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A special day for first tribal special education cohort

tribal_cohortIt isn’t Commencement, but Saturday, May 22 is almost as significant a day for the members of the Tribal Special Education Cohort that is a partnership between Augsburg and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

On that day, the 15 students in the cohort that combines online and face-to-face learning will attend class in the morning at Black Bear Casino near Carlton. In the afternoon, they will celebrate with their families as they will have completed the eligibility requirements in order to apply for their special education teaching license.

While the students will still have four courses to complete to finish their Master of Arts in Education degree, they will be able to apply for special education positions and seek employment for the 2010-11 academic year. Continue reading “A special day for first tribal special education cohort”

A summer of investigation and discovery

urgosummer10Research isn’t all test tubes and laboratories. This summer at Augsburg, students will create music, study Medieval history, compare Minnesota theatres, and even attempt to determine if a BMI can be established for dogs. For the 2010 URGO summer research projects, students will spend 200 or 400 hours conducting research with faculty from Augsburg and other institutions. Many will present their findings in May 2011 at Zyzzogeton, Augsburg’s year-end festival of academic and artistic achievement. Continue reading “A summer of investigation and discovery”

Augsburg MBA goes to Chile

chile_mbaIn April, 20 Augsburg MBA students led by Professors Magda Paleczny-Zapp and Steven Zitnick embarked on a 9-day international experience to Santiago, Chile. The purpose of the trip was to expose the students to the thriving business climate of Chile and to allow students an opportunity to understand the culture and environment of a South American country that has built a stable, just, and democratic society after nearly 30 years of unrest. Continue reading “Augsburg MBA goes to Chile”

Professor Hao takes home lessons in Western education

prof_haoProfessor Tugen Hao heads back to China next week after spending four months at Augsburg as a visiting professor and researcher. During these four months he observed three classes, pursued his own research, and taught Chinese. He found time to travel coast-to-coast, visiting Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.—and he discovered where to find Chinese food in the Twin Cities. Continue reading “Professor Hao takes home lessons in Western education”

Simple gifts

scholarship_brunchFrom a speech delivered by Peter Miller ’10 at the 2010 scholarship and donor brunch.

It is truly a gift to honor student success, engaged scholarship, and active citizenship knowing that each of these simple components is intertwined in my own story. This is a story about how simple gifts transform a community into a simple reality.

For most of us, though, turning someone’s simple gift into a simple reality is not an easy process. Simple gifts are not easy gifts, but they are simple. Let me explain.

When I was a child, I used to love to listen to my mom play the dulcimer. She would play this old Shaker hymn while my brother and I would run around in the yard. Whenever I hear it, it still shakes me up and makes me want to dance and appreciate how precious life is. The hymn is called “Simple Gifts.” Continue reading “Simple gifts”

Tiede Accepts Interim Presidency at Wartburg Theological Seminary

tiedeDavid Tiede is retiring as Augsburg’s Bernhard M. Christensen Chair in Religion and Vocation at the end of this academic year. But he has – in his words – flunked retirement again.

That is because Tiede has accepted an appointment as the interim president of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, beginning July 1.

“I was going to retire,” Tiede said. “We just had this lovely retirement party at President Pribbenow’s house. And then, five days later, I took this new job.

“When I came to Augsburg, we agreed I would hold the Christensen chair between three and five years on a part time arrangement. The grace with which Augsburg has received and accepted my work over the last five years has been magnificent, and now Augsburg has appointed an outstanding person to hold the chain on a full time basis, as we had hoped.” Continue reading “Tiede Accepts Interim Presidency at Wartburg Theological Seminary”

Distinguished contributions to teaching and learning

ctl_awardsAt the recent Honors convocation, the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Office of the Dean recognized the 2010 recipients of awards for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning.

Professor Robert Cowgill of the Department of English, Excellence in Teaching

Bob Cowgill is a brilliant teacher who is held in high regard by his students and colleagues. A University of Minnesota alumnus, Bob’s primary purpose in teaching is to help students understand their full humanity, and to understand themselves as artists. He is recognized by his students for creating a classroom environment that is intellectually challenging, respectful, and fun. His colleagues marvel at his command of the art of teaching; his students never forget him and Augsburg would not be the same without him. Continue reading “Distinguished contributions to teaching and learning”

Three more Fulbrights — and counting

fulbrightsJens Olsen knew he wanted to return to Vietnam. Heidi Le wasn’t sure if she wanted to apply. Bethany Hellerich decided that one more experience before graduate school was a good idea.

Regardless of motivation, the three are the latest from Augsburg to be selected for the Fulbright Scholarship program. Olsen and Le, who will graduate next month, will spend the 2010-11 academic year teaching English in Vietnam. Hellerich, a 2009 Augsburg graduate, will teach English in Indonesia.

While the Fulbright program is very competitive, Augsburg students have had great success in recent years. Seven Auggies have now been awarded Fulbrights over the past three years. The program, which is run by the Institute of International Education, has sent students and faculty members across the world to study, teach, or conduct research for more than 60 years. Continue reading “Three more Fulbrights — and counting”