On September 1, “Augsburg College” officially will become��“Augsburg University”—a change approved by both the Board��of Regents and the Augsburg Corporation.

For generations of Augsburg alumni and friends, it may seem like��the place always has been called “Augsburg College.” That’s been��the formal name of the school for the past 54 years.

Over the course of the school’s history, nearly 24,000 people��have completed degrees at Augsburg. With so many Auggie alumni��accustomed to thinking of Augsburg as a college, why change the name?

In short, the term “university” illustrates the breadth of Augsburg’s��current reality and goals for the future. And, “while our name is��changing,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, “the essence��of who we are is not.”

As the first seminary created by Norwegian Lutherans in America,��the name Augsburg—chosen by the school’s founders in 1869 to��honor the Augsburg Confession—always has defined the ethos of��this institution and its mission to support those called to service in��the world. Since its founding, Augsburg has been known by at least��four different names. The name has shifted as the school has grown,��but our commitment to an accessible, quality education has never��wavered. Likewise, our dedication to the Lutheran principles of��hospitality, service to the neighbor, and social justice is as steadfast��today as ever.

In announcing the name change, Pribbenow affirmed��that becoming Augsburg University “does not alter our��dedication to integrating the liberal arts and professional��studies or our commitment to being small to our students��and big for the world.”

Rather than moving Augsburg away from its roots,��the name change helps Augsburg remain both faithful��to its heritage and relevant to the educational needs of��students in the 21st century.

An international perspective

Today, Auggies live and work all over the world. In many��countries and cultures, the word “college” is associated��with a high school-level education. Alumni who work��in international settings have noted that they already��refer to their alma mater as “Augsburg University” in��order to avoid confusion. For the same reason, the name��change also will help Augsburg be more attractive as a��destination for international students, which represents a��potential growth area for Augsburg.

A view from the outside in

With nearly 150 years of history, it’s no surprise that��Augsburg is well known in the region—even among��people who haven’t (or haven’t yet) studied here. What��impact would a name change have on their perceptions��of Augsburg? We asked the following groups to share their��thoughts:

• high school students,
• parents of high school students,
• high school counselors,
• people considering getting an advanced degree, and
• people who didn’t finish an undergraduate degree right after high school and are thinking about going back to school to earn a bachelor’s.

These conversations generated several important��insights, but the core takeaway is that Augsburg’s reality,��reputation, and promise are aligned with the name change.

Our reality and reputation. Conversations with��members of the general community demonstrated��that people associate the word “university” with a��number of attributes that clearly apply to Augsburg.��Specifically, people view universities as having high��academic standards, a commitment to research, strong��international programs, and diverse student populations.

Augsburg has robust programs for scholarly research��and global study, and is recognized nationally for its��leadership in inclusion and equity. In many ways,��Augsburg already embodies much of what people expect��of a university.

The promise of a student-centered university. We also��learned from these conversations that Augsburg has a��strong reputation for direct student-faculty engagement.��We already know how important this is to our alumni,��students, faculty, and staff, but it was gratifying to hear��that members of the broader community also value��Augsburg as a student-centered organization.

This is something Augsburg needs to ensure does��not change. Augsburg University will not become an��institution marked by big campuses or large student-to-faculty ratios. Instead, as is articulated in our��, Augsburg will be a new��kind of student-centered university, and just as we have��done for decades, Augsburg will remain committed to��educating students for lives of purpose in a vibrant,��engaged learning community.

The visual identity of Augsburg University

Embracing our legacy and our future

When Samuel Gross ’03 was a student at Augsburg, he��designed the original Auggie eagle-head symbol as an��assignment for one of his graphic design courses. The design��was so good, Augsburg ended up buying the rights to the��image and has used the eagle symbol for campus life, student��organizations, and athletics for the past 15 years.

During that time, Gross became an award-winning designer��and creative director who founded his own graphic design��firm, 144design, with a specialty in developing logos for��clients. So, when Augsburg needed to update its logo as part��of the transition to the Augsburg University name, it was a��perfect opportunity to re-engage with Gross to envision and��design the next-generation Augsburg logo.

“Early on, our conversation about the logo confirmed that��this project should be an evolution of the Augsburg brand, not��a revolution,“ Gross said. “We wanted to preserve the strong��recognition that has been built for Augsburg over time.

“Our goal was to preserve and respect the historic nature��of Augsburg’s logo — especially since it already has strong��energy and good familiarity — while at the same time creating��a treatment that also embraces the future,” he said.

The results, including the updated Augsburg logo, “A”��icon, and eagle-head symbol are shown on the next page.��Separately, the Augsburg seal—which is used on transcripts,��diplomas, and other official documents—was updated by��Augsburg staff Mark Chamberlain and Denielle Johnson ’11 and��is shown below.

Augsburg marks: honoring the legacy

The Augsburg “A”

For example, current plans call for the “A” icon to be installed on the shorter ends of the sign on top of Mortensen Hall. This is one of the most visible signs in the region and will be updated this summer as part of the transition to “Augsburg University.”

The eagle-head symbol

The eagle-head symbol is stronger and bolder with this evolution. Whereas the original design lost detail
and contrast when translated to black-and-white treatments, the updated design is much more effective across a broader range of uses.

Currently, designs using the updated eagle-head symbol are under development for an array of installations—from the Si Melby gym floor and the Edor Nelson athletic field scoreboard to the Christensen Center student lounge and merchandise sold in the Augsburg bookstore.

Augsburg University seal: history and meaning

The seal conservation process began as Augsburg College explored the steps involved in changing its institutional name to Augsburg University. The seal enhances an original centennial symbol design and aligns with the institution’s current reality, reputation, and promise.

The post Augsburg University appeared first on Augsburg Now.

“As you can see, I’m not in my office,” says��Juliane Derry ’00 answering a video call and��gazing toward the cell phone resting in her outstretched palm. “It’s kind of a little crisis.”

Behind her, a warehouse complex comes into��focus. It looks tidy—for the most part—but��there’s chaos emerging in what otherwise would��be a meticulously organized space.

Derry is standing in one of the storage��facilities for Norway’s Nasjonalmuseet, the��National Museum of Art, Architecture and��Design, and she is responding to an immediate,��all-hands-on-deck plea to mitigate an unnerving��discovery in the archive: water.

