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Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa October 2015

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This is a guest post written by Augsburg College student, JD Mechelke, after two months on CGEE Southern Africa program. 

My eyes began to open, being disturbed by the slight shaft of light poking past the peaks of the mountains around our two story double decker sleeper bus. We were on the road all night traveling from Bloemfontein to Cape Town. I dug through my backpack and found my phone. It was a little past 5am. As the light behind the mountains grew I began to more accurately assess the highway we were traveling down. Though our bus was massive and the thruway vast, we were at the mercy of the mountains. But moments earlier, my conscience was somewhere else… Continue reading “Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa October 2015” →

Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa September 2015

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This is a guest post written by Augsburg College student, JD Mechelke, after one month on CGEE Southern Africa program. 

The view was hard to take in. It was decaying. An endless view of tin, tarp, and cardboard roofs. It was not possible to distinguish between each jury-rigged shack. It wasn’t overtly overwhelming to me. I had encountered the sounds and smells of deep poverty before. The merciless sea that is Alexandria halted drastically as we stopped on a bridge passing over a freeway. When we got to the other side, I realized we weren’t in Alexandria anymore. My eyes bulged as I watched a Lamborghini drive into a mansion. We had entered Sandton, the richest municipality in South Africa. There was an endless contrast between the super rich of Sandton and the extreme poverty of Alexandria, separated by 8 lanes of freeway: now that was overwhelming. Continue reading “Guest Blogger: JD Mechelke, Southern Africa September 2015” →

International Education Week: November 16-20, 2015

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Join ISO (the International Student Organization) for activities around campus during November 16-20 for International Education Week! Here are some of the great activities that will be going on:

  • Monday – International Culture Posters Display, Christensen Center Lobby, 10 am to 2 pm
  • Wednesday – Game & Trivia Night, Student Lounge, 6 pm to 8 pm
  • Friday – International Dance with ALAS (Augsburg Latin American Students), East Commons, 8 pm to 11:30 pm
  • All Week – Watch for International Foods in the cafeteria, from A’viands!

In addition to ISO events listed above, the Study Abroad & Study Away in the USA and the office for Latin@ Student Services will be co-hosting  a Global & Off Campus Programs info session for DACA and undocumented students interested in off-campus study.

The session will feature experiences of current students who have studied off campus as well as John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of MN, who will provide legal advice about the risks and benefits of these programs for students. The session highlights Augsburg’s commitment to offering services and support to DACA & undocumented students. For more information about the session, please contact Dulce Monterrubio at monterru@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1309.

Returning home from Mexico

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This is a guest post by Alicia Olness, an Augsburg College student that participated in the summer program in Mexico with CGEE, 2015. 

Mexico had a lot of great things to offer. Every week we were able to meet with someone new from the community and discuss a topic such as poverty, immigration, or business in Mexico. This allowed me to expand my knowledge about Mexico as well as feel more connected with different kinds of people from the area.

Alicia Olness, Mexico Summer 2015

I also loved the three states we were able to visit and the other destinations that CGEE brought us to. Everything we did and everyone I met had a huge impact in my life. Overall I had a great summer studying in Cuernavaca, Mexico and can’t imagine spending my summer any differently.

Reality Check: Gaps Between Global North & South

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*UPDATE November 11, 2015 – Mark’s full presentation is now posted online!

Mark Lester, Co-Director of Augsburg’s Global Campus in Nicaragua, will be speaking at Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, this weekend in Washington, DC. The theme of the event this year is “Bridges”.

Mark Lester Staff Photo

Mark will be presenting on the topic, “Beyond Immersion and Service:  Bridges for Institutionalizing the Impact of the Global South on our Educational Mission”. This presentation uses the experience of a 30 year collaboration between Augsburg CGEE, the Winds of Peace Foundation, and the Research and Development Institute “Nitlapan-UCA” in Nicaragua. The presentation is meant to provoke reflection on the gaps between the reality of the Global North and South, and the important role institutions can play “as bridges” between those realities.

Mark will be presenting during breakout session #3, on Sunday, November 8th, from 1:10 – 2:00 PM.

