1970
Ray Hanson ’70 volunteers with the Junior Achievement STEM program in high schools across Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and with both Blessing of Hope and Calvary Care food bank, providing food for those who need it.

2010s

2011
Juventino Meza Rodriguez ’11, who arrived in Minnesota as an undocumented 15-year-old from Mexico, was sworn in as an attorney in May, becoming one of a few undocumented immigrants to practice law in the United States. “My path was neither short nor easy, but it demonstrates what’s possible when we remove barriers rather than build them,” he said. He worked his way through Mitchell Hamline School of Law one semester at a time, taking seven years to complete what is typically a three-year program. “I want to share my story to counter the fear-mongering narratives about immigrants,” he said. “Behind political talking points are real people with dreams, contributions, and potential that benefit our communities. My journey shows that when we invest in people, regardless of immigration status, everyone wins.” He is focusing his legal career on advocacy for undocumented communities, continuing work he began as a student activist at Augsburg.

2013
Amanda (Nagy) Yudell ’13 MS has joined the pediatric team as a physician assistant at Sanford Bemidji.

2019
Arif Baker ’19 MAE has been named a 2025 Bush Fellow by the Bush Foundation. He will use the fellowship to study global educational models, particularly in Japan; pursue doctoral studies; and develop new strategies to improve discipline, experiential learning, and immigrant student achievement. For more information, read the June 23 Augsburg news story, “Arif Baker ’19 MAE named a 2025 Bush Fellow.”

2020s

2020
Eleanor Schwartz ’20 has started her own business in Hawaii called “Of the North,” a creative haus focused on brand strategy, marketing, content creation, and social media. Her connection to Hawaii started while she was at Augsburg. She was awarded an environmental stewardship grant, which gave her the opportunity to live and work on an organic coffee and fruit farm on the Big Island.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2025 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

1956

Richard Thorud ’56 has published his 14th book, a 28-page thesis titled, “Scientific Proof that God Exists.” It is available for $5 (cash or check) from Elliot House Publishing Co.,10030 Elliot Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420.

1957

Neal Snider ’57 is the author of “Hints, Hopes, and Promises of Life after Life,” published by Sola Publishing in 2024.

1970s

1970

James Fischer ’70 is the author of “Run, Train, Race,” offering practical distance running advice for runners of all levels, based on 50 years of running, teaching, and coaching. The book was designed by his wife, Christine.

1973

Sheldon Anderson ’73 is the author of “Schools for Scandal: The Dysfunctional Marriage of Division I Sports and Higher Education,” published by the University of Missouri Press in May 2024.

1990s

1996

Nils Dybvig ’96 MSW was featured in the January 26 MPR News story,

1999

Devean George ’99, founder of George Modular Solutions, was featured in the June 20 MPR News story,

2000s

2000

Ross Murray ’00, ’09 MBA was a keynote speaker at the July 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. He spoke about the overlap between youth ministry and advocacy for a better world for youth, with a particular lens on LGBTQIA youth. He also led a roundtable on LGBTQIA decriminalization at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.

2003

Kristen Opalinski ’03 earned several 2024 DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards for her work on the Thirteenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation publications, including Best in Class, Specialty Publications; Best in Class, Design; category winner for Posters—Single Work; category winner for Publication Design: Cover or Feature—Series; and an award for Logos and Branding—Single Work, for the assembly logo, “One Body, One Spirit, One Hope.” The DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards honor excellence in religious communications and public relations.

2006

David Nash ’06 published his second novel, “In Wells’ Time,” in February 2024 from Unsolicited Press.

2008

George Lynaugh ’08 is the proud father of seven daughters. He works as a carpenter for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

2009

Tiffany Ramm ’09 gave a in Borrowdale, Zimbabwe, on April 6. She used her personal story of surviving financial and emotional abuse to illustrate how practicing vulnerability can be a strength instead of a weakness.

2010s

2011

Elle Thoni ’11 received an MFA in dramatic writing from Carnegie Mellon University in May. Elle is the recipient of three national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Festival, receiving first place for the Rosa Parks Playwriting Award, second prize for the Mark Twain Comic Playwriting Award, and a Planet Earth Playwriting Award. Elle also received a $25,000 first place award from the CMU-Alfred P. Sloan Script Competition for the pilot of a small-town dramedy series, “Tamarack.”

2015

Ebony (Green) Eromobor ’15 MSW, founder of Village Support Therapy and Consulting, was featured in the February 2 KARE 11 News story,

2016

Matthew Arthur-Gray ’16 MA received an EdD from Vanderbilt University. His doctoral research explored the transformative impact of nonprofits on the educational journeys of transgender youth. Arthur-Gray serves on the board of trustees for Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School and is the founder of Raising Queer Voices, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the LGBTQIA community.

