alum na lands toll Uncovering t h e exJler ien ces of McNair Scholars Pr ogram w ins r ole at M PR News Hmong ent r eJlr en eu rs comJlet itive r en ewa l grant - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accreditation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea lis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University webs~e uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, you are agreei Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG ALUMNA LANDS TOP ROLE AT MPR NEWS by CharlK Hal ey Share this: [ f March 15, 2023 • Around the Quad Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ i.'!i Email ] Jane Helmke '83 was named executive edit or of Minnesota Public Radio News in November 2022. "I'm so honored to be a part of the inspiring team of exceptional journalist s at MPR News at this point in my career," Helmke said . "Every day, we are wor king to include and inform all of our audiences across Minnesota, including today's Auggies! I'm excited to learn how w e can connect w ith and serve these thriving young adult s w ith the news they want and need each day: Prior to taking on this lead role at MPR, Helmke wor ked at NBC affiliate KARE 11 New s for 35 years. She st art ed t here as an int ern during her senior y ear at Augsburg. and she left as the TV st ation's news direct or. With her move t o MPR, Helmke jo ined two other Auggies in key roles at one of Minnesot a's largest media organizations. Jane Helmke '83, executive editor at Jean Taylor '85 was named the CEO of Amer ican Public Med ia Group, the parent company of MPR. in 2021. Before her work w ith MPR. Taylor was t he board chair Minnesota Public Radio News (Courtesy photo) of Star Tribune Media. an executive consu lt ant for the Platinum Group, and the CEO of Taylor Corporation. Sign up for Email Newsletter Andre Griffin '20 is t he commun ity engagement specialist for Carbon Sound, a new music stream from MPR t hat launched in June 2022 in partnership w ith KMOJ radio. Carbon Sound, which also includes a website and app. is ded icated t o celebrating the w ide-ranging influence of Black musical expression. Submit Your Alumni News For Helmke, jo ining MPR feels like "a wonderful, full-circle moment." CONNECT WITH US "Every day now," she sa id, "I carry w ith me the Auggie pride of serving the great er good in our community. MPR News is a place that allows me t o live this important value: El I] Top image: Minnesota Public Radio News building. d o wntown St. Paul (Photo by Minnesota Public Radio) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Uncovering the ex~riences of Hmong entreP.reneurs Notes from President Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Uncovering the exJleriences of McNair Scholars Program wins Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' Hmong entreJlreneu rs comJletitive renewal grant • on Morch 15, 2023 • on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE UNCOVERING THE EXPERIENCES OF HMONG ENTREPRENEURS On the Spot Q&A with Assistant Professor Kao Nou Moua by CharlK Holey March 15, 2023 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ 'P Pinterest GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i:11 Email ] For Kao Nou Moua, research is about storytell ing. The Augsburg assistant professor of social w ork spent a yea r gathering stor ies from Hmong business owners and entrepreneurs to find trends in their experiences and to help public and fi nancial agencies better serve the Hmong business community. After present ing this research at t he first-ever nationa l HMong Econo mic Advancement, Research. and Equ ity (HERE) Conference late last year. Moua reflects on what she's learned and what she's plann ing to study next. Q : Tell us about your latest research, the HMong Economic Advancement and Capacity Building Research Project. Augsburg Asstscant Professo r of Social Work Kao Nou Moua (Photo by Courtney Perry) A: For that pa rticular project, I wor ked with a national organization based in Eau Claire. Wisconsin, called HMong America n Leadership and Economic Develo pment (HALED). While w orking at a d ifferent institution. I had started to build relationships wit h people in Eau Claire. pa rticularly in the Hmong community there. They w ere really interested in looking at economic development among Hmo ng Americans and t rying to und erstand the barriers to becoming a business owner based on the different organizations. agencies, and fina ncial institutio ns that w ere supporting entrepreneurs. Sign up for Email Newsletter We had all of these anecdotal stories about Hmo ng business owners not being able to access services. but there w asn't really any research. Being in the w orld Submit Your Alumni News that w e are in. in terms of needing research or data to support these stories. w e w anted to be really mindful of being able to go to lawmakers and policymakers and say, "These are the barriers that people are exper iencing, and these are the CONNECT WITH US actual numbers of people who are experiencing these things: And so. that's what we did . My research partners and I secured a grant from the state of Wisconsin to do this economic project. By that time, I had transitioned to El I] Augsburg. so I hired a social work student to w ork with me, to mentor them in the social w ork research pro cess. I was w orking with students at t he University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire as w ell. We interviewed about 20 Hmong entrepreneurs in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We did focus groups with Hmong farmers, w omen entrepreneurs, and young people who were interested in ent repreneurship. It w as a wide range. And t he thing is. I'm not a businessperson. I'm a social wo rker. So. it w as really kind of a leap for me to put my mind in th is world of economic d evelopment. But my particu lar Kao Nou Moua teaches her social wor k class. (Photo by Court ney Perry) lens as a social w orker w as: 'What are the barriers in o rganizations?" It's always been my w ork to think about how w e can build culturally grounded services-in this case. w orking with banks and state agencies and orga nizations. Q : What were the results of this research? A: The year lo ng project of data collectio n culminated in the HERE Conference in Eau Claire last September. It w as a nationa l conference, the fi rst of its kind. to bring together Hmo ng entrepreneurs, lawmakers. other business owners. and fi nancial institutions to really think about and look at the data. There w ere a co uple of importa nt findings. One w as that Hmong women entrepreneurs have a v ery different exper ience than what w e think of when w e think about ent repreneursh ip. Even within the Hmong community. there are cultural barriers t hat exist for Hmong w omen entrepreneurs. That's something w e want to explore a little bit more. Another important find ing was that it wasn't so much about having translated materials or th ings like that; it really w as a need for a sense of belonging in those institut ions so people could feel like they w ere w elcomed. Some of the most heartbrea king stories that w e heard w ere people sharing about how they've been denied mult iple t imes (for loa ns) fro m fi nancial institutions. but o nce they w ere able to have a wh ite colleague come and vouch for them. then people at the bank w ere like. "Okay. I can trust t his person because they had a white person vouch for them." Those w er e so me of the really hard stories. Kao Nou Moua presents her research findings at the 2022 HERE Conference in Eau Clair e, Wisconsin. {Photo by HALED) Q : While you were conducting this research, was there anything that surprised you? A: One t hing that did surprise me. especially when w e did the focus group with young people. was that they all talked about the id ea of financial literacy. In high schoo l. they learn how to balance a checkbook. but t hey're like 15- they don't have a checkbook. But now. here they are as college students, and t hey're like. "I would li ke to lea rn that now." And w e had older adults who w ould say, "I want to lea rn more about inv est ments or the stock market." So. w e learned that fi nancial literacy is something that needs to happen multigenerationally or intergener ationally. It is something that needs to happen ov er time. That was really important learning for the orga nizatio n that I w as w orking wit h. HALED w as able to shift their prog ramming to be multigenerational. And the g reat thing was that also aligned with Hmong cultura l values. A lot of the commun ity celebrations are also multigeneratio nal. So, this programming became culturally grounded all of a sudden because we centered Hmong values in terms of learn ing about economic development. Q: What comes next? A: We got a really great response fro m the HERE Conference. Many lawmakers or policymakers w ere super interested in us coming into their individua l agencies to present o ur data. The next phase is to continue to get mo re funding so t hat w e can do more. Al ways in research, there's more research to be done, and part of t hat is to continue to really focus on some of our key findings and really expand on them. The other pa rt of it. for me as a social w ork professor, is to always t hink about opportunities to mentor student resea rchers. Kao Nou Moua speaks with city of Eau Claire policymakers at the 2022 HERE Conference. (Pho,o by HALED) And then, we did ta lk quite a bit about this idea t hat Hmong have a v ery entrepreneurial spirit. Because of their experience of being persecuted and having to move fro m country to co untry and having to adapt. Hmong people have learned how to be entrepreneurs and business owners. You ca n go to China and find Hmong people, you can go to Laos and Thailand and Vietna m, and you can go here in St. Paul. Hmong have always figured out ways to be entrepreneurs. So. I think that's the other line of resea rch that w e w ant to explore-what does a history of tr auma and w ar do to a people? How do they adapt in new spaces? Entrepreneurship is o ne of those w ays that they've learned how to make sense of their lives. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Top image: Kao Nou Moua sp eaks wit h students during her socio/ work class. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twin er ] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i:11 Email ] Winter 20 22-23 < PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST> Augsburg alumna lands tOP. rol e at MPR News W hat's Y.Our favorite SP.Ot on camll!ls? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Pr esident Augsburg alumna lands tOP- McNair Scholars Program w ins Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' role at MPR New s co mP-etitive r enewal grant · on March 15, 2023 • on Morch 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE 7 WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS? by CharlK Haley March 15, 2023 • Auggies Connect Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] GREAT RETURNS AD "One of my f avorit e places to be w as at the benches in front of Hagfors." -Wyatt Vessey '22 v ia email "Basem ent of t he Lindell Library! Best place t o study!" -Stephanie Quick Espinoza '01, '20 MBA v ia Faceboo k Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US El I] ~ -"My favorit e place at Augsburg? The penalt y box at Ed Saugestad Rink. especially an hour before an Auggie men's or w omen's hockey game. It 's quiet and peaceful (and. admittedly. cold!). Definit ely d ifferent than during the exciting actio n of a ga me." -Don Stoner, Augsburg sports information director. via Tw itter "Tw o of my favorite spots (are in Murphy Squa re). Taken at the beginning of f all sem est er '22." -Luke Schoper '23 v ia Tw itter "The quad" -Emily (O'Connell) Mireault '18 v ia Twitter "Augsburg Men's Hockey l ocker Room. Second favorit e: Smiley's working for Don St oner late nights during w eb 1.0. Th ird: Commons between Urness and Mort. Fourth: Missy Strauch's training r oom. Fifth: John Cerrit o. Milo Sch ield, Nora Brau n. and others' offices. Need I continue?" -Paul Putt '99, '15 MAE via Tw itter "Easily the Hagfors Cent er hands down!" -Ethan Croll '23 v ia lnstagra m Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ M cNair Scholars Program wins coml:!!lti tive renewal grant Uncover ing the exl:!!lriences of Hmong entreP.reneurs YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Alu mn i Class Notes, W inter In Memoriam, Winter 2022- 23 2022-23 • on March 15, 2023 • on Morch 15, 2023 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea !is MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University webs~e uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, you are agreei Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM WINS COMPETITIVE RENEWAL GRANT by Farrisr March 15, 2023 Share this: [ f ~ Around the Quad Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ i.'!i Email ] Augsburg's TRIO McNair Scholars Program r ecently secured a S1 .3 mill ion, five-year federal gra nt to support operat io ns through 2027. Named for Ronald E. McNair, an astronaut and physicist who w as among the fi rst Africa n Amer ica ns in the U.S. space program, McNair Scholars is one of eight feder al TRIO programs fund ed by the U.S. Department of Education to increase access to higher ed ucation for economically disadvantaged students. McNair Scholars specifically aims to increase g raduate degree awards fo r first-generation college students w ith financial need and/or members of traditionally underrepresented groups in graduate education, as defined by federal gu idelines. With the s1.3 million grant, Augsburg will continue to support a cohort of 26 McNair Scholars each y ear. Students apply d uring their sophomore year to participate in the progra m as j uniors and seniors. The hallmark of Augsburg's program is MCN 301: Research in the Disciplines, taught by Associate Professor Amanda Case and McNair Assistant Dir ector Cruz Rodriguez. In this 2-credit course, students complete a research proposal under the guidance of a faculty mentor. They spend 400 hours collecting data. analyzing findings, and pr eparing a forma l presentation Sign up for Email Newsletter fo r a natio nal McNair r esearch confer ence in July. The students also underta ke sign ificant preparation fo r Submit Your Alumni News graduate school outside of resea rch, from GRE study to an intensive •boot camp" to develo p their applicatio n statements. Amanda Case teaches her class. (Photo by Courtney Perry) CONNECT WITH US "McNair is a r igorous comm itment • said "Tina" Maria Tavera, program director. •Each TRIO McNair progra m is designed for a particular population. We are fortunate our programming is designed specifically for Augsburg students. Our numbers prove that our program at Augsburg w orks." El I] In a highly competitive funding landscape, Augsburg's program has received continuous federal support since 2007. Many of Augsburg's McNair alumn i have successfully gone on to graduate school. Twenty-one have completed or are enro lled in a PhD program, 58 have completed o r are enrolled in a master's degree program, and 12 have completed or are enrolled in other advanced degree programs (includ ing MD, MBA, Pha rmD. and PsyD). Top image: 2022 Fall McNair Scholars: front row (left to right): Hafsa Hassan; Edward Stockard; Cynthia Faber; Logan Br adley; back row (left to right): lfrah Edow; Jose Orozco Islas; Theo Wayo; Natnae/ Mu/u; Leeroy Doe; Alex Hernandez Olivera; Drew Gross (Courtesy photo) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Au~burg awards King Harald V of Norwav. honorarv. degree What's Y.Qur favorite SP-Qt on camQus? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Pr esid ent Augsburg alu mn a lan d s to12 Uncovering t h e ex12eriences o f Prib benow: On 'lean ing in' role at MPR New s Hmong entr e12ren eurs - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri nt © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea lis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University webs~e uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, you are agreei 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG AWARDS KING HARALD V OF NORWAY HONORARY DEGREE by Sten.henjendraszak March 15, 2023 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ i.'!i Email ] l ate last y ear in Oslo, Augsburg Presid ent Pau l Pribbenow conferred upon King Harald V of Norway the degr ee of Doct or of Humane l etters. hono ris causa . "We are d eeply g rateful for Your Majesty's abid ing support of Augsburg University and our sist er Norwegian-American colleges and universities throughout t he more than t hree decades of your reign," Pr ibbenow sa id in his ceremonial remarks. ·we share bot h a common heritage and profound commitments t o peacemaking and global citizenship." His Maj esty King Harald V of Norway acceded to the throne January 17. 1991 . The king and his w ife. Queen Sonj a. visit ed Augsburg in 2011. This recogn itio noriginally scheduled for 2020 but delayed by t he pandem ic-w as part of Augsburg's sesq uicentennial anniversary celebration. Top image: An Augsburg student porticipoting in the Nor way_ Hub wears o Norwegian King Harald V of Norway (left) and flog while walking through campu s. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Augsburg's p, esident, Paul Pribbenow, meet in Oslo. (Photo by Queen Sonja) Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Alumni Class Notes, Winter 2022-23 CONNECT WITH US M cNair Scholars Program wins com11etitive renewal grant El I] YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Augsburg alum na lands to12 Uncovering t he ex12eriences of Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' role at MPR News Hmong entre12reneurs · on March 15, 2023 · on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE ALUMNI CLASS NOTES, WINTER2022-23 by !Johnson March 15, 2023 • Auggies Connect. Class Notes (f',lumni/ Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] GREAT RETURNS AD 1960s 1962 On Nov ember 23. 2022. WCCO-TV ran a story on Augsburg football coach Jack Osberg '62. "Augsburg football legend Jack Osberg.Qgens ug about life wit h wife's Alzheimer's disease." Osberg w as featured in the Winter 2021-22 issue of Augsburg Now. 1980s 1984 Paul Mueller '84. regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Healt h System in Sout hwest Wisconsin. Augsburg regent emeritus. and current chair of Augsburg's Great Returns campa ign. participated as a pa nelist in a virtual community forum. "A Tale of Two Viruses." hosted by Mayo Clinic in September 2022. The d iscussion focused on the contrast between monkeypox and COVID-19. 1989 "Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters. Who Paved t he Way fo r Austen and the Brontes," by Devoney Looser '89. was published in October 2022. The book w as on Apple's list of t he "Most Ant icipated Fall Books" in nonfictio n. and it received a starred r eview from Kirkus. Looser was featured in the Fall 2018 issu e of Augsburg Now. Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News 1990s 1991 CONNECT WITH US Carla Steen '91 was resident d ramaturg for Guthrie Theater's w orld premiere of "Sally & Tom." 1999 Real estate dev eloper Devean George '99 plans to build a modular-housing plant in Minneapolis' North Loop. The plant. which will manufact ure mod ular units for multifamily housing. will create hundreds of jo bs from 2023 to 2025 paying S30 or more per hour. Cheri Johnson ·99 is autho r of "Ann ika Rose: a novel manuscript that wo n the 2021-22 Wo men's Prose Prize from Red Hen Press in Pasadena. California. In 2022. she also published "The Girl in Dulut h." a literary mystery. under the pen name Sig rid Brown. Publishers Weekly selected the book for review. ca lling it an "affecting debut." 2000s 2000 Ross Murray ·oo. ·09 MBA. vice president of GLAAD Media Institute. led a training tour in Australia. Offerings included a master class o n LGBTQ advocacy and support for leaders looking to make t heir o rganizatio ns more LGBTQ-w elcoming and inclusive. Murray also met with the Aust ralian Film Television and Radio School to spea k with faculty about teach ing students the impact of LGBTQ inclusivity in media representation. 2004 Mary Taris '04. founder and CEO of Strive Publishing and Str iv e Bookstore. w as one of the business owners featured in a KARE 11 story about a 2022 holiday pop-up ma rket in downtown Minneapo lis. 2005 Eddie Frizell 'OS MAL w as confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2022 as the U.S. marshal for Minnesota. The first Black U.S. marshal in Minnesota history. he leads the U.S. Ma rshals Service for the state. 2006 Wendi Wheeler '06, '13 MAL. spoke with a reporter about how a man holding a "You Ar e Loved" sign in Moorhead. Minnesota. gav e her hope when she w as contemplating suicide. The sto ry. "A college stud ent ho ld ing a sign on a Moorhead st reet corner saved her life." appeared in several Minnesota newspapers. 2009 Marette Hahn '09. directo r of academic and career excellence at Grand Ca nyon University. was nominated for the Athena Valley of the Sun Founder's Aw ard. Rachel Stud ier '09. ·12 MBA. chief operations officer of Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union. was na med a Top Wo man in Finance by Finance & Commerce. wh ich cov ers business news in Minnesota. 2010s 2013 For the past three years. Kacie Butcher '13 has been director of the Public History Project at the University of Wisconsin-Mad ison. a multiyea r effort to uncover and give voice to histories of discriminatio n and resistance at the university. The project has resu lted in a physical exhibitio n. a digital exhibitio n w ebsite. curricu lar materials. an event and lecture ser ies. and a final report. The proj ect is the fi rst of its kind in the nation in regards to scope and its focus on public engagement. 2014and 2019 Sisters Fa iso Abdu lle '14. '20 DNP and lkraan Abdu lle '19 DNP are two of four nurses who founded Our Place Residential Services. The business provides integrated support services to clients. including medical care. stable housing. and the supportiv e ad ministrative and coach ing services needed to stabilize d isabled and ho meless patients. The nurses and their business w er e featured in the August 28. 2022. Star Tribune story. "Four firstgeneration Somali American nurses started business to care for i;iatients in need." 2015 Alisha Esselstein '15 joined The Manely Firm. P.C.. as an associate attorney. 2018 Chung Lip '18 recently published "Hers." a memoir which reflects on his child hood experience growing up in Cambod ia. Lip wrote the memoir to share his personal experiences growing up as an orphan. to inspire others. and to promote resiliency among young people around the w orld . 2020s 2022 Tucker Robinson '22 is program coordinator for Change the Outcome. Robinson's story is part of a September 23. 2022. story in the Star Tribune. "After the loss of her son to the oi;iioid egidemic, a Minnesota mother seeks to cha nge the outcome for others." Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Health Commons receives $SOK ~ui!Y.,grant Augsburg awards King Harald V of Norwav. honora!Y. degree YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE What's Y.OUr f avorite SJlOt on In Memoriam. Wint er 2022-23 cam P.us? - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 El I] Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE HEALTH COMMONS RECEIVES $SOK EQUITY GRANT by CharlK Hal ey March 15, 2023 • Aroun d the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ i.'!i Email ] Augsburg Hea lt h Commons has received a $50,000 grant to continue its work in advancing health equity thro ugh nursing. The Health Equ ity Innovation Fund grant, awarded in early January, came from AARP and the Center to Cha mpio n Nursing in America, a j oint initiat ive of AARP Foundat io n, AARP, and t he Robert Wood Johnson Foundatio n. Augsburg Hea lt h Commons will use this funding to deepen its w ork of providing free services to marginalized com mu nities. The grant also allows Health Commons to consider expansio n, including a possible new locat io n in North Minneapolis. Executive Directo, Katie Clark (middle) and other Augsburg faculty members pass out supplies co Health Commons visitors. (Photo by Courtney Perry) ·we are moved beyond wo rds to be selected fo r this opportunity," said Katie Clark '10 MAN, '14 DNP, associate professo r of nursing and executive director of Health Commons. "These funds will not only help relieve some of the suffering people are forced to endure in the immediate term, but will also help cult ivate ideas and solut io ns for the lo ng term in ca ring for people who experience ma rginalization." The first Augsburg Hea lth Commo ns drop-in center opened at Central Luthera n Sign up for Email Newsletter Ch urch in downtown Minneapolis in 1992. Most people seeking ca re there are unhoused o r ma rgina lly ho used. In 201 1, a second location opened in Ceda rRiverside in response to a need for accessible health care services identified by Submit Your Alumni News members of the East African immigra nt commu nity. Both locations center commu nity vo ices and are o perated by Augsburg nursing CONNECT WITH US faculty, nursing and physician assistant volunteer s, students, and community members. Everyone is w elcome, and all services are free. El I] With this gra nt Health Commons will continue provid ing services at both locat io ns as w ell as at local homeless encampments. Faculty will explore new partnerships at other locations including in North Minneapolis in collaboration with Augsburg's physician assistant program. The grant will also support the educational m issio n of Health Commo ns by providing paid research and pract ice internships fo r graduate nursing students. Augsburg Physician Assistant Program Director Vanessa Bester checks a visitor's blood pressure at Health Commons. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Augsburg H ea It h Commons is one of 16 organizations nat io nally to receive a Health Eq uit y Innovatio ns Fund award for 2022. Find out more about the grant or visit the Augsburg Health Commons w ebsit e. Read more about the wor k at Augsburg Health Commons in this issue of Augsburg Now. Top image: An Augsburg nursing faculty member sorts t hrough donated supp lies at Health Commons. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twin e, ] [ Renovated athletics facilities dedicated to beloved Augg]fil Alumni Class Notes, Winter 2022-23 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Augsburg alum na lands tOP- Uncovering the exP-eriences of Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' role at MPR News Hmong entreP-reneurs - on Morch 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AT 25, STEPUP LOOKS TO THE FUTURE by Farrisr March 15, 2023 Share this: [ f • Around the Quad Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] GREAT RETURNS AD StepUP® at Augsburg Univ ersity is one of the origina l handfu l of collegiate recovery programs in the United States. At its 25th anniversary, it's also one of the largest and most comprehensive. Several factors account fo r the program's success over time, including the residential facility in Oren Gateway Center, on-staff chemica l dependency counselo rs, and strong connections to Minnesota's recovery netw orks. But ask students, staff, and supporters what makes StepUP more t han the sum of its parts, and o ne answ er comes up ev ery time. Interior lobby of Oren Gateway Ce mer (Photo by Courtney Perry) The magic is in t he community. The number of U.S. collegiate recovery progra ms has grown to nearly 150 in the years since Augsburg jo ined Rutgers, Texas Tech, and Brown University in starting its own program. But it's still unusual for an institution of Augsburg's size to operate a program o n t he scale of StepUP. Rarer still is the level of fi nancial support donors have provided to ensure the program's sustainability. Early on, StepUP leadership set an ambitious goal to ra ise a $1 O million endowment to provide funds fo r staff salaries and programming costs into the future. Augsburg reached this Sign up for Email Newsletter fund raising milestone in 2022 thanks to the generosity of supporters and alumni. Now, staff are focused on expand ing Submit Your Alumni News philanthro pic suppo rt for critical student needs, includ ing tuition and housing. "For young people in r ecovery, living in a residential commun ity CONNECT WITH US like StepUP ca n make all the difference, but it's a big financial commitment," said Martha Truax '16 MAL, director of StepUP students give Oren Gateway Center dorm tours leadership gifts fo r StepUP. "Going forward, w e w ant to be able during their holiday party, December 2022. (Photo by Courtney Perry) to provide mo re tuition support and housing stipends so that El I] students don't have to face a choice between paying fo r college and staying sober." Director Ericka Otterson '1S MSW returned to Augsburg to lead StepUP in Janua ry, having previously w orked as a StepUP administrato r and chemical dependency counselor from 2007 to 2014. Under her leadership, the program will also explo re new pa rtnerships with local colleges and universities-including the University of Minnesota-to reach mo re students. "Despite increasing need, not every school can afford to bu ild its own collegiate recovery program fro m scratch," Otterson said. "For institutions in the metro area, StepUP ca n help." A recently fi nalized agreement wit h t he Univer sity of St. Thomas allow s students to live in Oren Gateway Center and participate in StepUP programming while still attending classes at their home instit utio n. With a ca ring support netw ork on Augsburg's campus and mo re tha n 800 program alumni, t hey'll be in good compa ny. StepUP alumnus Chris Allen '02 live paints a charity piece at the StepUP Gala in 2021. (Photo by Rebecca Slater) "A lot has changed in 25 y ears," sa id Nell Hurley, recruitment and outreach manager. "But StepUP is stil l doing what w e set out to do: To create a community of students who are in this together and supporting each other . That's what makes it wo rk." StepUP will hold its 25th anniversary ga la w ith emcee Don Shelby on May 13 at t he Radisson Blu hotel in Bloomington. For tickets and more information, visit the StelJUP w ebsite. Top image: StepUP students pose in Murphy Squore. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Pribbenow named to national hig!ler ed eng~gement adviSO!'.'£grou11 Renovated athletics facilities dedicated to beloved Auggies YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Pr esid ent Augsburg alu mna lan d s to12 Uncovering t h e ex12eriences o f Prib benow: On 'lean ing in' role at MPR New s Hmong entr e12ren eurs - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea lis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University webs~e uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, you are agreei Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE PRIBBENOW NAMED TO NATIONAL HIGHER ED ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY GROUP by Sten.henjendraszak March 15, 2023 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ i.'!i Email ] In the fall, the U.S. Depa rtment of Ho using and Urban Development and Campus Compact announced the HUD + Higher Ed Engagement Network, a new collaboration to strengthen higher ed ucation community action. Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow was one of three college presidents named to a 30member think tank of strategic leaders that will gu ide net work activities. "Augsburg has long been engaged in vital placemaking w ork with our neighbors, our students, and o ur employees," said Pribbenow, who also chairs the Central Corridor Anchor Part nershiP- in Minneai;iolis. "It's an honor to be able to sha re what we've learned about mutually sustaining partnerships in an urban setting wher e w e have deep institutiona l roots." The think tank will collaborate with HUD leaders to dev elop and disseminate strategies for campuses to engage with HUD field offices and initiatives nationwide. Member institutions wil l put these plans into action at the local level, with the goal of build ing inclusive. sustainable. and thriving communities Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow through increased civic and community engagement. Focus areas will include (Photo by Courtney Perry) w orker empowerment materna l and infa nt health, evictio n prevention, landlord out reach, housing security and access, broadband access and d igital literacy, and cultural competency. "We are thrilled to partner with Campus Compact o n th is initiative," sa id Michele Perez. HUD's assistant deputy Sign up for Email Newsletter secretary for field policy and management, in announcing t he program. "Th is pa rtnership will bolster HUD's and the members of the Higher Ed Engagement Netw ork's ability to serve our most vulnerable populations through the higher education space. Together, w e will leverage our strong connections in our respect ive industries to enable a Submit Your Alumni News j ust equitable, and sustainable future: CONNECT WITH US Top image: Downtown Minneapolis as seen f rom Augsburg's camp us (Photo by Mark Chomberloin) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ W omen's hockev. travels to Euro11e for games and growth At 25, SteP.UP looks to the future YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Augsburg alum na lands tog Uncovering t he exi;ieriences of Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' role at MPR News Hmong entrei;ireneurs - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 ~ CJ Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE WOMEN'S HOCKEY TRAVELS TO EUROPE FOR GAMES AND GROWTH by Douachee Lee March 15, 2023 • Around the Quad Share t his: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ GREAT RETURNS AD i.'!i Email ] We'll sing the Auggie War Song, We'll shout the battle cry, We'll fight the Auggie battles, Auggies ever, do or die! Augsburg's school song could be heard overseas t his past Decem ber as the w omen's hockey t eam t raveled fro m Helsinki, Finland, t o St ockholm, Sw eden, t o play t hree exhibit ion gam es against int ernat ional t eam s. "We are grat eful and excit ed t o cont inue t he t rad it ion of an int ernat iona l t rip; said head coach M ichelle McAteer. "Players often say it 's one of t heir best experiences to t ravel and com pet e overseas. It is t he ult im at e road t rip!" Th is w as t he fifth int er national t r ip for Augsburg w om en's hockey. The t eam t rav eled w it h a group of m ore t han 70 people including coaches, st aff, and fam ily mem bers. The Auggi es played ga mes against HIFK and Hollola from Helsinki and Hammarby fro m Stockho lm. Winn ing two of t he t hree gam es w as great , but t he r eal highlight of t he t rip was int eract ing w it h players and coaches fro m other count ries. After ev ery ga me, t he Auggies jo ined t he host t eams Sign up for Email Newsletter w it h a shared m eal t o connect about hockey and life. Add it ionally, they to ured t he cit ies, visit ing local and fa mous Submit Your Alumni News sit es like t he Nobel Prize M useum and St ockholm City Hall. At t he Vasa M useum, t hey saw a preserved w arship from 1628 and learned about its history. The Augsburg women's hockey team at a ski jump at ISKU arena in Lahti, Finland (Coun:esy photo) CONNECT WITH US "Int er nat io nal t ravel broadens our perspective as w e navigat e differ ent cultures, languages, and experiences. Doing it t ogether creat es lifelo ng m em ori es and strengt hens our bond as a team," McAt eer said. El I] Top image: The Augsburg women's hockey team at Stockholm City Holl, Sweden (Courtesy photo) Share t his: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ An educator and catal~t for changg Pribbenow named to national higher ed eng~gement adviso(Y_grouQ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Augsburg alumna lands tOP- Uncovering t he exP-eriences of Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' role at MPR News Hmong entreP-reneurs • on March 15, 2023 • on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 AuGSBURG - U N IV ER SIT Y - PREV IOUS ISSU ES HOM E ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AN EDUCATOR AND CATALYST FOR CHANGE Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz focuses on equity and civic engagement in he r partnership with Augsburg. by Kate H. El/iorr Sh a r e t h is : [ f Morch 15, 2023 • Featured Stories Facebook ] [ '!I Twi« e, ] [ 'P GREAT RETURNS AD Pintere sr ] [ in Li nk ed ln ] [ D Ema il ] In 2019. Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz j oined Augsbu rg University as special assist3nt to the pres ident for strategic partnerships and 35 a fe llow in th e Sabo Cen ter f or Dem ocracy and Cit ize nsh ip. But Walts co nn ection to ca mpus bega n long before she was born . whe n her mother steppe d out of ru ra l life in ce nt, 31Minnesota and onto a bus destined for Augsburg. Li n nea (Wack er) Whi ppl e '60 was t he f irst person in her fa m ily t o graduate from high schoo l. Why stop there? ·one of the most signifi cant indic;at ors of chil dren's future educational atta inment is th e e du cat iona l ;attainm ent of their mothers." Walz said . "My mom st;a rted co untry school at four yea rs of ;age because her brother wouldn't go to school wit hout her, ;and she gra du;ate d fro m high schoo l at 17. I am gratefu l s he ha d the d rive to lea ve her fa mily life and that Augsb urg- t hro ugh its fa ith a nd alumni conn ections- fo und my mother in he, small town of 600." Minnesma Fi,sc La dy Gwen Walz (Photo oy Courmey Pe.ry) And Augsbu rg didn't let Whipp le go . Wa lz sa id college advisors checke d in on he, mother, who worked m;any hours to pay for sc hool. Professors encour;aged Whipple. whose early educ;ation was in a one-room schoo lho use. to app ly for a postg,;ad u;at e teac hing position in Hawaii. "Th ey sa w her potential, a nd t hey didn't li mit my mother at ;a time when women had lots of limits." Wa lz a dd ed . "I grew up he;a ring about that level of persona l support and Augsbu rg's drive to deve lop inform ed cit izens. th oughtful steward s, critica l th inkers, ;and respo nsible le;ade, s. " Whipple's tenure in Hawaii ended abruptly wh en her brother died in a fa rm accident. Deeply invested in family. Whipple return ed to Minnesota. where she cont inued to teac h. met he, hu sba nd- also an e du ca tor- and r;a ise d four da ughters. Equity work with Pribbenow 'changed everything' Li ke her parents. W;a lz became an educator ;an d marrie d an educator. Tim Walz. Prior to being elected Minnesota's 41st governor, Tim served from 2007 to 2019 as the U.S. House represe ntative for the state's 1st cong, essional dist, ia. which includ es the Ma nkato schoo l district wh ere the W;a lzes taught. Tim and Gwen Walz spea k rn scudems as a part of the Augsbu,g B~ld Spea ker Series, Occober 20 20. (Phom by Rebecca Slace,) "As educ;ators, ;and with Tim's role in governme nt. we were brought into conversations about diversity and equity in the K12 system ," Walz sa id. ·we wanted someo ne to facilitate disc uss ions in a way t h;at would honor a ll voices. and without t hink ing twice , we reache d out to Augsburg President Pa ul Pribbe now . We had see n and he;a rd that he is a m;an of the mo ment wh o gets things done and achieves meaningful outcomes." The W;a lzes aske d Pribbe now to join a t;ask force to ;ad dress issues relate d t o diversity, equ ity. and incl usion in Rochester schools. This experie nce. Walz sa id. "cha nged everything. " It's why she overlooked ot her job offers to accept Pribbenow's invit;at ion to work for Augsb urg in 2019. ·we spe;a k t he sa me l;anguage," W;a lz sa id . "President Pribbenow is focused on t he right priorities. and he approaches work with integrity and ;a coll;aborative, empowering spirit He's not afraid to take crea tive risks. and he embodies wha t makes Augsb urg so inc,e dibly special."' When Pribbenow as ked Walz to consider working for Augsb urg, he hadn't settled on a job title. He told her: 'There is nothing you ca n't do. but you will figure it o ut wh en you get here. I ha ve some ide;as, but I ;am confident you will see and do the work in front of you: "His behef in me re minded me ofthe belief Augsburg had in my moth er. and I w;as sold."Walz said. "He and I both knew we had ;a lot to work out. but he kn ew I ha d so mething to offer the un iversity, ;a nd I was eager to continu e t o serve and work as ;an educ;ator. "My mom always used t o sa y. 'Do the work t h;at is in front of you.' ;and as a ch ild. I th ought s he me;ant the dis hes." Walz laughed . "H ere. I have ;an opport un ity to do tha t work ;a longside le;ade, s wh o aren't afraid to take on diffi cu lt conversations ;and opportun it ies ." The Augsburg commun ity. Walz said. is ma de up of administra tors. faculty. st;aff, a nd stud ents wh o s;ay. '"We are not go ing to just ta lk about th e work. we a, e going to do the work, ;and not on ly do the work but lea d t he work.' The un iversity e mpowers stude nts and rem inds us there is not always one way to do things." Gwen Walz (ba ck row, second f<om right), Paul Pribbenow (back rnw, center). Abigai l Pribbenow (back row, second from leIT), and o,her members of the Augsourg community gachere:l a, che MNU DL Mayors Challenge 10ch Anniversa ry Fund.a iser in September 20 22 . (Photo by Cou.1:ney Per,y) A 'confident disruptor' Walz said he, work- both ;at Augsburg and ;as first lady of Minnesota- is not about power; it's about respo nsibil ity. "My fi rst question to myse lf ;and ot hers is ;a lways. 'Wh om do we serve?' The ;answer ca n change. but in my work at Augsburg, it's mostly focused on students. My ro le ;afford s me t he ability to m;a ke connea ions for people and to cut t hrough re d t;ape." Wa lz sa id. She w;as integral in implementing th e Auggie Pass. an a ll-you-can ride transit pass for e ligible Augsbu rg stude nts to access the city's buses a nd light -r;a il tr;a ins. even during breaks. She has ;a lso helped build co nnections between campus progra ms and st;ate age ncies t o offer internships and experie ntia l lea rning opportun ities . ·one effort I a m particularly excited about is my work with t he provost to encourage voting among ou, stud ents and t o educate the m about t he safety of our voting systems.'' Walz said. "The Higher Educa tion Act of 1965 requires un iversities to ha nd out vot er registr;ation card s, but there is no fund ing o, enforceme nt mechanism. We are looking t o weave these and other civic engagement a nd education efforts into th e Augsburg experie nce: As d irector of the Sa bo Center, Elaine Esche nbacher works directly with W;a lz to integ, ate civic and community e ng;ageme nt. experiential education. and democ,;acy bu ilding into th e Augsburg experie nce. "I appreci;at e and ;ad mire Gwen's capac ity a nd interest in going deep on a topic. She is ;a le;a rn er who a ims to kn ow more tha n s urface-leve l information." Esc henbacher sa id. "She encourages us to be "confident disruptors' of systems t hat d on't serve peop le. particularly the most vulnerable. I wrote tha t term on a note and ha d it on my des k for a long time : Esc henbacher adde d t h;at W;a lz inc, eases th e university's access to peop le ;and syste ms. "People answer her phone calls." Eschenbac her sa id . "But more importa ntly. Gwen brings deep knowledge of education that empowers students to fu lly realize the ir potential. She brings rich experience in navigating and c,e;at ing cha nge. and she brings a deep co mm itm ent and clear vision for equ ity in educa tion ." Elaine Eschenba cher, dioec:or of ,he Sa bo Cemer (Photo b'/ Coun:ney Perry) Equity in the classroom Walz's work ;a lso focuses on teac her educa tion . One of her first meetings at Augsburg was wit h Audrey Le nsmire. an assoc iate professor of education a nd t he founding director of the form er East Afric;an Student to Teacher Program {EAsn. now kn own as th e Th rive Progr;a m. W;a lz w;anted to le;a rn m ore about the program's work to e mpower E;ast Africa ns and other BIPOC stude nts to become lice nsed teachers. More t h;an 100 stud ents have be nefitted from the progra m since 2013. Lensmire refl ected on that first meeting: 'Wh en I wa lked into her a/flee. I was shak ing a bit. I didn't know wha t to call her. It see med so weird to call someone 'first l;ady.' but s he told me t o ca ll her Gwen . She as ked great qu estions. liste ned carefully. a nd t ook lots of notes. and I quickly re;a lize d how lucky Augsbu rg is to have her.... I introduced her t o scholars a nd teachers beca use she wanted to hear their stories a nd needs. We bega n t o sha re ou r own histo ries and expe rie nces. and we beca me friends." The two d eve loped a gra duate course ca lled Connecting Policy. P, aa ice. and Advocacy for Ed uca tiona l Equ ity . It combines th eir shared loves of writ ing, te;acher empowerm ent. a nd po licy ch;ange. In 2020. Le nsmi, e and W;a lz bega n co-teaching the course. wh ich has become ;a core class in the Maste r of Edu cation program . Lensmire s;a id Wa lz has taught her a lot about resea rch. a dvocacy. and complications wit hin government systems. Walz is honest and thoughtful. Lensmire sa id. and has even given her daughter. a second-year Augg ie. lot s of ;advice and green Jolly R;a nchers. 'A remarkable advocate' Pribbenow sa id it s impress ive how Wa lz gracefully ba lances her dual roles at the un iversity. while ;a lso investing and connecting personally with students in the classroo m. He benefits from he, "keen eye" in na viga ting complex politic;a l circumstances to adv;ance the un iversity"s vis ion. "Gwen h;as proven to be a remark;ab le advoc;ate for our students and ou, miss ion.'' he sa id. "Her work on co mm un ity engage ment projeas is always insightful and focuse d on moving work forward . Her partnership with ou r education department to prepare te;achers of co lor fo r ou, pub lic schools brings both he, educational experience and he, advocacy skills to bear on this c,itica l effort." Gwen Wal, with members of <h e ~.ugsbu,g community aITer hosting an on-campus e-ve m, A Conversation with Fi,sc La:ly Gwen Walz and Gay Righcs Advocate Randy Florke, in Ma.en 20 19 . (Fhoto oy Courmey Pe, ry) He r prese nce. Pribbenow sa id. is a m ode l for the Augsbu rg comm un ity . Walz is un like any ot her first lady in state history, with an offi ce in the C;ap ito l and ;a robust policy portfolio focused on e duc;at ion. Yet she keeps he, faith in foc us, ;and she's maintained a "Minn esota nice· that often emerges from the oven. "Fou r d;ays before the election. we took a bus around to various stops to thank peop le wh o worked on the campa ign . I didn't have ;a spe;a king role ;at these stops. but I wanted to convey my perso n;a l thanks ;and hono r their time and ha rd work," Walz said. "I rolled up my sleeves and c;a lled all my volleyba ll moms ;a nd friends over to t he reside nce. and we baked 1.400 gingersnaps fro m my g, a ndm othet s recipe and packaged the m with a note fro m me . Sma ll gestures matte,. and I love sharing a bit of myse lf with ot hers." Walz said she hopes her persona l ;app roach to leadership shows students they c;an ac hieve profess ion;a l success while also prioritizing fam;ly and fa ith. Those priorities brought her to Augsburg, ;and th ey will continu e to drive her work for the university . "I c;an fa ll into the trap of always wis hing I could do more. give more. or be better. But I w;a ke up each morn ing with devotions to center myse lf and ack nowledge that I ;a m doing wh;at I can. with what I h;ave. to the best of my ;ab ility.'' Walz said. "It's a privilege to be here now. working with Augsbu rg to he lp e du ca te students to ach ieve their potential and- together - make a difference in this worl d. " That is work worth doing, she s;a id. and it's right in front ofus. Top image: Gwen Walz to /ks with the Augsburg comm unity. January 2013 (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: I Tags: f Facebook 11 '!# Twirre, 11 'P Pinteresr 11 in Li nk edln 11 i:i Ema il I Winter 2022-23 < PREVIOU S POST NEXT POST> Women's hock~ lra\lels to Euro~ for game,s and growth Creatinll con nections YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Renovate d athletics f;a c il it ies Crea t ing con nectio ns Meet ing the needs de di ca ted to be loved Auggies - on March 15, 2023 - onMarch/ 5, 2013 - on Morch 15, 1023 Sign up for Emai l Newslette r Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US El IJI ,~, Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE r;z T ~ CREATING CONNECTIONS New data science major gives students an opportunity to make sense out of copious amounts of complicated information. by Lisa Renze-Rhodes March 15. 