Augsburg’s annual campus professional development conference, Days in May, typically attracts strong participation from faculty and staff. But the crowd that filled Hoversten Chapel on May 15 was larger than usual. Faculty, staff, alumni, family, and students packed the house to celebrate and remember the legacy of Associate Professor of Education Jennifer Diaz, who passed away in 2024.
Sponsored by the Education Department, the Office of the President, and the Office of Faculty Development, the keynote speaker for the Professor Jennifer Diaz Memorial Lecture was Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emerita and former Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Ladson-Billings is an influential scholar of culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory in education, a former president of the American Educational Research Association, and the author of critically acclaimed books, including “The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children” and “Crossing Over to Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers in Diverse Classrooms.”
Diaz studied with Ladson-Billings during graduate school at UW–Madison. After completing her Ph.D., Diaz joined Augsburg in 2015, where her scholarly work focused on interrupting “deficit narratives” in mathematics education. “Math was her vehicle, but not her purpose,” said Ladson-Billings, reflecting on Diaz’s work to identify and challenge inequitable systems through attention to context, cultures, and teacher effectiveness. “Jennie Diaz believed in her students.”
Diaz shared her personal vocation story in her own words in November 2023 as part of the “Uncovering Vocation” series at Augsburg. She spoke about being encouraged by a former teacher to give her gifts freely to the world, expecting nothing in return.
“In any conversation with Jennie, you knew you mattered,” said Professor Audrey Lensmire. “She believed that our work was a collective effort toward equity.”
2025 marks two important milestones in the relationship between Norway and the United States—the 200th anniversary of the first organized emigration from Norway to North America and the celebration of 100 years of Norwegian-American educational cooperation. Here at Augsburg, it is also the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Augsburg Choir to Norway.
A Century of Educational Cooperation
At an event in Oslo on May 15, Augsburg University alumni joined President Paul Pribbenow and His Majesty King Harald V in recognition of the deep and enduring educational ties between the U.S. and Norway
The event, held at Fanehallen in Akershus Fortress and co-hosted by the Norway-America Association, brought together alumni from from six sister universities, all founded by Norwegian immigrants—institutions which for generations have been bridge-builders between Norway and the United States. With academics, diplomats, business leaders and guests from Norway and the United States, the evening served as a tribute to shared history, knowledge, and future cooperation. Former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee, Ine Eriksen Søreide, gave the keynote speech.
The six universities—Augsburg, Augustana University, Concordia College, Luther College, Pacific Lutheran University and St. Olaf College—were all founded by Norwegian immigrants. For over a hundred years, they have welcomed Norwegian students and maintained strong ties to Norway. At the event, Pribbenow delivered remarks about the importance of the long-term cross-Atlantic collaboration.
“At a time when transatlantic relations are being challenged, it is more important than ever to strengthen student exchanges. The relationship with the United States is about more than trade and defence—it is also about knowledge, understanding and common values,” said Hanne K. Aaberg, Secretary General of the Norway-America Association (NORAM).
NORAM works to promote mutual knowledge and understanding between Norway and North America. For over 100 years, NORAM has worked for transatlantic cooperation and helped more than 5,000 students with scholarships and advising.
Music and Memory
On May 17, members of the 1975 Augsburg Choir returned to campus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their choir tour to Norway.
The October 1975 issue of Augsburg Now covered the tour: “In late spring of this year, the Augsburg Choir traveled to Norway as the cultural ambassadors for Minnesota to the first ceremonies in the National Theater in Oslo on Syttende Mai (Norwegian Independence Day – May 17). They traveled under an invitation from Nordmann’s Forbundet, who made all arrangements for them in the Scandinavian countries. Due to Nordmann’s Forbundet arrangements, the choir was well received in 19 cities throughout Norway and Sweden. The reviews were fantastic including, “Without a doubt they (the choir) rank among the ‘world’s elite’ as choirs …” Romesdals folkebald, Molde, Norway … The choir was the first group to be invited to Norway as part of the Sesquicentennial celebration.” Augsburg continued to be heavily involved in the year-long sesquicentennial celebration of the Norwegian immigration to the United States, culminating with a visit to campus by King Olav V in October 1975.
Of the 65 alumni who participated in the 1975 tour, 49 were present for the 2025 reunion, along with several partners and spouses. It was a meaningful day filled with reconnecting, reminiscing, and joining together in song and laughter. The reunion was a special opportunity to honor the lasting friendships, shared history, and enduring power of music that have united Auggies for decades. View photos from the reunion event.
