Augsburg alumna Jacquie Berglund ’87, CEO of Finnegans charitable beer company, was quoted in a Star Tribune story on the business’s latest endeavor: a reverse food truck. According to the Star Tribune, Finnegans’ will drive its new vehicle to locations around the Twin Cities to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations. All donations go back to Finnegans’ community fund, which channels the food to local food shelves and uses monetary donations to buy fresh produce from local farms. Learn more in “Finnegans’ food truck collects food, money for local food shelves.”
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 alumnus and former Auggie football player Scott Cooper ’13 was a special guest at the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s “You Can Play” video unveiling event. “You Can Play” is a movement where athletic organizations pledge to provide a safe, respectful experience to all student athletes, regardless of their sexual orientation. According to Northland News Center, nearly 200 people heard Cooper describe his positive experience as an openly gay athlete at Augsburg College. Bring Me the News included Augsburg College’s “Happy” video among its “5 at 5 You Need to Read.” A separate news item on the site provides more context for Augsburg’s take on the “Happy” fever that’s sweeping the nation. Minnesota Public Radio’s On Campus blog featured the Augsburg College “Happy” video, which was inspired by musician Pharrell Williams’ “24 Hours of Happy” project. Visit the MPR website to read “Something from Augsburg to hum the rest of the day” and to watch the video. David Murr ’92, Augsburg College associate professor of physics, was quoted in a recent Star Tribune science brief on advances in solar storm detection. Murr discussed researchers’ efforts to help governments and industry develop better assessments of the risks solar storms pose to the world’s technological infrastructure. Read the brief on the Star Tribune website. Augsburg MFA in Creative Writing nonfiction mentor Jack El-Hai and author David Lebedoff compared writing styles and personal methods on TPT’s Matters of Fact on March 30. El-Hai is the author of “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist,” and with Lebedoff discussed topics ranging from writers’ block to sources of inspiration and working in coffee shops. Watch Matters of Fact on the TPT website. A version of the story also was featured on KAAL-TV in Rochester and can be viewed on KAAL-TV.
Scott Cooper ’13 shares Augsburg experiences at UW-Superior
‘Peer Gynt’ a Star Tribune ‘Stage Spot’
The Star Tribune included Augsburg College’s production of “Peer Gynt,” which runs April 10 through 13 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, in its “Stage Spot” news column. The play marks the first time that the College has partnered with the University of Minnesota to deliver an innovative production that breaks rules and boundaries. Read more on the Star Tribune’s website.Augsburg video a ‘need to read’ on Bring Me the News
MPR’s On Campus blog features Augsburg ‘Happy’ video
MFA mentor Jack El-Hai wins Minnesota Book Award
Augsburg MFA in Creative Writing mentor Jack El-Hai recently won the Minnesota Book Award for General Nonfiction for his book “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist: Hermann Goring, Dr. Douglas M. Kelley and a Fatal Meeting of Minds at the End of WWII.” El-Hai’s book tells the story of the remarkable relationship between Army psychiatrist Capt. Douglas M. Kelley and the elite of the captured Nazi regime, particularly Hermann Goring. As noted in the Star Tribune, El-Hai’s previous Book Award was for “The Lobotomist.” Visit the Star Tribune website to read, “Winners of the Minnesota Book Awards announced.”David Murr ’92 discusses space weather with Star Tribune
MPR features Augsburg’s Traditional Powwow
Images from Augsburg College’s sixth Traditional Powwow were featured in a photo essay by Minnesota Public Radio reporter Nikki Tundel. The photos show various aspects of the Powwow, ranging from dances and drumming to fellowship and friendship. Visit the MPR website to view the photos.Jack El-Hai appears on TPT
Jennifer Simon talks about powwow with KSTP
Jennifer Simon, director of Augsburg College’s American Indian Student Services, talked to KSTP TV about the College’s 6th Traditional Powwow. Simon shared highlights of the powwow, including recognition of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for a gift of $250,000 for endowed scholarships to support American Indian students. Watch “Traditional Powwow at Augsburg College Thanks Local Sioux Tribe.”