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Bridget Robinson-Riegler named among top psychology professors

robinsonBridget Robinson-Riegler, cognitive psychology professor at Augsburg College, was included on a list of 10 “must-take” psychology professors in the Twin Cities.

Robinson-Riegler began her teaching career at Augsburg in 1994. Students describe her as firm-yet-fair, kind, and intelligent. She said she is thankful to have been a part of the list and that she draws her inspiration from students.

“I am so grateful to the Augsburg students who inspire me and remind [me] every day how truly lucky I am,” Robinson-Riegler said.

Robinson-Riegler is skilled at making complex psychology concepts comprehensible for a general audience. She recently contributed to one of WCCO’s “Good Question” segments about memory in the human brain.

Harry Boyte discusses importance of civic agency

Huffington-PostHarry Boyte, senior fellow in the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, in his latest Huffington Post article talked about the importance of civic studies within schools.

In 1991, Boyte helped start Public Achievement, an “interdisciplinary action-oriented field focused on agency and citizens as co-creators,” to encourage the practice of self-organized civic action among students.

Read “Civic Agency and Executive Function: An Emerging Conversation” on the Huffington Post site.

MPR features Augsburg’s Central Health Commons

MPRLogoKathleen Clark, Augsburg College instructor and director of the Central Health Commons, spoke with MPR News about her role at the drop-in health care center.

The Health Commons, which has been open for 22 years and is free to visitors, provides medical and nutritional consultations and services as well as connections to other health care resources.

The focus of care at the Health Commons is communication and hospitality, even though–unfortunately–this approach has become less common in traditional medical settings.

Central Health Commons is funded by Augsburg College, Central Lutheran Church, and other private donations.

To read the article and learn more about the Health Commons, visit the MPR News site.

The story also was picked up by the Associated Press and since has run in:

  • The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. — Augsburg College nurses put hospitality first
  • The State of Columbia, S.C. — Nurses at Augsburg College center put hospitality first

Bob Stacke ’71 mentioned in Star Tribune

Minneapolis Star TribuneBob Stacke ’71, a long-time Augsburg College faculty member and a retired chair of the music department, was mentioned in a Star Tribune news article about relaxed Cuban travel regulations.

New policies on commerce and travel to Cuba may come with societal change, according to Stacke, who has traveled to the country five times.

“I do think the Cuban people will try to maintain their culture,” he said.

To read the article and learn more about Cuban travel, visit the Star Tribune news site.

Bill Nye presentation garners media attention

Bill Nye addressed 1,800 people at Augsburg College on Valentine’s Day 2015 and shared his love for science. The sold-out event, titled “How Science Can Save the World,” was part of Augsburg’s annual Scholarship Weekend.

Scholarship Weekend happens every spring and gives prospective students the chance to meet with future classmates and professors, and to interview or audition for the President’s Scholarship and for Fine Arts Scholarships.

Local media outlets that covered Bill Nye’s appearance include:

Professor Jeanne Boeh shares expertise in Star Tribune

Minneapolis Star TribuneJeanne Boeh, economics professor at Augsburg College, was mentioned in an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about employee layoffs at Target headquarters in Minneapolis.

In light of the layoffs – a result of the closing of all Canadian Target stores – Boeh said there is hope for the close to 550 out-of-work employees.

“If you’re going to be laid off, now is a good time because jobs are picking back up,” she said.

To read the story, visit the Star Tribune news site.

Carol Enke receives Marie Berg Award, appears on KSTP

Screen Shot 2015-02-06 at 1.39.40 PMThe Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership, organizers of the Minnesota Girls and Women in Sports Day, recognized inspiring and influential leaders on February 4. Carol Enke, an Augsburg College health-physical education instructor, was honored at the event with the Marie Berg Award for Excellence in Education and later appeared on KSTP-TV in a story about the event.

Bridget Robinson-Riegler answers WCCO ‘Good Question’

Professor Bridget Robinson-Riegler spoke with WCCO-TV about how humans recall their memories for the news station’s Good Question segment. Robinson-Riegler, who teaches in the College’s psychology department, explained to television viewers that its common for individuals to have mismemories. She commented that memories are not like tape recorders in that people replay them exactly as they happened. Instead, memories are reconstructed, so when the brain encodes memories, it encodes different pieces of different events.

“When we go to recall it, we piece together different aspects of events,” Robinson-Riegler said. “It’s not just the event that happened we’re trying to remember but other events similar to it.”

Watch “Good Question: How Do Our Memories Work?” to learn more.

Augsburg College receives $10 million cash gift to name
Center for Science, Business, and Religion

Faculty at CSBR Announcement
Augsburg faculty applaud at the announcement that the College received a $10 million cash gift for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. From left are Bridget Robinson-Riegler, professor of psychology; Mike Wentzel, assistant professor of chemistry; and Matt Beckman, assistant professor of biology.

(MINNEAPOLIS) – Augsburg College is honored to announce that it has received a $10 million philanthropic gift to name a new, signature building on campus. This is the second gift of this size in the College’s history.

The donor’s generous cash contribution – which also is a naming-level gift – will support a new academic building that will house a number of the College’s academic programs including biology, business, chemistry, computer science, math, physics, psychology, and religion.

“Succeeding in today’s world requires an ability to thrive in a world that no longer has fixed boundaries,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “That is why Augsburg College is building the Center for Science, Business, and Religion – a place that will support every student in their journey of vocational discernment and pursuit of careers in teaching, civic leadership, service to the church, scientific research, law, medicine, privately owned startup companies, and large corporations.”

Continue reading “Augsburg College receives $10 million cash gift to name
Center for Science, Business, and Religion”

Al Jazeera America interviews Augsburg faculty member

AlJazeeraEric Buffalohead, associate professor and chair of American Indian Studies at Augsburg College, was interviewed by Al Jazeera America for an article that was included as part of a series on Native American gangs. Buffalohead said that the role of gangs isn’t that different than the work of the American Indian Movement because both are about “protecting yourself in a culture of violence.” He also reflected on the interactions between gangs from different cultures.