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Curt Rice ’84 Named President at Norway’s Largest University College

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Curt Rice '84
Photo: Sonja Balci / HiOA

 Curt Rice ’84 was appointed the new president of Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA). Rice is the first non-Norwegian head of a Norwegian institution for higher education.

The University College is Norway’s largest, and is unique owing to its wide range of professional programs and close ties between research and corresponding fields of practice.

Rice, a philosophy major at Augsburg, and wife Tove I. Dahl ’84 jointly received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.

“I look forward to meeting the faculty, staff and students and working closely with them and our other partners to write HiOA’s next chapter,” says Curt Rice.

Rice comes to the University College from a position as professor at the Department of Languages and Linguistics at the university in Tromsø. He earned his PhD in general linguistics at the University of Texas at Austin. Rice will assume his new position on August 1st. Continue reading “Curt Rice ’84 Named President at Norway’s Largest University College” →

Teaching Must Be in the DNA

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Jane Bracken and Jenna Held
Jane (Catlin) Bracken ’71 and Jenna (Bracken) Held ’05

Things have changed a lot since Jane (Catlin) Bracken ’71 began teaching first grade in Cannon Falls back in the early ‘70s. Handouts done on ditto machines (with that distinctive purple print), filmstrips, and simple newsletters have given way to iPads, Smart Boards, and classroom blogs. And though most of the tools have changed, the supreme satisfaction of teaching little kids how to read has remained constant for Bracken. For 41 years, she taught first grade (all in the Cannon Falls district), and in 2009, she was named Cannon Falls Teacher of the Year. She says it has been “so cool” to watch students grow up and have kids of their own, then meet with them as parents during conferences. One year not too long ago, one-third of her students were children of earlier students.

Bracken’s daughter, Jenna (Bracken) Held ’05, is now following in her mother’s footsteps, attracted to not only the joy that a teacher’s lifestyle can provide, but the opportunity to do something she loves—work with children. And last year, after having taught fourth and fifth grade for eight years, she copied her mother again and switched to first grade. Teaching at Lincoln Center in South St. Paul is especially sweet for her, as it allows her to work in the community where she lives, and to see her students around town. Continue reading “Teaching Must Be in the DNA” →

Auggies Give and Share Thanks

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staff thank you note writingCelebrate Philanthropy Week March 30-April 2

Did you know that 95% of Augsburg students receive financial aid? Or that student support services like tutoring, the Writing Lab, and the CLASS office are available to all students at no extra cost? Financial aid, student support programs, faculty-student research and more are all made possible thanks to generous donors to Augsburg. Each year, more than 2,400 alumni, parents, and friends give more than $1 million to The Augsburg Fund. Philanthropy Week is an opportunity to teach current students about how their education is supported by donors, and thank current donors for their generosity. Come to the Christensen Center to write a thank you note. Staff will be tabling at the following times: Monday, March 30, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 31, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; Wednesday, April 1, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Want to get involved?

  • Share what you love about Augsburg and why you support the College on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #auggiesgive.
  • Join us for a special Philanthropy Week lunch on Thursday, April 2, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in East Commons to help thank donors for their support and encourage them to make a gift this year (RSVP to Ben Krouse-Gagne ’11 at 612-330-1179 or krousega@augsburg.edu)
  • Become a donor to Augsburg! Make your gift online at augsburg.edu/giving.

Target – Augsburg Partnership Grant Extended for Summer and Fall Terms 2015

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Dear Auggies,

Like the rest of our community here in the Twin Cities, Augsburg College and the Alumni Association were saddened to see this week’s devastating announcement about layoffs at Target corporate headquarters. News like this is especially painful when we know that Auggies were affected.

Regardless of your employment status, your alma mater is here to support you through education, mentorship, Auggie connections, and campus events. If you’re looking to further your education, Augsburg Admissions has put together a comprehensive package to support your next steps.

Augsburg College would like to extend its Partnership Grant program discounts to those affected by the recent workforce reduction at Target.

The Partnership discount of $50 per undergraduate credit and $80 per graduate credit will continue to apply to all previous Target employees if they newly enroll in an adult undergraduate or graduate program at Augsburg College in the summer or fall 2015 term.

Additionally, Augsburg has created a new alumni discount of $50 per undergraduate credit and $80 per graduate credit. To receive the alumni discount, a student must have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree from Augsburg College. Alumni who newly enroll in further studies at Augsburg College will be able to receive this discount. The discount does not apply to CEU credits or workshops.

For maximum affordability, the alumni discount is stackable with one other discount! The alumni discount can be stacked with the military discount, the AmeriCorps/Lutheran Corps discount, or the Augsburg Partnership Grant.

For example, if you are an Augsburg alumna or alumnus that has been newly admitted into a graduate program and your Target – Augsburg Partnership Grant program has been extended for the summer and fall terms, your two discounts may be stacked. Alumni Discount $80/credit + Partnership Grant Discount $80/credit = Total Discount $160/ credit. Continue reading “Target – Augsburg Partnership Grant Extended for Summer and Fall Terms 2015” →

NYC Reception for Augsburg Alumni, Parents, & Friends

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NY Alumni ReceptionAugsburg alumni are cordially invited to a reception in New York with President Paul C. Pribbenow, Associate Professors Peter Hendrickson and Joe Underhill, alumni, parents, and friends of the College, as well as current Augsburg students who will be in New York participating in the Model UN and vocalists singing at Carnegie Hall.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

5-7 p.m.

Scandinavia House

Volvo Ballroom

58 Park Avenue, map

New York, NY

RSVP by Tuesday, March 17 by calling 612-3430-1085.

