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Experiencing the world: Engage with a community as a Fulbright Scholar

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fulbright_spanierLiving and working abroad can be a life-changing experience that reveals new opportunities and enlightens your perspective through engagement with new people and places. For Adam Spanier ’12, the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program provided the challenges and delights of living in a different part of the world.

In the last year, three Auggie alumni have been working abroad through the Fulbright program. One taught English in Ecuador, another is conducting research in Norway, and Spanier is an ETA in Uničov, Czech Republic. He is one of 12 Augsburg alumni who have been awarded Fulbright grants, and Augsburg College is recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars. Continue reading “Experiencing the world: Engage with a community as a Fulbright Scholar” →

Sweet Maladies represents theater program’s new focus

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sweet_maladiesThe opening this week of Sweet Maladies by Zakiyyah Alexander represents four years of work by the Augsburg College Theater Department to diversify its program and to attract more diverse and often underrepresented voices to the theater.

The department has made changes to its curriculum, welcomed local directors and new faculty, and undertaken projects as “a way to welcome more students with different kinds of cultural backgrounds to participate,” said Department Chair Darcey Engen.

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the Department’s commitment to excellence. Continue reading “Sweet Maladies represents theater program’s new focus” →

Student Spotlight: DeVante Jackson finds the Twin Cities a ‘sweet spot’ for jazz

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Augsburg College student DeVante Jackson ’17
Augsburg College student DeVante Jackson ’17

DeVante Jackson ’17 performed jazz around campus and across town during his first semester at Augsburg College.

Jackson—a saxophone player and pianist—regularly joined the Augsburg Jazz Band on stage in Hoversten Chapel, and had experiences only available to students who study in an urban location. Jackson amplified his formal music education by accompanying professional groups and amateur artists at theaters, jazz clubs, and cultural centers throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul.

“The Twin Cities are a vibrant area for jazz musicians,” according to Andrea Canter, the Twin Cities Jazz Society’s chair of education. When compared to other U.S. cities including New York and Los Angeles, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area is “…smaller in terms of population, but we have an awful lot going on. We have long been considered one of the top jazz centers in the country.” Continue reading “Student Spotlight: DeVante Jackson finds the Twin Cities a ‘sweet spot’ for jazz” →

Strommen speaker series features Chris Killingstad of Tennant Company

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Chris_KillingstadThe Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Speaker Series at Augsburg College will host a free presentation by Chris Killingstad, president and CEO of Tennant Company, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, in Sateren Auditorium.

The Strommen Executive Speaker Series brings local business leaders to Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus to share their insights and expertise.

The series is offered quarterly, and in the lecture, “Lessons in Innovation: Essential Elements for Business Success in the 21st Century,” Killingstad will discuss how living and working in nearly a dozen countries has brought a strong international perspective to his career. Continue reading “Strommen speaker series features Chris Killingstad of Tennant Company” →

Brother Ali, Omar Offendum to explore relationship between hip hop, peace at Nobel Peace Prize Forum

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Courtesy of Omar Offendum
Courtesy of Omar Offendum

Nationally known hip hop artist Brother Ali and Syrian-American artist Omar Offendum will explore the relationship between hip hop and peace at 8 p.m., March 9, at the 25th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis.

The artists will speak about their music, their roles as activists and humanitarians, the social and moral dimensions of their music as a force to unite communities, and whether artists have a special moral responsibility. Each presentation, at Augsburg College’s Kennedy Center, will feature a short music set, followed by a talk that includes audience question and answer.

“Brother Ali and Omar Offendum will show us how music can play an inspiring and everyday role in our work to create a more just society,” said Maureen Reed, executive director of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. “We are honored to have these inspirational, young leaders join us, and to build upon the message and topics explored last year by Doomtree’s Dessa.” Continue reading “Brother Ali, Omar Offendum to explore relationship between hip hop, peace at Nobel Peace Prize Forum” →

Peace Prize Forum brings world to Minneapolis

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NPPF_speakersThe 25th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum—a conference that celebrates the importance, consequence, and controversy of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates—is March 8-10 in Minneapolis.

“This event brings members of the world’s most exclusive club—Nobel Peace Prize Laureates—to campus,” said Maureen Reed, executive director of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, which is housed at Augsburg College. “Students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to interact with people who fundamentally have changed and are changing the world.”

Reed said that the Forum brings global, national, and local leaders in business, health, science, and international issues to explore and discuss with attendees issues related to peacemaking, world security, and global stability. Continue reading “Peace Prize Forum brings world to Minneapolis” →

Staying healthy during flu season

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flu_seasonOne of the top news stories this week is the rising number of flu cases. While the current strain of the flu virus is less virulent than the H1N1 virus of several years ago, it’s important to remember that any flu can easily spread from person to person.

The health and safety of the Augsburg Community is a top priority, so College staff are monitoring federal and state health resources and communicating with students, faculty and staff about flu season.

“Each member of our community—students, faculty, and staff—has a role to play in limiting the impact of flu on campus,” said Ann Garvey, vice president of Student Affairs.

“We are seeing stories about hospitals limiting visitors to restrict the spread of flu, and with students returning to campus and classes starting up again for all our programs, now is the time to remind Auggies how to stay healthy.”

Continue reading “Staying healthy during flu season” →

MLK Convocation celebrates silver anniversary

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MLK_Convo_2013Augsburg College will honor the calling of one of the United States’ visionary civil rights leaders on Monday, January 21, by hosting the 25th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation.

The presentation, “Searching for MLK: A provocative exploration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” will take place at 1 p.m. in Hoversten Chapel and will include thought-provoking archival images, song, movement, and written excerpts from Dr. King.

“Each year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation offers us the opportunity to celebrate the life of Dr. King, and—more importantly—reaffirm our community’s commitment to the values associated with his legacy: social justice, peace, and non-violence,” said Mohamed Sallam, director of the Pan-Afrikan Center and Convocation committee chair. Continue reading “MLK Convocation celebrates silver anniversary” →

Auggies serving in Cambodia

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global_connections1During the winter break, a group of students and volunteers, including several Auggies, traveled to Cambodia to teach English and to participate in service projects through the Global Connections Project. The group was led by Penh Soni Lo, director of Pan Asian Student Services at Augsburg and co-founder of the Project.

The Global Connections Project was started by Lo and Shawn Tuoch, both children of wars that resulted in the mass exodus of Southeast Asian refugees to the United States. After several individual trips to Southeast Asia for charitable projects, Lo and Tuoch recognized the need for humanitarian work in the country.

While in Cambodia, the group volunteered at New Life Center Organization orphanage in Siem Reap, which the Global Connections Project built in 2010. They also taught conversational English in Sonha village about 25 kilometers from Battambang. Continue reading “Auggies serving in Cambodia” →

Winter Break safety and department hours

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Augsburg College will observe the Christmas and New Year holidays on three dates—Monday, December 24; Tuesday, December 25; and Tuesday, January 1. Many campus offices and buildings will be closed.

In addition, some offices and departments will observe Augsburg President’s Holidays from December 26 through December 31. Departments such as Academic Affairs, Admissions, Institutional Advancement, Student Affairs, and Student Financial Services will be open December 26 through December 28.

Please be mindful of the following information from the Department of Public Safety and review the Winter Break hours of operation supplied by the following departments or services. Continue reading “Winter Break safety and department hours” →