This section of the News and Media Services department site tracks stories in print and broadcast media that feature Auggie faculty, students, and staff. The area also is home to material developed for University-related programs, events, and more.
Jarabe Mexicano, a “bordeño-soul-folk” band with a passion for teaching and storytelling, will be in residency with the Augsburg Music Department from March 31–April 2. MPR recently explored the group’s roots in the U.S.-Mexico border region and their diverse musical influences, which range from Ritchie Valens to Los Lobos and Chicano rock. David Myers, Augsburg’s department head for music programs, was quoted in the article about the department’s goal to expand students’ appreciation of diverse music beyond western European classical music.
In addition to working with music department students and local high school students, Jarabe Mexicano will perform free public concert at Hoversten Chapel on Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m.
Antonio Ortega, a longtime Center for Global Education and Experience global faculty member, was recently interviewed on “Noticias de la Tarde” (Evening News) on Channel 3, the public radio and TV station in Morelos, Mexico.
Ortega discusses CGEE’s work in Mexico and the importance of the relationship between the US and Mexico, particularly for students that will go on to work with the Latinx population in the U.S. in fields like social work, nursing, and teaching.
Watch the segment on YouTube. To view English subtitles, select Subtitles/Closed Caption and then, in the settings, choose Auto Translate > English.
William Green, M. Anita Gay Hawthorne professor of critical race and ethnic studies at Augsburg University, shared his expertise as a historian and former superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools in a WCCO news story on the Minneapolis teachers strike.
Green took part in two contract negotiations during his time as superintendent between 2006 and 2010. “The trickiest moment is to persuade constituents the compromise they may have to negotiate may not be satisfying,” he told WCCO. Green’s most recent book, “Strike!,” covers the 1970 Minneapolis teachers strike and will be released this fall.
Green also was interviewed by MPR for their March 17 story, “Mpls. teachers strike of 1970 changed education across the state.” Speaking about the teachers who were involved in that strike, Green said, “They are the pillars of middle-class society, yet they went out on the street, many of them had never done anything demonstrative like this before. Many of them had never participated in radical politics, so this was a culture shock.”
Augsburg University is pleased to announce that Paula O’Loughlin will become the university’s new provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs effective July 1, 2022.
As provost, O’Loughlin will assume a critical leadership position as the university’s second-ranking officer after President Paul C. Pribbenow. She will serve as a member of the president’s leadership team and oversee the institution’s largest division, academic and student affairs, which aligns the academic program and other elements of the student experience under a unified approach to student learning and development.
“The Augsburg community is deeply impressed by Dr. O’Loughlin’s career-long focus on preserving and widening access to excellent higher education; her experience with staff and faculty development; and her commitment to transparency, shared governance, and the healthy communal life of higher education institutions,” Pribbenow said. “She was the top choice of each stakeholder group she met with during her candidacy.”
“Members of the provost search committee are excited to welcome Dr. O’Loughlin to Augsburg University,” said Tim Pippert, chair of the committee and Joel Torstenson endowed professor of sociology. “We were drawn to her straightforward communication style and her sincere desire to be part of our vibrant campus community. Her commitment to our mission made her an excellent choice as our next provost.”
O’Loughlin will have wide-ranging responsibilities, including working with faculty, staff, administration, and the board of regents to implement the Augsburg150 strategic plan; providing oversight of planning, development, and administration of the academic program for graduate, undergraduate, and international programs; overseeing campus life, residence life, student support services, and advising; accreditation; academic and student affairs budgeting; and leadership of—and advocacy for—the faculty.
“When we ensure access to higher education, we support social mobility in the aggregate and the opportunity to write one’s own story for the individual,” O’Loughlin said. “Augsburg’s well-known intentional pursuit of these values calls me to join this community. The university is doing amazing work, and I’m excited to become a part of it.”
O’Loughlin has served as provost and dean of the faculty at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, since 2016, and also served the institution as interim dean of students and Title IX coordinator. Prior to Coe College, she served in leadership positions at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota–Morris. She has also taught at Carleton College, Macalester College, and the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. O’Loughlin earned her PhD in political science from the University of Minnesota and her bachelor’s degree in government from Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship.
“Dr. O’Loughlin’s skills, experiences in Minnesota’s higher education landscape and in Lutheran higher education, values as a leader, and unique perspective will contribute to Augsburg as we continue our mission to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders,” Pribbenow said.
About Augsburg
Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to approximately 3,200 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings. Learn more at Augsburg.edu.
Pa Her ’23 is one of 173 students from the United States and Mexico who have been named 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellows by Campus Compact. Her received the fellowship in recognition of her contributions to community building, equity, and food justice through her work with Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen and Campus Cupboard, as well as her leadership of Augsburg’s work on a National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant focused on food access research, advocacy, and service.
“In response to food insecurity made worse by the pandemic, Pa and the team built new partnerships with food providers and community-based organizations to make fresh, healthy food available to neighbors and students,” wrote Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow in Her’s fellowship nomination. “Pa shows up to work every day eager to collaborate, solve problems, and do whatever is needed to best serve students and our surrounding community.”
The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world. Fellows benefit from learning and networking opportunities, including the two-day Annual Convening of Fellows.
Augsburg has earned the 2022-23 Military Friendly® School designation. Military Friendly Schools strive toward and succeed in the areas that matter most in helping veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, satisfying careers in the civilian world. The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to a proprietary, data-driven survey from participating institutions.
Augsburg University has been named a top producer of Fulbright students among U.S master’s institutions for 2021-22. Each year the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced the top producing institutions for the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. The Chronicle of Higher Education publishes the lists of top producers of Fulbright U.S. scholars and students annually. With three awards this year, Augsburg ranks among the top 10 master’s institutions in the United States for Fulbright students.
