Ankita Deka

Ankita Deka, Ph.D., M.S.W., B.A.

Dr. Deka is an Associate Professor of Social Work, and the Masters of Social Work (MSW) Program Director at Augsburg University. She has over 15 years of graduate teaching experience. Dr.Deka has teaching and research experience on health disparity and health equity issues among marginalized populations. She brings her teaching, research and lived experiences to inform her teaching. She is excited to teach in the certificate program.

Annie Mack

Annie Mack
Annie Mack is an Accomplished Singer-Songwriter and Healing Justice Activist.

As a Queer Black Woman, creative, mother of three and radical truth teller Annie’s lived experience provides a deep wealth of knowledge and insight into what it is like to navigate oppressive systems while trying to pursue black joy, healing, and justice.

Breanna Nichols

Breanna Nichols is Director of St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center, leading the team providing services and programs in the Great Hall Building and at two family shelters in Oakdale and Hugo, Minnesota.

Elaine Eschenbacher

Elaine Eschenbacher is a writer, researcher, facilitator, and coach. Formerly Augsburg’s Assistant Provost for Experiential Learning and Meaningful Work, she launched Unleashed Azalea in 2024 where she offers coaching on leadership and creativity, and works with organizations on workshop design, facilitation, research and writing. She teaches Community Engaged Leadership courses with the Masters of Leadership program at Augsburg University and holds an MA in Organizational Leadership.

Erin Updike

Jack Fortin

Jack Fortin is currently a Senior Fellow at Augsburg University. In the past, he has held senior leadership roles in national and international organizations, and in one of those roles, started and led the Center for Lifelong Learning at Luther Seminary, He provides mentoring and coaching to senior management in for-profit and non-profit organizations, and has served on numerous boards. He is also a national speaker and the author of Centered Life.

Jacob Swede

Jake Swede, M. Ed. 
Program Director - MNUDL

Jake Swede is the Program Director at the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL). He has over 20 years of debate experience ranging from a high school and collegiate competitor, to a middle school to collegiate level coach, and a debate program administrator. He is an NSDA Diamond Award coach and recipient of the Minnesota Debate Teacher Association’s James Graupner Distinguished Service Award.

Jake Swede

Jake Swede, M. Ed. 
Program Director - MNUDL

Jake Swede is the Program Director at the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL). He has over 20 years of debate experience ranging from a high school and collegiate competitor, to a middle school to collegiate level coach, and a debate program administrator. He is an NSDA Diamond Award coach and recipient of the Minnesota Debate Teacher Association’s James Graupner Distinguished Service Award.

Jeremy Myers

Jeremy Myers currently serves as the Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation at Augsburg University where he is the executive director of the university's Christensen Center for Vocation and a member of the Religion and Philosophy faculty. He has been teaching at Augsburg since 2006. He researches, writes, and teaches in the areas of a vocational understanding of the human being and a public understanding of the church.

Jim and Judy Grubs

Jim and Judy Grubs believe strongly that one must be involved in something beyond oneself.  They draw on lives of deep service to community, in their church, and internationally.  Judy is a retired social worker, and Jim served non-profit and higher education roles, retiring as vice president of co-worker services with the Reell Corporation.  In March of 2021 Jim suffered a hemorrhagic stroke which affected mobility on his left side and hampered his executive functioning abilities.