Ramassamy, an international student from Paris, was assigned to choose an object from Augsburg’s permanent collection of art and complete a research project resulting in a final paper, a speech, an installation, and a curatorial file.

“Augsburg expects us to discover things. We are encouraged to make deep connections with people, to find new ways to problem-solve, to make a difference.”����—Indra Ramassamy ’17

Ramassamy was drawn to a print by Nilda Getty called “Psychic,” one work in a five-piece series titled, “Life Series.”

“What drew me to this print was a sort of ‘motion’ around a white circular shape—to me, it represented the moon,” Ramassamy said. “We can see six female figures around the shape, but there is a possibility that these female figures might actually be one person at different moments.”

A little persistence goes a long way

In researching the piece, Ramassamy found that biographical information about the artist was limited. She was, however, able to locate and contact an art gallery where Getty had once exhibited. The art gallery contacted Getty about Ramassamy’s inquiry, and within a week, they were speaking regularly on the phone for Ramassamy’s project. A few weeks later, Getty and her son, Leslie, contacted Ramassamy and invited her to Colorado, offering to fly her out so she could complete her assignment.

Ramassamy gladly accepted. “It was about a lot more than the paper,” she said. “Through phone conversations and an exchange of emails, I had already made a connection with Nilda and was beyond excited to meet her.”

Leaving a lasting legacy

A few weeks later, Ramassamy was on a flight from Minneapolis to Fort Collins, Colorado, for a 48-hour stay. While there, Ramassamy toured Getty’s studio, met Getty’s family, learned how to use metalsmithing tools, and studied Getty’s artwork—from silk prints to photographs, metalwork to jewelry. She also visited Colorado State University where Getty taught metalsmithing in the Art Department.

When Ramassamy asked Getty about “Psychic,” Getty said the white circle represented both the world and the universe. But the artist also explained that it doesn’t matter what she thinks of the piece. What is important to Getty is the viewer’s experience with the art and the relationship formed with it.

Ramassamy was inspired by Getty’s work, by her outlook on art and life, and by her warmth and spirit. “One of the sweetest things was when Nilda told me her ‘greatest works of art are her children’—and she also asked me a lot about my own mom,” Ramassamy said. “I believe Nilda’s legacy will be what her children go out into the world and achieve.”

An Augsburg education is shaped by its global settings

Ramassamy is grateful to Augsburg for the whole experience. “There’s a culture at Augsburg to go the full extent—do as much as you can,” she said. “Augsburg expects us to discover things. We are encouraged to make deep connections with people, to find new ways to problem-solve, to make a difference.”

And that’s exactly what Ramassamy did.

Fun facts about Augsburg’s permanent collection of art

MOST FAMOUS?
Andy Warhol’s “Liz”

LARGEST?
Henry Lande’s minimalist sculpture, 24 Elements, stands outside between Urness Tower and Christensen Center at 33 feet tall.

BEST-TRAVELED?
A photograph of Gerda Mortensen vanished from Mortensen Hall (more than once) and reappeared at St. Olaf College.

MOST GENEROUS DONORS?
Don and Dagny Padilla, avid art collectors, who gave dozens of pieces to Augsburg’s permanent collection of art, including Nilda Getty’s “Psychic.”

AVAILABLE IN TWO SIZES?
Jakob Fjelde’s life-size marble bust of Augsburg’s third president, Sven Oftedal, and Fjelde’s small-scale plaster copy, a recent gift from Melinda and Jim Kohrt.

The post Taking research on the road appeared first on Augsburg Now.

With the campaign fundraising milestone achieved, the Augsburg College Board of Regents approved moving forward with the next stage of architectural and construction design for what will be the College’s state-of-the-art, signature academic building. Once that design work is completed, the Board will set a timeline for groundbreaking and construction.

