As of fall 2025, news and media updates have been integrated with the Augsburg Now alumni publication. This site archives news stories from before September 16, 2025. Please visit augsburg.edu/now or select "Augsburg Now" from the left navigation for current news.
Augsburg College will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of its Rochester program with an open-house reception on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Rochester location in Bethel Lutheran Church, 810 3rd Ave. SE. A short program will begin at 7 p.m. with comments from Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow, Barbara Farley, dean and vice president of academic affairs, and Rick Thoni, the founder of Augsburg’s Weekend College and Rochester programs.
At the suggestion of Augsburg regent, Ruth Johnson, Thoni started a satellite location in 1998 in Rochester to offer a degree completion program to nurses at Mayo Hospital. Thoni said Rochester, the second largest urban area outside the Twin Cities and also one of the ELCA synod seats, had unmet educational needs that Augsburg was prepared to meet, particularly in the area of adult education. “Augsburg is an urban college with a model that was created for working adults,” Thoni said. Continue reading “Augsburg celebrates 10 years in Rochester”→
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, two Augsburg alumni, Kelly Woods and Tracey Cross, each received the 2008 Milken Family Foundation’s Educator Award. The award is intended to provide public recognition and financial rewards to elementary and secondary education professionals who are furthering excellence in education. Each recipient is recognized with a $25,000 check presented at a schoolwide assembly that often draws state officials and local media.
Cross had this to say about the experience: “Needless to say, I was quite surprised with this award. I never expected
this kind of recognition. It is truly an honor to be noticed for doing
something I love. I’m still in a surreal state of being. I am very
grateful to Lowell Milken and the Milken Family Foundation for recognizing
When Sarah Ruch and Joe Midthun applied for their internship placements, neither expected to find themselves on a college campus. Sarah and Joe are students from Luther Seminary who are working this year with the campus ministry department at Augsburg. As interns, Sarah and Joe have been planning and presiding over chapel services, preaching, and teaching.
Sarah is originally from Fremont, Neb. and has a BA in English from Midland Lutheran College. She is married (her husband is also a student at Luther) and has two young children. Sarah wanted to complete her internship in the Twin Cities to stay with her family. Though she likes working at Augsburg, she said it’s not what she expected. “Working at a college is relational ministry,” she said. “Augsburg is a congregation but in a different setting.” Continue reading “Meet Sarah and Joe, campus ministry interns”→
Written by Joe Lueben and Jesse Russell, “Bits” is an independent film about an awkward inventor who spends his days and nights obsessing over a mysterious project. Augsburg theatre and film alumni Ben Katz ’08, Linnea Mohn ’04, Philip Mershon ’06 (pictured), and Nancy Waldoch ’06 star in the film. The “Bits” screening is Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in Sateren Auditorium.
Katz stars in and aided in the production of “Bits.” Though he did not start out studying film at Augsburg (his first major was psychology), his first filmmaking course showed him that all he wanted to do was make films. “I realized that [making films] made me happy, and I would not be happy unless I was making films.” Continue reading “"Bits" screening Oct. 16”→
Found, a theatrical piece exploring what we can find out about ourselves through the things found in our environment, opens Oct. 21 at Augsburg College. The piece was created and guest directed by Randy Reyes, artistic producing associate with Mu Performing Arts in Minneapolis. Performances are Oct. 21, 22, and 23 at 7 p.m. in Foss Center.
Reyes cites three sources of inspiration for the creation of his play. First was the book “Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World” by Davy Rothbart. This bestselling book began as Found magazine, a collection of discarded notes, letters, flyers, photos, lists, and drawings found and sent in by readers. Continue reading “"Found" is a chance to find yourself”→
In summer 2008, Professors Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer led students to Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia to explore sustainability in an urban context. The professors and students from the “Sustainable Cities in North America” course, will share insights gained in these cities and our own Twin Cities on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Lindell 301. The event will be of particular interest to those concerned about environmental issues, cities, business practices, comparative government, and the culture of the Pacific Northwest. Continue reading “Auggies traverse the concrete jungle”→
Marissa Machado ’99, ’04 MAE is the assistant director of international admissions at Augsburg. At the end of September, Machado left her family to travel 19 hours to Hanoi, Vietnam, the first stop on her 19-day recruiting tour. She has been updating colleagues and friends with pictures and stories on the International Admissions blog.
