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.
Jared Trost ’00 was featured in an article by Isanti County News. Trost, who is a hydrologist with the United States Geological Survey at the Minnesota Water Science Center, will present at Anoka-Ramsey Community College as part of the college’s annual Science Night, “Minnesotans and Water: Insights into This Essential Relationship.” Trost obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Augsburg College and holds a masters of science degree from the University of Minnesota. The Nobel Peace Prize Forum held a professional photo shoot at Augsburg College as part of the national social media campaign. Students, faculty, and staff stopped by throughout the day to take photos with hand-written signs displaying how they help to build peace. The participants’ photos will be shown as part of a video at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. The Nobel Peace Prize Forum, sponsored by Augsburg College and other organizations, will feature former President Jimmy Carter as an honored laureate speaker. On the docket for President Carter is a moderated discussion titled, “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power.” To read more on the #PeaceItForward campaign, visit the Star Tribune news site. To learn about the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, visit the NPPF site. Leif Sverdrup, an Augsburg College alumnus from 1918, was featured by The Foreigner, a Norwegian newspaper. Sverdrup, who attended Augsburg College after serving in World War I with the U.S. Army, was born in Norway but moved with his family to Minnesota at the age of 17. He received a bachelor’s degree from Augsburg and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota. The new exhibit, which originates from the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, is titled “Nobel Creations” and features couture garments designed to represent the six different Nobel Peace Prizes – physics, chemistry, peace, medicine, economics, and literature. More than 120 Augsburg College students contributed to a companion show, “Shaping Peace,” which explores the past 128 Nobel Peace Prize laureates and aims to broaden awareness of the Nobel Peace Prize. To learn more about the exhibits, visit the MPR News site. The 2015 forum, which boasts former president Jimmy Carter as a featured speaker, will focus on human rights, disarmament, inclusivity, and various other peace-related issues. To read the article and learn more about the NPPF, visit the MinnPost news site. Monge Lagunes, who is a first generation college student, says she has teachers to thank for catapulting her into college and supporting her once admitted. AchieveMpls is a nonprofit organization started in 2002 by Twin Cities education, business, government, and civic leaders. The organization aims to bridge the gap between high school and college, better preparing students for success. Conrad suggests a checklist, of sorts, to weigh the options when deciding whether or not to dismiss an employee. “Because terminating someone is such a big decision, it helps to have an unemotional and objective way to measure the impact of the decision,” Conrad said. To read the article, visit the Post-Bulletin news site. 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. 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. 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:Jared Trost ’00 presents at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
NPPF #PeaceItForward campaign featured by Star Tribune
Yemi Melka ’15 appeared in a Minneapolis Star Tribune article about the #PeaceItForward campaign linked to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum.Leif Sverdrup featured by The Foreigner
MPR mentions Nobel Peace Prize Forum
The Augsburg College hosted Nobel Peace Prize Forum was mentioned in an MPR News article about an exhibit at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.Nobel Peace Prize Forum named in MinnPost
The Nobel Peace Prize Forum, hosted by Augsburg College, was mentioned in a MinnPost article that named events of distinction occurring in and around the Twin Cities area.Gabriela Monge Lagunes ’15 makes strides with AchieveMpls, Augsburg College
AchieveMpls, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit supporting high schoolers, featured Gabriela Monge Lagunes ’15 in an article about her success as a student and an advocate.Dave Conrad discusses when to let an employee go
Dave Conrad, assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his latest column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin about the ins and outs of firing an employee.Bridget Robinson-Riegler named among top psychology professors
Bridget Robinson-Riegler, cognitive psychology professor at Augsburg College, was included on a list of 10 “must-take” psychology professors in the Twin Cities.Harry Boyte discusses importance of civic agency
Harry 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.MPR features Augsburg’s Central Health Commons
Kathleen 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.