“Oxygen, light, and variations in��humidity are the things that cause��damage,” Derry said, hours later,��offering a primer on the fundamental��culprits in the degradation of��historical materials. As a conservator��for the national museum in Oslo,��she plays a multifaceted role in��the institution’s efforts to hold,��preserve, exhibit, and promote public��knowledge about Norway’s most��extensive collections.

“There are so many different materials in our��collection that we have textile, paintings, paper,��and book conservators,” said Derry, who is an��objects conservator specializing in furniture,��frames, and gilded surfaces. She has studied��restoration on three continents and has become��an expert in both preserving national treasures��and making new creations shine. Derry is��someone who excels at finding connections��between seemingly disparate areas. Her��conservation work blends science with artistry,��research with intuition, and the practical with��the theoretical.

Derry’s personal life has been filled with��complementary relationships as well. She was��born in Norway, and she lived there until age 15��when she, her sister, and her American mother��moved from the tiny alpine town of Ål to the��densely populated Twin Cities lying on the edge��of Minnesota’s prairie. Later, as an Augsburg��student, she focused on women’s studies,��international relations, religion, and studio arts.

“I took classes based on what interested me,”��Derry said, shrugging her shoulders. “When��you get out into the real world and meet new��people you begin to realize that [some of them]��followed a very narrow path. I’m not looking��down on that in any way, but I appreciate the��fact that I was able to experience so many��different things.”

As her former faculty advisor, History��Professor and Director of General Education��Jacqueline deVries acknowledges that��Derry is the type of person who thrives in��interdisciplinary programs like women’s studies.��Now known as “gender, sexuality, and��women’s studies,” the major includes courses��in biology, English, history, political science,��sociology, and other disciplines. And it seems��Derry’s inclination toward diverse opportunities��only increases with time.

“Juliane’s path is fantastic. She totally��wandered,” said deVries, who now counts Derry��among her friends. “I think she’d laugh that I��said that, but along the way she discovered a��true passion.”

Derry’s career in restoration and conservation��began because misdirected mail literally came��across her desk. Shortly after graduating��from Augsburg, Derry worked as an assistant��to buyers at Dayton’s, Minneapolis’ storied��hometown department store chain. Even though��she didn’t support staff in the furniture division,��she received heaps of catalogs for that area.

Eventually, a thoughtful colleague noticed��her growing interest in woodworking and��encouraged her to pursue her calling. After��some networking and introspection, Derry��signed up for a wood finishing program at��a technical college—an experience that��ultimately led to her launching a small��business, obtaining an advanced degree,��and developing industry contacts around��the world.

One of those connections is �ٴDz����¾�������������, an author, educator, scholar,��and furniture conservator who retired after��serving the Smithsonian Institution for 29��years. Williams was a guest lecturer who��instructed Derry during her Minnesota-based��finishing program, and he became��a mentor as she took her education and��career to new levels.

Williams has taught hundreds of��students, and he’s noticed that those who��succeed often have similar predispositions.��“How many people do you know who��are both scientists and artists?” he��asked. “That’s what we are. If you are not��consumed by creativity, this is going to be��a miserable path for you. People need not��only creativity but also curiosity.”

For Derry, an eagerness to experiment��and to learn has triggered some of her most��defining life events.

After working a handful of day jobs and��operating an independent business in the��U.S. for three years, Derry enrolled in an��immersive, full-time restoration program��near Florence, Italy. There she gained��studio experience and new skill sets,��including the ability to speak Italian through��a crash course lasting a single month. After��completing the restoration program, Derry��moved with her wife, Jody Scholz ’97, to��Norway. Derry was armed with a portfolio��of recent work and ambition to relaunch her��business in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

“I ended up making a CD full of pictures��of various restoration projects, and I made��the rounds in town,” she said. “I looked up��people in the yellow pages and then handed��out my pictures. In the beginning I worked��a little bit at a frame shop, and then I got a��job in a gallery where I restored frames.”

During the years since, Derry’s workload��has grown to match her expertise, and��sometimes her expertise has grown due to��the requirements of her work.

She earned a master’s degree at the��University of Oslo’s Institute of Archeology,��Conservation, and History by completing a��project-based thesis that examined shellac,��a sealant created using a resin secreted by��insects. For this project, Derry conducted��fieldwork in the rural Jharkhand region of��India where villagers harvest stick lac—the��key ingredient that becomes shellac and��its by-products—and she analyzed the��chemical characteristics of several samples��at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation��Institute where Williams served as her��internship sponsor.

“Investigative problem-solving” is one of��the aspects Derry said she most enjoys about��her field, and her liberal arts experience at��Augsburg informs the way she approaches her��assignments. She uses traditional techniques��and materials in her conservation projects��whenever possible, and her ability to think��critically is paramount.

While employed at a furniture restoration��company, she was tasked with repairing��beloved pieces used by the Oscarshall��Summer Palace, the Office of the Prime��Minister, and private clients. She also has��served Fortidsminneforeningen, a nonprofit��that preserves and protects monuments,��including 40 of the stave churches located��throughout Norway.

“Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is not��only a homily, it is an inexorable law of��the universe,” said Williams, describing��the vital role individuals like Derry play��in preserving cultural heritage for future��generations. “Everything is going back to��dust. As conservators, it is our job—to��the extent that is rational—to slow that��process down and concurrently enjoy and��extract the most utility from an artifact on��its path.”

Today Derry’s workdays primarily are��devoted to making internationally important��materials accessible to the general public.��At the national museum, she has completed��assignments that range from applying gold��leaf on the frames of masterworks to cleaning��a plaster-of-Paris city model measuring more��than 100 square feet. And still, her current��undertaking is the largest one yet.

The Norwegian government is building��a joint “all-arts” museum, which is slated��to open in Oslo in 2020. Intended to be a��dynamic arena for people to interact with��the visual arts, the space requires new��exhibits so curators and conservators are��working hand-in-hand to select and prepare��pieces for display. Derry is in the midst��of locating, evaluating, cataloguing, and��potentially repairing 400 pieces of furniture��for the museum.

It’s a process that requires passion and��persistence—two words that also perfectly��describe the manner in which Derry has��shaped her career. She’s prepared to��address new challenges if issues arise in a��workshop, at a laboratory bench, or during��the process of managing complex projects.

Even in a soggy situation at a storage��venue, Derry sees the annoyance of��rewrapping objects impacted by a minor��cooling system leak as an opportunity to��formulate a plan for the future should staff��ever need to address a true disaster.

“She can pursue something with��intelligence and diligence and still with a��smile on her face,” Williams said. “That’s��an unusual gift.”