The College already has begun the planning and preparation necessary to make the new building a reality. Examples of this collaborative effort include the following:

• A Board-designated project leadership team is selecting an architect who will work with the College to verify that the building meets the needs of academic programs in order to create detailed interior and exterior drawings.
• Augsburg readied the future site of the building by razing two existing houses on 21st Avenue South.
• Faculty members are using grant funds to design new, interdisciplinary courses and to revise existing classes to better integrate the science, business, and religion subject areas.

The post Onward. appeared first on Augsburg Now.

But I also realize that these achievements are made possible by an increasingly clear vision of our future that says we will be “a new kind of student-centered urban university, small to our students and big for the world.” And the fruit of our labors is made possible by our common efforts to live into this vision and our shared commitment to an Augsburg education that equips our students for lives of meaning, purpose, and significance in and for the world. That is what truly excites me about Augsburg’s future—a persuasive vision that proclaims our desire to be a college that is student-ready!

What do I mean by student-ready? I mean that we are turning 21st century higher education on its head by not focusing on whether students are “college-ready.” You’ve probably read and heard that phrase many times. Demanding that students are college-ready allows lots of smart people to claim that the responsibility belongs elsewhere when it comes to ensuring that students show up on our campuses prepared by someone else for what we think a higher education should look like. If students aren’t able to read or speak English as well as we would like, if their math skills are lacking, if they don’t participate in class like we once did, if they demand more of us because of difficult personal circumstances or diverse learning and leading styles, then they are not ready for college. In other words, if they don’t learn and behave like us, they are not college-ready.

So here comes Augsburg offering a different—even countercultural—vision of what higher education is all about today. And it is a vision grounded in our faith and academic heritage. It is a vision that claims we are called to be ready for students with the diverse gifts and experiences they bring to our campus, gifts and experiences that demand changes in how we engage them, teach them, and learn from them. It doesn’t mean that we lower our standards—that is the too-easy retort to our vision. It means that we define and claim even higher standards of academic excellence and achievement, of teaching and learning, of civic engagement and community life—standards shaped not by measures imposed from without, but by a collaborative and democratic measure borne of our shared experience and engagement.

And, come to find out, when you take the path of being student-ready, when you quit measuring by someone else’s standards, you begin to witness to a way of being in the world as educated people that others want to embrace. And students and faculty win major recognition, your campaigns are successful, and you are positioned to lead in the 21st century.

Wow, that is exciting and inspiring. I give thanks every day for a community that embraces this vision of a college that is student-ready and student-centered. A college that is faithful and relevant. Our college—Augsburg College!

—Paul C. Pribbenow, President

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1963

After serving as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Vista, California, since 1969, the Rev. Beryl Droegemueller retired in April. Over the course of his 45 years of shepherding the congregation, membership grew from 125 to more than 1,000. During those four decades, the church opened preschool, elementary school, middle school, and extended daycare programs. Droegemueller trained 37 pastoral interns through the church’s vicarage program and, in the early 1970s, worked with church members to develop a new mission church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran in Oceanside, California. He led Faith Lutheran through the construction of the sanctuary, a parish hall, an early childhood center, and offices. Together with members of the congregation, Droegemueller was instrumental in building a multi-level care retirement facility, now Rancho Vista retirement community, which was dedicated in 1981. When he talks about the projects and productivity, he points to his “very dedicated, creative, and hard-working members” and his staff. Along with his doctor of ministry degree, he earned a law degree, which he said was helpful in the many building projects. He assisted area churches with numerous legal challenges and served as circuit counselor and chairman of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod board of directors. The Minnesota native entered Concordia Lutheran Seminary after a year of working for a bank and following graduation from Augsburg with a double major in history and English.

Jean (Bagley) Humphrey married her husband, Roger, one week after graduation. Nancy (Bloomfield) Bottemiller and Ruth (Sather) Sorenson were her bridesmaids. The Humphreys moved to the Boston/Cambridge area where they lived in married student housing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and had their two children. After five years, they moved to California where Roger’s first job was with Chevron Oil. They lived in California for 38 years. Nine Bagley children attended Augsburg including Robert Bagley ’58, who went on to Luther Seminary, and Yvonne (Bagley) Olson ’52, who lived with Gerda Mortensen and married Orville Olson ’52.