Gabriella (Hooper) Rooker ’16 MS was featured in the February 2 Star Tribune news story,

2020s

2020

Nicole Nightengale ’20 was added to the new Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Minnesota franchise as a reserve defender during the team’s inaugural season.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2024 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

1965

John Luoma ’65 published “Saddlebag Preacher: The Story of the Rev. John Stough and the Evangelizing of the Ohio Frontier” in September 2023.

1970s

1970

Peter Agre ’70, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003, gave the inaugural Aston University Distinguished Lecture in Birmingham, England, on May 25, 2023.

1971

After performing her one-woman show, “Sitting on the Flat Side of a Dime, Swinging My Legs,” in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Betty (McCoy) Anderson ’71 was the subject of a lengthy profile in the Siloam Springs Herald Tribune, on August 2, 2023.

1974

Philip Lundin ’74 was one of six members of the U.S. Track & Field Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2023. He was the men’s track and field head coach at the University of Minnesota from 1995 to 2008.

1980s

1983 and 1988

Luverne Seifert ’83 and Darcey Engen ’88, professor and chair of Augsburg’s Theater Arts Department, received the Minnesota Educational Theater Association’s Dedicated Lifetime Award in 2023 for their work as co-artistic directors of Sod House Theater.

1985

Richard Magnuson ’85, chief financial officer at Allina Health, was named one of the top 25 CFOs of Minnesota for 2023 by Finance & Investing.

1986

Nicholas Gangestad ’86 joined the Nucor Corporation board of directors in September 2023. He is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Rockwell Automation, Inc.

1989

Vicki Ellingrod ’89 is dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Michigan.

1990s

1990

Thomas Peart ’90 is the author of “A Vagabond Life: Stories from a Minnesota Hockey Coach,” published by Friesen Press in July 2023.

1991

William Koschak ’91 was named the new CFO for SynerFuse in August 2023. He also has joined the board of directors for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, California.

1993

Minnesota Lawyer named Tammera (Ericson) Diehm ’93 one of the 2023 Top Women in Law.

1997

Derrin Lamker ’97, head coach and former record-breaking quarterback for Augsburg’s football team, and a number of student-athletes, including quarterback Cade Sheehan ’24, were featured in the August 19, 2023, Star Tribune story,

Eric Rolland ’97, coach of Augsburg’s men’s and women’s golf, competed in the 2023 3M Open golf tournament. He earned a spot in the tournament after achieving Minnesota PGA Rolex Player of the Year honors in 2022.

2000s

2000, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022

A writing group largely made up of alumni from Augsburg’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program recently published its second book, “What’s in the Body Bag? A Collection of Dark Fiction by the Dead Birds Writing Group.” Authors include Trena Bolden Fields ’00, ’15 MFA; Judy Niemi Johnson ’05 MAL, ’17 MFA; David Nash ’06; Amanda Symes ’09, ’15 MFA; Jayne Carlson ’16 MFA; Jon Dahl ’16 MFA; Andrew Marks ’21; and Michelle Linder ’22 MFA.

2003

Jason Baumgartner ’03 is the campus chaplain at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Sheila Hoehn ’03 MAN was named dean of the Central Lakes College campuses in Staples, Minnesota, in June 2023.

2004

Mary (New) Taris ’04 opened Strive Bookstore in the Young Quinlan building in downtown Minneapolis. She owns a smaller version of the store, which includes many books from underrepresented authors, in the Sistah Co-op, located in the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.

2006

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appointed Brent Kelsey ’06 MBA to the Rural Finance Authority, the state’s main agricultural lending arm. Kelsey is a farmer and a principal credit officer at Compeer Financial.

2007

Erik Hinderlie ’07 graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston School for the Environment with a Master of Science in urban planning and community development in 2023. He received the Urban Planning and Community Development Graduate Program Director’s Award for Public Service.

2008

Cyrus Batheja ’08, ’10 MBA, a member of Augsburg’s Board of Regents, is the national vice president of infusion care services at Optum.

Greg May ’08, most recently head coach of Augsburg’s men’s hockey team, accepted the position of associate head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s hockey team in July 2023.

2010s

2011

Ashley Booker ’11 MAE was named CEO of YWCA St. Paul in 2023.

2012

Ashley Aretz ’12, ’19 MSPAS has joined Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota, where she specializes in hospitalist services. Aretz is a certified physician assistant.

2013

Gottleib Uahengo ’13 graduated with his PhD in engineering from the University of Southern California in May 2023.

2015

Parker Hines ’15 is an assistant coach for the Texas Legends, a professional basketball team.

2016

Gabriella (Hooper) Rooker ’16 finished as the fourth American woman and 11th woman overall in the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023.

2019

Colin Mustful ’19 MFA is the author of “Reclaiming Mni Sota: An Alternate History of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862,” which was published by History Through Fiction in October 2023. Mustful is the founder and editor of History Through Fiction. He and his press have created the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant, a literary diversity initiative to raise $10,000 for one Indigenous writer from Minnesota.

