Kudos Archives - News and Media | Augsburg University

Congratulations to Auggies Named to the 2025 Summer Semester Dean’s List

Posted on September 9, 2025

More than 100 Augsburg University undergraduate students were named to the 2025 Summer Semester Dean’s List. The Augsburg University Dean’s List recognizes those full-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and those part-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a given term.

View the 2025 Summer Semester Dean’s List.

Students who wish to notify their hometown newspapers of their achievement can do so at their discretion using a news announcement template.

Matt Entenza to Receive Champion Award at 2025 Mayors Challenge

Posted on September 5, 2025September 5, 2025

13th Annual Minnesota Urban Debate League Event Highlights Arctic Policy

Former Minnesota state representative Matt Entenza has been named the 2025 Champion of Change by the Minnesota Urban Debate League. He will receive the award at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis on September 17, 2025, as part of MNUDL’s 13th annual policy debate showcase.

The 2025 Mayors Challenge: The Great Arctic Debate will explore issues related to Arctic exploration and development in front of an audience of state and local leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and First Lady Gwen Walz. This year’s student debaters are Eleanor Nervig (Roosevelt High School) and Sir Nakhai Guy-Cornelius (Open World Learning Community), arguing the affirmative, and Ayan Ahmed (Edison High School) and Charlotte Washington (Central High School), arguing the negative.

MNUDL gives out the Champion of Change award annually to a changemaker who models courageous leadership in Minnesota and beyond. Entenza’s experiences with policy debate at Augustana University and Macalester College ultimately led him to a career in public service and the law. With law degrees from Oxford University and the University of Minnesota, he has worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota, an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, and an attorney in private practice specializing in nonprofit organizations.

As a six-term legislator in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1995–2007), Entenza served as House Democratic Leader for four years and was recognized for his focus on consumer and family protections. His legislative accomplishments have been honored by organizations including Children’s Defense Fund, the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, the Minnesota Farmers Union, the National Child Support Enforcement Association, the League of Conservation Voters, the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, the National Coalition to End Child Hunger, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. After leaving the legislature, Entenza created Minnesota 2020, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering discussion and debate in education, health care, transportation and economic development. He has also worked as an international election monitor in Africa and Europe and served on the boards of the Hazelden Foundation, Macalester College, and Augsburg University, where he is a past board chair. Entenza’s belief in the transformative power of debate led to his founding support of MNUDL, for which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 from the National Speech and Debate Association.

“As a former debater, I strongly believe in the power of debate on people’s lives,” said Entenza. “I would not have been able to go to college if not for debate. You gain such amazing insights when you meet other students from around the state and learn about their interests. That’s created a lifelong peer group for me.”

Since 2012, the Mayors Challenge event has brought together education advocates from across the Twin Cities to watch an empowering, informative showcase debate and invest in the future of urban debate. Debate has been shown to positively impact literacy, self-esteem, critical thinking, attendance, and test scores. Students who participate in debate develop the capacity to engage in civil disagreement and civil discourse, skills that are essential for citizenship in a multicultural democracy.

Learn more or reserve tickets for the 2025 Mayors Challenge.

About MNUDL

The Minnesota Urban Debate League is a program of Augsburg University that provides resources and programming to support competitive academic debate in Twin Cities high schools and middle schools. The mission of MNUDL is to empower students through competitive academic debate to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active global citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities. Currently, MNUDL serves more than 1,850 students at 60+ partner schools and has seen sustained growth in student participation since its inception in 2004, in programs including MSHSL debate, middle school debate, Spanish Debate, East African Policy Debate, Financial Literacy Debates, and Summer Speech & Debate Camp at Augsburg.

Augsburg University Announces 2025 Alumni Awards

Posted on August 21, 2025

Augsburg University is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, First Decade Award, and Spirit of Augsburg Award. These outstanding alumni will be recognized at a public ceremony and reception on October 3 as part of Augsburg’s 2025 homecoming and reunion weekend.

