Meet Mark Sedio ’76. Mark currently serves as cantor at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and as the Augsburg University organist.

How did Augsburg shape your path? 

I entered Augsburg with the intention of majoring in Russian and psychology. After one semester, it became clear that the music department was “home.” The solid foundation in choral music, organ, and music theory that I received at Augsburg propelled me through a few years of teaching middle and high school, graduate school at the University of Iowa and Luther Seminary, and a 40-year career in church music. Over the past years I have had the honor of “giving back” to Augsburg through teaching worship and music as an adjunct; conducting Augsburg Choir from 2016 to 2018, Cedar Singers, and Masterworks Chorale; and serving as university organist. Augsburg continues to be a huge part of my life.

What makes you excited to give back to Augsburg as an alum? 

I am exceedingly proud of how Augsburg has adapted to its surroundings and neighborhood in the heart of Minneapolis and how it has kept an eye and heart to its tradition and history. Its diversity, programs like StepUP, and campus ministry all make Augsburg such a unique place among private institutions of learning—especially among our ELCA colleges.

What is a favorite memory of your time at Augsburg?

Right now a group of alumni from the 1975 Augsburg Choir tour to Norway and Sweden are meeting by Zoom to plan a 50th reunion that will take place on campus this coming Syttende Mai (May 17). Augsburg’s music department—specifically the choir—had a lasting impact on me as a professional musician and as a person. I treasure so many memories from this and other choir tours. It’s hard to believe that so many friendships I made as a student half a century ago have continued to be so strong, supportive and nurturing.

Thank you, Mark!

Augsburg University is partnering with TurnSignl, a Black-owned mobile app, created by two Augsburg alumni, Mychal Frelix ’19 MBA and Andre Creighton ’19 MBA, to offer subscriptions to Augsburg alumni while supporting current students.

Turnsignl is a mobile app that connects drivers with lawyers to de-escalate police interactions during traffic stops. Claim your annual TurnSignl subscription and support the Augsburg University Sankofa Circle Fellowship.

Augsburg alumni, TurnSignl is here to protect you on the road while uplifting future leaders through the Sankofa Circle Fellowship. Subscriptions are $60 annually, with 30% of the proceeds going directly to Sankofa. Be part of something bigger — and stay empowered during accidents and traffic stops.

Learn more about TurnSignl

Purchase or gift a TurnSignl subscription through Augsburg’s TurnSignl page

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Homecoming weekend! It was wonderful to see so many alumni, friends, students, family members, faculty, and staff come together to celebrate Augsburg and connect with one another. Your presence made the weekend truly special.

We look forward to seeing you again at future events and celebrating many more Augsburg moments and memories together!

Go Auggies!

Visit this folder to check out more Homecoming 2024 photos.

Meet Ryan Rivard ’06. Ryan summited Mount Everest on May 20, 2024.

What keeps you busy these days? What are you doing for work and for play?

Currently, I am the agency owner of Bespoken Directive and the founder of the nonprofit Let’s Fuel Growth, which focuses on mental health and helping individuals in recovery find community and purpose through events and activities. I recently summited Mount Everest, and in my free time, I enjoy outdoor adventures, playing hockey, and spending quality time with my family, including my four children. I also love traveling, being active in the community, and participating in endurance sports racing.

What is a piece of advice you would give to a current Auggie or young alumni? Don’t wait until you’re older to accomplish your dreams. Life is short—get living and make the most of every opportunity.

How did Augsburg shape your path? Or, how is Augsburg continuing to shape your path? Augsburg provided a solid foundation in psychology and music, fostering a passion for helping others and creativity. This foundation has been integral in both my professional and personal life.

What makes you excited to give back to Augsburg as an alumni? Or, what inspires you to give to Augsburg? Augsburg’s commitment to community and personal growth inspires me to give back. The support and education I received there have been instrumental in my journey, and I want to ensure future students have similar opportunities.

Thank you, Ryan!

Meet Collin Katainen ’14 MAE. Collin is a member of the Augsburg Alumni Board.

What keeps you busy these days? What are you doing for work and for play?

Occupying hockey rinks with my two children in the winter, my son is a Peewee goalie, my daughter a 10U forward; in the summer we love spending time at our cabin up north. I went on to get my Educational Specialist degree and am a high school principal for a private school in St. Louis Park. I also coach and mentor new teachers as a consultant with a professional development company called Northshore Learning. While a student at Augsburg, I also acquired my real estate license and have been working as a Realtor ever since; it’s a fun profession and pairs nicely with an educator’s schedule.

Who or what is something or someone that motivates you? My family, friends and students are influences, each in their own way help motivate, challenge and humble me in ways that keep me grounded. I have come to learn the importance of a work/life balance and the need to break away from life’s responsibilities and just stop, sit in nature and listen to the world around you.

