Augsburg’s commencement ceremony includes an address by a student speaker and the presentation of two student awards. The Richard J. Thoni Award is given to one member of the graduating class whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations represent commitments to community, hospitality, and innovation. The Marina Christensen Justice Award is given to one member of the senior class whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations most profoundly exemplify Augsburg’s motto: “Education for Service.” 

The ceremony recognizes candidates in Augsburg’s three doctoral, nine master’s, and three bachelor’s degree programs:

• Doctor of Clinical Psychology
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Medical Science
• Master of Arts in Education 
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Master of Arts in Leadership
• Master of Arts in Nursing
• Master of Business Administration 
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
• Master of Music Therapy
• Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
• Master of Social Work
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science

Flags displayed at commencement represent sovereign nations of American Indian students and countries of the international students graduating in the ceremony.

Tickets are required to attend in person, but the ceremony will also be livestreamed via and commencement website. Follow the celebration through the hashtag #AuggieGrad on all social media platforms, where students will be sharing images of the celebration.

For more information, including accessibility information, visit the commencement website.

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Tim Pippert, Augsburg’s Joel Torstenson endowed professor of sociology, and Graduate Assistant Savannah Mitchell recently highlighted Augsburg Family Scholars on the “.” Created by the University of Pennsylvania Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, and Research—the podcast explores the pathways, resources, and relationships that empower older youth in foster care as they navigate the journey into adulthood.��

Pippert developed Augsburg Family Scholars for young people with foster care backgrounds to find community and support on their education journey. In the podcast, Mitchell highlights the , an initiative in Minnesota that pays for the cost of college tuition for students with foster care experience to reduce disparities faced by this population when pursuing higher education. Augsburg Family Scholars’ holistic approach provides financial resources, academic mentoring, and community building to student participants.

“Augsburg Family Scholars works here because it takes an entire campus to do this really well,” Pippert says in the podcast. “We work with admissions. When admissions sees a student who identifies with having a foster care background, they let us know so we can reach out to them. When students have an issue with financial aid, we send them to WonWon Bjorklund in student financial services, and WonWon answers their questions, not a random person behind the counter. When we have an academic advising issue, Julie Froslan Ferralez takes care of it. Julie advises all of our scholars. Like WonWon, like Stephanie Ruckel and Stacey Severson in Admissions—they’re just wonderful people.”

Listen to of the 2026 Field Center Aging Out Podcasts.

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“The opportunity to lead this remarkable institution has been the honor of my lifetime,” said Pribbenow. “I was originally drawn to Augsburg because of its strong sense of place and its Lutheran identity. What I quickly discovered was a community with an extraordinary commitment to meeting students where they are—a deeply engaged urban institution that has been transformed by its richly diverse student body. In many ways, telling this story has been my most important and meaningful job over the last 20 years.”

Pribbenow was inaugurated as Augsburg’s 10th president in the fall of 2006. For two decades, his articulation of a straightforward but powerful vision for Augsburg—“We believe we are called to serve our neighbor”—has strengthened Augsburg’s institutional calling and commitment to place-based community partnerships. This vision served as a touchstone through a dynamic and sometimes turbulent period in higher education, as the Great Recession, COVID-19, federal policy changes, the murder of George Floyd, and Operation Metro Surge profoundly affected Augsburg’s students and surrounding community.��

“Paul Pribbenow has been a transformative leader not just for Augsburg, but for higher education nationally. At the center of his leadership is an understanding of what it means to pursue life in community, whether that’s about Augsburg’s relationships in the neighborhood or the role of higher education in American democracy,” said John O’Brien, chair of Augsburg’s Board of Regents. “As a result, Augsburg has been able to thrive through a period of significant change while staying true to its deepest values and fundamental commitments.”