From Asia: Here I come
September 20
I’ve got a big trip coming up. I’ll be leaving for Asia in a little over a week to represent Augsburg at IIE fairs in HCMC [Ho Chi Minh City], Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. I’ll also be doing some individual visits with families and visiting several high schools. In total, I’ll be traveling for 19 days. There’s an excitement about planning for a trip like this…I wonder who will I meet? What connections will I create? Will I sleep? What new foods will I try? And then there’s the sadness in leaving my 2 1/2 year old daughter for such a long time. Finding a balance in all of this is something that I am still learning.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Machado spent time with Ana and Mr. Piet, the parents of Tina Nguyen ’08. She also experienced the energy of a city of 8 million people and 5 million motorbikes.
From I’ll Take a Bird’s Nest To Go, Please.
October 5
There are over 5 million motorbikes in HCM alone. Until you have the opportunity to see what 5 million motor bikes in one city looks like you almost can’t even imagine it, but let me help you try by sharing the advice that I received from a colleague before traveling to this country for the first time. When I told him that I would be going to HCM city he looked me straight in the eye and said, “Do you know how to cross the street in Ho Chi Minh City?” And I replied, “No.” (Obviously…but a rhetorical response seemed necessary.) And with a no-nonsense look on his face he told me, “You just close your eyes and walk.” I grinned. A big grin. I found this commentary humorous. He just looked at me and said, “I mean this seriously.” He was right.
This year Augsburg welcomed 18 new international students from countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Argentina, Ecuador, Sweden, Slovenia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Norway, and Canada. Some international students hear about the College through friends and relatives who have studied in Minnesota or are Augsburg alumni. Machado is able to meet potential students and their families on her recruiting trips and to help them begin or complete the college admissions process, which can be very daunting for an international student.
From Sharing Augsburg with Vietnam
October 8
One student knew about Augsburg because a friend of hers studied abroad in Minnesota and told her, “Augsburg is the best “University” in the area.” This particular student gave me her completed application to Augsburg and told me that she is taking one year off after high school to do community service before beginning her pursuit of higher education. She understands Augsburg. Many students talked about their deep interest in becoming an “Auggie” because of their conversations with a recent graduate of Augsburg who is from Hanoi. They have learned about student life and Minneapolis through emails with her and are “very impressed.” Augsburg’s alumni understand Augsburg. Our international presence is growing and I am proud.
Yet another Auggie has joined the ranks of those working and studying across the Pacific. Joyce Pfaff, associate professor of physical education at Augsburg, and her husband, Doug, make up the Augsburg Asia delegation with Ashley Stoffers and Nou Chang in South Korea, and Marissa Machado, international admissions counselor who is currently recruiting in Vietnam and China. On September 2, the Pfaffs traveled to teach at United International College in Zhuhai, China for four months. Pfaff is maintaining a blog about their experiences. Continue reading “Another Auggie in Asia”→
John Cerrito (the Augsburg student, not the Augsburg professor) has an internship many might find enviable. John works for the Dave Ryan in the Morning Show at KDWB-FM. True, he drags himself out of bed at 4 a.m. but he says the perks of the job, including free concert tickets and the opportunity to meet stars like Jessica Simpson and the Backstreet Boys, definitely make it worthwhile.
