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From finance to fine arts — a perspective on music business

music_businessNext week the Augsburg community will be treated to a presentation on trends and careers in music business. The guest speaker is performer, songwriter, and teacher Dick Weissman. Weissman is the author of the best-selling “The Music Business: Career Opportunities & Self Defense” and “Understanding the Music Business.”

Following the presentation, students will be able to talk with an all-star panel of industry experts including an Augsburg MBA graduate, Sarah Phelan ’09. Phelan is a marketing program manager with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Continue reading “From finance to fine arts — a perspective on music business”

Tammy McGee named Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO

mcgeeAugsburg College announced Tuesday that it has named Tammy McGee to serve as its Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer.

McGee, who has a strong background in higher education, will assume a key leadership position at Augsburg. She will work on the college’s continued long-term financial planning, oversee facilities and human resources, and work with faculty and staff colleagues to assess new opportunities for program growth.

“I am thrilled that Tammy McGee will join Augsburg as our new Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer,” Augsburg president Paul C. Pribbenow said. Continue reading “Tammy McGee named Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO”

Land O' Lakes President and CEO to speak about food and farming

policinskiWhen we look out our windows here at Augsburg to the freeways and Minneapolis skyline, it’s easy to forget that the agriculture and food business is one of the leading economic indicators for our state. Agriculture has always played a critically important role in Minnesota’s economy and culture—in many meaningful ways, Minnesota is still “farm country.”

Chris Policinski, President and CEO of Land O’Lakes, will speak to the Augsburg College about American agriculture and how it serves our country and the world. Policinski’s presentation is titled, “The Great Productivity Story of American Agriculture and Why It Must Continue.” The lecture will be held Thursday, April 1 at 5 p.m. in Kennedy Center, room 303. Continue reading “Land O' Lakes President and CEO to speak about food and farming”

Myles Stenshoel, professor emeritus of political science, dies at 86

stenshoelIt is with deep sadness that Augsburg College mourns the passing of Myles Stenshoel, professor emeritus of political science. He died at the age of 86 at home surrounded by his family. Professor Stenshoel came to Augsburg in 1965 to establish a political science department, which he did the following year, with the addition of Professor Norma Noonan. He taught for 21 years, phased into retirement, and continued teaching part time in retirement.

After graduating from Concordia College, Moorhead, and Concordia Theological Seminary, he was ordained and served small churches in Colorado. But it was not long before he felt a stronger call to teach. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Colorado and returned to the Midwest to teach at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Continue reading “Myles Stenshoel, professor emeritus of political science, dies at 86”

Irvine receives Fulbright to rove in Norway

irvine_fulbrightFor several months, associate English professor Colin Irvine has listened to Norwegian language recordings during his daily commute between Northfield and Augsburg College as he hoped for good news.

It turned out to be a good decision.

That’s because Irvine was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship award and will spend the 2010-2011 academic year in Norway as a Roving Scholar in American Studies.

In the role, Irvine will prepare presentations on American studies topics and travel to schools across Norway to provide opportunities for Norwegian teenagers to learn about the United States. The schools will request the presentation that Irvine will give. Irvine, who will be based in Oslo with his wife and two children, will likely give between 250 and 300 presentations. Continue reading “Irvine receives Fulbright to rove in Norway”

Talking psychology at the Capitol

praska_capitolDavid Praska wanted to be a dentist and follow in the footsteps of his uncle, a successful orthodontist. “He had this great lifestyle, and I really wanted that,” Praska says. So in high school and the first two years of college, he focused on biology. “But I was never really good at it.”

Then he went to see Lisa Jack, an assistant professor of psychology at Augsburg. He said he was interested in psychology, and she asked him why. “I told her I liked watching people and how they operate,” Praska explained. The next thing he knew, they were mapping out a strategy for him to complete the psychology major in two years.

And that’s how David Praska, psychology major, found himself at the State Capitol building talking to legislators and guests about his research on therapies for children with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Continue reading “Talking psychology at the Capitol”

Loven and Lewis come home to Minneapolis

kyle_lovenKyle Loven ’06 has called a few places “home.” He moved from the charming town of Wilmar, Minn. to Minneapolis to study theatre and art history at Augsburg. After college, he spent some time in Europe before settling in Seattle, Wash. And on March 19, Loven will return to his Twin Cities home to perform my dear Lewis, his one-man show about memories.

my dear Lewis will be part of SEEDS, presented by Open Eye Figure Theatre. SEEDS features the work of emerging artists who are supported by the Henson Foundation. Performances are Mar. 19, 20, and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Mar. 21 at 4 p.m.  Continue reading “Loven and Lewis come home to Minneapolis”

"Vagina Monologues" raises money and awareness

v_monologuesRecently a group of Augsburg students staged two performances of The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler’s episodic play which began off-Broadway and has spawned V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. This year’s production raised more than $800 to benefit the House of Sharing, an organization in Seoul, South Korea that houses and cares for the surviving “comfort women,” young Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during WWII.

Augsburg senior Krystal Mattison is the granddaughter of a comfort woman. After spending time with this group of women during her year in Korea, she came back to Augsburg committed to raising awareness about this issue. Her own grandmother (halmoni) died when Mattison was five years old, but she learned of her grandmother’s story from her father. Continue reading “"Vagina Monologues" raises money and awareness”

Augsburg College receives national recognition for community service

honor_rollAt Augsburg, there is little question that Auggies give back to their community. In the 2008-09 school year, it was estimated that Augsburg students performed 67,000 hours of community service, most of which took place within a mile of campus.

That total is the equivalent of 2,791 24-hour days or 8,375 eight-hour work days, a staggering total for a college with 2,000 Day College undergraduates and 4,000 total students. Continue reading “Augsburg College receives national recognition for community service”

Batalden Seminar features Mexican writer, activist

bataldenThe 2010 Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics will feature Gustavo Esteva, a writer and activist who is also the founder of the Universidad de la Tierra in the Mexican city of Oaxaca. Esteva will speak Friday and Saturday in the Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center.

[From www.gustavoesteva.com] Gustavo is an independent writer, a grassroots activist, and a deprofessionalized intellectual. He works both independently and in conjunction with a variety of Mexican NGOs and grassroots organizations and communities. He has been a key figure in founding several Mexican, Latin American and International NGOs and networks. Continue reading “Batalden Seminar features Mexican writer, activist”