1988

Julie Martin ’88 is the author of “Homespun Alchemy,” which will be published by Finishing Line Press later this spring. This debut poetry collection is about noticing the sacred stitched into the every day, the quiet wisdom of the natural world, and the transformative power of seeing deeply.

1989

Devoney Looser ’89 is the author of “Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive and Untamed Jane,” which was named a USA Today Best-Selling Title in December 2025. She was interviewed by for its December 12 segment on Austen’s 250th birthday.

1990s

1998

In September 2025, Angela Ahlgren ’98 joined the staff at Marshall School as executive assistant to the head of school. Marshall is an independent K-12 institution in Duluth, Minnesota. She is happy to be back in her home state and supporting educators after 13 years as a faculty member in large public universities in Ohio and Texas.

2010s

2012

Christopher Siegried ’12, an outpatient mental therapist, educator, and writer, was recently honored by America’s Best in Medicine as a Distinguished Mental Health Therapist. With extensive experience in clinical settings, he has guided hundreds of adolescents, adults, and families through challenges while striving to improve mental health awareness and access for individuals and families through his work in therapy, writing, and advocacy.

2019

Alyson Astelford ’19 has joined Compass Management Group, a Twin Cities community association management company, as its chief operating officer. In this role, she oversees operations, leads strategic initiatives, and guides company growth. She brings eight years of experience and a Professional Community Association Manager credential to the role.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Spring 2026 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

1984

Anne-Marie Erickson ’84 is the author of a book of essays, “In the Evening, We’ll Dance,” published by Holy Cow! Press in August. Minnesota author Will Weaver describes the book as “startingly good … powered by grief, memory, and married love. Poetic, literary, yet always accessible.” The work explores mythology and fairy tales, scientific research, theology, poetry, music, and art in an effort to wrest meaning out of the experience of dementia.

2000s

2004

Kylie (Grunzke) Rieke ’04 has coauthored a book with her husband. “A More Brilliant Life: Rise Above Expectations. Discover Who You Are. Reclaim Your Future” was released on September 16.

2006

“In Wells’ Time” by David Nash ’06 was a 2025 Minnesota Book Award Finalist.

2009

“Supernatural Parables: Book One—Into Darkness” is the first of a two-part anthology of parables that includes writing by Amanda Symes ’09, MFA ’15. The book includes stories by 11 authors in genres such as horror, crime, noir, science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism. It was released on Halloween by Dead Birds Publishing, which is run and edited by Symes and fellow Augsburg alum Jayne Carlson MFA ’16.

2010s

2012

Katrin Klutho ’12 is the author of “Witch Hunt: Birth by Flame,” published by Beaver’s Pond Press. “Witch Hunt” is her first book.

2013

Tyler Heaps ’13, the youngest sporting director in Major League Soccer, was profiled in the June 13 Star Tribune story “”

2016

Nick Brundy ’16 has been named the head of sport performance and Deno Fitness Center manager at Macalester College. Previously, he worked six years at Augsburg, first as assistant strength and conditioning coach and, for the past three years, as head strength and conditioning coach. He was also an adjunct professor in the Health and Science Department at Augsburg.

Sarah Buckner ’16 will be serving as a linesperson at the 2026 Winter Olympics women’s hockey competition. She has been a referee and linesperson in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, and in other collegiate and women’s professional leagues. She has worked as a linesperson in both national and international events.

2020s

2024

Nathaniel Koch MAT ’24 is working at Enishi International School in Nagoya, Japan.

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

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.

1957

Stanley Baker ’57 retired as a professor emeritus of counselor education at North Carolina State University in July 2024. He served as a counselor educator for 50 years at NC State and Penn State universities. He also served as a high school history teacher, school counselor, and athletic coach at high schools in Wisconsin for 12 years.

1960s

1965

Joyce (Anderson) Pfaff ’65 reunited with classmates at the 2024 Advent Vespers (photo right). “We were seniors at Augsburg 60 years ago,” she said. “Now we are simply seniors. Loved seeing so many of my former classmates at Vespers last week.”

1967

Thad Danielson ’67 lost his companion of 54 years in April 2024. As a carpenter, he worked with her to build a house of their own design. After retirement, he taught boat building at WoodenBoat School and wrote a book based on his course, “An Introduction to Wooden Boat Building: Always More to Learn,” which is available on Amazon. In 2023, he gave a talk on his boat-building experience at the Conway Historical Society. He is now painting and working as a personal care assistant.

