Stewart Van Cleve is a librarian and digital archivist at 海角社区鈥檚 Lindell Library, where he is responsible for Augsburg鈥檚 Digital Archives (library.augsburg.edu/archives). His passion for archiving began while studying toward a degree in Urban Studies at the University of Minnesota when he had a student position working with the renowned Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies. The Tretter Collection is a vast collection of books, photographs, films, and other historical artifacts that Van Cleve calls 鈥渙ne of the most comprehensive accounts of international queer history in the world.鈥� After receiving his master鈥檚 in urban studies from Portland State University, Van Cleve decided to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in library and information science at St. Catherine University, in St. Paul.
In 2012, Van Cleve published his book, Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota, a wide-ranging illustrated history of queer life in Minnesota. The book contains more than 120 historical essays聽exploring the聽earliest evidence of queer life in Minnesota before the Second World War鈥攆rom Oscar Wilde鈥檚 visit to Minnesota, riverfront vice districts, protest and parade sites, bars, 1970s collectives, institutions, public spaces, and private homes. This rich history is illustrated in more than 130 examples, including聽images of annual 鈥減ride guides,鈥澛燼 number of聽archival photographs, and advertisements from local queer bars.
Having worked at Augsburg for nearly a year, Van Cleve says he loves the “student-centric” nature of the University. On Thursday, April 5, he聽will be joining the Augsburg Alumni office at its聽Auggies聽in the City:聽Kinky Boots, pre-theater event to discuss his book, and to provide more details on the history of queer life in Minnesota.
For more information on Augsburg alumni events please visit .
Amanda Stramer 鈥�12 was named聽recently to the Florida High Tech Corridor鈥檚 2018 鈥淔aces of Technology,鈥� which represents more than 252,000 scientists and technologists. Stramer earned this distinction through her innovative work in the development and commercialization of cancer immunotherapies.
For three years, Stramer has worked at Iovance Biotherapeutics in Tampa, FL. Currently a process development associate scientist, she works to develop immuno-oncology therapies, called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), to fight aggressive cancers.
Stramer says she chose to study at Augsburg because it was the most diverse private school in Minnesota*, and was small enough to provide for enhanced learning that can result from significant relationships with professors and classmates alike. Stramer graduated with a BS in Biology and Philosophy and was a lead volunteer at the Campus Kitchen. She has found that she can thrive in a small and intimate work environment, such as the one at Iovance Biotherapeutics, thanks to the study habits she developed at Augsburg.
Within a week of graduating from Augsburg, Stramer was offered a job. She immediately moved to Florida, where she started her career as a microbiologist at a small biotech company in Sarasota.
When asked if she could offer any advice to current Auggies, Stramer said, 鈥淎lthough there is always talk about academic careers following STEM programs, the science industry is so huge and versatile; Auggies should never fear to branch out.鈥�
Stramer is a fantastic example of an Auggie making a difference, and Augsburg can take pride in its diverse alumni base, which includes a wide range of professions and accolades.
Do you know a great Auggie who should be in the spotlight? Let us know by emailing alumni@augsburg.edu.
*海角社区 was the most diverse private school in Minnesota at the time of Stramer鈥檚 application.
With so many amazing things are happening at Augsburg, it may be helpful to have a little guidance about just how much is happening this year for the 35 Augsburg groups raising funds this year.
How can you support these initiatives? Read on! We鈥檝e collected some examples of how your gifts this Thursday can make a huge impact in the lives of Augsburg students, faculty, and community members. Thanks for your support!
You can see all of Augsburg鈥檚 Give to the Max Day projects, and make your gifts now.
Your gift to the Augsburg Fund helps ensure that Augsburg continues to provide financial aid and scholarships for more than 95% of our student body, keeping access to education for all a priority on campus.
2. Your gift to the Augsburg Health Commons means members of our Cedar-Riverside community who are struggling to provide for their families don鈥檛 have to worry about the cold winter ahead.
3. Your gift to Augsburg Campus Kitchens helps expand and improve our campus gardens, where students and community members work together to grow healthy food and integrate green practices into our cities. .
4. Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 Biology Department supports cutting-edge research on issues affecting Minnesota鈥檚 agricultural sector, including the health of soybeans.
5. Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 Chemistry Department gives students like Zach Swingen 鈥�16 the chance to work closely with Minnesota schools to build new curriculum that gets kids excited about science. .
6. Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 Baseball and Softball teams gives our student-athletes a chance to train in Tucson, Arizona. It also gives Auggie Eagle a little break from the cold weather鈥� !
7. Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 SMART group will help raise awareness and advocate for issues related to sexual violence and recovery in the Augsburg community.
8. Your gift to the Augsburg Theater Department鈥檚 Production Fellowship helps fund students of color who are exploring a career in artistic production, making the industry more representative and giving future generations of creative people new role models.
9.聽Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 Peace Scholars Fund helps support the motivated, global-minded group of students who are Augsburg Peace Scholars. .
10. Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 StepUP庐 Program creates opportunities for students in recovery to spread their message of hope and acceptance throughout the Twin Cities in speaking engagements, activities, and community events.
11. Your gift to the Sabo Center鈥檚 Sabo Scholars continues that work that Augsburg alumnus Martin Olav Sabo 鈥�59 believed in and spent his life achieving鈥攅quipping young leaders to move beyond the classroom to listen, value, and support democracy in every facet of community life.
12. Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Volleyball program provides our 2016 MIAC Champions with the chance to take their game abroad, as they challenge themselves against tougher opposition and experience new cultures, all while proudly representing Augsburg..
13. Your gift to Augsburg鈥檚 Minnesota Urban Debate League program gives young people across the metro area the chance to build their communication skills and confidence, giving them the tools to be successful leaders in their community.
14. Your gift to Lindell Library support an expanded collection of local, Minnesota authors and a speaker series that honors the many contributions our residents have made to the stories of art, architecture, history, literature, politics, and native and immigrant groups.
15. Your gift to any of four Augsburg projects count double. Donations to聽AWE for Emergence, the Peace Scholars Program, STEM, Biology, and Chemistry will be matched for every dollar, thanks to generous donors willing to help us all do more, together,
16. Your gifts help Augsburg win the Colleges and Universities category that earns the College a $10,000 prize鈥攁nd each hour on Give to the Max Day, one Golden Ticket of $1,000 will be awarded through a random drawing of all donations transacted during the previous hour. Additionally, two Super-Sized Golden Tickets of $10,000 each will be awarded randomly.
With 36 Augsburg programs participating in Give to the Max, it鈥檚 easy to choose the Auggie causes that speak to your heart. Just don鈥檛 expect to be satisfied with just one!
Teachers working in designated teacher shortage areas in Minnesota may now qualify for help with their student loan payments. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) recently announced an assistance program for teachers with student loans.
The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program, created in 2015, is intended to encourage teachers to teach in Minnesota in designated shortage areas by providing assistance with their student loan repayments.
In general, applicants must currently:
Hold a teaching license issued by the licensing division in the Minnesota Department of Education on behalf of the Board of Teaching
Be employed by a school district to provide classroom instruction
Teach in a ; and
Have outstanding qualified educational loan debt.
Qualifying teachers who apply by June 30, 2016, may be eligible for repayment assistance of $1,000 per year, up to a total of $5,000. OHE estimates that 194 awards will be made for the 2015-2016 award year, with as many as 1,940 annual awards made through 2019.
More information about the program . .
The Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program application .
Please share this information with interested friends or colleagues.聽For more information, contact Sandy Connolly at 651-259-3902 or by email at sandy.connolly@state.mn.us.
For those of you who attended the Auggie Networking Event on Tuesday, February 9, in Hoversten Chapel, a highlight was the demonstration of using the College’s LinkedIn group to reach out to other alumni or students. Join the and increase your ability to connect with other Auggies across every field. For those who are open to being contacted for networking or mentoring, join the sub-group . Note: you must be part of the Augsburg College group first. For tips on connecting with Auggies across all disciplines via LinkedIn, see the shared at the networking event.
The Augsburg Alumni LinkedIn group is in the process of merging with the College’s group. If you’re not already connected with the now, do so today. The Augsburg College Alumni group will close at the end of April 2016 in an effort to form the most robust group for building connections among Auggies everywhere.