[Top image]: Juliane Derry ’00 works on an artifact from Norway’s national collection. As an objects conservator, she studies and preserves historical materials. ��

Photos courtesy of Annar Bjørgli

The post Preserving Norway’s treasures appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Student-athletes file past tables,��stacking breadsticks on mounds of��pasta, but this crew isn’t carb-loading��for the next matchup. The nearly 550��students from Augsburg’s 19 sports teams��are preparing to tackle Auggie Compass—a��series of workshops and team-building��exercises designed to inspire personal and��professional success. After piloting the��program in 2014-15, Augsburg Athletics��recruited this year’s lineup of on- and��off-campus partners to engage each class��in issues relevant to each stage of their��undergraduate lives.

Associate Athletic Director Kelly��Anderson Diercks said the biannual��series starts a conversation with student-athletes,��then builds upon those��themes each year as Auggies develop��the confidence, expertise, and support��networks they need to navigate known and��unknown challenges during college and��after graduation. For instance, first-year��students discussed study skills, time��management, and wellness, while seniors��learned about financial planning, living��their values, and networking techniques.

“When I moved into my first house,��I didn’t know furnaces had filters, and��that’s just one example of the many things��I should’ve known—but didn’t—before��graduation,” said Anderson Diercks, who��spearheaded the program. “We developed��Auggie Compass from the best aspects of��similar programs and from conversations��with our coaches, student-athletes, and��alumni. Our students seem more aware��of campus and community resources and��better prepared to excel in the real world.”

Panel of alumni shares lessons��from ‘professional lumps’

Among the spring event’s most popular��sessions was a student-athlete alumni panel,��“Not Where They Thought They’d Be,”��which—as the title suggests—invited alumni��to share lessons from their not-so-straight-or-smooth��paths to personal and professional��fulfillment. Mike Gallagher ’12 was among��the four panelists asked “not to sugar coat”��their transitions to the workforce.

“My first paid job out of college lasted��21 months before I was laid off with 25��percent of the company’s workforce,��and that’s just one example of the��professional lumps we shared,” said��Gallagher, an academic advisor at��Walden University and the on-air host/producer of Gopher Sports Update and��MIAC Weekly. “Our stories reinforced��that new graduates likely will have��to do things they don’t enjoy as they��work toward goals. But we encouraged��them to channel the persistence and��dedication they gained as athletes��toward new challenges and to say ‘yes’��to any opportunity to better themselves��or gain new skills.”

Gallagher, also a freelance sports��broadcaster and emcee, talked openly��about his path, which is a fairly common��one: going to college with hopes of��playing professional baseball, then��realizing he wasn’t any better than his��teammates. Then, struggling to find��balance within the fun, demanding��routine of workouts, competitions,��classes, and life until he walked across��the commencement stage and into a��9-to-5 job without the sport, the people,��and the routine he’d always known. “It��is, indeed, a huge wakeup call,” he said.

Women’s golfer Wendy Anderson ’17��was among the seniors who rotated��through the panel discussion. The double��major in music business and accounting��said she valued sessions about financial��planning and interviews, but the alumni��panel resonated with her the most.

“I’m a type-A, perfectionist planner.��Hearing their stories reassured��me that I may not end up where I��thought I might, but because of these��types of sessions and my Augsburg��experience, I’ll survive and hopefully��have a fulfilling career,” she said. “I’m��glad I attended sessions about fiscal��responsibility, but workshops that��encouraged us to consider our values��and worth and to step outside our��comfort zones were the most rewarding.��Guidance from Auggie Compass��sessions paired with the entirety of our��experiences prepares us to achieve.”

Athletic Director Jeff Swenson ’79 is��glad to hear student-athletes position��Auggie Compass within the greater��framework of their Augsburg education��and athletic experience. The lessons��and skills are interconnected, he said,��strengthening one another.

“Our athletes learn to win and lose��with class, to embrace leadership, and��to play their role—whatever that may��be—to achieve a shared goal,” said��Swenson, who has been a member��of the Augsburg community for more��than 30 years as a student, coach,��and administrator. “These are all great��lessons for life after sports, and Auggie��Compass builds upon what teams and��coaches are already instilling. At our��core, we are about community and��supporting these fine student-athletes��on their journey. Auggie Compass��prepares them to carry that legacy out��to the world.”

Building skills to navigate a��complex environment

Mike Matson ’07 knows all about��Augsburg’s core principles. They guided��him through his time as one of the��College’s top linebackers, then through��seminary, and now in his role as an��assistant director of leadership gifts at��the College. Matson said Augsburg’s��commitment to diversity, inclusion, and��community outfits students with empathy��and poise to respectfully engage in��meaningful conversations and authentic��relationships. He talked with juniors��about how to lead difficult conversations.

“We live in a complicated world��with complex people and issues, and��those who are able to have difficult��conversations in a respectful manner��advance progress and understanding,”��said Matson, who also serves in the��Navy Reserves and as chaplain for��the Minneapolis Police Department.��“Instead of talking at the students,��we challenged them to work through��case studies. I can’t say I was all that��surprised at how well they handled��themselves, but I was impressed��with how willing they were to share��vulnerabilities, speak about biases,��and view situations through alternate��perspectives. It was amazing to watch��‘community’ happen.”

Unified tournament puts��principles to practice

Student-athletes didn’t only talk about��ideals, they practiced them. Juniors��headed to the Si Melby gymnasium to��compete alongside 40 Special Olympics��athletes in basketball and bean bag��toss competitions. Jennifer Jacobs, who��organized the volunteer effort, said the��tournament underscored Augsburg’s��commitment to service and inclusion.

“We added [the unified competition]��because civic engagement is one of the��college’s co-curricular learning outcomes,”��said Jacobs, then-assistant athletic director��and assistant volleyball coach. “We decided��to collaborate with Special Olympics��because of an NCAA Division III partnership��with the organization and because our��ongoing involvement with the area chapter��continually inspires our students.”

Student-athlete Cody Pirkl ’18 had never��interacted with Special Olympics athletes��before the Auggie Compass event this��spring. Initially, the baseball player had��not been excited about the obligation on��what otherwise would have been a free��night. But as he said goodbye to Special��Olympics teammates, the social work major��said it felt like parting with dear friends.