1967

Jerilyn (Bjugstad) Wibbens is the choral director of the NW Nordic Ladies Chorus of Everett, Washington. The group recently performed with other Nordic choruses in a Seattle-area celebration of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. They sang “Finlandia” with the Seattle Symphony.

In May, Robert and Sandra (Syverts) ’68 Benson were grand marshals for Trout Days in Preston, Minnesota. The Bensons remain active in this community where Bob served as a county judge. Bob (now retired) is a certified firearms instructor and a retired fireman. Sandra is the founder of the Preston Farmers Market.

1970

Ray Hanson is working for Goldbelt Raven as an assistant program manager for chemical forensics at the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency. His role supports the Chemical and Biological Defense Directorate in Washington, D.C., which is developing forensic methods for detecting signatures for chemical threat agents.

1972

After more than 40 years of regional sales management and marketing for two Fortune 500 companies, James Piepenburg has retired and lives in the Phoenix metro area with his wife, Lucy. He has two great daughters, Krista and Jaime, along with son-in-law, Chris, and 12-year-old grandson, Nicolas. Currently, Piepenburg is doing part-time art consultation with Thomas Kinkade Art Gallery of Arizona.

John Sherman, sports editor of Sun Newspapers, has been inducted into the Minnesota State Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Sherman said he was truly honored to join the ranks of Stan Nelson ’43, Dave Nelson, Sid Hartman, Bronko Nagurski, and Ray Christensen in the Hall of Fame.

1978

Steve Hoffmeyer is interim general counsel and executive director of the new Minnesota Public Employment Relations Board. He also teaches business law classes at the University of Phoenix campus in Minnesota and arbitrates labor cases outside of the state.

1979

Phil Madsen and wife, Diane, moved into the fitness business, opening their first Anytime Fitness franchise gym in July 2014 in Port Orange, Florida. A second gym will follow in nearby New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Phil says, “This is a wonderful opportunity. The franchise business model is sound, we interact with members in truly personal and life-changing ways, and we get to improve our own health and fitness like never before.”

1982

Sandra (Walter) Holten, a music therapist who specializes in caring for people with Parkinson’s, was featured on Minnesota Public Radio in March for her work with Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota. She has a bachelor’s in music therapy and has done additional study at Colorado’s Center for Biomedical Research in Music.

Diane (Peterson) Kachel

1984

1988

Kiel Christianson is associate chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is an associate professor of educational psychology, psychology, and linguistics, and he directs the EdPsych Psycholinguistics Lab at the Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology. In his spare time, he is a senior writer for the Golf Channel websites, where he writes about golf, golf travel, golf courses, and golf equipment. He lives in Mahomet, Illinois, with his wife, Jen, and their two children.

1989

Leah (Parker) Maves graduated from Luther Seminary in May 2014 with a master’s in children, youth, and family ministry. She received her first call on December 22 to the Tomorrow River Lutheran Parish in Amherst and Nelsonville, Wisconsin. She was commissioned and installed on February 11 by Bishop Gerald Mansholt.
1991Stephanie (Grochow) Trump has been elected to serve as the choral vice president of the Minnesota Music Educators’ Association.

1992

Todd Lange was honored with the Albert Lea (Minnesota) Area Schools’ 2015 Teacher of the Year award. He teaches high school English.

Sharol (Dascher) Tyra is a professional certified coach and mentor for leadership development at Life Illumination Coaching. Tyra has been a mentor to Augsburg students since 2011. She will serve as president of the Minnesota charter chapter of the International Coach Federation, and she represented ICF Minnesota at four global leadership forums.

