bing pixel

Weather Advisory: Virtual Evening Classes and Travel Caution for Monday, April 28 Details ›

Physician Assistant Program is Pathway to Leadership

Posted on

KeiserClinPicAs a beginning undergraduate student in psychology, Tracy Keizer (MPA 2007) knew she wanted to enter the field of medicine, but she was unaware of the Physician Assistant (PA) programs emerging in the U.S. until a classmate started talking about applying to some of them. Those conversations eventually led Keizer not only to Augsburg for her master’s in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree, but to a fulfilling career and a variety of opportunities as a leader in the field and a strong advocate in the public, legislative arena as well.

Currently a PA in the inpatient psychiatric intensive care unit at Regions Hospital in downtown St. Paul, Keizer says she finds every day both challenging and gratifying. She feels privileged to walk alongside patients while they go through periods of crisis and stabilization, and she continues to be impressed with the resilience of patients who face the chronic struggle of mental illness. She is appreciative of the interdisciplinary team-based approach in PA work, which in her case brings together psychiatrists, nursing staff, social workers, pharmacists, and occupational therapists.

Augsburg’s PA program, the first in Minnesota, admitted its first class in 1995. It is a 31-month, full-time program that includes academic and clinical education. The PA concept, set in motion in the mid-1960s in response to a shortage of primary care physicians, was pioneered in 1965 at Duke University Medical Center with a class comprised of former military corpsmen. Now, state law defines the PA’s scope of practice, and the supervising physician helps determine the PA’s role. Keizer says that, as health care costs rise and PAs continue to work efficiently as members of the healthcare team, the PA’s role will continue to expand. She has enjoyed forging a path for more PAs to enter and thrive in the mental health field, and strives to fight the stigma that mental illness poses and break down the barriers of access to needed care. Continue reading “Physician Assistant Program is Pathway to Leadership” →

Urban Debate League Tackles Real Life Challenges

Posted on
2014 Mayor's Challenge.
2014 Mayor’s Challenge.

Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL), a program of Augsburg College, is charged with the mission to empower students through competitive academic debate to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities.

Under the leadership of Executive Director, Amy Cram Helwich, and with the support of faculty advisor, Robert Groven, MNUDL currently serves more than 750 students at 39 partner schools and has seen sustained growth in student participation and academic growth since its inception in 2004.

This year, Urban Debate League has expanded their programming to include Spanish and Somali debate. May 27, 2015, Urban Debate league will pilot a Somali Debate Initiative with a Community Forum including Representative Keith Ellison and other community leaders. The topic is facilitating remittances from the United States to Somalia. This legislation affects many of our current Somali students—the debaters will engage in a high-level conversation to determine possible solutions for this community challenge.

Several alumni are also involved in the Mayor’s Challenge: The Great Water Debate, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., and the program begins at 8 a.m. This year’s national high school policy debate topic is “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the earth’s oceans.” Students at the breakfast will present an informative debate specific to Minnesota lakes and rivers.

Alumni are invited to attend! If you are interested, please sign up here to attend the May 13 fundraising event for Urban Debate League.

  • The Urban Debate League currently has sites at 39 schools serves 700 students.
  • 100% of debaters graduate on time and 99% have been accepted to college.
  • In the Twin Cities, debaters are 40% more likely to graduate than non-debaters.

To learn more visit the: Minnesota Urban Debate League home page.

 

Capturing the Imagination

Posted on

KariLoganWhen Kari (Eklund) Logan ’82 agreed to assist a client in raising public awareness of the value of trees, she decided to hang huge price tags on the trees in the front yard of Minnesota’s State Capitol. The client, the Minnesota DNR’s Division of Forestry, was pleased. In fact, the rush of media attention that followed resulted in the act’s replication by foresters across the country and even other parts of the world.

At CEL Public Relations (Plymouth, Minn.), where Logan heads up the media relations team, capturing the public’s imagination is the norm. With eight years’ prior experience in TV news and programming (WCCO-TV and KSTP-TV), Logan is well-connected and can pull out all the stops (websites, newsletters, TV coverage, campaigns, and numerous other marketing communications) in order to assist CEL clients. Primarily a writer, she especially enjoys the diversity of subjects that cross her desk every day, including CEL’s signature areas of service—education, urban forestry, financial services, and the arts.