“We, as college athletes, become so��focused on our own goals and everyday��lives that we forget how rewarding it��is to give back to others,” Pirkl said.��“Our involvement with Special Olympics��shines Augsburg’s positive light on our��broader community, but it also gives us��meaningful perspective. Watching the��Special Olympics athletes’ pure love of��the game reminded me how lucky I am��and how much I love to play.”

Pirkl said he and his teammates took��a lot away from the mix of formats and��engaging activities. That active structure��was intentional, Anderson Diercks��explained, as presenters played to��student-athletes’ competitive nature.

“For years, we had brought wonderful,��inspiring speakers to campus once��or twice a year to talk with students��about hot topics or enduring life-after-college��lessons,” Anderson Diercks said.��“Although these experts offered great��perspective and information, the format��was a challenge, and we were never��able to cover as many of the topics as��we would have liked. The new Auggie��Compass format allows us to engage each��class in specific topics to prepare them for��the next year and beyond. We can more��easily adjust based on student feedback,��and it’s a nice way to highlight our alumni��and campus experts as well as celebrate��community partnerships and resources.”

Celebrating mindfulness and��meditation

One such resource is Jermaine Nelson, a��meditation and mindfulness coach and��yoga instructor. The former athlete urged��students to seek mind-body connections��as they strive to be more present. He also��reminded them to give themselves grace��during transitions and various phases of life.

“It’s so easy for student-athletes to��continue to eat and sleep how they did��in college without the same level of��activity, and then they look up one day��and realize they are out of shape and out��of sync,” Nelson said. “It’s important��to anticipate, on the field and in life, so��that you avoid injury and prepare for the��next phase of your life.”

Nelson wasn’t expecting to, but looking��out at the dozens of student-athletes��reminded him of his nephew, and��Nelson got personal. His nephew was a��promising college recruit, with plans to��play in the NBA, but he broke down from��all the pressure.

“I wish he would have had a program like��this when he was in school,” Nelson said.��“Imagine all the heartache and recovery he��would have avoided had he been offered the��tools to cope and achieve without grinding��himself into the ground. I worked with��him, and he’s on a good path now, but it��took a while. If Auggies can practice these��techniques now, they’ll succeed.”

Nelson’s talk reinforced some of the themes presented by��Augsburg’s Center for Wellness and Counseling.

For example, counselor Jon Vaughan-Fier and Beth Carlson, the��center’s assistant director, co-facilitated “Becoming Resilient��to Stress,” which challenged student-athletes to assess what��drains them and to identify ways to recharge. In addition to��discussing the importance of sleep, nutrition, and meaningful��relationships—among other topics—students engaged in yoga,��mindful breathing, and relaxation strategies.

During the Compass program’s pilot year, the entire CWC��staff also presented on a range of topics related to wellbeing,��including body image, depression, healthy choices, and stress��management, which Vaughan-Fier said is critically important for��today’s overly busy student-athletes.

“To emphasize the connection to sports and improved��performance, we showed testimonials from Seattle Seahawks��quarterback Russel Wilson about his ‘one play at a time’ mindset��and New York Knicks President Phil Jackson’s philosophy of��‘one breath, one mind,’” Vaughan-Fier said. “We hope these��tools help student-athletes as they strive to incorporate self-care��practices into daily life.”

According to a 2015 health survey, the top stressors among��Augsburg students are: a death or serious illness of someone��close, conflicts with roommates, parental conflict, and the end of��a personal relationship. Director of the counseling center, �����Գ������ҳܾ������𲹳ܱ���, said the opportunity to interact with student-athletes��about these and other topics is a proactive way to introduce the��center’s role and resources.

“Mental health and GPA are linked, and they affect your��performance,” she said. “We want to make sure these student-athletes��are working on their physical, mental, and spiritual��health and wellbeing. These sessions provide an overview and��tips, but we also encourage them to follow up with one-on-one��or group support.”

Financial stressors, professional��communications among top concerns

A key barrier to wellness, Guilbeault said, is stress related to��finances—a worry that plagues many students, particularly student-athletes��who might not have the time to hold a job or internship.��To build upon the counseling center’s session, Auggie Compass��introduced a practical question-and-answer session with �մdz�������Redae ’09 MBA, a treasury management sales consultant and vice��president of Middle Market Banking for Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.

“Talking with upper-class students, I focused on the importance��of budgeting and managing credit for a healthy financial future,”��Redae said. “I shared several of the many online tools and apps to��help them stick to a budget and monitor credit for suspicious or��fraudulent activities.”

Also in the category of practical and purposeful guidance, Auggie��Compass enlisted faculty mentors Carol Enke and Shana Watters to��offer best practices for professional communications. The pair broke��student-athletes into groups to review and assess emails students��sent professors, many of them lacking clarity, starting with an��informal “hey,” or displaying accusatory language.

“Research shows that people read emails more negatively than��intended, and therefore, communicating effectively in this medium��reduces ambiguity and negative perceptions,” Watters said. “The��students did a great job of improving the emails, and we hope��they will apply the guidance we shared to communicate with��professionals now and in the future.”

Program reinforces Augsburg’s mission,��commitment to students

The blend of practical knowledge and conceptual, creative��exploration reflects Augsburg’s care for and commitment to��student-athletes, and it supports community-building across teams��and among coaches, said Swenson. This year, the program added��a track for coaches that focused on situational leadership, social��media training, and a DiSC® behavioral assessment inventory.

“We’re not offering Auggie Compass to check off the ‘personal��development box,’” Swenson said. “The program was developed��by former collegiate players, thinking about what they wished��they would have known, so that our student-athletes can have��more tools to reach for as they strive for success.”

The creation and evolution of Auggie Compass embodies some��of the innovation, self-reflection, and grit the program aims��to instill. Anderson Diercks said organizers continue to have��conversations with student-athletes, alumni, and experts to align��sessions with players’ needs and to reflect the latest trends and��topics. As a former athlete turned furnace-filter-changing adult,��she knows greatness doesn’t come from perfection but from the��drive to keep playing until you get it right.

Top image [L to R]: At an Auggie Compass event, panelists Mike Gallagher ’12, Katie Jacobson ’11, and Dan Brandt ’11 spoke to students about the journey from college to their careers.

Photos by��Courtney Perry and Don Stoner.��

The post Winning the long game appeared first on Augsburg Now.

