![\"Augsburg](\"http:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/05\/150-Year-Art-Mark_Web-1.png\")
<\/a>You are a co-chair of the sesquicentennial committee. What do you hope this milestone will do for Augsburg?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nI hope that it gives us a moment in time to understand our past, mark where we are now, and look forward. It\u2019s an opportunity for us to appreciate those who came before us, what we\u2019re doing in the present, and those who will inevitably follow after us.<\/p>\n
What does this occasion mean to you as both an alumna and a faculty member?<\/strong><\/p>\n In our costume shop, there are boxes and boxes that say things like \u201csummer hats.\u201d Those labels were handwritten by my professor, Ailene Cole, the former chair of the theater department, before she retired in her 80s. When I\u2019m in the costume shop and see her handwriting, I\u2019m reminded of her and what she did for me and all her students. That inspires me to do the same for my students. As a former chair myself, now, I am part of a legacy, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. I\u2019m aware that all of us, chairs and faculty, are so privileged to be able to create an atmosphere where our students can thrive as artists. I keep the past with me as I try to carve out paths for the future with my students.<\/p>\n How are faculty members going to be involved in marking this significant moment in the life of the institution?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m very grateful that we were able to make resources available for faculty to create scholarly projects that reflect sesquicentennial themes. The support opens the door for these scholarly projects, whether they be permanent works or ephemeral experiences, to be installed or occur during our yearlong celebration. They will honor and mark the 150th anniversary and also give faculty the opportunity to expand the good work they do, which is ultimately to support our students.<\/p>\n I understand that the number of proposals for faculty sesquicentennial projects exceeded your expectations. What does that enthusiasm say to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n It was amazing to get all the proposals for such thoughtful projects. It goes to show you that we faculty members all have in us, no matter how busy our days can sometimes be, a great love for this institution.<\/p>\n What kinds of projects are faculty members working on, and what are they trying to achieve?<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s so much incredible work being done, but I\u2019ll offer a few examples to give you an idea of the scope of the effort.<\/p>\n Sonja Thompson<\/strong><\/a>, assistant professor of music, is working on an original musical\u2014with original music\u2014about Augsburg, embracing both the rocky and exceptional moments in our history. Her team is interviewing as many people as possible and conducting story circles where students, staff, alumni, and friends can share their Augsburg experiences to inform the production.<\/p>\n