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.
“We’re excited to host Bill Nye during our Scholarship Weekend when bright students from across the United States visit campus to compete for our top academic scholarships,” said Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow. “We want to give these scholarly, prospective Auggies the chance to grapple with some of the world’s deepest questions so they can experience what Auggies are called to do each and every day.” Continue reading “Bill Nye ‘The Science Guy’ speaks at Augsburg on Valentine’s Day” “Gina’s experience, combined with her strong passion for peacemaking, will allow her to build on the Nobel Peace Prize Forum’s national and international programming and relationships,” said Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow. “Together, we will strive to realize the Forum’s mission to inspire peacemaking by exploring the life and work of Nobel Peace Prize laureates and its long-term goals to foster international dialogue on peace and engage students and the wider community in the process of peace building with national and global leaders.” Continue reading “International leader on peace building, cease-fire joins NPPF” Augsburg College faculty members Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer, known for their avid bicycling, recently were featured in The Line, a Twin Cities-based online journal. In the article, Christiansen describes how he and Fischer have never been happier living “car-ownership-free” after selling their car two years ago and relying on their bicycles and, if necessary, the metro transit system. Christiansen also revealed his tips for healthy living as well as his reasoning for choosing a car-free lifestyle, noting that the sense of community gained in such a lifestyle could easily be reason enough. “…when you ride a bus, train or bike, you’re in public,” he said. “You encounter a greater diversity of people with whom you develop camaraderie.” To learn more about living car-free, read “How being ‘car ownership free’ led to healthy living, community organizing and embracing transit.” Now retired, Olson served most recently as head coach at the University of Arizona for 25 years. View photos on the Arizona Daily Star website that range from Olson’s days as an Auggie to a NCAA Championship coaching victory. Midnimo during this academic year will bring six artists or groups to Minnesota for week-long residency programs that include classroom activities and culminate with a public concert. The schedule includes: Continue reading “Cedar Cultural Center, Augsburg kick off Midnimo on Sept. 15” Katie Clark answers readers’ questions for Girls Life magazine
Augsburg College’s Katie Clark, a member of the nursing department faculty, spoke in July with Girls’ Life magazine to answer questions posed by the magazine’s readers. The publication, which has a readership of more than 2 million girls ages 10-15, is sold at many major bookstores throughout the nation. Clark, who answered a range of questions, was a featured resource in the August/September 2014 issue of the magazine.Bill Nye ‘The Science Guy’ speaks at Augsburg on Valentine’s Day
Bill Nye “The Science Guy” will share his love for science when he speaks February 14 at Augsburg College’s Scholarship Weekend in an address that is open to the general public. Nye, who will talk about “How Science Can Save the World,” will speak with academic depth and humor about planetary science, climate change, evolution, environmental awareness, and more.International leader on peace building, cease-fire joins NPPF
Gina Torry takes helm of global forum on Oct. 1
MINNEAPOLIS – An international peace-building expert with extensive experience in United Nations security-related initiatives and policy development in gender issues, mediation and cease-fires will lead the Nobel Peace Prize Forum beginning Oct. 1. Augsburg College, with its academic partners the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the School of Public Health, today announced the appointment of Gina Torry as executive director of the NPPF.The Line highlights Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer
Dave Conrad dishes on the importance of employee kudos
Augsburg College’s Dave Conrad, assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his latest column about the importance of employee recognition and the lack thereof from the employers. Lute Olson photos featured by Arizona Daily Star
Augsburg College alumnus Lute Olson ’56, a member of several halls of fame for his achievements in basketball coaching, was featured by the Arizona Daily Star in recognition of his 80th birthday. Olson was an Augsburg student from 1952-56, playing three sports (football, basketball, baseball), and earning a double major in history and physical education.Women’s Press, Twin Cities Daily Planet publish profile on
Jacquie Berglund
Augsburg alumna Jacquie Berglund ’87, CEO of Finnegans charitable beer company, was featured by two media outlets based out of the Twin Cities. A Minnesota Women’s Press profile on Berglund was republished by the Twin Cities Daily Planet. In the story, Berglund describes her history as the founder of Finnegans — a company that donates 100 percent of its profits to charity — and its newly launched food sharing initiative known as the “reverse food truck.”Mpls. St. Paul Magazine talks with Lani Hollenbeck
Augsburg alumna Lani Hollenbeck ’79 ’11 MAN, a graduate of the College’s undergraduate social work and graduate nursing programs, spoke with Mpls. St. Paul Magazine about her role caring for infants at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. In the story, Hollenbeck describes the model she developed to promote positive relationships between caregivers and families in hospitals and her off-duty work through missions to Mexico and Guatemala. She is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Augsburg with an emphasis in Transcultural Nursing Leadership. The profile of Hollenbeck was part of a longer story that named some of Minnesota’s outstanding nurses. Read “Children’s Health: Lani Hollenbeck.”Julie Philbrook featured in Star Tribune
Julie Philbrook, a graduate of Augsburg College’s Master of Arts in Leadership and Master of Arts in Nursing programs, offered her expertise on head injuries and bicycle helmet safety in a recent Star Tribune article. Philbrook, who is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Augsburg, serves as a trauma prevention specialist at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. To learn how much Philbrook estimates helmets can reduce the chances of sustaining a serious head injury, read, “The Drive: Making the case for bicycle helmets.”Cedar Cultural Center, Augsburg kick off Midnimo on Sept. 15
The Cedar Cultural Center, in partnership with Augsburg College, on Sept. 15 kicks off “Midnimo: Music for Unity, Campus and Community,” a two-year project to build cross-cultural awareness, knowledge, and understanding of Somali culture through music.