1961

Last year, First Lutheran Church in Red Wing, Minnesota, recognized Arlan Johnson ’61 for 50 years of service to its choir as a singer and director. While a student at Augsburg, Johnson played in the band for four years and sang in the choir for two years. He enjoyed tours with the band and choir in the Pacific Northwest, and in 1960 he participated in an extended Alaskan band trip to the Anchorage Music Festival. After graduating from Augsburg, he completed his education requirements, student taught at Braham (Minnesota) Area High School with Herman Aune ’50, and finished a second major in biology. Johnson taught band and vocal music in Stewart, Minnesota, and elementary, junior high, and middle school band in Red Wing until his retirement. He and his wife, Phyllis, continue to live in Red Wing.

1967 |��50-year reunion

Barb (Walen) Hanson ’67 became president of the Minnesota Golf Association at its annual meeting in November. She is the first woman to serve in this role. Since retiring from her teaching career, Hanson has been actively involved in the golf world, having served as president of the Minnesota Women’s Golf Association and president of Women in the Golf Industry. She also wrote an e-book titled, “Hit It, Alice! A Woman’s Golf Guide to Everything But the Swing.”

1968

[L to R]: This fall, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service President Linda Hartke met with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the Rev. Mark��Hanson ’68, former presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, at the LIRS Walk of Courage Award Gala. Albright and Hanson were honored at the event for their commitments to furthering equity for all people.

1969

Associate Professor of Chemistry after serving Augsburg since 1978.

1971

Darrell Skogen ’71 retired after teaching for 46 years. He spent the past 41 years at St. Michael-Albertville High School in Minnesota. Skogen is the longest-tenured employee in the history of the school district. He taught classes such as AP World History and AP U.S. History. Skogen continues to instruct part-time at the high school and records stats for its football program. He says that the school’s Class 5A football state championship victory in 2015 was the first in his 50 years walking the sidelines.

Bob Stacke ’71 received an award from the Somali Museum of Minnesota on the occasion of the museum’s third anniversary last October. Stacke has provided music and photography services to the museum since its inception.

1974

Dr. Subhashchandra “Pat” Patel ’74 and Annette (Hanson) Patel ’73 donated their dental clinics in Clarkfield and Cottonwood, Minnesota, to Open Door Health Center of Mankato. Open Door will run satellite dental clinics in the towns. Pat retired in June 2016.

1975

Auggies near and far

Last fall, metro-urban studies alumnus Mark Johnson ’75 invited Sociology Professor Tim Pippert to the remote country of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. The pair distributed solar lights donated by Johnson to villages on the island of Tanna, which in 2015 suffered widespread destruction due to Hurricane Pam. For Pippert, the trip was an adventure of a lifetime and an opportunity to observe the relationships Johnson has developed with local people over the course of several previous trips.

The connection between Johnson and Pippert was built, in part, through their involvement with Augsburg’s Torstenson Community Scholars program that supports undergraduate research. Since 2015, Johnson has funded research opportunities for Auggies engaged in the program, which is named in memory of Professor Joel Torstenson ’38, a founder of Augsburg’s Department of Sociology. This February, four Torstenson Scholars traveled with Pippert to North Dakota’s Bakken oilfield region to assess how residents have been impacted by oil exploration.

1976

Associate Professor of Music after teaching at Augsburg for more than two decades.

1977 |��40-year reunion

In August, Neil Paulson ’77 was elected state committeeman for the Republican Party in Orange County, Florida.

1978

[L to R]: Margaret Marx ’78, Margo Casey ’78, and Cathy (Kaiser) Bloomquist ’78, all members of the original second step Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Augsburg, continue their friendship today. The women gathered in Scandia, Minnesota, in September, and they share this photo as a reminder of the second step program’s impact on the nursing profession in Minnesota.

1979

Walter Ohrbom ’79 earned a doctorate in chemistry from North Dakota State University after graduating from Augsburg. He retired from BASF as a senior research associate with more than 120 U.S. patents. Over the years, he and his wife, Patricia, have traveled around the world to backpack, bike, canoe, and scuba dive.

In a new “Augsburg Now” story, Athletic Director between student athletes’ time on campus and leadership roles after graduation.

1983

Actor and performing arts educator Luverne Seifert ’83 won a $25,000 fellowship from the William and Eva Fox Foundation. He is part of a national cohort of artists supported by the foundation, which underwrites training and career development for performers. The support will enable Seifert to deeply explore his art and travel to France and Switzerland. In the past 25 years, he has acted at theaters in the Twin Cities and across the U.S.

1987

Pete Pfeffer ’87, who holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and his daughter, Maggie, served on a chiropractic and medical mission team in Kimana, Kenya. The team provided care and education to hundreds of Maasai villagers living in bomas and orphanages in an underserved area. Pete and his brother, Mike Pfeffer ’92, jointly own and serve as chiropractors for a HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehabilitation Clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota. In addition to private practice, Pete has taken on a national role with the HealthSource Corporation to provide training in technique and rehabilitation procedures for new franchises.

1988

Kiel Christianson ’88 was promoted to full professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he conducts research on language processing, reading, and bilingualism. He is associate chair of the department, as well as leader of the Educational Psychology Psycholinguistics Lab and co-chair of the Illinois Language and Literacy Initiative, both in the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology.

1990

In July, Karen Jean Reed ’90, a music therapy major, was honored with the President’s Award at the Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church Of God in Christ 50th State Women’s Convention, held in Palm Desert, California. She also was nominated for the 50 Women of Excellence honor for her exemplary service and outstanding achievement in music and administrative service in local, church, district, regional, and state positions. Reed has excelled in music as a gospel saxophonist and in women’s ministry. She was recognized for exemplary service by Barbara McCoo Lewis, the assistant general supervisor of the Church of God in Christ International. Reed serves as the assistant regional missionary for the Santa Barbara region and also works with youth. Professionally, she is a program director at the Department of State Hospitals-Coalinga, overseeing the treatment of sexually violent predators. She is the author of “Music is the Master Key.”

1991

Nancy Palmer ’91 joined the Minnesota Reading Corps September��Institute and tutors students in kindergarten through third grade.

1992 |��25-year reunion

Scott Peterson ’92 has accepted a call to be the pastor at Lutheran Church in the Foothills in La Cañada, California. After living in Canada for more than 17 years, Peterson has returned to the U.S. to continue ministry within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

1993

Chad Shilson ’93��is the Minnesota women’s wrestling director for USA Wrestling. He has completed his 100th marathon and qualified for his fourth Boston Marathon. Marathon running has taken him to 36 states, including 29 states in the past two years. A dedicated daily runner, Shilson has run at least one mile per day for more than six years.

