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.
Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri endowed chair and executive director of Interfaith at 海角社区, recently shared her perspective of unity during Ramadan with .听
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims place extra emphasis on spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, and reciting scripture. Those who are able fast between dawn and dusk and gather after sunset for a communal evening meal called Iftar. 鈥淲hat’s really lovely about Islam in America is that we’re the most ethnically diverse and racially diverse religious community in the U.S.,鈥� Syeed told Jacob Aloi from MPR. She also noted that Ramadan and Iftar meals offer a unique opportunity for hospitality, interfaith work, and peacebuilding, 鈥渨hich is based on food and breaking bread together, for sitting at the same table. It鈥檚 really hard to fight afterward.鈥澨�
Last week, the City of Minneapolis honored the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship with a Local Public Health HeroAward in the category of Healthy Living and Healthy Food Systems. Project Manager Jenean Gilmer, Food Initiatives Program Manager Natalie Jacobson, and Director of Community Relations Steve Peacock were specifically recognized for their efforts. Paula Guinn and Sieglinde Thetard from The People鈥檚 Center nominated the Sabo Center for their food access work in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. They wrote:听听
鈥満＝巧缜�檚 Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship works to build community connections and engagement in pursuit of more equitable systems and resources in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. The Center plays a major role in food access and systems work through the Cedar-Riverside Food Initiative group, which draws representatives from healthcare organizations, community-service centers, higher education institutions, and local non-profits. They have shown great leadership in their dedication to continuing food access work as a collective, which is exemplified by their commitment to uplifting diverse community voices to shape and direct food initiatives.听
鈥淭he Center has been instrumental in connecting neighborhood organizations and community members with fresh produce and healthy shelf-stable items. For example, the team works with Health Commons, a healthcare collective, to distribute thousands of pounds of free fresh produce to community members in and around Riverside Plaza. The Center has also made a significant impact in building sustainable food-distribution models that incorporate grassroots organizations into existing food distribution frameworks and community programming. With so many long-term partnerships, The Sabo Center has a broad range of organizations and community members engaged in adapting existing and future programming to healthy living and healthy food system goals.”
Following a competitive bid process, Augsburg is moving forward with a new dining services contract with Aladdin Campus Dining, the university鈥檚 current provider, effective July 1, 2023. The new contract will feature multiple enhancements that reflect student feedback about dining options on campus. These enhancements include:
Additional offerings of food selections, including local restaurant features in the Dining Commons, local restaurant rotations in Nabo, and exploration of a dedicated halal station in the Dining Commons.
Extended evening service in the Dining Commons to 8:00 p.m.
Mobile ordering and pickup from Nabo and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
Significant investment in remodeling the Dining Commons, beginning this summer.
Addition of a 24/7 micro market on campus in 2024鈥�25.
Tracking and management of sustainability commitments around local purchasing and waste management.
Importantly, this new contract maintains the meal plan pricing approved by the Board of Regents last fall; all other bids would have resulted in a noticeable increase in cost to students for the coming year. In addition, Aladdin will continue to serve chef-crafted meals made from scratch in the Dining Commons, sponsorship of Late Night Breakfast in the fall and spring semesters, post-sunset evening meals and breakfast pickups for students during Ramadan, and financial support for food insecurity programs on campus.
The selection process was led by a task force made up of students and staff from across the university, with support from an external food services consultant. Over the course of this academic year, the task force met with and surveyed students and student organizations, engaged college and university dining services providers across the country, received bids, and interviewed finalists in order to secure the best possible contract for the campus community.
海角社区 announced today the creation of the John N. Schwartz 鈥�67 School of the Arts, a destination arts hub for music, theater, and art and design. An estate gift from Augsburg alumnus John N. Schwartz 鈥�67 will establish the school.
鈥淲ith their power to connect, illuminate, break boundaries, and build relationships, the arts have been a vital part of Augsburg鈥檚 mission and community life for more than 150 years,鈥� said University President Paul C. Pribbenow. 鈥淎t a time when support for the arts in public life and education has become contingent and vulnerable, Augsburg is tremendously grateful for John Schwartz鈥檚 visionary leadership in establishing an institutional home for music, theater, and art for many future generations of students.鈥�
The Schwartz School of the Arts will house Augsburg鈥檚 12 undergraduate majors in the performing and visual arts, as well as the master of music therapy program. Students and faculty in the departments of theater, music, and art and design will have new and greater opportunities for interdisciplinary, collaborative work across disciplines, including with other areas of the university.