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes significant achievement in vocation, for outstanding contribution to church and community, and for a life that exemplifies the ideals and mission of Augsburg University. The 2025 honorees are:

Susan Allen ’92, attorney and former Minnesota state legislator (Las Vegas, NV)
Michele Boyer ’89, housing supervisor, The Aliveness Project; director of supportive housing, Clare Housing (Minneapolis, MN)
Deacon Ross R. Murray, ’00, ’09 MBA, vice president, GLAAD Media Institute; founder and director, The Naming Project (St. Paul, MN)

First Decade Award

The First Decade Award is presented to Augsburg graduates of the past 10 years who have made significant progress in their professional achievements and contributions to the community, and in so doing exemplify the mission of the university. The 2025 honorees are:

Cristian Baca Perez ’16, DJ, producer, and event promoter (Minneapolis, MN)
Muna Mohamed ’16, founder and CEO, Kalsoni (Minneapolis, MN)

Spirit of Augsburg Award

The Spirit of Augsburg Award honors alumni and friends of the university who have given exceptional service that contributes substantially to the well-being of Augsburg by furthering its purposes and programs. The 2024 honorees are:

Mark S. Johnson ’75, PhD, retired city planner, former president of Sonju Motors, volunteer, and philanthropist (Naples, FL)

Learn more about the 2025 alumni award winners.

Augsburg Honored for Supporting Transfer Students

Posted on August 21, 2025

For a fourth consecutive year, Augsburg University is one of 251 colleges and universities nationwide that have been named to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society 2025 Transfer Honor Roll. Based on key metrics related to the support and success of transfer students, the Transfer Honor Roll recognizes excellence in the development and support of dynamic and innovative pathways for community college transfer students. Some of the metrics taken into consideration are cost and financial aid, campus life, admissions practices, and bachelor’s degree completion rates.

“Our transfer students are a huge thread in the fabric of the Augsburg campus. The experience they bring both academically and in life impacts our community in unique ways,” says Tim Lawson, associate director of undergraduate admissions at Augsburg. “Working with them on a daily basis and hearing their stories of where they are coming from and where they want to go not only inspires me, but each and every person they interact with on campus. Transfers are truly special and need to be celebrated for their passion and dedication to their educational journeys.”

Learn more about Augsburg’s transfer admissions.

Arif Bakar ’19 MAE Named a 2025 Bush Fellow

Posted on June 23, 2025

Arif Bakar ’19 MAE has been named a 2025 Bush Fellow by the Bush Foundation. Selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants, Bakar is one of 29 individuals eager to put his self-designed leadership plan into action through the time and resources being facilitated by the prestigious fellowship.

Originally from Ethiopia, Bakar moved to Minnesota in 2005 to begin a decade-long career in social work. He later became interested in education, seeing transferable skills in the field and earning a scholarship through Augsburg’s East African Students to Teachers (EAST) program—now Thrive—which made it possible to pursue a new career path with a Master of Arts in Education. Bakar gained classroom experience as a science teacher at Lincoln International High School in Minneapolis and later founded Bultum Academy in Columbia Heights, the first charter school in North America to teach Oromo as a world language.

Bakar said completing the extensive application and interview process for the Bush Fellowship was a deeply reflective experience, reminding him of how he has evolved and articulating his direction for the future.

“When you’re balancing school, work, and raising a family, you don’t always get the chance to stop and think about your own story,” said Bakar. “Going through the application made me reflect on where I came from, the people who influenced me, and the challenges that shaped my leadership journey. It was emotional at times—remembering my childhood, the struggles, and how far I’ve come. It reminded me that real leadership often comes from lived experience, resilience, and the inner drive to make a difference.”

After careful selection by the Bush Foundation, each fellow receives up to $150,000 to support their bold vision and their commitment to strengthening leadership skills. For Bakar, this means setting an example for his children and his community by pursuing a doctoral degree in leadership through St. Mary’s University. Bakar also plans to study global education models and teacher preparation methods in Japan, Finland, and Singapore.

“I want to throw myself into their culture and see it for myself from a quality standpoint. I want to experience as much as I can and bring that to my school and eventually pass on to other schools that want to replicate,” said Bakar.

Created by Archie and Edyth Bush in 1953, the Bush Foundation works to inspire and support creative problem solving—within and across sectors—to make the region better for everyone. The foundation works through open grantmaking programs to develop, test, and spread great ideas, equipping selected fellows throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share this geography.