1996

Stephanie Harms ’96��and Kristin (Young) Miller ’91 are helping change the nation’s response to vulnerable individuals and families through their work in the supportive housing movement. Both Auggies work at CSH, a national nonprofit organization that connects housing with services for vulnerable populations. Based in New York City, Miller leads a successful CSH program that assists communities throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Harms serves as chief operating officer and leads CSH’s communications, administrative, talent, and human resource efforts. CSH has ended veteran homelessness in several communities throughout the U.S., created more than 100,000 homes for individuals and families, and changed public systems to address the root conditions that create turmoil in the lives of vulnerable individuals and families.

1999

Peter Durow ’99 has been commissioned by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota for the 2018 ACDA-MN State 4-5-6 Girls’ Honor Choir. ACDA-MN has been committed to commissioning new choral works for all-state and honor choirs from Minnesota composers each year since 1975. Durow serves as visiting director of choral activities at St. Cloud State University.

2000

and research with intuition as a historic materials conservator.

2001

Mathematics and Statistics Instructor .

2002

JCI Minnesota (formerly Minnesota Jaycees) selected Katie Lindenfelser ’02, founder of Crescent Cove, as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans for 2016. The mission of Crescent Cove is to offer care and support to young people with a shortened life expectancy and their families. The vision of Crescent Cove is to build and operate the first residential children’s hospice and respite care home in the Midwest. Started in 1950, the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans honor is Minnesota’s only statewide recognition program for outstanding young leaders ages 18-40 who have devoted themselves to improving their communities. The program acknowledges the efforts and accomplishments of young adults who contribute to Minnesota through their service, thought and influence, community involvement, or entrepreneurship.

2003

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin ’03 published “In the Shadow of Green Man.” The book, published by Acres USA, chronicles Haslett-Marroquin’s upbringing in revolution-torn Guatemala and how he built his vision to develop a regenerative farming model that uplifts individuals and communities. Throughout the book, he shares the fable of the Green Man, a tiny and wise Guatemalan folk character whose stories teach the importance of respecting the natural world. Haslett-Marroquin is chief strategy officer for Main Street Project, based in Northfield, Minnesota. Haslett-Marroquin has served as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program’s Bureau for Latin America and as an advisor to the World Council of Indigenous People. He was a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation, and was Director of the Fair Trade Program for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy from 1995 to 1998. He also led the creation, strategic positioning, startup, and launch of Peace Coffee, a Minnesota-based fair-trade coffee company.

.

Paul Putt ’03, ’15 MAE and his wife, Katie, celebrated the birth of a son, Theodore Howard, in October.

Nick Rathmann ’03 and wife, Shannon, welcomed a daughter, Finley Grace, in November.

2005

Andrea (Carlson) Conway ’05 and Riley Conway ’05 welcomed a son, Soren Jon, in December. Soren is the grandson of Jon Carlson ’79 and great-grandson of Jeroy Carlson ’48.

Janeece (Adams) Oatman ’05, an Augsburg Alumni Board member, and Jim Gross, associate provost for academic innovation and strategic initiatives, were part of the Auggie team at the Rochester, Minnesota, Tour de Cure in October.

2006

Missy (Gaulke) Wilson ’06 completed her first Ragnar trail race and her third Ragnar overall race in September. She ran 15.2 miles on the Ragnar Trail Northwoods – WI in the Ragnar relay.

2007 | 10-year reunion

how to engage in difficult conversations.

Jenessa Payano Stark ’07 began a Master of Science in Nursing program at Yale University this past fall. She is studying in Yale’s Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. She received a prestigious National Health Service Corps Scholarship that pays her tuition and fees, and defrays her living expenses for three years in exchange for future service in an area with a shortage of health professionals.

2008

Healing waters

Jason Kusiak ’08 spends late winter and early spring long-lining for cod and haddock, and most of the year catching lobster. Fishing in long-established seaports near Gloucester, Massachusetts, gives Kusiak an appreciation for the area’s rich history and a healthy respect for those who made a living fishing the Atlantic in earlier times. “With fishing,” he said, “you can see the direct result of your work ethic.”

Today Kusiak recognizes that his entrepreneurial inclination was shaped by Assistant Professor of Business John Cerrito��and former staff member Peggy Cerrito, and that his drive for continual personal growth was influenced by his involvement in StepUP®, the College’s residential collegiate recovery community. While at Augsburg, Kusiak found that the College’s commitment to building strong community connections and emphasis on learning through experience resonated with him. He now seeks out opportunities to interact with new people, to give back, and to offer hope to individuals and families who struggle with substance abuse. He’s driven to invest in the future of his business and his community.

.

Chris Stedman ’08, an interfaith activist and author, is joining Augsburg this spring as a fellow serving the SaboCenter for Democracy and Citizenship where he will facilitate and build new community partnerships for non-religious and interfaith civic engagement. Stedman also will consult on the development of interfaith engagement programs at Augsburg.

2010

Beckie Jackson ’10 received a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching and is one of approximately 45 U.S. citizens traveling abroad through the program in 2016-17. In January, she headed to Botswana to spend five months conducting educational research. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential. Jackson teaches at Moose Lake High School in Moose Lake, Minnesota.

2011

Several Augsburg College alumni serve as tutors and coaches with Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps. Tutors pledge one year of service in schools to help children become proficient readers by the end of third grade and proficient in math by the end of eighth grade. [L to R]: Charmaine Bell ’11, Kathleen Abel ’76, Joaquin Vences ’16, Kacie Carlsted ’15, Christine Fankhanel ’02, Amy Riebs ’18 MAE, and Alicia (Oppelt) Musselman ’14.

Dan Skaarup ’11 and Casey (Ernst) Skaarup ’11 welcomed a daughter, Eowyn River, to the world in December.

Laura Schmidt ’11 and ������������Witte ’12 launched a nonprofit, spiritually based community called Intertwine Northeast. The group’s mission is to be “made and moved by story, convinced by compassion, always in process, and about questions, not answers.”

2012

Kathleen (Watson) Bradbury ’12 and Krissy Bradbury ’12 welcomed Peter Gene to their family.

.

2014

Composer and percussionist Zack Baltich ’14 was featured in the 2017 Cedar Commissions. Baltich’s piece “ingress/passage” used contact microphones and uncommon performance techniques on marimba, glass bottles, and other found objects. The Cedar Commissions(formerly the 416 Commissions) is a flagship program for emerging artists made possible with a grant from the Jerome Foundation and has showcased new work by more than 30 emerging composers and musicians.