Having joined the firm in 1990, when it was only two years old, Logan has helped increase awareness in numerous areas, including pregnancy and infant loss, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and eldercare. She has worked and dined with famous chefs, including Ina Garten and Andrew Zimmern. In 1993 she became a partner in the firm.

Kari Ren Fair-2When she isn’t writing, you may find her singing in a theatrical production. Logan recalls her first visit to Augsburg, as a junior high student, to see Godspell with her older sister, Lori (Eklund) Quello ’77, then a student at Augsburg. That night, Logan knew she “had to be part of Augsburg Theater.” Continue reading “Capturing the Imagination” →

Sign Up Now for GRE Prep Course & Application Boot Camp

Posted on

Come back to campus for a great rate on a GRE prep course, offered through the URGO office.

Graduate programs often require applicants to take the Graduate Records Exam, referred to as the GRE. URGO offers an eight week GRE prep course each summer for students, alumni, and staff at a cost well below those found at private test centers. This course is taught by Augsburg faculty and staff and walks students through each section of the general test. Throughout the course students complete sample test questions and receive in-depth feedback and instruction. The registration fee also includes a six-month subscription to the online GRE study tool, Magoosh.

Tuesdays, May 12th-June 30th

5-7pm @ Sverdrup 206

Cost: $80

Register at http://www.augsburg.edu/urgo/
If you have any questions about the course, please contact Kirsten O’Brien at urgo@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1446.

Alumni are also invited to take part in the Pre-Health Application Boot Camp 2015

May 7, 14, and 21

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sverdrup 205

Application Bootcamp is a guided workshop where participants will receive instruction and guidance on centralized applications to health science programs, personal statements, and secondary applications in an environment where they can immediately utilize the material presented by working on the applications and statements.

Join AWE & the Augsburg Associates for an Augsburg Women’s Event

Posted on

AWE_Associates-Email-Invite-Header (2)Augsburg women of all generations are invited to a morning of engaging conversation, laughter, and inspiration.

Saturday, May 9
9-9:30 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Program
Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center at Augsburg College

Cost: $25 per attendee

Add $25 to your registration to sponsor a student

Augsburg Women Engaged (AWE) and the Augsburg Associates are teaming up again this year to continue the conversation.  Attendees will get a glimpse into the life stories of Augsburg women through music, art, drama, writing and the spoken word. Together, we will come to a better understanding of how we can find peace and confidence in measuring up amid life’s challenges and rewards.

Auggie women of all ages are invited to attend!

Hear stories from: Kari (Eklund) Logan ’82, Kristin Eggerling ’89, Tara Sweeney, & Becky Shaheen ’11

For more information:

612-330-1085 • alumni@augsburg.edu

Young Alumni Service Saturday: May 16 at Bethany Lutheran

Posted on

bethanyContinuing community engagement and volunteering are important parts of being an Auggie, even after graduation. The Augsburg Young Alumni Council invites other graduates from the last 10 years to volunteer on May 16 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Seward, where young alumnus Rev. Mike Matson ’06 serves as pastor.

soup for youYour help is needed! Augsburg volunteers are needed to serve meals in the Soup for You Cafe, and assist with the rummage sale and clean-up.

Sign up for a volunteer shift by emailing Katie Radford ’12 at radford@augsburg.edu. Two time slots are available, and we need Auggies for both:

  1. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
  2. 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (If you have a truck or large vehicle that can be used for deliveries, sign up for the 2-6 p.m. time slot.)
  3. Have more time to volunteer? If you’re available to help out on Friday, 5/15, please contact Sherry Reagan at 936-443-5650.
  4. Donations to the rummage sale are welcome. Bethany accepts furniture, appliances, decorations, clothing, children’s clothing, toys, backpacks, hygiene items, blanketsm bikes, and more. Please, no old TVs. Drop off items at 2511 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, M-F 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

mikePlease come together with other Auggies and family members to help further the good a fellow Auggie is doing in the community. Matson was just featured in local media for his good work at Bethany. Read the StarTribune story.

The weekend of May 16 is a busy one for this well-known Seward neighborhood church. The annual rummage sale takes place on Friday, May 15, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

For more information about this event, volunteering, or joining the Young Alumni Council, contact Volunteer and Alumni Engagement Manager Katie Radford ’12 at radford@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1329.

 

New Adult Undergraduate Program Discount

Posted on

Our Adult Undergraduate program is one of the top ten programs in the nation for older students.