Over the past two decades, Pribbenow has overseen a sustained enrollment growth strategy predicated on reducing barriers for first-generation and low-income students and building trust with local communities. Today, Augsburg is recognized as the most diverse private college in the Midwest and a national leader in college access, service learning, and civic engagement. “I’m very proud of how the Augsburg community has found ways to respond to our growing diversity and keep our students at the center, even when it has meant changing how we teach or do business,” Pribbenow said.��

A nationally recognized voice on philanthropy and American public life, Pribbenow has focused throughout his presidency on strengthening Augsburg’s culture of philanthropy. He played a key role in advancing Augsburg’s three most successful capital campaigns, helping to raise $55 million to construct the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, which opened in January 2018; nearly $130 million to strengthen the university’s endowment and other strategic priorities in the Great Returns campaign, which concluded in 2023; and already more than $25 million in the ongoing Promising Futures campaign to sustain academic innovation and Augsburg’s signature public programs.��

In 2017, Pribbenow oversaw the name change from Augsburg College to Augsburg University, a move that reflected Augsburg’s expansive academic mission, excellence in both the liberal arts and professional studies, and global presence. Under his leadership, Augsburg has invested in new academic programs, including doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and physician associate studies; expanded its international programs through new Center for Global Education and Experience study sites in Norway and Northern Ireland; established the John N. Schwartz ’67 School of the Arts, which catalyzed the establishment of a five-school academic structure; implemented a new general education curriculum; launched the Augsburg Interfaith Institute; raised $10 million to endow the StepUP® collegiate recovery program; led a national movement to transform college admissions through the Augsburg Applies to You initiative; and marked the university’s sesquicentennial with the Augsburg150 strategic plan, a vision for sustainable growth in Augsburg’s next chapter. In 2010, Augsburg became the first higher education institution in Minnesota to earn the prestigious Presidential Award for Community Service, the highest national honor for service work. In 2020, Augsburg was named among the inaugural recipients of the Richard Guarasci Award for Institutional Transformation from Campus Compact, recognizing outstanding work in pursuit of the public purposes of higher education.��

“Paul Pribbenow is internationally renowned as a thought leader whose involvement in anchor institution work was critical in revitalizing colleges’ and universities’ understanding of their central civic mission. His exceptional tenure has been marked by a generosity of spirit and a belief in abundance that has truly helped make Augsburg part of our Cedar-Riverside community,” said Paula O’Loughlin, provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs.��  

Nationally, Pribbenow has emerged as a leader in Lutheran higher education in the 21st century, serving as the current president of the 28-member Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities. He also serves on the national boards of the Coalition for Urban and Metropolitan Universities and Campus Compact, sits on the steering committee of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and is active in the Anchor Institutions Task Force. Locally, he chairs the Cedar-Riverside Partnership and serves on the executive committee of the Minnesota Private College Council. Pribbenow received the Distinguished Service Alumni Award from Luther College in 2008, the William Burke Award for Presidential Leadership in Experiential Education from the National Society for Experiential Education in 2012, the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2019, and the Alum of the Year Award from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2025. He also was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the United International College in Zhuhai, China, in 2015. He is the co-author of “Radical Roots: How One Professor Changed a University’s Legacy” and co-editor of “Through Truth to Freedom: Reconciling a University’s Past, Present, and Future.”

“Paul Pribbenow’s administrative skills, outstanding fundraising abilities, and deep faith have substantially advanced Augsburg’s reputation in Minnesota and nationally,” said Regent Emeritus Ted Grindal ’76, who chaired the presidential search committee that brought Pribbenow and his family—including his wife, Abigail Crampton Pribbenow, and children Thomas ’23 and Maya—to Augsburg in 2006. “The search committee was impressed by his articulate vision for Augsburg, but also for higher education in general. When my wife and I met his talented spouse, Abigail, we knew this was a ‘dream team’—the perfect fit at the right time for Augsburg.”

The Pribbenows’ tenure has been marked by generosity and engagement. Over the past 20 years, they have hosted countless events for the Augsburg community in their home and been a visible presence on campus and at university events. In addition to her work at Yinghua Academy and as a certified funeral celebrant, Abigail Pribbenow has volunteered with the Augsburg Associates, Augsburg Health Commons, StepUP, Campus Kitchen, the Interfaith Institute, Christensen Scholars, and the President’s Leadership Council. Strong supporters of the arts, the Pribbenows sponsored the artwork on the windows of the Hagfors Center main lobby atrium, which features Martin Luther’s handwritten version of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” overlaid with the cell structure of an American elm tree.�� 

“Every fall at our opening convocation, I tell our entering class what we expect of them as new members of the Augsburg community—that they will show up, pay attention, and do the work,” said Pribbenow. “I’ve done my best to live up to that example as Augsburg’s president.” 

