Augsburg University News and Announcements
submitted by hensleym@augsburg.edu
Dr. Melissa Hensley, associate professor of social work, and Christine Dawson, Augsburg MSW alumna, co-authored an article that appears in the April, 2017 issue of the journal “Social Work.” The article is entitled “Social Workers and Self-Help Services: Forging Positive Relationships.”
submitted by truem@augsburg.edu
Augsburg Campus Kitchen wins National Napalitos award!
Nopalitos are the flat stems or paddles of the prickly pear cactus, and were the most unfamiliar ingredient that a Campus Kitchen has ever received and used successfully. This award goes to the Campus Kitchen leader who never faltered in the face of adversity and instead rose to every challenge and took every difficulty in stride.
“We never cease to be amazed by the hard work and creativity that Campus Kitchen leaders invest in their work. Last month at the Augsburg Campus Kitchen, the College’s main dining hall kitchen–where the students prepare meals–had a small fire. As a result, they did not receive food donations, nor did they have space on campus to cook. They called on their connections in the neighborhood and reached out to other campuses, and were able to get food donated once per week from a neighboring university, and use the kitchen at one of their client agencies. The shift leaders and volunteers did an incredible job getting food safely to the new cooking space, and turning it into delicious meals so that their service to their clients could go on. Through the process, they even made new partnerships for food sourcing that they plan to continue after they return to their regular routine. At a time when it would have been easy to give up, they overcame an unexpected difficulty with grace and a focus on providing uninterrupted service to those who depend on them.”
submitted by grewe@augsburg.edu
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2016-2017 Augsburg Leadership Awards:
STUDENT LEADERS
Linda Schrempp Alberg Endowed Leadership Award: Chung Lip
Student Leader of the Year: Marquell Moorer
Dean of Students Award: Grace Corbin, Kitana Holland, Malick Ceesay, Preenon Huq
Emerging Leader of the Year: Anne Liners
Civic Engagement Award: Karl Hahn
Peer Education Award: Bashiru Kormah
Social Justice Award: Sammy Coy
Outstanding First-Year Student of the Year: Mayli Camposeco
Outstanding Sophomore Student of the Year: Brandon Williams, Chad Berryman, Destyn Land
Outstanding Junior Student of the Year: Abe Johnson, Erika Idrovo-Cuesta, Francesca Chiari
Outstanding Senior Student of the Year: Amy Xiong, Karen Thao, Rachel Frantz, Winnie Godi
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Student Organization of the Year: Augsburg’s Sexual Misconduct-Awareness Raising Team
New Student Organization of the Year: Queer Indigenous and People of Color
Auggie Spirit Award (TIE): Augsburg Student Activities Council, International Student Organization
Civic Engagement Award: Augsburg Asian Student Association
Innovations in Programming Award: Pan-Afrikan Student Union
Social Justice Award: Hmong Women Together
submitted by kilgorem@augsburg.edu
In addition to being named a member of the Higher Learning Commission’s Institutional Actions Council, a decision-making body of experienced peer reviewers and team chairs, Kathryn Swanson (English) will be an invited presenter at two workshop sessions the HLC Annual Meeting in Chicago. With HLC staff, she will present information for institutions on the Standard, AQIP and Open Pathways, as well as those in candidacy. Swanson’s focus will be Criterion 4, the central locus for an institution’s assurance argument regarding the use of Assessment.
submitted by schield@augsburg.edu
Milo Schield, Professor in Business Administration, has been invited to talk on Statistical Literacy at the Field Institute MathEd Forum in Toronto on April 29. This forum is sponsored by the Center for Mathematics Education (CME). Milo’s work builds on the grant Augsburg received from the W. M. Keck Foundation. The goal of this grant was “to develop statistical literacy as an interdisciplinary curriculum in the liberal arts.”
submitted by shafer@augsburg.edu
Vision Bagonza (’17, biology major, chemistry minor, honors program) has been selected to participate in the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting taking place in late June in Lindau, Germany. Only the 400 most qualified young scientists are selected for this opportunity, described on the web site as: “Once every year, 30 to 40 Nobel Laureates convene at Lindau to meet the next generation of leading scientists: undergraduates, PhD students, and post-doc researchers from all over the world. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings foster the exchange between scientists of different generations, cultures, and disciplines.” Vision was nominated for the honor by Augsburg’s Nobel Laureate, Dr. Peter Agre. In the past Dr. Agre nominated two other Augsburg students, Brian Krohn and Kirubel Gezejegn, who both received the award.