1998

Raylene Dale (Navara) Streed has been appointed executive director of the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank at the University of Minnesota. Streed has served in other leadership positions, including as interim executive director and technical director. Streed graduated from Augsburg with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

1999

Scott Hvistendahl manages the event department at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, where he is a member of the football coaching staff. He enjoys being involved with football and having a chance to work with fellow coaches in developing players in a Christian environment as well as helping them to grow as men on and off the field. Hvistendahl and his wife, Alisha, have two children: Macey and Jordan. The couple met through an Augsburg staff member who knew Scott from football and Alisha through athletic training.

2001

Maggie Tatton was among those named “40 Under 40” honorees by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. This honor includes young business and community leaders from throughout the Twin Cities. Tatton is partner at Lindquist & Vennum, P.L.L.P.

2002

Brent Peroutka was featured in the Faribault (Minnesota) Daily News as a “40 Under 40” honoree for his community achievements and career in finance. A financial advisor at Comprehensive Wealth Solutions. Peroutka holds a business administration/finance degree from Augsburg. The best part of his day is helping his clients achieve their goals, he says. “We can make a difference each and every day, whether it’s at home, at work, or in the community.

2005

2007

2008

Justin Reese has been named head football coach for Fridley (Minnesota) High School. A native of Houston, Texas, Reese earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education at Augsburg and went on to earn a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Minnesota. His vision for the Fridley football program is to inspire academic and athletic excellence in students by challenging them to achieve the highest level of personal development.

2010

Michael Polis was nominated for the “32 Under 32” awards. This honor was created in partnership with the Advertising Federation to recognize the top young Minnesota marketing and advertising professionals.

2011

Samantha Drost was appointed to the State Quality Council for a two-year term. The council works in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to help improve the lives of those with disabilities.

2012

Lauren Grafelman is the 2015 Business Administration Scholar Award recipient at Hamline University. This award is given to the university’s top MBA student based on academic performance and leadership within the program. Grafelman was honored with this award at a graduation and recognition reception in May.

2013

Mike Lanski is in a long-term position with U.S. Bank. He also has started his second season with the Minnesota Twins, working as an usher, and he is in his 10th year with the Minnesota Wild in the same capacity.

Madalyn Johnson is employed as a promotions assistant at 1500 ESPN Radio at Hubbard Broadcasting.

Matt McGinn ’13 talks coffee.

2014

Anika Clark ’14 discussed the research she conducted in Africa with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Janelle Holte was accepted into the U.S. Peace Corps and departed for Jamaica in March to serve as an agriculture extension volunteer. During the first three months of her service, Holte lived with a host family in Jamaica to learn the local language and integrate into the local culture. Holte will work with her community to identify resources and agriculture projects that can be developed and implemented to generate income. She also will facilitate training in farm management and work with schools to enhance and expand environmental education.

2015

Ben Menzies graduated in May and is about to begin a master’s program at the University of Minnesota in integrated behavioral health. He and Shira Bilinkoff are looking forward to their wedding in fall 2016.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL has taken a position with the University of Minnesota as lead of the Creative Services team in University Relations, the central marketing office. She works closely with the university’s brand.

Anna Coskran ’09 MBA has been named a principal of NTH, a Twin Cities real estate and project management firm where she has worked since 1998. With more than 15 years of real estate experience, she has worked with a diverse array of clients including The Minneapolis Foundation, the Star Tribune, and Xcel Energy.

Chris Wolf ’09 MAN was named chief nursing officer of a medical element of the Minnesota Air National Guard.

Jordan Moore ’12 MBA and his wife, Jen, became parents on March 27 with the birth of their daughter, Carla Jo.

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To honor his legacy, the majority of Ericksen’s gift will be designated to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Part of this gift will honor Ericksen’s faith and be directed to Christ Auditorium, the 80-seat classroom at the heart of the new building. In tribute to his love of music, a renovation to Sateren Auditorium and its lobby also will be named for Ericksen.

His gift was one of the largest estate gifts in Augsburg’s history. 

Remembering Auggies

These “In memoriam” listings include notifications received before May 20.

