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.
As Augsburg’s new executive director for recovery advancement,听Patrice Salmeri will work to reduce stigma听associated with substance use disorder recovery, inspire additional听universities to provide recovery programs, and work with StepUP Program alumni, among other duties. Salmeri has led Augsburg’s pioneering StepUP Program for the past 15 years, and听magazine featured Salmeri in a story听about听the transition to her new role and the current climate of recovery in higher education.
In the article, Salmeri explained that while she’ll miss daily interaction with StepUP students, she is truly “looking forward to focusing more attention on the alumni and the value they bring to our community as well as advocating on local, regional and national levels.”
(MINNEAPOLIS) — Members of the public have a unique opportunity to build knowledge and understanding of issues that have and continue to shape听our world through a book club that is offered in partnership by the Hennepin County Library and Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Participants will explore the stories and writings of leading authors and public figures this summer, in advance听of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Forum slated for September 15-16 at Augsburg College.
鈥淓ngaged citizens who participate in the NPPF Book Club will gain considerate understanding of听some听issues and topics we will dig into at the Forum this September,鈥� said Joe Underhill, program director of the NPPF. 鈥淚n times of great flux and ongoing violence, developing dialogue across differences and compassion for our global neighbors is a key to building the understanding that leads to peacemaking.鈥�
鈥淲e are honored to partner with such a venerable institution as the NPPF to offer this opportunity for our community,鈥� said听Stephanie Steinwedel, program and events manager for Hennepin County Library. 鈥淎t a time when our world feels increasingly divided, bringing community members together to discuss ways we can 听strengthen the ties that bind us feels more important than ever.鈥�
SCHEDULE
July 13: “,” by Valeria Luiselli, examines the effect of America鈥檚 immigration policy on undocumented young Latin American migrants.
August 10: by Richard Haass, looks at 400 years of international relations and the current state of the world, and calls for an updated 鈥済lobal operating system,鈥�
September 7: “,” by Kofi A. Annan, contains Nobel Peace Prize winner Annan鈥檚 reflections on his 40-plus years of service to the United Nations.
Augsburg College’s $73 million, 135,000-square-foot Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion is the largest construction project underway at Twin Cities private colleges and universities. 听included details on the project’s scope, timeline, and funding in an article that outlined summer building and renovation projects on campuses across Minnesota.
Scheduled to open in January 2018, the Hagfors Center will be Augsburg’s听newest and largest academic building. The facility — designed by Minneapolis-based HGA Architects — features a student-centered layout听that will foster intersections among areas of study and encourage collaboration.听As the noted, the Hagfors Center was the focus of a successful $50 million fundraising campaign that exceeded its goal.
Comprehensive听project milestone information is available through weekly updates on the Hagfors Center website.
More than 900 Augsburg College undergraduate students were named to the 2017 Spring Semester Dean鈥檚 List. The Augsburg College Dean鈥檚 List recognizes those full-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and those part-time students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a given term.
View the听.
Students who wish to notify their hometown newspapers of their achievement can do so at their discretion using a听news announcement template.
On September 1, school officially becomes 鈥樅＝巧缜��
(MINNEAPOLIS)听鈥�The Augsburg community on Saturday, April 29, will celebrate the last graduating class of Augsburg College when 503 day, undergraduate students are conferred their degrees. Earlier this spring, Augsburg鈥檚 Board of Regents and the Augsburg Corporation approved the institution鈥檚 name change to 鈥満＝巧缜�� effective September 1.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a historic moment for Auggies and a time for our community to celebrate nearly 150 years of educating young people and adults for lives of service,鈥� said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow. 鈥淎s we send off our last class of Augsburg College students, we do so on the eve of becoming 海角社区 and of our sesquicentennial, and we do so knowing that these Auggies are prepared to use their gifts and talents to serve our world鈥檚 greatest needs.鈥�
In the afternoon, the school will recognize more than 469 adult undergraduates, graduate and doctoral students, 50 of whom studied at the College鈥檚 Rochester site.
DAY UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT
When:9 a.m., Saturday, April 29
Where:听Ceremonies in Si Melby Hall located on 23rd Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55454 http://www.augsburg.edu/about/directions-and-parking/ (Rain plan: Students will line up in Si Melby鈥檚 lower level and process up stairs, into gym.)
PROGRAM
9:30 a.m. 鈥� Student Processional, Christensen Center. Group proceeds, led by drummer, from Christensen Center down South 7-1/2 Street to Si Melby Hall. Faculty, in academic dress, line the streets and clap as students pass. Students carry flags representing home countries represented in student body.
10 a.m. 鈥� Invocation and Welcome
Commencement Speaker: Michele Norris, former host, National Public Radio鈥檚 All Things Considered.
Student Speaker: Eron 鈥淲innie鈥� Godi, of Rochester, Minnesota,听will graduate with majors in international relations and gender, sexuality, and women’s studies, with a minor in peace and global studies. She maintained a 3.79 grade point average while juggling full-time work and full-time school, while also being integrally involved in the Augsburg community. At Augsburg, she was president of the Pan Afrikan Student Union and a past Peace Scholar. As an Augsburg LEAD Fellow, she has created an online magazine focused on celebrating the African diasporic arts and culture in Minnesota and the surrounding community. Off campus, Godi was a 2015-16 听Museum Fellow at the Minnesota Historical Society and a finalist for the Princeton in Africa program, which matches recent college graduates with non-governmental organizations in Africa. She was also a finalist for the Humanity in Action Fellowship.
