Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Index

Public Safety and Facilities Announcements

Teaching and Learning

Announcing the Strommen Center Faculty Fellows

submitted by musto@augsburg.edu

We’re excited to announce the six faculty members who will be joining us in January for the Faculty Fellowship. These faculty members were nominated by the school directors, department chairs, and their colleagues across campus. Please congratulate them and keep an eye out for Days in May when our fellows will be presenting their work!

The fellows are:
Gabriella Amberchan; Chemistry
Nimanthi Atukorala; Computer Science and Data Science
Jeffery Clement; MIS
Kaamil Haider; Art & Design
Melissa Hensley; Social Work
Amy Nelson; Nursing
Shayna Sheinfeld; Religion

Faculty accepted but unable to join this cohort:
Mallory Alekna; Music, Human Development, and Learning

Learn more about the Strommen Faculty Fellowship

Come to the Writing Center for Final Papers

submitted by mollberg@augsburg.edu

The writing center is here to help you with all of writing needs for final papers and projects. We are open Wednesday and Thursday this week 5-8pm (in-person only). We will close for the semester on December 19th.

We are located across from Advising on the second floor of the library.

At the Writing Center, trained peer tutors work with writers at all levels and in all disciplines. Whether you are just beginning an assignment and need help generating ideas, in the middle of a draft and looking for feedback on structure or clarity, or polishing a final version before submitting, our tutors are here to help. They can also support you in developing stronger arguments, refining your style, citing sources, and building effective revision strategies.

You can bring in any kind of writing project—course essays, research papers, lab reports, resumes, personal statements, creative pieces, or even application materials. No matter the stage of the process or the type of writing, tutors provide constructive, supportive feedback that is focused on helping you grow as a writer.

General Announcements

Submit a Nomination for SEED Coalition Civic and Community Engagement Awards

submitted by finka2@augsburg.edu

The SEED Coalition issues annual awards for community and civic engaged students, educators, and community partners. The Sabo Center is soliciting nominations for the following awards:

Student Civic Leadership Award (student): Recognizes a student or group who model civic responsibility and leadership through initiative, collaboration, and community building, integrating civic engagement into their college experience.

Civic Educator Award (staff or faculty): Recognizes a faculty or staff member who models civic responsibility by supporting students’ civic development and strengthening a culture of engagement on campus through their teaching, mentorship, or leadership.

Community Partner Award (community partner): Recognizes a community-based partner or organization that enriches both educational and community outcomes through sustained, reciprocal partnerships with a college or university.

Community Collaboration Award (student, staff, faculty, department, or community partner): Recognizes a project or initiative co-created by campus and community partners that showcases meaningful collaboration and exemplifies the campus’s civic and community engagement, contributing to both student learning and community well-being.

Individuals can self-nominate or be nominated by another person.

Nominations due February 1st, 2025.

Award Nomination Form

Invitation to Participate in Research: Tinder Use and Mental Health Outcomes

submitted by bloyere@augsburg.edu

My name is Evan Bloyer, and I am a graduate student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program here at Augsburg University. My clinical research project is understanding how Tinder use impacts mental health outcomes, particularly self-esteem and body esteem. I have received Augsburg University’s IRB approval and am able to collect data from eligible participants. To participate, please click on the link below. Email me at bloyere@augsburg.edu for any questions or concerns. If you participate, you will be eligible for a raffle for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards.

Mental Health Survey

TRIO Student Support Services Accepting Applications for Spring 2026

submitted by rodrig@augsburg.edu

TRIO/SSS is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the Spring 2026 semester.

All Augsburg TRIO/SSS participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents or refugees pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. Participants must be incoming or currently enrolled Augsburg students. All program participants must demonstrate academic need for program services and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Low-income student: a student whose family meets federal income eligibility guidelines, as verified by Augsburg.

• First-generation college student: a student where neither custodial parent/guardian has graduated from a four-year institution at the time of the student’s enrollment in the TRIO/SSS program.

• College student with documented disability, as verified by the CLASS office.

Students must also have a commitment to their college success. Applications will be available until January 15, or until the program is full. Space is limited. Priority will be given to first year students and transfer students.

Questions? Email triosss@augsburg.edu or stop by our office in LIN 201

TRIO Student Support Services Website

Be a Part of New Disability Advocacy in Action Course This Spring

submitted by mcgillik@augsburg.edu

Are you passionate about disability advocacy? Want to learn about disability history and gain skills in dismantling systemic ableism? Consider a course being offered for the first time this spring. EDC 488 / Topics Course: Disability Advocacy in Action (3 credits) Course Description: This hands-on course is designed to support students as they engage in leadership, reflection, and systems-change work grounded in disability justice. Students will explore both historical and contemporary movements shaping disability advocacy while developing their own advocacy frameworks. They will have the opportunity to design community-based projects that promote inclusion and accessibility. Through a combination of seminars, mentorship, and reflective practice, students will connect theory to action, gaining valuable skills in collaboration, public communication, and policy awareness. This course is open to all students interested in disability studies, education, or social justice. Email mcgillik@augsburg.edu with questions.

Inspiring Stories from Faculty and Staff

submitted by myers@augsburg.edu

A couple times a month we gather in the chapel at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays to hear a member of our community share a story about how they thrive, find meaning, and work for a better world. These are the How We Thrive talks, formally know as vocation chapels.