鈥淲e believe that a standalone arts school at a place like Augsburg鈥攁 university with deep commitments to access and equity, and one of the most diverse institutions in the upper Midwest鈥攚ill send a strong message to potential students that the arts are for everyone. Your gifts are valued here,鈥� said Paula O鈥橪oughlin, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs.
The performing and visual arts at Augsburg have long reflected the university鈥檚 mission in the commitments to artistic excellence, intentional diversity, civic engagement, and social justice embodied in each discipline. The new school is a refinement to the university鈥檚 institutional structure following the change from Augsburg College to 海角社区 in 2017. It also aligns with Augsburg鈥檚 role as an anchor institution in the Cedar-Riverside community of Minneapolis.
鈥淭he Schwartz School of the Arts will be a key venue for Augsburg to explore with our neighbors and our students how to build and expand access to cultural assets,鈥� said Pribbenow.
As an undergraduate, John Schwartz sang baritone in the Augsburg choir, igniting a love of choral music that persisted throughout his 40-year career as a healthcare executive in Milwaukee, Oregon, Montana, and Chicago.
鈥淢y experiences at Augsburg are a perfect example of how a well-rounded liberal arts education provides a pathway not just to a career but to a full and meaningful life,鈥� said Schwartz. 鈥淲hether singing in a choral ensemble, performing in a theater production, or sculpting in the studio, the arts provide opportunities to grow and connect that don鈥檛 exist anywhere else. With this new school, Augsburg is clearly stating that the performing and visual arts are central to our mission.鈥�
A current member of Augsburg鈥檚 Board of Regents, Schwartz has long supported Augsburg music students. His previous gifts to the university established the Leland B. Sateren 鈥�35 professorship and chair of music, the John N. Schwartz professor of choral leadership and conducting, and the John N. Schwartz and James A. Mosley scholarship.
The Schwartz School of the Arts is one of a number of transformational outcomes of Augsburg鈥檚 ongoing Great Returns: We鈥檙e All In comprehensive fundraising campaign. With a goal to raise $125 million, it is the largest such campaign in Augsburg history.
About Augsburg
海角社区 offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to approximately 3,200 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings. To learn more, visit .
Angel Young 鈥�24 is among the 154 student civic leaders recently named to the 2023-24 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows by Campus Compact.听
Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world. Fellows are nominated by Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors, who are invited to select one outstanding student from their campus each year.
A psychology major with a minor in sociology, Angel is involved in a number of activities and student groups on campus, including Augsburg鈥檚 Bonner Community Leaders Program, through which she works at the American Indian Student Services office on campus. She has held internship roles at Brooklyn City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth, and has worked with the Children鈥檚 Defense Fund.听
鈥淎s a child, I never dreamed that I would be someone with the power and voice to make a difference in the world,鈥� said Angel in a personal statement. 鈥淚 realize now that I make a greater impact with my words and actions as an adult with a voice than I ever imagined.鈥�
Campus Compact provides Newman Fellows with a year of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth. Each year, fellows participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities to help provide them with the skills and connections they need to create large-scale positive change. The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over the course of two days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.
鈥淔rom a young age, Angel has sought to find her voice and agency to make change in the world and help those around her,鈥� wrote President Paul C. Pribbenow in his nomination letter. 鈥淎ngel hopes to make a positive difference for young people by influencing public policy and creating awareness.鈥澨�听
鈥淲e are honored to recognize such an outstanding group of community-committed students,鈥� said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. 鈥淥ne of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowships is the richness of students鈥� perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds鈥攁nd how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political, and environmental issues impacting our world. These students will be the catalysts for change on many levels, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.鈥�
鈥淲hen we went up there, it was our job to know about everything鈥攖he pros, cons, the disease, all of it,鈥� said Connor Thorsten 鈥�24. 鈥淎s much as public speaking is a fear for a lot of people, we went up with confidence and did a great job.鈥澨�
With a who鈥檚 who of Mayo Clinic licensing managers and innovators in the audience, Thorsten and his teammates鈥擳om Erickson 鈥�24, Lorraine Wongbi 鈥�23, and Lily Yang 鈥�23鈥攚eren鈥檛 just delivering a typical class presentation. Their subject? A challenging biomedical tech transfer project focused on an implantable cardiac med tech device.