1970s

1972

Mike Eayrs ’72 was featured on October 30, 2024, in a story in The Athletic,

Tom Fischer ’72, now in his 52nd year as a high school athletic official, received the Minnesota State High School League Officials Distinguished Service Award on March 23, 2024. The award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond in service to their fellow officials. In June 2023, he was awarded the Lifetime Service Award by the Northwest Suburban Conference in recognition of his service to high school student-athletes, parents, and coaches.

1974

Nancy Sandro ’74 composed 22 songs for “Tunes and Texts: Songs for the Liturgical Seasons,” available at . The book includes 18 original songs for the liturgical seasons and four festival songs, many of which have optional instrumental accompaniments and guitar chords.

1980s

1981

John Strommen ’81 is the author of “GPS: Finding Direction on Your Faith and Life Journey—How Luther’s Theology Connects Faith to Life.” Strommen wrote the book to bring the heart of Martin Luther’s theological witness directly into conversation with 21st-century Christians hungering to not only have faith, but to live their faith.

1990s

1992

Sven Erlandson ’92, soul counselor and corporate counselor, is the author of “There’s a Hole in My Love Cup,” which has been in the top five Amazon bestsellers for inner child healing. His podcast, “The Badass Counseling Show,” has over two million downloads. Erlandson has amassed more than 2.1 million followers on TikTok and 500,000 followers on Facebook.

1993

Doris Rubenstein ’93 MA was contracted by VEAP, Minnesota’s largest food shelf, to write the history of the organization for its 50th anniversary, “VEAP at Fifty: Celebrating a Half-Century of Helping the Community.” This is the fourth institutional history book Rubenstein has written.

2000s

2008

Joseph Skogmo ’08 is the lead pastor at First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Previously, Skogmo served as the pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry, Minnesota.

2009

Amanda Symes ’09, ’15 MFA is the author of “Sasquatch Is My Neighbor: A Collection of Hairy Cryptid Lore.” The book contains nine tales and is available on Amazon.

2010s

2013

Melissa Brandenburg ’13 received her Master of Education in Special Education from Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa) in May. She finished with a 4.0 GPA and was selected as the graduate studies speaker at commencement.

2019

The environmental legal drama “Big Lake Troubles,” by Jeffrey Boldt ’19 MFA, was named “one of the best legal thrillers of the year [2024]” in a . The book is his second novel.

2020s

2024

Claire Jenkins Coffman ’24 was a guest coach for the Minnesota Wild Development Camp this summer and is believed to be the first woman to have held that role. She now works as an assistant and skills coach for the New Hampshire Mountain Kings.

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

1975

Dan Bruss ’75 received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award from Bethany Lutheran College, where he is president emeritus. Bruss is credited with leading the college’s transition to a four-year, bachelor’s degree–granting institution during his tenure as president.

1976

Larry Morgan ’76 was presented with the Minnesota Society of CPAs’ Friend of the Association Award at their annual meeting for his help to organization members over the past 10 years. Earlier he was presented with the Lifetime Recognition Award by the Twin Cities Compensation Network. He also served on the Carlson School of Management HR/IR Alumni Board of Directors.

1980s

1983

Luverne Seifert ’83 performed the roles of Papa and Warren T. Rat in the world premiere of “An American Tail the Musical” at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. The show was covered in the May 21 New York Times article, “.”

1985

In January, Ron Huemoeller ’85 was appointed as chief executive officer for Saras Micro Devices, a provider of advanced power delivery solutions for high-performance semiconductor devices.

1989

Stephen A. Hindle ’89 is regional vice president (Asia) of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Deutsche Bank. His work is based in Singapore.

1990s

1991

Bill Koschak ’91 was appointed to the advisory board of Reborn Coffee Inc., a California-based retailer of specialty coffee. He is chief financial officer of Calyxt, a plant-based synthetic biotechnology company.

1992

Sven Erlandson ’92, founder of Badass Counseling, was the guest on of the Good Athlete Podcast, released on January 31.

Carol Gronner ’92 is co-producer of “Unzipped: An Autopsy of American Inequality.”  The documentary focuses on the homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles and the United States and the efforts to enshrine affordable housing as a human right.

1993

Darin Olien ’93, a plant-based exotic superfoods hunter and founder of 121 Tribe, is the TV host on the Netflix docu-series “Down to Earth With Zac Efron.” He also recently co-founded Barukas, offering a super nut from Brazil.