Congratulations to Auggies Named to the 2025 Spring Semester Dean’s List

Posted on June 17, 2025June 17, 2025

Nearly 1,000 Augsburg University undergraduate students were named to the 2025 spring semester Dean’s List. The Augsburg University Dean’s List recognizes those full-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and those part-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a given term.

View the 2025 spring semester Dean’s List.

Students who wish to notify their hometown newspapers of their achievement can do so at their discretion using a news announcement template.

Augsburg Faculty Recognized With 2024–25 Outstanding Teaching and Service Awards

Posted on May 16, 2025

On May 8, the Augsburg University community gathered to recognize outstanding faculty contributions during the 2024–25 academic year. This annual celebration recognizes length of service; tenure and promotions; committee, program, and department leadership; grant applications; and individual awards chosen by students and faculty peers.

Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor

Three individuals were recognized for their achievement in receiving tenure and promotion to associate professor, effective Fall 2025.

Moumita Dasgupta, physics
Amy Larson, computer science
Juyoung Lee, music therapy

Promotion to Full Professor

Three individuals were recognized for their promotions to full professor effective Fall 2025, in recognition of their exemplary practice and mastery in teaching, scholarship, and leadership.

George Dierberger, business and economics
O. Evren Guler, psychology
Robert Groven, communication studies

Augsburg Day Student Government Excellence in Teaching Award

Andy Aoki, political science

Faculty Innovation Award

John Zobitz, mathematics and data science

Excellence in Teaching Award (Adjunct Faculty)

Steven Brehmer, physics

Early Career Teaching Award

Mallory Alekna, music education

Excellence in Teaching Award (Full-Time Faculty)

Kao Nou Moua, social work

Service to the Community Award

Katie Martin, nursing

Distinguished Service to the University Award

Stacy Freiheit, psychology

Summer May ’26 Named a 2025 Udall Scholar

Posted on May 6, 2025

Summer May ’26 has been awarded a 2025 Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. Through a highly competitive selection process, the Udall Foundation awards 55 scholarships annually to college sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, public service, academic achievement, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment.

May, a member of the Red Lake Nation, is the third Augsburg student to receive a Udall Scholarship. Alongside her environmental studies major, she serves as a teaching facilitator at Red Lake Nation College. In this role she works with tribal elders to co-create online curriculum resources based on Indigenous traditions, values, and ecological knowledge and supports instructors in teaching Anishinaabeg language, history, and culture. She previously co-taught Intro to Anishinaabe Studies and Intro to Ojibwemowin at Red Lake Nation College and served as an Ojibwe language PSEO instructor at Robbinsdale High School.

“These experiences have helped me to realize that each of us has a strength that can be utilized to better the well-being of our community,” said May. “We are all born with the responsibility to uphold and use this strength for those presently, and those seven generations from now. It’s an honor to be able to serve my community and aid in the preservation and continuation of the Ojibwe cultural language and teachings.”

Through her work and her studies, May aims to further establish environmental curricula and programs that are grounded in Anishinaabeg values, with a goal of helping Red Lake Nation College and other institutions transition toward environmental sustainability. Ultimately, she hopes to develop outreach programs that make eco-centric knowledge available beyond academic spaces.

“Summer listens closely to folks of every sort and shares wonder without naiveté,” said Professor Michael Lansing, who nominated May for the Udall Scholarship. “Her ability to be true to herself, her considerable insights, and her closely-held commitments is matched by her willingness to learn from and honor others. It’s a potent combination, one that builds on a foundation of personal and intellectual integrity, and one that ensures she has an especially bright future.”

The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. Udall Scholars receive up to $7,000 for eligible academic expenses and benefit from professional development and training opportunities with environmental and Native professionals, other scholars, and the Udall alumni network.

Two Auggies Win Prestigious Goldwater Scholarships

Posted on April 9, 2025

Two Augsburg undergraduate students, Ethiopia Kebede ’25 and Mitchel Munzing ’26, have been named 2025–26 Goldwater Scholars. The Goldwater Scholarship, one of the top undergraduate STEM awards in the country, recognizes outstanding students who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

Kebede, a physics major, aims to pursue a PhD in astrophysics with a focus in stellar physics and eventually teach at the undergraduate level. In addition to conducting space physics research at Augsburg with Professor Emeritus Mark Engebretson, she creates and shares free math videos via YouTube to address the shortage of STEM educators in remote places.

