{"id":11726,"date":"2025-04-02T16:51:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T16:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/?p=11726"},"modified":"2025-04-02T16:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T16:53:07","slug":"paul-pribbenow-named-the-university-of-chicago-divinity-schools-2025-alum-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/02\/paul-pribbenow-named-the-university-of-chicago-divinity-schools-2025-alum-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Pribbenow Named the University of Chicago Divinity School\u2019s 2025 Alum of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Paul<\/a>The University of Chicago Divinity School announced this week that Paul Pribbenow, AM \u201979, PhD \u201993, president of Augsburg University, has been named the 2025 Alum of the Year. This honor recognizes Pribbenow\u2019s distinguished career in higher education, his commitment to civic engagement, and his leadership in fostering inclusive and ethical communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since assuming the presidency of Augsburg University in 2006, Pribbenow has been a champion for access and equity in education, working to expand opportunities for students from myriad backgrounds. Under his leadership, Augsburg has strengthened its commitment to urban education, interfaith dialogue, and community-based learning, reflecting a deep alignment with the Divinity School\u2019s mission of rigorous inquiry and engagement with society\u2019s most pressing moral and ethical questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am deeply humbled and honored by this recognition, which is especially poignant following the death of Professor Martin Marty, who so influenced the trajectory of my life and leadership,\u201d Pribbenow said. \u201cThe ideas that shaped me as a student have continued to anchor my work in the decades since: that religion can be a force for good in the world, that pluralism is a source of strength, and that education is the heart of a thriving society.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pribbenow, who earned his PhD in social ethics, is widely recognized for his scholarship in philanthropy, ethics, and public life. His work bridges academic inquiry and practical leadership, demonstrating how theological and ethical perspectives can positively influence institutions and communities. Beyond his role at Augsburg, he has contributed to numerous civic and higher education initiatives, reinforcing his reputation as a thoughtful and engaged leader in both academic and public spheres.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Paul Pribbenow exemplifies the values of the Divinity School through his unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and the transformative power of education,\u201d James T. Robinson, dean of the University of Chicago Divinity School, said. \u201cWe are happy to recognize him as our 2025 Alum of the Year, celebrating his impact as both a scholar and a leader who continues to shape public life with wisdom and integrity.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A vital member of the Divinity School community, Pribbenow\u2019s engagement in the life of the school has been significant. While he matriculated, he managed Swift Hall\u2019s student-run coffee shop, Grounds of Being, from which all proceeds benefit the Divinity Student Council. As an alum, he continues to be active as a current member of the Divinity School Advisory Council, serving at various intervals since 1996.<\/span><\/p>\n

The University of Chicago Divinity School will celebrate Pribbenow\u2019s achievements at an awards ceremony on May 2, 2025. As part of the event, he will deliver a keynote address entitled \u201cWrestling with Angels: Higher Education Leadership in a Moral Key,\u201d reflecting on his career, the role of ethics in public leadership, and the enduring impact of his Divinity School education.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information about the Alum of the Year award and the upcoming celebration, please visit divinity.uchicago.edu\/about\/events<\/a> or contact divinitycommunications@uchicago.edu<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The University of Chicago Divinity School announced this week that Paul Pribbenow, AM \u201979, PhD \u201993, president of Augsburg University, has been named the 2025 Alum of the Year. This honor recognizes Pribbenow\u2019s distinguished career in higher education, his commitment to civic engagement, and his leadership in fostering inclusive and ethical communities. Since assuming the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":499,"featured_media":11727,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3228],"tags":[2241],"class_list":["post-11726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kudos","tag-paul-pribbenow"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/499"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11726"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11730,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11726\/revisions\/11730"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}