1995

Dave Kerkvliet ’95 was recently named superintendent at Sebeka Public School in Sebeka, Minnesota. He was previously band director at the school for 27 years.

1998

Ryan Aytay ’98 has been named chief executive officer of Tableau Software. He had previously been serving as Tableau’s president and chief revenue officer and retains his role of president along with his new role as CEO.

Matt Osberg ’98 was named chief financial officer and executive vice president of Apogee Enterprises.

1999

Jennifer Grimm ’99 is the new music director of Crooners Supper Club in Fridley, Minnesota.

2000s

Ross Murray ’00, ’09 MBA and Richard Garnett ’07, ’09 MBA received extensive media attention for their hats piled high with flowers at the New York City Easter parade, including on the front page of the . Murray is author of the newly published book, “The Everyday Advocate: Living Out Your Calling to Social Justice.”

Miriam Zien-Edgar ’06, Kou Lee ’11, ’19 MAE, and Tim Binger ’11, ’21 MAL took the St. Louis Park (Minnesota) High School orchestra to San Diego, running into fellow orchestra alum Suzanne Jokela ’08 along the way. Lee is the St. Louis Park middle school and high school orchestra director, a role that Zien-Edgar held from 2010 to 2018. Binger is the St. Louis Park elementary orchestra director.

2006

Brooke Hamann ’06 and her father were the subjects of the April 14 article, in the Perham Focus newspaper.

2007

Rachel Engstrom ’07 earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in 2021. She is co-chair of Minnesota’s Behavioral Health Planning Committee and chair of the Governance Committee for the Pro-Choice Minnesota board. She’s also applying to law school.

Erik Steen Hinderlie ’07 graduated from the University of Massachusetts—Boston with a Master of Science in urban planning and community development. He was the recipient of the Urban Planning and Community Development Graduate Program Director’s Award for Excellence for his public service in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Brad Wise ’07 was recently sworn in as sheriff of Anoka County, Minnesota. Previously he served as the Coon Rapids police chief.

2008

Alyssa (Baumann) Ryder ’08 was promoted to senior police crime and intelligence analyst with the Duluth (Minnesota) Police Department in 2022. She also received her subject matter expert certification in call detail record and geolocation analysis.

2009

On March 19, Kyle Soderberg ’09 was ordained as deacon of outreach and organizational development at Nativity Lutheran Church in St. Anthony, Minnesota.

2010s

2010

Ryan Barnick ’10 MAE was selected as superintendent of the Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District in Minnesota. Previously he served as a principal with Austin Public Schools.

Chad Leonard ’10 is the new mayor of Amery, Wisconsin. He teaches business for the Osceola School District and served on the city council prior to being elected mayor.

Kelly Roselyne ’10 was promoted to executive director of finance and operations of Terrybear Urns and Memorials.

2011

Elle Thoni ’11 received second place in the Kennedy Center’s Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting competition for their play “Monstrous,” which explores the post-Roe v. Wade era. They are completing an MFA in dramatic writing at Carnegie Mellon University.

Jennifer (Daniels) Umberger ’11 MBA was named vice president of marketing and communications for Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. Previously she was associate vice president of marketing and communications and chief marketing and communications officer at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

2012

Christine (Brenno) Fenner ’12 MBA is a member of a group bringing the Carver County Public Health’s Communities of Belonging initiative to Waconia, Minnesota. Their goal is to work with area residents to create a community where people are truly connected, know each other, and take care of each other.

Vickie (Hargrave) Spyhalski ’12 was appointed minister of First United Methodist Church in Austin, Minnesota.

2013

Maren Daniels ’13 is author and illustrator of “The Elements of Art: An Elementary Art Teacher’s Guide to Color, Shape, Texture & More.” She is an elementary art teacher in South St. Paul Public Schools.

Aimee (Nguyen) Norasingh ’13 MBA was recently welcomed to United Way’s Women United Global Leadership Council. Women United is committed to advancing gender equity and expanding access to quality, affordable, educational childcare. Norasingh is a senior relationship executive with Optum Financial.

2016

Sagal Ali ’16 was one of 20 global leaders included in Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity’s 2023 cohort. Fellows meet in-person and virtually to explore health equity topics, bolster their leadership skills, build a global community, and work with AFHE staff, faculty, and mentors. This year’s fellows were chosen from a pool of more than 400 applicants.