This week is NCAA Division III Week, a celebration of all the wonderful things that Division III is all about. We have so much to celebrate. Congratulations to …
鈥⒙� The and Augsburg men’s hockey coach Chris Brown, who was named MIAC Coach of the Year for his leadership of the MIAC-champion Auggies. Eight Augsburg men’s hockey players earned postseason honors from the MIAC.
鈥⒙� Enjoy a when Mack Ohnsted scored in the third overtime to lift Augsburg over St. John’s to the MIAC men’s hockey championship, sending the Auggies to the NCAA Division III national playoffs.
鈥⒙犅�Augsburg men’s hockey goalie , named to the CCM Hockey/AHCA Division II-III All-America Team. Kaufer is Augsburg’s 34th All-American in men’s hockey.
鈥⒙� qualified for the MIAC postseason playoffs for the fifth time in school history. The Auggies third-place conference finish was the team’s highest MIAC finished since 1999-00, when the team won the conference and regular season playoff titles. .
鈥⒙� finished fifth at the NCAA Division III National Championships, and had four All-Americans this year.
鈥⒙� Augsburg wrestler qualified for a spot in this weekend’s U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in Iowa City, Iowa.
2011 scholarship brunch photo, (from left) Martin Sabo, Juventino Meza, Sylvia Sabo, Renee Van Siclen, and Ben Krouse-Gagne for the Martin Olav and Sylvia Lee Sabo Scholarship for Leadership in Public and Community Service.
With great sadness, Augsburg College announced the loss of U.S. Representative Martin Sabo on March 14, 2016. Sabo, a 1959 alumnus of Augsburg College, was a聽national leader and public servant, and an inspirational legend dedicated to revitalizing the role of higher education in equipping students for active engagement in citizenship and democracy.
Sabo聽led a full and accomplished life, and the many heartfelt remembrances that have been shared since his passing are a testament to the impact he made in our community and nation as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the聽College鈥檚 Board of Regents.聽On the College’s website, you’ll聽find a tribute to the remarkable work and contributions聽that Martin and his wife, Sylvia, have made to Augsburg.
Augsburg has been blessed by the life and work of Martin Sabo. He will be greatly missed and long remembered. Our thoughts are with his family, including Martin and Sylvia鈥檚 daughters, Karin (Sabo) Mantor 鈥�86 and Julie Sabo 鈥�90, and their families.
President Paul Pribbenow , and the state, and local and national media covered Sabo鈥檚 passing extensively.
Augsburg is deeply honored to be able to carry on Sabo鈥檚 legacy with the important work of the Martin Olav Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, where he remained active.聽Since 1995, 96 Auggies have had the distinction of being Sabo Scholars, awarded to juniors and seniors who have interest in and a commitment to engagement in the political process, public policy, and/or careers in public service.
Professor Phil Adamo learned about Martin Sabo鈥檚 passing while he was in the midst of writing a piece about聽Sabo聽that describes Sabo鈥檚 history, time at Augsburg, and run 鈥淔or members of the College community,鈥� Adamo writes, 鈥淩epresentative Sabo will always be a part of Augsburg. We knew him when.鈥� Please enjoy of Augsburg College. Harry Boyte, senior scholar in public work philosophy for the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, shared聽in a his experiences working with the late聽Martin Olav Sabo 鈥�59. Continue reading “Remembering Martin Sabo”→
With more than 1,500 alumni staying connected with Augsburg via social media and in so many other ways, we would love to hear from you. Every month, we at the Augsburg Alumni Association are going to ask you a question via social media and we would love to hear your feedback. We want to hear your ideas about upcoming events, special programs, favorite memories, volunteering, continuing education, and so much more. In every monthly e-newsletter, we will pose a question for you, the alumni, and we’ll follow it up on Twitter and Facebook. We’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas, and we hope you will share your stories with us!
Homecoming planning is already underway here on campus for Sept. 23-24, 2016. The April 2016 #AuggieAsks question is: What would bring to campus for Homecoming? Do you a favorite idea for Homecoming that you’ve never seen or would like to see again? What makes Homecoming great for you?