What makes you excited to give back to Augsburg as an Alumni? Or, what inspires you to give to Augsburg? As an educator, anytime I can help shape the future outcome of a situation or opportunity where my experiences or knowledge improves or makes life easier for someone else is a win. I hope I can find a way to improve the Augsburg experience for any student as an alumni resource.

Who is an Auggie (alumni, faculty/staff, friend, etc.) that inspires you or that has impacted you and why?
Along with the many great courses and instructors who were always willing to spend time sharing their experiences; I always found Anne Kaufman, Ph.D. Professor Emerita and Co-Director, Augsburg Paideia Program (Retired) to have had the greatest impact on my successes in the classroom. Even after graduating, when I was a young teacher, Dr. Kaufman would be a sounding board as I tried to incorporate Paideia into my lessons.

If you are unfamiliar, Paideia (pie DAY a) is a pedagogy that encourages student-centered, democratic discussions around a common text. Paideia principles surround the idea that the primary cause of genuine learning is the activity of the learner’s own mind, sometimes with the help of a teacher functioning as a secondary and cooperative cause; that the three types of teaching that should occur in our schools are didactic teaching of subject matter, coaching that produces the skills of learning, and Socratic questioning in seminar discussion.

The annual Paideia Summer Institute held in July at Augsburg University is a great course to take for anyone in the education field.

Thank you, Collin!

Auggie Spotlight is a project that features Augsburg Alumni in all walks of life, and further connections in our Augsburg Alumni community. If you would like to be in the spotlight, or if you’d like to nominate another alumni, please fill out this form.

Meet Berlynn Bitengo ’21, ’23 MBA. Berlynn is serving her fourth year on the Alumni Board and is the Augsburg Alumni Board President 2024-25.

Who or what is something or someone that motivates you? My family and friends. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing, ambitious, passionate and hardworking individuals who are constantly inspiring and challenging me to go beyond what I think is possible.

What is a piece of advice that you would give to a current Auggie or young alumni? Be your strongest and loudest advocate because nobody is going to go hard for you the way you will.

What makes you excited to give back to Augsburg as an Alumni? Or, what inspires you to give to Augsburg? What makes me excited to give back is knowing how impactful it is to the students and what inspires me to give is Augsburg’s commitment to ensuring all the students that pass through Augsburg are successful not only while they are at Augsburg but also years after.

Thank you, Berlynn!

Auggie Spotlight is a project that features Augsburg Alumni in all walks of life, and further connections in our Augsburg Alumni community. If you would like to be in the spotlight, or if you’d like to nominate another alumni, please fill out this form.

We look forward to celebrating commencement on May 8, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. CST. Commencement will take place at the Target Center in Minneapolis. We can’t wait to celebrate Auggies as they graduate and become our newest Auggie Alumni.

To watch the livestream of commencement, visit https://www.augsburg.edu/commencement on the day of the event.

Visit Augsburg’s commencement page

We are thrilled to share a new book published by some of our talented faculty and staff members! “Radical Roots: How One Professor Changed a University’s Legacy” tells the story of Augsburg University sociology professor Joel Torstenson ’38.

Co-authored by President Paul Pribbenow, Associate Professor Katie Clark, Professor Tim Pippert, and former staff member Green Bouzard, “Radical Roots” examines Torstenson’s legacy at Augsburg over the past 60 years. At the core is a story of transformation that outlines how Augsburg deepened its understanding of the public purposes of higher education by embracing its urban setting. The book offers lessons for colleges and universities across the country committed to democratic engagement in their work at the intersections of mission and place.

We hope readers who purchase the book feel inspired and have a renewed sense of commitment to the public work of higher education in a rapidly changing world.

Purchase a copy! 

Hear from the authors.

On February 27, Augsburg hosted a Career Exploration Day for first-year students. One workshop offered to the students was titled, “Navigating the Journey: Things I wish I would have known as a first year Auggie.”

This workshop was led by the Augsburg Alumni Board and included Alumni Board members (Berlynn Bitengo ’21, Charlotte Deegan ’12, Ian Heseltine ’21, and Jay Lepper ’95) and other Augsburg Alumni (Kristin Bunge ’12, Lori Higgins ’94, Sarah Korbel ’12, and Chase Webber ’20).

Over the course their two workshops, seven alumni panelists and one alumnus facilitator spoke to around 70 students about their various career journeys and experiences at and after Augsburg.

Thank you to our amazing Alumni for giving back to Augsburg and sharing their wisdom, offering bits of their stories, and helping first-year students to think about what they can do now to prepare for their careers in the future.