Muna Mohamed ’16 was featured in the May 27 Star Tribune story, “.” Her modest activewear brand, Kalsoni, is now sold by retailers such as REI.

2017

Alexis Halvorson ’17 is head coach of the girls’ lacrosse team at Northfield High School in Northfield, Minnesota.

2019

The novel, “Blue Lake,” by Jeffrey Boldt ’19 MFA received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and won an award for 2022 Best of Indie Press.

2020s

2020

Jojo (Khadijo) Abdi ’20 MFA is teaching screenwriting at Metro State University. She recently served as guest journalist for The Forum on Workplace Inclusion. She also has studio space in Midtown Global Market for a new project based on interviews in the community.

Jimmy Aguilar ’20 is new co-director of diversity and inclusion for AIGA Minnesota, a professional association for people working in the field of design, including graphic design and web design.

2021

Karina Kafka ’21 has made a film called “A Mother’s Love.” This 26-minute documentary focuses on missing and murdered Indigenous women through the story of one mother’s search for her daughter.

Simon Redstone ’21 recently directed a short film called “Sister Diane” and accepted a position working in the film/marketing/advertising industry.

2022

Alexa (Turcios) Carrera ’22, a student in the Master of Science in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy program at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, was featured in the April 21 University of Minnesota news story, “.”

The post Alumni Class Notes, Fall 2023 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Winter 2022-23 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

1965

Marcia Schneider ’65 met with Professor Emerita Kathryn Swanson and her husband, Jack, while they were in Arizona. Marcia was a part of a trip to Thailand and Cambodia that the Swansons led in 2017.

1966

David Johnson ’66, who received a doctorate in the history of religion from the University of Iowa, returned from teaching as a visiting professor in China. His books include “Western Thought for Asian Readers” and “Indian Thought Between Tradition and the Culture of Technology.”

1967

Dennis Miller ’67, professor emeritus of food science and nutrition at Cornell University, is one of the participants in a research project to transform nutrition and water use in the poultry industry to improve its environmental impact and enhance human health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the research through a $9.95 million grant, one of the largest grants ever awarded by the USDA.

Thad Danielson ’67 has retired from his boat shop and now teaches a two-week class, The Fundamentals of Boatbuilding, at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklin, Maine. He also wrote the book, “An Introduction to Wooden Boat Building: Always More to Learn.”

1969

Janis Mathison ’69 was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Shawano Community High School in Shawano, Wisconsin. The honor recognizes her work as a coach and pioneer of women’s athletics at the school.

1970–79

1972

After 26 years, Robert Engelson ’72 has retired from his role as a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arizona Global Campus.

1973

Sheldon Anderson ’73 published a memoir, “Jump Shooting to a Higher Degree,” which chronicles his basketball career in Minneapolis, West Germany, and Poland, where he did research for his doctorate.

1979

With more than 500 wins in his prep coaching career, Douglas Greseth ’79 has been named boys basketball head coach at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill, Florida.

1980–89

1983

In November 2021, Luverne Seifert ’83 directed a melodrama, “The Last Train to Winnipeg,” for the Lyric Center for the Arts in Virginia, Minnesota. The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council supported the play with Rural and Community Art Project grant funding.

Brian Hoffman ’83, associate professor of anthropology at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, was about the excavations he leads on campus—most recently, the remains of a St. Paul home near the corner of Hewitt Avenue and Pascal Street.

1984

Anne Marie Erickson ’84 has created a website with excerpts from essays she’s written about living with her husband’s 17 years of dementia.

1985

Jean Taylor ’85 was of American Public Media Group, the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio, in 2021.

1988

Dallas Miller ’88 was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for playing hockey at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, Minnesota. Miller was inducted into Augsburg University’s Hall of Fame for his award-winning hockey career.

1990–99

1994

Michelle Steever ’94 received the Outstanding Librarian Award from the Rhode Island Library Association in 2021. She is the school library media specialist for the Jamestown School District in Rhode Island.

Judell Anderson ’94 retired after leading the Alliance of Auto Service Providers-MN for nearly 26 years.

1998

Rollors, a lawn game by Matthew Butler ’98, was featured in the Rolling Stone article “From Grills to Boombox Speakers, These Are the Products We’re Using Labor Day Weekend” (September 2, 2021).