2020s

2022

In September 2023, Gavin Holland ’22 re-signed with the Huntsville Havoc, a professional ice hockey team in Huntsville, Alabama, for the 2023–24 season.

2023

Rachel Allen ’23 MAT teaches 10th- and 11th-grade American history and world history at Pine River-Backus School in Pine River, Minnesota.

Hope Manu Kannare ’23 was featured in the October 24, 2023, Star Tribune story,

Brandon Ratzloff ’23 was named an assistant coach with the Rochester Grizzlies junior ice hockey team in 2023.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2024 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

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 . I hope you will consider sharing your time
and talents with the university this year.

Go Auggies!

Nick Rathmann ’03, Alumni Board President

The post From The Alumni Board President appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Twenty years ago, Associate Professor of Biology 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.

[Top Image]: During a presentation to the Minnesota Aquarium Society, Bill Capman demonstrates how he creates artificial reef structures for new aquaria.

The post Gift expands marine aquarium facility for study of biological diversity appeared first on Augsburg Now.

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 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 away 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.

The long-term goal of Metro Scrubs Camp is to increase the number of young people from underserved populations who are aware of career opportunities in the health care and biomedical industries, and who become inspired to pursue the level of education required to achieve those careers. During the camp, students develop concrete goals for their post-secondary field of study. More than 75 percent of campers reported they are interested in the health care field, 94 percent could see themselves going to college, and 97 percent could see themselves in a STEM industry.

Augsburg thanks the following partners who make the camp possible through volunteering, donations, sponsorship, and camper scholarships.

Boston Scientific
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Fairview Health Services
Allina Health
Ecumen
Aloha Foundation
Step-Up/Achieve Minneapolis
Cedar Riverside Partnership
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Rosemount School District
Sherman Associates

[Top Image]: 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.

The post Metro Scrubs program introduces high school students to health science careers appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Augsburg 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.

The post StepUP® program marks 20 years of success appeared first on Augsburg Now.

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 rst 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. Go Auggies!

Nick Rathmann ’03, Alumni Board President

The post From the Alumni Board President appeared first on Augsburg Now.

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.

If you are interested in learning more about AWE, contact Martha Truax, associate director of leadership gifts, at 612-330-1652 or truaxm@augsburg.edu.

[Top Image]:�� 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.

The post Augsburg Women Engaged: moving in a new direction appeared first on Augsburg Now.

This winter, 15 Auggies traveled to��Thailand and Cambodia with Augsburg��College Professor of English Kathy Swanson��and her husband, Jack, as their hosts.

“The trip was beyond amazing,” said��traveler and Alumni Board President Jill��Watson ’10 MBA. “Our hosts, Jack and��Kathy Swanson, have a passion for the��people and culture of Thailand that was��contagious throughout the trip. They��were always willing to share insights,��recommend food (such as sticky rice and��mango at a floating market) and go out��of their way to help others and ensure��everyone was having a great trip.

“Memories that stand out include��the elephant camp in Chiang Mai, Thai��cooking school, Angkor Wat in Siem��Reap, Light for Kids orphanage, and the��food … all the foods!

“Traveling with fellow Auggies meant I��had at least one thing in common with so��many people I had never met before. By��the end of the trip, I had developed new��friendships, and I will be keeping in touch.”

Celebrating Lutheran heritage in��Germany and the Czech Republic

Last fall, another group of Auggies��traveled to the land of Luther to mark��the 500th anniversary of the Protestant��Reformation. Religion Department��faculty members Hans Wiersma and Lori��Brandt Hale led a group of 30 Augsburg��alumni and friends on a multi-city tour��that included Dresden, Prague, and��Wittenberg—the long-time home of��Reformation catalyst Martin Luther.

One of the highlights for Augsburg��Alumni Director Katie (Koch) Code ’01 was��the opportunity to be in Wittenberg on��Reformation Day. The town marked the��occasion with a festival, and the Augsburg��group visited Castle Church where Luther��nailed his 95 Theses to the door.

“At worship that morning we sang, ‘A��Mighty Fortress is our God,’ which took��me back to my Augsburg days enrolled��in the Luther and the Reformers class��with Religion Professor Mark Tranvik,”��Code said.

Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Jean��Hopfensperger and photographer Jerry��Holt accompanied the group to chronicle��how Minnesotans observed the 500th��anniversary of the Reformation. In a story��published after the group’s return home,��Augsburg alumnae Carol Pfleiderer ’64 and��Kathleen Johnson ’72 described how the trip��itinerary offered participants opportunities��to build and reflect on their faith.

Travel snapshots

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[Top image]:��Travelers pose at Wat Chedi Luang Temple��in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

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