2023 .. Featured Stodes Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ GREAT RETURNS AD in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] Driv ing d irections o n a cell phone. coupons for 25 cent s off pret zels at the grocery store. and w eather alert s w ar ning of pot entially ser ious st or ms sha re one common thread: dat a. From where people d rive. to what t hey buy. to w here they live. nea rly ev eryth ing in lif e is connected to the evercollect ed. extremely valuable info rmation that is gathered and int erpret ed t hrough data science. But beyond giving businesses clues about when a f amily is r eady to replace a refrigerato r or t ake a tr ip t o the Grand Canyon. dat a science ca n also be used in ways that bring equity and justice t o underserved and marginalized communities. It's w ithin that fram ew ork that faculty at Augsburg University began piecing t ogether w hat is now a full-blow n dat a science majo r. John Zobitz. professor of mathematics and data science. said the new majo r- officially a Bachelor of Science in dat a science launched in f all 2022- is a response to requests by alumni and students for m ore oppo rtunities t o expa nd o n w hat they w ere already lea rning in m ath and comput er science classes. Student s can now minor in dat a science. t oo. Sign up for Email Newsletter "When we designed this m ajor. we tried to m ake it as flat as John Zobitz, professor of m athem atics and data scien ce possible. relative to prer equisit es." Zob it z said . "Student s ca n (Photo by Courtney Perry) st art the m ajor w ith either an introduction t o dat a science Submit Your Alumni News course. a comput er science course. or a mat hematics course. That m akes it o pen t o first -year students and has r eally helped attract m ore students." The m ajo r also draws students w ith a w id e range of int erests. Zobitz said. While data science can help consum ers get free shipping on their dog's mo nthly food delivery. it ca n also be used to identify societ al challenges and inequities. And mo re importantly. it can help find solutions t o specific pro blems. Making a difference There are m any w ays that dat a science m akes a concr ete differ ence in people"s lives. such as gather ing and disseminating info rmation about pot ent ially da ngerous w eather. The Federal Em ergency Management Agency estimat es that since 1997. dat a collect ed by aircraft w ith special storm predicting t echno logy and eq uipm ent have improved predict io ns about hurr icane st o rm and landfall patt erns by 20%. Those life-saving ear ly warnings give mo re people more t im e t o t ake necessary st eps to evacuat e o r prepare befo re a st o rm h it s. And in issues of social justice. dat a ca n com e r ight alo ngside community organizers and other change agents. prov iding real numbers t o bolst er t heir rationa le. "A focus on equity. inclusion. and j ustice is built t hroughout the major.• Zobitz said. "How data influences how you see the w orld- w hether it"s algorithm ic bias. why som e families get picked f or a loan and others don"t, o r in a pa ndemic. how one"s pre-existing conditions ma ke them more susceptible t o ill ness." Data t ells great st ories fo r people pay ing attention. he said. John Zobitz talks with his data scien ce students. (Ph oto by Courtney Perry) In a class that introduces the id ea of dat a science as a tool f or social j ustice. Zobitz has st udents consid er transport ation availability in the Twin Cities. Suddenly. hist orical patterns of racism and inj ustice leap int o st ark moder n-day relief. Redli ning-the discriminat ory pract ice of w it hhold ing fund ing t o purchase homes in so-ca lled "at risk" neighbor hoods that began in the U.S. in the 1930s and d isproportionat ely impacted Black f am ilies-continues t o affect people. The practice ensured that f amilies of color. m any of who m w ere mov ing int o new areas as part of the country"s Great Migration. w ere relegat ed t o less desirable neighbo rhoods. As a result. ma ny had t o liv e f ar aw ay from w ork. decreasing their quality of life because of the sheer amount of tim e it t ook t o get t o and fro m t heir j obs. Despit e a 1977 f ederal law that w as int ended to quell the practice of r edlining. the harm ful effects linger t oday. "Student s st art t o translat e what they"re learning into w hat they're living: Zobitz said. "You st art t o hear st o ries like. ' My m om has t o take five buses t o get her w ork do ne.' They talk about their exper iences. and they st art having conv ersat io ns w ith each other about w hat inform ation is needed t o ma ke educat ed recommendations fo r change." Student stories The int ersection of that inf or mat io n is what lured Dij one Mehmeti "24 to the maj or. "What drew m e into data science w as the connect io n betw een dat a and social life." she said. "Applying those t wo t ogether really made me int er est ed in it - that connection that you see something. and it helps you d ig int o i t ev en more. "Learn ing about redlining. crim e. t hen yo u dig into mo re reasons why that happens ... t hat's w hy it"s so pow erful." M ehmeti said . "The infor matio n could be considered hidden. but it's not. It's int erconnected in so many d ifferent ways: John Zobitz sp eaks with a stu dent during data science class. (Ph oto by Court n ey Perry) Students also lear n about the import ance of ethics in dat a collectio n. In that v ein. Ly Xiong '24 hopes t o o ne day focus her w ork not necessarily o n what the dat a rev eals. but where it"s coming from. "For m e. t he most important part is t he dat a itself - who is collect ing the dat a." Xio ng said. "The results w ould be different if I'm collecting data in my community; they w ill trust me. But if I'm collecting dat a in another community. they m ay not trust m e. So. it goes back t o: how are w e collecting the data?" A lack of trust can y ield incomplet e dat a. Xio ng sa id. Her long-t er m goal is t o educate people about how t o creat e dat a sets that better represent an issue and communities affect ed by it . Those real-world applications are specifically driv ing Ridwan Abdi '24. "l"m Som ali." Abdi said . "I w ant to use data science t o do st orytelli ng. The problems w e hav e in our community are that so many young adults and t eens are st ruggling w ith drugs. So. maybe I can use dat a t o educat e and partner w ith universities. t o creat e someth ing that could help people t ake action." All three it erations of the majo r are. in m any ways. exactly what Zob it z ho ped fo r. Stu d ents listen to Pro fessor John Zobitz's lect1.1re. {Pho to by Courtney Perry) "I like t o say that if you put your whole self in there. and br ing your ow n experiences t o it. when you creat e a visualizatio n and see the power dat a has. people pick up on that. I think it eliminates some of t hat ·1do n't believe you· that "s bound t o come from data." he said . · connecting it t o people gives it pow er. instigat es change: Alumni success Alumni are responding t o the new major w ith excit em ent- and a little e nvy. Nhu Putnam '12 graduated w ith ho nors in her double-m ajo r of fi nance and m athematics w ith an em phasis in proba bility and applied mathem atics. She spends her days in data. doing r isk ana lysis and data analytics fo r WTW. an insurance advisory firm headquart er ed in Lo ndo n. "It's good f or Augsburg t o launch these programs. I really liked the d epartment of m athematics. and t his is the right direction fo r Augsburg t o go," Putnam said. "Math is good. but applied math is w ay m ore pow erful. And dat a science is one of the m ost pow erful w ays w e ca n use math in an applied way: She sa id one gr eat example. fro m a corporat e perspect ive. is t hat data science can prov ide the evidence that persuades a company t o invest in a particular social mov em ent. "How can you use data science t o help a community? It's about : here's a t opic. what ever might be im portant t o your community. and here"s what we've lea rned. What ca n you do w ith those r esult s? Can you get companies t o invest in your project? Dat a science will be the future. If you"re good at it. and passionat e about it. you w ill be able t o effect real change." Putna m said . Bjorn Melin "20 agreed. Like Put nam. he double-majored. sp litting his tim e at Augsburg pretty evenly in the mathematics and comput er science departm ents. Today. he"s a data engineer w ith 3M. "I t ook the dat a v isualization class. and a big f ocus of it was on the ethics behind it. It's someth ing rve t alked about w ith all my t eammat es in every prof essional setting I've had.... If som eone doesn"t understand t he ethical implications behind this. ther e can be serio us repercussions. That's another reason t o support the m ajor. getting people out t here w ho can com e in w ith a solid baseline of know ing how t o be safe and ethica l." he said. "I was so excit ed w hen I f ound out they got this m ajo r launched." M elin said. "'I'm hopeful for them t o be able t o t each the curriculum they've w ant ed t o. and what I'm really excit ed fo r is the •official" m erger bet ween comput er science and t he m ath departm ent. It's exact ly w hat I w ish I could have taken back w hen I was ther e." To lea rn m ore about Augsburg"s dat a science major. visit augsburg.edu/mscs. Top image:John Zobitz teaches his data science class. (Phot o by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twiner ] [ In Memoriam, Winter 2022- 23 An educator and catal~t for changg YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Renovated athletics f acil it ies An educator and cata lY.St for Meeting the n eeds d edi cated to beloved Auggies c ha ng~ - on March 15, 2023 - on Morch 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 CONNECT WITH US El I] Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE IN MEMORIAM, WINTER 2022-23 by/Johnson March 15, 2023 • Auggies Connect. In Memoriam Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] GREAT RETURNS AD 1940s Raymond C. Anderson '49, Minneapolis, age 96. on Sept em ber 18. 2022. 1950s Garfield Q. Hoversten 'SO, Ed ina, Minnesota, age 96. on January 22. 2023. Vincent W. Hoversten 'SO. San Rafael. Calif ornia, age 94. on Novem ber 23, 2022. Ellen M. (Stenberg) Erickson '51 , Blaine, Minnesota, age 94, on July 28, 2022. Robert D. Oudal '51 , Oro noco. Minnesota, age 93, on October 13. 2022. Eleanor M. (Baker) Dahle '53, Cathlam et, Washington, age 91 , in December 2022. Norman F.Johnson '53, Bloomington. Minnesota, age 91. on Oct ober 11, 2022. Leland E. Evenson '54, M onticello, Minnesota, on December 2, 2022. Sign up for Email Newsletter Alan Mathiason '54, St. Pa ul, Minnesota, age 92. on July 16, 2022. Arvin H. Halvorson '55, St. Paul. Minnesot a, age 91, on July 24, 2022. Submit Your Alumni News Norman E. Anderson '56, M aple Grove, Minnesot a. age 89, on October 8, 2022. Robert D. Norby '56, Naples, Flo rida, age 90, o n Sept ember 5, 2022. CONNECT WITH US Philip W. Heide '58, Rosemount. Minnesota, age 86, on October 30, 2022. El I] June A. (Aaskov) Griffin '59, Falmouth, Maine. age 87, o n August 4, 2022. Delores M. Grupp Christianson '59. Mahom et, Il linois. age 86, on October 30. 2022. Luther E. Romo '59. Braham, Minnesota, age 85, on October 1, 2022. 1960s Donald A. Anderson '60, Nisswa, Minnesota, age 88. on August 12, 2022. Jon R. Ellefson '60. Rosemount, Minnesota, age 87. on November 18. 2022. Marjorie A. (Moland) Flom '60, age 84, o n November 22, 2022. Lawrence E. Gallagher '61 , Crystal, Minnesot a. age 82, o n November 6, 2022. Leroy C. Holmes '61 . Forest Lake, Minnesot a, age 88, o n November 5, 2022. Paul R. Grover '62. Belvidere, Illino is, age 83, on December 14, 2022. William O. Cowan '63, Dassel, Minnesot a. age 84, on June 6. 2022. Charlotte A. (Gerdeen) Fruehauf '64, Maple Grove, Minnesota, age 80. on Sept ember 4, 2022. William F. Strom '64, Hast ings. Minnesot a. age 82, on July 19. 2022. Paul E. Larson '65, Bloomington, Minnesot a, age 79, o n October 3, 2022. Sylvia M. (Johnson) Strand '65, Sta nchfield, Minnesota, age 79. on Oct ober 22, 2022. Gary Viken '65, Mound, Minnesota, o n August 17. 2022. Russell H. Johns '66, M elbourne, Florida, age 84, on December 22, 2022 Martha E. (Weimer) Keaton '66. La Cr osse, Wisconsin, age 78, on July 21 , 2022. John K. Meland '66, age 78, o n December 13, 2022. Myrtis M. Ska rich '68, St. Paul, Minnesot a. age 76, o n July 24, 2022. Patricia Piepenburg '69, Grov e City. Minnesota, age 75, on February 9, 2023. 1970s Kenneth G. Casperson 70, Buffalo. Minnesota, age 78, on December 16, 2022. Rosalee D. (Lyng) Vind '71 , age 73. on Oct ober 13, 2022. Alice M. Johnson '72, Minneapolis, age 72, o n Sept ember 7, 2022. Lee S. Lind '72, Rosemo unt. Minnesota, age 72, on Nov ember 28, 2022. Julianne M. (Carlson) Pederson '73, age 71, Stillwat er, Minnesota, on Janua ry 3, 2023. Laura H. Sutton '77, Hudson, Wisconsin, age 79. on July 10, 2022. Mary K. (Hill) Walker 77, Northfield. Minnesot a. age 67, on July 16. 2022. 1980s Gayle J. (Taylor) Stiller '81 , Longmont, Colorado, age 64, o n July 24, 2022. Dawn C. (Jared) Robinson '85, Rockford, Minnesota, age 60. on Oct ober 19, 2022. Nicole F. Hertzberg '86, St. Paul. Minnesota, age 61, on October 11, 2022. Mark P. Limburg '89, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 59, o n November 15. 2022. 1990s Peter T. Vedell '90. Rochest er, Minnesota, age 54. on November 25, 2022. Kerry V. Owen '91 , Waldpo rt. Oregon, age 54. on December 24. 2022. Terence J. Acers '92, Stillwat er, Minnesot a. age 53, on Nov ember 14, 2022. Beryl J. Deskin '95 MA, Minneapolis, age 76, o n November 7, 2022. Harry W. Lockrem '97, Roseville, Minnesot a, age 73, o n December 3, 2022. 2000s James R. Erickson '00, Andover. Minnesota, age 55, on November 9. 2022. Glen D. Meyer ·os, Byron, Minnesota, age 67, o n December 8, 2022. Thomas M. Driscoll '07 MBA. Rosemount, Minnesota, age 50, o n Sept em ber 22. 2022. 2010s Linda K. (Simmons) Berglund '22. Shoreview, Minnesot a, age 68, o n January 1, 2023. 2020s Alexander C. Baker'26, Lakeville, Minnesot a. age 18, o n January 14, 2023. Donors, Faculty, Staff, and Board of Regents Sylvia A. Sabo, Minneapolis, age 85, o n October 26, 2022. Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Meeting the needs Creating connections YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE W hat's Y.OUr favorite SJlOt on Alu m ni Class Notes, Winte r camP. us? 2022-23 • on March 15, 2023 · on March 15, 2023 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea lis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University webs~e uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, you are agreei Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE MEETING THE NEEDS Auggies work to serve Twin Cit ies residents wit hout homes by CharlK Hol ey March 15, 2023 • Featured Stories Share this: [ f GREAT RETURNS AD Facebook ] [ "JI Twiner ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ a Email ] In separate efforts to help unhoused people in Minneapolis, two members of the Augsburg community take a similar approach. They ask a simple questio n: "What do you need?" Then, they w ork to provide services based o n people's self-id ent ified necessities. "It's about meeting people where they're at." said Katie Clark '10 MAN. '14 DNP, associate professor of nursing and execut ive d irector of Augsburg Health Commons. which provid es free supplies and nurse consultations to anyone in need. Many peop le who access these Katie Clark, associate professor of nursing and executive d ir ector services are unhoused o r exper iencing housing insecurity. "Oftentimes. health ca re providers are not trusted by people living on the st reet who feel like they mig ht be st ereotyped or j udged when they enter a facility." Clark sa id . ·w e need to ask people what their experiences are, what they deem necessary, and why t hey aren't able to of Augsburg Health Commons (Photo by Courtney Perry! get what they need: Emily Bastian '07 MSW w orks wit h a similar philosophy- she led the creation of an entire homeless shelter based on asking people about their specific needs. Aviva Village, wh ich opened in December 2020, has received widespr ead attention because of its unique concept. Sign up for Email Newsletter Bastian. who is t he nonprofit Aviva's vice president of ending homelessness. said she and her Submit Your Alumni News tea m w ent to an encampment in a Minneapolis par k. "We asked them. what would it take for them to come indoors? And many of the things that they sa id are things t hat w e are able to put into practice at Avivo Village." CONNECT WITH US Emi ly Bastian '07 MSW (Courtesy photo! Creating a shelter Unlike most traditional ho meless shelt ers, Avivo Village lets residents come and go as t hey please. Resid ents are not separated by gender; they ca n have pets. and they can drink legally. All these th ings are allow ed in response to Bastian's conversatio ns with people living outdoors. ·we want people to know that we care about them and that we're not shaming them for the choices that they're maki ng. because t hey are t he ones living their life, not us: Bastian said . Avivo Village is made up of 100 tiny homes meant to be The Avivo Village team (Courtesy photo) tempora ry housing as residents w ork to find a mor e permanent place to live. So fa r, mo re than 11 O people have successfully moved on from Avivo Village into perma nent housing. In additio n to temporary shelter. Aviva provides tho rough case ma nagement to help people find housing. This includes services aimed at addressing some of t he root causes of homelessness. Avivo offers transitional recovery housing, which houses people who are enrolled in the organization's chemical dependency treatment program . Avivo also provides mental health services. ·case management supports people through all the bumps in the road as t hey're lea rning to be a rent er o r as they're ......-.,,.~-- exper iencing some other trauma or barriers," Bastian said, "because we truly, truly. truly believ e that everyone deserves Avivo workers visit an encampm ent. (Courtesy photo) housing and everyone is housable: A range of services While Hea lt h Commons does not provide housing. it offers ma ny services to support unhoused people. Like Bastian. Clark wor ks to create a place wher e people feel accepted and safe wh ile asking for help. Sometimes. people simply ha ng out at the Hea lth Commo ns locatio n in downtown Minnea polis' Cent ral Lutheran Church. "If you're experiencing ho melessness. oftentimes you can't go places and hang out without showing proof of why you need to be ther e or without being harassed," Clark said. •so. sometimes peop le need a place where they can j ust sit down. take their shoes off. and be part of what's happening."[/vc_column_text ][/vc_column][/vc_row) a saf e space to Graduate nursing student Claudia Heal:h Commo ns is Heal t h Commons v i sitors pick up Rubio-Mendoz.a d istributes d iapers at m eet and sp end t im e wi t h frien ds . donated item s . {Photo by Courtney H eal th Commons. (Photo by Courtney (Photo by Cou rtney Perry) Perry) Perry) The free supplies offered at Hea lth Commo ns include socks, hygiene products. and d iapers. Visito rs can meet with Augsburg nursing students for basic healt h services such as having their blood pressure checked o r asking questio ns about medical condit io ns. "We're not providing clinical care or d iagnosing. but more just bridging t he gap bet ween meeting peop le where they are and connecting them with services if they d eem it necessa ry." Clar k said . A place to learn Health Commo ns is not o nly a place where people ca n go to learn about health ca re-it's also a place where any Augsburg student can learn about serving a wide range of needs. including the needs of unhoused people. More t han 1.600 students have volunteered at Health Com mons in the 30 y ears that it's been o pen. "Health care providers often begin to have biases o r might act ually stereotype people who are unhoused. So, Healt h Commons is r eally a first step for nursing. physician assistant, or other students to unpack those moments and cha llenge biases: Clark said . "The complexities of peoples' circumst ances are better understood as students bu ild relationships with people living on the st reet s," she said. "And it's facult y-led. Students say having those real-life experiences has been v ery meaningful, especially when t hey see faculty model it as well." Amy Nelson, assistan t pr ofessor of nursing, helps a Healt h Commons visitor with a hand inj ury. {Photo by Clark encourages students to pract ice compassio n in all their interactions with people who visit Health Commons. She has ev en talked with some Courtney Perry! student vo lunteers who have experienced ho melessness t hemselves. "They often share t hat they fi nd value in the approaches here, that shared community." she said . As a former Augsburg student. Bastian sa id her educatio n in the university's social w ork program informs the w or k that she does today. "(One) thing that Augsburg really d rilled into my head, and the master's of social w ork program very much so. is the conversation around privilege, t he willingness to do that to ugh w ork personally to recognize what my own privileges are, how that impacts how I see the world and how the w orld sees me, and in tur n my responsibil ity based on that." she sa id . Katherine Martin, assistan t professor of nursing (left), and Ph ysician's Assistan t Program Director Vanessa Bester {m iddle) help visitors with foot care at Healt h Commons. {Photo by Courtney Perry) Getting involved Both Clar k and Bastian shared w ays that people ca n get involved in serving t he Twin Cities' unhoused population. Anyone is w elcome to volunteer at the Health Commons Cent ral Lut heran Church locatio n. but prio rit y is given to Augsburg students. Vo lunteers can sign up o n the Health Commons w ebsite. Health Commo ns also takes mo neta ry d onations on line. To do nate supplies. contact Clark at clarkk@fillgsburg.edu. Information about volunteering wit h o r donating to Avivo ca n be found on the organization's w ebsite. "If people don't feel comfortable or don't know what to do, donating is a good w ay to st art " Bast ian said. •1 w ould also say that volunteer ing somewhere you can have interact ions that feel at a safe level for what yo u're ready for is also a great w ay to get involved and to help." Top image: Katie Clark and graduate nursing student Claudio Rubio-Mendoza help Health Commons visitors p ick out free items that th ey need. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Au~burg leads with direct admissions In Memoriam, Winter 2022- 23 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Re novated ath letics f acil ities An educat or an d catalY.St for Creat ing co nnect io n s d ed ica ted to be loved Auggies c ha ng~ - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on Morch 15, 2023 El I] Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG LEADS WITH DIRECT ADMISSIONS by Farrisr March 15, 2023 Share this: [ f • Around the Quad Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] GREAT RETURNS AD Augsburg's w ork at the forefront of a movement to tr ansfo rm college admissions has ga rnered national media attention . l ast fall, the un iversity moved to a "direct admissions" approach fo r undergraduate enrollment. In this mod el, known as Augsburg Applies to You, students who meet a certain GPA thresho ld are automatica lly offered admission. Most students can complete the streamlined application fo rm in less than 10 minutes. Ninety-nine percent of students offer ed d irect admissio n w ould The admissions office at Augsburg University {Photo by have been admitted under Augsburg's previous criteria. Now, Courtney Perry) they ca n move through t he process faster and take advantage of d eeper pre-enrollment connectio ns. Why flip the scr ipt? A simpler process benefits both st udents and staff. Under d irect admissions, the traditiona l roles of applicant and gatekeeper are intentionally reversed to change the power dynamics in enrollment ma nagement. In an interview with Inside Higher Ed, Robert Gould, vice presid ent for st rategic enro llment management sa id t hat direct ad missions is "a d ream come t rue• for admissions staff, whose attention has shifted from reviewing paperwork to connecting with students about Augsburg and what they hope to accomplish. "Those are the discussio ns that motivated many of them to become admissions counselors'' in the first place, he said . Sign up for Email Newsletter Drawn by its promise to reduce barriers and promote equit y, many colleges and universities are beginning to explo re direct ad missions through pilot programs. Augsburg is participating in tw o such pilots through the Commo n Submit Your Alumni News Application and the state of Minnesota. But as reported by Inside Higher Ed, Augsburg's own streamlined application shows that the university "isn't w aiting" on pilot progra ms to fully embrace the new model. In Nov ember, the Wall Street Journal noted t hat Augsburg's mov e CONNECT WITH US toward a radically simpler process contrasts with ot her inst itutions whose more complex applications may undercut El I] the goal of d irect admissions. Augsburg's enrollment management divisio n has been wo rking to reduce barriers for sev era l y ears. Recent changes to simplify the applicat io n- including test-free admissio ns, sho rt-answ er essays, and o ptional letters of recommendation- hav e accompanied Augsburg's largest and most d iver se fi rst-year classes in history. Top image: Augsburg students on campus (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twin er ] [ Au~burg named top_P.roducer of Fulbright Scholars Meeting the needs YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Augsburg alumna lands t OP- Uncovering t he exP-eriences of Pribbenow: On 'leaning in' role at MPR News Hmong entreP-reneurs - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG NAMED TOP PRODUCER OF FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS by CharlK Hal ey March 15, 2023 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ i.'!i Email ] Augsburg University has aga in been named a Fulbright Top-Producing Inst itution fo r U.S. Scholars. This designation w as announced by the U.S. Department of St at e's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs o n February 10. It recognizes the colleges and universities that had the hig hest number of applica nt s select ed for the 2022-23 Fu lbright U.S. Scholar Program. Each y ear, this elit e program select s approximat ely 900 facult y members or administrat ors fro m across the country t o lecture. conduct research, or pursu e short - o r long-t erm professio nal proj ects abroad. In the 2022- 23 academic year. Augsburg faculty members George Oierberger, Thomas '72 and Karen How e endow ed professor for ent repreneurship, and Joseph Erickson, professor of education, w ere named Fu lbright Scho lars. Dierberger's Fulbright took h im t o Letterkenny, Ireland, while Erickson is spend ing the spring in Lj ubljana. Slovenia. "The fact that w e hav e so many Augsburg professors w ho hav e been select ed t o participat e in t he program speaks t o the q uality of our faculty and the support of the ad minist ration," said Dier berger, who serves as one of Augsburg's faculty liaisons for Fulbright Scholars. Augsburg has also been named a toR,.i;iroducer of Fulbright students am ong U.S master's institut ions, w ith three student s receiving scholarships t o t each English abroad in 2021-22. Sign up for Email Newsletter "It is such a great achievement bot h faculty and student Fulbright awards, and it should be celebrat ed," sa id John Zobitz, professor of mathematics and dat a science. Zobit z serves as Augsburg's other faculty liaison for Fu lbright Scholars and w as a Fu lbright Scho lar him self in 2021. Submit Your Alumni News The Fulbright Program has been a cornerstone of int ernational education and cultural exchange for the Unit ed St at es since 1946. The purpose of the program is t o inspire, innovat e. and contribut e to fi nding solutions for commun it ies CONNECT WITH US and the w orld . El I] Top image: The Quad at Augsburg's campus (photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twin e, ] [ Augsburg leads wi th direct admissions YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Pr esid ent Augsb u rg alu mna lan d s to12 Uncovering t h e ex12erien ces o f Pribbe now: On 'lean ing in' role at M PR New s Hmon g entr e12ren eurs - on Morch 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 - on March 15, 2023 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accreditation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht© 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea lis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University webs~e uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, you are agreei Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2022
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Search Result: Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW-MULTIPLY YOUR MIND BY GIVING IT AWAY: SHARING THE GIFT OF VOCATION by Paul C. Pribbenow Se12tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad. President's Letter Share this: [ f Faceb...
Show more Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW-MULTIPLY YOUR MIND BY GIVING IT AWAY: SHARING THE GIFT OF VOCATION by Paul C. Pribbenow Se12tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad. President's Letter Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ a Email ] A few years back. I happened upo n the w ork of Mark Fed erma n. a Canad ian scho lar whose writings o n innovation include th is provocative suggestion: "Multiply your mind by giving it away: And Fed erman mea ns exactly what he says: be genero us. be charitable. give instead of always taking. Because when you are generous with your mind- with your knowledge and educatio n and other gifts-you help to create organizations. neighbo rhoods. agencies. churches. and schools t hat are marked not by the scarcity of t he w orld. but by the abundance of what is possible. I w as thinking about Federman's challenge while serving on a pa nel about how Lutheran colleges and universities might apply •-~ lessons lea rned about vocation fro m w ork with o ur D T 1 r ~~!~~~o-:.J undergraduate students to other impo rtant constituencies. The following three themes emerged fro m o ur conversatio n: v_., On our campuses, beyond undergraduates GREAT RETURNS AD ' ST . 186 9 - - - """"--- President Paul Pribbenow (Photo by Courtney Perry) Many coll eges and universities hav e g raduate progr ams in professio nal disciplines like nursing. ed ucatio n. and social w ork. wher e the concept of vocatio n can play an important role in shaping a professio nal career and life. At Augsburg. w e created V-Portfolio. an online vocat io n portfolio for undergrad uate and graduate students to share artifacts from their personal. academic. and professional j ourneys. V-Portfolio has prov ed a helpful tool for students to narrate the many facets of a vocationa l journey. In addition to academ ic w ork. students share experiences as parents. as citizens. as neighbo rs. and as professionals-creating that many-layered story of a life. Across the vocational lifespan Other important constituencies for our ca mpuses include prospective students and alumni. For exa mple. Augsburg has hosted an annual Youth Theology Institute for high school students. Over the summer. these student learning communities explo re pressing issues in the wo rld through a theological lens. Alumni are another importa nt audience for our vocation lessons. At Augsburg. w e organized the Center ed life Series. led by Jack Fortin. whose book. "The Centered life." has inspired many of us in our own vocatio nal w ork. Fortin curates a series of sessio ns each semester (in person before the COVID-19 pandemic. but even mo re well-attended online during the pandemic) that address a particular vocational theme. For example. o ne ser ies focused on the Sign up for Email Newsletter vocation of caregiving fo r a spouse with memory loss; another shared the concept of interrogat ing our institutiona l saga. the w ork of appreciation and accountability for what German theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer ca lled our histo rical legacy. Accompanying our faith communities Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US We also have shared our vocat io n lessons with faith commun ities. in some w ays coming full circle to the traditions that hav e given us the gift of vocat io n. Many of those fa ith communities are now seeking new ways to support the vocational j ourneys of their members. El I] The w ork of t he Riverside Innovation Hub. an initiative of Augsburg's Christensen Center for Vocation. comes alo ngside local congregatio ns seeking to become public churches. A public church is committ ed to place-based vocational discernment in the public square for the common good. In other w ords. the partner churches are pursuing God's call for them to be in relationship with their neighborhoods in w ays that bring flourish ing and life. The Riverside Innovation Hub explo res how the many resources of a college or university ca n be brought to bear in helping faith communities be more responsive to the vocatio nal pursuits of their members. For example. leaders found that many young people ca re deeply about environmental issues and don·t feel that their faith communities offer them resources to pursue those commitments. The innovation hub brings scientists and artists and writers and theologians fro m t he Augsburg faculty into conv ersat io n with fait h communities to help expand their understanding of how they might accompany those young people in their passions for God's creation. Alumni living out their vocations Multiply your mind by giving it away. In this issue of Augsburg Now. you'll find stories of Augsburg graduates do ing j ust that. Keenan Jones '13 is d riv en to emgow er and educate Black boys, who fall beh ind in every category the United States uses to determine academic success and w ellness. After 13 years in the classroom. he started a nonprofit for Black boys in grades 5-12 that focuses on literacy. empow erment. social justice. and social/emotional healt h. Other Auggies' t ime and talents are focused on environm enta l justice: M aria Belen Power ·07 is an advocate and o rganizer for Green Roots. an o rganization in her Boston-a rea suburb of Chelsea. Massachusetts. and w as recently named to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Elan Quezada Hoffman '22 pursues his calli ng thro ugh w ork as an environmental inspector for the City of Minneapolis. We're fi nding new ways to share the gift of vocation and those lessons w e have learned with our undergraduate students with others at all stages of life. We all are enriched by the joy of lives fa ithfully led. Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ CamP.uS Welcomes Executive Director of Interfaith. Celebrates the Life of Fuad EI-Hibri YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Cam P.US Welcomes Executive Great Returns: We're All In Sankofa Circle Fellowshi P. Director of Inter faith,. - on September 14, 2022 JlreJlares to exP.a nd in second Celebrates t h e Life of Fuad EI- .Y.ear Hib ri - on September 14, 2022 · on September 14. 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accreditation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Copyright © 2023 Augsburg University I Minneapolis. MN I 612-330-1000 Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE CAMPUS WELCOMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INTERFAITH, CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF FUAD ELHIBRI by Farrisr Sef.1tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f GREAT RETURNS AD Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] Najeeba Syeed joined Augsburg as the inaugural EI-Hibr i endow ed cha ir and executive d irect or of Int erfaith at Augsburg in ea rly August . Syeed is an aw ard-w inning educator and expert practi tio ner in the fields of confl ict resolutio n, mediation, and int erfaith studies. Previously, she held faculty positions at Claremont School of Theology, St arr King School for the Ministry. and Chicago Theological Seminary, as w ell as execut iv e leadership roles at the West ern Justice Center Foundation and the Asian Pacific American Disput e Resolution Center. In this new position. Sy eed will serve as a nationa l ambassador for the int erfaith movement and w ill partner w ith ca mpus leaders as a change agent for int er religious lear ning and living. Her appointment fuels one of the goals of the Augsburg150 strat egic plan: t o advance the public purposes of an Augsburg ed ucatio n by enhancing int erfaith leadership o n campus and nationa lly. Interfaith at Augsburg: An Institute to Promot e Interfaith Lear ning and Leadership was est ablished in 201 9 t o Sign up for Email Newsletter further the belief that r eligious diversity can be a constr uctive force for the common good . El·Hibri endowed chair and executive director of lnterfarth at Augsburg, Najeeba Syeed. {Courtesy photo) Submit Your Alumni News In 2021, a significant gift from Fuad and Nan~ El•Hibri allowed for the creation of the EI-Hibri endow ed chair and executive CONNECT WITH US directorship for the institute. Fuad EI-Hibri d ied in Agr il 2022 after a battle w it h pancreatic cancer. A longtime friend of the universit y. he made a tremendous mark o n Augsburg during the past two decades. El I] The EI-Hibris lea rned of Augsburg in t he ea rly 2000s, when their son. Boa rd of Regents member Karim El•Hibri '06, participat ed in the St egUP® Co llegiat e 12rogram. They served as t he inaugural co-chairs of Augsburg's Presid ent's Council and, Fuad and Nancy EI-Hibri. {Courtesy photo) among other generous gifts t o the university, annually sponsored lftar d inners for the campus during Ramadan. President Paul Pribbenow r eflect ed o n the family's scope and sign ificance: "Fuad and h is family have been generous w ith their time, w isdom, and gifts to support me and our community as we advance Augsburg's deep commit ment s to collegiat e recovery. interfaith dialogue. and student success. Fuad was a role model for our student s as he combined his faith, his business acumen. and his love for his family in all that he pursued. I will miss h im and know that his legacy w ill live on at Augsburg and beyo nd ." A business leader and ph ilanthropist Fuad w as the founder and executiv e chair man of Emergent BioSolutions Corporatio n. chairman of East West Resources, and chairman of Aptevo Therapeutics. He also served as the founding chairman of the EI-Hibri Foundat io n. which the family founded in 2001 to hono r Fuad's father . Faud said he w as inspired by the univ ersal values of Islam and supported the foundation in its visio n of build ing an inclusiv e society w her e everyone ca n t hrive in a diverse and inclusiv e world. He is survived by his w ife. Nancy; son. Kar im; daught ers. Yusra and Faiza; and three grandch ildren. Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Alumni Class Notes, Summer 2022 Notes from President Pribbenow- MultipJv. Your Mind b.v. Giving It Awav.; Sharing the Gift of Vocation YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Great Retu rns: We're All In Sankofa Circle Fellowshi g Prib benow- MultiP-]Y. Your - on September 14, 2022 Jlr eJla res to exP.a nd in second Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sharing Y.ea r t h e Gift o f Vocation - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator log in Contact Augsburg Co ri nt © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea olis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full sit e experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our sit e with cookies enabled, y use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP AuGSBURG - UNIVERSITY - PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOM E ABOUT CO NTACT US CURRENT ISSUE ALUMNI CLASS NOTES, SUMMER 2022 by Qohnson Se12remb r 14. 2022 0 Sh a r e th is : [ f • Auggi s Conn °ct Class No tes /Alumni) 0 Facebook ] [ '!fl Twirre, ] [ 'P Pintere S< ] [ in Li nk ed ln ] [ i:i Ema il ] GREAT RETURNS AD 1960-69 1965 Marcia Schne ider '65 m et w it h Prof essor Emerit3 Kathryn Swanson and her hus band . Jack, wh il e they were in Arizona . M3rci3 was a part of a trip to Tha il3nd and Ca mbod ia that the Swansons led in 2017. 1966 David Johnson '66, wh o received a doctorate in the histo,y of religion from the Un iversity of low3, retu rn ed from te3ching as 3 vi sit ing prof ess or in Ch ina. His books include "West ern Thought for Asian Rea ders" and " Ind ian Thought Bet wee n Tr3dit ion and Marcia Schneider '65, Prolessor Cmerica Kathryn Swanson, and her husband, Jack, in .¼izona. (Co un:esy photo) the Cultur e of Technology." 1967 Denn is M iller '67, prof esso r em erit us of food science and nutrit ion at Co rn ell Un iversity. i s one of th e part icipant s in a r ese;arch proj ect t o t ransform nut r it i on and w;ate r use i n the poultry indu st ry t o improve its environmental impact and enh;ance hum;an he;a lth . Th e U.S . Depa rtm en t of Ag,i cult ure fund ed t he resear ch through a $9 .95 m i llion gran t, one of the largest grants ever award ed by t he USDA. Thad Dan iel son '67 h;as r et ired from his boat shop and now te;aches a t wo-week cl;ass, The Fundam enta ls of Sign up for Emai l Newslette r Submit Your Alumni News Boat bu ildi ng, at t he Woo den Boat Schoo l i n Brookli n. Mai ne. He also wrote t he book, "An Int rodu ction t o Wood en Boat Building: Alw ays M ore t o Le;arn." CONNECT WITH US 1969 Janis Mathison '69 was indu ct ed int o the At hlet ic H;a ll of Fam e at Shaw;a no Commun ity High School in Shaw;a no, Wisc onsin . The honor rec ognizes her w ork as a coach and pioneer of w om en's ;at hl et ics at th e sc hool. 1970-79 1972 After 26 year s, Robert Engelson '72 has reti red from his r ole as a professor in th e Col lege of Arts and Sci ences at th e Univer sity of Arizona Global Campus. 1973 She ldon Anderson 73 published a m emoi r, "Jum p Shooti ng to a Higher Deg, ee." whi ch chronicles his basketbal l car eer in Mi nnea polis. West Ge rm any. and Poland, wh ere he did r esea rch fo r hi s doctorate. 1979 With more th;an 500 w ins in hi s prep coac hing ca ree r, Dougl as Greseth '79 h;as been nam ed boys basketbal l he;ad coach ;at Bisho p M cL;a ugh lin Ca th olic High School in Spring Hil l, Fl or ida. 1980-89 1983 In November 2021, Luverne Seifert '83 directed a m elod,am;a, "The L;ast Tr;a in t o Wi nn ipeg." fo r t he Lyric Center for the Arts in Vi rginia. Minnesota. The Arrowhead Regional Arts Co un cil supported t he pl ay w it h Rur;a l ;a nd Commun ity Art Pr oj ect gr;ant fund ing . Brian Hoffman '83 . associat e professor of anthrop ology at H;a m line University in St. Paul, M inn es ota, w as f eat ured in an M PR st ory about th e exca v;ati ons he leads on ca m pus- m ost recent ly. th e r em ai ns of ;a St P;au l home nea r th e corn er of Hew itt Avenu e and P;asca l St reet . 1984 Anne Mari e Erickson '84 has cr eat ed ;a website wit h ex ce, gts from essay.a she's written abou t livi ng wit h her husband's 17 yea rs of dem entia. 1985 Jean Tay lor '85 w as na m ed t he CEO of Afll eric;a n Public M ed ia Group. th e paren t company of M inn esot a Publi c Rad io, in 2021. 1988 Da llas M ill er '88 was indu ct ed into the At hlet ic Hall of Fam e for playing hockey ;at Kenn edy High Sch ool in Bl oomi ngt on, Mi nn esot;a . Mi ller was indu ct ed int o Augsburg Univer sity's H;a ll of Fam e for his awar d-winn ing hockey car eef. 1990-99 1994 M ichelle Steever '94 rece ived th e Outst and ing Librar ian Award from t he Rh ode Island Library Associ;at ion in 202 1. She is t he school library m ed ia spec ialist for t he J;a m est own Sc hool Distr ict in Rh ode Island . Jude II Anderson '94 ret ir ed after l eadi ng the Al liance of Auto Service Pr oviders-MN for near ly 26 yea rs. 1998 Rollo,s. a lawn ga m e by Matthew Butler '98, was fe;at ured i n th e Rol ling St on e article "Fro m Grill s t o Boombox Speakers, These Are t he Pr odu cts We'r e Using L;abo r D;ay Weekend" (Se pte m ber 2, 202 1). 1999 Ka le Henry '99 was nam ed th e he;ad coac h of t he Forest Lake High School basebal l program. He is a previous wi nn er of t he Mi nn esot;a St at e High School Base ball Coaches Assoc iat ion's Rob Forn;asiere Assista nt Co;ach oft he Ye;ar Award . 2000-09 2000 The Christ ian Cent ury i nte rvi ew ed Ross Murray '00, '09 MBA about his found ing of th e Nam ing Project . an ELCAbased camp for LGBTQ youth. Murray wrote t he book "M ade, Kn own, Loved: Devel opi ng LGBT-lnclu sive Yout h M inist ry," and he is th e di rect or of news and fa it h i nit iat ives fo r t he Gay & Lesbian Al liance Ag;a inst Defa m;ati on (GlADD). Nathan Budde '00 completed the Iron m an Wisconsi n in 202 1. He f inished 77th out of r oughly 1,8 00 compet it ors ;and seventh amon g t he 180 peo pl e in his age bracket . 2003 Kar i Luci n '03 has ret urned to The Globe newspaper in Wort hingto n. Minnesota. as commun ity ed it or. She w as previously t he Globe's educ;at ion reporter and online content coo rd inat or. Keneesh i a Williams '03 , MD , g;ave a TEDx t alk. "The Pro sperit y of Invest m en t A Journ ey From Murder Wit ness t o T, aum;a Surgeon ." th;at uses he, life ex perience ;and m edi ca l expertise t o offer non-divi sive, proven solutions t o gun vi ol ence in Am eri ca . Wil liam s is an assist an t professor of surgery ;at Emory Un iversit y in Atl;anta and d irect o, of m ed ic;a l student ed ucat ion at Grady Memorial Hospital. 2005 Eddie Frizell 'OS MA L w as nom inated by Pres ident Joe Biden ;and con f irmed by t he U.S. Senat e ;as U.S. Mar sh;a l for the District of M inn esot a. He pr evi ously served ;as chief of police for t he M et ro Tr;ansit Police Departm ent in M inneapolis and St. Paul. Christe Singleton '07 MBA was nam ed vice pres ident of Mi nn esot;a Gas at Center Point Energy. Minnesota's l;a rgest natura l gas ut i lity . 2007 Travis Paul '07 MBA is t he regi on;a l ch;a ir of adm inist rat ion for Mayo Clinic He;a lth System i n Southw est M innesot a. P;au l h;as 26 yea rs of prog, essive hea lt h c;are exper ience at M ayo Cli nic, includ ing 18 year s i n le;ade, ship rol es and numerous ye;ars as ;a front-line nu rse. Emily Bast ian '07 MSW, Aviva's vi ce presi dent of en ding homelessness, w as in terviewed by the Sta , T, ibune about A vivo Vi llage in Mi nn ea polis. an indoor group ing of t iny houses offering s;af ety. com fo rt. and dignit y to 100 r esi dents. 2008 Anthony V ici no ' 08 is a found ing partner of lnvictus Ca pit al and co-;a uthor of "Passive Investing M;ade Simp le." Nicholas Zeimet ' 08 MSW i s an assi st;ant professor of soci;a l work at Bethel Universit y in Arden Hills. Minnesota . He has served ;as t he Mi nn esot;a Chapt er Pres ident of Syrian Am eri ca n Medical Society and h;as l ed a m en t al healt h m iss ion t o Leba non and Jordan. He hol ds a volunt ee r posit ion w ith Mt. Sinai's Human Righ t s Pr ogram as a remot e m ental hea lt h eval u;ator for th ose seeking ;asylu m o, ot her immigrat ion m att er s. M ichael Henr ichsen '08 is l ead vocalist and rhythm gu itar pl;ayer for '80s cove r band Nile Wave, wh ich w as recently f e;atured i n an ;article in 425 Magaz ine. The band has produ ce d a live album and h;as perform ed wit h Bil ly Idol three t im es . Katherine La Grave '08, digital fe;at ures ed it or fo r AFAR M ed ia, was named Lowell Thom;as Travel Journalist of t he Year by th e Society of Americ;an Travel Writ ers in 2021. Nicol e Richards '08, a certified pub lic account ant. w;as prom oted t o principal at Boeckerm ann , Graf strom & Mayer in Bl oomi ngt on, Mi nn esot;a . Dianna Rob inson '08 w;as promot ed t o m arket pres ident and director of private banki ng, communit y m ar kets at Assoc iat ed Bank in Rochest ef. Minn es ota. M ichael Graber '08 MBA has been ;appo inted pres ident and CEO of Toyo Ti re U.S.A. Corp. 2010-11 2011 Kyle Potswa l d ' 11 w as pro m ote d to vi ce president of commerci;a l l end ing ;at the Cit izens Ba nk Minn es ota L;akevi lle branch . Ell e Thoni '11 wrote t he mu si c;a l, " Queen B: A New Work of Hon eyb ee Fut ur ism." which t oured Mi nnesota farms ;and green spaces in August 202 1. 2012 Emily Nicho ls '1 2 i s ge neral m anager of th e Ki m pt on Alt on Hotel in Sa n Franci sco's iconic Fisherman's Wh;ati neighborh ood. 2013 As execu t ive di rect or ;and founder of M N Renewabl e Now, Kr istel Porter '1 3 i s working toward th e inst;a llati on of solar syst ems in North M inn ea polis, among other envi ron m ental just ice projects. 2013 and 2019 Da ley Knochar Farr '13 ;and Maxim illian Bray '19 m arri ed Jun e 11. 2021, in New Or lean s. Connor Krenik '1 3, Kacie Lucchin i Butcher ' 13. Kevi n Butcher '13, Morgan Thompson '09, and Gabr ielle M ill er '09 wer e i n attenda nce. 2016 Rayna Lindsey '16 ;ap pears in season 9 of "Bel ow Deck" on Br;avo. Li sa Archer ' 16 MAN has been named ch ief nursing a/fleer fo r Da ley Knochar Farr '1 3 and Max Bray '19 on t heir we:lding day. (Courtesy pho:o) M;ayo Clini c Hea lt h Syst em in Southwest Wi sconsin. 2019 Jeffrey Bol dt '19 MFA published hi s debut novel, " Blue L;ake." i n M;arch 2022 . Bol dt drew from his l egal and environment al backg,ound t o writ e t he Wisconsi n-b ased thrill er. 2020s 2020 Ali son Uselman '20 w on the Wi sconsin Academy of Sci ence, Arts & Letters' 2021 Wisconsi n Peop le & lde;as Fiction Contest for he, short st ory. "Honor Cord ." 2021 Isaa c Tade '21 st arted dem;a l scho ol at t he Univer sity of M inn esot a, wh er e he received t he Xhonga Scholar sh ip and a N;at ion;a l Hea lth Service Corps Schol;arshi p. Shar e th is: I f Facebook 11 '!I Twi«e, 11 'P Pinteres, 11 in Li nk edln 11 Cl-cs fo 1988 Tags: Class of 1965 D Ema il Cla-, of 1966 Clacsof 197 2 Class of 1973 Cl·sc of 1976 Clacsof1 979 Cla·s of 1983 Claes of 198 5 Class of 1994 Cl~sc of 1999 Claes of 20 00 Cla·s of 2003 Claes of 2007 Class of 2008 Cl~sc of 2011 Claesof 2012 Sum m 0 , I Clacsof 1969 2022 < PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST> In Memoriam Summer2022 Cam~us Welcomes Execut ive Di rector of Interfa ith, Celebrates t he Life of Fuad EI-H'bri YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE I n Memoriam, Su mme r 2022 A uggi e Podcast s M us icia n and 11oet Dua Saleh - on Scp,ember 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 ' 17 br eaks bo un daries w it h ro l e o n N etfli x's ·sex Ed uca t i o n' - on February 22, 2022 El IJI ,~, Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE BETHE CHANGE Environ mental act ivism takes many forms for Auggie advocates by Lisa Renze-Rhodes Share this: [ f Se12tember 14. 