Washington D.C. Alumni Reception

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Washington-DC-Alumni-invite-A6-1Please join us for an Augsburg College gathering of alumni, parents and friends.  This uniquely Augsburg reception will be held at OmniEarth Inc., a sci-tech start-up launched by alumnus Lars Dyrud ’97, who serves as President and CEO.  While we gather for food and fun conversation, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Karen Kaivola will discuss how Augsburg is educating students for a life of meaning and purpose in the 21st century.  This is your opportunity to reconnect with Auggies in D.C., don’t miss it!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015
6-8 p.m.
 omniearth_logo
251 18th St. S., Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22202
Located above the Crystal City Metro Stop
RSVP by Friday, March 20 at augsburg.edu/alumni/events or by calling 612-330-1085.

Latin@ Networking and Professional Panel Event

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Alumni are coming back to campus on March 25 to meet current Latino and Latina students for the first Latin@ Networking and Professional Panel Event, sponsored by Latin@ Student Services, directed by Dulce Monterrubio ’12, Alumni Relations, the Strommen Center.

This event is the result of the self-advocacy skills of current Latin@ students who one year ago voiced their strong interest to connect with Latin@ alumni. The profile of Latin@ students at Augsburg has changed drastically over the last fifteen years. Today, there are 177 self-identified undergraduate and graduate Latin@ students compared to only 29 students in 2000. Most of these students are the first in their family to go to college, identify as Latin@ and Americans, fund their own education, commute from inner-city as well as suburban communities, and are uncertain about what the future holds after graduation.

This first-ever event offers great potential for current students to learn from the personal experiences of other Latina and Latino alumni balancing college, family and other responsibilities as they discover their interests and navigate their path. Alumni and mentors can open doors for many of the students in attendance—from sharing internship and job opportunities, to professional advice, and mentoring. The event will reassure students that it is within their reach to achieve their goals, to give back to their community, to one day serve as role models themselves, and to know they are not alone in their journey. If you have any questions, please contact Volunteer and Alumni Engagement Manager Katie Radford ’12 at radford@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1329.

Paying It Forward, with Gratitude

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Kathryn Lange ’72 and Dennis Sonifer in Salzburg
Kathryn Lange ’72 and Dennis Sonifer in Salzburg

A few years ago, Kathryn Lange ’72 and her husband, Dennis Sonifer, decided to update their will, a process that tends to open up a variety of possibilities that aren’t necessarily on our daily radar screens. They realized it would be possible to reach out beyond family members, and agreed that supporting a college made sense, particularly since they both had enjoyed great experiences at small, church-related, liberal arts colleges. Determined to reciprocate the favor of the substantial financial aid each had received as a student, they decided to “pay it forward” and set up an endowed scholarship at Augsburg.

Currently serving as associate dean of the Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University in Boston, Lange has spent her entire career in higher education, including a six-year stint as director of admissions at Augsburg. Originally planning to find work directly related to her Social Work degree, she reassessed her plan when she found herself accepting various positions in higher education. Lange stresses, however, that she uses her Augsburg Social Work education every day in her work with students and faculty. At St. Olaf, she worked in housing for three years, followed by her admissions work at Augsburg, and then at the University of Minnesota, first in financial aid and then in student services in the College of Pharmacy. While at the U, she realized she liked working in the college environment and decided to earn a Master’s degree. In 2002, she and Sonifer moved to Boston for their next adventure.   Continue reading “Paying It Forward, with Gratitude” →

Alum is Among Twin Cities Finest

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Josh ’08 and Chelsea Krob
Josh ’08 and Chelsea Krob

It may be a bit unusual for such a young alumnus to be as active in volunteer work as Josh Krob ’08 is, but he readily admits that his employer, Wells Fargo, provides ample opportunity to do so. In addition to volunteering for charitable organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children, he has coached and supported various sports organizations as well. He has naturally gravitated toward hockey, the sport he played and loved most growing up; and he has helped the Eastview hockey team, Kansas City Stars, and Blake School hockey program.

Recently, another opportunity captured his imagination and passion—raising research funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He and 19 other likeminded individuals took on the challenge individually and raised more than $120,000 for CFF. Krob and the other 19 were each granted the prestigious “Twin Cities Finest” award, in recognition of their community volunteer efforts and professional growth in their fields. Continue reading “Alum is Among Twin Cities Finest” →

Strommen Executive Speaker Series: Lynn Casey, CEO of PadillaCRT

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Lynn Casey photo
Lynn Casey

Lynn Casey, CEO of PadillaCRT, will present on the topic of “Building and Protecting Reputations in Real Time.”  Casey is a dynamic leader (and an Auggie parent) who will share her personal story of building reputations throughout her tenure at PadillaCRT. Casey has served on and chaired numerous nonprofit boards. Currently, she is vice chair of the Greater Twin Cities United Way, secretary of the University of Minnesota Foundation, and is an active member of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable and the Itasca Project.

Steve Wehrenberg, a member of Augsburg’s Board of Regents and the Director of the U of M’s Professional MA in Strategic Communication program, will introduce her presentation.

When: February 12, 2015 at 5 p.m.

Where: Sateren Auditorium, Augsburg College

Register now: www.augsburg.edu/alumni/events

Please join us for a reception immediately following the presentation in the Christensen Center.

* Save the date for the Spring Strommen Executive Speaker Series featuring Maykao Y. Hang, CEO & President of the Wilder Foundation

Thursday, April 9 2015  at 5 p.m.