Minneapolis Staff

Administration

Orval Gingerich, Assistant Vice President, International Programs and Executive Director, Center for Global Education

Direct Phone: 612-330-1383

Email: gingerio@augsburg.edu

Prior to coming to Augsburg College in 2001, Orv was Associate Dean, Director of Cross-Cultural Programs, and Associate Professor of Education at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). He has initiated and led experiential study abroad semesters as part of EMU’s Global Village Curriculum. Orv has a M. Ed. in Experiential Education from the University of Colorado and an Ed. D. in Comparative and International Education from the University of Virginia. Orv has been involved in research and assessment on student learning outcomes from study abroad, and has more than 10 years experience teaching and leading wilderness experience courses.

Regina McGoff, Director

Direct Phone: 612-330-1678

Email: mcgoff@augsburg.edu

Regina has worked at Augsburg College since 1992. Prior to coming to CGE, she recruited youth to participate in study abroad programs with the President’s International Youth Exchange Initiative, taught languages through an accelerated learning methodology and worked with an international social service agency. Regina received her B.S. in Economics from the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas. She also studied developmental economics in Tunisia and completed a number of internships abroad with various organizations including Mobil Oil in Norway, the Public Transportation Bureau in the Netherlands, and Little Brothers of the Poor in France. Her extensive travels have taken her to Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Namibia, South Africa, and many other countries in Western Europe.

Academic Programs Abroad

Margaret Anderson, Coordinator, Academic Programs Abroad

Direct Phone: 612-330-1685

Email: anderso4@augsburg.edu

Contact Margaret For: semester and summer programs abroad administration, pre-departure preparation, billing and payment, registration and transcripts, and institutional relationships, student inquiries, scholarship opportunities, and advising for semester and summer programs.

Margaret has a B.A. in History from the University of Minnesota, concentration in English History. Prior to working at CGE she was employed at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Margaret joined CGE in 1991 and has worked primarily with Academic Programs Abroad, but has also assisted with Mexico travel seminars and acted as study abroad advisor. At Augsburg College, she has been active in Staff Senate, Peace Prize Forum, and Strategic Planning Commission. Margaret’s travels have taken her to  Canada, the UK, southern Africa, Mexico and Central America.

International Travel Seminars

Olee Amata, Program Associate, International Travel Seminars.

Direct Phone: 612-330-1115

Email: amata@augsburg.edu

Contact Olee For: travel seminar flights, travel seminar payments, Mary Witt, Religious Studies, and CGE Students of Color scholarship applications

Olee is currently finishing up her degree as a weekend college student at Augsburg College in business management. Before joining CGE, she was working at Augsburg with TRIO/Student Support Services, McNair Scholars Program, and with URGO (Office of Undergraduate Research & Graduate Opportunities) for six years. Olee went on a faculty-led Augsburg College course to El Salvador in January 2008, which fueled her interest to work for CGE. Olee has been working with CGE since July 2008.  Olee has a passion for international travel and learning about different cultures.  In addition to traveling to El Salvador, Olee has traveled to Great Britain, Ireland, and Guatemala.  Olee also speaks Laotian and Thai.

David Hamilton, Director, International Travel Seminars

Direct Phone: 612-330-1385

Email: hamiltod@augsburg.edu

Contact David for: David is the liaison for sponsors coordinating travel seminars in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Southern Africa

David has a B.A. in Political Science from Macalester College, an M.A. in African History from the University of Minnesota, and a Mini-M.B.A from the University of St. Thomas. He has years of experience in management and administration, including being executive director of an organization that works with HIV/AIDS. He has lived both in Southern Africa and Brazil. He has been a grant writing consultant, won a MacArthur Fellowship, and has a commitment to social justice and racial equality.

Fatimah Panemalaythong, Program Assistant for International Travel Seminars

Direct Phone: 612-330-1536

Email: panemal1@augsburg.edu

Contact Fatimah For: registering for a travel seminar, travel seminar invoices, general questions related to participating on a travel seminar

Fatimah has an Associate’s degree in liberal arts from Black Hawk College where she was a member of the International Student Association.  She is currently a Weekend College student at Augsburg College pursuing her B.S. in International Business. Fatimah has been working with CGE since September 2006.  Her travels have taken her to Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, El Salvador, and Guatemala. She speaks Lao, Thai, and Indonesian, so has many administrative and cross-cultural skills she shares.

Susan Peacock, Program Coordinator, International Travel Seminars

Direct Phone: 612-330-1662

Email: peacocks@augsburg.edu

Contact Susan For: Susan is the liaison for sponsors coordinating travel seminars in Bolivia, Cuba, and Mexico.

Susan Peacock, worked for CGE from 1987 to 1991 as coordinator for the Mexico program. Prior to rejoining the staff in 2012, she worked at The National Academies’ Committee on Human Rights, the Washington Office on Latin America, The National Security Archive at George Washington University, and the Guatemala Human Rights Commission. She also directed the Global Education and Advocacy Office of the United Church of Christ and served in Bolivia with the Mennonite Central Committee. She has two M.A. degrees, one in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University and another in International Administration from the School for International Training. She is the author of two books, In Search of Hidden Truths and Hidden Powers in Post-conflict Guatemala.

Marketing

Jessica Haas, Coordinator of Recruitment and Promotions

Direct Phone: 612-330-1118

Email: haasj@augsburg.edu

Contact Jessica For: brochure requests, school visit coordination, advertising, website issues, and other marketing related items

Jessica has a M.A. in International Education from the School for International Training in Vermont and a B.A. in Political Science from Creighton University in Nebraska. Prior to joining CGE, she was the International Program Manager at Bard College and also worked in the service learning program at Flathead Valley Community College in Montana. Her graduate capstone project was on alumni-based recruitment in study abroad and she has also done a workshop on “Beyond the Bus – How to Organize Educational Field Trips,” and most recently taught a course on “Exploring Africa.”  Jessica has served as a short-term seminar leader for CGE in Cuba, studied in China and Lithuania, and has also visited Austria, Belize, Costa Rica, Estonia, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Poland, Russia, and South Africa.

General Contact Information

If you are unable to reach the person you are seeking, please call our main line at 612-330-1159.  Someone can assist you, or you can leave a message (which are frequently checked).  Our general email, which is also consistently monitored, is globaled@augsburg.edu.  An emergency cell phone is carried by a Minneapolis staff member 24/7 at 612-817-2830.