First-Year Students
Meet Our Team
Brenda Hemmingsen
Visit Coordinator, Auggie Guide Co-Coordinator, and Campus Mom
Phone: 612-330-1001
E-mail: hemmings@augsburg.edu
Hometown: New Brighton, MN
Advice to new Auggies: You are a gift. Each day you are here unwrap something new about yourself.
Mary Jastremski
Admissions Operations Coordinator
Hometown: New Brighton, MN
Advice to new Auggies: Focus hard during your study time so you can give yourself “free” time, AND study abroad
Carola Thorson
Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Phone: 612-330-1581
E-mail: thorsonc@augsburg.edu
Hometowns: Rochester, MN & Red Wing, MN
Undergraduate college and majors: Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, Mass Communications and English Writing. Graduate: Augsburg College, Master of Arts in Leadership, ABT.
About me: I am passionate about higher education and think that learning is cool. I love to travel, craft, relax with family and friends, and talk about Door County, Wisconsin. My competitive nature comes out when playing skee-ball or being challenged to a craft-off. I am a wife, mom, and human partner to our two cats, Rocky and Lola.
Why I love Augsburg College: The people, the energy, the learning, the city, the engagement … to name a few.
Advice to new Auggies: Try something new. Get involved. Your educational experience is what you choose to put into it.
Devon Ross
Senior Associate Director
Phone: 612-330-1588
E-mail: ross@augsburg.edu
Hometown: Bronxville, NY
Favorite thing about Augsburg: Melby Hall because of the fun I had playing soccer and being involved in athletics here.
Advice to new Auggies: Balance is everything!
Marissa Machado
Senior Associate Director
Phone: 612-330-1586
E-mail: machado@augsburg.edu
Hometown: Hammond, WI
Undergrad college and majors: Augsburg College ’99–double major in Psychology and Spanish. Augsburg College MAE ’06 with emphasis in leadership and international education
About me: I have worked in higher education for over a decade and all of that time has been at Augsburg. I believe deeply in the educational experience we have to offer. Exercising, being a mom, and listening to music are some of my other favorite things. One of my life goals is to do a bicycle trip through Nepal, or maybe Italy–or both!
Why I love Augsburg College: What’s NOT to love? Augsburg’s commitment to providing experiential education in an intentionally diverse campus community is a unique experience that I get to tell prospective students and their parents about every day. This is a place where we don’t just talk about good work–students, faculty and staff live it out every day. I am proud every day to be a part of the Auggie community.
Advice to new Auggies: Deliberately step out of your comfort zone as often as possible and do it boldly. The benefits will be exponential to your personal and academic growth and to the community you contribute to.
Kristin Daniels ’09
Senior Admissions Counselor
Phone: 612-330-1577
E-mail: danielsk@augsburg.edu
Undergrad college: Communication Studies with a Public Relations and Advertising Emphasis from Augsburg College – Class of 2009.
About me: I am a Senior Admissions Counselor at Augsburg and an ’09 Auggie grad! I work with students from St. Paul, North and South Dakota, and Iowa. I am passionate about Augsburg’s promise to our students and our ability to not only talk about it, but deliver it, makes Augsburg a truly special place.
Why I love Augsburg College: Small campus in the heart of Minneapolis, intentionally diverse student body, opportunities to enhance your learning through study abroad, community service, research, and internships
Advice to new Auggies: Come to Augsburg with an open mind and heart. We want you to explore new things, be challenged, meet new people, and grow as a person. If you are willing to take part in all of the wonderful things Augsburg has to offer there is no way you won’t love it here!
Paul Kienberger
Senior Admissions Counselor
Phone: 612-330-1047
E-mail: kienber@augsburg.edu
Hometown: Hastings, MN (H-Town)
Undergrad college and majors: Gustavus Adolphus College – Business Management, Sociology & Anthropology
About me: I enjoy running, biking, hanging out with friends, and living the dream. I am also very quotable.
Why I love Augsburg College: The students makes our college great!
Advice to new Auggies: The more involved you are with the school and your classes the more rewarding your college experience will be.
Shonna Fulford
Senior Admissions Counselor
Phone: 612-330-1589
E-mail: fulford@augsburg.edu
Hometown: Perham, MN
Undergrad College & Major: Augsburg College 2009, Major: Political Science Minors: Sociology & Leadership Studies. Grad School: Capella University ’12, Leadership in Higher Education
About Me: I grew in the small town of Perham, MN and came to Augsburg in the big city for college and I haven’t left! I love spending time with friends and family, my favorite thing to do is laugh, I have a horrible addiction to celebrity gossip, am obsessed with books, and I can’t deliver a joke to save my life. I enjoy meeting new people, experiencing new things, and just about anything else as long as I’m having a good time doing it!
Why I love Augsburg: Because you can be who you are; whoever that may be. You don’t have to fit into a box or be a certain type of person. We thrive off of people’s differences and unique characteristics and it truly is a place where we don’t expect anything from you besides being yourself and fulfilling your greater purpose.
Advice to new Auggies: Take chances, discover new things, and be true to yourself.
Denise Herrera
Senior Admissions Counselor
Phone: 612-330-1585
E-mail: herrerad@augsburg.edu
Hometown: Oakdale, MN
Undergrad college and majors: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 2009, Major: English, Minors: Spanish and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Graduate: Augsburg College, Master of Arts in Leadership
About me: I love to travel, explore, read, watch movies, and enjoy eating out with good company. I grew up in Oakdale, but both my parents are from Nicaragua, so I have been exposed to all different kinds of culture, beliefs, and customs. I really enjoy being around people and absolutely love city life!
Why I love Augsburg College: Location, location, location! Because of our location, students have so much access to… everything! From professional sports to internship possibilities, we have the unique advantage of city life while having the perks of a small campus.
Advice to new Auggies: Get outside your comfort zone. Make sure to take advantage of all the programs and activities that Augsburg has to offer!