2022 • Featured Stodes Facebook ] [ "JI Twin er ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ 1:1 GREAT RETURNS AD Email ] Wildfi res raging across hundreds of t housands of acres cause devastating environmental and property damage. No matter if someone is watching from the next town or fro m thousands of miles away. the destructio n is unmist akable, unden iable, and gut-wrenching. Floods. fires, oil spills. and extreme heat grab head lines and attention- it's easy to see the damage, to see the victims, to rally neighbo rs and st rangers ali ke for help. But what happens when the threat isn't as o bvious? When there aren't ma ny, if any, headlines? When strangers don't understand, let alo ne lend support for the cause? For Auggies w orking in environmental activism fields, the challenges and w ork take o n many forms. M aria Belen Power '07 is an advocate and orga nizer for Green Roots, an enviro nmental j ust ice o rganization in her Boston-a rea suburb of Chelsea, Massachusetts. Belen Pow er's days are fi lled with educating fellow commun ity members. That includes helping them questio n and hold accountable elected leaders and other officials. "It's very much a story w e see playing out all ov er the country; Sign up for Email Newsletter said Belen Power. "Enviro nmental justice is about protecting the most vulnerable resid ents ... it's crucial to protect the Submit Your Alumni News communities where Black and brown and low -income residents live. "There's a direct correlatio n betw een access to g reen space and Maria Beien Power '07 associate executive d irector at blue space (sky), and hea lth care and q uality of life.• Green Roois. (Ph oto courtesy o f Jesse Burke) A member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Belen Pow er said climate and environmental injustices hav e been occurring in the United States · ever since Europeans arriv ed on this land ." But as a modern CONNECT WITH US El I] movement, environmental justice has been present and recognized in some communities much longer than in ot hers. The Environmental Prot ect ion Agency notes that one of t he first moder n actio ns of the movement began in Memphis, Tennessee. with t he Memphis Sa nitation Strike in 1968. Calls fo r fair pay and better w orking cond it io ns for the city's w aste w orkers, most of whom were Black, marked o ne of the first times people of colo r fo rmally o rganized to oppose w orkplace inequalities. But the issue extends w ell beyo nd the w orkplace. Redlining. which is the discriminato ry. government-sa nctio ned practice of refusing mortgages or insura nce to home buyers in or near African-Amer ican neighborhoods, occurred across the country from the m id -1930s until it w as outlaw ed with the 1968 Fair Ho using Act . Despite t he cha nge in the law, the damage w as already done and remains an issue today, Belen Pow er said. One of the more infamous examples of a public health emergency was the water crisis in Flint Michiga n. There, starting over the pasc 20 years, GreenRoots has restored more in 2014 and stretching more than five y ears, Flint residents- than two acres of urban salt marsh; created new parks; and advocated for and overseen the development of w aterfron t w alkways, educational signage, and p ub lic access co th e w ater's ed ge. (Courtesy p ho to) nearly 60 percent of whom were Black- couldn't care for their pets. bathe. drink. or cook with the w ater flowing from faucets. It w as contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria. "The fact that there w as intentional misma nagement of public w ater resources and that it had to do w ith certa in companies saving money, and people living in communities drinking w ater that w as completely polluted, makes it o ne of the most prominent environmental j ust ice issues: she said. Problems facing t he Chelsea, Massachusetts. area wher e Belen Pow er and her neighbors wo rk and live include things like the fight she and her o rganization have been invo lved in for six y ears and counting about where an electr ical substation will be located. Other work includes continuing the organization's response to COVID-19, creating urban ga rdens. and other long-term legislative issues like fighting fo r the right to secure energy from more economical sources. These and other environmental j ustice issues are not unique to Chelsea; they are the unsung bat tles being w aged across the nat ion. Belen Power cred its her undergrad exper iences. and living in the Twin Cit ies. for how she landed at GreenRoots. "The education that I got at Augsburg r eally shaped who I am and what I do," Belen Power said. "My political awareness was f™tR ~~ shaped by my professors and the community- Augsburg has a special place in my heart: \(\ CPP1 . The w ork is ha rd, and success looks different to t hose who are "" in the midd le of changing how entire cultures and generations consid er long-held beliefs. 5 • - .orn Gordon! GreenRoois actively organizes protests of power plants "There are some really crappy days. r ea lly crappy weeks. but you think about the victories." Belen Pow er said . "You j ust stay that are detrim ental to their neighborhoods in M assach usetts. Th ey successfully th w arted th e pr op osal of a diesel power p lan t on the banks o f th e Chelsea Creek in 2006. (Courtesy photo) focused every day, build ing up power and event ually sh ifting that pow er. "Justice is not really w on; ev ery generation has to fight for it . We ca n have victories, and yet t hose victories hav e to be re-w on with every generation," Belen Pow er said. "My kids are an amazing inspiratio n for me. I hope we are w ork ing toward a society they can build on and make better." Consider the why An ey e toward future generatio ns motivates Elan Quezada Hoffman '22, an environmental inspector for t he City of Minneapolis. Even though Hoffman is one of t he y oungest and new est in the climate crisis fight, h is focus is on who and what is to come. "The beginnings of the call to urgency for the climate w as something I started learning about in high school. The urgency Etan Quezada l-loffman '22 (back row, second from r ight) and Augsburg's Environm ental Stewardship Committee. w as communicated to me clearly, and I thought there's no point (Courtesy photo) in doing anything else: Hoffman said. "If someone doesn't take responsibilit y for this and do the w ork that has to be done, w e're all going to be lost ." To improve the urban landscape, Hoffman sa id he and his colleagues respond to any pollution or sim ilar issues that might arise- anything fro m no ise pollution, to water qua lit y testing, to erosion control. His agency also helps protect the environment with tree distributio n and pollinator pro motion efforts. But he said much of what he focuses o n is education. at his day job and through the volunteer w ork he continues to do with groups like Augsburg's Enviro nmental Stewardship Committee. "Climate educat io n is a massiv e part of addressing the climate crisis," Hoffma n said . "If you have a population of people who don't care. noth ing will change." How t hat education is offer ed, Hoffman said. is an importa nt piece to sustainable action. Members of Augsburg's Environmental Stewardship Committee in their community garden plot outside the Hagfors Cen ter. (Photo by Rebecca Stacer ) "When you hav e a one-on-one conversation wit h someone. you're creating a relatio nship," he said . "Dialogue is happening and t he message hits home. As environmentalists, w e need to do a better jo b of getting into communities- not just preaching (through pamphlets and PSAs)- but having an actua l conv ersat io n with someone." The Environmental Stew ardship Committee at Augsburg is an effo rt nea r to Hoffman's heart . Like many t hings, COVID-19 affected the team's ability to move some initiatives forward. But Hoffma n, who began working with the group as an undergrad. is ho peful t he committee's outr each ca n begin again, especially on a long-range solar and carbon neutra lity plan. "It's o ur responsibility as students. faculty. and staff to say, 'We need to do better.'" Hoffman said. "It req uires a shift in how w e th ink about w ellness, our economy, and society." Encircling all of those issues is t he environment. "It comes down to awareness. then actio n. All of us working together." Read more: Sowing seeds fo r tomo rrow Student-led efforts to reduce, reuse. and r ecycle Top image: GreenRoots is a comm unity-based organization dedicated t o improving and enhancing the ur ban envir onm ent and public health in Chelsea and surrounding com munit ies. It does so through deep comm unity engagement and empowerment youth leadership, and implementation of innovative proj ects and campaigns. (Courtesy photo) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Sowing seeds for tomorrow In Memoriam, Summer 2022 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Sowing seed s fo r t omorrow All-female Hall of Fame class Lit eracY. is freedom : How o n e - on Septem ber 14, 2022 marks 50 Y.ears since Rassag~ Augsburg alu mnu s is wor k ing of Ti tle IX to emRower a nd ed ucat e Black - on September 14, 2022 bOY.S - on September 14, 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Abou1 Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accreditation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea olis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, y use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE SOWING SEEDS FOR TOMORROW by Lisa Renze-Rhodes Share this: [ f Se12tember 14. 2022 • Featured Stories Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] Many alumn i focused on environmental j ustice credit their d epth of understanding to opportunities they receiv ed at GREAT RETURNS AD Augsburg. Monica McDaniel, Augsburg's sustaina bility officer. said the university community uses a multi-faceted approach to intersectional environmentalism. which challenges advocates to protect people as w ell as the planet. The un iversity does this w ork through committees. including the student-led Environmental Action Committee and t he Environmental Stew ardship Committee. which includes st udents. faculty. and staff. How that plays out at Augsburg. McDa niel said. is through holist ic programs o n campus and in surround ing neighbo rhoods t hat consider not only what is needed now. but how needs and protections can be ca rried out in the future. Origina lly dev eloped by Bemidji State Universit y. the university's ·wellness model" derives from ancient Oj ibw e teachings that the environment is the foundation that holds w ell ness. social health. and economic health in place. Think of it like a solar syst em. with the environment being the sun around which w ell ness. Sign up for Email Newsletter social health. and econo mic health orbit. Augsburg's sustainability officer, Monica McDaniel. (Photo by Rebecca Slater) McDaniel sa id Augsburg's focus is on three areas: food Submit Your Alumni News sov ereignty (mak ing sure people have un impeded access to healt hy nutr itio n). a mutua l aid circular economy. and renew able energy. Augsburg supports more tha n 1OD commun ity garden plots and an indigenous med icina l garden. These gardens CONNECT WITH US reflect the commun ities they serve. and every aspect is intentional- from the types of items planted. such as rue. a El I] common herb used in East African cooking and medicine. to the ways each ga rden is tended. "It's o ne w ay that w e've been trying to move beyo nd j ust planting food and eating it." McDa niel said. ·we w ant a space wher e people can see themselves represented. too." On campus. the ShareShop supports the circular econo my component. Made by students for students. the shop is a place wher e small kitchen and other househo ld items ca n be borrowed. swapped. or taken for use. Each semest er. McDaniel sa id. the ShareSho p saves at least a Augsburg's Environmental Stewardship Committee shows the vegetables harvested from che communrty garden. dumpster"s worth of items fro m being t hrown out . The lasting effect. tho ugh. is about changing behavio rs. (Photo by Rebecca Slater) Some of that lasting impact is in the interest new students have fo r a living and learning committee that focuses o n sust ainability. More t han SO students applied for 14 spots in t he fall. McDaniel said. "That demonstrates to me that this gener ation genu inely cares about these issues," she said . Work continues on renewable energy efforts underway at the university. From replacing less-effective light bulbs wit h LED lighting and upgraded HVAC systems. to maj or initiativ es like studying the possibility of o n-campus solar. the renewable energy conversations invo lve all members of the Augsburg community. Across all fronts. McDa niel said. she t ries to keep one ey e on the present and the other on what"s coming. "Programm ing helps because it giv es us an immed iate win." she said. "The challenge is looking at the systemic change w e're Monica McDaniel and Environmental Stewardship Committee students organize ShareShop donations. (Photo by Rebecca Slater) trying to implement." Top image: Monica McDaniel ond students i n Augsburg's Environm ental Stewardship Com mittee discuss the plants in th e comm unity garden plots outside t he Hagfors Center. (Photo by Rebecca Slater) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twin er ] [ Great Returns: We're All In Be the changg YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Be the c han g~ All -female Hall of Fame class literacY. is freedom : How o n e - on September 14. 2022 marks 50 Y.ears s ince Rassag~ Augsburg alumnus is wor k ing of Ti tle IX to emRower a nd ed ucate Black - on September 14, 2022 bOY.S - on September 14, 2022 Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE GREAT RETURNS: WE'RE ALL IN Public phase of comprehensive fundraising campaign a success by Norland SeJ2tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ 1:1 GREAT RETURNS AD Email ] On May 6, Augsburg University held an event to launch the public phase of its comprehensive fundraising ca mpaign. Great Returns: We're All In. At t hat t ime. t he campaign had received mo re than 40,000 gifts from nearly 1 5.000 donors to r each approximately $105 mill ion of its $125 million goal. Today, the total raised has exceeded $112 million. • ... r' GREAT REl M"'llfAttJNi Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News Great Returns Campaign Chair Or. Paul Mueller '84 speaks at the public launch of the Great Recums: We're All In campaign on May 6. (Pho,o by Courtney Perry) As a comprehensive campaign. Gr eat Returns: We're All In st rengthens Augsburg and supports current and future students in numerous w ays. So far. do no rs have contr ibuted more than $26 mil lion toward creating or strengthening 139 endow ed scholarship funds and establishing five endowed professorships. Mor e than S10 million has been raised for t he StepU P® Collegiate program Growth Endowment which provid es ongoing support for Augsburg's recovery program. Benefacto rs have also contributed more than $16 million to the Augsburg Fund, which allocates unrestr icted. discretionary dollars to improve t he student experience through academ ic programs. technologies, student aid, and more. "These have been a tough couple yea rs for all of us," said Pr esid ent Paul Pribbenow. • s ut t he hardships of these years o nly remind us that t he core of Augsburg to educate students as st ew ards of an inclusive democracy is all the more important and all the more critica l." Great Returns: We're All In campaign public launch event Endow ed funds can support specific scholarships, (Photo by Courtney Perry) professorships, o r specific programs. The univ ersity d raw s from these inv estments every year. currently at a rate of 4.5%, which ensures a steady str eam of funding that allows Augsburg to build programs and make mult i-y ear commitments. A university with generous endowments is able to offer fi nancial aid and lear ning opportunities that better prepare students to pursue their callings. These are just a few of the w ays Augsburg's alumni and friends have d emonstrated that they are "all in" to ensure a vibrant future fo r Augsburg University. Campaig n gifts can enhance the student experience by providing funds for hands-on resea rch opportunities, st udy abroad experiences, or improvements to the facilities wher e Auggies study, research, live, eat, relax. and train. After celebrating Augsburg's sesquicentenn ial in 2019 and 20 20, Augsburg's community- "faculty, staff. students, alumni. parents, friends, all who ca re d eeply about this place"-a re setting the univ ersity up to thrive for another 1 50 years, said Pr ibbenow. Great Returns: We're All In is also the theme of the All-School Reun ion to be held during Ho mecoming o n Friday. October 6Sunday. Octo ber 8. Co-chaired by Jeff Nodland '77 and Becky Bjella-Nodland 79, t he celebratio n will include a gathering of Auggie affinity groups and an award ceremo ny fo r the Dist inguished Alumni Awards in the Hagfors Center. The w eekend will also include the traditional Taste of Augsburg. a ho me football ga me against St. John's University. a celebration of 50 }'ears of Augsburg women's intercollegiate athletics and All-School Reunion co-chairs Jeff Nodland 77 and Becky Bjella-Nodland '79. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Title IX, and the dedicatio ns of t he renovated Si Melbywomen's locker room (funded by a donatio n fro m Patricia Piepenburg '69), and the updated Si Melby w eight room. d edicated to Donny Wichmann '89. l ea rn more about Great Returns: We're All In and do nate to Augsburg's futur e. Top image: Great Returns: We're All In wot erdrop. The water drop sculptures were given t o the first 150 benefactors who chose to invest in on endowed scholarship during the Great Returns campaign. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ 1:1 Email ] Summer 2022 < PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST > Sowing seeds for tomorrow Sankofa Circle Fellowshi12,P.reP-,!res to exP.and in second v.ear YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Pr esident CamJluS Welcomes Executive Sankofa Cir cle Fellowshi P- Pribbenow- Mult iP-]Y. Your Director of Interfaith,. Jlr eJla res to exP.a nd in second Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sh aring Celebr ates t h e life of Fuad EI- Y.ea r t h e Gift o f Vocation Hibri - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 CONNECT WITH US El I] Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE SAN KOFA CIRCLE FELLOWSHIP PREPARES TO EXPAND IN SECOND YEAR by Norland Se12tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share t his: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i GREAT RETURNS AD Email ] In summer 2021. Augsburg University launched t he Sankofa Circle FellowshiP- f or junior and sen io r st udent l eaders. The f ellow ship is inspired by four Adinkra symbols that originat ed in Ghana. These symbols stand f or concept s such as greatness. cha risma, and leadership; end urance and resourcefulness; unity and responsibility; and hope. Through t he fellow ship, student s grow t heir networks. connect w it h BIPOC ment ors, strengthen t heir leadership skills. and benefit from a supportive. mot ivating cohort. Fellows receive up to $5,000 f or t u it io n and $500 for books each yea r and participate in a nat ional conf er ence about raci al and social j ust ice. In 2021- 22. 1 O Augsburg juniors participated in the f ellow ship. Eight of those st udents w ill continue to participate as seniors. The tw o open slots, one of w hich w as vacated by a student w ho Fellows and mentors share a meat during a Sankofa Circle Fellowship dinner in October 2021. (Courtesy photo) graduated early, w ill be filled by seniors o n a wait ing list for t he init ial cohort. Ten new j uniors w ill also join t he program. Four Augsburg staff m embers support the f ellow s: Joanne Reeck, vice president f or equity and inclusion; Chris Dixon. athletic diversity and inclusion d irect or; Kate Gray, career Sign up for Email Newsletter services and alumni connections m anager f or t he St rommen Center fo r M ea ningful Wo rk; and Kezia Burrows, Pan-Afrikan Student Services program manager. Submit Your Alumni News Students formed meaningful connectio ns w it h the m entors and each other over t he course of t he program's first year . By the CONNECT WITH US end of the year. student f ellows described their relat ionships w it h o ne another as familial. The init ial cohort's mentors included the vice president of a bank, a nurse practit ioner, an assistant principa l, a retired judge who f ounded a nonprofit. and Kate Gray, center, and Joanne Reeck, left, help students sign in at the Sankofa Circle Fellowship Kick-Off event in September 2021. (Courtesy photo) Augsburg's university past or. Alumn i and communit y members w ho are interested in m entoring can em ail inclusion@augsburg.ed u. To apply f or a f ellowship fo r t he 2023- 24 school year or learn more, visit t he Sa nkofa Circle FellowshiP- w eb page or em ail inclusion@augsburg.edu. Top image: Sonkofo fellows visited the YMCA Equity Innovation Center i n Morch 2022. (Courtesy photo) Share t his: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Student-led efforts to reduce, reuse, and re~cle Great Returns: We're All In YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President CamJlUS Welcomes Executive Great Returns: We'r e All In Pribbenow- MultiP-!Y. Your Director of Interfaith,. - on September 14, 2022 Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sharing Celebr ates the Life of Fuad EI- the Gift of Vocation Hibri - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 El I] Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE STUDENT-LED EFFORTS TO REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE by Briana Alamilla '17 Se12tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln GREAT RETURNS AD ] [ i.'!i Email ] Campus program s like Campus Cupboard and ShareSho p reflect the university's environment al st ew ardship and social consciousness. Campus Cupboard is Augsburg's food shelf, wh ich provides student s and recent alumni w ith access t o free food and other essentials like t oilet paper and shampoo. The cupboard is open fo r in-person sho pping in the basement of Anderson Residence Hall, but the staff also make cont actless curbside and offcampus deliveries. Augsburg students help gather donations for Campus Cupboard during Athletics Day, 2018. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Serving students since 2013, Campus Cupboard is an essential part of Campus Kitchen, wh ich ma nages more than 80 community ga rden plot s and delivers meals-made from d ining services' surplus-to area youth programs, seniors, and community cent ers. Ca mpus Kitchen also hosts food demos, shares recipes, and d istribut es excess produce fro m area farmers. Learn more about t he Ca mpus Cupboard and w ays to donat e to this and other Ca mpus Kitchen initiativ es o n t he Ca mgus Kitchen w ebgagg. Students creat ed the ShareShop in 2019 t o help the Augsburg community sav e mo ney and reduce consumptio n of mat er ial goods, wh ile provid ing a space that fost ers community and informal learning about sustainable practices. Locat ed in the basement of the Science Building, t he shop features free clothes and household goods such as kitchen Sign up for Email Newsletter appliances, furniture, sheet sets, and more. Some items are free wh ile others are available to check out . The shop, which is open year round, expanded in 2021 t o offer a Submit Your Alumni News pop-up location in the Strommen Cent er for Meaningful Work. Partner ing w it h Campus Cupboard, the satellit e location offers nonperishable food, school supplies, clothes, and professio nal CONNECT WITH US attire. In spring 2022, t he shop held the inaugural M oveOut effo rt in partnership w ith Residence Life. The partnership made it easy El I] fo r students moving out of t he dorms to donat e small appliances, furniture, fans, ki tchenware, clothes, and mo re t o Items set out in ShareShop, which are free for all students to keep and borrow. (Photo by Courtney Perry) the ShareSho p rather than tossing unwanted it ems into dumpsters. Donat e item s and lea rn more about Shar eShog. Top image: Augsburg students help sort item s d onated to Sha reShop. (Photo by Rebecca Slot er) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Global Harmon.v. Choir takes notes from musicians around the world Sankofa Circle Fellowshi11.P.reP.ares to exP.and in second Y.ear YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President CamJluS Welcomes Executive Great Returns: We're All In Prib benow- MultiP-]Y. Your Director of Interfai th,. - on September 14, 2022 Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sh aring Celebrates the Life of Fuad EI- the Gift o f Vocation Hibri - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea olis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full sit e experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our sit e with cookies enabled, y use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSUES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGGIE PODCASTS by Briana Alamilla '17 Share this: [ f Se12tember 14, 2022 .. Auggies Connect Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] GREAT RETURNS AD "Reth inking Manhood" by Destyn Land '1 9 "Rethinking Ma nhood" brings men t ogether to unlearn patriarchal masculinity and int entionally makes space for men t o heal. grow. and learn in community. "Stream of Life" co-hosted by Cassie Dong '18 "Str ea m of life" tells insp irational stories and offers insights about peace. conflict, and social j ustice. Hear from leaders, advocates. and scho lars w ho hav e worked around the w orld t o build sust ainable, positiv e peace. "Beyond Friends" co-hosted by Mai Xee Vang '18, Pang Xiong '17. and Sunny Thao '19 A group of Augsburg friends started "Be)'ond Friends" to t ell their st ories. rooted in their refugee and immigrant backgrounds. and reflect on how t hese identities are currently helping them navigate ad ulthood. Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Welcoming ProvostO'Laughlin; Board Grants Emeriti Status to Retiring Facul~ and Staff Global Harmo!!Y. Choir takes notes from musicians around the world YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Alumni Class Notes, Summer In Memoriam, Summer 2022 2022 - on September 14, 2022 • on September 14, 2022 CONNECT WITH US El I] Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE WELCOMING PROVOSTO'LAUGHLIN; BOARD GRANTS EMERITI STATUS TO RETIRING FACULTY AND STAFF by Farrisr Sef.1tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ GREAT RETURNS AD in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] In early July, Augsburg welcomed Paula O'Lough li n as the universit y's provost and sen io r vice president following the ret irement of Karen Kaivola. O'Loughlin previously served as provost and dean of t he faculty at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and in leadersh ip roles at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota-Morris. As the university's secondranking officer after President Paul Pribbenow, O'Loughlin holds a critical leadership position, with responsibility for the institution's largest divisions, academic affairs and student experience and success. Provost Paula O'Loughlin. {Courtesy photo) "When we ensure access to higher education, we support social mobility in t he aggregate and the opportunity to write one's own story for the ind ivid ual," O'Loughlin sa id . "Augsburg's well-known intentional pursuit of t hese values calls me to jo in this community. The university is doing amazing work, and I'm excited to become a part of it." Although she had yet to formally j oin the university, O'Lough lin attended the May meeting of Augsburg's Board of Regents. During the meeting, the board approved faculty emeritus status for : Sign up for Email Newsletter • Carol Enke, instructor of health. physical education, and exercise science; • W illiam Green, M. Anita Gay Hawthorne professor of critical race and ethnicity studies and professor of Submit Your Alumni News history; • Tom Morgan, professor of business administration and leadership stud ies; • Diane Pike, professor of sociology; and • Ph il Quanbeck II, associate professor of religion. CONNECT WITH US Sarah Griesse, who retired as d ean of students earlier th is year, was granted staff emerita status. The board also recognized four outgoing regents and thanked them for their d istinguished service: the Honorable Lajune Lange '75, Toby LaBelle '96, Rev. Dr. David Tiede. and Steven Larson '71 . President Poul Pribbenow and Provost Paulo O'Loughlin at Augsburg's 2022 opening convocation. (Photo by Rebecca Slater) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twin er ] [ Facul!Y. Members AP.P.Qinted to Named Professorshi~; New Sateren Chair of Music Auggie Podcasts YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President CamJlUS Welcomes Executive Great Returns: We're All In Prib benow- MultiP-!Y. Your Director of Interfaith,. - on September 14, 2022 Mind by Giving It Away: Sharing Celebrates the Life of Fuad EI- the Gift of Vocation Hibri - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 El I] Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE FACULTY MEMBERS APPOINTED TO NAMED PROFESSORSHIPS; NEWSATEREN CHAIR OF MUSIC by Farrisr Sef.1tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f GREAT RETURNS AD Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] Jeremy Myers, associate professor of r eligion and executive director of the Christensen Cent er for Vocation, was appoint ed the Ber nhard M. Christensen professor of religion and vocation in July. He succeeds Professor Emerit a Martha Stortz, who retired in 2020. A d istinguished scholar in vocation and congr egational ministry, Myers joi ned Augsburg in 2006 and has facilitated t he Theology and Public Leadership d egree program, the Youth Studies m inor, and the Augsburg Youth Theology Institut e. The Christensen Chair was est ablished in 2005 t o honor the legacy of Bernhard M. Christensen, w ho served as president of what was then known as Augsburg College and Seminary from 1938-1962. The chair provides public leadership Jeremy Myers, Bernhard M. Christensen professor of religion and vocation. {Photo by Courtney Perry) in int erpr eting and advancing Augsburg's educat ional m ission, pursues scholarship and teaches in the religion d epartment and serves as counsel t o the president and Board of Regents. Andy Aoki, professor of politica l science, was na med the M. An ita Gay Hawthorne professor of crit ical race and ethnicity Sign up for Email Newsletter studies in June. He succeeds Professor Emeritus William Green, who retired ea rlier this year. Aoki, w ho joined t he Augsburg faculty in 1988, is a prolific writer and speaker about Asian Submit Your Alumni News American id entities and racial politics. During his t enure, Aoki has served as chair of the depa rtment of political science, senior fellow in the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Faculty Senate president and, most recently, cha ir of the department of CONNECT WITH US critica l race and ethnicity studies. The Hawthorn professorship honors the legacy of Margaret Anita GaY. Hawthorne, w ho drew upon the concept of Pan-Afrikanism t o create a progra m Andy Aoki, M. Anita Gay Hawthorne professor of critical race and ethnicity studies. (Courtesy photo) at Augsburg un ique t o any college in the country. El I] Mary Elise Lowe, professor of religion, w as named the Bata ld en faculty scholar in applied ethics in Spring 2022. A member of Augsburg's faculty since 2003, Low e's w ork focuses on new understandings of the human person w ith special attention t o the doctrine of sin, the image of God, and human sexuality. Her focus as Batald en Scholar w ill be on "embod ied ethics•- an expa nsive cat egory that includes t raditional sexua l ethics as w ell as questions of em bod iment that are often excluded from traditional Christian eth ics. She w ill also focus on int ersectional t opics, including d isability/ability, race, body image, and human relationships. Funded by an endowment established by Abner Batalden '36 and supported by his fa mily, the Batalden Faculty Mary Elise Lowe, Batalden faculty scholar in applied ethics. {Photo by Courtney Perry) Scholar Progr am in Appl ied Ethics is designed to str engthen the infusion of ethics and valu es on campus, so that ethical d iscourse and practice is enhanced as a hall mark of Augsburg's student s, faculty, staff, and alumni. A t ransformational gift from Board of Regent s member John Schwartz '67 w ill creat e the Leland B. Sat eren '35 professor and chair of music, a new endow ed professorship t o be held by t he chair of the music department. An alumnus of the Augsburg Choir barit one section and a steadfast supporter of Augsburg student s. Schw artz has maintained a passion for choral music throughout four decades as a healthca re executive and into retirement. With 12revious gifts, he est ablished an endowed choral professorship. a fund for chora l music, and an endow ed scholarship. This latest gift w ill help advance the music department w ith inclusion. access. equity, and belonging and Board of Regents membe<, John Schwart z '67. {Photo by advance t he department's work locally, regionally. and Rebecca Stacer) nationa lly among diverse const ituent s. It w ill also bring expertise in music from beyond the Euro-Classical canon and/or in ethnomusicology. The endow ed chair honors renow ned Augsburg chora l conductor and composer Leland Sateren '35, who d ied in 2007 at age 94. Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ The Urchins of HagfQrs Welcoming Provost O'Laughlin; Board Grants Emeriti St atus to Retiring Facultv. and Staff YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Presid ent CamJlUSWe lcomes Executive Great Ret urns: We'r e All In Pr ib benow- MultiP-]Y. Your Director of Interfaith ,. - on September 14, 2022 Min d bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sh aring Celebr at es t he Life of Fuad EI- t h e Gift o f Vocation Hibri - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri nt © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea olis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full sit e experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our sit e with cookies enabled, y use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE THE URCHINS OF HAGFORS by Farrisr Sef.1tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] GREAT RETURNS AD Blue tuxedo sea urchins glist en w ith brill iant red spines that alt ernat e w ith iridescent blue bands. Their stunning appeara nce and habit of grazing on algae m ake them highly sought -after for coral reef aquariums, where they are harmless to delicat e corals-"perfect herbivores," says Bill Cap man, associat e prof essor of biology. Unfortunat ely. w ild ocean collection typically involves a mort ality r at e of upw ards of 75% for t hese delicat e invertebrat es. Ent er Augsburg's marine fish and invertebrat e breeding lab. Bill Capman in Augsburg's marine fish and invertebrate breeding lab. (Photo by Bill Capman) Ov er t he past four summers, Ca pman and his undergraduat e student researchers, including Kayla Cross ·21, Andrew Grace '24. and Grace Adams '23, have develo ped a precisely calibrat ed m ethod fo r breeding urchins in captivity, from initiating spawning via mild heat shock t o using round, black vort ex tubs t o simulat e t he w ay urchin larvae d rift in the o pen ocean. The students ba lance indiv idual research projects w ith lab t asks, caring for d iver se marine life and grow ing phytoplankton on sit e f or the urchin larvae t o eat. Tucked away in a custom space on the second floor of the Hagfors Cent er, Capm an and his t eam have becom e a m ajo r source of captive-bred urchins f or the aquarium trade. l ast yea r the lab held an exclusive supplier contract w ith one of the w orld's largest m arine fish breeders. shipping hundreds of urchins at a time via a collaboration w it h local m arine fish breeder Chad Vossen. Vossen Aquatics has been marketing. selling, and Sign up for Email Newsletter shipping m ost of the animals produced in Augsburg's marine breeding lab for several years. The m oney from the sales supplem ents grant funding t o support lab o perations. including pumps, fish food. light s- and always Submit Your Alumni News m ore salt mix. CONNECT WITH US El I] 300 p lus third generation urch ins sent Red spine blue tuxedo u rchin April Red sp ine b lu e tuxed o urchins June to Biota, June 2022. (photo by Sill Capman) 201 9. {photo by Bill Capman} 2020, day 108. (photo by Bill Capman) Th is y ear's urchins are the great-great -great -grandchild ren of the initial bat ch shipped fro m Bali in 201 8. The operat ion's success has attract ed significant int erest in t he w orld of marine breeding. and has environm ent al ramifications as w ell. The mortality rat e am ong the thousands of urchins shipped from the lab has been nearly zero, a subst antial conservation benefit compared to w ild harvest. But for Capm an, it all comes back t o t eaching science and biodiversity. •our goa l w ith the breed ing lab is for students t o have experience do ing research, from hypot heses, t o experim ent al design, t o dat a collectio n and analysis. to presenting t heir find ings. And w ith o ur coral reef t anks, student s and visit ors observe a w id e diversity of species and int eresting behav iors t hey would nev er otherwise encounter in Minnesot a." Top image: Bill Copmon tends to Augsburg's sea urchin raising tubs. (Photo by Bill Capman) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ Congratulations, Class of 2022 Facultv. Members ~llQinted to Named Professorshi~; New Sateren Chair of Music YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President CamJlUS Welcomes Executive Great Returns: We're All In Pribbenow- MultiP-!Y. Your Director of Interfaith,. - on September 14, 2022 Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sharing Celebrates the Life of Fuad EI- the Gift of Vocation Hibri - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 Ill AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022 by Briana Alamilla '17 Share t his: [ f Se12tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ i.'!i Email ] Augsburg University celebrat ed t he Class of 2022 in a com m encem ent ceremony at U.S. Bank St adium in GREAT RETURNS AD downtown M inneapolis-hom e t o t he Minnesot a Vikings. The ceremony recogn ized 382 undergraduat e st udent s and 229 adult undergraduat e, mast er's, and doct oral st udents. Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US Top image: Graduates outside U.S. Bonk Stadium ofter comm encement (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share t his: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ The Urchins of Hagf ors On the SP.Qt: Ellie Olson YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Presid ent CamJlu SWelcomes Executive Great Ret urns: We're All In Pr ib benow- MultiP-]Y. Your Director of Interfaith,. • on September 14, 2022 Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sh aring Celebrat es t he Life of Fuad EI- t h e Gift o f Vocation Hibri • on September 14, 2022 • on September 14, 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accredit ation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri ht © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea olis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full sit e experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our sit e with cookies enabled, y use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE ON THE SPOT: ELLIE OLSON The director of Augsburg's Center for Wellness and Counseling stresses that meaning and motivation matter now more than ever by Farrisr Sef.1tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share this: [ f GREAT RETURNS AD Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ a Email ] Ellie Olson w as making an impo rtant point when an off-screen request demanded her attention. "One mo ment," she said, briefly d isappearing from Zoom to deal with what turned o ut to be a d ead bug emergency. like so many people in the summer of 2022, Olson's family was ho me under COVID-19 restrictions, requiring her to j uggle remote wor k and child care. "What w ere w e saying about the effects on focus and concentration?" she laughed. retracing her train of thought. "It feels like w e really need to be having t his conv ersat io n right now: Olson directs the Center for Wellness and Counseling, which pr ovides counseli ng to Augsburg students and promotes well-being across campus. She and her tea m have witnessed firstha nd the mental and emotiona l effects of the last two y ears. Those experiences. Olson said, shape her recommendations for meeting our current moment with g race-ongoing d isruptions, new variants. and all. Q: As a mental health professional, how would you describe this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic? How are people responding to it? Ellie Olson, director of Augsburg's Cen ter for Wellness and Counseling. (Pho to by Rebecca Slater) Sign up for Email Newsletter A: One of the th ings I r eally think is important to acknowledge is the level of energy that has been drained from us as a result of the trauma of COVID. As w e move out of that trauma stage and what some researchers and the media have call ed the "langu ishing'' phase, I always remind people t hat energy d rain is not j ust about the physical. It's Submit Your Alumni News emotional, it's cognitiv e, it's spiritual, it's social. And there's been so much drain. All the energy that's gone into reth inking how we live our lives has had a huge impact o n where w e are now. It's still impacting how much energy w e have to give to our lives and our responsibilities. CONNECT WITH US I frequently present on this topic, and when I name this lack of energy and suggest that w e need to do less. I get a sense of relief from a lot of people. We're not in th is fight-or-flight trauma like w e w ere during t he first mo nths of the pa ndemic. but many of us don't feel a lot of energy o r engagement. and I think that's no rmal right now given what El I] w e've been thro ugh. We need to giv e space to honor how hard people have been w orking, and to acknowledge that the wo rk w e put in while st ruggling is meaningful, even apart fro m productivity and outcomes. Q: How does this play out in your work with students and campus partners? A: One t hing that has consistently become more present is the impo rtance of meaning. Being forced out of "normal" over the past two y ears has really given people an opportun ity to tune in to what is and is not meaningfu l. If w e're going to give our limited sources of energy to someth ing, it needs to have value; people w ant to engage, but t he "budget request" has to eit her be high in meaning or low in energy. Here's an exa mple: We have a counselor who facilitates a group about understand ing and w orking wit h emotions that has been very w ell-receiv ed in years past. But this year, students just weren't engaging with it in the same way. Instead of continuing to offer an experience that was kind of like a class. w e started a w alking group instead. We j ust said, hey, come over to t he ewe, and w e're going to go fo r an hour-long walk in the neighborhood to explore and connect, and then w e're going to come back and have dinner together. Maybe students don't have the mental headspace to engage in ext ra lear ning after class, but they ca n go for a walk. This was a better fit fo r our students' energy; it was better attended and a mo re connecting experience. How else can w e adj ust t he things that w e're offering, so that they don't require as much energy or risk-taking as some of what w e w ere doing in the past? We see mental hea lth and w ellness as not j ust the business of the ewe. It's the business of everyone on ca mpus, and how w e st ep into that business differs by role. Q: As we head into the fall, what are some strategies or techniques that can help people thrive right now? The first thing I wou ld offer is not to go into this phase of life with the goal of retur ning to "no rmal," or t hat the people around you will behav e like they did before COVID. I think w e hav e to go into this phase thinking about what our lives are like now, and how w e can best create a structure t hat takes into account where w e've been as opposed to what things used to be. This is not going to feel good to the perfectionists in the w orldand I'm one of t hem-but part of this is lowering expectations of yourself and the people around you. When we don't set realistic expectatio ns that take into account where w e are now, then w e j ust create more burnout, more stress, mo re self-cr iticism, and less motivation. People are motivated when they feel like they can meet o r exceed expectatio ns. It's important for us to remember that in low ering expectations now, we're creating a groundwork for people to be more productive in the future. It's also important to acknow ledge that motivation is sometimes created; it doesn't j ust arriv e. This is where setting low er expectatio ns is really important. because some of us w ait to feel like w e w ant to do a th ing instead of trying to create motivation The Center for Wellness and Counseling hosts a var iety of events, like Auggie Ooggie Days, which gives studen ts the opportunrty to meet, pet, and des-cress with therapy dogs. (Pho to by Courtney Perry) by taking small actions. I tell students to set a really small goal. and if you can't meet t hat goal, cool: that's data that w e need to set a smaller o ne. As we start to do that w e create motivatio n rather than w aiting for mot ivation to find us. l astly, have grace wit h yourself and others r ight now. Honest ly, grace is always important, so this is a trait t hat w e could stand to utilize now and forever. Just to recognize that people are juggling a lot, that w e all have limited capacity-and while w e may regain some capacity, we are still limited at th is point. To own that and give yo urself some grace, and to give grace to t he people aro und you. Having grace and compassion for all that w e have been through and are st ill going through can go a lo ng w ay in t his moment. Top Image: Ellie Olson, director of Augsburg's Center for Wellness and Counseling. (Photo by Rebecca Slater) Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twiner ] [ Global Education Site in Northern Ireland to O~n in Si;iring 2023 Congratulations, Class of 2022 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from Pr esident CamJlUS Welcomes Executive Great Returns: We're A ll In Prib benow- Mult iP-]Y. Your Director of Interfaith,. - on September 14, 2022 Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sh aring Celebrates t he Life o f Fuad EI- t h e Gift o f Vocation Hibri - on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Abou1 Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accreditation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Administrator Log in Contact Augsburg Co ri nt © 2023 Au sbur Universi Minnea olis MN 612-330-1000 The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on your web browser. By browsing our site with cookies enabled, y use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 0 BACK TO TOP Ill AuGSBURG U N IV ER S IT Y PREVIOUS ISSU ES HOME ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE GLOBAL EDUCATION SITE IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO OPEN IN SPRING 2023 by Farrisr Sef.1tember 14, 2022 • Around the Quad Share t his: [ f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ <p Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ GREAT RETURNS AD i.'!i Email ] M any schools and organizat ions have been f orced to scale back or eliminate st udy abroad opt io ns si nce t he COVID19 pandem ic. But w ith a commitm en t to int ernat ional educat io n t hat is un ique amo ng M idwest universit ies, Augsburg's Center for Globa l Educatio n and Exper ience didn't just preserve existing offer ings- it's set t o expand t hem. Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News Students meet with and learn from people involved with the conflict and peace process in Northern Ireland. (Courtesy photo) CONNECT WITH US In Spring 2023, CG EE w i ll welcom e its first coho rt of st udent s t o El I] a new semest er-long program in Northern Ireland . Based at Ulst er University in t he vibrant city of Derry- Lo ndonderry, t he Conflict. Peace, and Transit ion i;irogram w ill crit ically exam ine t he wo rk of j usti ce, reconciliat ion, and repair in relat ion t o the hist ory and legacy of violen t conflict in the regio n. Coursew ork w i ll focus on underst andi ng t he polit ics of t he Northern Ireland conflict and t he t ra nsit io n to a sust ainable dem ocracy. St udents w i ll also part icipat e in int ernshi ps at local peacebui ld ing organizat ions and engage i n field visit s t o Belfast. the A nt r im Coast. and t he border count ies of Fer managh, Tyro ne, and A rmagh. The Northern Ireland sit e adds a Europea n locat ion t o CGEE's portf olio of glo bal program s in Mexico, Cent ral Am erica. and Southern Afr ica . Each program offers a un ique model of handson lear ning rooted i n social j ustice and focused on d irect Students pose at Ulster University's Magee campus, where they will be IWing and spending a lot of their social time. (Courtesy photo) community engagem ent. Top image: Students enj oy t he landscap e during on extended trip to rural ar eas in Northern Ireland. (Courtesy phot o) Share t his: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ "JI Twitter ] [ All-female Hall of Fame class marks 50 v.ears since P.assagg On t he SP.Ot: Ellie O lson of Title IX YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President CamJluSWelcomes Executive Great Ret urns: We're All In Pribbenow- MultiP-!Y. Your Director of Interfaith,. - on September 14, 2022 Mind bY. Giving It AWaY.: Sharing Celebrat es t he Life of Fuad EI- t he Gift of Vocation Hibri • on September 14, 2022 - on September 14, 2022
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Title: Augsburg Now Winter 2021-22
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: 1111 Au GSBURG UNIVERSITY . 1 HOM E PREVIOUS IISSU ES A BOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW: ON A LEGACY OF HOSPITALITY AND LEADERSHIP tty.Paul C. Prib/::t.enow Share thi s: [ f FebruaN22. 2022 Facebook ] [ ,. Around the Quad. Presidenr's Letter W' Twit...