Throughout her undergraduate career, Vision has engaged in multiple research experiences, including the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Mayo Clinic Biomedical Ethics, and several years in Dr. Ben Stottrup’s biophysics lab. Her first summer research experience was funded by donor and board member Dean Sundquist. Congratulations, Vision.
submitted by garvey@augsburg.edu
The College appointed Patrice Salmeri to the donor-endowed position of Executive Director for Recovery Advancement to bring to fruition the strategic priorities of the StepUP Advisory Board and College. In her new role, effective June 2017, Salmeri will work to:
Reduce stigma associated with substance use disorder recovery by advising on and shaping policy issues.
Advise the Augsburg College president on issues and resources related to support for student recovery.
Support and inspire other colleges and universities across the nation to provide recovery programs modeled after Augsburg’s successful StepUP Program.
Develop and pilot programs for students who have graduated from or left the StepUP Program but still have coursework to complete.
Work with StepUP Program alumni and connect soon-to-graduate students with program alumni.
A search is underway to fill the position of Director of StepUP, previously held by Salmeri.
About Patrice Salmeri: The StepUP Program director since 2002, Salmeri has led StepUP Program growth from 30 students per year to over 100. Salmeri is recognized nationally as a leader and champion of recovery, is an expert on residential collegiate recovery, and is a sought-out national speaker on substance use disorder issues related to young people.
submitted by shafer@augsburg.edu
Keneeshia Williams (’03 graduate in biology and chemistry) has accepted the position of Assistant Professor at Emory University/ Trauma-Critical Care Surgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. While at Augsburg Keneeshia conducted aquarium research with Dr. Bill Capman as a McNair Scholar and was an M. Anita Hawthorne Leadership Scholar. She earned her Doctorate of Medicine from University of Illinois at Peoria, spent two years at Loyola University in the NIH training program in trauma and burn research and four years in a General Surgery Residence at Mount Sinai Hospital. She currently is a Surgical Critical Care/Acute Care Surgery Fellow at the University of Arizona (working alongside the surgeon who served congresswoman Gabriel Giffords). Prior to starting medical school Keneeshia was set on a career in pediatrics or family medicine, until she had her first surgical rotation. Two years ago she visited Augsburg and inspired a new round of Augsburg health care professionals with her stories, advice and achievements.
submitted by hansonjl@augsburg.edu
It’s my pleasure to announce that 4 student films have been nominated for the Student Crystal Pillar Award from the Upper Midwest Emmy® Chapter. This award is sponsored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
The award ceremony will take place Friday, March 31st and the Crown Plaza Aire MSP Airport/Mall of America. The ceremony recognizes excellence in media production for high school and college/university students within the NATAS – Upper Midwest Region (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa & western Wisconsin.)
For a complete list of nominees, visit: http://midwestemmys.org/20170302/2017-college-student-tv-award-nominees/
Our Fantastic Four:
“A Purposeful Jar” – Fiction
Joel Myers, Director
Grace Berg, Casting Director
Lauren Tabor, Screenwriter
Luke Mickelson, Audio Recordist/Boom Operator
Mark Lukitsch, Editor
“Don’t Let Go of the Rope” – Non-Fiction
Elle Abeler, Producer
Lukas Olson, Camera
Winston Heckt, Camera
Iain Hood, Camera/Editor
Joel Myers, Camera/Editor
Abby Tilford, Producer
“MIA” – Public Affairs/Community Service
Michaela Stein, Writer/Director/Editor/Camera
Yuri Garcia-Pena, Producer
Marin Genevois, Assistant Director/Assistant Camera
Ricardo Cortes, Assistant Director/Assistant Camera
“Interface” – Animation
Jake Moore, Producer
submitted by garvey@augsburg.edu
The College appointed Patrice Salmeri to the donor-endowed position as Executive Director for Recovery Advancement to bring to fruition the strategic priorities of the StepUP Advisory Board and College. In her new role, effective June 2017, Salmeri will work to:
A search is underway to fill the position of Director of StepUP, previously held by Salmeri.
About Patrice Salmeri: The StepUP Program director since 2002, Salmeri has led StepUP Program growth from 30 students per year to over 100. Salmeri is recognized nationally as a leader and champion of recovery, is an expert on residential collegiate recovery, and is a sought-out national speaker on substance use disorder issues related to young people.
submitted by liddle@augsburg.edu
Kathryn Swanson, Professor of English, has received notice from the Higher Learning Commission that HLC staff recommended and the HLC Board of Trustees officially approved her appointment to the Institutional Action Council (IAC) for a four-year term beginning September 1, 2017. The IAC is the HLC body that reviews reports submitted by accreditation team chairs following site visits to colleges and universities seeking accreditation or reaccreditation.
submitted by ricomem@augsburg.edu
Augsburg’s annual Zyzzogeton Research Symposium showcases the work of over 80 undergraduate researchers in all academic disciplines and will take place on April 12th. Students who have conducted research over the course of the last year and would like to present a poster should register at the URGO website (www.augsburg.edu/urgo) by March 1st.