Ingeborg C. Garborg ’38, Grand Marais, Minnesota, age 94, on January 20.

Bernice A. (Westman) Giguere ’39, Columbia Heights, Minnesota, age 97, on April 26.

Karl I. Krohn ’41, Memphis, Tennessee, age 95, on February 7.

Thelma (Sydnes) Monson ’41, San Diego, age 95, on April 27.

Philip “Phil” W. Rowberg, Sr. ’41, Chico, California, age 95, on March 24.

Marion M. (Myrvik) Buska ’46, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, age 90, on January 18.

Willard “Bud” W. Glade ’49, Dows, Iowa, age 94, on March 1.

Georgette F. (Lanes) Ario ’50, Minneapolis, age 86, on January 17.

Irving R. Burling ’50, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 87, on April 16.

Bernice A. (Larson) Howell ’50, Beltsville, Maryland, age 89, on January 30.

Euna G. Nelson ’50, Evansville, Minnesota, age 86, on March 18.

Kerman J. Benson ’51, Victoria, Minnesota, age 85, on January 13.

John “Al” A. Johnson ’51, Maplewood, Minnesota, age 88, on January 7.

Raymond V. Trochmann ’51, Ulen, Minnesota, age 93, on March 29.

Elmer H. Hanson ’52, Elk Mound, Wisconsin, age 90, on February 24.

Karl D. Puterbaugh ’52, Eagan, Minnesota, age 86, on March 22.

Berton R. Hushagen ’53, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 87, on February 16.

Harold E. Peterson ’53, Bella Vista, Arkansas, age 89, on April 1.

Gloria M. (Parizek) Thorpe ’53, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, age 84, on May 5.

Lloyd A. Nelson ’54, Willmar, Minnesota, age 91, on January 27.

James S. Carlson ’55, Richfield, Minnesota, age 88, on October 12.

Lyle I. Hunter ’55, Cathedral City, California, age 85, on September 27.

Eileen M. (Wirkkunen) Thompson ’55, Astoria, Oregon, age 81, on January 23.

Laurayne R. (Helgerson) Solberg ’56, Stoughton, Wisconsin, age 91, on October 20.

Dennis H. Erickson ’58, Rochester, Minnesota, age 85, on March 10.

Lorents J. Flak ’58, Santa Rosa, California, age 83, on March 8.

Jon W. Matala ’58, Carver, Minnesota, age 78, on March 15.

Ronald “Ron” J. Stave ’58, Minneapolis, age 83, on March 7.

Nancy Bauman ’59, Rochester, Minnesota, age 78, on April 10.

James “Jim” A. Noble ’60, Grand Blanc, Michigan, age 76, on January 25.

Darwin G. Thorbeck ’60, Charleston, South Carolina, age 76, on January 26.

James F. Redeske ’61, Golden Valley, Minnesota, age 75, on February 16.

Kay L. (Hanenburg) Madson ’62, Minneapolis, age 74, on January 21.

Paul R. Engwall ’64, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 75, on May 14.

Wayne E. Myrvik ’64, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 72, on February 7.

Gary E. Utoft ’64, Owatonna, Minnesota, age 72, on February 23.

Kathryn “Kathy” A. (Lundby) Young ’64, Williamsburg, Virginia, age 72, on March 9.

Lowell H. Asplund ’65, Butterfield, Minnesota, age 73, on February 6.

Anita M. (Gransee) Christopherson ’65, Belle Plaine, Minnesota, age 71, on April 28.

Neil C. Sideen ’65, Howard Lake, Minnesota, age 71, on March 6.

Karen L. (Torkelson) Leverentz ’66, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 70, on February 7.

Richard “Rick” A. Niles ’67, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 69, on March 6.

Mary M. (Dolan) Peterson ’67, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, age 69, on March 25.

Russell E. Ilstrup ’68, Buffalo, Minnesota, age 70, on March 21.