1999

Kale Henry ’99 was named the head coach of the Forest Lake High School baseball program. He is a previous winner of the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Rob Fornasiere Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

2000–09

2000

interviewed Ross Murray ’00, ’09 MBA about his founding of the Naming Project, an ELCA-based camp for LGBTQ youth. Murray wrote the book “Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBT-Inclusive Youth Ministry,” and he is the director of news and faith initiatives for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD).

Nathan Budde ’00 completed the Ironman Wisconsin in 2021. He finished 77th out of roughly 1,800 competitors and seventh among the 180 people in his age bracket.

2003

Kari Lucin ’03 has returned to The Globe newspaper in Worthington, Minnesota, as community editor. She was previously the Globe’s education reporter and online content coordinator.

Keneeshia Williams ’03, MD, gave a , “The Prosperity of Investment: A Journey From Murder Witness to Trauma Surgeon,” that uses her life experience and medical expertise to offer non-divisive, proven solutions to gun violence in America. Williams is an assistant professor of surgery at Emory University in Atlanta and director of medical student education at Grady Memorial Hospital.

2005

Eddie Frizell ’05 MAL was nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Marshal for the District of Minnesota. He previously served as chief of police for the Metro Transit Police Department in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Christe Singleton ’07 MBA was named vice president of Minnesota Gas at CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility.

2007

Travis Paul ’07 MBA is the regional chair of administration for Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Minnesota. Paul has 26 years of progressive health care experience at Mayo Clinic, including 18 years in leadership roles and numerous years as a front-line nurse.

Emily Bastian ’07 MSW, Avivo’s vice president of ending homelessness, was about Avivo Village in Minneapolis, an indoor grouping of tiny houses offering safety, comfort, and dignity to 100 residents.

2008

Anthony Vicino ’08 is a founding partner of Invictus Capital and co-author of “Passive Investing Made Simple.”

Nicholas Zeimet ’08 MSW is an assistant professor of social work at Bethel University in Arden Hills, Minnesota. He has served as the Minnesota Chapter President of Syrian American Medical Society and has led a mental health mission to Lebanon and Jordan. He holds a volunteer position with Mt. Sinai’s Human Rights Program as a remote mental health evaluator for those seeking asylum or other immigration matters.

Michael Henrichsen ’08 is lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player for ’80s cover band Nite Wave, which was recently featured in an article in 425 Magazine. The band has produced a live album and has performed with Billy Idol three times.

Katherine LaGrave ’08, digital features editor for AFAR Media, was named Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers in 2021.

Nicole Richards ’08, a certified public accountant, was promoted to principal at Boeckermann, Grafstrom & Mayer in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Dianna Robinson ’08 was promoted to market president and director of private banking, community markets at Associated Bank in Rochester, Minnesota.

Michael Graber ’08 MBA has been appointed president and CEO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

2010–11

2011

Kyle Potswald ’11 was promoted to vice president of commercial lending at the Citizens Bank Minnesota Lakeville branch.

Elle Thoni ’11 wrote the musical, “Queen B: A New Work of Honeybee Futurism,” which toured Minnesota farms and green spaces in August 2021.

2012

Emily Nichols ’12 is general manager of the Kimpton Alton Hotel in San Francisco’s iconic Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood.

2013

As executive director and founder of MN Renewable Now, Kristel Porter ’13 is working toward the installation of solar systems in North Minneapolis, among other environmental justice projects.

2013 and 2019

Daley Knochar Farr ’13 and Maximillian Bray ’19 married June 11, 2021, in New Orleans. Connor Krenik ’13, Kacie Lucchini Butcher ’13, Kevin Butcher ’13, Morgan Thompson ’09, and Gabrielle Miller ’09 were in attendance.

2016

Rayna Lindsey ’16 appears in season 9 of “Below Deck” on Bravo.

Lisa Archer ’16 MAN has been named chief nursing officer for Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Wisconsin.

2019

Jeffrey Boldt ’19 MFA published his debut novel, “Blue Lake,” in March 2022. Boldt drew from his legal and environmental background to write the Wisconsin-based thriller.

2020s

2020

Alison Uselman ’20 won the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts & Letters’ 2021 Wisconsin People & Ideas Fiction Contest for her short story, “Honor Cord.”

2021

Isaac Tadé ’21 started dental school at the University of Minnesota, where he received the Xhonga Scholarship and a National Health Service Corps Scholarship.