Show more 1111 Au GSBURG UNIVERSITY . 1 HOM E PREVIOUS IISSU ES A BOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW: ON A LEGACY OF HOSPITALITY AND LEADERSHIP tty.Paul C. Prib/::t.enow Share thi s: [ f FebruaN22. 2022 Facebook ] [ ,. Around the Quad. Presidenr's Letter W' Twitter] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Li nkedl n ] [ i:i Ema.ii ] My wlfe, A biga il, and I lrst m et Anne Frame and Bill Frame, Augsburg's ni nth president, so me 18 years ago wh en w e were chosen t o be p art of a new program, sponsored by t he Council ofJ ndependent Colleges and designed by Bill, that helped college presidents and t helr pa rtners to explore t he links betw"ee n th eir ca llings or vocatj ons and the missio n,; of the instit uti on s t hey served . At t hat point, I w as pn:'sjdent of Rockford Coll ege in Ill ino is, and o f course, Bill and An ne were at Augsburg. It was a ren1arkab le exp erien ce for all of us involved, and we remain friends and colleagues with many of those who shared th e program w ith us. It w as during t hls ti me that we first witn essed t he delightfu l partnership that Ann e an d Bill had created- in their m arriage, in t hei r lead ershl p of the progr am, and in th eir wo rk at Augsburg. Tho see of us in th e program came t o count on Bi ll for th oughtful and weighty treati:ses (0 11e of us o nce exclaimed , · Give me a th esau rus!" w hen BHl"s vocabulary got to be a bit m uch), whi le Anne's gr aciou s and cai rn presen ce brought u.s back to th e joy of Pres;dent Paul Pribbenow (P oto by Courtney Pe rry] rhe work a1 hand. Little did w e know that just a few m ont hs after the progr am con cluded , Abigail an d I would be elected as An ne and Bill's successor s at Augsburg. It was during t he leadership transition an d over t he past 15 years t hat I have co me to know t he many w ay s in wh[ch Anne's presence an d engagem ent wit h , he Augsburg commun [ty during Bill's pres idency have made a lasting impact Anne Fr am e passe d away t his past summer, but her legacy lfves o n in th e many ways her lffe an d wor k have graced i:h e Augsburg co mmunity. I wouJd highllghtju st a few : Ann e an d Bi[I m ade t'he case for and ,h en crea ted a place of w onderful hospitality and fe l[owshlp at Augsburg House, the resfd ence for Augsb urg's president and f ami ly, but more importantly a place at wh ich t o gather st udents, fa cu lty, staff. alu mni, and friends to ce lebrate a11 d build community. In fact, Anne and Bi ll set im porta nt trad it io ns at t he house that we still ce lebrat e, incl udin g a fe.stive holiday party for n eighbors who are often inconvet1i em:ed by al l t he ca rs pas ked alo ng West River Par kway f or our ga therings! Ann e loved to engage wit h stud errts, participat ing in activit fes li ke Late Night Breakfasts at the end of each semester and City Engagem ent Days at th e beginni ng of ea ch academic year. It was deeply m eani ngful to :students to see the president and f amlly involved in t he lffe oft'he ca m pus., Ann e also served as a boa rd m ember for the Augsbu rg i\ssoclates, a group o f committed vo lu nteers wh o organized furrdraising events to support student scholarshi ps. The annua l Vel kommen Yul celebr ations remain a highl ight of tn e acad emic yea r, liftl11g up our Norwegian her it age. Sign up for Emai l Newsletter Fin ally, Ann e accompanied Bi ll on m any intern a1iona l tri ps-to Augsburg's sites in South Africa and Nami bl,a, 10 Norway as fXirt of our re[atio11shi p with t he Norwegian No bel Instit ute, and p erhaps most m em or ably to China with a Submit Your Alumni News group of M innesota prlvate col lege presi dents and part ners to e xplore a relationshlp wit h a n ewly f ormed liberal arts college on t he mainl an d, now know n as United Inte rnatio nal Co.liege. After Bill and Anne reti red from Augsbu rg in 200 6, they co ntinued t o be engaged in t h e Augsburg comm untty, CONN ECT W ITH US atte nding events, visit ing donors, cheeri ng us o n in our variou s efforts to m ake Augsbu rg t he remarkably diver ,;e inst[tution it is t o day. At th e s,a m e t ime, it w as a joy for me to see t he mean in g that .t...n ne found in r et urnin g t o her chose n prof ession- her calli11 g- as an accou11ti nt for vari ous orga rii zation s in th e Tacoma, Vllashington, area . In ,.hat way, Arm e corrt inued to model fo r all of us w hat it m ea ns to follow t he divine ca!I, wh erever it leads us- even w hen II m~ the cal l l s surprising and un expected. We celebra te t he w ays in which preslden1ial leadership over 150 yea rs-sha red in part ne rshi p with r emarkabl e spouses-sets a foun dation fo r the work we do today! Faithfu lly you rs, Pau l C. Pri bbenow, President Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ 'II' Twirrer Commuriiry: f ng~gement ] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Li nked In ] :Presid e ni: Pau l C. Pribbenm\l [ i:i Email ] Winrer 202 1-22 <PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST > Provost !Ka ivo la to ret~re; Boardi ofi Regents BP..P.:roves emeriU status fo r reUring Augg ies Augsburg introduces .American Indian Recognition Full Tuition Program Augsburg int ro dllces Amer1ican Pr ovost Ka ivola to r etire; Board Student-created salads are lrndian Recogn it ion Full Tu it ion of Regents aP.:Qroves emeriti: he!FJ:ing Augsburg !build a mor,e Program st.at us for ret irin g Augg ies sustainab /le local economY. - on February 22, 2022 - on February 22, 2022 - on Februory 22, 2022 0 BACK,;o ,OP II Au GSBlIRG UN I VERS I TY . 1 HOM E PREVIOUS ISSU ES A BOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG INTRODUCES AMERICAN INDIAN RECOGNITION FULL TUITION PROGRAM by Kate Norlander f Shar e this: [ Februarv22. 2022 ,_ Around the Quad Facebook ] 't# Twirrer ] 'P Piru.ere,r ] [ in Linked In ] a fmail Au,gsburg University is la unching one of the nation's first comprehensive fu ll-tuition program5 at a private institLJtion to support and recogn ize the imp ortance of American Ind ian s within higher education. In this context. Augsburg defin es "American Indi an" a.s an enrolled member of a federally recogfl ized American Indian tribe, Alaskan Native Village, or Canadian First Nation; a di rect descendant of a parent or grandparent wh o is an enrolled member of the above; or a direct desce11dant of a tribally verified m ember of the above. Unlike programs in many public institutions, Augsburgs program doe5 not li mit el igibility to Am•erican Indian students who live in th e 5tate. In addition , t he Augsburg American lndian Reo::ogn ition Full Tuition Program provides access for both full-tim e undergraduate students as well as adult learners in any of the university's degree completron bachelor·s programs. This new program wi ll begin ln the Fall 2022 semester for both new and contlnu [ng eligible students. "O ne of our commitments at Augsburg is to bri11g an equity lens to affordability." said Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. "This orogram is one step toward recogn izing the profound cont ributions American Indian stuclet1ts and ,he ir commun [ties make to t he univers ity and w ithin higher edtJcatton more broadJy." Sign up for Email Newsletter Regent Eric JollY. described th e program as "groundbreaking am ong pr ivate unrversities nationwide.n He added, "At the sa me t i111e, it is abs-olut-ely in liTie wfth A.ugsburgs long-sta nding commitments to intentiona l diversity and incl usrve excellence. J hope t his is just the first of m any i nstitut ion s designi ng creative and equitable paths to Submit Your Alumni News education f or native an d First Nati ons people." Students who apply for t he program do not need to be enrolled as an American lndia11 trib al member, establ ish CONN ECT WllH US residence on trust land, or be Min nesota residents. Through th is program, Augsburg seeks to support and promote American Indians with in t he Augsburg i::on1n1u11 ity. "My mom and dad told me my whol e life, you're going t o co llege. It was a 'where' and not an 'if.' What I needed from a II [ll Ii school- the main thing t hat was going to make or break it-was if I cou [d afford it" said Reuben .K itto Stately'22. a student from both t he Red Lake Nation and Santee Sioux Nation. "But the cu lture of the ca mpu s, the way t he Native students support each other. was also a big se lli ng paint. Th is part af th e .south s[de of Minneapol is Is t he most conce ntr ated urban Native population in the whole country." "The system ic injustices that have limited access to higher ed ucation for many American In dian students need 5tru ctural solut ions; .said Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Joanne Reeck. "This program is one step that we as a n institution can ta ke." Lear n m are about the Am erican Indian Recogn ition Full Tt.1 ttlon Pr ogram. Top image: Reuben Kitto Stately '22 is an Augsburg student from both the Red Lake Nation and Santee Sioux Nation. (Photo by Courtney Perry) f Share this: [ lags: Fa~ebook ] Admissions "!ti Twiner ] Am e ric a n Indian 'P Pimeresr ] [ in Li nked In ] [ i:I Email Boa rcl of Regem s Class of 2022 Dive rsity ,,ncl Incl usion \'Vi nrer 202.1-.22 NEXT POST> ( PREVIOUS POST How a Minnesota greenhouse aci;iu ired a diverse olant co llection from around the globe~and how it .all thrives under orie roof Notes from 'P;res ident Prlbbenow: Orn a leg:il£{. of hospitality and leadersh ip YOU Ml G,HT ALSO LIKE 1 Notes from Preside tit Pr ovost Ka ivo la to re t ire; Board St udent-c reated sa liads are Pribbenow: oin a legacy of of Regenits aJ:):groves emerit f he lQing Augsburg b uild a more hosgita litY. and leadershiR status for retir.ing Auggies sustainable loca l economy - an February 22, 2022 - on February 22, 2022 - on February 22. 2 02 2 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg I nsi-dle Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accreditation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosures Employment Contact Augsburg Co • l'i ht©2O22Au sbur Universi Minnea lis MN 612-330-1000 0 BACK TOl'OI' ~GSBU~ UNIVERS1I TY . HOM E • PREV lOUS liSSU. ES ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE PROVOST KAIVOLA TO RETIRE; BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVES EMERJT1 STATUS FQ,R RETIRING AUGGI.ES by 5te1J_hen lendraszak 5 are this: [ f February 22. 202l 'Ii- Around rhe Quad Fac.ebook] [ - Twitter] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Linkedln ] [ 1i1S Email ] Karen Kaivo la. Augsburg's provost and senior v ice presi-den of acad emic and student affairs, will reti re at the end of 2021-22 acade m ic year. Si ri ce Kaivo la joined Augsburg in 2013, her leadership of the facu lty has consistently reflected unw av eri ng comm itme nts to teaching and [earn i11,g. In late 2019, Kaivola stepped into an expanded role overseeiI g bot academic affairs ,;md student affairs-, seeking new alignments and center ing both on a holistic view of student learning and development ,I!., committee chaired by Timi Pieeert, Joel Torstenson endowed pro essor of sociology, is in the midst o r a nationa l search to i dentify her successo r . At its October meeting. th e Augsburg University Board of Regents approved acuity emeritus status for Milo Sch ield , prof essor of busi ness admin istration; regent em ertta status for Ann Ashton-Piper, who r etired ··.-on t e board .a ter 12 years of servi ce; and staff emerit i stat s or [ong-serving employees Nancy Prnvo:st Kat'len Kaivo la (Ar Giuilbeault, James Trelstad-Porter. and M ary Laurel True. ive p, oto) Sign up for Emai l Newsletter At its February meeting, th e board approved faculty em eri ta status for Laura Boisen, professor of social w ork; and staff emer[t [ statu s for Dianne Detloft Ann Garvey, and Mark Lester. Share this: [ f Fac.ebook ] [ - Twitter ] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Linked I Submit Your Alumni News ] [ m Em ail ] CONN ECT WITH US Tags: Board of Regents Faculty Wi ter 202 1-2:2 ( PREVIOUS POST N EXT POST> Stucle nt-,c reat ed salads are rieiP-ing Augsburg bu ild a more sustainab le loca l eco11omJ1_ Notes from Presi dent Pribbenow: On a !egag.' of hosgitalit]I. and le·adershiP- YOU M .I GHT ALSO LIKE Augsb urg introduces America n Notes f r om President. Student-created saiads are Indian Recogn'itiori Full Tui:t ion Prib benow: On a legm of he lP-ing Augsb urg bui ld a more Progr am hosRltal ity and leadershiP-. susta inable local economy - on February 22, 2022 - on Februa-1)' 22, 2022 - on February 22, 2022 ■ m Iii II AuGS,JBURG UN I VERSITY . HOM E PREVIOUS ISSU ES ABOUT CO NTACT IUS CURRENT ISSUE STUDENT-CREATED SALADS ARE HELPING A UGSBURG BU ILD A MORE SUSTAINABLE LO·CAL ECONO,MY 1 by8ri11n11AJ11mil/11 '17 f 5hare ·th is~[ February22, 2022 ,.Around rhe Quad Facebook] [ W Twiner ] [ 'P Pinterest ] [ in Li nkedln ] [ ill Em ail ] In Fall 2020, the 5,;Jbo Cent er for Democracy and Cit ize nsh ig launched Augsburg loca l, an ef fort t o leverage Augsburg Un iversity's purchasing power to support local bu sinesses. Through a partnership with Augsburg's dining services, students and staff involved wrth Augsburg Local began conversations about reimagining sustainabi lity, representation. cultur al competence, and bein g a good neighbor by servin g healthy dishes featuri ng foods sourced fron1 environmentally susta inable loca l vend ors. A salad creation team was born in an effort to support this tran sition. The Sabo Center's sa lad creation tean1 includes staff and students from the Environmental St eward ship Comm ittee, Cam1;1 us Kitchen, and Augs.burg Local. The team has drawn on the work of young peopl.e from community partners. including Stu de cs crea1ed salads wi,11 seasoriar, lllcal~J s.ourced ingred ienss. [Courtes y Pills.bury Unjted Commun ities· Waite House photo) Sign up for Emai l Newsletter (in the Philli ps neighborhood in South Minneapolis) and th e local nonprofi t Roots for the Home Team. which focuses on mentoring teens t hrough community gardening and hands-on learning wi th Submit Your Alumni News chefs. Augsburg's sa lad creation team r esearched CON'NECT WITH US ,:i nd developed signature sa lads that were Students partnered witn Ioca1 organizations rn source and creaire fi rst sold in The Comn1on s last fa ll. The salads. (Courtesy pnom) development of seasonal . locally sourced II IJI Iii salads occurred through a seri es of w orkshops during Summer 2Cl21 w ith participation from students, staff, faculty. and community members with experti se from loca l vendors, farmers. and dining services staff. Tri al in gredients came from The Good Acre (a Twirr Cities food hub), the 5eward Commun ity Co-op, and other loca l vendors and far.mers to support and develop their capacity to supply Augsburg dining services in the long term . Tllis co-cr eated sa lad projed serves as a stepping stone toward a gr eater commitment to local and susta inable food procurement at Augsburg. A shift toward loca l food purchilsing at Augsburg will help build a more sustalnab le local Staff se ive suden,-<:reatecl sa lads in The Commons for on-::-cmpus di ners . economy. (Court esy pnoto) FoJlow @sustainable augsburg!d and ~gsburgloca l on lnstagram to see t he proj ect in action. Lea rn more about Augsburg l oca l. Tap image: Student-created salads were offered in The Com mons for on-campus diner;. (Courtesy photo) f Share this: [ Tags: Facebook ] [ "# Twiner] [ A~ !Jurg Local ·Cam f! U.S Kitt hen 'P Pintere.st ] [ in Li nkedln ] EnVironmemal Stew a rdsh ip [ ill Em ail ] On Cam pus Sustai nability \!Vi m,er 2021-.22 < PREVIOUS POST NEXf POST> Aug5bu rg's Int erfaith lnsti tu t,e adds new r10:sition end ow ed b]' the EI-Hibiri f ami IY. Provost Kaivola t o r etire; Boar d of Regent s aggroves em er it i status f or r etir ing Auggies YO U M lGHT A.LSO LI KE 1 Provost Kaivola to r etire; Board Augsb urg intr odiuces American Notes ifrom Piresident Ind ian Recognit iormFu ll Tu'it ioni Pri bbenow: on Pr ogra1T1 hospjtral ity and leade rship_ sta t us fo r retiring Auggies - on February 22, 2022 - on February 22, 2022 - on February 22, 2022 a leg.ac)' of and Programs of Reg ents a1n11roves emer iti About Augshurg inside Augsburg Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Direclory Graduate Aclmissions Accre<frtation News and Media Make a Git Campus Tmu Consumer DisdosL1res Employment Contact Augshurg U ndergraduale Admissions Majors Adult Undergraduate Admissions co ri ht©2022A1.1 sbur Universi Minnea lis MN 612-330--1000 0 BACK TO TOP ~GSBU~ UNIVERSITY. •- PREVIOUS .ISSUES HOM E CO~TACTUS A BOUT CURRENT ISSUE A UG.SBURG'S INTERFAITH INSTITUTE ADDS NEW POSITION ENDOWED BY THE EL-HIBRI FAM ILY 1 by Kate- Norlander Share th~s: [ f Februarv22. 2022 fl. Around the Quad Facebook ) [ !II Tw· e r ] [ 'P PintereSI In 2021 . Fuad and Nancy EL-Hibri gave a significant gi ] [ in Li kedl n ] [ Email ] to Augsburg Unrversity to create the El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Directorship for the Interfaith Institute. lnte aitll .at Augsburg: An Instit ute to Promote fnt erre[iglous Leadershi P-. WilS established in 2019 as part of Augsburg's commitment to interfaith learning arid l eadership. The newfy endowed pos.ition will al low the university to hrre a strategic lead er and distinguished schofar to provide directio or the institute and serve as a member of the acuity. The El-Hibr i chair wi ll seNe as a national ambassador ·or the intetia ith movement and wi ll partner w ith campus leaders as a ch;:;nge agent for interreligiouo; learning and living. The EI -Hibris' gift will help to f1Jlfi ll one o· tile go.:1ls of Augsburg1 50, the univer5ity's sesquicentennial strategic plan, to advance the publ ic purp,os:es of an Augsburg education by enhancing interfaith leadersnip on campus and ,hroughout the nation. ~we live in a world that i5 religiouo;ly diverse, and allowi11g religions to thrive is a step in the right direction." said f1u ad EI-Hibri "But it is not enough. Interfaith dia logue, l ea rning from one another, and engaging together in meaningful work is what it's tru ly all about. The timing now is critical , and we hope thrs i5 just the beginning." ~we ave a unique oppoitunity to burld an interfaith learning comm1Jnity that wi ll be a mode[ for all of igher Srgn up for Email Newsletter education," Silid President Pa ul Pribbenow, ''The combination of Augsburg's interreHgi ous student body, with Fuad and Na, cys support and coLmsel, wi ll create 1: e so of academic and comm unit,; l eadersh ip the world needs today." Submit Your Alumni News Top i.mage: [L to RJ filancy and Fuad EI-Hibri (Courtesy photo) CONN ECT W ITH US f Facebook ] [ Fa.cuh:y lr.-e.-faith Share this: [ Tags: '# Tw irrer] [ 'P Srraregi.£.P-:lan Pinterest ] [ in Li nke dl ] [ a Email ] \>\linter 2021-22 NEXT POST ) < PREVlOUS POST 2021 St e•pUP Gala raises more than $425,0-00 for oncamQUS recovery_P- rogram Student-created sa lads are hel P-iing Augsburg bu rid a more susta in ab le local economy: YOU M l·G HT ALSO LIKE Augsburg introduces Amer ican Notes from President Provost Ka ivola to retire; Board Indian Recognition Fu!! Tuit ion lflrib benow: On a legac)! of of Regents arui roves emerlti Program hos?-it:ality an d leadersh iQ status for retiring Auggies - on February 22, 2022 - on February 22, 1022 - on Februal"J 22, 2022 AuGSBURG - UN I VERSITY . HOME - PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE 2021 STEPUP GALA RAISES MORE THAN $425,000 FOR ON-CAMPUS RECOVERY PROGRAM by l:me Nor/an deer Sha r-e this: [ f Februarv21 2012 -. Around tiie Quali fgceb oo k ] [ V TwITTer] [ 'P ?intere,r] [ in Linked ln] [ D Em ail I On Novembtei 1 3. a bout 300 In-p erson and 11ir.ual at;:en d ees ra ised more rha n 542.5,000 at Augsbur g"s annua l Stee1UP® Psc,gram Gala. This year"s til e me, Now More Than Ever. emphasi;:ed t h e im portance of ,h-= su pp or>: Step UP has provided for stud ents in recovery during a time when ma ny people h ave been isolat,ed an d In dang<=r oi r<'lapse. Th e eve 11t was hosi-ed at Quincy Hall in Northea:.c Mirrn,;,apolis. Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News CONN ECT W ITH US II ul Retired journalise De•1e N'mm e r se rved as the g,,le"s e mcee. IPh o 0 b)" R~b~cca Slace,) 0 James Augre '72 {left) and Bre nda Gauvin-Ch , dwO:I< l nN prese nt) received the 201 1 Toby Pipe r LaBelle Award for the s gnificant 1r:1pact triey have mcele ""rhe reY:.ove ry communr:y. To~y LaBelle "96 1, ,gr,,1 ;>"=<ented me ,ware!. [Ph~,o by Res0e~,~ Staterl Augsburgs Seep UP Program ha,s coo.JCh ed many Iii-es s mce It began 111 7 gg; !Phom oy ~e~~cce 513ter) Th: live «rttion olor,o roi ,od :a 15,500 fo r 5i,pUP. {Pt,o, o by Ro~«ca Slorer) Ent icing Entmainme~, prnV<ded a fiery conclusion to rhe =m. (Ph~rn by Rebecca s ia,er) Renee Mo st, dkecwr of cfle SeepU P Pru.gr<am, pos,es w"th Tu.e ke, Robinson 'l2. ,r,e gala's s:ud em: speaker. {Photo oy R~becca Slater) Chris Al len '02 creacecl a worl< of an a, the es·em for the second wnsecm"" year_ Ttlis year's artwort was included in ch, aucrior,, an □ Bo~rd of R•genc< m•m ~•• Cyru, B8th,j8 '09, '11 MBA'"~ B•cky Bsth•j• wc,n ,,,, 8rcwork, ,r,~nl;cs ro, ~•neM•Js dnna<lon {l'hoco t,y Rebecca Slater) Share this; [ Tags: f Facebook ] [ 'JI Twin er ] [ Class of 19/2 Cl~;.sof 1 996 'P Pinteres[ ] [ in Link ed ln [ lass of 1002 j [ D Em a il ] Ciao; of 2011 Cla-, of 2022 Win,e-r ?021-22 < PREVIOUS POST N EXT POST} Au~l:rn rg's recent a ward s and rank i ngs-Winler 2021 22 Augsbu rg's Interfa it h Institute adds new 11osit ion endowed by t he EI-Hib ri furn ii)( YOU M IGHT ALSO LIKE Augsbllrg Introduces American Notes from President Provost Ka lvola to retire: B<lard Indi an Recognition Ful I Tuition Prib benow: On a legacy of of Regents annroves eme r iti Prog@ill hos1J:ilality and lec1dershi1,. stat us fo r retir ing Auggies - on Februory 11, 1012 - on frbruary 12, 2011 - on Ft:br1J<1ry 21, 1012 ,~, AuGSBUR:G • UNIVERSITY . HOME ABOUT PREVIOUS I SSUI I'S CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBLJR,G'S RECENT AWARDS AND RANKI .N GSWINTER 2021!-2.2 by Briana Alamilla '17 f Share t his: [ Febr:tIDry22. 2022 "' Around tin, Quad F.acebook ] [ W Twirrer ] [ 'P Pimeresi: ] [ in Li nked In ] a Email ] This year, Augsbu rg is horiored to receive a var iety of awards and rarikings, includi ng new accolades for prod ucing even 1nore Gi lman Scholars and for being .a religious universlty living up to LGBTQIA+ incl usive values. Augsburg's r-ecent aw ards and r anki ngs in clude: 20-Year Top :P roducer of Gilman Scholars Augs burg University was recogni zed by t he U.S. Departm ent of State's Bure aLr of Education al and Cu ltural Affa ir s for having produced th e most Gilm an recipients over th e past 20 y ear s in t h€ sm all institu tions category. Si nce 2001, 77 Augsburg students. h ave been offered t he Be rijamin A. Gilman International Scholarsh ip, w hich enables stu den ts to st udy abroad . 2021 Top 10 Re]igious Colleges Living Up to LG,BTQlnclusive Values by Camipus Pride NBC News rer:io rted t hat Augsburg was one of only t hree rel igiously affiliat ed univers iti es th at received the highest score of 5 on th e Lndex of si:hools r e,::ogn ized by Ca mpus Pride fo r be in g rel igi □ Lfi unjver sities t hc1t are LGBTQ-- Sign up for Emai l Newsletter fr iendly. Top 40 LGBTQ Friendly College·s and Univers.iti,es Submit Your Alumni News Augsburg w as agai n nam ed to CamQU S Pnde's list of the top 40 LGBTQ~riendly co lleges and universities in 2021. Can1pus Pride is t he !ea ding national organization fo r creating safer, m ore LGBTQ-fri end ly co!leges and universities, 2021 Best in the Midwest by The Princeton Review Augsburg w as again nan1ed to The Prin[eton Review's list of t he best colleges c1nd un iversities in the Midwest base d CO NN ECT WITH US II ul Ii 0 11 academic excel lence. 2021 Best Regional Universities b,y U.S. News & Worlld Report • 4th in Best Undergradua t e Teaching • 24th in Regional Univ er sities- Midwest • 38th in Suppo rt fo r Vet erans Vi ew m ore of Augiburg'.s c1w ards and ranking~. f Share t his: [ Tags: F.acebo<Jk ] [ Augsburg In lhe News '!# Twitter] [ 'P Pimerest ] [ in Unkedln Awards aTi d R-ecogniti<J n ] [ 115 Ema'il ] Wint er 2021-22 < PREVfOUS POST N EXT POST> Musician and r;ioet D11.1a Saliehi '17 breaks boundaries with ro le on Netflix.'s ·sex Edu cation' 2021 .Ster;iUP Galla ra ises more tha n ~425,000 for oncamt;iu s recovery grogram YO U Mll GHl ALS O l l KE 1 1 Allgsburg intr oduces Amerkan Notes from President Provost Ka ivola to retire; Boaird Indian Recogn it ion Fu l l Tu it ion Pri bbenow: On a legac:y of of Regents a1uiroves emeriti Program hosr-itality an d leaders!:riP- status for retiringAuggies - on February 22, 2022 - on Februa0, 22, 2022 - on February 22, 2022 UndeJ9raduate Admissions Majors and Programs About Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Directory Graduate Admissions Accre<litation News and Media Make a Gift Campus Tour Consumer Disdosmes Employment Contact Augsburg Co ri ht© 2022Au sbu Universi Mtnnea lis MN 612-330--1000 0 BACK TO TOP AuGSBLlRG • UNIVERSITY . HO.M E PREV lOUS ISSU ES A BOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE MUSICIAN AND POET DUA SALEH '17 BREAKS BOUNDARIES WlTH ROLE ON NETFLIX'S 'SEX EDUCATION' oy Briana AJamiffa '17 February 22, 2022 Share this: [ f Facebook] [ · Auggies Connc:a. Gass Notes (Afumnl] '!JI Twitter ] [ <j) ?interest ] [ in Linkedlr. ] [ a Email ] Dua Saleh '17 plays t he new character Cal Bowman in the third season o the awa rd-winn i11g Netflix show"Sex Education," a British teen comedy-d ram.a series. 5a leh's character is a11 American student from Minne.;ipofis whose parents moved them to the United Kingdom. Like Ca l, the fi rst nonbinary character on the show·, Saleh is nonbrflal)' and uses they/t hem pronouns. Saleh a d a non bin ary cons:u ttanr assisted Neftlix with t he scri pt. The Sudanese-American musician, poet and actrvi5t began writing poetry their second year at Augsburg and performed .at open mic events. Seeing people's positive responses encouraged Saleh to write songs and make music, which led to the eventual release of two EPs. Previously, Saleh perforn1e<l in an underground theater in Minneapol is. The Netflix show is their first pro essio11al acting role. "I want people to eel v;;il idated," sareh told Netflix . "Cal ls a nonbinary, Black character, and I want people to th in , 'O , my gosh, I can befi eve I've seen n1ys,elf on t is seri.es. I can believe I've seen myseff represented [n mainstream media.'That's what I wan the most." Read more alumni news, arid submit vour own l ife UR dates. Sign up for EmaH Newsletter Top image: Netflix subscrib ers con stream u5ex Education." a British teen comedy-drama. (Courtesy photo) Share this: [ f Facebook] [ -, Tw· er] [ <j) Pirttere.st ] [ in Li nke.di n] [ Submit Your Alumni News Email ] CONN ECT W ITH US Tags: Alumni News And IJP-dares Class of 201 7 Wirt er 2021-22 NEXT POST} <PREVI.OUS POST Re,c ord -breaking number of.Augsburg donors rai,s e nea rly $420,000 during Give to the Max Da)i'. 202 1 Aufil!burg'.s recent awarcls and rankings- Winter 2021-22 YOU M IGHT ALS,Q LIKE Record-breaking number of A lumni Class Notes,...S,Qring:: In Memoriarn,..SP-ring-Sumrner Augsburg donors r aise nearly Summer2021 2,()21 $420,000 during Give to the - on A[Jgust 20, 2021 - on August 20, 2021 Max Day 2021 - on Februor; 22, 2022 ■ mIi Ill AuGSBURG UN I VERSITY . PREV IOUS IISSIJ ES HO.M E A BOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE RECORD-BREAKING, NUMBER OF AUGSBURG DONORS RAISE NEARLY $420,000 DURING GIVE TO TH .E MAX DAV 2021 1 byCarajohnson Share this: [ f f.ebruar:y2Z. 2022 ~Auggies Connea Facebook] 'P Pir:rtere.st] W Twiner ] [ in Li nked ln ] a Email ] • s N.EW RECORD In November, Augsburg University p;irticipated [n a not er successful Give to the Max Day. The Auggie community showed strong support for the university's .efforts to provide mean ingful and practica l hands-on education for students today and into the future. The campaign concluded at the end of the ca lendar year. Sign up for Email Newsletter Give to the Max Day 2021 campaign highlights • $419,248 was raised across 45 different projects • A recor·d-breaking 2,040 donors from .11 different states and eight CONN ECT W ITH US countrie-s made gifts • Submit Your Alumni News 40% of projects were fully funded, while others came very close to II reach ing their goa l At .Augsburg, we continue to focus on our students and make sure they have [ll Ii the resources and tools to pursue their ca l lings of service and leadership. Thank you to everyone who helps to provide a solrd found.,tion of support for our students and make a difference for their learni ng and career paths. Di •d you know? You can give to the Augsburg fund all year round. Each gift makes an impact and goes dir•ectly toward supporting our students. Learn more about how \l OU can make an impact today through t he Augsbu,g Fund. 40: Top image: An student stands in A ugsburg's quad, (Photo by Courtney Perry} Share this: [ Tags: f Facebook] [ .,, Twitter ] [ Augsi:i urg Su i;mon 'P Pimere-st ] Give T o The Max Day [ in Li nke dln ] [ mi Email ] Win ter 2021 -22 < PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST> Can a smartri hone api;i de-escal ate traffic :stop Musician an d rioet Dua Saleh '17 breaks boundaries with ro le on NetfliX's 'Sex Educat ion' encou nters bet ween d river·s and pol:ice? YO·U M IGHT ALSO LIKE Mus idar11 and P-,o,et Dua Sa leh Give to the Max DaY. reean and '17 breaks boundaries with role susta ining Augsburg'.s future on, NetfHx's ·sex Education· - onjanuory 26, 2021 - on February 22, 2022 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Abmrt Augsburg Inside Augsburg Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Campus Map A-Z Direcltory Graduate Admissions Accreditation News and Media Make a Gnt Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures Employment Contact Augsburg Co Ii ht©2022Au sbu Universi Minnea olis, MN 612-330-1000 0 BACKlOTOP
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Title: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2021
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: AUGSBURG NOW Augsburg Associates’ roots and decades of service A smartphone app aims to de-escalate traffic stops INSIDE Photos: Augsburg then and now SPRING–SUMMER 2021 | VOL. 83, NO. 2 Student-athletes advocate for causes beyond the sports arena Vice President, Operations Rebecca Jo...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW Augsburg Associates’ roots and decades of service A smartphone app aims to de-escalate traffic stops INSIDE Photos: Augsburg then and now SPRING–SUMMER 2021 | VOL. 83, NO. 2 Student-athletes advocate for causes beyond the sports arena Vice President, Operations Rebecca John ’13 MBA AUGSBURG NOW Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communication Stephen Jendraszak Spring–Summer 2021 Director of Marketing Laura Swanson Lindahl ’15 MBA NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On the “new normal” Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications Gita Sitaramiah Assistant Director of Marketing Creative Denielle Stepka ’11 Creative Associate Hayley Selinski As we enter a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and plan for our return to campus for our 152nd academic year at Augsburg, I am often asked what we have learned during the past 16 months that will be part of a “new normal” for our community. Certainly there is much that we have learned about the use of technology for teaching and learning, and for doing our administrative work—technology that will be an abiding and effective tool for the ways we work into the future. We also have learned important lessons about public health and not taking for granted our individual and common well-being. And then there are lessons about the fragility of our economic lives and the need to be laser-focused on our mission as we make decisions about revenue and expenses. But perhaps the most important and striking lesson we learned during the pandemic is that all of the work we have done the past few years to chart a strategic path for Augsburg—work that culminated in the creation in Fall 2019 of Augsburg150: The Sesquicentennial Plan—provided us with a framework for both navigating through these unprecedented times and for pursuing a sustainable future for our university. In other words, our planning deliberations, grounded in Augsburg’s mission to educate students to be “informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders,” got it right as we named our highest aspirations and our strategic priorities. In particular, I am proud of the vision we cast for our future, which says that “As a new kind of urban, student-centered university, we are educating Auggies as stewards of an inclusive democracy, engaged in their communities and uniquely equipped to navigate the complex issues of our time.” Consider the claims we make in this vision statement: to embrace our urban setting, to keep students at the center of our lives, to pursue democratic engagement, and to equip our students to take on the most complex problems we all face. And we honored those claims as we lived through the pandemic: responding to the many needs of our students and neighbors as we kept each other safe and healthy; focusing on the flexibility our students required as they pursued their education primarily online; working together as a community of faculty, staff, and students to navigate an uncharted path; and leaning into the incredibly complex issues raised by the pandemic so that we might all learn from them. As I begin my 16th year as Augsburg’s 10th president, I am so proud of our community and excited about the future we will create together. It may not be normal, but it will be grounded as always in our mission and vision. Enjoy this issue of Augsburg Now with its engaging stories that make my case for Augsburg’s future. Senior Marketing Copywriter and Editorial Coordinator John Weirick Communication and Social Media Specialist Briana Alamilla ’17 Communications and Social Media Consultant Kate Norlander Project Manager Juli Kramer Web Manager Nick Huseby Web and Email Coordinator Jennifer Thiel Advancement Communications Specialist Cara Johnson Contributors Kate H. Elliott Lisa Renze-Rhodes Stewart Van Cleve PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official university policy. augsburg.edu/now Around the quad The Auggies who refuse to ‘keep politics off the field’ How Augsburg’s student-athletes use their training and platform to advocate for causes beyond the sports arena 12 Senior Communications Specialist for Principal Gifts Amanda Symes ’09, ’15 MFA ISSN 1058-1545 Faithfully yours, 02 06 The Scandinavian work ethic that inspired the Augsburg Associates’ decades of service Though the Augsburg Associates group has ended, the impact of volunteer work over 37 years resonates 16 Can a smartphone app de-escalate traffic stop encounters between drivers and police? Auggie-created TurnSignl app provides an attorney on demand so everyone gets home safely 20 Augsburg then and now 26 28 31 Auggies connect A photo essay Alumni class notes In memoriam Augsburg MBA alumni created an app to make traffic stops safer. See the story on page 16. On the cover: Augsburg University celebrated graduates with an in-person commencement ceremony Tuesday, June 8, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Read more on page 2. All photos are by Courtney Perry unless otherwise indicated. Send address corrections to alumniupdate@augsburg.edu. Send comments to now@augsburg.edu. URBAN ARBORETUM VISIT AUGSBURG’S GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS BENEFIT AUGSBURG AND THE ENVIRONMENT Grants help shape Augsburg’s teaching and learning community In late 2020, the Council of Independent Colleges’ NetVUE program awarded a two-year, $40,000 grant to Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. The grant will help the university explore whether and how the academic, faith, and moral commitments that have shaped its identity inform and reflect its aspiration to be anti-racist and inclusive. The project will engage 12 members of the community— students, faculty, and staff—who will write a collection of essays that will be a blueprint for AUGSBURG CELEBRATES GRADUATES with virtual and in-person commencement ceremonies On Monday, May 3, Augsburg University celebrated commencement virtually with the release of a prerecorded video ceremony. The event included remarks from several presenters and personalized slides for graduates displaying photos and messages that the students submitted. The viewers posted comments to the videostream as they watched the event, and students took to social media to share their graduation posts using the hashtag #AuggieGrad. On Tuesday, June 8, Augsburg held an in-person commencement for the classes of 2020 and 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Because the 2020 commencement ceremony was virtual in alignment with public health guidelines designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many graduates from the Class of 2020 opted to participate in the 2021 in-person ceremony, where attendees were asked to wear face masks and stay physically distanced from guests of different households. Visit YouTube.com/AugsburgU to find video recordings of Augsburg’s virtual and in-person events. 2 AUGSBURG NOW DID YOU KNOW? The traditional undergraduate Class of 2021 is Augsburg’s most diverse graduating class with 45.6% Indigenous students and students of color, an increase of more than 20% over the past three years. moving forward in these efforts. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Toxicity Reduction program awarded Michael Wentzel, associate professor of chemistry, a grant of nearly $15,000. The grant will be used in a two-year project to develop green chemistry as a unifying theme throughout Augsburg’s chemistry curriculum. While a number of green chemistry principles are woven into the curriculum, this work will coalesce these principles into a clear message across multiple courses, including courses taken by non-majors. Chemistry majors will end their studies with a new capstone course on green chemistry and toxicology. In addition, David Hanson, assistant professor of chemistry, is now in his third year of a four-year project funded by a $384,080 grant from the National Science Foundation (Award Number 1761638). Hanson is studying the formation and growth of new particles in the atmosphere. The results of his experiments are expected to lead to improved accuracy in predicting the influence of new particle formation on climate, health, and visibility. A GREEN OASIS IN THE CITY See the Augsburg University campus transition from summer to fall With the widespread availability of vaccines and effective public health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many students, faculty members, and staff are returning to on-campus activities with modified operations. Augsburg invites you to visit our beautiful Minneapolis campus to experience the diverse array of trees on a self-guided tour, complete with a map and descriptive signs, or a guided tour. The urban arboretum was made possible by generous donors and continues to provide environmental benefits, educational opportunities, and aesthetic appeal for Augsburg and the surrounding community. • Find a list of trees and a self-guided walking tour map, covering Augsburg’s campus and Murphy Square, at augsburg.edu/arboretum. • Want an in-person walking or golf cart tour of the urban arboretum, Hagfors Center, or other campus features? Contact Interim Vice President for Advancement Amy Alkire at alkirea@augsburg.edu. Board of Regents approves PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW’S CONTRACT through 2027 In its March meeting, the Augsburg University Board of Regents’ executive committee unanimously approved a multiyear contract renewal for President Paul Pribbenow, who joined the university in 2006 as its 10th president. “In an era when five- or six-year presidencies are common in higher education, President Pribbenow’s long-term leadership of the university has enabled Augsburg to achieve remarkable things,” said Matt Entenza, chair of Augsburg’s Board of Regents. “The university has become one of the most diverse private institutions in the Midwest during his tenure and has welcomed record-breaking first-year classes in the past two years. The university is fortunate to continue to have Paul’s transformational leadership through 2027.” Pribbenow is recognized as a leading Learn more about Pribbenow’s figure among the nation’s higher education work and presidency at augsburg.edu/president. private institutions and is an engaging teacher on ethics, philanthropy, and American public life. SPRING–SUMMER 2021 3 $ BUY $ $ $ $ $ Q: SELL Meme stocks, Robinhood, and what to know about the stock market today In early 2021, stocks of the companies AMC, BlackBerry, and GameStop made headlines—but not just for performing well. In a matter of days, some of these stock values increased by up to 30 times their previous price before a smartphone app called Robinhood restricted trading, angering some investors and propelling the situation into greater media attention. What happened, and what could that mean for people interested or invested in the stock market? Augsburg University’s Associate Professor of Business Marc McIntosh brings his financial expertise to help us understand some of these rapid changes and see the big picture of today’s stock market. COURTESY PHOTO funds. There has been a democratization in stock market investing. The bad news is that there are now lots of ways to lose money in the stock market if you or your financial advisor don’t have a fundamental knowledge of accounting and finance. Finally, the ugly part is that not only are gains magnified in a short period of time but losses are as well. If used wisely, Robinhood can be a tremendous way to build wealth through stock market investing. What are reliable principles or tactics for people just beginning to get involved in the stock market? A: Many famous investors such as Warren Buffett and John Bogle have argued convincingly that it’s very difficult to pick stocks that will outperform the overall market. In fact, there are several academic studies that prove that it’s almost impossible for the average mutual fund manager to “beat” the overall market. So, the sensible strategy is to put long-term savings into a broad-based market index fund. Many retirement plans have fund options indexed to the S&P 500 or the total stock market. Q: Q: A: What are “meme stocks,” and why have they become notable lately? A meme stock is any stock that’s seen its price skyrocket due to excessive trading volume from retail investors, mostly fueled by people on social media (primarily Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter). There are a lot of reasons why meme stocks have been so popular. It’s partly pandemicrelated, since some people had more time to gamble and speculate and may have extra money on hand due to government stimulus payments. Also, social media forums have made it a lot easier to follow trends. In the case of GameStop, the price had a tremendous run almost solely due to Reddit posts. 4 AUGSBURG NOW Q: What can we learn from what happened with AMC, BlackBerry, and GameStop stocks? What does that tell us about the stock market and how people are interacting with it? A: It’s important to distinguish between gambling and investing. The vast majority of people buying these stocks are gambling that their price will go up based on rumors and social media posts, which can be very dangerous. It’s really the equivalent of going to the racetrack and betting on horses or going to Las Vegas to play the slot machines. Investors, however, do much more research based on the fundamental financials of the company and assess the potential of the company based on either their analysis or input from What should Augsburg Now readers keep in mind about the stock market today and in the near future? a trusted, professional financial advisor. In other words, it’s OK to invest in a meme stock, but make sure you’ve done your due diligence on the company’s growth prospects. For example, does GameStop really have cutting edge technology, or is its business model antiquated? Q: Are tools like the investing app Robinhood (which offers no-fee stock trading) just a trend or an indication of a new direction for the world of investing? A: Robinhood is here to stay. The good news is that the app is extremely userfriendly, and the average investor can now make money in the stock market in ways that, until recently, were only available to institutions like pension funds and mutual A: First: On average, investing in the S&P has delivered returns higher than 10% since 1929. This dwarfs the returns you get by putting money in a savings account or investing in high-quality bonds. For the long haul, it’s important to have this return to retire comfortably. Second: The time people spend in retirement is getting longer as life spans have expanded due to health care improvements, so people need a huge nest egg to live comfortably—possibly into their 90s. Third: Due to the magic of compounding and starting earlier in one’s life, achieving this nest egg can be relatively simple. If average 25-year-olds invest $2,000 in the stock market a year (such as in an index fund that achieves 10% average returns), they could have more than $1 million when they retire at age 65. Wow! AROUND THE QUAD AUGSBURG STUDENTS EARN FULBRIGHT AWARDS This year, three Augsburg students earned Fulbright awards, and one has been named a Fulbright alternate candidate. Citlaly Escobar ’21 and Ciashia Shiongyaj ’21 both won Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships to Taiwan. Shamsa Ahmed ’21 won a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea. Terrence Shambley ’21, an alternate Fulbright English Teaching Assistant candidate, will teach English in Laos if additional funding becomes available. The Fulbright Program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the program. Augsburg to launch CRITICAL RACE AND ETHNICITY STUDIES department, major Augsburg University is developing a new Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies Department. The new department aligns with Augsburg’s mission and responds to a proposal developed by a group of students, faculty, and staff that was presented to the administration and approved by the faculty this year. A group of students, led by Black women, made similar (as-yet unrealized) demands after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. The department aims to meet the needs of today’s students with culturally relevant courses and pedagogy that both centers and equips them to think critically about their experience in the world. It will advance the university’s public mission through connections with the community. This year, the plan is to hire three new faculty in Pan-African, Latinx, and Asian American studies. Once they’re hired, Augsburg will review next steps, as well as how other departments can connect their own courses and faculty to the new department. SPRING–SUMMER 2021 5 PHOTO BY WARREN RYAN THE AUGGIES WHO REFUSE TO ‘KEEP POLITICS OFF THE FIELD’ How Augsburg’s student-athletes use their platform to advocate for causes beyond the sports arena BY KATE H. ELLIOTT 6 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING–SUMMER 2021 7 PHOTO BY WARREN RYAN Forward/midfielder Olivia House ’20 IN 2016, FIRST-YEAR STUDENT Olivia House ’20 kneeled during the national anthem before one of her first Auggie soccer matches. She was alone—the only Black person on the team, and the only person kneeling on either side of the field. For four years, House continued to kneel as a respectful gesture to highlight pervasive racial injustice. Fans and opposing players ridiculed her, she was the first on the bus after away games, and teammates unintentionally bruised her with microaggressions: “You’d look so pretty if you straightened your hair.” “So-and-so acts way Blacker than you.” “I always forget you’re Black.” “Even though I was vocal and open about what I stood for, my teammates didn’t see even half of who I was. I left so much of my identity at the door because there would be too many questions, too many things I’d have to explain about my identity and community,” said House, a designer and art director for a creative agency in Chicago. “Having to code switch from diverse classrooms and social advocacy groups to being the lone Black person on the team was exhausting.” Augsburg is among the most diverse private colleges in the Midwest—with students of color making up the majority of the last four incoming undergraduate first-year classes. On campus, House said she found her vocation: “to demonstrate the power of design to communicate stories and create a platform for voices who haven’t been heard.” And yet, her experience demonstrated more work is needed, even at the most equity-minded of institutions, and particularly in athletics, where 71% of student-athletes are white, according to a 2020 Augsburg internal survey. “Me simply stepping onto a soccer field as the only Black player is political in and of itself, without me saying a single word,” she said. “Had I ‘just played the game’ and ‘kept politics off the field,’ I would have perpetuated the myth that athletes’ sole purpose is to entertain. You can’t ask us to put all of our lives on display except for our thoughts and opinions. It doesn’t work like that.” Since House’s first year, the women’s soccer team has welcomed other student-athletes of color, and multiple soccer players and coaches have begun kneeling during the national anthem as matters of diversity and justice have remained prominent in conversations both on campus and across the United States. Augsburg Women’s Soccer Head Coach Michael Navarre watched House address a crowd on the quad in September 2020 as a speaker at Augsburg Bold, a series of presentations for students to hear about important topics for the broader community. After House detailed a summer of racial justice protests and rubber bullets, of murals and oral history projects, Navarre commended House as the spark that ignited the team and inspired other student-athletes to take a stand. “At the time, we felt as though we were supporting Olivia and our other players of color, but it wasn’t until the killing of George Floyd—just a few miles from Augsburg—that we truly began the difficult work that needed to be done,” said Navarre, who has led the women’s soccer team for 23 seasons. “That self-reflection and education illuminated how much more we could have been for Olivia and others, and how much more we are now because of her. Our team is driven to be leaders for social justice advocacy and action.” ‘An age of athletic activism’ Days after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Navarre asked the women’s soccer players to connect virtually each week to discuss topics and resources shared on what has become an 11-page document of articles, podcasts, self-assessments, and videos to spur awareness, community engagement, and education. Midfielder Jenn Bobaric ’22 designed a Black Lives Matter patch, and the team collaborated to design a warm-up shirt that read “Auggies against injustice.” The team supported several fundraisers and donation drives in honor of Floyd and Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old biracial Black man who was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Molly Conners ’22 led a collection of personal items and clothing for neighbors who frequent Augsburg’s Health Commons locations, which are nursing-led drop-in centers that offer resources and support. Taylor Greathouse, women’s soccer volunteer assistant coach and human resources assistant, said the team took to social media as a way to educate and advocate for others. “Instagram, in particular, was a way for our players and our program to demonstrate our alliance to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Greathouse said. “For example, we have studentathletes personally impacted by the unrest in Myanmar and Colombia, and we wanted our shirts, statements, and discussions to address issues of injustice around the globe. “I have learned more in the last two years about my own privilege than I have in my lifetime. It’s not enough for individuals to view diversity merely as racial diversity. We are doing ourselves and our students a disservice if we do not first educate ourselves about intersectionality,” Greathouse said, referring to the study of intersecting identities and dimensions of social relationships. Across the Athletics Department, teams created T-shirts, facilitated discussions, visited memorials, and engaged in community activism. Augsburg Athletics partnered with Augsburg Day Student Government to hold a town hall featuring the voices of student-athletes of color and other members of the Augsburg community. Chris Dixon, the university’s first director of athletic diversity and inclusion, facilitated this and other discussions and opportunities for community engagement. “When I arrived in 2019, I knew my position was an important one, but little did I know just how vital it would be to help our student-athletes, coaches, and staff process, learn, grow, and begin to heal—together,” said Dixon, who also serves as assistant coach for the men’s and women’s track and field teams. “We are in an age of athletic activism, and Augsburg is invested in this work to bring awareness and take a stand. We empower our students, coaches, and staff to have difficult conversations and use their status as leaders to advance causes that matter.” ‘We can’t wait for the tide to shift’ To focus the department’s efforts and conversations, Augsburg Athletics formed a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force in Fall 2020. The group of coaches and staff works closely with university administration and student-athlete advisory groups. Major initiatives include rewording of the national anthem introduction, offering training sessions, and developing a self-reported race survey of Augsburg student-athletes that revealed 71% of student-athletes are white, 12% are Black, 8% are Latinx, 5% are multiracial, and 4% are Asian. Results from a similar survey of coaches and staff are pending. “We didn’t need surveys to point out that we lack diversity in athletics, but we wanted to get a self-reported baseline to assess how our students perceive themselves and the department,” Dixon said. “This work is personal to me as a Black father the same age as George Floyd when he died. Athletics has always been a battleground for people to advance causes. We reach audiences who might not be exposed to these issues otherwise, both in the locker room and in the stands.” Dixon said that, although it’s difficult to turn inward and recognize gaps, Auggies are eager to learn and adopt best practices in recruiting and building inclusive team cultures. “We celebrate diversity efforts at the national and international levels of these sports, but we can’t wait for the tide to shift. We are striving to be more present in diverse neighborhoods and partner with programs that introduce these sports to people with a range of backgrounds.” In Fall 2020, the women’s hockey team gathered at George Floyd Square, where 38th Street and Chicago Avenue intersect in Minneapolis. The 24 student-athletes, coaches, and staff walked around in silence as they took in the flowers, pictures, and artwork that Michelle McAteer, women’s hockey head coach, described as “a mix of pain, sorrow, and inspiration.” “Our players were shocked at the long lists of African Americans killed by police, going back 20 years. We huddled and listened to each other, and the athletes’ perspectives were so powerful,” McAteer said. The team also gathered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. Alongside McAteer, Assistant Coach Ashley Holmes shared information she learned during a diversity, equity, and inclusion training. “We recognized we are two white women, and it was not easy or comfortable, but that is the reason why we should be doing this,” McAteer said. “We need to make these types of discussions more natural and ongoing. Avoiding talk and action because it’s not natural or easy is a big part of the problem. We’re not trying to lecture or convince but share information we’ve learned in a meaningful way.” McAteer said players have begun kneeling for the national anthem, sharing information on social media, and educating family members and friends. The team routinely partners with the DinoMights, an organization that mentors Minneapolis youth through hockey. Women’s hockey forward Lilia Scheid ’22 said this year changed her. “I’ve learned that I need to make my voice heard in the community because making change takes every single one of us,” she added. “I’ve learned what it means to be ‘not racist’ versus ‘anti-racist.’ Staying silent only hurts marginalized groups even more, so it’s important to have these tough conversations and speak out against 10 AUGSBURG NOW racial injustice.” Women’s lacrosse has been equally engaged. Teammates wore rainbow jerseys in support of a transgender player, who helped lead a discussion about transgender issues and terms. Augsburg Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Kathryn Knippenberg said the team is working to be more than performative allies. “If one of my athletes feels called to protest but doesn’t have a ride, I will pick them up or find them a ride. If they want to kneel or don’t want to kneel, they know they have my support,” she said. “Yes, we are here to win, but we are also here to equip student-athletes with valuable life skills, to prepare them for conversations and experiences they are facing and will continue to face,” she said. “We want them to live out Augsburg’s mission to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders who are engaged in meaningful, transformative work.” Allowing vs. actively supporting All Augsburg teams agreed to adopt new wording to introduce the national anthem before each contest: “Augsburg University Athletics would like to recognize that the American experience has not been the same for everyone under the flag. As we continue the fight for equality and justice for all, we now invite you to respectfully express yourself for the playing of our national anthem.” “It’s not easy getting an entire department and body of student-athletes to agree on wording, but it was an important initiative of our Diversity and Inclusion Task Force,” Dixon said. “By having these words in front of the national anthem, we are acknowledging that we—as a university—actively support people in how they want to express themselves. There’s a difference between this statement and simply ‘allowing’ people to kneel or whatever.” Coaches and staff are expected to complete the Augsburg Diversity and Inclusion certificate program, which requires 18 credits of specified training and encourages additional training for advanced standing each year. In 2020, coaches and staff completed the NCAA Division III’s LGBTQ OneTeam Program, which stresses the importance of LGBTQ inclusion in college athletics and provides an overview of common LGBTQ terms, definitions, and concepts. The peer-driven educational program, which Dixon facilitated, also shares best practices to ensure all individuals may participate in an athletics climate of respect and inclusion, regardless of gender expression, gender identity, or sexual orientation. “Social justice issues are incredibly important to us in the Athletics Department, and when our student-athletes are actively engaged in educating themselves about the current and historical context of what is happening and they are attempting to use their platform as student-athletes to create awareness and positive change, I feel incredibly proud of them,” said Kelly Anderson Diercks, who served as associate athletic director and director of compliance until July 2021. “Our student-athletes bring many identities and intersectionalities to Augsburg and their respective teams. To be the best we can be, we need to be able to show up fully as our true selves. This means we need to have spaces to talk about all those identities and intersectionalities and how the events facing our world play out differently for us all.” Recognition of these different identities and experiences led to Dixon’s position; Augsburg hired him as part of a 2019 NCAA Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant, which the university also received in 2012. In 2014 and 2021, the department received the NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant, which also supports the hiring and mentorship of ethnic minorities and women in athletic leadership positions. Alicia Schuelke ’20 MAE, former assistant coach for men’s track and field, said students are thrilled with Dixon’s enthusiasm and vision for the role. “In a world where, many times, the odds are stacked against us, leaders of color provide hope and strength,” said Schuelke, a physical education teacher at Columbia Academy Middle School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. “I came to Augsburg for the MAE program, but I was pleasantly surprised to find how diverse the campus is, and it is my absolute favorite part of my learning experience. “If we can move the needle toward a more diverse group of leaders that better represent our country’s demographics, then students of color will begin to understand that the sky’s the limit in terms of their own hopes, dreams, and aspirations.” House said she is encouraged by the department’s work to advance equity and inclusion. She appreciates the university’s willingness to be vulnerable and invite her and other people of color to share their experiences during this raw, unsettling time. But, as any athlete knows, one must dedicate lots of hours and effort to see results. Augsburg Athletics is putting in the work. “Yes, we are here to win, but we are also here to equip student-athletes with valuable life skills, to prepare them for conversations and experiences they are facing and will continue to face.” —Kathryn Knippenberg Kathryn Knippenberg (right) has served as head coach of Augsburg University Women’s Lacrosse since 2014. SPRING–SUMMER 2021 11 ARCHIVE PHOTOS PROJECTS FUNDED OR SUPPORTED BY AUGSBURG ASSOCIATES • Trash and Treasure Sales • Welcome party for the 2011 visit of Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway • Velkommen Jul buffets and boutique sales • Norwegian coffee at Taste of Augsburg Homecoming events • Christensen Center’s welcome desk construction • Foss Center’s Green Room renovation • Christensen Center’s Augsburg Room and Marshall Room renovations • Lindell Library’s special collections room creation • Hoversten Chapel’s Dobson pipe organ purchase • Christensen Scholars program funding • Various scholarships Augsburg Associates fostered community connections and raised funds to support the university’s work. THESCANDINAVIAN WORK ETHIC that inspired the Augsburg Associates’ decades of service Though the Augsburg Associates group has ended, the impact of volunteer work over 37 years resonates Community volunteerism is so much a part of the fabric of Norwegian life that they have a special name for it: dugnad. Pronounced doog-nahd, it’s the tradition of neighbors gathering for all kinds of communal pursuits—planting and tending to a community garden, spending time chatting with elders at a senior center, or painting a school building. Dugnads are something everyone not only plans for, but looks forward to. 12 AUGSBURG NOW By Lisa Renze-Rhodes Since the mid-1980s, Augsburg University has been home to a team of women who drew on their Norwegian or broader Scandinavian heritage to create their own dugnad. The group became known as the Augsburg Associates and helped to raise significant funds for their community. Now, after 37 productive years of service, the Augsburg Associates are disbanding. But their legacy will live on for decades to come. THE SOUNDS OF SERVICE “The intent, when it started, was to help out on campus where they needed help,” said Eunice Dietrich ’65. “The original Associates were spouses of faculty members and other women who had an ear to what was going on.” Dietrich, a former Associates board chair who earned a degree in home economics at Augsburg, said assistance was needed across all facets of campus life. From stuffing envelopes for alumni and donor mailings to setting up a “nice meeting space” for the university’s Board of Regents when they gathered, the Associates saw needs and then filled those voids. But it didn’t take long for the work to morph from occasional events to addressing a situation requiring a sound solution. “The Associates came out of the Lutheran tradition of ‘We’ll do anything for service,’” said Jerelyn Cobb ’63. So in the 1980s, when an idea began to circulate about bringing an organ to campus, the Associates orchestrated a plan. “In those days, people still didn’t have a lot of money, but they could give us donations of goods,” Cobb said. That’s how Trash and Treasure Sales began. Dishes, linens, and other household items were packed into boxes and readied for sale. Sporting goods and games were brought in. And furs, jewelry, and even gowns from the Dayton’s department store’s prestigious Oval Room were SPRING–SUMMER 2021 13 President Paul Pribbenow (center) talks with King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway during their visit to campus in 2011. But before Their Majesties graced the campus, the Associates had already begun making sure the heritage of the school’s founders was celebrated and remembered. Velkommen Jul, an annual celebration welcoming the seasons of Advent and Christmas, took hold with attendees donning thick, gorgeous Norwegian sweaters and sampling delicious traditional foods including krumkake cookies. The celebration has become a loved tradition in the Augsburg community, even among students who don’t necessarily have Scandinavian heritage. Money raised at Velkommen Jul and through estate sales and other efforts ultimately went to fund scholarships as well as the Christensen Scholars, a cohort of students who explore theology, faith, and vocation while engaging in communitybased learning experiences. That, said Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow, is a lasting legacy for the organization: “Over many years, the Augsburg Associates have been faithful and generous supporters of Augsburg. Through their tireless efforts, the Associates have raised scholarship funds and have helped countless students pursue an Augsburg education. “The annual Velkommen Jul celebrations, graciously hosted by the Associates, highlighted our Norwegian roots, cleaned, pressed, and readied for a chance at a new life. The items were enough to fill a semitrailer, then eventually two. “Every Wednesday night, I’d have people come over, and we’d sort everything,” Cobb said. “All the dishes in one box, all the clothes in another, the sporting goods in another corner.” Then when the date of the sale neared, items were transferred from the trucks to the site of the sale. “The football team would come, and for two blocks we would line up next to each other and pass boxes into the gymnasium.” The first sale raised $600, Cobb recalled. The next year: $4,000. Then $10,000, $15,000, and $28,000. When everything was done and counted, the Trash and Treasure Sales netted a quarter of a million dollars. And Augsburg got its organ. WELCOME KING, QUEEN, AND CHRISTMAS Norwegian words echoed off the walls of classrooms and hallways when Augsburg was founded, so there was little surprise, though great delight, when King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway visited campus in 2011. The Associates were there to mark the day with special care— while wearing traditional Norwegian bunads, the proud folk outfits worn by men, women, and children on such occasions of cultural significance. ARCHIVE PHOTOS Augsburg Associates oversee food and drinks at Velkommen Jul in 1992. DID YOU KNOW? • The Augsburg Associates have raised about $400,000 through their group initiatives. • Members of the Augsburg Associates and their spouses have given more than $50 million to the university as a whole. • Within their 600-person membership, there were 38 households that were members of the Sven Oftedal Society, a group of some of Augsburg’s most generous donors. even as they welcomed new generations of diverse students, faculty, and staff. Personally, I am deeply grateful for the members of the Associates who have supported me and my family over the past 15 years as we worked together to advance Augsburg’s mission,” Pribbenow said. Though the time of the Associates’ dugnad has come to a close, some of the group’s members are continuing their volunteerism with another group: Augsburg Women Engaged. Since it was formed by a group of Auggie women in 2009, AWE has strengthened connections in the Augsburg community and encouraged philanthropy to keep the university’s hands-on education accessible to a broad range of students. These overlapping commitments shared by AWE and the Augsburg Associates demonstrate the deep-seated commitment to service that is so emblematic of Auggies of all stripes. For the women doing the work, the Associates were more than a service organization—they were family. “You give and you get, you feel good about what you’ve done. You don’t start out for that reason, but oftentimes when you’re volunteering, you get more out of it than what you give,” Dietrich said. “These women were so dedicated and did this work with such joy.” Anne Frame (left), the late spouse of Augsburg’s ninth president, Bill Frame, was also a member of the Augsburg Associates. Read more about Anne’s life and work on page 32. Augsburg Associates roll lefse, a traditional Norwegian potato flatbread, for Velkommen Jul in 2011. 14 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING–SUMMER 2021 15 Can a smartphone app DE-ESCALATE TRAFFIC STOP ENCOUNTERS between drivers and police? BY GITA SITARAMIAH Auggie-created TurnSignl app provides an attorney on demand so everyone gets home safely Childhood friends and Augsburg University Master of Business Administration alumni Andre Creighton ’19 MBA and Mychal Frelix ’19 MBA understand the fear of driving while Black and being stopped by police. They both grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and knew the family of Philando Castile, a Black man who was fatally shot by an officer during a 2016 traffic stop in nearby Falcon Heights. “The interest in creating change started with Philando Castile. That was the initial gut punch,” Creighton said. “Flash forward to George Floyd in 2020, and it was like ripping off a Band-Aid to a wound that hasn’t healed. We decided we had to do something.” Creighton, an accountant, and Frelix, who was in sales for Sony Electronics, left their stable day jobs in 2020. They teamed up with attorney Jazz Hampton, who is also an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and the three Black men launched a new company providing a technology-based solution to de-escalate traffic stops by police. Andre Creighton ’19 MBA (left) and Mychal Frelix ’19 MBA to leave 18were motivated AUGSBURG NOWtheir stable jobs in 2020 to focus on launching the TurnSignl app. SPRING–SUMMER 2021 17 Timely launch The motto says it all: “Drive with an attorney by your side.” TurnSignl provides real-time, on-demand legal guidance from attorneys to drivers, all while drivers’ smartphone cameras record the interaction. The mission is to protect drivers’ civil rights, de-escalate roadside interactions with police, and ensure both civilians and officers return home safely at the end of the day. As is true of many startups, the three co-founders wear multiple hats. Hampton serves as CEO and general counsel. Creighton is the chief financial officer and chief operating officer while Frelix is the chief revenue officer and chief technology officer. When Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, in April, that only accelerated their pace to bring the app to market. “This has been an issue plaguing Black and brown communities,” Frelix said. “We’re thankful to have the ability and skill sets to get this off the ground.” They introduced the TurnSignl app in May after they were able to leverage the public awareness of police stops ending tragically to raise more than $1 million to bring the app to market. How TurnSignl works Users open the app and immediately get connected to an attorney vetted by TurnSignl to guide them in order to de-escalate the encounter. Service launched in Minnesota and will be expanding to 10 states by the end of 2021. The founders also have created a foundation to provide service for those unable to pay for the app, which is available on the Apple and Google app stores. They expect the foundation to support 25% of the app’s user base. While the app is intended for anyone, there is increasing attention to how Black drivers are treated by police. Twin Cities NBC affiliate KARE 11 reported in May that new data shows that the majority of drivers pulled over this year by Minneapolis police for minor equipment violations are Black: Black drivers accounted for more than half of those stops despite making up only about 20% of the city’s residents, according to city data. In St. Paul, Black drivers were almost four times more likely to be pulled over by police than white drivers, according to a Pioneer Press analysis of data from 2016 to 2020. Asian, Latino, and Native American drivers were stopped at roughly the same rate as white drivers, the Pioneer Press reported. The TurnSignl founders say their product is more than just an app. It’s a signal for change. “There’s no better opportunity to impact change than this moment, now,” Creighton said. Defense attorney Taylor J. Rahm is one of the lawyers who has joined TurnSignl to be on call for motorists. “Anything we can do to make sure these situations are safe and that no one gets harmed is something I hope any lawyer would want to get involved with,” he said. Sometimes, a motorist making sudden movements is interpreted as cause for alarm and can be construed by an officer as the driver going for a weapon or drugs, leading to potential conflict. “With TurnSignl, you have a lawyer on the phone to help individuals know their rights but also importantly know how to handle the situation so nothing goes wrong,” Rahm said. “The benefit is that the officer knows that there’s an attorney on the phone telling the person, ‘This is what you should do during the stop.’” The TurnSignl app has the potential to make traffic stops safer for police as well as motorists, said Mylan Masson, retired director of the Hennepin Technical College law enforcement program and a former Minneapolis Park Police officer. “Every traffic stop can be dangerous for police officers,” said the police training expert. The TurnSignal app “could give someone a calming sense that, ‘I’m not here alone.’” Business owner Phil Steger offers the app as an employee benefit for TurnSignl co-founders [L to R] Mychal Frelix ’19 MBA, attorney Jazz Hampton, and Andre Creighton ’19 MBA plan to expand the app’s services from Minnesota to 10 more states by the end of 2021. his 14-person Brother Justus Whiskey Company in Minneapolis, believing TurnSignl’s attorneys can act as mediators to keep a traffic stop from escalating into danger. “If you think you’ve been stopped unlawfully, most people don’t know that they still have to cooperate,” said Steger, who was previously an attorney for law firm Dorsey & Whitney. “You can still be taken to jail.” A TurnSignl attorney can advise in real time: “Every defendant has the right, if they think they have been stopped unlawfully, to challenge the case in court later,” he said. Business project for ‘the times we’re in’ As the TurnSignl founders prepared to launch the company, they turned to Augsburg’s MBA program to assist them in developing the business plan. “A key part of the Augsburg MBA experience is that we want students to have practical experience and apply critical thinking,” said George Dierberger, associate business professor and director of the MBA program. Students in the MBA program grapple with real-world challenges faced by local businesses via a management consulting project, which supported TurnSignl’s launch. This is just one of the many MBA program experiences in which students collaborate on projects, case studies, presentations, and simulations. The TurnSignl project represents Augsburg’s goals to be socially conscious, said Mike Heifner ’21 MBA, who worked on the pricing strategy of the TurnSignl business plan. “This was a good example of how capitalism could bring social value to society,” he said. Augsburg graduate student Stephanie Oliver ’21 MBA hopes the TurnSignl app will open new conversations and foster a different way of thinking about how police and civilians interact during traffic stops. “This project was my first choice because of the times we’re in,” she said. Oliver’s role in the MBA group was to analyze the research and data about traffic stops nationally by race. What she found was a system with inconsistent reporting about race and traffic stops across states. What was clear was that even after accounting for those inconsistencies, the disparities were apparent in stops involving people of color. One of the studies she reviewed was the Stanford Open Policing Project, which analyzed data from nearly 100 million traffic stops and found significant racial disparities in policing and, in some cases, evidence that bias also played a role. This didn’t surprise Oliver. Her husband is Black and was frequently pulled over when they first moved to their Twin Cities suburb years ago. Once, the police even questioned her then 5-year-old daughter about whether he was actually her father. “I ask why I’m being pulled over when officers approach my vehicle, and they get angry at me,” Oliver said. “But I have a right to know why I’m pulled over.” She worries about her two young Black sons but is optimistic that the TurnSignl app can start to change the dynamics during a police stop. “I know when my daughter goes to Augsburg this fall, I’m going to get this app for her.” The TurnSignl app is available on the Apple and Google app stores. Data on drivers and police traffic stops Key findings from the national data research Stephanie Oliver ’21 MBA gathered for the TurnSignl business plan: • On average, legal intervention death rates for Black men were 4.7 times higher than those of white men from 1979 to 1988, and 3.2 times higher from 1988 to 1997. (2002 American Journal of Public Health study) • Black men are 3 times more likely than other races to die from the use of police force. Oliver said this was particularly alarming as Black males make up only about 6% of the total U.S. population. (2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics Data 2010–14) • When driver race/ethnicity was visible, Black drivers were nearly 20% more likely to be the subject of a discretionary traffic stop than were white drivers. (2014 San Diego State University research) • Among males aged 10 years or older who were killed by police use of force, the mortality rate among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic individuals was 2.8 and 1.7 times higher, respectively, than that among white individuals. (Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Use of Lethal Force by U.S. Police 2010–14) • Search rates for whites are significantly lower, at around 18% of the traffic stops, while search rates for Blacks and Hispanics total about 82%. (Compiled from Stanford Open Policing Project data for Connecticut; Illinois; North Carolina; Rhode Island; South Carolina; Texas; Washington; and Wisconsin; and municipal police departments in Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans; Philadelphia; Plano, Texas; San Diego; and San Francisco) SPRING–SUMMER 2021 19 ARCHIVE PHOTO ThenNOW & AUGSBURG A photo essay ARCHIVE PHOTO BY JOHN WEIRICK AND STEWART VAN CLEVE, DIGITAL ARCHIVES AND RESEARCH SERVICES LIBRARIAN Augsburg women’s basketball plays against the College of Saint Benedict in Si Melby Hall, 2018. or 152 years, Augsburg has both changed and remained the same. Though the Augsburg community looks much different outwardly—campus layout and buildings, student body demographics and style of clothing, technology and teaching methods—the Auggie spirit continues to inspire faculty and staff to cultivate a vibrant learning environment in which students can engage in meaningful hands-on experiences. Enjoy these glimpses into the Augsburg of the past and the university of today. An image of Augsburg’s campus and the Minneapolis skyline in 1967, stitched together from three frames of an aerial camera shot in a promotional film. Part of Augsburg’s campus—including Old Main, two residence halls, and the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion—in 2018. ARCHIVE PHOTO PHOTO BY TOM ROSTER Auggies shoot hoops in Old Main gymnasium, circa 1945. F The Augsburg community poses in front of Old Main in 1931. 20 AUGSBURG NOW The Class of 2023 gathers in front of Old Main in 2019. This fall, group photos are planned for the Class of 2024 and the Class of 2025. SPRING–SUMMER 2021 21 COURTESY PHOTO ARCHIVE PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO ARCHIVE PHOTO The camera club in 1957 included [L to R] Jerry Matison ’59, Stan Quanbeck ’59, and James Nichols ’58. ARCHIVE PHOTO An Auggie wears virtual reality goggles in a new media class in 2019. ARCHIVE PHOTO Students work in a television studio, possibly in the basement of Memorial Hall (above, 1976), and at a video shoot in Foss Center (right, 2019). Georg Sverdrup and Sven Oftedal, who each served as Augsburg’s president, speak at a gathering of students in the first Old Main building (which was demolished to build Science Hall and Sverdrup Hall), 1897. ARCHIVE PHOTO PHOTO BY DON STONER A procession in a chapel service January 24, 2020. Students attend a Pan-Afrikan Student Union cookout in Murphy Square (left, 1998) and an event in the park to welcome students back to campus (below, 2019). Augsburg women’s track and field student-athletes prepare for a race (left, 1985) and hit the track (right, 2021). 22 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING–SUMMER 2021 23 AUGGIES CONNECT AUGGIES CONNECT ALUMNI BOARD FRENCH HOUSE The Augsburg University Alumni Board is an opportunity for alumni from all programs and class years to build relationships with each other and the university today. Members connect with institutional leaders, faculty, students, and staff to better understand and support Augsburg’s mission. We are excited to welcome the newest members to the board! Dave Stevens ’90 Navid Amini ’19 MBA Willie Giller ’19 Arianna Antone-Ramirez ’20 Berlynn Bitengo ’21 Learn more about the alumni board. augsburg.edu/alumni In 1966, seven women moved into French House, a Minneapolis building adjacent to Augsburg’s campus that housed the remaining incoming first-year women who could not be accommodated in the residential housing on campus. They called themselves “the leftovers” and became fast friends who still get together at least once a year. The French House Friends traveled twice to Washington, where Linda Larson ’70 lives, and Larson has traveled annually to Minnesota, where the other six women live. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has gathered monthly via Zoom videoconferencing, and they are eager to gather in Minnesota this fall. “Augsburg fostered quality friendships that have remained with me today,” said Mary (Loken) Veiseth ’70. $ WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY $ In 2020, Augsburg University’s Institutional Advancement staff sponsored a series of virtual financial conversations hosted by Augsburg alumni with expertise in constructing a will and financial planning. The virtual events—called Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way—had such positive engagement from alumni that the events were hosted again this summer. ON THE HORIZON VIRTUAL EVENTS STRENGTHEN AUGSBURG COMMUNITY Last year, On the Horizon virtual events with President Paul Pribbenow engaged more than 500 Auggies and raised generous support for the Student Emergency Fund, the President’s Strategic Fund, student scholarships, and other key university efforts. This virtual event series was created to keep the Augsburg community up to date with the university’s ongoing work and adjustments during the pandemic. Five more On the Horizon events in the series were hosted during Spring 2021 with specific groups, such as retired faculty, former regents and regents emeriti, and current and former alumni board members. Find video recordings of the events at YouTube.com/AugsburgU. COURTESY PHOTO 100 Pictured in 2018 [front, L to R]: Diane Lempke ’69, Mary (Loken) Veiseth ’70, Linda (Radtke) Karkhoff ’70, Paulette (Olson) Odegaard ’70. [Back, L to R]: Susan (Olson) Williams ’70, Mary Ellen Buss ’70, Linda Larson ’70. Want to learn more about making a will and financial plans? Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog and search for “Where There’s a Will.” 24 AUGSBURG NOW NEW ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AUGSBURG STUDENTS As part of Augsburg’s ongoing Great Returns fundraising campaign, the university set an ambitious goal of establishing 150 new endowed scholarships. As of Spring 2021, the university had received 100 new endowed scholarships! Augsburg is presenting water droplet sculptures to the first 150 donors who establish new endowed scholarships. These handmade sculptures represent the impact that donors make in the Augsburg community. When a water droplet hits the surface of a pond, the droplet causes a ripple that continues to expand. COURTESY PHOTO $ COURTESY PHOTOS Pictured top to bottom: • • • • • A private Facebook group FRIENDS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS JUST FOR AUGGIES Be a part of live virtual events, and interact with alumni, faculty, staff, students, and university leaders. 1. Log on to Facebook. 2. Search for “Auggie Connections.” 3. Select “Join group.” 4. Answer membership questions so we know it’s you. 5. Create a post to introduce yourself. Join the Auggie Connections private Facebook group. facebook.com/groups/auggieconnections To learn more about establishing a scholarship, contact: Amy Alkire Interim Vice President for Advancement 612-330-1188 | alkirea@augsburg.edu SPRING–SUMMER 2021 25 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES ANNA COX ’22 Augsburg Now staff asked the university’s Instagram followers for the resource they most appreciated as a student. Here are a few of their responses, edited for length and clarity. Student government! I learned how to advocate for myself and others. TRIO/SSS and Multicultural Student Services. BRITTANY KIMBALL ’13 The CLASS office helped me to be successful while [I was] undergoing cancer treatment. DESTYN LAND ’19 MARGARET ALBERS ’21 The openness and willingness of professors to help students along the way. Residence Life. Shoutout to the best supervisors ever, Eric, Ryan, and Seth. EVE TAFT ’18 Center for Wellness and Counseling. I’d probably never have gotten mental health treatment otherwise. Follow @augsburguniversity on Instagram. ARCHIVE PHOTO ARIANNA ANTONE-RAMIREZ ’20 NIKKI DARST ’15 The wonderful librarians! The 1947 and 1948 MIAC championship baseball teams were recognized at a Hall of Fame banquet in 1985. Pictured are [front, L to R]: Charles “Chuck” Bard ’50, Ken Walsh ’48, Art Marben ’47, Roger Leak ’50, Marvin Johnson ’49, Jennings Thompson ’51, Jeroy Carlson ’48. [Back, L to R]: Edor Nelson ’38 (coach), Ralph Pearson ’49, Duane Lindgren ’48, Arnold Henjum ’49, Robert Howells ’50, Bobb Miller ’48. 1974 SAVE THE DATE: ALL-SCHOOL REUNION Mark your calendar to join us for the All-School Reunion in Fall 2022. Read more Class Notes online and submit your alumni news. 26 AUGSBURG NOW augsburg.edu/alumni Charles “Chuck” Bard ’50 has always been a sports enthusiast. At Augsburg, Bard played football and baseball, notably serving as the second baseman on Augsburg’s 1947 and 1948 MIAC championship teams. However, the sport that Bard loved most—and the sport that brought him the most notoriety— was one he never played: hockey. Hockey wasn’t played widely when Bard was in school. By the time he started college, Augsburg had a hockey team. However, Bard already played football and baseball, and student-athletes were limited to participating in only two sports. Bard attended as many Auggie hockey games as he could and enjoyed watching the players out on the ice. After graduating in 1950 with a degree in physical education and a minor in journalism, Bard continued his passion for sports by co-founding the Decathlon Athletic Club in the late 1960s. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, it was the first private athletic club in Minnesota outside of downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul. By 1978, Bard was still an avid hockey fan and a proud owner of Minnesota North Stars hockey season tickets. But he noticed that hockey didn’t have an award to honor the best collegiate players in the nation like other sports, so he decided his athletic club would start a nationally recognized hockey award. After consulting with the Los Angeles athletic club that started the John Wooden Award for outstanding collegiate basketball players, Bard established the Hobey Baker Award, named after a hockey legend. In 1981, the first Hobey Baker Award was given to Neal Broten. Broten played center for the University of Minnesota and the “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic hockey team, which took gold at Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. Since that first award, the Hobey has honored 40 hockey players from around the United States. The award is given to a player who best demonstrates “teamwork, dedication, integrity, exceptional play, humility, and above all, character.” In 2007, Bard visited Augsburg’s campus to recognize longtime men’s hockey coach, Ed Saugestad ’59, who was a Hobey Baker Legends of Hockey honoree. COURTESY PHOTO 1950 You chimed in: Auggie launches national hockey award Augsburg alumna and former regent joins University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents COURTESY PHOTO AUGGIES CONNECT Ruth Johnson ’74, MD, was elected to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents 1st Congressional District seat. Johnson studied chemistry and biology at Augsburg, where she earned a bachelor’s degree with summa cum laude honors; graduated from what is now Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; and completed her residency at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. She served 16 years on Augsburg’s Board of Regents, was the chair of academic and student affairs, co-chair of the campaign cabinet, co-founder of the science advisory board, and vice chair of the regent’s committee. In 1996, Johnson was named a distinguished alumna of Augsburg. Read the full story on the aumni news blog: augsburg.edu/alumni/blog. SPRING–SUMMER 2021 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES COURTESY PHOTO 1986 Tamra (Pederson) Pyrtle ’86 and her horse, Bravo. 28 AUGSBURG NOW ALUMNI CLASS NOTES ‘Underestimate me; that will be fun’ Tammera Diehm ’93 ranked as a leading attorney Tamra (Pederson) Pyrtle ’86 excelled in school and in her career, yet she always made time for the playfulness of science and math. At Augsburg, Tamra pursued a chemistry degree. This was a significant challenge, particularly for a student with a double minor in mathematics and German. But Tamra’s persistent nature helped her earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, graduating with honors in 1986. “Obviously she was not afraid of a challenge. There is a saying of which she was particularly fond: ‘Go ahead, underestimate me; that will be fun,’” said Brett Pyrtle, Tamra’s husband. Tamra’s exceptional knowledge wasn’t always reserved for schoolwork. One night in 1983, she and her friends convinced members of the Augsburg football team to carry a Volkswagen Beetle into the student center. Tamra was able to direct the crew so they could do this without taking the doors off the entry. The geometry of this feat was lost on the maintenance staff, who had to remove the entrance doors to get the vehicle back out. In her first professional job, Tamra was hired as a lab supervisor for BuckbeeMears St. Paul. She was the first college graduate to hold the position, and she learned quickly how to balance her academic knowledge with practical skills required to meet the fast-paced demands of metal-etching production. She also learned how to stand up for herself in a plant where she was the only woman in technical management. After a few other positions handling instrumentation in a consulting lab, supervising etched metal operations, providing quality assurance analysis, and teaching advanced placement chemistry, Tamra joined Medtronic’s neuromodulation division as a senior quality engineer. She was quickly promoted to principal quality engineer and developed a reputation as the go-to resource for tough quality engineering and analytical challenges. Despite her technical jobs, Tamra continued to pursue fun applications of science, and she particularly loved how science and nature intersected. It was no surprise to her family when she sold her collector car to buy a thoroughbred horse named Bravo. Tamra learned as much as she could about veterinary care and medicine so that she could regularly administer Bravo’s shots herself. The communication between Bravo and Tamra was something special, said her parents, Wayne and Lynette Pederson. Bravo perked up when he saw Tamra coming and even recognized her vehicle. They had conversations and seemed to know what the other was saying. On December 13, 2018, Tamra passed away at the age of 55 after battling cancer for more than two years. She left behind her husband of 24 years, Brett; her parents, Wayne and Lynette; her brother, Carey Pederson ’88; and her sister, Kristin (Pederson) Merkel ’91. “All three of our children are Augsburg graduates, and our family ties to Augsburg run deep,” said Wayne. “Augsburg was a significant contributor to Tami’s success. We wish for other students to have the opportunities Tami had, and what better place to provide some assistance than at Tami’s alma mater.” Wayne and Lynette, along with Brett, established the Tamra Lynn Pederson Pyrtle Endowed Scholarship at Augsburg. This scholarship will be used to support students interested in pursuing a major in chemistry and who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Tammera Diehm ’93 was recognized as a distinguished leader in her field by Chambers USA, one of the world’s leading guides to the legal profession. Diehm’s work encompasses numerous aspects of real estate transactions, including buying, selling, leasing, development, and financing. She helps local and national clients of varying sizes navigate the complexities that come with owning and occupying real estate, such as zoning, land use, government approvals, and regulatory compliance. Like a true Auggie, Diehm aims to unlock the full potential of her team through motivational coaching and support. “I want to give our firm members the ability to build their own careers, offering flexibility and support while maintaining our firm’s core values and commitment to client service,” Diehm said. Accounting roles add up for Paula Diaz ’03, Northview Bank CEO Paula Diaz ’03 has been named president and CEO of Northview Bank, which has branches across Minnesota. After graduating from Augsburg with a degree in accounting, Diaz has enjoyed a robust career in finance. Starting out as a public accountant, she went on to become the finance director of Cummins NPower. She has been at Northview Bank since 2014, where she was the CFO prior to stepping into her new role. “Paula is prepared to be the new leader for Northview Bank. Her experience, knowledge, and people skills make her the logical choice,” said Ron Carlson, former president of Northview Bank. Trailblazing Auggie Abdulkadir Sharif ’20 continues geopolitical studies at Georgetown Abdulkadir Sharif ’20 studied political science and international relations at Augsburg and became Augsburg’s first student to win the Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. He also received a Fulbright Scholarship, a Boren Scholarship to study Swahili in Tanzania (which he accepted instead of a Critical Language Scholarship, which he also won), and a Gilman Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to study in Namibia and South Africa. Sharif also participated in Princeton University’s Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship. He planned to teach English in Malaysia through the Fulbright program before travel plans were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was reassigned to the Netherlands. He is pursuing a master’s degree in global politics and security with a full scholarship to Georgetown University. 1993 2003 2020 Read more Class Notes online and submit your alumni news. augsburg.edu/alumni SPRING–SUMMER 2021 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES IN MEMORIAM Recently published Auggies Augsburg alumni, faculty, and students have published literature and earned the public’s attention during the past year. • Lowell “A.L. Shane” Ziemann ’60—“Alex, Hank & Hawk: Cowboys, Gunmen & Road Agents: A Novel of the American West” • David Nash ’06—“The Man in the Pines,” a novel and soundtrack • Joshua Phillip Johnson ’17 MFA—“The Forever Sea,” a novel • Robby Steltz ’18 MFA—“Nellie,” a short play that earned second place in the Virginia State One Acts competition • Khadijo “JoJo” Abdi ’19 MFA—One of the main authors that participated in the first Somali Community Book Fair in Burnsville, Minnesota Remembering and honoring Auggies 1950s Below we recognize the individuals whose notifications of death Augsburg received between January 1 and July 14, 2021. Alfred M. Sannerud ’50, Ham Lake, Minnesota, age 97, on June 28. 1940s • Tracy Ross ’19 MFA—“James Dean and the Beautiful Machine,” a book of poetry Hazel (Soiseth) Durfee ’41, Tampa, Florida, age 102, on March 10. • Kristine Joseph ’20 MFA—“Simply Because We Are Human,” a memoir Ebba A. (Johnson) Brooks ’42, Duluth, Minnesota, age 101, on January 12. • • Cole W. Williams ’22 MFA—Poems published in “Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine” and “Sh!t Men Say to Me: A Poetry Anthology in Response to Toxic Masculinity” Faculty member Anika Fajardo—“What if a Fish,” a novel that won the Minnesota Book Award for Middle Grade Literature • “Murphy Square 1975–2020: A Sesquicentennial Sampler of Literature by Augsburg Students”—Professor Emeritus Doug Green said, “More than 40 recent students from 2016 through 2019 served as co-editors, haggling over selections drawn from the entire digital archive of Murphy Square [Augsburg’s student-created literary and visual arts journal]. Megan Johnson ’19 designed the volume.” Evelyn H. (Sonnack) Halverson ’43, Edina, Minnesota, age 100, on February 14. Helen D. (Arnseth) Torvik ’44, Moorhead, Minnesota, age 98, on April 29. Marilyn L. (Rykken) Michaelson ’47, Coralville, Iowa, age 94, on June 10. Mildred A. (Thorsgard) Strand ’47, Remer, Minnesota, age 95, on March 28. Marian J. (Halverson) Tilleson ’48, Orfordville, Wisconsin, age 94, on March 6. Gloria V. (Swanson) Duoos ’49, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 94, on January 19. Read more Class Notes online and submit your alumni news. Robert S. Duoos ’49, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 97, on January 11. Emmet T. Oein ’50, Alexandria, Minnesota, age 93, on May 14. Dorothy E. Twiton ’50, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, age 92, on April 27. Robert L. Boxrud ’51, Hettinger, North Dakota, age 92, on March 18. Valborg Huglen ’53, Newfolden, Minnesota, age 96, on January 15. Harland P. Danielson ’58, Cadott, Wisconsin, age 89, on June 6. John R. Lingen ’53, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, age 90, on April 28. Richard L. Feig ’58, Minneapolis, age 84, on February 1. Vernon S. Stenoien ’53, Woodstock, Illinois, age 89, on March 4. Bonita M. (Griep) Ram ’58, Timberon, New Mexico, age 84, on February 20. Maryan A. (Knutson) Froland ’54, Granite Falls, Minnesota, age 88, on April 26. Curtis M. Lake ’59, Waldport, Oregon, age 90, on March 10. Edward O. Nyhus ’54, Minneapolis, age 88, on April 30. Allard J. Christenson ’51, Mahnomen, Minnesota, age 92, on February 25. Merton C. Phillips ’54, Salem, Oregon, age 88, on January 28. Merlin A. Johnson ’51, Grantsburg, Wisconsin, age 90, on February 2. Louis P. Rolf ’54, Faribault, Minnesota, age 91, on March 22. LaWayne N. Morseth ’51, Minneapolis, age 93, on January 10. Jerome C. Trelstad ’54, Santa Maria, California, age 89, on April 24. Donald C. Thorson ’51, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, age 92, on January 9. Norma J. (Sorenson) Fretheim ’55, Federal Way, Washington, age 87, on April 30. Marjorie A. (Haley) Eliason ’52, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 90, on January 29. James A. Johnson ’55, Sun City, Arizona, age 88, on June 21. Astrid (Braaten) Ongstad ’52, Devils Lake, North Dakota, age 91, on April 10. James S. Hamre ’53, South Pasadena, Florida, age 89, on January 3. Harriet R. (Bruder) Holtmeier ’53, Waconia, Minnesota, age 91, on May 29. Rodney O.J. Erickson ’56, Moorhead, Minnesota, age 86, on March 16. James W. Wennerlind ’59, Minneapolis, age 89, on March 12. 1960s Marlene L. Studlien ’60, New Hope, Minnesota, age 82, on June 17. Darrell G. Wiese ’60, Northfield, Minnesota, age 84, on January 9. Dennis J. Johnson ’61, Minneapolis, age 81, on March 26. Bruce W. Abrahamson ’62, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 80, on April 28. Donald E. Brynildson ’62, Garrison, Missouri, age 85, on May 6. Ingolf B. Kronstad ’62, Kirkland, Washington, age 80, on February 10. Lucile M. (Kunkel) Matison ’56, Glenwood, Minnesota, age 88, on April 1. Bonnie E. (Lassila) Curtin ’63, Minneapolis, age 79, on January 3. Thomas M. Warme ’57, Moneta, Virginia, age 85, on March 17. Gloria J. (Odegaard) Schlechter ’63, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 79, on January 13. Elyce E. (Lundquist) Arvidson ’58, Minneapolis, age 84, on April 1. Robert F. Soli ’63, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, age 83, on January 10. augsburg.edu/alumni 30 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING–SUMMER 2021 31 IN MEMORIAM Charles M. Piper ’64, Northfield, Minnesota, age 85, on March 27. Charlotte M. (Nordmark) Sween ’71, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 81, on May 2. Carolyn I. (Raymond) Vickers ’85, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 79, on January 21. William K. Ogren ’73, Minneapolis, age 70, on March 10. Stanley L. Hjermstad ’88, Sanford, Florida, age 88, on January 23. Dennis B. Reiman ’66, Farmington, Minnesota, age 78, on April 19. Derrell C. Wistrom ’74, Austin, Texas, age 74, on February 22. 1990s Steven L. Erickson ’67, Stanchfield, Minnesota, age 76, on June 28. Kathlyn H. (Faber) Norum ’75, Alexandria, Minnesota, age 80, on June 26. Tamera K. (Fillips) Shreve ’90, Chanhassen, Minnesota, age 54, on June 21. Richard G. Johnson ’76, Minneapolis, age 72, on April 23. Brenda K. Quade ’91, Rockford, Illinois, age 53, on February 4. 1980s Dawn C. Van Tassel ’95, Minneapolis, age 46, on April 7. Carol R. (Strand) Pattee ’66, Silverton, Oregon, age 78, on February 8. Duane M. Ilstrup ’68, Rochester, Minnesota, age 74, on February 9. Suzann B. (Johnson) Nelson ’68, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, age 74, on March 14. Judi E. (Romerein) Tsudo ’68, Minneapolis, age 74, on March 18. Erland J. Nord ’69, Elbow, Canada, age 91, on January 5. 1970s Ross L. Jacobson ’70, Janesville, Wisconsin, age 72, on June 7. Bonnie K. (Rosvold) Risius ’70, Bricelyn, Minnesota, age 72, on March 3. Vivian M. (Shannon) Holman ’80, Minneapolis, age 78, on February 15. Maureen T. (Conroy) Kurtz ’80, Shell Lake, Wisconsin, age 63, on July 6. James M. Ruud ’80, Minneapolis, age 78, on June 26. Lorraine G. (Herman) Bergquist ’82, Minneapolis, age 87, on March 4. Darrell C. Wistrom ’99, Austin, Texas, age 74, on February 22. 2000s Christian H. Anderson ’01, Shakopee, Minnesota, age 47, on April 11. Whitney J. Anderson ’09, Minneapolis, age 34, on June 17. 2010s Kevin P. Ehrman-Solberg ’15, Minneapolis, age 33, on June 12. Elizabeth (Quackenbush) Harper ’15, New Orleans, age 39, on March 3. Cole A. Linnell ’15, Rogers, Minnesota, age 29, on March 14. Faculty, staff, and friends Department of Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies Adjunct Instructor James Frankki, Minneapolis, age 59, on March 21. Professor Emerita of Nursing Beverly J. (Swenson) Nilsson, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 89, on November 10. Center for Global Education and Experience Mexico Site Staff Member Moisés Rios Bello, Cuernavaca, Mexico, age 50, on February 23. Center for Global Education and Experience Mexico Site Staff Member Maria “Isabel” Sanchez Hernandez, Cuernavaca, Mexico, age 48, on February 21. LONG-TERM STABILITY FOR LIFE-CHANGING EDUCATION SUSTAIN AUGSBURG’S MISSION THROUGH A CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY What is a charitable gift annuity? A charitable gift annuity is a “split gift.” Part of your gift is used by Augsburg immediately to support our mission of educating students, and part of the gift is set aside to be invested to support future fixed payments to you. ARCHIVE PHOTO Benefits of a charitable gift annuity: Anne Frame, 84, passed away July 13, in Red Wing, Minnesota. She was the spouse of Bill Frame, Augsburg’s ninth president who served from 1997 to 2006. They were a part of Augsburg’s Sven Oftedal Society, a group of generous donors who have arranged a deferred gift to the university to provide student scholarships. Anne was involved in many parts of the Augsburg community, including as a member of the Augsburg Associates (see story on page 12). She welcomed students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to Augsburg House. She sang a folk song with Bill during a 2004 Auggie Variety Show, engaged with students at Augsburg’s Late Night Breakfast during finals week, and participated in a trip to China with Bill and other Minnesota private college presidents to increase the number of undergraduate student exchanges between the United States and China. Anne will be remembered for her Auggie spirit of dedication, generosity, and service. Submit address changes and nominations for remembrances to alumniupdate@augsburg.edu. • • Added source of income—You will receive fixed annual payments for your lifetime. Long-term support to Augsburg—Unlike an immediate income annuity, the remaining value of your annuity will go to Augsburg instead of an insurance company after you pass away. “ • • Highly appreciated asset value—By donating assets in-kind, you preserve the full fair market value of the assets, rather than reduce it by selling it and paying capital gains taxes. Tax deductions—If you itemize deductions on your tax return, savings from the federal income tax charitable deduction of the gift portion reduce your gift’s net cost. Ron and Linda Ott ’85 chose to give a charitable gift annuity to Augsburg. I was always grateful for my time at Augsburg. A charitable gift annuity is a way for us to do something now that ensures Augsburg has funding. It also provides tax advantages and a little income back to us each year. Augsburg made the whole process very easy, even splitting our gift between a few different programs we want to support. We want to work with you to create a gift that best fits your circumstances. Contact us to learn more about supporting Augsburg students through a charitable gift annuity. 32 AUGSBURG NOW ” —Linda Ott ’85 Amy Alkire, Interim Vice President for Advancement | 612-330-1188 | alkirea@augsburg.edu Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 New mural welcomes Auggies back to campus A group of students from an Augsburg graphic systems class created a mural, “Divine Unity,” in the tunnel between Old Main and Science Hall. The mural represents unity existing among differences and unique individuals creating a space of community and happiness. Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031
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Title: Augsburg Now Winter 2020-21
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: What it takes to fight a pandemic Confronting the Minnesota paradox Student-athletes’ off-and-on sports seasons Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist WINTER 2020–21 | VOL. 83, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE WHAT I...