Catherine Colsrud ’14 was one of 25 leaders who participated in the eighth cohort of the Native Nation Rebuilders Program sponsored by the Native Governance Center and the Bush Foundation. Representatives from 12 Native nations from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota were selected for the Rebuilders Program as a leadership component of a larger initiative to support tribes as they strengthen their governing capabilities. Colsrud serves the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe as the commissioner of administration, chief of staff, and acting commissioner of natural resources. Native Governance Center and Bush Foundation Rebuilders convened for four structured sessions during which they developed action plans to share knowledge with peers and their respective tribal governments.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Nursing Department Chair .

.

Rochelle Fischer ’14 MSW became a hospital administrator at Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center in January. For the past four years, she has been an assistant program director at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota, providing day-to-day operational and administrative leadership for persons with complex behavioral health symptoms.

Dan Klein ’15 MBA and Kaitlin (Astleford) Klein were married February 25 in Hollywood, Florida.

Nicole (Egly) Olson ’15 MBA and Mark Olson were married February 24 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

The post Class notes 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

---

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

The post Traveling with Auggies appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Helen M. (Anderson) Johnson ’40,��Hallock, Minnesota, age 96, on��September 4.

Eleanor C. (Christenson) Kline ’44,��Minneapolis, age 93, on May 31.

Marvin W. Johnson ’45,��Rochester, Minnesota, age 93,��on November 28.

Olav Overold ’45, Cando, North��Dakota, age 103, on January 23.

Bonnie J. (Sorem) Anderson ’46,��Cedar Falls, Iowa, age 92, on��December 7.

Delpha M. (Randklev) Berg ’47,��Grand Forks, North Dakota, age��91, on September 12.

Ray E. Gerlinger ’49, Overland��Park, Minnesota, age 93, on��December 4.

Theodore C. Nystuen ’49, Altoona,��Wisconsin, age 94, on January 19.

Lorraine G. V. (Lundh) Qual ’49,��Lisbon, North Dakota, age 93, on��October 4.

Joan L. (Sears) Ryden ’49, Cedar��Hill, Texas, age 91, on October 18.

Phebe D. (Dale) Hanson ’50,��Minneapolis, age 88, on��December 16.

Evelyn I. (Shelstad) Kriesel ’50,��Alamo, Texas, age 88, on��September 21.

Rhonda M. (Hektner) Lybeck ’50,��Fargo, North Dakota, age 88, on��January 29.

Daniel Nelson ’50, Spicer,��Minnesota, age 90, on��February 14.

Melvin E. Vigen ’50, Irving, Texas,��age 88, on September 26.

Arvild T. Jacobson ’51, Sun City,��Arizona, age 93, on November 26.

Donald H. Olson ’51, Henderson,��Nevada, age 87, on December 19.

Robert “Bob” R. Hage ’52,��Hector, Minnesota, age 88, on��December 16.

William “Bill” J. Kuross ’52,��Hopkins, Minnesota, age 87, on��January 31.

Charlotte M. (Kleven) Rimmereid ’52,��St. Paul, age 86, on December 29.

Roger V. Anderson ’53, Ottawa,��Ontario, age 86, on February 11.

Joan J. (Johnson) Kuder ’53,��Williams Bay, Wisconsin, age 86,��on December 19.

Harry E. Olson ’53, Apopka,��Florida, age 84, on October 7.

Nola E. (Bengtson) Studer ’53,��Bemidji, Minnesota, age 85, on��September 5.

Donna R. (Osland) Gaines ’54,��Laguna Hills, California, age 84,��on September 17.

Ruth M. (Pousi) Ollila ’54,��Minneapolis, age 84, on��February 14.

Betty J. (Dyrud) Oudal ’54,��Rochester, Minnesota, age 85, on��December 31.

Arlene V. (Tollefson) Paulson ’54,��Lake Oswego, Oregon, age 89, on��September 20.

Gary R. Rust ’54, Burnsville,��Minnesota, age 85, on October 12.

Robert “Bob” E. Twiton ’54,��Brainerd, Minnesota, age 84, on��February 26.

Theodore “Ted” S. Berkas ’56,��Minneapolis, age 88, on��January 15.

Sanford E. Egesdal ’56, Minneapolis,��age 82, on October 3.

Robert A. Roos ’56, Robbinsdale,��Minnesota, age 86, on��September 3.

Merlin J. White ’56, Fridley,��Minnesota, age 86, on��September 8.

Raymond Seaver ’57, Fergus��Falls, Minnesota, age 82, on��December 5.

Robert H. Gustafson ’59,��Cambridge, Minnesota, age 84,��on January 28.

John P. Martisen ’59, Minneapolis,��age 81, on August 30.

Lloyd H. Reichstadt ’59, Flagstaff,��Arizona, age 84, on November 21.

Paul C. Casperson ’60, Dallas,��Texas, age 77, on January 31.

Wayne R. Juntunen ’60, Esko,��Minnesota, age 83, on��December 5.

Karen O. (Egesdal) Trelstad ’61,��Red Wing, Minnesota, age 79, on��November 30.

Coralyn J. (Lunsted) Bryan ’62,��Minneapolis, age 77, on��October 25.

Clair A. Johannsen ’62,��Hagerstown, Maryland, age 79,��on February 10.

Paul W. Anderson ’63, Moorhead,��Minnesota, age 77, on January 31.

Gaylen K. Heggen ’63, Cottage��Grove, Minnesota, age 75, on��October 26.

Robert A. Fundingsland ’65,��St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age��73, on September 19.

Marie D. (Hafie) MacNally ’65,��Minneapolis, on November 7.

Dale H. Peterson ’69, Sapulpa,��Oklahoma, age 69, on��November 27.

Anita M. (Lindquist) King ’70,��Pella, Iowa, age 68, on��September 1.

Chuck S. Marsh ’73, Puyallup,��Washington, age 65, on��November 14.

Colleen M. (Brown) Olson ’74,��Shakopee, Minnesota, age 63, on��August 20.

Sheila M. (Conway) Kortuem ’84,��St. Peter, Minnesota, age 76, on��August 26.

Joshua B. Lerman ’08, Louisville,��Kentucky, age 33, on��November 18.

Angel G. Rodriguez ’15,��Minneapolis, age 25, on January 3.

Tyler G. Kotewa ’17, Fairmont,��Minnesota, age 25, on��December 7.