Thor Heyerdahl International Days: November 5–6
Looking ahead, the celebration of 200 years of Norwegian immigration will continue this fall with Thor Heyerdahl International days, a special event to be held November 5–6 on Augsburg’s campus in collaboration with the Thor Heyerdahl Institute (Vestfold Museums), alongside Vestfold and Telemark County Councils, and the Norwegian Crossings 200 Committee. This two-day event—“Migration: Building a Better Future”—will explore the roles of higher education institutions in creating successful immigration stories.
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
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 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.”
Every year, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) awards individuals who have made a difference in their state’s social work field. NASW-MN recently named Kao Nou Moua the 2025 Tony Bibus Social Work Faculty of the Year for her leadership and commitment to student success.
Moua serves as assistant professor of social work as well as the Master of Social Work program director at Augsburg University. “Kao Nou is truly a superstar of our department in every way, and I’m thrilled that she’s receiving this recognition from NASW,” says Erin Sugrue, associate professor and chair of Augsburg’s social work department. The award is named after the late Professor Emeritus Anthony Bibus III, who spent over 20 years at Augsburg in addition to serving on the NASW national board.
“I’m grateful to be recognized by my social work peers to receive an award named in honor of Tony Bibus, who passed away last year,” says Moua. “Most importantly, it’s a privilege to be nominated by our wonderful students at Augsburg, who allow me to live out my calling as an educator and advocate.”
On March 6, The Washington Post featured Augsburg second-year Anna Miranda and Stephanie Ruckel, director of strategic enrollment management, in an article exploring the movement towards direct admissions across higher education. Augsburg moved to a direct admissions model as part of its Augsburg Applies to You initiative in 2022, and participates in the state Direct Admissions Minnesota program.
“Getting the [direct admissions] letter kind of knocked down a barrier,” Miranda said in the interview. “It made me feel more confident.” Ruckel noted that direct admissions can be particularly helpful to first-generation students, easing the fear of rejection and encouraging students to ask more probing questions about whether the school is a fit.
Augsburg students Theo Coval and Augusta Nepor Sowa traveled to Utah for the first annual gathering of the Interfaith BRAID (Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences) Fellowship at the end of February.
The BRAID Fellowship is an Interfaith America initiative designed in response to increasing prejudice and polarization. This program equips student fellows with skills, training, education, and experiences to collaborate effectively with communities close to home and across the country.
“It is so meaningful to have the opportunity to work with Interfaith America and meet so many passionate campus leaders,” said Coval. “It was a genuine honor to be included amongst the peers I met in Salt Lake City, and I am very excited to be working on a campus project as part of the fellowship.”
Coval and Sowa were selected from a national pool of applicants. The program is designed to help students become interfaith bridgebuilders on their campuses and in their communities. Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri Endowed chair and executive director of the Interfaith Institute, serves as a BRAID Fellowship mentor and works closely with these students as well.
“Being part of this opportunity means stepping beyond conversation and into connection, where diversity isn’t just acknowledged but engaged with, where differences aren’t just tolerated but honored,” said Sowa. “It’s about choosing pluralism, embracing the richness of perspectives, and discovering unity in diversity. In a world where everyone wants to be heard, this experience has taught me the true power of listening with an open heart.”Learn more about the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University.
MPR News and Sahan Journal recently highlighted Nia-Symonne Gayle ’24 and her senior exhibition project “GOOD Hair,” currently displayed in the Christensen Gallery through February 19. Gayle graduated as an art and design major in December, and her capstone project recreates her childhood living room where her mom would do her hair—including TV, magazines, and hair products associated with the Afro-nostalgia Gayle incorporates into her work. She says this project “is a love letter to her mother and to Black people and Black culture. It’s a reminder that all hair is good hair.”
Lindsay Starck has been named a Minnesota Book Award finalist for her second novel, “Monsters We Have Made.” Starck is an associate professor of English and director of Augsburg’s MFA program. Published by Vintage Books/Penguin Random House in March 2024, “Monsters We Have Made” is a poignant and evocative novel that explores the bounds of familial love, the high stakes of parenthood, and the tenuous divide between fiction and reality.
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library organizes the annual Minnesota Book Awards to honor Minnesota writers, illustrators, and artists across 10 different categories. The 2025 Minnesota Book Award winners will be announced on April 22, 2025.
Augsburg’s annual campus professional development conference, Days in May, typically attracts strong participation from faculty and staff. But the crowd that filled Hoversten Chapel on May 15 was larger than usual. Faculty, staff, alumni, family, and students packed the house to celebrate and remember the legacy of Associate Professor of Education Jennifer Diaz, who passed away in 2024. 