The post Alumni Class Notes, Summer 2022 appeared first on Augsburg Now.

The Sudanese-American musician, poet, and activist began writing poetry their second year at Augsburg and performed at open mic events. Seeing people’s positive responses encouraged Saleh to write songs and make music, which led to the eventual release of two EPs. Previously, Saleh performed in an underground theater in Minneapolis. The Netflix show is ​​their first professional acting role.

“I want people to feel validated,” Saleh told Netflix. “Cal is a nonbinary, Black character, and I want people to think, ‘Oh, my gosh, I can believe I’ve seen myself on this series. I can believe I’ve seen myself represented in mainstream media.’ That’s what I want the most.”

Read more alumni news, and submit your own life updates.

Top image: Netflix subscribers can stream “Sex Education,” a British teen comedy-drama. (Courtesy photo)

The post Musician and poet <b>Dua Saleh ’17</b> breaks boundaries with role on Netflix’s ‘Sex Education’ appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Auggie launches national hockey award

Charles “Chuck” Bard ’50 has always been a sports enthusiast. At Augsburg, Bard played football and baseball, notably serving as the second baseman on Augsburg’s 1947 and 1948 MIAC championship teams. However, the sport that Bard loved most—and the sport that brought him the most notoriety—was one he never played: hockey.

Hockey wasn’t played widely when Bard was in school. By the time he started college, Augsburg had a hockey team. However, Bard already played football and baseball, and student-athletes were limited to participating in only two sports. Bard attended as many Auggie hockey games as he could and enjoyed watching the players out on the ice.

After graduating in 1950 with a degree in physical education and a minor in journalism, Bard continued his passion for sports by co-founding the Decathlon Athletic Club in the late 1960s. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, it was the first private athletic club in Minnesota outside of downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul.

Since that first award, the Hobey has honored 40 hockey players from around the United States. The award is given to a player who best demonstrates “teamwork, dedication, integrity, exceptional play, humility, and above all, character.”

In 2007, Bard visited Augsburg’s campus to recognize longtime men’s hockey coach, Ed Saugestad ’59, who was a Hobey Baker Legends of Hockey honoree.

1974

Augsburg alumna and former regent joins University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents

Ruth Johnson ’74, MD, was elected to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents 1st Congressional District seat. Johnson studied chemistry and biology at Augsburg, where she earned a bachelor’s degree with summa cum laude honors; graduated from what is now Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; and completed her residency at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. She served 16 years on Augsburg’s Board of Regents, was the chair of academic and student affairs, co-chair of the campaign cabinet, co-founder of the science advisory board, and vice chair of the regent’s committee. In 1996, Johnson was named a distinguished alumna of Augsburg.

Read the full story on the alumni news blog.

1986

‘Underestimate me; that will be fun’

Tamra (Pederson) Pyrtle ’86 excelled in school and in her career, yet she always made time for the playfulness of science and math.

At Augsburg, Tamra pursued a chemistry degree. This was a significant challenge, particularly for a student with a double minor in mathematics and German. But Tamra’s persistent nature helped her earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, graduating with honors in 1986.

“Obviously she was not afraid of a challenge. There is a saying of which she was particularly fond: ‘Go ahead, underestimate me; that will be fun,’” said Brett Pyrtle, Tamra’s husband.

Tamra’s exceptional knowledge wasn’t always reserved for schoolwork. One night in 1983, she and her friends convinced members of the Augsburg football team to carry a Volkswagen Beetle into the student center. Tamra was able to direct the crew so they could do this without taking the doors off the entry. The geometry of this feat was lost on the maintenance staff, who had to remove the entrance doors to get the vehicle back out.

In her first professional job, Tamra was hired as a lab supervisor for Buckbee-Mears St. Paul. She was the first college graduate to hold the position, and she learned quickly how to balance her academic knowledge with practical skills required to meet the fast-paced demands of metal-etching production. She also learned how to stand up for herself in a plant where she was the only woman in technical management.

After a few other positions handling instrumentation in a consulting lab, supervising etched metal operations, providing quality assurance analysis, and teaching advanced placement chemistry, Tamra joined Medtronic’s neuromodulation division as a senior quality engineer. She was quickly promoted to principal quality engineer and developed a reputation as the go-to resource for tough quality engineering and analytical challenges.