Ronald A. Nilsson ’68, Wheaton, Illinois, age 69, on January 9.

Nancy E. Stevens ’68, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 68, on December 29.

Ronald L. Danckwart ’72, Lake City, Minnesota, age 64, on February 25.

James E. Ericksen ’72, Edina, Minnesota, age 68, on January 27.

Alan C. Kelsey ’73, St. Paul, age 63, on January 19.

Ronald “Ron” A. Hart ’75, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, age 62, on March 9.

Magdalen A. (Ardolf) Miller ’75, Silver Lake, Minnesota, age 91, on January 20.

Robert “Bob” A. Roberge ’77, Rochester, Minnesota, age 60, on March 7.

Eunice C. (Holmes) Johnson ’80, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, age 84, on February 28.

Lori L. (Johnson) Rosenkvist ’81, St. Paul, age 55, on March 25.

Timothy J. Beck ’83, St. Paul, age 53, on March 30.

Jeffrey T. Miller ’94, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 52, on January 29.

Alfred “Al” A. Drears ’11, St. Paul, age 51, on March 24.

Max D. Bassinson ’17, Minneapolis, age 23, on March 7.

Professor Emeritus Jerry Gerasimo, Menomonie, Wisconsin, age 84, on April 4.

Longtime staff member Irene Steenson, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 102, on April 18.

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 .

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The mission of the Young Alumni Council is to provide opportunities to engage young alumni through planning and hosting networking, fundraising, and volunteering events and programs.

In May, Auggies joined the Rev. Mike Matson ’06 and his congregation during an annual rummage sale at Bethany Lutheran Church in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. This summer the Young Alumni Council hosted a sold-out gathering at a St. Paul Saints game in June and an evening at Canterbury Park in July, bringing more than 600 Auggies together.

If you’ve graduated within the past 10 years and are interested in joining this growing group of active alumni, contact Katie Radford ’12, volunteer and alumni engagement manager, at radford@augsburg.edu.

Young Alumni Council member spotlight

Dan Brandt ’11 is employed at Best Buy as a category marketing lead in the mobile phones division. He joined the Young Alumni Council in 2014 because he’s passionate about connecting with the Augsburg community to help students succeed.

Eric Canter ’07 graduated with a bachelor’s in accounting and a minor in business administration. Today he works at RGA as an accountant. As a longtime member of the Young Alumni Council, he is excited for the opportunity to connect with alumni and current students.

Sherry (Dean) Lalim ’10, ’14 MAL earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and chose to go back to Augsburg for her master’s in leadership. She works as an investigation adjuster of claims at American Family Insurance and joined the Young Alumni Council in 2013.

Evan Decker ’12 works in information systems at Medica because his role combines two of his passions: business and technology. He joined the Young Alumni Council in 2015 because he wants to give back to the College and further develop his leadership skills.

Angela (McSherry) Ensrud ’09 has a bachelor’s in marketing and serves as an associate marketing manager at Best Buy. She is honored to be part of the Young Alumni Council and enjoys mentoring undergraduate students.

Lindsey Graff ’11 holds a bachelor’s in English with a minor in communication studies. Since graduating, she’s held various digital marketing positions in tech and consulting in the Twin Cities. A proud Augsburg Choir alumna, she is excited to be back on campus as a member of the Young Alumni Council.

Susie Higa Mechtel ’13 is a California native with degrees in communication studies and sociology. Since graduation, she has served in the AmeriCorps through College Possible and has worked for a small study abroad company. She is now looking to attend graduate school and is excited to find new and creative ways to engage young alumni.

Christina (McSherry) Johnson ’09 graduated with a bachelor’s in elementary education. She chose to pursue a career in business as a merchandise planning manager at Target Corporation. She joined the Young Alumni Council in 2012 because she enjoys interaction with undergraduate students and the mentorship opportunities the group offers.

