Relationship Archives - News and Media

River Semester Sets Sail

Posted on September 11, 2025September 15, 2025

In the fall of 2015, a hardy crew started paddling down the Mississippi for a learning adventure that took “experiential learning” to a new level—Augsburg’s first River Semester. Ten years later, the sixth iteration of this one-of-a-kind study away program has set off once more.

Associate Professor Joe Underhill will lead a group of 10 students, three staff, and periodic visitors from the headwaters of the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, mostly by boat. The students—five Auggies plus students from Macalester College, the College of the Atlantic, and Agnes Scott College—will each complete an individual research project, with topics ranging from benthic macroinvertebrates to sewage infrastructure in rural communities. Along the way, they’ll be joined by researchers, artists, and experts on coastal restoration and environmental justice. In collaboration with partner organizations throughout the Mississippi watershed, they’ll visit a wild rice harvesting camp, a life science research station, and a backwater flood control project. They’ll camp and sail or paddle approximately 800 miles before concluding their voyage in Biloxi, MS, in mid-December.

Minnesota Public Radio highlighted River Semester in a piece on September 13, interviewing Underhill and Summer May ’26. “It’s bridging the connection between knowledge and application, and mind and place. We are directly interacting with the river,” May said.

Follow along with the group’s progress on the “Big Muddy” interactive map, where students will periodically post daily log entries with description of the day’s activities, sightings, adventures, learnings, and personal reflections.

Learn more about River Semester:

River Semester homepage
Forget study abroad. These college students will spend the semester on the Mississippi River.—The Minnesota Star Tribune, August 2023
From a small-town book club to paddling the Mississippi River, learning gets bigger outside the classroom—Augsburg Now, February 2022

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.

Star Tribune Highlights Funding Uncertainty for Federal TRIO Programs

Posted on August 11, 2025

Augsburg University Assistant Professor of Psychology Gisel Suarez Bonilla ’18 and TRIO McNair Scholars Program Director Maria “Tina” Tavera were recently interviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune about funding uncertainty for federal TRIO programs. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.

“Each [program] helps a slightly different population get into college or be successful in college,” Tavera said. “They’re setting an example and they’re guiding the whole family to learn about the academic system.”

Augsburg operates two TRIO programs. TRIO Student Support Services provides comprehensive academic, financial, and personal planning and support for up to 160 students as they progress toward graduation. TRIO McNair Scholars supports 26 juniors and seniors annually in preparing for graduate study.

From Interpreter to Physician Assistant: Sahan Journal Highlights Muhiyadin Aden ’24

Posted on July 18, 2025

Muhiyadin “Mo” Aden ’24 MSPAS worked his way up from a starting position as a casual Somali interpreter to head of Hennepin County Medical Center’s interpreter department before deciding he could make a bigger impact with a medical degree. After graduating from Augsburg’s Master of Science in Physican Assistant Studies program, he returned to HCMC—this time as a provider in the emergency department.

The Sahan Journal recently profiled Aden, who described his work to connect with patients:

“This is a hospital that serves people that are underserved … 20% to 30% of the patients that we see here have limited English proficiency. That’s a huge challenge to provide care for those patients, but I think they do the best they can, and that’s why I came back.”

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.

Memorial Lecture Lifts Up the Legacy of Jennifer Diaz

Posted on May 29, 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.

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.”