The flexible, hybrid program helps students to complete their degree while still attending to many life responsibilities. We offer 10 different majors in this program, including Management, Finance, Accounting, Education, Communications, Psychology and BSN Completion.

To help motivate adult students to get started this summer, we are offering a Summer Scholarship. Apply and register by May 22nd and your first summer course is free. This is a $1,830 value! This applies to all new undergraduate students seeking their first four-year degree in our evening program.

In addition, if you are the parent of a current Day student or spouse of a current Augsburg student, the Parent/Family Grant can be added to this scholarship. The Parent/Family grant provides a $50 per credit discount to all your courses, with no cap while completing your bachelor’s degree. If you are pursuing a graduate degree, the grant provides $80 discount per credit.

Contact Augsburg Transfer Team for details at transfer@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1001.

Auggies Across the US

Posted on

Auggies are everywhere! Beginning in February, alumni gatherings in Arizona coincided with Centennial Singers performances at eight churches. An alumni reception, dinner, and luncheon were hosted by Arizona Auggies and attended by President Pribbenow.

Alumni, parents, and friends in the Washington, D.C. area gathered for a reception held at OmniEarth Inc., a sci-tech start-up launched by alumnus Lars Dyrud ’97, who serves as President and CEO.  While we enjoyed food and fun conversation, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Karen Kaivola discussed how Augsburg is educating students for a life of meaning and purpose in the 21st century.

An alumni reception at Scandinavia House, in New York City, helped celebrate what was the opportunity of a lifetime for Auggies who performed at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Peter Hendrickson ’76. He directed The Augsburg Choir in a mass chorale with members of the Masterworks Chorale and Choir alumni, who loved the chance to  connect with classmates on a dream trip!

Auggies, wherever you go, bring Traveling Auggie with you on your travels and share pics of Auggie gatherings with us via Facebook or Twitter. Are you interested in hosting an Auggie reception in your city? Let us know at alumni@augsburg.edu.

Jane Austen on Wheels

Posted on
Devoney Looser '89.
Devoney Looser ’89. Photo credit: Jennifer Roberts of Moonshadow Studios.

If Jane Austen were magically to come back to life and appear in Devoney Looser’s ’89 English classroom at Arizona State University, she would undoubtedly be charmed by the lively discussion of her writings from two centuries ago, pleased that they had survived and continue to be relevant among college students. If she decided to hang out after class, however, she would be in for quite a surprise, learning about Looser’s athletic alter ego. For the past five years, Looser has played roller derby as Stone Cold Jane Austen.

A Twin Cities native, Looser first encountered Austen’s novels as a teenager (thanks to her mother, who had not read the novels herself but sensed their importance). Looser loved the opportunity to read them then—and loves to teach them now—along with other favorites from that era, like Frances Burney, Mary Hays, and Maria Edgeworth. She also is intrigued by other truly unusual women from that period who led fascinating lives: Harriette Wilson, Lady Hester Stanhope, and Anne Lister.

Now, Looser is following their example. She is editor of a recently released volume, The Cambridge Companion to Women’s Writing in the Romantic Period (Cambridge University Press). As much as she enjoys spending time around people who’ve written fascinating books (one of the “great gifts” of her professional life), she is likely surrounded by many who feel the same about her. Find more information on her numerous publications and background at devoneylooser.com. Continue reading “Jane Austen on Wheels” →

MayKao Y. Hang Presents “Journey of 1000 Miles”

Posted on

MayKao HangAugsburg College is excited to welcome MayKao Y. Hang as the third featured speaker for the 2014-2015 Strommen Executive Speaker Series. Hang will give a public presentation on April 9th at 5 p.m. in the Sateren Auditorium at Augsburg College.

MayKao Y. Hang is the President and CEO of the Wilder Foundation, and has extensive experience serving low income and disadvantaged populations in both public and nonprofit sectors.

As a young leader, Dr. Hang saw a need for increased support for Hmong women and co-led an effort in 1998 to initiate Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit and catalyst for lasting cultural, institutional, and social change to improve the lives of Hmong women. Dr. Hang continues to be actively engaged in the metro area as a community leader. She serves as a Trustee of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, Deputy Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (9th District), and on the Women’s Economic Roundtable.

Dr. Hang will speak for thirty minutes, and take questions for the second half hour. Immediately following her presentation, she will meet with 20 students from Augsburg’s Pan-Asian student group.

Continue reading “MayKao Y. Hang Presents “Journey of 1000 Miles”” →