Honorary Degree Recipient: Beverly Daniel Tatum, President Emerita, Spelman College. Tatum is a nationally recognized authority on racial issues.
Conferring of Degrees
Recessional: Students exit Si Melby. Students, families gather in Murphy Square.
ABOUT AUGSBURG COLLEGE
Augsburg College has been part of the rapidly growing and diversifying city of Rochester for nearly 20 years. The main campus is set in a vibrant Minneapolis neighborhood at the heart of the Twin Cities, and offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 3,600 students of diverse backgrounds. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. 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.
Patrice Salmeri named Executive Director for Recovery Advancement
(MINNEAPOLIS)鈥擲tudents across the nation who seek to live in recovery from substance use disorders will have greater opportunities for success thanks to the generosity of donors to the Augsburg College .
鈥淭his is a pivotal moment for students in recovery across the nation and how we serve them,鈥� said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. 鈥淲e are poised to leverage our 20-year national reputation as the gold standard in collegiate recovery in enhanced ways: to encourage and shape how other colleges and universities throughout the nation support young people in championing lives of recovery, to work to effect policies and programs that will staunch the opioid epidemic gripping our nation, and to reduce the stigma associated with addiction so that young people can lead lives of meaning.鈥�
(MINNEAPOLIS)鈥擜ugsburg College will become 海角社区 effective September 1.
The change reflects the reality that Augsburg already offers nine graduate degree programs鈥攊ncluding Minnesota鈥檚 first program for physician assistants鈥攊n addition to its more than 50 undergraduate degree programs.
鈥淏ecoming 海角社区 does not change our dedication to our liberal arts mission or our commitment to being small to our students and big for the world,鈥� said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow.
鈥淎s we lean into our reality as a university, we will continue our drive toward the intentional diversity for which we are known. We will ensure we are student-ready and can provide those of academic ability with opportunities for hands-on learning, undergraduate research, international study, and internships so that all Auggies are prepared to share their gifts and talents with the world.鈥�
The name change decision was made after a thorough review that included conducting market research, studying the process and impact of name changes by other institutions, and holding open dialogue sessions with a broad set of stakeholders, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, and regents.
About Augsburg: Augsburg offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 3,600 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and the Rochester site. 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.
鈥淟eaders may get so wrapped up in making decisions they forget to just sit down and talk with their staff members,鈥� wrote听Dave Conrad, Augsburg College鈥檚 assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, in his latest column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin.
A听problem exists, according to Conrad, that new leaders can believe their first priority is to develop new game plans independently rather than to get to know staff members to听solve problems collectively. Read Conrad鈥檚 column, 鈥淣ew leaders should learn to listen,”听for tips on how to create an effective workplace communication system.
This month,听officials from Augsburg College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College launched the Auggie Plan, a guaranteed pathway to a four-year degree for community college听students who meet听minimum听GPA requirements and who complete general education coursework听on their way to enrolling at听Augsburg College.
Students in the program can take a range of liberal arts courses听with the knowledge the courses will be accepted by Augsburg. Listen to Minnesota Public Radio鈥檚 story,听鈥�,鈥澨齱hich included an interview with President Paul Pribbenow.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune recently published an article covering Steve Wozniak鈥檚 Scholarship Weekend presentation at Augsburg College. Wozniak, a听co-founder of Apple, Inc., spoke about innovation, creativity, and education in an increasingly connected world.
“My whole life has been teaching myself things that were not learned in school,” he told a packed auditorium. “More important than learning, more important than knowledge, is motivation.”
Wozniak’s comments centered primarily听on the early days of his career at Apple and the importance of continually revisiting challenging tasks.
According to the Star Tribune, “Looking back, Wozniak said part of his success came from simply forcing himself to put pencil to paper, over and over again.听‘Creativity is a willingness to think very differently,’ he said. ‘Not knowing how to do something means sitting down to figure it out.'”
As Augsburg’s new executive director for recovery advancement,听Patrice Salmeri will work to reduce stigma听associated with substance use disorder recovery, inspire additional听universities to provide recovery programs, and work with StepUP Program alumni, among other duties. Salmeri has led Augsburg’s pioneering StepUP Program for the past 15 years, and听magazine featured Salmeri in a story听about听the transition to her new role and the current climate of recovery in higher education.
This month,听officials from Augsburg College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College launched the Auggie Plan, a guaranteed pathway to a four-year degree for community college听students who meet听minimum听GPA requirements and who complete general education coursework听on their way to enrolling at听Augsburg College.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune recently published an article covering Steve Wozniak鈥檚 Scholarship Weekend presentation at Augsburg College. Wozniak, a听co-founder of Apple, Inc., spoke about innovation, creativity, and education in an increasingly connected world.