The colloquium serves as a showcase of student creativity, highlighting explorations of every angle of leadership. Students are encouraged to research topics they are passionate about and which they themselves have faced in the workplace.

“I admit that the reason I was first interested in my topic of how a leader’s behavior can affect subordinates was that I experienced one of ‘those’ bosses first hand,” said Chris LeDuc as she introduced her topic. Her research showed that leaders’ conversations containing “personal consideration” with subordinates had the strongest correlation to workers’ organizational commitment.

Scott Brink, who spoke on how local government agencies can adapt more readily to economic climates and technological change, also fashioned his topic from challenges within his work environment. Faced with budget cuts, unfunded mandates, and an exhaustion of areas in which to economize, he was looking for new strategies to apply to his work.

A member of the Augsburg faculty advises each student’s project from the creation of the hypothesis to the final paper. Norma Noonan, who has headed the Leadership program for the last 18 years, reflected on the professional level with which students approach their projects. “Leadership skills, specifically regarding vision, persuasion, and action, are addressed in every course. Even though I know our students are receiving this training, it is still quite amazing to see the culmination of this effort at work in students’ research projects. Knowing that our students have honed skills that are invaluable to non-profit and for-profit organizations is a rewarding feeling.”

Colloquium presenters and their topics:

(Back row)

Lisa Wocken – How Dialogue, Discussion, and Debate Manifest in a Corporate Setting

Scott Brink – Complexity Theory and Local Government Application

Terrance Burns – The Bible and the Ballot: The Christian Right in American Politics

Debra DeRosa – Communication Satisfaction and Part-time Employees in a Park and Recreation Organization

(Front row)

Chris LeDuc – Relationship between Leader Behavior & Subordinate Organizational Commitment in Higher Education Administrators

Mhonpaj Lee – Optimizing Interpreter Services in Hospitals and Clinics

Susan Phillips – Youth Development in the Activism Context: a Case Study of the Wilder Youth Leadership Initiative

Patricia Brill – Innovation Through Social Networking in Communities of Practice

Article by Nancy Shaeffer

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At Augsburg, we will mark this week with a series of events including Zyzzogeton, the annual celebration of student research and creativity. Events will be held Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Apr. 15 at 4:30 p.m., we also will recognize Day and Weekend graduating seniors who have achieved departmental or Latin honors as well as those who have been inducted into national honor societies at the honors convocation ceremony.

In addition, mathematics professor John Zobitz and Jeremy Anthony, a senior mathematics major, will meet with Minnesota’s Congressional representatives and present Anthony’s research work at the Council of Undergraduate Research’s event on Wednesday, Apr. 13 in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, April 13

10:20-10:40 a.m. Prelude and Postlude in Chapel

Kate Adornato, flute; Anna Peterson, oboe; and Sam Cantrall

Hoversten Chapel

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Becky Shaheen, Music

“Exploring Techniques to Express Poetry Through Music by Analyzing Successful Art Songs and Experimental Composition”

Hoversten Chapel

1-1:30 p.m.

Thomas Westcott, Religion

“The Extraordinary Way of the Cross: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s View of Loving the Enemy and Responsible Action”

OGC 100

3-5 p.m.

Undergraduate Research Poster Session

Over 70 posters featuring undergraduate research and creative projects

OGC Atrium

7 p.m.

Ulysses Reading

Part of the two-week marathon reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses

Lindell Library, Room 301

Thursday, April 14

11 a.m.

Ulysses Reading

Boneshaker Books (Franklin and 23rd Avenues)

12:30-1 p.m.

Elle Thoni, Theater for Social Change

“Give Me Your Hands, If We Be Friends: Performing Shakespeare with Haitian Youth”

OGC 100

1-1:30 p.m.

Nathaniel Schenheit, Mathematical Economics

“An Economic Analysis of School Resources and Student Achievement”

OGC 100

4-5 p.m.

Murphy Square Writers and Friends: An Open Mic

(5 minute limit)

OGC 100

4 p.m.

Ulysses Reading

Mississippi Riverbank (S. 4th Street and W. River Parkway)

7 p.m.

Kou Lee, Music

Senior Recital

Sateren Auditorium

7 p.m.

Anything Goes

Augsburg College Theater Department

Tjornhom-Nelson Theater

8:30 p.m.

Susan Druck’s students in Liederabend, a recital

Sateren Auditorium

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