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City Pages features Maria Cristina Tavera’s “Reconfiguring Casta”
as a must-see art show

city pages - logoTwin Cities news and culture magazine City Pages recently selected “Reconfiguring Casta,” an exhibit featuring the work of Maria Cristina Tavera, director of the McNairs Scholars Program at Augsburg College, as a “must-see art show.” Tavera’s artwork is on display in the Christensen Center Art Gallery through March 31.

The article states that Tavera is “A powerhouse curator and advocate for Latina artists,” and that she “is a skilled artist in her own right, examining how the Latin American diaspora express their identity in today’s world.”

 

Minnesota Women’s Press profiles Tina Tavera

Minnesota Womens Press - logoThe Minnesota Women’s Press recently featured a profile of Maria Cristina “Tina” Tavera, director of the McNair Scholars Program at Augsburg College, and her daughter Paloma Giossi. Tavera is an artist and activist whose work often focuses on the relationships between womanhood and culture. “My artistic mission is to create pieces that inspire conversations about topics, about how gender and cultural issues are viewed. I want to create access to arts for women,” Tavera said in the article.

The article also examines how Tavera’s own cultural heritage has impacted her work; she has dual-citizenship with the U.S. and Mexico. “Art has the capacity to teach non-Latinos about our Latino culture,” Tavera said. “To create a sense of community for Latinos, and to create places for conversation.”

Tavera’s work will be featured in “Reconfiguring Casta,” an exhibit in Augsburg College’s Christensen Center art gallery from February 29 to March 31. A reception will be held at the gallery on March 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. Additionally, Tavera has curated a collection titled, “Sus Voces: Female Printmakers from Mexico” that will be displayed at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking from February 5 to March 27 with a reception on March 4 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Read: Visualizing women’s stories on the Minnesota Women’s Press site for further exhibition and event details.

Auggies advocate for private education support at the Capitol

auggiesatcapitol2Whether they are learning about lobbying, speaking to a committee, or presenting their research, Auggies in many disciplines are making time to talk to lawmakers about issues and policies that affect students. By telling their stories to advocate for support for Minnesota’s private colleges and for programs that make a private college education possible for students, Augsburg students are living the College’s mission to be engaged citizens.

This spring, the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) and Augsburg Day Student Government will provide an opportunity for Auggies to engage with legislators at Augsburg Day at the Capitol. And at events held earlier this year, Ben Yawakie ’13, Charlie Olson ’13, and Rosie Benser ’13 talked with legislators about the value of their experiences at Augsburg. Continue reading “Auggies advocate for private education support at the Capitol”

Augsburg College TRIO McNair Scholars present research at UC Berkeley

McNair_BerkeleyNearly a dozen Augsburg College McNair Scholars presented their summer research findings at the University of California, Berkeley’s 20th Annual McNair Scholars Symposium, held August 2-5. The symposium hosted students from colleges and universities across the United States.

Augsburg students during summer 2012 spent an average of 400 hours exploring their topics, developing theses, collecting and reviewing data, and preparing formal paper presentations.

Scholars were paired with a faculty mentor in their discipline to gain extensive skills and knowledge, learn research methods, and practice writing and public speaking. Continue reading “Augsburg College TRIO McNair Scholars present research at UC Berkeley”

Augsburg College McNair Scholars Program grant renewed

McNair_renewedThe U.S. Department of Education recently renewed grant funding for the Augsburg College McNair Scholars Program; the College from 2012 to 2017 will receive $220,000 on an annual basis, for a total award of $1.1 million.

The TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program—or McNair Scholars Program—is a federal grant-funded graduate school preparatory program with a mission to prepare first-generation, low income, and underrepresented students for doctoral study. The program provides opportunities for participants to develop the advanced academic skills necessary for graduate school admission and successful graduate study. Continue reading “Augsburg College McNair Scholars Program grant renewed”

McNair Scholars engage in summer research

mcnair_summer Often in Minnesota, it doesn’t really feel like summer until July arrives. However, for 16 McNair Scholars, this month is less about the blue skies and relaxation as it is about long hours spent hunched over reference books, computer screens, and lab equipment. July marks the peak of the scholars’ summer research projects.

The McNair Scholars Program offers undergraduate students the unique experience of participating in graduate-level activities. One component of the program is an intensive 10-week long summer research project. Participating students spend an average of 40 hours a week exploring their topics, developing a thesis, collecting and reviewing data, and preparing a formal presentation of their findings. Continue reading “McNair Scholars engage in summer research”