Augsburg Board of Regents Vice Chair Pahoua Yang Hoffman will lead the presidential search committee in the process to select the next university president over the coming months. With support from higher education leadership consulting firm Academic Search, the 15-member committee includes representation from the Board of Regents (representing alumni and community members), faculty, staff, and students, with counsel from the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities. Augsburg’s next president is expected to be named by early 2027 and to officially begin in July 2027.��

Additional information about the presidential search and opportunities to celebrate Pribbenow’s legacy, including the Promising Futures celebration gala on October 2, will be shared in the coming months.�� 

Media contact: Rachel Farris, farrisr@augsburg.edu

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The panel will be moderated by Ted Chen, vice president for equity, culture, and learning at the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, who is a member of the host committee for Augsburg’s Interfaith Symposium on March 25. Following the panel discussion, attendees will share a meal together with table conversations about caring for one another during tumultuous times facilitated by volunteers from the Minnesota Multifaith Network.

Reservations are now open for this free, public reception.

A project of the WF Fund, spotlights overlooked stories of giving back fueled by Muslim American faith. Through storytelling that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of Muslim Americans, the exhibit aims to help break down racialized and stigmatized stereotypes, ignite passion for community, create a sense of belonging, and build bridges between the Muslim American community and the philanthropic ecosystem. Inspired Generosity previously opened in Atlanta and Chicago, with additional showcases in development in Albany, Seattle, Michigan, and Indianapolis.��

The Minnesota exhibit will run for two months, from March 24–May 23, 2026, at the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) in north Minneapolis.

Event Details and Registration

Inspired Generosity Minnesota: Showcase Opening Reception
March 24, 2026
4:30–7 p.m.

Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center
2001 Plymouth Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411

About Interfaith at Augsburg

Situated in a neighborhood home to numerous immigrant communities and with an increasingly diverse student body, Augsburg University is uniquely positioned to facilitate building bridges in a polarized world. Augsburg’s commitment to interfaith engagement is central to its mission, identified as a key outcome of its strategic plan, and rooted in its Lutheran theological heritage. Through interfaith education and intentional opportunities to strengthen interreligious communication, understanding, and relationships, Augsburg’s Interfaith Institute advances peacebuilding on campus, in the community, and beyond. Learn more at augsburg.edu/interfaith.

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Bailey’s keynote address, “Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves,” will draw on her work as an ordained minister, public theologian, and national leader in the multifaith movement for justice.��

“Jen Bailey is the right voice for our times,” said Professor Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri Endowed Chair and executive director of Interfaith at Augsburg. “She not only believes in building a better world for all, she embodies it in her ministry, professional work, and personal life.”

Bailey’s career has been anchored in service to community and a commitment to justice. She is the founder of , a Womanist-led organization equipping community organizers, faith leaders, and activists with resources for connection, spiritual sustainability, and accompaniment, and a co-founder of , an initiative that brings people together across lines of difference to engage constructively on issues affecting their communities. Currently, Bailey serves as executive director of the , a Nashville-based philanthropic foundation investing in the leadership of young people and the vitality of the natural environment. An ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, she has been named an Ashoka Fellow, an Aspen Ideas Scholar, an On Being Fellow, and a Truman Scholar.

Following the keynote address, a luncheon and panel discussion will take place at 1:00 p.m., featuring conversation with Anne Doepner, senior director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Minnesota Vikings; Monica Ibarra, previously of Mayo Clinic; and an Augsburg student leader.��

Event Details and Registration

Keynote Address with Rev. Jen Bailey
March 25, 2026—12 p.m.
Sateren Auditorium, Anderson Music Hall
715 22nd Ave. S., Minneapolis
Cost: Free (advance registration required)

Luncheon and Panel Discussion with Anne Doepner and Monica Ibarra
March 25, 2026—1 p.m.
Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center
625 22nd Ave. S., Minneapolis
Cost: $20 for community members, free with Augsburg ID (advance registration required)

Learn more and register now.

