Augsburg College is honored to announce that it has received an unrestricted $10 million philanthropic gift from a 1965 alumnus.

The donor’s generous contribution will support a new academic building that will house a number of the College’s academic programs including biology, business, chemistry, computer science, math, physics, psychology, and religion.

“This tremendous gift will make possible our continued commitment to academic excellence, to the hands-on learning that is one of the hallmarks of the College, and to the continued best-use of our 23-acre campus,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “Augsburg is a 143-year-old anchor institution in the heart of Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. This gift puts Augsburg on the path of being a college for the 21st century, and one that continues to deliver academic excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies.”

“Augsburg College has found many ways to innovate and evolve since I was a student—while at the same time maintaining the core values that were so appealing to me,” said Augsburg College Regent Steve Wehrenberg ’78, chief executive officer of Campbell Mithun. “This gift will ensure the College remains a caring, inspiring, and delightful place for students of all kinds to learn and grow.”

New building fund exceeds $23 million

The $10 million gift brings to more than $23 million the total funds for the new building. The Augsburg College Board of Regents will continue to monitor progress on the campaign and the College’s cash position and debt capacity to determine when to set a date for groundbreaking on the first stage of the building. The total cost of the building is estimated at more than $60 million.

“In May 2012, the Regents set calendar year 2014 as a target for beginning construction, a goal they believe is feasible, especially given the excitement this lead gift will engender with other prospective donors,” Pribbenow said.

The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, is a long-time supporter of the College and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and business administration.

Augsburg College is set in a vibrant neighborhood at the heart of the Twin Cities, and offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 4,000 students of diverse backgrounds. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community that is committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

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Wehrenberg ’78 holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Augsburg College and is a 30-year veteran of the advertising industry. He became Campbell Mithun’s CEO in 2007 and since has provided expert leadership for many of the company’s most successful and award-winning campaigns.

“I am excited to reconnect with the Augsburg community,” Wehrenberg said. “The institution has grown and evolved since I was a student. It’s a surprising and delightful place for students of all kinds to learn and grow.”

Wehrenberg recently was a distinguished presenter for Augsburg College’s Strommen Executive Speaker Series. He teaches a strategic communications graduate course at the University of Minnesota, and he has co-written a new edition of “The Successful Marketing Plan.” As a Board of Regents member, Wehrenberg will serve on the finance and the enrollment management and marketing committees.

“Steve brings to Augsburg’s governance invaluable talents and experience from his work at Campbell Mithun,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “He will engage our College community in strategic conversation around enrollment planning and market position. And, Augsburg is fortunate to have a high-caliber professional like Steve sharing our College vision and mission in circles that reach far beyond campus.”

Wehrenberg’s volunteer work includes serving on the board of the Greater Twin Cities United Way. He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minn.

In addition to Wehrenberg’s appointment, the Augsburg Corporation this year elected three other individuals to four-year terms on the . They include:

– Jennie Carlson, executive vice president of human resources for U.S. Bancorp;

– Pam Moksnes ’79, management consultant; and

– Curt Sampson, chairman and director of Canterbury Park Holding Corporation.

Jodi Harpstead, CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, was elected chair of the Augsburg College Board of Regents at its May 2012 meeting and began her term on July 1.

Augsburg College is set in the vibrant Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, and offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to more than 4,000 students of diverse backgrounds. The trademark of an Augsburg education is its emphasis on direct, personal experience. Guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.

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In addition to new member appointments, this year the Board of Regents welcomed , chief executive officer of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, as its new chair. Harpstead was named chair after serving on the Board of Regents since 2005. She will play a key leadership role in Augsburg’s planning and fundraising initiatives.

Jennie Carlson

Jennie Carlson, executive vice president of human resources at U.S. Bancorp, is a 20-year veteran of the banking industry. She previously served as Executive Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of U.S. Bancorp since the merger of Firstar Corporation and U.S. Bancorp in February 2001. From 1995 until the merger, she was General Counsel and Secretary of Firstar Corporation and Star Banc Corporation.

Carlson holds a juris doctorate from the Vanderbilt University School of Law and was the managing editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Centre College of Kentucky and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Carlson currently is on the Board of the Greater Twin Cities United Way and the Midwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association.

Pam Moksnes ’79

Pam Moksnes is an independent management consultant. She—along with her husband, Mark Moknes ’79, an executive vice president at Delta Dental—has been among the College’s most engaged alumni, with generous gifts to support athletics, campus ministry, the Lindell Library, Oren Gateway Center, and the Maroon & Silver Society.

As a volunteer at Augsburg, Moksnes has demonstrated passion for financial literacy and leadership for women. She was instrumental in several Women’s Connections events at the College and currently is involved with the Augsburg Women Engaged initiative. Moksnes, a Certified Financial Planner, has served on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes state board and is currently vice chair of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund National Board of Directors. She served for six years on the board of directors for the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota, including serving three as chair. Moksnes attends Cross View Lutheran Church in Edina, Minn.

Curt Sampson

Curt Sampson, a 50-year telecom industry veteran, was the founder, chairman, and CEO of Hector Communications Corporation and president of its nine telephone subsidiaries in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He is the Chairman and Director of Communications Systems, Inc.

In 1994, Sampson purchased Canterbury Downs racetrack in Shakopee, Minn., and serves as Chairman and Director of Canterbury Park Holding Corporation. He previously served on the Augsburg Board of Regents from 1989 to 2001 and has remained an active and generous friend of the College, with major contributions to Lindell Library, the Music department and the Augsburg Fund. He hosts the annual Auggie Night at the Races at Canterbury Downs, which has become one of Augsburg’s most successful alumni events. Sampson is an active Lutheran who has several Augsburg alumni in his family. He is a 1955 graduate of the University of Minnesota.

Steve Wehrenberg ’78

Steve Wehrenberg, chief executive officer of Campbell Mithun, is a 30-year veteran of the advertising industry. Wehrenberg holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Augsburg College, where he played on the football team. Since becoming Campbell Mithun’s CEO in 2006, he has provided expert leadership for many of the company’s most successful and award-winning campaigns.

Wehrenberg recently was a distinguished presenter for Augsburg College’s Strommen Executive Speaker Series. He teaches a strategic communications graduate course at the University of Minnesota, and he has co-written a new edition of “The Successful Marketing Plan.” Wehrenberg’s volunteer work includes serving on the board of the Greater Twin Cities United Way. He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minn.

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Wehrenberg graduated magna cum laude from Augsburg with a bachelor’s degree in English and communication studies. While at Augsburg, he was editor of the Echo and the Murphy Square literary magazine.

His first job in advertising was as a copywriter. Nearly 30 years later, Wehrenberg took the helm of Campbell Mithun in 2007 after serving in account and strategic leadership positions for clients across financial, packaged goods, retail, and telecommunications industries. Campbell Mithun is a nationally recognized flagship agency with a 75-year history of success and a long list of prestigious clients, including Mayo Clinic, Toro, Famous Footwear, General Mills, SuperValu and Land O’Lakes.

Wehrenberg has been a catalyst in creating and refining the agency’s “Everything Talks” positioning as well as developing several proprietary strategic planning tools. His work has won national awards for strategic thinking.

In addition to leading Campbell Mithun, he co-wrote the fourth edition of The Successful Marketing Plan, published in September 2011. He also serves on the board of the Greater Twin Cities United Way and teaches at the University of Minnesota.

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