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Torstenson Lecture in Sociology features Garry Hesser

Garry Hesser
Augsburg professor Garry Hesser

Each year, Augsburg College honors the legacy of an individual who helped shape the College’s mission by hosting the Torstenson Lecture in Sociology, and—for the first time—the 2013 presentation will highlight the important work of a current Augsburg faculty member.

The Torstenson Lecture is an opportunity for a sociologist from the Twin Cities area to share with the Augsburg community the contemporary scholarship, research, and thinking on a sociological topic.

This year’s speaker, Garry Hesser, is the first Augsburg professor selected to be the Torstenson lecturer, and Hesser will present “Place Matters…So?” at 5 p.m., April 2 in Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center. Continue reading “Torstenson Lecture in Sociology features Garry Hesser”

Berlovitz brings her talent to Augsburg, brings out talent in actors

titanicorchestraThe cast of The Titanic Orchestra didn’t know Barbra Berlovitz, an icon in the Twin Cities theater scene, before they auditioned for the play she is guest directing at Augsburg this spring. None of the students had attended a production at the Tony award-winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune, where Berlovitz was the co-artistic director for 25 years. But the entire cast agrees that working with her has been a valuable experience in their development as actors.

Justin Caron, a junior theater major, said Berlovitz is a master at bringing out an actor’s unique talents. “She’s good at getting people to make new discoveries without telling them exactly what to do and working with the talent we have and trying to make that come out,” Caron said. Continue reading “Berlovitz brings her talent to Augsburg, brings out talent in actors”

Global Connections Project—Enriching lives in Cambodia

gcp_groupFor two weeks in January, a group of students and volunteers from the Twin Cities traveled to Cambodia to participate in a service project with the Global Connections Project.

Founded in January 2010, the Global Connections Project has been the lifelong work and vision of Shawn Tuoch and Penh Soni Lo, director of Pan Asian Student Services at Augsburg. Shawn and Penh are children of the wars in Southeast Asia which resulted in the mass exodus of Southeast Asian refugees to the United States. After several individual trips to Southeast Asia for charitable projects, they recognize the need for humanitarian work in Southeast Asia. By luck, they met through various networks and started collaborating. As a result, Global Connections Project formed with an all-volunteer staff and board. Continue reading “Global Connections Project—Enriching lives in Cambodia”

MLK Convocation features T. Mychael Rambo

mlk_convoThe Augsburg College Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation will feature actor, vocalist, and educator T. Mychael Rambo. The convocation, which also includes performances of poetry, song, dance, and imagery, is titled, “Now is the Time: Giving Voice to the Dream.”

Set against a backdrop of his most memorable speeches, quotations, and historical events from the Civil Rights era, this celebration pays tribute to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. through performances from renowned Twin Cities artists and talented members of the Augsburg College community. As part of this event, students from the Southside Family School will also share an excerpt from their world premiere production, “Keeping the Dream Alive.” Hosted and curated by T. Mychael Rambo, this stirring performance will give voice to “the dream” and refresh our resolve to boldly proclaim, that indeed “Now is the time!” Continue reading “MLK Convocation features T. Mychael Rambo”

A word from the President—Why is service important?

pres_blogEditor’s Note: On Tuesday afternoon, the Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhood will be filled with first-year Auggies, faculty members, staff members, and members of President Pribbenow’s Cabinet. Why is service important?

In his latest blog post, President Pribbenow addresses that question. A copy of the blog post is below. Find “Paul’s Blog” on the Augsburg College President’s webpage.

Education and service

On Tuesday, the Augsburg community will honor its historic commitment to “Education for Service” as we participate in our long-standing “City Service Day.” On that day, more than 500 Auggies—students, faculty and staff—will fan out across the Twin Cities to be of service to our neighbors. Continue reading “A word from the President—Why is service important?”

We really do love life in the city

neighborhood_favoritesFor the last couple of years, Augsburg’s summer orientation program for incoming first-year students has focused on introducing new Auggies to the neighborhoods surrounding campus. During SOAR, both students and parents take neighborhood walking and light rail tours and not only see the areas but also learn some of the history and lesser-known facts about the neighborhoods.

In this spirit, we asked several Auggie faculty and staff to share their “You have to see/do/go to…” suggestions for getting to know our cities. Continue reading “We really do love life in the city”

Have you seen the sign?

auggie_signRecently one of Augsburg’s most visible symbols got a major facelift. The Augsburg “A” and “Augsburg” signs atop Mortensen Hall were replaced in January with updated LED logos that serve as a beacon to commuters who pass the campus daily on Interstate 94 and to residents of the Twin Cities.

Julie Edstrom, Augsburg’s vice president of enrollment management, says that even though Augsburg is located along a major freeway in the state’s largest city, the College hasn’t been very visible to the tens of thousands of people driving by every day. “I’m always surprised when people who live right here in the Twin Cities ask me where Augsburg is located,” Edstrom says. Continue reading “Have you seen the sign?”

UIC students immersed in Minnesota culture

chinaThe 12 students visiting Augsburg from United International College in Zhuhai, China, find Americans friendly and polite, and believe they exercise more in a healthier environment than found in China. And baseball games, which aren’t found in China, have been exciting.

The students, ages 19-22, arrived in Minneapolis on July 2, just in time to meet American culture at a Fourth of July picnic on Nicollet Island, complete with hot dogs, potato salad, and fireworks. The students are enrolled in an Augsburg summer session course and are participating in a program on Minnesota history and culture. Before returning home on August 7, they will complete a project about Minnesota and Augsburg that they will present in China. Continue reading “UIC students immersed in Minnesota culture”

Auggie interns at the RNC

RNC1 In a few short weeks, more than 45,000 Republican delegates, party officials, volunteers, and members of the media will be in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro for the 2008 Republican National Convention. From September 1-4, the Twin Cities will host the 39th nominating convention for the Republican Party, the second nominating convention to be held in the Twin Cities. The convention will take place in St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center and will result in the nomination of the Republican candidate for the 2008 presidential election.

Minnesota’s participation in this aspect of the democratic process also brings opportunities to our Augsburg campus. Because of its commitment to civic engagement and service learning, Augsburg was chosen by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to host 250 students from across the country for a 2-week seminar in conjunction with the RNC. Continue reading “Auggie interns at the RNC”