The presentation to Mayo Clinic leaders in early March was the culmination of months of study, research, and preparation the students undertook as participants in the . Working at the intersection of science, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, Innovation Scholars brings interdisciplinary teams of outstanding liberal arts students from 12 Minnesota private colleges and universities together to solve real-world problems in real time.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best opportunities for students that I鈥檝e seen as far as real-world application and being interdisciplinary,鈥� said Jacob Enger, assistant professor of business administration. Enger served as one of two faculty mentors for Augsburg鈥檚 team this year, along with Tim Monko, adjunct instructor in biology. Each group was also paired with an MBA student mentor from Augsburg or the University of St. Thomas.听
Throughout the fall and winter, Augsburg鈥檚 team met weekly or more to research the tech transfer project they were assigned by the Mayo Clinic. (Tech transfer refers to the process of moving from research to application and commercialization.) Bringing expertise in biochemistry, biopsychology, finance/accounting, and physics, they tackled questions like: Is it safe? Is it effective? Is it helpful? What is the potential patient population? Who are the competitors? What is the path to finishing product development and bringing it to market?听
鈥淭he experience made me more aware of the different moving parts that come into play during the roll-out of an innovation,鈥� said Wongbi. 鈥淚t really put into perspective the heart and dedication of the inventors, as much of the process requires patience.鈥�
In addition to writing a 40-plus page research paper and preparing the content of their presentation, the team practiced and strengthened their presentation skills, from holding a microphone to taking turns fielding questions.听
鈥淭he experience provides such a wide range of areas for students to grow and develop, all with skills they can speak to on a r茅sum茅鈥� said Enger. 鈥淪tudents both collaborate and specialize within their area of expertise, whether science or business.鈥澨�
While confidentiality agreements limit how much they can share about the project, the Augsburg students came away feeling celebratory. Thorsten, a member of Augsburg鈥檚 2023 national champion wrestling squad, credits teamwork for their success in Rochester.听
鈥淚t was one of the best out-of-school, real world experiences I鈥檝e had,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a lot of very hard work鈥攃runch time got very busy鈥攂ut we divided and conquered, and when one of us was struggling, we focused on helping them and vice versa.鈥�
Students can participate in Innovation Scholars for credit or to fulfill their Augsburg Experience requirement. The application for the next cohort will open in the fall. To find out more, reach out to URGO or .听
Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri chair and executive director of Interfaith at Augsburg, recently joined 鈥淪tate of Belief,鈥� Interfaith Alliance鈥檚 weekly radio show and podcast, to speak about her background and what the broader interfaith and American community can learn from the teachings of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
鈥淚 think the most beautiful thing about [Ramadan] really is the emphasis on building our social fabric with one another, gathering and thinking about, 鈥渨hat is the power of self-regulation and self-control?鈥� Self-control over food and also our capacity to not express anger,” she said.
鈥淲hile it is a deeply spiritual practice for Muslim, it鈥檚 also one where we spend a lot of time in community 鈥� It is a time where we want to be open to other communities. This is often our interfaith season. It is meant for doors to be open.鈥�
This fall, 海角社区鈥檚 MBA program will begin offering graduate business certificates in data analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, and strategic management.
Certificate programs are ideal for busy professionals who want to deepen or develop their skills in a specific area without committing to a full degree program. Each program consists of four core courses from the MBA curriculum. The courses prepare students for professional success using Harvard Business Review journal articles, case studies, simulations, and experiential learning.
Core courses in each program include:
Business analytics: quantitative methods, data analytics, data programming, predictive analytics
Entrepreneurship: marketing management, strategic management, entrepreneurship, innovation and design
Strategic management: financial management, business ethics, marketing management, strategic management
Finance: accounting for managers, managerial finance, investment theory and portfolio management, international finance
Each course will meet one night per week for eight weeks at the Hagfors Center on Augsburg鈥檚 Minneapolis campus. A certificate can be completed in as little as eight months.
Participants will take courses alongside MBA students and will be eligible to join Augsburg鈥檚 innovation speaker series. As part of the MBA curriculum, courses taken in a certificate program can also be applied toward degree completion for the program.