John was accepted for a summer internship with KDWB following his high school graduation. He began by performing typical intern duties, making coffee and doing lots of photocopying. Later, he was assigned more interesting tasks like pulling audio clips of television shows off the Internet to play on the show. John now selects the ones he thinks will be most useful for supporting the theme of the day’s show. Continue reading “On the air at KDWB”→
The Augsburg College MBA program in Rochester will hold a business ethics summit panel presentation on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Rochester site. Featured panelists are Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Glenn Forbes, Crenlo LLC CEO and president Lance Fleming, Rochester Post Bulletin managing editor Jay Furst, and Apollo Liquor and Hospitality president Ari Kolas.
The Business Ethics summit will provide the four panel members an opportunity to discuss ethics and moral decision making in their organization. Panel members will briefly discuss how ethics is a part of their culture and business conduct, and also plays a part in their relationships and dealing with external stakeholders. The open audience Q & A will be a significant part of the event, where panel members will respond to specific audience questions following their individual presentations. Continue reading “Rochester hosts business ethics summit”→
Augsburg College will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of its Rochester program with an open-house reception on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Rochester location in Bethel Lutheran Church, 810 3rd Ave. SE. A short program will begin at 7 p.m. with comments from Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow, Barbara Farley, dean and vice president of academic affairs, and Rick Thoni, the founder of Augsburg’s Weekend College and Rochester programs.
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, two Augsburg alumni, Kelly Woods and Tracey Cross, each received the 2008 Milken Family Foundation’s Educator Award. The award is intended to provide public recognition and financial rewards to elementary and secondary education professionals who are furthering excellence in education. Each recipient is recognized with a $25,000 check presented at a schoolwide assembly that often draws state officials and local media.
When Sarah Ruch and Joe Midthun applied for their internship placements, neither expected to find themselves on a college campus. Sarah and Joe are students from Luther Seminary who are working this year with the campus ministry department at Augsburg. As interns, Sarah and Joe have been planning and presiding over chapel services, preaching, and teaching.
Written by Joe Lueben and Jesse Russell, “Bits” is an independent film about an awkward inventor who spends his days and nights obsessing over a mysterious project. Augsburg theatre and film alumni Ben Katz ’08, Linnea Mohn ’04, Philip Mershon ’06 (pictured), and Nancy Waldoch ’06 star in the film. The “Bits” screening is Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in Sateren Auditorium.
Found, a theatrical piece exploring what we can find out about ourselves through the things found in our environment, opens Oct. 21 at Augsburg College. The piece was created and guest directed by Randy Reyes, artistic producing associate with Mu Performing Arts in Minneapolis. Performances are Oct. 21, 22, and 23 at 7 p.m. in Foss Center.
In summer 2008, Professors Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer led students to Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia to explore sustainability in an urban context. The professors and students from the “Sustainable Cities in North America” course, will share insights gained in these cities and our own Twin Cities on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Lindell 301. The event will be of particular interest to those concerned about environmental issues, cities, business practices, comparative government, and the culture of the Pacific Northwest. 
Marissa Machado ’99, ’04 MAE is the assistant director of international admissions at Augsburg. At the end of September, Machado left her family to travel 19 hours to Hanoi, Vietnam, the first stop on her 19-day recruiting tour. She has been updating colleagues and friends with pictures and stories on the 
Yet another Auggie has joined the ranks of those working and studying across the Pacific. Joyce Pfaff, associate professor of physical education at Augsburg, and her husband, Doug, make up the Augsburg Asia delegation with 
John Cerrito (the Augsburg student, not the Augsburg professor) has an internship many might find enviable. John works for the Dave Ryan in the Morning Show at KDWB-FM. True, he drags himself out of bed at 4 a.m. but he says the perks of the job, including free concert tickets and the opportunity to meet stars like Jessica Simpson and the Backstreet Boys, definitely make it worthwhile.
The Augsburg College MBA program in Rochester will hold a business ethics summit panel presentation on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Rochester site. Featured panelists are Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Glenn Forbes, Crenlo LLC CEO and president Lance Fleming, Rochester Post Bulletin managing editor Jay Furst, and Apollo Liquor and Hospitality president Ari Kolas.