Show more What it takes to fight a pandemic Confronting the Minnesota paradox Student-athletes’ off-and-on sports seasons Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist WINTER 2020–21 | VOL. 83, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE WHAT IT TAKES TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC: COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND MUTUAL AID (PART 1) From parking lots and phone calls to hospitals and research labs, Auggies use a multifaceted approach to confront the global crisis of a lifetime by Kate H. Elliott Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Featured Stories Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email One November afternoon, Natalie Jacobson, coordinator of Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen, opened an email from someone she didn’t recognize. It was short and to the point: First-year Auggie Sam Kristensen ’24 explained that he had collected 17 bags of canned and nonperishable food items from those who dared to enter Sign up for Email Newsletter his Halloween yard maze through a fog-lit skeleton shack and animatronic troll swamp. The business major said he was glad his ghoulish creativity could feed dozens of Submit Your Alumni News Augsburg students and residents in surrounding Minneapolis neighborhoods. “The email made my week,” Jacobson said. “We’ve been CONNECT WITH US consumed with coordinated relief e orts; Sam’s email was a great reminder that everyone and anyone can Natalie Jacobson joins Nick Keener ’20, Campus Kitchen student leadership team member. (Courtesy photo) make a di erence.” Kristensen is one of hundreds in the Augsburg community who have come together in both planned and unplanned ways to support those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, which to date has infected an estimated 28 million and killed more than 500,000 Americans. From sta and students sewing and donating face masks to medical personnel advancing policies and caring for patients, members of the Augsburg community are making a lasting impact on the front lines of disease prevention and support. These are a few of the many stories of Auggies combating the virus and its e ects with compassion, faith, and ingenuity. Serving up hope Jacobson manages donations like Kristensen’s o ering while working with a team of students and volunteers to facilitate integrated food access programs to address hunger on and near campus. According to the National Association of Student A airs Administrators in Higher Education, more than 38% of students at four-year institutions are food insecure, and 15% are homeless. Before the pandemic, Augsburg students accessed free food at the Campus Cupboard in the basement of Science Hall. Students could stop in ve days a week to select a bag of fresh and non-perishable items, no questions asked. The Campus Kitchen also made outreach e orts to support community gardens and meals, rescue unsold produce at farmers markets, and educate the public about food as wellness. Yamile Hernandez ’22 works in the Campus Cupboard. (Photo by Courtney Perry) When the pandemic hit, Campus Kitchen turned up the heat. The team moved its refrigerators, freezers, and shelves of food to a large conference room in Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship. Campus Cupboard transitioned to an online order form, with student workers, like nance major Yamile Hernandez ’22, delivering orders on campus or making contactless deliveries to students living in the Twin Cities. The cupboard serves between 25 and 75 students each week. “It’s rewarding to know we’re helping others, especially in such hard times, and we’re using up food that would have gone to waste.”—Yamile Hernandez ’22 “Many people have found themselves without a job or having less work, which makes it di cult to keep up with expenses,” said Hernandez. “Having access to healthy, free food helps alleviate a bit of that stress.” Campus Kitchen intensi ed e orts to address health and wellness disparities in neighborhoods surrounding Augsburg. Because so many organizations and community centers were already in partnership with Augsburg, Jacobson said, they were quick to respond to increased needs during the pandemic. “We heard about an opportunity to apply for CARES Act grant funding on a Tuesday, and the application was due that Thursday. Campus Kitchen rallied together with the Health Commons, West Bank Community Development Corporation, and the People’s Center to pull an application together, and we received $22,000, which we spent in a week on nonperishable food items, personal and household cleaning products, as well as food storage equipment, including refrigerators and freezers. The Campus Kitchen volunteers [L to R]: Hank Hietala, Ellen Finn, and LaToya Taris-James (Courtesy photo) grant will enable us to provide students and neighbors with access to healthy foods on a regular basis and at an increased capacity.” In March, the Sabo Center launched the Neighborhood Food Initiative in partnership with M Health Fairview. The initiative brings together a variety of community partners to support collaborative approaches that increase access to healthy food in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. “Since the summer, we have distributed food weekly to the West Bank CDC and People’s Center,” Jacobson said. “Many households in Cedar-Riverside now see this service as a key piece of meeting their basic food needs.” Drives of support Augsburg parking lots have been preferred drop-o locations for food and supply drives. In June and again in late September, Augsburg Women Engaged supported weeklong drives to support the Campus Cupboard and ShareShop, which provides students with free or for-rent bedding, games, clothing, kitchenware, appliances, and other home goods. The group collected 400 pounds of food and household supplies, plus $5,405 for the Campus Kitchen. On June 1, Steve Peacock, community relations director at the Sabo Center, and a cadre of masked volunteers lined up in a parking lot near the edge of campus. The group collected donations from an estimated 550 cars that drove through during a two-hour drive to collect a number of items, mostly personal hygiene products and diapers, for the Brian Coyle Neighborhood Center nearby. “We were absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and donations,” Peacock said. “While we were out there, collecting items, we saw athletic teams lined up to collect supplies on the other side of the athletics complex. It’s a testament to the innovative, communityfocused, and generous spirit of Augsburg.” “Our mission to support students and be an anchor for the community seems relevant and central to our lives now more than ever.”—Steve Peacock Augsburg has also encouraged donations to the Student Emergency Fund, which was established last March to support students with nancial hardships and provide relief for basic needs, including food, rent, transportation, and medication. Auggies gather donations for the Twin Cities community outside Augsburg’s Kennedy Center. (Courtesy photo) In the wake of George Floyd’s death in May, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis has distributed food to hundreds of neighbors each week. This summer, Augsburg Pastor Justin Lind-Ayres showed up with more than 25 Auggie students, sta , and faculty, most of whom didn’t know each other, to serve food. “This was just one microcosm of the work Auggies have and continue to do across the Twin Cities,” Lind-Ayres said. “The student body inspires and teaches me what it means to be ‘informed citizens.’” ‘Auggies are resilient’ Lind-Ayres and the Campus Ministry team have worked to provide moments of hope and belonging throughout the year. They shared prayers on their blog once a day from March to May and now post prayers weekly as a way for Auggies to lift up concerns and hopes for people and situations. On Fridays, the team has hosted 8 minutes and 46 seconds in chapel and on Zoom for “Silence, Prayer, and Pastoral Presence” to remember George Floyd and others and to focus on the call for racial justice. The Muslim Student Association, under the direction of Fardosa Hassan ’12, has provided opportunities for safe, socially distanced Friday prayer. In addition to leading reduced-capacity in-person worship in Hoversten Chapel, recorded worship, and virtual discussions, Lind-Ayres and University Pastor Babette Chatman ’06 serve on the COVID-19 Response Team. This diverse group of sta members gathers up to ve times each week to review COVID19 cases on campus, engage in contact tracing, provide support for students in quarantine or isolation, and gure out ways to keep the community safe. “We spend a lot of time on the phone or texting with students o ering words of encouragement, answering questions, and troubleshooting issues together as we manage the realities of COVID-19 on campus,” said Lind-Ayres. Assistant Athletic Director Melissa Lee ’04 serves on the COVID-19 Task Force. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Melissa Lee ’04, assistant athletic director and softball head coach, serves on the COVID-19 Task Force. Lee is one of several sta members responding to the helpline set up for Auggies to access the latest information and resources. In the spring, she and others were answering helpline phone calls and emails in shifts seven days a week. As tra c has decreased, phone calls go directly to voicemail. Team members respond to messages and emails as soon as possible. To parents, students, faculty, and sta , Lee said, “Continue to be gritty. Continue to be safe. We can and will all get through this together. Auggies are resilient.” Augsburg stories on COVID-19: What it takes to ght a pandemic, part 2: Research and health care Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist guides Auggies through the COVID-19 pandemic Top Image: Auggies gather and distribute food and donations through programs like Campus Kitchen and Campus Cupboard. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook athletics mutual aid Twitter Class of 2004 Pinterest Class of 2022 LinkedIn Email Community Engagement COVID-19 Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST What it takes to ght a pandemic: Research and health care (Part 2) YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE What it takes to ght a Confronting the Minnesota Stay the course: O -and-on pandemic: Research and paradox sports seasons prove health care (Part 2) - on February 22, 2021 Auggie student-athletes’ resilience - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE WHAT IT TAKES TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC: RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE (PART 2) From parking lots and phone calls to hospitals and research labs, Auggies use a multifaceted approach to confront the global crisis of a lifetime by Kate H. Elliott Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Featured Stories Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP sees resilience every day as executive director of Augsburg’s Health Commons, which are drop-in health centers led by the nursing program with a model focused on caring for those in the community who are marginalized. Guests are not required to show identi cation, and medical professionals don’t wear scrubs or stethoscopes in order to increase relatability and public trust in health care workers. Sign up for Email Newsletter Her focus at the Augsburg Central Health Commons is with individuals who are experiencing homelessness or who are marginally housed in Minneapolis, and the Health Commons in the Submit Your Alumni News Cedar-Riverside neighborhood provides care for residents, many of whom are East African immigrants. As an assistant professor of nursing, Clark teaches primarily in the graduate nursing program Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP (Courtesy photo) through courses that emphasize social justice, health disparities, and civic engagement. CONNECT WITH US The Augsburg nursing program, Clark said, is unique because faculty and students are embedded in the community. Other schools often see that work as “extra service” and send students to nonpro ts, but Augsburg considers place-based work as central to the educational experience. Hospitality and healing “We help students serve and explore the world we live in, and we’re with them when they do it,” Clark said. “They get uncomfortable and lean into the biases they may have and really get involved in a community to understand the issues from the people who experience them.” “You can’t come up with answers if you don’t know the problems.”—Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP When COVID-19 hit, the Health Commons at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis was one of the Augsburg’s Health Commons received donations from the community, including 27,200 bottles of water from UP Co ee Roasters and a grassroots fundraising campaign organized by Bethany Johnson ’19, ’23 DNP, whose family owns the business. Johnson (left) delivered water to the Health Commons with husband, David Chall (middle), and daughter, Olivia Chall, in April 2020. (Courtesy photo) only drop-in health centers that continued to stay open. At the height of the pandemic, Clark said staying open meant standing outside, passing out hygiene kits, and bringing meals and supplies to encampments of unhoused people. “Many of our students are adult learners seeking bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Some of them have dealt with furloughs or are at the bedsides of patients, holding up the [touchscreen] tablet for family members to say goodbye, and adapting to constant changes in health care environments. Then they have school in addition to their own stressors at home, like juggling kids or responding to family members who say, ‘COVID isn’t real.’ These students want to get involved and tackle the issues in their communities, and they are doing it! I get chills talking about it.” Ellen Kearney ’23 DNP is one of Clark’s students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice: Family Nurse Practitioner program and also a registered nurse at a Twin Cities intensive care unit. Kearney admitted that despite extensive safety measures, it was scary to be indoors at the Health Commons with patients early in the pandemic. But the work—her passion—is critical, she added. Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP (left) and President Paul Pribbenow at an Augsburg Bold event in the fall. (Courtesy photo) “Before COVID-19 we were able to serve between 50 and 100 people each Monday and Thursday,” said Kearney. “Now we can only see 12 people each day we are open. But because our hours have not changed, it has been nice to have a longer period alone with each guest if they chose to stay and talk. I’ve been able to learn about one guest’s upcoming trip to her home country in Africa and her worries about traveling, and I have been able to follow up with one older man while I do his foot care. It has been hard to not open the doors fully, especially now that the weather is colder and knowing there are so few public spaces open, though it is clear that we need to stay capped for everyone’s safety. While the scale of the Commons is small, the impact is large.” When Augsburg temporarily restricted students from working at the Commons, volunteers and Augsburg alumni, like Emily Pierskalla ’20 DNP, stepped in to keep doors open. The most challenging aspect of working as a registered nurse is ricocheting through stages of grief, which Pierskalla said is emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. She avoids news about COVID-19 and social media because it can trigger haunting memories. “I have ashbacks of the faces of patients I’ve seen die while their loved ones cry watching through an iPad or seeing my own co-workers struggling to breathe after getting sick,” said Pierskalla, who has worked for eight years at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. “It has taken a lot of therapy, self-care, and e ort to keep the burnout from causing me to become bitter and angry, or worse, apathetic to the world and society.” She has also worked as a nurse practitioner at CVS MinuteClinics, administering COVID-19 tests and helping people understand their test results and quarantine recommendations—e orts that have immediate practical e ects. “When I’m at the Commons or out in the camps, I actually feel like I’m helping to create the world I want to live in.”—Emily Pierskalla ’20 DNP Ray Yip ’72 has extensive global health experience, including work in Qinghai, a sparsely populated Chinese province. (Courtesy photo) Advocates for change Auggies are working across the globe to create policies and medical solutions to realize that better world. Dr. Ray Yip ’72 is a global health specialist serving as special advisor to the Gates Venture on China Partnership Development. For the past 22 years, he has assisted the Chinese government in improving its public health system, with a focus on disease control and response capacity. When COVID-19 began spreading in January, Yip was in Beijing. “I was impressed with how aggressive the outbreak was in Wuhan, and I predicted that China would be able to get it under control by April. To my pleasant surprise, China achieved that seemingly impossible task by mid-March.” In February, he returned to his home in upstate New York, from Ray Yip ’72 (Courtesy photo) which he has advised several organizations about COVID-19-related issues and provided a range of companies with updates about the progress of vaccine development worldwide. “This pandemic, which we knew would happen sooner or later, requires strong government leadership as well as commitment and partnership with the private sectors for the solutions.”—Ray Yip ’72 “More than 23 years with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told me the United States had the know-how and capacity to contain this epidemic. After all, I was sent to China to help them to build such capacity. My prediction was so o , I hate to admit it. We all su er dearly from the dire consequence of horrible mismanagement, which largely has to do with leadership failure. It was particularly painful to watch the CDC get sidelined, and public health measures became politicized.” The heroes of the pandemic, Yip said: health care workers. “Most people do not realize the risk and danger of those health care workers taking care of the COVID patients, especially in the early phase when protective gear was in short supply. A disproportionate number of them got infected and died. If I were my younger version, I would not hesitate to join them in on the front lines. I am grateful for their service and sacri ce.” Interview with Dr. Ray Yip '72 · Augsburg University Alumni Association was Live Follow Share Dr. Paul Mueller ’84, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System’s Southwest Wisconsin region, oversees thousands of such workers attending to patients in two hospitals and eight clinics. He manages COVID-19 response through policy decisions and exploring new treatments while treating the disease in his own patient panel. “It is weighty from a psychological standpoint, as you try to be a leader in such an ever-changing, high-stakes environment, knowing the lives you impact,” said Mueller, who has served as an Augsburg regent and as the campaign chair of Great Returns: Augsburg’s Sesquicentennial Campaign. “But every day I walk the halls of our hospitals and clinics and see the resilience and ingenuity of our sta who have delivered on the promise of medicine. Nurses greet me with a smile behind personal protective equipment. They are busy Paul Mueller ’84 (Courtesy photo) but feel called and up to this work. With a can-do attitude, we are caring for patients in the darkest of times, administering novel treatments, and preparing to safely roll out vaccines. “We’re still in the thick of it. If you think of it like a marathon, we are at mile marker 19. But if we can maintain resilience and hope, we will nish the race and be better for it.”—Paul Mueller ’84 “This pandemic has shown us that we all breathe the same air, and it is the one thing that is unifying our entire planet. While the virus rages on killing people, we continue to see the brilliance of the human spirit—beacons of hope and optimism, compassion and resilience, integrity and ingenuity.” Caring for patients, fueling research Brittany Kimball ’13 is a third-year resident at the University of Minnesota in internal medicine and pediatrics. The pandemic has taken its toll on her and other residents, as expectations are in ux and workloads are stressful and exhausting. Virtual visits are di cult because of a lack of internet and personal connectivity, Kimball said. Loneliness has infected the hospitals. Last week, Kimball watched a nurse gently care for a patient isolated from visitors, playing his favorite music as he died. “The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly compounded patients’ conditions. Children are missing well visits and Brittany Kimball ’13: “Getting my rst COVID-19 vaccine at Masonic Children’s Hospital—which I encourage everyone to do as soon as it becomes available to them!” (Courtesy photo) immunizations. Cancer patients require COVID-19 tests prior to chemotherapy, sometimes missing a treatment because they have the virus. Many of my primary care patients with diabetes are wary of clinic visits, thus making it harder to [measure doses of] their medications,” said Kimball, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Augsburg. “Most troublesome, the pandemic has compounded inequities for already marginalized people. Some of my patients don’t have internet, while others don’t have access to a regular phone. For some patients, limited English pro ciency can make getting set up on a virtual platform more di cult. Brittany Kimball ’13 (left) and her co-resident work at the Minneapolis Veterans A airs Health Care System. (Courtesy photo) “Patients dealing with addiction and trying to maintain sobriety have told me that their usual coping mechanisms—like getting together with other people who are sober or participating in a faith community—have become inaccessible. For patients living in poverty, balancing virtual school and frontline jobs has been incredibly stressful and sometimes impossible. It’s often people living in poverty that are doing frontline work that makes them more likely to be exposed to the virus, like working in a restaurant, public transit, or in a store.” “We need to gure out how to make telemedicine more equitable.”—Brittany Kimball ’13 Her dream has long been to be a doctor, so despite the challenges, she pushes on—driven to pursue a fellowship in hematology-oncology. As a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, Kimball is particularly interested in caring for adolescents and young adults with cancer and blood diseases. “As an 18-yearold in my rst semester at Augsburg, I was guring out dating while bald, chemo after classes, and trying to study when my brain felt foggy and my body felt sick,” she added. “Sometimes I needed a bit more guidance and support than a typical adult patient, but not in the same way that a much younger child might. Teens and young adults don’t t neatly in the pediatric or adult-centered models of care, and I hope I can make that better.” Hamdi Adam ’18 is similarly driven to make a di erence. As a doctoral student of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota, Adam followed his bachelor’s in biology from Augsburg with a master’s degree in public health at the University of Minnesota. Adam studies cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurocognitive disorders. He is focused on investigating the impact of COVID-19 on chronic conditions, which can lead to higher risk of mortality, especially among people with existing risk factors, like high blood pressure and diabetes. “At some point down the road, I’ll probably get the chance to utilize COVID-19 data to assess the relationship between COVID status and various chronic disease conditions in population-based research studies and hopefully add valuable and timely information to the Hamdi Adam ’18 (Courtesy photo) base of existing literature,” said Adam, who—as a rst-generation Oromo American—is interested in applying his research to address health disparities a ecting people of color. “It feels good to know that your studies and work are for the betterment of people. With research, sometimes you feel like your work is so detached from the true health problems you are attempting to address, but I like to think that epidemiologic research provides the basis for informing more direct actions, such as health policy development and e ective community-based interventions.” Another researcher, Will Matchett ’13, earned a doctorate in virology and gene therapy from the Mayo Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He works as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota, where he will spend up to ve years acquiring training that will allow him to run his own lab. Between April and August, his research focused exclusively on developing a SARS-CoV-2 test to measure the speci c antibodies that block the virus from entering cells. Since September, his focus has shifted to testing a COVID-19 vaccine being developed at the University of Minnesota. Will Matchett ’13 used a plaque assay to quantify the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus in a sample at the University of Minnesota biosafety lab in August 2020. (Courtesy photo) Increasing and diversifying COVID-19 testing Does all the medical terminology sound like a foreign language? That’s how Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL described her rst few weeks as the higher education operations lead for Minnesota’s COVID-19 Testing Work Group. Since 2009, she has worked at Augsburg, the last six of those years as director for the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship. But since June, the Sabo Center has put her “on loan” to Minnesota’s State Emergency Operations Center to work with a team of experts to launch Minnesota’s testing plan in collaboration with colleges and universities. Subgroups are assigned to areas such as long-term care, child care and schools, community testing, hotspots, case investigation and contact tracing, research, data, purchasing, and contracts. Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL (Photo by Courtney Perry) “My work at Augsburg prepared me for this role in a variety of ways. The role is necessarily collaborative and involves recognizing that di erent people have di erent roles to play and respecting those di erent perspectives and sets of expertise.”—Elaine Eschenbacher ’18 MAL “Civic engagement work is like that, too. I’ve also been thinking a lot about the Master of Arts in Leadership program, which I completed in 2018. This work is like having a master class in leadership and public health every day.” In April, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced a “moonshot goal” of 20,000 tests per day in the state, at a time when only about 2,000 tests were being performed daily, Eschenbacher said. The testing work group increased capacity and made that moonshot goal by the end of June. “Since then, we’ve been continuing to increase and diversify COVID testing, and make sure that the people who most need it have access to it. During the week of Thanksgiving, our daily average for testing across the state was more than 57,000,” she added. “Testing is an important tool in controlling the spread of COVID-19, and making testing accessible regardless of income or location is an important equity issue.” Eschenbacher has spent her days planning and data-modeling as it relates to higher education, consulting with speci c institutions in the wake of outbreaks, guiding higher education testing, and organizing partnerships for case investigation and contact-tracing. She facilitates webinars and other information pieces about saliva testing, serves as state incident commander for community testing events, and helped coordinate mass testing of 18- to 35-year-olds prior to Thanksgiving. More recently, she has served as incident commander for a community vaccination site. “It feels like a cliché to say this, but it is an absolute honor to do this work. We talk a lot about vocation at Augsburg, and I guess I would say that vocation can sneak up on you. I never would have dreamed of doing the work I’ve done since June, but it feels like purpose.” These are only a handful of the Auggies who are living out their passionate purpose to bring an end to this crushing pandemic and, in the meantime, to soften the blow. Augsburg stories on COVID-19: What it takes to ght a pandemic, part 1: Community collaboration and mutual aid Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist guides Auggies through the COVID-19 pandemic Top Image: Augsburg’s coronavirus guidelines, including face coverings and physical distancing in classrooms and public places, helped protect Auggies from COVID-19. Professor and Chemistry Department Chair Joan Kunz instructs in the Hagfors Center. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email biology Class of 1972 Class of 1984 Class of 2010 Class of 2018 Class of 2020 Class of 2023 Community Engagement Doctor of Nursing Practice mutual aid research health care Class of 2013 Master of Arts in Leadership Class of 2014 COVID-19 Master of Arts in Nursing Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Confronting the Minnesota paradox What it takes to ght a pandemic: Community collaboration and mutual aid (Part 1) YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE What it takes to ght a Confronting the Minnesota Stay the course: O -and-on pandemic: Community paradox sports seasons prove collaboration and mutual - on February 22, 2021 Auggie student-athletes’ aid (Part 1) resilience - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE CONFRONTING THE MINNESOTA PARADOX Signi cant racial disparities exist in a state with a liberal reputation, but some are seeking ways to close the gaps by Gita Sitaramiah Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Featured Stories Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Robert Harper ’16 remembers the rst time he was called the nword. His family had moved to Minnesota from the South Side of Chicago, seeking a better life. Since then, he’s achieved that better life, earning an undergraduate degree from Augsburg University and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public A airs. He is now a supplier diversity director for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Sign up for Email Newsletter “I think I’ve had a unique experience escaping poverty on the South Side of Chicago and North Minneapolis, only to be confronted with the daily decisions made by white people that only re-create those Submit Your Alumni News circumstances of oppression,” Harper said. Robert Harper ’16 (Courtesy photo) While he’s now a working professional in a state that prides itself on being “Minnesota nice,” Harper never gets too comfortable, recalling that painful moment when he was walking to middle school and a passing driver shouted the racial epithet at him. More recently, on CONNECT WITH US a trip to northern Minnesota, Harper was told while visiting Gull Lake, ‘You don’t belong here,’ by a white man. “It’s moments like that when you’re trying to do better, ‘pull yourselves up by your bootstraps,’ that society reminds you that there’s a glass ceiling for some,” Harper said. “Some people constantly remind you that they decide how far you go, what rooms you enter, and in the case of George Floyd, whether or not you live.”—Robert Harper ’16 Exposing the paradox George Floyd’s murder three miles from Augsburg University put an international spotlight on not only the experiences of Black people at the hands of the criminal justice system but also the reality of the disturbing “Minnesota paradox.” That’s how University of Minnesota Professor Samuel Myers describes how Minnesota has such a high quality of life and a history of progressive politicians but is one of the worst places to live for Black people. “Measured by racial gaps in unemployment rates, wage and salary incomes, incarceration rates, arrest rates, home ownership rates, mortgage lending rates, test scores, reported child maltreatment rates, school disciplinary and suspension rates, and even drowning rates, African Americans are worse o in Minnesota than they are in virtually every other state in the nation,” Myers said. The numbers illustrate the bleak story: Samuel Myers (Courtesy photo) Only 25.3% of Black households in Minnesota own homes versus 76.9% of white households, according to census data, a stark divide given that home ownership is considered the leading contributor to household wealth. The median household income for Black households in the state is the lowest of any group at $41,570, about half of what Asian and white households earn. In the Twin Cities, African Americans represent 9% of the overall population, but are incarcerated at 11 times the rate of whites who represent 76% of the population, the NAACP reported last year. Only 21.7% of Black people hold bachelor’s degrees or higher versus nearly 40% overall. Meanwhile, between 2010 and 2018, the fastest growing racial group in Minnesota was the Black population, which grew by 36%, adding more than 96,500 people. Many are immigrants but face the same backdrop of a state that hasn’t historically acknowledged that discrimination plays a role in the Black story here, Myers said. “When it comes to race in the Twin Cities, in Minnesota, there was this instinctive belief that we already know what the problem is, that it’s not really a problem, and since it’s not a problem, we don’t need to nd answers,” Myers said. The COVID-19 pandemic compounded the inequities. The unemployment rate for Black Minnesotans in the aftermath of pandemic shutdowns rose to 15.3% last July, up 9 percentage points from a year earlier, versus 6.3% for white workers, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reported. According to a Pew Research report published in December: “Among Black Americans, 71% know someone who has been hospitalized or died because of COVID-19.” Kevin Ehrman-Solberg ’15 (center right) and the Mapping Prejudice Project team found inequities in housing documents throughout Minneapolis’ history. (Courtesy photo, 2017) The path to today’s Minneapolis High pro le police killings of Black men in this region—including George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Jamar Clark—have heightened the protests and urgency for change. The viral video of Floyd’s murder with his neck under the knee of a Minneapolis police o cer seemed to dawn a new era in the ght for justice. Protesters took to the streets for weeks around the globe. Gra ti images of Floyd sprang up worldwide, even on a West Bank barrier in the Middle East. CEOs of Fortune 500 corporations in Minnesota wrote an open letter of outrage. Athletes of all races took the knee before matches to show their support for racial equity. In the city of Minneapolis, at the center of the controversy, there was swift action against the o cers, something unprecedented. “Despite decades of police incidents that resulted in the deaths of people of color, today’s actions by the mayor represent the rst time in modern history that Minneapolis police o cers were red within 24 hours for unjustly murdering a citizen,” said Michael Lansing, associate professor and chair of Augsburg’s history department, in a May 26 series of tweets about the Minneapolis Police Department. (Lansing’s comments on the history of uprisings and Minneapolis police were also carried by The Washington Post and Mother Jones.) Now, many are acknowledging the systems that are behind today’s Minneapolis. Even the South Minneapolis street where George Floyd was killed is in a historically Black working-class and middle-class neighborhood created by housing segregation, Lansing said in his tweet series. Indeed, Mapping Prejudice Project, a team of community members, Associate Professor Michael Lansing (Photo by Stephen Ge re) geographers, and historians based at the University of Minnesota, have unearthed thousands of racial covenants in Minneapolis that reserved land for the exclusive use of white people. Those restrictions served as powerful obstacles for people of color seeking safe and a ordable housing. Racial covenants, dovetailed with redlining and predatory lending practices, depressed homeownership rates for Black residents. They also limited access to community resources like schools and parks. While contemporary white residents of Minneapolis like to think their city never had formal segregation, those racial covenants did the work of Jim Crow in the Twin Cities, said Kevin EhrmanSolberg ’15, a co-founder of Mapping Prejudice. “The reputation of Minneapolis is that it’s a liberal bastion, yet there’s a racist reality that people live in.”—Kevin Ehrman-Solberg ’15 Professor William Green (Photo by Courtney Perry) Looking forward with a pragmatic lens While the period following George Floyd’s murder looked like a change moment, Augsburg University’s M. Anita Gay Hawthorne Professor of Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies William Green worries that the momentum started to diminish as the summer progressed. “The challenge that we face is to do the hard work to de ne what change means, and second, how to get at the root of the problems that lead to disparities in society.” Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce President Jonathan Weinhagen looks ahead to the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder and to the question of how much progress has been made in raising awareness about and working to eliminate the disparities experienced by people of color. “[Closing the racial divide] is not going to be resolved in a year. It’s going to take more time, but it’s going to have to be far more rapid than anything we’ve done to date.”—Jonathan Weinhagen The implications of these disparities are wide-reaching, with government o cials and the business community concerned that a growing population that isn’t able to fully participate in or bene t from the economy will threaten the vitality of the state as a whole. Jonathan Weinhagen (Courtesy photo) “To have a large and growing part of our economy be marginalized is a huge disadvantage to all of us because it takes a huge part of the population out,” said Susan Brower, Minnesota’s demographer. The NAACP’s 48-page Twin Cities Economic Inclusion Plan issued in 2019 calls for a comprehensive, multi-pronged policy agenda anchored by ve basic principles: economic sustainability, education, health, public safety and criminal justice, and voter rights and political representation. The role of education Many are looking to young people to be the lasting change. The nonpro t Generation Next in Minneapolis has emerged to support children from “cradle to career,” envisioning a future in which “every child has the academic, social, and emotional skills to thrive in a globally uent world.” Alan Page, retired Minnesota Supreme Court justice, and Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, proposed in 2020 amending Minnesota’s constitution to give every child a civil right to a quality public education. They de ne the current approach as a system that works well for children from well-to-do families but fails children from low-income families. “A quality education is without question the most powerful tool we have to break the cycle of poverty and create a society in which everyone can fully participate,” Kashkari and Page wrote in the Star Tribune. “It doesn’t just change one child’s life. It has the potential to improve the future for generations to come and lead to a more productive, vibrant society for all of us.” Meanwhile, Augsburg University is positioned to be a statewide leader in the turnaround, with years of intentional work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. “I certainly feel that higher education is the clearest path to a middle-class life or better,” Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow said. Augsburg University's Hagfors Center. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Augsburg’s e orts to address disparities and work toward equity After the murder of George Floyd only a few miles from campus, Augsburg University introduced in June the Justice for George Floyd Initiatives to focus on working to heal the community, creating leadership and structures that make tangible change, and ensuring accountability for the work of undoing racist systems. New e orts were introduced to combat systemic racism, including a critical race and ethnicity studies department; diversity, equity, and inclusion training; and a requirement that all faculty and sta complete antiracism training. Augsburg also canceled classes and suspended operations June 4 and 5 so students, faculty, and sta could have an opportunity to grieve. “We acknowledge the pain, fear, and trauma faced by the Augsburg community—especially our students, faculty, and sta of color—remain a lived reality every day,” Pribbenow said. “This work by Augsburg will be persistent, resolute, courageous, and integrated into everything the university does.” This ongoing work includes several components: Augsburg named William Green, professor of history, the inaugural holder of the M. Anita Gay Hawthorne professorship of critical race and ethnic studies. The university is employing new accountability for inclusive, antiracist leadership across the institution and reviewing Augsburg’s major academic and administrative policies and practices with a special focus on undoing bias and discrimination and enhancing student success. Augsburg created a scholarship in memory of George Floyd and established a fund that matched donations from students, faculty, and sta for organizations doing important work, especially for Black-owned businesses and nonpro t organizations. Augsburg appointed the rst Chief Diversity O cer, Joanne K. Reeck, in 2016 and became home in 2019 to The Forum on Workplace Inclusion, the nation’s largest workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion conference. These moves are an important continuation of Augsburg’s e orts to build and maintain an equitable and inclusive campus that became a strategic focus in 2006, resulting in Augsburg welcoming its most diverse incoming rst-year class ever in 2017. Students of color are now in the majority of traditional undergraduates, making Augsburg one of the most diverse private colleges in the Midwest. As Augsburg is learning in its own community, Minnesota’s multifaceted disparities require a multifaceted approach that summons individual and collective willpower to align impact with intent. Despite Harper’s success after graduating from Augsburg, he views the disparate outcomes as a call to action, even forming his own economic development consulting rm, R.D.T.H Consulting, focused on social impact in addition to his day job. “It doesn’t have to be this way.” Top Image: Minneapolis is a city with a liberal reputation, but racial disparities persist. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Class of 2015 Twitter Class of 2016 Pinterest LinkedIn Diversity and Inclusion Email economics Faculty Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Stay the course: O -and-on sports seasons prove Auggie student-athletes’ resilience What it takes to ght a pandemic: Research and health care (Part 2) YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE What it takes to ght a What it takes to ght a Stay the course: O -and-on pandemic: Community pandemic: Research and sports seasons prove collaboration and mutual health care (Part 2) Auggie student-athletes’ aid (Part 1) - on February 22, 2021 resilience - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE STAY THE COURSE: OFF-AND-ON SPORTS SEASONS PROVE AUGGIE STUDENTATHLETES’ RESILIENCE After a pause on competitions due to COVID-19, Auggies are ready to get back in the game by Kate Norlander Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Athletics, Featured Stories Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email The COVID-19 pandemic put a major pause on 2020’s athletic competitions. The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postponed the fall sports season. In January the league announced plans for a modi ed winter season for basketball, hockey, indoor track and eld, and swimming and diving (though it’s not o cially part of the MIAC, wrestling will follow the same guidelines). Auggies can’t wait to get back in the game. Many student-athletes have been practicing their sports since elementary school. During the past year, the pandemic disrupted participation in activities that have been important to their lives. But Augsburg’s Athletics sta and student-athletes have met this challenge with a commitment to the health and safety of the community. This willingness to put safety rst means that student-athletes Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News are now able to compete. In order for student-athletes to participate in sports this year, the NCAA created rules designed to promote safety. Augsburg Athletics also made sure that strong safety measures were in place, which CONNECT WITH US has helped students feel a bit more at ease during an anxious time. Devon Hannah ’21, a guard on the men’s basketball team, said, “We have the freedom to decide whether or not we feel comfortable with an activity. The Athletics Department is handling this well, keeping us safe physically and mentally, too.” Coaches play an important role in student-athletes’ lives, which means they are often among the rst people to learn when a student receives a positive COVID-19 test result. This means that they are not only helping students develop skills in their sport; they are also watching out for the safety of their team. Devon Hannah ’21 (Courtesy photo) Corrina Evans ’21, a middle blocker on the women’s volleyball team, said, “The coaches and trainers are sharing campus resources like the Center for Wellness and Counseling. They have check-in times when we can talk about anything, and they will call or text us: doing contact tracing, helping us understand how to quarantine correctly if we have to do that, and making sure we have everything we need.” Changes to practice and competition Corrina Evans ’21 (Courtesy photo) Even with precautionary measures in place, there are times when teams have to pause their practice, whether a teammate tested positive for COVID-19 or a rising number of cases in Minnesota required universities to temporarily close workout and sports facilities, which occurred in the fall and early winter. Read more about Auggies ghting the pandemic.  When they’re able to practice, Augsburg’s student-athletes gather in pods that have gradually increased in size as they were safely able to do so. While the smallest pods have allowed students to practice their sports safely and to control the spread of the virus, they’ve also presented a challenge. “It’s di cult to get to know each other and to gel as a team,” Hannah said. “Practices are very di erent,” said Evans. “You can’t see people’s faces because of the masks. But we’ve been able to move up into bigger pods, which gives us a more normal team chemistry and allows us to have a full team practice and do some scrimmaging. The challenges are more mental than physical.” In early January, the MIAC gave teams the go-ahead to compete again, although competitions are limited and spectators are not allowed. (Augsburg has o ered free livestream viewing for all home events and some road events.) Students in sports that present a higher risk for COVID-19 transmission must get tested three times each week in order to practice and compete—measures well worth it for eager players and coaches. “It’s exciting to be able to get back to playing and feel in the groove again,” said Colleen Enrico ’14, assistant athletic director, volleyball assistant coach, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee advisor. Melissa Lee ’04 (left), assistant athletic director and softball head coach, leads softball practice in Augsburg’s dome in February 2021. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Prioritizing mental health Augsburg Athletics had already begun addressing the mental health of student-athletes before the pandemic. In the summer of 2019, all coaches and sta took an eight-hour course in mental health rst aid, which can provide support for student-athletes and coaches until they can speak with mental health professionals. Mark Wick, men’s hockey assistant coach, has recently taken on new, temporary duties at Augsburg as he sets up a mental health advocacy program for Augsburg Athletics. “We need to know how to deal with what is happening now, but in ve to 10 years, people still will be dealing with losing jobs or loved ones,” Wick said. “Hopefully it won’t be as bad as it is now, but how we use this time can help prepare us for growth.” Augsburg University @AugsburgU September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and @AugsburgU Assistant Hockey Coach @coachwick23 will hold a golf tournament to raise awareness, as this subject is very personal to him. “It’s OK to reach out and ask for help,” Wick told @WCCO. Augsburg Assistant Hockey Coach Mark Wick's Push For Suicide Awa… September is Suicide Awareness Month. And on Tuesday, Augsburg University assistant hockey coach Mark Wick will hold a golf … minnesota.cbslocal.com 7:30 PM · Sep 29, 2020 18 5 Copy link to Tweet Fostering the Auggie Experience Enrico reported that in past years, student-athletes met with the entire team sta on a weekly basis, but this year they are meeting with a di erent coach each week. This allows them to be more open and build better relationships with their coaches. As in past years, coaches touch base with students about their lives outside of their sport so that, for instance, if they are struggling with classes, the coach can suggest resources for help. This year coaches are also making a point of paying attention to upcoming events so that they can suggest activities that might help student-athletes better connect with their fellow students. It’s been a tough year for everyone, and that has been particularly true for rst-year students who were unable to participate in many traditional activities at the end of their senior year in high school and now have begun their college experience under di cult conditions. For that reason, Enrico said, coaches have made a point of connecting third- and fourth-year students with rst-year and other new students. Augsburg Athletics @AugsburgAuggies Check out some photos from a recent Augsburg women's basketball practice! ﬂickr.com/photos/1463682… #d3hoops #AuggiePride 7:43 PM · Jan 14, 2021 7 3 Copy link to Tweet Di erent teams have di erent approaches to these connections. In volleyball, coaches have suggested podcasts that each student can discuss with a di erent teammate each week. “We want them to get outside of volleyball, so the podcasts might be on topics such as banking or racial diversity,” Enrico said. Fostering these connections—between teammates, between each student-athlete and coach, and between student-athletes and the wider Augsburg community—is, perhaps, one of the most important things coaches can do for their student-athletes this year. All of them help these students feel a sense of community. In Enrico’s words, “the Auggie experience is community.” Top image: The COVID-19 pandemic has required temporary closures and reopenings of workout spaces, including Augsburg’s weight room, with students’ health in mind. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook athletics Twitter college sports Pinterest COVID-19 LinkedIn mental health Email sports Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist guides Auggies through the COVID-19 pandemic Confronting the Minnesota paradox YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE What it takes to ght a What it takes to ght a Confronting the Minnesota pandemic: Community pandemic: Research and paradox collaboration and mutual health care (Part 2) - on February 22, 2021 aid (Part 1) - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG’S IN-HOUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIST GUIDES AUGGIES THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC On the Spot Q&A with Associate Professor Alicia Quella by John Weirick February 22, 2021 Share this: Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Remember those days of uncertainty in March 2020, when we had more questions than answers, and before most of us used terms like “coronavirus” and “social distancing”? The United States saw an increase in COVID-19 infections, and some states—including Minnesota—applied stay-at-home orders to mitigate the spread. Weeks before that in ection point, Augsburg University administrators, faculty, and sta convened a COVID-19 task force. Sign up for Email Newsletter Not all educational institutions have an epidemiologist on sta , but Augsburg is fortunate. One of the task force’s principal leaders is Alicia Submit Your Alumni News Quella, associate professor and director of Augsburg’s physician assistant program. As an educator with a PhD in epidemiology and experience in public health settings around the world, her expertise CONNECT WITH US has proved invaluable for the university’s grasp of the evolving global crisis and Augsburg’s response to maintain the health and safety of community members. Associate Professor Alicia Quella (Photo by Courtney Perry) Between elding student questions about the coronavirus, volunteering at COVID-19 testing sites, and ensuring the Augsburg community can trace contacts and reduce transmission on campus, Quella shared some perspectives on her work and where we go from here. Q: How have you been involved in Augsburg’s outbreak planning and COVID-19 response? A: I serve on the pandemic task force, a university-wide team of people that assembled after it was apparent that COVID-19 would signi cantly a ect institutions of higher education across the United States. We collaborate regularly with epidemiologists from the Minnesota Department of Health to implement public health guidelines for campuses. We started to meet daily to coordinate issues involving classrooms and labs, athletics, residence halls, dining services, facilities, and global education. We started a COVID-19 Response Team, which comprises sta and faculty across campus who implement health protocols and support students and personnel who have illness, have COVID-19, or have been exposed to it. R.John @raccajohn Neither rain nor SNOW can keep @AugsburgU's Dr. Alicia Quella from working the walk-up/drive-up COVID-19 testing location @PeoplesCenter Cedar Riverside Clinic 1:50 AM · Oct 21, 2020 3 See the latest COVID-19 information on Twitter Q: What were your rst thoughts when you heard about COVID19 and considered its implications for the Augsburg community? A: When news of a novel coronavirus was circulating in China, I was immediately concerned because I had studied the epidemiology of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-1) during my doctoral work through the University of Iowa Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases. In 2003, SARS quickly spread to 29 countries, so I knew that this would be a major issue in the United States. Q: At this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, what are the most important things for the public to understand and do? A: To reach herd immunity [when a signi cant portion of a community is immune to a disease and thereby makes spread unlikely] we all need to continue to ‘bubble’ and limit the number of close contacts, wear face masks, socially distance, and get vaccinated. I also encourage the students and my patients to be creative and nd ways to keep active and engaged— start a new hobby, do something outdoors, and reach out to relatives and friends who may be isolated right now. Q: What do you see in the post-COVID-19 world? A: Colleges and universities have seen a rapid di usion of innovation in how they are using technology to deliver curriculum, participate in athletics, and maintain operations. This energy and innovation will have to continue to promote widespread vaccine uptake. Vaccine hesitancy is an issue, especially in communities of color that have been disproportionately a ected by COVID-19 because of structural racism. Augsburg will need to make this a top priority moving forward. Q: What’s a memorable moment of the past year that made an impact on you? A: As an epidemiologist and a physician assistant, I’ve had the opportunity to continue to see patients and work with Augsburg students, sta , and faculty. I recently received the COVID-19 vaccine and have felt humbled and honored to now be able to continue to work more safely in the community. Top image: Associate Professor Alicia Quella’s experience as an epidemiologist has helped maintain the health and safety of the Augsburg community. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Read more Augsburg stories on COVID-19. Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Academic Departments Physician Assistant Studies Pinterest Community Engagement LinkedIn COVID-19 Email Faculty Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Notes from President Pribbenow: Come and see! Stay the course: O -and-on sports seasons prove Auggie student-athletes’ resilience YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents Augsburg’s recent awards, Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and rankings, and recognition - on February 22, 2021 reelected members - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW: COME AND SEE! by Paul C. Pribbenow Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook Go  Around the Quad, President's Letter Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email In the Christian church, the liturgical season before Lent is called Epiphany, a time when we re ect on the good news that God has broken into human history and that we are called to share that good news with all of creation. There is a wonderful invitational character to Epiphany, in which we ask each other and our neighbors to “Come and see” all that God is doing in our midst. In that spirit, this issue of Augsburg Now invites all of us to come and see what the Augsburg community is doing in its 151st academic year, in the midst of a global pandemic, to live out our mission. In these pandemic times, Augsburg students, faculty, and sta have brought great imagination, resilience, and courage to our work together. I am so proud of what they have accomplished, and I invite you to come and see … Come and see the gift of the surprises we found in how we teach and learn, how we keep our community and neighborhood safe and President Paul Pribbenow (Photo by Courtney Perry) healthy, how we live out our most deeply held commitments and values, and how we are open to new and innovative ways of living and working. Paul Pribbenow @paulpribbenow I’m out and about, delivering yard signs to the @AugsburgU Class of 2024! Here’s Vanessa - a proud new Auggie. #augsburgbold #auggiepride Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US 4:13 PM · Jun 30, 2020 95 5 Copy link to Tweet Come and see how we answered the call to serve our neighbors even when we must navigate the challenges of a virus, economic disruption, and racial reckoning. Our focus on supporting local businesses, meeting the needs of those experiencing homelessness, ensuring that all of our students have the resources they need to be successful, and nding ways to feed the hungry—all these illustrate how our community embraces its commitments to our neighbors. Come and see the promise of abundance in a time and world too often characterized by scarcity. We believe deeply in what the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone proclaimed: “We all do better when we all do better.” Our abiding commitments to equity and inclusion—and our aspiration to be an anti-racist university—lead us to robust engagement with each other and with the wider community so that all will do better. Augsburg University is a distinctive community, de ning in its life and work a vision for higher education in the 21st century. I am deeply grateful for the support of alumni and friends, whose generosity and engagement help us live into our vision to educate Auggies as stewards of an inclusive democracy. Come and see. Faithfully yours, Paul C. Pribbenow, President Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Community Engagement Pinterest Diversity and Inclusion LinkedIn Faith Email President Paul C. Pribbenow Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg Board of Regents welcomes new and reelected members Augsburg’s in-house epidemiologist guides Auggies through the COVID-19 pandemic YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Augsburg Board of Regents Augsburg’s recent awards, epidemiologist guides welcomes new and rankings, and recognition Auggies through the reelected members - on February 22, 2021 COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG BOARD OF REGENTS WELCOMES NEW AND REELECTED MEMBERS by John Weirick February 22, 2021 Share this: Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email The Augsburg University Board of Regents meeting in October 2020 included celebration of the election of new and continuing regents. James Hereford and Veena Iyer were elected to their rst four-year terms. Nick Gangestad ’86, Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, Jill Nelson Thomas, and Noya Woodrich ’92, ’94 MSW were elected to second four-year terms. Pam Moksnes ’79 was elected to a third four-year term. Sign up for Email Newsletter Finally, Bishop Laurie Skow-Anderson and Bishop Ann Svennungsen were appointed to serve three-year terms as ex o cio members of the board. Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US Nick Gangestad ’86 James Hereford Veena Iyer Pam Moksnes ’79 Jill Nelson Thomas Laurie Skow-Anderson Ann Svennungsen Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo Noya Woodrich ’92, ’94 MSW Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Alumni News And Updates Class of 1992 Pinterest LinkedIn Board of Regents Master of Social Work Class of 1979 Email Class of 1986 Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg’s recent awards, rankings, and recognition Notes from President Pribbenow: Come and see! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg’s recent awards, epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! rankings, and recognition Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG’S RECENT AWARDS, RANKINGS, AND RECOGNITION by Briana Alamilla '17 Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Each year, Augsburg University is recognized for its academic excellence, student-centered community, and commitment to educating students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. Augsburg’s recent awards and rankings include: 2020 Best Colleges by Money Most Transformative Colleges 2020–21 Military Friendly® School by Military Friendly® 2020 Best of the Best LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities, Midwest region by Campus Pride Top 30 in the Country Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News 2020 Best Colleges For Financial Aid by LendEDU CONNECT WITH US 79th in the United States 2nd in Minnesota 2020 Best Value Colleges and Universities in Minnesota by BestValueSchools.com 2021 Best Universities, Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report 3rd in Most Innovative Schools 4th in Campus Ethnic Diversity 7th in Undergraduate Teaching 14th in Best Colleges for Veterans 15th in Best Value Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Augsburg University’s Department of Business Administration was recently accredited for the undergraduate and Master of Business Administration programs. View more of Augsburg’s awards and rankings. Top image: Augsburg’s Hagfors Center. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Augsburg In The News Pinterest LinkedIn Awards and Recognition Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Playwrights’ Center partners with Augsburg to o er courses with leading playwrights Augsburg Board of Regents welcomes new and reelected members YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE PLAYWRIGHTS’ CENTER PARTNERS WITH AUGSBURG TO OFFER COURSES WITH LEADING PLAYWRIGHTS by John Weirick February 22, 2021 Share this: Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email The Playwrights’ Center and Augsburg University announced a new partnership to o er accredited courses taught by the nation’s leading playwrights. Through online courses, students connect with peers and faculty members from across the United States. The courses, o ered through Augsburg’s Center for Global Education and Experience, are guided by Augsburg’s Theater Department in conjunction with the Playwrights’ Center. “With these courses, students will learn with and from writers at the top of their eld, seeing what it takes to have pieces published and performed,” said Patrick Mulvihill, Augsburg’s assistant provost for global education and experience, in an interview with Broadway World. Sign up for Email Newsletter Top image: An Augsburg student tours the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Ge re) Submit Your Alumni News Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Academic Departments Pinterest Experiential Education LinkedIn Email Fine And Performing Arts Theater CONNECT WITH US Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Professor Emeritus Mark Engebretson receives 30th NSF grant, continues space weather study Augsburg’s recent awards, rankings, and recognition YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT CONTACT US PROFESSOR EMERITUS MARK ENGEBRETSON RECEIVES 30TH NSF GRANT, CONTINUES SPACE WEATHER STUDY by John Weirick February 22, 2021 Share this: Facebook Go CURRENT ISSUE  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Mark Engebretson, Augsburg University professor emeritus of physics, received a ve-year grant totaling $805,744 from the National Science Foundation (Award Number 2013648). This grant supports the continued operation and data analysis of the Magnetometer Array for Cusp and Cleft Studies, which is used to study near-Earth space weather, such as solar winds that may disrupt communication and navigation systems. It represents the 30th research study on which Engebretson has served as the principal investigator through NSF funding. Engebretson has led several research projects—including some with Augsburg student-researchers—studying ionospheric and space physics in collaboration with European and NASA satellite programs. Nearly 100 Augsburg students have gained paid research experience working on these research projects. Professor Emeritus Mark Engebretson (Photo by Stephen Ge re) Engebretson has authored or coauthored more than 300 scholarly research articles on topics related to space weather. View more grants news. Share this: Tags: Facebook Faculty Grants Twitter Pinterest The Sciences LinkedIn Email Winter 2020–21 Sign up for Email Newsletter  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Star Tribune, and Minnesota Urban Debate League cosponsor justice reform essay contest Playwrights’ Center partners with Augsburg to o er courses with leading playwrights Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES AND LYNX, STAR TRIBUNE, AND MINNESOTA URBAN DEBATE LEAGUE COSPONSOR JUSTICE REFORM ESSAY CONTEST by John Weirick February 22, 2021 Share this: Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email In Fall 2020, Augsburg University’s Minnesota Urban Debate League joined the Star Tribune news company and the Minnesota Lynx and Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball teams in cosponsoring a youth essay contest focused on criminal justice reform. Minnesota students ages 10 to 18 were invited to submit a written essay, video, or audio recording that described local or national changes that could reduce racial injustice and inequities in the criminal justice system. MNUDL determined the top 10 entries, which were judged by a panel of coaches from the Timberwolves and Lynx and representatives from local organizations, including MN Rise and The Minneapolis Foundation. Editor’s note: Winning submissions were announced February 27 in the Star Tribune. Share this: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News Email CONNECT WITH US Tags: Augsburg In The News Minnesota Urban Debate League Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg awarded $10,000 Minneapolis Foundation grant Professor Emeritus Mark Engebretson receives 30th NSF grant, continues space weather study YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG AWARDED $10,000 MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION GRANT by John Weirick February 22, 2021 Share this: Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email In September 2020, the Minneapolis Foundation announced that it would award more than $500,000 in grants to 40 organizations in the Twin Cities. Following the increased public dialogue about public safety after the killing of George Floyd, the grants aim to reduce violence, address systemic inequities, and provide community support. The Minneapolis Foundation’s Fund for Safe Communities awarded $10,000 to Augsburg University to elevate the voices of middle- and high-school students through debate on the topic of criminal justice reform. Other grant recipients are organizations working to support art projects, mediation, mental health services, civil rights education, and community healing while addressing police violence and public safety. Top image: Demonstrators in Summer 2020 marched with a banner that was created as a part of Augsburg’s One Day in May art campaign. (Photo by Leon Wang) Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Community Engagement Pinterest LinkedIn Diversity and Inclusion Grants Submit Your Alumni News Email CONNECT WITH US Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST Sign up for Email Newsletter NEXT POST  Faculty members William Green and Timothy Pippert assume new professorships Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Star Tribune, and Minnesota Urban Debate League cosponsor justice reform essay contest YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG LAUNCHES THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP by Kate Norlander Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email This fall, Augsburg University launched the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, which advances education and support for Augsburg students and alumni in the disciplines of innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The center’s focus is on the practice and psychology of innovation and entrepreneurship. Cory Erickson, an instructor in Augsburg’s Master of Business Administration program, leads the center. The center provides practical educational material for Augsburg students and alumni through a variety of events and activities. These opportunities include: a speaker series Sign up for Email Newsletter cooperative projects between student teams and local companies support for students who are building organizations that impact social causes through innovation and entrepreneurship Submit Your Alumni News support for student entrepreneurs the creation of student teams drawn from the science and business departments to solve problems for new startups CONNECT WITH US student contests o ering awards and potential funding for new ventures research and scholarship through a think tank the promotion of internships for students in the for-pro t, nonpro t, and government sectors. Top image: Instructor Cory Erickson leads the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Academic Departments Pinterest LinkedIn Business Administration Email Experiential Education MBA Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  NSF grants Augsburg $3 million for STEM students Faculty members William Green and Timothy Pippert assume new professorships YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE FACULTY MEMBERS WILLIAM GREEN AND TIMOTHY PIPPERT ASSUME NEW PROFESSORSHIPS by John Weirick February 22, 2021 Share this: Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Professor of History William Green was named the inaugural M. Anita Gay Hawthorne Professor of Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies, e ective September 1, 2020. The position was created on the recommendation of a working group of students, faculty, and sta who developed a vision for a new academic department in critical race and ethnicity studies at Augsburg University. Related: Professor William Green comments on “Confronting the Minnesota paradox” Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News Professor of Sociology Timothy Pippert was named the inaugural holder of the Joel Torstenson Endowed Professorship, e ective September 1, CONNECT WITH US 2020. This professorship is made possible through the generosity of Mark Johnson ’75, who also supports the university’s Torstenson Scholars program. Top image: Professor Timothy Pippert teaches a sociology class in Hagfors Center. (Photos by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Academic Departments Diversity and Inclusion Pinterest Class of 1975 Faculty LinkedIn Email Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies Hawthorne History Sociology Torstenson Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg launches the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Augsburg awarded $10,000 Minneapolis Foundation grant YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE NSF GRANTS AUGSBURG $3 MILLION FOR STEM STUDENTS by Kate Norlander Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Augsburg University will receive $3,075,000 of a $5 million grant award from the National Science Foundation to support the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (often referred to as STEM). The project will provide scholarships, internships, and research experiences for nearly 200 students over a ve-year period beginning in the 2020–21 academic year at Augsburg, Century College, Minneapolis College, and Normandale Community College. These institutions will work together to provide seamless pathways for students to transfer from two-year to four-year STEM programs. Scholarships of $7,500 to $10,000 will be awarded to students pursuing majors in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, food science, mathematics, and physics. These students will be connected to internships and research experiences through partner organizations SciTech, UpTurnships, and MnDRIVE, as well as through Augsburg’s undergraduate research programs. This is the third phase of a program initiated by Augsburg and funded by the NSF. Grants in the prior phases Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News funded scholarships for 111 STEM students, 100% of whom graduated and went on to pursue careers or continue their education in STEM elds. CONNECT WITH US The project will be led by Rebekah Dupont, Augsburg’s director of STEM programs and associate professor of mathematics, working in collaboration with principal investigators from the other participating institutions. Top image: Associate Professor Rebekah Dupont is director of STEM programs at Augsburg. (Courtesy photo) Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Experiential Education Grants Pinterest LinkedIn The Sciences Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg hosts bold new speaker series Augsburg launches the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG HOSTS BOLD NEW SPEAKER SERIES by Stephen Jendraszak Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Augsburg Bold is a series of initiatives designed to help Augsburg University students continue to thrive during the pandemic and to enjoy the distinctive experience o ered at Augsburg. As part of that work, during Fall 2020, the university quad was set up as a physically distanced outdoor seminar room, enabling up to 60 attendees to take part in a series of remarkable presentations. All presentations were also livestreamed via Zoom. R.John @raccajohn Thank you, @GovTimWalz and @GwenWalz for sharing your thoughts on servant leadership with @AugsburgU today. #AugsburgBold Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US 5:15 PM · Oct 5, 2020 7 Copy link to Tweet 3 Students had the opportunity to hear from several speakers: Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP spoke about her work building relationships with those in our community who are experiencing homelessness and helping to ensure that their basic needs for food, shelter, and health care are met. Olivia House ’20 discussed the summer of resistance by Black youth. Jodi Harpstead, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, spoke about what she’s learned through her work during the pandemic. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Gwen Walz discussed their experience in education and leadership. Watch recordings of selected speakers at augsburg.edu/bold. ‹ › Augsburg Bold speakers included Katie Clark ’10 MAN, ’14 DNP, and Gov. Tim Walz and Gwen Walz. Students, sta , and faculty attended the socially distanced events on Augsburg’s campus or watched the livestream online. (Photos by Rebecca Slater) Top image: Augsburg’s quad was decorated for the Augsburg Bold speaker series. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Class of 2020 Twitter Pinterest Doctor of Nursing Practice Master of Arts in Nursing On Campus LinkedIn Events Email Experiential Education Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Forum on Workplace Inclusion to host rst virtual conference NSF grants Augsburg $3 million for STEM students YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE FORUM ON WORKPLACE INCLUSION TO HOST FIRST VIRTUAL CONFERENCE by Stephen Jendraszak Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email The Forum on Workplace Inclusion, based at Augsburg University, will host its 33rd annual conference as a virtual event March 8–12, 2021. Workplaces have struggled during the past year to navigate a digital, distanced work environment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, social protests centered around racism and the unjust deaths of Black people at the hands of police have also brought greater attention to overwhelming disparities in economics, education, health care, housing, and public safety. This year, the forum asks: What will it take to start a workplace revolution that moves us from talk to Sign up for Email Newsletter action? Submit Your Alumni News Learn more and register to attend at forumworkplaceinclusion.org. Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Community Engagement Forum on Workplace Inclusion Pinterest Diversity and Inclusion LinkedIn Events CONNECT WITH US Email Experiential Education Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg Homecoming (at a distance) Augsburg hosts bold new speaker series YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG HOMECOMING (AT A DISTANCE) by Briana Alamilla '17 Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Homecoming 2020 celebrations looked a little di erent than previous years. Though social gatherings were restricted, the Augsburg Student Activities Council found creative ways to celebrate with a series of events during the week of September 21—some virtual and some physically distanced: Cider and canvas: Spread out in the quad, students created paintings in the style of artist Bob Ross. Create your own PopSocket: Participants made their own Augsburg-branded phone grip accessories. Drag and lip sync battle: Students competed by submitting videos of themselves lip-syncing to a song. Movie night: The lm “Queen & Slim” was screened in the quad. Homecoming royalty coronation ceremony: Homecoming court members were announced and royalty were crowned. Top image: Students participate in an outdoor event sponsored by the Augsburg Student Activities Council. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email CONNECT WITH US Tags: Events Homecoming On Campus Student Activities And Achievements Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Cedar-Riverside supply drives support neighborhood Forum on Workplace Inclusion to host rst virtual conference YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE CEDAR-RIVERSIDE SUPPLY DRIVES SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD by Briana Alamilla '17 Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the damage some businesses experienced following the murder of George Floyd, put a strain on Augsburg’s Twin Cities community as many local stores temporarily closed and access to public transportation was reduced. In June and August, Augsburg University organized supply drives in partnership with the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Drivers in more than 550 cars participated in the supply drives, and their donations were delivered to the Brian Coyle Center through several dozen trips. “This is our community; this is our neighborhood,” one volunteer said. “So when our neighbors are hurting, we step forward and do what we can to help.” Read more about Auggies’ e orts to support the community: “What it takes to ght a pandemic.” Sign up for Email Newsletter Augsburg University @AugsburgU Submit Your Alumni News Augsburg’s supply drive was a success! Thank you to all who donated and volunteered to help out our so loved Cedar-Riverside community. It is in times like these where we must all come together as the thoughtful stewards that we are. #AuggiePride CONNECT WITH US 9:51 PM · Jun 1, 2020 91 15 Copy link to Tweet Top image: Auggies collected donations for the Twin Cities community in Summer 2020. (Photo by Joe Mann) Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Community Engagement Pinterest Diversity and Inclusion LinkedIn Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg names George Floyd Memorial Scholarship recipients Augsburg Homecoming (at a distance) YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG NAMES GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS by Briana Alamilla '17 Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Augsburg University created the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship, which is designed to support outstanding third- and fourth-year students who have a strong understanding of Black experiences and U.S. history while showing leadership in advancing racial justice e orts. Each selected student received a $5,000 scholarship. Augsburg named the ve inaugural scholarship recipients: Aisha Abdi ’21 is majoring in management information systems and marketing. Quran Al-Hameed ’21 is majoring in psychology. Mallory Ferguson ’21 is majoring in communication studies. Sign up for Email Newsletter Kaltun Hassan ’22 is majoring in computer science. Nadirah McGill ’21 is majoring in music business. Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US Aisha Abdi ’21, management information systems and marketing Quran Al-Hameed ’21, psychology Kaltun Hassan ’22, computer science Nadirah McGill ’21, music business (Courtesy photo) Mallory Ferguson ’21, communication studies Read more about Augsburg’s Equity and Inclusion Initiatives. Share this: Tags: Facebook Class of 2021 Twitter Class of 2022 Pinterest LinkedIn Diversity and Inclusion Email Scholarship Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Prospective students and their families engage with virtual campus tour Cedar-Riverside supply drives support neighborhood YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ENGAGE WITH VIRTUAL CAMPUS TOUR Multimedia platform o ers a glimpse of Augsburg from afar by Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA Share this: Facebook February 22, 2021 Twitter  Around the Quad Pinterest LinkedIn Email For the past year, Augsburg University’s virtual tour has showcased the Minneapolis campus’ facilities and resources as it has been challenging to conduct in-person visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a multimedia interactive map with photos and videos, the virtual tour simulates an on-the-ground campus experience. The virtual tour o ers a look at Augsburg’s residence halls and athletic facilities, details about academic buildings and green spaces, and a peek inside performance Sign up for Email Newsletter venues and practice rooms. The virtual tour launched in March 2020 to help out-of-state and international populations visualize the campus. From its launch in March, Submit Your Alumni News 2020, through February 1, Check out the virtual tour at augsburg.university-tour.com. 2021, the virtual tour has had 32,421 visitors. The top states visitors are from are CONNECT WITH US Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, and California. Share this: Tags: Facebook On Campus Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg TRIO/Student Support Services earns fth consecutive U.S. Department of Education grant Augsburg names George Floyd Memorial Scholarship recipients YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG TRIO/STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES EARNS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT by Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA Share this: Facebook February 22, 2021 Twitter  Around the Quad Pinterest LinkedIn Email The U.S. Department of Education announced that Augsburg University was awarded a federal Student Support Services ve-year grant of nearly $300,000 annually to help more students succeed in and graduate from college. This is the fth TRIO/SSS grant awarded to Augsburg, which has hosted the project since 2001. Each year, Augsburg TRIO/SSS serves about 160 undergraduate students. The TRIO/SSS program is designed for students who are the rst in their families to attend post-secondary education, students who are low income, or students with disabilities. The grant funds an array of services including academic skill development, academic advising, tutoring, nancial aid advice, and nancial literacy. “Augsburg TRIO/SSS has established a reputation for helping students navigate Sign up for Email Newsletter higher education to achieve their academic goals,” said Aly Olson, director of Augsburg TRIO/SSS. Submit Your Alumni News “Students know their TRIO advisor is looking out for their best interests and helps them through the tough decisions of college life. We are thrilled to be able to continue this important work at Augsburg.” —Aly Olson Aly Olson (Photo by Courtney Perry) CONNECT WITH US The federal government contributes about 70% of the funds needed to support Augsburg’s TRIO/SSS project. The university contributes the remaining program funds. Top image: Brooklyn Jones ’22, clinical psychology major and sociology minor, attends a Summer Bridge class in 2019. (Photo by Bob Stack ’71) Share this: Tags: Facebook Grants Twitter TRIO SSS Pinterest LinkedIn Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg receives grants for equity in education and remote learning Prospective students and their families engage with virtual campus tour YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG RECEIVES GRANTS FOR EQUITY IN EDUCATION AND REMOTE LEARNING by Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA Share this: Facebook February 22, 2021 Twitter  Around the Quad Pinterest LinkedIn Email This fall, Augsburg University received $250,000 in grant funding from the State of Minnesota to address equity in education and remote learning needs among students of color, Indigenous students, and those who are disabled or low-income. The funds came through two awards under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grant. One award provided direct aid to teacher candidates who needed to pay unexpected costs posed by the pandemic during their student teaching semester and coursework. The second award was geared toward making hardware and software available to more students to support them in their switch to online learning. This support included additional laptops for checkout, noise-cancelling headphones, digital tablets for art and math courses, training resources for successful online learning, new digital video resources in the library, and captioning of instructional videos to increase accessibility. The GEER grant program was a redistribution of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds. Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News View more grants news. Top image: A redistribution of federal CARES Act funds provided support for Augsburg students’ online CONNECT WITH US learning. (Photo by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Grants Twitter Remote Learning Pinterest LinkedIn Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  In memoriam, Winter 2020–21 Augsburg TRIO/Student Support Services earns fth consecutive U.S. Department of Education grant YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE IN MEMORIAM, WINTER 2020–21 Remembering and honoring Auggies by Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA Share this: February 22, 2021 Facebook Twitter  Auggies Connect, In Memoriam Pinterest LinkedIn Email Below we recognize the alumni and friends whose noti cations of death were received between March 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021. 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970| 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | Faculty 1940s Fern L. (Hanson) Gudmestad ’41, Minneapolis, age 101, on June 3. Wayne E. Peterson ’43, Palm City, Florida, age 99, on November 14. Sign up for Email Newsletter Thelma I. (Erickson) Mckenzie ’44, Hollandale, Wisconsin, age 96, on July 1. Helen V. (Odden) Pederson ’45, Spooner, Wisconsin, age 96, on May 5. Submit Your Alumni News Doris K. (Larson) Walen ’45, Alamo, North Dakota, age 97, on October 3. Martha E. Fosse Palmquist ’46, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 96, on November 22. CONNECT WITH US Lowell O. Larson ’47, Claremont, California, age 95, on May 10. Arnold J. Oie ’47, Glencoe, Minnesota, age 96, on August 1. Margery A. (Manger) Torgerson ’47, Circle Pines, Minnesota, age 94, on March 30. Esther P. (Bakken) Crosby ’48, Moorhead, Minnesota, age 95, on June 19. John E. Hanson ’48, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 93, on October 1. Jean A. (Tibke) Vane ’48, Visalia, California, age 93, on October 20. John F. Anderson ’49, Minneapolis, age 96, on December 22. June (Carlson) Gustafson ’49, Lincoln, Nebraska, age 92, on September 28. 1950s Louis L. Ennen ’50, Dublin, Ohio, age 94, on July 7. Lilian J. (Johnson) Ingersoll ’50, Lexington, South Carolina, age 96, on June 5. Phillip A. Quanbeck ’50, Maple Grove, Minnesota, age 93, on December 1. Mary L. (Johnson) Froiland ’50, Iron River, Wisconsin, age 91, on October 22. Orville E. Meland ’51, River Falls, Wisconsin, age 93, on October 27. Caroline J. (Borsheim) Melhus’ 51, Minneapolis, age 90, on May 31. Arvid D. Dixen ’52, Minneapolis, age 89, on May 20. Harold J. Hansen ’52, Normandy Park, Washington, age 90, on April 17. Luther J. Larson ’52, Sparta, Wisconsin, age 89, on July 6. Mildred A. Nelson ’52, Minneapolis, age 91, December 5. Alvin H. Nygard ’52, Fargo, North Dakota, age 96, on July 31. Yvonne M. (Bagley) Olson ’52, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 88, on March 16. Orville L. Olson ’52, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 89, on June 6. Ronald A. Berge ’53, West Fargo, North Dakota, age 88, on March 15. Robert O. Bruder ’53, Minneapolis, age 91, on August 9. Donald V. Dillon ’53, Minneapolis, age 89, on July 17. Kent B. Quanbeck ’53, McVille, North Dakota, age 90, on April 6. Gloria M. (Halverson) Boyum ’54, Kenyon, Minnesota, age 88, on December 19. George W. Fisher ’54, Lexington, South Carolina, age 88, on May 11. Wallace L. Hafstad ’54, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 88, on March 30. Janis R. (Larson) Hanson ’54, Canby, Minnesota, age 92, on October 2. Vivian (Waisanen) Ryden ’54, Northglenn, Colorado, age 87, on May 4. Richard M. Hagestuen ’55, Bismarck, North Dakota, age 87, on October 28. Robert M. Herman ’55, Minneapolis, age 86, on June 8. Vicent Peterson ’55, Hutchinson, Minnesota, age 87, on November 11. Richard H. Stensrud ’55, Mesa, Arizona, age 87, on August 25. LeRoy E. Nevin ’56, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 86, on June 7. R. Luther Olson ’56, Tucson, Arizona, age 84, on August 27. Bruce W. Rorvig ’56, Kalispell, Montana, age 85, on August 18. Duane J. Solem ’56, Edina, Minnesota, age 91, on May 2. Elizabeth A. (Mortensen) Swanson ’56, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 86, on November 6. Robert Jeska ’57, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, age 85, May 21. Erwin J. Moe ’57, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 88, on April 28. Robert C. Oslund ’57, Silver Bay, Minnesota, age 89, on December 4. Ronald B. Welde ’57, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, age 86, on September 4. Ardis H. (Lee) Zunich ’57, Miles City, Montana, age 82, on July 18. Robert L. Bagley ’58, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, age 84, on November 23. Bonnie (Sandvig) Erickson ’58, Canton, South Dakota, age 83, on May 9. Alice M. (Lindell) Lindgren ’58, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 83, on September 11. Marlene (Hegg) Ridens ’58, Montevideo, Minnesota, age 85, August 19. Donald J. Hagestuen ’59, Aitkin, Minnesota, age 83, on October 29. Arlene B. (Selander) Hill ’59, Allegan, Michigan, age 82, on September 11. Rhoda M. (Monseth) Huglen ’59, Roseau, Minnesota, age 83, on August 19. Heinrich Kopka ’59, Staples, Minnesota, age 85, on November 28. Walter W. Lundeen ’59, Minneapolis, age 89, on December 20. Richard G. Sletten ’59, North Oaks, Minnesota, age 82, on August 13. Peggy K. (O’Neil) Swensen ’59, Fargo, North Dakota, age 82, on April 11. Sharon K. (Grodt) West ’59, Chisago City, Minnesota, age 83, on March 16. 1960s Gordon Grinely ’60, Eau Galle Township, Wisconsin, age 82, on June 25. Marcia S. (Refsal) Sanders ’60, Chandler, Arizona, age 81, on October 13. Kermit L. Valleen ’60, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 83, November 16. Paula J. Bjorkley Carlson ’62, Madras, Oregon, age 80, on December 5. Allan P. Tveite ’62, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 80, on November 18. E. Nelvin Botten ’63, Stanwood, Washington, age 91, on September 16. Bernard E. Debar ’63, Minneapolis, age 89, on May 11. Helen A. (Anderson) Gildseth ’63, Duluth, Minnesota, age 78, on March 17. Lois J. (Bailey) Parson ’63, Braham, Minnesota, age 80, August 19. Clarice A. Sta ’63, Minneapolis, age 84, on April 9. Patrick J. Sullivan ’63, Miltona, Minnesota, age 79, on June 26. Lannette Y. (Haire) Reshetar ’64, Andover, Minnesota, age 77, on April 8. Lesley K. (Schwarten) Schmid ’64, Blaine, Minnesota, age 78, on June 12. Joyce M. (Nelson) Schrader ’64, Friendswood, Texas, age 77, on June 28. Susan L. Kyllo ’65, Spring Park, Minnesota, age 78, on December 16. Sharon (Tofte) Taeger ’65, Camrose, Canada, age 77, on April 4. Sharon L. (Wagner) Johnson ’66, Atikokan, Canada, age 76, on November 29. Sandra (Johnson) Kotval ’66, Spring Valley, Wisconsin, age 76, on October 15. Irene (Seltvedt) Yost ’66, Dickinson, North Dakota, age 77, on July 21. David E. Sylvester ’67, Cloquet, Minnesota, age 81, on October 29. Ruthe M. (Tollefson) Enstad ’68, Prior Lake, Minnesota, age 75, on October 15. Marvin J. Haara ’68, Hutchinson, Minnesota, age 76, on August 26. Ellen M. (Larson) Johnston ’68, Mankato, Minnesota, age 73, on August 16. Merrill D. Ronning ’68, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 75, on August 18. John P. Weinard ’68, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 81, on December 12. Douglas S. Anderson ’69, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 72, on April 10. Mervin F. Larson ’69, Excelsior, Minnesota, age 73, on August 30. 1970s Gloria J. (Wohlers Livingston) Hutchinson ’70, Falcon Heights, Minnesota, age 71, on July 1. Kathy J. (Kropelin) Cracraft ’71, Minneapolis, age 70, on July 13. Michael J. Hostetler ’71, Andover, Minnesota, age 71, on August 7. Joann S. Bell ’72, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 70, on August 9. Vicki C. (Linder) Lind ’72, Rosemount, Minnesota, age 70, on November 4. Je rey P. Ross ’72, Sheburn, Minnesota, age 64, on April 26. Jean L. (Bridges) Wachs ’73, Minneapolis, age 68, on June 4. David W. Finson ’75, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 67, on June 17. Douglas A. Fish ’75, Hastings, Minnesota, age 68, on November 24. Lois B. Wattman ’76, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 66, on September 28. Gregory J. Bannon ’77, Albertville, Minnesota, age 66, on August 15. 1980s Sandra J. Holm-Cyr ’82, Rich eld, Minnesota, age 72, on April 15. Arlene D. Hiles ’86, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 87, on September 11. 1990s Richard A. Gillitzer ’91, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 53, on May 24. Judith A. Francis ’92, Mound, Minnesota, age 80, on October 12. John S. Austin ’93, Minneapolis, age 70, on December 1. Debra J. Clark-Corley ’93, Gary, Indiana, age 65, on April 6. Nancy C. Sallman ’93, Minneapolis, age 65, on September 14. Violet E. (Schmitz) Rocek ’94, Minneapolis, age 85, on December 6. Eileen J. (Bridgeman) Biernat ’98, New Brighton, Minnesota, age 74, on September 4. 2000s Dylan E. Cook ’00, Christchurch, New Zealand, age 44, on September 7. Kelly A. (Duncan) Norden ’00, Minneapolis, age 42, on October 3. Philip R. Johnson ’04, Nisswa, Minnesota, age 56, on April 11. Michael R. Kuhlmann ’04, Minneapolis, age 39, on August 11. Christopher R. Hunnicutt ’08, Green Bay, Wisconsin, age 35, on March 27. Barton M. Lund ’08, Stuart, Florida, age 56, on December 12. 2010s Quinten P. Bissonette ’12, Spring Valley, Minnesota, age 43, on May 5. Shane M. Potter ’15, Garrison, Minnesota, age 31, on December 13. J. Parker Foley ’16, Duxbury, Massachusetts, age 27, on October 21. Maricio M. Mata-Thelen ’17, Minneapolis, age 26, on October 31. Kevin J. Baxter ’19, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 29, on November 2. 2020s Abdirizak A. Abdullahi ’21, Minneapolis, age 21, on April 26. Faculty Augsburg University’s Center for Global Education and Experience Guatemala Site Director Fidel Xinico Tum, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, age 60, on September 12. Submit address changes and nominations for remembrances to alumniupdate@augsburg.edu. Share this: Tags: Facebook Twitter Alumni News And Updates Pinterest LinkedIn Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Augsburg receives $50,000 grant for Travelers EDGE® Augsburg receives grants for equity in education and remote learning YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Give to the Max Day recap and sustaining Augsburg’s future - on January 26, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE AUGSBURG RECEIVES $50,000 GRANT FOR TRAVELERS EDGE® by John Weirick February 18, 2021 Share this: Facebook  Around the Quad Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email The Travelers Companies, Inc. gave a $50,000 grant to Augsburg University in September 2020 to support Travelers EDGE. The program—which stands for Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment—provides scholarships, internships, job shadowing, professional development opportunities, and career advice. More than 100 Augsburg students have participated in the program since 2007. “There is much more to be gained from Travelers EDGE than solely professional development,” said Ann A. Ulring, program manager at Augsburg’s Strommen Center for Meaningful Work. “By the time scholars graduate, they are con dent, career-focused, and empowered to share who they are and what they have to o er.” EDGE scholar Samantha Lopez ’22, who completed a summer internship at Travelers, said, “Travelers has opened so many doors for me. It was amazing to learn rsthand what goes on inside a corporation and nd out I can do the work. Travelers provided me with the support, skills, and con dence I need to pursue a business career.” 2020–21 Recipients Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US Aaron Davis ’24, Business Management Yer Her ’23, Marketing Pa Houa Lee ’23, Marketing Hamza Jamari ’22, Marketing Duaa Katabay ’23, Business Management Curtis Love ’23, Marketing Samantha Lopez ’22, Communication Studies PangDao Xiong ’24, Marketing View more grants news. Top image: Samantha Lopez ’22 is one of several Travelers EDGE scholars at Augsburg. (Photos by Courtney Perry) Share this: Tags: Facebook Class of 2022 Twitter Grants Pinterest Strommen Center LinkedIn Email Supporting Augsburg Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  Give to the Max Day recap and sustaining Augsburg’s future In memoriam, Winter 2020–21 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Augsburg’s in-house Notes from President Augsburg Board of Regents epidemiologist guides Pribbenow: Come and see! welcomes new and Auggies through the - on February 22, 2021 reelected members COVID-19 pandemic - on February 22, 2021 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. News and Media Ok Make a Gift Search Augsburg.edu HOME PREVIOUS ISSUES ABOUT Go CONTACT US CURRENT ISSUE GIVE TO THE MAX DAY RECAP AND SUSTAINING AUGSBURG’S FUTURE Thank you for supporting Augsburg during Give to the Max Day! by Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA Share this: January 26, 2021 Facebook Twitter  Auggies Connect Pinterest LinkedIn Email Sign up for Email Newsletter Submit Your Alumni News CONNECT WITH US This November, Augsburg had a record-breaking Give to the Max Day in terms of donor participation and dollars raised. Here are the highlights: • $531,704 was raised across 41 projects, setting a new record. • 1,898 total donors gave, the most we’ve ever seen. • Gifts came from 41 states. • 56% of our 41 projects (23 projects) were fully funded, and many others were very close to fully funded. • One couple gave to 17 projects. This day continues to energize our students, faculty, and sta every year, and we can’t wait to see what we can accomplish next year. Watch this video from our students who would like to say a quick thank you. Make a di erence all year round Each year, 20% of the annual gifts to the Augsburg Fund come during Give to the Max Day. But giving to the Augsburg Fund matters all year round: We use these dollars to make a di erence for Auggies right away through scholarships, instruction and academic support, student programs, and other areas of the largest funding needs at Augsburg. Gifts to the Augsburg Fund touch the life of every student, faculty member, and sta member. More than 1,000 donors contribute to the fund each year, and you can join them. Make a di erence today. Give to the Augsburg Fund. Giving creates a ripple e ect for the future of Augsburg When a water droplet hits the surface of a pond, it causes a ripple much larger than the original drop. This is how your gift a ects Augsburg. Glass water droplet sculptures, created by Rhode Island artists, represent the expanding e ect that donors provide for the Augsburg community. Learn more about these water droplets and how endowed scholarships propel Augsburg’s work into the future. Lisa Smith and Dave Smith Sharon Mortrud ’64 (Courtesy Dennis Meyer ’78 and Bev ’78 (Courtesy photo) photo) Meyer (Courtesy photo) Share this: Tags: Facebook Augsburg Support Twitter Pinterest Give To The Max Day LinkedIn Scholarship Email Winter 2020–21  PREVIOUS POST NEXT POST  How to Build a Women’s Wrestling Program from Scratch Augsburg receives $50,000 grant for Travelers EDGE® YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE In memoriam, Winter 2020– 21 - on February 22, 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Majors and Programs Adult Undergraduate Admissions Course Catalog Graduate Admissions Accreditation Campus Tour Consumer Disclosures About Augsburg Inside Augsburg The Augsburg University website uses cookies to make your browsing experience as useful as possible. In order to have the full site experience, keep cookies enabled on Campus Map our site with cookies enabled, you are agreeing A-ZtoDirectory your web browser. By browsing their use. Review Augsburg's privacy policy for more details. 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Title: Augsburg Now Spring-Summer 2020
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW As we concludeour yearlongcelebration of Augsburg's150th anniversary, in the midst of thesehistorictimes, I havebeenreflectingon someof the mottosand slogansAugsburghasusedthroughoutits history.Fromour foundingscripturalmotto-"And the Word becamefleshand live...
Show more NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW As we concludeour yearlongcelebration of Augsburg's150th anniversary, in the midst of thesehistorictimes, I havebeenreflectingon someof the mottosand slogansAugsburghasusedthroughoutits history.Fromour foundingscripturalmotto-"And the Word becamefleshand livedamongus" (John1: 14)-to the familiar "Educationfor service,"to the morerecent"We believewe arecalledto serveour neighbor,"to the iconic phrasefirst usedas part of Augsburg's100th anniversary and nowfeaturedon our universityseal,"Throughtruth to freedom,"eachphrasepointsto abidingvaluesthat are at the heartof the educationAugsburgoffersto its students. I am particularlystruck by the claim madein that centennialmotto,and I wonderwhat it might mean to explorehow"Throughtruth to freedom"shapesour teachingand learningcommunityin the midst of these pandemictimes. In a recentpresentation,Professorof ReligionMary Lowe offereda provocativechallengewhensheaskedus what it might meanto educateour studentsfor freedom. Whata counterculturalnotion! Educatedfor freedomfrom ignorance,from oppression,from divisionand hatredand violence.Educatedfor freedomto makethe worldmorefair and just and healthy,to be goodneighbors,to take careof creation.Educatedfor freedomfor the sakeof the world,for the goodof others,for the promiseof wonderand creativity. At Augsburg,the possibilityof this educationfor freedom is groundedin claimsof truth. Aboveall, a theological claim of the truth of the gospelof JesusChrist-stated so powerfullyin that foundingscripturalmottofrom the first chapterof John'sgospel-a truth that makesall things possiblein our livesandwork in the world.At the same time, it's the truth wefind in our commitmentto a liberal arts education-to the belief in scientificknowledge,in socialanalysis,in artistic expression,in culturalwisdom. Andfinally, it's the truth we find in the livedexperiences of our studentsand the communitiesfrom whichthey come, truths that residein rituals andtraditionsand practicesthat invite us into worldsrich in knowledgeand wonder. "Throughtruth to freedom"strikesme as a compelling responseto this momentwhenwe find ourselvesliving at the intersectionof three pandemics.TheCOVID-19 pandemichasdisruptedall aspectsof howwe live and work,and it haspointedlyi11ustratedthe tensionbetween public healthand economicwell-being.Followingin the wakeof that pandemic,an economicpandemicthreatens our socialfabric with massiveunemployment and business closuresworldwide.And, mostrecently,the racial inequities exacerbated by the senselessmurderof GeorgeFloydby Minneapolispoliceofficers-along with countlessBlack, Indigenous,and otherpeopleof colorwho'veexperienced similar racismandviolence-havecreateda third pandemic that threatensto tear our countryapart.Surelythis unchartedintersectionof crisespresentsuniquechallenges for all of us as citizens,tryingto imaginehowwe will navigateto someas yet unknownfuture. The questionwe will ask at Augsburg-a questionat the heartof our academicmissionand our commitment to socialjustice-is, "Whereis the truth in the midst of thesepandemics?" Whatis the truth aboutkeepingeachotherhealthy in the face of a novelcoronavirus? Whatis the truth in an economythat, moreand more,deepensremarkable inequities?Whatis the truth in centuriesof systemic racismand oppression? Andthe truths we will find, always evolvingand emergingand transforming,will free us for the workwe are calledto do as "informedcitizens,thoughtful stewards,critical thinkers,and responsibleleaders"Augsburg'smission! Let us go forwardtogetherinto the next 150 yearsof Augsburg'slife recommittedto educationguidedby the beliefthat throughtruth there is indeedfreedom.I can only wonderwhatsucha counterculturalbeliefwill meanfor storiesyet to be told. Staystrong,safe,andwelI. Faithfullyyours, PAUL C.PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT AUGSBURG NOW Spring-Summer 2020 VicePresident and Chief Operating Officer Rebecca John'13MBA Associate VicePresident and Chief Marketing Officer Stephen Jendraszak Director ofMarketing Laura Swanson Lindahl '15MBA Director ofPublic Relations andInternal Communications GitaSitaramiah Assistant Director of Marketing, Creative Denielle Stepka '11 Marketing Copywriter John Weirick Communication and Social Media Specialist Briana Alamilla '17 EDITOR'S NOTE Whenwe beganmakingthis magazinein early2020, the worldwas markedlydifferent than the onewe inhabit today.AugsburgNowstaff delayedthe magazine'stimeline due to the impactof the COVID-19 pandemicon the university'soperations. Mostof the storiesand eventsdescribedhereinoccurredbeforeit becamenecessary to shift to manyworkingfrom home,online gatherings,and other modifiedoperations to slowthe spreadof the virus. Becausewe wantedto sharetheseremarkablestoriesand Auggieaccomplishments as soonas possible,our team decidedto releasethis issuein digital-onlyformat, a first in the magazine'shistory. -John Weirick,editor Project Manager JuliKramer Communications and Social Media Consultant KateNorlander Advancement Communications Specialist KaiaChambers Senior Communications Specialist forPrincipal Gifts Amanda Symes '09,'15MFA WebManager JoeMann Contributing Writer KateH.Elliott Augsburg Nowis published by Augsburg University 2211Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN55454 Opinions expressed inAugsburg Now donotnecessarily reflect official university policy. ISSN 1058-1545 02 AROUND THE QUAD AWOMEN'S WRESTLING 10 HOWTOBUILD PROGRAM FROM SCRATCH 18 MISTAKEN IDENTITY 24 HONORING AUGGIES 25 AUGGIES CONNECT 28 CLASS NOTES 32 INMEMORIAM Onthecover: Augsburg commemorates aneventin itshistory andreflects onits significance fortoday. See page2 andpage8. Allphotos byCourtney Perry unless otherwise indicated Send address corrections to alumniupdate@augsburg.edu. Send comments to now@augsburg.edu. COMMENCEMENT 2020 On Friday, May 29, and Sunday, May 31, Augsburg University celebrated commencement virtually. Taking precautions to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, Augsburg was among numerous institutions nationally that hosted virtual celebrations to recognize graduating students. The streamed online event opened with speeches from Provost KarenKaivolaand President PaulPribbenow. Personalized slides for graduates included photos and messages that the students submitted. Friends and family posted comments to the video stream as they watched the event. Students took to social media to share their graduation posts using the hashtag #AuggieGrad. Once it's again safe to host large gatherings, Augsburg wi 11 plan an in-person ceremony for the Class of 2020 that will include many more familiar commencement traditions. ONE DAY INMAY This year's commencement celebration featured a central theme, chosen in April, that connected defining moments in Augsburg's history with its contemporary reality. Uplifting the university's longstanding commitments to equity and inclusion, the theme "68/20: One Day in May" called the university community to explore the actions and outcomes of events in 1968 to consider their relevance for 2020. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Augsburg canceled classes on May 15, 1968, and hosted a series of workshops and lectures. Augsburg faculty and local Black community members led conversations focused on racism, politics, power, education, and violence-significant tensions in American life in 1968. This year, Augsburg presented honorary degrees during the virtual commencement, recognizing two leaders of the historic One Day in May in 1968: the Hon. LaJune ThomasLange'75 and MahmoudEl-Kati. Augsburg owes a debt of gratitude to the leaders of One Day in May, an event that continues to inform and inspire the university community to engage in efforts for equity and justice. Their contributions to our society and to Augsburg resonated strongly in the virtual commencement ceremonies, which took place just days after George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police. Blackartists,alongwith Indigenous andotherstudentsandcommunity members of color,ledanart campaign to upliftOneDayin Mayduring Augsburg 's sesquicentennial celebration. e Hearaudiorecordings fromtheeventin 1968,andseemoreOne I Dayin Mayart, includinga bannerthat appeared in TheNew Yorker, at augsburg.edu/now. rt at u s ur Fac ulty, vvorkS 1 prese nt g.StgJl SERIES SPEAKERS THE ART OFAUGSBURGCONVOCATION The Augsburg University Convocation Series is an annual As part of the university's yearlong celebration of its 150th speaker series that includes long-standing endowed and anniversary, KristinAnderson, professor of art history and special programs. Recent presenters included: archivist, curated an exhibition of works by Augsburg art faculty dating back to the origin of the department in the 1950s. The exhibit included works by early department members, such as HansBergand IvanDoseff,former longtime faculty members, including NormHolenand PhilThompson, and current faculty members Stephen Geffre,ChrisHoultberg, DanIbarra,roberttom, LyzWendland,and others. 1. DeAnna Cummings, chief executive officer of Juxtaposition Arts, who shared a presentation at the Horbal Lecture in November called "Putting Creativity to Work 2025: Stronger Communities Through Local Art and Design" 2. John S. Wright, professor emeritus of English and African American and African Studies at the University of Minnesota, who delivered "Where Do ,,1.··.f ,. .. > • " -~ We Go From Here: Chaos or Community" at the 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation in January 3. Kwame Anthony Appiah, professor of philosophy and law at New York University, who presented "Ethics, Identity, and Cosmopolitanism" at the Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics in March Thefacultyartexhibitwasdisplayed intheChristensen Center ArtGallery. 