Despite her technical jobs, Tamra continued to pursue fun applications of science, and she particularly loved how science and nature intersected. It was no surprise to her family when she sold her collector car to buy a thoroughbred horse named Bravo. Tamra learned as much as she could about veterinary care and medicine so that she could regularly administer Bravo’s shots herself.

The communication between Bravo and Tamra was something special, said her parents, Wayne and Lynette Pederson. Bravo perked up when he saw Tamra coming and even recognized her vehicle. They had conversations and seemed to know what the other was saying.

On December 13, 2018, Tamra passed away at the age of 55 after battling cancer for more than two years. She left behind her husband of 24 years, Brett; her parents, Wayne and Lynette; her brother, Carey Pederson ’88; and her sister, Kristin (Pederson) Merkel ’91.

“All three of our children are Augsburg graduates, and our family ties to Augsburg run deep,” said Wayne. “Augsburg was a significant contributor to Tami’s success. We wish for other students to have the opportunities Tami had, and what better place to provide some assistance than at Tami’s alma mater.”

Wayne and Lynette, along with Brett, established the Tamra Lynn Pederson Pyrtle Endowed Scholarship at Augsburg. This scholarship will be used to support students interested in pursuing a major in chemistry and who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

1993

Tammera Diehm ’93 ranked as a leading attorney

Tammera Diehm ’93 was recognized as a distinguished leader in her field by Chambers USA, one of the world’s leading guides to the legal profession. Diehm’s work encompasses numerous aspects of real estate transactions, including buying, selling, leasing, development, and financing. She helps local and national clients of varying sizes navigate the complexities that come with owning and occupying real estate, such as zoning, land use, government approvals, and regulatory compliance.

Like a true Auggie, Diehm aims to unlock the full potential of her team through motivational coaching and support.

“I want to give our firm members the ability to build their own careers, offering flexibility and support while maintaining our firm’s core values and commitment to client service,” Diehm said.

2003

Accounting roles add up for Paula Diaz ’03, Northview Bank CEO

Paula Diaz ’03 has been named president and CEO of Northview Bank, which has branches across Minnesota. After graduating from Augsburg with a degree in accounting, Diaz has enjoyed a robust career in finance. Starting out as a public accountant, she went on to become the finance director of Cummins NPower. She has been at Northview Bank since 2014, where she was the CFO prior to stepping into her new role.

2020

Trailblazing Auggie Abdulkadir Sharif ’20 continues geopolitical studies at Georgetown

Abdulkadir Sharif ’20 studied political science and international relations at Augsburg and became Augsburg’s first student to win the Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. He also received a Fulbright Scholarship, a Boren Scholarship to study Swahili in Tanzania (which he accepted instead of a Critical Language Scholarship, which he also won), and a Gilman Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to study in Namibia and South Africa. Sharif also participated in Princeton University’s Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship. He planned to teach English in Malaysia through the Fulbright program before travel plans were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was reassigned to the Netherlands. He is pursuing a master’s degree in global politics and security with a full scholarship to Georgetown University.

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• Lowell “A.L. Shane” Ziemann ’60—“Alex, Hank & Hawk: Cowboys, Gunmen & Road Agents: A Novel of the American West”
• David Nash ’06—“The Man in the Pines,” a novel and soundtrack
• Joshua Phillip Johnson ’17 MFA—“The Forever Sea,” a novel
• Robby Steltz ’18 MFA—“Nellie,” a short play that earned second place in the Virginia State One Acts competition
• Khadijo “JoJo” Abdi ’19 MFA—One of the main authors that participated in the first Somali Community Book Fair in Burnsville, Minnesota
• Tracy Ross ’19 MFA—“James Dean and the Beautiful Machine,” a book of poetry
• Kristine Joseph ’20 MFA—“Simply Because We Are Human,” a memoir
• Cole Williams ’22 MFA—Poems published in “Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine” and “Sh!t Men Say to Me: A Poetry Anthology in Response to Toxic Masculinity”
• Faculty member Anika Fajardo—“What if a Fish,” a novel that won the Minnesota Book Award for Middle Grade Literature
• “Murphy Square 1975–2020: A Sesquicentennial Sampler of Literature by Augsburg Students”—Professor Emeritus Doug Green said, “More than 40 recent students from 2016 through 2019 served as co-editors, haggling over selections drawn from the entire digital archive of Murphy Square [Augsburg’s student-created literary and visual arts journal]. Megan Johnson ’19 designed the volume.”

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