Augsburg Staff & Alumni to Present at NAFSA

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Andrea Dvorak, Assistant Director of Off-campus Study, Dulce Monterrubio, Director, Latin@ Student Services, and and Augsburg alum Zitlali Chavez Ayala (’15), will be speaking at NAFSA’s regional conference in Des Moines. NAFSA is the premier national organization for international educators. The theme of the conference is “Planting Seeds. Sharing the Harvest”.

Andrea, Dulce, and Zitali will be presenting on the topic, “Breaking Barriers: Best Practices Working with Undocumented and DACA-mented Students”. From NAFSA conference site: “This interactive session will introduce up-to-date information on federal and state regulations, address ongoing barriers to accessing higher education, and guide you in providing services and support for undocumented and DACA-mented students. We will also share strategies for offering informed education abroad advising, and provide examples of programs that are undocu-friendly. Most importantly, you’ll hear from a recent college grad about her college and study-away experience as a DACA-mented student. You will walk out with confidence in your knowledge about serving these students and empowered to support them within the structures of your state, program, or institution.”

Congratulations, Andrea, Dulce and Zitali on representing Augsburg’s value of breaking down barriers to access higher education for a wide variety of students!

Study Abroad in Mexico: Still Accepting Applications

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Missed the deadline to study abroad?

We still have spaces remaining for our spring 2016 semester in Mexico – and will continue to accept applications until full.

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should choose the program Migration, Globalization, and the Environment:

  • study Spanish at any level–small classes individualized to your level as well as practice with native speakers during your host family stay
  • complete an optional internship specific to your major or interests
  • travel around the country to well-known sites such as Frida Kahlo’s house, Puebla, Taxco, Teotihuacan, and more – most of the trips are included in the price of the program!
  • make friends with students from other colleges studying at our Global Campus study center
  • enjoy delicious Mexican foods!

Start your application today.

 

Augsburg Global Faculty to Present at National Conference

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Dr. Ann Lutterman-Aguilar, Director of Augsburg’s Global Campus in Mexico, will be speaking at SIETAR’s annual conference in Orlando. SIETAR is the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research. The theme of the conference (having its 15th year celebration) is Expanding Intercultural Horizons: Competencies for a Diverse and Global Workforce.

Ann visits Minneapolis
Ann visits Minneapolis

Ann will be presenting on the topic, “Holistic Global Development: Course Assignments that Help Students Integrate Intercultural & Career Development”. Continue reading “Augsburg Global Faculty to Present at National Conference” →

Get Ahead By Going Abroad: The Importance of being a Global Citizen in the 21st Century Workforce

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Get Ahead By Going Abroad: The Importance of being a Global Citizen in the 21st Century Workforce – Thursday, Oct. 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel

Students often hear claims that an off-campus experience (like an internship or study abroad) is life changing, transformational, and all around good for you and your resume. But why is this? Who decided that being a global citizen is important? Stacie Berdan, a world-wide leader and expert in Global Education, will be on campus presenting on this very topic.

Stacie will focus on how going global is a mindset, why today’s workers need global skills to compete, whether at home or abroad, and the steps students can take to become a global thinker. She will tie in how international/off campus experiences can help students grow in self-awareness, which can propel them forward in their pursuit of meaningful work, and emphasize the idea that gaining global skills/mindset is an important part of college, regardless of major.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this interactive and fun presentation.

Sponsored by: the Center for Global Education and Experience & the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work.

Transformative, Hands-On Experience; Alumni Profile

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The following is a profile & reflection of Olivia Boerschinger, Augsburg College Alumni, Metro Urban Studies major, who completed a “Study Away in the USA” program with Augsburg’s partner organization, HECUA. 

Olivia Boerschinger, HECUA Auggie Alumni

 

Olivia interned with Catholic Charities Refugee Services while participating on HECUA’s program “Inequality in America” during the spring semester of 2013.

She now works for Project for Pride in Living running programs for children transitioning from homelessness to a PPL supportive housing development in North Minneapolis. Olivia is currently supervising a HECUA intern enrolled in the Inequality in America program.

Continue reading “Transformative, Hands-On Experience; Alumni Profile” →