Below you will find a link to the talks that were given this fall semester. All of these were beautiful stories of hope, challenges, perseverance, and healing. If you are need of some inspiration, I encourage you to take a listen. These were our speakers:

Eve Christensen, September 24th.
Amy Cooper, October 22nd.
Yacoub Aljaffery, November 12th
Vanessa Marr, December 3rd

How We Thrive – Fall 2025

Call for Proposals: Sabo Community Changemakers and East Phillips Neighborhood Institute Projects

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Over the last two months, the Sabo Center has hosted our inaugural Community Changemakers collaborators, the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute, for six talks and three workshops. We’re now inviting proposals from our campus community, including students, staff, and faculty, for collaborative projects with EPNI in the spring semester. Sabo Center staff will lead this work and provide support.

These projects work to build relationships with EPNI staff to share their knowledge and experience, and to provide experiential and community engaged learning experiences for our campus communities. Proposals may be organized around an event, course development, lesson plan, campus project or whatever else you might imagine.

Some examples for potential projects might include:

→ connecting a student group or class to work with Forest Hunt to revitalize the Indigenous Student Plot in the Community Garden
→ bringing Sean Lim to your class or student organization to collaboratively plan and complete an art project (banner, screen prints, stickers, buttons) around an issue or event
→ invite Kieran Morris to class to talk about the uses and importance of community gardens and urban farms for building and sustaining communities
→ work with EPNI and Sabo Staff to develop a new course or lesson plan

Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 2nd. Please submit your proposal using the short Google Form linked below or email Jenean Gilmer to discuss your ideas. Reach out with any questions or concerns to gilmerje@augsburg.edu.

Google Form for project proposals: https://forms.gle/iTzetmGn6bjQEpiu5

Read more about the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (https://linktr.ee/epnifarm) and Community Changemakers (https://www.augsburg.edu/sabo/community-changemakers/).

Supporting Cedar-Riverside and the Twin Cities

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Please fill out this short Google (https://forms.gle/ERKpZ9voyvVYjrPJ8) to let us know your interest and availability to provide support for community members on campus and in our neighborhood. This is a mutual aid project led by the Sabo Center at Augsburg University. The Sabo Center is in relationship with organizational partners in Cedar-Riverside and works to connect our campus to the neighborhoods we’re a part of to provide learning opportunities and meaningful support to our partners.

TWIN CITIES AND OUTER RING SUBURBS: A coalition of groups has created this volunteer form which offers a bunch of ways to get involved, from delivering groceries to offering rides to ICE Watch to translation services and much more:
https://defend612.com/

MINNEAPOLIS: Donate to Senator Zaynab Mohamed’s Food Drive: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6oLQ_YltXc7R7UFNsoVuq8yq5AcP7UxGJy6y0hCc-ShX28w/viewform

LAKEVILLE: Drop off goods or donate to a church that is organizing food drop offs for ICE-affected folks. Ways to help in Lakeville:
– Drop off protein-focused donations in Lakeville (DM @kidspluscoffee for the address) – – Send a contribution via Venmo: Taylor-Durry (Every penny will be used to buy protein and essential items and receipts will be posted on @kidspluscoffee Instagram)

PRIOR LAKE: Donate to fundraisers for communities affected by ICE, like this one for a mosque that burned down in Prior Lake: https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/respond_masjid_hamza_school_fire

Please reach out to Jenean Gilmer, gilmerje@augsburg.edu with any questions or concerns.

New Staff Positions This Week (2)

submitted by hr@augsburg.edu

The following Augsburg Staff positions were posted within the past 7 days:

12/15/2025: Senior Administrative Coordinator, Institutional Advancement
https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/AugsburgUniversity-MinneapolisMN/744000098969195-senior-administrative-coordinator-institutional-advancement-
12/15/2025: Evening Public Safety Officer
https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/AugsburgUniversity-MinneapolisMN/744000098967460-evening-public-safety-officer

Search Augsburg Job Postings

Event Announcements

Faculty and Staff Holiday Party TOMORROW

submitted by bergc2@augsburg.edu

Faculty and Staff Holiday Party
Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 3–5 p.m.
Hoversten Chapel | Foss Center

You are invited to attend the annual faculty and staff holiday party! Celebrate the completion of a successful semester and the holiday season with colleagues on campus. Light food and beverages will be provided.

If you need accommodations, please call the University Events department at 612.330.1104 or email events@augsburg.edu.

To support our community, please consider bringing nonperishable food or hygiene product donations for Campus Cupboard. A list of preferred/needed items is linked below.

Suggestions for donations to Campus Cupboard

Filming a Video to Help Protect Free Speech

submitted by combell@augsburg.edu

I will be making a simple video as part of a national campaign by Jewish Voice for Peace against the suppression of free speech on campus. I’m inviting anyone on campus who wants to join me. You could stand with me in the video, or just help with filming and logistics.

Professors are encouraged to make these videos to practice using free speech as a form of resistance. I’m in contact with the organizer of the campaign, Jonah Rubin of JVP, and he is offering some suggestions to make the video more effective.

I will be making short, simple statements against the suppression of free speech on college campuses across the US.

The filming will take place at 3PM this Thursday, December 18, in Murphy Square. Feel free to contact me at combell@augsburg.edu with any questions. I will be giving out “Know Your Rights” cards to anyone who wants them.

Open Mic Night Thursday

submitted by starckl@augsburg.edu

Come mark the end of finals week with a warm and cozy evening of stories and poetry. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome to share their work, or simply to listen. (Participants will be limited to five minutes at most, so be sure to time yourself when practicing!)

We’ll be in Foss Theater at 5pm on Thursday, 12/18. There will be snacks!

Sign up here!

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