About Interfaith at Augsburg

Situated in a neighborhood home to numerous immigrant communities and with an increasingly diverse student body, Augsburg University is uniquely positioned to facilitate building bridges in a polarized world. Augsburg’s commitment to interfaith engagement is central to its mission, identified as a key outcome of its strategic plan, and rooted in its Lutheran theological heritage. Through interfaith education and intentional opportunities to strengthen interreligious communication, understanding, and relationships, Augsburg’s Interfaith Institute advances peacebuilding on campus, in the community, and beyond. Learn more at augsburg.edu/interfaith.

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“Augsburg University is an excellent fit for NACU,” said Seán Creighton, NACU president. “Its emphasis on mission-centered education, community engagement, and innovative teaching and learning aligns closely with NACU’s values and the priorities of our member institutions.”

As a NACU member, Augsburg University will participate in the consortium’s learning communities, professional development programs, and peer-driven benchmarking designed to support institutional leaders and strengthen higher education through collaboration and shared practice. It will also gain access to member-only content such as the Strategic Partnerships Hub and NACU Benchmarking Dashboards.

“We are proud to join NACU,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow. “Their commitment to meaningful collaboration among peer institutions aligns closely with Augsburg’s values and strategic priorities. We look forward to engaging with fellow members to share ideas, strengthen our work, and advance the distinctive role that mission-centered colleges and universities play in shaping informed citizens and responsible leaders.”

With Augsburg’s addition, NACU now comprises 28 member institutions nationwide, reflecting steady and intentional growth.��Founded in 1995, the New American Colleges and Universities (NACU) is the trusted learning network for innovative comprehensive institutions.��NACU serves as a campus-wide benefit by promoting continuous learning and professional development, facilitating strategic insight and benchmarking research, and fostering a collaborative community across its independent colleges and universities.

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Buckner, a Duluth, Minnesota, native, played both women’s hockey and softball during her time at Augsburg. She started officiating at the adult amateur level and has gained acclaim as an official on the collegiate, professional, and international levels post graduation. According to a , Buckner has officiated for every professional women’s hockey league, including the current Professional Women’s Hockey League, along with international tournaments.

Buckner is one of 10 linespersons and 22 total women’s hockey officials working at the Winter Olympics, which take place February 5-19. The women’s hockey events start with pool play from February 5-10, quarterfinals on February 13-14, semifinals on February 16, and finals on February 19.��

Read the to learn more about Sarah Buckner’s Olympic journey.

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• The Chronicle of Higher Education: (January 21, 2026)
• The Chronicle of Higher Education: (January 26, 2026)
• The Chronicle of Higher Education: (January 28, 2026)
• The Minnesota Star Tribune: (February 5, 2026) 

In addition, Pribbenow contributed an op-ed to The Hechinger Report, which covers innovation and inequality in education: (January 30, 2026). The piece was subsequently republished by .

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Excerpt:

At a presentation on the campus on a subzero Minnesota morning, where accepted and prospective students in hoodies or sportcoats yawned and stretched while their parents guzzled coffee and picked at miniature breakfast pastries, there appeared to be as much goodwill for Augsburg as there were complaints about the treatment people had received from the admissions offices at other universities and colleges. Parents and students also universally bemoaned the lack of help they got from high school college counselors, who handle caseloads averaging 405 students apiece, according to NACAC.

By comparison, “these guys have been very friendly,” Barbara Young said of the admissions officers at Augsburg, where she had come with her daughter, Kealy, a high school junior.��

At Augsburg, “the first thing that happened is that the admissions officer came over and introduced herself, and that has not happened anywhere else,” said Kristen Campos of Chicago, who was visiting the school with her husband and their student.��

When their older children went through the same process at a big state university, Campos said disdainfully, the admissions office doors were closed to them. “We never spoke to an admissions officer,” she said.

Colleges and universities can only benefit by making time to ease applicants’ doubts, said Pribbenow, the president of Augsburg.��

Read the full piece via The Hechinger Report:

Top image by Jaida Grey Eagle for The Hechinger Report

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Students who wish to notify their hometown newspapers of their achievement can do so at their discretion using a .

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