An undergraduate business degree is not required to enroll, but there may be prerequisite work for statistics and Excel.听Visit the Augsburg MBA website for more information or to apply.
A group of Auggies got a glimpse inside the legislative process during this year鈥檚 Day at the Capitol on March 1. Organized by the (MPCC) in support of the Minnesota State Grant program, this annual event develops student advocacy skills, provides professional networking opportunities, and brings student voices and concerns to the capitol.
The provides need-based financial aid that goes directly to students. Fifty-two percent of Augsburg undergraduates receive funding through the program, with an average award of nearly $6,000. The focus of this year鈥檚 Day at the Capitol was to ask legislators and Governor Walz to make a substantial new investment in the program by lowering the share of college costs that the grant formula expects students to cover from 50% to 36%.
Along with representatives from the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Augsburg students took the Green Line to the capitol and kicked off the day with a training featuring Representative Mike Howard 鈥�05. Then, they met in small groups with their hometown legislators to discuss expanding support for the state grant as well as other issues on students鈥� minds.
鈥淚t was so eye-opening for me,鈥� said Carol Hei Yue Lee 鈥�24, a social work major, vice president of Augsburg Day Student Government, and Campus Kitchen intern. 鈥淎t first I didn鈥檛 know how the process worked, since my representatives aren鈥檛 on the committee that oversees the state grant. But MPCC talked us through how legislators talk about issues with their colleagues and get them to sign on to a bill.鈥�
Lee met with Woodbury Representative Ethan Cha and Senator Nicole Mitchell. 鈥淧eople think legislators look scary, but they are very nice. Representative Cha told us his backstory and experiences as a refugee, fighting for his family and his kids鈥� rights. I was able to talk about food insecurity, which is a very serious issue and it connects with the state grant.鈥�
For Abby Petersen 鈥�24, the experience complemented their work as a campus organizer through the Minnesota Youth Collective. 鈥淚鈥檝e done organizing, but I鈥檝e never had the opportunity to spend a day at the capitol or actually meet a legislator,鈥� they said. 鈥淚t was super interesting and it went by so fast.鈥�
Both Petersen and Lee noted that the event built connections with other students and helped spur ideas about how to continue their activism on campus. 鈥淚 was impressed with the number of Augsburg students who showed up,鈥� said Petersen, who transferred to Augsburg last fall and is majoring in social work. 鈥淚t was really fun to meet other students who are also interested in doing advocacy work. Our group met with Representative Mohamud Noor, who was so supportive, and people brought up food issues and transit accessibility and asked about expanding the state grant program to grad students鈥攚e had a long conversation about that.鈥�
Lee ended the day with a sense of deeper community and expanded horizons. 鈥淩epresentative Cha told us, 鈥榊ou can be legislators too,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淓verything is possible.鈥�
Professor Michael Lansing was recently quoted by the Toronto Star in a major exploration of the dynamics around policing and public safety in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd. Lansing and University of St. Thomas historian Yohuru Williams are the co-founders of a public history project that explores the history of policing in the Twin Cities in order to contribute to community conversations about the future of public safety.
Lansing’s comments contextualize the failed public safety ballot measure in Minneapolis in 2022.
Neighbourhoods that voted most strongly against the measure were in the city鈥檚 southwest 鈥� a white, upper-middle-class area 鈥� followed, to a lesser extent, by those in the predominantly Black North Minneapolis,” wrote reporter Wendy Gillis. “It was a 鈥渧ery odd combination鈥� that was rare in American political history, said Michael Lansing, history professor at 海角社区 in Minneapolis.
鈥淣ot just polarized, because that suggests two poles. Minneapolis in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the uprising became a place that was deeply fragmented,鈥� he said.
Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri endowed chair and executive director of Interfaith at 海角社区, recently shared her perspective of unity during Ramadan with .听
Angel Young 鈥�24 is among the 154 student civic leaders recently named to the 2023-24 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows by Campus Compact.听
This fall, 海角社区鈥檚 MBA program will begin offering graduate business certificates in data analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, and strategic management.
Professor Michael Lansing was recently quoted by the Toronto Star in a major exploration of the dynamics around policing and public safety in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd. Lansing and University of St. Thomas historian Yohuru Williams are the co-founders of a public history project that explores the history of policing in the Twin Cities in order to contribute to community conversations about the future of public safety.