For Excellence in Teaching—Timothy Pippert [left], associate professor of sociology (who will deliver the address at opening convocation in September 2011)

For Excellence in Mentoring and Advising—Cass Dalglish [middle left], professor of English, and Cheryl Leuning [right], professor of nursing

For Excellence in Scholarship—Nancy Steblay [middle right], professor of psychology

Garry Hesser, profesor of sociology, nominated his colleague, Tim Pippert, for the Excellence in Teaching award. In part, Garry wrote, “In addition to his consistent excellence in teaching a wide range of courses…my additional reason for nominating [Tim] is his continual effort to bring his students into ‘high impact’ experiences, most notably this past semester when he created a special topics course on social inequality, creating ways that our students can explore both ‘ends’ and the continuum of wealth and privilege/poverty in our community… This course was simply illustrative of the consistent and exceptional quality of teaching that Tim brings to his work that merits this recognition.”

Student Kaaren Warnes notes, “Tim’s passion for the subject, as well as its implications for the world outside of the classroom, ignited our passions for the subject as well. Tim’s teaching methods, his passion, his accessibility, and his concern for his students make him a deserving recipient for the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching award. I am truly honored to have had Tim Pippert as a teacher, mentor, and adviser.”

In speaking of Cass Dalglish, recipient of an Award for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring, colleague Doug Green states, “Cass has been a model and a mentor to creative writers through the example of her own life as an active writer and artist….Over the past 10 years, I’ve been witness to Cass’s one-on-one mentoring and advising of novice journalists and creative writers. She has helped many seniors and graduates apply to and enter MFA programs.” Doug adds, “I can’t imagine our department and programs without Cass’s thoughtful presence and fierce advocacy on behalf of our literary artists and journalists…. And regardless of whom she is working with and mentoring, Cass evinces an infectious love of literature and the craft of the writer.”

An Augsburg alum, Andrea Sanow was mentored by Cass in the writing of a novel. Andrea notes, “Cass was my cheerleader, my coach, my therapist, my friend, my dictionary, my enemy and most importantly, my antagonist.”

Of Cheryl Leuning, recipient of an Award for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring, DNP student Deb Schumacher states, “Cheryl is an exceptional woman and leader. She is uniquely able to be gentle and caring, yet with her astute analytical perspective she is simultaneously able to be clear in her vision of excellence for herself and those around her. She is also extremely fair, open-minded, and inclusive…pursing diversity of ideas and perspectives. Cheryl opens up students’ worlds and encourages us all to be our best, to bring out our greatness to share with the world – either in our own backyard (locally) or in the grandness of the world (globally).”

Cheryl’s colleague, Sue Nash agrees, “Cheryl helps students understand the unique role that the Augsburg graduate can play in offering care to diverse populations. I think Cheryl’s greatest contribution to Augsburg has been the design and implementation of our unique Masters of Nursing and now the doctoral program that truly embodies the core Augsburg values of critical thinking, justice, and community involvement in a diverse global society. In this way, she has advised and mentored us all.”

Nominated by colleagues David Matz and Bridget Robinson-Riegler, Nancy Steblay is the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Scholarship. Of Nancy’s work, David and Bridget write, “Nancy possesses an impressive publication record by any standard. Since arriving at Augsburg, she has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles – most as lead author…. In recognition of her scholarship record, Nancy has been invited to serve on journal editorial boards and is sought after as an expert in her field.” Further, they note, “Nancy has been a tireless promoter of scholarship among students and faculty at Augsburg.”

Former student Robert Tix agrees, “Dr. Steblay created so many different opportunities for me at Augsburg. She gave me an outlet for my scientific curiosity, whether that was helping with her research or conducting my own. She gave me an opportunity for critical thought and actual application on a continual, everyday basis. More important…was the opportunity she gave me to understand my own immense potential.”

This year’s recipients will be recognized at Honors Convocation on April 15 and at the Faculty Recognition Luncheon on May 5. We also will celebrate the accomplishments of both the recipients of Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning and Staff Recognition Awards at Community Time on April 26 at 3:45 p.m. in the East Commons.

Please join us in congratulating the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning awards!

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The concept of transcultural nursing was developed by nurse theorist and anthropologist Madeleine Leininger, who founded the international Transcultural Nursing Society.

From September 24-27, several hundred people will gather in Minneapolis for the society’s 34th annual conference around the theme “Voices of Hope: Indigenous Wisdom and Transcultural Nursing.” The objectives are to explore the impact of indigenous wisdom in nursing and to analyze the intersection of hope and human rights in supporting health and well-being worldwide.

The conference has been organized by Augsburg nursing department chair and professor Cheryl Leuning, current president of the Transcultural Nursing Society, and nursing faculty member Katherine Baumgartner, who is vice president.

Conference keynote speaker Selma Shejevali has worked many years with the Lutheran Church in Namibia teaching and training others about culture in ways to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS and violence against women and children. Other speakers come from Native traditions and will discuss the sharing of cultural knowledge and the consideration of indigenous knowledge as sacred.

The transcultural nursing track in Augsburg’s Master of Arts in Nursing program has been growing, as more nurses realize the importance and the need to provide care appropriate to patients’ cultural values and traditions.

An important aspect of the program is getting nurses out of their specialization or classroom into practice experiences in nontraditional settings. In downtown Minneapolis, at the Augsburg Central Nursing Center, nursing students can help persons struggling with homelessness and poverty. Students can also spend several days on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation or in study abroad experiences in Mexico, Guatemala, and Namibia.

Baumgartner says that the students are often deeply affected by these experiences, and find ways to fit several practica into their programs — and even to return to the same place. Their own nursing practice becomes enriched by these crosscultural experiences, especially when treating patients from these cultures.

“If you find your heart someplace, you find a way to go back there,” Baumgartner says.

For more information about the transcultural nursing conference, go to .

About the image: The conference image, depicting eternity and the people around the world, was created by Lakota artist Kevin Poor Bear on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The corner horses in the sacred colors of the medicine wheel represent the people around the world. The star is the Great Spirit, the eagle is the messenger, and the warrior sings to the Great Spirit.

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