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Camping out to give back

camperSince August 2006, St. Bernard Project residents and volunteers have rebuilt more than 100 homes in the St. Bernard Parish, an area near New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward that was one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. On the project web site, one resident describes the unique ways of the St. Bernard people. “Meet us once,” she writes, “and you walk away as if you have known us your entire life.”

That is precisely how Augsburg senior, Matt Eller, feels about Kenny, a man he met last month in New Orleans. Continue reading “Camping out to give back”

Hanging art in New York City

wootenZac Wooten has more than graduation to look forward to this summer. This art history student is on his way to attend New York University in the fall in the profit arts and administration program. At NYU, Zac will earn his Master’s in Arts Administration (MAA).

Zac discovered his passion for art on a study abroad trip in Italy. There, he learned how art plays a significant role in everyday life in Italy. After returning to Augsburg as a theater major, Zac took a class with art history professor Kristen Anderson on the historical aspects of art. In a subsequent course, Kerry Morgan, Augsburg’s art gallery coordinator, noticed Zac’s passion for art. “He would attend art shows and stay after to ask questions,” she remembers. “Zac had above and beyond an interest in the art brought to campus.” He was interested in making art accessible to others. Continue reading “Hanging art in New York City”

Identifying the bad guys — research in police lineups

psych_policeIf you’re guilty, Nancy Steblay wants you to get noticed. Last year the Augsburg psychology professor she was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct research in eyewitness accuracy.

Steblay says her research reflects an interest she’s had in eyewitness accuracy for many years. “Lineups are most interesting to me because they involve procedures that the criminal justice system cannot adjust in order to reduce the likelihood of false evidence,” said Steblay. “My interest in lineups really strengthened as DNA post-conviction exonerations began to show up in the mid-90s. The most common cause of wrongful conviction in these cases is eyewitness error.” Continue reading “Identifying the bad guys — research in police lineups”

Looking for Languages?

During registration periods, students searching online for language courses often get frustrated. Why? You won’t find “Spanish” under the “Spanish” department or even under “Languages.” You have to search in “Modern Languages.”

But now the search is easier. All of Augsburg’s language courses can be found under the heading of “Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies.” The department formerly known as Modern Languages has been renamed, reflecting a new curricular emphasis on context and culture rather than simply the grammatical aspect of language education.

Omitting culture education from a language curriculum “shuts down interest in people who don’t think of themselves as linguists and who want to learn about the culture,” said Frankie Shackelford, the department’s chair. “Most students choose language for International Relations majors…Why not re-contextualize the study of languages so [culture] is from day one incorporated?” Continue reading “Looking for Languages?”

Augsburg welcomes Norwegian Ambassador

ambassadorOn Wednesday, Ambassador Wegger Chr. Strommen will make his first visit to Augsburg College, where at least four generations of Norwegian-Americans who share the Strommen name have graduated.

After touring campus, Strommen will present a talk at 2 p.m., “Norway and United States in the 21st Century,” in the Christensen Center Student Art Gallery.

With a background in law, Strommen has practiced in that field both as an attorney and a judge. For the past 7 years, he has represented his country in various posts at the United Nations. He was appointed as Norway’s ambassador to the U.S. in October 2007. Continue reading “Augsburg welcomes Norwegian Ambassador”

Making advising more accessible

advisingAugsburg’s academic advising department has made positive changes that will make student advising more accessible to students. Through correspondence on the Internet, extended window hours, and peer advising, academic advising hopes to reach more students and guide them through all of their academic questions and needs.

“Academic advising is continually adapting how we support students’ work with their faculty advisers. We are trying to reach out to our diverse populations using technology. While we value face-to-face interactions with students, we are aware they are not always plausible,” said Kelsey Richardson Blackwell, academic adviser. Continue reading “Making advising more accessible”

Augsburg celebrates LGBTQIA grads and allies

lavenderAmid a sea of black caps and gowns, flashes of tasseled color highlight academic achievement or represent the culture of some graduates at Augsburg’s commencement exercises. This year, rainbow tassels will add to the assortment as they dangle from the mortarboards of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, and ally students (LGBTQIA). Graduates will receive their polychromatic tassels at Augsburg’s first annual Lavender Graduation Celebration to be held later this month. Continue reading “Augsburg celebrates LGBTQIA grads and allies”

Augsburg recognizes staff at length of service award ceremony

eoy08The Staff Length of Service and Outstanding Employee was held Thursday, April 3.

The annual event, hosted by Augsburg College Staff Senate, recognizes

staff celebrating various milestones in their career at Augsburg. Individuals

recognized this year were those celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, & 25 years at Augsburg College.

The College also recognized outstanding staff contributions by presenting the Outstanding Employee of the Year award to one individual from each division.

Pictured (at left) with President Pribbenow are this year’s recipients: Dianne Detloff, Center for Counseling and Health Promotion; Kevin Healy, Advancement Services; Sheila Anderson, Academic Advising; Jim West, Information Technology; Dennis Revier, Custodial Services; Brenda Hemmingsen, Undergraduate Day Admissions.

This award recognizes exceptional Augsburg staff members who exemplify the mission statement of the college through their actions. Recipients of this award consistently go above and beyond the call of duty by providing exceptional service

to others and/or making innovative and outstanding contributions to enhance the objectives of their department or the Augsburg community.

The Class of 2008 prepares for a celebration

commenceAugsburg is getting ready to celebrate the accomplishments of its 860 students in the Class of 2008 who are eligible to graduate this year at two Commencement Ceremonies—Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, June 29.

On May 3, 364 Day College students and 26 physician assistant studies students cross campus for the last time as Augsburg students, marching to Melby Hall through two long lines of faculty, who are cheering them on and giving out well-deserved high-fives and hugs. For the weekday students it’s a different scene than the one they remember on that day in September when they marched as a class for the first time, to the Opening Ceremony, timidly, through faculty welcoming them to college.  Continue reading “The Class of 2008 prepares for a celebration”

Center for Science, Business, and Religion update

building4On March 20, Augsburg’s Board of Regents received an update on the planning for the newest addition to campus — the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. This new interdisciplinary building will serve as a home for these departments and others while reshaping how the campus intersects.

After holding a series of meetings with approximately 300 members of the Augsburg community, the Building Project Steering Committee has worked with architectural firms to create several plans that it presented to the Regents. These design schemes include a building plan, a landscape architecture plan, and an updated campus master plan. Continue reading “Center for Science, Business, and Religion update”