  {"id":13868,"date":"2025-09-16T20:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T20:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/?p=13868"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:04:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:04:14","slug":"a-student-for-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/2025\/09\/16\/a-student-for-students\/","title":{"rendered":"A student for students"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_13876\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13876\" style=\"width: 274px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13876\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Portrait.png\" alt=\"A man with dreadlocks sits on a bench, looking thoughtfully into the distance.\" width=\"274\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Portrait.png 500w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Portrait-768x960.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 274px) 100vw, 274px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13876\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Student Body President Stephen Nushann \u201927 (Photo by Courtney Perry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Stephen Nushann \u201927<\/strong> took his first tour of Augsburg through AVID, a college preparatory course offered through his high school. He had heard about Augsburg through family members and felt comfortable when he was on campus, noting the option for small classes while being in a big city. After discovering the Act Six scholarship, which provides full tuition, room, and board for up to seven incoming undergraduate students each year, he knew that applying to Augsburg was a no-brainer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI first met Stephen the summer after his high school senior year. He was a leader among his peers even then, going out of his way to engage and involve the other participants in the program he was attending,\u201d says <strong>Jeremy Myers<\/strong>, Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation and director of the Christensen Center for Vocation (CCV). \u201cAnd now, I see him stepping up and trying on new leadership roles as a junior in college, becoming the student body president with the continued intention of creating community and a sense of belonging for all of his peers. He is an incredibly selfless and self-aware leader.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>What made you decide to run for student body president?<\/h2>\n<p>I hadn\u2019t participated in student government before, so my immediate thought was \u201cno.\u201d Then I talked to my grandma\u2014I really love and respect my grandma\u2014about this opportunity. She really encouraged me to do it. My biggest fear was that I might not know enough and would make mistakes. She told me, \u201cYou\u2019ll be great,\u201d and reassured me that it\u2019s fine to make mistakes as long as I learn from them. That was all I needed to tell myself that I could do this and make a change on campus.<\/p>\n<h2>What are some of your goals as president this year?<\/h2>\n<p>I want to make sure that student government is seen on campus. As a freshman and sophomore, I didn\u2019t always know about student government and what they did. So I want the students to know us and know that we are here to represent them. We meet on Wednesday nights, and I want to encourage students to come to meetings. I want students to see me around campus and feel comfortable asking me questions.<\/p>\n<p>I want to think more intentionally about dining options around campus. It\u2019s such an important part of the student experience, and I think there are ways to improve the food and the experience for students. I\u2019d like to see more ethnic food on the menu, but even better if we can partner with community members to bring their recipes to campus.<\/p>\n<h2>What would you like other students to know about student government?<\/h2>\n<p>We are a group of students for students. We represent the student body. If or when students want to make a change on campus, we are here to listen to them.<\/p>\n<h2>What are you most excited about this year, both as president and as a student?<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_13877\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13877\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13877 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Opening-Convocation-320x192.png\" alt=\"A young man on stage with people in academic regalia. Flags are visible in the background.\" width=\"320\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Opening-Convocation-320x192.png 320w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Opening-Convocation-600x360.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13877\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nushann prepares to take the podium at Opening Convocation, August 2025. (Photo by Courtney Perry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As a student, I\u2019m most excited about getting involved with student government, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/campusministry\/\">Campus Ministry<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/business\/auggiecup\/\">Auggie Cup<\/a>, and other activities around campus. I\u2019m excited about these experiences, the people I\u2019ll meet, and the things I will learn.<\/p>\n<p>As president, I look forward to seeing results. Last year, student government supported the Environmental Stewardship Committee to give us the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DIPCXUcJdxR\/\">Leah Mobile<\/a> [the grounds crew\u2019s new electric utility cart named for former environmental student leader <strong>Leah Tift &#8217;25<\/strong>]. It took a lot of work to make that happen. I\u2019m excited to see more ideas and plans come to life.<\/p>\n<h2>How has Augsburg helped you to become the leader you are today?<\/h2>\n<p>I have a really, really good support system here at Augsburg, whether that\u2019s Campus Ministry, Act Six Scholars, <strong>Eve [Christensen]<\/strong> in Campus Life, and the CCV. I have people who are rooting for me to succeed and people who I can go to with questions and concerns. That support system has encouraged me to become the leader I am today.<\/p>\n<h2>What would you like the public to know about your experience here at Augsburg?<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_13879\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13879\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13879 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Campus-Ministry-320x192.png\" alt=\"A person smiling and receiving a cup in a room with beige chairs and arched windows.\" width=\"320\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Campus-Ministry-320x192.png 320w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/Stephen-Nushann-Campus-Ministry-600x360.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13879\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nushann lights a candle in Hoversten Chapel. (Photo by Courtney Perry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My Augsburg experience has been absolutely amazing. I could not imagine myself anywhere else. I have found my community here. Augsburg has been so welcoming, and I\u2019ve experienced so much learning and growth. The person I was two years ago when I came here to the person I am now is completely different. The people I\u2019ve encountered, the lessons I\u2019ve learned, the classes and professors\u2014it\u2019s all changed me to be a better person.<\/p>\n<h2>Quick Facts About Stephen<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Favorite people on campus: Pastor <strong>John [Rohde Schwehn]<\/strong>, Pastor <strong>Babette [Chatman &#8217;06]<\/strong>, Jeremy Myers, Eve Christensen<\/li>\n<li>Favorite campus event: Friendsgiving, Back to School Block Party, Taste of Augsburg<\/li>\n<li>Favorite food at The Commons: Sushi, spaghetti, and the cultural cuisines<\/li>\n<li>Favorite class: All of my religion classes and my class with <strong>Jeffrey Clement<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Top image: Stephen Nushann \u201927 wears many hats at Augsburg, including his active role within Campus Ministry. (Photo by Courtney Perry)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stephen Nushann \u201927 took his first tour of Augsburg through AVID, a college preparatory course offered through his high school. He had heard about Augsburg through family members and felt comfortable when he was on campus, noting the option for small classes while being in a big city. After discovering the Act Six scholarship, which <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":514,"featured_media":13878,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[240],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlight"],"wps_subtitle":"On the spot with Student Body President Stephen Nushann \u201927","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/514"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13868"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13918,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13868\/revisions\/13918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}