For questions about registration or the event, please contact Lara Crombie (crombie@augsburg.edu).
submitted by garvey@augsburg.edu
Katie Lane, Disability Specialist, Center for Learning and Accessible Student Services (CLASS) Office, presented on the Law and Disability to the Master of Arts in Leadership in Student Affairs class. Katie’s presentation covered ADA and reasonable accommodations.
submitted by shafer@augsburg.edu
URGO is proud to announce that 7 Augsburg students/alums have been selected as Fulbright semi-finalists to the following countries: South Korea, Bulgaria (2 students), Czech Republic, Peru, Turkey, and Malaysia. The semi-finalist distinction means these applicants will be forwarded on to their host countries for further consideration. The U.S. Fulbright Commission typically sends twice the number of applicants as there are available positions to the host countries. Throughout the spring, host countries notify semi-finalists as to whether or not they have been selected as finalists. Being named a semi-finalist is considered a high level of achievement in an increasingly competitive landscape.
In addition to congratulating the semi-finalists, URGO wants to commend all students who applied for Fulbright as they worked equally diligently on their applications. We also want to thank the many faculty and staff interview panels as well as all letter writers who help provide a three-dimensional portrait of our Fulbright nominees.
Students: Please contact shafer@augsburg.edu if you have an interest in applying for, or simply learning more about, the Fulbright experience and application process.
Faculty: Please refer current students or alumni who you think might make solid candidates to shafer@augsburg.edu.
submitted by shafer@augsburg.edu
URGO is proud to announce that 7 Augsburg students/alums have been selected as Fulbright semi-finalists to the following countries: South Korea, Bulgaria (2 students), Czech Republic, Peru, Turkey, and Malaysia. The semi-finalist distinction means these applicants will be forwarded on to their host countries for further consideration. The U.S. Fulbright Commission typically sends twice the number of applicants as there are available positions to the host countries. Throughout the spring, host countries notify semi-finalists as to whether or not they have been selected as finalists. Being named a semi-finalist is considered a high level of achievement in an increasingly competitive landscape.
In addition to congratulating the semi-finalists, URGO wants to commend all students who applied for Fulbright as they worked equally diligently on their applications. We also want to thank the many faculty and staff interview panels as well as all letter writers who help provide a three-dimensional portrait of our Fulbright nominees.
Students: Please contact shafer@augsburg.edu if you have an interest in applying for, or simply learning more about the Fulbright experience and application process.
Faculty: Please refer current students or alums to shafer@augsburg.edu who you think might make solid candidates.
submitted by garvey@augsburg.edu
Anthony Wilder, Director, Urness Residence Hall, is presenting at the 38th Annual Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Annual Conference. His presentation is called “Is That a Texturizer?: Untangling Race and Gender of Natural Black Hair.” This presentation will explore the intersection of identity and black natural hair and its social implications.
Anthony also serves as the session chair for the Women, Gender and Sexuality: Race and Gender and will present with two other scholars.
submitted by stoddard@augsburg.edu
The Augsburg Center for Global Education and Experience semester program,
Social Change in Central America: Exploring Peace, Justice and Community Engagement, program has been awarded a Notable Mention on GoAbroad’s list of Top Rated Study Abroad Programs of 2016! Of the thousands of programs listed on the GoAbroad website, the Augsburg CGEE program was one of the most highly rated programs of 2016!
Congratulations to the CGEE Staff, especially the Central America staff and faculty!
All Auggies have the opportunity to study abroad in Central America (or elsewhere) as part of their academic experience – stop by our office in Christensen Center to learn more!
See the Full List of Top Rated Organizations & Programs here:
submitted by bibus@augsburg.edu
Social work professor emeritus Tony Bibus’ letter on “Virtue Ethics” is published in the latest issue of the journal Social Work (2017, Vol. 62, #1, p. 95).
submitted by kilgorem@augsburg.edu
Augsburg Professor of English Doug Green is a participating writer at two upcoming writers’ events in Northfield. These events are free and open to the public.
Sunday, Jan. 15
Writers Resist/Northfield: Hope is Greater than Fear
512 Washington St S, Northfield, MN
An afternoon of readings by local writers, celebrating freedom of expression, our diverse American literary heritage, and the ideals of democracy. The event is free and open to the public. A coffee and cookie reception will follow.
Read more about the Writers Resist movement at http://www.writersresist.org/
See the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/390749251265797/
Thursday, Jan. 19
Writers’ Night: A Sense of Place
Northfield Public Library – 210 Washington St, Northfield, MN
Join the Northfield Poet Laureate and ten featured local writers for a reading of poetry and prose on the theme of “A Sense of Place.” Selections were chosen by judges in a blind selection process.
See the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/111916655981203/