Mark A. DiCastri ’18, Minneapolis,��age 29, on February 27.

For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at .

The post In memoriam appeared first on Augsburg Now.

Louise and Regent��Emeritus Leland��“Lee” Sundet will��help Augsburg’s��Rochester site grow thanks to a generous��$1.5 million gift. The Rochester location��attracts more than 350 working professionals��to undergraduate and graduate programs in��business, education, health care, and nursing.

As longtime supporters of Augsburg,��including the Weekend College and Youth and��Family Ministry programs, the Sundets have��used their frugality to benefit others and to��raise the profile of Augsburg. Several years ago,��in an effort to better communicate Augsburg’s��identity locally, Sundet helped form a marketing��committee and was instrumental in choosing a��new logo with a cross embedded in the “A.” He��remains steadfast in his commitment to religion��and religious freedom as essential to��education.

In his 88 years, Lee has never lost��sight of the basics: thrift, generosity,��and faith.

“I also believe in old-fashioned��discipline—‘don’t spend it till you’ve earned��it,’” he said.

Lee learned these principles early, growing��up in Spring Grove, Minnesota, where most��Norwegian-American community members��attended the big Lutheran church. “My father��died when I was six months old, and my mother��was quite ill so she had to sell everything she��had to pay the bills. She got $7.43 a month,��and of that, 74 cents went to the church,” said��Lee, who has embraced tithing ever since.

A retired industrialist and manufacturer,��Lee owned several companies, including��Century Manufacturing, Goodall��Manufacturing, Britt Manufacturing, and��Fountain Industries. His business acumen��earned him such honors as Minnesota’s Small��Business Man of the Year and the University��of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement��Award. The couple has sponsored a business��scholarship at Augsburg since 1992.

Overall, the Sundets are impressed by the��potential of Augsburg’s programs in Rochester��and by the work of another community anchor,��Mayo Clinic, which the couple believes shares��their values.

“I have met people at Mayo who have gone��through the Augsburg program, and I’ve seen��what it’s done for them. It’s a wonderful thing,”��Lee said. “It wasn’t easy to get it started, but��it’s fun to look back on. Augsburg has come��a long way, and I would love to see it grow in��Rochester.”

The post A gift for Augsburg in Rochester appeared first on Augsburg Now.

1. We all get uncomfortable, yet we cannot let this feeling control us. Instead, we must face our fears and immerse ourselves in new experiences.
2. Sometimes saying “yes” is easier than we think. Don’t rattle off 20 excuses; jump in with an open mind.
3. Stop yourself from using the word “but.” Instead, use the reframing mindset of “yes-and” to add something positive to each situation you are in. Don’t use excuses to squash new ideas, possibilities, or adventures. Rather, embrace them.
4. Be intentional about your communication. Don’t just be there. Be awake, aware, and connected to the other people in the room.
5. Have gratitude for the chance to develop relationships, share ideas, and try new things. People who create authentic connections with others are often more successful than those who possess only technical skills.

The post Tips for the reluctant networker appeared first on Augsburg Now.

June 21 | 7 p.m.

Republic

420 SE 23rd Ave., Minneapolis

Meet for an alumni reception at��Republic from 4:30–6:30 p.m.��before taking the light rail to��TCF Bank Stadium for a game.

7 People. 7 Passions. 7 Minutes.

July 7 | 7–9 p.m.

Sisyphus Brewing

712 Ontario Ave. W., Minneapolis

Hear idea-stirring talks from��seven passionate Auggies.��$10 covers your first beverage��and light appetizers.

Auggie Night at Canterbury Park

July 21 | 5:30–7 p.m.

1100 Canterbury Road,��Shakopee, MN

$5 reservation covers a buffet��meal, $5 of Canterbury Currency,��and reserved seating.

Auggie Exclusive: Happy Hour Squared

September 5 | 5–7 p.m.

Brave New Workshop

824 Hennepin Ave.,��Minneapolis

Join alumnae business owners��Jenni Lilledahl ’87 and Jacquie��Berglund ’87 for a happy��hour with a purpose. Make��sandwiches for a good cause��and enjoy a FINNEGANS® as part of Augsburg’s annual City��Service Day.

For more information and registration,��visit augsburg.edu/alumni.

[Top image]: Auggie Night at Canterbury Park is open to��guests of all ages.

The post Summer alumni events appeared first on Augsburg Now.

As my second��year as Alumni��Board President��comes to a close, I��look back on the past��several months with��gratitude for what��the Alumni Board��has accomplished. We hope you have enjoyed��recent alumni events, both on campus and off.

At the start of my tenure, when I challenged��the Alumni Board to change, not a little, but��a lot, everyone stepped up to the plate and��went to work. Today the board maintains��more committees with fewer people on each,��operates with clearly defined goals for each��committee, and sustains a high level of��engagement. We’ve also partnered with staff��throughout the College to increase the board’s��effectiveness and relevance.

The Alumni Board continues to seek new��pathways to connect with students, whether��through mentoring, visiting classrooms, or��simply sharing tips on LinkedIn. Students��have said they enjoyed taking part in a��Homecoming lunch last fall where they had��the chance to share a table with distinguished��alumni who pursued similar fields of study.��We also held another successful Auggie��Networking Experience in February, and if you��couldn’t make it to campus, you’ll find some�� in another story in this issue.

In June, we transition board leadership. I’d��like to welcome Nick Rathmann ’03 as Alumni��Board President for the 2017-19 term. He��is full of energy, has a passion for Augsburg,��and is a dynamic leader with innovative ideas��to take the Alumni Board even further. He is��the athletic director at The Blake School, a��longtime supporter of Augsburg as a member��of the A-Club, and an all-around amazing��volunteer. The Alumni Board is in great hands��under his leadership.

I’d also like to recognize Greg Schnagl ’91,��who has led our Networking Committee for��the past two years. His passion for creating��meaningful connections between students and��alumni has helped make the Auggie Networking��Experience event bigger and better.

I recently moved away from the Twin Cities��for work, and I am so pleased to see alumni��events scheduled across the U.S. more often.��In the past two years, alumni gatherings��have occurred in Denver, Las Vegas, Raleigh,��Washington, D.C., and other cities. If you’re in��the Minneapolis area, we hope to see you at��some of this summer’s exciting alumni events!

Jill Watson ’10 MBA, Alumni Board President

The post Notes from the Alumni Board appeared first on Augsburg Now.