Have any questions of your own? Tag #AuggieAsks to Augsburg Alumni on Facebook or Twitter, or let us know at alumni@augsburg.edu, and we’ll get back to you right away.
We hear so many stories of lifelong partnerships found at Augsburg鈥攃ouples who met in their first year, in class, at the Chin Wag, or working on campus鈥攚e’re tempted to call Augsburg cupid. Or just lucky to play host to a lifetime of heart-enriching connections of all kinds鈥攍ifelong friendships, mentorships, and partnerships. We put a call out on social media to share a photo with Augsburg Alumni if you met your mate at Augsburg College. Thank you to all who shared your photos and stories. This Valentine’s Day, the Alumni Association sends love to Auggies everywhere!
Auggie lovebirds include: Kari Aanestad 鈥�08 and Brian Krohn 鈥�08, with Sean Stanhill 鈥�08, Krista Costin 鈥�08, and Ryan Lisson 鈥�08; Alissa Blood-Knafla 鈥�07 and Patrick Knafla 鈥�04; Anjie (Tonolli) 鈥�93 and Tac 鈥�91 Coplin; Carol (Pederson) 鈥�72 and Wayne 鈥�71 Jorgenson; Caitlin Hozeny 鈥�09 and Seth Lienard 鈥�11; Abby (Johnson) 鈥�05 and Zac 鈥�03 Schnedler; Alisha Esselstein 鈥�15 and Tyler Dorn 鈥�15; Simon茅 (Johnson) 鈥�91 and Alex Gonzalez 鈥�90; Shannon Connaughton 鈥�13 and Erik Grindal 鈥�13; Cherie (Elliott) 鈥�03 and Brad Christ; Ross Murray 鈥�00, MBA 鈥�09 and Richard Garnett 鈥�07, MBA 鈥�09; Joanne (Varner) 鈥�52 and Harvey 鈥�52 Peterson; Heather Johnston 鈥�92 and Jason Koch 鈥�93; Lisbeth (Jorgensen) 鈥�70 and Earl 鈥�68 Sethre; Joan (Moline) 鈥�83 and John Evans 鈥�82; Hayley Thomas 鈥�12 and Emerson Ball 鈥�14; Becky (Bjella) 鈥�79 and Jeff 鈥�77 Nodland; Barbara (Beglinger) 鈥�63 and Dean 鈥�62 Larson; Laura Schmidt 鈥�11 and Patrick DuSchane 鈥�13; Pam (Hanson) 鈥�79 and Mark 鈥�79 Moksnes; Christine 鈥�09 and Cody 鈥�09 Tresselt-Warren with Noah; Denielle Johnson 鈥�11 and Tim Stepka;聽Jennifer (Feine) 鈥�94 and Erik Hellie 鈥�93; Molly (Fochtman) 鈥�92 and Greg Schnagl 鈥�91;聽Bev (Ranum) 鈥�78 and Dennis 鈥�78 Meyer; Nancy (Mackey) 鈥�85 and Paul 鈥�84 Mueller; Emily Crook 鈥�07, MAE 鈥�15 and DJ Hamm 鈥�08, and many hundreds more!
Alumna Julia Blixrud ’76 was honored in Washington, D.C., on October 8, 2015, with a memorial scholarship and annual lecture by the Association of Research Libraries. A number of family members attended the fall forum in which the inaugural Julia C. Blixrud Scholarship was awarded and the Julia C. Blixrud Memorial Lecture was delivered. Blixrud, of Lawrence, Kansas, was a longtime staff member of the Association of Research Libraries, most recently as assistant executive director for scholarly communication. She in October, 2014.
Her mother, Eileen Blixrud, shared that in her role as a research librarian, she promoted access to information to libraries locally and all over the world, visiting Turkey, Malaysia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Canada, as well as land grant colleges in聽the United States.
In a post after her passing, her employer noted: “Julia鈥檚 greatest professional legacy is likely her work dedicated to opening up access to information for all. Her personal legacy includes the effervescent energy and uncommon kindness that she generously gave to her family, friends, and colleagues with her enduring optimism, resilient character, and contagious smile. These personal and professional legacies are intertwined in many ways, perhaps illustrated most powerfully in an , discussing the importance of open access to information in the context of her own serious health challenges.”