The three Augsburg students who received 2021-22 Fulbright Awards to teach English abroad are Shamsa Ahmed ’21 (South Korea), Citlali Escobar ’21 (Taiwan), and Ciashia Shiongyaj ’21 (Taiwan).
For over 75 years, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants-chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential-with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world. Over 1,900 diverse U.S. students, artists,and early career professionals in more than 100 different fields of study receive Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants annually to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas. For more information, visit eca.state.gov/fulbright.
About Augsburg
Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to approximately 3,200 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.
Starting this fall, Augsburg University will launch the American Indian Recognition Full Tuition Program to support and promote the importance of American Indian students on campus.
While several states have enacted laws providing financial aid to American Indian students, this full-tuition program appears to be one of the first of its kind among private U.S. colleges and universities. Unlike many public institutions, Augsburg’s program does not limit eligibility to American Indian students who live in the state.
The program defines “American Indian” as an enrolled member of any federally recognized American Indian tribe, Alaskan Native Village, or Canadian First Nation, or a direct descendent (child or grandchild) of an enrolled or tribally verified member. A student does not need to be a Minnesota resident or establish residence on trust land to participate.
“One of our commitments at Augsburg is to bring an equity lens to affordability,” said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow. “This program is one step toward recognizing the profound contributions American Indian students and their communities make to the university and to higher education more broadly.”
“This program is groundbreaking among private universities nationwide. But at the same time, it is absolutely in line with Augsburg’s long-standing commitments to intentional diversity and inclusive excellence,” said Eric Jolly, president and CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and a member of Augsburg’s Board of Regents. “I hope this is just the first of many institutions designing creative and equitable paths to education for native and First Nations people.”
All program applicants must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. For eligible students with family incomes under $125,000, the program will cover all remaining tuition and fees after state and federal financial aid (such as a Pell Grant) have been applied. The program will cover 100% of tuition and fees above the estimated family contribution determined by the FAFSA for eligible students with family incomes above $125,000. Students can apply other scholarships or external financial aid toward costs such as housing, meals, transportation, and books.
As of fall 2022, the program will be open to currently enrolled or newly admitted first year students, transfer students, and participants in any of Augsburg’s undergraduate adult degree completion programs. It is renewable for up to eight full-time fall and spring terms for traditional undergraduate students, or until degree requirements are completed for adult degree completion students. To be eligible, students must demonstrate a commitment, grounded in lived experience, to recognizing the importance and diversity of American Indians in higher education.
“The systemic injustices that have limited access to higher education for many American Indian students need structural solutions. This program is one step that we as an institution can take,” said Joanne Reeck, Augsburg’s vice president for equity and inclusion.
“My mom and dad told me my whole life, you’re going to college. It was a “where” and not an “if.” What I needed from a school—the main thing that was going to make or break it—was if I could afford it,” said Reuben Kitto Stately, a fourth-year Augsburg student from both the Red Lake Nation and Santee Sioux Nation. “But the culture of the campus, the way the Native students support each other, was also a big selling point. This part of the south side (of Minneapolis) is the most concentrated urban Native population in the whole country.”
The deadline to apply for the American Indian Recognition Full Tuition Program is May 1 for fall enrollment and December 1 for spring enrollment. Details and eligibility criteria are available at Augsburg.edu/american-indian-recognition.
About Augsburg
Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to approximately 3,200 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.
U.S. News & World Report interviewed Augsburg University Dean of Students Sarah Griesse for a recent article, “Paying for Meals at College: What to Know About Costs.” In her comments, Griesse reflected on Augsburg’s Community Meals program, implemented in Fall 2020. During a period of increased isolation due to the pandemic, the program allowed small groups to reserve a place in the dining hall, plan a special menu in advance, and build community over a meal with real plates, utensils, and glassware.
“We saw the dramatic impact that COVID was having on mental health,” Griesse said in the article. “Students feeling isolated and not finding places to see and connect with others. … (Community Meals) made a difference in how people felt. The experience felt familiar, welcoming and engaging.”
On January 26 MPLSART.COM published “‘Gradual Ascent’: Connection and Care @Augsburg_Galleries,” which covers a year-long project of Augsburg’s art galleries, during which different photographers have been taking over the galleries’ Instagram account. Gradual Ascent grew out of online gatherings facilitated by Jenny Wheatley, Augsburg’s coordinator of galleries and exhibitions, who was exploring how to restructure the galleries’ programming in response to the pandemic. Participating artist Khadija Charif told the reporter, “The blessing in a virtual gallery lies in the softness and privacy of each viewer. … I find it wonderful that I get the opportunity to show my work and let the viewer experience the work however they interpret it, without crowds.”
Jarabe Mexicano, a “bordeño-soul-folk” band with a passion for teaching and storytelling, will be in residency with the Augsburg Music Department from March 31–April 2. MPR recently explored the group’s roots in the U.S.-Mexico border region and their diverse musical influences, which range from Ritchie Valens to Los Lobos and Chicano rock. David Myers, Augsburg’s department head for music programs, was quoted in the article about the department’s goal to expand students’ appreciation of diverse music beyond western European classical music.
Antonio Ortega, a longtime Center for Global Education and Experience global faculty member, was recently interviewed on “Noticias de la Tarde” (Evening News) on Channel 3, the public radio and TV station in Morelos, Mexico. 
William Green, M. Anita Gay Hawthorne professor of critical race and ethnic studies at Augsburg University, shared his expertise as a historian and former superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools in a 
Augsburg University is pleased to announce that Paula O’Loughlin will become the university’s new provost and senior vice president of academic and student affairs effective July 1, 2022.
Augsburg has earned the 