Rosine Mina Johnson ’10 has a bachelor’s in political science and earned her master’s in public administration at Mankato State University in 2012. She works with the City of Edina and Richfield, as well as at CBS Radio. As a proud alumna, she is happy to be back.

Josh Krob ’08, ’15 MBA has a bachelor’s in business management and marketing and completed his MBA at Augsburg this year. He joined the Young Alumni Council in 2012 because he enjoys helping out fellow Auggies and looks forward to expanding their network in the community.

Chris McCollom ’13 studied history and played football for four years at Augsburg. He now serves in the office of development at Cretin-Derham Hall. He is passionate about making education affordable for students and hopes to further this mission by working at a college or university in the future.

Courtney Phillips ’13 has a bachelor’s in finance. Post-graduation, she has worked at Target Corporation and the Cedar Cultural Center. Recently, Phillips has found success as a model in Minneapolis. She finds great satisfaction being back on campus as a part of the Young Alumni Council.

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James E. Ericksen ’72, whose life was marked by his commitment to faith and passion for the arts, passed away in January at age 68, leaving Augsburg an unexpected and extraordinary bequest of more than $5 million.

To honor his legacy, the majority of Ericksen’s gift will be designated to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Part of this gift will honor Ericksen’s faith and be directed to Christ Auditorium, the 80-seat classroom at the heart of the new building. In tribute to his love of music, a renovation to Sateren Auditorium and its lobby also will be named for Ericksen.

His gift was one of the largest estate gifts in Augsburg’s history.

“We wish so much that we could have thanked him during his lifetime,” said Heather Riddle, vice president of Institutional Advancement.

Ericksen graduated from Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis in 1964 and enrolled at Augsburg College that fall. While still a student, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. Ericksen returned to Augsburg College after his service, finished his business administration degree with an emphasis in accounting, and graduated with the 139-member class of 1972.

A history minor, Ericksen later told Augsburg staff that Carl Chrislock, remembered as one of Minnesota’s preeminent U.S. historians and a professor emeritus of history at the College, was one of Ericksen’s favorites. He returned to Augsburg College several times over the years to attend concerts, particularly those for which his piano instructors served as accompanists.

A loyal public servant

After starting his career at Polaris, Ericksen worked as an auditor for the State of Minnesota Department of Revenue for 31 years before retiring in 2009. Along the way, he invested wisely and lived carefully.

“Nobody knew much about him, including his family,” said his cousin, Robert Quick. But they knew he loved history, travel, and classical music—especially symphonies.

In mid-life, Ericksen began piano lessons at MacPhail Center for Music, where he studied with Victoria and Dan Sabo for many years. Friend and piano instructor Janet Holdorf described Ericksen as “so sincere and ardent in his appreciation of music making.” He didn’t consider himself much of a musician, but he enjoyed learning and playing. His home was equipped with a large sound system and filled with carefully cared-for albums, many of them the symphonies he loved so much.

Ericksen traveled often, venturing to France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. He took long driving trips, eventually visiting nearly all 50 of the United States and taking time to explore each destination’s history. When he was at home in the Twin Cities, he attended Bible study at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

In his will, Ericksen remembered many family members, friends, and organizations dear to him.

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WEB EXTRA: Learn more about the College’s national tournament win on .

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Celebrating Lutheran heritage in Germany and the Czech Republic

Mark Tranvik and Hans Wiersma, Religion Department faculty members, host this journey through Germany and the city of Prague October 27-November 6, 2016, celebrating Lutheran heritage in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Cultural immersion in Thailand and Cambodia

English Professor Kathy Swanson, who is fluent in Thai, will lead this exploration through Thailand and Cambodia January 3-15, 2017. This voyage takes travelers to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha), and floating markets. It continues to Chiang Mai for elephant rides, an authentic cooking class, and volunteer work at a local orphanage. The journey concludes in Siem Reap at Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.

WEB EXTRA: To learn about Augsburg cultural travel opportunities, contact Sally Daniels Herron ’79 at herron@augsburg.edu.

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