4 AUGSBURG NOW AROUND THEQUAD Hearst Foundation awards Augsburg I Lto R:President PaulPribbenow, PeterHeegaard, andMikeChristensen $75,000 FOR LEAD FELLOWS PROGRAM URBAN INVESTORS FINDSNEWHOME ATAUGSBURG Last November,Augsburg University's Sabo Center for Democracyand Citizenship and the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work welcomed a new campus partner: Urban Investors. Formerly known as Urban Adventure, this program helps bankers understand the challenges and opportunities within cities through experiential learning opportunities. The program also facilitates partnerships between public, private, and LEAD Fellows, a program of Augsburg University's Sabo Center for Democracyand Citizenship, this winter received $75,000 from the Hearst Foundation, Inc. to support students as they pursue in-depth, long-term, community-based work at paid internships. The program name stands for Leaders for Equity, Action, and Democracy. nonprofit groups and promotes investment and community development Students spend that move families out of poverty, revitalize neighborhoods, improve two to four years engaged schools, and build economic opportunity. in public work projects that address social /i: THE AUGSBURG ~iPODCAST:SEASON3 issues such Augsburg 's LEAD Fellows program is affiliatedwiththe far-reaching Bonner Program that aimsto transform students, communities, andcampuses throughservice. as education, homelessness, racial justice, and poverty while also The first two seasonsof the participating in a peer learning cohort. The LEAD Fellows program is unique in Augsburg Podcastfeatured that it offers students a pathway to generate faculty and staff sharing stories income while also making a difference and growing as leaders. The program is cohort- of their work with students. The third season, launched in March, based with a strong support framework that takes a new approach and invites helps students to develop connections with students and a recent graduate peers and mentors, build their sense of MIDCO to discuss their experiences with internships and the ways belonging, and hone their leadership skills. The Hearst Foundation award will fund in which Augsburg has helped the pay students receive for their internships support their personal and educational goals. and will enhance cohort activities, including semiannual retreats and biweekly gatherings. Listentothenewseason at • I augsburg.edu/podcast or inyourpodcast app. Barclay Bates'18 SPRING SUMMfR ?020 5 AROUND THEQUAD HONORING RetiringFaculty Several faculty members are entering retirement following years of dedicated service to Augsburg University. Augsburg is grateful for their commitment to advancing the university's mission and supporting TheDoctor ofPsychology inClinical Psychology degree launches to meetgrowing demand This past November, the university introduced its second doctoral program: a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology. Augsburg's first, the Doctor of Nursing Practice, began in 2010. Augsburg worked with former Minnesota School of Professional Psychology faculty and staff to provide continuity for students who were student learning within and beyond the classroom. JOHN CERRITO AssistantProfessor , Department of Business-joined Augsburgin 1983 MARGARET FINDERS Professor , Department of Education-joinedAugsburg previously enrol led in the program housed at Argosy University. After in 2014 the closure of Argosy in March 2019, Augsburg earned accreditation to become Minnesota's only MARK FUEHRER university offering an in-person PsyD program in A 9' clinical psychology. Augsburg is now accepting applications. augsbu rg.edu/psyd Professor , Department of Philosophy-joined Augsburgin 1971 Employment of Iicensed psychologists and related occupations is projected to grow 13. 7% from 2016 to 2026 in DAWN KADERABEK '18 DNP the United States. "We are pleased to offer this PsyD program as a way to meet the in 2015 growing demand for mental health services statewide," said Monica VIRGINIA MCCARTHY Devers,Augsburg University dean of professional studies. Associate Professor , Department of Nursing-joined Augsburgin 2011 Instructor , Department of Nursing-joinedAugsburg NANCY RODENBORG Augsburg winsCampus Compact ImpactAward Professor , Department of SocialWork-joined Augsburgin 2000 Campus Compact, a network of universities across the United States MICHAEL SCHOCK that are committed to public engagement in higher education, honored Associate Professor , Department of SocialWork- Augsburg University as an inaugural joinedAugsburgin 1993 recipient of the Richard Guarasci Award for Institutional Transformation. NANCY STEBLAY Augsburg was selected for its work Professor , Department of Psychology-joined Augsburg in developing partnerships with the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on page18.) in 1988(Readaboutherresearch MARTHA STORTZ and advancing environmental BernhardM. Christensen Professor of Vocation and Religion-joinedAugsburgin 2010 sustainability, interfaith leadership, and equity and racial justice . 6 AUGSBURG NOW • Watchthevideousedto introduce Augsburg at theawardceremony at augsburg.edu/now. MARK TRANVIK Professor , Department of Religion-joinedAugsburg in 1995 At a specialchapelservice duringtheJanuary2020 AugsburgUniversity Board of Regentsmeeting,Bishop AnnSvennungsen of the Minneapolis AreaSynodof the Evangelical LutheranChurch in Americaofficiallyinstalled BabetteChatman '06, left, as andJustinLind-Ayres Augsburg's universitypastors. Augsburg community launches on-campus lending shop to reduce wasteandpromote reuse Augsburg's Environmental Stewardship Committee and Campus Cupboard food pantry collaborated in Fall 2019 to pilot a President PaulPribbenow shares Augsburg's storyat ~ the ~r~~~::~i•i:~:::~~: ~~~:i~~~® the O new resource: the Share Shop, which offers a wide variety of items for free, short- Augsburg story during a session called, "Hospitality is Not term checkout. The Share Shop currently Enough: An Institutional Journey From Diversity to Inclusion and Equity" at The Forum on Workplace Inclusion conference. features board games, small appliances, office supplies, sewing kits, sports equipment, tools, and much more. Augsburg, home of The Forum on Workplace Inclusion since last summer, is "proud to partner with the forum to help expand The Share Shop follows the same hours of operation as Augsburg's Campus diversity, equity, and inclusion skills, so our students can fully participate and succeed in the workforce," Pribbenow said. Cupboard and is located in the lowest level of Science Hal I, adjacent to the university's longstanding "free table," where Auggies place items they no longer need and wish to offer to new owners. For Fall 2020, the Campus Cupboard will relocate to the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship in the lower level of Anderson Residence Hall to accommodate new operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Share Shop will remain in Science Hall, and the two student-run The 32nd annual, three-day conference attracted more than 1,500 people from around the world and across sectors. TheStarTribunerecentlypublishedan article featuringSteveHumerickhouse , executivedirectorof the forum, in which he explainedthe importanceof creating safe placesfor diffic uIt conversations . A VI Visit augsburg.edu/now to readthe article: "Howthe TwinCities becameoneof the largesthubsfor workplacediversityand inclusion." initiatives wi 11 continue to work together. • Visit augsburg.edu/green/shareshop and inside.augsburg.edu/foodshelf to learnmore. SPRINGSUMMrn 20?0 7 ONTHESPOT How One Day in May in 1968 forced Augsburg to reevaluate its posture and practices regarding racism and education HanaDinkuserved as director of Augsburg University's Pan-Afri kan Center from March 2019 to July 2020. Her most recent project at Augsburg, "One Day in May," was featured on WCCO-TV this spring, prior to Augsburg's virtual commencement (see page 2). Between her work leading programs and supporting students, she out Ii ned the importance of Augsburg's history and present moment. Q. Whywas OneDayin May sucha pivotalmoment • for the Augsburg community in 1968? the story and understood the significance of One Day in May, it took on a life of its own. Directors A. of International Student Services, LGBTQIA+ mission and values. In the wake of Dr. Martin and the administration to build and promote a Luther King Jr.'s assassination, higher education sesquicentennial campaign about One Day in May. One Day in May forced Augsburg to recognize • all the ways it had failed to live up to its Student Services, and Multicultural Student Services worked with faculty member LeonWang institutions across the country saw a wave of protests and a demand for structural change. One Day in May was Augsburg's response to the moment. The community speakers, Augsburg students, staff, and faculty who participated shed light on systemic white supremacy in the Augsburg community and the nation. This public acknowledgment created a What is onecomponent of OneDayin Maythat ; is especiallyrelevantfor ourcurrentsocialand politicalenvironment? Q A. All aspects are relevant, but if I had to identify • one particular component, it would be the level of transparency and accountability that helped demand to decolonize the curriculum at Augsburg. move Augsburg in the right direction. The Eurocentric core of the education system is Q. the clearest example of how our institutions are Howdidthe reintroduction of OneDayin May • ariseand becomethe themeof this year's commencement ceremony? A When I started my job at Augsburg, one of my ; mentors, community elder MahmoudEl-Kati, embedded in white supremacist ideology. This is why we gathered this year to begin the creation of a Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies department. Q. Whatdo youhopeis accomplished throughthe • reintroduction of OneDayin May? told me the real history of Black folks at Augsburg. Elder Mahmoud was one of the community speakers at One Day in May and spent years working closely with the Pan-Afrikan Center. Very few people on A My goal for this campaign was to help Black ; students understand and appreciate the battles fought by those who came before them. I want Black campus knew about One Day in May and the students and other marginalized students to know contributions of Black students, staff, and faculty. that we are a part of Augsburg history; we are not After learning that Augsburg's sesquicentennial guests at this institution. When the whole Augsburg book, "Hold Fast to What is Good," didn't mention community understands this, we will see the kind it, I worked with other Augsburg leaders to make of institutional changes that marginalized students, One Day in May the theme for the university's staff, and faculty have demanded for years. 2020 M LK Day celebration. As more people heard AROUND THEQUAD newest trip: RickStevespartners withAugsburg'sParticipateinCGEE's Centerfor GlobalEducation andExperience Hunger andHopeinGuatemala non-essential travelresumes, travelers Planaheadfortravelto Guatemala When will getan insideglimpseof Guatemala and When well-known travel author, activist, and media personality Rick Steves went to Central America to film segments for his new public television special, "Hunger and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala," he called on Augsburg staff to provide expert guidance and introductions to community leaders and regional organizations committed to ending hunger and extreme poverty. That's because Augsburg's Center for Global Education and Experience has a vast network in Guatemala and has offered educational programming in the country since 1985. visit manyof the sameplacesdepictedon "RickStevesHungerandHope:Lessons from EthiopiaandGuatemala." Fromthe charmingcolonialcityof Antigua, to LakeAtitlanandits surrounding volcanoes, to the colorfultapestryof Mayanhistory,there is an abundance of thingsto do,see,andlearn. One of the key people Steves spoke with during the production of his television special was FidelXinico,director of Augsburg's CGEE Guatemala programming. Xinico set up Steves' trip logistics from Guatemala and served as a cultural guide and language translator. He is a trilingual Guatemalan citizen of the Kaqchikel Maya ethnic group. SusanPeacock,a CGEE program coordinator based out of Registration openfor: Tripl: April 11-18,2021 Trip2: June13-20,2021 Trip3: August8-15, 2021 Minneapolis, connected Steves and Xinico and helped shape the direction of the television show. Augsburg is now planning a travel program for the general public that will take participants to inspiring destinations in Guatemala. Augsburgsenior scholar published in A V 1 Visitgo.augsburg.edu/hope to learnmoreandregister. HarryBoyte,senior scholar of public work philosophy at Augsburg's Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, co-wrote an article that was published in Time magazine. Boyte's piece offered an analysis of the 2020 United States presidential race and suggested that a compelling campaign TIME MAGAZINE would appeal to Americans as engaged citizens rather than disgruntled consumers: "Emphasize a citizenship A W Finda link to the article at augsburg.edu/now. message for government to be a partner, not a savior." SPRING-SUMMER 2020 9 A WOMEN'S WRESTLING PROGRAM FROM SCRATCH BYKATE H.ELLIOTT Augsburg Athletics continues trailblazing trendwithMinnesota's onlycollegiate women's wrestling team "I already feel bad for my future children," joked Bel Snyder'23. "They are going to have to hear the story of Minnesota's only collegiate women's wrestling team over and over again." Snyder is one of 10 women wrestlers who made history at Augsburg during the 2019-20 year-a academic quarter century after the university founded the NCAA's first women's hockey team in the Midwest, followed by Minnesota's first varsity women's lacrosse team in 2014 . That pioneering spirit drew Snyder to Augsburg, which received a Breaking Barriers Award in February at Minnesota's National Girls and Women in Sports Day event at the Minnesota History Center. "I have never felt such close bonds or such support," added Snyder, who's an elementary education transfer student. "I am going to bleed maroon and gray for the rest of my Iife." SPRING-SUMMER 2020 11 GREEN BUT GREAT It's a youngteamwith sevenfirst-yearand three transferstudentswho had neverwrestledfor an alIwomanteam until now.Therosterincludessomeof the nation'stop competitors,includingEmilyShilson '23, who'sconsideredthe top womanrecruit in the country by somewrestIing newsoutlets.The 19-year-oldfinance studentqualifiedto wrestlefor a spot in the 2020 TokyoOlympicGames(whichhavebeenrescheduledfor 2021 becauseof the COVID-19 pandemic). Howdid a buddingteamrecruitsuchchampions? MeetWomen'sWrestlingHeadCoachMaxMejia,a formerHarvardwrestlerwhobecamea women'sand skills coachfor Arizona'sSunkistKidsWrestlingClub, whichproduced55 Olympicmedalistsin both men'sand women'swrestling. "In wrestling,youcancontrolyourdestinymorethan othersports.It's not aboutheightor speed.Champions havementaltoughness,diIigencefor detaiI, anda hungerto win," he said. "My goalis to producethe best womenleadersin the world.Whentheygraduate,I want themto understandhowthesetraits convertto success in the realworld.And I wantthe employersto gobble them up becausethey recognizewhatcomesfrom that levelof leadership,dedication,andgrit," he said. Mejiafocuseson process,knowingresultswill follow. Heseeksto understandeachathletes'hopesand motivationsso he can helpthem playto their strengths for bothathleticsand careersuccess. Mejiaempowers eachwrestlerto set herowngoals:"I knowI havethe disciplineto do anythingI put my mind to, and I'll havea greatmindsetwhiledoingit," said kinesiology majorSavannah Vold'22. "He doesn'tseeus as weare but as we couldbe," saidVayle-rae Baker'23, whoranksat the top of her weightclass."Thenhe pushesus throughself-doubtor whateveris holdingus back.I take morerisks,and I'm seeingthe rewards." Thosestrengthsareshowing.Withan overallrecordof 4-2, AuggieWomen's Wrestlingrankedamongthe top 10 programs in the NCAAasthe teamheadedintothe inauguralCliff KeenNationalCollegiate Women's Wrestling Championships in earlyMarch.Augsburg finishedin ninth placeasa team,whileShiIsonclaimedthe nationaltitle to closeout herinauguralcollegiateseason. "My goalistoproduce t ebest women leaders inthewofd." 12 AUGSBURG NOW NCAA NAMES WOMEN'S WRESTLING AN'EMERGING' SPORT In January,NCAADivision11 and Division111 votedto addwomen's wrestlingto its list of Emerging Sports for Women;in June,DivisionI voted in agreement. Thenextmilestone for the wrestlingcommunitywill be to reachat least40 NCAA-affiliated varsitywomen'swrestIingteams, which is requiredto achieveofficial NCAA Championship status.At present , about 35 NCAAschoolssupportwomen's wrestlingteams. Augsburg AthleticDirectorJeff Swenson '79 is optimistic."Wehaveno doubtwomen 's wrestlingwill buildon our reputationas a 'wrestlingschool,' with our men'steamhavingsecuredits 13th nationaltitle in 2019. "In 1995, Augsburgmadehistory with the region'sfirst women'sice hockeyteam,and nowyou're uniqueif youdon't offerwomen'shockey.Then in 2014, Augsburg startedthe NCAA's first varsitywomen'slacrosseteamin Minnesota, and now,herewearewith women'swrestling,"hesaid."Augsburg continuesto be a pioneerfor women's athletics,andwe'reinvestedin the successof women'swrestling." Men'sWrestlingCo-Head CoachJim Moulsoff is thriIledthat Augsburgis creatingopportunities for womento wrestleat the collegiatelevel.Girls' wrestlingis the fastestgrowinghigh schoolsport,accordingto the U.S. WrestlingFoundation, yet Minnesota andWisconsin areamongthe 30 states that haven'tmadegirls' wrestlingan officialsport." "Forthe past18 years,I havehelped out at juniorfreestylesummertrainings, and it's beenamazingto seethe growth of women'swrestlingfromnogirls in attendance to hundredseachyear,"said Moulsoff,the 2015 and2019 National Wrestling Coaches Association Division111 NationalCoachof the Year. TEAM OF'FIRSTS' MENTORS YOUNG GIRLS Members of the women'swrestling teamalsoaredrivento sharetheir knowledge andpavethe wayfor the nextgenerationof womenwrestlers. Everyoneof the student-athletes has liveda first-the first girl on a high school'swrestlingteam,the first match a competitorforfeitedbecausehe "didn't wantto wrestlea girl," the first time shesawwomen'swrestlingat the Olympics(in 2004). Theyembracethe strengthgainedfromthosemoments, but it is ti mefor morewomento have opportunities to wrestle. Nineyearsago,MinnesotaUSA WrestIing beganhostingopengymsat AugsburgeverySunday,andfourgirls attendedthe first session.Earlierthis year,about60 girls showedup every week,evenwith weekendtournaments pullingsomeaway.Bakersaidsheand herteammates consistentlyvolunteered to coachand mentorthe girls,who rangedfrom6 to 18 yearsold. "I startedwrestlingwhenI was9, and I wasthe onlygirl on that team andthe onlygirl on my middleand highschoolteams,"Bakersaid. "I SPRING SUMVER 7020 13 look forward to coaching and connecting with the girls each week. My teammates and I want to show them they can do this, and show them there will be teams for them when they go to college." ChadShilson'93, women's wrestling director and coach for Minnesota USA Wrestling, said lifelong friendships seem to emerge at every practice, as girls experience wrestling with those who are similar in strength, weight, flexibility, size, and goals. "They get to be the iron that sharpens other iron," he said. The result: some of the top women wrestlers in the country, if not the world, have come out of the open gyms-"hungry for the sport and everything it has to offer," added Shi Ison, the father of top-ranked Augsburg wrestler, Emily Shi Ison. Coach Mejia hopes to collaborate with USA Wrestling and other organizations to offer even more camps and open gyms (when it's safe and appropriate for public health regarding the coronavirus) for the estimated 300 girls who are wrestling at some level in the state. When they graduate from high school, Mejia said, "I want them to have no doubt that Augsburg is the place to be." ~i ti,\ 'WEKEEP PLAYING. WEPERSIST' Word has gotten out. Alumni and friends of the university AR "'1S fjJ DEFENSE SOAP Augsburgplacedseventhin the NCAA women'sdivisionat the Multi-Division NationalDualMe are tweeting their praises and sharing news coverage of the historic team. Children's book author and public speaker, ShellyBoyum-Breen '97, said the university's investment in women's wrestling is also an investment in girls and women in general. "I was fortunate to be at Augsburg when women's hockey started, and I saw lives changing before my eyes. I know firsthand the impact that continues to make on those women's lives," said BoyumBreen, who taught physical education and coached women's basketball at Augsburg. "When we invest in women and our diverse communities, we invest in what's possible. We have to show it in action through media coverage. Kids need to hear these stories-boys and girls. "Look at the decision-makers, the percentages of coaches, the funding gaps, and the near media blackout of women's professional and collegiate sports. And yet, we keep playing. And people keep watching. Because of the support that exists, we persist," said Boyum-Breen, also established grants to pay sports "When weinvestin females who fees and equipment costs that functioned andourdiverse communities,as barriers to participation for some Minnesota girls. weinvestin what's possible." Augsburg women's hockey coaches 14 AUGSBURG NOW know better than most the kind of investment and persistent leadership required to create and sustain a vibrant women's athletics program. "To be a leader-it's scary," said founding Women's 2020 USMARINE CORPS/NWCA MUL Tl DIVISION IATIONAL DUAL MEET 7'ff PLlfC=. WOMENNCAA et in Louisville,Kentucky,in January. Hockey Head Coach Jill Pohtilla. "I've seen Augsburg, time and time again, make bold moves based on what makes sense and what is right," said Pohtilla, who was inducted into the Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota Hall of Fame in 2006. The women's wrestling program has made an immediate impact in the Athletics Department and has increased expectations for success, said Michelle McAteer,Augsburg's women's hockey head coach. "Coach Mejia was able to bring in a large and talented class for the inaugural season, and it's clear how skilled, determined, and committed these women are," she said. "They are representing Augsburg and our Athletics Department with great pride, and growing the profile of their sport at the same time. "They are making history, living history," McAteer added. "It's a special team doing very special things." ■ Seepage16 for a brief historyof women'sathleticsat Augsburg. ABRIEF HISTORY OF WOMEN'S ATHL 16 AUGSBURG NOW TICS ATAIJGSBIJRG SPRINGSUMMER 2020 17 REAL PEOPLE IN REAL CASES computers with a software program Eyewitness identification of criminal perpetrators is a staple form of evidence San Diego; and Tucson, Arizona. in courts of law. developed specifically for the field "Think of eyewitness memory like audio transcripts to examine the 855 I ineups in four cities: Austin, Texas; association between witness comments Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and lineup selection, finding that an North Carolina; cities provided lineup photos and eyewitness identification decisions, instant identification by an eyewitness was less likely to produce an error than when the witness was deliberative. NatalieJohnson '18, who's pursuing a residue, or other physical evidence," investigator reports, and audiotapes of master's degree in counseling psychology Steblay said. "You don't want to the verbal exchange between the I ineup at the University of St. Thomas in St. contaminate it." administrator and eyewitness during Paul, Minnesota, was one of the students each lineup procedure. A startling who listened to police audiotapes and the top national experts in eyewitness discovery emerged from a pattern of coded them based on whether the identification. cases when lineup administrators, who decision-making process was immediate social psychologist who has conducted were also the case detectives, knew who or deliberative. research on eyewitness memory, pol ice the suspects were and behaved in a procedures, and eyewitness evidence leading fashion with the eyewitnesses. Steblay, along with Wells, is among As an experimental for 30 years, she is often cal led upon by defense attorneys to testify when they believe a suspect is being wrongly accused based on faulty identification. Her abi I ity to speak with authority on the subject has been reinforced She and other students were startled to realize that the police push for a conviction could, in some cases, influence LEARNING E'ROM LINEUPS Augsburg student researchers by her research findings. Assisted by collected data and assessed 190 Augsburg student researchers, Steblay real lineups for fairness or bias. "It's and Wells led studies that, for the first powerfu I to bring students into research how criminal cases are pursued. "Doing the work on police lineups made me realize how flawed our system can be," she said. "It made me realize our criminal justice has a long way to go." SeanAdams'17, who is currently a legal assistant, said he was shocked by time, sought to understand and predict by saying, 'Here's the problem of how poorly some of the lineups were eyewitness identification errors using wrongfu I convictions, and let's figure out constructed. actual I ineups. how to solve them,"' Steblay said. Before these studies, scientific Psychology majors made up the The tests were designed to include fake witnesses, and these mock psychology's understanding of research team at Augsburg, adding witnesses in Augsburg's laboratory eyewitness identification accuracy was laboratory skills to what they learned in studies represented the worst possible based almost exclusively on controlled the classroom. Steblay and 27 student scenario: a witness with no memory of the offender. Mock witnesses shou Id laboratory researchers studies that conducted not be able to pick the pol ice suspect the first and from a lineup at a rate higher than second studies chance. "The worst lineup I saw had across multiple such a leading description that the simulate eyewitness experiences. Steblay and Wells were awarded a "It's powerful to bring students into research by saying, 'Here's the problem of wrongful convictions, and let's figure out how to solve them."' National Science 20 The Augsburg students coded 102 experiment. Data was collected from The field data collected in these trace evidence, such as blood, gunshot existed unti I th is study. semesters. [laboratory] witnesses picked the pol ice Verbal suspect 80% of the time," Adams said. exchanges "That shou Id have statistically less than 20% of the time." been Lineups Foundation grant to pursue a four-phase between pol ice lineup administrators and eyewitnesses should be constructed so that the study from 2014 to 2018. The research to crimes were audio-recorded. There suspect and the fillers (innocent people followed up on their prior work, in which police lineups were presented to real had never been an analysis of recorded added to the lineup) match the suspect verbal comments from actual witnesses description. eyewitnesses by detectives using laptop because such recordings had never AUGSBURG NOW RELEVANT RESEARCH Along with stunning insights into eyewitness identification, these studies brought to light more questions worth exploring. The research resulted in 12 conference poster presentations involving 23 students, and it fostered two student honors projects and spinoff projects that are ongoing. "It was time-consuming, important. but it was I think the student researchers had a sense of the importance," Steblay said. "It was really fun to work with them. Their work enabled me to complete the project." Augsburg student researchers saw the subject material's importance for effective law enforcement practices as well as its resonance with people beyond their research group. When AustinConery'17 began researching how to predict eyewitness identification errors, he discovered that his Augsburg University research project was a hot topic with friends and family. "Every party or every family event, someone would ask what was going on at school, and I could talk about the research for hours because it was so relevant," Conery said. Besides a view into a major criminal justice system issue, students said the research opportunity gave them practical experience. Conery said the research gave him the confidence to read, understand, and apply studies in his current job as a site director at a children's mental health provider, PrairieCare. "It was a great way to implement the things I was learning in class," he said. "It gave me the place to think critically in a control led environment." As Adams considers his future work, he's looking back to his time at Augsburg. "I've been thinking of what I enjoyed in college, and a lot of it was the work I did with Nancy," he said. TURNING RESEARCHrlNDINGS INTO PRACTICALPOLICIES Steblay'sinfluencemaynot makeher a householdname,but her researchfindings are beingput to practicaluse in a varietyof ways. Minnesotajudgesviewa webinarmoduleshecreated,"EyewitnessScience: Protectionand Evaluationof EyewitnessIdentificationEvidence,"as part of their judicial e-learning program.Steblayalso pubIisheda chapterin the 2019 book, "PsychologicalScienceand the Law." Thefindingsof the researchby Steblay,Wells,and Augsburgstudent researchers are leadingto majorreformsnationally.The best practices includecritical stipulations:that lineupsmust be double-blind,meaning the administratingofficerdoesn'tknowwhothe suspectis, and that the non-suspectfillers in the lineup must resemblethe suspectand match the descriptionof the offenderthat wasprovidedby the eyewitness. "Thereare hundredsof thousandsof policeofficerswho are using theseeyewitnessidentificationprotocolsthat we didn't use20 years ago,and they don't knowNancySteblay'sname,"said William Brooks, a policechief in Norwood,Massachusetts. Brookstravelsthe countrytraining policeon what he regardsas groundbreaking science-backed best practicesfor lineups."I don't think there'sbeenas wide of an impact in otherareasof investigation as in howwe dealwith eyewitnessmemory,"he said. In mid-May,MinnesotaGov.Tim Walzsignedbipartisanlegislation that requiresuniformscience-backed eyewitnessidentificationpractices for all law enforcement,which goesinto effect in early2021. Sti11, the eyewitnessidentificationbest practicesface resistance."Some of it is individualpolicejurisdictionsjust not wantingto be told howto do things," Steblaysaid in an interviewwith YahooNews."Sometimespolice or prosecutorssaythey don't want rulesto be so rigid, becausethen if we just violateoneof the rules,then that ruins our prosecutionor we can't catch the bad guysor whatever.Sothey feel like it's underminingtheir ability to do the goodjob that they shoulddo. "I don't seeit that way," Steblaysaid. "I just think theseare not difficult changes."Steblayviewsthe recommendedlineup reformsas a meansto strengthen eyewitnessevidenceand reducethe likelihoodof a mistakenidentification. The InnocenceProject,a nonprofitfoundedin 1992 to exoneratethe wrongly convictedthroughDNAtesting, hasworkedto passlawsthroughoutthe countrythat embracethe scientificallysupportedbest practicesadvancedby Steblayand Wells. "Whenwe beganour work,a handfulof stateshadembracedbest practices. Todaymorethan half of the statesin the countryhaveadoptedkeyeyewitness identificationreforms,"said RebeccaBrown,the nonprofit's policydirector. Steblayhopesmorepolice departmentswi11 enactthesereforms."Wehave at leastpart of the answerto howpolicecan reducemistakenidentificationand wrongfulconvictions."■ 22 AUGSBURG NOW States where c:ore eyewitness reforms have been implemented through legislation, c:ourt action, or substantial voluntary c:omplianc:e: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, NewJersey, NewMexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah,Vermont, West Virginia andWisconsin viaInnocence Project SPRING-SUMMER 2020 23 The Gage tam i ly is part of a legacy Skip and Barbara have supported many campus projects that has supported valuable throughout the years, including Anderson Plaza, the Gage Center student services that are crucial to for Student Success, the Gage Family Art Gallery, the James G. Augsburg University's identity and community. Lindell Library, and the Scandinavian Center, which cultivated knowledge and interest in Scandinavian culture on campus for Edwin"Skip"Gagepassed away Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Skip and his wife, Barbara CarlsonGage,have been integral to the Augsburg community Piper LaBelle Award for their consistent support of young people for many years. Al I four of their children attended Augsburg, In his professional life, Skip built what came to be known as 15 years. In 2016, the Gage family was honored with the Toby in recovery. including alumni GeoffGage'89 and Rick Gage'96. Barbara the Carlson Marketing Group. He served as chair and then chair served on the Board of Regents, including four years as emeritus of the lnnerCity Tennis Foundation and worked with chair of the board and as co-chair of Augsburg's Access to Barbara in many community efforts with the Banyan Community, Excellence campaign. Northside Achievement Zone, and Urban Ventures. Skip and Barbara initiated the Center for Learning and Skip's vision aligned with Augsburg's institutional calling and Accessible Student Services and contributed substantial time reinforced the university's commitments to global perspectives, and gifts to the StepUP ® Program. Skip believed the values living faith, active citizenship, and meaningful work. Skip and taught as part of the fabric of Augsburg's community have been Barbara's gifts and leadership over the years have sustained as important as the educational experience and the culture of Augsburg's commitment to serve its students and neighbors. family and service that is imparted to all of Augsburg's students. Through the Gage family's leadership, CLASS was established. "The Gage family has and continues to have a significant impact on the Augsburg community," said DonnaMclean, former In 1989, Skip and Barbara commissioned the first study that Augsburg director of leadership gifts. "Thanks to the generosity evaluated learning disability programs at the college level. They of the Gage family, the lives of so many students have been partnered with Augsburg faculty to build a learning disability meaningfully enhanced through CLASS and other campus endowment program, and Skip led the drive to raise $500,000 programs that provide impactful learning experiences." ■ in addition to $500,000 24 AUGSBURG NOW his family pledged. THE STAGE Sesquicentennial project shares story through song The Augsburg University Department of Music had a unique opportunity to produce Other sesquicentennial projects and perform "Tienda," a new chamber opera by Augsburg Assistant Professor of Music To commemorate Augsburg's 150th ReinaldoMoyaand opera lyricist Caitlin Vincent, which premiered February 21 and 22. anniversary, the university invited faculty This production, presented as a part of Augsburg's sesquicentennial celebration, was performed in Foss Center's Hoversten Chapel and included a cast of student singers, and staff to apply for funding to support unique projects that aligned with their the Augsburg Choir, and the Augsburg Orchestra. The opera tells the story of Luis interests and expertise while uplifting Garzon, a Mexican musician who immigrated to Minneapolis in 1886 and opened a Augsburg's mission, academic excellence, small Mexican grocery store, or tienda, in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the 1920s. Garz6n's and traditions. These projects showcased store served as a community hub for new arrivals from Mexico, many of whom had the university's history, its distinction in fled the Mexican Revolution and found work toiling on the sugar beet farms of rural the arts, and its high-quality scholarship. Minnesota. "Tienda" explored the immigrant experience: what must be left behind- Learn more about sesquicentennial and what cannot be forgotten-on . projects at augsburg.edu/150 the journey to a new home. STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND A Student Emergency Fund was established in March to support Augsburg students with financial relief as we al I grapple with the challenges of COVID-19. In these disruptive times, many students are experiencing the loss of income and jobs as segments of the economy shut down, struggles to provide for their families, obstacles in returning home to out-of-state residences, and uncertainty about their ability to finance their Augsburg education. With this fund, students are able to request emergency funding for basic needs, including food, rent, transportation, funding for academic materials-such Giveto the StudentEmergency Fundat augsburg.edu/giving . and wireless internet-to and medication. They may also request as books, supplies, laptop computer rentals, ensure their education is not impacted by a lack of attainable resources. SPRINGSUMMfR 2020 25 AUGGIES CONNECT AUGGIES IN NATION'S CAPITAL BEGIN SERIES OFALUMNI GATHERINGS Last October, a group of Augsburg alumni gathered in Arlington, Virginia, for a dinner and reception hosted by JeffPeterson'63. At the end of the gathering, JessicaSpanswick'10 suggested the group should spend more time together. AUGGIES whatprogram doyouwanttolift upforGiveto theMaxDay2020? Spanswick coordinated the group's next gathering for a social hour and trivia in Washington, D.C., the following month. That's how the informal OMV-area (the district, Maryland, and Virginia) Augsburg alumni group was born. With help from Augsburg's Institutional Advancement team, they were able to invite even more Auggies in the area to attend social hours, networking events, and dinners. In February, Augsburg staff met with Give to the Max Day 2019 was a huge success for programs across campus! $421,000 RAISED 1,656 DONORS the group to discuss how to increase alumni involvement across the country Auggie passion is the fuel that drives and support the university through Give strong donations on Give to the Max to the Max Day 2020. Day, and that's why it's Augsburg's Want to plan an alumni gathering in your biggest fundraising area when pandemic health precautions allow? Email alumni@augsburg.edu to receive help reaching out to fellow Auggies. day of the year. It's exciting and inspiring to hear your personal stories about Augsburg and Auggiesmeetin the Washington,D.C.,area. why you're passionate about supporting a particular project. What do you want to I ift up at Augsburg? Send in a 45- to 90-second video of yourself sharing what you were most passionate about at Augsburg, and you might be featured in the next Give to the Max Day campaign. 0 Sendin a video,volunteer,or hel~ lead a projectin Novemberby contacting ChrisBogen'09,campaigncoordinator,at bogen@augsburg.edu by September1, 2020. Lto R: ChrisBogen'09, RobynHiestand '98, KariArfstrom '89,Jonathan Chrastek '10,Jessica Spanswick '10,KatiePendo'10, KaiaChambers 26 AUGSBURG NOW AUGGIES CONNEC LIFELONGAUGGIE FRIENDSHIPS Connections that flourishedat Augsburgspanacrossyearsand miles [L to R]: DerekFrancis'08, BryanLudwig '08, Greg Hildebrandt '08,andSamaSandy'08 broughttheir families togetherfor an eveningof fun earlierthis year.Thegroup members tout themselvesas the "1107Family,"namedfor the numberof the roomtheysharedin Mortensen Residence Hall. TheFacebook postfromtheir meetupshowshowa friendship betweenfourAuggiesbecamea close-knitgroupof 17. A groupof Auggieswhocelebratelife milestones togethergatheredfor the 70th birthdayof SueGibbons Casey'71 [front,center].She'ssurrounded by[clockwise]Pam(Hermstad) Santerre(attendedAugsburg1968-69), Ginny(Dahlen)Baali'72, Kris(Parbst)Rohde'72, KathyQuick'72, Nancy '72. (Olson)Hrdlicka'72,and Linda(Engstrom) Akenson TheseAugsburgalumniand "5th FloorGirls"of UrnessTowerinitially reunitedafter their graduationat mini-reunionsand holidays.In recentyears,theytooktrips to destinationslike Boston;MyrtleBeach,SouthCarolina;andStillwater,Minnesota. Picturedare[front, L to R]:Stacy(Waterman) Newton'01, SaraThedinga '01, Merry-Ellen (Krcil)Bryers'01, andAnn(Peterson) Fisher'01. [Back,L to R]:Amy Carlson'01, LauraWaldon'01, Emily(Brinkman) Waldon'01,JaimeKingsley Loso'01,and EricaHuls'01. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • SPRING-SUMMER 2020 27 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES The MinnesotaIntercollegiate AthleticConferencefeatured EdorNelson'38 in the LegendaryLeaders seriesreleasedon its websiteand social media. Nelson, who passedawayin 2014, wasan instructorfor the healthand physical educationdepartmentfor 32 years, coached Augsburg'sbaseballteam from 1946 to 1979, and led the programto sevenMIACtitles. He alsowasAugsburgfootball'sheadcoach, and he helpedstartthe men'swrestlingprogram and relaunchmen's hockey. 1938 LelandFairbanks '53, MD, was selectedas the Commissioned OfficersAssociationRetireeof the Yearby the United StatesPublic HealthService. The award, which recognizesexcellence in serviceand volunteeractivities, was presentedduring a virtual meetingin June. Fairbanks'career has includedwork focused on family health, holisticcare, smoke-free communities, and training other health professiona Is. 1953 of Fame in 1988 and created an athletic lettering programfor female student-athletes in 1989. & Augsburg AthleticDirector JeffSwenson '79 ,;;, shares hisoptimism aboutAugsburg's new women's wrestling program. Seestoryonpage10. & ChadShilson '93comments onAugsburg's ,;;, women's wrestling program, inwhichhis Emily ShiIson'23,competes. Seestoryon daughter, page10. & ShellyBoyum-Breen '97connects thelaunch ,;;, ofAugsburg's women's wrestling withtheneed totell moresportsstories thatinclude females and diverse communities. Seestoryonpage10. CanisiusCollegein Buffalo, New York, hired MartinHlinka'99 as an assistantcoachfor its men's hockey program. After his work as an assistant coach with the SalzburgRed Bulls junior program, Hlinka servedas a lead on-ice skills instructorwith SynergyHockeyin St. Louis. The MinnesotaIntercollegiate Hlinka scored 125 points in 85 gamesfrom Athletic Conferencefeatured MarilynPearsonFlorian'76 in the Legendary 1995 to 1999 while on Augsburg'shockey team, and he also playedfootball, earning Leadersseries. PearsonFloriancoached All-Americanstatusas a kicker. Hlinka women's basketballand volleyballat playedprofessionalhockeyfor 15 years in Augsburgand also was the women'sathletic director. During her tenure, Augsburgadded the American HockeyLeague, United Hockey League, and Germany. four MIACwomen'ssports, including cross country, golf, ice hockey, and swimming and diving. She also initiated the induction NickRathmann '03 completed of women into Augsburg'sAthletic Hall his final term on the Augsburg 1999 1976 2003 Alumni Boardof Directors. He has been on the boardfor the past sevenyears, serving in executiveleadershiprolesfor four years, including a two-yearterm as board president. Rathmannnow continuesvolunteeringhis time by servingon the A-Club board. JasonEdwards '04 has been teaching sixth grade science and readingat DiscoveryMiddleSchoolin Fargo, North Dakota, for 11 years. He also coachesgirls crosscountryand track and field at FargoDaviesHigh School.The USA Trackand FieldAssociationchose him as the Coachof the Yearfor Girls CrossCountry, and he is the North Dakotarepresentative for the "40 under 40" coachingawardfrom Coachand Athletic Directormagazine. While at Augsburg, he competedin crosscountry and track and field, earningschool recordsin the indoor600 meterdash and indoor4x400 meter relayteam. 2004 Andr~a(Ladda)Brown'05 receivedan awardfor her accomplishmentswith the City of Minneapolis'PoliceConductOversight Commissionregardingthe body-worncamera policy, which led to the discoveryof ketamine abuse by paramedicsand policeofficers. Her work also led to the creationof the MPD dashboard, where race disparitiesstatistics and officer misconducthave been made public and searchable, and the co-responder model-mental health professionals accompanyingpolice officersrespondingto 2005 AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 28 AUGSBURG NOW ALUMNI CLASS NOTES calls-which startedas a pilot programin Minneapolisand is now used in NewYork, Texas, and Utah. [Editor'snote:Theseevents occurred prior to the murder of GeorgeFloyd by Minneapolispolice.] Artist AlisonPrice'08 was featured in the Minnesota Women'sPressregardingher new series of art, "WitnessingWaves." Price, a child of two immigrantparents, talked about a stump alongthe MississippiRiverand howthe river'swatersaided migrationto the region.This pieceof nature influenced Price'scollection, which startedduring her time at Augsburg. "The seriesis imbuedwith symbolism. DNAstrandsweavealongthe riverbanksand through the rootsand ground, reminding us of our interconnectedness with all, reinforcingthe ideathat we are fundamentallytied to each other and the planet," Pricesaid. 2008 TannerWiseman '15 and friends from Lakeville, Minnesota, filmed the series"DestinationFear," which aired on the TravelChannellast fall. The showfollows the group'scross-countryroad trip where they stayedovernightin 10 haunted places. The group beganmakingvideostogetherfor YouTubein middle schooland high school, and this show indulgestheir passionfor exploringabandonedplaces. 2015 ~ Legalassistant SeanAdams '17researched ~ eyewitness identification procedures withan Augsburg facultymember. Seestoryonpage18. McCleave , who outlinedthe organization's effortsto highlightthe historyof Native boardingschoolsand the impact they had on Nativecommunities. ~ Austin Conery '17researched thereliability ~ ofeyewitness testimonies andnowuseshis experience to understand andapplystudiesin hisrole at a mentalhealthprovider. Seestoryonpage18. 2018 ChungEangLip'18 wrote about his career path in the public healthfield for ColumbiaUniversity's MailmanSchoolof Public Healthstudent voiceswebpage.He focused on the importanceof kindnessand storytellingon his journeyto becominga public health professiona I. DianaPierce'16 MALnarratedand produced a documentary, "CountryMusic: Made in Minnesota," which aired on PioneerPBS last September. The half-hourdocumentary toucheson storiesabout artistsfrom the Minnesotacommunitiesof Alexandriaand Dovray; as well as the WE Festin Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and the FlameBar in Minneapolis.The programfeaturesinterviews with artistsfrom DetroitLakes, Minneapolis, and Pipestone, Minnesota, plus otherfigures who contributedto the developmentand popularityof country music in the state. ~ Natalie Johnson '18contributed to National ~ Science Foundation-funded research that evaluated thereliability of eyewitness identification. Seestoryonpage18. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Christine DiindiisiMcCleave '13 MALis the executivedirector of the NationalNative American BoardingSchool HealingCoalition, formed in 2012 , which seeksjustice and healingfor NativeAmericanchildren and their descendants. The organizationrecently receiveda $10 million grant from the KendedaFundthat will support a new 10year plan focused on education, advocacy, and healing.MPR NewsinterviewedDiindiisi ~ SUBMIT A ~ CLASS NOTE Tellusaboutthenewsinyourlifeyournewjob,move, marriage, and milestones. Visitaugsburg.edu/now to submityourannouncements. & W EricArlein'12 and Theresa(Bulger) Arlien'14 welcomeda daughter, Cora, last July. Jenessa (Payano) Stark'07 graduated from YaleUniversitywith her Masterof • Sciencein Nursingwith specialtiesas a certified nurse midwifeand women'shealth nurse practitioner. Tofulfill the health professionalshortagearea serviceobligation of her NationalHealthServiceCorps scholarship, she is movingto NavajoNation to work as a full-scope midwifeat a tribally run Indian HealthServicehospitalin Arizona.She will be accompaniedby her husbandand children, includinga son, Zaiel, whom the family welcomedin January. Kristin(Daniels) Overton '09 and husband, Jesse, welcomedthe birth of • twin boys, Mattisand Henry, lastSeptember. Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin '03 • delivereda convocationaddressat CarletonCollegein Northfield, Minnesota, last October. He is a founding memberof the NationalFairTradeFederation, startedthe fair-tradePeaceCoffeeCompany, and is presidentand CEOof Regenerative AgricultureAlliance, a Minnesota-based nonprofitorganizationthat worksto develop regenerativefood supply chains and to advocateagainstextractiveagriculture. Haslett-Marroquinis alsothe author of "In the Shadowof GreenMan," in which he tells storiesfrom his upbringingin Guatemala and shareshis visionfor regenerative farming practices. A SylviaBull'10 (pictured on the right) • was ordainedas an Evangelical LutheranChurch in America pastor in 2017 and has servedas associatepastor of Faith LutheranChurch in Bismarck, North Dakota, for three years. SPRING SUMMER 2020 29 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Augsburg University Men's Wrestling hosted an alumni night in February, celebrating the national championship anniversariesof the teams from 1970, 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2010 before a wrestling match against Concordia College-Moorhead . Photo by Caleb Williams. ChrisStedman'08 wrote a new book that will be published in October. The book, "IRL: Finding Realness, Meaning, and Belongingin Our Digital Lives," explores being human in our increasingly digital world and is availablefor pre-order. AugsburgUniversityMen's Basketballhostedan alumni reunion in Januarythat included a pick-up game, lunch, watching the men'steam take on Concordia College-Moorhead, and a social hour. Auggiesfrom several generationsjoined in the festivities. Auggiealumni leadthe men's basketballprogramsat both Augsburgand Concordia. Assistant CoachCharlieScott'07, '15 MAL and the Auggiesdefeatedthe Cobbers, who were led by Head CoachGrantHemmingsen '07. Adrienne KucklerEldridge '02 joined the staff of Augsburg's ChristensenCenterfor Vocation. She coordinatesthe theologyand public leadershipundergraduate program, is the program director for the AugsburgYouth Theology Institute, and is the director of the Public Church Scholars program, an accelerateddegree pathway that allows students to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in theologyand public leadership and a Master of Divinity in five years.The program is a partnership betweenAugsburg and LutheranSchool of Theology at Chicagofor students who are called to ministry and public leadershipas an ordained pastor. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS JoeSeehusen '00 married Kathryn Tighe on a ranch in Grand Lake, Colorado, in September. The couple resides in the Denverarea, where they work in real estate. Seehusenencourages his Auggie friends to reach out the next time they're in Colorado. 30 AUGSBURG NOW ToriBahr'09, a medical doctor at the complex care clinic of Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, was presentedwith Augsburg University's2019 First DecadeAlumni Award in January. Bahr previouslyworked at the Universityof MinnesotaMedical Center's InternaI Medicine-Pediatrics Program, where she becamechief resident. Bahr's new position at Gillette Children's Hospital includes treating patientswith medically complex diseases, using advanced technology, and championing transition care. BrentStolle'03 and Bethany (Schneck)Stolle'05 welcomed their second son, Isaac, in February 2019. Isaacjoined his three-year-old brother, Weston. Bethany is the design research lead for Blackboard, an education technology company. Brent works for Nvidia as a software engineering manager. The family lives in Kirkland, Washington. DerrinLamker'97 was named Augsburg Universit Footballhead coach in December. Lamker played baseball, basketball, and football as an Auggie student-athlete. During his football career, he wa< the MinnesotaIntercollegiateAthletic Conference MVPand led the Auggiesto a MIACtitle in 1997, the same year he received KodakAll-American Honors. Lamkerwas named the Northwest Suburban ConferenceCoach of the Year in 2007, 2013, and 2014 during his tenure as head coach of OsseoHigh School, where he coached for 11 years and won a class 6A state championship. Beforetaking the head coach position at Augsburg, Lamkeralso servedas offensive coordinatorand head coach at Edina High School. Augsburg University Footballhosted an alumni gathering in Januaryto hear from Lamker and to meet the incoming coaching staff, which includes GregClough'86, defensivecoordinator, and JackOsberg'62, volunteer coach. Alumni who graduated between 1971 and 2019 attended y I The City Pagespublication featured the work of Jose LuisVillasenor'99 and the nonprofit organizationhe founded, Tamalesy Bicicletas, which existsto empower youth, develop healthy Latinx and immigrant communities, promote sustainable transportation, increase accessto healthyfoods, and improvethe environment. The organization'scommunity garden in south Minneapolis providesspace to teach urban farming and lay the groundwork for sustainablelocal food. / In September, City Pages featured DuaSaleh'18 for their work in poetry, rapping, and singing. Saleh released"N0r" in 2019, and "ROSETTA" in 2020, EPsproduced by Psymun, the St. Paul, Minnesota, producer whose connectionswith mainstreamhip-hop provide broader exposure for Twin Cities performers. As the recipient of the Cedar Commissions emerging musicians program, Saleh performed "Strings and Heart Beats," a project described as "an immersiveAfrodiasporic experience." AlissaNollan'09 marriedJames Nystromin St. Anthony, Minnesota, lastJuly.The wedding party includedJennifer Nollan'89, Whitney (Holman) Mead'10, and KatiePendo'10. MarkMuhich'89 was hired as managing attorneyto supervise public defender services in Minnesota'sCarlton and St. Louis counties. Muhich is a Hibbing, Minnesota, nativewho has been a part-time public defender at the St. LouisCounty Courthousein Virginia, Minnesota. Muhich previouslytaught politicaI science and criminal justice at Mesabi Range Collegeand taught in the law enforcement program at VermilionCommunity College. MikePolis'10 welcomed a second child, Sophia June, in January.His first child, LydiaMae, lovesbeing an older sibling. Polis is in his secondyear of real estateand is excitedfor anotheryear of selling and buying homes. KelseyCrockett'06 and wife, Stacey, welcomed a child, MasonAvery Crockett, into their family in January. Kelseycontinued his software management work when the family moved from Nashvilleto Dallasfor Staceyto begin a doctoral programat the Universityof Texas-Southwestern. In December, Michelle Basham '00 was elected as the new presidentand CEOof YWCAMinneapolis. Bashampreviouslywas the executivedirector at The Bridgefor Youth, servedas CEOof YWCADelaware, and held leadershippositionsat CommonBondCommunities, FamilyWise , and the MinnesotaDepartmentof Human Services.She also co-foundedthe Nonprofit EmergingLeadersAcademy. P.C. Hillstrom'07, director of educationaI equity at OsseoArea Schools, received two statewide honors this year: the Outstanding Administrator of the Year award from the Minnesota Indian Education Association and the Ron McKinley "All My Relations" award from the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership. Hillstrom has worked for Osseo Area Schools since 2015. BrothersDaveKerkvliet'95 and TimKerkvliet '01 were featured on the EducationMinnesotawebsite when they introducedfour band studentsof Sebeka, Minnesota-where Daveteaches-to the rock band 311 at a performanceat The Armory in Minneapolis. Davehastaught band for 24 yearsand is a lifelong musicianand fan of rock bands. He connected those passionsand organizedthis meetingbetween his studentsand lead singerand guitarist Nick Hexumand drummer ChadSextonprior to 31 l's performance. SPRING SUMMER 2020 31 ClarenceT. Hoversten '41 , HerbertW. Chilstrom '54, Green Valley, Arizona, age 88, on January 19. M. KennethGjerde'61 , MarilynJ. Gisselquist '73, Fairfield, Montana, age 83, on December 22. Minneapolis, age 90, on February 21. DonaldJ. Dill '54, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, age 86, on December 15. Ruth(Stenson)Kalpin'61, Falls, South Dakota, age 95, on January 27. Alexandria, Minnesota, age 80, on November 10. Zee AnneA. (Zimmerman) Reishus'73, Wood Lake, DorothyC. (Quanbeck) Johnson '48, BeverlyM. (Jorgensen) Olander'55, DonaldN. Myhres'61, Lee, North Branch, Minnesota, age 92, on February 18. Rochester, Minnesota, age 86, on November 18. Illinois, age 95, on November 13. HenryW. Roufs'49, San Diego, WandaE. (Warnes)Olson'56, RobertJ. llstrup'62, Minneapolis, age 82, on September 25. age 97, on October 10. Lewiston, Minnesota, age 84, on November 14. EllenA. (Paulson)Keiter'64, Minnesota, age 91, on January 29. GlennC. Thorpe'56, Mendota Charleston, Illinois, age 77, on December 10. RusselM. Smith'50, Heights, Minnesota, age 85, on February 8. JeanneS. (Wanner)Morreim'66, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 91, on November 21. RobertG.Jamieson '57, Edina, Cloquet, Minnesota, age 76, on January 26. Hendricks, Minnesota, age 101, on November 6. EileenM. Quanbeck '46, Sioux KermitF.Hoversten '50, Austin, PhyllisG. (Knudson) Seim'58, MarjorieK. (Danielson) Johnson '53, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 83, on January 24. St. Paul, Minnesota, age 88, on December 4. JosephP. Nystuen'59, Cold WilmerJ. Oudal'53, Eagle River, Spring, Minnesota, age 82, on November 10. Alaska, age 88, on February 2. MargaretA. (Lundahl)Ruesch'59, 32 AUGSBURG NOW WalterJ. Bradley'78, Davenport, KatharineE. Skibbe'79, Minneapolis, age 62, on October 7. IreneW. (Waslien)Stemmer'88, Wayzata, Minnesota, age 93, on November 8. JaniceK. (Thompson) Crockett'68, age 91, on December 29. Rochester, Minnesota, age 88, on December 17. DianeL.Loeffler'75, Minneapolis, age 66, on November 16. Iowa, age 63, on February 9. Minnesota, age 86, on January 16. Raymond P.Strot'51, Minneapolis, LeroyM. Petterson'53, Minnesota, age 68, on January 24. Worthington, Minnesota, age 83, on December 30. Shakopee, Minnesota, age 73, on January 15. BruceA. Vassar'93, Edina, age 57, on December 6. ThomasL. Docken'69, Stacy, LouJean J. (Gulbransen) Reid'94, Minnesota, age 73, on December 9. Austin, Minnesota, age 73, on January 20. VirginiaK. (Golberg)Baynes'70, Lee(Gilbert)Schotzko'04, Afton, Portland, Oregon, age 71, on September 14. Minnesota, age 49, on October 1. BenjaminM. Blair'14, Decorah, Iowa, age 31, on January 26. The "In memoriam" listings in this publication include notifications received before March 1. AuGSBURG UNIVERSITY ® DIGITAL-ONL ISSUE 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Pieces ofhistory After the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and protests calling for justice in Minneapolis and around the nation, MollyMontana'23 went to Lake Street to capture the work of local artists that emerged on walls and plywood boards covering the windows of numerous businesses. "I wanted to tell the story of the pain and rage that people of color have felt," she said about the images she captured for a photography class project. "I wanted to capture something meaningful, and these displays were just that. They are a piece of history." augsburg.edu/now
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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: 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 Comp