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Staff and Advisory Board

We’ve got your backs! Members of the Advisory Board are trusted allies and were selected for their areas of expertise as well as for their strong support of students. Please see their bios for their contact information and how they can assist you.

A middle-aged man smiling, standing outside with trees and greenery in the background. He is wearing a light blue dress shirt and a brown blazer.Tim Pippert
Executive Director

Tim Pippert currently serves as the executive director of Augsburg Family Scholars and as the Joel Torstenson endowed professor of sociology. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Nebraska and joined the faculty at Augsburg in 1999, where he teaches a variety of courses from Introduction to Sociology to the Senior Seminar and Keystone. His wide-ranging research interests have spanned from fictive kin relationships shared by men experiencing homelessness, the accuracy of college and university photographic representations of diversity in recruitment materials, and the social impacts of the most recent oil boom in western North Dakota. His research, published in several academic journals, has been reported by media outlets such as National Public Radio’s Sunday Edition, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Huffington Post, Inside Higher Ed, and USA Today.

With teaching as a primary focus, he has conducted several professional workshops on teaching, given multiple conference papers on the scholarship of teaching and learning, served as Augsburg University’s director of the center for teaching and learning, and has been awarded Augsburg University’s Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning Award. In 2022, he worked with students in the Senior Seminar and Keystone (SOC 490) to envision, design, and fundraise for Augsburg Family Scholars, which launched in September 2022.

Tim is thrilled to be now able to devote the majority of his time to Augsburg Family Scholars.

Call or email him with any questions—he would love to have you join Augsburg Family Scholars!

pippert@augsburg.edu

612-330-1227

Portrait of a smiling person with shoulder-length curly hair wearing an orange jacket.Kelsey Richardson Blackwell

(She/Her)

Kelsey is Augsburg University’s senior director of advising and registration

Kelsey can be reached at richardk@augsburg.edu.

Woman with long hair, wearing a floral blouse and maroon cardigan, smiling indoors.WonWon Bjorklund

(She/Her)

I am a financial aid counselor here at Augsburg, where I manage the Fostering Independence Grant and various state-sponsored programs. As a proud Augsburg alum from the class of 2022, I am excited to be collaborating with the Augsburg Family Scholars program. I aim to assist students in navigating their financial aid and provide valuable resources.

Fun fact about me: I had worked as a student worker here for 3 years in the financial aid office along with being very involved on campus as a student. I was Augsburg Business Organization’s Secretary, Augsburg’s Student Activity Council’s Treasurer, Emerging Leaders Program graduate, along with being a participant of TRIO/SSS and Augsburg Asian Student Association (AASA).

WonWon can be reached at bjorkluw@augsburg.edu.

A woman with light brown hair, wearing a dark blue top, smiles at the camera with a green lawn in the background.Amanda Burgess

(She/Her)

Hello! I am the director of financial aid at Augsburg and am a 2005 alum. In the financial aid office, we strive to meet students where they are and provide support as they navigate paying for college. Finances can be stressful and exciting. We hope to provide a space where students can get their questions answered and feel empowered to make informed financial decisions. Please reach out anytime; I’m happy to help!

Amanda can be reached at burgessa@augsburg.edu.

 

 

 

Smiling man wearing glasses and a blazer in an outdoor setting.Robert Gould

(He/Him)
I lead the offices of admissions and financial aid and see myself as a belonging adventurer.  I am willing to mentor, listen deeply, validate, and joke around.
Robert can be reached by stopping by his office in Admissions, calling, text, email anytime about anything.  612 357 9142, gouldr2@augsburg.edu.

 

Man smiling while leaning against a concrete wall with a brown background.Mike Grewe

(He/Him)

Michael Grewe started at Augsburg University in 2008 and is currently the dean of students. Mike’s career in higher education has included work in student advising, orientation, LGBTQIA+ student services, student leadership development, commuter student services, military and veteran student services, Title IX, and student conduct.

Mike can be reached at grewe@augsburg.edu.

Black and white portrait of a smiling person wearing glasses and a light-colored shirt with stripes underneath.Christopher Houltberg

(He/Him)

Christopher Houltberg is a Minneapolis-based artist, designer, and educator. Born in Salina, Kansas, Houltberg went to the West Coast for undergraduate studies and the East Coast for graduate school. His creative practice includes making, designing and teaching aesthetics, and sits at the intersection of design and fine art. Shortly after moving to Minneapolis in 2005, he began working as a designer and art director for an international architecture firm. Drawing on this array of experiences, Houltberg employs an interdisciplinary perspective in his creative practice both in making and teaching. His artwork has been exhibited both locally and nationally and has been a recipient of a Jerome Fellowship (2012) and a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant (2020). He is the director of Design & Agency, a trans-disciplinary design studio where students, faculty, and community members co-create: generating ideas and solving problems to create good in the world.

Christopher can be reached at houltbe@augsburg.edu.

Person smiling in front of a green leafy background.Lydia Rikkola

(She/Her)

I am Lydia Rikkola! I am an Augsburg Alumni (2022 grad) my job title is whatever you students need it to be! I am available for homework support, I am free to be a venting resource. If you need a support person to find answers to your questions I am here to help in any way I can! I am so excited to have you students here please take care of yourselves! I am so happy to be able to support AFS.

Lydia can be reached at lydia.rikkola@alumni.augsburg.edu.

Headshot of a person with dark braided hair, glasses, and a maroon background.Joanne Reeck

(She/Her)

Joanne Reeck is Augsburg University’s vice president for equity and inclusion and ADA compliance officer.

Joanne can be reached at reeck@augsburg.edu.

A smiling person with long dark hair stands amidst yellow flowers and green foliage.Sarah Degner Riveros

(She/Her/Ella)

Hello! I am an Augsburg Alum in creative writing. I teach Spanish here and have been a faculty member in the Department of Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies at Augsburg since the fall of 2015.  Prior to coming to Minnesota, I lived in a small town in Indiana for 12 years, and before that, I lived in New York City where I earned my doctorate in Spanish Literature at Columbia University.  As a single mother of 5 children and as a survivor of domestic violence, I have spent many years navigating systems.  I am very proud of the accomplishments of my students in the Augsburg Family Scholars program.

Sarah can be reached at riveross@augsburg.edu.

 

Close-up of a smiling person with light brown hair outdoors against a background of greenery and a pathway.Stephanie Ruckel

(She/Her)
At Augsburg, I work behind the scenes to make the enrollment process easier.  I love changing systems to improve the experience of others.  I started my career with a non-profit offering financial counseling to those who needed help with budgets and debt.  It’s something I love to help others work through.  I think financial awareness is so important.  In my role, I am able to connect with lots of other staff across campus.  I love to learn how others are servicing students and try to be part of it when I can-offering the skills I have.  When not working I love creating a Halloween costume for my kids, a new recipe, or woodworking, I find it so satisfying to be creative and make something new.  I feel lucky that my kids indulge my creations and my spouse will eat just about anything.
Stephanie can be reached at ruckels@augsburg.edu.

: A person with short curly dark hair, green framed glasses, a red shirt, and a multicolored beaded necklace, smiling.Erin Sugrue

(She/Her)

Hello! I have been a faculty member in the social work department at Augsburg since Fall 2018. Before becoming a professor, I was a school social worker for over a decade. My research focuses on examining ways to bring more equity, justice, and care in our education and child welfare systems. I love working with students and am excited to be connected to the Augsburg Family Scholars program.

Erin can be reached at sugrue@augsburg.edu.