“One of my memories from grade school is rotating the handle of a generator in a physics lab,” said Kebede. “I remember feeling satisfied when the generator finally lit up the bulb attached to it. From then on, I enjoyed science as a clever way of solving problems. I am excited to pursue a lifelong career in the subject that I love—physics.”

Munzing, a biochemistry major, intends to pursue a PhD to continue research in organic and green chemistry. Outside of the classroom, he is a member and incoming captain of the Augsburg men’s soccer team, where he has been recognized with the Ed Saugestad Award for outstanding student-athlete.

“This past summer I had the opportunity to conduct research in an organic chemistry lab with Dr. Michael Wentzel,” said Munzing. “While at the start the experiments I ran didn’t go as planned, eventually I was able to synthesize biologically significant compounds. Spending the necessary time to [become an expert in a specific field] requires patience, but the reward of discovery makes it worth it.”

This year, Augsburg is one of Minnesota’s top producers of Goldwater Scholars. Applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship are nominated by faculty, sponsored by their academic institutions, and selected by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Kebede and Munzing were chosen from a pool of 1,350 applicants nationwide.

“To have two winners is really terrific,” said Professor Jacqueline deVries, who supports students through the application process as director of major grants and fellowships in Augsburg’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO). “The Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships an undergraduate can win in science, engineering, and mathematics.”

Learn more about the Goldwater Scholarship program.

Paul Pribbenow Named the University of Chicago Divinity School’s 2025 Alum of the Year

Posted on April 2, 2025April 2, 2025

The University of Chicago Divinity School announced this week that Paul Pribbenow, AM ’79, PhD ’93, president of Augsburg University, has been named the 2025 Alum of the Year. This honor recognizes Pribbenow’s distinguished career in higher education, his commitment to civic engagement, and his leadership in fostering inclusive and ethical communities.

Since assuming the presidency of Augsburg University in 2006, Pribbenow has been a champion for access and equity in education, working to expand opportunities for students from myriad backgrounds. Under his leadership, Augsburg has strengthened its commitment to urban education, interfaith dialogue, and community-based learning, reflecting a deep alignment with the Divinity School’s mission of rigorous inquiry and engagement with society’s most pressing moral and ethical questions.

“I am deeply humbled and honored by this recognition, which is especially poignant following the death of Professor Martin Marty, who so influenced the trajectory of my life and leadership,” Pribbenow said. “The ideas that shaped me as a student have continued to anchor my work in the decades since: that religion can be a force for good in the world, that pluralism is a source of strength, and that education is the heart of a thriving society.”

Pribbenow, who earned his PhD in social ethics, is widely recognized for his scholarship in philanthropy, ethics, and public life. His work bridges academic inquiry and practical leadership, demonstrating how theological and ethical perspectives can positively influence institutions and communities. Beyond his role at Augsburg, he has contributed to numerous civic and higher education initiatives, reinforcing his reputation as a thoughtful and engaged leader in both academic and public spheres.

“Paul Pribbenow exemplifies the values of the Divinity School through his unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and the transformative power of education,” James T. Robinson, dean of the University of Chicago Divinity School, said. “We are happy to recognize him as our 2025 Alum of the Year, celebrating his impact as both a scholar and a leader who continues to shape public life with wisdom and integrity.”

A vital member of the Divinity School community, Pribbenow’s engagement in the life of the school has been significant. While he matriculated, he managed Swift Hall’s student-run coffee shop, Grounds of Being, from which all proceeds benefit the Divinity Student Council. As an alum, he continues to be active as a current member of the Divinity School Advisory Council, serving at various intervals since 1996.

The University of Chicago Divinity School will celebrate Pribbenow’s achievements at an awards ceremony on May 2, 2025. As part of the event, he will deliver a keynote address entitled “Wrestling with Angels: Higher Education Leadership in a Moral Key,” reflecting on his career, the role of ethics in public leadership, and the enduring impact of his Divinity School education.

For more information about the Alum of the Year award and the upcoming celebration, please visit divinity.uchicago.edu/about/events or contact divinitycommunications@uchicago.edu.